Minato's Toad

Teacher Nishimura quickly replaced the lectern. Then the class passed in a drowsy haze.

Uchiha Chen read his books on Ninjutsu while scanning his interface.

He had gone to sleep early yesterday, so he had not carefully checked his interface.

He checked his remaining Ninja Points. He now had 13,500 Ninja Points.

These points were the result of his intense special training with Tsunade over the past few days.

Without another word, he immediately put all those points into Taijutsu.

System notification: "Congratulations, Host. Your Taijutsu Level has risen to Level 8. Your speed, endurance, strength, and understanding of Taijutsu have greatly improved compared to Level 7."

The system continued.

"Congratulations, Host. You have completed the task of reaching Level 8 in one attribute before graduating from the Ninja Academy."

Uchiha Chen looked over his panel. It had now become this:

Host: Uchiha Chen

Land of Fire

Age: 6

Comprehensive Strength Index: A salted fish among Chunin

Chakra Level 4 (0/4000)

Taijutsu Level 8 (0/16000)

Shuriken Level 5 (0/6000)

Hand Seals Level 4 (0/4000)

Ninjutsu Level 4 (0/4000)

Genjutsu Level 5 (0/6000)

Wind Release Level 4 (0/4000)

Fire Release Level 4 (0/4000)

Lightning Release Level 4 (0/4000)

Water Release Level 0 (0/100)

Earth Release Level 0 (0/100)

Yang Release Level 0 (0/100)

Yin Release Level 0 (0/100)

Remaining Ninja Points: 1500

"Because the system task has been completed, the Host's panel will be upgraded. The panel upgrade will take twelve hours," the system continued.

The panel could be upgraded too? Uchiha Chen asked doubtfully, "System, you can level up too?"

"That's right. As long as the Host completes tasks, the system will automatically upgrade."

"What will it upgrade into? What functions will it add?" Uchiha Chen asked.

"It will unlock more attribute panels, as well as Nature Transformation Fusion functions. The Host must explore everything on their own."

"Nature Transformation Fusion?" Uchiha Chen immediately became excited.

Wouldn't that mean he could soon use Wood Release? Uchiha Chen remembered that Wood Release was a fusion of Earth Release, Water Release, and Yang Release. And he could also master abilities like the Third Tsuchikage's Dust Release and the even more powerful Kekkei Mōra.

"Host, wake up. Stop dreaming. You are currently just cannon fodder in the ninja world," the system said, utterly unconcerned as it struck down its Host.

"Besides, it is only a possibility. Nature Transformation Fusion depends on the Host's own exploration. The system will only increase the Host's comprehension in these areas."

"Tch, that was as good as saying nothing."

Uchiha Chen knew very clearly the path he would take to grow stronger in the future. He just did not know how he would awaken the Eternal Mangekyo.

Unfortunately, he did not have any brothers.

During the break, Uchiha Chen started chatting with Minato again, exchanging what they had learned over the past week.

"Actually, this week, aside from teaching me some training methods and experience, Teacher Jiraiya did not teach me any other five-element Ninjutsu."

"He said the Ninjutsu I have mastered are already enough for now. But besides that, Teacher taught me an incredibly powerful..."

Minato revealed a smug smile.

"Don't tell me. Let me guess. Was it the Summoning Jutsu?"

"If you know so clearly, why ask me?"

Minato suddenly hooked an arm around Uchiha Chen's neck.

"Don't, go easy! I was wrong, Minato. That's my neck, not a rock."

For Jiraiya, wasn't the most precious Ninjutsu the Toads of Mount Myōboku? Uchiha Chen had guessed it right away.

Tsunade had also said she would save a Summoning Scroll for Uchiha Chen.

To Uchiha Chen, Summoning Beasts were sometimes little more than a useless burden.

Of course, it would be different if it were a Summoning Beast like the Nine-Tails.

So he had also wondered whether he could get a Tailed Beast as a pet someday. But he did not have that kind of strength yet.

The Summoning Jutsu was a type of Space-Time Ninjutsu. So perhaps the Second Hokage's inspiration for the Flying Thunder God had come from the Summoning Jutsu.

It was difficult to define what rank this Ninjutsu was. After all, the size of the summoned creature was related to the amount of one's Chakra.

The more Chakra it required, the higher the rank of the Ninjutsu.

For example, Minato, who was currently showing off with great pride.

He said excitedly to Uchiha Chen, "I can already summon an incredibly powerful Toad."

"Huh? You can already summon a Toad? Minato, you're pretty impressive. You didn't summon a little Tadpole? Do you have enough Chakra?" Uchiha Chen asked skeptically.

"It really was a little Tadpole at first. Although I haven't successfully summoned a Toad before, I feel that if I use up all my Chakra this time, what I summon will definitely be a Toad." Minato was mysteriously confident.

Unable to wait any longer, he used the pencil knife at hand to cut his finger. Minato began forming Hand Seals beneath the desk, and in the end, a puff of smoke appeared with a bang.

After the smoke cleared, a creature that was impossible to tell whether it was a Tadpole or a Toad appeared on the desk.

That Tadpole had already grown legs, but half its body still looked like a Tadpole, with a long tail behind it. Its entire body was only the size of a palm.

"So this is the Toad you summoned after exhausting all your Chakra, Minato?"

No, if I laugh now, Minato will definitely kill me!

"...Hey, Chen."

"W-What is it, Minato?"

Minato, speaking with his back to Uchiha Chen, radiated an unusually gentle smile. That smile even made Uchiha Chen's hair stand on end.

"After seeing this Summoning Beast, is there anything you want to say to me?"

"W-What should I say?"

While brushing Minato off, Uchiha Chen desperately pleaded for help with his eyes toward those beside him—no good! Mikoto and Kushina both wore deeply regretful expressions and silently turned away.

In that case, Uchiha Chen could only avoid mentioning the Tadpole and its small size, and talk about its other traits to escape this disaster.

Now he could only rely on his own wits!

"R-Right! This Toad is pretty cute, Minato..."

The moment the words left his mouth, Uchiha Chen realized he had failed.

Uchiha Chen understood... Minato had never intended to leave him a correct answer that would let him live to see tomorrow's sun...

Since it had come to this, at least let me be honest with myself at the very end!

"Well... I think this isn't a Toad at all, Minato. It's a Tad—"

"Ah, my neck! Minato, go easier."

The Tadpole was still hopping around on the desk with a sleepy look on its face.

"...Who is it? Where is this? Who summoned me over here? I was taking a bath! Are you people even going to let me—mmph!"

"Lord Toad, please keep your voice down..."

Minato covered the little Tadpole's mouth with a bitter smile, then looked around worriedly, hoping none of the other students had noticed what was happening here.

But Nawaki's attention was not on this. He truly was an expert at courting death.

"Hey, Minato, can this Tadpole be eaten?" As soon as Nawaki said that, Uchiha Chen gave Minato's Tadpole a Great Fireball.

"Pfft..." The Tadpole spat out a stream of water that struck Nawaki in the face.

Then, amid a cloud of smoke, the Toad dispelled the Summoning Jutsu.