Minato's Flying Thunder God

In Training Ground No. 7, a kunai engraved with the Ouroboros pattern was stuck into the ground.

With a sharp "whoosh," two figures appeared out of thin air at the same time.

Minato Namikaze was just one step away from completing his Flying Thunder God training—he only needed to attempt a teleportation on the space-time level. If he succeeded, he would have fully mastered it.

But he still planned to discuss this final step cautiously with Orochimaru, never expecting that Orochimaru had already learned Flying Thunder God before him.

As expected of Lord Orochimaru, one of the Three Ninja alongside his teacher!

After learning about Minato's progress, Orochimaru intended to take Minato to experience the sensation of a Flying Thunder God teleportation firsthand.

Once he sensed the technique had been activated, he needed to resonate his own Chakra with the Chakra sealed within the technique's formula to perform the spatial jump.

A contemplative expression appeared on Minato Namikaze's face, but it was quickly interrupted.

"Minato! I brought you a bento!"

Kushina wore an apron, her red hair fluttering in the wind. Minato turned his head, and upon seeing his beloved's face, he broke into a warm, sunlit smile.

Mito Uzumaki regarded Kushina Uzumaki as family, and she had a close relationship with Tsunade, Mito's granddaughter.

But her interactions with Tsunade's teammate Orochimaru were few—at least, that was the case before she met Minato.

Now, she already saw Orochimaru as Minato's second mentor, and Minato's elders were her elders too.

"Senior Orochimaru, would you like some?"

Kushina opened the lunchbox, revealing food with a bizarre appearance that rivaled a Stargazy Pie—clearly homemade, brimming with love for Minato...

"Sorry... I've already eaten. Besides, this is your care for Minato; there's no need for me."

Orochimaru shook his head, ignoring Minato's pleading gaze.

You can enjoy this blessing yourself—consider it payback for feeding me dog food.

Minato's hands trembled as he picked up his chopsticks, lifting a piece of burnt fish.

On missions, his hands never shook when slitting an enemy's throat with a kunai, but before Kushina's cooking, he couldn't control them.

"Minato, you must be really tired—you can't even hold your chopsticks right. Let me feed you!"

Kushina's voice was full of concern, but to Orochimaru, it sounded terrifying.

Minato tried to refuse, but Kushina shoved a piece of fish into his mouth.

He closed his eyes, helplessly shedding tears of "happiness."

"Minato, tell me—is it good?"

"It's a very unique taste. How to put it... it's the first time in my life I've encountered such a distinctive flavor."

Minato didn't want to lie, so he could only put it euphemistically.

Kushina didn't catch on. She crossed her arms and laughed heartily.

"Looks like I really have a talent for cooking! Minato, from now on, I'll handle your dinners!"

Kushina clenched one fist, speaking with boundless energy.

"No need! Really, no need... I mean, I'm worried you'll tire yourself out, Kushina. From now on, I'll do the cooking!"

Minato's words were dripping with survival instinct.

In the end, under Kushina's forceful attitude, Minato had no choice but to accept.

When he was away on missions and she had nothing to do, Kushina would either chat with Mikoto or just be bored. Cooking was a new hobby she'd found, and Minato couldn't refuse it.

"Minato, have you rested enough? If so, get up and continue training."

Watching Minato numbly open his mouth, "enjoying" Kushina's gentle feeding, Orochimaru thought it over and extended a helping hand.

"Yes, Orochimaru-sensei!"

Minato's attitude toward Orochimaru underwent a major shift, and his address for him changed.

This was a life-saving grace! If he kept eating, he didn't know if something would happen to him.

Besides, whether with the Rasengan or now the Flying Thunder God, Orochimaru had been a tremendous help to him. Combined with the relationship between Orochimaru and Jiraiya, Minato felt there was no issue with calling him sensei.

"What's this! Senior Orochimaru is so strict—Minato hasn't even finished his meal yet!"

Kushina was a bit dissatisfied. She'd put so much effort into making the food, even bringing it to Minato without tasting a bite herself, and he'd only eaten this much.

"Ahaha, Kushina, Orochimaru-sensei may be strict, but he's really helped me a lot!"

Minato tried to dissuade Kushina. Orochimaru's timely intervention had been a huge help—it had practically saved his life! How could that not be a big help?

Kushina had no choice but to agree, since it was for Minato's own good.

"Orochimaru-sensei, I feel like I can start trying now."

