"The Uchiha Clan's Sharingan naturally has the ability to copy ninjutsu, though not everyone can do it." Minato Namikaze glanced at him once more, then looked away.
"However, Konoha's classified intelligence describes the Uchiha Clan's Mangekyō Sharingan as granting its wielder special ocular techniques upon Awakening. If I'm not mistaken, that enormous Asura Demon, the black flames, and those powerful techniques were all caused by those eyes."
Qin Yu had already anticipated Minato Namikaze's guess.
From the moment he decided to repel the Cloud Ninja and the AB Duo by using Susanoo, Amaterasu, and Tsukuyomi, he knew he wouldn't be able to keep it a secret for long.
Qin Yu nodded. "You're right. No wonder you're a leading candidate for the next Hokage."
At that, Minato Namikaze gave a wry smile. "There are plenty of outstanding people in Konoha: Fugaku, Shisui, my teacher and the other members of the Legendary Sannin, and you."
"I've simply been active on the front lines, and I have no political backing. That makes me more acceptable to people."
"If we were really competing in terms of strength, Teacher Jiraiya, Fugaku, and Shisui would all be more suitable."
Looking at Minato Namikaze's humble expression, Qin Yu rolled his eyes. "You should show what you can do when the time comes. Otherwise, what's the point of becoming so powerful?"
"Are you going to hide it from everyone? That'd be no fun."
"People are selfish. If I became a hero and still had to keep secrets, I couldn't do it."
Minato Namikaze smiled wryly. "I didn't expect your perspective on things to be so enlightening, Qin Yu."
"Although I can't teach you the Flying Thunder God Technique, once we return to Konoha, I'll ask the Third Hokage. He should agree. For now, let me demonstrate the Rasengan a second time."
As he spoke, Minato Namikaze began gathering the chakra inside him again.
But before the Rasengan could take shape, hurried footsteps sounded outside the cave.
"Lord Minato, this is bad! The sentries report that Mist Ninja have been spotted three kilometers away. There are quite a few of them, and we don't yet know who's leading them." Uzuki Cangwu hurried inside.
Seeing the Rasengan dissipate in Minato Namikaze's hand, he realized the timing might be inconvenient and wore an apologetic expression.
"Qin Yu, sorry about this. I'll demonstrate the Rasengan again when I get back. You used up a lot of chakra in the battle just now, so rest here at the outpost. I'll deal with those Mist Ninja." Minato Namikaze left him with those words, then hurried outside.
Uzuki Cangwu gave Qin Yu an apologetic look as well, then quickly followed.
After the two left, the vast cave fell quiet again.
"I didn't expect the Mist Ninja to send people on a flanking attack, too. Looks like they all want to kick us while we're down." Qin Yu smiled, amused.
"I was going to find a Tailed Beast to use as a chakra ATM. If I can capture a minor leader, maybe I can learn where the Three-Tails is."
"But first, I should try to learn the Rasengan. Maybe I'll get an unexpected surprise."
As he thought, Qin Yu recalled the second time Minato Namikaze had performed the Rasengan, the scene copied by his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The little chakra he had left roared through his body and quickly gathered in his right hand.
The Rasengan was easy enough to learn with systematic practice—even Naruto, a dead-last like him, had managed it.
Now, with his Mangekyō Sharingan, Qin Yu had completely analyzed the Rasengan's structure and flow. Performing it would be twice as easy.
"Rasengan!"
Qin Yu's right-hand fingers tensed slightly. Blue chakra poured out and rapidly gathered in his palm.
The next instant, the sound of high-frequency chakra circulation rang out, and the Rasengan formed in an instant.
"Ding! An A-rank ninjutsu, Rasengan, has been detected. Would the host like to max it out with one click?"
At the system's words, Qin Yu raised an eyebrow.
Minato Namikaze had already developed the Rasengan's shape transformation to its very limits.
If he could still max it out further, what would happen next?
"Max it out now."
Qin Yu didn't hesitate and immediately gave the order.
"Ding! Congratulations, host. You have obtained Big Ball Rasengan."
"Ding! Lightning Release Chakra detected in the host. You have obtained Lightning Release: Rasengan."
The two consecutive system notifications left Qin Yu stunned.
He had only meant to imitate the Original Work, learn to make the Rasengan, then create a Wind Release: Shuriken.
He hadn't expected the one-click max-out to give him Big Ball Rasengan and Lightning Release: Rasengan as well.
As for why he hadn't gained any other elemental variants, it was probably because the system couldn't detect any other chakra nature transformations in his body.
"Looks like I'll have to get a Sage Body someday and make Rasengan variants for every nature transformation." Qin Yu put the thought aside.
Outside, the sudden appearance of the Mist Ninja had put everyone on edge.
After leaving the cave, Minato Namikaze issued a few orders to secure the outpost, then led a small squad toward the area where the enemy had appeared.
It was the closest point between Konoha and the Land of Water.
Unfortunately, Minato Namikaze had been sent to the battlefields in the Land of Wind and the Land of Earth early on, so he hadn't left a Flying Thunder God Formula near the Land of Water. Otherwise, he could have reached his destination quickly with a single space-time jump.
After Minato Namikaze and his group left, the outpost's defenders were reduced from twenty-six to twelve.
That number already included Uzuki Yugao and Gekko Hayate.
"Dad, is there anything I need to do?" Uzuki Yugao asked. "We don't know how many enemies there are. I'm worried they might circle around and attack the outpost."
Her words made the atmosphere grow tense.
The people remaining at the outpost also tensed up.
But just as the worry began to take hold, Uzuki Cangwu glanced toward the cave where Qin Yu was and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He patted Uzuki Yugao on the shoulder. "Don't worry, silly girl."
"We're short-handed, and Lord Minato isn't here, but don't forget—we still have Qin Yu."
Then Uzuki Cangwu looked at Gekko Hayate, who had already woken up, and warned him in a grave voice, "Hayate, the next time you meet Qin Yu, I hope you won't do anything reckless. He's not someone you can measure yourself against."
Gekko Hayate's expression darkened. He clenched his fists in resentment and stubbornly raised his head. "Don't worry, Uncle Uzuki. I've completed my mission to escort the intelligence."
"With that Qin Yu around, I wouldn't be much use here anyway. I'm leaving the outpost now and heading back to Konoha to report in."
With those words, Gekko Hayate started walking toward the outpost's exit.
But after only three or four steps, a huge shadow dropped from above.
Without any flourish, it crashed straight down on him.
Thud!
Gekko Hayate was crushed to the ground.
Feeling the warmth and smell of blood on his face, he struggled to raise his head and look. The sight before him left him pale.
Before you continue