In the corner downstairs, they waited for the ninja who would escort them to the academy. Meanwhile, Minato set up a soundproof barrier for a quiet discussion.
"Captain, Kyohiko... do you really think they'll agree to cooperate?"
Kakashi, listening in, found their proposals somewhat...
Unrealistic.
The medicinal trade was fine—mutually beneficial, each side getting what they needed.
But the latter? That was practically impossible, wasn't it?
"They will."
Kyohiko smiled.
Kakashi was taken aback. He turned and saw Minato wearing the same confident expression.
Minato chuckled, "At first, I was nervous since I'd never negotiated like this before. But once the first item was settled, I stopped worrying."
"Why?"
Even Might Gai grew curious.
Kyohiko grinned and crooked a finger, beckoning them closer.
The two leaned in.
"Dai-sensei and Chen-sensei each wiped out 40% of Kusagakure's forces in a single move. The battle between Konoha and Kusa is already over."
"Gai, what you should be thinking about now is... what names you're going to give those two techniques."
Kyohiko's eyes sparkled as he looked at Might Gai.
Gai's jaw dropped.
He had expected Konoha to win against Kusagakure.
He had even imagined...
That Konoha would secure a quick victory.
But—
He hadn't expected his father to be the one responsible, nor for the victory to be so decisive.
The names of those techniques...
His lips trembled with excitement.
"I... I think you should be the one to name them."
"Hahaha! Something this meaningful? You should think of it yourself."
Kyohiko patted Gai's shoulder before catching up with Minato.
Kakashi, recovering from his shock, quickly pieced it together.
Confidence stems from strength.
Konoha's overwhelming victory would make Kumo think twice before scheming, making further negotiations much smoother.
But—
Did they even need cooperation now?
With such overwhelming power, they could simply deter other villages through sheer force.
Kakashi, still puzzled, followed Minato and Kyohiko, glancing sideways at Might Gai...
Yeah.
They were definitely not thinking about the same thing.
Kakashi sighed inwardly.
Being on a team with Kyohiko and Minato was... agonizing. He lacked Minato's experience and Kyohiko's transcendent intellect.
And yet—
His own intelligence and talent still placed him far above ordinary shinobi...
"Tch."
"What's with the sigh?"
Minato had slowed his pace without Kakashi noticing, now walking beside him.
Kakashi glanced sideways, momentarily surprised, then answered honestly.
"Just a sudden realization. In any other squad, I'd be the genius. But here? I'm the one playing catch-up—in every aspect."
"So, would you rather stay in this team or switch to another?"
Kyohiko smirked.
Kakashi shrugged. "This one, obviously."
He exhaled. "Having no one to chase after is far more painful. I spent two years like that—lost, drifting."
Back then, there had been no rivals ahead of him, only legends from past eras—figures too distant to measure himself against.
Until Kyohiko appeared.
Kakashi knew full well that his rapid growth was because he constantly compared himself to Kyohiko, striving to bridge the gap.
The current version of himself was stronger, more resolute, and more focused than he would've been otherwise.
At least, that's what he believed.
Minato chuckled softly but said nothing more.
Having a rival to chase was a blessing, but sharing an era with an untouchable genius could also be cruel.
Take the Second Hokage, for example.
A prodigy in his own right, yet his brilliance only truly shone after the era of Hashirama and Madara had passed.
Perhaps Kakashi's fate would be similar.
Just then, Dodai emerged from the Raikage's office.
"I'll be your guide to the academy. I'm quite familiar with the place."
He smiled warmly.
Minato nodded. "We appreciate it, Dodai-sama."
In Kumogakure, Dodai was the Third Raikage's right-hand man—equivalent to Danzo's role under the Third Hokage. His personal escort was a significant gesture of respect.
Dodai waved it off.
"It's no trouble."
---
Kumogakure's Shinobi Academy
The academy was... sparse.
Built in a gently sloped valley with patches of grass, it consisted of just a few structures clinging to the mountainside, leaving the center as an open training ground.
At the valley's entrance stood a simple sign:
"Shinobi Academy."
No frills, no grandeur.
At first glance, the Konoha team was stunned.
This was Kumo's academy?
Dodai smirked. "Disappointed?"
He sighed dramatically. "Yes, this is our academy. Crude, isn't it? Still interested in collaborating?"
"Absolutely!"
Minato didn't hesitate.
Dodai tilted his head, about to ask why—
When Kyohiko suddenly gasped, his face alight with admiration.
"The simplicity of your facilities only highlights the vastness of your vision! These towering mountains, this boundless sky—what better training ground could there be?"
"Now I understand why Kumo's shinobi excel in taijutsu and willpower! This environment forges true warriors!"
"Compared to ours... Well, our academy graduates seem almost..."
Kyohiko trailed off, his expression dripping with reverence.
Kakashi and Gai stared, dumbfounded.
How did he spin barren wasteland into inspirational training paradise so effortlessly?
This was the difference between them and Kyohiko.
Minato caught on instantly and smoothly added:
"Indeed! Your students grow stronger with each generation despite these 'humble' conditions. Clearly, your methods hold invaluable lessons for us."
Dodai blinked.
"Is... that so?"
Even he hadn't considered praising the academy like this.
Now, he studied the valley with fresh eyes.
Vast horizons. Towering peaks. Unrestricted freedom...
Damn.
If it wouldn't seem too shameless, he'd carve Kyohiko's words above the entrance—just to shut up anyone who dared criticize their "primitive" setup.
Dodai shot Kyohiko a long, measuring look.
This kid...
With a silver tongue like that, he'd go far in politics.
The best leaders were the ones who could spin dirt into gold without batting an eye.
Regaining his composure, Dodai smirked.
"Kyohiko, does this mean you find Konoha's academy lacking?"