Minato said to Orochimaru.

"Since the feeling is there, seize it."

Orochimaru nodded.

Minato pulled a kunai engraved with the Kunai of Ninja Love from his ninja tool pouch, flicked his wrist, and tossed it forward.

Whoosh

A flash of golden light, and before the kunai could even hit the ground, Minato had already appeared on the other side of the training ground, one hand gripping the kunai's handle.

He just learned it, and he can already use the Flying Thunder God Second Step...

Such talent, such reaction speed. Minato's aptitude as a ninja—even Orochimaru found himself amazed by it.

Minato held the Flying Thunder God Kunai, turned around, and said joyfully, "Orochimaru-sensei, I did it!"

Orochimaru nodded in admiration and gave Minato a thumbs up.

"Eh? You mastered it that quickly? As expected of Minato! The food hasn't gotten cold yet, Minato, come eat up!"

Kushina said with equal surprise. Hearing this, Minato's face twisted in horror.

Orochimaru licked his lips, shrugged his shoulders, and left the training ground, leaving a petrified Minato behind.

For the next while, Orochimaru planned to take a good rest.

The exhaustion from the war period went without saying—as Deputy Commander, he not only had to go to the battlefield but also handle affairs while other ninjas rested.

After returning, there was the research on the Cosmic Cube, the manufacturing and improvement of instruments, and the training of the Flying Thunder God Technique. If it weren't for Shadow Clones, there was no way he could have accomplished so much in just over a year.

Unlike Jiraiya, who liked peeping in bathhouses, and Tsunade, who enjoyed gambling and drinking, Orochimaru's way of relaxing was more casual.

He was now walking down the streets of Konoha in a white kimono, its sash fluttering in the breeze, occasionally smiling and greeting the villagers. He just had to be careful not to suddenly stick his tongue out too far and scare people.

His prestige was at its peak now. Ever since the Third Hokage had tied the Hokage Armband on him the day he returned to the village, everyone in the village recognized him.

In the past, Orochimaru hadn't really cared much about his outward appearance—it was just a shell to him.

But after merging with another soul, Orochimaru's perspective had changed, and he strongly agreed with one saying:

Strength is temporary, but style is forever!

In his youth, Orochimaru's looks were already decent. Now, the cold, snake-like aura that once clung to him had been dispersed by the Divine Dragon's presence carried by the Dragon Yuan, making him appear quite the handsome young man.

After accepting gifts from enthusiastic villagers and signing a few autographs for children playing ninja games by the roadside, Orochimaru noticed Mito Uzumaki walking over hurriedly.

"Sorry, everyone, I have matters to attend to, so I'll take my leave."

The villagers understandingly took their children away, leaving the space for Mito Uzumaki and Orochimaru.

"There are too many people here. Let's talk at my place."

Seeing that Mito Uzumaki was about to speak, Orochimaru suggested.

At home, Orochimaru poured a cup of tea and handed it to Mito Uzumaki.

This was an ultra-premium tea leaf costing two hundred thousand ryo per pound, and Orochimaru didn't have much stock.

Mito Uzumaki took only a light sip, then pulled out a kunai. On the kunai were three large dots, which Orochimaru thought looked like Three-Color Dumplings.

"Orochimaru-sama, I have already mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique, but inscribing the technique formula is very difficult. It takes me a day to make one, and there's still a chance of failure."

Those three dumplings were the pattern of Mito Uzumaki's Flying Thunder God technique formula.

The speed at which Mito Uzumaki could inscribe the formula was limited by his skill in Sealing Jutsu.

In truth, ninety-nine percent of ninjas in the shinobi world never even got to touch something as lofty as Sealing Jutsu, and even if they did, it was hard to get started.

In the original story, during the Konoha Crush Plan, Orochimaru had shown surprise when he saw Kakashi's Sealing Brand Technique.

Mito Uzumaki already had a basic foundation in Sealing Jutsu, which was quite rare, and his ability to successfully inscribe the technique formula now owed much to the insights Orochimaru had given him.

It was different for Minato Namikaze—he had Kushina as his girlfriend, who had inherited all of Mito Uzumaki's legacy.

From the scroll Kushina had given Orochimaru, he believed her Sealing Jutsu skill was extremely high, even reaching the level of a master.

Minato's considerable proficiency in Sealing Jutsu surely involved Kushina's guidance.