Because of Jiraiya's recommendation, and even more so because of Minato's own outstanding qualities, he had become the officially confirmed candidate for the next Hokage in the mind of the Third Hokage.
Therefore, the candidates chosen for Minato's bodyguard squad were undeniably powerful and reliable ninjas.
The bodyguard squad consisted of three people, and without exception, they were all Jonin.
First was Hagoromo. If one were to summarize his defining characteristics as a ninja, the first point would not be his youth. To be able to become a Jonin, his strength was undoubtedly recognized; his age was no longer something that would earn him disparate looks.
What was Hagoromo's primary and most prominent characteristic? It was his "Lightning Style" and the highly offensive nature it brought. Based on publicly available information, after accumulating energy for a certain amount of time, he could charge up an ultimate move. If necessary, he could unleash a massive attack.
According to current intelligence, the single-target attack power of that move was incredibly strong. As long as it hit the enemy, there was probably no one who could block it.
The second characteristic was his sealing jutsu, specifically, highly offensive sealing jutsu. In reality, this referred to a single specific sealing jutsu: his modified version of the Reverse Four Symbols Sealing.
Hagoromo frequently used this jutsu as an ultimate move for both offense and defense. Its advantage was that it was virtually unsolvable; its disadvantages were that it consumed an extreme amount of chakra and its massive range made friendly fire a real risk. These two points limited the scope of the jutsu's usage.
Due to Kushina's teaching, Hagoromo was equally proficient in various other types of sealing jutsu formulas. However, because many of these jutsu required advance preparation, they were not applicable in many battlefield scenarios.
As for the remaining two people in the bodyguard squad, Hagoromo was equally familiar with their faces, having executed missions alongside them previously.
The second bodyguard ninja was Shibi Aburame. Hailing from the Aburame Clan, he was a bug-user who always maintained a poker face, an elite Jonin with exceptional capabilities.
Objectively speaking, this man was more useful than Hagoromo in the vast majority of situations. He was a rare, versatile ninja capable of handling reconnaissance, offense, and defense, and performing exceptionally well in all of them.
The Aburame Clan's insect-control jutsu needs no further explanation regarding its offensive and defensive utility. Furthermore, Shibi Aburame could use Parasitic Insects for ultra-long-range reconnaissance and tracking. In certain special situations, this ability was far more adaptable than the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan. At the same time, he could also use different insects for medical purposes, such as healing, detoxification, and rapid wound recovery.
Shibi Aburame could play the role of attacker, or serve as an excellent support. Because of these abilities, combined with his unnaturally calm personality, he was one of the rare ninjas in the Third Great Ninja War capable of frequently executing solo missions, with an extremely high success rate.
In a word, he was one of the rare ninjas who hadn't been surpassed by the next generation's sons.
The final member was Choza Akimichi.
The Multi-Size Jutsu used by the Akimichi Clan belonged to a special category of ninja-taijutsu, equally integrating offense and defense.
Unlike the lone-wolf nature of Shibi Aburame, due to clan ties and coordination, Choza Akimichi usually belonged to the fixed elite squad "Ino-Shika-Cho." However, to serve on this bodyguard mission, that squad had also been temporarily disbanded.
These two were mature ninjas around twenty-four or twenty-five years old. Coupled with Hagoromo—who had the body of a teenager but the mind of an old man—they essentially formed a highly effective combat system.
Coupled with Minato Namikaze himself, the composition of this four-man squad basically guaranteed they could steamroll through any battlefield, handle various missions with ease, and retreat completely unscathed from major crises.
This new squad's combat power was exponentially greater than the squad of young ninjas Minato had previously led.
As for the surviving member of Minato's previous squad in the last battle, Jonin Kakashi Hatake, he was ultimately placed into the Anbu by Minato.
Given Kakashi's current state, he truly wasn't suited for operating on the frontline battlefield. A twelve-year-old Anbu ninja—this record would likely take a very long time before it was broken by a certain Uchiha... Perhaps Kakashi's purpose in existence was simply to set one youth record after another?
After the new Minato squad was formed, they underwent a brief familiarization period before quickly returning to the battlefield.
In the peace treaty signed with the Hidden Mist, Konoha didn't obtain the massive benefits they had previously secured from the Hidden Sand, as the situations of the two villages were different.
However, currently, Konoha desired nothing else but peace.
During this period, the forces originally under Orochimaru's command were gradually transferring to Jiraiya's frontline. From now on, Konoha's entire combat pressure was concentrated on this side.
