"It's nothing, Watergate Jonin. I don't mind this kind of thing. Kakashi and the others are my friends anyway. But if I heard correctly, your girlfriend mentioned you're working on a jutsu that doesn't require hand seals. Are you running into trouble? If you need my help, just say the word."
Minato Namikaze didn't show much reaction to Kawaki Aoba's words. In his eyes, no matter how talented someone was, there were limits. Besides, he had already conceptualized a technique—a spinning chakra sphere formed without hand seals. He believed it was just a matter of time before he completed it.
He didn't think that Kawaki Aoba, a relatively unknown ninja who hadn't even witnessed a Tailed Beast Bomb firsthand, could possibly grasp the inspiration he had drawn from that very technique.
On the other hand, Kushina Uzumaki's mood brightened the moment Aoba referred to her as Minato's girlfriend. While she doubted that this kid could solve a problem even Minato hadn't cracked, there was no harm in letting him try. If anything, a little setback might humble this so-called genius.
According to Minato, he had used his mission merits to request access to one of Aoba's self-created ninjutsu from the village records, hoping it would offer inspiration. But in the end, he found that the mechanics behind Aoba's technique were entirely different from his own approach.
To Kushina, Minato had clearly gone soft. He'd even explained the basic principle of the incomplete jutsu he was developing—what would later be called the Rasengan.
After his explanation, Minato raised both hands, forming a chakra sphere between his palms.
Kawaki Aoba watched with an unreadable expression. He had already observed Minato practicing this jutsu some time ago, even analyzing it with Observation Haki—his own peculiar ability.
The technique Minato was attempting still resembled an unstable ball of chakra. Unlike a finished Rasengan, however, this chakra sphere had yin and yang chakra swirling within it—erratically and without fusion.
Aoba quietly observed. The chakra ratio in Minato's technique was roughly yin to yang, 2:8—the same as that of a Tailed Beast Bomb.
He had assumed Minato was developing the Rasengan, but now he understood: Minato had initially attempted to recreate the Tailed Beast Bomb without actually being a jinchūriki.
And that explained the mystery that had always puzzled Aoba.
In the original timeline, Minato—so talented that he mastered the Flying Thunder God and created the Rasengan—shouldn't have needed three years to complete this technique if it were just about high-speed chakra rotation. Most of that time, it seemed, was spent pursuing a dead-end path: trying to recreate a Tailed Beast Bomb. The Rasengan likely came afterward, as a fallback.
"This technique," Minato said, "was inspired by a powerful summoning beast I once encountered. It combined chakra in a 2:8 yin-yang ratio and unleashed devastating force. I've replicated the chakra composition, but no matter how I try, I can't get the fusion to stabilize."
He had carefully avoided mentioning the Tailed Beast Bomb, using the summoning beast as a cover.
The principle seemed straightforward enough. Among the spectators, Kurenai Yuhi went silent after one look at the chakra ball. Then he turned to Minato with wide eyes.
He hadn't realized before—this young Jonin actually intended to mimic the Tailed Beast Bomb, a technique used by bijū themselves, using only human chakra? Even the Sannin hadn't attempted something so outrageous.
Kurenai was about to curse aloud. He turned to look at Kawaki Aoba again, his gaze filled with disbelief.
And then came the shock.
In full view of everyone, Kawaki Aoba raised his hand and formed a stable, spinning, bright-blue chakra sphere—effortlessly.
"Aoba… what is that? How did you do that?" Asuma Sarutobi's voice shook. He instinctively reached out to touch the ball but withdrew halfway.
"This?" Aoba tilted his head. "It's nothing complicated. Just gather your chakra and make it rotate."
Kurenai: …
Asuma: …
Minato: …
Kushina: …
Might Guy broke the silence with a grin. "As expected of a genius even the Hokage praises! Aoba, is this the power of your youth? I can feel it burning!"
Everyone else was left speechless again.
Even Aoba let out a soft cough and added, "It's actually just a coincidence. Lord Minato's concept is remarkably similar to a ninjutsu I started developing in the Academy. Both are chakra-based spheres. But the one I made relies entirely on high-speed rotation for its destructive force. I didn't have time to refine it properly."
He looked at Minato and offered with a calm smile, "If you think this half-finished technique of mine is of any use to you, please take it. Consider it a gift."
Aoba had already made up his mind: befriending Minato was worth more than clout. The Third Hokage favored politics and caution, but Minato—young and talented—was still pure-hearted. Sharing the idea wasn't a loss. After all, this technique would become Minato's signature jutsu in the future.
To Aoba, the Rasengan wasn't particularly sacred. But to Minato, this concept—handed to him in such a raw and complete form—was a treasure.
Minato hesitated. He would normally refuse such an offer, especially from a child. But the technique had already taken root in his mind. The moment he saw Aoba's chakra sphere, the path forward became clear.
And that left Minato awkwardly standing there.
He already understood the jutsu's principles. Refusing the gift now would feel hypocritical. But accepting it meant acknowledging a major contribution from someone far younger.
For the first time in a while, Minato Namikaze felt at a loss for words.
Fortunately, at that moment, Aoba, who sensed Minato's hesitance, stepped in to ease the tension.
"Lord Minato is reluctant to accept because he sees me as just a kid, right? If that's the case, there's really no need to worry."
Kawaki Aoba then pointed at the forehead protector tied around his head.
"Lord Minato, I can feel the Will of Fire burning within you. As a comrade of the Hidden Leaf, that's all the reason I need to offer my help."
