Deep within a dense forest clearing near Konoha, Tatsuya stood quietly. Embedded in the ground at various points around him, spanning a radius of over ten meters, were more than a dozen kunai, each handle meticulously engraved with a special formula seal.
Swish!
Suddenly, Tatsuya vanished in a flicker, instantly reappearing beside a kunai over ten meters away. His form flickered again, and again, reappearing instantly beside one marked kunai after another in rapid succession. After a moment of this blindingly fast teleportation practice, Tatsuya stopped, his brow furrowed in concentration.
He was practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique he had acquired not long ago from Konoha's archives. After the Third Hokage had granted him full access, Tatsuya had immediately used the Hokage Pass to retrieve the scrolls related to the legendary space-time ninjutsu. Following several days of intense analysis with his bio-chip, Tatsuya felt he had basically grasped the fundamental principles and mechanics of the technique.
However, theoretical understanding was one thing; practical application was proving to be quite another.
Now, Tatsuya was finally beginning to understand why, after its invention by the brilliant Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, only the Fourth Hokage, Minato Namikaze, had managed to truly inherit and master the Flying Thunder God Technique, elevating it to legendary status.
Successfully performing the technique required meeting two demanding conditions. First, one needed the ability to quickly and skillfully inscribe the complex Flying Thunder God formula seal. Second, one needed the ability to sense the unique signature of these formula seals from a great distance.
These conditions sounded simple enough on paper, but in reality, the demands placed on the user were extremely high. Firstly, the Flying Thunder God formula wasn't an ordinary marking; it was a highly complex space-time sealing formula. Without extremely advanced mastery in the art of sealing techniques, it was fundamentally impossible to correctly inscribe the formula. This inherent complexity was also the main reason why the special formula seals, once placed, could remain stable and effective for decades, unlike simpler seals. This requirement alone excluded the vast majority of shinobi from ever learning the technique.
Tatsuya recalled that Minato's former guard detail – Shiranui Genma, Namiashi Raido, and Tatami Iwashi – could only perform a formation-based version of the technique jointly because each member had learned only a portion of the complex formula. Only by combining their efforts could they create a complete, functional Flying Thunder God seal to teleport their charge.
Secondly, sensing the formula seals from a long distance was also far from simple. It required the user to possess exceptionally strong sensory abilities, capable of detecting the unique chakra signature of the seals, and extremely large chakra reserves to maintain that sensory reach over potentially vast distances.
Even for the rare few shinobi who met these demanding prerequisites, mastering the technique and utilizing it effectively on the chaotic battlefield presented another significant hurdle. It required not only extensive, repetitive practice to become intimately familiar with the technique's properties and limitations but also demanded incredibly sharp reflexes and near-perfect spatial awareness from the user.
This was because on the battlefield, after scattering numerous kunai marked with the formula, these seals would register in the user's mind merely as indistinct points of light representing potential destinations. Accurately remembering the precise physical location corresponding to each of those points of light and instantly selecting the correct one under the intense pressure of combat was no easy feat.
Tatsuya had attempted to use his bio-chip to record and track the kunai locations, mapping the 'light points' to real-space coordinates, but the results weren't satisfactory for high-speed combat. The processing time, however minuscule by normal standards, was still too long. In the heat of battle, where every split second was precious, the delay between selection, processing, and execution meant he might already be struck by an enemy attack before the teleport completed.
Therefore, Tatsuya concluded, improving his practical effectiveness with the Flying Thunder God could only be achieved through relentless practice – essentially, grinding out proficiency and muscle memory the hard way. He estimated that reaching the legendary level of mastery displayed by Minato Namikaze, who seemed to wield the technique with effortless fluidity, was likely impossible within his lifetime. Tatsuya suspected Minato must have possessed some kind of innate special talent or perhaps a unique sensory ability that allowed him to utilize the Flying Thunder God with such incredible precision and speed.
Thinking this, however, Tatsuya wasn't discouraged. While the technique's practical application wasn't quite as effortlessly 'overpowered' as he might have initially imagined based on Minato's legend, he knew that once he achieved proficiency, he could at least reach the formidable level demonstrated by its creator, the Second Hokage. Being able to appear suddenly anywhere on the battlefield still offered immense tactical advantages and lethal potential.
