Terumi Mei said solemnly, "Minato Namikaze? I've heard of him."
"Konoha is really shameless! They actually sent a Kage-level ninja to deal with me, a regular Chuunin."
At this point, Namikaze Minato had already made quite a name for himself on the battlefield.
The name "Yellow Flash" had been spreading across Iwagakure. His reputation had grown tremendously.
However, the current Namikaze Minato hadn't yet developed the Rasengan, and most of his kills relied on his kunai.
He became a Kage-level threat primarily due to the Flying Thunder God Technique and his unmatched speed. His raw destructive power wasn't particularly overwhelming.
But after all, most ninjas are high-offense, low-defense types. For most, even a kunai is deadly enough.
Moreover, Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique made him practically untouchable to ordinary Chuunin and Genin. He completely outclassed them.
His ability to dispatch them was like mowing down grass, and his threat level was far higher than most Kage-tier shinobi.
"Don't worry! At worst, you'll just lose faster," Zenkichi said, trying to comfort Terumi Mei.
She rolled her eyes and said with a bitter expression, "Minato Namikaze earned the name Yellow Flash on the battlefield."
"They say his Flying Thunder God Technique is so fast, his entire body becomes a golden blur—and he can kill in an instant."
"Aren't you worried that if he makes a mistake or goes rogue, I'll be dead?"
Zenkichi smiled casually. "You don't have to worry. As long as I'm here, nothing will happen to you."
Although Namikaze Minato was strong, Zenkichi's observation skills and laser-like precision were no joke.
With his sensory prowess and light-speed attacks, Zenkichi was fully confident he could protect Terumi Mei.
Even if Minato had been assigned to assassinate her during the match, Zenkichi was certain he could keep her safe.
Terumi Mei exhaled deeply and said, "Since you're so confident, I'll go."
She stepped down from the spectator seats and entered the stadium.
Minato Namikaze, with his signature blond hair, entered with a warm smile on his face.
Many of the older women in the crowd applauded him enthusiastically.
"What a charming man!"
"Hard to believe someone with such a gentle smile is a killer on the battlefield!"
"The Flying Thunder God Technique he uses to slaughter enemy ninjas is terrifying!"
Zenkichi nonchalantly pulled out a pair of nail scissors and began trimming his nails.
"Yellow Flash? Honestly, I think that name would suit you better," he remarked casually.
Master Genji, seated next to Zenkichi, chuckled and responded, "Yellow Flash?"
"Namikaze Minato earned that title with his technique and that rare blond hair."
"Flash refers to his speed with the Flying Thunder God. Yellow, for that brilliant hair. It fits."
"Too bad he got the name first."
Zenkichi smirked lazily. "Not really interested in the name Yellow Flash."
"With my strength, I could earn a title of my own."
Yagura scoffed. "Even if I wanted a title, it wouldn't be something like 'Yellow Flash.'"
"That doesn't capture the full extent of my power."
"Flash? That's just sparkle. I don't just shine—I radiate. How about… 'Golden Sun'?"
"I am the sun!"
Zenkichi smiled as he said it, in such a relaxed tone that it didn't even sound like he was serious.
"Forget it," he added. "Nicknames like that are better left to your enemies."
Genji shook his head, ending the conversation.
As they chatted, Terumi Mei and Minato Namikaze began to engage in fierce combat inside the arena.
Minato pulled out several special kunai from his ninja pouch—each one inscribed with the Flying Thunder God seal.
He scattered them across the stadium—some on the ground, some embedded in the walls.
"Namikaze Minato? What a handsome guy…"
"Too bad he's a little too… pretty-boy for my taste."
Terumi Mei looked at Minato, formed hand seals, then suddenly spat a stream of acid from her mouth.
"Lava Release: Dissolving Jutsu!"
The corrosive liquid surged toward Minato. But with a flicker of motion, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique to teleport instantly—appearing behind Terumi Mei.
He calmly picked up one of his marked kunai and threw it toward her without hesitation.
Terumi Mei narrowly dodged by leaning aside—barely avoiding the kunai.
But Minato's combat instincts were razor sharp. The moment she dodged, he appeared beside another of his kunai, grabbed it mid-air, and swept it toward her neck.
Terumi Mei didn't panic. Instead, she smirked slightly—then her body exploded into a crashing wave.
Water Clone!
The real Terumi Mei hadn't been hit. That was just a clone made of water.
Minato immediately teleported to the edge of the stadium using another kunai.
In the original series, even the Fourth Raikage pushing his physical limits couldn't corner Minato. His reflexes and reaction speed were among the best in the ninja world.
As the water clone exploded, the surge of liquid rushed to trap Minato inside a prison of water.
Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!
The clone hadn't been a decoy—it had used all its chakra to cast the jutsu as it burst.
"Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu!"
Another Terumi Mei emerged from the ground, then burst into mist, rapidly filling the arena with dense fog.
The real Terumi Mei was still hiding underground. She already knew some of Minato's abilities and understood that a direct clash would be suicide.
"Winning is hard… but maybe I can at least go down fighting," she thought to herself. "I just can't afford to lose too badly."
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Last chapter for today, It'd be a daily update from tomorrow.
I'd post 30 chapters on my p@treon tonight, look forward to it.