Hiruzen Sarutobi choked on his words.
On the eve of the Second Shinobi War, Mirai Uzumaki had single-handedly turned the tide on the battlefield in the Land of Whirlpools. During the war, he had also ended Hanzō in the Land of Rain, reversing both Konoha's fortunes and its public reputation.
If those accomplishments were counted properly, even two S-rank missions would not be enough to repay them.
He opened his mouth, then finally forced out a sentence. "...Fine. I can make an exception and let you choose one technique to learn."
"Alright." Mirai nodded. "I choose Flying Thunder God."
Hiruzen Sarutobi fell silent for a moment. Flying Thunder God was a space-time Ninjutsu developed by the Second Hokage, Tobirama of the Senju Clan, and one of Konoha's secret forbidden techniques.
Ordinary people were not only unqualified to learn it; even if they did, they basically could not master it.
It required extraordinarily fast neural reflexes, as well as talent in space-time techniques and Sealing Jutsu.
It had been sealed within the Scroll of Seals for so long, yet aside from the Second Hokage, no one had ever mastered it.
After weighing the matter, Hiruzen decided there was no major issue with giving it to Mirai.
"I can give you the Flying Thunder God Technique, but I have one condition—" Hiruzen raised a hand. "The technique cannot leave the archive room. You may only read it inside. You may not copy it or take it away."
"Fine."
Mirai agreed without hesitation.
After all, he had a photographic memory. It was enough to memorize it.
Then he added, "Oh, right. I want Minato to be allowed to learn it too."
"Minato?" Hiruzen frowned. "He has no accomplishments to his name—"
"He saved Noka before. Noka is from the Uzumaki Clan, and the