Harvest! (Seeking Collections and Follow-ups)

After leaving the shop, Shita Genichi and Namikaze Minato walked to a secluded spot and stopped.

Namikaze Minato looked at Shita Genichi, lost in thought for a moment.

Shita Genichi's candor had surprised him, and he felt both appreciative and grateful for it.

Furthermore, he had naturally understood the implications of what Futaki Ryusei said before leaving.

Moreover, Namikaze Minato had no intention of taking Shita Genichi's ninjutsu for nothing.

Ever since Sarutobi Hiruzen had made the suggestion, he had already been mentally prepared.

However, Namikaze Minato truly had no intention of taking on an apprentice.

He was only fifteen or sixteen years old himself; it was not yet time for him to take on a student.

As for offering guidance to Shita Genichi, that was certainly no problem.

Namikaze Minato was also very happy to exchange ideas with the highly imaginative Shita Genichi, as the latter did not act like a five or six-year-old child at all.

He was very mature!

After what had just transpired, Namikaze Minato had completely placed Shita Genichi on equal footing.

Therefore, after a moment of contemplation, Namikaze Minato smiled and said, "Genichi, your talent is exceptional, your thinking is sharp, and you are very sensitive to ninjutsu."

"However, although I am a Jonin now, I lack the experience to be your teacher, so I cannot take you on as a disciple."

"Of course, I welcome you to discuss ninjutsu with me at any time. As it happens, I have also gained some insights into Water Release."

Shita Genichi was not surprised and quickly said, "Senior Minato, then I won't stand on ceremony."

Namikaze Minato waved his hand and said, "Just call me Big Brother Minato."

"Also, although I cannot take you as a disciple, I can introduce you to Master Jiraiya."

"Of course, I cannot guarantee whether Master Jiraiya will accept you as a disciple."

Shita Genichi was secretly overjoyed and quickly bowed, "Thank you so much, Big Brother Minato."

He seized the opportunity; since he had been told to call him Big Brother Minato, he certainly wouldn't be overly formal.

Namikaze Minato laughed, "Don't mention it, it's nothing."

"Here, take this."

As he spoke, Namikaze Minato pulled a small scroll from the ninja tool pouch behind him: "Rasengan is an excellent ninjutsu, and I cannot take yours for free."

"This is a Water Release ninjutsu I have mastered. While it may not compare to Rasengan, it should be suitable for you."

Shita Genichi rubbed his hands together, hesitated for only a second, and then took the scroll from Namikaze Minato: "Big Brother Minato, then I won't be polite."

Namikaze Minato couldn't help but laugh as he watched Shita Genichi: "Take a look, and feel free to ask me if you have any questions!"

Shita Genichi nodded, then impatiently opened the scroll in his hands.

Water Release - Water Formation Wall!

Shita Genichi was no stranger to this ninjutsu; he remembered many people using it.

For instance, Kakashi, Dabura, and the like.

His deepest memory was of the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama.

Others would spit out water to form a pillar of water from top to bottom for defense.

There were similar ninjutsu, such as Kakuzu's Water Curtain, which achieved the same effect.

But Senju Tobirama's Water Formation Wall involved spitting out a stream of water that would circle the user to form a hollow water pillar, providing defense from all four sides.

Shita Genichi had a vivid memory of Reanimated Tobirama using this technique during his duel with Sarutobi Hiruzen.

Beyond the unique variations of the technique, there were also his hand seals.

Senju Tobirama likely only used two, or perhaps three, seals.

The standard sequence for Water Formation Wall was Tiger-Snake-Tiger-Snake-Tiger-Snake.

What Shita Genichi was looking at right now was exactly that.

As for Senju Tobirama's two hand seals, Shita Genichi vaguely remembered the starting move being the "Zai" seal from the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, and the subsequent hand seals looked like two distinct gestures, yet he couldn't find an exact match within the Twelve Basic Hand Seals.

There was no perfect match within the Nine Syllables Hand Seals either.

It might have been a "Ren" seal—an arbitrary seal based on personal habit—which is only achievable when one has mastered a ninjutsu to perfection.

For example, when Naruto used the Shadow Clone Technique and Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, he used the "Ren" seal, forming them quite casually.

However, after studying hand seals during this period, Shita Genichi felt that the second seal of Senju Tobirama's Water Formation Wall was likely the "Zai" seal combined with the Snake seal from the Twelve Basic Hand Seals.

Whether that was truly the case, Shita Genichi decided he could try to research it later.

If one could perform it with two seals, there was naturally no need to perform six.

Most importantly, it was unique and cool!

Looking at the B-rank ninjutsu Water Formation Wall, Shita Genichi's mind had already raced through a thousand thoughts before he continued to scroll further down.

The second technique appeared.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

Seeing this technique, Shita Genichi's brow couldn't help but twitch.

The forty-four hand seals used in the battle between Zabuza and Kakashi were truly the classic of classics.

Namikaze Minato noticed Shita Genichi's subtle expression and couldn't help but ask with a smile, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with the Water Dragon Bullet Technique?"

Shita Genichi laughed, "Since it's a B-rank ninjutsu, I thought the hand seals would be more complex."

Besides, the version Namikaze Minato provided only had four seals; it must be the one used by Senju Tobirama and Kosuke.

If it were Zabuza's version, well... he really wouldn't want to learn it.

Namikaze Minato naturally didn't understand the hidden dark humor in Shita Genichi's words and smiled, "The hand seals for the Water Dragon Bullet Technique aren't overly complex, but they aren't simple either. This is the version simplified by the Second Hokage."

"Ryusei-sensei said you have a deep understanding of hand seals and a high aptitude for Water Release, so I chose this one."

This is good, this is great!

Afterward, the two exchanged insights on Water Release before Namikaze Minato took his leave.

Before departing, however, he gave Shita Genichi his home address and reminded him that he could trade the Rasengan for another ninjutsu of the same rank from the village.

This confirmed to Shita Genichi the source of another ninjutsu.

Once Namikaze Minato had left, Shita Genichi opened the scroll again to look at the two ninjutsu.

Trading a Rasengan for two B-rank Water Release techniques seemed like a loss.

But in reality, the gains were far greater than that.

For instance, his friendship with Namikaze Minato meant he could frequently ask for guidance.

And behind Namikaze Minato stood Uzumaki Kushina.

Furthermore, Namikaze Minato had promised to introduce him to Jiraiya.

Although he might not necessarily gain Jiraiya's favor and become his disciple, simply knowing him and establishing a connection was a resource in itself.

Hidden within this was a network of relationships.

These relationships must be well-maintained.

The "genius" persona is truly useful.

Of course, the most important thing is... profit!

Without profit.

A genius?

What does that have to do with me?

As for why Namikaze Minato didn't offer an A-rank Water Release technique for the trade, Shita Genichi was almost certain that Namikaze Minato had not mastered the Water Severing Wave.

In his memory, Namikaze Minato never performed Water Release or Wind Release ninjutsu.

With the Flying Thunder God, he had no need for such things; the Rasengan was the perfect match.

So, he must have already mastered the basics of the Flying Thunder God, which is why he is so eager to develop a technique that perfectly complements it.

How enviable!

Shita Genichi slowly closed the scroll.

He now possessed three Water Release techniques.

Water Colliding Wave, Water Formation Wall, and Water Dragon Bullet—two offensive and one defensive.

Should he trade the Rasengan for the Water Severing Wave, that A-rank Water Release with such sharp offensive power?

He only considered it for less than a second before Shita Genichi rejected the idea.

Because he knew that he could never master that Water Release technique.

It wasn't a lack of trust in his own intellect, but a lack of trust in his own chakra reserves.