Bang!
No one saw clearly how Minato counterattacked.
In just a split second, Dan Katō's body, like a shrimp, arched and flew backwards at the speed of a cannonball leaving the barrel, smashing heavily into a thick tree trunk!
"Pfft! Cough cough..."
Dan Katō rolled down from the tree in a wretched state, coughing up a mouthful of blood, looking at Minato with horror in his eyes.
"Sensei Dan!"
Seeing Dan Katō kicked away by Minato, Ayako exclaimed worriedly.
Nawaki hurriedly comforted, "Don't worry, Minato knows what he's doing."
"One of the tactical qualities of a ninja—Taijutsu."
Minato maintained the posture of kicking out, and under everyone's shocked gaze, slowly retracted his leg.
"As the only ability in the ninja tactical system that can be launched instantly without refining chakra, Senior Katō is not very solid in this aspect of training." (Dan Katō's Taijutsu stat is only 7...)
"Cough—"
Hearing this, Dan Katō coughed up another mouthful of blood, gritted his teeth, and propped himself up.
Monster!
This kid is simply a monster!
The terrifying power of that kick just now even made him vaguely see a revolving lantern (life flashing before eyes)!
Is this fking eight years old?!
Poof!
A smoke bomb exploded under his feet. Dan Katō clutched his abdomen and hid his figure.
"So strong!"
On the tree canopy not far away, Mikoto watched this scene, covered her mouth, and exclaimed softly, her eyes full of amazement.
Unexpectedly, with just one kick, Minato almost incapacitated a Jonin. Comparing this, his performance when fighting with her just now was simply too gentle.
In the forest, behind a thick tree.
Dan Katō leaned against the trunk, turned his head to look at Minato in the distance, his forehead covered with cold sweat.
Minato's kick had kicked his originally clear thinking into paste.
Just as he was thinking about how to deal with this freak, suddenly a gentle voice rang in his ear.
"What is Senior looking for? Let me help you find it?"
"!!!"
Dan Katō was horrified. Just as he wanted to counterattack, a kunai was already placed horizontally in front of his neck.
"Sorry, Senior, I really don't have the leisure to play with you anymore. Being willing to waste words with you until now is already out of respect for Senior's age."
Minato looked at the cold sweat on the other party's forehead, his tone light: "I don't dislike ambitious men, but you can't have designs on the people around me."
There is nothing wrong with liking someone, even playing some tricks is understandable, but Dan Katō's intention was too obvious.
"You... you misunderstood, Minato-kun."
The most unbearable secret in his heart was exposed. Dan Katō's heart sank. He subconsciously swallowed and smiled reluctantly, "I was just..."
"I'm not here to listen to explanations, Senior."
Minato slowly retracted the kunai, his tone unquestionable: "Nawaki will take Senior Orochimaru as his teacher. He may join the Anbu or the Root. Team 7 will have new members, and we all have a bright future."
A bright future...
A bitter smile appeared on the corner of Dan Katō's mouth, and he lowered his head dejectedly.
How could he not hear that the other party wasn't wishing, but warning!
If he was still tactless, the next one to find him would not be Minato, but the Anbu.
The boy in front of him, whether in strength or the energy he could mobilize, was beyond his shallow imagination!
"I also have to thank you for saving me some face in front of my students."
Although somewhat scheming, Dan Katō wasn't someone like Danzo who didn't know what was good for him.
Minato really had the ability to kill him!
Even if the Third Hokage knew, maybe he would even label him with the crime of attempting to murder the Wood Style Bloodline Limit user.
Hearing Dan Katō's words, Minato shook his head slightly and said nothing.
He wasn't saving face for the other party, just that some words were inconvenient to say in front of Nawaki.
Turning his back to Dan Katō, Minato left unhurriedly.
He brewed pupil power in his eyes, secretly guarding in his heart whether the other party would do something out of line out of anger and shame.
As long as the other party dared to sneak attack, he would immediately: Born evil Dan Katō, I will just...
It was just that until he walked far away, the other party didn't make any small moves, which made Minato faintly disappointed.
"Let's go, Nawaki."
Finding Nawaki, Minato restored his usual gentle temperament.
Seeing that Dan Katō wasn't there, Nawaki looked at Minato tentatively: "Um, Big Brother Dan, he..."
"Suffered a little injury. He'll be fine after a while. It won't affect doing missions."
Minato said casually. After all, he was Tsunade's disciple. He could still grasp this level of severity.
"Alright..."
Nawaki looked awkwardly at his two teammates: "Then I'll go back first. Please take care of Big Brother Dan."
"Mmh..."
The two nodded repeatedly, afraid of annoying Minato and getting kicked themselves.
Minato took the two away. On the way, Nawaki glanced at Mikoto: "By the way, haven't asked yet, who is she?"
"Mikoto Uchiha, the disciple Senior Orochimaru just accepted."
Minato introduced, "This is Nawaki, Tsunade-sensei's younger brother."
Mikoto nodded slightly: "Nice to meet you, please take care of me."
"Senior Orochimaru's disciple?!"
Hearing Minato's words, Nawaki instantly felt like he was NTR-ed (cheated on/replaced). He didn't even care about greeting, and said hurriedly: "Big Brother Orochimaru actually accepted a disciple? Didn't they say he was busy recently and had no time to lead a team? And accepting a disciple is one thing, but accepting an Uchiha?"
"How rude. What's wrong with Uchiha?"
Mikoto frowned slightly, looking displeased.
Realizing that he had said something wrong, Nawaki smiled apologetically: "Sorry, I didn't mean Uchiha is bad, I just..."
"Just feeling unbalanced in your heart, right?"
Minato teased, "You have withdrawn from the team now, so naturally you can take Senior Orochimaru as your teacher. But whether he accepts you or not is hard to say."
"He will definitely accept me! What's our relationship?"
Nawaki said confidently, "But then again, why do you suddenly want to give me special training?"
Minato was concise: "To improve your survivability on the battlefield."
"Battlefield..."
Nawaki frowned slightly. Listening to Minato's meaning, the war should be starting soon. But he didn't ask more. This was not what he should know now.
As Tsunade's brother, although he had a rash personality like Naruto, because of his background, he had a good sense of proportion regarding these matters.
"Then what do you plan to teach me?"
Putting aside his dislike of war, Nawaki asked eagerly.
"Living!"
Seeing his motivated look, Minato smiled gently. But the words he spoke made Nawaki shudder.
"From tomorrow on, in addition to necessary training, I will launch attacks on you continuously—whether it's you or Sister Mikoto!"
"And you only need to understand one thing, that is, only those who survive are fit to deal damage!"
Nawaki opened his mouth, speechless for a moment.
After a long time, he said in a voice as small as a mosquito.
"Um... is it too late for me to rejoin the team now?"