Naruto: The Sage Body of Konoha

After completing the mission, Minato Namikaze returned once again to his riverside cottage.

The moment he pushed open the door and stepped into the courtyard, his vision blurred.

Shunshin!

Heiyan appeared out of nowhere before him.

"What... what kind of jutsu is this?" Startled, Minato murmured in disbelief.

"This is the Flying Thunder God Technique invented by Second Hokage."

Heiyan patted Minato on the head and explained, "Once you master it, you'll be able to move through space instantly and teleport wherever you want."

Upon hearing this, Minato's eyes lit up with fascination and longing.

However, he quickly regained his composure and reported the mission status to Heiyan.

"Good job. Here's your reward."

After praising Minato, Heiyan pulled out a finely crafted kunai made from high-quality steel. This weapon was sturdy and meticulously crafted—an imported product from the Land of Crafts worth over 100,000 ryo on the market.

"Thank you, senior."

Minato bowed respectfully to Heiyan before taking the kunai and admiring it fondly in his hands.

"There's also a task I need to give you."

Suddenly, an idea hit Heiyan, and he spoke up again.

Immediately putting away the kunai, Minato listened attentively with renewed focus.

"If you can graduate early from the ninja academy within half a year, I'll teach you the Flying Thunder God Technique."

Looking straight at Minato, Heiyan made this promise.

"...Yes, sir!"

For a moment, Minato stood still, surprised, but soon a smile spread across his face as he bowed deeply once more.

"Alright, go back to school now."

With a wave of his hand, Heiyan sent Minato Namikaze on his way.

Then, he headed to the Hokage's office to report the mission details to Third Hokage Hiruzen Sarutobi, officially registering the team and filing the mission record.

By the time he finished all these tasks, night had already fallen.

The night passed quietly without incident.

The next day dawned bright and clear with not a cloud in sight.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Fugaku Uchiha arrived first at the village gate.

His expression was serious. Dressed in the high-collared deep-blue long robe of the Uchiha clan, carrying a life-sized counterfeit blazing war fan on his back, with his mullet-style long hair, well... he definitely had that Madara Uchiha vibe going on.

The second person to arrive at the village gate was Hiashi Hyuga.

"What are you doing here?"

As soon as Hiashi saw Fugaku, an uneasy feeling rose in his heart. Could it be that Heiyan had also invited this fellow?

"Who are you?"

Faced with Hiashi's question, Fugaku frowned, scrutinizing the figure before him. It took him forever to finally recognize who this was.

Actually, this wasn't entirely his fault.

Hiashi had gotten sun-tanned recently, cut his previously long hair short, and dressed himself in green spandex. Compared with his old image, the difference was simply staggering.

It wasn't just Fugaku—even other members of the Hyuga clan might have trouble recognizing their own clan heir.

But this careless action from Fugaku enraged Hiashi completely.

Previously, he'd been humiliated by Fugaku using genjutsu, which already filled him with suppressed anger. Then during the battle at the Valley of the End, Fugaku had publicly ignored him. And now, Fugaku was asking who he was?

Absolutely unacceptable.

Byakugan! Activate!

Coldness flashed across Hiashi's face as he activated his Byakugan without another word, immediately rushing toward Fugaku with aggressive intent.

A fierce assault followed.

So it's you.

Taken aback, Fugaku realized now that it was indeed Hiashi Hyuga. No wonder he seemed somewhat familiar.

"You've got Heiyan's letter too, huh?"

Using his Sharingan's dynamic vision, he saw through Hiashi's entire offensive pattern and dodged effortlessly. Meanwhile, he mocked:

"You're way too weak. You're just a burden, dragging the team down. You'd better go back."

"Shut up!"

Hiashi roared furiously to interrupt Fugaku's taunts, then suddenly struck from a distance with one palm.

[Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm!]

Hmm?

Fugaku instinctively felt something ominous. Although he couldn't see the chakra shockwave of the Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, he used his blazing war fan to block based on experience, reflecting this move back.

"Just now was that your ultimate technique?" Fugaku said dismissively while putting away his blazing war fan. He didn't want to keep fighting with Hiashi anymore and advised, "Give up. You're no match for me."

Hiashi, however, responded not with words, but by activating the Eight Gates Technique!

He roared again, suddenly bursting with abnormally powerful chakra throughout his body.

