Everyone fell silent.
Jiraiya covered his face and sighed. His student was great in every way, but the naming was something else entirely.
Tsunade looked at Kushina. This is your boyfriend? He seems a bit spaced out.
Shizune and Gai exchanged glances, both confused. Where did this name come from?
Kushina looked at Kitagawa. "Kitagawa, you should name it."
Seeing everyone's reaction, Minato laughed awkwardly. "I was joking."
Kitagawa nodded. "That was a pretty cold joke."
He looked at the spiral pattern on Kushina's sleeve and pointed at it. "How about... Rasengan? What do you think?"
Kushina looked at her sleeve pattern, then gave Kitagawa a thumbs up. "That's it!"
Minato quickly said, "Let me treat everyone to grilled meat!"
Though one meal couldn't repay the favor of Kitagawa helping develop the Rasengan, it could further strengthen their bonds.
The meal lasted until sunset before everyone headed home.
Back at his house, Kitagawa immediately went to the study.
On the desk sat a Leaf Village forehead protector.
Jiraiya's!
Kitagawa had planned today's hot spring outing in advance, so he'd prepared a protector early. During the bathing, he'd sent a shadow clone to swap them.
Standard-issue Leaf protectors all looked similar, and nobody would particularly notice.
Except he hadn't expected Minato and Kushina to show up.
Getting Kushina's hair clip would be impossible.
But Minato's forehead protector was also swapped by the shadow clone with Kitagawa's.
So now Kitagawa removed his own protector and stored both—Jiraiya's and Minato's—into his equipment inventory.
Power of Destiny. Super Kage-Level Nerve Reaction.
Two traits applying simultaneously.
The first one—Kitagawa felt nothing.
But the Super Kage-Level nerve reaction was incredibly obvious.
Information processing speed, signal transmission to body parts—everything accelerated dramatically. This meant reaction ability was exceptional.
It meant no more situations where you clearly catch the opponent's movement but your body can't react in time.
This pairs perfectly with Sharingan's dynamic vision.
Dynamic vision could catch high-speed movements, but without superior reaction ability, you'd experience seeing the opponent's action clearly while your body couldn't respond fast enough.
Now Kitagawa wouldn't have that problem.
Of course, the benefits didn't stop there.
In combat, reacting faster than your opponent means getting the first move. Enormous advantage.
Especially in high-speed fights.
Shame I couldn't get Kushina's hair clip...
Kitagawa felt some regret.
Kushina probably wouldn't remove her hair clip even in the bath.
To get it, he'd either have to steal or...
Dark thoughts momentarily flashed through his mind.
But he quickly suppressed them.
After all, Kushina's status was unique.
He'd sensed ANBU following even during today's outing, despite Tsunade and Jiraiya being there.
Senju body! My heart aches.
The only consolation was that the Iron Body trait from Gai, combined with his recent intense training, let his physical capacity improve far faster than before.
Kitagawa remembered Gai's peak stamina matched Jiraiya's—perfect 10/10.
Jiraiya could train in Sage Mode, so his chakra reserves were clearly excellent.
Stick to the plan and keep training...
Kitagawa collected himself and got to work.
The next day, Sunday.
Training continued.
But Kitagawa temporarily set aside other training to quickly acquire the Rasengan—an unsealed A-rank ninjutsu.
After all, half the development credit was his.
Whether he'd use it later was another matter, but he had to have it.
Moreover, the Rasengan had extremely high growth potential.
Any nature transformation could be added to it.
Wind Style transformation training is almost complete. Once I get Tsunade's necklace and Kage-level chakra control, Wind Style Rasenshuriken would be natural.
So.
Kitagawa spent half a day forming the Rasengan.
He understood the principles perfectly, knew the key points clearly. The time was purely spent on chakra control.
In the afternoon, Kitagawa continued Moon Walk development. Shadow clones continued Wind Style nature transformation training.
Time flew by.
Training, teaching, repeated banter with Tsunade—life was quite fulfilling.
Thus Leaf Village Year 41 passed. Leaf Village Year 42 arrived.
Spring break ended. Only days after resuming teaching, Kitagawa received an early graduation request.
Kakashi wanted early graduation!
Kitagawa raised an eyebrow slightly. He recalled Kakashi's birthday was September.
That meant when Kakashi entered last year, he wasn't yet five years old.
However, given that Kakashi had already mastered Shadow Clone Technique and his abilities far exceeded his classmates, the academy curriculum was admittedly somewhat wasteful.
But... graduating at five, then executing missions everywhere? Even if not direct combat, it's concerning.
Kitagawa placed the request in a drawer without submitting it to the Third Hokage.
After the final class ended at noon, Kitagawa called Kakashi over.
They climbed to the Hokage Stone Face, overlooking the entire Leaf Village on the breeze.
"Kakashi, you should know why the teacher called you here?"
Kitagawa said.
Kakashi nodded. "Because of the early graduation request."
Kitagawa smiled. "With your abilities, graduation is certainly no problem."
"Normally speaking, there's nothing more for you to learn in the academy."
Kitagawa continued asking, "Kakashi, you've finished tree-climbing and water-walking training, right?"
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, sensei."
Kitagawa asked, "Have you mastered nature transformation?"
Kakashi nodded again. "I've mastered Earth Style nature transformation."
Kitagawa raised an eyebrow. "Very impressive, Kakashi."
"I've also mastered Earth Style nature transformation coincidentally."
"For now, abandon the early graduation plan. Knowledge the school can't teach, I'll transmit to you."
Kakashi froze.
He'd guessed Kitagawa would persuade him to abandon early graduation, but not with this reasoning.
Seeing Kakashi silent, Kitagawa asked, "Do you know the original founding intention of the First Hokage and Madara Uchiha when establishing the Leaf Village?"
Kakashi looked confused. "Madara Uchiha?"
Kitagawa smiled slightly. "Seems you don't know."
"The Leaf Village was established through cooperation between the Senju clan and Uchiha clan. Specifically, it was the First Hokage Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha—both clan leaders at the time."
"The establishment of the Leaf Village ended the chaotic Warring States period and created the current Shinobi Village system among major nations."
"Whether the First Hokage or Madara, both lost family members to war, especially young children."
"So one of the founding intentions was to prevent children from participating in war."
"Though the Great Ninja War has ended, for ninja, war never truly stops. Kakashi, you're still very young. There's no need to leave school now."
Kakashi lowered his head silently.
Kitagawa smiled and patted his shoulder. "Of course, Kakashi, you're a genius who can master in short time what others need years for."
"But as a ninja, you still have much to learn."
"So, interested in continuing to study under your teacher?"
Kakashi looked up. "I'm willing!"
Kitagawa nodded. "Good."
"Then, besides combat and simulation classes, you can use shadow clones for your body."
"The teacher will arrange separate learning content for you."
"Be prepared, teacher's curriculum will be quite demanding."
Kakashi heard this and felt increased anticipation, straightening seriously. "Yes, sensei!"