"I don't mind!"
Kushina listened, glanced at Minato, and agreed. Although she still found Minato a bit sissy and annoying, they were friends after all—and it was only right to look out for one another. "Eh? Is this appropriate?" she asked with a teasing lilt.
Minato, visibly touched, looked over at Ethan with grateful eyes. He hadn't expected that Ethan—a child from such a prominent family—would be so humble and eager to make friends with him. Minato felt a warmth in his heart; Ethan was not only kind but also willing to accommodate and help, and he was at a loss for words.
At that moment, Ethan noticed that Minato's favorability toward him had soared by 10 points, reaching 65. Smiling, he said, "There's nothing inappropriate about it! We all need to practice, and it's great to make progress together! We are friends, aren't we?"
Ethan's smile remained gentle as he shook his head. Even if there was no ulterior motive, he was happy to be friends with someone like Minato. At least, he could trust that Minato wouldn't be plotting against him behind his back.
"But I don't know the Shadow Clone Technique—I can only do it after school! Is that okay?" Minato asked a little sheepishly.
"These are all trivial matters," Ethan replied nonchalantly, waving his hand. "I believe in your talent and your bright future, Minato. As an early investment, I can teach you the Shadow Clone Technique and even some ninjutsu tailored for you!"
Ethan leaned in with a playful glint in his eyes. "When you grow up, you can repay me—and repay the village, too. What do you think? Do you dare to accept it?"
Fearing embarrassment or refusal, Ethan playfully provoked him further. "Come on! By that day, the village might even be named Uchiha Ethan!"
Minato, caught off guard by the jest, nodded decisively. Then, after a brief pause as the flush faded, he touched the back of his head and, looking a bit embarrassed, said, "But, in doing so, will I owe you, Ethan, too much? I'm not sure I can repay it in the future!"
Ethan patted Minato on the shoulder reassuringly. "Then I'll pay you back slowly. I'm not afraid of owing you a bit. So, what are you afraid of?"
"That's settled then!" Ethan declared with a warm smile.
"Thanks, Ethan!" Minato said, his eyes gleaming with gratitude. This was the first time someone had been so kind to him and held him in such high regard. Deep down, he silently vowed that Ethan would always be his best friend.
Ethan then noticed, with pleasant surprise, that Minato's favorability had already soared to 84 points. "Wow, so high already? Can't we just sign a contract right now?" he joked.
"Well, we haven't known each other for many days," Minato replied quickly, "and it would be a bit utilitarian to propose a contract so rashly."
Ethan shook his head. "Let's wait a few more days, until I've passed on the promised Shadow Clone Technique and some ninjutsu from Rear Admiral. We'll consolidate our goodwill first."
He decided immediately, confident in the plan ahead.
"This surge in favorability has me a little flustered," Ethan thought, cheeks warming slightly. He could only conclude that Minato was a relatively pure and straightforward person.
"Come on, come with me to my house first! I'll teach you the Shadow Clone Technique, and then we can talk about other things!" Ethan said confidently.
After saying that, he turned to Kushina and added, "Then Kushina, we'll say our goodbyes here today!"
Kushina shook her head with a playful smile. "Ask Lord Mito first! If it doesn't work out, don't force it!"
"Yeah! Go ahead!" Ethan replied.
Kushina nodded, waved a cheerful goodbye, and left quickly.
"Let's go too!" Ethan patted Minato's shoulder and called him along as they headed toward the Uchiha clan residence.
It wasn't long before they entered the Uchiha compound. Along the way, several clan members glanced at Ethan and Minato with surprise.
"Xuanqing is back? And who's this friend with him?" someone called out.
"Yes! Uncle Shi Yu, how's business today?" Ethan greeted warmly, exchanging pleasantries with Uchiha Shiyu.
"It's all good! I'll finish up today. Tomorrow, the family's pharmacy opens, and I have to go help run it," replied Shiyu, his eyes bright with anticipation. He already knew the potential of the new medicines the family planned to sell. With the recent expensive reforms—upgrading clan schools, elite guards, and a new reward and punishment system—the clan needed every bit of income they could muster.
"Oh? The pharmacy is opening? That's great news!" another member exclaimed.
Ethan's eyes lit up. These days, he had been spending only about two hours a day making some medicines, leaving plenty of time for his training. He mused, "It seems I'll have to produce even more medicines in the next period, or there won't be enough to sell!"
Deep in thought, Ethan considered delegating the production to someone else. But, he lamented internally, no one trustworthy or skilled enough was available at the moment. Many of the medicines required Sea Kings' meat or a higher grade of pharmaceutical material. "We must train a group of qualified pharmacists soon—or set up a proper production line!" he resolved silently.
With that idea in mind, Ethan led Minato to the small training ground in his backyard. There, he began teaching Minato the Shadow Clone Technique. He explained the practice method in detail and then demonstrated the steps slowly. Soon enough, Minato successfully managed to form his first Shadow Clone.
"Good! I really didn't make a mistake!" Ethan cheered, giving Minato a thumbs up.
"Hehe! No way! You taught me well!" Minato said, touching the back of his head and smiling shyly.
