Chapter 128: The A-B Combo
"Hey, Minato-sensei, how did you know at first glance that guy was from Kumogakure?"
Obito subtly nudged Kakashi and whispered curiously: "That guy wasn't even wearing a headband. Did you use some special identification technique?"
"I told you repeatedly not to sleep during academy classes." Kakashi covered his face in embarrassment, responding with obvious disdain: "Did you even notice his skin color? That distinctive dark bronze complexion is generally only found in people who've lived in Kumogakure for extended periods. Minato-sensei deduced his origin based purely on that physical characteristic."
Actually, identifying Kumogakure shinobi proved remarkably straightforward—their unique dark bronze skin tone made concealing their village affiliation extraordinarily difficult.
"Next time we return to the village, remember to actually study the intelligence reports."
Kakashi sighed wearily before earnestly warning Obito: "Otherwise, I'm genuinely afraid you'll get yourself killed during field missions."
"Stop talking nonsense, Kakashi!"
Obito's face flushed bright crimson with instant fury. He glared at his teammate while grinding his teeth together audibly. "Of course I knew that! I was just too nervous in the moment and temporarily forgot!"
"Stop your bickering, both of you."
Minato Namikaze gently interrupted their argument, his usually warm expression now incredibly serious and focused. "We're currently engaged in active combat. I've heard that name before—Killer Bee is part of Kumogakure's newest A-B combination. He's supposedly the next Raikage's right-hand man and closest partner. Don't underestimate him under any circumstances."
"A-B combination? What kind of weird name is that?" Obito's face displayed his characteristic confusion once again.
Rin, unable to bear witnessing his ignorance any longer, leaned closer to whisper in his ear: "The A-B partnership is a legendary tradition passed down through generations in Kumogakure. Every Raikage takes the title 'A,' and each 'A' must find a perfect partner designated as 'B' with whom they share flawless combat synergy. It's said that only when the two operate in perfect coordination can they unleash their absolute maximum potential."
Although he didn't fully comprehend the strategic implications, Obito grasped the most critical element: "So basically... this guy is really strong?"
"Extremely strong!" Kakashi's visible eye showed genuine gravity. He gripped the tantō strapped to his back, assuming a defensive combat stance while stating in a tense voice: "I can clearly sense the sheer quantity of chakra that opponent possesses. It's absolutely astonishing—just perceiving it makes my body tremble instinctively!"
Only at this moment did Obito and Rin fully realize that Kakashi had been deliberately positioning himself in front of them, absorbing the overwhelming oppressive aura emanating from their enemy.
Fine beads of cold sweat formed across Kakashi's face. Obito could even observe that his teammate's back was completely soaked through with perspiration. The veins on the back of his hand gripping the sword handle bulged prominently. He existed in a state of extreme tension—his nerves and muscles taut like overstretched piano wire.
"Why would Kumogakure's A-B combination suddenly appear at Konoha's border checkpoint?"
Minato Namikaze noticed the alarmed reactions from his three students behind him. His brows furrowed with concern as he stepped protectively forward, though his vigilant gaze never wavered from Killer Bee.
"Unfortunately for you, Killer Bee ain't gonna tell ya nothin'! Yeah!"
With his distinctive slicked-back hairstyle, dark sunglasses, and bizarre rhythmic speech pattern, Killer Bee projected an unmistakably 'eccentric' vibe: "Konoha shinobi Since you done discovered Killer Bee's presence then I gotta kill you all now~ Otherwise my big bro gonna scold me again, fool! Ya fool!"
"Is this guy genuinely insane?" Obito couldn't help complaining aloud. "Can't you just speak normally?! Don't you realize how exhausting that is to listen to?!"
"Idiot! You're the idiot! Big stupid idiot! Bakayarō! Konoyarō!"
Killer Bee swayed his body rhythmically as if following some internal beat, then raised his middle finger directly at Obito with obvious provocation.
"You bastard!"
Obito prepared to charge forward in righteous anger, but Rin—maintaining her rational composure—grabbed his arm restrainingly.
