"In that match just now, I bet on you to win. Because you gave up, I'm out the price of a barbecue dinner."
After a heavy silence, Tsunade spoke with a stiff, guarded expression. She didn't bother asking Minato why he had thrown the fight; a woman of her experience could read the room. He was a civilian-born child with no backing, standing in a ring against the Hokage's son. The political implications were obvious, even to a six-year-old.
"Sumimasen," Minato murmured, scratching the back of his head. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small roll of crumpled banknotes. "Um, I have some money here... if it helps cover the loss?"
"Ha? Who do you think you're talking to, kid?"
Tsunade's face darkened instantly. Intimidating a brat was one thing, but she hadn't sunk low enough to shake down a child for his lunch money. She had no qualms about swindling her younger brother, Nawaki, but that was a sibling's birthright. To do it to a stranger was beneath her.
She glanced at the cash in his hand and raised an eyebrow. "That's a lot of pocket money for a brat your age."
"Actually, it's my entire budget for the week," Minato replied softly.
"Your budget? Where are your parents?"
"I'm an orphan, Senior."
The crisp, matter-of-fact tone hit Tsunade like a physical blow. She silently set Minato back down on the ground, mentally cursing herself. Dammit! I'm such a jerk! She should have realized it sooner. No parent would let a child navigate the academy entrance exams entirely alone.
Watching her expression shift from irritation to guilt-ridden conflict, Minato remained still. He had a specific goal in mind. As the granddaughter of Hashirama Senju, Tsunade was his best link to the Wood Release techniques locked away in the Senju archives.
While his public persona was warm, his internal world was calculating. He knew he needed to build a bridge, but his past life as a quiet student made him awkward around women. Usually, they approached him first. He had to be the one to initiate this time.
"How about I treat you to a meal instead?" Minato offered tentatively.
Tsunade had been busy wondering what kind of apology would least traumatize the boy. Hearing his invitation, she let out a surprised, playful huff. "Oh? You're already learning how to take girls out to dinner? You're a bold one."
"Um—" Minato felt his ears warm. He couldn't find a smooth rebuttal, so he simply smiled sheepishly. "Actually, I have a favor to ask of you, haha..."
So there's the catch, Tsunade thought, though she wasn't annoyed. A favor was easier to handle than a guilty conscience. "What is it? Speak up."
Minato shook his head, casting a subtle glance back toward the crowded schoolyard. "If you don't mind... could we talk elsewhere? My cooking is decent, if you'd like to come over."
Tsunade sighed. She knew she should probably get back to her teammates, but she felt she owed the kid for her earlier behavior. "Fine. Let's go. Let's see if your skills in the kitchen match your speed on the field."
Minato's face lit up. He moved his hands in a blur, forming a sequence of seals. With a sharp poof, a Shadow Clone appeared beside him. He gave it a quick nod, and the clone vanished toward the market.
"A Shadow Clone?" Tsunade blinked, genuinely impressed. "You've mastered a B-rank kinjutsu already?"
"It was in the scrolls my father left behind," Minato lied smoothly, leading her toward his home.
The residence was a modest but well-placed building near the Hokage Rock, nestled within the village's second ring. It was a prime location, surrounded by elite clans like the Uchiha. The house sat on a raised stone platform, featuring a residential wing and a separate tower that housed a library and a tea room with a panoramic view of Konoha.
As soon as they entered, Minato disappeared into the kitchen. Tsunade leaned against the doorframe, her arms crossed beneath her chest, watching him prep vegetables with a practiced, surgical efficiency.
"Great location," she remarked, her tone softening. "How have I never run into you before?"
"After my parents passed, I stayed inside mostly. I've only recently started coming out early to exercise."
Tsunade chuckled. Self-discipline wasn't her strong suit unless she was on a mission; it made sense they hadn't crossed paths. "So, you only recently started your training?"
"I began refining Chakra about six months ago," Minato explained while slicing greens. "I taught myself the basics from my father's old scrolls. I only pushed the physical training once I heard about the academy tests."
The Shadow Clone returned, handed over the groceries, and dispersed into a cloud of smoke.
"Self-taught? What exactly have you managed to learn?" Tsunade asked, her curiosity piqued.
"The Three Basic Academy Jutsu, obviously. Then Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, Water Release: Water Vortex, Earth Release: Earth Wave, and the Shadow Clone."
"Those are all pretty standard—wait!" Tsunade stood up straight, her palm slamming against the doorframe. Her eyes narrowed as she stared at him. "Wind, Water, and Earth? You can use three natures skillfully? Have you tested your affinity?"
Minato nodded. "I have all five: Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth. But my family scrolls didn't have any Fire or Lightning techniques, and most of what I have is D-rank."
Internally, he knew the truth. The Wind was his. Water and Earth were the legacy of Hashirama. Fire and Lightning were the gift of Madara. Combined with the Yang Release of the Senju and the Yin Release of the Uchiha, he was a walking personification of the Five Elements.
"Five natures..." Tsunade looked at him as if he were a miracle of nature. A proud smile touched her lips. "Your favor... let me guess. You realized your talent is wasted without a teacher, and you want to apprentice under me?"
Minato paused, his knife hovering over a carrot. In the original timeline, his master was Jiraiya.
But this Minato wasn't the same man. He respected Jiraiya's search for peace, but he found the man's idealism to be dangerously detached from reality. Peace wasn't found in "mutual understanding"—it was found in the cold, hard distribution of interests and the power to enforce stability.
Jiraiya was a dreamer. Minato was a realist. Their paths would never truly align.
Tsunade, however, held the keys to the Senju Legacy. With Uzumaki Mito still alive, the knowledge of the Wood Release was within reach.
Noticing his hesitation, Tsunade huffed, feeling a bit slighted. "What? You don't think I'm good enough to be your master?"
Minato quickly waved his hands, offering a sunny, disarming smile. "No! Not at all! I'd be honored to learn from you, Senior!"
"Too late. I don't like the delay," she teased, though her mind was racing. He had five nature transformations and a level of secrecy that didn't fit a normal child.
There's only one explanation for talent this lopsided, she thought. This kid has a Kekkei Genkai he's hiding.
Current Character Assessment:
Chakra Nature Affinities: Wind: 100%
Water/Earth: 100% (via Hashirama)
Fire/Lightning: 100% (via Madara)
Hidden Potential: Wood Release (Dormant)