An eerie silence fell over the scene.
The parents who had just been cheering and shouting encouragement for the ninja academy students all widened their eyes.
This was not merely a matter of instantly defeating the academy's elite…
That flash of golden light had passed in an instant; the vast majority of people had not seen it clearly.
What technique was that…
If they had been the ones up there, and unprepared, they likely would have been caught as well.
Or rather, even with preparation, it might not necessarily have been enough.
"Minato, you were amazing!!"
Only Kushina's cheering voice remained clear and full of strength, sounding especially distinct in the now-quiet training ground.
Minato smiled gently, openly waved back at Kushina in response, and said in a steady voice loud enough for most people to hear: "It was thanks to Kushina's help…"
"Do you like this lipstick color?"
Minato drew a line across the back of his hand. Under the sunlight, it reflected with a delicate shade of red.
Kushina froze for a moment. Her face instantly turned as red as her hair, and she felt slightly dizzy.
She had always been bold and fiery by nature and normally would not have been shy…
But there were simply too many people present on this occasion—and the elders were all here as well!
The Hokage, Mito-sama, and the others…
How could he say something like that here!
"I like it!" Kushina paused briefly before finally shouting back to Minato.
The shinobi of Konoha burst into laughter. For a time, cheers and whistles rose one after another, all offering their blessings to the young couple…
Stories of childhood sweethearts combined with a hero saving the beauty had always been beloved and admired by people.
"Hokage-sama, thank you for your guidance! I will use the Flying Thunder God to protect Konoha…"
To everyone's surprise, Minato immediately raised his voice to thank Hiruzen, bowing as he spoke.
Hiruzen smiled knowingly.
A sensible child was always especially likable…
His future was limitless!
There was no reason not to promote him vigorously.
The public interaction between Minato and Kushina was something Hiruzen, as Hokage, wished to see.
As Konoha continued to develop and flourish, it had also begun to face the problem of insufficient population.
Expanding industries, armaments, logistics, and other areas all required "people" to resolve issues.
As Hokage, Hiruzen would not play matchmaker by personally arranging relationships between shinobi.
But he needed, on a broader level, to encourage the growth of Konoha's population rather than focusing solely on supplementing external military sources.
The village itself also needed to thrive.
Love stories were clearly helpful in that regard.
'Lipstick?'
'Later, we could release a Minato co-branded edition. There's a story behind it.'
For a brand to sell at a high price, one crucial point was knowing how to tell a story.
When the value of a story was attached to a product, it was not difficult for the price to multiply several times over.
And Hiruzen was already pondering it.
Hiruzen wanted to call Minato over to spar with him, so he could get familiar with the Flying Thunder God Technique…
Hiruzen always had a hunch that, with Senju Tobirama's personality, he might even come to consult him while in an Uchiha body.
Because a bout between an Uchiha genius and the Hokage…
For that clan, it was simply far too much of a talking point.
And Tobirama probably also wanted, in a subtle way, to interact with him…
Hiruzen was naturally willing to cooperate.
But as Konoha's current—and only—Hokage, he could not be like everyone else and get shaken the moment he encountered the Flying Thunder God.
'Mm, it's all to help Minato further master the Flying Thunder God Technique…'
'Absolutely not so that one day I can beat Tobirama-sensei and see the look on his face when he realizes I've adapted to his Flying Thunder God…'
That was what Hiruzen thought to himself, and he smiled without realizing it.
The Hokage's standards were not as extreme as the Mizukage's, but the size of one's fist was also an important factor.
Orochimaru stared blankly at Minato, somewhat surprised that this was actually a disciple raised by Jiraiya.
Genius-level talent, and even this sensible?
For a moment, Orochimaru recalled the nonsense Jiraiya had spouted when drunk—"Minato might not be unable to compete with you for the Fourth Hokage!"
That line was still nonsense, because no matter how outstanding Minato was, his seniority was on an entirely different level from Orochimaru's.
