An Unexpected Bond!
Haruto Saito quickly suppressed his smile, turned to Minato Namikaze, and said seriously, "Then, right now, become my disciple, and I will teach you the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
"Right now?" Minato Namikaze was stunned. "But I haven't even graduated from the Ninja Academy yet. Isn't that against the rules?"
"It's fine!" Haruto Saito replied firmly. "You're a special case. I will personally inform the Hokage of the situation. Now, come on, become my disciple!"
"Uh… how do I do that?" Minato Namikaze looked a little confused.
In the world of shinobi, the process of becoming a disciple didn't have any strict ceremonial rules. Acknowledging someone as a teacher could be as simple as exchanging a few words. Minato had grown up in the Ninja Academy, where all instructors were simply referred to as teachers, and he had never gone through a formal disciple-acceptance ritual.
However, there was a fundamental difference between a regular instructor at the academy and a master who takes a disciple personally. The former was more like a coach who taught standard techniques and knowledge, while the latter was a true mentor who not only imparted skills but also guided a student's growth and character.
Haruto Saito intended to be Minato Namikaze's true mentor. Though he wouldn't be called "Master," he would still play that role.
"Kneel and bow your head," Haruto Saito instructed. This was the most traditional way of accepting a disciple that he knew from both his lives.
Technically, there should also be a tea ceremony and an offering as a sign of respect, but Haruto Saito didn't want to bother with those formalities.
"Oh!" Minato Namikaze responded immediately, dropped to his knees, and bowed. "Haruto Saito-sensei."
"Good! My dear disciple!" Haruto Saito quickly helped Minato to his feet, feeling a deep sense of satisfaction.
The future Fourth Hokage was now officially his direct disciple. From this moment on, Minato Namikaze belonged to his tutelage, and he would be the only master Minato could formally recognize. According to the rules of the shinobi world, a ninja could only have one personal master in their lifetime.
This was why, despite learning from both the First and Second Hokages, Hiruzen Sarutobi was officially recognized only as the Second Hokage's disciple—because one could not be a direct disciple to two different masters.
Just then, a mechanical voice echoed in Haruto Saito's mind.
Ding!
The host has established a mentor-disciple bond with Minato Namikaze. The Bond System is now activated. Current Bond Level: 10 points.
Haruto Saito's eyes widened slightly. "Bond Level? What's that?" he asked internally.
"The Bond Level represents the strength of the connection between the host and the bonded individual. The higher the level, the stronger the positive or negative effects generated by the bond," the system explained vaguely.
Haruto Saito didn't fully understand, so he asked, "So, what's the benefit of having a Bond Level of 10 with Minato?"
"With the current mentor-disciple bond level of 10, you have unlocked the ability: Enhanced Communication."
"What does that mean? Be more specific!"
"Enhanced Communication allows the disciple to understand the mentor's teachings more easily. Likewise, when the disciple encounters difficulties in their training and seeks guidance, the mentor will be able to comprehend the disciple's problems more intuitively and provide more precise instruction."
"Oh… I see…" Haruto Saito nodded thoughtfully before his eyes suddenly lit up. "Wait, does that mean if I discuss the Flying Thunder God Technique with Minato, he'll be able to grasp my explanations more easily? And I'll be able to understand his thoughts better, too?"
"That is correct."
"Amazing!" Haruto Saito nearly shouted in excitement.
His primary reason for taking Minato Namikaze as a disciple was to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique himself. And now, just after accepting Minato, he had gained an ability that would enhance their learning process.
It was like divine intervention!
"Sensei? Sensei? Haruto-sensei?" Minato Namikaze called out several times, even waving his hand in front of Haruto Saito's face.
"Huh?" Haruto snapped out of his thoughts and saw Minato looking at him curiously. He quickly composed himself. "I was just thinking about something. Now that you're officially my disciple… catch this!"
With a flick of his wrist, a scroll materialized out of thin air and landed in Minato Namikaze's hands.
"This is a duplicate of the Flying Thunder God Technique manual," Haruto Saito explained. "If you want to read it now, you can. However, you must not leave this training ground with it. Over there is a resting area—if you get tired, you can take a break."
"Alright, I won't leave!" Minato agreed immediately and eagerly unrolled the scroll.
"If possible, try to memorize everything in that scroll," Haruto Saito advised in a serious tone. "You absolutely cannot take it outside. The Flying Thunder God Technique is not to be shared lightly. This copy is something I wrote myself, which already bends the rules."
"I understand, Sensei," Minato Namikaze replied, his focus completely absorbed in the scroll.
"Good. I have some matters to attend to. I'll return tomorrow morning. You have one night to study this. Although I haven't fully mastered the technique myself, I have developed a deep understanding of it. When I return, I expect you to have unique insights of your own. Don't disappoint me," Haruto Saito said before turning and leaving.
Not long after, in the dark forests behind Konoha, Haruto Saito sped toward the Anbu base.
"By the way, system, why did I establish a bond with Minato Namikaze but not with Hiruzen Sarutobi, even though he is technically my teacher too?" he suddenly asked.
"The hidden relationship value between the host and Hiruzen Sarutobi is insufficient," the system responded.
"Hidden relationship value…" Haruto Saito murmured. He decided not to press further, knowing that the system wouldn't reveal details about hidden mechanics.
"One more thing. What's the maximum Bond Level? And at what points do special effects unlock?" Haruto Saito asked.
"The maximum Bond Level is 100. Special effects unlock at 10, 30, 50, 80, and 100 points. The higher the level, the stronger the effect."
"And what are these effects?"
"The effects vary depending on the type of bond."
"Alright, then tell me about the mentor-disciple bond between me and Minato. We have Enhanced Communication at 10 points. What comes next?"
"For a mentor-disciple bond: 10 points unlocks Enhanced Communication, 30 points unlocks Instant Understanding, 50 points unlocks Telepathic Connection, 80 points unlocks Talent Exchange, and at 100 points—"
"Wait! What did you say happens at 80 points?" Haruto Saito suddenly stopped in his tracks.
"Talent Exchange."
"What does that mean?!"
"It means that when the mentor teaches the disciple, there is a possibility of inheriting some of the disciple's talents, and vice versa."
Haruto Saito's heart raced.
This system… is way more powerful than I thought!