"This guy..."
Tsunade showed a look of surprise.
In the air, Shūichi Hoshita was overjoyed.
However, it was still in its early stages, and he wasn't very skilled yet. When he tried to control the force during the second mid-air explosion, he ended up crashing straight into a tree trunk.
Fortunately, he reacted quickly and used Yin Healing Wound Destruction in advance, so there was no serious injury.
But as soon as he got up from the ground, Tsunade was already beside him, asking, "How did you do that?"
"By combining nature transformation with shape transformation."
Shūichi explained, "The explosive nature of Fire Release is enhanced by shape transformation, which simulates the blooming of a flower. The blooming process itself is the transformation of Fire Release chakra—essentially, the explosion."
"The explosion creates a shockwave, and the flower's shape constrains the shockwave, which then propels us at high speed."
"It's actually an advanced development of the basic Body Flicker Technique."
Tsunade, after hearing this, asked, "What made you think of using the shape of a flower?"
Shūichi smiled and replied, "It came to me when I was buying flowers with Shizune last time and saw the flowers blooming—morning glories."
Tsunade immediately recalled that day. Shizune had returned with flowers, looking very pleased...
What incredible ninja instincts!
Tsunade secretly marveled, then pondered, "This truly is a remarkable Body Flicker Technique. It allows you to gain momentum mid-air, something no other ninja can do."
"Moreover, as you become more proficient, you might even be able to move at high speeds in mid-air."
Shūichi nodded, "Exactly."
Tsunade added, "The difficulty of this technique is undoubtedly S-rank!"
Not to mention nature transformation—most Fire Release jutsu have explosive characteristics. But shape transformation? Just forming a realistic fire flower, let alone simulating its blooming process, is extremely challenging.
And she noticed that Shūichi did this without any hand seals.
This means that this could be a hand-seal-less Fire Body Flicker Technique!
Shūichi nodded. In terms of difficulty, it indeed reached the S-rank level.
However, the technique wasn't fully completed yet, so it didn't meet the requirements of his Tag Tree.
But the hardest part, the beginning, was already done. Now it was just a matter of refining the details step by step.
And this Fire Body Flicker Technique was only the beginning.
His ultimate goal was to combine it with the Yin Seal, and even add Tsunade's unfinished Strength of a Hundred Technique to form a Fire Release chakra cloak, allowing the fire flowers to bloom from any part of his body.
Of course, this was a far-off goal.
Just mastering the Yin Seal would take two to three years, or even longer.
Adding the Yin Seal on his forehead would take even more time.
But he's only seven years old now, so time is on his side.
...
Under Tsunade's watchful eyes, Shūichi Hoshita continued to refine the Fire Body Flicker Technique.
It seemed he had set a good foundation, and within a few days, he made another breakthrough.
The Wind Release chakra nature transformation was finally completed!
This training was entirely a product of grinding through time with Shadow Clones.
With that, the Wind Release Expert tag was triggered, with conditions and effects similar to those of Fire Release Expert.
Having made this progress, Shūichi decided it was time to end his "retreat" at the Konoha Hospital.
Not only because he needed to obtain Wind Release ninjutsu resources from Minato Namikaze, but also because he needed to apply these techniques to perfect the Fire Body Flicker Technique.
In the evening, after packing his belongings for the mission tomorrow, Shūichi sat down to review his training.
By now, he was a true Fire Release expert.
However, Shūichi hadn't forgotten that his original goal in developing the Fire Body Flicker Technique was to enhance his swordsmanship, particularly to increase his speed.
Thinking about swordsmanship, he couldn't help but recall the Dance of the Crescent Moon technique.
"The Dance of the Crescent Moon... what if I use Fire Release clones for it?"
Shūichi couldn't help but think of the Lightning Release clone, which turns into a flash of lightning that can temporarily paralyze the enemy when struck.
So, what about Fire Release clones?
As he thought about it, Shūichi grew more excited.
He imagined the scene where a Fire Release clone is struck and then explodes, transforming into a blooming flower of flames.
"Fire Release clones... I wonder if Konoha has any."
Shūichi pondered, "Even if not, it doesn't matter. A Fire Release clone is just a Shadow Clone formed with Fire Release chakra, so developing it shouldn't be difficult for me."
"The key is the exploding fire flower... Making the Fire Release clone explode isn't the problem—it's just a matter of chakra nature transformation. But the fire flower..."
"It seems the Fire Release clone will need to self-detonate to achieve that."
Looking at the time, it wasn't practical to go outside and experiment now, so Shūichi decided to calm his thoughts and retrieved the ninjutsu scroll his mother had left behind.
He decided to master Wind Release: Gale Palm first!
...
The night passed without incident, and the next morning, Shūichi Hoshita woke up early.
He started with his morning training, then tested out the Gale Palm technique. He found that releasing it was no problem at all—now it was just a matter of practice.
It's definitely easier to train in Wind Release ninjutsu after mastering the Wind Release chakra nature transformation.
"I also need to find time to work on genjutsu…"
After breakfast and getting ready, Shūichi dressed in his combat gear, slung his scroll over his shoulder, and headed out.
As usual, they met at the old spot. After the entire Minato Squad gathered, they left the village.
On the way, Shūichi mentioned to Minato Namikaze that he wanted to train in Wind Release ninjutsu.
Minato agreed immediately and then smiled, "It looks like you're shifting your focus to Wind Release?"
Shūichi explained, "Since the first stage of my Fire Release development is complete, it now needs a lot of real combat and time to refine and perfect it. I can temporarily shift my energy to Wind Release and genjutsu."
Hearing the mention of genjutsu, Sanyō Kurama chuckled, "It looks like I might get to be a teacher!"
Shūichi immediately played along, "Master Sanyō, I will be in your care!"
Uchiha Shisui, watching the exchange, also smiled, "Shūichi, if you need any help, don't hesitate to ask."
"Of course," Shūichi joked, "I've always had a thick skin, so there's no need for formality."
As the three joked around, Minato's smile grew even wider. He thought to himself, "With Shūichi around, it feels like the atmosphere is even better!"
---
When they stopped to rest, Shūichi Hoshita learned his first Wind Release jutsu from Minato Namikaze.
Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere!
A B-rank Wind Release jutsu that allows the user to continuously fire air bullets from their mouth.
This technique is somewhat similar to a smaller version of the Drilling Air Bullet used by Shukaku, the One-Tail.
Shūichi remembered that Uchiha Sasuke, after awakening his Mangekyō Sharingan, was once injured by this very move from Danzo.
"Wind fuels fire, Danzo, I'll get you one day!"
As he practiced the Vacuum Sphere jutsu, Shūichi clenched his teeth in silent determination.
Though things had been relatively peaceful lately, he was definitely someone who held grudges.
---
Time flew by, and before he knew it, it was already September.
Shūichi Hoshita continued his routine of completing missions while honing his skills.
One day, Minato's team received another mission to head to the Land of Rivers.
Sensing something unusual, Shūichi couldn't help but ask, "Minato-sensei, the situation in the Land of Rivers has mostly returned to how it was before. If we go there again, won't that provoke an overreaction from Sunagakure?"
The name "Yellow Flash" was already spreading, and the previous exploits of Minato's team had been so remarkable that their return would certainly agitate Sunagakure.
