"After each outburst of the Divine Wind Technique, one will fall into weakness, and the Self - Karma Curse Binding has too many usage restrictions. Let's rule these two out first," thought Kaze.
"Let's make a choice among the remaining three," Kaze pondered.
[What? Make a choice?!]
Just then, the System suddenly popped up, startling Kaze.
"Ding! Hey, hungry one, here comes a multiple-choice question!"
[Option 1: Sealing Technique, Tripartite Sealing Technique.]
[Option 2: Genjutsu, Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.]
[Option 3: Space–Time Ninjutsu, Flying Thunder God Technique.]
[Completion reward: Three years later, the host will automatically master the selected Kinjutsu.]
"System, what kind of reward is this?" Kaze complained in his heart.
"Given three years, I could learn any one of these on my own, okay!"
[Host, it's not that this System looks down on you.]
[With your aptitude, you may not even be able to get started with the simplest Kinjutsu here in ten years.]
[Although this System is not human, it understands a truth: One should have self-awareness.]
Kaze: "..."
He admitted that he was a bit disheartened.
"Alright then," Kaze smacked his lips and pondered again.
If we don't consider the difficulty of learning, there's no doubt he should choose the Flying Thunder God Technique. This jutsu has strong mobility and is quite suitable for him.
Firstly, the Flying Thunder God Technique requires strong insight.
Otherwise, if used improperly, one might end up running into someone's blade or right into someone's embrace, which would be like sending oneself to death from a thousand miles away.
And now that he has the Sharingan, while he's not sure about long-distance sensing, he can easily sense within a range of a thousand meters.
Secondly, the Flying Thunder God Technique requires extremely fast reaction speed, and his Speed attribute is definitely top-notch.
As for the consumption of Chakra... All these Kinjutsu consume a lot of it. There's nothing much to say about it. Just gradually increase it.
"Father, I've decided. I'm going to choose the Flying Thunder God Technique," Kaze said.
"Oh?" Tanzō slightly raised his eyebrows, somewhat surprised by his son's choice. "The Flying Thunder God Technique is extremely difficult to master."
"I know," Kaze said with a determined look. "But I believe that with my unremitting efforts, I will definitely master this jutsu!"
"Good," Tanzō was very satisfied with his son's attitude. "I have something to do later. After I'm done, I'll fetch the jutsu for you tonight."
Kaze nodded, then sneaked up to Tanzō's ear and whispered.
"Father, I think this jutsu is also quite suitable for Minato. Can I secretly let him practice it with me?"
Tanzō glanced at Kaze, then closed his eyes again and said indifferently.
"Don't let others know. After Minato accumulates enough merits in a few years, remember to let him apply for this jutsu."
Kaze was overjoyed. "Sure, thanks, Father!"
[Selection successful. There are 1095 days left before the host masters the Flying Thunder God Technique!]
Three years later, I, Kaze, will claim the title of the fastest in the ninja world!
The Yellow Flash who fell in the darkness, Your... Cough, cough...
...
After getting the Flying Thunder God Technique, Kaze didn't even look at it and directly threw it to Minato.
He repeatedly told Minato to keep it a secret, but he thought that even if the secret was exposed, nothing serious would happen.
Anyway, even if it was discovered, the Third Hokage would at most scold Tanzō, and he wouldn't really do anything to his old buddy.
"It's time to go home."
Leaving Minato's house feeling a bit tired, Kaze staggered and slowly walked towards his own home.
When he was almost at his doorstep, he saw a familiar and imposing figure.
"Sister Ayako?"
"My young master!"
Seeing Kaze, Ayako trotted over and gave him a big hug.
"My young master, I heard about Yukino. I'm really sorry. I can't even imagine how you felt at that time."
Ayako felt extremely guilty. She had always wanted to come back to comfort Kaze, but she was always tied up with missions and couldn't find the time.
Now that the war had ceased, she was finally able to return to Konoha. Without even going home, she came to find Kaze.
"Let's not talk about these things. Sister Ayako, let's go inside and talk."
Kaze led Ayako into the room, fetched her a drink, and sat on the sofa, asking,
"Long time no see, Sister Ayako. How've you been?"
"Well, not very well."
The two started chatting, and Kaze learned about Ayako's experiences in the past two years.
When the war broke out and all departments were short of people, Ayako, after recovering from her injuries, was transferred back to the reconnaissance squad and sent to the battlefield.
Then she had been serving on the battlefield until now when the war ended and she returned to Konoha.
"My young master, I want to join Root." Ayako put down the cup and said, "I want to continue protecting you by your side."
Kaze shook his head and said calmly, "I don't need you to protect me now."
"I understand..." Ayako's heart skipped a beat. She fidgeted with her sleeves and whispered, "Sorry for disturbing you."
"Well, then I'll take my leave first." She lowered her head, stood up, and turned to leave.
"Sister Ayako, don't be in a hurry. Listen to what I have to say." Kaze called out to Ayako with a bit of helplessness.
"I just said that I don't need you to protect me. I didn't say that I don't want to take you in. From now on, you can join my team."
Kaze just didn't want to hear the words "I'll protect you" anymore. They were too heavy.
"Really, my young master?" Ayako looked at Kaze with a surprised look on her face.
"Really, really." Kaze said with a mix of amusement and exasperation, "I'll talk to my dad later and ask him to arrange you in."
Previously, Kaze didn't want Ayako to join Root because he was afraid that she was too naive and would be schemed against.
Now that Kaze had become more capable and was only responsible for some matters within the village, there was no need to worry about these things anymore.
"That's great. Then do it as soon as possible, my young master!" Ayako said with a beaming smile.
Hearing this, Kaze rolled his eyes and said, "You just came back from the battlefield. You should take a good rest for a while. Why are you so eager to find yourself something to do?"
One month later.
Arranged by Tanzō, Ayako joined Root and became a member of Kaze's squad.
Well, compared to the slacking Yuto, Ayako is simply a real go - getter.
One day, led by Ayako, Kaze came to a secluded neighborhood with her.
Ayako pointed to the deserted path in front of them and said, "My young master, this is the place. I found something strange here!"
"What do you mean?" Kaze asked with a solemn expression.
In the dark night, Ayako began to tell the story while recalling.
"The other day, I was on a tracking mission. When I passed by here, my tamed Ninken named Xiaoqi kept barking wildly... You should know Xiaoqi, right?"
"Yeah." Kaze nodded slightly upon hearing this.
He knew Ayako's Ninken. It was quite amazing and could track based on the faint Chakra residue.
"So I quickly stopped to check, but there was clearly nothing here."
"No barrier, no hidden Talisman, and not even the slightest Chakra fluctuation!"
Recalling that strange experience that night again, Ayako's face became even more ugly.
"But my Ninken still kept barking. This has never happened before!"
"Unless the target is within reach, it won't bark like this!"
A gust of cold wind blew appropriately at that moment. Ayako shivered, and her voice trembled a little.
"The old people in the village often say that dogs can see things that humans can't. Master, do you think it's possible..."
"Could it be that the target I was tracking that night was actually standing right beside me all the time, staring at me coldly? But I couldn't see him!"
Looking at the empty street and listening to Ayako's immersive storytelling, Kaze also felt a little creepy.
"Don't be afraid, don't be afraid."
He hugged Ayako, who was a bit excited out of fear, and then quietly activated his Sharingan.
After observing carefully for a while, Kaze suddenly gasped.
Could it be...
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