However, there was a hint of pity in the way Minato looked at Nagato.
Seisui didn't know the first thing about sealing techniques—
not as much as Minato did, anyway.
Sure, Seisui was stronger than him, a little better-looking, and maybe a bit smarter too...
Minato paused mid-thought, suddenly realizing aside from the Flying Raijin and sealing arts, he was outclassed in everything else.
"Damn you, Seisui!" Minato muttered, grabbing Yahiko and storming off to the other side.
Seisui blinked, baffled.
What's his problem now? I didn't even do anything to him...
"Hey, Minato! I'm still the squad captain here—show some respect!"
After shouting that, Seisui turned his gaze toward Nagato and Konan.
"I don't know how strong you two are," he said. "So let's test your abilities first."
As he spoke, he pulled both of them—along with the observing Uchiha Haru—straight into the Duel Arena.
One blink later, the scenery changed.
Even though Nagato and Konan had been here just yesterday, they still couldn't help but stare in awe.
Konan crouched, touching the ground curiously. "It feels the same as outside!" she said excitedly.
"Mhm," Nagato replied softly, saying nothing more.
Seisui cleared his throat. "Come at me with the intent to kill."
The moment he said that, a countdown appeared in midair.
Seeing the shift in Seisui's aura, Nagato and Konan exchanged a glance, then nodded in unison.
After three years of training under Jiraiya, their strength had already reached the level of special jonin.
Nagato had even mastered all five elemental releases even without counting his Rinnegan, he was already jonin-tier.
Well, the kind of jonin who could still get one-shotted by Minato, twenty times over.
After all, the gap between two jonin could be wider than that between a civilian and a jonin.
As for Konan—while not as strong as Nagato—she'd reached mid-chunin level herself.
Seisui watched as Nagato's chakra flared, lightning crackling around him.
He's using that technique again, huh?
Seeing the familiar white light flicker across Seisui's body, Nagato swallowed hard.
He remembered vividly how that very light had clashed with Jiraiya-sensei's Needle Jizo the day before and made a metallic clang when struck.
"Lightning Style: Falling Thunder!" Nagato shouted, forming seals as bolts rained down around him.
"Konan, cover me!"
"Got it!"
Konan nodded, crafting a shuriken out of paper and hurling it forward.
The paper—soft and fragile in appearance—turned solid and deadly in her hands.
Seeing the battle start, Uchiha Haru immediately retreated several meters back.
This was Seisui's test for the two; she had no reason to intervene.
Seisui smiled as Nagato charged toward him, lightning flashing across the field.
As for Konan's paper shuriken—he didn't even bother dodging it.
"Youthful Body Art—Rasengan!"
Seisui shouted, rushing in.
In the next instant, his figure blurred, weaving through the falling lightning as though it didn't exist—
and before Nagato could react, the swirling orb of chakra was pressed against his chest.
But at the very moment of impact, Nagato's body burst into smoke—revealing a wooden log.
A substitution!
"Wind Style: Gale Palm!" Nagato cried, pressing his palms together to compress the air.
At the same time, Konan's paper shuriken curved in midair, flying toward him—
and Nagato unleashed the stored air pressure, launching the paper forward with a fierce gale, turning it into a storm of kunai.
Seeing the attack come straight for him, Seisui simply smiled.
He didn't move.
CLANG!
The kunai struck, the metallic sound ringing sharply as Seisui caught one between his fingers.
He unfolded it calmly.
"Ordinary paper, huh..." he murmured, glancing at Konan.
Impressive.
Even now, she could make ordinary paper as hard as steel,
yet retain its flexibility.
She just needs to keep walking the path she's on.
After all, Konan's Paper Release—except against oil—feared nothing.
"Alright," Seisui said at last, drawing his blade. "I've seen enough."
"Flying Raijin"
The moment his voice fell, Nagato's head was cleaved cleanly off—
and before Konan could blink, Seisui was already behind her, his blade piercing her heart.
Their strength was about what he expected.
Nagato was solidly at the jonin level,
and though he hadn't tested Konan much, that didn't matter.
What mattered was that she kept progressing along this path—
he'd guide her, offer advice, let her develop the Paper Release herself.
Exiting the Duel Arena, Seisui turned to Nagato.
"Your strength's enough to protect yourself against most jonin," he said. "But your combat experience is lacking."
"So, for the next few days, I'll spar with you and Konan. We'll build that experience."
Thanks to the Duel Arena, he didn't have to worry about them getting hurt.
Both Nagato and Konan nodded firmly.
Then Seisui turned to Konan again. "That paper shuriken—did you come up with it yourself?"
"Yes," she said nervously. "Is... is something wrong with it, senior? Or is it not good to use?"
"No," Seisui shook his head. He just wanted to confirm whether she had started developing her Paper Release.
Apparently, she didn't even realize she was.
"It's very good," he said. "You can control paper freely—try using that as your foundation and create your own secret technique."
Konan blinked, a little confused.
Seeing that, Seisui explained further:
"Combine your paper manipulation with ninjutsu. You can use paper for offense, defense, scouting—anything."
"For example, create paper clones using Transformation and Shadow Clone techniques, and mix in explosive tags."
"That way, your clone can fight and ambush your enemies."
Konan's eyes lit up. "I get it now, senior!"
Seeing her grasp his point, Seisui smiled in satisfaction.
Looks like God's "Angel" will be born sooner than expected.
Meanwhile, on the other side, Minato smiled gently at Yahiko.
"So, Yahiko, what do you want to learn?"
Yahiko scratched his head. "Minato-senpai, could you teach me the Body Flicker Technique?"
"Of course!" Minato grinned. "I'm pretty good at it, after all!"
As he looked at Yahiko, Minato made a silent vow he would train Yahiko until he surpassed both Nagato and Konan.
This wasn't just about teaching his junior this was a challenge between him and Seisui.
If I can't beat you myself, then I'll surpass you as a teacher!
Seisui... this time, I won't lose!
Minato clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination.
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