Return to the Village

Back in the cave, the two of them faced the Slug Sage again, already homesick.

The Slug Sage was simply a conversation killer.

"Slug Sage, how do we get back?"

Kawafune suddenly realized something terrifying. It seemed no one in Konoha used this Summoning Slug anymore, which meant the Reverse Summoning Jutsu might not work.

"Don't worry. I already left a clone at your home."

The Slug Sage seemed to see through Kawafune's thoughts. Walking all the way back to Konoha from here would drive anyone mad.

"Haha, Slug Sage, you really are incredibly meticulous."

Kawafune was genuinely delighted as he praised the Slug Sage. The service was truly thorough—pickup and delivery included.

"Not really. I left a clone in case something happened to you, so I could send the puddle of pus you turned into back home."

"Don't you humans care about being buried in your homeland?"

As soon as the Slug Sage finished speaking, Tsunade could not help laughing, while Kawafune's face went completely dark.

"Slug Sage, you really are one fine bug."

If he had not known the Slug Sage would not understand, Kawafune definitely would have mocked it sarcastically.

"Send us back, Slug Sage."

Tsunade spoke on Kawafune's behalf.

"Alright."

Before long, the two vanished into smoke from Shikkotsu Forest.

When they appeared again, they were in a patch of damp grass within the Hatake Clan's Training Hall.

Slugs liked this sort of environment, and Kawafune could understand that.

After thanking the Slug Sage's clone beside them, they quickly stepped out.

Only a day had passed since Kawafune left, and it was now afternoon.

Nawaki and Minato had been practicing Sword Art, but both of them ran over at once.

"Big sister, big brother."

"Teacher, mistress."

Tsunade had originally felt somewhat unaccustomed to Minato's form of address, but after this trip to Shikkotsu Forest, she accepted it calmly.

"Nawaki, do you have a summoned beast?"

"Ah, I do."

"A snake?"

Nawaki nodded and was pushed aside by Kawafune.

"Minato, you don't have a summoned beast yet, right?"

"No, Teacher."

"Good. I think the Slug Sage is very suitable for you."

As he spoke, Kawafune dragged Minato over to the Slug Sage's clone.

There were no complications. In a daze, Minato signed his name on the contract scroll in blood.

He lost his chance to summon Gamabunta.

After settling the matter, the Slug Sage left on its own.

From now on, Kawafune would not have to worry about being unable to return after taking Tsunade to Shikkotsu Forest.

"Teacher, have you finished your training?"

Minato was a sensible child. Though he did not know what jutsu Kawafune had gone away to train in, Uncle Sakumo's actions had made it clear that it was something very dangerous.

"Yes. When you grow up, we'll see if you can learn it."

Kawafune reached out and rubbed the little sun's head. He remembered that Minato could use Sage Art in the original story as well.

"Big brother, I want to learn too."

Nawaki refused to be outdone. How could he possibly fall out of favor?

"Go find Orochimaru."

Kawafune did not dare let Nawaki practice recklessly. If he turned into a puddle of pus, Tsunade, who doted on her little brother, would cry herself to death.

"Alright, go train."

"Kawafune-kun and I are going to change clothes."

Having changed environments, Tsunade could no longer stand the smell on herself. She sent her brother and Minato away.

She went to bathe with Kawafune, with one bathroom each.

Sakumo had taken his wife somewhere unknown, and even the Ghost Mastiff was nowhere to be seen.

After washing up and changing into clean clothes, Kawafune did not foolishly wait for Tsunade. She would not even let him wash with her. So stingy.

He went to the Training Hall and put his drive into action immediately.

"Minato, come here."

Kawafune sat down before a stone table as a servant brought fresh tea.

"What is it, Teacher?"

Minato put his wooden sword back on the weapon rack and ran over.

Though still young, his speed was already beginning to show its promise.

"Do you think you can gather a high-speed, irregularly moving ball of Chakra in your hand?"

Kawafune tried to max out Minato's talent through words alone.

But he did not know that Minato had drawn inspiration from the Tailed Beast Bomb, spending three years to develop this unfinished ninjutsu.

In theory, the non-elemental Rasengan could incorporate any elemental transformation and achieve even greater power.

Minato did not answer. He spread open his right hand, frowning.

He thought his teacher was testing him.

But he could not imagine something out of thin air. He simply could not picture what Kawafune was describing.

"I don't know, Teacher."

Kawafune was not surprised by Minato's answer. He was still too young. Perhaps he would be able to do it when he grew up.

He still needed to strengthen Minato's knowledge of ninjutsu, but that was not Kawafune's specialty. He would ask Tsunade later if she knew someone suitable.

"Then I'll give you a task. Develop the idea I just described into a ninjutsu."

"As for the time limit, I'll give you a year."

Kawafune even felt he was being generous. Minato was a genius, after all. Was a year too long?

Minato was still completely bewildered. How had he suddenly been tasked with developing a ninjutsu? He was only a Genin, alright?

"Teacher, I'll work hard."

In the end, he yielded to Kawafune's expectant gaze. The little sun became his teacher's workhorse.

"Go on. I'll find someone powerful to teach you ninjutsu theory later."

Kawafune would feel somewhat dissatisfied until he got the Rasengan into his own hand.

After bowing, Minato returned to practice swordsmanship beside Nawaki, though his attention was clearly no longer focused.

Who would not be dumbfounded if their teacher told them to develop a ninjutsu while they were still a Genin?

"Minato, what's wrong? You seem distracted."

Nawaki noticed that Minato had been out of sorts since returning and asked with concern.

The two sunny boys had long since become good friends.

"Teacher told me to develop a ninjutsu."

Minato hesitated even as he said it, because it all still felt like a dream.

"What?"

"Big brother wasn't joking, was he?"

Nawaki's mouth fell open. He had not expected Kawafune to be this outrageous.

A Genin? Developing a ninjutsu?

Did he think they were playing house?

"Teacher didn't look like he was joking. He even gave me a one-year deadline."

Minato and Nawaki chatted while slacking off.

Tsunade emerged after finishing her bath as well. After washing up, her entire bearing had improved, and she was no longer disheveled.

"Come here and give me a hug."

Kawafune spread his arms with ill intent, wanting to pull the beauty into his embrace.

Tsunade deftly dodged him and sat beside him.

"There are so many people here."

"Then when no one's around..."

"What do you think about all day?"

Tsunade knew exactly what Kawafune was after and cut him off, shooting him a glare.

She had rather the air of the head of the household.

As she drank the tea Kawafune poured for her, she finally felt that this was life. Shikkotsu Forest and all that was the worst.

"Do you know anyone especially skilled in ninjutsu? Introduce me to someone."

Kawafune did not keep flirting, or that would just become lecherous.

"Why?"

"The strongest is naturally Teacher. His title of Professor was not given for nothing."

Tsunade naturally praised Sarutobi Hiruzen, though he truly did have some skill in ninjutsu.

"He's not suitable. He's too busy."

"I want to find someone to teach Minato some ninjutsu theory. That isn't my specialty."

Kawafune did not mention that he had told Minato to develop a ninjutsu. He had acted on a momentary impulse.

Only after Minato left did he realize how difficult it was. The little sun was only ten years old this year.

Damn it, exploiting child labor would get someone arrested. Good thing Kawafune was in the Naruto World.