28

Pov Atsuchi

"Look what I got!" I exclaim, shaking the bell I managed to take from Minato, the result of our joint efforts.

"Good job, Atsuchi! We just need one more bell!" Guy responds, enthusiastic about the progress we are making.

Noticing Kakashi approaching calmly, I give him a sharp look and say, "You noticed it too, didn't you, Kakashi?"

"Hmm," Kakashi murmurs, nodding in agreement.

Confused, Guy asks, "What did you guys notice?"

"Don't worry about it, Guy. Just know that it won't be easy to get the second bell. Minato must be preparing for our battle," I explain to Guy, trying to calm him down.

"What do you think, Kakashi?" I ask, seeking Kakashi's opinion because a second perspective could help us come up with an effective plan to defeat Minato.

"During our previous encounter with Minato-sensei, I noticed some interesting points. He demonstrated great skill in wind nature transformation, being able to imbue his kunai with that property. This means that Minato-sensei probably has some Wind-style jutsu due to his previous feat," Kakashi replies, retrieving his tanto and storing it on his back.

"Furthermore, during our encounter, I noticed that Minato had a very peculiar ability that allowed him to teleport. It became evident during his presentation in the classroom and recently when he used that technique to escape from us," Kakashi continues.

"As expected from the genius Kakashi, he managed to figure out a little bit about Minato's technique," I internally compliment Kakashi, admiring his astuteness.

"You're not wrong about Minato indeed having a teleportation technique. Minato is using a technique created by the Second Hokage himself, the Hiraishin no Jutsu, or more commonly known as the Flying Thunder God Technique. My mentor and Minato's girlfriend told me about this technique," I share with my friends.

"During our conversations, she explained to me how this technique works. In other words, to activate this technique, Minato-sensei places a special seal to mark the intended destination he wants to teleport to," I explain, impressing Kakashi and Guy, as they had no idea this was possible.

Without losing the train of thought, I add more information about Minato-sensei's technique. "After that, he can freely teleport instantly to the location of the seal."

"That's incredible! But if this technique really works that way, how could we compete with the sensei in terms of speed? This is..." Guy says, but I quickly interrupt him.

"Impossible? No, Guy, that's where you're wrong. Minato's teleportation technique is indeed powerful, but like any other technique, it has a weakness," I explain.

Kakashi, skeptical, asks, "And what would that weakness be? We can't waste too much time."

"The only weakness of a user of this technique is the prerequisite need to mark the locations to teleport. And that's where the key to our victory lies. But before that, I must warn you that the mark can be applied to any area through brief physical contact, including an opponent or some other nearby object. So be careful," I conclude my reasoning.

Kakashi and Guy seem to process the information while I give a mischievous look to Guy, who remains confused and not fully understanding.

"That's right, Kakashi. Guy will be our bait," I affirm, revealing the plan that has formed in my mind.

"Am I going to be the bait?" Guy asks, surprised by the idea I'm proposing. Gradually, he begins to understand and becomes uncomfortable with the situation.

Noticing Guy about to step away, I quickly use the Shushin no Jutsu to approach him and grab his shoulder. "Where do you think you're going, Guy? What about all that talk about Youth? Don't tell me you're giving up..."

Guy slaps my hand away and, with a brilliant smile on his face, turns decisively. "Never! I am Maito Guy, and I will be the greatest Taijutsu user in the world! I would never falter in the face of a challenge like this!" he exclaims, striking an exaggerated pose.

Observing that scene, I simply smile and say, "I guess we have a plan then." Both of my longtime friends seem to agree. Once again, we are ready to face the challenge and overcome Minato.

I grab a storage scroll and summon some materials needed to draw Fuuinjutsu seals. "Now, Guy, take off the jumpsuit!"

"What? No way!" Guy exclaims, quickly stepping away.

"Don't worry, idiot. Nobody here is gay, there's nothing to worry about," I retort, trying to calm Guy, who seems to be getting more and more uncomfortable.

Time Skip - 2 hours later

Finally, after some time, we find ourselves face to face with Minato, who patiently awaited us at Training Field 7. We are confident in our strategy and face him with determination.

