Minato didn't know Shane Mountain's exact strength, but deep down, his instincts told him one thing Shane was powerful. Terrifyingly powerful. Ever since the Chunin Exams, his strength seemed to have advanced even further, to a level Minato could no longer grasp.
He couldn't say exactly where Shane stood now, but one thing was certain: he wasn't someone Minato could defeat.
Unfortunately, Nawaki didn't share that same understanding.
Sure, he admired Minato's mastery of the Flying Thunder God technique it was impressive, even dazzling but what did that have to do with Shane? Why, after showing off that jutsu, did Shane have that smug look on his face? What on earth was he so pleased about?
Crossing his arms and raising a brow, Nawaki finally asked, "So? How exactly do you plan to protect me, oh mighty guardian?"
Shane looked around thoughtfully, his gaze falling on a massive boulder not far away. Without a word, he walked up to it and clenched his fist.
A single punch thundered through the air.
Boom!
The enormous rock shattered instantly, scattering into countless fragments across the ground.
"Wait there was no chakra fluctuation…" Jiraiya muttered in surprise. "That was pure physical strength!"
"What?! He crushed that boulder with just his body?"
"As expected of Shane," Minato said with a small grin. "Always casually doing the impossible."
Turning back, Shane smiled at Nawaki. "So? Think someone like me can keep you safe, Super Baby?"
Nawaki froze, throat dry. "Y-Yeah… you definitely can…"
But after a moment of shock, his eyes started to gleam with excitement. He ran up to Shane, face full of admiration. "Big Bro! Please teach me taijutsu! I want to be as strong as you!"
Shane looked at him, almost doubting what he was hearing. That face-changing speed it was straight out of Jiraiya's playbook.
"Ahem." Shane coughed lightly into his fist, pretending to be serious. "Training in taijutsu is tough, you know. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"Please, Master! Train me as harshly as you can!" Nawaki said, eyes shining with zeal.
"You really are good at climbing ladders, huh?" Shane sighed helplessly. "Where'd that cocky attitude from before go?"
Nawaki laughed, unbothered. "But Master, I really envy your strength! Please, help me become just as strong!"
Shane studied him for a moment, then nodded. "Alright. Once we're back in Konoha, I'll start your training."
The methods were already in his mind borrowed straight from the pirate world he once knew. But as he glanced at Nawaki's lean frame, Shane couldn't help but feel a bit concerned.
This kid might not survive my normal regimen… Maybe I'll tone it down a bit. These ninja bodies aren't quite like those monsters from the other world.
For now, though, they were still stationed at the frontline camp. Training would have to wait.
Nawaki, with nothing better to do, soon wandered back to Shane. He found his teacher sitting cross-legged, palms pressed together, eyes closed in concentration.
"Uh… Master, what are you doing? Are you… constipated?"
"No." Shane didn't even open his eyes.
"Then what are you doing?" Nawaki asked curiously.
A sudden realization struck him, and his eyes widened. "I get it! You're training your body, right? This must be the ultimate level of taijutsu still as a mountain!"
A vein pulsed on Shane's forehead. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Heh, not really," Nawaki replied shamelessly.
Minato, who was off to the side strapping heavy stones onto his body, called over without looking up. "Seriously? Lady Mito hasn't taught you any sealing techniques?"
Nawaki scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Well… I tried, but I just can't wrap my head around them."
He laughed nervously, eyes darting around like a guilty child.
"You can't understand them because you never try to," Shane said, exhaling slowly. He was beginning to realize that Nawaki's personality was almost identical to Naruto's loud, impatient, but sincere. There was no point getting mad at him.
Or maybe, Shane thought wryly, if this kid ever goes quiet, it probably means he's plotting something big.
"That's not true! I really worked hard!" Nawaki protested. "But no matter how I try, it just doesn't make sense to me!"
Seeing him get flustered, Shane raised his hand in surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it. You're an idiot. No need to shout it from the rooftops."
Nawaki's face flushed bright red. "M-Master!"
Shane chuckled and handed him a leaf he had sliced perfectly into a five-pointed star. "If you don't know what to train, that's fine. Look at this."
Nawaki blinked, taking the star-shaped leaf in his hands. "What's this for?"
"Chakra control can be developed in two directions," Shane explained. "Shape transformation and nature transformation.
The basic things we learn first like the Clone Technique, walking on trees or water those are all about shaping chakra. You're changing how it flows, not what it is.
But ninjutsu like the Earth-Style Wall, on the other hand, changes chakra's nature, turning it into an element earth, in that case to form a barrier or weapon."
He paused to make sure Nawaki was following.
The boy nodded earnestly… though the blank look in his eyes told Shane he hadn't understood a single word.
Minato, now drenched in sweat from his weighted training, suddenly looked up. "Shane, that's the same principle behind the Rasengan's evolution, isn't it? The original version only alters chakra's shape. But if we infuse it with elemental nature say, wind the power could increase drastically. If we can master that combination, it might even become an S-rank technique!"
Shane smiled approvingly. "Exactly. You're sharp as always, Minato. Adding elemental nature to the Rasengan would make it an A-rank jutsu at minimum. But if we push it to full nature transformation… then yes, it becomes an S-rank jutsu a true forbidden art."
He could say that with confidence. After all, he'd seen it with his own eyes in another timeline.
Even someone as tough as Naruto nearly crippled himself using the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken. For most people, that technique would be nothing short of suicide.
That's what made it a forbidden jutsu one powerful enough to destroy both the enemy and the user.
And yet, Shane couldn't help but grin faintly.
Maybe it's time to see how far these kids can go.
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