The attendant departed, leaving Namikaze Minato holding the Yaezakura Sword. He glanced at his students.
Uchiha Shisui spoke first. "Minato-sensei, short blades suit me better."
Namikaze Minato's gaze shifted to Hoshita Shūichi.
Shūichi spread his hands. "My Ame-no-Murakumo Blade is already a chakra weapon. Besides—" He smiled. "This victory was your doing, Minato-sensei."
Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō nodded vigorously.
Namikaze Minato sighed. Too-responsible subordinates are troublesome!
Since he didn't use swords himself, he decided, "I'll safeguard it for now." Then he clapped his hands. "We'll resume training tomorrow. Enjoy this downtime."
"Yes, Minato-sensei!"
Sword and Scalpel
Back in his quarters, Hoshita Shūichi unrolled the Konoha-Style Swordsmanship scroll Namikaze Minato had given him earlier.
Detailed diagrams and instructions filled the parchment. He committed each stance to his Memory Palace, pausing at the final technique:
Secret Art: Crescent Moon Dance!
A move he recognized—Gekkō Hayate's signature technique, which had once wounded Suna's jōnin Baki before being countered by Wind Release.
The scroll's crown jewel, this technique required two Shadow Clones to attack in unison with the user. Simple in concept, yet the annotations revealed intricate details—timing, angles, speed, and clone coordination.
Hoshita Shūichi immersed himself in study.
The next morning, he began rigorous sword training, interspersed with practicing the Precise Extraction Technique—a B-rank medical jutsu for toxin and organ removal he'd learned from Yakushi Nonō before the mission.
Progress came swiftly. His daily improvements in swordsmanship, medical skills, chakra reserves, and even raw speed didn't escape Namikaze Minato or Uchiha Shisui's notice.
And with the Daimyō footing their lavish meals, life was good.
The Summons
On their final night in the capital, a summons arrived—for Hoshita Shūichi alone.
Namikaze Minato chuckled at the team's surprise. "Go on, Shūichi. Don't keep His Excellency waiting."
As he followed the attendant, Shūichi pieced together the Daimyō's motive: recruitment.
Among the team:
Namikaze Minato: Already a Konoha icon.
Uchiha Shisui: Scion of the Uchiha.
Kurama Sanyō: From the once-prestigious Kurama clan.
But he? An orphan with no ties. Prime indoctrination material.
The audience unfolded predictably. The Daimyō lavished praise before lecturing on the "village-system"—emphasizing that he, not the Hokage, ultimately ruled the Land of Fire.
Hoshita Shūichi nodded like an awed child while internally scoffing: I'd rather join Danzō's Root than your payroll.
When the Daimyō finally left, an attendant made the pitch: "Hoshita Shūichi, will you become His Excellency's personal Guardian Ninja?"
Shūichi feigned eagerness. "Absolutely! Just have him order the Third Hokage to transfer me here."
The attendant blinked. "No—we mean leaving Konoha to serve directly under the Daimyō."
Shūichi tilted his head. "Could I defeat someone like Gu Jianyi right now?"
"...No."
"Then how could I protect His Excellency?"
"But your potential is—"
"Can the Daimyō provide jutsu scrolls?"
"No."
"Are there jōnin like Minato-sensei to train me?"
Another headshake.
Shūichi spread his hands. "Then what use am I now? Let me grow stronger in Konoha first. When I'm a jōnin, I'll train your ninja—with proper resources."
The attendant's eyes lit up. "I'll convey this to His Excellency!"
The Investment
In his chambers, the Daimyō laughed at the report. "Sharp boy! His logic is flawless."
The attendant hesitated. "But... what if he betrays you later?"
The Daimyō waved a fan. "So what? Thirty million ryō can't buy a loyal jōnin. Even a billion might fail. If he betrays me? A trivial loss compared to Konoha's annual funding."
"Brilliant, Your Excellency!"
"Still, keep recruiting outsiders. And—" The Daimyō's eyes gleamed. "Have Konoha send more young talents periodically. Preferably geniuses."
The attendant bowed. "At once!"
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