At the very least, he thought wryly, it's more than enough for dealing with fodder. Furthermore, Tatsuya's current physical constitution was already monstrously enhanced. Combining the Flying Thunder God technique with his existing Body Flicker and other advanced movement abilities should yield excellent synergistic results. Adhering to the practical shinobi principle that 'more skills can't hurt,' Tatsuya resumed his practice in the forest clearing.
As he continued practicing, Tatsuya's movements suddenly stopped once more. Then, moving in a blur that left multiple afterimages hanging in the air, he swiftly collected all the marked kunai he had placed.
Swish~
A few minutes later, a distinct sound of movement cut through the otherwise quiet forest air, and a figure appeared before Tatsuya.
Yakushi Kabuto.
Seeing the perpetually fake smile plastered on Kabuto's face, Tatsuya's brow furrowed in annoyance. Simultaneously, a faint, almost imperceptible killing intent began to emanate from him. Moments earlier, Tatsuya had sensed Kabuto approaching from a considerable distance, heading directly towards his secluded training location. How did he know I was here? Tatsuya wondered, his guard instantly raised.
Sensing the palpable shift in atmosphere, the subtle but undeniable killing intent radiating from Tatsuya, Kabuto's smile tightened almost imperceptibly. He quickly offered a respectful bow. "Lord Tatsuya," he said smoothly, "Lord Orochimaru requests your presence."
Tatsuya stared coldly at Kabuto for a long moment, his expression unreadable, before uttering two clipped words: "Lead way."
"Yes, sir." Kabuto acknowledged respectfully. Then, the two figures leaped into the trees, heading south, away from the direction of Konoha.
As they traveled rapidly through the canopy, Tatsuya's expression shifted slightly; based on the direction and Kabuto's previous approach, he already had a very good idea of where Orochimaru intended for them to meet.
Just over ten minutes later, Tatsuya saw the unmistakable sight – the heads of two colossal stone statues emerging above the dense forest canopy in the distance.
It was the Valley of the End. The two giant statues, eternally locked in their silent confrontation across the waterfall, depicted the legendary founders: the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the patriarch of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Madara.
Kabuto came to a halt several hundred meters away from the Valley proper. He turned to Tatsuya and indicated towards the statues. "Lord Orochimaru is waiting for you just over there," he said respectfully.
Tatsuya gave Kabuto a flat, dismissive glance, then leaped forward, heading towards the iconic statues without a backward glance at the medic-nin.
Ahead, perched silently atop the massive stone shoulder of the Hashirama statue, stood the slender, pale figure of Orochimaru.
Landing lightly on the stone shoulder beside the Sannin, Tatsuya greeted him softly, "Lord Orochimaru. Long time no see."
Orochimaru turned slowly, his golden, serpentine eyes fixing on Tatsuya. His husky voice contained a universe of complex emotion and cool, analytical reflection. "Indeed, Tatsuya-kun. It has been a long time." He paused, his gaze sweeping over Tatsuya. "To think the Tatsuya-kun I once knew has grown to such an extent in my absence... It truly is… astonishing!"
"It's just some minor growth," Tatsuya replied calmly, deflecting the loaded compliment. "Lord Orochimaru has, after all, been away from the village for several years now. Such reflections are only natural."
"Minor growth? Heh heh…" Orochimaru chuckled softly, the sound like dry leaves rustling. "It seems Tatsuya-kun is still not satisfied with his own considerable strength!" His expression shifted, becoming intensely curious. "Tatsuya-kun, I've always been intensely curious about you… You seem to carry yourself with a strange, hidden sense of urgency. I wonder why that is? With your current level of power," Orochimaru finished, tilting his head slightly, "I imagine there is no one left in the shinobi world who could truly stand in your way."
Tatsuya raised an eyebrow. "Does Lord Orochimaru truly believe my current strength allows me to act without impunity throughout the shinobi world?"
Orochimaru's eyes narrowed slightly, the golden slits seeming to gleam. "Is that not the case?"
"Lord Orochimaru," Tatsuya countered evenly, "the legendary Eyes of the Sage have already reappeared in this world. Who can possibly say for certain what kind of powerhouses might emerge in the future?"
"Heh heh," Orochimaru chuckled again, clearly enjoying the verbal sparring. "Kabuto has already informed me of your recent… display, Tatsuya-kun." His gaze drifted across the valley towards the imposing, shadowed face of the Uchiha Madara statue, his own expression becoming unreadable. "Compared to these two legendary figures immortalized before us… perhaps you are already nearly their equal?"