Chapter 207: Tonari vs. Minato
Sarutobi Hiruzen and the senior members of Konoha had reached a clear consensus—Tonari needed to leave Konoha immediately and rush to reinforce the Konoha forces at the Moon Country battlefield.
He wouldn't be going alone.
Accompanying him would be three elite Anbu.
Receiving his orders, Tonari left the Hokage's office with his Anbu team and made his way to the Konoha gates.
But just as they were about to depart, they encountered three people who shouldn't have been there—
Sarutobi Asuma, Might Guy, and Yūhi Kurenai.
It was clear they had been waiting for him.
The moment they saw him, their faces lit up with excitement, and they hurried forward.
"You brats, what are you doing here?" Tonari chuckled.
Asuma stepped forward, glancing at the Anbu behind Tonari.
"Sensei, are you going on a mission?"
As Sarutobi Hiruzen's son, Asuma had a good understanding of the Anbu—their role, their significance, and how difficult it was to become one.
Tonari's eyes narrowed slightly.
"Where did you hear about this?"
Asuma's face stiffened for a brief moment, but he quickly recovered, masking his hesitation.
However, Tonari's sharp gaze caught the subtle change in his demeanor.
Asuma, feeling the pressure, reached into his jacket and pulled out a paper slip with a special seal on it.
A permission slip to leave the village!
"Sensei, look! We got official permission! Let us go with you to the battlefield!"
Behind him, Guy and Kurenai nodded enthusiastically, their eyes filled with expectation.
Tonari took the document, his expression unreadable.
Examining the seal, he confirmed—
It was indeed Sarutobi Hiruzen's personal stamp.
Although he had no idea how Asuma got this approval—nor how he even knew about his mission—it was clear that the Third Hokage was somehow involved.
Tonari folded the document, then stuffed it into his pocket.
Ruffling Asuma's hair, then giving Guy's watermelon-shaped head a thorough rub, he smirked.
"Next time."
"This permission slip? I'll keep it safe for you. When you're truly ready to leave, I'll return it."
"Wait—Sensei!" Asuma protested, but he immediately felt a chill run down his spine.
Tonari's smile had become... sinister.
There was a playful yet dangerous glint in his eyes.
"If you behave, I won't tell your father."
Tonari's voice was calm, but Asuma froze in place.
"But if you try anything funny..."
Tonari leaned in slightly.
"...I'll make sure he finds out about your smoking habit."
"!!!"
The blood drained from Asuma's face.
How did he—?!
That faint trace of smoke on his clothes...
Damn it!
Tonari patted Kurenai's shoulder, giving her a knowing look, then turned away, motioning for his Anbu team to follow.
Asuma stood frozen in place.
Guy scratched his head. "Huh? Asuma, wasn't that permission slip from the Third Hokage? You said we were supposed to go on an important mission together."
Asuma's eyebrow twitched violently.
This idiot...
"Asuma..."
This time, it was Kurenai's voice.
He turned—
And immediately regretted it.
Kurenai's gaze was sharp, her arms crossed.
"You... smoke?"
"U-Uh... Kurenai, listen, I can explain—"
A cold sweat trickled down his forehead.
Tonari and his Anbu team arrived at a large war encampment near the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Hot Water.
But the moment they approached—
A wave of gloom and despair pressed down on them.
This wasn't a battlefield that had seen victory.
It reeked of failure.
Faint cries of pain and suffering came from the tents.
And the stench of blood was thick in the air.
Tonari's eyes darkened.
The battlefield was supposed to be in the Land of the Moon.
But now?
It was pushed back to the Land of Hot Water.
If this continued, the battle would soon spill into the Land of Fire itself.
This was far worse than what Sarutobi Hiruzen had told him.
"You made it, Tonari."
As they entered the command tent, Tonari was greeted by a familiar face.
Blond hair. Confident smile. The aura of a rising legend.
Namikaze Minato.
Seeing his old friend, Tonari smiled slightly.
But he quickly noticed—
Minato was different now.
He was still the same man, but his confidence wasn't just quiet assurance anymore.
It was undeniable.
He had found his own light on the battlefield.
Minato grinned. "Heh. Konoha's 'Blue Cat' finally shows up, huh?"
Tonari smirked. "And Konoha's 'Yellow Flash' got a big head, huh?"
Minato's grin widened.
"Want to see how much stronger I've gotten?"
Tonari cracked his knuckles.
"Do I?"
They didn't need words.
Their fists had always done the talking.
Minato moved first.
A special three-pronged kunai soared toward Tonari.
Tonari's eyes narrowed.
Flying Thunder God.
If he blocked it—
Minato would instantly teleport behind him.
If he dodged it—
Minato could still teleport to its location.
A perfect, unstoppable technique.
But—
Tonari knew Minato too well.
As the kunai whizzed past his face, just barely missing, Minato vanished.
Reappearing behind him.
Got you.
Minato's kunai stabbed forward—
But in that exact instant—
Lightning exploded from Tonari's body.
"Lightning Release Armor?!"
The sudden burst of electricity halted Minato's attack for a fraction of a second.
And that was all Tonari needed.
Boom!
Tonari vanished.
When he reappeared—
Minato barely had time to block his blade.
Their eyes met again.
And they grinned.
It was just like old times.
Only now—
They were stronger than ever before.
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