Orochimaru's mission count, the scientific research results he had produced for Konoha, and his current close relationship with Hiruzen…
Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique and high emotional intelligence were indeed formidable, but he still could not compare with Orochimaru.
If Minato were five or six years older, then talk of competing with Orochimaru would barely have any value worth bringing up for discussion.
'I should take on an apprentice too. Which one would be good?'
'Even an idiot like Jiraiya can end up with a top-grade apprentice like this…' Orochimaru pondered as he looked around at the academy students on the field, but none of them felt quite satisfactory.
What he wanted more was a shinobi who could inherit his mantle—someone interested in biological science.
Picking just anyone at random did not fit Orochimaru's current requirements…
...
Obito, lying on the ground, stared at the scene in disbelief.
How could someone, after instantly defeating them, turn around and smoothly start talking about romance?
So he really was a cold, ruthless blond monster…
At this moment, watching Minato's hair, tinted golden by the sunlight, Obito found himself staring blankly.
Blond monster…
He did seem… kind of handsome?
And Obito was also thinking—if he waited until he was fifteen or sixteen, around Minato's age…
If he could awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan, or even those legendary eyes of the clan, and pull off an interaction like that in front of Rin, looking just as cool…
Then even if he just dropped dead on the spot, it would all be worth it!
'Tch—what am I thinking? I'm going to live to become Hokage!'
Obito lay sprawled out on the ground and slapped himself across the face, but he still felt a little dejected inside.
This blond monster's technique was just too shameless!
He only saw a flash of golden light, and he was already hit—there had been no room to react at all…
Although Obito was very confident, when it came to whether his future self would be able to have a move as shameless as that blond's… he was not very sure.
"Sigh…" Obito shook his head, smacking his lips enviously.
At that moment, Rin ran over and asked worriedly, "Obito, are you okay?"
Obito, who had just been in a dazed state, felt as if endless strength surged through his body the moment he saw Rin come over.
He sprang to his feet with a backflip and pounded his chest vigorously. "I'm fine! Don't worry, Rin—I just wasn't paying attention for a second…"
"My eyes are awakened now! I actually saw it clearly just now. Next time, I'll know how to beat this guy…"
"When the time comes, I'll just slide in low and—" Obito bragged while cautiously observing Minato out of the corner of his eye, afraid that he might suddenly turn around and notice him.
Rin looked at Obito with a smiling expression and said nothing, simply handing him soldier pills and supplies.
...
On the platform, Jiraiya, who had just returned from a short period of training at Mount Myōboku, watched his disciple with a complicated expression.
No, how is he this good at it?
I never taught him any of this!
If this keeps up, what value do I have as his teacher?
'Damn it, having a disciple who's too outstanding is a kind of trouble too!'
'Minato's closer to Sensei than he is to me! Since when do sensei steal disciples like this…' Jiraiya complained with a smile, though in truth he felt very gratified.
Having more contact with Hiruzen was indeed far better than staying with him…
But it also stirred up a sense of urgency within Jiraiya.
With a disciple this outstanding, and among his peers Tsunade, Orochimaru, and even Hiruko—all three contributing enormously to Konoha through research and technology, and continuously producing results…
what was he supposed to do!
Although Mount Myōboku could transport some supplies to Konoha, he himself could not fall behind either!
At this moment, Jiraiya even somewhat understood the old Hiruko…
Different circles—don't force yourself to fit in…
'I need to step up my training in senjutsu. That's my specialty! Otherwise, at future gatherings, they'll all be talking about research topics I don't understand, and I'll look like I've made no progress…'
'But if I've mastered senjutsu, the three of them will have to listen to me talk…'
Jiraiya made up his mind. After Hiruzen finished deploying the mission to Kusagakure, he would apply to go into closed-door training.
If he did not master senjutsu, he would not return!
...
'Another shinobi with 'specialty'…' Danzō, standing beside Hiruzen, felt a bit anxious inside.
