Chapter 43: The Mighty Duo; Minato's Sharp Wit
Before Sakumo Hatake had even sensed the Hokage's arrival, the dynamic on the street was bizarre.
It was a comedy of shadows: 'Look behind you!' followed by 'No, you look behind YOU!'
But Hiruzen Sarutobi was operating on a different wavelength entirely. His message was: 'You should all just look UP.'
Sakumo's expression shifted from professional focus to pure embarrassment.
Damn it, he thought. I didn't even sense him.
It was a bad look for the Vice-Commander of the Anbu to be caught playing games with a Chunin in the streets, even if that Chunin was Minato Namikaze.
Hiruzen gave a soft, knowing smile. In Konoha, even "un-shinobi-like" behavior had tiers.
Kakashi's sneak attack was Tier 1. Minato's counter with a Cursed Seal was Tier 2. Sakumo masking his presence was Tier 3.
And the Hokage appearing above them all without being detected? That was Tier 4.
"Lord Hiruzen's entrance... so cool!" Might Guy whispered, his fists clenched with excitement. "He's got so much style!"
Hiruzen leaped down from the roof, landing soundlessly in the center of the group. He reached out and tapped Kakashi on the shoulder.
The Self-Exerting Binding Seal dissolved instantly.
Kakashi exhaled a lungful of air, his muscles finally relaxing. "Thank you, Lord Hokage!"
"You might be the first Academy student in history to experience the weight of a high-level Cursed Seal," Hiruzen teased, ruffling the boy's silver hair. "So, tell me... do you finally believe your father is a master?"
He said this because he remembered Sakumo's private complaints. The legendary "White Fang" was a single father who struggled with his son's ego. He was constantly worried that if he sparred too hard, he'd crush Kakashi's confidence; but if he held back too much, Kakashi would think his old man was a pushover.
Seeing the awe in Kakashi's eyes after Hiruzen and Orochimaru's duel at the training field had given Sakumo an idea. He had used Minato as a benchmark to show his son the gap between "Genius" and "Elite."
It was a perfect plan, right up until the Hokage walked in on the climax.
"Yes... Dad is incredible!" Kakashi said, hiding behind his father's leg, his face turning red under his mask. "Dad... were you holding back during all our spars at home?"
Minato's lip twitched. This kid really has no idea just how terrifying his father is.
"Ah, well, I was always very serious!" Sakumo said, basking in his son's worship with a look of pure, fatherly pride.
"If you were being serious... does that mean I wouldn't even last one second in a real fight?" Kakashi asked quietly.
The group erupted into good-natured laughter. Kakashi ducked his head, retreating into a "socially-withdrawn" state behind his mask.
"Your mastery of Cursed Seals is coming along nicely," Hiruzen said, turning his attention to Minato. "Your progress is frightening. You shouldn't be carrying a Chunin rank anymore. Go to the Administrative Department this week and schedule your Jonin exams."
Hiruzen was impressed. Kushina had only been teaching Minato the Uzumaki seals for a short time, yet he was already using them with combat fluidly. Combined with the talent he'd shown analyzing the Eight-Tails' seal...
He's a once-in-a-generation talent for Fuinjutsu, Hiruzen thought.
Maybe it's time to let him try the Flying Raijin?
That particular S-rank forbidden jutsu, created by Tobirama Senju, had been "lost" for decades. No one in the village possessed the necessary combination of high-level sealing mastery, neurological reflex, and—the hardest part—Spatial Sensitivity.
"Spatial Sensitivity" was a metaphysical talent. You either had it or you didn't, and there was no known training method to develop it.
I don't know if the kid has the gift, Hiruzen mused, but if anyone in this era can do it, it's him.
"I understand, Grand-Sensei!" Minato flashed his trademark "Little Sun" smile. "I was waiting until I felt my forms were perfect before I tested. I didn't want to tarnish your name by being a mediocre Jonin."
"But if you're ordering me, I'll go today!"
"And..." Minato added, his eyes sparkling with a mix of curiosity and ambition, "I did have one question regarding my training."
Sakumo watched the exchange with genuine surprise. This kid is a natural politician, he realized. He's framing his personal ambition as a service to Hiruzen's reputation. I don't even know that trick!
"Cheeky brat," Hiruzen chuckled. "Alright, what is it?"
"Grand-Sensei, do you know of any jutsu that can specifically increase my base speed and physical power?" Minato asked seriously.
He knew his limits. He was fast, but he needed to be faster. He needed to be "untouchable."
Hiruzen hummed, stroking his chin. There were many such techniques, but for a genius like Minato, he needed something with growth potential.
The most compatible answer was the very technique Hiruzen was currently refining.
"That particular path requires immense stamina and physical conditioning. The process is... painful."
Hiruzen glanced at the blade on Sakumo's hip. It was a standard Anbu-issue katana, not the legendary White Light Chakra Saber.
"Sakumo, give me a hand."
Hiruzen's body suddenly ionized, a violent aura of lightning erupting from his pores. He raised his left arm.
Sakumo understood immediately. He drew his sword in a blur of motion.
The detail was in the technique: Sakumo struck with the back of the blade.
CLANG!
The Anbu sword slammed into the Hokage's lightning-coated forearm. Only Minato was fast enough to track the afterimage of the strike. To the others, it was just a flash of blue and a sound like thunder.
The high-grade steel of the sword snapped like a dry twig. The broken half of the blade spun through the air and embedded itself in the pavement with a sharp thwack.
"It requires constant tempering," Hiruzen said, the lightning fading as he shared a look with Sakumo. "And you have to have a Lightning affinity. You have that, don't you?"
Minato's eyes were wide, glowing with excitement. "Yes, Grand-Sensei! I won't fail!"
A bit of hard work was a small price to pay. Minato had already made a vow: even if the Nine-Tails were sealed inside Kushina, he would become strong enough to protect her against the world. This Nintaijutsu was exactly the "shield" he needed to be her "sword."
Beside them, young Guy tugged on his father's jumpsuit.
Guy possessed a Lightning affinity as well. And as for Hiruzen's requirements... physical endurance and the ability to tolerate pain? Those were the only things Guy felt he excelled at.
If I had that jutsu... maybe I could pass the Academy entrance exam next time, Guy thought with a child's pure hope.
Might Dai looked down at his son and felt a pang of sorrow. He believed in the "Power of Youth," and he worked himself to the bone to set an example, but he was still just an Eternal Genin. He didn't have the status to ask the Hokage for favors.
Dai lowered his head, his hands trembling with a mix of pride for his village and shame for his own lowly rank.
Hiruzen caught the movement.
He had always remembered Dai as a flamboyant background character with a ridiculous outfit. But over the last few weeks of his "4 AM training," he had noticed the father and son duo every single morning. They were always there, running laps, doing pushups, pushing their bodies far beyond the limits of a "standard" ninja.
They lacked guidance. They lacked resources. But they possessed a "Will" that most Jonin had forgotten.
Hiruzen turned his head. "Dai? Why are you just standing there? Come here."
Might Dai looked up, his eyes wide with disbelief.
The Hokage... is calling my name?
He's calling a Genin?
And he's... smiling?
☆☆☆
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