[Opening Gate, open!]

[Healing Gate, open!]

[Life Gate, open!]

Hiashi Hyuga unleashed three gates in rapid succession. His skin flushed bright red from internal pressure, and a powerful green chakra flared violently around his body.

This was the result of Hiashi's cultivation over this period.

Although he had started learning the Eight Gates Technique from zero, his existing martial foundation was strong. Combined with assistance from his Byakugan ability, he quickly grasped the basics and formed initial combat effectiveness.

"What overwhelming chakra… Is this… one of the Hyuga clan's secret arts?"

Fugaku finally became serious. Finally, Fugaku's expression turned grim—he was dead serious now.

Whoosh!

Hiashi Hyuga moved.

Almost instantly, he rushed before Fugaku, delivering a powerful whip kick wrapped in sharp wind pressure directly toward the latter's face.

Fugaku was greatly alarmed and desperately blocked with his blazing war fan again.

Bang!

A tremendous force came from the fan surface. Caught off guard, Fugaku stumbled backward more than ten steps.

"What incredible speed! And his moves have changed too — no longer relying on the Hyuga Style Gentle Fist, but instead using an aggressive form of taijutsu..."

His Sharingan fixed firmly on Hiashi, analyzing rapidly in his mind.

At the same time, his hands were moving as well.

Fire Release: Flame Bullet Jutsu—an explosive burst of flames that scattered like falling petals!

Hiashi scoffed coldly, not retreating but charging straight into the fire rain.

Swish! Swish! Swish!

Using high-speed movement, dodging left and right, he evaded every flame, attacking again right before Fugaku.

"It's over."

Fugaku said coldly as well, Sharingan pupils flaring, activating genjutsu.

Unexpectedly, Hiashi only hesitated momentarily before returning to normal. Using the power of the Eight Gates Technique, he forcibly broke free from the illusion.

Though astonished, Fugaku took advantage to create distance between himself and Hiashi.

That round lit a fire under both fighters—they were now going all out.

Swish!

Center low and eyes fierce, Hiashi lunged at Fugaku like a roaring tiger. [Shadow of the Dancing Leaf]—[Lotus]! His ultimate combo was ready to finish this fight for good.

[Fire Release: Great Fire Destruction!]

Fugaku stopped holding back and unleashed his ultimate fire jutsu. A roaring sea of flames surged forward, threatening to swallow Hiashi whole.

But just then,

"You two need to stop fighting."

As the voice rang out, a figure suddenly appeared, standing between them.

It was Heiyan.

Boom!

He struck first with a single punch, unleashing violent gusts that sent Hiashi—still in the Eight Gates state—flying backward.

Then, in one fluid motion, he turned 180 degrees, raising his right hand to his lips with fingers upturned, instantly refining his chakra.

[Water Release: Exploding Water Shockwave!]

With a single spray from his mouth, it was as if a dam had burst—countless torrents surged forth. Not only did they drown Fugaku's fire technique, but they also swept him and his blazing war fan dozens of meters away.

Heiyan's series of moves were executed flawlessly and fluidly.

He had immediately halted the conflict between Fugaku and Hiashi.

A short while later,

The two picked themselves up from the ground, looking disheveled, and approached Heiyan.

Fighting at the village gate—how shameful is that?

Heiyan looked at them with a sigh. "If you want to fight, do it at the training grounds."

At those words, both men looked away, clearly ashamed, and said nothing.

"As you can see, for this S-rank mission, our team consists of three members, and I will be the leader. Any objections?"

Heiyan asked again.

"Leader, I have no objection," Fugaku said seriously first. He realized he had underestimated Hiashi—the latter's strength wasn't as weak as he had imagined.

"Leader, I have no objection either," Hiashi followed up. Although he found Fugaku extremely irritating, he knew Fugaku was strong and could only swallow his pride.

"Good." Heiyan nodded. "Also, don't call me 'leader' anymore. Just use my name."

"Yes," the two answered in unison.

Thus, the three-member team had completed their first gathering.

"Target destination: Uzugakure. Move out."

Without wasting a single word, Heiyan issued the action command directly and concisely.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

Three figures dashed forward at full speed toward the east.

Meanwhile, as the trio set out, hidden shadows stirred beneath the surface of the shinobi world.

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