Sakura and Ino's expressions shifted dramatically the moment they heard Naruto utter the words "Flying Thunder God."
Though they were born too late to witness the Fourth Hokage's glory firsthand, they'd at least heard rumors of this forbidden jutsu!
"Shinju… did you sneak a look at the Scroll of Seals?"
Still reeling from the shock, Sakura quickly noticed something amiss and voiced her suspicion.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was recorded in the Scroll of Seals—something an ordinary person could never even lay eyes on.
If Shinju had learned it, then he must have read the Scroll of Seals.
And that… was serious trouble.
Learning a forbidden technique from the Scroll without authorization was a grave offense!
Even Ino, who had always liked Shinju, asked worriedly, "Shinju, you didn't really…"
Naruto scratched his head. "What Scroll of Seals? This is a jutsu Shinju developed himself!"
Having witnessed Shinju's entire process of testing and developing the Flying Thunder God, Naruto spoke with perfect confidence.
"You've gotta be kidding!"
Shikamaru, Ino, and Sakura all blurted it out in unison.
Most people found it nearly impossible to master the Flying Thunder God, let alone invent it themselves!
Their gazes all turned toward Kakashi.
When they saw that Kakashi-sensei didn't refute Naruto's claim, a chilling thought crept into their minds.
Could it really be… self-developed?!
(꒪⌓꒪) ,⊙▽⊙,Σ( ° △ °|||)︴
This was already far beyond the comprehension of a normal shinobi!
Creating a forbidden jutsu—wasn't that something only the Second Hokage had done?
They forgot one thing—the Second Hokage had been in his early twenties when he invented the Flying Thunder God.
Shinju wasn't even thirteen yet!
Everyone sucked in a sharp breath.
They were all the same generation of students!
So why had Shinju already mastered an ultra-difficult S-rank jutsu and could even hold his own against a Jōnin from Kirigakure?!
Kakashi gave Shinju a helpless glance before walking off.
"Alright, you all keep chatting. I need to report to the Hokage."
...
Hokage's Office.
Kakashi knocked and entered, finding an ANBU kneeling on one knee before the Hokage, having just finished a mission report.
When the masked ANBU saw Kakashi enter, he greeted warmly, "Kakashi-senpai."
"Yamato."
Kakashi nodded to the masked man.
Having worked in the Hokage's ANBU for years, Kakashi knew several members—especially since Yamato had once served under him.
The Third Hokage greeted him as soon as he walked in.
"Kakashi, you're back. Here to report your mission, right?"
"In that case, Lord Hokage, I'll be going," Yamato said politely.
"No need, you can stay and listen."
The Third waved him down. "Shinju, from Kakashi's Team 7, was once your student."
Yamato: ∑(°Д°)
Of course he knew Kakashi was Shinju's teacher now…
But Shinju's current situation? He honestly didn't want to hear about it!
It was too demoralizing!
Kakashi blinked in surprise.
"Yamato taught Shinju? How did I not know this?"
A question mark popped up in Kakashi's mind.
Of all the teachers who could have trained Shinju, why Yamato?
Unless… it was something only Yamato could teach.
Wood Release!!!
d(ŐдŐ๑)
Kakashi's calm facade cracked.
Yamato was the only person in Konoha right now capable of using Wood Release!
Which meant Yamato had most likely taught Shinju Wood Release!
The Third, seated at his desk, explained,
"It's normal you didn't know. This was handled in utmost secrecy. Only Yamato and I were aware—now you're the third."
Kakashi's suspicion grew stronger.
But this… this was too outrageous to be believable!
He wanted to ask outright but decided to finish his mission report first.
Kakashi then gave a detailed account of everything that had happened during their trip to the Land of Waves.
Yamato, forced to stay by the Third, knelt to the side, listening to Kakashi recount Shinju's astonishing feats along the way.
Even though Yamato had braced himself mentally, hearing that Shinju had mastered the Flying Thunder God and multiple elemental releases still shook him to his core!
o((⊙﹏⊙))o.
Monster!!
He could even push an ordinary C-rank jutsu to A-rank power!
Even more outrageous—he seemed to have figured out the Summoning Technique entirely on his own?!
And this kid's first time on such a dangerous mission, he didn't even flinch, going toe-to-toe with Zabuza the Demon!
Meanwhile, the Third Hokage…
Upon hearing the full, twisting tale of the mission, his pupils trembled just as violently.
He was the Professor of Ninjutsu, master of every elemental release—yet Shinju's grasp of them seemed to surpass even his own!
The Third asked urgently, "He really unleashed a Dragon Fire Technique strong enough to destroy half a forest? And he used Fire Release to melt an Ice Release user's mirrors?!"
"Yes," Kakashi nodded with a wry smile. "The most frustrating part? On our way back, he also copied my 'Earth Release: Tracking Fang'—in under ten minutes! I never gave him a single pointer! (ー_ー)!!"
The Third: |o(°▽°)o
Yamato: (*.＞Д＜)o゜
Kakashi changed the subject.
"By the way, I've been meaning to ask—Lord Hokage, what exactly did you have Yamato teach Shinju?"
He already had a guess, but some answers had to come from the Hokage himself.
The Third shrugged. "What else? Wood Release. ┐(´-｀)┌"
"But I told that kid—unless his life was in danger, he's not to use it."
Kakashi: ⊙ω⊙
Even though he'd guessed it, hearing it confirmed left Kakashi frozen in place.
Wood Release!!!
Gulp.
He swallowed involuntarily.
So during the mission… the kid had actually been holding back!
In such a critical situation, he'd still kept Wood Release up his sleeve!
Good grief!
A shinobi who could use both Wood Release and the Flying Thunder God?!
Wait a second…
Another thought struck Kakashi. "That sudden forest that appeared in the village recently—it wasn't…"
Yamato and the Third nodded together.
"That's right. 'Wood Release: Nativity of a Sea of Trees'—Shinju's work."
Kakashi: (´◐∀◐`)
With a student like this… does he even need a teacher?
At this level, he could probably lead a team of his own already!