Let's Get to Work!

That evening, after dinner, Sarutobi Asuma couldn't help telling his family about the Water Release Shita Genichi had used that afternoon.

After he finished, he couldn't help asking, "Father, how did he do that?"

Sarutobi Hiruzen was at a loss for words.

Even with the information in hand, and after studying it himself, mastering it wasn't something that could happen overnight.

First, you needed a solid grasp of the Nine Syllables Hand Seals, something even he, the Professor of Ninjutsu, lacked.

So Sarutobi Hiruzen could only say, "Genichi has a real talent for Water Release, and he's studied Hand Seals in depth. That's how he developed such a distinctive way of performing jutsu."

"But everyone has their own path. Asuma, you're different from Genichi. You don't need to focus on how he did it. You should learn from his attitude toward training."

Sarutobi Asuma frowned. He wasn't satisfied with that answer.

What was that supposed to mean?

Shita Genichi could do it, but he couldn't?

Sarutobi Asuma refused to accept it, even though Shita Genichi had beaten him several times in their practical classes.

He just hadn't been trying hard enough. That didn't mean he was inferior to Shita Genichi.

"If Genichi can do it, so can I! I'll definitely manage it!"

With that, Sarutobi Asuma got up and stormed out.

He was going to train hard!

Sarutobi Hiruzen watched him go and couldn't help sighing.

Sarutobi Shinnosuke smiled. "It's normal for someone Asuma's age to hate losing. You don't need to worry too much, Father. He'll figure it out on his own after a while."

Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded helplessly. His youngest son was far too rebellious.

At least he had Shinnosuke.

Biwako chided him, "Hiruzen, don't keep dismissing Asuma's ideas."

Sarutobi Hiruzen felt even more helpless. Was it wrong to keep his son from going down the wrong path?

If he didn't have the brains for something but insisted on trying anyway, wouldn't he just waste time and energy—and damage his confidence?

Meanwhile, after dinner with his parents, Shita Genichi helped out at the family shop for a while. Then he went upstairs and unrolled the scroll containing the Four-Symbols Seal.

Compared with the Evil Sealing Method and the Fire Sealing Method, this sealing technique was far more complex and profound.

So Shita Genichi began by studying it.

As for Genjutsu and Konoha-Style Kenjutsu, they weren't suited to nighttime practice.

At ten o'clock that night, Shita Genichi went to bed right on time.

But even in his dreams, he was busy working on the Four-Symbols Seal.

"Man, I really want to improve!"

Shita Genichi got up yawning the next morning and couldn't help sighing.

Even with a cheat, he was still working this hard. Who could compete with him?

Time flew by. In the blink of an eye, half a year had passed.

One day, Shita Genichi went to Namikaze Minato's home.

As expected, Uzumaki Kushina was the one who opened the door.

"Big Sis Kushina!"

Shita Genichi greeted her with a smile, carrying the dango and snacks he'd brought inside as if he knew the place by heart.

Uzumaki Kushina followed behind him and asked with a smile, "Genichi, I heard you've mastered the Fire Sealing Method. Not bad! You must have a real talent for sealing jutsu!"

Shita Genichi set the treats down and smiled. "I still have a long way to go before I can compare with you and Big Bro Minato!"

Namikaze Minato smiled. "You don't need to be so modest, Genichi. I heard that even the Third admitted your Water Release surpassed his."

Shita Genichi quickly changed the subject. "Um, Big Bro Minato, have you made any progress on further developing the Rasengan?"

Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina exchanged glances, then looked a little awkward.

Uzumaki Kushina covered her mouth and laughed. "Minato's been too busy lately. He hasn't had time to think about it."

Well, there it was!

Shita Genichi sighed helplessly. For Namikaze Minato right now, the Rasengan was already enough. He was probably still devoting all his attention to sealing jutsu.

And, of course, the Flying Thunder God.

"Genichi, have you already got an idea?" Namikaze Minato asked curiously.

He trusted Shita Genichi's brains.

Shita Genichi nodded. "I have a few ideas, Big Bro Minato, and I think they'd suit you perfectly."

As he spoke, he took out a small shuriken. It had four points, like a little pinwheel, with a hole in the middle so it could fit over a finger. A slight flick sent it spinning rapidly.

Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina watched, deep in thought.

"Genichi, do you mean changing its shape further to make it look like a shuriken, then throwing it?" Namikaze Minato asked.

Shita Genichi stopped the shuriken and snapped his fingers. "Just as I expected from you, Big Bro Minato!"

"That's right."

"But it can't be just a change in shape. That would be too difficult."

"We have to add Wind Release nature transformation."

"I've already thought of a name for the jutsu: Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"

Wind Style: Rasenshuriken?

Namikaze Minato considered the name. It wasn't quite his style, but it did sound pretty good.

Uzumaki Kushina clapped her hands in praise. "That's an amazing idea. I'd expect nothing less from you, Genichi."

She reached out and ruffled Shita Genichi's hair. "I really don't know how your brain works. How did you even come up with a jutsu like that?"

Shita Genichi grinned. "You just have to pay attention."

A little humblebrag.

"It really does have a lot of potential," Namikaze Minato said with a smile, "but it must be incredibly difficult to pull off. Looks like I'll have to work even harder from now on."

Shita Genichi nodded. "You'll have to develop this jutsu yourself, Big Bro Minato. I don't have a Wind Release affinity, so learning Wind Release nature transformation would be difficult for me. Applying it would be even harder. Developing this jutsu would be thousands of times harder for me than it would be for you."

"By the way, you should ask Teacher Jiraiya to help develop it, too. Many hands make light work."

"Besides, I think this jutsu would suit him as well."

Although Jiraiya hadn't taken Shita Genichi on as a student, he had taught him sealing jutsu. Calling him Teacher Jiraiya was perfectly reasonable.

Namikaze Minato smiled and nodded, readily agreeing. "I'll pass the idea on to Teacher Jiraiya."

Although Jiraiya was wandering around outside the village, they could still contact him through Toads.

After they finished discussing the Wind Style: Rasenshuriken, Shita Genichi took out his notebook and began asking Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina for guidance on the Four-Symbols Seal.

Over the past six months, he'd studied the Four-Symbols Seal in depth, but still hadn't mastered it completely. Naturally, he wanted to learn from Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina.

With resources this good, he couldn't afford to be shy and let the opportunity pass him by.

Namikaze Minato and Uzumaki Kushina were both generous with their knowledge and offered him plenty of guidance.

They treated him with the same sincerity he showed them.

After lunch at Namikaze Minato's home, Shita Genichi stayed for another half hour before saying goodbye.

After he left, Namikaze Minato asked Uzumaki Kushina, "Kushina, what do you think about giving Genichi a jutsu?"

Uzumaki Kushina nodded. "Sure. But what jutsu should we give him?"

"A sealing jutsu?"

Namikaze Minato thought it over, then smiled. "There's no rush. Genichi is still a student, and he's currently learning the Four-Symbols Seal. Let's wait until he's finished studying it."

Uzumaki Kushina smiled. "That might take quite a while. At his current pace, it'll probably take another two or three years for Genichi to master the Four-Symbols Seal completely."

"That's already very fast," Namikaze Minato said. "He's not even seven yet!"

Uzumaki Kushina couldn't help sighing. "That's right. I almost forgot how old he is."

"That kid really puts people under pressure. Good thing he's not in our class. Hahahaha!"

Namikaze Minato smiled at that.

It was true. Shita Genichi was such a hard worker.

If he'd been in the same class, even Namikaze Minato would have felt crushed by the pressure.