Gains!

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

Namikaze Minato looked at Shita Genichi, pondering.

Shita Genichi's honesty had surprised him, and he admired and appreciated it.

Besides, he had naturally understood what Futaki Ryusei had said before leaving.

Furthermore, Namikaze Minato had no intention of taking Shita Genichi's ninjutsu for free.

He had already been prepared for this after Sarutobi Hiruzen made his suggestion.

However, Namikaze Minato truly had no intention of taking on a student.

He was only fifteen or sixteen himself—not old enough to take on a student.

Of course, there was no problem with giving Shita Genichi some guidance.

Namikaze Minato was also happy to discuss ninjutsu with the very thoughtful Shita Genichi, since the latter didn't seem like a five- or six-year-old child.

He was very mature!

After what had just happened, Namikaze Minato had begun treating Shita Genichi as an equal.

After pondering for a moment, Namikaze Minato smiled and said, "Genichi, you're incredibly talented, quick-witted, and very perceptive when it comes to ninjutsu."

"However, although I'm a Jonin now, I don't have enough experience to be your teacher, so I can't take you on as a student."

"Of course, you're welcome to come discuss ninjutsu with me anytime. As it happens, I've made some progress with Water Release myself."

Shita Genichi wasn't surprised. He quickly replied, "Minato, I won't hold back, then."

Namikaze Minato waved a hand. "Just call me Big Brother Minato."

"Also, even though I can't take you on as my student, I can introduce you to my teacher, Jiraiya."

"Of course, I can't guarantee that Teacher Jiraiya will take you on as a student."

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

Since Minato had told him to call him Big Brother Minato, Genichi didn't hesitate to take him up on it.

Namikaze Minato smiled. "You don't have to thank me. It's really nothing."

"Here, take this."

As he spoke, Namikaze Minato pulled a small scroll from the ninja pouch on his back. "Rasengan is a great technique. I can't just take it for free."

"This contains a Water Release technique I've learned. It might not be as good as Rasengan, but it should suit you."

Shita Genichi rubbed his hands together and hesitated for just a second before accepting the scroll from Namikaze Minato. "Big Brother Minato, I won't hold back, then."

Seeing Shita Genichi's reaction, Namikaze Minato couldn't help laughing. "Take a look. If you have any questions, just ask me anytime!"

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

Water Release: Water Formation Wall!

Shita Genichi was familiar with this technique. He remembered seeing many people use it.

Kakashi and Darui, for instance.

The one he remembered most clearly was the Second Tobirama Senju.

Everyone else spat out water, forming a column that rose from the ground to defend against attacks.

Kakuzu's Water Curtain was a similar technique, working on the same principle.

But Tobirama Senju's Water Formation Wall involved spitting out a stream of water that circled the user, forming a hollow column and protecting them from all directions.

Reanimated Tobirama had used this technique against Sarutobi Hiruzen, and Shita Genichi remembered it clearly.

Besides the unique variation Tobirama had developed for the technique, there were also his Hand Seals.

Tobirama Senju should have used only two seals, or perhaps three.

The normal Hand Seals for Water Formation Wall were Tiger-Snake-Tiger-Snake-Tiger-Snake.

That was what Shita Genichi was looking at now.

He vaguely remembered that Tobirama Senju started with the "Front" seal from the Nine Syllables Hand Seals. The next seal looked like two seals combined, but he couldn't find an exact match among the Twelve Basic Hand Seals.

There wasn't an exact match among the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, either.

Maybe it was the Ram seal—a seal that could be any hand sign the user preferred. Only someone who had mastered a ninjutsu completely could use it that way.

For example, Naruto used the Ram seal when performing Shadow Clone and Multi Shadow Clone Technique, forming it very casually.

However, after studying Hand Seals for a while, Shita Genichi had come to think that Tobirama Senju's second seal for Water Formation Wall was probably the "In" seal combined with the Snake seal from the Twelve Basic Hand Seals.

Shita Genichi decided he could try to investigate whether that was really the case later.

If he could do it with two seals, there was naturally no need to use six.

And best of all, it was distinctive. Cool!

Looking at the B-rank ninjutsu Water Formation Wall, Shita Genichi's mind had already raced through a whole range of thoughts. Then he continued down the scroll.

The second technique appeared.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!

When he saw it, Shita Genichi's eyebrow twitched.

The forty-four Hand Seals used by Zabuza and Kakashi in their battle were truly iconic.

Namikaze Minato noticed Shita Genichi's expression and asked with a smile, "What's wrong? Is there a problem with the Water Dragon Bullet Technique?"

Shita Genichi smiled. "Since it's a B-rank ninjutsu, I thought the Hand Seals would be more complicated."

Besides, the version Namikaze Minato had given him used four seals. It should be the version used by Tobirama Senju and Kosuke.

If it had been Zabuza's version, well... he wouldn't have wanted to learn it.

Namikaze Minato naturally didn't understand the mischievous meaning behind Shita Genichi's words. He smiled and said, "The seals for Water Dragon Bullet aren't very complicated, but they're not simple, either. The Second simplified this version."

"Teacher Ryusei said you've studied Hand Seals extensively and have a talent for Water Release, so I chose this one."

This was great. This was perfect!

Afterward, the two of them discussed their thoughts on Water Release for a while, and then Namikaze Minato left.

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

That confirmed another source of ninjutsu for Shita Genichi.

After Namikaze Minato left, Shita Genichi opened the scroll again to study the two techniques.

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

But in reality, he'd gained much more than that.

For example, he'd made a friend of Namikaze Minato, which meant he could ask him for guidance regularly.

And beyond Namikaze Minato, there was also Uzumaki Kushina.

On top of that, Namikaze Minato had promised to introduce him to Jiraiya.

Even if Jiraiya didn't take a liking to him and accept him as a student, simply meeting him and making a connection was a resource in itself.

Hidden within all this was a whole network of relationships.

"I need to maintain all these connections."

"Having a genius reputation is so useful."

"Of course, the most important thing is... benefits!"

Without benefits...

A genius?

What's that to me? (What do I care?)

As for why Namikaze Minato hadn't traded an A-rank Water Release technique, Shita Genichi was almost certain that Minato hadn't learned Water Severing Wave.

In his memories, Namikaze Minato had never used Water Release or Wind Release ninjutsu.

With Flying Thunder God, he had no need for those techniques. Rasengan was the perfect match.

"So he must have already gotten the hang of Flying Thunder God, and now he's eager to develop a technique that can work perfectly with it."

How enviable!

Shita Genichi slowly closed the scroll.

He had three Water Release techniques now.

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

So, should he trade Rasengan for the powerful A-rank Water Release technique, Water Severing Wave?

After thinking about it for less than a second, Shita Genichi dismissed the idea.

He knew there was no way he could learn that Water Release technique.

It wasn't that he didn't trust his brains. He just didn't trust the amount of chakra he had.