《Naruto: The Ōtsutsuki Bloodline》Chapter 47: Reflections on Kekkei Genkai

"Danzō has already gathered most of the intelligence on Kirigakure. As we suspected, the situation there is extraordinarily complex..."

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with a furrowed brow, recounting the information forwarded by Danzō.

Although he had anticipated it, witnessing the chaos engulfing Kirigakure—a village once considered on par with Konohagakure—still left him profoundly disturbed.

"And according to Jiraiya's intelligence, that mysterious organization is being employed by the Mizukage. So, you two..."

Hiruzen continued explaining patiently, despite his troubled disposition. However, as he spoke, he noticed something that made his forehead throb.

Jiraiya and Kakashi, the two men seated before him, were completely absorbed in their own thoughts, clearly inattentive to the briefing.

This was supposed to be an intelligence meeting!

Weren't these two the ones clamoring to investigate Kirigakure?

And now they were mentally absent? What could possibly occupy them so completely?

"Ahem..."

Hiruzen cleared his throat deliberately, attempting to recapture their attention.

But even after that, they remained in their trance-like state, prompting a vein to bulge on Hiruzen's forehead.

"Hey! You two, cease this at once! Do you consider this appropriate conduct?"

"Uh..."

Finally returning to reality, Jiraiya and Kakashi appeared visibly embarrassed. They had to acknowledge their inattention moments ago.

"What on earth is transpiring?"

Hiruzen sighed, now more curious than irate.

"Why are you two behaving this way? What's troubling you?"

"Well, Hokage-sama, it's..."

Kakashi glanced at Jiraiya before deciding to address the matter himself.

"It concerns Minamoto. He..."

"Minamoto?"

At the mention of that name, Hiruzen immediately became alert.

Kitagawa Minamoto was someone Hiruzen genuinely respected.

Though the young man seemed to possess an uncanny talent for attracting trouble—encountering Jūzō Biwa and Itachi Uchiha on his inaugural mission beyond the village, crossing paths with someone resembling Obito Uchiha upon his return, and subsequently facing an opponent with Shikotsumyaku while accompanying Jiraiya to locate Orochimaru—he had managed to overcome each challenge, demonstrating extraordinary potential and capability.

But simultaneously, Minamoto also functioned as a catalyst for chaos.

Consider, for instance, the notorious "poisonous mushroom soup" incident. Teaching Naruto to respect the elderly was commendable, but what about the consequences?

The image of those vibrant mushrooms bubbling in the pot still occasionally materialized in Hiruzen's mind, and it was not a pleasant recollection.

"What has that young man done this time?"

"Well..."

Kakashi hesitated momentarily before responding with utmost gravity.

"It appears... he has mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."

"Hmm... hmm?!"

Hiruzen, who had just retrieved his pipe to compose himself, froze mid-motion. His hand holding the match halted abruptly, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

"The Flying Thunder God? He's acquired it?"

"That's correct, old man. That youngster seems to have mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique."

Observing Hiruzen's stunned reaction, Jiraiya contributed his own thoughts with a mixture of admiration and incredulity.

"Just earlier, that kid actually formed a Flying Thunder God seal right before our eyes. And then he demonstrated it!

That technique, that instantaneous transfer—it was rudimentary, certainly, but unmistakable. It was the Flying Thunder God Technique!"

Jiraiya paused, recalling the moment with profound awe.

"Precisely, Hokage-sama," Kakashi confirmed with a nod, subsequently falling silent as if immersed in his own reflections.

"The Flying Thunder God... he's truly mastered it?"

Hiruzen's posture stiffened as he processed this information, his eyes wide with astonishment.

Even if Jiraiya had indicated that Minamoto's execution of the technique was somewhat unrefined, the question remained: how long had the young man been developing it?

And how formidable was the Flying Thunder God Technique to master?

In that instant, Hiruzen finally comprehended why Jiraiya and Kakashi had been so distracted. In their position, he likely wouldn't have concentrated on the intelligence report either.

"That young man..."

Rising to his feet, Hiruzen took a moment to collect himself.

He approached the window, gazing at the Hokage Rock towering above the village. After an extended pause, he murmured softly,

"Konohagakure will only grow stronger..."

