Master and Disciple

After finishing Namikaze Minato's training, Senju Genma suddenly remembered something important.

He had learned the Flying Thunder God Technique, but he still didn't know the Rasengan, which could enhance its power.

He had also already learned the Flying Thunder God Slash, a technique derived from the Flying Thunder God Technique.

The Flying Thunder God Slash was a B-rank ninjutsu. First, the user would teleport through space-time to the enemy's blind spot, marked with the Flying Thunder God Formula, then attack their vitals with a kunai or sword at blinding speed.

It was a decisive move. Tobirama often caught his opponents off guard, using the Flying Thunder God's space-time movement to launch a sudden, lightning-fast thrust.

But compared with the Rasengan's destructive power, the Flying Thunder God Slash was still lacking. It wasn't very effective against opponents with powerful Nintaijutsu.

Based on the novels Senju Genma had read in his previous life, if someone transmigrated to the early days of the Naruto world and couldn't invent the Rasengan, they were basically bringing shame on all transmigrators.

Senju Genma thought to himself, I remember you gather chakra in your hand, make it flow continuously in irregular directions, and compress it into a palm-sized ball of shapeless chakra to attack your opponent.

He recalled the scene in the original story where Naruto trained in the Rasengan. Full of energy and ready to act, he paid some people to buy balloons and rubber balls outside the clan compound, then began training in the Rasengan using Naruto's method from the anime.

The Senju Clan had always followed Hiruzen Sarutobi's policy of integrating with ordinary civilians. However, at this stage, clan members with ninja aptitude were still kept within the clan, so there were a few people available to run errands.

The problem was that they were all much too enthusiastic. They were always saying things like, "It's my honor to serve the young clan leader. Let's make the Forest Senju great again!" It gave Senju Genma a headache.

Thirty days passed.

Senju Genma's Sage Body talent began to show.

In only a month, with just a rough understanding from watching the anime, he successfully created the Rasengan.

Uzumaki Mito and Tsunade were both amazed. They had known for a long time that Senju Genma was exceptionally talented, but the fact that he had created an A-rank ninjutsu still left them stunned.

But Senju Genma wasn't satisfied. He continued developing the Rasengan and began studying more advanced Wood Release techniques.

Two years later.

"I can finally relax! I'm exhausted!" Senju Genma sat at the dining table and stretched contentedly.

Tsunade, who had no missions lately, had also returned home. She looked somewhat dispirited.

The sight startled Senju Genma.

After all, this young lady usually acted carefree!

When she wasn't on a mission, all she did was gamble, eat, and sleep with Senju Genma!

She didn't care about anything else.

Could Nawaki have died?!

But it was only Konoha Year 35. The timing didn't match, and the Wood Clone Seed he had placed on Nawaki to protect him hadn't reacted.

It couldn't have had anything to do with Mito or Kushina, either.

Mito was powerful. No one in the current Ninja World could kill her unless Madara Uchiha made a move.

And it was too early for Kushina to become the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. She wouldn't become one for at least another four years.

Besides, she was always at home.

Senju Genma couldn't help asking, "Tsunade, what happened?"

Tsunade's face suddenly twisted with fury, and she smashed the dining table with one punch.

"Damn Orochimaru! He actually became Nawaki's master, and Nawaki became his disciple."

Senju Genma asked, confused, "What's so bad about that?"

Orochimaru hadn't yet experienced Nawaki's death. He was still a genius ninja who only occasionally thought about life and death.

If you asked who would be the best choice for a master in Naruto, Senju Genma thought Orochimaru was the obvious answer.

There were too many advantages to having the Orochimaru of this era as a master.

First, Orochimaru was Hiruzen Sarutobi's disciple. As Tsunade's younger brother, Nawaki had previously counted as only half a member of Hiruzen's faction.

Now that Nawaki had become Orochimaru's disciple, he was Hiruzen Sarutobi's grand-disciple. That meant Hiruzen had accepted Nawaki and made him one of his own, a member of the Hokage faction.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was in his prime. He hadn't yet become the weak old man he would be in the future, and Konoha was still under his control. There was nothing wrong with following him.

Second, although Orochimaru hadn't started conducting research yet, his talent for research was monstrous. In the future, he would master the core technologies of the ninja world, leaving the rest of the Ninja World far behind.

Finally, he devoted himself wholeheartedly to teaching his disciples and never held anything back. He cared deeply about Nawaki and his future student Anko. Even when he trained Sasuke, whom he regarded as a vessel for Living Corpse Reincarnation, he still taught him well enough to become the great man who could kill him.

How many teachers like him could you find in the entire Ninja World?

"That's obvious! Nawaki's my younger brother. Now that he's Orochimaru's disciple, doesn't that put me a whole generation below Orochimaru for no reason? I don't know what the old man was thinking. He should've just let me teach Nawaki!" Tsunade said angrily, raising her fist.

"That's all?" Senju Genma was stunned.

This was what had worried him for so long? Tsunade really needed a good scolding!

"I need comforting!" Tsunade cooed, hugging Senju Genma.

The difference in their builds made the embrace look rather strange.

"There's just no dealing with you." Senju Genma took off the glasses that weren't even on his face and smiled brightly.

Inside the Hokage Office.

Hiruzen Sarutobi was peering into a Crystal Ball with the Telescope Technique, a nosebleed running down his face, when an angry shout suddenly rang out from outside the door.

"Hiruzen." Shimura Danzō pushed the door open and entered.

Hiruzen Sarutobi lived up to his reputation as the strongest Hokage. He was quick, wiping away his nosebleed and putting the Crystal Ball away in a single instant.

"What happened, Danzō?"

Shimura Danzō stood before the desk, glaring coldly at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Why did you make me withdraw Root's men who were following Nawaki? He's Lord Hashirama's grandson. Aren't you worried he might be in danger?"

Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help thinking, You're the greatest danger to him, aren't you?!

Without even looking up, he pretended to busy himself with the documents on his desk.

"That child is Orochimaru's disciple now. Orochimaru will keep an eye on him. There's no need for you to interfere anymore."

"And what if I disagree?" Shimura Danzō said coldly.

He knew that Nawaki was the First's grandson. The villagers loved him, and he wasn't particularly clever—the exact type Hiruzen Sarutobi liked.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi planned to groom Nawaki to become Hokage, that would be trouble.

Shimura Danzō wanted to become Hokage himself! Nawaki was now far too great a threat to him.