"You should have heard about my fighting style. It's very difficult to keep up with me."
At the training ground in the forest, Minato's Shadow Clone looked at the two people before him and calmly stated a fact.
"Even in the Shinobi World, there are very few who can keep up with me when I fight at full strength."
"So, after discussing it with the advisors, I've adjusted the selection process for my guard."
Minato's Shadow Clone raised a hand and held up two fingers.
"First, a ninja doesn't need to be especially powerful, but must have several talents: excellent reaction speed, precise Chakra control, and, most importantly, spatial perception!"
"Second..."
He deliberately drew out the word, but neither of the two stone-faced boys showed any sign of anticipation. He couldn't help feeling a little helpless.
Why does it feel like there are two Kakashis now?
Yakumaru hadn't been like this before. It seemed he had changed after being defeated by Hane.
He'd become more composed, but it was uncomfortable when nobody played along.
Shaking his head, Minato gave up on trying to lighten the mood. "Second, you need meritorious service. You can earn the chance to learn this forbidden technique from me—the Flying Thunder God Technique!"
Hyuga Hane drew a deep breath. Even though he'd expected this, his eyes still burned with excitement.
The Flying Thunder God Technique—the jutsu that could make its user invincible in the early days of the Hokage era!
He had considered getting it through Orochimaru, but Orochimaru didn't know this S-rank technique. To obtain it, he would have to consult the Scroll of Seals, which would leave evidence behind.
So Hane had chosen to get it through Minato. That had also been one of the reasons he'd sought promotion to Jonin.
Minato needed the support of some ninja clans so his orders could be carried out more effectively. The Hyuga, who had only recently weathered a period of upheaval, were a good choice. Besides, the Byakugan of the Hyuga Clan made them the ideal candidates for a guard detail.
Taken together, Hane had a good chance of becoming one of the Hokage's guards.
And there were many benefits to that.
Instruction passed down from a master was ultimately better than figuring everything out alone.
Just as Naruto and Kabuto would have struggled to learn Senjutsu without an inheritance of its teachings.
As the only person in the Shinobi World today who had mastered and improved the Flying Thunder God Technique, Minato was the best possible teacher.
And Minato had indeed taught Shiranui Genma and the others the Flying Thunder God Technique. It was just that the three of them had never mastered it completely.
At the thought, Hane calmed himself down.
There was no guarantee he'd learn it, so there was no point getting excited.
If he ended up learning only an incomplete version like Shiranui Genma and the others, he'd have wasted this opportunity.
Seeing the change in their expressions—and how Uchiha Yakumaru looked especially excited—Minato's Shadow Clone gave a faint smile, then asked, "Hane, it seems you've never exchanged any of your battlefield merits for a ninjutsu?"
"That's right, Lord Hokage. There was nothing I needed."
The boy's indifferent reply made Minato frown. Remembering how conservative the Hyuga Main Family was, he understood that Hyuga Hane really hadn't been able to learn many ninjutsu. His tone grew gentler.
"Then you have enough merit."
"Yakumaru, you earned merit by catching a spy in the village and completing security missions around the village. You have enough as well."
An S-rank ninjutsu's rank represented the difficulty of mastering it, not the difficulty of obtaining it.
Especially given the strategic value of the Flying Thunder God Technique, the village would have been delighted if more people learned it.
The merit requirement was just a basic screening measure.
As Hokage, Minato could have handed the Flying Thunder God Technique directly to the two of them. But since they'd already been selected, teaching them an S-rank ninjutsu without any conditions would have been somewhat inappropriate.
Minato's Shadow Clone took two scrolls from inside his robes and handed them to the boys.
"These scrolls contain the key points and insights for learning the Flying Thunder God Technique. Destroy them after reading. You must not pass them on."
"Yes!"
Hyuga Hane and Uchiha Yakumaru answered and began reading.
Hane only needed a glance to be astonished by the detailed notes inside.
No wonder no one besides the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Guard had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique. Detailed learning notes like these made all the difference compared to figuring things out alone.
This was Minato's most treasured legacy!
"Of the talents needed to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique, spatial perception may be one you don't yet possess."
"But it can actually be cultivated after the fact."
"Today, this Shadow Clone of mine will use the Flying Thunder God Technique with you a few times, so you can experience the changes in space firsthand. I'll leave a pause between each use, giving you plenty of time to reflect."
Minato's Shadow Clone spoke seriously. "From now on, come here to train at five every morning. When the time is right, I'll keep teleporting around you with the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"At this stage, you can't use visual jutsu to observe me. I won't move very fast. You'll pass when you can predict where I'll appear before I show up there. Pay close attention and record the process."
"You can ask me directly if there's anything you don't understand. I'll answer your questions before I disappear. Once you've completed this stage, we'll officially begin training with the Flying Thunder God Technique."
"Yes!"
Uchiha Yakumaru glanced at Hyuga Hane, then focused on his studies.
With my Sharingan, I can't possibly be worse than you at learning ninjutsu!
The Flying Thunder God Technique was one of the forbidden techniques created by the Second Hokage.
Unlike Impure World Reincarnation, which had been designated a forbidden technique because it was too dangerous and evil, this technique was forbidden because it was incredibly difficult to master.
Even with the Fourth Hokage's Shadow Clone teaching them, and with their spatial perception successfully cultivated, Hyuga Hane still had no idea how to perform it.
He'd been prepared for that. What he hadn't expected was the person who showed up at the training ground a few days later.
"A fifteen-year-old shouldn't go around with a gloomy expression like Kakashi's all the time. You should be more like Teacher Jiraiya and enjoy your free time."
"Of course, don't pick up his bad habits!"
The woman standing in front of Hyuga Hane had long, thick red hair, a hallmark of the Uzumaki Clan.
And there was only one member of the Uzumaki Clan in Konoha right now: the Fourth Hokage's wife, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Kushina.
"Kushina, don't disturb Hane. He's training in the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Nearby, Minato's Shadow Clone spoke with a hint of exasperation.
"Huh? Isn't he your student too?"
Kushina turned around and shot back, "You're just going to let him be as cold as Kakashi?"
"Kushina, Hane's been used to this since he was little. He's not like Kakashi. You don't need to worry about him," Minato said with a wry smile.
"No way. I'm going to do something about it. I understand Kakashi's situation, but what's the point of staying like that forever?"
"As his teacher's wife, I shouldn't interfere with Kakashi for now. But this Second Kakashi? I'm going to try and set him straight, no matter what."
Kushina waved a hand and looked at Hyuga Hane.
"You're Hane, right? What do you like most?"
"Reading."
Kushina furrowed her brows and shook her head. "No, that's too boring. What's your second favorite thing?"
"Training."
"..."
Kushina narrowed her eyes and stared hard at Hyuga Hane.
Hyuga Hane's expression remained calm.
Before you continue