[Chapter Size: 1400 Words.]
Third Person POV
Konoha, Year 33.
...
...
Minato held the Aburame clan's Fuinjutsu manual as if it were a treasure as he returned to the orphanage. He was eager to dive into the pages and absorb every bit of knowledge he could. With a new goal in mind, he dedicated himself to learning the basics of Fuinjutsu that late afternoon, an ancient and complex art of sealing. Minato sent a clone for training while he focused with the original on learning Fuinjutsu.
In the following days, whenever he was not at the academy or training his body and chakra, Minato could be found with his nose buried in the manual. He studied each chapter and seal diagram meticulously, understanding the theories behind the seals and how they manipulated chakra in various powerful ways. He learned about different types of basic seals, their functions, and applications, and began to understand how he could incorporate them into his own ninja style.
Aware that practice was as crucial as theoretical study, Minato knew he needed suitable materials to start practicing his calligraphy and seal creation. Thus, with the money he had saved from his job, he purchased regular ink and a fine brush. These materials were not cheap; he had to learn first to improve his calligraphy before using chakra ink.
With his new materials in hand, Minato began practicing the calligraphy necessary to create effective seals. He found he was terrible with writing, but this only strengthened his determination to improve quickly. After getting used to this type of training, Minato began to put a clone to practice while the original would do more intense training.
His clone spent hours practicing, repeating the same characters over and over, perfecting his technique. He filled pages and pages with seals, comparing each attempt to the book's examples, seeking to achieve perfection. Over time, his hands became steadier, his lines more precise, and his seals more potent.
Minato also began experimenting with simple seals, applying them to small objects and observing the effects. He started with basic tasks, like making an object glow or emit a sound when activated with a bit of chakra. Each success was a small victory, each mistake a valuable lesson. He was determined to master this art, knowing that Fuinjutsu could be an incredibly powerful tool in his arsenal.
On a sunny day after school, Minato met Tsuna at their usual training spot, a secluded area where they often practiced and discussed their skills and progress. Tsuna was curious about Minato's recent activities, especially after noticing that he was carrying something different with him - a book and inks with brushes.
"Hi, Tsuna," Minato greeted with a wave, his face lit up with an animated smile. "I've been working on something new."
Tsuna, with an intrigued look, asked, "What is it? You're always full of surprises."
"It's a Fuinjutsu manual," Minato began, displaying the book he had received from Professor Aburame. "I'm learning the art of seals. It's fascinating, but I'm still stuck on the calligraphy."
Tsuna's eyes widened in surprise and admiration. "Really? That's amazing, Minato! How did you get it?"
"Professor Aburame gave it to me," Minato revealed. "He knows about our clones and, instead of reprimanding me, offered me this book to delve deeper into Fuinjutsu when he discovered my interest in the area. He thinks I can make good use of it."
Tsuna was impressed not just with the professor's generosity but also with the trust he placed in Minato. "That's a big deal and a great opportunity, Minato. What have you learned so far?"
Minato opened the book to the pages he had been studying and discussed what he had learned - from the basic principles of Fuinjutsu to the calligraphy techniques and the first attempts to create functional seals, but he could not execute anything since fuinjutsu needs better chakra control and calligraphy than he possessed.
Tsuna listened attentively, absorbing every detail. "That's really complicated, but if anyone can learn this quickly, it's you. My great-grandmother made me practice calligraphy since I was 4, it was horrible!" she said in her usual way.
"Actually, I have some tips that might help you practice," she continued. "When you're training with kunais and shurikens, you need precision and control. Maybe you can apply the same concentration and precision to drawing the seals with your calligraphy."
Minato nodded, acknowledging the smart suggestion. "That makes sense. I'll try to incorporate that technique into my practice." They spent more time discussing possible applications of Fuinjutsu and how Minato could improve his chakra control and calligraphy to apply to the seals.
A few days later, there was an odd sight at the training field. Minato had sent one clone to school, another to work, one to learn calligraphy, and his original body took the day to train and hone his observation Haki, which seemed to be reaching a new threshold.
Minato's clone dipped the brush into the normal ink and moved it with meticulous precision, forming seal characters one after another in a corner of the place where the trio was at that moment. Tsuna, curious and always ready to help, offered suggestions and encouragement. "Try to keep your hand a bit firmer here," she said, pointing to a particular curve in the seal.
Meanwhile, Mikoto was throwing shurikens with deadly precision in a corner, each embedding exactly in the center of the target. However, she couldn't help but get involved in the conversation, especially when she saw an opportunity to tease Tsuna.
"Do you really think you're going to make him improve with those obvious tips, Tsuna?" Mikoto called out, a teasing smile on her face.
Tsuna rolled her eyes, a reluctant smile appearing on her lips. "At least I'm trying to help, unlike certain people who just know how to throw shurikens all day, Uchiha."
Mikoto laughed and responded, "Throwing shurikens is an art, Senju. Maybe you should try to improve your skills instead of giving tips about calligraphy."
Although the argument between Tsuna and Mikoto was a common occurrence, Minato knew that deep down, they respected and cared for each other. It was this camaraderie and mutual support that made their training days not only productive but also enjoyable.
In the following months, Minato dedicated himself to a rigorous routine that balanced his education at the academy, intensive training, and work. Every day, he attended classes at the academy, where he continued to excel, maintaining his position as the top student.
To support his needs and invest in more materials for his Fuinjutsu study, Minato continued to work hard at his job in the grocery store. He saved every penny earned to buy more quality ink and brushes.
"Minato, we're finally going to finish the second year! I heard from my father that the conflict is ready to burst into the world," Mikoto spoke to Minato as they trained.
"It's true, we're about to enter the second ninja war…" Minato spoke, in a few years the war would break out, Minato never had precise knowledge about the events before Naruto and the fanfics he read were not official events made by the original author, but by the writers and their logic, so he could expect most things to happen in an unknown way to him.
"Do you think we'll graduate early?" she asked.
"Honestly, I think so, maybe not at 8 years old since it's forbidden to send children to war, but we won't have the same privilege of graduating at 13 years old," he spoke sincerely.
"And to think we're going to the next year, these months have passed so quickly…" she murmured, looking at Minato in a somewhat strange way.
"Well, at least we are getting stronger to survive, that's going to be our survival," he said, referring to the war, which would not be easy for them.
Now, after months of relentless dedication, tomorrow would mark the last day of class for the year. Minato felt a mix of relief and anticipation. The academic year had been a time of constant training for Minato, Tsuna, and Mikoto, incredibly productive.
"Well, I'm going back, my father will send ninjas after me if I don't return. So, see you tomorrow, Minato!" Mikoto said and got up to leave.
"See you later, Mikoto!" Minato began to pack up his materials and started to return to the orphanage, tomorrow marking the last day of the second year.
---------
Fallow me on Patreon!
🌟 RaccoonLeague | Patreon🌟
Visit our Patreon for more: https://www.patreon.com/RaccoonLeague