"It's true the situation there has mostly stabilized, but this time it's just a routine guard mission," Minato replied.
At least for now, he hadn't received any secret orders from the Third Hokage.
In the last battle, the Land of Rivers and the Land of Wind had conceded, giving up not only part of their iron ore profits but also some of the guarding and escorting tasks to Konoha.
Before this, all of that was Sunagakure's territory.
After hearing Minato's explanation, Shūichi pushed his concerns aside.
At noon, on the border of the Land of Fire, the team took a break.
After enjoying some grilled meat, Shūichi held his Totsuka Blade, watching as a faint white light flowed along the blade, infused with Wind Release chakra.
"My proficiency in Wind Release isn't as high as in Fire Release. The Wind Release enhances the blade's sharpness, but it's still not as good as the Blue Flame Sky Blade."
As he withdrew the chakra, Shūichi couldn't help but think of Pakura's Scorch Release.
The fusion of two chakra natures creates a new chakra nature, and the fire from Scorch Release naturally possesses strong control and manipulation capabilities.
It's similar to Storm Release, where the combination of Water and Lightning Release makes the difficult-to-control lightning much easier to manage.
Shūichi didn't expect to master Scorch Release anytime soon, but that didn't stop him from developing Wind and Fire Release combination jutsu, and perhaps even sword techniques.
After all, his original idea was to use Wind Release to enhance his weapons, granting them even greater cutting power.
Danzo had used Wind Release chakra to enhance shuriken and kunai.
Now, Shūichi could do the same, but the effect wasn't as strong as with his more advanced Fire Release techniques.
However, if Wind and Fire were combined, it might lead to greater efficiency and higher temperatures.
"In fact, the combination of Wind and Fire Release might be better suited for the Fire Body Flicker technique," Shūichi thought, his mind racing.
He had many ideas, but they would have to be developed step by step.
After an hour of rest, the team set off again, crossing the border into the Land of Rivers.
Around 4 PM, the four of them reached their destination—a mining mountain.
They were there to replace the team that had been guarding the area.
For the next half month, they would need to stay there, periodically escorting the mined and refined iron to the port.
Of course, guarding the area also meant protecting it from bandits, or even preventing them from taking over the mine.
For rogue ninja, taking over a mine from ordinary people would be all too easy.
But Shūichi couldn't shake the feeling that sending Minato's team to handle such a task seemed like overkill.
Sure enough, the next day, scouts from Sunagakure appeared outside the mine.
The word had clearly gotten out.
When Minato learned of this, he simply said, "Stay alert, but don't engage."
Two days later, Shūichi spotted two familiar faces.
Pakura of the Scorch Release!
Rasa of the Magnet Release!
The sight of his enemies made Shūichi's blood boil.
Seeing that Shūichi was alone, both of them seemed tempted.
Another ninja from Sunagakure noticed this and quickly warned, "It's not the right time for a confrontation."
Pakura was about to respond when Minato suddenly appeared beside Shūichi.
"Minato Namikaze…"
Rasa was visibly cautious.
Soon, Pakura and the others retreated, while Shūichi and Minato quietly followed them until they entered a town, at which point they withdrew.
It was clear that Pakura and her team weren't planning to leave anytime soon. It seemed they had been specifically sent to monitor Minato's team.
That evening, Minato received a confidential message from Konoha.
After reading it, he couldn't help but frown slightly.
Seeing this, Shūichi quickly asked, "Minato-sensei, has the village given us new orders?"
Minato nodded. "Yes, we have new orders, and there are two of them."
"But we've already completed one."
Shūichi pondered this for a moment.
Kurama Sanyō guessed, "Minato-sensei, is it related to the Sunagakure ninja?"
Minato nodded. "We need to draw Sunagakure's attention, and at the right moment, support another team on a mission."
"Another team?" Sanyō asked. "Minato-sensei, which team is it?"
"Is it like the last time in the Land of Rain, with intelligence agents?"
Minato shook his head. "No, the specific information is classified."
Sanyō was left speechless.
Uchiha Shisui remarked, "It sounds like that team is on an S-rank classified mission!"
"Even if it's an S-rank classified mission, we should still be given basic information. Otherwise, how are we supposed to effectively carry out our support role?" Kurama Sanyō questioned, confused.
Shūichi Hoshita responded, "It's because we're positioned right along their retreat route!"
Minato Namikaze nodded. "Shūichi is right."
He explained further, "Since we can't pinpoint the exact time of their retreat, we must remain vigilant at all times."
"Additionally, while we've already drawn some of Sunagakure's attention, we can't let them focus on us constantly."
"So, we'll need to split into two groups."
"Shūichi and I will form Group A, responsible for diverting Sunagakure's attention. Shisui and Sanyō, you two will stay here. Shūichi, leave a shadow clone behind, and make sure to inform us immediately if anything happens."
The three nodded in agreement.
Such a plan was only feasible because Minato had the Flying Thunder God technique.
After making preparations and leaving behind a shadow clone, Shūichi and Minato boldly set off.
As expected, it didn't take long before Minato sensed they were being followed by Sunagakure ninja.
Pakura and Rasa were among them.
Without paying any attention to the Sunagakure squad trailing them, Shūichi and Minato continued on their path.
"What are those two trying to do?"
"This direction… could they be heading towards the village-guarded mine?" Pakura couldn't make sense of Shūichi and Minato's movements.
Rasa was equally puzzled. "Perhaps they're just returning the favor, an eye for an eye."
Pakura scoffed. "I think Konoha sent them with ulterior motives. They're probably still bitter about the last outcome."
Rasa's expression darkened. "We've already made concessions."
"If Konoha keeps pushing, I don't think the Third Kazekage would hesitate to go to war. Even the Daimyo wouldn't oppose it."
Pakura nodded, then sneered, "It's a shame that Hanzō backed down… The so-called 'Demi-God of the Shinobi World' has grown soft."
...
"This mountain should do."
Minato Namikaze stood atop the mountain, looking out at the distant mine, which was guarded by Sunagakure.
Shūichi Hoshita glanced at the illuminated mine across the way, still lit even in the dark of night, and then said, "Sensei, I'll go look for a water source."
Minato nodded in agreement.
Shūichi turned and left, quickly finding a waterfall and a pool. The two of them then set up camp by the waterfall.
From their observation point in the distance, Rasa and Pakura exchanged puzzled glances.
Afterward, they retreated to the mine. Rasa stayed behind to keep watch, while Pakura left to report the situation to Chiyo.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Shūichi followed the stream to catch some fish and unknowingly arrived at a small lake. The lake was adorned with many water lotuses, which were quite beautiful.
After catching a few fish, Shūichi was about to head back when he suddenly turned to look again at the multilayered petals of the water lotuses.
"Water lotuses... with multiple petals..."
His eyes lit up with excitement, eager to test something out immediately.
Taking a deep breath to calm his impulse, he returned to the waterfall with the fish in hand.
While having fish soup, Shūichi asked, "Sensei, what do you think this mission is about?"
Minato didn't answer directly but instead said, "Although we forced the Land of Rivers and Sunagakure to back down last time, the fact remains that the Land of Rivers is leaning toward Sunagakure."
Shūichi nodded. "That's a matter of interest."
"Konoha is stronger than Sunagakure, which is why the Land of Rivers sided with us after breaking away from Amegakure. But now, with Sunagakure offering better benefits, they've naturally shifted their allegiance."
