Naruto: The White Spider of the Leaf

A few days had passed since we thwarted the Rain's scheme to push the Leaf out of their territory. The battle was over, but the atmosphere around the outpost still buzzed with the energy of our victory. Minato had returned to full health after resting for a couple of days, his body seemed to recover quickly. Probably because the guy had a lot of innate chakra, which can translate to life force after all.

Damn genius with Uzumaki levels of chakra. That's got to be some sort of mutation or something, I can't explain it any other way. Hell, I'd need to become a Jinchuriki to match him in the chakra regard. Like, seriously, his adult self had enough Chakra to beat the Nine Tails in a Soul Tug of War like it was nothing! That's based on chakra amount!

His Chakra volume is no joke!

It's no wonder the guy can spam flying Raijin.

Anyhow, that wasn't what was important at the moment. What we had going on was a bit more interesting! Here we were again—Minato and I—standing in a clearing at the training grounds of the Leaf's outpost, ready to face off against each other in a test of strength as we usually did.

I've still got 0 wins against this guy out of hundreds!

Though, this time Nawaki would be joining us too in our bout.

The training grounds were abuzz with the usual tension of shinobi at rest and the buzz of curiosity. All the older shinobi at the outpost gathered around, eager to see what the new generation of Genin could do. Orochimaru watched us from a distance, his expression as unreadable as ever. There was no hiding the curiosity in his eyes. It wasn't often that a group like ours—Minato, Nawaki, and I—got together to show off in front of the adults. The training grounds were set, and the mood was electric.

Minato grinned at us, his usual teasing smile in place. "Ready for a challenge, guys?"

Nawaki cracked his neck, his hands ready for action. "Don't think you'll get off that easy, Minato. I'll show you today why I will be the one to become Hokage!"

I just smirked, tightening my grip on the kunai in my hand. "This is gonna be fun for more reasons than one."

We stood in a loose triangle, sizing each other up. Minato was always gonna be the raid boss in this situation—quick, sharp, and playful with his skills. Nawaki himself was strong and determined, the type who relied on his power and endurance. I'm sure he'd be tough to deal with too. And me? Well, I was a bit of everything. We'll see how that'll square up though.

"Alright, no holding back," Minato called out. "Let's see what you've got!"

With a nod from Nawaki, we all charged forward. The battle began in a flash.

Minato was the first to move, his speed already evident as he vanished in a blur, leaving afterimages behind. Nawaki rushed forward with a series of strong punches at him, but Minato was faster than either of us anticipated. He darted around Nawaki's blows, his movements so fluid it was as if he was in multiple places at once.

I moved in from another angle, weaving signs to conjure several bolts of Lightning Style ninjutsu above my back. I sent them out towards Minato, but he simply dodged. It was as easy for him as walking it seemed, but that didn't stop me from quickly following up with another fun ninjutsu.

I weaved the signs. Lightning Style: Thunder Steps! 

Lightning nature chakra gathered at my feet as I dashed forward with intense acceleration sped up by the electrical energy at my feet. But Minato had already read my movements. In an instant, he was gone again, leaving me to strike empty air.

I cursed under my breath. I wasn't fast enough to hit him even when enhanced by lightning chakra? Seriously? And Nawaki's efforts were equally futile. Minato was on a whole other level as per usual.

The blond bastard reappeared in front of me, his hand glowing with a swirl of chakra. "Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

The blast of wind hit me head-on, throwing me back with a force that knocked the breath from my lungs. I rolled with the momentum, but I was already behind in the fight.

Nawaki tried again, charging Minato from the side with a wide, powerful swing. But Minato was already gone, reappearing behind Nawaki and using his own Lightning Style ninjutsu to zap him directly. Nawaki staggered, caught off guard by the speed and power.

"Nice try," Minato said, his grin widening. "But it's going to take more than that."

I gritted my teeth, frustration building. Minato was faster than both of us combined, and every time we tried to land a hit, he slipped away effortlessly. We couldn't keep up. It was like he was everywhere and nowhere at once.

This wasn't going to work.

"Nawaki!" I called out, catching his attention. "Let's team up properly!"

