Chapter 31 (Patreon)

Just a few minutes after Sarutobi Hiruzen left, Minato suddenly appeared beside Yujiro in a yellow flash.

Kakashi arrived almost at the same time.

“ Kakashi just told me the Third came to see you,” Minato said, still slightly out of breath. “He didn’t say anything strange, did he?”

A moment ago, Minato had still been buried in paperwork at the Hokage’s office. The instant Kakashi reported it, he had left everything behind and rushed over.

Yujiro smiled faintly.

“Nothing important.”

He had already sensed Kakashi nearby earlier, but he had not bothered to point it out.

So Kakashi had gone to call the Fourth Hokage.

“I see…” Minato let out a quiet breath of relief.

For a moment, he had honestly been worried Hiruzen might say something unnecessary.

Then Minato’s expression softened into his usual gentle smile.

“Yujiro, are you free in half an hour? Would you like to come over to my place?”

Today was a day off. Minato had actually wanted to invite Yujiro over for a while now.

He had even thought about taking Yujiro as his student.

However, Yujiro was still young. That kind of matter could wait until after he graduated from the Academy.

“Sure,” Yujiro replied with a nod.

It seemed he would not be getting any real training done today anyway.

Then he might as well go along with it.

“Good. I’ll head back and finish a few things first. I’ll come by again soon.”

After Yujiro agreed, Minato disappeared in another flash.

Yujiro then turned his gaze toward Kakashi.

Kakashi gave a small cough and looked away awkwardly.

Technically, this counted as reporting on him behind his back.

Yujiro only smiled.

Kakashi had done it out of concern, so there was nothing to blame him for.

“Well then,” Yujiro said. “Let’s go buy some food first.”

“Agreed,” Kakashi answered immediately.

“Huh?” Uzuki Yugao blinked from the side, confused. “Didn’t the Fourth Hokage just invite us to his house?”

Kakashi and Yujiro looked at her at the same time.

That was the reaction of someone who had never suffered under Uzumaki Kushina’s cooking.

Kakashi had tasted it before.

That was not cooking.

That was a forbidden technique disguised as dinner.

He had no intention of experiencing it a second time.

Yujiro also knew enough about Kushina’s cooking skills, so buying food in advance was absolutely the correct choice.

Besides, Yujiro really did want to meet Uzumaki Kushina.

The Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki.

The woman who gave her life to protect Naruto.

Yujiro still clearly remembered the scene from the original story, when Minato and Kushina used their own bodies to stop the Nine-Tails’ claw.

Half an hour later, when Minato saw the food Kakashi was carrying, he silently gave him a thumbs-up.

Kakashi understood immediately.

Yujiro, Yuhi Kurenai, Uzuki Yugao, Kakashi, and Minato then set off together.

…

At the Uchiha clan compound, in the training grounds.

“Itachi, you’ve improved a lot recently.”

Shisui looked at Itachi, who had just finished exchanging blows with him, and his voice carried genuine surprise.

“I still have a long way to go,” Itachi said seriously as he landed. “I want to catch up to you, Shisui-san… and Yujiro-san too.”

“Yujiro, huh?”

Shisui slowly sheathed the short sword in his hand.

Ever since Yujiro had said those words to him last time, Shisui had been thinking about the Will of Fire.

The belief he had always trusted so deeply had begun to shake.

If the Will of Fire was truly right, then why could he not refute Yujiro’s words?

That question had stayed with him for a long time.

And he still had not found an answer.

“Are you two finished training?”

At that moment, Fugaku’s voice reached them.

Itachi and Shisui immediately straightened.

“Clan Head,” Shisui greeted politely.

“Father,” Itachi said.

“That is enough for today.” Fugaku lowered his gaze to Itachi, a faint smile appearing on his face. “During the New Year Festival, the clan will be holding a banquet. Itachi, go and invite Yujiro and the others for me.”

“Yes, Father!”

Itachi’s eyes brightened at once.

The Uchiha clan held a banquet every year around this time.

However, outsiders had never been invited before.

Yujiro was the first exception.

Shisui, standing beside him, also looked surprised.

But after thinking about Yujiro’s strength and the way he carried himself, Shisui silently nodded.

Yujiro had talent, confidence, courage, and a mind that did not move according to ordinary rules.

Even Shisui, who had not known him for long, could not help admiring him.

A genius like that was rare.

…

Minato’s house.

The group sat together, talking and laughing.

“Yujiro, I’ve got high hopes for you!”

Uzumaki Kushina raised her hand cheerfully, her voice bright and full of energy.

“I like kids with guts! Keep going like that, and one day you might even surpass Minato!”

Yujiro looked at Kushina and answered politely.

Kushina’s personality was open, fiery, and straightforward. Even though she was about to become a mother, that part of her had not changed at all.

Yujiro actually liked that kind of temperament.

At least someone like her would not scheme behind your back.

And sure enough, buying food before coming here had been the right decision.

Because in the kitchen, there were two plates of black, unidentifiable objects sitting quietly on the table.

If they had actually eaten those, someone might have died.

After the meal, Yujiro turned to Minato and said, “Yondaime-sama, I want to learn ninjutsu.”

“Hm?”

Minato froze for a moment.

He was just about to say something, but then he stopped.

Right.

Yujiro could not be judged by ordinary standards.

For most children his age, their chakra reserves would not be enough to practice ninjutsu properly.

But Yujiro was different.

“All right,” Minato said with a smile. “Then first, let’s test your chakra nature.”

After saying that, Minato went into the back room. A short while later, he returned with chakra paper.

“Hold this in your hand,” Minato explained. “Then send a little chakra into it. Your chakra nature will show itself.”

Yujiro took the chakra paper and injected a trace of chakra into it.

The moment his chakra entered, the paper wrinkled sharply as if struck by lightning.

Then it split cleanly down the middle.

Minato’s eyes moved slightly.

“Lightning and Wind,” he said. “Two chakra natures.”

Yujiro nodded.

He had already expected as much.

Right now, his Limiter had reached the second stage.

If he wanted to break through again, ordinary training would no longer be enough.

Basic physical exercise was already becoming inefficient.

From now on, he needed harsher training.

Far harsher than before.