Minato's Recognition

The afternoon sunlight filtered through the newly installed wooden lattice windows, spilling across the spotless floor of Taoyuan Village's medical district. The air carried the fresh scent of medicinal herbs and a vigorous vitality. Duanmu Ci had just finished a delicate tendon repair surgery and was wiping his fingers with a warm towel. The precise Chakra control granted by his Sage Body had made the operation flow effortlessly, with results far surpassing those of ordinary medical ninja.

Shizune hurried in, an unusual trace of excitement on her face. "Lord Duanmu, Jonin Minato Namikaze has come to visit. He is waiting in the reception room."

"Oh?" Duanmu Ci raised a brow and set down the towel. The Yellow Flash—the future Fourth Hokage and Konoha's current hero. He straightened his medical robe and nodded to Shizune. "I understand. I'll go over now."

The reception room was simply yet comfortably furnished, with several wicker chairs arranged around a smooth wooden table grown by Duanmu Ci. Minato Namikaze sat there, his signature blond hair gleaming beneath the sunlight. His azure eyes were gentle, yet sharp enough to see through everything. A warm, approachable smile rested on his face, but it could not conceal the composed bearing of a true powerhouse.

"Jonin Minato, welcome to Taoyuan Village." Duanmu Ci entered with a smile and extended his hand.

Minato immediately stood and clasped Duanmu Ci's hand firmly, his smile sincere. "Duanmu, no need to be so formal. Just call me Minato. I've long heard of the Konoha Azure Dragon and Taoyuan Village. Now that I've seen it for myself, the reputation is well deserved. The atmosphere here gives people more peace of mind and hope than Konoha Hospital."

"You flatter me, Minato." Duanmu Ci gestured for him to sit as Shizune brought over two cups of clear tea at just the right moment. "I am simply doing my best to provide the injured with a better environment for recovery. Your Flying Thunder God Technique, on the other hand, is elusive and unpredictable, renowned throughout the ninja world. It is truly admirable."

Minato waved a hand modestly. "It is only the Body Flicker Technique. Duanmu, your Wood Release and that powerful Life Force of yours are what truly astonish people. Seeing you use that power to heal and protect others is deeply gratifying." His gaze swept over the expanding residential area outside the window and the faint outline of the training grounds in the distance. "Taoyuan Village... That name carries a beautiful wish, doesn't it?"

Duanmu Ci lifted his teacup. For an instant, the rising steam blurred his vision, and fragments of memories from his previous life—war and peace—flashed through his mind. "Yes, Minato. The ninja world has endured too many wars, leaving behind too many scars and too many orphans. Taoyuan Village is an attempt by Lady Tsunade and me. We hope to build a sanctuary, a place where the wounds left by war can heal, where the weary can catch their breath, and where the next generation can grow up in relative peace. Beyond protecting, perhaps the purpose of power should also include creating the soil in which peace can take root."

Strong resonance and admiration flashed through Minato's azure eyes as he leaned forward slightly. "Protection and creation... Duanmu, your thoughts align perfectly with mine! I have always believed that true power is meant to protect what one cherishes and bring meaningless conflict to an end. The next generation... they deserve a better future." He paused, a note of probing entering his voice. "But to achieve such an ideal, I'm afraid the resistance you face will not be small—whether from within or without."

Duanmu Ci naturally understood Minato's underlying meaning, which pointed to conservative forces such as Danzo. His expression remained calm. "The road must always be walked one step at a time. Taoyuan Village is still very weak, but at least we have already begun. I believe that as long as the direction is right, like-minded people will eventually join us, and strength will continue to gather through the act of protecting." He deftly avoided directly discussing the struggles among the higher-ups and instead asked, "By the way, Minato, I've always been curious about your Flying Thunder God Technique. Is that instantaneous movement across space based on an ultimate perception and positioning of spatial coordinates?"

Minato was somewhat surprised by Duanmu Ci's change of topic, but he was also quite interested in the technical question. "That's right. The core of the Flying Thunder God Technique lies in marking and sensing spatial coordinates, as well as precisely controlling the instantaneous, explosive injection of Chakra into the technique formula. One needs an extremely keen 'feel' for space..."

Duanmu Ci nodded. The passive abilities of the Rinnegan had given him spatial perception far beyond that of ordinary people. While he was nowhere near capable of manipulating space, he at least had a foundation for understanding its principles. He tried to describe what he felt. "Space... in my perception, it is not entirely empty. It is like layers upon layers of invisible 'membranes,' with subtle folds and nodes. Powerful Chakra fluctuations—or special markers like Flying Thunder God kunai—are like stones cast into water. They create specific ripples and 'indentations' across those membranes..." As he spoke, he lightly tapped and traced above his teacup with his fingers, as though sketching an invisible spatial structure.

At first, Minato merely listened attentively. But as Duanmu Ci continued, the surprise in his eyes deepened. Though abstract, Duanmu Ci's description struck directly at the most fundamental and hardest-to-express essence of spatial perception in the Flying Thunder God Technique! This was absolutely not a conclusion one could reach through theoretical deduction alone. It was more like a talent for directly "seeing" or "touching" the subtle changes in space itself!

"Duanmu... You!" Minato could not help sitting up straighter, his eyes gleaming. "Your perception of space... is actually this sharp and unique! This... this is simply unheard of! Your description is more profound than that of many seniors who have studied spacetime ninjutsu for years!" The way he looked at Duanmu Ci changed completely. It was no longer simple admiration; it now held a greater degree of regard and curiosity. The potential of someone who could perceive the properties of space so clearly was simply unfathomable.

Duanmu Ci stopped at the appropriate point and gave a slightly apologetic smile. "It is only a vague personal feeling of mine. I have made a fool of myself before an expert. The intricacies of the Flying Thunder God Technique are far beyond what I can fathom."

But Minato shook his head solemnly. "No, Duanmu. Your perception is extremely valuable and has given me new inspiration. Perhaps... we can exchange more insights on spatial perception in the future?" He had taken the initiative to extend an olive branch. This meant that he regarded Duanmu Ci as someone with whom he could discuss the deepest mysteries of ninjutsu as an equal—and perhaps even as an important future companion.