Chapter 127: Minato Namikaze and Killer Bee's Fateful Encounter!
The next day, Minato Namikaze was summoned directly to the Hokage's office.
It turned out that the Daimyō of the Land of Fire had personally assigned him a high-priority Rank A secret mission.
Although somewhat surprised by the direct assignment, Minato didn't suspect anything unusual. Daimyō did indeed occasionally request renowned shinobi by name to execute sensitive missions. While these assignments were generally quite difficult and dangerous, the compensation proved substantial as well. Such occurrences weren't particularly uncommon throughout the shinobi world.
Being specifically recognized by a Daimyō benefited both the individual shinobi and their village tremendously.
On one hand, the higher the Daimyō's level of recognition and trust, the more lucrative missions the village would receive in the future.
On the other hand, a shinobi personally recognized by a Daimyō would have their reputation spread far and wide, making them highly sought after by wealthy clients and employers.
"Minato, this is genuinely excellent news!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi—sporting prominent dark circles beneath his eyes from evident lack of sleep—patted Minato's shoulder with earnest warmth. "You don't lack strength or capability whatsoever. What you lack is widespread reputation and a proper opportunity to prove yourself on the grand stage. Now that you've received a mission entrusted directly by the Daimyō himself, it can fill that final gap in your career advancement!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi was well aware that Minato Namikaze harbored ambitions of becoming the Fourth Hokage, which was precisely why he offered this encouragement.
In truth, when considering candidates for the next Hokage, Hiruzen personally preferred Minato Namikaze considerably more than Orochimaru.
The reasoning was straightforward: Hiruzen genuinely felt that given Orochimaru's increasingly dark and obsessive personality, if he were to seize power in Konohagakure, he could easily lead the village toward catastrophic destruction. Minato Namikaze, with his moderate political stance and diplomatic temperament, was far more suitable for Konoha's current circumstances.
"I understand completely, Lord Hokage."
Minato Namikaze nodded with his characteristically warm smile, his bright blonde hair seeming to radiate gentle energy like sunlight itself.
"I have complete confidence in your abilities to handle this."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded with genuine assurance in Minato's capabilities. "However, the geographical location of this particular mission is somewhat unusual, so please exercise appropriate caution."
Having received that warning, Minato focused his full attention on the mission scroll. But after merely one quick glance, his brow furrowed with concern. "The Land of Hot Water? I recall that nation is located overseas, correct? Why would the Daimyō suddenly take interest in activities there?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe and took a contemplative puff. "Continue reading the details."
Minato read further, his eyebrows quickly forming a deep, troubled crease. "A suddenly appearing cult organization has even infiltrated into the Land of Fire itself? No wonder this has attracted the Daimyō's urgent attention."
The mission intelligence specified that this mysteriously emerging cult was conducting horrific blood sacrifices within Fire Country's borders—specifically targeting noble families. A genuine climate of terror had gripped the aristocracy, prompting the Daimyō to order a thorough investigation into the source. The trail had led back to the Land of Hot Water.
Thus, the current situation had developed.
"I understand the severity, Lord Hokage."
Minato Namikaze committed the details to memory, carefully securing the scroll within his vest before stating: "Time is of the essence for this mission. Please forgive my abrupt departure!"
With that declaration, he vanished from the spot instantaneously.
"Flying Thunder God Technique..."
Watching Minato disappear completely, Hiruzen Sarutobi's eyes flashed with unmistakable envy. "The Second Hokage's legendary technique... after all these decades, it finally has a worthy successor."
Minato's team assembled with practiced efficiency.
He served as the Jōnin team leader, with his squad members consisting of: Obito Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake, and Rin Nohara.
After quickly packing his essential belongings and mission supplies, Minato hurriedly bid a tender farewell to Kushina before departing with his three students, rushing toward the Land of Hot Water.
"Kakashi, Obito—what are you two looking at?" Rin Nohara couldn't help asking when she noticed both boys frequently glancing backward.
"Uh, I was hoping Kazuki-nii would come see me off." Obito appeared genuinely dejected, his head hanging low in disappointment. "I specifically told him beforehand that I was going on an A-rank mission, but Kazuki-nii still didn't come. Ugh... this is so frustrating!"
Kakashi added coldly: "Perhaps he finds you annoying, so he deliberately chose not to appear."
"No way! That's impossible!"
Obito retorted angrily, like an indignant cat whose tail had been stepped on. "Kazuki-nii and I are extremely close! Kakashi, stop trying to sow discord between us!"
Kakashi pursed his lips, declining to argue further with his teammate. However, a subtle hint of melancholy appeared in his visible eye.
Actually, ever since their last psychological counseling session had concluded, he'd also wanted desperately to see Uchiha Kazuki again. He had numerous questions he wanted to ask him.
But unfortunately... it seemed those questions would have to wait until after they returned from this mission.
