Storm Clouds Gathering

If he could choose a Ninjutsu himself and enable its autonomous activation function,

Mikami Yu would definitely choose the "Substitution Technique."

After all, while its 0.2-second casting time was brief, it was not truly instantaneous. An enemy with sufficiently fast reactions might notice it and interrupt him. Moreover, the Substitution Technique depended heavily on his condition; if his body was restrained or a wall blocked the way, he could not activate it.

That was also the most fundamental difference between the Substitution Technique and Space–Time Ninjutsu such as the Flying Thunder God and Amenotejikara.

If the Substitution Technique could just do the work itself...

That would be convenient.

It seemed the Gala System had some hidden functions it had not explicitly mentioned, waiting to be developed and explored. Once he was done with this busy stretch, he could study it properly.

As for now...

Mikami Yu only wanted to hurry home, take a bath, and sleep in bed.

"Uncle Duy, let's stop training here for today."

Mikami Yu rubbed his aching temples as he spoke.

The Eight Gates had truly drained him dry. Although the Healing Technique had healed him once, the chakra he had expended earlier had not fully recovered. It had only returned to around thirty or forty percent of his peak state.

Might Duy and Might Guy were not training-obsessed automatons either. They knew that Mikami Yu could not rush his first attempt at a forbidden technique, so after he rested for a while, they packed up and ended the training session.

By then, the sky had already begun to darken.

Dragging their exhausted bodies, the three set off for home amid Might Duy's slightly hoarse roar of, "Burning youth never ends!"

There was nothing much to say about resting and eating after he got home.

After dinner, Mikami Aoi carried the bowls and chopsticks into the kitchen to wash them.

Meanwhile, Mikami Yu carefully finished bathing, then took out the ointment from the Nara Family and applied it to every joint in his body. After that, he did two sets of the flexibility exercises Yakushi Nonō had taught him in his bedroom and drank the freshly warmed milk.

During this process,

he also tried using the Healing Technique to massage himself. However, he could not recreate that smooth, warm sensation from when the Healing Technique itself had manifested earlier. He could only attribute it to his own lack of proficiency; he simply did not understand healing as well as the Healing Technique did.

I still need more practice.

Considering the Healing Technique's special nature, perhaps he could raise this Ninjutsu's priority a little, placing it ahead of Fire Style: Fire Ball Jutsu and Wild Water Wave...

"Good night, Three Techniques, and everyone else..."

"Minato, you're back."

It was early morning.

The location was Hiruzen Sarutobi's office in the Hokage Building.

Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, sat behind his desk reviewing mission reports.

Across from him stood Minato, a young man not yet twenty years old, with a respectful posture. Beside him were Akimichi Dōtō of the Akimichi Clan and Inuzuka Gaku of the Inuzuka Clan. All three looked travel-worn, clearly having only returned after a long period of running about outside.

"So Kumogakure has indeed begun making prewar preparations. With supplies on this scale, they are likely planning something major... Storm clouds are gathering."

"Minato, Dōtō, Gaku, you've worked hard on this mission."

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally finished reading the report and looked up. Seemingly casually, he said, "Now that the mission is complete, get some proper rest. I'll discuss this intelligence with the council of advisors."

"Yes, Third Hokage."

As Minato and the others acknowledged the order,

Hiruzen Sarutobi added, "Minato, stay behind. There's something I need to discuss with you."

"Yes."

Minato nodded to his two teammates and remained where he was.

Only after the office door had closed did Hiruzen Sarutobi continue. "Minato, do you remember what I told you about serving as a Jonin team leader?"

"...Oh, right. It seems the Ninja Academy is nearing graduation season. Please rest assured, Third Hokage. I'll fulfill my duties as a teacher and guide these children well."

Minato understood at once and immediately gave his assurance.

In truth, being a Jonin team leader was not an easy job.

Taking care of children was troublesome, severely reducing one's own operational efficiency. Many difficult missions could not be accepted casually, and if anything happened to the children in the class, the Jonin would also bear responsibility. That was why many experienced Jonin did not want the job.

However, it was another matter entirely if the Hokage personally appointed someone.

Especially since Minato was Hiruzen Sarutobi's grand-disciple and aspired to compete for the position of the next Hokage, this was a responsibility he had no choice but to take on.

However...

That was not the only matter Hiruzen Sarutobi wished to discuss.

"There is no need to rush the matter of leading a Jonin team. Assignments will be made after the graduation results are out."

"However, among this year's Ninja Academy graduates, there is one particularly unusual student. Like you, he was born a civilian and has a clean background. But he has a unique understanding of the Three Techniques and developed an improved version of the Substitution Technique... I tried to reproduce the technique, but failed."

"Oh?"

Minato's eyelids twitched as he said in surprise, "An improved Substitution Technique that even you, Hokage-sama, cannot reproduce? Could it have incorporated a Space–Time nature transformation? But..."

But how could such a technique have come from the hands of a Ninja Academy student?

It was impossible just thinking about it.

"That is precisely the issue."

Hiruzen Sarutobi lit his pipe and took a puff. "The teachers at the Ninja Academy suspect that this child may possess the potential to cultivate Space–Time Ninjutsu. A few days ago, Hizashi of the Hyuga Clan had a private spar with him. I happened to see it, and I felt that his technique was indeed somewhat unusual."

"So I would like to ask you, an expert in Space–Time Ninjutsu, to take a look for me. If there truly is another person capable of learning that technique of Tobirama-sensei's, it would be a great benefit to Konoha."

"...I understand. I guarantee the mission will be completed."

Minato grew serious and gave a solemn promise.

Hiruzen Sarutobi smiled, his tone becoming more casual. "You only need to confirm it. There is no need to be so tense. Think of a way to do so after you return; I will have the Ninja Academy cooperate with you."

"Understood."

Minato said.

"Oh, and there is one more matter. I would like to hear your opinion, Minato."

Hiruzen Sarutobi sighed. "That child Kakashi has been complained about by his teammates again lately..."

Minato's return did not cause any stir in Konoha.

After all, the Fourth Hokage of the original story had yet to earn the title of the Yellow Flash. Among most ordinary citizens, he was far less well known than the Three Ninja or the White Fang, who had already taken his own life.

As for the intelligence regarding Kumogakure's military supply preparations, that was even more highly classified and could not possibly be disclosed to the public.

But...

Mikami Yu and Nohara Rin, who frequently came and went from Konoha Hospital, had already caught a hint of something unusual.