The morning after the triumphant concert, Minato was back in his room, the euphoria of the previous night replaced by quiet contemplation. He sat cross-legged on his bed, the transparent blue screen of his system hovering before him.
Minato Namikaze - 25%.
He was firmly at the Chunin level.
He ran through his future plans, a mental checklist of goals. To increase his sync rate further, he needed more intense training. He briefly entertained the thought of vigilante activities. Maybe if I tried some low-level vigilante stuff... he mused. But he quickly discarded the idea. No, too risky. I'll save that for when I'm at Jonin level, which should be around 50% sync. For now, sticking to practice is safer and more efficient.
His thoughts then drifted to potential training methods. I could join a proper gym, but that might draw attention to my abnormal strength development. Or... An idea sparked in his mind. Gravity chambers. He remembered them from various anime and manga, powerful tools for accelerated training. Maybe I could try to get information on where to buy one or even try to create gravity seals with the Fuinjutsu knowledge I'll get as my sync rate increases. The thought of applying his sealing techniques to manipulate gravity was intriguing.
Then, his mind shifted to the future, to the major events he knew were coming. The most prominent in his thoughts was the impending clash between All Might and All For One, a fight that would leave All Might fatally injured and mark a turning point for the hero world. Minato knew he couldn't get involved in that specific conflict unless he was at a much higher level, ideally Kage level, which, going by his current sync rate, would probably be around 75%. Getting involved too early would be reckless and could alter the timeline in unforeseen, potentially negative, ways.
His thoughts then moved to another critical future event: Eri's situation. The poor girl trapped by Chisaki's group. I should definitely look into that, he decided. I need to find out if she's been born yet, or if Chisaki's group has even started their operations. Getting information on that would be crucial for a future intervention. He made a mental note to discreetly gather intelligence on the Shie Hassaikai.
For now, his plan was clear: continue his physical and Chakra training diligently, focus on mastering the Rasengan's final stage, and subtly work towards obtaining the resources or knowledge needed for advanced training methods like gravity seals. The path to becoming a hero, both overt and covert, was laid out before him.
As Minato was deep in thought, pondering his future training and heroic aspirations, his phone buzzed. It was a call from his manager, Masato Tanaka.
"Hello, Masato-san," Minato answered, pulling himself out of his strategic musings. "What's up?"
"Minato-kun! Fantastic news! Your concert performance has truly amplified your buzz," Masato's cheerful voice filled the line. "To capitalize on this, we need to do some interviews. It'll significantly increase your popularity and keep your name trending."
"Interviews?" Minato mused. "Okay, sounds good."
"Excellent! We'll record them and upload clips to HeroTube," Masato explained. "I'm sending someone over this afternoon to conduct the first one. Be ready by then."
"Understood," Minato confirmed. "See you then."
After the call, Minato headed downstairs to the dining hall. His parents were already there, enjoying a relaxed breakfast.
"Morning, Mom, Dad," Minato greeted them, grabbing a piece of toast. "Just got off the phone with Masato-san. I'm going to be doing some interviews this afternoon."
Akane paused with her teacup. "Oh? That's exciting! More chances for people to hear about you."
"Good, good," Kenji nodded, finishing his coffee. "It's all part of building your presence. Just be yourself, son."
Minato spent the morning catching up on schoolwork and a light training session, the thought of the interview a low hum of anticipation in the back of his mind.
By afternoon, the doorbell rang. Minato, having mentally prepared himself, opened it. Standing on their doorstep was a beautiful lady with a professional, yet kind, demeanor, holding a microphone with a Sonicraft logo and a tablet.
"Good afternoon, Minato-kun," she greeted him with a warm smile. "I'm Riko Sato, from Sonikraft's public relations team. It's a pleasure to finally meet you."
Minato bowed politely. "Nice to meet you, too, Riko-san. Please, come in."
She followed him into the living room, where Akane and Kenji were also present, offering their own greetings. After a brief introduction to his parents, Riko set up a small portable camera and took a seat opposite Minato.
"Alright, Minato-kun," Riko began, her voice calm and encouraging, "let's start with something easy. Your performance last night was incredible! How did it feel to perform 'Can't stop this feeling', 'Happy', and 'Hall of Fame' live for the very first time?"
Minato, already comfortable from his stage experience, smiled. "It was amazing, Riko-san. The energy from the crowd was electrifying. And seeing everyone dancing and singing along to 'Happy' was just... pure joy. And 'Hall of Fame' felt really powerful, sharing that message with so many people."
Riko nodded, jotting a quick note on her tablet. "That enthusiasm definitely came across! Now, your song 'A Million Dreams' has truly resonated with people, especially aspiring heroes. What inspired you to write a song with such an uplifting message?"
Minato thought for a moment. "I believe everyone has a dream, big or small. And in a world with heroes, there's always a lot of hope, but also challenges. I wanted to create something that reminds people that no matter what, they can build the world they imagine, piece by piece, just like building a house of cards."
"That's a beautiful analogy, Minato-kun," Riko praised. "Many people are curious about your songwriting process. Do you have a specific time you write, or do ideas just come to you?"
"It's a bit of both," Minato explained. "Sometimes, a melody pops into my head when I'm just walking around, or training. Other times, I'll be thinking about something – an event, or a feeling – and the words start to form. I use my phone to jot down ideas quickly."
"That's very diligent for such a young artist," Riko remarked. "And speaking of your age, how do you manage school, your training, and now this burgeoning music career? It must be a lot to juggle."
Minato paused, considering. "It can be busy, for sure. But I have a great schedule, and my parents are super supportive. Plus, my friends at school are really understanding. They cheer me on, which helps a lot." He smiled. "And honestly, music doesn't feel like work when I'm creating something new. It's something I genuinely enjoy."
"That passion certainly shines through in your performances," Riko said warmly. "Many of your fans, especially the younger ones, see you as a role model. What message do you hope your music conveys to them?"
Minato looked directly into the camera, his gaze earnest. "I hope my music encourages people to believe in themselves and their dreams. Even if something seems impossible, with hard work and determination, you can achieve amazing things. And it's okay to ask for help, or to be inspired by others. That's why heroes are so important, right? They show us what's possible."
Riko smiled, clearly pleased with his answer. "That's a wonderful message, Minato-kun. Just one more question for today. What can fans expect from your upcoming album? Any hints about new songs or themes?"
Minato's eyes lit up. "The album will have a mix of everything. Some upbeat songs to make you dance, some more reflective ones, and definitely more songs about hope and never giving up. I've been working on a few that I'm really excited for everyone to hear. I think it will be a fun journey."
"Sounds fantastic!" Riko concluded. "Thank you so much for your time, Minato-kun. This has been a truly insightful interview." She then turned off the camera and began packing up her equipment.