Successfully Extorting the Flying Thunder God Technique

The Flying Thunder God Technique was a ninjutsu that stood out among all ninjutsu and held an extremely important position.

The reason it was so dazzling and eye-catching was because it was a space-time ninjutsu.

To put its principle and function plainly, it was simple: fixed-point teleportation, with incredibly fast teleportation speed and an extremely wide range.

Looking throughout the history of the ninja world, there were quite a few spatial abilities besides the Flying Thunder God.

For example, Obito Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan ocular technique, Kamui.

Then there were Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Yomotsu Hirasaka and Amenominaka.

And Sasuke Uchiha's Amenotejikara, wielded through his tomoe Rinnegan in the later stages.

All of these were spatial abilities.

Among the many spatial abilities, the Flying Thunder God Technique might not have been the strongest, but it was definitely the most convenient.

In the original story, during the Fourth Great Ninja War, Minato Namikaze had used the Flying Thunder God to teleport away the Ten-Tails' Tailed Beast Bomb, playing an enormous role!

Therefore, Yun Yan was determined to obtain this immensely useful space-time ninjutsu.

After finally voicing his demand for the Flying Thunder God Technique, Yun Yan stared seriously at Hiruzen Sarutobi, making his determination this time perfectly clear.

Not only that, but the aura around Yun Yan was restrained yet ready to burst forth, as though he would fight the moment they disagreed—if you refused again, he would act directly.

What was Hiruzen Sarutobi's situation now?

The old man was extremely conflicted.

Of course, he knew just how powerful and convenient the Flying Thunder God Technique was. If one truly mastered this move, the uses it could be put to were simply unimaginable.

Thus, from the bottom of his heart, Hiruzen Sarutobi did not want to give this ninjutsu to Yun Yan.

However, seeing Yun Yan's resolute aura and considering that he had already refused him so many times, Hiruzen Sarutobi found it difficult to reject him again and could not help but hesitate.

His hesitation did not end there. Besides all that, Hiruzen Sarutobi was also considering how difficult the Flying Thunder God was to cultivate.

Yes, learning and cultivating the Flying Thunder God Technique was extraordinarily difficult. Its difficulty far exceeded the Edo Tensei and Reaper Death Seal Yun Yan had mentioned earlier.

Hiruzen Sarutobi even vaguely felt that hard work alone was not enough to cultivate the Flying Thunder God. One needed a certain kind of talent, specifically a talent for spatial techniques.

Without such talent, one could work oneself to death and still never learn the Flying Thunder God.

But with the talent, one had a chance of mastering it, just like his teacher, the Second Hokage Tobirama Senju, and his grand-disciple, the Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze.

So... did Yun Yan possess that talent?

Looking at Yun Yan, Hiruzen Sarutobi began to consider the possibility.

He felt that the possibility was slim.

Ever since his teacher, the Second Hokage, had created the Flying Thunder God Technique, so much time had passed. Quite a few people had tried to learn it, yet only two had truly succeeded in cultivating it.

For some reason, Hiruzen Sarutobi instinctively felt that Yun Yan could not cultivate the Flying Thunder God. There was an eighty to ninety percent chance that he would fail, leaving this pearl of a ninjutsu buried in dust.

Whether such a pearl was buried in dust was unimportant. The key was that Yun Yan would not be able to learn it.

As long as he handed over the technique and shut this brat up, satisfying Yun Yan for now, whether he could learn it afterward... would no longer be Hiruzen Sarutobi's concern.

That was roughly what Hiruzen Sarutobi was thinking.

Of course, Hiruzen Sarutobi also had concerns. He worried about what would happen if Yun Yan really did master the Flying Thunder God.

But... that was still far off. Even Minato had not mastered the Flying Thunder God overnight. Back then, he had practiced for who knew how long before barely getting started.

In short, how could the Flying Thunder God Technique be so easy to cultivate?

After deliberating for quite a while, Hiruzen Sarutobi ultimately decided to agree.

Seated behind his desk, Hiruzen Sarutobi continued smoking his pipe. He exhaled a cloud of smoke and sighed deeply, as if he had made an incredibly difficult decision.

"Ah... fine. Since you've asked for it, Yun Yan, I'll give you the Flying Thunder God Technique."

Upon hearing that, Yun Yan immediately smiled. The restrained aura around him vanished at once, and his attitude made a complete one-hundred-and-eighty-degree turn.

"Ah, Lord Hokage, it's wonderful that you agreed. I knew you were a wise and reasonable man, not someone who refused to listen to reason."