The key lies with the two Magnet Release users in Sunagakure: the Third Kazekage and Rasa.
According to Shūichi's knowledge, Rasa manipulates gold dust.
But if he can control gold dust, there's no reason he can't control iron sand as well.
Why, then, is Rasa known for manipulating gold dust in the ninja world, distinguishing himself from the Third Kazekage, who uses iron sand?
Perhaps it's due to changes in his environment or personal circumstances.
But either way, while the Fourth Kazekage later mined gold dust in the desert to alleviate Sunagakure's financial problems, it makes perfect sense that the Third Kazekage is now using Magnet Release to prospect for minerals.
The core issue remains: in the absence of an all-out war, eliminating the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, who currently favors Sunagakure, seems like the best option for Konoha—or rather, the most likely choice for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As for the argument that killing the daimyo would have too big of an impact, the Land of Rivers is just a small nation and doesn't enjoy the privileges of the Five Great Nations.
And Shūichi remembered that in the original story, the Third Tsuchikage hired the Akatsuki to stage coups in many small countries!
So, would Sunagakure anticipate that the daimyo of the Land of Rivers is in danger? Shūichi thought it was inevitable.
After all, as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, they were well aware of these tactics.
"Sensei, if this mission fails, everything the village has worked to reclaim will be lost," Shūichi said.
Minato nodded, then smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, the Third Hokage must have considered this carefully. The person chosen to carry out the mission will be someone extremely reliable."
Shūichi pondered this and realized why the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would send Sakumo Hatake on this mission instead of the more ruthless Orochimaru.
"It seems that Chiyo is stationed at the daimyo's residence in the Land of Rivers."
"To deal with a powerful puppet master, a high-speed, high-attack ninja like Sakumo Hatake is indeed the best choice."
...
At the Daimyo's Residence in the Land of Rivers
Pakura met with Chiyo and reported the situation in full detail.
Chiyo frowned upon hearing it. "The Yellow Flash..."
After a moment of thought, she immediately gave an order: "Return at once. Minato Namikaze's target might be Rasa."
Pakura was taken aback. "Rasa?"
"Because of his Magnet Release?"
"But the Third Kazekage... Could Konoha be planning to assassinate the Third Kazekage?"
Chiyo shook her head. "The Third Kazekage is in the village; we don't need to worry about him. Now go!"
Pakura nodded and quickly left.
After she was gone, Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizō, asked, "Sister, do you really think Konoha would target Rasa and the Third Kazekage?"
Chiyo replied, "If Rasa is attacked, it confirms that someone is trying to assassinate the Third Kazekage."
"However, the Third Hokage likely doesn't have the resolve for such a bold move."
"The last Shinobi World War ended not too long ago, and the new generation hasn't matured yet."
Ebizō's expression grew serious. "So, Konoha's most likely target is the Daimyo. They will definitely come."
Chiyo responded calmly, "We'll find out soon enough. This was expected, wasn't it? If we were in their position, we would make the same decision."
"But we can't afford to be careless regarding the Third Kazekage. Send someone back to the village immediately to ensure he remains vigilant."
Ebizō nodded and quickly set off to make the necessary arrangements.
...
After breakfast, Shūichi Hoshita and Minato Namikaze stood at the mountain peak, gazing across at the mine on the opposite side.
As they observed, Shūichi asked, "Minato-sensei, by showing up here, is there a chance that Sunagakure might think we're planning to take action against the Magnet Release user, Rasa? Or even attempt to target the Third Kazekage?"
Minato paused for a moment; he hadn't considered that angle. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had been very clear about avoiding large-scale conflict. Otherwise, after gaining the upper hand last time, they would have pushed to completely take over the Land of Rivers, leaving the Daimyo with no room to waver.
After thinking it over, Minato replied tactfully, "There is indeed that possibility, but I believe Sunagakure is well aware of the Third Hokage's stance."
In other words, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't dare make a move against the Third Kazekage. Killing the Kazekage would drive Sunagakure into a frenzy, especially given that the current Third Kazekage is reputed to be the strongest Kazekage with high esteem.
Besides, assassinating a Kage is no simple task. Right now, Konoha likely doesn't have anyone capable of such a feat.
Shūichi, still watching the distant mine, smiled and said, "So, if we were to make a move against Rasa now, wouldn't that send a signal to Sunagakure?"
"That we intend to take down Rasa, and also the Third Kazekage, to leave Sunagakure without any Magnet Release users?"
Minato was startled by the idea, then quickly realized what Shūichi was suggesting. "If we did that, it could easily lead to war between the two villages."
But as he processed Shūichi's intent, Minato added, "So, you're suggesting we attack now, to send Sunagakure a false signal, confuse the enemy, and lead them to misjudge our true intentions, thereby reducing the difficulty of the other mission."
Shūichi nodded. "Exactly."
"However, as you said, Sensei, there is some risk involved. And, we haven't received any authorization from the village."
Minato fell into deep thought, but he quickly made a decision and smiled. "Let's go with your plan, Shūichi. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."
Shūichi responded without hesitation, "Of course, we'll take responsibility together. We're a team, after all!"
Minato's smile broadened, but then he grew serious. "I'll handle Rasa. You take care of the other Sunagakure shinobi, just keep them occupied!"
Shūichi nodded solemnly. "Understood!"
Then he smiled again. "I'd like to show you a new technique I've been working on, Sensei."
Minato returned the smile. "I'm looking forward to it!"
With that, Minato vanished.
Shūichi immediately followed suit, disappearing into the forest as he headed straight for the Sunagakure shinobi guarding the mine.
As they moved, the alert Sunagakure shinobi quickly noticed the threat.
Amidst shouts, Rasa and Madai led a squad to intercept them.
Seeing Minato charging forward, Rasa immediately called out, "Leave Minato Namikaze to me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, iron sand morphed into countless senbon, forming a dense cloud that enveloped Minato.
Minato responded by scattering a large number of Flying Thunder God kunai.
Madai quickly warned, "Don't go near those kunai!"
"Spread out!"
Before the words finished, Minato had already vanished, avoiding Rasa's attack, and kicked a Sunagakure shinobi before they could react.
Rasa's next attack arrived, but Minato disappeared again.
The other Sunagakure shinobi dispersed, while Madai moved to assist Rasa, trying to corner Minato.
Just then, Shūichi arrived.
Standing on a tree branch, Shūichi completed his hand seals and clapped his hands together with a "snap."
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Wind Release: Gale Palm!
The hand seals were for the Wind Release, while the Great Fireball Technique required none.
After inhaling deeply, Shūichi puffed out his chest and cheeks, then exhaled sharply.
A line of fire shot out first, but it was quickly followed by a roaring blaze, creating a fearsome firestorm that surged forward.
Wind and Fire Combination Jutsu!
The three Sunagakure shinobi who had been on guard against Shūichi quickly performed their own jutsu in response, though they had been caught off guard.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
The collision of air currents caused a massive explosion, tearing through the surrounding vegetation and sending up clouds of dust.
Shūichi then formed more hand seals and executed the Dance of the Crescent Moon, sending two fire clones charging into the swirling dust.
Unlike the original technique, these were not Shadow Clones but Fire Release Clones.