"If it were so great, why did the three of us graduate early?"
Kyohiko pointed at himself, Kakashi, and Gai.
Dodai paused.
Come to think of it—
Kakashi became a chunin at six.
The other two left the academy by seven.
Was Konoha's system really this flawed?
Dodai eyed his own academy again.
He only half-believed Kyohiko's flattery.
But if Konoha genuinely saw value in Kumo's methods...
Well.
With cooperation being the Raikage's priority, he'd play along.
As they entered the valley, Dodai explained:
"Our training philosophy is straightforward—learn the basics, then fight. So don't expect..."
He trailed off as every student in the vicinity stopped to glare at the Konoha headbands.
Hostility radiated from their stares.
Minato and Kyohiko exchanged glances.
Even the children are like this?
Kumo's disdain for Konoha ran deep.
But they remained composed, observing silently.
The students, however, weren't just staring—
They'd halted their training entirely.
Dodai barked sharply at the students, "They're Konoha elites—do you really think they care about your petty challenges? Get back to training!"
He then led the group toward one of the buildings.
"This is our main training hall. Inside, you'll find—"
Before he could finish, a figure stepped directly into their path.
The young girl bowed formally, then locked eyes with Kyohiko, her expression blazing with fighting spirit.
"Dodai-sama! I demand a rematch with him!"
"You're being disrespectful! Stand down!" Dodai's face darkened.
Two days ago, he might have allowed Yugito to challenge Kyohiko—it would have been good tempering for her.
But now?
This was the same boy who had sent Killer B flying. While that didn't mean Kyohiko could kill a jinchūriki, it proved he was far beyond ordinary genin.
Yugito's control over the Two-Tails was impressive, but Dodai doubted she stood a chance.
A fight now might shatter her confidence entirely.
Yugito, unaware of his concerns, reluctantly stepped aside, frustration simmering in her glare.
Then, someone from Konoha's side spoke up.
"Dodai-sama, hasn't she already graduated? Why is she still here?"
"I lost. So I came back."
Yugito shot Kyohiko a sharp look, clearly still bitter about her previous defeat.
That loss had been humiliating.
Kakashi studied the girl.
She looked even younger than them—maybe seven or eight at most.
She had fought Kyohiko before?
Then it clicked.
Nii Yugito. Kumo's Two-Tails jinchūriki. A prodigy who had already mastered partial tailed beast transformation.
He had never seen tailed beast power in action...
While Yugito glared, dozens of other students watched the Konoha team with wary curiosity.
Seeing Dodai's displeasure, a teacher quickly intervened, grabbing Yugito's arm to pull her away.
But Minato raised a hand.
"Fighting is also a form of exchange. Why not let them spar?"
Yugito's eyes lit up. She whipped around to stare at Dodai, hope blazing across her face.
Dodai considered it.
Maybe this was necessary.
Let these kids see the gap for themselves. Crush their arrogance before it grew unchecked.
"Fine. Since you insist, Minato, we'll arrange some matches."
He scanned the crowd and called out, "Samui!"
A blonde girl stepped forward.
Her icy gaze swept over the Konoha team before settling on Kyohiko.
"I challenge you."
"I'm a jonin. You sure about that?" Kyohiko smirked.
It was hard to reconcile this small, serious girl with the future kunoichi she would become.
Samui nodded.
Kyohiko glanced at Minato, who gave a subtle approval.
"Very well." Kyohiko stepped forward. "As a courtesy, I'll let you strike first."
Samui didn't waste time.
In a flash, she drew her sword and lunged—Lightning Release chakra crackling along the blade.
Cloud Style: Blade Flash!
Her speed was exceptional for her age, the attack nearly too fast to track.
But just as her sword neared Kyohiko's throat—
He caught her wrist.
A slight twist, a flick of his arm—
Samui went flying, landing gracefully a dozen paces away.
The entire valley fell silent.
Many had doubted Kyohiko's claim of being a jonin. He looked no older than ten!
They had expected Samui—one of their best—to teach this Konoha upstart a lesson.
Instead, she had been tossed aside like a ragdoll.
Samui landed soundlessly, her expression unreadable.
The crowd remained frozen.
What... just happened?
Samui's breath hitched.
That speed—
She hadn't even seen him move.
If this were a real battle, she'd be dead.
Gritting her teeth, she refused to back down. Not with Yugito watching.
She attacked again.
Cloud Style—
But Kyohiko's hands moved.
A single-handed seal.
Then—
A blade of chakra flashed before her eyes.
Blood filled her vision.
Samui gasped, staggering back—
Only to realize she hadn't been cut.
The world snapped back into focus.
Dodai's hand was on her shoulder, her classmates crowding around in concern.
An illusion?
Samui exhaled shakily, then bowed to Kyohiko.
"I'm no match for you."
Dodai patted her back. "Don't feel discouraged. He's a jonin. This gap is normal."
But inwardly, he sighed.
Samui was among Kumo's top students—her swordsmanship and reflexes were unmatched in her age group.
He had chosen her to set an example for Yugito.
Yet she had lost in seconds.
Without even forcing Kyohiko to use his Water Release or superhuman strength.
That single-handed Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique...
Impressive.
Dodai turned to Yugito.
"Your turn."
Yugito stepped forward, her gaze intense.
Kyohiko had gotten stronger.
But so had she.
Kyohiko stretched lazily. "I'm tired. How about you spar with Kakashi first? He's quite the genius himself."
"If I beat him, you'll fight me?"
"Sure."
Yugito sized up Kakashi.
Kakashi walked forward without a word.
He knew Kyohiko had seen right through him—this was a chance to experience a jinchūriki's power firsthand.
And he wouldn't refuse.
Tailed beast chakra...
This would be enlightening.