The Land of Fire, after all, did not share a border with the Land of Water. Following the upcoming plans, only a small number of reconnaissance troops would ultimately remain on that front.
At this time, Konoha's enemies were reduced to the half-crippled Hidden Stone and the stubborn Hidden Cloud. According to Konoha's strategy, priority was naturally given to dealing with the Hidden Stone, whose overall situation was highly disadvantageous.
While ninjas don't rely on supplies in the same way regular armies do, at best, it's just the difference between starving to death in seven days versus ten days.
More importantly, given the casualty rates among ninjas, they were heavily reliant on medical supplies. Without medical guarantees, there was no combat power guarantee.
Therefore, after their supply lines were severed, the Hidden Stone's large-scale resupply was already unsustainable. Small-scale resupply alone was insufficient to maintain the Hidden Stone forces stationed in the Land of Grass.
Yet, even now, with the Battle of Kannabi Bridge in the past, the enemy still showed no signs of wanting to retreat from the Land of Grass.
For the Hidden Stone ninjas, being defeated in such a manner was likely a very bitter pill to swallow.
However, such persistence was meaningless. Without supplies, there was no combat power. As long as Konoha launched even a slight offensive against the Hidden Stone frontline, the enemy would quickly realize how unwise it was to stubbornly pursue an impossible task.
Even a stubborn old man like Onoki wouldn't do something that would pointlessly send thousands of ninjas to their deaths.
What Konoha needed to do now was precisely to launch that offensive against this frontline.
"We will immediately launch an assault on the Hidden Stone frontline, and it will be an overt, frontal attack. After all, we have not concealed our movements for this operation."
"In terms of numbers, compared to the enemy opposite us, we are merely a medium-scale force. But for this attack, rather than the results we achieve, what is more important is making the Hidden Stone understand our resolve to attack."
"The Hidden Stone must be completely driven out of the Land of Grass."
"Next, our squad will take priority and initiate the action."
Minato crouched on the ground, speaking to the three people before him, Hagoromo included.
From his appearance, it seemed he had moved past the previous events. But even if he hadn't, he wouldn't let it affect him on the battlefield.
The Konoha forces executing this frontal attack mission only numbered around 800. Their strategy was to attack, engage the enemy, and then retreat.
They would cycle this process until the Hidden Stone could no longer withstand it.
Therefore, this operation was a continuous one. Rather than a continuous assault, it was more akin to continuous harassment. Under this strategy, the Hidden Stone forces—lacking medicine, food, and clothing—would ultimately have no choice but to retreat.
The Konoha ninjas' movements were indeed unconcealed. This was a true frontal assault, and the shadowy figures of Hidden Stone ninjas could already be seen moving on the opposite side.
What followed immediately was a head-on clash.
In terms of specific role distribution within Minato's squad: Shibi Aburame's primary tasks were reconnaissance and perimeter vigilance; Choza Akimichi was responsible for active defense; while Minato and Hagoromo... were the vanguard for the attack.
If one were to compare the deterrent effect of the Yellow Flash across the different villages, the Hidden Stone would absolutely rank first. Especially considering it was Minato's squad that had just destroyed their supply lines.
Therefore, when Minato Namikaze appeared at the very forefront of the battlefield, a clear commotion erupted among the opposing Hidden Stone ninjas.
Then, Minato led the Konoha assault forces and launched the attack.
Hagoromo followed closely behind Minato.
"Is that Konoha's Yellow Flash?" A Hidden Stone ninja asked in doubt.
"It is Konoha's Yellow Flash!" When Minato began scattering Flying Thunder God kunai all over the ground and commenced his elusive, instant-kill operations, the enemy finally confirmed his identity.
"Wait... that Lightning Style brat next to him seems to be even faster than the Yellow Flash?"
"How could there be a ninja faster than the Yellow Flash?!"
"I think they're about the same speed at best..."
"Actually, the Yellow Flash is still faster if you look closely."
A captain-level Hidden Stone ninja wore a dark expression. Listening to all this nonsensical chatter, he didn't utter a single word.
It was precisely because he was a captain that he knew reporting the situation was the most crucial task right now. So... he turned around and ran.
You absolute morons, the one following the Yellow Flash is the White Yaksha! Did you come here for a picnic? You're not running, yet you have the time to debate this crap?! Regardless of who's faster, they are both way faster than you! Are you just spouting nonsense while waiting to die?!
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