Even though Minato was an unrivaled genius in his generation, he hadn't yet learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, nor had he received training from Jiraiya.
On top of that, he was several years younger than Mikoto, who had already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan. It was only natural that he couldn't defeat her.
Besides, Minato hadn't even had the chance to use Rasengan yet.
Originally, Haruki planned to wait until Minato mastered Flying Thunder God before sending him to the battlefield.
But things took an unexpected turn.
The next day, an Anbu delivered urgent news.
Sakumo Hatake, the legendary White Fang, had been injured. Haruki scanned the report, his brows furrowing.
"You're telling me that while we were fighting the Sand Village, two Jonin from the Hidden Cloud suddenly appeared, attacked with insane speed and power, and actually injured Hatake Sakumo to the point that he had to retreat?"
It sounded absurd.
'How did the Cloud Village even know Sakumo's location?'
In the original series, nothing like this was ever mentioned. There was barely any information about Sakumo at all.
'So… is this another butterfly effect caused by my existence?' Haruki tapped the report against his palm, deep in thought.
At the start of the war, Hiruzen had appointed Sakumo as the commander, and surprisingly, Danzo hadn't objected. That alone had raised red flags in Haruki's mind.
Still, considering the situation, it made sense.
Jiraiya wasn't around at this time.
Tsunade had declined because she was busy leading the medical corps. Orochimaru hadn't volunteered either.
With those options out, Sakumo, who had both strength and reputation, was the obvious choice.
But strength alone didn't make the best commander. If Hiruzen had made the decision himself, there had to be another reason.
Haruki turned to the Anbu. "Have we identified the two Jonin from Hidden Cloud?"
The masked ninja responded immediately.
"Both were large men, and their bodies flickered with lightning whenever they moved. Their speed and power were off the charts. It's likely they were using the Lightning Chakra Mode."
Haruki's fingers tightened around the report.
"They're not the Third Raikage, so that means..."
"We suspect they're A and Bee of the Hidden Cloud," the Anbu confirmed.
Haruki exhaled sharply. "If it's them… that makes sense."
He recalled their feats in the original series. If those two were here, then the situation had just gotten a whole lot messier. Although they were still young, A and Bee could definitely injure Sakumo if they had backup, planned their attacks, and launched a sneak attack.
In the world of Naruto, the saying "speed is invincible" still held true.
Minato earned the title "Yellow Flash" during the Third Great Ninja War because of his unmatched speed and mastery of the Flying Thunder God Technique.
If someone was weaker than him, they couldn't escape. Even If someone was stronger than him, they couldn't catch him. If Minato hadn't emerged as a powerhouse, Konoha might have lost the war, due to the lack of high-level combat power.
At that time, aside from Minato, Konoha had no other standout ninjas except for the Three Legendary Sannin from the previous generation.
"I understand. I'll head to the battlefield as soon as possible," Haruki said, standing up.
After the Anbu left, he sent word to Minato, Mikoto, and Kushina, then made his way to the Ninja Academy.
Inside Tsunade's office, Haruki appeared behind her silently.
Smirking, he placed his hands over her eyes.
"Guess who?"
Tsunade didn't even flinch.
"Other than you, who else would play such a childish game?" she scoffed. "At least change your voice next time."
"You're no fun. Why can't you just play along?" Haruki sighed dramatically before pulling his hands away and resting them on her shoulders.
As he did, his gaze happened to fall on the book on her desk.
He raised an eyebrow. "Wait, this is the history book I compiled? When did you get interested in this?"
Tsunade stiffened slightly but quickly regained her composure.
"I was just bored," she said nonchalantly.
Haruki smirked. "Are you really just bored?"
He turned her swivel chair to face him and locked eyes with her. "Lying is a bad habit, you know."
Tsunade's eyes twitched.
"You're so annoying!" She crossed her arms and huffed. "Since you're the one who wrote it, of course I wanted to read it.
"Are you satisfied with that answer?"
Haruki grinned in satisfaction. A woman who said things so bluntly was way more charming.
Tsunade's irritation grew when she saw his smug smile. Without hesitation, she flicked his forehead.
Haruki winced. "When are you going to stop that bad habit of yours?"
Tsunade smirked. "Why should I?"
She folded her arms, and the sudden bounce of her considerable assets caught Haruki's attention like a magnet.