He nodded, determination flashing in his eyes. "Got it."

Minato grimaced with a half-smile. "Hey, that's not fair." He laughed.

We synchronized, our movements more fluid now as we worked together. Nawaki charged again, feinting a punch to Minato's head. This time, though, Minato didn't vanish. Instead, he stayed in place, waiting for the attack as if to counter it. That was the opening I needed.

"Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Two clones of me appeared in a flash. They immediately sprang into action, charging Minato from opposite sides while I took a more careful approach. We couldn't let him outmaneuver us again.

Minato smirked, clearly enjoying the challenge. He evaded both Nawaki and my clones easily, his movements fluid as ever. But then, Nawaki closed in again, attempting to land a punch to Minato's side only to have his arm grabbed mid swing and his momentum used against him to get flipped over shoulder.

I saw the opening, and both I and my two clones weaved the signs together in but a second.

"Lightning Style: Thunder Steps!"

I dashed at Minato from three sides, accelerating with enough speed to probably perception blitz most average Chunin. 

But the bastard just evaded each attack! Dancing around me and the clones like a snake slithering past obstacles, he was so damn flexible! His arms and legs moved like a blur and popped my clones like balloons, sending me flying as well, but I managed to land on my feet.

Minato chuckled, shaking his head. "You guys are tough, but not tough enough. I'm not even breaking a sweat here."

We were being toyed with.

It wasn't enough to fight him one-on-one or even two-on-one. I could feel the weight of our failure hanging in the air. Nawaki and I were strong, but Minato's skill and speed were on another level. If we kept going like this, we'd never land a blow on him.

"Nawaki!" I called, catching his eye. "We're going to have to hit him with some teamwork here!"

Nawaki nodded. "Alright! I'll follow you up, just get him busy for a sec and I'll whip out something crazy!"

"You got it!"

This time, we'd have to rely on more than just our individual skills. We'd need strategy, coordination, and everything we had to throw at him.

I slammed my hands together. "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Two more Shadow Clones appeared beside me in a puff of smoke. Nawaki gave me a quick nod before darting to the side, preparing his next move. Minato's teasing smile remained in place as he assessed the situation, his eyes sharp and calculating.

"Still going for the clones, huh?" Minato said, his tone light but his stance ready. "Alright, let's see what you've got."

"You'll see soon enough!" I shouted, charging forward with my clones. Each one moved in perfect sync with me, zigzagging to make it harder for Minato to predict our movements. Lightning chakra crackled around us, our combined energy lighting up the clearing as we closed the gap.

Minato didn't flinch. As I got within striking distance, he moved, his body a blur of motion. With precise, fluid movements, he sidestepped my first clone's kunai swipe, ducked under the second clone's punch, and parried my own attack with a kunai of his own. Sparks flew as our blades clashed, but I couldn't hold the stalemate for more than a second before Minato twisted his wrist and disarmed me with a flick of his kunai.

"Too slow," he said, and with a burst of speed, he spun around and struck all three of us with a perfectly timed roundhouse kick. My clones vanished in twin puffs of smoke, and I was sent skidding back across the dirt, barely keeping my balance.

"Damn it," I muttered, wiping a bit of dirt off my face. "He's like a ghost. Nawaki, you ready?"

"Almost there," Nawaki called from behind me. He was crouched low, his hands forming several hand seals as chakra radiated from him in waves. The air around him seemed to hum with power. "Just keep him busy a little longer! I'm still not the best at this."

"Easier said than done," I muttered, charging at Minato again. This time, I focused purely on distraction, launching a barrage of quick strikes with my kunai to keep him occupied. Minato dodged effortlessly, his movements a blur as he weaved around my attacks.

"Come on, Shirokumo, you've got to do better than this," Minato said, his grin widening as he deflected another of my strikes. "How many times have we played this game already?"

"Oh, you'll see it soon enough," I replied, my tone sharp as I feinted left and then lunged right. Minato sidestepped as expected, but the slight delay was all Nawaki needed.

"Now!" Nawaki roared, slamming his hands together as if in a prayer. "Wood Style: Binding Forest Branch Jutsu!"