Watching Yun Yan act like this, Hiruzen Sarutobi silently cursed to himself.

Just now, you were ready to fight the moment things didn't go your way, and now you're flattering me for being wise and reasonable. This brat is shameless too.

He never acts without profit and never lets go until he sees the rabbit. How am I supposed to deal with this sort of personality in the future? What a headache.

Temporarily setting aside his worries for the future, Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned slightly and could not help giving Yun Yan a few reminders.

"Compensation like the Flying Thunder God Technique, along with the position of ANBU squad captain, should be enough, right?"

Yun Yan nodded with a smile.

"Enough, enough. Barely enough."

Barely enough, my ass... Forget it, forget it. This Hokage won't stoop to his level.

After his face darkened, Hiruzen Sarutobi suppressed his anger and continued.

"Since that is the case, let this matter end here for now. Do not pursue the matter of Danzō and Root any further. I will strictly order Danzō to never lay a hand on you or those around you again. You can rest assured of that."

If I were actually reassured by that, I'd be an idiot.

Thinking that inwardly while wearing a warm and friendly smile, Yun Yan nodded repeatedly.

"Fine, fine. Since Lord Hokage is being so sincere, I'll turn a blind eye to Danzō's side of things.

"I believe Lord Hokage will keep his promise, and I believe Danzō's side will listen to Lord Hokage and won't provoke me again in the future.

"After all, you're the Hokage. No matter what, Danzō has to obey your orders, right?"

Why does that sound like he's mocking me? Hiruzen Sarutobi thought.

Looking at Yun Yan's grinning face, Hiruzen Sarutobi suddenly felt exhausted. He could no longer be bothered to maintain appearances and simply waved Yun Yan away with an irritated, helpless expression.

"Fine, fine. Since that is the case, you should go back now."

Still smiling, Yun Yan directly held out his hand to Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The meaning was obvious. Where was the Flying Thunder God? Give it to him first.

Seeing that outstretched hand, the veins on Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead nearly bulged.

"A ninjutsu this important cannot be given to you immediately. Tomorrow. Tomorrow, I'll have Kakashi personally deliver the Flying Thunder God Technique to you."

Upon hearing that, Yun Yan turned to glance at Kakashi beside him.

Kakashi, who had barely spoken and had quietly watched the two of them reach their under-the-table deal, finally nodded.

It seemed there was indeed no problem, so Yun Yan nodded in agreement as well.

"Fine, then I'll stay home tomorrow and await the arrival of your Flying Thunder God Technique.

"You'd better not stand me up, and you'd better not go back on your word."

The veins on Hiruzen Sarutobi's forehead finally burst out. He practically gritted his teeth as he spoke.

"Yun Yan, is that really the kind of person you think I am?"

Yun Yan did not answer that question directly. He merely laughed it off.

"Haha, then I'll head back first. Izumi is still waiting for me to come home for dinner."

The moment he finished speaking, Yun Yan vanished with a Body Flicker, leaving the Hokage's office just like that.

That guy had finally left. Sitting in his chair, Hiruzen Sarutobi could not help but let out a sigh of relief.

After relaxing, though, Hiruzen Sarutobi recalled everything that had just happened and still felt somewhat angry.

That brat had actually used this matter to extort the Flying Thunder God Technique out of him...

Yes, this old fox Hiruzen Sarutobi had realized it too. After all, he had not spent all those years playing political games for nothing.

Once he realized it, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt a surge of anger. When had he ever suffered such a loss at the hands of a junior? He had been schemed against by a young Uchiha brat!

How hateful!

Angry as he was, and much as he had suffered a loss, Hiruzen Sarutobi was still relieved that he had managed to send that troublesome brat away.

Moreover, after thinking it over, Hiruzen Sarutobi had to admit that even if he had realized Yun Yan's intentions the moment Yun Yan asked for the Flying Thunder God, he would not have had any better solution.

There truly was no way around it. Yun Yan had the moral high ground; the severed head of that Root ninja was still sitting right in front of Hiruzen Sarutobi.

And Yun Yan was a rogue. The moment things did not go his way, he was genuinely prepared to act and tear all pretense apart. He could disregard everything and care about nothing, but Hiruzen Sarutobi could not. Looking before and after had practically become the old man's instinct.

For those reasons, Hiruzen Sarutobi felt that suffering a loss and being manipulated were unavoidable.

Still, no matter what, as long as he had preserved Danzō and Root, that pair of black gloves, this had not been a failure.

At this point, Hiruzen Sarutobi could only console himself that way.