For a ninja, the so-called "step-by-step" approach to growth was, in truth, the slowest path to power.
For most shinobi, learning just one new jutsu could result in a dramatic leap in strength.
Hyuga Satoru was now the perfect example of that.
In terms of pure taijutsu alone, there was no way he could defeat Hyuga Keisuke, a seasoned veteran in his prime. In strength, stamina, and speed, Satoru was still a child—no comparison at all.
But with the use of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, many of his weaknesses were covered perfectly. Combined with his naturally vast chakra reserves, Satoru's combat ability had undergone a qualitative transformation. Even an experienced fighter like Keisuke from the Branch Family was no longer his match.
After personally experiencing the power of a forbidden technique, Satoru finally began to understand how a teenager like Uchiha Obito could wreak such devastation upon Konoha.
If Multiple Shadow Clones could grant such a huge boost, then how terrifying must Kamui—the Mangekyo Sharingan's space-time ninjutsu—have been?
That single technique allowed a so-called "dead last" like Obito to rise instantly to the level of the Fourth Hokage himself. Though Obito had been struck by Minato's Rasengan in direct combat, it was he who had ultimately triumphed in the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha.
"Forbidden techniques enhance strength far more than I imagined."
"Looks like… even at my age, as long as I can master enough powerful jutsu, I'll still have the potential to change the course of battle in the future."
"Flying Thunder God…"
"I must master it before Teacher Kushina gives birth!"
The moon hung high and bright, its cold light filtering through the window into Satoru's room.
Lying on the tatami, he had yet to fall asleep. Instead, he organized his current knowledge, piecing together his next steps.
Silence aided thought, and reflection before sleep had already become his nightly habit.
He had already mastered nearly all of the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist secret arts within a few short years. What remained was the repetitive polishing of instinct—training until combat became reflex, refining his body and strengthening his "base stats."
But that kind of improvement was slow work—something that couldn't be rushed. For a child of his age, there was no way to speed through it.
To advance further, there were only two options left: either train in more advanced secret arts, or develop entirely new, stronger jutsu.
The latter required time, research, and a deep foundation in ninjutsu theory—something Satoru did not yet possess.
What he could do now was focus on learning powerful techniques suited to himself.
But for someone from the Hyuga Clan, ordinary elemental jutsu had little benefit.
His chakra nature was lightning and fire.
Lightning Release jutsu were powerful but consumed vast amounts of chakra.
Fire Release, on the other hand, had wide area coverage but only moderate lethality—and in the world of shinobi, it was considered the most "merciful" element, often called the nonlethal art.
For Satoru, learning standard Fire and Lightning techniques would yield almost no real improvement.
At this stage, the Flying Thunder God was the jutsu that could benefit him the most.
Having settled on this goal, his path forward became clear.
The next day, after a long morning of intense physical training, Satoru took a brief rest before heading to Namikaze Minato's home in the afternoon—his guards following at a respectful distance.
Since this was his first day officially studying ninjutsu under Kushina, the Hyuga Clan naturally couldn't let him show up empty-handed.
Although the arrangement between Satoru and Kushina had been nothing more than a private agreement, in the eyes of the Hyuga, apprenticeship was a sacred matter.
Even if their relationship was simply that of teacher and student, formalities had to be observed.
Because Hiashi was busy preparing for a trip to visit relatives of the distant Taketori Branch Clan, it was Satoru's mother, Hyuga Hanako, who accompanied him to the Hokage's residence.
When Kushina opened the door in response to the knock, she found herself face-to-face with Hanako—dressed in a simple kimono, holding Satoru by the hand, and flanked by several Hyuga carrying a mountain of gifts.
"Good afternoon, Kushina-sensei," Hanako greeted gently, bowing with perfect grace.
Kushina blinked, a little taken aback by the formality. Her gaze flicked over the Hyuga behind Satoru—Keisuke and the others—each holding packages of varying sizes. She scratched her head awkwardly.
She had never been in a situation like this before.
"Lady Hanako, Satoru, everyone… you're all—ah! Please, come in!"
After a brief pause, Kushina hurriedly invited them inside.
"Forgive the intrusion," Hanako murmured politely, then gave a subtle glance toward the guards.
Understanding instantly, they stepped inside, set the gifts neatly by the wall, and then withdrew to wait outside.
Satoru and his mother entered the living room together, sitting down on the sofa at Kushina's invitation.
The gifts were numerous: in addition to several scrolls of Hyuga sealing techniques, there were ninja tools, brushes, ink, blank scrolls, and even food supplies—dried meat, rice, and flour.
Technically, many of these were meant for Satoru's future training—one could call them "tuition," in a sense.
"You didn't have to bring anything…" Kushina said, clearly flustered. "This is—ah, I don't really know what to do…"
Though she was the Hokage's wife, Kushina had rarely received formal gifts like this. With Minato not at home, she seemed unsure how to respond.
"These are but small tokens," Hanako said softly. "Please don't think too much of it. Consider it a modest offering of thanks."
"Satoru will be learning under your guidance… he can be a handful at times." Her smile was kind, but her tone carried quiet authority that allowed no refusal.
Even as gentle as she was, the Hyuga matriarch possessed a quiet strength that was difficult to resist.
"Uh… alright then."
Kushina sighed, smiling helplessly. Glancing between Hanako's warm smile and Satoru's calm expression, she finally nodded.
"Don't worry, Lady Hanako. Satoru is a genius—I'll make sure to teach him properly. Whether you brought gifts or not, both Minato and I would take it seriously."
Hearing her reassurance, Hanako smiled gracefully and bowed again before taking her leave.
Before she went, she formally introduced Hyuga Mio to Kushina, explaining her role as Satoru's attendant. With Kushina's consent, Mio was left to assist within the house.
Once Kushina began the lesson, Mio quietly inspected the home. Spotting some unwashed dishes in the kitchen, she rolled up her sleeves and started cleaning without being asked—completely ignoring Kushina's embarrassed protests.
"You Hyuga people are… something else," Kushina muttered with a nervous laugh.
Having dealt with the Hyuga before, she found they had an air about them—something she couldn't quite put into words.
Polite? Yes—but not merely polite. Their restraint and discipline were so absolute that even she felt a faint sense of pressure.
"Don't mind it, Teacher Kushina," Satoru said with a small smile. "You'll get used to it. So—what are we starting with today?"
He understood her feelings perfectly. Being born into the Main Family himself, Satoru lived with that same constant weight of formality—a quiet suffocation outsiders rarely understood.
"Oh, right! Let's start with sensing techniques today," Kushina said, snapping back to business.
"I've divided the study of the Flying Thunder God into three stages:
First—Sensing.
Second—Marking with chakra seals.
Third—Executing space-time jumps.
"What you need to focus on now," she continued, "is mastering sensory techniques—enhancing your perception of chakra itself."
"This kind of sensing ninjutsu is very different from your Byakugan. So don't underestimate it just because you already have the Byakugan."
"Study it seriously."
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