Orochimaru Style!

Shinichi Hyuga spent the entire day immersed in the world of ninjutsu.

Many of the ninjutsu in the Scroll of Seals came with both great risks and great power. At the same time, they were far more difficult to learn than ordinary elemental techniques. Ever since Shinichi had displayed his talent as a ninja, every secret technique of the Hyuga Clan's Main Family had been fully open to him.

Over the years, he had read through quite a large number of ninjutsu. Even so, when it came to many of the techniques recorded in the Scroll of Seals, Shinichi could only rely on his exceptional memory to temporarily commit them to mind.

Actually learning and studying them in greater depth was not something that could be accomplished in a short time.

In the evening, the setting sun slanted into the Hokage's Office. After a busy day, Minato Namikaze stood up and stretched, then looked toward the old man and child still seated on the sofa, reading the Scroll.

Seeing Shinichi completely absorbed, Minato glanced at the clock. Rather than disturb him, he quietly stepped behind Shinichi and looked at the contents of the Scroll.

He was also curious what kind of techniques a gifted child like Shinichi, who came from such a distinguished family and possessed considerable talent himself, would be interested in.

"Spirit Transformation Technique?"

Shinichi had spent the entire day without truly reaching the section on the Flying Thunder God Technique. Aside from Forbidden Jutsu such as the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and Eight Inner Gates, which suited his own circumstances, he had focused on techniques related to the so-called soul, such as the Spirit Transformation Technique.

Increasing his own strength was naturally the most urgent matter, but it was not the only goal Shinichi pursued.

Soul-related secret techniques... they could be said to be the path most likely to achieve immortality in this world.

Naturally, Shinichi was also interested in Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation.

As the most "vital" villain in the Shinobi World, Orochimaru's Orochimaru Style Substitution was also something Shinichi desperately wanted.

Setting aside the immortality of Orochimaru's Living Corpse Reincarnation, the Orochimaru Style Substitution he had created could ignore any damage inflicted upon the body and use a "snake molt" to create an entirely new body. This secret technique practically gave its user an extra life.

Techniques like this were exactly the secret techniques Shinichi needed right now.

Quite a few of the secret techniques Orochimaru knew had evolved from certain Forbidden Jutsu recorded in the Scroll of Seals. Orochimaru had merely further refined some of them through experimentation and his own understanding of ninjutsu.

For someone as afraid of death as Shinichi, life-saving ninjutsu like these were naturally his priority.

Minato stood behind Shinichi for a long time, but eventually could not suppress his curiosity. He gently patted Shinichi on the shoulder and asked in confusion,

"Shinichi, didn't you want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique?"

"What? You still haven't found it?"

"If you can't find where it is, you can ask the Third Hokage for help."

Minato spoke gently, a warm smile on his face.

Hearing his voice, Shinichi finally pulled his attention away from the Scroll. When Minato questioned him, Shinichi scratched his head with a deliberately bashful look and said somewhat sheepishly,

"Some of these ninjutsu are just too incredible. I got absorbed in them without realizing it."

At that, Shinichi continued with a touch of emotion, "It's my first time realizing there are so many interesting ninjutsu in this world. I really want to learn them all!"

Hearing Shinichi's "grand ambition," Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato exchanged glances, smiles appearing on both their faces.

They did not think Shinichi was overly ambitious. On the contrary, every ninja would be interested in ninjutsu with such extraordinary effects.

Both of them had gone through that stage themselves.

But a person's energy was limited, and everyone's talents were completely different. No one could learn every ninjutsu in the world.

A ninja usually only had a few techniques they were truly best at.

Even Hizashi, known as the Ninjutsu Professor, was the same. Although he knew many ninjutsu, in battle he only used the ones that best suited his fighting style.

Watching Shinichi's "innocent" greedy expression, Minato gently rubbed his head and said earnestly,

"Shinichi, the greatest taboo for children your age is aiming too high."

"Of course, I'm absolutely not doubting your ability to learn. I just hope you can allocate your time wisely."

"If you're interested in the Flying Thunder God Technique, you should make good use of this opportunity."

"This Space-Time Ninjutsu isn't just a single technique. It's an entire category of techniques!"

"There will be a lot for you to study."

Minato revealed this much. Hearing it, Shinichi raised his head to look at Minato thoughtfully, then nodded lightly.

Minato was offering him guidance, and Shinichi naturally took his words very seriously.

From his experience learning ninjutsu since arriving in this world, many ninjutsu were not actually independent of one another. On the contrary, quite a few of them had strong connections.

Take the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques, for example. The Gentle Fist was the foundation of all advanced secret techniques. Only those who had mastered the Gentle Fist could possibly learn secret techniques such as Kaiten, Gentle Step Twin Lion Fist, and Eight Trigrams Vacuum Palm, which released Chakra through the body's chakra points.

And people with exceptional talent could often master one thing and understand many others. Shinichi was that sort of person. After learning the Gentle Fist, he had mastered quite a few of the Hyuga Clan's advanced secret techniques with only a little effort.

Shinichi guessed that the Flying Thunder God Technique might be similar to some of the Hyuga Clan's secret techniques. It was a category of techniques, rather than a single independent ninjutsu.

"Shinichi, it's getting late today."

"Come back tomorrow morning and continue reading the Scroll."

"After you get home, think carefully about what I said. If possible, I suggest you take some time to learn about Sealing Jutsu."

"If you want to master the Flying Thunder God Technique, learning Sealing Jutsu is the highest priority."

Minato began giving Shinichi private instruction. Hearing this, a flash of understanding passed through Shinichi's eyes.

Minato's words were practically an open hint.

"Sealing Jutsu..."

"I understand!"

Shinichi put away the Scroll, rolled it up, and respectfully placed it on the desk. Then he gave Hiruzen Sarutobi and Minato a slight bow as he bid them farewell.

"Thank you, Grandpa Hizashi, for keeping me company. Thank you, Brother Minato, for your guidance."

"I'll head back for today."

As he spoke, Shinichi let out a long breath and walked toward the door under Hizashi and Minato's gazes.

Hizashi waved kindly at Shinichi, while Minato watched him leave with a smile. Only after Shinichi walked out of the office and closed the door did Hizashi put away the Scroll on the desk and say with some emotion,

"That child... he will definitely grow into an important pillar of Konoha in the future."

"Minato, you must pay special attention to him. If possible, it would be best if you could find time to personally train him!"

Having accompanied Shinichi as he read the Scroll all day, Hizashi could tell from the speed at which Shinichi read the Forbidden Jutsu which techniques interested him.

From Hizashi's perspective, he could not help admiring Shinichi's eye for choosing techniques. The ones he had focused on were all techniques that, in Hizashi's view, suited the Hyuga Clan extremely well.

"I will."

Minato nodded, his expression serious.

When Shinichi Hyuga left the Hokage Building, Hyuga Hiashi had long been waiting downstairs with several clansmen. Seeing Shinichi come out, Hiashi approached with a cheerful smile, scooped him into his arms, and asked with concern,

"How was it? You must be exhausted, right?"

"Did you gain anything?"

Hiashi himself was not particularly interested in the Scroll of Seals, but he cared deeply about Shinichi's growth.

"Mm!"

"I gained a lot."

"Father, let's go back quickly. There are a few techniques I can't wait to try."

Hearing Shinichi say this, Hiashi's expression turned solemn. He nodded, bowed from afar toward the window of the Hokage's Office, then carried Shinichi back toward the Hyuga Clan Compound.