Moments later, as the dust settled, the three Sunagakure shinobi were seen retreating in the face of Shūichi's clones.
Rasa shouted, "Madai, I can handle things here!"
Madai immediately rushed towards Shūichi.
If he didn't, the others might be wiped out.
That kid, Shūichi Hoshita, had extraordinary close-combat skills, rivaling those of a Special Jōnin.
As Madai sprinted forward, he started forming hand seals.
But Shūichi wasn't about to let him unleash a large-scale Wind Release jutsu. A swift Fire Release: Fireball Technique interrupted Madai, forcing him to use Wind Release chakra to blow out the flames on his body.
Madai abandoned the idea of using long-range Wind Release jutsu and closed in, engaging Shūichi's two clones in close combat.
Outnumbered four to two, with one of the opponents being a seasoned Jōnin, Shūichi's clones quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.
Soon, one of Shūichi's Fire Release clones found itself in an inescapable position, about to be struck by Madai's attack.
But just as Madai's strike was about to land, the Fire Release clone suddenly transformed into a blooming fire flower.
Madai's pupils dilated, and his ninja instincts screamed danger. He instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat, shouting, "Scatter!"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, the orange-red fire flower exploded, blossoming into a brilliant flare.
Boom!
With the explosion, the three Sunagakure shinobi were sent flying by the intense flames, screaming in agony.
Even Madai, who had retreated as quickly as possible, was blown away by the shockwave. He scrambled to his feet, looking down at his severely burned arms, sweat dripping from his forehead.
If he hadn't reacted in time...
Madai glanced over at his three companions, only to see blood pouring from their noses and mouths, their bodies covered in severe burns.
They were no longer even capable of screaming.
"Even if it's an S-rank classified mission, we should still be given basic information. Otherwise, how are we supposed to effectively carry out our support role?" Kurama Sanyō questioned, confused.
Shūichi Hoshita responded, "It's because we're positioned right along their retreat route!"
Minato Namikaze nodded. "Shūichi is right."
He explained further, "Since we can't pinpoint the exact time of their retreat, we must remain vigilant at all times."
"Additionally, while we've already drawn some of Sunagakure's attention, we can't let them focus on us constantly."
"So, we'll need to split into two groups."
"Shūichi and I will form Group A, responsible for diverting Sunagakure's attention. Shisui and Sanyō, you two will stay here. Shūichi, leave a shadow clone behind, and make sure to inform us immediately if anything happens."
The three nodded in agreement.
Such a plan was only feasible because Minato had the Flying Thunder God technique.
After making preparations and leaving behind a shadow clone, Shūichi and Minato boldly set off.
As expected, it didn't take long before Minato sensed they were being followed by Sunagakure ninja.
Pakura and Rasa were among them.
Without paying any attention to the Sunagakure squad trailing them, Shūichi and Minato continued on their path.
"What are those two trying to do?"
"This direction… could they be heading towards the village-guarded mine?" Pakura couldn't make sense of Shūichi and Minato's movements.
Rasa was equally puzzled. "Perhaps they're just returning the favor, an eye for an eye."
Pakura scoffed. "I think Konoha sent them with ulterior motives. They're probably still bitter about the last outcome."
Rasa's expression darkened. "We've already made concessions."
"If Konoha keeps pushing, I don't think the Third Kazekage would hesitate to go to war. Even the Daimyo wouldn't oppose it."
Pakura nodded, then sneered, "It's a shame that Hanzō backed down… The so-called 'Demi-God of the Shinobi World' has grown soft."
...
"This mountain should do."
Minato Namikaze stood atop the mountain, looking out at the distant mine, which was guarded by Sunagakure.
Shūichi Hoshita glanced at the illuminated mine across the way, still lit even in the dark of night, and then said, "Sensei, I'll go look for a water source."
Minato nodded in agreement.
Shūichi turned and left, quickly finding a waterfall and a pool. The two of them then set up camp by the waterfall.
From their observation point in the distance, Rasa and Pakura exchanged puzzled glances.
Afterward, they retreated to the mine. Rasa stayed behind to keep watch, while Pakura left to report the situation to Chiyo.
The night passed without incident.
The next morning, Shūichi followed the stream to catch some fish and unknowingly arrived at a small lake. The lake was adorned with many water lotuses, which were quite beautiful.
After catching a few fish, Shūichi was about to head back when he suddenly turned to look again at the multilayered petals of the water lotuses.
"Water lotuses... with multiple petals..."
His eyes lit up with excitement, eager to test something out immediately.
Taking a deep breath to calm his impulse, he returned to the waterfall with the fish in hand.
While having fish soup, Shūichi asked, "Sensei, what do you think this mission is about?"
Minato didn't answer directly but instead said, "Although we forced the Land of Rivers and Sunagakure to back down last time, the fact remains that the Land of Rivers is leaning toward Sunagakure."
Shūichi nodded. "That's a matter of interest."
"Konoha is stronger than Sunagakure, which is why the Land of Rivers sided with us after breaking away from Amegakure. But now, with Sunagakure offering better benefits, they've naturally shifted their allegiance."
The key lies with the two Magnet Release users in Sunagakure: the Third Kazekage and Rasa.
According to Shūichi's knowledge, Rasa manipulates gold dust.
But if he can control gold dust, there's no reason he can't control iron sand as well.
Why, then, is Rasa known for manipulating gold dust in the ninja world, distinguishing himself from the Third Kazekage, who uses iron sand?
Perhaps it's due to changes in his environment or personal circumstances.
But either way, while the Fourth Kazekage later mined gold dust in the desert to alleviate Sunagakure's financial problems, it makes perfect sense that the Third Kazekage is now using Magnet Release to prospect for minerals.
The core issue remains: in the absence of an all-out war, eliminating the daimyo of the Land of Rivers, who currently favors Sunagakure, seems like the best option for Konoha—or rather, the most likely choice for the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
As for the argument that killing the daimyo would have too big of an impact, the Land of Rivers is just a small nation and doesn't enjoy the privileges of the Five Great Nations.
And Shūichi remembered that in the original story, the Third Tsuchikage hired the Akatsuki to stage coups in many small countries!
So, would Sunagakure anticipate that the daimyo of the Land of Rivers is in danger? Shūichi thought it was inevitable.
After all, as one of the Five Great Ninja Villages, they were well aware of these tactics.
"Sensei, if this mission fails, everything the village has worked to reclaim will be lost," Shūichi said.
Minato nodded, then smiled reassuringly. "Don't worry, the Third Hokage must have considered this carefully. The person chosen to carry out the mission will be someone extremely reliable."
Shūichi pondered this and realized why the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, would send Sakumo Hatake on this mission instead of the more ruthless Orochimaru.
"It seems that Chiyo is stationed at the daimyo's residence in the Land of Rivers."
"To deal with a powerful puppet master, a high-speed, high-attack ninja like Sakumo Hatake is indeed the best choice."
...
At the Daimyo's Residence in the Land of Rivers
Pakura met with Chiyo and reported the situation in full detail.
Chiyo frowned upon hearing it. "The Yellow Flash..."
After a moment of thought, she immediately gave an order: "Return at once. Minato Namikaze's target might be Rasa."
Pakura was taken aback. "Rasa?"
"Because of his Magnet Release?"
"But the Third Kazekage... Could Konoha be planning to assassinate the Third Kazekage?"
