72

Immediately afterward, the sharp, crackling sound of "Zizizi!" came from behind, making Minato's hair stand on end as he sensed a fatal danger.

Without hesitation, he used the Flying Thunder God Technique again, teleporting 8 meters away.

It was then that he saw what had just threatened him.

"Boom!!"

Uchiha Genji had condensed a chakra sphere in one hand and slammed it into the ground where Minato had just been standing, creating a deep crater.

Minato didn't waste this opportunity. Using a Flying Thunder God kunai next to Uchiha Genji, he teleported to his side and stabbed with his kunai.

However, before his eyes, Uchiha Genji swiftly condensed another chakra sphere in his free hand and clashed directly with Minato's kunai.

Minato suddenly felt a powerful rotational force that knocked the kunai from his grip and sent him flying backward.

"Whoosh!"

The next moment, Uchiha Genji appeared behind him, placing a hand on Minato's back, halting his movement.

"I lost," Minato admitted with a helpless smile, raising his hands in surrender. He then turned around to look at Uchiha Genji, curiosity flashing in his eyes.

"What technique was that just now?"

"Was that a no-hand-seal jutsu? Did you develop it yourself to pair with the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

In truth, Minato had been considering something similar recently.

It was just an incomplete concept for now—far from a finished technique.

The idea came to him on the battlefield after witnessing Shukaku, the One-Tail of the Sand Village, using Air Bullets and Tailed Beast Bombs.

The Flying Thunder God Technique is incredibly fast, but because of that speed, traditional ninjutsu requiring hand seals can't keep up.

Any jutsu that required hand signs wasn't suitable for use with it.

"That's right."

Uchiha Genji smiled and nodded.

"You must have noticed that when using the Flying Thunder God Technique, any ninjutsu requiring hand seals can't be activated simultaneously.

"We need an instant-cast, no-hand-seal ninjutsu to complement it. That's the only way to truly complete the Flying Thunder God Battle System, unleashing its full potential."

The Second Hokage, who originally developed the Flying Thunder God Technique, had encountered this same problem.

However, instead of creating a no-seal ninjutsu, he opted to use the Sword of the Thunder God.

It was essentially a chakra blade, similar to a lightsaber.

The more chakra the user infused into it, the stronger and sharper it became.

In the hands of an average ninja, it might not be very effective—perhaps even weaker than a well-crafted katana.

After all, in the future timeline of the original story, the Sword of the Thunder God was stolen by an insignificant rogue ninja…

And Naruto Uzumaki shattered it with a Rasengan.

What an insult to its name!

But in the hands of the Second Hokage, paired with Flying Thunder God, it was an unstoppable weapon—cutting down enemies with lightning speed.

It wasn't that Minato hadn't considered acquiring the Sword of the Thunder God.

But first, he hadn't yet earned enough merit to justify receiving it.

Even obtaining the Flying Thunder God Technique this early was only possible because his teacher, Jiraiya, had personally exchanged his own achievements for it.

Getting his hands on Tobirama Senju's relic, the Sword of the Thunder God, was an entirely different matter.

More importantly, Minato's chakra reserves and quality were nowhere near those of the Second Hokage, making the sword less effective in his hands.

So, he temporarily gave up on it.

Instead, he wanted to develop a no-hand-seal ninjutsu of his own.

Unexpectedly, Uchiha Genji had already created one!

And today, he got to witness it firsthand.

Minato really wanted to ask Uchiha Genji for this no-seal jutsu.

With it, his Flying Thunder God Battle System would finally be complete, and his combat power would skyrocket.

But he hesitated.

Because… he didn't think he had enough to offer in return.

Uchiha Genji saw Minato's struggle and smirked.

"Do you want to learn it?" he asked.

"Eh?"

Minato was taken aback, looking at Uchiha Genji in surprise.

"I do! Of course, I want to! I won't pretend otherwise," Minato admitted honestly. "This technique is crucial for my Flying Thunder God Battle System."

"But… why are you willing to teach it to me?"

Uchiha Genji shrugged with a smile.

"There's not much to it. The main reason is that I admire your character and talent."

"You should already know that my Uchiha clan is in a rather awkward position within Konoha."

"Because of historical tensions, the village leadership is still hostile toward us. They continue to suppress and marginalize Uchiha."

"This isn't a good situation. If it's not handled properly, it could escalate into open conflict between Uchiha and Konoha in the future."

"And that's something I don't want to see."

"I hope that, in the future, these tensions can be resolved and that Uchiha can fully integrate into Konoha rather than being treated as outsiders."

"And I believe you will become an important figure in Konoha—possibly even Hokage one day."

"So, consider this my investment in your future."

"When you rise in rank and gain influence, I hope you will help change Uchiha's position within Konoha."

"What do you think? Do you dare to accept my investment?"

Of course, Uchiha Genji wasn't entirely counting on Minato.

This was just a strategic move.

If Minato could be useful in the future, great.

If not?

That would mean Uchiha Genji had already solved the problem himself.

There was always a solution.

The only question was whether he would need to forcefully overturn the system…

…or gradually reform it from within.

Hearing this, Minato furrowed his brows slightly before extending his hand toward Uchiha Genji.

"I accept!"

"Also, even without this investment, when I become a leader in Konoha and have the power to change Uchiha's treatment, I would have done so anyway."

"It's not out of gratitude to you, but because it's simply the right thing to do."

Uchiha Genji was immensely talented.

His abilities at such a young age were already astonishing.

In a few years, how much stronger would he become?

If the village leadership continued to push Uchiha into conflict, Minato felt that Konoha's leaders would be the ones to lose.

And regardless of who won that conflict, Konoha itself would be weakened.

Internal strife was the greatest danger to the village.

Minato continued, "I believe that excluding and suppressing Uchiha is a grave mistake."

"If we're all part of Konoha, and Uchiha was one of the founding clans, there's no justifiable reason for this marginalization."

Uchiha Genji grinned.

"I knew I wasn't wrong about you! You're a good man!"

With that, he took out a scroll and tossed it to Minato.

"This contains the Rasengan training method."

"It's an A-rank non-elemental ninjutsu."

"But if you combine it with elemental nature transformation, it can evolve into an S-rank or even higher technique."

"I've already developed that version too—want it?"

Minato hesitated for a moment before shaking his head.

"The basic Rasengan is enough. I believe I can develop the elemental versions myself."

Uchiha Genji smirked.

"Alright then. I'll be waiting to see what you come up with!"

Advance chapter in PATREON

6% Discount in patreon

EEE5B

Advance chapter in patron

patreon.com/Gho_