As a gentle breeze rustled the leaves outside, Hiruzen pursed his lips before adding,

"If only his temperament were more aligned with Minato's, it would be ideal..."

Remarkably, both Jiraiya and Kakashi nodded in concurrence at those words.

"Departing with such urgency... it appears Kirigakure's operations are imminent."

Following Jiraiya and Kakashi's departure, Minamoto decided to return home as well.

Their haste, combined with the mission he had recently received, made it evident that something significant was about to unfold.

In truth, the reason Minamoto had showcased the Flying Thunder God Technique was precisely in preparation for this.

To inflict a substantial blow against Obito, he required sufficient strength. Without the capacity to safeguard himself, he wouldn't have dared—or even consented—to undertake such a mission.

"Now the only concern is whether Hiruzen Sarutobi will permit my participation. It seems I'll need to present a compelling case..."

Minamoto sighed. Without demonstrating his proficiency with the Flying Thunder God Technique, he wouldn't even have been considered for this mission. But now that he had, there existed a possibility that Hiruzen might deem him too valuable to risk.

Protecting talents like him was a common practice, after all—a frustratingly common one.

"Well, let's observe how events unfold. In the interim, I should focus on completing Kakashi's exclusive assignment."

As he traversed the village, Minamoto noted its tranquility—likely attributable to it being a workday. He hadn't even encountered Naruto.

This suited him well; it provided time to contemplate his developmental strategies.

"The absorption rate of Chakra through my bones is gradual, and progress is incremental. But regarding my eyes..."

Minamoto sensed that his eyes were approaching their threshold.

The rate at which they absorbed and cultivated Chakra was accelerating, as if undergoing one final, frenzied surge before reaching equilibrium.

When that moment arrived, his eyes would finally awaken.

He suspected they would most likely manifest as the Byakugan—after all, it was virtually a "standard attribute" of the Ōtsutsuki Clan.

"Besides, regardless of what energy I absorb, it appears to ultimately transform into pure power that reinforces my Ōtsutsuki bloodline."

Minamoto mused aloud. Occasionally, he even speculated whether his bloodline had regressed to its most primordial state.

Perhaps he was evolving into an original Ōtsutsuki, one so ancient that even the Byakugan hadn't yet developed.

Of course, this remained purely theoretical. No one genuinely comprehended the nature of the earliest Ōtsutsuki.

"When my eyes are prepared, the subsequent phase will involve my body. But that alone won't substantially advance my development. I still require additional power—such as..."

Kekkei Genkai.

Tailed Beasts.

And the power of Indra and Asura!

Minamoto harbored no intention of awakening a "mediocre" Ōtsutsuki bloodline. What he coveted was the might of an Ōtsutsuki empowered by the Divine Tree's fruit.

To achieve that, he wouldn't disregard any opportunity.

For now, Tailed Beasts remained inaccessible. Naruto was directly before him, certainly, but he lacked the resolve—or the means—to act upon that.

Perhaps he could consider that individual named Sora?

"But that's merely one, and it's far from sufficient. Additionally, as a Genin, I can't undertake missions independently. Therefore..."

Minamoto determined that his focus should be on Kekkei Genkai.

Throughout the ninja world, apart from the established bloodlines of the Uchiha, Senju, Hyūga, and Kaguya clans, most Kekkei Genkai originated from Chakra fusion.

And his mastery of Chakra control had attained an instinctive level!

Given that, he could certainly pursue this avenue.

Granted, fusing Chakra entailed significant risks. Otherwise, why were Kekkei Genkai users so scarce across the ninja world?

But he could initiate by confronting Kekkei Genkai users.

"Even if I don't acquire anything directly from the missions, merely experiencing their Chakra fusion ratios in combat should provide sufficient insight to replicate them!"

The new generation's Copy Ninja wasn't merely a title for show...

Fortuitously, despite Kirigakure's deep-seated animosity toward Kekkei Genkai users, the village still harbored numerous such individuals.

"It appears..."

Minamoto glanced toward the Hokage's office, a determined glint in his eyes.

"...I now possess one more reason to participate."

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