Chiyo shook her head. "The Third Kazekage is in the village; we don't need to worry about him. Now go!"
Pakura nodded and quickly left.
After she was gone, Chiyo's younger brother, Ebizō, asked, "Sister, do you really think Konoha would target Rasa and the Third Kazekage?"
Chiyo replied, "If Rasa is attacked, it confirms that someone is trying to assassinate the Third Kazekage."
"However, the Third Hokage likely doesn't have the resolve for such a bold move."
"The last Shinobi World War ended not too long ago, and the new generation hasn't matured yet."
Ebizō's expression grew serious. "So, Konoha's most likely target is the Daimyo. They will definitely come."
Chiyo responded calmly, "We'll find out soon enough. This was expected, wasn't it? If we were in their position, we would make the same decision."
"But we can't afford to be careless regarding the Third Kazekage. Send someone back to the village immediately to ensure he remains vigilant."
Ebizō nodded and quickly set off to make the necessary arrangements.
...
After breakfast, Shūichi Hoshita and Minato Namikaze stood at the mountain peak, gazing across at the mine on the opposite side.
As they observed, Shūichi asked, "Minato-sensei, by showing up here, is there a chance that Sunagakure might think we're planning to take action against the Magnet Release user, Rasa? Or even attempt to target the Third Kazekage?"
Minato paused for a moment; he hadn't considered that angle. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had been very clear about avoiding large-scale conflict. Otherwise, after gaining the upper hand last time, they would have pushed to completely take over the Land of Rivers, leaving the Daimyo with no room to waver.
After thinking it over, Minato replied tactfully, "There is indeed that possibility, but I believe Sunagakure is well aware of the Third Hokage's stance."
In other words, Hiruzen Sarutobi wouldn't dare make a move against the Third Kazekage. Killing the Kazekage would drive Sunagakure into a frenzy, especially given that the current Third Kazekage is reputed to be the strongest Kazekage with high esteem.
Besides, assassinating a Kage is no simple task. Right now, Konoha likely doesn't have anyone capable of such a feat.
Shūichi, still watching the distant mine, smiled and said, "So, if we were to make a move against Rasa now, wouldn't that send a signal to Sunagakure?"
"That we intend to take down Rasa, and also the Third Kazekage, to leave Sunagakure without any Magnet Release users?"
Minato was startled by the idea, then quickly realized what Shūichi was suggesting. "If we did that, it could easily lead to war between the two villages."
But as he processed Shūichi's intent, Minato added, "So, you're suggesting we attack now, to send Sunagakure a false signal, confuse the enemy, and lead them to misjudge our true intentions, thereby reducing the difficulty of the other mission."
Shūichi nodded. "Exactly."
"However, as you said, Sensei, there is some risk involved. And, we haven't received any authorization from the village."
Minato fell into deep thought, but he quickly made a decision and smiled. "Let's go with your plan, Shūichi. If anything goes wrong, I'll take responsibility."
Shūichi responded without hesitation, "Of course, we'll take responsibility together. We're a team, after all!"
Minato's smile broadened, but then he grew serious. "I'll handle Rasa. You take care of the other Sunagakure shinobi, just keep them occupied!"
Shūichi nodded solemnly. "Understood!"
Then he smiled again. "I'd like to show you a new technique I've been working on, Sensei."
Minato returned the smile. "I'm looking forward to it!"
With that, Minato vanished.
Shūichi immediately followed suit, disappearing into the forest as he headed straight for the Sunagakure shinobi guarding the mine.
As they moved, the alert Sunagakure shinobi quickly noticed the threat.
Amidst shouts, Rasa and Madai led a squad to intercept them.
Seeing Minato charging forward, Rasa immediately called out, "Leave Minato Namikaze to me!"
As soon as he finished speaking, iron sand morphed into countless senbon, forming a dense cloud that enveloped Minato.
Minato responded by scattering a large number of Flying Thunder God kunai.
Madai quickly warned, "Don't go near those kunai!"
"Spread out!"
Before the words finished, Minato had already vanished, avoiding Rasa's attack, and kicked a Sunagakure shinobi before they could react.
Rasa's next attack arrived, but Minato disappeared again.
The other Sunagakure shinobi dispersed, while Madai moved to assist Rasa, trying to corner Minato.
Just then, Shūichi arrived.
Standing on a tree branch, Shūichi completed his hand seals and clapped his hands together with a "snap."
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Wind Release: Gale Palm!
The hand seals were for the Wind Release, while the Great Fireball Technique required none.
After inhaling deeply, Shūichi puffed out his chest and cheeks, then exhaled sharply.
A line of fire shot out first, but it was quickly followed by a roaring blaze, creating a fearsome firestorm that surged forward.
Wind and Fire Combination Jutsu!
The three Sunagakure shinobi who had been on guard against Shūichi quickly performed their own jutsu in response, though they had been caught off guard.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!
The collision of air currents caused a massive explosion, tearing through the surrounding vegetation and sending up clouds of dust.
Shūichi then formed more hand seals and executed the Dance of the Crescent Moon, sending two fire clones charging into the swirling dust.
Unlike the original technique, these were not Shadow Clones but Fire Release Clones.
Moments later, as the dust settled, the three Sunagakure shinobi were seen retreating in the face of Shūichi's clones.
Rasa shouted, "Madai, I can handle things here!"
Madai immediately rushed towards Shūichi.
If he didn't, the others might be wiped out.
That kid, Shūichi Hoshita, had extraordinary close-combat skills, rivaling those of a Special Jōnin.
As Madai sprinted forward, he started forming hand seals.
But Shūichi wasn't about to let him unleash a large-scale Wind Release jutsu. A swift Fire Release: Fireball Technique interrupted Madai, forcing him to use Wind Release chakra to blow out the flames on his body.
Madai abandoned the idea of using long-range Wind Release jutsu and closed in, engaging Shūichi's two clones in close combat.
Outnumbered four to two, with one of the opponents being a seasoned Jōnin, Shūichi's clones quickly found themselves at a disadvantage.
Soon, one of Shūichi's Fire Release clones found itself in an inescapable position, about to be struck by Madai's attack.
But just as Madai's strike was about to land, the Fire Release clone suddenly transformed into a blooming fire flower.
Madai's pupils dilated, and his ninja instincts screamed danger. He instantly used the Body Flicker Technique to retreat, shouting, "Scatter!"
Before the words had fully left his mouth, the orange-red fire flower exploded, blossoming into a brilliant flare.
Boom!
With the explosion, the three Sunagakure shinobi were sent flying by the intense flames, screaming in agony.
Even Madai, who had retreated as quickly as possible, was blown away by the shockwave. He scrambled to his feet, looking down at his severely burned arms, sweat dripping from his forehead.
If he hadn't reacted in time...
Madai glanced over at his three companions, only to see blood pouring from their noses and mouths, their bodies covered in severe burns.
They were no longer even capable of screaming.
Sakumo Hatake moved like a flash of white light, as sharp as the deadliest fang, tearing through the Sand Shinobi's encirclement with overwhelming force.
"Retreat!"
At his command, Uchiha Yū immediately led the two injured comrades to retreat. Among the three of them, he was the only one uninjured.
As they withdrew, Sakumo continued to fight while retreating. His fearsome blade was so sharp that even Chiyo couldn't stop him. This sword was too lethal.