Wood style?! This guy can use that!?

It's a DAMN shame he died in the canon!

The earth all around us erupted as thick wooden tendrils shot out everywhere, twisting and curling with unnatural speed as they covered the whole training grounds. Minato's eyes widened in surprise as the branches closed in around him, their movements coordinated and relentless. He jumped back, narrowly avoiding the first wave, but the tendrils adjusted and came from everywhere, shooting toward him again with renewed intensity.

For a moment, it seemed like we had him. Minato's usual confidence faltered as he dodged and weaved, his movements constrained by the rapidly growing branches. One tendril wrapped around his ankle, and another closed in on his wrist as the branches swirled around him to entrap him.

"Got you now," Nawaki said, a triumphant grin on his face.

But Minato's smirk returned just as quickly. "Nice try."

With a burst of chakra, he connected his hands and did several hand seals. A wave of fire surrounded him as he twisted his body and broke free, the wood splintering under the sheer force of his flaming chakra and burning to a crisp. 

He would have landed gracefully a few meters away had I not made my own move right afterwards.

I had to act fast. Minato was about to touch down, that confident smirk still plastered across his face. The guy made everything look easy, and it drove me nuts. But not this time. This time, I was going to wipe that smirk right off his face.

I'm sorry Dai-san!

I surged forward, opening the first gate as I performed the hand seals for the Thunder Steps technique again. I poured my chakra through my legs as the second and third gate also opened. The ground cracked under the force of my launch as I closed the distance between us in an instant. He barely had time to turn his head before my foot connected with his side.

The impact was solid—better than I'd hoped for. Minato's body rocketed upward, spinning like a leaf caught in a whirlwind. For the first time, I saw him lose control, even if only for a second.

I didn't waste a heartbeat. I shot into the air after him, my legs burning from the strain, but the adrenaline drowned out the pain. I wasn't going to let him recover. Not this time.

"Let's see you dodge this!" I shouted as I caught up to him mid-air, drawing the steel wire from my pouch.

I could see the surprise in his eyes, even if he tried to hide it behind that calm expression. With a quick twist of my wrists, the wire looped around his torso and arms, locking him in place. The steel glinted in the sunlight as I pulled it tight.

"You're really giving it your all, huh?" he said, almost casually.

"Damn right I am!" I muttered, focusing on the task at hand. I positioned myself above him, feeling the pull of gravity as we hovered for a brief moment.

The next part had to be perfect. One mistake, and I'd be the one eating dirt. I tightened my grip on the wire, braced myself, and began to spin.

The world around us blurred as we spiraled downward, the force of the rotation tugging at every muscle in my body. The air roared past my ears, and the pressure built with every second. This was it—the culmination of everything I had trained for with Dai-san!

"Primary Lotus!" I roared, driving us both toward the ground with everything I had.

At the last possible second, I released the wire and flipped away, landing on the ground a few meters back. My knees nearly buckled from the strain, but I managed to stay upright, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The gates closed one after the other.

The crash was deafening. Dust and debris exploded into the air, obscuring everything for a moment. I stood there, watching the crater, waiting for some sign that I'd finally gotten the better of him.

As the dust started to settle, I looked inside the hole I'd made.

Nothing.

I heard Minato's voice beside my ear. "Wow, that was seriously something, Shiro!" 

Turning around, I saw him standing right behind me with a kunai to my neck.

"You almost had me there," Minato admitted, brushing a bit of dust off his sleeve. "But you're going to have to be faster than that if you want to catch me and keep me in place."

I gritted my teeth, frustration bubbling up again. "You're impossible to pin down," I muttered under my breath. "How'd you escape? No, don't tell me, you finally got the hang of that jutsu you asked for, didn't you?"

Minato grinned. "Yeah, although that was actually the first time I've ever used it properly! The tough situation you put me in just now was the push I needed to succeed!"

"So, basically, you leveled up because of me?"

"Yup!" 

"How flattering."

"Wanna call it quits for now?"

"What else do I gotta say? You have a kunai to my throat."

"Fair point."

