Knock, knock, knock!
Makiya knocked on the window, waking the dozing lookout.
"I want to apply to use Training Ground 44. Could you please register it for me?"
"Ah, oh, okay." The lookout's eyes were blurry with sleep. After finishing the registration for Makiya and watching him take the numbered tag and enter the gate, he suddenly slapped his forehead. "Wait, was he... Uchiha Makiya?"
Being able to run around freely after killing seven of the Hokage Assistant's subordinates was the most popular topic of conversation in Konoha lately.
The lookout ninja hesitated for a moment and decided to report to the Hokage. He was just a small fry who didn't understand the conflicts between the high-level officials, but he knew the Hokage would definitely care about Uchiha Makiya's affairs.
Reporting promptly was certainly the right call.
The Forest of Death was full of vitality, with all things flourishing.
There were rumors that this was a forest created by the First Hokage using Sage Art: Wood Style.
The various animals living here had undergone mutations. A wild boar could be as tall as a two-story building. Generally, they were huge and fierce.
As Makiya released his aura, various animals and insects fled as if they had encountered a natural enemy.
By the river, Makiya cleared a large area, took off his outer clothes and hung them on a branch, leaving him in only his boxers.
Makiya held his hands out and closed his eyes. A moment later, a large amount of chakra was released from his acupoints.
The chakra underwent an attribute transformation the moment it touched the air, turning into a blazing fire. However, Makiya didn't feel the slightest heat.
The flames flickered and gradually constricted under Makiya's control, turning into a great cloak draped over his body, burning everything around him.
"Fire Style: Zanjitsu Gokui."
This was the Bankai ability of Yamamoto Genryusai Shigekuni, Captain-Commander of the Gotei 13. Makiya's version was only superficial; the temperature was nowhere near enough.
When they met in the soul space, Makiya had tried to goad Soul Reaper Makiya into sparring with the Captain-Commander to see the power of Zanka no Tachi, but he only earned a chop to the head from Soul Reaper Makiya.
'Temperature... increase the temperature... I feel like I can...'
The authentic Zanjitsu Gokui reached 15 million degrees, as if one were wrapped in the blazing sun. Right now, Makiya was at most wearing a gas stove.
The flames dissipated. His boxers were perfectly intact. Makiya formed hand seals.
"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Hundreds of Makiyas appeared in the forest, each clearing out a space and beginning to practice.
"Today's goal is to increase the temperature as much as possible. Let's do this, everyone!"
"I will not fail the mission!"
"Don't worry, Original!"
"Lose skin, lose meat, but don't lose the team!"
"Hey, hey, you're on the wrong channel..."
Hundreds of bare-chested men were in various poses, holding fireballs in their hands. Some had their heads lowered in thought, while others looked constipated. It was a spectacular scene.
Inside the Hokage's office.
Hiruzen Sarutobi received the report about Makiya and fell into deep thought.
After a while, he summoned an ANBU and asked about Minato Namikaze's movements.
"Lord Hokage, Jonin Minato is currently developing a new ninjutsu at Training Ground 16. Its power is very great."
This ANBU member was a veteran by Hiruzen's side. He had already guessed Hiruzen's thoughts and took the initiative to provide the information.
"A high-power ninjutsu, huh? How many people are at Training Ground 16?" Hiruzen tapped the desk rhythmically.
"Besides Jonin Minato, there are six other ninjas: the other three from Team Minato, two Chunin from the Inuzuka clan, and one civilian Chunin."
"Go and inform Minato that he should pay attention to safety when developing high-power ninjutsu to avoid accidentally hurting others. Tell him to go to Training Ground 44 to practice instead. Mind your phrasing."
"Yes, Lord Hokage."
Minato was completely confused when he received the notice.
Since it was an order from the Hokage, he arranged training plans for Kakashi and the other two, then immediately headed toward Training Ground 44.
In the Forest of Death.
Hundreds of orange-red fireballs of various sizes floated in the air. Hot air waves swept in all directions; the river melted, the snow vanished, and the trees dried and cracked.
