The chosen representative for the Naruto world was decided almost immediately: the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze.
Shinji glanced at the two worlds that had finalized their fighters and promptly activated the massive display screen. On the left appeared Kizaru's casual, almost lewd-looking avatar, while on the right stood Minato's calm and dignified figure. The contrast between them was striking.
"Naruto, just watch closely," Minato said gently. Even in the afterlife, he had never imagined that this day would come. Should he be thanking Uchiha Madara for this chance?
The next moment, golden light enveloped Minato Namikaze, and he was instantly transported to the Multiverse Battlefield.
The instant Naruto saw that familiar yet distant figure, tears streamed down his face uncontrollably."It really is my dad… I'll finally be able to see him!"
Jiraiya watched silently, his emotions tangled as he saw his disciple return to the battlefield."That kid Minato is really going to show off in front of his son now," he muttered.
Kumogakure
"Damn you, Minato!"
The Fourth Raikage, Ai, slammed his palm onto the table as soon as Minato appeared on the screen. Lightning crackled violently around his hand, making it clear just how furious he was.
"Why does someone who's been dead for over ten years get to fight? I'm the fastest—Raikage Ai!"
His rage was so intense that it startled Killer Bee nearby.
Back then, Ai and Killer Bee had fought Minato together. Ai's fist had come within inches of landing, only for Minato to vanish in an instant and reappear behind Killer Bee, a kunai pressed to his neck. Neither brother had gained the upper hand—a humiliation Ai had never forgotten.
Now that Minato had returned to the stage, the entire multiverse would once again praise his speed, as if Ai's own reputation meant nothing.
"Minato Namikaze," Ai growled, fists clenched as veins bulged across his arms, "one day, I'll settle things with you."
After a deep breath, his expression hardened.
"So many years have passed… I don't know how Naruto is doing. But no matter what, I have to win."
"Kurama," Minato said calmly within his mind, "our opponent is an Admiral. We can't underestimate him."
"Tch. Talk less," Kurama replied lazily.
The next moment, a tall, middle-aged man appeared on the battlefield. He wore orange-tinted sunglasses, had a ring of dark stubble around his mouth, and was dressed in a yellow-striped suit. His posture was relaxed—almost lazy.
The moment Kizaru arrived, the multiverse erupted in disbelief.
He Zhi:"Why does this Admiral feel… temporary?"
Juhua Xin:"This guy looks way too sleazy. I've never seen anyone this lewd."
Natsu:"Akainu and Garp were serious fighters, so why does this Admiral look so sloppy? I don't feel any pressure from him at all."
Kushina Uzumaki:"Even if he looks unreliable, Minato won't underestimate him."
Fifteen Yuan for a Haircut:"I still think Minato's stronger."
While most viewers doubted Kizaru, the Marines were bursting with excitement.
"Admiral Kizaru! Show the multiverse your speed!"
"Our Admiral moves at the speed of light! That blond ninja doesn't stand a chance!"
"Hmph," Jiraiya scoffed. "Light speed or not, my disciple's Flying Thunder God is unmatched."
Despite his casual demeanor, Kizaru stood over three meters tall. Compared to him, Minato—who was under two meters—looked almost small.
"Haah… after this fight, I'm retiring," Kizaru said lazily. "I'm tired of punching in and punching out every day."
"I've heard the viewers call you the fastest in the Ninja World—the Yellow Flash," he added, glancing at Minato.
Minato answered calmly, giving his full name without hesitation."I wouldn't claim to be the fastest, but when it comes to speed, I'm not afraid of anyone."
"Naruto… Kushina… you must be watching," Minato said softly. "When I win, I'll return to your side."
Kizaru picked at his ear, clearly unimpressed by the speech.
"Well then," Shinji announced, "if both sides are ready, the match begins!"
"Since you're the Yellow Flash," Kizaru said, his eyes narrowing slightly, "I suppose I should take this seriously too."
He brought his hands together—one fist, one palm—then slowly pulled them apart. A sword made of pure golden light formed between them.
"Amaterasu Cloud Sword."
This was one of Kizaru's abilities derived from the Glint-Glint Fruit.
Knowing Kizaru's speed was dangerous, Minato didn't rush in. Instead, he threw dozens of kunai in an instant, each one engraved with the Flying Thunder God formula.
In the next moment—
Kizaru stepped forward and swung his glowing blade straight down toward Minato. The strike was simple and direct, yet Minato refused to meet it head-on.
Buzz!
Just as the blade came within a foot of him, Minato vanished, reappearing beside another marked kunai.
"The Yellow Flash really is terrifying," Kizaru said as he turned and casually slashed backward, splitting Minato's kunai cleanly in two.
Despite his words, his expression remained unchanged. This was nothing more than a test.
Minato's gaze sharpened. He knew better than to judge strength by appearance alone, and Kizaru was clearly one of those dangerous individuals who defied common sense.
"To react even after my teleportation… your speed is frightening as well," Minato said.
His earlier attack hadn't been careless. However, Kizaru's Observation Haki allowed him to foresee movements moments in advance, making him an extremely troublesome opponent.
"You and that Tobirama fellow were both Hokage, weren't you?" Kizaru continued calmly. "Your speed feels no slower than his. I just wonder… can you also use Water Release?"
Minato didn't answer.
"Be careful with the next attack," he said.
As he spoke, a kunai shot toward Kizaru's face like a flash of lightning.
Then Minato disappeared again.
Kunai rained down from every direction, fired like bullets as Minato constantly shifted positions using Flying Thunder God.
Yet Kizaru showed no panic at all. In fact, a faint smile appeared on his face.
He casually knocked aside the kunai in front of him with the Amaterasu Cloud Sword, completely ignoring the ones striking from the sides and behind. They passed straight through his body without resistance.
As a Glint-Glint Fruit user, Kizaru had already activated elementalization. Physical attacks like kunai were meaningless.
When the last blade fell to the ground, Kizaru shook his head lightly.
"Those kinds of attacks," he said lazily, "won't work on me."