Aburame Tatsuma was merely the team captain, not a sensei.
After completing several missions together, Asuma and Obito had come to that conclusion.
Aside from topics directly related to the mission, this jōnin from the Aburame clan stuck firmly to the principle of "silence is golden" and never said a word more than necessary.
Moreover, since he always used the Aburame clan's secret techniques, Asuma and Obito had no way to consult him on training or techniques.
"Damn it, I was hoping to get promoted to Chūnin soon, but our captain only cares about completing missions. If this goes on, we're going to fall way behind Kakashi!"
Watching Aburame Tatsuma vanish the moment the mission ended, Obito grumbled irritably.
"And our missions are either hunting down missing-nin or eliminating dissidents. I swear, these are the kind of assignments usually given to the ANBU..." Asuma echoed the sentiment, unusually agreeing with Obito for once.
Kill, kill, kill — every day is just killing.
Isn't it possible... that he used to be ANBU?
Hearing their complaints, Takeshi didn't know what to say. After thinking for a long moment, he finally offered,
"Wanna come train with me? I've got a session today with Minato-san."
After their first mission together, Takeshi had, through Danzo's help, successfully established a connection with Minato and had begun learning ninjutsu from him during his free time.
"Minato-san? I'm in! Compared to that cold and silent Tatsuma-sensei, I definitely prefer the sunny and cheerful Minato-san!" Hearing that Takeshi had plans to train with Minato, Obito rushed to his side and clutched his arm tightly, determined not to let go.
Thanks to Takeshi, Obito had gotten an early introduction to this "mentor figure" and was already enjoying the perks of being a next-gen elite.
"I'll pass. I already made plans with a jōnin from the clan to train Fire Release together." Asuma waved his hand. As the son of the Hokage, he never lacked training resources.
"Alright then, see you tomorrow."
"Yeah, see you."
The three parted ways at a street corner. Takeshi and Obito headed toward the spot where they were to meet Minato.
...
"Sorry to keep you waiting, Minato-san."
From quite a distance away, Takeshi had already spotted Minato's brilliant golden hair. Just as he was about to speed up, he felt Obito let go of his hand and suddenly dash in another direction.
"Why the hell are you here, you pervy stalker?!"
"And why is a brat like you here?"
Squatting in a tree with binoculars, clearly up to no good, Jiraiya narrowly dodged Obito's flying kick and stared at him in disbelief.
What the hell was this? Every time he tried to gather "research material," this annoying brat would somehow appear!
Obito glared back, completely unafraid.
"Even if you're one of the Sannin and Minato-san's sensei, I won't allow this kind of behavior! As someone who's going to be captain of the Police Force one day, I swear all evil will be brought to justice!"
"Tch, brat, you want to be Police Force captain? Keep dreaming!" Jiraiya looked at him with undisguised contempt, easily dodging Obito's repeated attacks.
"Police Force captain? Obito, when did you change your dream? Weren't you going to be Hokage?" Takeshi raised an eyebrow, confused by Obito's declaration. When had this kid changed his goal?
"In my eyes, the one who always cares about his comrades and charges into battle first — Takeshi — is the one most qualified to be Hokage. Since you're going to be Hokage, I'll naturally be Police Force captain and support you!"
After a failed sweeping kick, Obito's next words almost made Takeshi cough up blood.
When the hell did I say I wanted to be Hokage?!
And all that "caring about teammates" and "charging into the front lines"... is that really something I do?
"Well said, Obito. That care for your comrades is admirable. Takeshi, that means we share the same goal now — let's all work hard together." Minato approached with his trademark warm smile, encouraging Takeshi while affirming Obito's declaration.
Please stop, Obito... Minato-san... you're both starting to feel like strangers.
Takeshi stood there, wind tousling his hair, completely at a loss as to how the story had taken such a weird turn.
...
As Obito and Jiraiya kept bickering and eventually ran off together, Minato got down to business.
"So, how's your training with Flying Thunder God going, Takeshi?"
The moment he heard the name of the technique, Takeshi stopped worrying about the Hokage nonsense and answered honestly.
"I've learned how to inscribe the formula, but I can't sense the markings."
"I see... sensing the formula is the real hurdle." Minato nodded, understanding the core issue Takeshi was facing.
"That's also the biggest problem most people encounter when training in the Flying Thunder God technique. Takeshi, you haven't signed a summoning contract yet, have you?"
"No."
Takeshi shook his head.
Danzo had mentioned long ago that he would take him to form a contract with Baku, but due to ongoing missions and Danzo's frequent disappearances, the matter had been delayed again and again.
"In that case, let's help you feel what space-time ninjutsu is like in a more direct way."
As Minato spoke, he tossed a handful of special kunai, all inscribed with the Flying Thunder God formula, from his ninja pouch.
"Hold on to me, Takeshi! Flying Swallow Flash Dance: Zero-Form!"
"What kind of ridiculous name is that—wait, huh?!"
In a blur of teleportation flashes, Minato landed steadily on the ground, holding Takeshi in one arm.
"So, how was it?"
"That... that was so fast..."
Having experienced it firsthand, Takeshi couldn't help but be amazed at Minato's terrifying talent for space-time ninjutsu.
To move through a cluster of kunai in such rapid succession meant Minato could sense and differentiate each kunai's location and trajectory with perfect precision.
"I see. I'll slow it down a bit then."
Minato let go of Takeshi and picked up the kunai scattered on the ground, ready for another round.
This time, Takeshi was fully prepared. With a look, he signaled Minato to begin — and once again, he experienced what it meant to be the Yellow Flash.
"I think... I felt something. Again!"
"Let's go!"
"Good, keep that energy up!"
...
Takeshi had no idea how many ridiculous "Zero-Form" something-or-other attempts they went through, but he finally managed to grasp the feeling. While Minato paused to recover some chakra, Takeshi put that feeling into practice.
"Secret Technique: Crystal Ice Mirrors."
The mirrors looked identical to the ones he had created before, but when he pressed his palm against the surface, he felt the exact same sensation as during his Flying Thunder God trials. Under Minato's stunned gaze, Takeshi vanished into the mirror.
He did it!
The Crystal Ice Mirrors had now become an independent space crafted by Takeshi himself.
...
"Compared to Minato, that brat's space-time ninjutsu talent is just... decent." Squatting far away, Jiraiya held Obito's struggling head still with one hand and stared thoughtfully in Takeshi's direction.
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
+100 chapters and support me on Patreon(.)com/Jixo