Aizen's Little Lecture

Aizen's teaching room.

"I'm truly very sorry!"

"..."

Watching the uncle before him prostrate himself on the floor with his hands clasped in an exaggerated apology, Kakashi's brow twitched. He felt that he really was still too young.

Perhaps because all the adults Kakashi had encountered were dependable, composed, and elegant, he had unknowingly developed a kind of respect for adults that he could not quite explain.

There was Sosuke Aizen, who had always been courteous, honest, and reliable; the cat-masked uncle in the same Haori who had followed him to pull weeds from graves; and the stern-looking ANBU and staff who occasionally appeared in Aizen's courtyard.

Every one of them looked talented and thoroughly professional. Even when Kakashi passed through the village, those people who imitated Aizen by wearing Haori around Konoha would take the initiative to help others. Whether it was assisting vendors or handling minor errands, people could go to them for help.

After being immersed in such an environment for several months, Kakashi had unknowingly formed a fantasy about what adults were like.

In his ideal image, adults should perhaps be like that.

Courteous, calm, and unhurried in the face of major events. That was how an adult ought to be.

Then Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, completely disgusted him by lying on the floor like a toad with his hands clasped together.

How could there be such a shameless adult in this world?

First, he had questioned Kakashi's development abilities. Then he had insulted the safety of his work as a researcher. Now he had come begging for forgiveness with this rogue-like attitude. Couldn't he speak properly like an adult?

And according to Kakashi's recollections, Jiraiya, this so-called Sannin, really did not seem to be a good person. Peeping into women's baths and constantly harassing women—if he had not been one of the powerful and exceptionally capable Sannin, he would probably have been dragged off to the correction department for reeducation long ago.

Even as Jiraiya admitted his mistake and apologized, his attitude and behavior made the veins on Kakashi's forehead throb. As one of the Sannin, a leader among Konoha Ninja, a veteran Ninja who had endured years of war, and the Third Hokage's disciple, this white-haired older Ninja who looked rather like him lay on the ground and shouted:

"Just forgive me this once, little brother Kakashi! Besides, I only meant well. I never thought your research would be this impressive!"

"..."

The vein on Kakashi's forehead twitched again.

"Ah, how about this? We can study Sage Mode together. That Blut Arterie of yours has such an awful name, and this is Mount Myōboku's secret technique, you know? It's much better than burying your head in research. Don't you want to learn it?"

"..."

Veins spread across Kakashi's forehead, faintly turning red.

"Oh, right! If that still doesn't work, I've got some good stuff here. I wrote it on the battlefield and haven't sent it to a publisher yet. Want to take a look first?"

"...Hah."

Looking at the clear sky, Kakashi Hatake closed his eyes and let out a deep breath.

Then he turned to look at Jiraiya, one of the Sannin, who had somehow gotten to his feet and was grinning broadly.

After Aizen's teachings, Kakashi had begun to understand what scientific analysis was, and why one should not get angry when facing illiterates and arrogant people.

So he merely looked at the joking, deliberately foolish Jiraiya calmly, objectively, and expressionlessly.

"First, Blut Arterie is not the so-called immature technique you imagine it to be. We studied your Sage Mode, which uses special methods to balance its components, long ago. The answer is that it has no universal applicability."

"?"

"Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode probably requires special materials and long-term training. Then, through one's own adaptability, it continually adjusts the ratio of Nature Energy and Chakra. After actively circulating it, it becomes a long-lasting instinctive state, right? If I'm not mistaken, someone may even need another person's assistance if they are not proficient enough."

"??"

"So our development of Blut Arterie does not require such ancient and backward technology. It is too individual-dependent and lacks universal applicability. Why can't Sage Mode be widely adopted? Because its requirements for physique, talent, and understanding are far too harsh. Control over one's own Chakra, the ability to distinguish Nature Energy, and the fear of petrification—there are reasons in all those areas."

"???"

"It's not that we can't do it. We chose the current Blut Arterie because that method lacks universal applicability and isn't safe. Try to understand what universal applicability means, Uncle."

"U-Uncle?!"

None of the previous attacks had been as damaging as that final "Uncle."

Jiraiya stared dumbfoundedly at the little brat talking away before him, having no idea what the hell he was talking about.