"Keep practicing a few more times until you truly master it. That will be all for today's lesson," Ethan instructed, raising his hand to signal the end of the session.
"Okay!" Minato replied, immediately releasing a Shadow Clone and practicing four or five more times. After he had repeated the technique steadily, Ethan called him to a halt. "That's enough for now! You can intensify your practice later on."
"Regarding our group practice, I'll adjust and arrange our training once Kushina's affairs are settled tomorrow. For now, I'll take you back," Ethan continued.
"Okay!" Minato nodded, and after being escorted out of the compound by Ethan, he paused and said, "Just drop me off here! I'll head back on my own."
"Goodbye, Ethan! And thank you!" Minato called out before darting away.
Ethan smiled softly to himself, thinking, "This kid!" He then turned around, slipped his hands into his trouser pockets, and walked steadily back home.
Once home, Ethan performed a series of seals to split himself into three Shadow Clones. One clone was sent to study the sealing techniques, another to practice Chakra control and seals, and the third to train in ninjutsu. Meanwhile, his original body was teleported to the pirate world, where he joined Mikoto in a lively sparring session—practicing observation Haki and attempting to awaken it.
He recalled that Uchiha Sarah had discovered before that to awaken Haki, one must be in the pirate world—the ninja world simply lacks the necessary conditions. Ethan mused that it must be due to the differing rules of the worlds. Yet, once Haki is successfully awakened, one could return to the ninja world to further practice and improve. The training method was simple: throwing various snowballs at each other, each hit punctuated by a swift "swish, swish, swish!" Soon, a continuous sound of objects breaking through the air filled the space, interspersed with occasional cries of pain.
Kureha, watching from the room, frowned slightly and shook her head helplessly. "What sin did I commit to have these two under my care?" she mused, exasperated yet affectionate.
As the pace of their playful training increased, both Ethan and Mikoto became completely absorbed in the challenge, their laughter and shouts blending with the sounds of their practice.
Later that day, as the school session ended, Ethan gathered his friends. "Kushina, Minato, I've mastered everything the school has to offer. The lessons have become too easy for me. So, from now on, I'll send a Shadow Clone to attend classes while I focus on practicing on my own. I'll catch up with you later!"
Kushina and Minato exchanged surprised looks. Kushina, recalling her own frustrations with school, said with a grin, "Using a Shadow Clone to go to school? That's genius! I might do the same!"
Minato's eyes lit up with gratitude as he listened. "Thank you, Ethan. I appreciate your thoughtfulness," he said softly, touched by Ethan's generosity. He worried about owing Ethan too much in the future, but Ethan clapped him on the shoulder reassuringly. "Don't worry about that. We're friends, and we learn and grow together!"
Ethan smiled warmly. "We're friends, aren't we? Let's work together and make progress!" he affirmed.
Later, as they walked back into the Uchiha compound, Ethan remarked, "This surge in favorability has me a little flustered, but I'm glad it's all coming together." Minato smiled shyly, and Kushina added with encouragement, "Come on, follow me to my house first. I'll teach you the Shadow Clone Technique, and then we can discuss other matters."
Ethan turned to Kushina, "Alright, Kushina, we'll say goodbye here for today!"
"Ask Lord Mito first—if it doesn't work out, don't force it!" Kushina replied playfully.
"Yeah, go ahead!" Ethan confirmed.
After a warm goodbye, Kushina left quickly. Ethan patted Minato's shoulder, "Come on, let's head home."
Inside the compound, several clan members greeted them with curious remarks about Ethan's return and his new friendship with Minato. Conversations filled the corridors, and Ethan even exchanged a few words with Uncle Shi Yu about the family pharmacy opening soon. Ethan noted that his mother had been busy organizing medicine production—and that meant he'd soon need to focus on training more to support the family business.
With a renewed sense of purpose, Ethan later took Minato to his backyard training ground. There, he demonstrated the Shadow Clone Technique step by step. Minato practiced repeatedly, and soon he managed to perform it successfully. "Good job!" Ethan praised, giving Minato an enthusiastic thumbs up.
Minato, his face tinged with embarrassment yet glowing with pride, said, "Hehe, no way! You taught me so well!"
"Keep practicing until you truly master it, and we'll call it a lesson for today," Ethan instructed.
After a few more practice rounds, Ethan wrapped up the session. "Alright, that's enough for now. You can intensify your practice later. As for group training sessions, I'll arrange them once Kushina's affairs are sorted tomorrow. For now, I'll take you home."
"Goodbye, Ethan! And thank you so much!" Minato called, running off happily.
Ethan smiled softly, feeling a deep sense of fulfillment. "This kid," he thought, before turning and heading home himself.
Back at home, Ethan performed a series of seals and split himself into three Shadow Clones. One clone was sent to learn the sealing techniques, another to practice Chakra control and seals, and the last one to train in ninjutsu. Meanwhile, his original body was teleported to the pirate world, where he joined Mikoto in a vigorous sparring session aimed at awakening observation Haki. The training involved simple methods—throwing snowballs at each other with shouts of "swish, swish, swish!"—and the room echoed with the sound of impacts and occasional cries of pain.
