You're a Kid Who Knows the Ropes

On the second day after returning, Kushina Uzumaki came knocking and took Tamaki away.

They arrived at the stream they often visited.

"That stinky old man, the Third, never told me about you. If he hadn't mentioned it this morning, I still wouldn't know."

"Well, the Third Hokage probably had his own reasons."

"Forget it, let's not talk about that. Try the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and see what your limit is."

"If you really have the Uzumaki Bloodline like the Third said, you should be able to make over a hundred. I'll show you first."

With that, she excitedly split off over a hundred clones.

"Well? See that? This is the power of the Uzumaki Clan."

A hundred Kushinas stood with their hands on their hips, laughing uproariously. Tamaki got to enjoy some first-rate surround sound.

Once the echoes died down, Kushina dismissed her clones and promptly pulled out a scroll for Tamaki.

It was the scroll for the Multi Shadow Clone.

The technique wasn't very difficult, and Tamaki understood it after a short while.

"Multi Shadow Clone!"

Poof—

In an instant, Tamakis covered the hills and fields. A rough count put their number at no fewer than a hundred.

"Try dismissing them."

"Okay."

After dismissing them, Tamaki felt a wave of dizziness, but thanks to the support of his multiple selves, he could withstand the flood of information.

Kushina was delighted to see that Tamaki hadn't passed out. She was almost certain now that he had the Uzumaki Bloodline.

A child around ten years old who could use Shadow Clones on this scale without passing out had to have countless ties to the Uzumaki Bloodline, even if he wasn't a direct descendant.

"Little brother, let me hear you call me big sister."

"Big sister."

For Tamaki, who was nearly forty when his two lives were added together, calling her big sister was rather awkward.

But Kushina's hands were incredibly strong, and she kept patting his shoulder as she talked. His right shoulder had already gone numb.

The fearsome Red Hot Habanero.

"Kushina, there you are."

"Minato, come here! I have a little brother now."

"A little brother?"

"This kid has Uzumaki blood."

Minato Namikaze turned to look at Tamaki, a hint of scrutiny in his eyes.

Anyone who really thought Minato Namikaze was just a sunny, caring guy was sorely mistaken. This was the Fourth Hokage, and one born a commoner at that.

"Senior Namikaze, I'm Nishu Tamagawa. There were signs of my Uzumaki Bloodline a few years ago. Yesterday, I told the Third Hokage I planned to spend some time drawing it out fully, so he found Sister Kushina for me."

"I see."

Minato didn't ask how Tamaki had come to have the Uzumaki Bloodline. As someone in the Hokage's faction, he wasn't at all surprised when strange things appeared in the village.

For a while, the three of them enjoyed one another's company.

"By the way, Minato, have you finished developing that technique of yours?"

"Not yet. It's very difficult."

"Hey, Tamaki, make sure you do well. If I'm happy with you, I'll have Minato teach you an advanced Ninjutsu that doesn't need hand seals."

Minato felt a little awkward. His girlfriend had casually promised to give away his exclusive Ninjutsu, but he didn't object. This was his Kushina, after all.

Tamaki felt even more awkward, because he had stolen Minato's idea.

In that case, he might as well give Minato a hand. His character was reliable enough.

"Speaking of original Ninjutsu, I have one I'd like Sister Kushina and Senior Minato to take a look at."

"Oh? You're already thinking of creating your own Ninjutsu at your age?"

"Yes. It took me a few years to perfect this technique. I got the idea from watching water swirl."

"A Water Release Ninjutsu?"

"No, it's a Ninjutsu with no elemental affinity that doesn't require hand seals."

As he spoke, Tamaki began gathering Chakra in his right hand. Before long, a small Rasengan took shape.

"This is the Ninjutsu I created. I named it the Rasengan, after the swirling of water."

"I'm quite happy with its power."

With that, he pressed the Rasengan against a tree trunk. The tree, as thick as the mouth of a bowl, snapped in two at the middle.

Kushina was somewhat shaken by the sight, and, like Minato, she wore a strange expression.

"Minato, this technique..."

"It's almost exactly the same. We just got our inspiration from different places. Mine came from a Tailed Beast Bomb."

"Do you mean you got the same idea as me from something called a Tailed Beast Bomb, Senior Minato?"

Though he wanted to laugh, Tamaki kept the strange expression on his face.

"In that case, let me tell you how I managed to master this technique, Senior Minato."

"That wouldn't be right."

"It's all right. I trust in your pride as the disciple of one of the Sannin, Senior Minato. Besides, this technique won't stop you. You'll figure it out sooner or later."

Without waiting for Minato to reply, Tamaki began explaining in detail how to train in the Rasengan.

Minato didn't dwell on it, but from the bottom of his heart, he acknowledged Tamaki as Kushina's little brother.

