Published at 17th of September 2024 9:08 am

Chapter 64 The Rise of the Yellow Flash: 1 A Shinobi's Duty

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Before he became the renowned Hokage, before he was the hero who saved Konoha from the Nine-Tails, Minato Namikaze was simply a young, talented shinobi with dreams of protecting his village. Known as the "Yellow Flash," his name was whispered in awe, but behind the scenes, Minato was just like any other ninja, navigating the challenges of missions, friendships, and love.

The sun had just begun to rise over the Hidden Leaf Village, casting golden light across the rooftops. Minato stood at the village gate, waiting for his squad to arrive. His mind, however, was elsewhere, as it often had been lately.

Kushina Uzumaki.

Every time Minato thought about her, he couldn’t help but smile. She was fierce, fiery, and unlike anyone he had ever met. But she was also difficult to read, and though they had known each other for years, Minato found it hard to tell where he stood with her.

"Minato!" a voice called out, pulling him from his thoughts. It was his teammate, Kiyoshi, a fellow jonin with dark hair and a sarcastic smile. "Daydreaming again, huh? I swear, you’re thinking about her, aren’t you?"

Minato’s cheeks flushed slightly, but he quickly shook his head, trying to maintain his calm demeanor. "What are you talking about?"

Kiyoshi grinned, nudging Minato with his elbow. "Oh, come on. Everyone knows about your little crush on Kushina. Don’t think you can hide it from me."

Before Minato could respond, their team leader, Hiruzen Sarutobi’s trusted jonin, arrived with a serious look on his face. "Enough chit-chat. We’ve got a mission, and it’s a high-ranking one. We’re heading to the borderlands."

Minato’s playful mood evaporated instantly. The borderlands were dangerous, a hotbed of tension between the nations. The mission was simple—escort a group of diplomats from the Land of Fire to the Land of Earth, ensuring that they arrived safely for a peace negotiation. However, rumors of bandit activity and potential interference from other shinobi villages had turned a routine task into a potentially deadly operation.

As they set out, Minato’s mind was focused on the mission ahead. He knew the risks, but he also knew that failure wasn’t an option. The future of the village depended on successful negotiations, and Minato’s duty was to make sure the diplomats arrived without harm.

The journey through the forest was tense. Every rustle of leaves, every distant sound set the team on edge. As they moved deeper into enemy territory, the air grew heavier with anticipation.

Hours passed, and finally, they reached a narrow mountain pass. It was the perfect place for an ambush.

"Stay alert," the team leader whispered as they cautiously moved forward. Minato’s senses were on high alert, his hand hovering near his kunai pouch. He could feel the presence of others nearby, lurking just out of sight.

Suddenly, an explosion rocked the mountainside. A cloud of smoke and dust erupted around them as enemy shinobi descended from the cliffs, weapons drawn. It was a trap.

Minato’s reflexes kicked in immediately. He summoned a kunai marked with his Flying Thunder God technique and disappeared in a flash of yellow light, reappearing behind the nearest enemy and striking him down before he could react.

The battle erupted into chaos. Kiyoshi and the others engaged the enemy shinobi while Minato darted from one opponent to another, his speed and precision overwhelming them. Even in the midst of battle, his thoughts were clear: protect the diplomats, and ensure the mission’s success.

But as the fight raged on, Minato noticed something strange. The enemies weren’t targeting the diplomats—they were after him. A coordinated attack focused on isolating him from his team.

"Minato!" Kiyoshi shouted, realizing the same thing. "They’re trying to separate you! Watch your back!"

Minato barely had time to react as a barrage of explosive tags was thrown in his direction. He teleported away just in time, the explosion shaking the ground where he had stood moments before.

"Why are they after me?" Minato thought, his mind racing. He had faced many enemies before, but this felt different. There was something more to this ambush.

Before he could dwell on it, an enemy shinobi clad in black charged at him with a blade infused with chakra. Minato deflected the attack with ease, his kunai clashing with the enemy’s blade. With a swift movement, he teleported behind the attacker and disarmed him.

As the last of the enemies were defeated, Minato regrouped with his team, the diplomats still safe and unharmed. But the ambush left him uneasy.

"That was too organized," Minato said, frowning. "They weren’t just random bandits. They were after me specifically."

The team leader nodded gravely. "It seems someone’s taken notice of your growing reputation, Minato. We’ll have to stay on guard."

_______________________________________________________________

Later that evening, back in Konoha, Minato couldn’t shake the feeling that something bigger was at play. He had encountered skilled enemies before, but this felt targeted—like someone was watching him from the shadows.

After reporting to the Hokage, Minato found himself wandering through the village streets, lost in thought. His feet eventually led him to the training grounds, where, to his surprise, he found Kushina practicing alone.

She was in the middle of perfecting her chakra control, sweat glistening on her forehead as she concentrated on her technique. Minato watched her silently for a moment, admiring her determination and strength.

"Kushina," he called out, stepping into the clearing.

She turned, her face lighting up in a grin as she saw him. "Minato! What are you doing here?"

"I could ask you the same thing," he said with a chuckle. "Training late into the night?"

Kushina shrugged, wiping the sweat from her brow. "You know me. I’m always trying to get stronger."

Minato smiled, but there was a flicker of something in his eyes—an emotion he couldn’t quite name. Being around Kushina always made him feel different, like he could take on the world if she was by his side.

"Hey, Kushina…" he began, hesitating slightly. "I was wondering… would you like to grab something to eat? After all that training, I’m sure you’re hungry."

Kushina blinked in surprise, then laughed. "Are you asking me out, Minato?"

Minato’s face turned a deep shade of red, but he managed a smile. "Maybe I am."

Kushina stared at him for a moment before a soft smile spread across her lips. "Sure. I could eat."

As they walked through the quiet streets of Konoha, Minato couldn’t help but feel that, despite the dangers and uncertainties ahead, this was the beginning of something special.

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