Choice of Ninjutsu

Minato first explained that Gengetsu could exchange his contribution for ninjutsu, then asked, "Gengetsu, what ninjutsu are you planning to choose?"

"Brother Minato, Sister Kushina, what do you think would be the safest ninjutsu for me to choose?"

Gengetsu asked in return.

"Of course, powerful ninjutsu!"

Kushina rushed to answer, then suggested, "Choose the Flying Thunder God Technique. Minato can teach you his training experience!"

Cold sweat immediately beaded on Minato's forehead. It was not that he thought Gengetsu's Chakra Nature Transformation training method was not worth the Flying Thunder God Technique. Rather, Gengetsu was only eight years old. Although he was exceptionally talented, training in the Flying Thunder God Technique would likely take a tremendous amount of time, and he might not even succeed.

The fact that only the Second Hokage and Minato had mastered it in all of Konoha's history was enough to demonstrate the difficulty of this ninjutsu. Moreover, even if he mastered it, it might not suit him. Applying the Flying Thunder God Technique in actual combat placed extremely high demands on one's neural reflexes, and clearly, Gengetsu was still far from meeting that standard.

But before he could speak, Gengetsu shook his head. "Sister Kushina, although the Flying Thunder God Technique is powerful, it doesn't suit me right now!"

"Is that so? Then choose the Second Hokage's Water Release: Water Severing Wave. This ninjutsu has incredibly strong piercing power and a long attack range. It's perfect for you!"

Kushina suggested again.

Minato breathed a sigh of relief. This time, it was a reliable suggestion.

Gengetsu nodded, but then asked, "Sister Kushina, Brother Minato, how many ninjutsu do you think I can choose to learn?"

"At least five, one ninjutsu for each Chakra Nature Transformation!"

Kushina answered without hesitation. Minato wiped away the fresh cold sweat and thought, With Kushina here, the Third Hokage should agree, right?

"If I can choose five, then I'll take the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and one each from Water Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, and Lightning Release. As for Fire Release, I can deal with that later!"

Gengetsu stated his plan. Honestly, as far as he could remember, Konoha did not really have any particularly powerful Fire Release ninjutsu. The truly formidable Fire Release techniques seemed to all belong to the Uchiha Clan. He had no idea whether the Scroll of Seals contained any.

"A very balanced selection!"

Minato commented. Then, after thinking for a moment, he said, "As for the specifics, we'll discuss them after meeting the Third Hokage tomorrow!"

The next day, Gengetsu decisively took leave and headed out with Kushina and Minato, the whole family making their way to the Hokage Office.

"What a genius idea..."

Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but marvel as he looked through the training notes Gengetsu had organized. Moreover, he keenly sensed that if this method spread, Konoha might gain quite a few more Jonin. Every Jonin was someone capable of standing on their own!

"My decision back then was indeed correct!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi was deeply relieved that he had not agreed to Danzo's request.

"A brilliant innovation, and one of great significance to the village as well. So, Gengetsu, what reward do you want?"

Holding a pipe in one hand, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Gengetsu warmly.

Gengetsu immediately replied respectfully, "Third Hokage, I have already mastered five Chakra Nature Transformations, so I would like to train in the corresponding ninjutsu!"

"Mm, a very reasonable request!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled and nodded. After some thought, he said, "You may choose six ninjutsu. For the sixth, choose the Shadow Clone Technique. It will be useful to you!"

"So generous!"

Gengetsu was delighted. An idea suddenly struck him, and he said, "Third Hokage, can I choose the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique that Sister Kushina trained in?"

"Hmm?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi raised his brows. He calmly glanced at the smiling Kushina, then nodded. "You can, but the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique is a forbidden technique. You must be careful when training it!"

Kushina immediately said, "Third Hokage, don't worry. With me teaching him, nothing will happen!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded, then instructed the ANBU to bring over the ninjutsu catalog for Gengetsu to make his choices.

"Though it isn't the Scroll of Seals..."

Gengetsu's eyes gleamed. In the original story, Konoha had far too many ninjutsu that had shone brilliantly.

Impure World Reincarnation, Dead Demon Consuming Seal, Flying Thunder God, Eight Gates Formation, even Wood Release.

Calm down. What suits me is the best!

At Hiruzen Sarutobi's signal, Gengetsu stepped forward and began choosing ninjutsu.

At a glance, there was a dazzling variety of ninjutsu names, seemingly containing everything one could want.

"After the accumulation of several generations, it truly is extraordinary. Konoha's collection of ninjutsu is probably the most comprehensive among all the major ninja villages!"

