Chapter 3 — Visit
"Gomu Gomu… Long Punch!"
In the courtyard, Kinoshita Hikaru swung his arm. It stretched five meters as he punched toward Minato Namikaze.
With a smack, Minato caught the soft, limp fist. Hikaru immediately turned his fist into a palm, grabbed Minato's hand, and flung himself forward.
Smack!
The two of them collided headfirst.
"Ow, that hurts…"
Minato rubbed his head. "Hikaru-kun, what kind of move was that?"
"This is my ultimate killing headbutt. The principle is elastic contraction—basically stretching force and recoil force."
Kinoshita Hikaru bragged with a perfectly serious face. Since he had only just eaten the Rubber Fruit, his entire body was still as soft and powerless as Luffy's had been at the beginning.
But he refused to admit defeat, so he could only rely on surprise tactics and give Minato a sudden headbutt.
The two of them had been sparring regularly since they were five. Minato Namikaze was born with an exceptionally sharp nervous system. Even at such a young age, he was already beginning to reveal his unique talent. Meanwhile, Kinoshita Hikaru possessed a mature soul and countless tricks up his sleeve. Unwilling to lose to the future Hokage, he had managed to remain undefeated until now.
When Minato would one day become famous across the world, Hikaru would be able to boast that he was a man who had once defeated the Hokage.
After their sparring session ended, Minato ran off to the kitchen to cook.
At last, Kinoshita Hikaru had time to properly examine his system.
[Multiverse Proficiency Panel]
Name: Kinoshita Hikaru
Age: 6 years old
Ability: Rubber Fruit – Beginner (1/100)
Cultivation Method: Chakra Extraction Technique – Beginner (1/100)
Skills: Kunai Throwing – Beginner (4/10)
Taijutsu – Beginner (2/10)
Hand Seals – Intermediate (48/1000)
Ninjutsu: None
The system was simple and straightforward. Every time he trained, his proficiency would increase by one point, allowing him to grow infinitely stronger.
Kinoshita Hikaru formed hand seals with his fingers:
Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar.
Having transmigrated into this world, he had begun practicing hand seals at the age of three. Now, he could perform four seals per second with ease. If he followed the full sequence of twelve seals in order, he could even reach five seals per second.
Hikaru knew that once his Intermediate Hand Seals proficiency reached maximum, he would truly be able to maintain five seals per second consistently.
Clap, clap…
Applause suddenly broke the silence of the courtyard.
"Good. Little Hikaru is truly a genius. To achieve four seals per second at such a young age—what excellent upbringing from the Kinoshita family."
Hiruzen Sarutobi walked in, followed by Kinoshita Muraichi.
In fact, Hiruzen Sarutobi had already arrived while Hikaru and Minato were sparring.
Although the Hokage was busy, the awakening of a first-generation bloodline ability was significant enough for him to spare some time—both to become acquainted and to instill a bit of the Will of Fire.
"Hello, Grandpa Third." Hikaru greeted sweetly.
"Grandpa?" Kinoshita Muraichi froze on the spot, wailing inwardly. The Third only looked old—he wasn't old enough to be called grandpa yet, was he?
Hiruzen Sarutobi's face darkened, and his lips twitched.
Grandpa?
I'm not even forty yet.
Isn't that a bit too early to be calling me grandpa?
He took a deep breath. For a brief moment, he even felt that this mischievous child might be better off trained by Root. As a ninja, poor eyesight would not do.
Sensing a faint trace of malice, Hikaru immediately corrected himself.
"I just think the Third Hokage deserves respect. Calling you Grandpa shows respect."
Hiruzen paused. Was that really the case? Looking at Hikaru's pure, innocent eyes, he didn't seem to be lying.
Nor did Hiruzen believe a six-year-old child could deceive him. Even if the boy was talented, fooling him would be monstrous.
His smile quickly returned.
"Call me whatever you like, little Hikaru. I like you very much."
Hikaru beamed brightly on the outside while remaining deeply wary inside. There was no special reason—just this: people who played politics had dark hearts.