He was happy to see someone inherit Senju Tobirama's Flying Thunder God Technique…
But the problem was that he himself currently had no "specialty."
This so-called "specialty" was the path of strength Danzō had summarized by combining Hiruzen's words.
Extremely high mobility, destructive power, defensive capability, stealth, and so on…
To become a truly top-tier shinobi, one had to excel in at least one aspect. Only then, when facing all kinds of monsters in the shinobi world, could one have room to maneuver and counterattack.
Danzō cast a subtle glance at Hiruzen.
In theory, this old comrade of his also had no "specialty"…
Hiruzen did not know the Flying Thunder God either.
In terms of offense, he was inferior to Ōnoki's Dust Release; in durability, inferior to the Third Raikage; in recovery ability, he likely could not compare to Orochimaru; his sensory ability was so-so; his stealth was also average…
Yet Hiruzen had achieved broad mastery across the board, and not in a superficial way.
He had no obvious shortcomings; all aspects advanced in parallel…
And in Danzō's heart, there was always a premonition.
It seemed that Hiruzen had returned to how he was in his youth and had begun refining various ninjutsu again…
Danzō quietly glanced at Hiruzen's forehead, and his heart sank.
The headband-like mark had already faded to the point of being invisible…
Did that mean his "special Yin Seal" had been repaired?
Why did he not tell him about it at all!
When Hiruzen was young, he had loved to show off to him whenever he mastered a new technique…
Now he made no announcement, acting as if he were quietly accumulating gains, researching on his own.
Suddenly pulling out Lightning Release Nintaijutsu, the Yin Seal, and the like!
Danzō truly feared that in three to five years, he would not even qualify to spar with Hiruzen anymore!
'Wind Release Chakra Mode—I must find a way to develop it…' Danzō exhaled a turbid breath.
Thoroughly investigate Kusagakure, research ninjutsu, take in an Uchiha disciple…
The path to becoming Hokage was indeed full of challenges—and fulfilling…
...
And as for a certain elderly man who was watching Konoha Variety and did not wish to reveal his name—when he saw the Flying Thunder God Technique, it was as if he had swallowed a fly. He flung the meat in his hand onto White Zetsu's face, wearing an expression of sheer ill fortune.
He had seen the reactions of some of the Uchiha…
Upon seeing that technique, they were like mice spotting a cat, not knowing what they were even so afraid of!
What was so difficult about countering that thing?
A caster who relocates via the Flying Thunder God is bound to experience a brief pause due to spatial movement.
Although the interval is not large…
with the Sharingan's dynamic vision, one only needs to dodge in that instant and then stab straight through with a blade!
What is so hard about that!
Madara seemed to have forgotten that the reason he knew this… was because, over the long years within the cave, he had repeatedly reviewed Senju Tobirama's move before arriving at that conclusion.
On many days and nights, Madara had wondered—if he had discovered this earlier and told Izuna… would Izuna have been able to avoid it?
But that was only a fantasy, because the despicable Senju Tobirama had used a "first-encounter kill" against Izuna.
He had actually held back from using it even once, waiting until the decisive battle with Izuna…
"He was a despicable and shameless fellow, but he did have some talent…" Madara let out a long sigh.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was one of the very few techniques he had seen that could rival Mangekyō dōjutsu.
That bastard, though his character was rotten to the core, did have the tiniest bit of merit…
"The Uchiha of today are far inferior to those of my time!"
"Instead of thinking about how to counter it, they could at least try to learn it!"
Madara did not know whom he was berating as he shouted: "Standing still, lacking ambition! Just glaring with those stupid red eyes and being afraid!"
Beside him, White Zetsu removed the meat from his face and silently began chewing it.
Madara-sama's mental state was becoming more frightening by the day…
And at this moment, one hundred meters beneath the Hokage Rock, inside an underground laboratory, Senju Tobirama had finally completed the modifications to the large figurine!
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