Ninjutsu Monopoly, Ninja Clan Vassals

Deep in a narrow alley of Konoha Village, Guangxia woke up and pulled off the tattered bedsheet he had picked up from a trash bin.

He woke the two companions beside him. They were both farmers' sons; unable to afford an inn, they could only sleep in the alley.

"Come on. Today is the last day. Let's go find Lord Minato Namikaze and learn agricultural ninjutsu one last time."

One of his companions reminded him, "Guangxia, Lord Minato said the ninjutsu we're learning is called the All Things Sprout, Blessing of the Mud-Cooking God Agricultural Ninjutsu."

"Fine. The All Things Sprout, Blessing of the Mud-Cooking God Agricultural Ninjutsu."

To Guangxia, learning agricultural ninjutsu was something sacred. Yet because of Lord Minato Namikaze's strange name for it, the phrase became bizarre before he could even finish saying it.

The three headed toward the outskirts of the village, where Minato Namikaze had reclaimed a small plot of farmland.

By the time they arrived, Minato Namikaze and the others were already there.

Guangxia looked over and saw Minato Namikaze, who taught them Earth Release plowing; Kushina Uzumaki, who taught them Water Release irrigation; Uchiha Mikoto, who taught them Fire Release to produce plant ash; and Haneina, who taught them medical ninjutsu to treat pests and crop diseases.

They taught them too much, and Guangxia felt terribly ashamed. He and his companions could only learn the two ninjutsu for turning soil and watering fields. They lacked the corresponding chakra natures for the rest, so they could only write them down for now.

Minato Namikaze had just smiled and greeted Guangxia when his expression suddenly changed.

His legs exploded with force, chakra flooding into them as he instantly appeared behind Guangxia.

This body possessed an innate talent for the Body Flicker Technique. In that instant, it naturally used chakra in the most efficient way possible, pushing his speed to its limit.

Orochimaru flickered into existence behind Guangxia. With a casual sweep of his sleeve, he flung out a brown snake as thick as an arm, its venomous fangs stabbing toward Guangxia.

Orochimaru slightly raised his eyelids, his slit pupils filled with the delight of having found prey.

It had only been a casual strike, originally meant for the farmers outside the village. Yet the snake's throat had been seized by a blond boy.

So this is Jiraiya's disciple?

Swift speed, immense chakra reserves, and reaction speed worthy of praise.

"Teacher Orochimaru! He is my client. Is there some misunderstanding here?"

Kushina Uzumaki rushed over as well. "Yeah! Mr. Orochimaru, is there some misunderstanding?"

Orochimaru glanced at the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki and understood why ANBU had specifically written a report over such a trivial matter.

He looked up at the several large trees around them.

As his gaze swept past them, the backs of the necks of all eight members of the two ANBU squads tightened.

Lord Orochimaru had discovered them, but the ANBU felt that was only natural. This was Orochimaru, one of the Three Ninja.

At that moment, Jiraiya appeared with the Body Flicker Technique.

He glanced at Minato Namikaze, who was gripping the snake's head, and hurriedly said, "Minato, if you want a pet snake, I'll have Orochimaru give you ten or twenty. Don't take one from his sleeve. The snakes in his sleeves are his treasures."

Minato Namikaze quickly released the snake's head. The brown snake twisted its uncomfortable neck, then stared at Minato while flicking its tongue.

"Jiraiya, you've taken on a fine disciple."

Jiraiya laughed heartily. "He's only average. If you carefully search for another thirty years and get extremely lucky, you might find a disciple like Minato."

Orochimaru ignored Jiraiya, whose ponytail was sticking straight up, and lowered his head as he said:

"I came under Hiruzen Sarutobi's orders to investigate you, Minato Namikaze. Why are you teaching ninjutsu to people outside the village?

"Could the ninjutsu you teach pose a threat to the village?"

Guangxia looked fearfully at the many ninjas before him. Could it be that Konoha Village did not allow them to learn agricultural ninjutsu?

He and his companions exchanged looks, not knowing what would become of them.

Kushina Uzumaki turned to the three of them. "It's fine, don't be afraid. It's only Hiruzen Sarutobi. I'm not afraid of him. When the time comes, I'll go talk to him and make sure he doesn't give you trouble."

