Behind the Hidden Leaf Village's Back Mountains.
Since becoming Jiraiya's disciple, Minato had rarely returned to this place where he first trained.
Yet for temporarily concealing his training, he came back here again.
Right now, within Minato's palm, there was a rubber ball.
He stretched out his arm straight, his sapphire-blue eyes narrowing.
"Huahu!"
From inside that ball came a sound; its surface began irregularly bulging outward.
His brow furrowed.
"Pop!"
When the chakra rotation reached an extreme limit, the rubber ball exploded right in Minato's hand, scattering pieces everywhere.
After the burst, Minato flopped onto the ground and wiped the sweat from his brow.
After resting for a while, he raised his palm again, this time with brilliant blue chakra swirling around it.
Vroom.
In an instant, the chakra spun rapidly, forming into a glowing chakra sphere on Minato's palm.
Seeing the results of nearly a week of hard training bear fruit, a faint smile involuntarily appeared on his face.
"At last, I've completed the first two stages of [Rasengan]," Minato murmured to himself. Originally, he thought it would take nearly a month just to successfully reach Nine-Tails' deeper spiritual realm.
But actually, he'd managed it in only twenty days, so during the remaining time, he chose to begin training in [Rasengan].
[Rasengan] was a ninjutsu technique he personally developed, so naturally, mastering it felt more intuitive than other techniques.
However, it was still an advanced, A-ranked jutsu—despite being its creator, Minato had only managed to complete the second stage after nearly a full week.
[Rasengan] training was divided into three stages: rotation, power, and stabilization.
These were three phases gradually pushing the limits of chakra shape transformation. Although the [Rasengan] in his hand was already formed, lacking the third stage—stabilization—it remained merely an impressive-looking but ineffective move.
The third stage was the final piece of the puzzle—and by far the hardest to master.
Minato concentrated his mind, and the [Rasengan] in his palm vanished.
Thinking about it, Kushina's nominal one-month vacation was also nearing its end.
Although several days still remained of the full holiday he'd requested from The Third, Minato no longer planned to wait until the rest of his leave ended.
There simply wasn't enough time left to complete the final phase, stabilization. Compared to that, he preferred cherishing every moment with Kushina.
For these next few days, he intended to temporarily halt basic training and instead study ninjutsu techniques suited to his own chakra natures—fire, wind, and lightning.
It wasn't necessarily because he urgently needed to master these techniques, but rather, to lay a foundation for further development of [Rasengan].
"Hehe, speaking of which, 'Rasengan' was actually named by Jiraiya," Minato chuckled slightly—he truly lacked talent when it came to choosing names, just like his lackluster skills in the kitchen.
And when he created the [Rasengan] and sought to name it, all the names he proposed received immediate rejection from Jiraiya, who had nothing but dark lines of frustration across his face.
Actually, even until now he still couldn't quite understand Jiraiya's reaction.
He thought those names sounded pretty good...
[Vortex Flash Explosive Bomb], [Vortex Spiral Burst Ball], [Vortex Azure Light Ball]...
...
Several days later, at the Ninja Academy.
When Minato reached the classroom door, he hesitated slightly.
With the sensory ability he'd recently developed, he had already sensed that familiar chakra.
Kushina.
This was the first time since his reincarnation that he faced Kushina alone—the woman who had given everything for him, even her life.
Facing her, Minato—who had lived through two lives—could not remain completely composed.
Especially during the first month after becoming the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, how had she endured it?
He didn't know.
He paused at the doorway, took a deep breath, and walked in.
As he turned around, that delicate and beautiful face came into view.
Kushina was watching him from the direction of the classroom window. She had gradually learned to control her own sensing ability.
If Minato could sense her, she could sense him too.
Their eyes met, and for a moment, both froze.
In their matching gazes flowed different emotions.
Minato understood everything in her eyes at this moment—her fear at becoming a jinchuriki, and her joy at finally seeing him again.
But Kushina could not comprehend the complexity behind Minato's gaze.
For Minato, simply being able to see her standing before him felt like a dream.
Because vividly echoing in his mind were Kushina's bitter, reluctant words from their final moments together.
...
"Just think... if I could live longer, all I could imagine is our family of three living together. There... there's nothing more... happiness... happiness..." repeating endlessly in her voice.
"Don't sacrifice Naruto for the balance between the tailed beasts, and never sacrifice yourself for me!"
"Sorry, Minato... I just talked on and on..."
...
Minato stood rooted in place, clenching his fists which trembled violently.
Kushina, how could I blame you when I would give up my very life for you?
He originally thought that once he had resolved himself to this path, he wouldn't feel so emotionally unsettled anymore. Yet upon seeing Kushina again, he still couldn't suppress these feelings.
Now wasn't the time for this—he should offer comfort and encouragement to Kushina, who was currently caught in fear and uncertainty.
But instead, here he was, helpless...
As he struggled within himself, Kushina rushed toward him, her red hair gently fluttering. Then, boy and girl, separated by over a decade of time, embraced once again.
Kushina said nothing. In Minato's arms, her body trembled slightly.
She had no specific thoughts behind this action—she simply wanted to do it.
Clutching each other tightly, their hearts beating in unison, overwhelmed by emotions only they could feel.
Minato's eyes widened briefly. Feeling the warmth radiating from the girl in his embrace, gradually, his chaotic inner turmoil began to calm down, and every complicated thought faded into blankness in that moment.
He was far too obsessed with the past. In truth, as long as she was still here, still alive at this very moment—that was more than enough.
Warmth slowly returned to Minato's eyes, as if breaking free from shock. His arms, still tense with disbelief, spread open and gently pulled her into an embrace.
"Kushina, are you okay?" Minato asked—without inquiring about her experiences or what had happened over the past month.
No need to understand, nor any desire to understand. He knew only one thing: she could give him love, and he could offer it in return.
They had the power to calm each other's hearts.
"Mm-hmm, please don't ask anything right now... Just let me hold you like this for a little while," Kushina whispered. The stormy emotions in her eyes gradually settled into calmness.
A lone blossom in full bloom, blessed to find its one true kindred soul.
In each other's arms, they found a peace and safety beyond compare.
...
Not feeling too great today—just one chapter for now, the rest will come later. (To be continued.)
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