"Whoosh—"
With Minato's appearance, Hashirama and Tobirama's gazes were quickly drawn over.
"That blonde-haired one is the Fourth? He's wearing the Hokage robes and looks so young—this is the Fourth Hokage?" Hashirama marveled. With just a glance, he assessed Minato's approximate strength and was quite satisfied.
"Is that the Flying Thunder God Technique? This guy actually learned the forbidden technique I created. Not bad at all!"
Tobirama was equally impressed. He'd invented the Flying Thunder God Technique over ten years ago and hadn't kept it secret.
But hardly anyone in all of Konoha could learn it, yet a shinobi decades later managed it? That means the Fourth Hokage is technically my student too, doesn't it?
Tobirama felt secretly pleased, getting that rush of satisfaction like a cheat-code-dispensing old grandpa.
"Sir, what's this Fourth Hokage's name? How capable is he?"
"His name is Minato Namikaze."
"As for his capabilities, you could say he's the most outstanding Hokage of all generations."
"Huh?"
Both Hashirama and Tobirama were stunned. Praising the Fourth as the most outstanding right in front of them—the First and Second Hokage—wasn't that a bit rude?
At least be a little more tactful and save them some face!
Kai didn't bother arguing. That was genuinely what he believed anyway.
Minato wasn't the strongest Hokage, but he was undoubtedly the most outstanding one.
Born a commoner, yet he single-handedly swept through the Third Great Ninja War with his own power. Loyal to the village, deeply in love with his wife, decisive in combat, illustrious war achievements—he forced even the most hardline Cloud Village to not even dare breathe too loudly, and made the Third Hokage voluntarily pass on the position.
Aside from dying young, he had virtually no flaws.
As said before, if you truly gave him a few decades of time...
Most of the latter half of the Naruto story wouldn't even need to happen.
And Konoha's future... wouldn't have so many incidents that disgraced and humiliated the village. Take the Cloud Village kidnapping Hinata incident—had the Yellow Flash's edge dulled? Or did they miss that golden light?
Hearing this, both Hashirama and Tobirama developed intense curiosity about this future Fourth Hokage.
They were curious what kind of outstanding successor could earn this sage's praise as the most outstanding Hokage.
"Of course, as a Hokage he's extremely outstanding. But in other roles... he falls short..."
"Huh?"
The reversal came a bit fast, confusing the two again.
But at that moment.
Obito also arrived, once again drawing their attention.
"That's—the Sharingan? Another evil Uchiha?"
"Tobirama!"
"Fine, fine, I won't say evil. But it's most likely this guy who controlled the Nine-Tails, right? That movement method? Also a space-time ninjutsu?"
"Wait, then he's the one who attacked during the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki's childbirth? Big brother, this guy is an evil beast!"
Tobirama grew agitated, immediately slapping the label of "evil Uchiha" onto Obito.
Hashirama couldn't really say anything to that. Attacking a woman in childbirth was indeed despicable.
This Uchiha was definitely a bit bad...
"Wait, there's a familiar aura on him. It seems like he has my cells?"
"Indeed, half this guy's body is made from big brother's cells. What's going on?"
Tobirama also showed confusion. When did the Uchiha get their hands on big brother's cells?
"You'll understand this issue later."
"Come on. Let's place some bets and have some fun. Who do you think will win between these two?"
Kai became interested, taking the opportunity to set up a little wager.
But both Hashirama and Tobirama unanimously predicted Minato's certain victory.
The former judged based on his eye and experience. In his view, although Obito was mysterious, that aura was too inexperienced. Far inferior to the battle-hardened Minato.
Tobirama's judgment was even simpler—pure confidence in his Flying Thunder God Technique. This space-time ninjutsu was too overpowered.
"Tsk... Alright then, guess how long this battle will last?"
Hashirama: "An hour?"
Tobirama: "I say ten minutes!"
Both picked up on Kai's implication and realized Minato would win. But their estimates of the battle's duration differed.
Hashirama, who'd fought Madara for three days and three nights, and Tobirama, the fastest man in the shinobi world—naturally they had different senses of time.
...
On the other side, the battle between Minato and Obito began instantly.
The outcome needs no elaboration.
In just two exchanges, Minato analyzed Obito's attack patterns and Kamui's weakness.
And in the instant they clashed for the kill, he landed a devastating blow on Obito with a Rasengan plus Flying Thunder God Technique!
The entire process took just two rounds, less than half a minute.
"That's the Flying Thunder God Technique? Tobirama, he even learned that technique of yours?"
Hashirama clicked his tongue. He remembered very clearly the move that had killed Izuna.
"No, it's different!"
"He improved the Flying Thunder God. My Flying Thunder God Second Step can only transfer to moving objects and can't simultaneously activate ninjutsu."
"This Fourth Hokage can actually activate Flying Thunder God while executing a jutsu."
"Activating two types of ninjutsu simultaneously? That really is impressive!"
"No wonder that evil Uchiha miscalculated..."
"This guy's Flying Thunder God and Body Flicker Technique are both superior to mine!"
"For Konoha's next-next generation Hokage to be this outstanding—excellent!"
Senju Tobirama didn't hold back his praise. For someone as proud as him to offer such compliments spoke volumes about Minato Namikaze's excellence.
Even he couldn't overcome the barrier that 'shinobi cannot simultaneously execute two types of ninjutsu,' yet the Fourth Hokage managed it!
Although the 'Rasengan' didn't require hand seals, it was still absurd.
"Being able to simultaneously execute two types of ninjutsu, plus such keen battle awareness, and still so young—this Fourth Hokage might even surpass me in the future!"
Hashirama also praised him cheerfully.
Of course there was some exaggeration, but it was also genuine hope for an outstanding younger generation of shinobi.
Besides, when he and Madara were Minato's age, they truly didn't have this level of skill.
With such an outstanding Fourth Hokage leading them, he could already envision Konoha's bright future.
However, if the Fourth Hokage was this formidable, how did the Fourth Great Ninja War break out?
As confusion set in.
The battle between Minato and Obito also reached its conclusion.
When that Rasengan struck Obito's back earlier, it had also left a Flying Thunder God mark.
Minato teleported directly in front of Obito and followed up with a Contract Seal, severing Obito's connection with the Nine-Tails and releasing the Tailed Beast from the genjutsu control.
In less than three rounds.
Obito was completely defeated by Minato. Not only did he lose the Nine-Tails, but half his body was critically injured, his left arm completely melted away, robbing him of all combat capability.
"Worthy of being the Fourth Hokage—to actually sever my arm and strip away the Nine-Tails."
"But the Nine-Tails will become mine sooner or later!"
"I am one who will unify the world. I have plenty of methods..."
Obito talked tough, but his body was honest. He immediately activated Kamui to escape. If he stayed any longer, he'd probably lose his life.
Minato chose not to pursue, immediately rushing toward the village.
Compared to the fleeing mysterious masked man, the Nine-Tails required urgent handling.
...