Chapter 82
Arriving at a waterfall, Minato stopped and turned back with a smile: "Let's do it here."
"Minato-senpai, isn't it a bit too noisy around here?" Haneda couldn't help but ask, hearing the constant "whoosh, whoosh" of the waterfall in his ears.
"It's just right. You can't always expect it to be quiet when using sealing techniques," Minato explained while taking out two scrolls and handing them to Haneda and Kakashi.
"The Four Symbols Seal is tough, so we'll start with something simpler."
"Today, we'll be learning the Finger Engraving Seal and the Contract Seal."
Minato paused for a moment before continuing: "The Finger Engraving Seal involves releasing chakra and focusing it at the tip of your finger to generate enough heat to inscribe text onto a target."
"This seal can be used on anything from skin to metal, and it's commonly used for recording information."
"It's a C-rank ninjutsu, so it's perfect for practice."
Hearing "skin" and "information recording," Haneda recalled that this seemed to be the seal Jiraiya used just before his death. At that time, Jiraiya had used it to convey information about Pain, carving it onto the back of the toad, Fukasaku.
Curious, Haneda unrolled the scroll, noticing that the ink still seemed fresh, as if it had just been written. Most likely, Minato had prepared it in advance for them.
At that moment, Kakashi asked, "What about the Contract Seal, Minato-sensei? Does it have something to do with summoning jutsu?"
Minato raised a finger and smiled as he explained, "It's used to sever the connection between an enemy and their summoned creature, Kakashi."
"By the way, you should have a summoning animal by now, right?"
"Yeah. I have eight ninja dogs. My father gave them to me as a birthday gift," Kakashi nodded, a faint smile appearing on his face as he recalled the moment.
His father knew he loved dogs and had gone around to various pet stores in Konoha, carefully selecting eight famous breeds. Each one was intelligent, able to understand human speech, and some had even learned to talk.
"What about you, Haneda?" Minato turned to Haneda, recalling the Uchiha tradition, and smiled, "It's probably a ninja cat, right?"
Talking about cats and dogs reminded Minato of some books he'd read, and he found it a bit amusing: "I've heard that cats and dogs fight when they meet. I wonder if that's true."
"That's not true, Minato-sensei. Pakkun and the others are well-behaved, and Haneda's cat probably is too," Kakashi quickly replied.
"Really?" Minato curiously looked at Haneda.
Minato loved reading, but he wasn't sure if the rumors he had read about cats and dogs were true.
"Ahem… I don't have a summoning animal yet, Minato-senpai, Kakashi," Haneda coughed a few times, feeling slightly embarrassed.
While many Uchiha did indeed choose ninja cats because of their clan's long-standing partnership, Haneda was different.
His standards for a summoning animal were high—he wanted something grand and powerful, like the summoning beasts of the Three Great Sage Regions.
So, he had subconsciously put off the matter of getting a summoning animal.
Noticing the slight awkwardness in Haneda's expression, Minato changed the subject with a smile: "Let's start practicing the Finger Engraving Seal. Watch me first, and then it's your turn to try."
The Finger Engraving Seal was only a C-rank ninjutsu, so it wasn't too difficult.
The challenge lay in precise chakra control and a basic understanding of sealing techniques.
Haneda and Kakashi quickly got the hang of it after a few attempts, practicing on rocks afterward.
As for the Contract Seal, they only learned the theory behind it, since Haneda didn't have a summoning animal yet, making it harder to practice.
They spent the rest of the time learning the techniques behind the Flying Thunder God from Minato.
...
By noon, Obito and Rin arrived at the waterfall where Haneda and the others were.
The moment he saw Minato, Obito couldn't hold back his complaints:
"Minato-sensei, big sis Kushina is so unreasonable! She keeps hitting me on the head!"
"And she said she'd guide me and Rin in our training, but then she disappeared halfway through, leaving Rin and me waiting forever."
Hearing that Kushina had disappeared, Minato furrowed his brow.
He was just about to ask Rin if she knew anything about Kushina's whereabouts when a familiar voice sounded from behind him.
"Obito, are you badmouthing me again, hmm?"
Kushina appeared, carrying a basket, walking up from behind Minato. She handed a pink, heart-adorned lunchbox to Minato.
"Here, this is the lunch I just made, Minato. Eat it while it's hot."
After handing the first lunchbox to Minato, Kushina's gaze shifted to Haneda.
A small flicker of guilt flashed in her eyes as she handed a lunchbox to Haneda, and then one to Kakashi.
"Hmph~ Why are you feeling guilty? It's not like he'll get poisoned by it. At most, he'll just feel uncomfortable," Kurama said.
"It's all your fault," Kushina grumbled at Kurama, then walked over to Rin.
The idea to tamper with Haneda's lunch had been Kurama's, and Kushina wasn't sure why he wanted her to do it. But he'd given her a reason she couldn't refuse: he promised to teach her how to use the Tailed Beast Bomb.
Seeing Rin's cute face, Kushina momentarily forgot her earlier frustration and smiled as she handed her the lunchbox.
"Here, this is yours, Rin."
"Thank you! I love big sis Kushina's cooking the most."
Hearing the second half of Rin's comment, Kushina's eyes sparkled with joy, and she couldn't resist hugging Rin affectionately:
"Such a sweet girl! Rin, you really are a good child."
Off to the side, Obito, seeing his crush Rin being "bullied," snorted and turned his back.
But before long, Kushina popped her head around behind Obito, slightly annoyed:
"I went through all the trouble of bringing you lunch, and you're not even grateful?"
"How about showing a little more appreciation?"
"I didn't ask you to bring it, and besides, I'm not hungry," Obito grumbled, completely turning his back to Kushina.
This scene made Haneda laugh and sigh at the same time.
Naruto had never gotten to eat Kushina's cooking, and here Obito was, turning it down.
But then, again, it was because of Rin...
Everything seemed normal.
Suddenly, there was a loud rumbling sound—it was Obito's stomach growling.
Awkward.
Haneda rubbed his temples and helplessly offered a solution for Obito:
"Obito, come on, join us. I'll share my lunch with you."
Kakashi glanced at Haneda, then at Obito, and added:
"Come on, dead last. You've had Kushina's cooking before. Just sit down and eat."
"Shut up, idiot Kakashi!"
*Smack!*
Obito's head got another hard smack from Kushina.
By now, Kushina had transformed into a "Red-Hot Habanero," her red hair standing on end, her wrath terrifying.
"When I tell you to eat, you eat!"
"Violent woman!"
"Who are you calling that?!"
*Whack, whack!*
Obito got hit two more times, and this time he finally gave in.
As Obito sat there eating his lunch with three large lumps on his head, Kushina suddenly felt a mix of joy and guilt.
After all, she did have good intentions—she didn't want Obito to eat Haneda's lunch, which had been tampered with.
Remembering the tampering, Kushina stared intently at Haneda.
He was eating one spoonful after another, with nothing happening and clearly enjoying the meal.
Kushina found it odd. She distinctly remembered following Kurama's instructions and adding a little laxative...
"So, it's because of his Sage Body…" Kurama thought, lying on the floor with its eyes half-closed.
If Haneda's eyes weren't black, Kurama would've thought he was the "Child of Prophecy" that the Sage of Six Paths had mentioned.
Thinking of the "Child of Prophecy," Kurama couldn't help but laugh.
It had been hundreds of years, and Kurama was starting to suspect that the Sage of Six Paths had just been making things up to fool the tailed beasts.
...
***
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