"That guy... actually stopped ten thousand Ninjas..."
Looking at everything in front of him in disbelief, Kakashi's right eye, exposed outside, widened in shock.
Watching the teenager with crimson hair single-handedly slaughtering a massive Iwa-nin army on the battlefield, deep and awe-inspiring voices emanated from under Kakashi's black face mask.
"To confront ten thousand and still defeat such a large Iwa-nin force..."
"How is it possible... Can someone really achieve such a thing?"
Not only Kakashi, but every Konoha Ninja who had rushed to support, stood there with mouths agape as if stunned. They were completely astonished by the scene before them.
"Has he really grown to this extent..."
Looking at the shocking scene and the unbelievable figure on the battlefield, Minato Namikaze, who stood at the forefront, remained silent. However, an unprecedented astonishment and bewilderment were evident in his azure-blue eyes.
Originally, he thought his assessment of Yu was already high enough, but the incredible strength displayed by this extraordinary youth continuously shattered his preconceived notions time and time again.
"Yu..."
Standing beside Kakashi and Might Guy, Kurenai, with her captivating pair of red eyes, stared fixedly at the figure on the battlefield. Perhaps this scene would be unforgettable for the rest of her life.
"Oh no! Konoha's Ninjas!"
"Konoha's reinforcements have arrived!"
At this moment, the Iwa-nin, who had already been terrified by Yu, also noticed the approaching Konoha Ninja forces not far away.
Amidst the exclamations, the will to fight finally completely dispersed. They immediately abandoned the plan to continue the attack, organizing their forces for a swift retreat.
"These guys... have finally arrived, huh..."
"Their movements are really slow..."
The drizzling rain on the battlefield gradually subsided. A burst of chakra shot from Yu's fingertips, killing an Iwa-nin who hadn't managed to evacuate in time.
Yu turned around and glanced at the Konoha Ninja forces that had finally arrived. A bitter smile involuntarily crept onto his lips as he felt the depletion of his chakra and physical strength, causing him to sway on the verge of collapse.
Boom, boom, boom...
Seeing the Iwa-nin forces in front of him scattering in retreat, Tyrant, Michael, and Toshogun, the three Devil Puppets, instantly turned into a white mist and disappeared, summoned back into the space by Yu's Summoning Jutsu.
"He actually held out?! That was a full ten thousand Ninjas!!"
"You, kid... are you really a monster..."
At the same time, Akimichi Doto, leading the Konoha group, had sprinted from a high vantage point to Yu's side on the battlefield.
Seeing that Yu had indeed successfully halted the massive onslaught of ten thousand Iwa-nin, excitement overwhelmed Akimichi Doto, and he couldn't help but slap Yu on the shoulder.
"Whoa... be gentle!!"
Already drained of chakra and physical strength, Yu, struck hard by Akimichi Doto's hand, almost stumbled and fell to the ground. Grimacing in pain, he managed a bitter smile at the corner of his mouth.
"If you guys didn't show up, I might have really kicked the bucket..."
Indeed, even though Yu's chakra reserves far exceeded those of a Jonin, he wasn't currently on the level of the Third Raikage from the original series, surpassing even Kage-level ninjas. Without the power of the Thread Fruit combined with the strength of the three Devil Puppets, just relying on Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu to counter ten thousand Iwa-nin would probably be fatal, even if there were ten Yus.
Being able to successfully hold off a full ten thousand Iwa-nin until the arrival of the Konoha Ninja forces was already the utmost limit of what he could achieve.
"Doto, you guys stay and take care of Yu..."
"I'll lead them to pursue the scattered Iwa-nin."
At this moment, a calm and composed voice rang out, and the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, appeared in front of Yu and Akimichi Doto.
The Puppet Jutsu from earlier... Could it be?!
Surveying Yu, who had expended both chakra and stamina, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but furrow his brow slightly with his azure eyes.
Having just witnessed Yu controlling three immensely powerful and unique puppet dolls to slaughter Iwa-nin, while marveling at Yu's extraordinary strength, Minato Namikaze couldn't help but feel a hint of hesitation and concern in his heart.
"So... have you truly become the Fourth Hokage of Konoha?"
"Come to think of it, I haven't had a chance to congratulate you... Minato."
Sensing the peculiar gaze from Minato Namikaze, Yu remained composed. However, when his gaze fell upon the white Hokage robe on Minato Namikaze, a trace of inexplicable emotion crossed his face.
It's worth noting that Yu's current status is as the disciple of the Third Hokage. In terms of seniority in Konoha, he is technically not that far from the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
"It's just the villagers showing their support..."
"If it were someone else, I believe they could do even better than me."
Hearing Yu's sigh, Minato Namikaze, in his habitual modesty, offered a few humble words before promptly using Body Flicker Jutsu to disappear from the spot, leading the Konoha Ninja forces to pursue the retreating Iwa-nin.
Although more than half of the Iwa-nin forces had already been severely diminished by Yu, they still posed a considerable and formidable threat. Allowing them to linger on the borders of the Land of Fire would undoubtedly become a lethal menace.
Yugao hasn't come...
As Minato Namikaze and the Konoha Ninja forces departed, Yu scanned his surroundings. Apart from Kakashi and Might Guy, the expected figure was conspicuously absent.
"This is really... too chaotic!"
"To face so many Ninjas alone! What if something goes wrong?!"
At that moment, another melodious voice resounded with indignation. Yu turned around, locking eyes with the striking and angry face of Kurenai.
"Kurenai-nee..."
Seeing Kurenai, who had become even more charming after more than a year, Yu let out an awkward chuckle in response to the gaze of the irate young woman.
"Hmph, just to make it clear, I'm not interested in worrying about your well-being."
Seeing that Yu was unharmed, Kurenai's anxious heart finally eased. However, witnessing Yu's sheepish expression at this moment, she adopted a stern look and said, "I just think, if you were to die like this, that little girl Yugao would definitely cry her heart out."
Being tsundere really doesn't suit you at all!
Hearing Kurenai's clearly contradictory words and witnessing this textbook example of tsundere behavior from the future beautiful older sister, Yu found it amusing. Yet, amidst the laughter, a warm feeling surged within him.
But then again...
When did she and Yugao become so close?
However, seeing Kurenai, who used to have little to no interaction with Yugao before he left Konoha, now having such an intimate relationship with her, akin to the closest of friends, Yu couldn't help but feel a sense of puzzlement.
"Alright, let's go."
"We can talk about anything else once we're back in Konoha."
At that moment, glancing at the grim battlefield littered with floating corpses, and catching the pungent smell of blood in the air, Kurenai couldn't help but furrow her brows slightly.
Without saying a word, she pulled Yu from beside Akimichi Doto, placing his arm over her delicate shoulder, and then they vanished from the spot in an instant.
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