Iwagakure Frontline.
Konoha Camp.
Namikaze Minato sat cross-legged on a training dummy, deep in thought.
"Minato, what are you thinking about?" Uzumaki Kushina, who had been doing handstand exercises, walked over and asked curiously.
"I'm trying to come up with a new jutsu," Minato replied with a smile.
"Are the jutsu Kin left for you not enough?" Kushina asked. Before Uchiha Kin left, he had given each of them a set of jutsu, which had significantly boosted their strength.
For Kushina, Kin's jutsu were incredibly useful—at least until she activated her Tailed Beast Mode. After that, it was just a barrage of Tailed Beast Balls. If anything survived the first round, she'd hit it again.
Minato scratched his head and flashed his signature sunny grin. "I feel like if I just keep learning the jutsu Kin developed, I'll never be able to defeat him."
The two had sparred countless times, and Minato had lost every single one. Kin had surpassed him by far, whether in taijutsu, ninjutsu, or especially genjutsu. Comparing genjutsu with an Uchiha? Minato wasn't that foolish.
"Besides, I've been learning his jutsu for so long—I'd love for him to use one of mine someday."
Despite being thoroughly outclassed by Uchiha Kin, Minato's competitive spirit burned fiercely. He just hadn't found an opportunity yet. If Kin were from an older generation, like Jiraiya's era, Minato might have accepted the gap. But Kin was only two years older.
Minato's plan was to quietly work hard in the shadows, then one day watch Kin use his jutsu in battle and say:
"Minato's jutsu… not bad."
Unfortunately, Minato sighed and hung his head. Right now, he couldn't measure up at all. Even after Jiraiya-sensei let him study numerous jutsu scrolls, creating a technique to surpass Uchiha Kin's was still too difficult.
"So," Kushina flipped upright and landed on her feet, "have you come up with anything?"
Unlike Minato, who wanted to surpass Kin in every way, Kushina simply wanted to overpower him in strength. Then she'd make sure he knew—Uzumaki Kushina was no pushover!! She'd beat the crap out of that weakling Uchiha Kin!!
Her expression turned solemn, her features almost sharpening with intensity.
"Wait!!" Minato hastily interrupted.
Kushina's art style had completely changed!! Seeing her revert to normal, Minato let out a relieved sigh. That version of Kushina… was not something he could handle.
"I did think of a defensive jutsu," Minato said, rubbing his temples. "It was inspired by Steel-Cutting Flash."
This only deepened his sense of defeat. While others created original techniques, he was borrowing ideas—and his version still couldn't match the original. He sighed helplessly.
Kushina, eager for action, suggested, "Want to test it out?"
Her mood had improved recently, but she still had some pent-up frustration to vent.
After a moment's hesitation, Minato nodded. "Alright."
He leaped down from the training dummy and quickly formed hand seals.
"Wind Wall Inspired by Steel-Cutting Flash! Second Style!"
A wall of wind materialized in front of him, shielding his body.
"What kind of terrible name is that?!!" Kushina roared, slamming her fist—enhanced with monstrous strength—into the wind wall.
The wall couldn't withstand her punch and instantly dissipated.
"I knew it," Minato sighed.
Kushina, however, looked thoughtful. During the impact, she'd felt some of her chakra being disrupted.
"This jutsu is designed to counter ninjutsu, isn't it?"
"Exactly," Minato nodded. "Wind Wall Inspired by Steel-Cutting Flash! Second Style! is essentially a technique that disrupts chakra. In theory, it can block anything made of chakra. Against wind-style jutsu or physical weapons, it can also deflect them."
Most of the technical aspects came from the jutsu scrolls Jiraiya provided, but the core inspiration was Steel-Cutting Flash. Compared to Kin's technique, which absorbed an opponent's chakra to grow stronger, Minato's Wind Wall Inspired by Steel-Cutting Flash! Second Style! fell short.
"So," Kushina's forehead twitched as she drove her fist into Minato's chin, sending him flying.
"What kind of ridiculous name is that?!"
Minato landed on the ground, rubbing his head and grateful that his Foundation Internal Energy had strengthened his body enough to survive Kushina's punch unscathed.
"But I think it sounds cool," he muttered, still attached to the name he'd carefully crafted.
"From now on, this jutsu is called Wind Wall," Kushina declared, leaving no room for argument.
"But—" Minato wanted to protest, but the sight of Kushina's raised fist made him swallow his words.
Why did Kushina have to train under Tsunade-sama?! He had a feeling life would be tough from now on.
Suddenly, Jiraiya appeared between them.
"Jiraiya-sensei," they greeted in unison.
Though his face was lined with worry, Jiraiya smiled at his two students.
"Have you been adjusting well lately?"
Minato and Kushina fell silent.
Jiraiya smacked his forehead. What a stupid question.
"Never mind. We've received intel from Amegakure—Iwagakure might launch a full-scale attack here. Stay alert. I'll assign you a jōnin and another squad member."
Jiraiya was already overwhelmed by Iwagakure's movements, but his primary concern was his students' safety in the coming battle.
Minato and Kushina exchanged a glance and refused simultaneously: "Jiraiya-sensei, we don't need new teammates."
Uchiha Kin was a member of Team Seven, and neither of them wanted his place taken by someone else.
Jiraiya hesitated. "But you two—"
Without Kin, their strength was still lacking, and he feared for their safety.
"Don't worry, Jiraiya-sensei. If things get dire..." Kushina trailed off, glancing at Jiraiya but ultimately holding back.
She wanted to say she could use the Nine-Tails' power. With Minato supporting her, she wouldn't have to fear danger.
"Alright," Jiraiya relented, exhaustion weighing on him.
At this point, secrecy no longer mattered. If they could repel Iwagakure's assault, the enemy would be the ones in crisis.
If necessary, letting Kushina turn the tide with the Nine-Tails' power might be their only option.
If only he'd been lucky enough, like Orochimaru, to encounter someone like Might Dai. Then he could relax a little.
"Just..." Jiraiya pulled them into a hug, ruffling their hair like a father would.
"Survive."
Even he couldn't guarantee control over the entire battlefield.
Disaster could strike at any moment.
...
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(End of Chapter)