"The situation happened like this. Honestly, we were only able to save Kushina thanks to Minato's incredible tracking skills. Without him, I doubt we'd have made it in time." Shane Mountain stood before the Third Hokage, recounting the events in full.
In truth, apart from taking out two of the enemy ninjas, Shane hadn't contributed much during the rescue. The real star was Minato's precision his uncanny ability to follow the trail of Kushina's red strands of hair through dense forest and falling night.
If Minato weren't already completely exhausted from the ordeal, Shane probably wouldn't have even bothered explaining the details himself. He glanced briefly at Kushina out of the corner of his eye.
As the one who had been kidnapped, she was now happily feeding Minato snacks, comforting him while staying quiet and letting Shane shoulder all the talking.
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded thoughtfully after hearing the account. "This matter must not be spread around. I will handle it personally."
"Yes, Lord Hokage. Then, if there's nothing else, I'll be taking my leave," Shane said with a polite bow, already turning to go.
"Wait, Shane." The Third Hokage stopped him. When Shane turned back, puzzled, Hiruzen gave him a warm smile. "You see, your teammate Ayaka Okita has officially retired from being a shinobi. That leaves your squad short of one member. I had been wondering how to resolve the situation with you and Yamada's team. But now, I've decided to dissolve your squad and place you directly with Minato's team. How does that sound?"
Shane blinked. Him, placed with Minato Namikaze?
If his memory served correctly, Minato's current teammates were Shibi Aburame and Choza Akimichi the heirs of two major hidden-clan lineages. Now, with the Hokage placing him alongside them, was this essentially grooming him as part of Minato's future inner circle?
A dozen thoughts flickered through Shane's mind, but outwardly, he remained calm. He gave a respectful nod. "I'll abide by whatever Lord Hokage decides."
Hiruzen's expression softened into approval. After all three had left, the Hokage sat alone, his eyes heavy with thought.
"Minato is brilliant there's no denying his genius. His heart holds the true Will of Fire, and his future will surely outshine even mine. He is the best candidate for the Fifth Hokage. But Shane Mountain… ever since last year, his power has grown at a terrifying pace, already far surpassing Minato. He doesn't care for authority, but his bond with Minato has clearly solidified. In time, Shane will be Minato's sharpest blade, cutting paths open for the Leaf's future."
Hiruzen's gaze darkened as he considered the state of the shinobi world. Since Hashirama's death, peace had been fleeting. In recent years, conflicts had only grown more restless. The Second Great Ninja War had barely ended, yet Sarutobi sensed another storm already building on the horizon. Perhaps even a conflict larger and more devastating than anything seen before.
As Hokage, his responsibility was to prepare for the worst. Every piece of strength in the village had to be sharpened, every bond fostered.
Shane was already remarkable. He had invented the Rasengan and was researching even greater techniques. For too long, Hiruzen had hesitated in supporting him, wary of Shane's aloofness toward the Will of Fire. But after seeing Shane willingly stand by Minato to rescue Kushina, the Hokage could finally be certain. Their bond was real, and that was enough.
The old man smiled faintly. "This is the kind of youth the Leaf needs."
Outside the Office
Shane, of course, had no idea how deeply the Hokage had been analyzing him. To him, the decision to join Minato's team was simple: those teammates were reliable. They all survived the Third Great Ninja War in the original timeline. If he stuck with them, his odds of living to see Naruto's wedding should be high.
Still, he knew better than to pin all hope on others. His true ace lay within the mysterious space inside him where countless versions of himself from different worlds existed.
Someday, if a version of himself at the level of a Daoist Immortal or even beyond arrived, he wouldn't just survive… he would dominate. After all, in this Naruto world, such a being would be untouchable. Even the so-called Otsutsuki gods would be nothing more than insects under that kind of power.
The following morning, Shane received official confirmation of his new team. His former jonin instructor, Aoyama, handed him his belongings with a smile.
"Looks like you've been reassigned to Minato's squad. Honestly, I'm happy for you. That team… well, let's just say you won't have to worry about being left behind."
"Oh, and here," Aoyama added, handing him a scroll. "This is the new technique I promised to teach you. I had planned to walk you through it myself, but looks like you'll be self-studying now."
"Thank you, Teacher Aoyama."
"Hahaha, no thanks needed. That's what a teacher is for. Just take care of yourself and get along with your new comrades. I'll be heading over to Yamada now."
Shane didn't bother asking what had become of Yamada's placement. He suspected it wouldn't be anything enviable.
As soon as Aoyama left, Minato appeared, looking energetic despite his ordeal.
"Come on! We're going to start learning sealing techniques today."
"Right now? Shouldn't you check on Kushina first?" Shane asked, raising an eyebrow.
Minato grinned. "Don't worry about her. Kushina is strong both in body and in spirit. Besides, I told her yesterday that I'd be bringing you along to study sealing with us, and she agreed without a moment's hesitation."
With Minato being so insistent, Shane followed him, scroll in hand. Together they made their way to Mito Uzumaki's estate.
Unlike the empty, vulnerable mansion from the night before, the compound was now under heavy guard. An elite shinobi stationed every few paces, the place was practically impenetrable.
"Looks like last night's incident shook the higher-ups," Shane thought to himself.
Minato led him confidently through the estate, needing no guide, and they eventually arrived at the back courtyard.
There, Kushina stood in the moonlit yard practicing her stances, her vibrant red hair swaying with every motion. Nearby, Mito Uzumaki sat calmly under the veranda, brush in hand, writing on a scroll.
When Minato approached, Mito looked up and smiled kindly. "Ah, little Minato. You must have been exhausted last night. Come, let Grandma have a look at you."
With humility, Minato stepped forward, then gestured to Shane at his side. "This is Shane Mountain, the one who fought alongside me yesterday. He's also the creator of the Rasengan."
Mito's eyes narrowed as she studied Shane. His chakra was cold, sharp, in stark contrast to Minato's warm presence. For a moment, she wondered how the two boys had even become friends.
Still, her expression softened. "Thank you for what you did last night."
Shane quickly bowed. "It wasn't much. I just followed along. The real credit belongs to Minato."
Mito chuckled. "Perhaps, but without your intervention, Minato might not have been able to hold his own. Do you know who those kidnappers were? One jonin and two chunin from the Cloud. And it was the jonin who Minato managed to knock unconscious."
"What?" Both Minato and Shane froze in shock.
A jonin? But to them, the enemy hadn't seemed nearly that strong…
That was something both of them distinctly remembered. Which only left one unsettling possibility the enemy had been holding back, or something else was at play entirely.
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