Chapter 16: Time to Step It Up! (Please keep following the story)

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That evening, after dinner, Asuma Sarutobi could not resist telling his family about the Water Release technique Kinoshita Genichi had used beneath the tree that afternoon.

When he had finished, he could not help asking, “Father, how did he do that?”

Hiruzen Sarutobi was rendered speechless.

Although he had the relevant materials and had even studied them himself, mastering the technique was not something that could be accomplished overnight.

First, one had to possess a firm grasp of the Nine-Character True Mudras—and even he, the Professor of Ninjutsu, had not reached that level.

So Hiruzen could only say, “Genichi has an exceptional talent for Water Release, and he has also conducted very thorough research into hand seals. That is why he was able to develop such a distinctive method of casting.”

“However, everyone has their own path. Asuma, you and Genichi are different. You should not focus on how he accomplished it. What you need to learn is his attitude toward training.”

Asuma frowned. He was not satisfied with that answer.

What was that supposed to mean?

If Kinoshita Genichi could do it, then he could not?

Asuma refused to accept that, even though Genichi had defeated him several times during practical combat lessons.

He simply had not put in enough effort. It was not that he was inferior to Genichi.

“If Genichi can do it, so can I. I will definitely succeed!”

With that, Asuma rose and stormed away.

He was going to train harder!

Watching him leave, Hiruzen could not help sighing.

Shinnosuke Sarutobi smiled. “It is perfectly normal for someone his age to hate losing. Father, you need not worry too much. After some time, he will come to understand it on his own.”

Hiruzen nodded helplessly. His youngest son was simply too rebellious.

Fortunately, he had Shinnosuke.

Lake Biwa, however, reproached him. “Hiruzen, you should not always dismiss Asuma’s ideas.”

Hiruzen grew even more helpless. Was it wrong to stop his son from taking a pointless detour?

If he lacked the ability but insisted on trying anyway, would that not merely waste his energy and time while damaging his confidence?

…

Meanwhile, after having dinner with his parents, Kinoshita Genichi helped out at the family shop for a while. Only then did he go upstairs and unroll the scroll containing the Four Symbols Seal.

Compared with the Evil-Sealing Method and the Fire-Sealing Method, this sealing technique was far more complicated and profound.

Genichi therefore began by studying it.

As for genjutsu and the Leaf Style of Swordsmanship, neither was suitable for nighttime practice.

At ten o’clock that night, Genichi went to sleep right on schedule.

Yet even in his dreams, he remained busy working on the Four Symbols Seal.

“Ah, I want to improve so badly!”

The next morning, Genichi rose with a yawn and could not help sighing.

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Even with a cheat-like advantage, he was still working this hard. Who could possibly compare?

Time flew by, and before long, half a year had passed.

One day, Kinoshita Genichi arrived at Minato Namikaze’s home.

As expected, Kushina Uzumaki was the one who opened the door.

“Sister Kushina!” Genichi greeted her with a smile, carrying the dumplings and snacks he had brought inside with practiced ease.

Following behind him, Kushina asked with a smile, “Genichi, I heard you have already mastered the Fire-Sealing Method. Very impressive! It seems you have quite a talent for sealing techniques.”

Genichi set the food down and smiled. “Compared with you and Big Brother Minato, I still have a long way to go.”

Minato Namikaze smiled. “There is no need to be modest, Genichi. I heard that even the Third Hokage admitted that your Water Release surpassed his own.”

Genichi hurriedly changed the subject. “By the way, Big Brother Minato, have you made any progress in developing the Rasengan further?”

Minato and Kushina exchanged glances, then looked somewhat embarrassed.

Kushina covered her mouth and laughed. “Minato has been far too busy lately. He has not had any time to think about it.”

Well, that made sense.

Genichi was helpless. For Minato at this stage, the Rasengan was already sufficient. Most of his attention was probably still focused on sealing techniques.

Of course, there was also the Flying Thunder God Technique.

“Genichi, have you already come up with an idea?” Minato asked curiously.

He had complete faith in Genichi’s mind.

Genichi nodded. “I do have a few ideas, Big Brother Minato, and I think they would suit you very well.”

As he spoke, he took out a small shuriken. It had four sharp points, with a hollow center that fit over his finger. With the slightest movement, the shuriken began spinning at high speed.

Minato and Kushina watched it, their expressions thoughtful.

“Genichi, do you mean further developing the technique’s shape until it takes the form of a shuriken, then throwing it?” Minato asked.

Genichi stopped the spinning shuriken and snapped his fingers. “As expected of you, Big Brother Minato!”

“That is exactly what I mean.”

“But it would not be a simple transformation of shape. A purely morphological transformation would be extremely difficult.”

“It would have to incorporate the nature transformation of Wind Release.”

“I have even thought of a name for the technique. I will call it Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!”

Wind Release: Rasenshuriken?

Minato considered the name for a moment. It was not quite his usual style, but it did sound rather good.

Kushina, meanwhile, applauded. “What an incredible idea! That is just like you, Genichi.”

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She reached out and ruffled Genichi’s hair. “I honestly have no idea how your mind works. How did you manage to think of a ninjutsu like this?”

Genichi smiled smugly. “All you have to do is observe carefully.”

He allowed himself a little show of modesty.

“It is certainly a very promising technique, but it must be extraordinarily difficult to complete,” Minato said with a smile. “It looks like I will have to work even harder from now on.”

Genichi nodded. “The development of this technique can only depend on you, Big Brother Minato. I do not possess a Wind Release affinity, so mastering Wind Release nature transformation would be extremely difficult for me. Applying it would be even harder. Developing this technique would be thousands of times more difficult for me than for you.”

“By the way, why not have Master Jiraiya help develop it as well? Many hands make light work.”

“Besides, I think this technique would suit him very well too.”

Although Jiraiya had never taken Genichi on as a disciple, he had taught him sealing techniques. Calling him Master Jiraiya was therefore perfectly reasonable.

Minato nodded with a smile and readily agreed. “I will tell Master Jiraiya about it.”

Although Jiraiya was wandering outside the village, they could still contact him through the toads.

After they finished discussing Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, Genichi took out his notebook and began asking Minato and Kushina for guidance on the Four Symbols Seal.

Over the past six months, he had studied the Four Symbols Seal in depth, but he still had not mastered it completely. Naturally, he had to draw nourishment from the knowledge of Minato and Kushina.

With resources this valuable, he had to shamelessly make full use of them.

Minato and Kushina were equally generous, offering guidance without reservation.

They treated sincerity with sincerity.

After having lunch at Minato’s home and staying for another half hour, Genichi finally took his leave.

Once he had gone, Minato said to Kushina, “Kushina, what do you think about giving Genichi a ninjutsu?”

Kushina nodded. “Sure. But what kind of ninjutsu should we give him?”

“A sealing technique?”

Minato thought for a moment, then smiled. “There is no need to rush. Genichi is still a student, and he is currently learning the Four Symbols Seal. We can decide after he has finished mastering it.”

Kushina smiled. “That may take quite a while. At his current pace, Genichi will probably need another two or three years to master the Four Symbols Seal completely.”

“That is already incredibly fast. He is not even seven years old yet!”

Hearing this, Kushina could not help sighing with emotion. “That is true. I nearly forgot how young he is.”

“That boy really puts people under pressure. Fortunately, he is not our contemporary. Ha ha ha!”

Minato could not help smiling.

Indeed, Kinoshita Genichi was far too diligent.

If they had been in the same generation, even Minato Namikaze would have felt immense pressure.

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