Chapter 16: The Sannin's Judgment
Namikaze Minato barely dodged Kagenori's Rice Spirit technique, the sheer speed making the confrontation immensely challenging. He hadn't anticipated Kagenori's strength—during academy days, Kagenori had clearly been inferior.
Kagenori felt equally surprised Minato could evade his attack. So this is the future master of Flying Thunder God—his reflexes are exceptional.
But his surprise was brief. If Minato remained in his growth phase, so was he.
Kagenori felt confident that at his peak, his Thunder Breathing wouldn't lag behind Minato's speed!
Uzumaki Kushina watched anxiously, distressed by the escalating situation. Though deeply moved that Kagenori would confront her bullies and even Minato to protect her, she feared he'd face punishment.
"Kagenori, I'm alright," she called out.
Kagenori tightened his grip on the sword. "I swore that day I'd protect your smile... yet I broke that promise within days..." He turned to meet her gaze. "I'll never forgive anyone who hurts you! Never!"
"Kagenori..." Kushina's eyes reddened as she whispered his name, watching his protective stance.
Turning back to Minato, Kagenori sheathed his sword. Minato gripped his kunai tighter—this wasn't surrender but preparation for another technique.
"Thunder Breathing, Third Form: Thunder Swarm!"
Kagenori circled Minato at blinding speed, leaving trailing arcs of blue lightning. These electrical barriers prevented retreat—any backward movement would mean contact with the crackling energy.
His slashes came relentlessly. The combination of incredible speed and crushing force strained Minato's defenses, while the lightning chakra's paralyzing effects gradually numbed his body.
The numbness slowed Minato's reactions. He knew he couldn't block the next strike.
Desperately trying to raise his right arm proved futile.
As Kagenori's blade descended toward Minato's arm, a tall figure materialized behind the blond boy.
"Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"
White hair enveloped Minato protectively.
Kagenori's sword struck the hair with a metallic "clang"—and shattered into two pieces.
Kagenori's eyes narrowed at the newcomer: Jiraiya, one of the Legendary Sannin.
Releasing his defensive technique, Jiraiya scratched his head. "My, my, what's happening here? I just returned to the village to find this scene."
Minato brightened at his mentor's appearance. "Lord Jiraiya!"
Jiraiya glanced at his prospective student. "Minato, what occurred?"
Minato stammered, "We're classmates—just a minor conflict."
Jiraiya's eyes fell on Kagenori's broken sword. "This seems more than minor. Though the boy switched to the blunt edge seeing you couldn't parry, that would've still broken your arm."
Unexpectedly, Kagenori suddenly hurled the broken blade toward the terrified genin's leg.
Another figure landed before the genin, fist slamming the ground.
"Boom!"
The impact deflected the broken sword.
Tsunade, another Sannin, had arrived.
Crossing her arms, she frowned at Kagenori. "You're going too far, kid."
Jiraiya demanded sternly, "Why such harsh measures against fellow villagers?!"
Kagenori's voice turned icy. "Fellow villagers? When that genin threw a real kunai at Kushina, did he consider her a fellow villager?" His gaze shifted to Minato. "And you—you witnessed everything, saw that kunai aimed at Kushina, yet did nothing. But when you used that same kunai against me, did you consider me a companion?"
Jiraiya turned to Minato. "What really happened?"
Minato explained the events, emphasizing that since Kagenori had already fractured the genin's ribs and sought to break their limbs, he'd been forced to intervene with the kunai.
Hearing the full story, Jiraiya felt Minato had acted reasonably. He stared at Kagenori. "You'd already punished them. Seeking to break their limbs seems excessive."
Uzumaki Kushina rushed before Kagenori, arms spread protectively. "They were the excessive ones! Why blame Kagenori?!"
Kagenori pulled her behind him, sneering at Jiraiya. "Excessive? What if that kunai had struck Kushina? Would you still call it excessive?" His voice sharpened. "But of course you wouldn't—because Kushina came from outside Konoha, and I have 'traitor' parents. In your eyes, they're comrades, while we're not. Right?"
Jiraiya rubbed his nose, discomforted. "I never said that."
Tsunade studied Uzumaki Kushina with sudden interest. "What's your name?"
Having been absent from Konoha for years—Tsunade wandering with Shizune after her brother and lover's deaths, Jiraiya training abroad—neither Sannin had been present when Kushina arrived.
As Mito's granddaughter, Tsunade corresponded with her grandmother. She knew an Uzumaki clan member had come to Konoha. The girl's red hair and foreign origin suggested she might be that person.
"Uzumaki Kushina."
Tsunade nodded inwardly. Just as I thought.
She told Jiraiya, "Let the old man handle this matter."
Understanding her implication that Uzumaki Kushina held special significance, Jiraiya agreed. "Minato, take them to the hospital."
"Yes!"
Minato helped the injured genin upright, roused the terrified boy, and hurried toward medical care.
Kagenori's eyes flickered. With both Sannin present, further action was impossible.