Everyone in Konoha, and indeed the entire Shinobi World, knew just how difficult the Flying Thunder God Technique was.
It was perfectly normal for Hiruzen Sarutobi to think that way. Even if Xia Yan was a descendant of the Senju Clan, everyone knew what had become of the clan.
Even when Konoha had just been founded, while the First and Second were still alive, no one in the Senju Clan besides the Second had known the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He did not believe this Senju brat could have learned that technique in such a short time.
As for having studied it since childhood?
That was not impossible, but if he knew it, he should have used it long ago.
Judging by Xia Yan's mission reports and those submitted by his teammates, the boy did not know any such technique.
Still, Hiruzen Sarutobi kept the possibility in mind. Beyond his reluctance to concede, Minato Namikaze probably meant something else by saying that.
Namely, that Xia Yan really did have a few interesting techniques up his sleeve.
Could it be the Rasengan?
Hiruzen Sarutobi considered it silently. The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed.
Although learning the Rasengan was no easy task, it was far simpler than the Flying Thunder God.
Moreover, once someone grasped the knack of the Rasengan, learning it was not particularly difficult.
Minato Namikaze had met privately with Senju Natsuhiko, and the boy was indeed talented and very clever.
So it would not be strange if he had learned the Rasengan.
While Hiruzen Sarutobi slowly pondered this, the smoke in the plaza gradually dispersed, and Xia Yan and Lone Wolf came clearly into view once again.
Xia Yan looked somewhat disheveled now. Under Lone Wolf's relentless attacks, he could only keep dodging and