Chapter 40: Reunion with Kakashi
Fortunately, the wave of dizziness Nan felt was just the residual sensation and memory transmitted from his shadow clone—it hadn't directly affected his real body.
Otherwise, he might've ended up just like the clone—on his knees, throwing up on the spot.
Reflecting on the experience his clone passed back, Nan realized something clearly:
He had actually succeeded in using the Flying Thunder God Technique.
It wasn't a perfect execution—he still wasn't proficient in sensing space-time, and the technique required a long preparation time. For now, he also couldn't teleport very far.
The dizziness he experienced was likely similar to motion sickness.
His internal organs and brain hadn't fully adapted to such sudden displacement.
In the original story, people who weren't even trained in the Flying Thunder God didn't have this kind of extreme reaction when being teleported by it—so clearly, Nan's current problem stemmed from his own lack of mastery.
There were still key aspects of the Flying Thunder God Technique he hadn't grasped yet.
Improving his perception of space-time would take consistent practice.
But as for the finer points of the technique itself, perhaps he could speed things up by learning from someone with firsthand experience.
And he knew exactly who to go to.
In all of Konoha, the only person with deep expertise in the Flying Thunder God Technique was Namikaze Minato.
From what Nan remembered, Minato was known for being kind and gentle with everyone.
Plus, the Third Hokage had already mentioned the idea of having Minato personally instruct him in the technique.
If Nan approached Minato, he had a feeling the man would be more than willing to share his knowledge.
The only problem? Nan had never actually met Minato and didn't know where to find him.
But he did know Minato's student—Kakashi Hatake.
During the months they had worked together to develop chakra control techniques, Nan had gotten to know Kakashi pretty well.
He knew where Kakashi lived, and the places he often visited.
This was much better than the old days, when the only way to find Kakashi was to sit around at the hospital, hoping to run into him by chance.
So, Nan headed straight for Kakashi's house.
As luck would have it, Kakashi had just returned from a mission and, instead of heading out to train, was taking a rare break at home.
It had been several months since they last saw each other.
Both of them were happy to reunite.
After catching up for a bit and exchanging some small talk, Kakashi couldn't help but ask Nan about everything that had happened while they were apart.
He had heard rumors about Nan's feats in the Wind Country battlefield—even though Kakashi himself had been stationed on the Earth Country frontlines.
It was hard to believe that the boy who hadn't even graduated the last time they met was now one of the most talked-about ninja in all of Konoha.
Nan didn't hold back.
He told Kakashi everything—exactly what had happened on the battlefield, down to the smallest detail.
To be honest, Nan didn't think it was that big of a deal.
Sure, he had stepped up during a crisis when no one else knew what to do, turned the tide, and saved the day—but he felt people were just blowing things out of proportion.
That's what he said out loud, anyway.
But as he watched Kakashi's expression grow more and more shocked, his ego was secretly basking in the attention.
So, riding the high, Nan casually mentioned that he had recently been promoted to Tokubetsu Jōnin.
Kakashi's jaw practically hit the floor.
It was hard for him to believe—he had just finished developing a new jutsu and was planning to submit his own promotion application to become a full Jōnin.
And yet before he could even do that, Nan had already gotten promoted ahead of him?
Kakashi felt a twinge of frustration in his chest.
He made up his mind: the moment he got back from his current mission, he'd submit his Jōnin application.
He had to catch up—and surpass Nan's Tokubetsu Jōnin rank.
"By the way, Nan—what did you come to see me for today?
You didn't just drop by to catch up, did you?"
Only then did Kakashi remember to ask why Nan had shown up in the first place.
Nan suddenly recalled the reason too—he had originally come here to get in touch with Minato Namikaze.
But the excitement of reuniting with an old friend had completely thrown him off track.
"I've been working on mastering a jutsu called the Flying Thunder God, but I haven't been able to fully grasp it yet.
The Third Hokage told me that the only one in the village who truly understands the technique is Minato-sensei.
And since you're his student… I was hoping you could introduce me."
Nan finally explained his purpose for the visit.
Kakashi was stunned. He hadn't expected Nan to be here for something as advanced as the Flying Thunder God Technique.
That jutsu was insanely difficult—so far, only his teacher Minato had ever mastered it.
Kakashi himself had tried it before, but he just didn't have the talent for it.
"Nan, where did you even get the Flying Thunder God?
Are you sure you have the talent to learn a space-time technique like that?"
Kakashi asked with a mixture of curiosity and concern.
Nan explained that he had received the jutsu as a reward from the Third Hokage—and to prove it, he even demonstrated a short-range teleport using a shadow clone.
He made sure to use the clone, of course. If he tried to teleport with his real body, he'd be puking for half a day.
Watching Nan pull it off—even if it wasn't yet on Minato's level—Kakashi couldn't deny it anymore:
Nan actually had a natural talent for space-time jutsu.
Kakashi started recalling everything he knew about Nan:
His genjutsu was so strong that even he, Kakashi, couldn't break free from it.
His taijutsu was already well above average for his age.
When he had studied Lightning Release under Kakashi, he'd mastered techniques in mere days—stuff that had taken Kakashi months to develop.
And now, he was learning space-time ninjutsu too?
Kakashi couldn't help but sigh.
Is this guy some kind of chosen one? Did the heavens dump all the talent into one person?
Everyone said Kakashi was a genius. But compared to Nan, what was graduating at age five and becoming a Chūnin at six really worth?
Still, despite the pang of jealousy, Nan was his friend—and Kakashi was genuinely happy for him.
"All right," Kakashi said with a soft smile.
"It's getting late today. Tomorrow, I'll take you to meet Minato-sensei and introduce you."
Nan quickly bowed in thanks and promised to show up early the next day to meet Minato together.
That's when another thought hit him—he suddenly remembered the bet he had made with Kakashi long ago.
"Kakashi, have you finished developing your Chidori?
Because my Shinsokuryoku (Divine Speed Force) has been complete for a while now."
"Of course I finished it," Kakashi replied instantly.
"My Chidori is a flawless jutsu now—blending speed and explosive power.
One strike is all it takes to finish an enemy. Way more effective than your technique that only increases speed.
I've already taken down plenty of enemies with it."
Kakashi, clearly fired up, couldn't help but boast about his creation.
In his mind, Chidori was superior to Nan's Divine Speed Force.
Normally, Kakashi wasn't one to compete like this. But for some reason, whenever he was around Nan, he just couldn't help himself.
Maybe it was the sting of being left behind—Nan becoming a Jōnin before him was still fresh in his mind.
Nan, hearing Kakashi call his Chidori a "perfect jutsu," couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
He knew that without a Sharingan, Kakashi's Chidori wasn't truly complete.
The jutsu made him move so fast that he couldn't clearly see or react to enemy movements—leaving him vulnerable against experienced opponents.
Wanting to humble Kakashi a little—maybe help him learn to be as modest as Nan himself—he proposed a rematch, using only their newly developed jutsu.
No genjutsu this time.
He was going to beat Kakashi fair and square.
Kakashi was already thinking the same thing.
The sun was nearly down, so the two of them made their way to the same training field they had used together months ago, ready for a proper sparring match.