Naruto: Flash Reborn — Minato’s Second Life

After the Chakra Aptitude Test, the Ninja Academy continued with its usual schedule without giving these children—many of whom had fought fiercely for three days in the Forest of Death—much rest. However, they were already beginning to display the qualities of true ninja.

Throughout the morning lectures, Minato wasn't really paying attention. In truth, most of the Academy spent the entire morning speculating about who had passed the Chakra Aptitude Test. The village leadership hadn't announced the results, so no one could confirm who had passed.

Minato, Mikoto, and a few others who had been given orders remained tight-lipped. Even Kushina, who was usually carefree and loudmouthed, stayed uncharacteristically quiet this time.

Minato was deep in thought about the Chakra Aptitude Test. Even he couldn't make complete sense of everything that had happened during it.

It wasn't just the students who lacked answers—even Chunin like Moto Kouda had no idea what the results were.

"Minato, come out for a moment."

When Moto Kouda finished his class that morning, he suddenly called out to Minato.

"Huh?" Lost in thought, Minato snapped back to reality at those words and followed Moto Kouda outside the classroom.

As the two entered the teacher's office, the first thing Minato noticed was a familiar back—someone he immediately recognized.

It was Yan Uchiha.

At that moment, Yan glanced sideways at him, his black eyes revealing complex emotions—anger, fighting spirit, and more.

They had fought each other just the day before. Minato understood perfectly well that Yan wouldn't truly accept defeat from a single loss due to his immense pride.

Yet Minato didn't feel the need to guard against Yan because standing in the room was another figure—the main examiner from yesterday's Chakra Aptitude Test: Sakumo Hatake.

"It looks like both of you are in pretty good mental shape," Sakumo chuckled slightly before turning to Moto Kouda. "Teacher Kouda, thank you, but for confidentiality reasons, I'm afraid you can't stay here."

Upon hearing this, Moto Kouda didn't protest. He cast one last glance at Minato. Based on the current situation, it seemed likely that both kids were among those who had passed the Chakra Aptitude Test.

After all, their excellence had long surpassed what could be expected from mere Academy students.

Of course, this was merely his speculation before he left the office.

...

Sakumo Hatake glanced at the two boys before him. Meanwhile, Minato and Yan Uchiha studied the woman leaning casually in the corner, her arms crossed over her chest, watching them intently.

"Yesterday's Chakra Aptitude Test showed both of you performed exceptionally well. This has earned full recognition from the village's top leadership," Sakumo attempted to ease the tension, although it seemed to have little effect.

Minato himself remained indifferent. Passing the Chakra Aptitude Test wasn't his ultimate goal—it was simply a step toward gaining the Third's recognition.

Yan, however, was different. As a proud member of the Uchiha Clan, his ego had repeatedly shattered facing this very opponent.

Previously, he never believed anyone of his generation could rival him. Yet now, Namikaze Minato had gradually become the target he chased after relentlessly.

"Lord Sakumo, please just say what's on your mind," Minato said with a slightly heavy gaze. "I believe someone of your status wouldn't have come here simply to deliver the elders' compliments toward us, right?"

Minato couldn't shake a sense of unease at Sakumo's sudden appearance.

Yan Uchiha also shifted his gaze from Minato to Sakumo.

"The truth is, I've come here to inform both of you about an order from the Third Hokage," Sakumo's expression turned serious, and upon hearing this, both Minato and Yan Uchiha couldn't help narrowing their eyes slightly.

"The Third Hokage has ordered that I, Sakumo Hatake, serve as team leader alongside Junko Watanabe, Minato Namikaze, and Yan Uchiha as team members, forming a ninja squad to head to the Land of Hot Springs and eliminate the Konoha rogue ninja Tachiyama Shinsaburo!"

Sakumo cut straight to the point, announcing the Third Hokage's orders without any preamble. Upon hearing that, both men's eyes instantly widened.

Standing in a corner with her arms crossed, Junko Watanabe observed Minato's and Yan Uchiha's expressions with a faint trace of amusement.

Truthfully, their reaction was nothing out of the ordinary.

"This kind of mission... they're actually assigning us, two students still attending Ninja Academy?"

This time, Yan Uchiha reacted more quickly than Minato. Because naturally having grown up within the Uchiha clan, he understood the ranking system for ninja missions far better than Minato, who had learned mostly independently.

Although Minato had trained under Jiraiya for a year, his learning had been rather informal—most of what he knew came from self-study and wasn't the kind of structured knowledge usually passed on to official ninja.

Leaving the country to hunt a rogue ninja would already qualify as at least an A-rank mission—tasks so dangerous that even genin wouldn't be considered qualified participants. These were missions meant only for chunin and jonin level shinobi.

Not to mention a rogue ninja—someone who managed to defect from the village and survive until now must possess formidable skills. The difficulty of this mission surely surpassed rank A.

An S-rank mission!

"What, scared?" Sakumo gave a faint smile.

After a brief pause, Yan Uchiha answered, "It isn't fear—I'm questioning whether this mission is even real. It's absurd for such a task to be assigned to us while we are still students."

Undeniably, Yan Uchiha was a true prodigy. Regardless of whether he could defeat Minato or not, he already possessed all the fundamental qualities required of a ninja. His skepticism regarding the mission made perfect sense.

Anyone hearing this would find it utterly unreasonable.

Junko Watanabe cast a faintly approving glance toward Yan Uchiha.

Sakumo smiled, picked up an envelope resting on the table behind him, and tossed it toward Yan Uchiha.

"I respect your right to question this. Everything you want to know is inside this envelope. But once you open it, it means you've accepted the mission. After that, there will be no turning back."

Inside the envelope lay intelligence concerning Tachiyama Shinsaburo and the Land of Hot Springs—a highly confidential document restricted by the village. Without special clearance, even jonin weren't permitted access.

Sakumo glanced at the two boys and said, "Don't blame me for not warning you. Choose wisely what path you take—this mission isn't a simple training exercise like the Chakra Aptitude Test. One misstep, and you'll lose your lives."

His tone turned serious. By any measure, this mission was far too perilous. It would require both of them to truly risk their lives.

At that moment, Yan Uchiha's hands trembled slightly as he held the file. After all, despite being such a prodigy, he had never truly faced a life-or-death situation before.

"I accept."

Just as Sakumo waited for their answer, Minato quietly spoke from the side. Then, without hesitation, he took the file from Yan Uchiha's hands, opened it, and began flipping through its contents.

If anyone else had done that, they'd have been seen as arrogant and clueless about the stakes. Yet Junko Watanabe and Sakumo Hatake could see in his clear eyes—it wasn't ignorance.

It wasn't fear... it was pure, unshakable courage.

...

...

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