"So, this is chakra? But isn't chakra supposed to be blue? Or was that just for visual purposes in the anime? It's been too long since I last watched Naruto." Tanjiro looked at his own chakra, bewildered by how different it appeared compared to what he remembered from the anime.
His chakra was colored gold and white with a tint of light blue, giving it an aesthetic vibe. He also sensed that his chakra was incredibly large—unimaginably so—in both mental and physical aspects. Due to his Harmonious Balance, his physical and mental energies were perfectly aligned, which was reflected in his chakra.
He didn't know exactly how large his chakra reserves were, but compared to what he sensed around him, only a handful of chakra beasts seemed to match his power.
"Since I've unlocked my chakra, I should find some chakra paper to see what nature I possess," Tanjiro said.
Without hesitation, Tanjiro jumped with all his strength toward the sky. The platform he had been standing on caved in with a booming sound, and nearby debris was thrown far away. From his vantage point in the sky, Tanjiro saw a massive wall spanning a great distance, signifying he was close to Konoha. Upon landing, he immediately dashed north at Mach speed.
As Tanjiro approached the wall, he sensed multiple human chakra silhouettes within a 20 km radius centered around him.
"This is quite a range for sensing chakra. But it might not be as big as I remember," Tanjiro said, continuing his journey toward the wall.
In just a minute, Tanjiro arrived at the enormous wall. He climbed it effortlessly and, upon reaching the top, saw the village below—buildings and houses, ninjas performing their ninja runs on rooftops, students heading to the academy, and civilians buying groceries.
Tanjiro looked at the iconic Hokage monuments located near the Hokage office and the academy.
"This is Konoha? It really is beautiful. If it weren't for the corrupt officials, it would be an amazing place to live," Tanjiro sighed, thinking of Danzo and his Root, Hiruzen, and his council of elders.
"Now, how do I get Minato to approach me? I could just show off my chakra. Since Minato is a sensor and a genius, he should arrive immediately with his Flying Thunder God Technique," Tanjiro muttered. But then, that would alert the entire village, and all the ninjas would flock in his direction.
"I might as well visit him in his office. Hopefully, he'll be there and not with Kushina."
Tanjiro then ran towards the Hokage Office. In just a moment, he arrived. Suddenly, five masked ninjas surrounded him, holding kunai to his neck.
"Who are you?" asked one with a fox mask, his murderous intent palpable.
Tanjiro had expected them to appear, but he didn't do anything reckless like attacking them. He knew he was an intruder, and it was only right for them to be cautious.
"I am Tanjiro Kamado. I am here to meet the 4th Hokage," Tanjiro said calmly, raising his arm in the air, unbothered by the murderous intent around him.
It didn't compare to the murderous intent of the demons or the sinister smells that used to make him want to puke.
The fox-masked ninja silently motioned to his companion, who immediately used the Body Flicker Technique to call upon the 4th Hokage.
"What is your purpose for meeting the 4th Hokage?" the fox-masked ninja asked, still holding his kunai against Tanjiro's neck.
"My purpose is to join your ranks. While I might not have attended your academy, I am quite strong and smart. Like this..." Tanjiro said, smiling slightly before his body instantly appeared behind the fox-masked ninja.
The remaining four masked ninjas were taken aback. As members of the Anbu, their strength was remarkable, but they couldn't even see Tanjiro using the Body Flicker Technique. He had just appeared behind the fox-masked ninja without a trace.
"I am quite smart. I can easily learn anything, like that guy who used a bizarre movement technique," Tanjiro smiled, still holding his hand up in the air, indicating he meant no harm.
[ You have successfully learned Body Flicker ]
As the Anbu were still bewildered by his speed, Minato had already arrived to see Tanjiro standing with his arm raised, looking harmless.
"Look who's arrived. Hello there, Minato. I am Tanjiro Kamado, first name Tanjiro, last name Kamado," Tanjiro said playfully, winking at Minato.
"Tanjiro-san, right? What do you want from me?" Minato asked curiously, intrigued by this man who had suddenly appeared and requested a meeting.
"Nothing much. I want to join the Anbu, preferably as a commander. If you accept my request, I could protect your wife, Kushina," Tanjiro said.
At the mention of his wife, Minato's pupils dilated, and he motioned for the Anbu to disperse.
"What do you mean by that? What do you know about my wife?" Minato asked, taking out a kunai, ready to retaliate if necessary.
Minato was confused and cautious. This man had appeared out of nowhere, requesting to become an Anbu commander and offering to protect his pregnant wife, Kushina, who would be giving birth soon. This was not a light matter for Minato. The fact that Tanjiro offered such a deal indicated that he knew something, and that something likely involved danger to Kushina.
Knowing full well that Kushina's seal on the Kyubi would weaken during childbirth, Minato concluded that the man in front of him knew something important and potentially dangerous.
"I won't beat around the bush. In three months, Kushina will give birth, and the Kyubi will be released from its seal, wreaking havoc on the village. The only way to stop this is if you let me join the village and become an Anbu. I need access to sealing jutsu to strengthen Kushina's seal, and the only way to do that is by accessing the library. Becoming an Anbu is the wisest choice for me," Tanjiro said seriously, hoping Minato would approve his request.
"If you want me to prove my strength, I will," Tanjiro continued, manipulating his chakra until it was visible enough for Minato to see. While this might not prove much, as many people could perform such a feat, Tanjiro wasn't done yet. He created hundreds, then thousands, of chakra threads, slowly molding them into a ball before showing it to Minato.
His display of chakra manipulation was meant to showcase his power. When he unlocked his chakra pathways, he also unlocked chakra manipulation, and upgrading it to max. This ability allowed him to remain undetected by sensor ninjas by manipulating his chakra to become invisible.
Tanjiro hoped this demonstration would be enough to convince Minato of his capabilities and the sincerity of his intentions.
"This should be enough to show my strength. I can manipulate chakra to this extent. Now, am I still not helpful to you?" Tanjiro smirked, tossing the ball of chakra toward Minato, who caught it, marveling at the beautifully crafted sphere. To think that someone could surpass him in chakra control like this was astounding.
Seeing the ball not explode or disperse indicated a high level of mastery, likely achieved by only a few individuals.
"I see, but it's still not enough to know you. I can't trust you completely yet," Minato mentioned the problem. Even if Tanjiro proved his abilities, trust was another matter entirely.
"How about this: I'll live in your house so that you can monitor me. Sounds good?" Tanjiro offered, extending his hand for a handshake.
"That... I have to ask Kushina first, haha," Minato replied, laughing embarrassingly as he accepted Tanjiro's hand.
While the proposal was plausible, the real issue lay in whether Kushina would be willing to let a stranger into their home.
"Well, we can ask her. It won't be a problem, and besides, I can give her a gift. She'll be delighted, I promise you that," Tanjiro said with a wink, as if it were a guaranteed success.
Nodding, Minato placed his hand on Tanjiro's shoulder and activated his Flying Thunder God Jutsu, instantly transporting them to his house. Tanjiro was amused by the display of power, impressed that Minato used his signature move as a means of transportation.