Meanwhile, deep within the Forest of Death, Minato and his two teammates cautiously navigated the dense undergrowth. The air was thick with tension; every rustle of leaves and snap of twigs could signal an ambush. Despite the heavy atmosphere, Minato remained calm, his sharp eyes scanning their surroundings with practiced precision.
It wasn't long before danger presented itself. Three Grass Village ninja emerged from the shadows—two men and a single young woman. The twin men, bearing nearly identical features, looked slightly older than Minato, their confident postures radiating arrogance. The female ninja, younger and red-haired, immediately caught Minato's attention. Her hair color was strikingly similar to that of his classmate, Uzumaki Kushina. But unlike Kushina's fearless and fiery demeanor, this girl seemed timid and subservient.
Minato observed her closely and noticed the fear in her eyes whenever she looked at the twin men. She flinched at their every move, clearly aware of the hierarchy within her squad. Something about this trio felt unnatural, almost cruel.
One of the twin Grass ninja stepped forward, his voice brimming with arrogance. "Three Leaf Village brats. Hand over your scrolls nicely, and maybe we won't have to beat you into the ground."
His brother snickered in agreement, their tone dripping with disdain. They clearly underestimated Minato and his team, seeing them as mere children to be toyed with.
Mukai Tomoki, ever impulsive and brimming with pride, could not tolerate such arrogance. His eyes narrowed, and his fists clenched. "Bastards! How dare you look down on us? Today, I'll show you what I can do!"
Without waiting for a response, Tomoki lunged at the twins, driven by righteous fury and youthful overconfidence. But his courage far outstripped his skill. The twins, trained and seasoned beyond his level, countered swiftly and mercilessly. Tomoki was struck down almost instantly, thrown to the ground with a brutal force that left him coughing up blood.
"Brat, let us show you what true power is," one of the twins sneered, his cruel grin widening as he prepared to strike again.
Seeing his teammate beaten so effortlessly, Minato's calm demeanor shifted into something far more dangerous. His expression darkened, and a chill ran through the air around him. Unlike Tomoki, whose strength came from determination and raw will, Minato's power was natural, honed, and overwhelming. With a single, fluid movement, he struck down both Grass ninja, leaving them injured and coughing up blood.
The twins were left stunned. Minato had moved faster than their eyes could follow, his speed and precision leaving them unable to comprehend what had just occurred.
At the same time, Sasaki Ayame knelt beside the injured Tomoki, helping him to sit upright. "Tomoki, are you alright?" she asked gently.
Shaking his head and wiping the blood from his lips, Tomoki insisted, "It's just a minor injury. I'm fine."
Ayame pressed lightly on his shoulder, and he immediately hissed in pain. She raised an eyebrow. "Always trying to act tough," she said, but wisely chose not to push further. Tomoki, wincing, fell silent, abandoning his pretense of bravado.
---
The two remaining Grass ninja quickly recovered their composure and shouted at the red-haired female ninja. "Yumiko, hurry up and get over here so we can take a bite!"
Yumiko trembled, instinctively shrinking back at their harsh command. Yet, despite her fear, she stepped forward, extending both arms reluctantly. The twins, ignoring her pain entirely, grabbed her arms and pulled up her sleeves, revealing arms covered in deep bite marks.
Minato's eyes widened in shock. The two ninja immediately bit down, drawing her strength. As they did, the injuries they had previously sustained from Minato's attack miraculously healed. Blood flowed back into wounds as if time had reversed.
Minato could hardly believe what he was witnessing. The technique was beyond standard medical ninjutsu; it was miraculous, a power almost unnatural in its potency. Yet, looking at Yumiko, he saw the strain etched on her face. This ability came at a heavy cost—she had to endure incredible pain to heal others.
"This… is your teammate?" Minato asked, his voice low but sharp.
The twins sneered in unison. "Teammate? She only survives because of our Grass Village. Naturally, she must contribute something in return."
Minato felt a surge of righteous anger. To treat a fellow ninja as a mere tool, to exploit her life force for their convenience, was utterly unconscionable. His teeth clenched. These two were not teammates—they were monsters.
"Brat, that sneak attack only succeeded because we were careless earlier. Now, witness our true strength!"
The twins simultaneously formed hand signs, preparing a formidable ninjutsu. One summoned a roaring fire serpent, while the other conjured a slicing gust of wind. It was clear that they intended to use combination ninjutsu, a technique requiring impeccable coordination.
Mukai Tomoki and Ayame gasped. Combination Ninjutsu required mastery beyond the typical Genin level. Any misstep could result in the users harming themselves. The twins, being identical and perfectly synchronized, were exceptionally skilled.
Minato, feeling the heat from the fire serpent, remained composed. He was no ordinary Genin; his abilities had long surpassed his current rank. With a swift formation of hand signs, he unleashed his own technique:
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
A massive gust of wind erupted from his mouth, slicing through the fire serpent as if it were nothing. The twins' attacks were shattered midair, leaving them dumbfounded.
"How… how is this possible?" they stammered. Fire Release should have countered Wind Release. Yet Minato's strength was so immense that even elemental disadvantages were irrelevant.
Minato's gaze was cold, his next words carrying quiet menace. "Do not ever treat another ninja as less than human."
With that, he redirected his chakra, creating a violent blast that hurled the twins and nearby trees dozens of meters through the air. They crashed to the ground, dazed and utterly defeated.
Ayame moved swiftly to ensure Tomoki was safe, while Minato approached Yumiko, concern etched across his face. Despite her abilities, she was clearly exhausted and in pain. Her shoulders shook as she fought to remain standing, her resilience admirable but taxing.
"This… is incredible," Minato murmured under his breath. "A ninja with such a skill, and yet treated as a tool… I cannot allow this."
He silently resolved to protect her, to ensure she would never again be exploited or treated as less than human. Minato's anger had subsided into quiet determination, a promise to himself and Yumiko.
---
The Forest of Death stretched endlessly around them, yet for the first time, Yumiko felt a sense of safety. The overwhelming fear that had haunted her for so long began to ease. With Minato and his companions by her side, she dared to imagine a life where she would be valued—not for her abilities, but for herself.
Minato turned to his teammates, his calm yet commanding presence returning. "Let's move forward. The Central Tower awaits, and we have little time to lose."
With a final glance at the incapacitated Grass ninja, Minato led the way. His thoughts lingered on Yumiko: a girl of immense power, yet burdened by cruelty she did not deserve. Protecting her had become his responsibility, a mission far more important than any scroll or exam.
The path ahead was fraught with danger, yet with his team united and his resolve firm, Minato felt ready for anything. The Forest of Death had claimed many lives, but with courage, skill, and the strength of friendship, they would prevail.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)