Gengetsu secretly marveled. He did not make his choices immediately, instead browsing through everything first. After all, there was no actual content here yet. Only after he made his choices would Hiruzen Sarutobi bring out the actual Scroll of Seals or other ninjutsu scrolls and make copies for him.

Time slowly passed. Kushina stood beside him, continuously offering suggestions. Both Minato and Hiruzen Sarutobi broke out in cold sweat as they listened. Judging by Kushina's attitude, she wished she could take away every powerful ninjutsu.

I really want to snatch them all!

An impulse rose in Gengetsu's heart. He gritted his teeth, stopped looking any further, and began making his choices.

Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Water Release: Water Severing Wave, Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Fire Release: Fire Dragon Flame Bullet, Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall, Secret Technique: Spirit Transformation Technique!

When they heard the final ninjutsu's name, all three people present froze.

"Spirit Transformation Technique, Gengetsu, you..."

Minato stared at Gengetsu in surprise.

Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned. "Gengetsu, this ninjutsu does not suit you!"

Although the Spirit Transformation Technique was immensely powerful, its weaknesses were also obvious. More importantly, in his view, this S-Rank Technique was less useful to Gengetsu than an A-Rank Technique.

Gengetsu hurriedly explained, "Third Hokage, Brother Minato, Sister Kushina, I chose this ninjutsu because I want to use it to further research spiritual energy and find a way to train Yin Release and Yang Release Chakra!"

"Hmm, I see. That is acceptable!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi held immense expectations in his heart, and seeing this, Minato no longer tried to dissuade or stop him.

Of the six ninjutsu, only the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Water Severing Wave, and Spirit Transformation Technique were recorded in the Scroll of Seals. Hiruzen Sarutobi personally copied those three and handed them to Gengetsu, while ANBU ninja copied the others from their respective ninjutsu scrolls.

With the ninjutsu selection complete, Hiruzen Sarutobi encouraged him warmly, "Gengetsu, I look forward to seeing you become an outstanding ninja and inherit Konoha's Will of Fire!"

Gengetsu immediately replied with sincere respect, "Third Hokage, I will work hard and train seriously!"

After returning home, Gengetsu immediately began learning the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique under Kushina's guidance. To be honest, this technique was not difficult. It was an advanced version of the Shadow Clone Technique. The reason it had been classified as a forbidden technique was that it consumed an enormous amount of Chakra. If one lacked sufficient Chakra, it could cause their body to collapse.

In other words, only those with large Chakra reserves were suited to train this technique. And without question, Gengetsu was one of them.

After several months of training, he had perfectly mastered the Chakra Refining Technique. Because of the Uzumaki Clan's Sage Body, although his Chakra reserves still could not compare to Kushina's, they far surpassed Minato's, even though Minato had already become a Jonin.

According to Minato's estimate not long ago, Gengetsu's Chakra reserves were at least around thirty times his own. And this was far from Gengetsu's limit. He still had plenty of room to grow.

It had to be said that the Uzumaki Clan was practically cheating too, even if it was only a minor cheat!

Thus, Gengetsu mastered the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique in just three minutes. Then, in one breath, he created more than sixty Shadow Clones, filling the entire backyard.

"Damn it, I can finally train with cheats!"

Looking at the Shadow Clones, Gengetsu could not help roaring inwardly.

So, without hesitation, he left one Shadow Clone at home to study the Spirit Transformation Technique, while the Main Body bid Kushina and Minato farewell and went out to train.

At the riverside where he often trained, Gengetsu stopped. He closed his eyes and carefully recalled the hand seal sequence for Water Release: Water Severing Wave, along with the training pointers left by the Second Hokage. Only after a moment did he open his eyes and begin forming hand seals.

Water Release: Water Severing Wave!

After completing the seals, Gengetsu opened his mouth and spat out a blade-like stream of water. It shot forth with incredible speed, piercing straight through two large trees three meters away in succession.

However, its power stopped there.

Gengetsu looked at the result and nodded in satisfaction. Achieving this level on his first attempt was already quite good. This ninjutsu was extremely difficult to train in. The reason he had succeeded was thanks to his continual Water Release training and insights over the past few months, which had brought his mastery of Water Release to a very profound level.

After thinking for a moment and reviewing his gains and losses, Gengetsu formed hand seals again. However, before he could finish, his brows furrowed. He sensed someone approaching.

Whoosh! Whoosh!

The sound of something cutting through the air suddenly rang out. Two kunai flew toward him, one after another, each carrying an Exploding Tag.

Gengetsu's pupils contracted, and he immediately leaped backward. But in the next instant, all the hairs on his body stood on end. Someone had been hiding in the river as well. They now emerged from the water and rapidly formed hand seals.

"Danzo, screw you!"