Chapter 56: Yellow Flash
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (48,110,000 / 100,000,000)]
Chiyo's face drained of color, her voice a stunned whisper. "What?"
Her eyes flicked to Kakashi, searching for clarity. How could Minato Namikaze, the Fourth Hokage, the Yellow Flash who shook the shinobi world, confirmed dead for over a decade, stand before them? Her mind raced—what kind of twisted game was this?
Kakashi was just as lost, his pupils trembling as he locked eyes with the figure.
"Sensei?" he breathed, his voice barely audible, heavy with disbelief and a pang of longing. The sight of his mentor, alive yet unnatural, clawed at his heart.
Minato stood tall in a crisp Konoha Jonin uniform, his forehead protector catching the dim light. His short yellow hair danced in the forest breeze, a gentle smile softening his sharp features as he gazed at the Konoha shinobi. His blue eyes lingered on Naruto, drawn to the boy's identical golden hair, piercing blue eyes, and the bold Uzumaki crest on his jacket. A flicker of understanding passed through Minato's gaze, his pupils widening briefly, but he held his silence, emotions tightly guarded.
"You're Renji Mahito, right?" Minato's voice was warm, his smile disarming as he addressed Renji, his tone carrying quiet certainty. The blue hair and heterochromatic eyes—silver-gray and grayish-blue—were unmistakable markers of Renji's identity.
"What do you want with him?" Kakashi's voice cut like a blade, his usual calm replaced by rare aggression. He stepped protectively in front of Renji, his Sharingan blazing with vigilance. Memories of facing his reanimated father flooded back—those brought back by the Reanimation Jutsu retained their will but were puppets to their summoner's commands.
"Kakashi, you've grown into a reliable sensei," Minato said, his voice rich with pride and relief, a teacher's joy at his student's strength.
Kakashi's fists clenched, his teeth grinding. Damn that organization! Defiling the peace of the dead was a sin he couldn't forgive, especially when it was his sensei standing before him, a mockery of life.
"Hey!" Naruto's voice boomed, brash and suspicious, cutting through the tension. "Who are you, just chatting like you know us? How do you know Kakashi-sensei? If you're from Konoha, why haven't I seen you before?" His brow furrowed, the scene eerily reminiscent of the Akatsuki's ambush three years ago.
Naruto squinted, studying Minato's features. The yellow hair, the blue eyes—it clicked. His eyes widened, and he pointed, voice trembling with shock. "You… you're the Fourth Hokage?! How's that possible?!"
He whipped around to Renji, expecting surprise, but found only calm certainty on his friend's face. Renji's voice was steady as he explained, "Naruto, there's a Ninjutsu that revives the dead but binds them to the caster's will. Even if he's the Fourth Hokage, he's our enemy now."
Kakashi exhaled quietly, a weight lifting. Renji knew Naruto was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, but not the son of Minato—a secret that could unravel everything if revealed now.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (48,120,000 / 100,000,000)]
Naruto's fury, still ignorant of the deeper truth, had already sparked ten thousand Malice Value. If he learned Minato was his father, the surge would be unimaginable, a tidal wave of anguish and rage.
"That's too much!" Naruto growled, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles whitened, his anger aimed at the shadowy organization behind this. "I don't care who you are—I'll take you down!" His voice burned with unshakable resolve, his blue eyes blazing.
Minato's smile deepened, a spark of admiration in his gaze. "Very good!" He flashed Naruto a thumbs-up, his tone almost playful, like a proud mentor.
Naruto snorted, undeterred. "Don't think you can mess with me with that act!"
Kakashi stole a glance at Naruto, his mind racing. Revealing Minato's identity now would complicate everything, especially against the Yellow Flash, whose Flying Thunder God made him a legend. Survival itself was uncertain, let alone victory.
"Sorry, I might've caused a misunderstanding," Minato said, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin, a trace of his old charm. "I'm not here to fight you. I'm here for Renji Mahito. Someone wants to see him, and my mission is to bring him to them."
"What's the difference?" Naruto snapped, his eyes flashing with a faint red glow, the Nine-Tails stirring within. "What if they want to kill Renji? You think we'd let him walk to his death?" He planted himself in front of Renji, his stance fierce and unyielding. "No way I'm letting you take him!"