After exchanging a few polite words, Hiruzen finally asked the question he cared about most.
"Little Hikaru, how did your special ability awaken?"
"I don't know."
Hiruzen didn't mind. It was merely a conversational opener. He hadn't expected a real answer. If Hikaru actually knew, that would have been even more shocking.
He patted Kinoshita Hikaru's shoulder and then carefully examined his body again.
As time passed, his surprise only grew.
This was an entirely new type of bloodline limit—unlike anything he had ever seen.
Such a flexible body, such elasticity… It was somewhat similar to Orochimaru's Soft Physique Modification Technique.
But stronger. Far stronger than Orochimaru's technique.
However… it didn't seem all that useful. It could only enhance taijutsu, and its potential development appeared limited.
Unless he could become like the White Fang.
In the ninja world, ninjutsu reigned supreme. A bloodline that only strengthened taijutsu… ah, what a pity.
After a moment, he adjusted his mood and said kindly, "Little Hikaru, what is your ability called?"
"Rubber Shield."
Rubber Shield? What kind of ridiculous name is that? Kinoshita Muraichi's face was full of disdain.
"This ability is like rubber. Calling it Rubber Shield is very fitting. A good name," Hiruzen Sarutobi praised.
Hikaru nodded, then glanced at Kinoshita Muraichi, his eyes filled with contempt.
See? See the difference?
That's why you're only a Special Jonin, while he can be Hokage.
His authority as the older brother had been challenged. Kinoshita Muraichi couldn't tolerate it. If the Third Hokage weren't present, he would have made his foolish little brother understand that a big brother's dignity was not to be provoked.
Still, he firmly etched this matter into his memory.
After another careful inspection and a few words of encouragement, Hiruzen prepared to leave.
Meanwhile, in the kitchen—
When Minato Namikaze saw the Third Hokage, he hurried out, his little face flushed red. "Third Hokage-sama!"
"I know you, little Minato," Hiruzen said kindly, ruffling the boy's blond hair.
Small actions reveal true character. Minato had never imagined that the lofty Hokage would actually know who he was. He was so excited he could hardly speak.
"Alright, you all carry on. I still have some matters to attend to," Hiruzen said.
"Goodbye, Hokage-sama."
"Farewell… Release!"
With a puff of white smoke, Hiruzen vanished.
"That was the Shadow Clone Technique. The Third Hokage had already left," Muraichi explained.
"So cool!" Minato said with a face full of envy.
Hikaru was speechless—but also envious. No matter how you put it, when extraordinary power is right in front of you, no one can remain calm.
This guy really knows how to grab a man's weak spot!
…
At the dining table.
"Time to eat!" Kinoshita Muraichi grabbed two seaweed rice balls at once and immediately started eating.
Minato Namikaze: Uh… (+_+)
Kinoshita Hikaru: Helpless ╮(╯＿╰)╭
"Brother, that's too much! There are only four rice balls total. They're for Minato and me. You ate two by yourself—doesn't your conscience hurt?"
"Sorry ＜(__)＞, I forgot to cook. This is the last time," Muraichi said solemnly.
Then his face instantly changed into a bright smile. "But Minato-chan's rice balls are really delicious. You can make some for your big brother again in the future, right?"
Minato Namikaze: Uh… (︶︿︶)
That line felt strangely familiar. Hadn't he heard something like that before?
"Gomu Gomu… Headbutt!"
Muraichi didn't care. He casually raised a hand and blocked it.
"Hm?"
Something felt off. Why was his hand wet? He looked down—
The rice ball in his hand had vanished. It was all in his little brother's mouth.
Damn it! He'd been tricked!
Seeing his brother's gaze grow increasingly dangerous, Hikaru turned and ran.
Muraichi gave Minato a faint smile. "Thank you for the meal, Minato-chan. I have something to take care of now, so I'll be going."
"P-Please… go ahead…" Minato could clearly sense the anger hidden beneath Muraichi's smile.
Brother Muraichi is terrifying. Hikaru-kun must have it rough.