"Minato, are you absolutely certain you won't reconsider my naming suggestion?"
On the way back to camp, Minato Namikaze's expression was earnest, almost desperate. He'd repeated this question at least a dozen times. It wasn't mere stubbornness—he genuinely believed this technique would shake the shinobi world. Losing credit for the name felt like a wound that would never heal.
"Absolutely not," Seiran replied flatly.
There was no way. If that ridiculous name caught on, he'd never show his face in public again.
"That Magnet Light Wheel Wind Thunder Arrow Type Zero—" Minato tried once more.
"Isn't it incredible?" he finished hopefully.
Seiran's face froze. "So you do remember."
"But…" A sly smile tugged at Minato's lips as he studied Seiran. "If you agree to one condition, using that name wouldn't be impossible."
Seiran's eyes narrowed. "What condition?"
"Teach me the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Minato went rigid.
Immediately, his expression twisted between desire and hesitation. "It's not that I don't want to teach you. I've seen firsthand how devastating your ninjutsu becomes when paired with Flying Thunder God, but…" He paused, his voice dropping. "Flying Thunder God is an S-rank forbidden technique sealed in the Scroll of Seals. I don't have the authority to teach it unilaterally."
"You'd need to obtain the cultivation method from the Scroll itself first. After that, I can guide you through the specifics."
Seiran nodded, understanding perfectly. The Great Ninja Villages guarded forbidden techniques with ruthless precision. Unauthorized teaching carried severe consequences.
"However," Minato continued carefully, "the Third Hokage is aware of your abilities and how they synergize with Flying Thunder God. Your combat record during this war should be more than enough to earn you access to the Scroll of Seals."
"So don't worry. Worst case, you'll eventually acquire the cultivation method."
Minato's tone suggested he wasn't particularly optimistic, but he believed in the outcome. Still, obtaining the method was one thing. Actually mastering it? That was another beast entirely.
To be honest, only the technique's creator—Tobirama Senju, the Second Hokage—and Minato himself had achieved true mastery. The Flying Thunder God's principles were deceptively simple, almost elegant in their core logic, like an advanced reverse summoning formula. But the cultivation requirements were brutal. Since its creation, only two people in the entire shinobi world had succeeded.
Whether Seiran possessed those qualifications remained uncertain.
Seiran shrugged. He'd planned to learn Flying Thunder God regardless. One step at a time.
---
Back at the Konoha camp, a cluster of kunoichi huddled together, voices hushed and conspiratorial.
"Have you noticed? Lord Minato's been sneaking out with Seiran every afternoon."
"I know, right? Minato-sama is so famous—handsome, charismatic, strong. And Seiran's supposedly the top new genin."
"The two of them disappearing together... could it possibly mean…" One girl trailed off, her whisper dropping further. "Something… romantic?"
The sniper missions were classified information, known only to Orochimaru and a handful of high-ranking officers. Though Minato had a reputation as something of a charmer, that didn't stop the female ninja from speculating about his absences.
One kunoichi suddenly clutched her heart dramatically, gazing skyward with an exaggerated sigh. "It can't be true! A man like Minato-sama actually prefers…"
The girl beside her grinned wickedly. "Actually, that makes him even more interesting!"
The others stared at her in shock.
---
"Seiran, do you want to explain yourself?"
Rin stood blocking the tent entrance, arms crossed, her expression unreadable. There was something dangerous in her stillness.
"Explain what?" Seiran genuinely had no idea what she was talking about.
"You want to make me ask again?" Rin's voice was ice. "You sneak out every single afternoon. With Minato. Tell me—are you two actually…"
Her voice grew smaller, quieter, barely audible. She looked away, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks.
Seiran blinked once. Twice.
Then understanding hit him like a kunai to the chest.
The shinobi world gossips worse than civilians.
For days, he'd been systematically eliminating Sand Village officers with Minato, leaving their command structure in shambles. Konoha's overwhelming advantage had nearly been negated. Meanwhile, back at camp, people were spinning fantasies.
This was absurd.
Seiran rubbed his temples, feeling a headache building. How was he supposed to explain this without laughing?
Then he stopped himself.
Why did he need to explain anything to Rin?
But his immediate instinct had been to find her, to clear up the misunderstanding. And somehow, she'd reached him first, desperate for the same reassurance.
Interesting.
A small smile crossed his face, warm and genuine. He scratched the back of his head. "Rin, you know me better than that. I'm not the type—"
He paused, considering his words carefully. "Though Minato really is handsome, cheerful, and tall. If he were a girl, maybe I'd actually consider it…"
Rin's face had started to relax as she listened, a blush tinting her cheeks. But as his rambling continued, her eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Wait—are you saying there is something between you two?" She glared at him fiercely.
"No! Rin, listen—"
"I'm on a classified mission with Minato. That's the only reason we've been leaving together. The mission's too sensitive to discuss openly."
"It's really not what you're thinking," he said with complete sincerity.
Rin studied his face for a long moment, then her expression softened. She tilted her head slightly, and a small, genuine smile crossed her lips. "I know."