"Even if you're the Fourth Hokage, we'll fight to the end," Sakura added, her voice calm but ironclad, her green eyes steady despite the tension.
Minato's gaze softened, his smile warm with pride. "Konoha's next generation is truly reliable. But I'm sorry."
Boom!
His body surged forward, not with mere speed but with the seamless flicker of Ninjutsu. He vanished mid-air, a blur of yellow light.
"It's Flying Thunder God! Stay sharp!" Kakashi shouted, his Sharingan scanning behind Renji.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (48,130,000 / 100,000,000)]
Kakashi's pupils dilated as Minato materialized above Renji, a Rasengan spinning with deadly precision, slamming into Renji's back.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (48,132,000 / 100,000,000)]
"Renji!" The attack was blindingly fast, echoing Hasumi Maki's terrifying speed. No one could react in time.
Naruto's eyes turned bloodshot, rage boiling over as the Nine-Tails' chakra surged within him.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +50,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +50,000!]
[Chakra (48,182,000 / 100,000,000)]
Minato's Rasengan, though identical in size to Naruto's, carried a devastating force, its vortex blasting the air around Renji. The friction sparked violent wind waves, forcing everyone to shield their eyes as the forest trembled.
Minato expected the blow to disable Renji, but to his shock, Renji stood unscathed. In a flash, Renji's hand pierced Minato's palm, his body itself a weapon, sharp and unrelenting.
Naruto exhaled sharply, relief flooding him as Renji stood tall, unharmed.
Minato ignored the blood dripping from his hand, gripping a kunai etched with the Flying Thunder God seal. "You're marked with my seal now," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Resistance is pointless. Come with me to avoid more pain."
Renji lifted his shirt, revealing a black cursed seal branded along his spine, stark against his pale skin, pulsing faintly with ominous energy.
Suddenly, Naruto pressed his back against Renji's, his fierce glare locked on Minato. "Try sneaking behind him now—you'll have to go through me first!"
Renji blinked, stunned: "…"
Is Naruto an idiot? If Minato teleported, Naruto would take the full brunt of the attack.
Minato's expression grew troubled, his blue eyes lowering with reluctance. "It seems there's no avoiding this," he murmured, his voice heavy. He didn't want to fight Naruto, but his mission left no choice.
A yellow flash streaked past, too swift for Naruto's eyes to follow. His mind screamed a warning, his mouth opening to shout, but the scene before him froze his blood.
The Flying Thunder God's speed was unmatched, a legend feared across the shinobi world. A dull thud echoed as Minato's kunai pierced Renji's neck, striking with the precision and ruthlessness of a hawk. Yet, under Minato's control, the blade halted just shy of fatal depth, sparing the artery.
"Renji, if you come willingly…" Minato began, his voice steady.
A red blur flashed. Naruto, his pupils slitted and Nine-Tails chakra surging, lunged at Minato with beast-like ferocity, his claws slashing with primal force. Minato dodged effortlessly, his gaze softening as he watched Naruto shield Renji, a flicker of pride in his eyes.
Naruto's control was sharper than three years ago, honed by Jiraiya's rigorous training. "You won't take Renji!" The thought burned in his mind, an unyielding vow to protect his friend.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +100,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +100,000!]
[Chakra (48,282,000 / 100,000,000)]
Sakura's teeth clenched, her fists glowing with chakra as she channeled Tsunade's monstrous strength. Her face twisted with fierce determination, her punch aimed at Minato's head with devastating force. Hokage or hero, no one would take Renji—not on her watch. It was a line she'd never let anyone cross.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000,000!]
[Chakra (58,282,000 / 100,000,000)]
Renji's body trembled, his eyes wide as he stared at Sakura. He hadn't even "died" yet, and her Malice Value was astronomical. Was it her fierce loyalty, her raw emotional strength? This battle was a treasure trove, richer than he'd ever imagined.
Minato felt the punch's immense power, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. It echoed Tsunade's strength, a testament to Konoha's endless talent. He almost saw his old teammate in Sakura's ferocity.
Bang!
The Flying Thunder God was untouchable. Sakura's fist tore through the air, the boom echoing through the forest, but Minato vanished, his kunai grazing past her ear. He reappeared above, Rasengan spinning with deadly intent, the air howling around it.
