First Meeting, Perfect Logic!

Sarutobi Hiruzen didn't show himself. Instead, he returned to the Hokage Office.

After a moment's thought, he gave an order. "Have Minato come see me!"

A quarter of an hour later, Namikaze Minato knocked and entered. "Third!"

"Minato!"

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked up, his expression gentle. "How's the new technique coming along?"

Namikaze Minato paused, then replied, "I'm still experimenting. I haven't found a good breakthrough yet."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded, then asked, "Minato, have you heard about the genius who recently appeared at the Academy?"

"(⊙o⊙)..."

Namikaze Minato looked a little embarrassed. "Well... I've been busy developing a new technique, so I haven't been paying attention."

"Lord Hokage, did someone graduate early?"

Namikaze Minato assumed Sarutobi Hiruzen wanted him to take on a new student.

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Someone did graduate early. It was Sakumo's son, Kakashi. You should know about him."

"But I'm not talking about him. I mean Shita Genichi, the genius at the Academy who's on par with Kakashi."

Shita Genichi?

It was the first time Namikaze Minato had heard the name.

Sarutobi Hiruzen continued, "Minato, the boy developed a new technique. It might give you some inspiration."

He didn't explain in any more detail.

Though Namikaze Minato found it hard to believe, he knew Sarutobi Hiruzen wouldn't joke about something like this. He immediately nodded. "I understand."

Sarutobi Hiruzen said, "Go find Ryusei."

"Yes!"

Namikaze Minato nodded, bowed, and vanished from the office in an instant.

Outside the Hokage Building, Namikaze Minato thought for a moment, then found Futaki Ryusei.

Meanwhile.

At the Dango Shop, Shita Genichi helped his parents serve their customers.

Before he knew it, it was almost noon.

Suddenly, Shita Genichi looked up and saw two figures at the entrance. He froze.

Namikaze Minato!

In an instant, Shita Genichi realized what was going on and hurried outside. "Teacher Ryusei, are you here for dango?"

"And this senior is...?"

Shita Genichi pretended not to recognize Namikaze Minato.

Futaki Ryusei smiled. "We're not here for dango. We came to see you."

"This is Jonin Namikaze Minato."

Shita Genichi quickly bowed. "Senior Minato!"

Namikaze Minato raised a hand to stop Shita Genichi. "You don't have to be so formal."

"Sorry for showing up unannounced. There are a few things I'd like to ask you about."

Shita Genichi scratched his head, pretending to be confused.

Futaki Ryusei smiled. "Genichi, if you have time, we can find somewhere to talk. How about your teacher treats you to lunch?"

Namikaze Minato quickly offered, "Let me treat you, Genichi. What would you like to eat?"

Shita Genichi thought for a moment. "Ichiraku Ramen!"

"No problem!"

Namikaze Minato readily agreed.

"Please wait a moment, Teacher and Senior Minato."

With that, Shita Genichi went back into the Dango Shop and called to his parents in the kitchen, "Dad, Mom, something came up. I'm heading out for a while, so don't wait for me to have lunch."

He grabbed his jacket, put it on, and went outside.

Ichiraku Ramen.

Teuchi was still young, and the shop had only recently opened.

"Genichi, have you thought about graduating early?"

"Not for now. I don't have Kakashi's skills."

"You're every bit as good as Kakashi, but there's no need to graduate early. Building a solid foundation is very important."

"You're right, Teacher."

As they ate their ramen, Shita Genichi and Futaki Ryusei chatted. Namikaze Minato only occasionally joined in, not bringing up the Rasengan right away.

After they'd eaten their fill, the three of them went to an empty rooftop.

"I'll leave you two to talk."

Futaki Ryusei smiled. "Genichi, Minato is one of the Sannin, Lord Jiraiya's students. He's already an outstanding ninja at such a young age, so make sure you ask him plenty of questions!"

Namikaze Minato quickly replied modestly, "You're giving me too much credit, Ryusei."

Futaki Ryusei waved a hand and left with the Body Flicker Technique.

The rooftop fell quiet, with only the wind for company.

Namikaze Minato was silent for a moment before saying, "The Third told me you developed a new technique. I happen to be developing one myself."

Shita Genichi raised his hand, and a Rasengan formed in his palm. "Are you talking about the Rasengan, Senior Minato?"

Namikaze Minato's pupils contracted as he stared at the Rasengan.

This was exactly what he'd been trying to create!

"How... how did you do that?"

Namikaze Minato was a little flustered.

He'd worked at it for a long time but still hadn't managed to master it.

However, he quickly composed himself and said awkwardly, "Genichi, sorry. The technique I'm developing is similar to yours, but I haven't been able to finish it."

"Rasengan. That's a very fitting name."

Shita Genichi smiled. "Senior Minato, have you ever seen a drill?"

Namikaze Minato nodded, thoughtful.

Shita Genichi asked again, "Senior Minato, have you ever seen a swirling vortex?"

Namikaze Minato nodded again.

"Come with me, Senior Minato."

With that, Shita Genichi leaped away.

Namikaze Minato hurried after him. Though curious, he didn't ask any questions yet.

He followed Shita Genichi as he bought a large water jar, carried it to a river, then formed Hand Seals and used Water Release to draw water from the river and fill the jar.

"That's incredible control. And that seal..."

Namikaze Minato was secretly amazed.

"Senior Minato, have you ever played this game?"

As he spoke, Shita Genichi plunged both hands into the jar and stirred the water, making it spin faster and faster until it formed a vortex.

Once it had reached a certain speed, Shita Genichi suddenly pressed down hard with both hands. The water inside the jar expanded outward, and the jar shattered into pieces.

Namikaze Minato's eyes lit up. "I see."

The inspiration for his Rasengan had come from the Tailed Beast Bomb.

From there, he'd tried to work it out from scratch, step by step. More than a year had passed, and he still hadn't completed it.

But seeing Shita Genichi shatter the jar with a vortex had suddenly made everything clear.

"Senior Minato, that's where I got the idea."

"Controlling chakra is very difficult, and it has to be compressed over and over to have enough destructive power."

Shita Genichi said with a helpless smile, "So I came up with a way to do it. You put water in a balloon, then add chakra to make the water spin and tear the balloon apart."

"Once it can tear a balloon apart, you switch to a thicker rubber ball."

Namikaze Minato gave him a thumbs-up. "Impressive!"

"Senior Minato, let me show you something else."

Shita Genichi turned and started walking. Namikaze Minato followed.

Soon, they arrived at a shop that sold yarn.

Shita Genichi picked up a ball of yarn and said to Namikaze Minato, "Compressing chakra and making it spin is very difficult. Senior Minato, look at these strands of yarn, woven together."

Namikaze Minato stared at the ball of yarn, suddenly understanding. "Make the chakra spin and intertwine in random directions, like these strands of yarn, layer upon layer, compressing toward a single point at the center!"

Shita Genichi smiled and nodded. "Exactly. Just like when you first learned to mold chakra by gathering your spiritual energy, no matter which direction the chakra spins, it all converges toward a single point at the center. That way, the chakra can come together!"

Namikaze Minato gave him another thumbs-up. "No wonder the Third praised you as a genius!"