"Kazuki-sama, they have already departed~"
At that precise moment within the Uchiha clan compound, White Zetsu slowly emerged from the floor, reporting everything that had just transpired.
"Mm, I'm aware."
Uchiha Kazuki sat casually on the tatami mat with his outer robe draped loosely over one shoulder, nodding with lazy acknowledgment.
"Should I follow them covertly, Kazuki-sama?"
White Zetsu made a graphic throat-slitting gesture with obvious enthusiasm. "While they're both weakened from combat, perhaps we should... finish them off permanently!"
"That won't be necessary. Minato Namikaze cannot die—at least not at this juncture."
Uchiha Kazuki shook his head definitively. "However, even with the combined abilities of the A and B brothers, they won't pose sufficient threat to Minato alone. So we need to strategically 'add fuel to the fire.'"
White Zetsu blinked with obvious confusion. "I don't quite understand your meaning."
"Heh, you don't need to fully comprehend the plan."
Uchiha Kazuki tore several pages carefully from his parchment spellbook and tossed them toward White Zetsu. "Take these recorded techniques and deploy them at the most opportune moment to make circumstances considerably more challenging for Minato."
The pages he'd torn from Leymano's Spellbook clearly contained recorded techniques belonging to the late Third Mizukage.
Presumably, facing both the A-B brothers from Kumogakure and the Mizukage's advanced Water Release arsenal simultaneously, even Minato wouldn't have an easy time.
White Zetsu's eyes darted around cunningly before a sinister smile spread across his features. "Ohhh, I see now. I understand your intention perfectly. Hehehehe... I'll 'utilize' these most effectively!"
With that promise, White Zetsu slowly merged into the ground and vanished completely.
Border Region
Through wind and heavy snowfall, Minato Namikaze and his three students traveled at breakneck speed.
After several grueling days of relentless travel, they finally reached Konoha's border checkpoint, intending to secure boat passage to the Land of Hot Water.
"Let's rest here for one full day."
Minato observed his thoroughly exhausted students with sympathetic concern. He felt genuine pity—if the Daimyō's time constraints hadn't been so severely restrictive, he wouldn't have pushed them this hard.
"Haha! YES! Finally we can rest properly!"
Obito collapsed dramatically onto the snowy ground, appearing completely drained of all energy and willpower. "So this is what A-rank missions are really like?! This is absolutely inhuman!"
"Instead of complaining uselessly, you should focus on recovering your stamina." Kakashi appeared in noticeably better physical condition, though he'd also expended considerable energy. He remained characteristically vigilant, lowering his voice as he cautioned: "Don't forget—we're now outside Konoha's protected borders. Unlike before, we could easily encounter hostile shinobi from other villages at any moment!"
"Kakashi is absolutely correct. Everyone remain alert."
Minato Namikaze reinforced the warning with appropriate gravity. "Missions conducted outside Konoha's territory are exponentially more dangerous. We must not only successfully complete our objective, but also remain constantly vigilant against potential ambushes from enemy nation shinobi!"
"Uh, Minato-sensei... wait just a moment."
Obito's expression suddenly stiffened dramatically. He pointed cautiously behind them with visible alarm. "Those enemy shinobi you just mentioned... would that include that guy over there?"
"!!!"
Both Kakashi and Minato Namikaze's pupils dilated sharply as they looked in the indicated direction.
A dark-skinned man wearing distinctive black sunglasses was muttering rhythmically to himself, seemingly completely oblivious to their presence as he casually approached their position.
"A Kumogakure shinobi?"
Minato's expression grew immediately wary and suspicious. He called out directly: "You there—Kumogakure shinobi! Please explain why you've suddenly appeared at Konoha's border checkpoint?"
"Huh?"
The man glanced up with apparent confusion, then scratched his head sheepishly upon seeing them clearly. "Uh, seriously? We got discovered this quickly? Bakayarō! Konoyarō!"
"Ah man, this is troublesome. My brother specifically told me to be careful and stealthy."
The man scratched his head in visible frustration before flashing an unexpectedly bright, friendly smile. "Um... could you guys maybe just pretend you didn't see me here? Yeah!"
Minato immediately recognized the shinobi's intentions were far from innocent. "Apprehend him immediately!"
Almost instantaneously, a specially marked Flying Thunder God kunai shot forward like a deadly projectile.
Whoosh!
The kunai sliced through the air with lethal precision—only to be deflected cleanly by a drawn blade.
The Kumogakure shinobi sighed dramatically, shaking his head while gripping his sword with practiced ease. "What a shame, fool! Ya fool! Killer Bee didn't want to fight today, but you're forcing my hand! Weee!"
[End of Chapter 127]
Let's push the story forward!
Rewards System:
500 Power Stones = New Chapter
10 Reviews = New Chapter
10+ chapters waiting on P3treon – DarkFoxx