"You think you're done just because you got the better of Shirokumo?" Nawaki growled, his voice thick with determination. "Not a chance!"

Nawaki didn't look ready to accept defeat. I could see it in the way his fists clenched and his teeth ground together as he glared at Minato. His pride had probably taken a hit after his Wood Style Jutsu was so easily destroyed, after all, it's the style that made the first Hokage, his grandfather, famous. Knowing Nawaki, there was no way he was walking away without trying to settle the score.

Minato, ever calm, simply smiled and shrugged, twirling the kunai in his fingers like he hadn't just turned my strongest move into a learning experience. "If you insist," he said, his tone light, almost playful. "But I'd hate to embarrass you twice in one day."

That only made Nawaki angrier. He darted forward without hesitation, weaving through the debris-laden field with surprising speed. His chakra flared, and I could tell he was going all out.

But Minato? He didn't even flinch.

I barely had time to follow what happened next. Nawaki lunged, aiming a sharp jab at Minato's ribs, but Minato vanished in a flicker of golden light. A second later, Nawaki staggered, his attack meeting nothing but air.

"Behind you," Minato said casually, standing just over Nawaki's shoulder.

Before Nawaki could react, Minato slipped under his guard and swept his legs out from under him with a precise kick. Nawaki hit the ground hard, but Minato wasn't done. In one fluid motion, he pressed the flat of his kunai against Nawaki's neck, pinning him down without breaking a sweat.

"Alright, that's enough," Minato said, his voice still maddeningly calm. "You're good, Nawaki, but you need to learn when to quit."

Nawaki struggled for a moment, his pride not letting him give up easily, but even he had to realize the fight was over. With a frustrated grunt, he relaxed against the ground, glaring up at Minato.

"You're too fast," Nawaki muttered, his voice tinged with grudging respect.

"That's the point," Minato replied, helping him to his feet. He sheathed his kunai and dusted off his hands like it was all in a day's work.

I let out a long breath I hadn't realized I was holding. Watching Minato fight was always equal parts inspiring and infuriating. No matter how much I improved, no matter how hard I trained, he always seemed one dozen steps ahead, like he was living in a different league entirely.

What do I do to close the gap? How do I at least get to stand on the same ground as he does? It's not even about surpassing him, I need to be on somewhat equal footing with him!

"So, that's it, huh?" I said, crossing my arms and giving Minato a pointed look. "You win again, just like that."

Minato turned to me, flashing that trademark grin of his. "Come on, Shirokumo, don't be like that. You're getting stronger—faster, even. Today's sparring was way tougher than last time. You got a really solid hit in!"

"Yeah, sure," I muttered, though I couldn't keep the edge out of my voice. "And yet you're still standing there like you didn't even break a sweat."

He laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. "What can I say? You push me to get better, too. I wouldn't have been able to pull off that jutsu if you hadn't gone all-out back there."

I sighed. "Great. So now you're thanking me for making you even harder to beat. Real motivational, Minato."

"Hey, that's what rivals are for," Minato said, his grin widening. "Besides, the more you improve, the more I have to improve. It's a win-win."

I mean, that's certainly one way to put it.

Nawaki groaned, brushing dirt off his clothes as he joined us. "Ugh! I don't know why, but this guy's logic is pissing me off right now!"

I shook my head, a reluctant smile tugging at the corner of my lips. As much as I hated losing to him—again—I couldn't deny that sparring with Minato had pushed me further than anything else. 

Okay, whatever. Blind optimism will surely win here! One day, I told myself. One day, I'd be the one standing on top.

For now, though, I'd let him have his moment. "Alright, Minato, you win," I said, throwing up my hands in mock surrender. "But don't think I'm letting this go. Next time, I'll be winning."

"Looking forward to it," he said, his eyes gleaming with that quiet confidence that made you believe he meant every word.

The sound of a loud applause followed, and as we looked around all the other shinobi were cheering for us, shouting about how impressed they were with our fight. Some were even baffled, just staring at us as if they'd seen a ghost! Well, at Minato specifically. The guy was a kid who was at the high Jonin level, after all.

Yeah, again, how am I actually planning on winning in our next bout, exactly?