Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 67: Can We Not Fight?

"Ugh—"

Kushina groaned, her eyes shut tightly as she struggled against the raging chakra of the Nine-Tails within her.

Tonari noticed the unusual surge of energy radiating from her and quickly turned to Minato.

"Minato, keep an eye out for sneak attacks."

Minato nodded silently, his face calm but focused.

Tonari placed a hand on Kushina's shoulder, and slowly, the wild chakra receded. His sharp eyes caught sight of the damage on her arm caused by the corrosive Nine-Tails chakra.

He wordlessly extended his hand over her arm, green healing chakra radiating from his palm. The burns and wounds faded away under his expert medical ninjutsu, completely concealing the tell-tale signs of her jinchūriki status.

"Tonari, take Kushina to rest. Leave this to me," Minato said firmly, stepping forward.

Kushina, who had finally regained control, looked at Minato's back. For the first time, his figure seemed tall and dependable. The soft-spoken, seemingly timid boy she had known was gone, replaced by someone resolute and protective.

She glanced at Tonari, who was helping her toward the sideline, and felt a warm wave of gratitude.

With friends like these, how could she ever feel alone?

---

Tonari's foot lightly kicked something lying on the ground.

Looking down, he saw Gitai's discarded chakra-conducting blade.

After a moment of feigned hesitation, Tonari purposefully nudged the blade's sheath off and picked them both up.

The blade itself radiated a faint electric charge, making his fingers tingle.

"Finders keepers," he muttered to himself with a smirk.

Gitai, who had just regained consciousness, caught sight of Tonari pocketing his prized weapon. Rage surged through him, and his eyes rolled back as he fainted once again.

Tonari chuckled, then turned his attention to Minato and the Cloud ninja, Dicai, who were locked in a tense standoff.

---

On the observation platform, Dodai noticed Tonari's bold move and grimaced.

"Third Hokage, about that weapon..." Dodai started, unable to contain himself.

Hiruzen exhaled a puff of smoke and smiled. "Ah, but Cloud seems to have so many of these chakra-conducting tools. Surely such an abundance means you won't mind lending it to a curious child for a while, no?"

Dodai's lips twitched, and he fell silent.

---

Back on the battlefield, Minato and Dicai hadn't moved.

"Minato, you're already a ninja. Let the students handle this," a sharp voice cut through the air.

Everyone turned to see Tsunade stepping forward, her arms crossed.

"This is their fight. Besides," she added with a smirk, "I hear one of the students is supposedly the best at taijutsu. Let him prove it."

Minato hesitated but finally stepped back.

Tonari, who had been quietly retreating, froze as Tsunade's eyes locked onto him.

"You mean me?" he asked, pointing to himself.

Tsunade didn't bother responding. With a single flick of her wrist, she grabbed Tonari by the collar and threw him into the arena.

"Aaaaaah—"

His scream echoed across the training ground as he landed face-first in the dirt.

---

Tonari staggered to his feet, coughing and brushing off dust.

"Did you really have to throw me?" he grumbled, casting a dirty look at Tsunade.

"Quit whining and get ready!" Tsunade barked, her hands on her hips.

Resigned, Tonari sighed and turned to Dicai.

"So, uh, how about we don't fight and just—oh, crap!"

Before he could finish, Dicai disappeared in a flash of speed. A gust of wind and the faint crackle of electricity followed.

Tonari barely had time to react.

"Lightning Release Chakra Mode," he muttered under his breath, recognizing Dicai's enhanced speed and power.

A sharp kick aimed at his head grazed his cheek as Tonari ducked just in time.

"Alright, alright! You wanna fight? Fine!"

Tonari's hands formed a series of seals at lightning speed. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Two identical clones materialized beside him, each mirroring his movements perfectly.

---

Dodai watched the scene unfold from the sidelines, his face calm.

"Third Hokage, I must say, that boy shows some promise."

Hiruzen chuckled. "Indeed, but promise alone won't carry the day. Let's see how far he can push himself."

---

Tonari's clones charged at Dicai, flanking him from both sides.

But Dicai's speed and reflexes were unmatched. With a single fluid motion, he eliminated both clones, leaving only the original.

Tonari clicked his tongue, backing away cautiously.

"Man, I didn't sign up for this," he muttered.

Dicai smirked, his electric aura crackling ominously.

"You should've stayed out of the way, kid."

Tonari grinned despite the tension.

"Hey, you know what they say about underdogs, right? Never count us out."

As Dicai lunged forward again, Tonari readied himself, his mind racing for a strategy.

Today, Konoha's so-called "taijutsu master" would face his toughest test yet.

---

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