Chiba originally wanted to find a place to cultivate and consolidate the insights he gained from his battle with Kuroiwa Tatsuji in Yugakure.

However, Chiba unexpectedly ran into Minato Namikaze no matter where he looked.

Chiba did not want to cultivate in front of Minato Namikaze.

It felt disgusting.

As Chiba turned to find another place, Minato Namikaze used the Body Flicker Technique to block his path.

Chiba looked at Minato Namikaze with an annoyed expression and said, "What do you want? Do you want to lecture me again? Even your master couldn't lecture me, do you think you can?"

Minato Namikaze shook his head: "I won't lecture you anymore. Just as Jiraiya-sensei said, in war, what you did wasn't wrong. It can only be said that you resorted to any means necessary for victory.

While I don't condone your methods, I also cannot say your methods are wrong. It can only be said that our ideals are not the same."

Chiba's eyebrow involuntarily twitched: "Oh? It seems Lord Jiraiya is very responsible. But a friendly reminder, next time on the battlefield, if you block me like that again, don't blame me for being impolite.

Alright, I don't want to say anything more to you. Move aside, I need to go cultivate."

Minato Namikaze did not move aside. He looked directly at Chiba and said, "Actually, there's one more thing..."

Chiba felt the fighting spirit from Minato Namikaze and asked in surprise, "What, do you want to fight me?"

Minato Namikaze said seriously, "Not a fight, but a spar. It's been several years since our last spar. I want to see how big the gap between me and you truly is!"

Chiba looked at Minato Namikaze for a long time, then suddenly laughed: "Forget it, Minato Namikaze, right now you don't interest me."

If Minato Namikaze had mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique or Sage Mode by now, then it would be somewhat interesting.

But right now, Minato Namikaze knows nothing, only a few Wind Release Ninjutsu.

Moreover, Minato Namikaze's speed has reached its limit, and he can't keep up with him at all.

As for Rasengan.

Whether Uzumaki Kushina will become a Jinchūriki is still unknown.

Minato Namikaze created the Rasengan by drawing inspiration from the Tailed Beast Bomb of a Tailed Beast.

Therefore, it's almost impossible for Minato Namikaze to create the Rasengan through Uzumaki Kushina's Nine-Tails Tailed Beast Bomb.

Thus, Chiba had no enthusiasm for Minato Namikaze's sparring request.

After all, the outcome was already predictable.

Minato Namikaze frowned when Chiba refused his sparring request, then pleaded, "Chiba, I know there's a huge gap between us right now, but I want to know exactly how big that gap is. Please give me this opportunity."

Chiba looked at Minato Namikaze with a strange expression: "Aren't you worried that if the gap between us is too big, you'll stop making progress?"

Minato Namikaze replied seriously, "Absolutely not. If that were truly the case, just as you said before, Chiba, it would be my own incompetence, and I couldn't blame anyone else."

Chiba stroked his chin, sizing up Minato Namikaze: "Is that so? To be honest, I'm not interested in sparring with you, but I am very interested in seeing you disheartened and giving up. So, I accept this spar."

A hint of joy appeared on Minato Namikaze's face.

Minato Namikaze knew that he was definitely not as strong as Chiba right now, and the gap between them was still very large.

But Minato Namikaze wanted to know how big the gap between them was, how much he needed to catch up to reach Chiba.

Chiba and Minato Namikaze simultaneously turned and walked backward.

After walking fifteen steps, both turned simultaneously to face each other.

Minato Namikaze was now full of fighting spirit and ready for battle: "Chiba, I'm ready."

Chiba casually rested his arm on the hilt of his Ninja Sword and said, "Perfect, I'm currently researching a new move, but I haven't succeeded yet.

However, even an unfinished move would be difficult for you to resist, and the battle might end in an instant. So, do I need to let you get a few moves in to satisfy yourself? Lest you get frustrated without even landing a single blow."

Minato Namikaze said seriously, "Since it's a spar, we should fight on equal terms. Otherwise, it will be meaningless."

"Is that so? Then as you wish. I'm really looking forward to seeing that frustrated look on your face."

Chiba's hand hovered above the hilt of his Ninja Sword, and he slightly bent his body.

Seeing Chiba's starting stance, Minato Namikaze's eyes narrowed slightly, and he immediately recognized it.

This was Chiba's most frequently used move, First Form: Thunderclap and Flash.

Although Chiba's speed had indeed increased significantly compared to a few years ago, Minato Namikaze was well aware of the shortcomings of Thunderclap and Flash.

Even if Chiba compensated for the weakness by repeatedly changing his direction of advance using the surrounding terrain, it would still be difficult to catch him off guard.

Because even if the direction of advance changes, it doesn't change the fact that Chiba is attacking him in a straight line.

Minato Namikaze began to form hand signs, the signs for the Summoning Technique.

In Minato Namikaze's opinion, Chiba's truly troublesome abilities were the later sword forms of Thunder Breathing, Fire Release Ninjutsu Ninjutsu, and Sharingan.

So Minato Namikaze planned to summon the toads from Mount Myōboku to assist him in battle.

And while Minato Namikaze was forming hand signs, Chiba also made his move.

"Thunder Breathing First Form: Thunderclap and Flash - Godspeed!"

The ultimate of Thunderclap and Flash, the fastest flash.

The thunder that echoed around him when he made his move was louder than that of a normal Thunderclap and Flash, and at the same time, the ground beneath Chiba's feet instantly turned charred black, leaving deep footprints on the ground.

Chiba's legs were currently covered by his pants, so they couldn't be seen.

All the veins on Chiba's legs bulged, showing how strong the accumulated power in his legs was.

An instant.

Minato Namikaze only saw an instant. Chiba seemed to still be in place, yet also seemed to have already moved.

Immediately after, Minato Namikaze felt a sharp pain in his abdomen, and his entire body flew backward, crashing heavily into a tree trunk. He coughed up a mouthful of blood and slumped weakly to the ground.

Minato Namikaze struggled to lift his head and glanced at Chiba.

Chiba's Ninja Sword hadn't even been drawn; he had been struck with the scabbard.

No! It shouldn't have been a strike. Chiba had only raised the scabbard, nothing more.

Chiba had simply used the power augmented by speed to strike his abdomen with the scabbard.

Otherwise, if a slash had been added, Minato Namikaze felt he wouldn't have sustained such minor injuries; several of his bones would surely have broken.

Looking at the charred path and deep footprints on the ground, Minato Namikaze's pupils constricted.

How much force did Chiba's feet exert when he moved just now to create such deep footprints?

Minato Namikaze's gaze fell on Chiba again.

Was this the new move Chiba was researching?