Minato Namikaze and Jiraiya

On the Ninja Academy's training ground, Minato Namikaze finished his workout for the day, panting hard.

He was about to pick up his schoolbag and head home when he noticed a burly, white-haired man sitting cross-legged beside it, arms folded as he watched him with an amused expression.

Surprise flashed through Minato's eyes. Then he remembered what Kushina Uzumaki had said that morning. Could he have been chosen? Uneasy but hopeful, he stepped forward and asked, "Were you waiting for me, sir?"

A strange look flashed through Jiraiya's eyes. "What makes you so sure I was waiting for you?"

"My teacher mentioned something about this earlier. I thought my performance might have earned your approval."

Jiraiya's expression abruptly darkened. He stared at Minato and said coldly, "Then you thought wrong. You're too talented, kid. I have to get rid of you before you become an enemy of Sunagakure."

He pulled out a kunai and swept it toward Minato's throat. But Minato did not move. He simply stood there, watching Jiraiya.

Just before the kunai touched Minato's neck, Jiraiya stopped. He looked at him with displeasure. "What's wrong, kid? Scared stiff? Can't move?"

"No. If you wanted to kill me, you could have done it long ago. I probably wouldn't have had time to react. Why wait until I'd finished training?" Minato looked at Jiraiya calmly. He knew he was taking a gamble, but he trusted his judgment.

Besides, the man was far stronger than he was. Even if he ran, he would be killed in an instant.

Jiraiya froze for a moment, then burst into hearty laughter. "Hahahaha! You're good, kid. Really good! You've earned my approval!

"So, how about becoming my student? I'm the Hokage's student, you know."

Jiraiya realized he had found a real gem. The boy was not only talented and quick to learn; his powers of observation and analysis rivaled Orochimaru's. He was practically a combination of Jiraiya and Orochimaru. If Jiraiya trained a student who surpassed Orochimaru, wouldn't that mean Jiraiya was better than him?

"Lord Jiraiya?" Minato stared in shock for a moment, then bowed with delight. "Master Jiraiya."

"Mm, you're a fine kid. Come on, your new master will treat you to a meal. I'll start training you tomorrow afternoon!" Jiraiya placed his large hand on Minato's blond hair. It felt surprisingly nice.

"Thank you, Master Jiraiya!" Minato's eyes shone with joy. He had never seen Jiraiya fight, but he believed the man was strong. He was Lord Hokage's student, too. Under his guidance, Minato should be able to grow stronger quickly.

As for the possibility that Jiraiya was lying?

Minato saw no reason for it. Lies were bound to be exposed eventually, and Kushina Uzumaki seemed to have mentioned Jiraiya before.

Surely there was no mistake.

The days flew by. In the blink of an eye, half a month had passed. Uchiha Yi had received no guidance from any great master, but his strength continued to improve at a steady pace.

Through the Battle Space, Uchiha Yi had come to recognize his shortcomings. He needed a powerful ninjutsu.

As things stood, the Uchiha Clan had no surviving teachings for Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame or Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Fire—not even the Dragon Flame Song Technique.

Uchiha Yi had sounded out Yohei Uchiha and learned that certain ninjutsu could only be passed down to those qualified to become Clan Leader. They were not recorded on scrolls, either, but taught by word of mouth.

When Madara Uchiha left Konoha, he had not left those techniques behind.

Uchiha Yi found that deeply regrettable. Ordinary Fire Release techniques clearly could not compare with Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame. He wondered whether those ninjutsu might drop if he encountered Madara Uchiha in the Battle Space someday.

Of course, if Fire Style: Majestic Destroyer Flame really did drop, Uchiha Yi might cry. Wouldn't Madara's Eye Power or ocular techniques be far better than those ninjutsu?

Uchiha Yi turned his attention to Chidori. He could research the Rasengan too, of course, but he had never seen a Tailed Beast Bomb, which made studying the Rasengan difficult. Chidori was different.

But developing Chidori was hardly easy.

Kakashi might have developed a ninjutsu like Chidori at twelve, but Hatake Sakumo was an outstanding Lightning Release ninja. Kakashi had probably already absorbed his father's insights into Lightning Release and used them to develop Chidori.

Uchiha Yi would need to work much harder to reach that point. Fortunately, he still had plenty of time.

He had, however, noticed the change in Minato Namikaze. Minato's strength was improving rapidly, as though he were a dry sponge soaking up water.

It was obvious that Minato Namikaze had met Jiraiya. Uchiha Yi had expected as much. Minato was the sort of person who had talent to spare; give him the right opportunity, and he would grow stronger before one's eyes.

One day, Uchiha Yi met up with Uchiha Mikoto. They were about to head home so he could continue studying and practicing Lightning Release nature transformation when Kushina Uzumaki called out to them. "Yi, Mikoto, my grandmother wants to invite you both to dinner. Are you free today?"

"Your grandmother? Lady Mito?" Uchiha Yi had never expected this. Even Kagami Uchiha had only met Mito Uzumaki a handful of times.

Of course, that might have had something to do with the Mangekyō Sharingan.

"Mm. Grandma Mito wants to meet you. You're my friends, after all, and she cares about me a lot." Kushina Uzumaki felt a little strange about bringing friends home to meet her family, but she wanted Uchiha Yi and Uchiha Mikoto to meet her grandmother.

Uchiha Yi and Uchiha Mikoto exchanged a glance, then both nodded. Uchiha Yi said to Kushina Uzumaki, "Sorry for the trouble."

Uchiha Yi felt it would be best not to tell his family about meeting Mito Uzumaki.

There was no telling what unnecessary ideas some of them might get.

He would wait until after he had met Mito Uzumaki. Truthfully, he was a little nervous about it. He did not know whether she would sense Indra's Chakra within him.