Kyōichi, Konoha’s Life Mentor

"Oh?"

Kyōichi narrowed his eyes.

The mission from the Country of Rivers had come to Konoha, but Konoha had not yet issued any tasks, so they couldn't interfere at the moment.

Looking at Yahiko's intention.

Was he here to do volunteer labor in the Country of Rivers?

"We came to the Country of Rivers simply to clean out the bandits and bring peace to the country. We have no intention of attacking Konoha or competing for missions," Konan quickly followed up with an explanation.

Leaving aside their connection to Jiraiya, the strength of Konoha was something they couldn't provoke—the current Akatsuki was weak, and Konoha was like a towering tree to them!

"Our wish is peace. We absolutely will not start a war."

Yahiko saw that Kyōichi had not made a move, knowing there was a possibility of negotiation.

After all, Konoha had just experienced a great war and definitely did not want to provoke another ninja village at this moment. Otherwise, it would not be just Kyōichi who came, but the powerful ANBU of Konoha as well.

Thinking of this, he became even more composed.

Just as Kyōichi was about to speak, two chakra signatures approached from this direction.

One from the north, one from the south.

Nagato and Minato?

Kyōichi understood in his heart.

After careful consideration, the current situation was complicated, and he could not make a decision. 

Minato's arrival was perfect, letting Jiraiya's disciples negotiate for themselves.

Thinking like this, he gathered chakra to intimidate the two, while waiting for Minato to arrive.

"Yahiko..."

Konan was somewhat anxious, but Yahiko gently shook his head.

Do not act.

Even if they were to act, now was not the time. 

They must wait for Nagato to arrive—he could sense that Nagato was approaching.

Both sides fell into a brief stalemate.

Before long.

Minato's shadow clone arrived, saw the situation, and was stunned for a moment before instantly appearing next to Kyōichi, asking in a low voice, "What's going on?"

"Amegakure ninjas, entering to clear bandits, free of charge."

"Ah?"

Free bandit elimination.

These Ame ninjas...

Minato was momentarily confused.

No wonder Kyōichi hadn't acted.

If it were him, he wouldn't know what to do either. The village definitely did not want to create more trouble, but if they let these people clear out the Country of Rivers' bandits, those bandits would flee to the Fire Country.

A dilemma!

His mouth twitched as he looked at the two and asked after a moment of thought, "What are your names?"

"Yahiko."

"Konan."

"..."

The names sounded familiar, vaguely reminiscent of something.

Minato's brow furrowed.

Konan wanted to speak, but was stopped by Yahiko.

Yahiko knew that Konan wanted to use their connection to Jiraiya to have Minato release them, but he also knew that Minato and Jiraiya were both Konoha ninjas.

Speaking up would only make things difficult for the other party.

Kyōichi faced north, looking at the forest, his blade rotating.

Nagato had arrived!

In the forest, his red hair was very striking.

Moreover.

He didn't know what had happened, only that Yahiko and Konan seemed to be at a disadvantage.

As soon as he arrived, Nagato immediately threw several kunai, and was about to use a ninjutsu when he saw a flash of sword light, instantly blinded by a white haze.

So dazzling!

He involuntarily turned his head to avoid it, but instantly heard the sound of wind howling.

Not good!

He tried to sense, but Kyōichi was too fast.

Nagato had no choice but to predict and use Almighty Push, and at this moment, his vision recovered, seeing a figure enter his vicinity, but...

Under Almighty Push, this figure was unaffected, gradually becoming a afterimage.

Shadow clone?

No!

He leaped onto the trees, and sword light burst from the ground.

Mind body disturbance technique!

Nagato broke out in a cold sweat.

Such a fast and troublesome opponent. No wonder Yahiko and Konan couldn't handle him.

However.

As he was astonished, he saw through his Rinnegan that Kyōichi's speed had doubled. His eyes could see clearly, but his body couldn't keep up. He had just started to form a substitution technique...

Boom!

A kick sent him flying from the tree to in front of Minato.

"Spare him!"

"Don't..."

Yahiko and Konan panicked.

Nagato's Rinnegan abilities had always been invincible, but at this moment, they realized Nagato also had a formidable opponent.

Speed—

So fast it was beyond reaction!

The kick was powerful.

But.

Nagato still managed to stand, carefully preparing for the next attack.

Minato felt somewhat helpless.

As a shadow clone, his help in a real fight would be limited.

However.

Facing such a strong enemy, if they couldn't subdue the opponent, subsequent negotiations would be difficult.

Nagato stood on guard, stepping back.

Whoosh~

Kyōichi reappeared, already ten steps in front of nagato .

Nagato was horrified.

This speed...

Too fast!

He threw a kunai, which Kyōichi swiftly dodged through the gaps, but the next moment, he raised his hand...

Wind Release: Gale Palm!

The whirlwind swept up the surrounding kunai, instantly disrupting their trajectories, with many directly attacking Kyōichi.

Kyōichi, however, ignored them and drew his sword.

This time, Minato grew anxious.

Just as he was about to intervene, he saw an abnormal black color emerge on Kyōichi's body, and was stunned. The kunai had already reached Kyōichi.

Ding...

After crisp sounds, the kunai fell to the ground.

Completely unharmed.

In contrast, Nagato saw the Thunder God Sword slashing towards him and was momentarily flustered, again using Almighty Push.

However.

With Gate of Opening and Breath Activation stacked, Kyōichi's body control reached the extreme, moving freely without hindrance.

After the repulsive force passed, he landed next to Nagato.

Chakra condensed in his hand, forming a green light. Nagato struggled to escape, but soon his eyes became vacant, and finally his hands went limp, and he passed out.

Subdued?

Minato's expression was strange.

Was that just now the Mystical Palm Technique? Could this technique actually make someone lose consciousness?

He learned something new.

"What did you do to Nagato!" Konan shouted fiercely.

"It was the Mystical Palm Technique," 

Yahiko said, sighing in relief. 

If Kyōichi had wanted to kill him, he could have slashed with his sword after avoiding Almighty Push, without such a complicated approach.

"Nothing much. He was too troublesome, so I dealt with him first to create space for discussion."

Kyōichi dragged Nagato next to Minato'.

Minato turned and saw the red-haired head, and was momentarily stunned. Then a flash of insight struck him.

His teacher had mentioned...

A red-haired youth!

He took a deep breath and looked at Yahiko and Konan. "I remember now. You are the three children my sensei met in Amegakure. He mentioned you to me."

"..."

Konan was speechless.

They were recognized.

But.

Amidst the panic, she felt a touch of emotion.

Their sensei still remembered them!

At this moment, Yahiko said, "Minato-senpai, we have no ill intentions towards Konoha. We just want to try to realize our Sensei's vision and hope for peace in the surrounding areas."

"But..."

Minato trailed off. His sensei had told him about three children, and in Jiraiya's words, these three carried part of his hopes.

Although he didn't know the specific circumstances, from a personal standpoint, he was very willing to believe their words.

However.

Their actions and scale were something Konoha could not ignore.

Kyōichi glanced at him and then sheathed his sword, smiling and saying, "Want me to say a few words?"

The three looked over.

"I'll say this: your ideas are beautiful, but your methods are foolish. Helping the Country of Rivers clear out bandits—but the number of bandits is so large you can't possibly kill them all. The remaining ones will flee to surrounding countries, and then what?"