Kureha, observing from the room, frowned and shook her head. "What sin did I commit to have these two under my care?" she mused, exasperated yet affectionate.
As the speed of their playful training increased, both Ethan and Mikoto became completely absorbed in the challenge, their laughter and shouts blending with the sounds of their practice.
Later that day, after school had ended, Ethan gathered his friends once more. "Kushina, Minato, I've mastered everything the school has to offer. The lessons just aren't challenging anymore. So, starting now, I'll send a Shadow Clone to attend classes for me while I focus on practicing on my own. I'll catch up with you later!"
Kushina listened, glanced at Minato, and agreed. Though she still found Minato a bit sissy and sometimes unpleasant, they were friends after all—and it was only right to take care of each other's feelings. "I don't mind!" she declared, a playful glint in her eyes.
Minato, visibly touched, looked at Ethan with gratitude. He hadn't expected that Ethan—a child from such a prominent family—would be so humble and willing to be friends with him. Deep inside, Minato felt a warmth in his heart and silently vowed that Ethan would always be his best friend.
Ethan noticed with pleasant surprise that Minato's favorability toward him had surged to 84 points. "Wow, that's so high already! Can't we sign a contract right now?" he teased.
"No, we haven't known each other long enough. It would be too utilitarian to rush into a contract," Ethan replied with a laugh. "Let's wait a few more days until I've passed on the promised Shadow Clone Technique and some ninjutsu. We'll consolidate our goodwill first."
Minato nodded eagerly, and the two friends made plans to meet at Ethan's house later for more training.
This surge in favorability made Ethan feel a little flustered, but he was happy that their friendship was blossoming. "We're friends, right? Let's work together and progress together!" he said warmly.
After exchanging final goodbyes, Ethan patted Minato's shoulder and led him toward his home. Along the way, several clan members greeted them with curious remarks about Ethan's return and his new friendship with Minato. The corridors buzzed with conversation, and Ethan even caught up with Uncle Shi Yu about the upcoming opening of the family pharmacy. Ethan noted that his mother had been busy organizing the medicine production, a sign that the family business was moving quickly.
Later, back at the training ground, Ethan demonstrated the Shadow Clone Technique step by step to Minato. Minato practiced repeatedly, gradually perfecting the skill. "Good job, Minato!" Ethan cheered, giving him an enthusiastic thumbs up.
Minato blushed and replied, "Hehe, no way! You taught me so well!"
"Keep practicing until you've truly mastered it, then we'll call it a lesson for today," Ethan advised.
After several more practice rounds, Ethan concluded the session. "Alright, that's enough for now. You can intensify your practice later. As for group training sessions, I'll arrange them once Kushina's matters are sorted tomorrow. For now, I'll take you home."
"Goodbye, Ethan! And thanks so much!" Minato called, then dashed away happily.
Ethan smiled softly as he watched Minato leave, thinking, "This kid." He then turned and headed home with a contented stride.
Once back home, Ethan performed a series of seals, splitting himself into three Shadow Clones. One clone was sent to study sealing techniques, another to practice Chakra control, and the third to train in ninjutsu. Meanwhile, his original body was teleported to the pirate world, where he joined Mikoto in a lively sparring session aimed at awakening observation Haki. The training was simple—throwing snowballs at each other while shouting "swish, swish, swish!"—and the room soon filled with the sounds of rapid impacts and occasional cries of pain.
Kureha, watching from the room, shook her head and murmured, "What sin did I commit to have these two under my care?" Despite her exasperation, her tone was laced with fondness.
As the pace of their playful battle increased, both Ethan and Mikoto became completely absorbed in the challenge, their laughter mingling with the sounds of their training.
Later that day, as school ended and their favorability soared, Ethan gathered his friends for one final conversation. "Kushina, Minato, I've mastered everything the school offers. It's no longer useful to me. So, from now on, I'll send a Shadow Clone to attend classes while I practice on my own. I'll catch up with you later!"
Kushina, smiling and glancing at Minato, agreed wholeheartedly. "I don't mind!" she said, even though she sometimes found Minato a bit sissy. "We're friends, and it's only right to look out for each other."
Minato, deeply touched, looked at Ethan with grateful eyes. "Thank you, Ethan. I really appreciate your kindness," he said softly. He worried about owing Ethan too much in the future, but Ethan simply patted his shoulder and replied, "Don't worry about it—it's all part of being friends. Let's work and grow together!"
Ethan then observed with surprise that Minato's favorability had soared to 84 points. "Wow, so high already! But we shouldn't rush into contracts just yet," he remarked.
"Right," Ethan added thoughtfully. "We'll wait a few more days until I've passed on the Shadow Clone Technique and some ninjutsu. Let's build our goodwill first."
With that settled, the friends parted ways, their hearts filled with camaraderie and anticipation for the future.
Ethan's journey continued to unfold—both in training and in his personal relationships. Each step forward, whether learning a new technique or deepening a friendship, brought him closer to realizing his full potential as a ninja.
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