"Sakura!" Naruto and Kakashi surged forward, desperation in their voices.
"Don't underestimate me!" Sakura snapped, her growth over three years shining through. With a graceful pivot, her toes tapped the ground like a dancer, her body leaning back as her fist arced toward Minato's chest. "I know you rely on that kunai for teleportation! I've been waiting for this moment!"
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000!]
[Chakra (58,284,000 / 100,000,000)]
"Impressive," Minato said, his eyes gleaming with genuine admiration. "Seeing through Flying Thunder God is one thing—countering it is another challenge entirely."
His form vanished, reappearing behind Sakura. He'd predicted her prediction, moving with surgical precision. Too close to react, the Rasengan struck her spine.
Bang!
Sakura flew backward, crashing into the dirt with a sickening thud.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (58,294,000 / 100,000,000)]
Sakura lay trembling, her Medical-Nin training assessing the damage. The Rasengan had ravaged her spine, leaving her body limp, teetering on the edge of paralysis. A shattered spine was a death sentence for a shinobi, even with the best Medical Ninjutsu. But she shoved the fear aside—this was no time for despair.
A strange sensation stirred in her back, bones shifting under unnatural force. Cold sweat beaded on her forehead, the pain excruciating, but she stayed silent, recognizing Renji's touch.
"Renji…" Her voice was strained, barely a whisper.
"Don't worry," Renji said, his voice calm and steady, soothing her frayed nerves. "You'll be fine."
Kakashi and Naruto fought desperately to keep Minato occupied, buying Renji precious time to heal Sakura's injuries.
Splat!
Blood sprayed from Kakashi's chest, a kunai buried deep. Despite knowing Minato was controlled, disbelief clouded his eyes. Facing his sensei was a torment, his heart warring with duty as memories of their past flooded back.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +10,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +10,000!]
[Chakra (58,304,000 / 100,000,000)]
"Kakashi-sensei!" Naruto's rage erupted, Nine-Tails chakra surging violently, cloaking him in a red aura. His roar shook the forest as he flashed forward, claws slicing through the air with lethal intent.
Minato's expression was unreadable, a mix of sorrow and quiet resolve. He raised his kunai, blocking Naruto's claws with a jarring clang that sent vibrations through his arms. The Nine-Tails' power was staggering, even for the Yellow Flash.
Hooosh! Hooosh!
Naruto's breaths were feral, his speed and strength amplified beyond human limits. His claws tore toward Minato's chest, the air screaming with his momentum.
Minato flashed away but halted mid-air. Naruto's Nine-Tails chakra faded, his blue eyes wide with shock as Minato stood still, letting the claws pierce his chest with a sickening crunch.
Blood spilled from Minato's mouth, his gentle blue eyes locked on Naruto, filled with a tenderness that pierced deeper than any blade. "It's so good to see you again, Naruto."
His hand reached for Naruto's hair, trembling, but fell short, his body dissolving like water into the earth. Only the blood staining Naruto's claws remained, proof of the fleeting encounter.
Naruto stood frozen, Minato's gentle eyes burned into his mind. His heart pounded, the truth dawning with crushing weight. His consciousness flickered, landing before the Nine-Tails' sealed gate.
"Hahahahaha!" The Nine-Tails' laughter boomed, dripping with malice, its massive vertical pupils glinting with cruel delight. "Minato never imagined meeting his son after sixteen years, only to die by his hand, did he? Hahahahaha!"
Naruto's mind went blank, those gentle blue eyes replaying endlessly. Minato could've dodged, yet he chose to stand still, accepting Naruto's blow. "It's so good to see you again, Naruto." The truth crashed over him like a tidal wave, shattering his heart.
[Ding!]
[Human Malice Value detected: +2,000,000!]
[Cursed Energy converted to Chakra: +2,000,000!]
[Chakra (60,304,000 / 100,000,000)],
----
You guys left five 5-star reviews — thank a lot, my awesome readers!! Here's the 5th bonus chapter, just like I promised!
From now on, we're back to the usual schedule:
For every 100 total Power Stones, I'll drop another +1 bonus chapter!
If you're enjoying the story and want to read future chapters early, just search "Demonic_Fiction" on "P4trƐon" (link in the synopsis)