Beside her, Uchiha Mikoto clicked her tongue inwardly. Only Kushina would dare say something like that.

As a surviving orphan of the Uzumaki Clan, Kushina held a high status in Konoha Village. The symbol on the backs of ninja flak jackets was the Uzumaki Clan crest.

She did not know that Kushina was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Otherwise, she would have understood that Kushina's status was far higher than she imagined.

Two elite ANBU squads were constantly stationed around Kushina. Within Konoha Village's Barrier Team, squads worked rotating shifts to keep watch on Kushina at all times.

Hearing the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki say she was not afraid of Hiruzen Sarutobi, Orochimaru smiled. Among those present, there were quite a few who did not fear Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The issue now was that many people wanted to know Hiruzen Sarutobi's stance.

Orochimaru got straight to the point. "Minato Namikaze, your teacher Jiraiya is an idiot. He knows nothing. I'll tell you the truth, as well as why I came."

Minato hurriedly objected, "Teacher isn't an idiot. Teacher Jiraiya is wise beneath a foolish exterior. In truth, he understands everything."

"Heh. As long as you master and disciple are happy, say whatever you like." Orochimaru turned to the matter at hand. "The Ninja Academy teaches only the Three Body Technique and is not permitted to teach any other ninjutsu. This was the agreement reached between the major ninja clans and the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, when the Ninja Academy was founded.

"During the Warring States period, before Konoha Village was established, ninjutsu was monopolized by the major ninja clans.

"If one wanted to learn ninjutsu, one either had to be extraordinarily gifted and create it oneself, or join a ninja clan and become its vassal.

"Geniuses were always few; ordinary ninjas were the majority.

"Ninjutsu was of vital importance to ninja clans. How many people did a ninja clan even have? Even ninja clan members could not necessarily become powerful ninjas.

"Vassal ninjas who used a clan's ninjutsu were an excellent supplement to that clan's strength.

"This entrenched monopoly allowed ninja clans to endure for over a thousand years.

"Konoha was made up of dozens of ninja clans, large and small: the Senju Clan, the Uchiha Clan, the Hyuga Clan, the Sarutobi Clan, the three Ino-Shika-Cho clans, and so on. Even the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, had no ability to change this situation.

"Therefore, ninja clans were extremely sensitive about whether the village would make ninjutsu available to commoner ninja.

"Every commoner ninja who grew up had once wanted to promote ninjutsu at the Ninja Academy, and such efforts were always met with joint resistance from the ninja clans.

"Minato Namikaze, I heard that you are teaching ninjutsu to people outside the village.

"The ninja clans have reason to suspect that the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, is seeking a compromise through this method.

"If the ninja clans compromise and agree to teach ninjutsu to those outside the village, then teaching ninjutsu to commoner ninja within the village would become even more justifiable."

Minato Namikaze's head began to ache. He had only wanted to exchange agricultural ninjutsu for some Power of Reformation. Who would have thought there were so many twists and turns involved?

He was still considering how to answer when Kushina spoke first.

"Mr. Orochimaru, then are you and Teacher Jiraiya vassals of the Sarutobi Clan?"

Minato hurriedly reached over to cover Kushina's mouth. Good heavens, Orochimaru and Jiraiya were both extraordinarily proud people. How could they possibly admit to being vassals of the Sarutobi Clan?

Orochimaru sneered and spoke in an icy voice:

"Before the Sarutobi Clan is exterminated, we are nominally indeed vassals of the Sarutobi Clan.

"However, we also have the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, to thank. The Second Hokage's Ninja Academy, combined with the teacher-disciple system, partially dissolved the system of ninja clans and vassal ninjas.

"The Sarutobi Clan produced our teacher, and no one can order the two of us around. Still, we will provide assistance to the Sarutobi Clan when appropriate."

Cold sweat trickled down Minato's forehead. This Orochimaru was quite something too, admitting it so bluntly.

And what did he mean by, "before the Sarutobi Clan is exterminated"? Had Orochimaru actually contemplated the possibility of the Sarutobi Clan being wiped out?

Minato Namikaze hurriedly changed the subject. "Teacher Orochimaru, please let me explain myself!"