Facing the man who killed her son and daughter-in-law, even Chiyo had no choice but to watch as Sakumo and his team broke through the encirclement and vanished into the night.
"Sister, the Daimyo is safe," said Ebizō, who appeared beside Chiyo.
Chiyo responded calmly, "It seems Hiruzen Sarutobi chose the wrong person."
She had already prepared for the possibility that the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers might be killed. If that happened, they would simply support a new Daimyo and, in his name, completely expel Konoha's influence.
Of course, this would inevitably lead to both open and covert conflicts with Konoha.
Since Konoha intended to eliminate the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers, there were likely supporters within the country who had their own candidate in mind.
When great nations or shinobi villages involve themselves in the coups of smaller nations, this is the kind of tactic they employ.
"The Daimyo is safe now. Brother, you can go and claim credit from him," Chiyo added.
Ebizō's face twitched at her words.
...
On the other side, Shūichi Hoshita continued to fight while retreating. This was where his explosive power proved invaluable, allowing him to avoid being surrounded and trapped.
The Fire Body Flicker Technique further played to his advantage, enabling him to maneuver in mid-air and evade the Sand Shinobi's large-scale Wind Release attacks, quickly escaping the battlefield.
When the memories from his Shadow Clone near the mine returned, Shūichi felt completely relieved. With Minato Namikaze's real body over there, the Sand Shinobi's surprise attack had hit a solid wall, forcing them into a hasty and costly retreat.
Before long, Minato arrived with Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō to assist Shūichi. The pursuing Sand Shinobi, shocked by their arrival, quickly turned and fled.
Elsewhere, the Minato who had been keeping Rasa and Pakura at bay suddenly disappeared in a puff of smoke.
A Shadow Clone!
"Damn it!"
Rasa and the other two immediately rushed forward at top speed.
…
"There's no need to chase them!" Minato ordered, deciding not to pursue further.
He hadn't forgotten the primary mission: to rendezvous with the other team.
Minato's team promptly withdrew back to their base, while Rasa and his group also regrouped, falling into silence.
Both of their strikes had failed—one group suffered no losses but gained nothing, while the other was devastated, with only two survivors from two entire squads.
Without a doubt, this was an extremely unsuccessful operation.
Rasa never expected Minato Namikaze to be so bold as to leave only a Shadow Clone to deal with him and Pakura.
Arrogance!
But also, a clear sign of their underestimation.
Yet, despite several confrontations, they hadn't managed to gain any advantage.
"Let's retreat to the mine and report the situation to Lady Chiyo before planning our next move," Rasa said reluctantly.
…
After retreating to the cave and resting briefly, Minato Namikaze said, "Shūichi, Sanyō, you stay here and stay alert."
"Shisui, you and I will go out for reconnaissance."
Shūichi Hoshita and his two companions nodded in agreement, "Understood!"
Minato and Shisui then departed.
As time passed slowly in the darkness, Shūichi, who was on guard, noticed some movement and immediately made the call of a night owl.
Responding to this, Sanyō quickly appeared beside Shūichi, asking, "Shūichi, is it Sand Shinobi?"
Just as he finished speaking, another night owl call came from ahead.
Shūichi smiled, "It seems it's Minato-sensei and the others."
Even so, he didn't move immediately and continued to wait silently until Uchiha Shisui arrived before approaching them.
"Shūichi, prepare to assist with the injured immediately!" Minato's voice came from behind.
Shūichi looked and saw Minato carrying someone in a black cloak with an animal mask. There were also three other similarly dressed individuals, one of whom was also being carried.
Two members of their four-man team were injured.
"Let's head to the cave!"
Shūichi turned and went back to the cave first, spreading out his vest to reveal numerous medical tools.
Shisui and Sanyō quickly helped to place the injured and began using Shūichi's medical tools to cut away their clothes.
"They are heavily poisoned. Have they taken any antidote pills?" Shūichi asked.
"They have, but it didn't work," came the voice of Sakumo Hatake.
Without lifting his head, Shūichi performed hand seals to summon a chakra surgical blade, swiftly cutting open the wounds of the injured to remove all the poisoned needles and hidden weapons from their bodies.
"This poison is not a common type used by Sand Shinobi. It seems they encountered a particularly skilled puppet master."
"Chiyo of the Sand Shinobi?" Shūichi continued working as he spoke.
Sakumo replied, "Yes, Chiyo. She is currently the most powerful puppet master in the Sand."
"I've heard Lady Tsunade speak of her—a master of poison."
"This type of poison needs to be analyzed to formulate a specific antidote."
As he spoke, Shūichi had already removed all the hidden weapons from the two injured and treated the non-toxic wounds.
With the [Medical Expert] tag, his medical abilities had significantly improved, making his treatment speed exceptional.
However, Uchiha Yū, sounding anxious, asked, "Isn't there a way to fully save them?"
Shūichi looked up and saw the crimson eyes beneath the mask.
Uchiha Clan!
Shūichi was a bit surprised but quickly performed hand seals, saying, "I can't completely remove the poison."
"I can extract the toxins, but I can't remove the previous damage. I can only ensure it doesn't worsen."
He summoned a Shadow Clone to assist, with each one using the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique to continuously remove toxins from the two injured.
Uchiha Yū sighed in relief and bowed deeply, "Please make sure to save them. Thank you!"
Shūichi replied, "Don't worry. Although I don't know them, they are still my comrades!"
Uchiha Yū looked at Shūichi with a newfound respect.
Minato and Sakumo exchanged glances and silently stepped out of the cave.
In the mountain breeze, they remained silent.
Due to the confidential nature of their mission, Minato couldn't inquire casually, and Sakumo couldn't disclose mission details. Both adhered to the principles of being shinobi.
Five minutes later, Shūichi Hoshita walked out of the cave and said, "Minato-sensei, the toxins in the two injured have been removed, and they have taken the antidote pills prepared by Lady Tsunade. They're stable for now."
"But to completely detoxify and prevent any long-term effects, we need to get them back to Konoha as soon as possible to analyze the poison and prepare a specific antidote."
Minato Namikaze nodded and said to Sakumo Hatake, "Senpai, please take the injured back to Konoha immediately."
Sakumo nodded, thanked Shūichi, and headed back to the cave.
Shūichi watched them leave and couldn't help but say, "How about we strike back?"
Minato and Sakumo were both stunned.
Shūichi continued, "The injured can be escorted by Shisui and the others. If we go back now, the Sand Shinobi's defenses should be at their weakest."
Although he didn't know the exact situation at the daimyo's residence, he had some guesses.
Sakumo, standing at the cave entrance, turned around and said, "Even if we kill the daimyo now, it won't help. The Sand Shinobi seem to have prepared for the daimyo's death."
Shūichi said firmly, "Whether the death of the daimyo is useful or not isn't our concern; it's something the Third Hokage should consider."
"Our goal is to send him to the Pure Land, nothing more."
"Besides, given the current situation, the daimyo's death is the best option."
"If he doesn't die, the Land of Rivers will completely fall to the Sand Village. If he dies, even if the Sand Village tries to install a new daimyo, we and the Land of Fire can do the same."
"Furthermore, the new daimyo, even for the sake of internal stability, won't dare to completely turn against us. The worst-case scenario would be maintaining the current situation."
