An Unexpected Surprise!
Haruto Saito never expected that Minato Namikaze had already thought about mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique.
He was a genius. His intelligence far surpassed his peers. While others his age were still playing around and worrying about friendships, he had already set his sights on the future. He understood himself and had considered his own path forward. So, although this revelation took Haruto Saito by surprise, it was still reasonable.
If this was the case, then persuading—no, recruiting—Minato Namikaze as his personal disciple would be much easier!
"Who told you that the Flying Thunder God Technique is forbidden to learn?" Haruto Saito asked with a smile.
"Isn't it?" Minato Namikaze blinked and looked up. "Since the Second Hokage passed away, no one has used the Flying Thunder God Technique in over ten years. If it's not banned, why hasn't anyone else practiced such a powerful technique?"
Minato assumed that the technique was forbidden—but he was mistaken!
It wasn't that Konoha prohibited its practice, but rather that the technique was simply too difficult to learn! Even someone as immensely talented as Hiruzen Sarutobi, who had mastery over all elemental attributes, couldn't master the Flying Thunder God Technique. Learning it required a special talent—it was an S-rank forbidden jutsu, and on top of that, it demanded unique innate abilities, making it even harder to master.
In short, the technique wasn't banned—it was just that no one had been able to successfully learn it after the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
"Do you really want to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique?" Haruto Saito asked again.
"Of course I do! But just wanting it isn't enough," Minato Namikaze said dejectedly.
"Then, what if I gave you access to the Flying Thunder God scroll and gave you the opportunity to learn it? Would you take it?" Haruto Saito asked with a sly smile.
"Absolutely!" Minato immediately responded, his voice rising with excitement. His eyes shone as he looked at Haruto Saito. "Lord Haruto, do you really have a way?"
"A way? Of course, I do. I am, after all, the Hokage's personal disciple," Haruto Saito said with a smirk. "But… why should I help you?"
Minato's face changed slightly. He caught the implication—there were conditions. But then, something seemed off. He stared at Haruto Saito, suspicion creeping into his expression.
"Lord Haruto… are you tricking me?"
"Tricking you? About what?"
"How could you possibly give me a chance to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique? Forget whether it's forbidden or not—if you really had the ability, wouldn't you learn it for yourself? Why would you give me the opportunity instead?"
Haruto Saito curled his lips slightly—Minato's doubt was reasonable. His previous words were indeed a bit misleading. After a brief pause, he spoke again:
"Alright, I'll tell you the truth—I am already practicing the Flying Thunder God Technique! One of the main reasons the Hokage took me as his personal disciple was because I have the special talent required to learn it."
"Huh?" Minato was stunned.
"I possess the Flying Thunder God scroll," Haruto Saito continued, locking eyes with Minato. "And I can teach you how to practice it—but the question is, why should I?"
"Why… why…? Because… because I'm a genius! I have great talent!" Minato declared, somewhat shamelessly.
He was using Haruto Saito's own reasoning against him. Earlier, when Haruto Saito offered to teach him the Barrier Breach Technique, he justified it by saying Minato had the talent for it.
Haruto Saito chuckled and shook his head. "Your shamelessness reminds me of myself when I was younger." But that excuse wouldn't work this time.
"Alright then, Lord Haruto, just tell me—what's your condition?" Minato asked, looking determined. "Whatever it is, I'll accept!"
He was that eager to learn the Flying Thunder God Technique. Truthfully, anyone would be. If given the chance to study such a powerful jutsu, few would pass it up—especially Minato, who believed he had the aptitude for it.
"First condition: I want you to graduate early!" Haruto Saito raised one finger. "If you agree, I'll ask the Hokage to arrange a special graduation exam for you."
"That's doable." Minato nodded immediately. "But I'll need some time to prepare—there are some academic subjects I need to catch up on so I can pass the written exams."
"Second condition!" Haruto Saito raised a second finger and looked Minato straight in the eye. "You must become my disciple—my personal student!"
"Huh?" Minato froze.
He hadn't expected that condition. After all, Haruto Saito was only four years older than him. Sure, Haruto was his superior, but in the eyes of other adults, they were both still kids!
"What's wrong? Do you think I'm unqualified?" Haruto Saito asked, crossing his arms like an elder addressing a junior. "Do you think I'm not strong enough? Or that I lack the experience to teach you?"
"No, that's not it." Minato shook his head. He knew Haruto was more than capable of teaching him—it was just… weird.
The age gap was more significant now, but in another ten years, when they were both in their twenties, the difference would seem trivial.
"You should understand—the Flying Thunder God Technique is a Konoha forbidden jutsu, not a personal secret technique. It cannot be casually passed down," Haruto Saito explained. "The only way I can teach it to someone is if they are my personal disciple. This isn't my rule—it's Konoha's!"
"Anyone who secretly learns the Flying Thunder God Technique faces execution. And if I recklessly pass it to an outsider, I'd face severe punishment!" Haruto Saito's tone became serious. "Minato, you should know—I value you. I want you to become stronger. If you one day become Hokage, I would be proud. But rules are rules. Breaking them usually means death."
Haruto Saito let his words settle before continuing.
"If you truly have the talent for this technique, learning it will bring you one step closer to your dream of becoming Hokage. But I can't teach it to just anyone. If you want to learn it, you must become my personal disciple."
Minato remained silent, clearly struggling with the decision.
"Take your time to think about it," Haruto Saito said, turning his back. He clasped his hands behind him and sighed. "Becoming my disciple means you'd also be the Hokage's student-in-law. You'd have direct access to him, and you might even receive his personal guidance. Your chances of becoming Hokage would increase…"
Silence filled the air.
Haruto Saito waited, feeling slightly anxious. What if Minato refused? If Minato made up his mind, it would be hard to change it later.
Finally, after a long pause, Minato spoke.
"Lord Haruto… I accept."
Haruto Saito exhaled in relief, a grin forming on his lips.
Success!