Without missing a beat, he glanced at them without changing his expression and casually replied,
"If this keeps up, my forehead's going to get bigger, and it'll ruin my handsome face."
Tsunade's eye twitched. She resisted the urge to smack him again. "What do you want to talk to me about?" she asked, crossing her arms.
"Obviously, I miss you," Haruki said smoothly, making a move to bury himself in her chest.
Unfortunately, Tsunade didn't give him the chance. She pressed her index finger against his forehead, stopping him in his tracks.
Haruki blinked innocently. "Is it wrong to hug you?"
Tsunade rolled her eyes at him. "Don't think I don't know what you're trying to do."
"This is an office. Be serious."
Haruki smirked. "Doesn't that make it more exciting?"
The moment the words left his mouth, he saw Tsunade's expression darken. He quickly raised his hands in surrender.
"I was kidding!"
Tsunade sighed and leaned back in her chair. Crossing one leg over the other, she gave him a look. "Just tell me. What are you doing here?"
"Nothing much. Just taking my three students to the battlefield for some experience," Haruki said casually, scratching the back of his head.
Tsunade's expression hardened. "I'll go with you."
Haruki stepped forward and gently patted her head.
"No need for that."
"The battlefield only has about a thousand people. There's no need to send out a Legendary Sannin like you."
"Besides, I'm a medical ninja. Unless everyone is dead, it won't be my turn to step in."
Tsunade didn't respond immediately. Instead, she stood up and hugged him tightly.
Haruki felt her body tremble slightly.
His smirk faded, replaced by a helpless sigh. He wrapped his arms around her and, with a grin, whispered, "Don't worry. Don't you know who I am?"
"I'm the master of survival."
"Hmph! You better come back alive! Otherwise… Otherwise…!" Tsunade tried to warn him, but by the end of her sentence, she faltered, unable to find the right words.
Haruki smiled at her hesitation, wrapping an arm around her waist and placing a hand behind her head, pulling her into a deep kiss.
Tsunade was momentarily surprised, but she didn't push him away. Instead, she clung to him tightly, as if trying to keep him from ever stepping onto the battlefield. Her conflicted gaze met his when they finally pulled apart, their breaths mingling.
She had tried so many times to dissuade him from going, but he wouldn't listen. He wanted to prove himself, to show everyone that he was worthy of standing beside her.
Haruki gently lifted her chin and gazed into her eyes. "Don't worry. I'll come back, just like always."
Then, as if a thought suddenly struck him, a teasing smile spread across his lips. "Though, I really shouldn't be saying that."
Tsunade blinked, tilting her head. "What do you mean?"
Haruki smirked. "Ever notice how people who talk big before a battle are usually the first to die?"
"It's like a bad omen. The ones who run their mouths the most are the ones who don't make it back."
"But… I-I…" Tsunade stammered, momentarily caught off guard.
Haruki chuckled, his eyes gleaming with mischief.
"That's why saying something sweet before a battle increases your chances of survival. Want to test it out?"
Tsunade gave him a stare. "Do I look like I was born yesterday?"
Before he could answer, she flicked his forehead.
"Hiss…!" Haruki winced, rubbing his forehead.
'One day… One day, I'll settle the score for all these forehead flicks. And I'll do it using the other head.'
Tsunade sighed. "So, when are you leaving?"
"Soon. The battlefield is full of wounded, and they need me there."
He reached up, tucking a loose strand of her golden hair behind her ear.
"So soon?" Her frown deepened. "I thought you were leaving tomorrow."
"Well, we're shinobi. Skipping out on a mission isn't exactly an option, is it?"
He flashed her a reassuring smile before turning to leave.
"Wait." he stopped, glancing back.
"Something else on your mind? Just don't jinx me."
Tsunade hesitated for a brief moment before stepping forward. Rising onto her toes, she leaned in close to his ear and whispered,
"I-I love you. A-And if you come back safely, I will… do it… with my breasts…"
Haruki froze after hearing her words.
'…Wait. What? Did she actually believe that nonsense I said about sweet words increasing survival rates?!'
'But this… this isn't bad at all.'
"What the hell did I just promise…?" she covered her face with both hands, feeling the heat spread to the tips of her ears.
Meanwhile, Haruki walked out of the academy with a swagger in his step, a smirk tugging at his lips.
"The battlefield suddenly doesn't seem so bad," he muttered under his breath, feeling more motivated than ever.
'At this rate, it won't be long before we can finally do the deed.'
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