"After all, if we can assassinate once, we can do it a second or third time. The newly appointed daimyo wouldn't want to die without enjoying their position, right? A wise person knows how to choose."
A counterattack!
Shūichi's words were not just to unlock the entry for Sakumo Hatake. They were also due to Sakumo's previous guidance on swordsmanship, his friendship with Kakashi, and Sakumo's personal persistence.
Some things are always hard to accept, making one subconsciously want to change them.
Now Shūichi was indeed crossing the line of ninja principles. After all, Sakumo was on a confidential mission.
But Sakumo was not without decisiveness. After a brief thought, he bowed and said, "Then I leave the injured in your care."
Hearing this, Minato swallowed the proposal he was about to make.
This mission, they were indeed not suited to directly participate in.
Thus, Shūichi and Minato watched as Sakumo disappeared into the night.
"Let's go, we need to retreat immediately."
Minato withdrew his gaze.
Shūichi nodded, a bit reluctantly.
He wasn't sure if he had changed anything, but for now, there was nothing more he could do.
Inside the cave.
Upon learning that Sakumo was going back to complete the mission alone, Uchiha Yū was very excited and almost wanted to follow, but was persuaded by Shisui, who used the injured companions as an excuse.
The group immediately retreated with the two injured. To be safe, Shūichi also sent a Shadow Clone to use Transformation Jutsu to impersonate Sakumo.
Minato and Shisui were responsible for covering their retreat, while Shūichi, Yū, and Sanyō were in charge of escorting the injured.
Fortunately, the Sand Shinobi did not pursue them, and they traveled safely. By dawn, they had already entered the Land of Fire.
After resting for half an hour, they continued their journey.
Another hour passed, and Sakumo finally caught up.
"Shisui, you and the others go ahead. Shūichi, come and treat the injuries of our senpai."
Minato's voice came from behind.
Shūichi quickly turned and went over.
Sakumo's injury was in his abdomen. Shūichi used a chakra surgical blade to cut open his clothes and vest, applying first aid bandages. He checked the wound and sighed in relief.
Fortunately, there was no severe poison or damage to the internal organs.
However, the wound was quite long. Shūichi immediately summoned a Shadow Clone to help with the Healing Jutsu on Sakumo's injury.
Additionally, he gave Sakumo a Blood Increasing Pill as he had lost too much blood.
Five minutes later, Sakumo's wound was healed.
"Thank you."
Sakumo thanked him and added in a quieter voice, "The mission is complete!"
Shūichi smiled, "Senpai, you're too polite."
Everyone pretended not to recognize each other and continued on their way.
Land of Rivers, Daimyo's Residence.
Chiyo and the others fell into a heavy silence as they looked at the lifeless body of the Daimyo of the Land of Rivers.
Although they had prepared themselves for the possibility of the Daimyo being assassinated, they had previously thwarted the enemy's plans and didn't expect them to strike again so suddenly, catching them off guard.
Chiyo was confident in her poison, and from Sakumo Hatake's actions, it was clear that he wasn't the type to sacrifice comrades just for the mission.
But Sakumo had returned unexpectedly, and although they had stationed guards to protect the Daimyo, the level of attention wasn't as high as before.
"Let's execute Plan B," Chiyo said decisively.
Plan B involved supporting a descendant of the Daimyo to ascend to power, ensuring that the interests of Sunagakure and the Land of Wind were preserved. This could even serve as an opportunity to further erode Konoha's influence.
...
Land of Fire.
As Shūichi Hoshita leapt through the forest, he glanced at the Uchiha ahead of him, who was carrying his comrade on his back. He couldn't help but think of the yet-to-be-born Uchiha Itachi.
In his previous life, Itachi was revered as a god by many—he wiped out his clan at the age of 13, which was even more impressive than Kakashi becoming a Jonin at 12.
After all, most members of the Uchiha clan who awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan were Jonin-level at minimum, and they held a significant advantage in one-on-one battles.
By now, Shūichi had already encountered three members of the Uchiha clan.
Obito Uchiha had a kind heart but was somewhat timid, though he was also proud of the Uchiha clan's honor.
His teammate, Shisui Uchiha, was gentle and always willing to help others. Unlike Obito, Shisui never spoke about the Uchiha clan's honor.
The masked Uchiha before him, who had already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan, seemed to care deeply for his comrades from their brief interaction.
They all appeared to be normal people.
"No, wait, are they really normal?" Shūichi suddenly recalled that he was only seven years old.
It was said that Uchiha Itachi had been brought onto the battlefield by Uchiha Fugaku when he was just four years old and had personally killed a dying enemy ninja who tried to launch a final counterattack.
"The First Hokage established the ninja village system to keep children off the battlefield. The Second Hokage created the ninja academy to further refine this idea," Shūichi mused.
"The standard system had children start their education at six, graduate at twelve, and then be guided by experienced Chunin or even Jonin, beginning with low-level missions and gradually developing their skills."
"But the First Hokage's death, followed by the Second Hokage's demise during the First Shinobi World War, shattered that system, and the original intentions couldn't be upheld."
Shūichi sighed inwardly, "No ninja is truly sane, are they?"
"The stronger they are, the more twisted they become… It looks like I'll have to be even crazier and more twisted than them to survive!"
...
In order to get the injured back to Konoha as quickly as possible, Shūichi Hoshita and the others traveled at high speed, only pausing briefly when they reached the Fire Country's border. After that, they hurried back to Konoha without stopping.
Namikaze Minato and Hatake Sakumo went directly to the Hokage's office to report on the mission, while Uchiha Shisui, Kurama Sanyō, and the others waited outside. Shūichi and Uchiha Yū took the two injured comrades to Konoha Hospital.
Once there, Shūichi and Nono Yakushi worked together to analyze the toxin. After identifying the components, Tsunade took over and began preparing the antidote.
It was at this moment that Tsunade showcased her incredible skills, quickly formulating the antidote. As soon as the medication was administered to the injured, their symptoms improved rapidly.
In this area, both Shūichi and Nono Yakushi had a long way to go to reach Tsunade's level.
Before they knew it, the afternoon had passed, and Shūichi felt he had gained a lot from the experience.
As they left Konoha Hospital, Shūichi noticed Namikaze Minato waiting under a tree.
He quickly approached, calling out, "Minato Sensei."
Minato smiled and nodded, then said, "You've got a seven-day break coming up. Remember to come by my house for lunch tomorrow. Kushina's cooking has improved a lot, and she wants you to see for yourself!"
Shūichi's face immediately fell at the thought.
While Kushina's skill in sealing techniques was indeed impressive, her cooking... was another matter entirely!
Seeing Shūichi's expression, Minato couldn't help but laugh.
Kushina's cooking might not be the best, but he found it endearing.
"That's settled then," Minato said as he disappeared.
Shūichi turned back to Nono Yakushi, and the two of them started walking towards the orphanage as the sun set.
On the way, Nono suddenly said, "I'm handing over the management of the orphanage to Ayame."
Shūichi paused for a moment, and Nono explained with a smile, "I need to spend more time at Konoha Hospital."
Hearing this, Shūichi quickly thought it over and smiled, "Aunt Ayame may be strict, but she's very kind. I'm sure she'll manage the orphanage well."
