"Sorry, B… this is on me," A said through clenched teeth. "I underestimated him. I never imagined Namikaze Minato's space–time ninjutsu would be this terrifying. My reaction speed couldn't keep up at all."
"Baka-yarō, kono yarō," Killer B snapped back instantly. "Save the apology for later, A-bro. The Leaf ninja are about to move."
"Interfering in someone else's duel isn't exactly good manners," Minato said calmly, his gaze sharp. "Even if you are the Eight-Tails' jinchūriki. That said—don't blame us for abandoning 'honor' either. You are a jinchūriki, after all."
On the Leaf side, Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, and Yamanaka Inoichi had already taken formation—standing in a triangular array, chakra quietly gathering as they prepared to strike.
"The Eight-Tails jinchūriki is simply too dangerous," Minato thought. "If he's allowed to fight freely, we'll be at a disadvantage."
Out loud, Minato spoke firmly.
"We currently have a ceasefire agreement. Your Cloud forces crossed into Fire Country territory without authorization—are you trying to ignite a war?"
He paused, then continued evenly.
"Give me this much face. King versus king. No interference. One side's defeat ends this confrontation. Osa-i's disappearance has nothing to do with me—and if you lose, the Cloud must withdraw."
"We agree—on one condition."
Before A could speak, Dodai stepped forward.
"Of course," Minato replied calmly. "If we're aiming to prevent escalation, then both sides should align on the details."
"You're from the Nara clan, aren't you?" Dodai said, eyes sharp. "I've heard the Nara are famed for their intellect."
"You flatter me," Shikaku replied lightly. "What condition does Lord Dodai propose?"
"Best two out of three," Dodai said. "You've already taken the first round—Jonin versus Jonin. We want additional matches: Chunin and Genin."
"No problem," Minato agreed without hesitation. "But I trust the Cloud will honor the outcome."
Minato's thoughts were clear.We've already secured one victory. If we win the Genin round, it's over.
And according to Yuhi Shinku, Uchiha Ran already possessed Chunin-level combat ability. Winning one more round shouldn't be difficult.
He turned, clasping his hands together.
"Ran… may I ask this of you?" Minato said sincerely. "I know involving you in such danger without Fugaku-sama's explicit permission isn't ideal."
Ran smiled faintly.
"It's fine, Minato-senpai. We're Leaf ninja. Protecting the village is our duty."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"And besides… the power I gained when my parents died—I've never truly used it yet."
"The Sharingan?" Minato asked quietly.
Ran adjusted his glasses.
"…I didn't want my comrades to distance themselves from me. People say Uchiha who awaken the Sharingan are always surrounded by misfortune."
Minato smiled gently.
"You're kind, Ran."
Then his expression turned solemn.
"I'm counting on you."
Ran stepped onto the battlefield.
Standing opposite him was a dark-skinned woman with sharp eyes and a blade already in hand.
"Uchiha Ran."
"Tifai."
Without another word, Tifai flicked her wrist—two shuriken flew instantly, followed by her charging in with her sword raised.
Ran didn't panic.
He dodged the shuriken cleanly and raised a kunai, blocking her slash with a metallic clang.
"You're not drawing your sword?" Tifai frowned. "Are you looking down on me?"
Seeing Ran make no move to unsheathe his blade, irritation flared in her eyes. With a sharp motion, she hurled dozens of shuriken at once.
"Wire?" Ran noticed instantly.
Each shuriken was connected by nearly invisible threads.
"Don't call us dishonorable," A said to Minato with a grin. "Tifai joined ANBU the moment she graduated. She's fresh out and heading straight for the Chunin Exams. Around the Cloud, she's known as the Torture Queen—the Black Widow."
"I don't mind," Minato replied lightly. "I trust my comrade. And don't blame the Sharingan for being unfair—Ran truly just graduated."
His gaze sharpened.
Three-tomoe Sharingan…
A's expression darkened.
"In that case," he said coldly, "Tifai—don't hold back."
"As if I would!" she snapped.
More shuriken flew—each trailing transparent, venom-laced threads.
Ran leapt upward at an impossible angle, twisting midair. With precise flicks of his wrist, he launched kunai that struck each shuriken dead center.
Clink—clink—clink—
The sound rang sharply through the battlefield as the Cloud shuriken were knocked aside.
"Don't underestimate the Uchiha," Ran said calmly, landing atop a kunai embedded in the ground. "Every one of your movements is crystal clear to me."
"Oh, I never underestimated you," Tifai replied softly, fingers stroking the threads. "But have you considered the possibility that you're already a bug caught in my web, little Uchiha?"
She smiled cruelly.
"I'll let you experience the charm of Lightning Release—right on the web. And these threads are poisoned, by the way. Don't die too quickly. Otherwise your Golden Flash won't be able to explain himself."
She slashed her blade downward.
Snap—snap—snap!
The threads severed—
"Hmm?"
Minato's eyes lit up with a faint, knowing smile.
Incredible… this is the power of the Sharingan.
To think a freshly graduated Genin could reach this level with three tomoe alone…
"No… impossible!"
The scene Tifai expected—Ran bound helplessly in venomous threads—never came.
Instead—
Her own neck, arms, and legs were suddenly bound tight by her own wires, immobilizing her completely.
"Why…?" she gasped. "I set everything perfectly…!"
"You never did," Ran replied calmly. "The moment you fired those shuriken, I saw every thread and every trajectory. I used my kunai to alter their paths."
He stepped closer.
"Shurikenjutsu is an Uchiha specialty. Using it against me—someone with over two and a half years of dedicated training—was arrogance."
"Ku… kuso… you damn Uchiha brat! I—"
Ran raised his hand, adjusted his glasses slowly, then placed his palm over his face.
When he looked up, three crimson tomoe spun coldly in his eyes.
"If you're going to hate something," he said quietly, voice like ice,"then hate the fact… that you were born without the Sharingan."