The Way of the Ninja

"At your age, the academy shouldn't have taught you about chakra natures yet, though the Uchiha clan ninjas have likely explained it to you.

Chakra natures are divided into Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water, along with Yin and Yang. Ninjutsu involves both shape transformation and nature transformation, and medical ninjutsu belongs to the nature transformation of the Yang attribute.

Oh, right, have you tested your own chakra nature? Never mind, that stuff isn't very accurate anyway. Just condense a mass of chakra for me to see for myself."

Ultimately, Uchiha Gen chose to follow Tsunade to learn medical ninjutsu; her words had truly moved him.

Besides, a mastery of medical ninjutsu would be useful in many situations.

With a lift of his hand, a mass of chakra finished condensing.

"Oh ho, such 'vibrant' chakra. For an Uchiha, your Yang attribute is this strong? A genius with all attributes complete—I didn't expect to see another one."

After Uchiha Gen condensed his chakra, Tsunade extended a finger and poked into it. Seeing a flicker of green light at her fingertip, Tsunade spoke softly.

"..."

Regarding his own chakra attributes, Uchiha Gen had long since tested them with chakra paper; he was well aware of his mastery over all attributes.

However, the fact that she could directly test someone's chakra attributes without using paper showed that Tsunade's proficiency in medical ninjutsu at this period was even higher than he had imagined.

"Before we officially start the lesson, go catch a few fish first. Remember, catch them alive."

Uchiha Gen stood up and left upon hearing this.

Soon, Uchiha Gen returned to Tsunade's location carrying several fish. There were plenty of fish in the Naka River, and catching them was a simple task for Uchiha Gen.

"So fast? Hmm? Why did you tie the fish up like this?"

Tsunade, who was off to the side under a tree studying a scroll, asked with a strange expression as she looked at the fish in Uchiha Gen's hands, which were bound into bow-like shapes.

"This way they can stay alive a bit longer. Let's begin."

"That's a first for me. Well then, let's start with the simplest Healing Jutsu. Activate your Sharingan and watch carefully."

During the time Tsunade was teaching Uchiha Gen medical ninjutsu.

On the banks of the Naka River.

Jiraiya was currently looking at Minato Namikaze with a serious expression.

"Minato, your attacks have lost some of their sharpness. This isn't like you at all."

After catching a punch thrown by Minato Namikaze with one hand, Jiraiya asked in a deep voice.

Ever since training began, Minato Namikaze had been completely out of focus.

"Jiraiya-sensei, is the war... really going to start? Why, why does no one stop the war?"

Minato Namikaze wore a look of confusion. As an orphan, he knew clearly the cruelty of war.

If war were to break out again, many children would end up just like him, and this... was something Minato Namikaze did not want to see.

"Minato, your dream is to become Hokage, right?"

Looking at the bewildered Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya reached out, ruffled his yellow hair, and smiled.

"I want to become Hokage, I want to make Konoha better, and I want to... change this situation. War... is something that shouldn't exist in the first place."

Minato Namikaze clenched his fists tightly, voicing what he felt was a very arrogant thought.

As he spoke, his clenched fists trembled slightly. He remembered a conversation he had with Uchiha Gen one night.

At the time, he had asked Uchiha Gen why there was war in the ninja world.

Uchiha Gen's answer back then was that it was because of greed, profit, and the instinctive desire for survival.

Greed and profit, Minato Namikaze could understand, but... what was this instinctive desire for survival?

Doesn't war bring people closer to death?

However, he hadn't pressed Uchiha Gen for the answer to that question at the time.

Since then, he had been pondering the issue, but even to this day, he hadn't figured it out.

Yet, while thinking about it, he had derived new questions from it: if war is waged for the sake of survival, why do they move closer to death?

If this outcome could be changed, could peace be achieved?

"War... is something that shouldn't exist... Minato, could it be you? The 'Savior' that the Great Toad Sage asked me to find?"

Watching Minato Namikaze, whose expression was confused yet gradually becoming firm, Jiraiya couldn't help but mutter to himself.

"Jiraiya-sensei, I will find a way to ensure Konoha is never ravaged by war again. I will become Hokage, change everything, and then... protect...

Jiraiya-sensei, I think I... have found my own ninja way."

Minato Namikaze raised his hand and looked at his tightly clenched fist.

"Hahaha, is that so? Then as your teacher, I must train you until you are capable of upholding your own ninja way. Here, Minato, as a reward for finding your path, come, sign your name."

Looking at Minato Namikaze, Jiraiya laughed. In this moment, he felt he had found that person—the one who could save the world.

Laughing, Jiraiya performed a hand seal, and a massive scroll suddenly appeared before him. Reaching out to push it open and spread it across the ground, Jiraiya spoke with a smile.

"Jiraiya-sensei... what is this...?"

Looking at the scroll on the ground and the names inscribed upon it, Minato Namikaze was slightly stunned.

"This is... the greatest gift your teacher can bestow upon you. From now on, you are the next successor of Mount Myoboku."

Jiraiya reached out, pressed down on Minato Namikaze's head, and ruffled his hair vigorously.

"Old man, I think I finally understand what you mean by the Will of Fire. New leaves, grow strong and flourish."

In the nearby woods.

"Tsk, the Sharingan really makes learning new techniques convenient. Now, use the Healing Jutsu you just learned to bring it back to life, but you mustn't damage its nerves or flesh."

Tsunade casually grabbed a fish from the side, slammed it onto the ground, and spoke to Uchiha Gen, whose hands were covered in a faint green glow.

"..."

Staring at the fish that had been reduced to a meat patty by Tsunade, Uchiha Gen fell into a brief silence.

For a fish in this state, he truly couldn't think of any way to save it other than the Samsara of Heavenly Life Technique.