"However," Aoba continued, "if I help you now, I hope you'll one day help others like me. That will be my reward for teaching you the Rasengan. Sound fair?"
Minato Namikaze lowered his head slightly, gazing at Aoba's eyes—now concealed beneath black cloth.
"I'll remember that," he said solemnly. "And I'll do my best to pass on the Will of Fire."
A faint smile broke across Aoba's face.
"Wow, is this what youth feels like? I can feel Aoba's fiery Will of Fire washing over me already!" a voice boomed. "To return the favor, I'll start by running a thousand laps around the training ground!"
Naturally, the voice belonged to none other than the ever-passionate Might Guy.
A green blur flashed by the edge of Training Ground Seven, but the other ninjas barely reacted. They were used to his antics by now.
Thanks to the quiet authority of Jonin Yuhi Kurenai in recent days, no one dared to ridicule the boisterous Genin like they once did.
As Might Guy launched into his "youthful" routine, Aoba began explaining his understanding of the Rasengan to Minato. The other four Genin watched from the sidelines, but Aoba wasn't secretive—he shared everything openly.
As Aoba had admitted, his Rasengan was incomplete, much like Naruto's during his early training. It lacked the destructive force of the perfected technique.
Still, with tools like the water balloon and the rubber ball—key training aids shown to Naruto by Jiraiya—Minato should be able to master the Rasengan quickly.
When that happened, Minato would likely complete the technique and might even return the favor by teaching Aoba the perfected version.
It was somewhat frustrating, though. Back during his time in the Academy, Aoba had trained for weeks but still couldn't burst the rubber ball. He often suspected that the anime version of Jiraiya had skipped over a crucial step in the Rasengan's development.
---
S-Rank Mission: Investigate Spies
Just as Aoba finished sharing his Rasengan technique, a high-pitched screech echoed from above.
"Huh?" All the Genin and Jonin at Training Ground Seven stopped and looked up.
"A messenger hawk?" one of them asked. "But that cry... I've never heard that tone before."
Yuhi Kurenai narrowed her eyes.
"That's a Jonin-level code. The message is urgent."
She turned to her team. "You three, prepare your gear and wait at my house. If I don't return within three hours, disband and stay alert."
Without hesitation, Minato Namikaze and Yuhi Shin'ichi used the Body Flicker Technique and vanished along with Uzumaki Kushina.
"As expected, something serious must have happened," Asuma muttered, brows furrowed.
While the general public had no clue, these young shinobi already sensed what was coming. Their intense training lately wasn't for nothing.
After bidding farewell to Might Guy, the Genin hurried home to follow their orders.
Meanwhile, Kurenai, Minato, and Shin'ichi arrived at the largest conference hall inside the Hokage Building, joining dozens of Jonin who had also responded to the emergency summons.
This type of summons—marked by the hawk's unique cry—was reserved for the most critical threats. Even active team leaders had been called back from the field.
"Lord Orochimaru," someone muttered as one of the Legendary Sannin entered from another hallway.
Kurenai instinctively stepped aside out of respect.
Surprisingly, Orochimaru paused as he passed.
"So, it's Kurenai-kun. I've heard you've taken on a rather talented student. I would've liked to see him, had I not been so busy lately."
"You flatter me, Lord Orochimaru. Aoba is just a little more diligent than most—not a genius by any stretch," Kurenai responded politely, though his tone was guarded.
He had never been close to Orochimaru and had no intention of getting entangled with the enigmatic Sannin. The man's eerie aura was enough to make anyone uneasy.
"It seems Kurenai-kun hasn't changed at all," Orochimaru said with a half-smile, then disappeared into the conference room.
Moments later, Jiraiya arrived as well.
Inside, Kurenai took a seat among the standard Jonin ranks. More than a hundred Jonin had assembled. This wasn't just a meeting—it was a war council. The combined strength in that room could easily crush several smaller nations.
And that didn't even count the elite shinobi hidden within the major clans—those not officially listed in the village's public records.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, stepped forward as the room fell silent.
"Now that everyone is here, I will share the news…" he began gravely.
As Kurenai had feared, Sunagakure had officially declared war on Konoha. They claimed that their Kazekage—the Third—had been assassinated by a Leaf shinobi.
"Tch, Aoba was right. Those Suna dogs really are shameless," someone whispered bitterly.
"A mere Sunagakure? Who gave them the guts to challenge Konoha?" Shimura Danzo scoffed. "Even their own Kage couldn't be protected in his own village. They're weak. Hiruzen, give me this war—I'll make them regret it."
Danzo's voice cut through the tension like a blade. As always, he represented the hawkish faction, eager to show force.
But Hiruzen didn't even entertain the idea.
He had already made his decision.
His gaze passed over his two former students—Jiraiya and Orochimaru—before settling on the latter.
Despite Orochimaru's increasingly questionable activities, Hiruzen still hoped the Will of Fire he had once instilled in his student remained.
Besides, Orochimaru's standing in the village remained strong—far stronger than Jiraiya's, who had spent the last few years wandering in search of the "Child of Prophecy."
At one time, Hiruzen had truly believed Orochimaru would succeed him as the Fourth Hokage.
But lately… he had grown suspicious. Orochimaru had gotten too close to Danzo. And although Hiruzen had once assigned them to work together, he hadn't intended for that bond to deepen.
Still, the war with Sunagakure required power, decisiveness, and control. And at this moment, Orochimaru was the best candidate to lead.
Hiruzen's gaze passed over the other clan leaders and Jonin one last time before settling on his chosen general:
Orochimaru.
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