"But if that's the case, you'll need to move out of the orphanage, right?"
"Why not come live with me?"
Shūichi, with his thick skin, saw that Nono was about to shake her head in refusal, so he quickly added, "That way, you can take better care of me too!"
Nono hesitated for a moment, but finally, with Shūichi tugging at her hand, she nodded and agreed with a smile, "Alright, I'll take care of you until you're an adult!"
Shūichi didn't care about the whole 'until you're an adult' part—getting her to agree was already a victory.
That night, he still slept in Nono Yakushi's room, falling asleep to the comforting scent that was uniquely hers.
The next day, after morning training and breakfast, Shūichi headed to the small grove to further refine his Fire Body Flicker Technique.
He wanted to change the blooming flame flower into the shape of a lotus, instead of its current trumpet flower form.
Not only that, but he also needed it to be a double-layered lotus.
The transformation from a trumpet flower to a lotus wasn't particularly difficult.
By noon, Shūichi had nearly perfected it.
"Time to eat, then I'll continue this afternoon!"
Feeling energized, Shūichi ended his training and headed to Minato's house for lunch.
When Minato Namikaze opened the door, Shūichi Hoshita followed him inside and immediately saw Kushina Uzumaki smiling as she held a spatula.
"Shūichi, take a seat. The food will be ready soon!" she called out.
Shūichi glanced at the array of dishes on the table and breathed a small sigh of relief.
It all looked pretty good—seemed like her cooking really had improved.
Just then, Minato chimed in, "I made most of these. The last dish is the one Kushina cooked."
Shūichi's heart sank, and he heard Minato whisper, "Shūichi, remember to encourage Kushina later."
Forcing a smile, Shūichi replied, "Don't worry, Sensei."
At this point, he strongly suspected that it wasn't Kushina who invited him over, but rather his unreliable teacher, Minato, who needed someone to share the burden of the "unique" cuisine.
As it turned out, Kushina's cooking had only improved a little.
However, Shūichi took a big bite without so much as a frown, giving a thumbs up. "Your cooking has improved a lot, Kushina-san is—amazing!"
Minato, also eating heartily, nodded in agreement, without a hint of dishonesty.
Kushina beamed with joy, then picked up the dish she had made and laughed, "You've tried it, and that makes me happy. Now, go ahead and eat what Minato made!"
Shūichi quickly grabbed the dish and set it back down, smiling, "Since you worked so hard to make it, it would be a waste not to eat it."
"Besides, cooking is like a ninja's training—it requires gradual improvement and a lot of encouragement to keep going."
Kushina laughed heartily, placing her hands on her hips, and then patted Shūichi's head with a smile. "You're absolutely right, Shūichi. Even learning to cook carries the spirit of a ninja."
"But seriously, with a sweet talker like you, no wonder you're so popular with the girls!"
Shūichi pretended to be shy, saying, "Kushina-san, I'm only seven!"
Both Kushina and Minato froze for a moment before bursting into laughter together.
The meal turned out to be a great success, with everyone enjoying themselves. By the end of it, Kushina no longer treated Shūichi as an outsider but as Minato's direct disciple, almost like her own younger brother or student.
After lunch, Shūichi helped Minato clean up before bidding farewell and heading back to the small grove to continue his training.
Forming a vivid lotus shape out of flames was no longer an issue for him. Now, his focus was on maintaining the explosive effect of the flames for a longer duration.
However, this continuity was not like the previous method where a single step would produce a flame flower.
What Shūichi needed was a sustained, stable effect that would allow him to seemingly walk on air, as if standing on water.
Of course, this was a very challenging step.
With his current level of chakra control, Shūichi wasn't confident he could achieve it just yet.
So, after successfully transforming the original flame flower into a fiery lotus and achieving a smooth, explosive release in mid-air, Shūichi shifted his attention to the Tag Tree in his mind.
At the same time, he officially renamed his Fire Body Flicker Technique.
"Fiery Lotus Steps!"
The name wasn't particularly fitting for the Shinobi world, but Shūichi felt it was incredibly appropriate.
Immediately, the Tag Tree provided an evaluation of this Fire Release secret technique.
S-Rank Difficulty!
It met the requirement to activate the "Fire Release Master" tag!
Shūichi took a deep breath and instantly activated the "Fire Release Master" tag.
In a flash, the gray leaf of the tag tree was enveloped in a blue light.
It was a blue tag.
Immediately after, Shūichi felt a surge of electricity through his body, and his mind went blank for a moment.
Fire Release Talent +100%, Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation +100%, Fire Release Shape Transformation +100%; excluding Kekkei Genkai-based Fire Releases, no Fire Release jutsu or secret technique would pose a learning obstacle.
When his consciousness returned, Shūichi carefully assessed the changes within himself.
This time, the feeling was far more pronounced than when he had activated the "Fire Release Expert" Tag.
Spreading his right palm, Shūichi effortlessly summoned a fiery lotus.
The speed of its formation was leagues ahead of what he could achieve before becoming a "Fire Release Master."
But that wasn't all—at his mental command, the fiery lotus, originally orange-red, subtly shifted colors, transforming into a white lotus after a moment.
White flames!
The temperature was significantly higher than that of the orange-red flames. Among Fire Release users, Shūichi had yet to see anyone else capable of producing white flames.
The only exception was Pakura of the Scorch Release, whose Scorch Release orbs reached extremely high temperatures, appearing white.
Of course, the temperature of Shūichi's Blue Flame Sky Blade was even higher.
But that was the result of stacking multiple effects—under normal circumstances, even Shūichi couldn't achieve that temperature with Fire Release alone.
Now, however, Shūichi could instantly raise his Fire Release temperature to match that of Pakura's Scorch Release.
"No wonder it's called 'Fire Release Master'!"
Shūichi grinned widely.
The enhancements of +100% to Fire Release Chakra Nature Transformation and Shape Transformation had brought about incredible, immediate changes.
And with his Fire Release talent now doubled, Shūichi felt even more confident about further developing his "Fiery Lotus Steps."
Calming his mind, Shūichi dispersed the white lotus in his hand, then leapt into the air.
As his upward momentum slowed and he began to descend, two clusters of flames appeared under his feet, resembling flower buds sprouting at his soles, which then quickly bloomed toward the ground.
They looked like inverted white lotuses.
The air distorted and wavered, and Shūichi felt a momentary boost, halting his descent.
He began walking through the air, with each step causing the white lotus to contract into a bud when his foot lifted and bloom again when his foot landed.
Fiery Lotus Steps—the name was truly fitting.
However, as Shūichi continued walking in the air, he couldn't avoid missteps, causing his movements to become wobbly and unsteady.
At times, the lotus would suddenly extinguish, causing him to drop.
But with his Fire Release Chakra Nature and Shape Transformation both enhanced by 100%, and his talent greatly improved, Shūichi progressed rapidly.
Within just five minutes, he was already able to walk steadily through the air above the small grove, with each step blooming a lotus.
Landing back on the ground, Shūichi was panting heavily.
Impressive, indeed. Stylish, too. But it's quite draining.
Even though his physique had improved and his chakra reserves were far ahead of his peers, he was still too young.
"It's tough to work on physical strength, but thankfully, I have the improved Yin Seal..."
After consuming a soldier pill, Shūichi sat down under a tree to rest, contemplating his next steps in training.