Suddenly, one of the orange-red fireballs fluctuated violently. The liquid-like surface surged like waves, and the red gradually disappeared until the entire fireball turned orange.
"I did it!" The Makiya holding the orange fireball shouted excitedly. The flames in his hand dissipated, and he burst into a cloud of white smoke.
Seeing this, the other shadow clones dispelled themselves one after another, and a massive amount of memories returned to Makiya's original body.
Makiya closed his eyes to endure the impact of the memories. After a moment, he finished processing them and extended his left hand.
Whoosh...
An orange fireball appeared in his palm. The temperature was several hundred degrees higher than when it was orange-red.
The rules of the Ninja World were different from his previous life. Makiya had to discard some common sense and rebuild his understanding.
"A little progress."
Makiya nodded with satisfaction and created hundreds of shadow clones again to resume his great cultivation work.
When Minato stepped into Training Ground 44, the sound of gurgling water reached his ears.
"Huh?" Minato tilted his head curiously.
After two consecutive days of heavy snow, all the rivers near Konoha were frozen. Where was the flowing water coming from?
"Did Lord Hokage send me here to actually investigate the anomalies in the Forest of Death?"
Minato continued deeper, and the snow gradually disappeared.
Going further, a wave of heat hit him.
It was like walking directly from an iceberg into a desert.
Minato silently pulled out a kunai, but a moment later, he put it away again.
"Lord Third, you... sigh..."
He had already seen the culprit behind the anomaly in front of him, and the other party had clearly noticed him as well.
Hundreds of Makiyas holding golden-orange fireballs tilted their heads curiously. "Hmm? Jonin Minato?"
Minato Namikaze's forehead broke out in a sweat, and he subconsciously took a step back.
Being stared at by so many bare-chested men made Minato feel a sudden, inexplicable chill. He silently recited Kushina's name. The image of the warm and cheerful Red Hot-Blooded Habanero appeared in his mind, dispelling all distracting thoughts.
"So it's Makiya. Are you developing a new ninjutsu too?" Minato greeted with a smile.
"Too?" Makiya keenly caught the keyword and looked curious.
If he remembered correctly, Minato should have finished developing the Rasengan by this time. Was he still trying new ninjutsu?
That made sense. After all, in the movie, Minato directly used the Wind Style: Rasengan and created a combo technique called Wind Style: Taiji Rasengan with his future son. During the final battle, he could also enter Sage Mode whenever he wanted, and he played with the Flying Thunder God technique in a flashy way. He must be very keen on researching new ninjutsu.
"Yes, I've been developing a new technique recently and wanted to find a place where no one was around. I didn't expect to run into you."
Minato extended a hand, and a ball of azure, high-speed rotating chakra appeared in his palm.
Makiya put on an interested expression, dispelled the fireball, and rubbed his chin. "Is it also a hand-seal-less ninjutsu? Interesting."
"It's not finished yet." Minato smiled, and a trace of emerald-green lines appeared in the Rasengan.
Then more and more green appeared, gradually dyeing the entire Rasengan. The smooth, rounded sphere suddenly trembled violently, its aura becoming extremely unstable.
Minato's figure briefly vanished and then suddenly reappeared.
Two seconds later, a huge explosion sounded from the other side of the forest.
"Adding attribute transformation while controlling chakra shape is indeed very difficult to master. Makiya-kun, are you practicing fire attribute transformation?"
"Jonin Minato, you can just call me Makiya. I am indeed practicing fire attribute transformation." Makiya nodded and admitted frankly. "I'm trying to find a way to increase the temperature of the flames. I have some results now, but I'm stuck on the subsequent direction."
An orange fireball appeared in Makiya's hand, radiating high temperature to the surroundings.
"Same for you, Makiya. Just call me Minato." Minato walked up to Makiya and looked at the fireball thoughtfully. "Advanced chakra attribute transformation, huh? I have some insights. You can use them for reference, Makiya."
A wisp of breeze appeared in Minato's left palm, spinning faster and faster like a hurricane.
A breeze also appeared in his right palm, flowing slowly, but it contained a sharp edge. A falling leaf was cut into two pieces by the invisible blade.
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