Forbidden Jutsu

Before the Memorial Stone.

Nohara Shin's glasses were laid before the Memorial Stone.

Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, and Dan Katō each placed white flowers before Nohara Shin's Memorial Stone.

In an instant, scene after scene flashed through Uchiha Matsuri's mind like a movie: Nohara Shin and Uchiha Matsuri, Kushina Uzumaki, from the time they became a team to their battle to the death against Orochimaru, and then the crisis that engulfed Kirigakure...

"Maybe the next moment, I'll be lying here in silence too," Uchiha Matsuri said.

"Being a ninja is an extremely dangerous profession. We spend our days walking the line between life and death, living by the sword. One careless moment on a mission, and we can be blown to pieces." Dan Katō fixed his gaze on Uchiha Matsuri's calm face and spoke meaningfully.

"So from the day you became a ninja, you should have been prepared to die at any moment."

"Unfortunately, Nohara Shin reached the Pure Land before us. Those of us still alive shouldn't be too overcome with grief. I don't think even Nohara Shin would want to see everyone remain so gloomy because of his death."

After hearing Dan Katō's words, Uchiha Matsuri understood what he meant. Dan Katō was telling them not to let Nohara Shin's sacrifice weigh on them too much, but to pull themselves together, focus their minds, and keep moving forward on the ninja path.

"I understand, Senior Dan," Uchiha Matsuri replied calmly.

"Good." Dan Katō affectionately ruffled Uchiha Matsuri's hair.

"By the way, Senior Dan, can you teach me your Spirit Transformation Technique now?" Uchiha Matsuri shamelessly asked.

"With your current physical condition, I'm afraid I still can't teach it to you." Dan Katō studied Uchiha Matsuri carefully, then shook his head.

At that, Uchiha Matsuri felt a little disappointed.

Kushina Uzumaki, standing nearby, spoke up for Uchiha Matsuri. "Senior Dan, I think Matsuri is already at Chunin level. Why can't he learn this technique?"

Kushina Uzumaki was right. Uchiha Matsuri had always wondered the same thing.

As the new generation's strongest ninja in Konoha, capable of defeating the "genius" Minato Namikaze, Uchiha Matsuri was quite confident in how quickly his strength was growing. Yet even so, Dan Katō still refused to teach him the technique he had coveted for so long.

Did the technique require a certain family bloodline to use? Or did Dan Katō simply not want to teach it?

Looking at Uchiha Matsuri and Kushina Uzumaki's confused expressions, Dan Katō laughed. "I know you're probably wondering whether I simply don't want to teach you this technique."

Uchiha Matsuri and Kushina Uzumaki fell silent. Seeing them say nothing, Dan Katō knew his guess was right.

"Certainly, Matsuri, judging by your results, you're already the strongest of your generation. But if you fought Minato Namikaze right now, could you still beat him?" Dan Katō asked.

Uchiha Matsuri couldn't help but freeze at Dan Katō's question.

That was true.

Uchiha Matsuri had defeated the exceptionally talented Minato Namikaze in the Ninja Academy graduation exam. But that had been a year ago. Besides, Minato Namikaze hadn't yet mastered the Flying Thunder God Technique at the time.

Over the past year, with Jiraiya's guidance, Minato Namikaze had gained an initial grasp of the S-rank Flying Thunder God Technique, one of the most difficult ninjutsu to learn. The "Yellow Flash" was beginning to take shape. Meanwhile, Uchiha Matsuri had only learned a few basic Medical Ninjutsu techniques, mastered the Yin Seal, which let him instantly release chakra he had previously stored, and gained some limited combat experience.

Compared with Minato Namikaze's rapid progress, Uchiha Matsuri's own seemed lackluster.

So if Uchiha Matsuri and Minato Namikaze fought again now, Minato Namikaze's overpowered Flying Thunder God Technique would let him keep Uchiha Matsuri firmly on the defensive, even if he couldn't win.

Uchiha Matsuri had the Two-Tomoe Sharingan and the chakra stored in the Yin Seal to back him up. But the Two-Tomoe Sharingan still couldn't see the Flying Thunder God Technique's movement, and the Yin Seal only provided a limited increase in strength. In actual combat, Minato Namikaze's incredible speed and elusive Flying Thunder God Technique would be far harder to deal with.

Watching Uchiha Matsuri lost in thought, Dan Katō smiled helplessly and continued, "The Spirit Transformation Technique requires not only tremendous willpower and a vast amount of chakra, but also great speed to support its use."

"All three conditions are essential. Once you use the Spirit Transformation Technique, your body can no longer move. If an enemy destroys it in that state, you're finished. So after leaving your body, you have to end the fight as quickly as possible."

"Besides, the Spirit Transformation Technique is an S-rank forbidden jutsu developed by the Second Hokage. It's not something I can just teach to anyone!"

"What? Senior Dan, if it's forbidden, why did you promise to teach Matsuri later? You're going back on your word!" Blunt as ever, Kushina Uzumaki couldn't help complaining that Dan Katō was breaking his promise.

"I'm not someone who goes back on my word. Don't worry. Once I decide you're ready to train in the Spirit Transformation Technique, I'll ask Lord Hokage for permission. If the Third Hokage agrees, I'll teach it to you," Dan Katō said with an awkward smile.

"..."

So learning a technique like this also meant asking that stubborn old man, the Third Hokage.

After Dan Katō had strung him along, Uchiha Matsuri's mood immediately soured.

It would be a miracle if the Third Hokage agreed to let him learn the technique!

Looks like I'll have to find some other way to get this technique, Uchiha Matsuri thought.

The next morning.

The Third Hokage summoned the three members of Team 6 to the Hokage Office.

He looked deeply at the three standing before him, then slowly began, "Everyone, I called you here today to give you some unfortunate news. Effective immediately, Team 6 is being disbanded."

"What?" Uchiha Matsuri and the others blurted out, their eyes full of surprise and confusion.

Kushina Uzumaki was the first to question him. "Lord Hokage, why are you disbanding our team? Over the past year, Team 6 has completed far more missions than the other teams in our class. And yet you've disbanded the best team of them all. Lord Hokage, what—"

"Kushina, don't interrupt. Lord Hokage has his reasons for this decision." Dan Katō cut off Kushina Uzumaki's complaint and shot a sharp glare at her for speaking so bluntly.