After they finished going over it, the group started chatting again.

"Come to think of it, I almost became your Jonin teacher."

"You did, though Teacher Sakumo is very strong too. It's just that my style isn't a very good match for his."

"Speaking of that, if you're willing, I can introduce you to Teacher Jiraiya."

"Lord Jiraiya? If I had the chance, I'd rather become Lady Tsunade's disciple."

"Lady Tsunade? Are you a medical-nin?"

"Yes. Being a medical-nin is my main job, and I've already signed a contract with Katsuyu."

"Katsuyu? Lady Tsunade is no longer in Konoha. How did you sign a contract?"

"Our ancestors had some ties to Lady Tsunade."

Tamaki didn't explain clearly, but Minato understood. He was no longer surprised that Tamaki had Uzumaki blood.

Even so, he now wanted Tamaki to become his junior disciple even more.

"Lady Tsunade is hard to contact, but Teacher Jiraiya has been in Konoha lately. Would you be interested in studying under him for a while first?"

"Thank you, Senior Minato. I'd also like to ask Teacher Jiraiya about changes in the nature and form of Yang Release Chakra."

"Changes in Yang Release? What are you studying those for?"

"I'm preparing to develop a Kekkei Genkai."

"Develop a Kekkei Genkai?"

"Hey, even if you are my little brother, you can't make such grand claims."

As Kushina spoke, she ruffled Tamaki's hair into a bird's nest.

"Sister Kushina, I'm serious. But I won't say which Kekkei Genkai I'm trying to develop. I'll surprise everyone when I succeed."

"Minato, do you know of a Kekkei Genkai that involves Yang Release?"

Unable to get an answer out of Tamaki, Kushina turned to Minato. She believed he ought to know.

"Well, I really don't know. Let's wait until Tamaki succeeds."

"Tch."

Kushina didn't press the matter.

Minato, meanwhile, wondered what Kekkei Genkai needed Yang Release to be synthesized.

True to his word as a sunny, caring guy, Minato took Tamaki to look for Jiraiya near the bathhouse the next day.

Why the bathhouse? Wasn't it obvious? That was the kind of place where perverts tended to sprout.

"Senior Minato, is Lord Jiraiya a pervert?"

"Well..."

"What nonsense! I'm gathering material. Do you understand what gathering material means?"

"Oh, is that so?"

Tamaki's face was full of disbelief. I might be young, but don't think you can fool me.

Of course, Tamaki also knew that Jiraiya didn't care about such comments, which was why he made the joke.

After some banter, the three found a place to sit down.

"Go on, Minato. What do you want with me instead of spending time with Kushina?"

"I came for Tamaki's sake. This kid is very talented, and I'd like to ask you to teach him for a while, Teacher Jiraiya."

"My appearance fee is very expensive."

"This kid approached it from a different angle and created the same technique as me."

"Then he really is talented."

Jiraiya was somewhat surprised to hear Minato say that Tamaki had created the Rasengan on his own, but that wasn't enough.

"This kid has Senju blood. According to Kushina, his Uzumaki Bloodline has more or less awakened, but he's too young and still needs someone to guide him in drawing out his potential."

"Kushina is more familiar with the Uzumaki Bloodline, isn't she? There's no need for me to step in."

"Lord Jiraiya, I want to learn changes in the nature and form of Earth Release, Water Release, and Yang Release Chakra so I can synthesize a Kekkei Genkai."

Clang.

"Kids shouldn't indulge in wild fantasies. Do you know what a Kekkei Genkai is?"

"Please don't underestimate me, Lord Jiraiya."

With that, Tamaki shared some of what he had learned recently about synthesizing Wood Release.

The more Jiraiya heard, the more alarmed he became. Minato, meanwhile, was surprised. It was Wood Release, so it was no wonder Yang Release was involved.

"Kid, you want Wood Release?"

"Yes, Lord Jiraiya."

"You can't get the First's Wood Release just by adding Yang Release."

"I know. People in the Senju Clan have tried it, and I've read the records. It's precisely because I know how difficult it is that I want it."

"Besides, Lord Jiraiya, don't you want to see Wood Release? Even if I fail, it won't matter. I'll just treat it as experience with Kekkei Genkai. You want to develop your own Kekkei Genkai too, don't you, Lord Jiraiya?"

"That's true enough."

"Oh, right. Before I left, my uncle asked me to bring this to you, Lord Jiraiya. He said it was a complimentary voucher for a famous mixed-bathing hot spring inn."

"Hahaha! I could tell at a glance that you were a genius, Tamaki. No problem. I'll start teaching you right now."

With speed that left no time to cover one's ears before the thunderclap, Jiraiya snatched away the voucher Tamaki had just taken out.

Minato covered his face beside them. His teacher was good in every way, except that he couldn't break this habit.