After leaving Uchiha Icarus's residence, Uchiha Yuan recalled Elder Icarus's earlier attitude and couldn't help but sigh in his heart: "So this is the privilege of a genius."
If he were still an obscure chunin, it would have been questionable whether Uchiha Icarus would even acknowledge him—let alone treat him with such warmth.
And Yuan very much needed the title of "genius." If he wanted to eventually gain control of the Uchiha clan and become its head, he had to possess enough prestige among the clan members.
Being recognized as a genius was the best starting point. From there, rising to become the strongest of the Uchiha would be much more acceptable than some nobody suddenly showing up to seize leadership.
Staying low profile wasn't wrong, but one couldn't keep everything hidden. When it was time to shine, one had to do so. Without visibility, there would be no access to resources, and ordinary clan members wouldn't choose to side with you.
Geniuses had privileges—and Uchiha Yuan neither wanted nor intended to give those up.
This was also the main reason Yuan had gone directly to seek out the Uchiha clan's leadership today. Compared to that, the Sharingan-exclusive genjutsu techniques weren't all that important.
"Senpai Yuan, how long are you staying in the village this time?"
"Not long. In three days, I'll be heading out on a mission. Once that's over, I'll probably be sent straight to the battlefield again."
Shisui looked disappointed upon hearing this.
Yuan smiled and patted him on the shoulder, saying, "You can come find me anytime during these few days."
"Then I'll be imposing on you, Senpai!"
Meanwhile, at one of Konoha's training grounds, Jiraiya was sparring with his prized student, Namikaze Minato.
After a few rounds of probing each other's abilities, Jiraiya began to feel some pressure, while Minato remained as calm as ever.
As Minato's teacher, Jiraiya knew him very well. He was very aware that Minato was a humble person.
The calmer Minato acted now, the more it meant he had improved recently.
With that in mind, Jiraiya stopped hesitating. He formed hand signs and cast Earth Style: Swamp of the Underworld. The ground beneath Minato instantly turned into a mire, burying both his feet and slowly pulling him downward.
Not letting up, Jiraiya summoned a toad from Mount Myōboku. The two combined their efforts—the toad sprayed oil while Jiraiya followed with a Fire Style technique, sending a wave of flames rushing toward Minato.
Because his feet were trapped, Minato couldn't dodge. His only means of escape was the Flying Thunder God Technique, and Jiraiya knew that well. He kept a close eye on Minato, waiting for him to throw a kunai marked with the technique.
And indeed, that's what Minato did. His Flying Thunder God kunai flew through the flames, aiming straight at Jiraiya.
Jiraiya whipped his hair around, preparing to catch Minato the moment he teleported over with his Wild Lion's Mane Technique.
But to Jiraiya's surprise, the kunai suddenly multiplied into dozens of identical copies just before reaching him!
"This is Lord Hiruzen's Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique!"
"And that's not all!" Just as Jiraiya was still reacting, Minato leapt onto one of the Flying Thunder God kunai to his left.
"Too naive!" Jiraiya's hair lashed out and wrapped around the kunai—and Minato.
"Looks like I win this time, Jiraiya-sensei!" said Minato, smiling as he was bound by the Wild Lion's Mane.
Jiraiya froze. Wait, wasn't he the one holding the upper hand? Minato was tied up and couldn't throw another kunai. How could he be claiming victory?
But before Jiraiya could ask, Minato vanished from the spot—and an ice-cold kunai was suddenly at Jiraiya's throat.
"Minato, how did you do that?" Jiraiya asked in shock.
"This is a development I made based on the Flying Thunder God Technique—Flying Thunder God, Second Stage."
"Flying Thunder God, Second Stage, huh? Looks like you've already surpassed the Second Hokage in this technique."
"You flatter me, Sensei! I'm still far from Lord Tobirama. But it looks like I won this spar."
"Not so fast!" With a puff, the Jiraiya in front of him turned into a log.
"Substitution Jutsu?! When did you cast it?"
"Right when I trapped you with the Wild Lion's Mane! Good thing I left myself an out—otherwise, I really would've lost."
"As expected of Jiraiya-sensei!"
"To be honest, Minato, now that you've developed Flying Thunder God, Second Stage, I can't win against you. If you want to escape, there's nothing I can do to stop you. But at your current level, you still can't beat me!"
As Jiraiya spoke, he formed three hand signs in quick succession.
Seeing the Swamp of the Underworld at his feet, the Needle Jizō, and Jiraiya's white hair fluttering in the wind, Minato began forming a swirling ball of blue chakra in his right hand—but quickly dispersed it. There was no need to use a technique like that in a friendly spar.
Besides, even if he teleported using Flying Thunder God, it would be hard to break through Jiraiya's Wild Lion's Mane defense.
And if Jiraiya had another trick hidden, Minato might end up trapped in the swamp and suffer for it.
With that in mind, Minato put away his kunai and conceded, "Jiraiya-sensei, you win!"
Jiraiya frowned slightly. "Minato, you holding back on me? I clearly saw chakra gathering in your right hand just now."
"You saw through it, huh, Sensei? That no-hand-sign ninjutsu of mine is complete," Minato smiled.
"The one inspired by the Tailed Beast Ball? What did you name it?"
"I originally gave it a very flashy name, but Kushina rejected it and named it Rasengan instead."
"Rasengan, huh? That's a pretty normal name," Jiraiya muttered.
"Jiraiya-sensei, want to learn it? I think it suits your fighting style quite well."
Jiraiya thought for a moment, then accepted his student's offer.
A no-hand-sign ninjutsu could indeed significantly expand his combat options.
Minato proceeded to teach Jiraiya the Rasengan training method.
Jiraiya had known about the development of the technique for a while, and now that he saw the complete version, he felt it wouldn't take him long to master it.
"Minato, how long are you staying in the village this time?" Jiraiya suddenly asked.
"Three days. Then I'll head out with Shibi-senpai and the Uchiha clan's genius—Uchiha Yuan—for a mission."
"Wait… you said the Uchiha clan's genius, Uchiha Yuan? You know that brat?" Jiraiya asked.
(To Be Continued...)