Konoha cat breeder

Chapter 28: Namikaze Minato, the New Sparring Partner

"Is that so? You've studied the Will of Fire so thoroughly? Good, very good—excellent!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen's words came with three emphatic approvals.

He was genuinely delighted.

It wasn't just that Tonari had shown incredible diligence in his training; he had also taken the time to study the Will of Fire, Sarutobi's cherished philosophy.

The knowledge that someone, especially such a promising youth, shared his ideals gave Sarutobi a profound sense of camaraderie.

"You understand me," Sarutobi thought.

---

Tonari, for his part, nodded confidently.

It wasn't difficult for him to regurgitate a long speech about the Will of Fire. Even if he hadn't glanced at Sarutobi's exhaustive writings on the subject, he already knew enough to craft a convincing narrative.

"Who knew the Hokage was a professional at padding word count? But it's fine. I'll swallow this 'Flame Chakra Pill' to secure my place here!" Tonari thought slyly.

---

Sarutobi, visibly pleased, patted Tonari on the shoulder. "Once you're enrolled in the academy, study well and get along with your classmates."

Returning to his desk, Sarutobi added, "You can go now. I'll arrange for someone to take you to the academy soon."

"Thank you, Third Uncle!" Tonari replied cheerfully, leaving the office with a radiant smile.

Behind him, Sarutobi's smile twitched slightly. Something about being called "uncle" made him feel oddly... diminished.

Shaking his head, he refocused. The smile faded from his face, replaced by a steely determination.

"Continue monitoring him. Report everything he does and everyone he interacts with. For now, reduce the surveillance to a single squad," Sarutobi ordered.

From the shadows, two ANBU operatives emerged, kneeling before him.

"Yes, Lord Hokage," they responded in unison before disappearing again.

---

As Tonari left the Hokage Tower, his thoughts raced.

"Almost there. Another fifty percent, and I'll have Sarutobi eating out of my hand."

Buoyed by his success, Tonari made his way back to his training grove.

The once-overgrown area had been transformed into a proper training ground, complete with wooden posts for striking practice and targets for throwing weapons.

His progress over the past two weeks was evident. His kunai and shuriken throws, though not yet perfect, were far more accurate than before.

More importantly, his physical conditioning had reached a point where he could practice high-speed movement techniques and rooftop sprints—a skill he'd envied for so long.

---

Arriving at the grove, Tonari noticed he wasn't alone.

Standing in the clearing was a young man with bright blond hair, dressed in a white sweatshirt. A Konoha forehead protector adorned his brow.

As soon as their eyes met, the young man smiled warmly.

His bright blue eyes and sunny demeanor gave him a youthful charm that was hard to ignore.

Seeing him, Tonari froze.

He recognized him instantly.

Namikaze Minato.

The future Fourth Hokage.

The Yellow Flash of Konoha.

The man who would one day leave the entire ninja world trembling.

And yet, standing here today, Minato was just a young ninja, his talents beginning to bloom but not yet fully recognized.

---

"Hello! My name is Namikaze Minato," the blond youth introduced himself. "Is this your training ground?"

For a moment, Tonari didn't know how to respond.

He had expected to encounter many people in Konoha, but not him.

The man whose legacy would one day define the entire ninja world.

It was almost surreal.

Snapping out of his daze, Tonari leapt down from the tree he was perched on, landing lightly in front of Minato.

"Hello, Minato. I'm Tonari," he replied, smiling back. "Yes, this is my training ground. Did you come here to train too?"

---

Minato scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Actually, I used to train here, but I've been busy with missions lately. I didn't realize someone else had started using it."

A little embarrassed, he added, "But it's okay. I can find another spot."

The way Minato scratched his head and smiled only made his sunny charm more evident.

Tonari, however, wasn't about to let this opportunity slip through his fingers.

Here was Namikaze Minato—future legend and one of the strongest ninja to ever live.

There was no way Tonari was letting him walk away.

---

Waving his hands, Tonari said, "No need for that! This is a big grove—why don't we share it? Training alone can get a little dull. It'd be much more motivating with a partner, don't you think?"

Minato hesitated briefly before smiling again. "Alright, I'd like that."

And just like that, Tonari had found his new sparring partner—a future Hokage.

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(End of Chapter)