The Value of an A-Rank Ninjutsu

Namikaze Minato was immensely relieved that he had thrown the Rasenshuriken with all his strength.

"Brother Minato, did you throw that jutsu?"

Yamanaka Tohru remembered that, in the original story, Naruto had only perfected the Rasenshuriken after gaining Sage Chakra, allowing it to be thrown. Yet Namikaze Minato's Rasenshuriken could actually be thrown directly!

"That's right. I actually developed this jutsu last week, but I couldn't throw it. A jutsu this dangerous would definitely hurt its user if it couldn't be thrown. I added more chakra to it to maintain its stability, allowing it to fly for a while after leaving my hand before exploding."

After hearing Namikaze Minato's explanation, Yamanaka Tohru suddenly understood. Naruto's Rasenshuriken in the original story must have worked the same way—the addition of Sage Chakra allowed it to remain stable and greatly increased its power. Yet Namikaze Minato had managed to throw the Rasenshuriken even without Sage Chakra.

"Tohru, why does this jutsu's attack seem a little like Sand Shinobi poison?" Namikaze Minato could not see the changes within the jutsu without a Sharingan, so he asked Yamanaka Tohru.

"Brother Minato, the chakra Wind Blades inside the Rasenshuriken are numerous and tiny. When the jutsu explodes, the Wind Blades act directly on cells. A lot of poisons also act on cells, so they look a little similar!"

Namikaze Minato nodded. Through Yamanaka Tohru's explanation, he understood the jutsu's attack mechanism as well.

"Wait, Tohru! Why did you call [Spiral Whirlwind Flash Type Two] the Rasenshuriken? Though the jutsu does look rather like a shuriken."

Yamanaka Tohru was powerless to mock Namikaze Minato's naming ability, so he casually asked, "Brother Minato, who named the jutsu [Rasengan]?"

"My teacher, Jiraiya! The original name of [Rasengan] was [Spiral Whirlwind Flash Type One], but Teacher Jiraiya forced me to change it."

Yamanaka Tohru wore an expression of utter unsurprise. "Brother Minato, let's go back to the Third Training Ground. How about letting Sister Kushina decide the jutsu's name?"

Namikaze Minato thought it was a good idea to let Kushina name the new jutsu, so the two used [Flying Thunder God] to return directly to the Third Training Ground.

Namikaze Minato informed Kushina and Kakashi of the new jutsu's success, and both were happy for him.

Afterward, Yamanaka Tohru told Kushina about naming the new jutsu. After hearing it, Kushina gave Yamanaka Tohru a look that said, "Well done." Then Kushina made the decision on the spot: the new jutsu would be called [Wind Release: Rasenshuriken].

To celebrate the completion of the new jutsu, Namikaze Minato took the three of them out for barbecue.

In the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage stared at the massive crater in the Forest of Death, deeply troubled.

The Anbu ninja had already confirmed that no one had infiltrated Konoha. The guards at the Forest of Death's entrance had also said that no one had entered or left the forest.

After receiving the Anbu's report, the Third Hokage became even more uneasy. How could such a huge explosion have occurred in the Forest of Death if no one had gone in or out? It was practically as if a Tailed Beast Bomb had landed there.

The Third Hokage smoked his pipe, at a complete loss.

Another week passed. At Training Ground Three, Kakashi's Rasengan had finally begun to take shape.

After completing the Rasenshuriken's development, Namikaze Minato continued studying [Flying Thunder God], while Yamanaka Tohru began learning Sealing Jutsu from Kushina.

Kushina finally got to experience the pleasure of being a teacher.

The Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu was vast and profound. Over the course of a week, Yamanaka Tohru had only listened to Kushina explain the history of the Uzumaki Clan's Sealing Jutsu.

"Kushina, hold on a moment. There's something I want to discuss with Tohru."

Yamanaka Tohru found it strange. Namikaze Minato had spent every day of the past week studying [Flying Thunder God], so why did he suddenly have time to chat with him?

"Tohru, I want to submit [Rasengan] to the village."

"Wasn't this jutsu developed by you, Brother Minato? What does it have to do with me?"

Namikaze Minato shook his head. "Tohru, we developed this jutsu together. If I had been working alone, it would have taken at least another half year to perfect [Rasengan], not to mention develop [Wind Release: Rasenshuriken]. You helped me greatly. Without question, we developed this jutsu together."

Namikaze Minato spoke sincerely. Yamanaka Tohru had originally only wanted the right to use [Rasengan], but he had unexpectedly become one of its developers.

"Brother Minato, I agree. I'll go see the Hokage with you. I want to submit [Chidori] to the village as well."

Yamanaka Tohru's attitude made Namikaze Minato very happy. He had deep feelings for Konoha; in the words the Third Hokage often used, he was an inheritor of the Will of Fire. Not only had Yamanaka Tohru agreed to let him submit [Rasengan] to the village, but he was also willing to submit an A-rank ninjutsu he had developed himself. Naturally, Namikaze Minato was delighted.

"Brother Minato, are you submitting the Rasenshuriken to the village too?"

"Of course not! I'm only submitting [Rasengan] to the village. A super S-rank ninjutsu like Rasenshuriken definitely won't be submitted. You only need to submit [Chidori] as well. There's no need to submit any of Chidori's derivative ninjutsu."

Namikaze Minato's words satisfied Yamanaka Tohru. It was no big deal to submit only [Chidori] and [Rasengan].

Besides, Yamanaka Tohru had long considered submitting [Chidori] to the village in exchange for something beneficial to the Yamanaka Clan.

The two arrived at the Hokage Office, where the Third Hokage was smoking with a deeply furrowed brow.

"Minato, Tohru. What brings you here?"

"Lord Hokage, Tohru and I have two self-created ninjutsu we wish to submit to the village. Both are A-rank ninjutsu."

"Oh? A-rank ninjutsu?" The Third Hokage's furrowed brow relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

"Yes. One is [Chidori], a Lightning Release ninjutsu developed by Tohru. The other is [Rasengan], a seal-less, non-elemental ninjutsu developed jointly by Tohru and me."

Two A-rank ninjutsu were precious assets to any village.

The Third Hokage looked at the two of them, deeply gratified. He was not surprised that Namikaze Minato could develop an A-rank ninjutsu. But he had not expected seven-year-old Yamanaka Tohru to be capable of developing one as well. They were both Konoha's future.

The Third Hokage was immensely pleased and directly asked what they wanted. Konoha rewarded the development of ninjutsu, and Namikaze Minato did not stand on ceremony. He asked the Third Hokage for all of the Second Hokage's notes on [Flying Thunder God].

As for Yamanaka Tohru, he asked the Third Hokage to promise that members of the Yamanaka Clan would no longer be required to join Root.

The Third Hokage readily agreed to Namikaze Minato's request. He considered Yamanaka Tohru's request for a while before agreeing as well, ordering an Anbu ninja to summon Danzo in front of them.

After Danzo arrived at the Hokage Office, the Third Hokage directly told him, "Danzo, Yamanaka Tohru has submitted two self-created A-rank ninjutsu to the village. I promised him that members of the Yamanaka Clan would no longer need to join Root. From now on, Root is forbidden from selecting members of the Yamanaka Clan."

"What? Hiruzen, how can you do that? The Yamanaka Clan possesses tremendous spiritual power. With only a little training in Root, they become outstanding sensory ninjas. You—"

Before Danzo could finish, the Third Hokage interrupted him. "Say no more. From now on, Root is forbidden from selecting members of the Yamanaka Clan."

"Hmph!" Danzo snorted coldly, glared fiercely at Yamanaka Tohru, and left with a dark expression.

Please bookmark and recommend.