Minato Namikaze's Lack of Confidence

After choosing a Ninja Cat, Hinai handed Natsuki a contract scroll.

Signing his name on it meant that he had become a contractor of the Ninja Cat Clan.

Natsuki did not linger. After bidding Granny Cat farewell, he headed back with his Ninja Cat.

"My name is Shirayuki, meow."

Shirayuki excitedly bounced around Natsuki.

As expected of a cat—she was really energetic.

Natsuki smiled and asked, "What can you do?"

"I can help you deliver intelligence and purchase ninja tools."

Shirayuki answered.

"Those are the abilities of the Ninja Cat Clan. What about your own abilities?"

Natsuki asked again.

"I'm very fast, and my claws are powerful too—comparable to Kunai!"

Shirayuki extended her soft paws. With a swish, sharp claws slid out.

Natsuki nodded.

He estimated that Shirayuki's combat strength was roughly equivalent to that of an ordinary Genin.

But that was normal. He could not expect a cat to possess world-destroying power.

[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Ninja Cat Shirayuki.]

[When the Ninja Cat Shirayuki is summoned using the Ten Shadows Technique, speed is permanently increased by 30%.]

Natsuki raised an eyebrow.

The thirty-percent bonus exceeded his expectations.

A thirty-percent speed boost for the Ninja Cat Shirayuki might not be that impressive, but what if it were a Snake, Toad, or Slug from the Three Great Summoning Beast Sacred Lands?

However, judging by the description of the Ten Shadows Technique, each type of Summoning Beast probably received a different bonus.

"Natsuki, is this your cat?"

The moment Natsuki entered Orochimaru's residence, Nawaki's voice rang out.

"I'm Shirayuki, meow."

Shirayuki raised a paw, waved it, and said.

"She's pretty cute."

Nawaki immediately praised her.

"I went to Granny Cat's shop to buy ninja tools and got myself a Summoning Beast while I was there."

Natsuki replied.

"I see."

Nawaki looked at Shirayuki and said, "I'll go get one too when I have time."

"A Ninja Cat doesn't suit you."

Natsuki shook his head and suggested, "I think you should find a Summoning Beast with sensory abilities."

"Sensory abilities?"

Nawaki froze, unable to understand why Natsuki would say that.

"Neither of us is a sensory Ninja. Once we graduate, we'll easily stumble into traps or be ambushed by enemies."

Natsuki explained.

"You really think things through."

Nawaki said with admiration.

"How about Ninja Dogs?"

Natsuki blinked and said, "The two of us can go to the Inuzuka Clan and ask for one."

The Inuzuka Clan was a Ninja clan famous for raising Ninja Dogs, and their inherited secret techniques were closely tied to Ninja Dogs as well.

"But I don't know any Ninja from the Inuzuka Clan."

Nawaki scratched his head.

"Your sister definitely does."

Natsuki reminded him.

"Then after training, let's go to Konoha Hospital together."

Nawaki immediately said upon hearing this.

"Alright."

Natsuki nodded.

The reason he had brought up Ninja Dogs was not only for his Ten Shadows Technique, but also because Nawaki had died in an Explosive Tag trap.

But with a Ninja Dog, there was a very high chance of preventing him from dying to an Explosive Tag trap.

Ninja Dogs had an extremely keen sense of smell. They could detect the scent of Explosive Tags, or rather, the lingering scent left behind by the enemy who had set the trap.

After they finished talking, Natsuki took out the Sword of the Thunder God and began practicing Konoha Style Swordsmanship.

After nearly two months of study, he had already mastered most of it.

The only regrettable thing was that he could not yet learn the ultimate technique of Konoha Style Swordsmanship, Dance of the Crescent Moon.

That was because Dance of the Crescent Moon involved the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

With his talent for ninjutsu, learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu would definitely take a long time.

Besides, the Uzumaki Naruto Template he had obtained contained the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, so there was no need for him to learn the Shadow Clone Jutsu.

They were essentially the same kind of ninjutsu, except the Shadow Clone Jutsu had limitations and could not create too many Shadow Clones.

The sun set in the west.

Natsuki and Nawaki finished their training. After saying goodbye to Orochimaru, they headed to Konoha Hospital.

"Big sister!"

Nawaki shouted loudly the moment he spotted Tsunade from afar.

Yakushi Nonō was standing beside Tsunade.

When she saw Natsuki, her eyes lit up, but Shirayuki quickly captured her attention.

"Here."

Natsuki lifted Shirayuki and stuffed her into Yakushi Nonō's arms.

Yakushi Nonō immediately smiled.

"Big sister, do you know any Ninja from the Inuzuka Clan?"

Nawaki looked at Tsunade and said, "Natsuki and I want a Ninja Dog as a Summoning Beast."

"Are there any Ninja in Konoha that I don't know?"

Tsunade said smugly. "Quite a few Ninja from the Inuzuka Clan owe me favors. They'll definitely be willing to give us two Ninja Dogs."

That was the network of connections possessed by Konoha's finest medical Ninja.

And beyond that identity, she was also the granddaughter of the First Hokage, the granddaughter of the Second Hokage, and the student of the Third Hokage.

Who in all of Konoha would dare refuse to give her face?

She was the true owner of the Face-Face Fruit.

"Follow me."

Since it was already after work, Tsunade led them directly to the Inuzuka Clan.

With her help, Natsuki and Nawaki successfully obtained Ninja Dogs.

Natsuki's Ninja Dog was entirely black and named Black Flower.

Nawaki's Ninja Dog was entirely yellow and named Saburo.

[Congratulations, Host. You have obtained the Ninja Dog Black Flower.]

[When the Ninja Dog Black Flower is summoned using the Ten Shadows Technique, sense of smell is permanently increased by 30%.]

Natsuki nodded in satisfaction.

For a Ninja, a Ninja Dog's greatest use was tracking.

And tracking depended on a Ninja Dog's sense of smell.

With a thirty-percent increase in her sense of smell, Black Flower could be called the king of dogs.

Natsuki and Yakushi Nonō returned to Konoha Orphanage.

From then on, Shirayuki and Black Flower would live at Konoha Orphanage as well.

Only when Natsuki needed them would he summon them using the Ten Shadows Technique.

In the blink of an eye, July arrived.

Second Grade Class A would also soon face the Final Exam of its first semester.

"Sensei, do you think I can defeat Natsuki in tomorrow's Combat Exam?"

Minato Namikaze asked with little confidence.

"Your mindset is wrong. As a Ninja, before a fight begins, you must believe that victory is certain."

Jiraiya patted his shoulder and said, "Your enemies won't go easy on you just because you're weak."

"I understand, Sensei."

Minato Namikaze paused, then immediately answered in a serious tone.

"Don't worry too much. Your teacher is me, after all."

Jiraiya laughed loudly. "Back when I fought Orochimaru, our wins and losses were evenly split."

If Orochimaru had been there and heard that, he definitely would have exposed him.

But Minato Namikaze did not know the truth. The moment he heard it, he gained quite a bit of confidence.

Natsuki's teacher was Orochimaru, while his teacher was Jiraiya.

If their teachers were evenly matched, there was no reason for such a vast gap between the students.

"Victory or defeat isn't decided by a single Combat Exam."

Jiraiya added, "You're well suited for an S-rank ninjutsu. Once another two years pass and your foundation improves, I'll teach it to you."

S-rank ninjutsu?

Minato Namikaze immediately began looking forward to it.

Once he learned an S-rank ninjutsu, he would definitely be able to surpass Natsuki.