"I was getting bored. Why did you take so long?" Minato asks cunningly.

"Sorry, sensei, we had to stop to help an old lady carry her groceries home," respond Kakashi, letting a sarcastic tone slip.

He smiles in response and throws his special kunai towards me. But to his surprise, I am fast enough to defend the attack with the wide part of my sword, creating small sparks upon impact.

"Don't be rude, Minato-sensei. We've just arrived," I taunt, mocking his attempt.

Minato smiles again and quickly throws a second kunai towards a tree. He disappears from our sight and reappears exactly where his kunai was previously, a few meters in front of us.

Anticipating his movements, I notice Kakashi reappear with his tanto bathed in lightning, positioning himself where Minato stands. They engage in a brief aerial confrontation.

Kakashi performs a horizontal slash, but his attack is once again blocked by Minato's kunai, which is now infused with wind elemental properties.

I decide to act and try to attack Minato from behind, taking advantage of his blind spot. I use the Shushin no Jutsu to reappear with my short sword also infused with lightning chakra and launch the attack. However, to my surprise, Minato manages to react easily, twisting his body and defending my strike.

Minato pushes me away, and I quickly start weaving hand seals: Boar, Ram, Horse, Tiger. I finish with the Tiger seal, strongly associated with fire techniques. I take a deep breath and recall a classic ninjutsu used by many Uchihas.

"Katon: Goukakyuu no Jutsu," I repeat in my mind, with the voice echoing in my thoughts. I exhale the air I had breathed in forcefully, invoking a powerful spherical fireball that travels at high speed towards Minato, who furrows his brow.

Seeing the gigantic fireball approaching, Minato uses his Flying Thunder God Technique again, reappearing under a nearby tree.

"How ferocious you all are," Minato says with a smile as he retrieves a kunai previously stuck in a tree. His tone carries a slight mix of admiration and amusement.

"You almost got me..." Minato interrupts himself when he notices Guy in a peculiar position, with his arms crossed and a green aura surrounding him.

"I won't fall behind! This is the power of my youth!" Guy exclaims, his voice full of enthusiasm, disappearing from his location at superhuman speed, causing the ground around him to deform, leaving only debris in his wake.

I watch in awe at Guy's power, but I know he can't maintain this form for long. He had only started training this technique a few months ago, and it limited the time he could use it before exhausting himself completely.

Minato is caught off guard by Guy, who reappears behind him, emitting green vapor and prominent veins all over his body, delivering a powerful blow to Minato's back. However, Minato is extremely powerful, and with a simple glance, he teleports again to one of his marks in the forest, escaping the attack.

"Guy's technique is impressive, but Minato is a formidable opponent," I think as I observe the scene.

Without wasting time, I act in conjunction with my shadow clone, which had previously prepared explosive tags in various markings scattered around Training Ground 7. With a tiger seal and a shout of "Katsu," I activate all the explosive tags at once, surrounding Minato and his Flying Thunder God Technique marks with the threat of explosions.

Minato notices the trap and has no choice but to teleport to the only remaining spot, appearing close to Guy, who is still surrounded by green vapor, patiently waiting for his arrival. Guy delivers a powerful blow, but even so, Minato manages to defend himself.

"No, Minato-sensei, you got it wrong. We've got you!" I say with a malicious smile as I observe the physical confrontation between Minato and Guy.

Seizing the moment, I quickly perform another sequence of hand seals. "Seal Transfer Technique," I recite the name of my technique as I activate it.

In the next instant, Guy's body glows, and a seal starts moving toward Minato's body, who was still in contact with Guy's attack. With a mental command, I change the seal that was marked on Guy, completing the technique with a Rat seal.

"FuuinJutsu: Suppressor Seal Activate!" I shout, causing the seal on Minato's body to transform into a chakra-suppressing seal, simple yet effective, denying him the ability to use chakra and hindering the use of his ninjutsu.

Minato, upon seeing the three of us closing in on him, smiles lightly and thinks, "What little monsters." His gaze conveys admiration for our determination and cunning, but he doesn't easily let himself be overcome.