Then, the very next instant—
Minato Namikaze, who had been standing perfectly still, suddenly materialized directly behind Killer Bee as if he'd teleported instantaneously.
His movement speed proved so phenomenally fast that even Killer Bee had no time to react properly—as if reality itself had skipped a beat.
"So incredibly fast!"
Even Killer Bee appeared genuinely startled. His previously casual expression transformed instantly into one of serious alarm.
"My apologies, but since you refuse to explain your presence here, I have no alternative except to capture you for interrogation."
Minato Namikaze's expression remained calm as an undisturbed lake surface. He angled his tri-pronged kunai toward the back of Killer Bee's exposed neck with lethal precision, slashing horizontally in a burst of cold steel.
Whoosh!
Operating almost purely on refined combat instinct, Killer Bee executed the correct evasive response.
He contorted his muscular body into a bizarrely flexible posture, allowing the deadly blade to graze mere millimeters past his face—narrowly avoiding the potentially fatal attack!
Minato felt secretly astonished. He genuinely hadn't anticipated that someone with such a bear-like physique could move with the fluid flexibility of a serpent.
"Don't you dare underestimate Killer Bee! Weee!"
In the precise instant the kunai passed harmlessly by, Killer Bee's contorted body snapped back to its original position like a compressed spring suddenly released.
The muscles throughout his right arm bulged dramatically. His dark skin resembled hardened rock sculpture as bulging veins and blood vessels coiled like dragons, radiating explosive physical power. Violent crackling lightning chakra surged visibly through the air, emitting genuinely chilling roars of raw energy!
Utilizing the rebounding momentum, Killer Bee slammed both legs powerfully into the ground, causing the surrounding earth to crack and fracture from the tremendous force.
His thick, muscular arm—appearing like blackened reinforced steel—accumulated terrifying kinetic energy before hurtling toward Minato Namikaze at absolutely astonishing velocity!
"Lightning Straight! Yeah!"
BOOM!
The overwhelming force generated visible atmospheric distortion and produced a genuinely deafening explosive roar.
Anyone with combat experience could immediately recognize the devastating power contained within that single devastating strike!
A direct frontal impact would result in shattered bones and torn tendons at minimum—genuine risk of immediate death!
"Minato-sensei!"
Both Rin and Obito couldn't suppress their alarmed cries.
Observing the rapidly approaching iron-hard fist, Minato Namikaze maintained perfect calm and composure, immediately activating his Flying Thunder God Technique without hesitation.
Space-time ninjutsu possessed unimaginable tactical advantages during shinobi combat—naturally granting an essentially invincible defensive position. This represented his greatest strategic asset.
Minato vanished instantaneously once more, causing Killer Bee's confident attack to strike nothing but empty air.
The tremendous forward momentum caused Killer Bee to lose his balance temporarily. The significant overextension after his committed strike left him with a massive exploitable opening.
Minato naturally wouldn't waste such an opportunity. As he flung a marked kunai with his left hand, his right hand's fingers spread slightly—chakra swirling like a miniature hurricane—intending to use the kunai as a teleportation anchor to appear directly beside his opponent and decisively end the engagement.
However, he was suddenly interrupted by an unexpected arrival.
BOOM!
A lightning-wreathed figure descended from the sky like a devastating meteor strike.
Instantly, an extraordinarily violent combat aura—accompanied by booming thunder—swept across the entire battlefield like an enraged tsunami, generating massive explosive shockwaves.
Amidst the billowing dust clouds, one could vaguely perceive surging electrical currents and a powerfully built man clad in crackling lightning armor.
"Bee! I'm here, partner!"
A deep, resonant voice rang out authoritatively as the lightning-armored figure revealed his true appearance.
He sported a distinctive slicked-back blonde hairstyle, a short trimmed beard on his strong chin, rugged masculine features, and the characteristic bronze skin tone. But what proved most immediately striking was his remarkably robust and heavily muscled physique—bulging muscles resembling a meticulously sculpted marble statue, radiating extreme physical power and violent beauty.
The atmosphere itself seemed to tremble and distort the precise moment Minato Namikaze's eyes met the intimidating man's fierce gaze.
[End of Chapter 128]
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