It was night when Fugaku and Itachi arrived at the agreed-upon location, a secluded training ground where the nocturnal wind muffled any conversation.
The Fourth Hokage was already waiting for them, his cloak waving softly, his eyes attentive and penetrating.
"Fugaku…" Minato said calmly, though the tension in the air was palpable. "It's not common for an Uchiha clan leader to ask me for a meeting behind the Council's back. What is it you seek?"
Fugaku took a deep breath. "Information, Hokage. And a deal... Madara has returned from the shadows. It's not just a rumor: he sought me out personally and offered to control the Kyūbi to 'free' the clan. I refused him… but I know that's not the end of it."
Minato had always been a man without fear in battle, ready to face anyone, but the problem was that this enemy was targeting the most precious thing in his life, his weakness, his everything. At first, he doubted the Uchiha's intentions and needed time to process Fugaku's declarations, but then he decided to accept that there was a real threat, and that the Uchiha were likely not his enemies.
Itachi, at his father's side, remained in silence, observing with a chilling composure. His eyes seemed to absorb every detail of the Hokage's reaction.
Fugaku continued, "The clan does not want Konoha's destruction. We want to survive what is coming. That's why we've come to you, Hokage. We give you this warning before the catastrophe occurs… in exchange for something."
Minato stared at him intently, with suspicion. "And what is it you ask for?"
Fugaku did not hesitate. "Your technique: the Flying Thunder God Jutsu."
The silence shattered like glass. Minato clenched his jaw and slowly shook his head.
"Impossible. That technique is not a weapon that can be shared like a kunai. It requires absolute mastery of space-time. Even within Konoha, I am the only one capable of performing it. It's not just a military secret… it's far too complex for anyone else to learn."
Fugaku stepped forward, firm. "We are not asking you to give it to the entire clan. Only to two of our own: Shisui… and my son, Itachi."
The Hokage frowned and looked with disbelief at the child of just six years old accompanying him. "To him? A child?"
Fugaku nodded. "Itachi is different. Since birth, he has been a hidden genius of the clan. He has the maturity, the discipline, and the mind to comprehend what would take others decades. If you teach him, Hokage, I am convinced he will be able to assimilate even your technique."
For the first time, Minato held Itachi's gaze. The child did not blink, did not look away. There was an unnatural depth in his eyes, as if he already carried the weight of an adult.
The Hokage sighed. "I appreciate the warning, and I will take action. But I cannot promise what you ask. If I were to consider it… it would be under very strict conditions."
Itachi, without asking permission, spoke in a clear and serene voice, "Then test me, Hokage. Show me that it is impossible, and I will prove otherwise."
An absolute silence fell over the field. Fugaku offered a slight smile, while Minato watched him with a mixture of bewilderment and respect.
"Let me think about it; this is not a simple thing to process."
Fugaku gave his son a knowing look, and the boy nodded with a small smile before they both retreated into the shadows.
Minato couldn't sleep well that night. Fugaku's proposal had left him with an unease he couldn't shake. Itachi… a six-year-old child capable of learning something as complex as the Flying Thunder God? Part of him wanted to refuse immediately. Another, quieter part, whispered that he should not underestimate that child.
In the morning, while sharing breakfast with Kushina, he decided to tell her. "Kushina, last night Fugaku Uchiha asked me for something unheard of. He says his son, Itachi, is capable of learning even my techniques. He wants me to test him."
Kushina, who was chewing on a huge onigiri, almost choked. "Huh? A six-year-old brat? Minato, the Uchiha truly never cease to surprise me!" she laughed, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand. Then she became thoughtful, her gaze fixed on the ceiling. "You know, I've always had a good eye for judging people. Let me see him. Bring the boys over one afternoon; I want to share a meal with them."
"A meal?" Minato repeated, surprised.
"Of course!" she replied with a mischievous smile. "There's no better way to get to know someone than by watching them eat and laugh. If that kid has the makings of something great, I'll feel it."
That same week, Fugaku accepted the invitation and went with Itachi and Shisui. Kushina had prepared a long table full of homemade dishes: ramen, stews, rice, fish, and sweets that seemed to go on forever. The scene was unexpectedly warm. Shisui laughed at Fugaku's attempts to maintain his composure while Kushina forced him to serve himself more and more. Minato, to the side, watched in silence as Itachi, without losing his serenity, tried each dish respectfully.
At one point, Kushina leaned toward him, with her usual frankness: "Hey, Itachi… you don't realize how terrifying the chakra I carry inside is, do you?"
Itachi looked up at her, and for the first time, he smiled, barely. "I'm sorry. It doesn't scare me. Kurama… I value him a lot. It's an immense power, and a huge weight you carry alone."
Kushina blinked, surprised. No one had ever spoken to her with such naturalness, let alone mentioned the fox's real name. In Kushina's spiritual space, a great beast that seemed to be sleeping slowly opened its eyes and kept them open for a few seconds before turning its head and returning to its rest. Itachi, however, had said it as someone stating an obvious truth.
Then, with the same calm, he asked: "Can you completely control Kurama?"
The silence that followed was absolute. Shisui almost choked on a mouthful, Fugaku's eyes widened in disbelief, and Minato sighed deeply.
Kushina stared at Itachi, with a mixture of amusement and astonishment. "Wow!" she laughed heartily. "You're as direct as a sword. No one has ever asked me that, let alone a child. I suppose not; I still don't fully control him… but someday I will."
Itachi nodded his head, as if confirming an internal conclusion. "Then you still have more potential than I thought."
Kushina let out a booming laugh, slapping the table with her palm. "I like this brat, Minato! He has serious eyes but he's not empty. He definitely has something special!"
