Chapter 2 : 9th Place

The Taijutsu Konoha's Whirlwind that Might Guy performs was actually listed first on the Taijutsu list. Although he wasn't the only ninja who had practiced the Konoha Whirlwind, he was the pioneer and the most skilled user of the Konoha Whirlwind.

As a result, it was his Konoha Whirlwind that made it to the Taijutsu list.

[Third Hokage: Hahaha, the first one to appear on the Taijutsu list is our very own Konoha's Taijutsu Jonin!]

[Third Raikage: Sarutobi Hiruzen, what's there to be proud of? But it's ranked 100 on the Taijutsu list.]

However, Third Raikage's laughter faded as he continued reading because most of the Taijutsu further down the list also belonged to Konoha.

For instance, various techniques from the Hyuga clan, such as Gentle Fist, Eight Trigrams Palms, and Revolving Heaven, had all made it onto the list. Even Might Guy's various techniques were included.

Soon, the list of Taijutsu reached its top ten.

Everyone was eager to see this part of the list because the top ten were undoubtedly the most noteworthy, and everything below that was less significant.

Amidst the anticipation of the audience, the tenth-ranked Taijutsu was finally revealed.

[Tenth place on the Taijutsu list: Thousand Years of Death, performed by: Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato]

Upon seeing this, Fourth Hokage Minato was taken aback.

In the live broadcast room, Kakashi, who had inherited Fourth Hokage's teachings, excitedly exclaimed.

[Kakashi: Sensei, your Thousand Years of Death has made it to the tenth place on the Taijutsu list!]

[Uchiha Madara: Thousand Years of Death, what kind of Taijutsu is that? From the name, it sounds quite formidable!]

[Senju Hashirama: Ah, Madara, I believe this Thousand Years of Death must be a world-shaking Taijutsu technique, a true masterpiece. Fourth Hokage, you've outdone yourself to create such a powerful Taijutsu.]

However, those who were familiar with Thousand Years of Death exchanged bewildered glances. They never imagined that this technique would make it to the top ten of Taijutsu rankings.

Soon, an image appeared in the live broadcast room.

The image depicted Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato and a Jonin from the Cloud Shinobi Village.

Fourth Hokage employed space Ninjutsu to teleport behind his opponent and used the Thousand Years of Death hand sign to strike the opponent's back.

A scream echoed, and the Jonin was sent flying into the sky, only to crash back to the ground moments later.

The ninja audience watched with bated breath, some of the female ninjas couldn't contain their outrage.

[Terumi Mei: Fourth Hokage, I used to admire you, but I never expected you to develop such a shameless Ninjutsu.]

[Sakura: Lord Fourth Hokage, you were the original creator of this Ninjutsu; such a Taijutsu should not exist in the world.]

[Naruto: Hahaha, I thought Kakashi-sensei created this awesome Taijutsu, but it turns out Lord Fourth Hokage was behind it all! That's so annoying!]

[Kakashi: Naruto, don't speak ill of Lord Fourth Hokage; he's your father!]

[Naruto: Kakashi-sensei, what are you talking about? How could my dad be the Fourth Hokage?]

[Fourth Hokage: Naruto, Kakashi didn't lie, I am indeed your father. What? You didn't know?]

This revelation left Fourth Hokage in a fit of rage. How could his own son not recognize him?

[Fourth Hokage: @Sarutobi Hiruzen, sensei, I need an explanation for this!]

[Third Hokage: Ahem, I concealed your identity to protect Naruto's safety. If it's known that you sealed the Nine-Tails in your own son, your fame would overshadow mine completely. And what if Naruto resented you in the future for sealing the Nine-Tails and leaving him an orphan? I thought it was for the best.]

[Fourth Raikage: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Fourth Hokage sealed the Nine-Tails, right? He sealed it inside Naruto, yet Naruto didn't know who his father was? Everyone knows Naruto is the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki; are you sure you were protecting him?]

[Senju Hashirama: Sealing the Nine-Tails leads to death? Is the current Hokage that weak? Does sealing it really require one's life? But Thousand Years of Death is quite impressive. Fourth Hokage, can you teach it to me?]

[Senju Tobirama: Big brother, what happened to your principles? Pursuing such a shameless Taijutsu; are you serious?]

[Senju Hashirama: You guys are too narrow-minded. While you see this as a shameless Taijutsu, I see it as an efficient technique that can save lives in critical situations!]

[Senju Tobirama: Big brother, you're already dead. Do you really need to save lives? Are you here for that or to confront Uchiha Madara?]

[Uchiha Madara: Senju Hashirama, you really want to pick a fight with me? You're just dreaming!]

In the Hokage Office, Sarutobi Hiruzen felt a twinge of regret as he looked back on his decision to hide Naruto's identity. At first, he was selfishly concerned about preserving his own authority.

Revealing that the Fourth Hokage, his predecessor, had sealed the Nine-Tails in his son would eclipse his own legacy. He also feared that Naruto would harbor resentment once he learned the truth about his father's fate.

However, he now realized that Fourth Hokage might be disappointed with him as a teacher, even if he hadn't expressed it in the live broadcast.

The ninth Taijutsu on the list was announced soon after.

[Ninth place on the Taijutsu list: Lightning Style's Strongest Armor, performed by: Third Raikage]

Upon seeing this, Third Raikage was deeply dissatisfied.

[Third Raikage: How can this be? My Lightning Style's Strongest Armor ranks ninth? What could be better than this Taijutsu among the top eight?]

[Fourth Raikage: Even my father's Lightning Style's Strongest Armor couldn't hold up against Eight-Tails. Even if it's not ranked first, it should at least be in the top three!]

[Third Hokage: It's indeed quite baffling. The ninja world boasts many renowned Taijutsu techniques, and almost all have been showcased. We've even seen the Eight Gates Taijutsu. I'm struggling to imagine what could surpass them.]

[Terumi Mei: Perhaps it's an ancient Taijutsu technique? None of us have ever heard of it.]

Moments after the Lightning Style armor was ranked, an image appeared in the live broadcast room showing Third Raikage battling Eight-Tails.

In the image, Third Raikage had activated the Lightning Style's Strongest Armor and was engaging Eight-Tails in a full-on physical combat. Even when struck by Eight-Tails' attacks, his Lightning Style armor remained unscathed.

[Terumi Mei: This is a formidable Taijutsu technique; I doubt my Lava Release Jutsu could match it.]

[Senju Hashirama: Is that all? I could break it with a single hand!]

[Third Raikage: Lord Hashirama, you're clearly on a different level from me.]

Hokage Office.

Sarutobi Hiruzen couldn't help but be intrigued. Third Raikage's Lightning Style's Strongest Armor was renowned for its invincible defense and was considered the ultimate shield among Taijutsu techniques. Although it involved some Ninjutsu, it was undeniably one of the most formidable Taijutsu techniques. He wondered what Taijutsu could possibly surpass it, especially when even the Eight Gates Taijutsu had been displayed earlier.

He knew that the top eight Taijutsu techniques would be revealed soon, and he couldn't wait to see what they were.