But he understood two things. First, the kid was saying the Toad Sage's secret technique could not be promoted for everyone to use. That was indeed true; objective reality simply did not allow it.

But the second thing made Jiraiya a little angry. Who was he calling Uncle? Sure, he had already trained Ninja like Minato, and Minato was even beginning to become a Jonin, but Jiraiya himself was still in the prime of his life! How was he an uncle?

"Hey! Brat! Take back what you said! Apologize to Mount Myōboku's secret technique and to me! How am I that old?!"

"Only Old Men care about their age."

"Damn it!"

One big and one small, the two faced off against each other, glaring as though sparks were crackling between them.

On one side was Jiraiya, a veteran Ninja with Sage Mode and the advantage of age. On the other was Kakashi Hatake, Konoha's newly risen Genius, who had already taken charge of the development of Blut Arterie and Blut Vene at such a young age.

No matter how one looked at it, the two sides seemed to be on a collision course. Though it had started with one Ninja acting disgracefully for his age while the other had no intention of respecting his elders, the two had ended up clashing head-on.

When Aizen opened the door and entered, this was exactly the strange scene he found.

"Ah, Lord Jiraiya, Kakashi-kun, are you two having a pleasant chat?"

"Yes! How could teasing a child possibly make me angry?"

"Not at all."

Faced with these completely opposite answers, even Aizen froze for a moment.

Kakashi turned his head aside with an icy expression, while Jiraiya wore a somewhat forced grin and tried to pat Kakashi's hair. Kakashi used the Body Flicker Technique to evade behind Aizen.

That familiar technique made Jiraiya pause in surprise. Just as he was about to ask, Aizen pushed up his glasses and gently began explaining on behalf of Kakashi behind him.

"Lord Jiraiya, Kakashi-kun is a rare genius in technical development. Without Kakashi-kun, many things could not actually be developed, nor could they be widely adopted. Even children can use Blut Arterie without any adverse effects. Lord Jiraiya should understand what that means."

"Huh? Ah, that's true, but Mount Myōboku's Sage Mode is incredibly powerful. You really don't plan to learn it? And that Instant Step from earlier, was that developed by you too?"

"As for the former, we do not intend to learn it. As Kakashi-kun said, no matter how powerful Mount Myōboku's secret technique is, we cannot make it universally available."

Aizen looked at Jiraiya and shook his head with some regret, explaining very gently:

"As for the latter, it is Instant Step, reverse-engineered based on the materials provided by the Sannin. The other party had already displayed all the theoretical principles and Results. Kakashi-kun is also a genius, so successfully reproducing it was only natural."

"..."

Then why can't I do it?

Seeing the smug look on the seven-year-old's face, Jiraiya wisely swallowed those words.

People were different from one another. Jiraiya had understood that long ago. But for a seven-year-old child to be stronger than him, one of the Sannin...

Perhaps sensing the root of Jiraiya's complicated expression, Aizen, who was walking ahead, suddenly asked in a low voice:

"Next, I will be discussing matters related to development and teaching with Kakashi-kun. If Senior Jiraiya does not mind...?"

"Oh! Let me listen in too. I'm rather curious what kind of technique could make you think it's so much stronger than Mount Myōboku's secret technique. Let me make this clear beforehand—if there are any mistakes, I won't hesitate to point them out."

"That would be wonderful. I also happen to need a senior in this field to point out my oversights. Working behind closed doors will inevitably leave some gaps. Thank you very much."

"Then I'll begin."

Aizen gave a slight bow toward Jiraiya, who seemed somewhat embarrassed by the flattery, then wrote a string of words in the air.

This display made Jiraiya reveal a surprised expression.

Anyone could leave traces in the air with Chakra, but not everyone could keep it condensed without dispersing like this.

Could a Chunin truly accomplish something that resembled such a small miracle? Even Jiraiya himself probably could not do something like this.

After writing the string of words in midair, Aizen turned to look at the two before him. Then he looked at the patch of golden hair some distance away, smiled gently, and addressed everyone in a low voice:

"Today, I will discuss the possibilities and methods of using Chakra."

"Since this is only a discussion, please feel free to speak your minds."

"That includes you too, Minato-kun."

Aizen placed the solidified Chakra before himself, pushed up his glasses, looked at the three utterly astonished figures, and smiled faintly.