"A clone?"
Hearing Seiryū's words, Jiraiya and Minato exchanged glances, both seeing surprise in each other's eyes.
Currently, the development of this jutsu was stuck at the stage where it couldn't take proper shape.
It required simultaneously rotating the chakra while also compressing and condensing it—splitting one's focus into two tasks.
Minato couldn't handle both at the same time, which was why he kept failing.
According to Seiryū, if he summoned a clone and had the clone handle the rotation, while the main body focused on compression and condensation... then it might actually work!
After all, the jutsu wasn't perfected yet. Right now, all they needed to do was realize the concept. Any remaining flaws could be gradually refined later...
Jiraiya laughed heartily. "You brat, you really have ideas!"
Why hadn't he thought of that?
This kid's brain was seriously sharp!
"I'll give it a try!" Minato was energized. He formed the hand seals, summoned a shadow clone, and began another attempt.
With the clone maintaining the chakra's rotation, the main body focused entirely on compression and concentration.
Buzz, buzz, buzz...
A rotating chakra sphere appeared once again, spinning rapidly and stirring the air. This time, it lasted over ten seconds, and the chakra sphere showed no signs of instability.
Jiraiya opened his mouth. "Huh? It already took shape?"
It actually worked?
Just one shadow clone solved the biggest hurdle?
Minato glanced at the chakra ball, then frowned. He pressed his right hand to the ground with a bang, creating a spiral-patterned crater even larger than before.
Minato muttered, "Even though it formed and the power increased a bit, it's still not enough. And once the clone disperses, it loses control again..."
Seiryū stroked his chin, thinking, Still not concentrated enough. Plus, it's only rotating in one direction. If I remember right, the Rasengan rotates irregularly, doesn't it?
"Senpai, when you use this jutsu, are you only rotating it in one direction?"
"Hmm?" Minato was slightly confused, but after thinking for a moment, he said, "It seems so. I rotate it based on my usual chakra refining habits."
Jiraiya rubbed his chin. "I've heard that when refining chakra, there's usually a preferred rotation direction, which often matches the direction of one's hair whorl. Minato, is that what you're basing it on?"
He leaned in to inspect Minato's hair. Hmm... there were two whorls, one on the left and one on the right. He paused. "Huh, you've got two? Which direction are you rotating it?"
Minato replied, "To the right. Maybe because I'm right-handed?"
Jiraiya nodded. "Makes sense. Seiryū, what direction does your hair whorl go?"
He leaned in to check and was stunned. "You've also got two, just like Minato. Are you right-handed too? Was your rotation just now to the right?"
"Sensei, Senpai, can we stop talking about hair whorls..." Seiryū was speechless. The topic had completely gone off track.
He continued, "What I mean is, since it requires compression and focus, maybe you could try rotating the chakra in two directions. That might create some unexpected results."
"It's always worth trying. When I developed the Monster Strength Fist, I tried every method I could think of..."
That was the benefit of being a transmigrator. Knowing so many things—it was practically cheating.
A glint of excitement appeared in Minato's eyes. "I'll give it another shot..."
He had to admit, this younger student had a sharp mind. He could think of things most people wouldn't come up with quickly.
Dual rotation. Simultaneously rotating the chakra in two directions while condensing it...
Thinking that, Minato tried again. He split off another clone, and both the clone and the main body began working on forming the chakra sphere.
Buzz, buzz, buzz...
This time, it went even more smoothly. The condensed chakra sphere wasn't just stable—the wind it kicked up was noticeably stronger!
If the earlier chakra ball only had about 30 or 40 percent of the intended power, this one now had 60 to 70 percent!
The difference was obvious!
Feeling the chakra sphere's powerful energy in his hand, Minato slightly opened his mouth, his tone filled with surprise. "It... worked!?"
It went so smoothly?
Looking at the chakra sphere in Minato's hand, the change was clear. Jiraiya looked stunned. "It actually worked!?"
Dual rotation was the key to completing this jutsu?
The two of them had spent ages puzzling over it, yet one casual suggestion from Seiryū, who had just learned the basic principle, had solved it?
To be honest, he was genuinely shocked.
Seiryū sighed inwardly. Just like in Minato's tale, once he has a flash of inspiration, he can make it happen.
His own genius mostly came from being a transmigrator. That was his cheat.
But Minato? Minato's genius was the real deal.
In the original story, even enemies held Minato in high regard. That alone proved how exceptional he was.
"As expected of Senpai. To be able to do this on the first proper attempt... that talent really is amazing!" Seiryū praised him sincerely.
Minato remained humble. He felt that Seiryū deserved the most credit and smiled. "If it weren't for your reminder, Sensei and I don't know how long it would've taken to figure it out..."
"It would've happened eventually. I just gave a little nudge."
"Hahaha, no need to be so modest!"
Jiraiya watched his two disciples interact and couldn't help but smile. Then he lightly coughed to remind them their teacher was still present. "While it's not completely perfected yet, it's already taken shape."
"Minato, have you thought of a name for this jutsu?"
A jutsu obviously needed a good name.
Hmm, though Jiraiya didn't expect much from Minato when it came to naming... "Let me think..." Minato pondered for a moment, looking at the spinning chakra sphere glowing faintly in his palm.
He spoke immediately. "Let's name it—Halo Dual-Direction Irregular Rotating Compression Condensing Chakra Sphere!!"
Seiryū: "..."
Well, he had witnessed history. It was just as ridiculously long as in the original. Could this be Seiryū's only flaw?
Jiraiya: "..."
As expected, he shouldn't have had high hopes. The name was clunky and over-the-top. This kid really had no naming sense!
Jiraiya turned to Seiryū for help. "Seiryū, how about you help your Senpai name it?"
"Please leave me out of it." Seiryū quickly waved his hand. "This is a jutsu Senpai developed for Jōnin Kushina. I think she should be the one to name it..."
He wasn't getting involved in naming it. That was Kushina's role in Minato's story. As long as it didn't end up being called Halo Dual-Direction Irregular Rotating Compression Condensing Chakra Sphere...
"I think that name's pretty good though?" Minato didn't feel there was anything wrong with it.
Sounded cool enough to him.
But hearing Seiryū's suggestion, he thought it over and felt it made sense. He smiled. "Then I'll let Kushina name it. Though I doubt she can come up with a cooler name than mine!"
(To be continued.)