Fugaku exchanged a brief glance with the Hokage. Both knew that Kushina rarely made a mistake when judging a person's heart.
After lunch, at the training ground, Minato stood in front of Fugaku, Itachi, and Shisui, evaluating every detail with a critical eye. "Today, I want to see how you react in a combat situation, how you control your chakra, and how you attack."
Itachi and Shisui took their positions, alert. Fugaku remained on the side, watching with pride and caution. "Remember, it's not about hitting me. It's about reflexes, instinct, and control," Minato added. "Everything else will come after."
In a blink, Minato disappeared, leaving a faint yellow glow. A surprise kunai attack was heading toward Shisui, who reacted quickly but without success. However, it was enough for Itachi to notice a pattern: the instant Minato disappeared and reappeared was linked to how he distributed his chakra.
"I understand now," Itachi murmured, activating his Sharingan and precisely measuring every movement, every shadow, every change in the air's tension. Shisui synchronized his movements with him, following his silent instructions with his Sharingan activated.
Although they couldn't hit Minato, every dodge, every block, showed impeccable chakra control and an anticipation that surpassed many adults.
Minato appeared in front of Itachi, a kunai ready, and the child barely twisted his shoulder, avoiding the blow with minimal energy.
Minato retreated, evaluating: Itachi's reflexes were extraordinary, his natural instinct allowed him to anticipate complex attacks, and his chakra control was impeccable for someone his age.
Shisui, with more fluid and aggressive movements, managed to keep Minato constantly on alert, showing speed, creativity, and precision in every attempt.
"Good," Minato said, stopping. "It's not just about reflexes. Your chakra control and your ability to coordinate offense and defense show me that both of you have exceptional talent."
Fugaku breathed a sigh of relief, while Kushina, watching from a distance, crossed her arms with a smile. "I told you, Minato. This pair isn't normal."
Minato nodded, thoughtful. He was impressed, but he knew this was only the first test. "Now let's go to the next test; I have it ready at the next field."
The training ground was set up with scrolls, seal marks, and small objects that could be manipulated with jutsus.
Minato stood in front of Fugaku, Itachi, and Shisui, with a serious but assessing expression. "I want to see how you absorb information and how you execute spatial techniques. This includes your ability to control chakra, understand seals, and apply the technique without errors. It's an exercise in learning and application, nothing more."
Itachi and Shisui stood in front of the scrolls, attentive. Fugaku watched, aware of his son's unique talent.
Minato began by explaining the basic principles of the jutsu, showing how the chakra should flow and how the seals interacted with the technique.
Shisui absorbed the information quickly, but his execution was a bit clumsy at first. Each movement required precise coordination between chakra, body, and seals. Itachi, however, absorbed every detail with astonishing speed. His Sharingan analyzed the structure of the seals, their chakra flow, and the required synchronization. With a couple of attempts, he managed to execute almost perfect movements, placing the seals correctly and projecting spatial chakra efficiently.
Minato watched him with growing astonishment: "Itachi… your understanding and execution surpass mine when I learned this technique. Even Shisui, though talented, still has to get used to the complexity of the seals and chakra flow."
Itachi didn't show arrogance; he simply continued to experiment, adjusting the chakra and refining the movements, making each jutsu more precise and stable.
Shisui, inspired by his companion's ability, tried to replicate what he had learned and improved significantly, although without equaling Itachi.
"Excellent," Minato said. "Both of you show a great capacity for learning and application. This confirms that both of you can learn advanced techniques."
Fugaku nodded, with pride. He knew that with this ability, Itachi could optimize techniques, understand complex jutsus, and eventually create his own applications.
Itachi looked at Minato and said, calmly: "Thank you for the guidance, Hokage-sama. I will continue to perfect my chakra and seal control to fully master the technique."
Over the next few weeks, Minato dedicated all his time to teaching Shisui and Itachi the secrets of his spatial jutsu. The Hokage's discipline was strict but effective; every movement, every chakra estimation, and every direction calculation were constantly corrected and perfected.
Itachi, for his part, already had a basic mastery of teleportation, although he still needed a few moments to precisely calculate the direction before executing the jutsu. His prodigious mind could integrate the information from the seals and the geometry of space, but each use required exact concentration and coordination.
Shisui, on the other hand, was progressing more slowly. His chakra control was not yet on par with Itachi's, and he had to internalize the complex formulas necessary for teleportation. These formulas consisted of a set of mathematical matrices that, when estimating the correct direction, allowed for the establishment of a connection between the origin and destination seals. Each teleportation involved mentally tracing a straight line in space—a line that had to match the seal's energy and the chakra flow for the technique to be precise and safe.
Minato insisted on the importance of understanding the concept behind the technique, not just memorizing the seals: "It's not just about moving the body from one point to another," the Hokage would say. "You must calculate the trajectory, feel the energy of the environment, and make sure that the line you draw in space matches the seals. If a single element fails, the jutsu could be dangerous."
Itachi absorbed every word and every demonstration, practicing over and over, adjusting the speed of his teleportation and the stability of his movements. Shisui watched him, copying every gesture, every adjustment in posture and chakra pressure, trying to internalize the combination of technique, calculation, and sensation.
As the days passed, the difference between them became clear: while Itachi could quickly calculate the line and perform the teleportation almost instantly, Shisui still had to concentrate on mentally tracing the line and coordinating the chakra flow, so each jutsu took him more time and energy.
However, Minato acknowledged the talent of both: "Itachi has the advantage of speed and precision," the Hokage commented, "but Shisui is developing the deep understanding of chakra that's needed. With time and practice, both of you will be able to execute complex teleportations without error."
This training not only strengthened their individual skills but also taught them to synchronize their jutsus and anticipate movements together, laying the foundation for much more advanced strategies in the future.