Trading the Rasengan for "That Jutsu"

"Winner: Kakashi Hatake!"

"Both sides, form the Reconciliation Seal!"

When the dust-covered Obito, as though fate had decreed it, was pinned to the ground by Kakashi.

Hideki could only sigh at the unpredictability of life.

You worked hard, Obito.

Kakashi must have taken the wrong medicine. There was nothing I could do about that!

"Damn it, I was so close!" After leaving the field, Obito still looked unconvinced. "That was actually a clone? Kakashi really has no sense of fair play!"

Hideki curled his lip, his gaze faintly disdainful.

Was the gap between you two really just one Clone Technique?

You were fighting like your lives depended on it, while he did not even break a sweat.

Still, Kakashi really was strong.

He entered school at five, graduated at five, became a Chunin the next year, and by the time Obito finally graduated and became a Chunin, that guy had already made Jonin.

He was clearly living with protagonist privileges.

Hideki had no intention of competing with Kakashi. He was following the high-end elite route, the intellectual route.

His weapon was his pen, not a kunai.

As for practical combat classes, it was enough to dabble a little.

And so, the morning classes came to an end.

Hideki and Obito went to the small park beside the academy, each sitting on a swing.

Obito took out the rice balls his grandmother had made. There were four in total, so they split them evenly and ate with great relish.

"Man, when can I finally become a ninja?"

After tossing the leftover food scraps into the trash can and clapping his hands clean, Obito suddenly sighed.

"What's wrong?" Hideki ate slowly. Having just swallowed his final bite, he asked.

"Nothing. I just suddenly got a little jealous of those ninjas," Obito said. "That dummy from yesterday, though... say what you want, he was seriously amazing."

"He was fine even after taking that hit head-on. And I did not even see when he got behind me... plus, there was that big sister Kushina."

"What about Kushina?" Hideki raised an eyebrow.

Had this guy noticed Kushina's unusual nature?

No way... As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, putting aside her Bloodline Limit for the moment, she was incredibly skilled with the Eight Trigrams Seal.

Obito should not have been able to sense the Nine-Tails' aura.

"Didn't you notice, Hideki?" Obito suddenly looked at him with a serious expression. "She was so calm when she paid yesterday!"

"That was three huge bowls of ramen, and they were special ramen with chashu and Naruto rolls! Each bowl cost more than a hundred ryo!"

"Three bowls... Sheesh, ninjas really are rich."

Hideki's expression gradually turned stunned.

As expected of you, Obito.

People could not understand you after you went dark, but even before that, your train of thought was already this bizarre.

"Looks like Kushina treated you two little guys pretty well yesterday!"

Just then, a clear voice suddenly sounded behind them.

The two froze, then turned around together to see a handsome blond man with close-cropped hair smiling at them.

Hideki's heart skipped a beat. Holy crap, isn't that Minato?

For a second, he felt like he had run into a grown-up Naruto.

"Um... senpai, do you need something?" Obito asked nervously.

"Just call me Minato. No need to be nervous. I merely wanted to ask you about what happened yesterday afternoon."

Minato gave them a warm smile and even ruffled Obito's little head.

But his next words made both boys' hearts jump.

"I've recently been developing a ninjutsu, and it's basically reached the final stages. That technique you used yesterday was quite powerful. Can you tell me how you did it?"

Minato said it with a smile, one that was sincere and sunny.

But in the boys' minds, it took on an entirely different meaning...

As expected of Minato. Is he here to investigate us?

Hideki thought to himself. The technique Minato mentioned had to be the Rasengan, but he did not believe Minato needed help from two little brats.

He had most likely come here because he had thought it over and realized that explosion had nothing to do with an Explosive Tag.

As expected of a Jonin. Is he here to settle accounts?

Obito panicked. So it had finally come!

The two boys exchanged a glance.

Obito saw contemplation in Hideki's eyes.

And Hideki saw the gleam of resolve in Obito's.

Two seconds later, Obito suddenly shoved Hideki away and charged straight at Minato!

"Hideki, run!"

"I'll hold him off!"

Obito howled, looking every bit like a righteous warrior sacrificing himself for justice.

Yet Minato instinctively sidestepped, effortlessly avoiding Obito's heroic charge. Unable to stop himself, Obito plunged headfirst into the trash can!

"..."

The air fell silent for two seconds.

The two of them stared at Obito's baffling move, momentarily dumbfounded.

"Uh... is he always like this?" Minato's smile stiffened slightly as he scratched his head in confusion.

"He's not usually like this. Today... maybe he ate too much." Hideki covered his face, so embarrassed he wanted to dig a three-bedroom apartment out of the ground.

I really want to say I don't know this guy...

Still, Hideki helped pull Obito out of the trash can.

Once free, Obito lowered his head, his little face red all the way to his ears.

Seeing him like this, Minato's eyes flashed with understanding.

The reason he had not exposed their actions yesterday was because he feared the two boys would feel too guilty.

But now, it seemed...

Well, apparently he had overthought things.

Children's hearts were always simple and pure. He had been too inconsiderate.

"Come to think of it, I should be thanking you two."

"If you two hadn't blown me up like that yesterday, this technique of mine probably wouldn't have taken shape so quickly."

Minato chuckled. As he spoke, he spread open his palm, and chakra visibly gathered above it, constantly leaping and spinning.

A moment later, an unruly ball of chakra appeared.

It was pale blue throughout, its chakra spinning wildly within. It appeared chaotic and without pattern, yet it was actually extremely stable.

Obito and Hideki both widened their eyes.

Hideki knew how powerful this technique was. It was used from the beginning all the way to the finale, practically the signature move of the Hokage world.

Obito did not know much about it, but it sure looked insanely awesome!

"This is the ninjutsu I just developed. It's called the Rasengan. As you can see, it's a hand-sign-free technique."

Minato explained with a smile. Then his gaze swept over the two boys, his eyes so clear and so sincere.

"I'd like to make a deal with you two... I can teach you this technique, and you tell me what happened yesterday afternoon. Is that alright?"

Hideki froze.

Honestly, he was tempted.

Minato was definitely lying, but the lie was not this so-called "deal." It was his "motive."

Hideki did not believe the Rasengan had been born because he and Obito blew something up...

But he believed Minato when he said he would exchange the technique.

There was no particular reason. This was simply the kind of man Minato was, Konoha's very own little sun.

Before learning the Eight Gates, am I going to learn the Rasengan first?

Hideki murmured inwardly.

How should he put this deal...

It was not merely a guaranteed profit. It was an absurdly lucrative bargain!

Trading a half-baked Hydrogen Release for a Rasengan that could be passed down through three generations.

It was like trading a beginner's wooden stick for a legendary gold item!

Besides, his so-called "Hydrogen Release" was not a Bloodline Limit, after all.

It was bound to be exposed sooner or later. Rather than hiding it, he might as well be open about it.

And maybe... if Minato happened to take an interest in this technique, he could even help research it?

This was the genius little sun who had comprehended the Flying Thunder God!

Hideki's heartbeat quickened.

He glanced at Obito, only to find Obito looking back at him.

It was obvious Obito was tempted, but he was not someone who would forget loyalty for profit. Without Hideki's permission, he would never reveal it!

With that thought, Hideki no longer hesitated.

"Actually, it's not such a big deal, Minato-senpai."

Hideki let out a breath and spoke slowly.

"I merely drew inspiration from a natural phenomenon and added a tiny bit of personal sentiment."

"Ninjutsu comes from life, yet rises above life."

"The principle behind my ninjutsu is like this..."

Obito watched as Hideki spoke with confident ease.

At that moment, he felt Hideki turn into light...