"Of course it's strong." Jin admired the path carved by the wind blade. "I created it, after all." He was also surprised by its power. It could easily allow a weaker ninja to defeat a stronger one. It hadn't been this powerful last night.
"Hmph," Kushina said, jumping down from a tree. It wasn't even a tenth as strong as her Tailed Beast Ball. If only she could use it. That would show that Uchiha.
"Want to learn it?" Jin asked Kushina, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Kushina did. Her own chakra reserves weren't enough for the Tailed Beast Ball, and now that stinky fox had added extra seals. She couldn't even steal his chakra! She was eager to learn a powerful jutsu.
"Call me 'Daddy' three times, and I'll teach you."
"I'll kill you!" Kushina lunged. She was going to pummel him!
Jin's foot shot out, connecting with Kushina's face with incredible speed. All Kushina saw was a blur before she was sent flying, landing on the ground with a shoe print on her face. Why couldn't she beat him? She glared at Jin, mentally obliterating him in Nine-Tails mode.
Jin stuck his tongue out at her. He never forgot a grudge.
"Fight me, damn Uchiha!" Kushina charged again. This time, Jin didn't retaliate. He waited until she was close, then used Swift Step to create distance. Kushina used Swift Step to follow, and they began a chase around the training ground. Jin landed, and Kushina caught up. But he was already on a wooden post. She used Swift Step again; he was hanging upside down from a tree. She couldn't catch him. It was infuriating.
Even Minato couldn't keep up with Jin, let alone Kushina. Jin was toying with her.
"Catch me if you can, slowpoke!" Jin taunted.
Kushina's anger intensified, but she couldn't even touch Jin's clothes.
Minato sighed. Weren't they supposed to be learning a jutsu? How did this turn into a chase? He used Swift Step to intercept Kushina.
"Alright, that's enough," he said, trying to calm her down. He couldn't catch Jin either. After some coaxing, Kushina finally stopped, fuming.
Minato sighed again. This team would fall apart without him.
Jin sat on a wooden post, looking down at them, a playful smile on his face. "Minato, listen carefully. This is the technique."
As Jin explained, Kushina calmed down and Minato diligently took notes. Minato mentally assessed the jutsu—A-rank. The principles were complex, and its potential was immense. With other chakra natures, it could reach S-rank. He only had Wind Release. Ninjas could develop additional chakra natures, but Minato wasn't there yet.
Kushina, instead of her usual confusion, looked thoughtful. Jin was surprised. Had she been replaced?
Kushina, seeing Jin's expression, bared her teeth at him. It had no effect. Jin realized her thoughtful expression was due to her Uzumaki sealing jutsu training. Many of those techniques were highly complex. She also had Wind Release, although sealing jutsu weren't heavily dependent on chakra nature.
"Slash Spark!" A wind blade shot from Minato's kunai, severing a tree branch.
Jin yawned, lying on a tree stump. Kushina, providing chakra for Minato, glared at Jin. Even Minato felt awkward using her chakra now.
"This damn jutsu is too hard!" Kushina complained. She was supposed to be practicing, but she couldn't even perform the jutsu once. It was too difficult.
"Maybe Minato is the abnormal one," Jin suggested.
Kushina thought about it, then glared at Minato. Minato smiled wryly. "That's not how it works," he said, explaining the technique to Kushina in detail.
Jin scoffed, turning away. He wanted a tsundere blonde and a gentle, raven-haired beauty, but he was stuck here enduring their sickeningly sweet interactions. Though they were just practicing a jutsu, the air was thick with unspoken romantic tension.
"There you are," Jiraiya said, jumping down from a tree. He landed silently, drawing their attention, especially Jin's grateful gaze. Not everyone appreciated being a third wheel. Jiraiya looked at Jin, puzzled. He hadn't done anything, had he? Back to business.
"Minato, I need you," Jiraiya said.
Minato was puzzled. Why him? Of the three, he was the least likely to be called upon. He glanced at Kushina, then at Jin. His teammates were, respectively, a jinchuriki and an Uchiha. "Jiraiya-sensei, what is it?"
Jiraiya explained, "Winter is approaching; I'm taking you somewhere to train."
"What about us?!" Kushina protested. Why was Minato being singled out?
"Jiraiya-sensei, that's unfair!"
"Alright, alright," Jiraiya said, patting Kushina's head. They were still just ten. "I've found suitable teachers for you."
"For me?" Kushina frowned. She couldn't think of anyone. She wasn't in dire need of training; she still had her sealing jutsu. But sealing jutsu lacked offensive power. Jin's Steel Slash was good, but it didn't suit her.
"Think about it," Jiraiya said, patting Kushina's shoulder and gesturing for Minato to follow him. "Let's go, Minato."
Minato hurried after him.
"Hey! Jiraiya-sensei! When do we meet up?!" Jin called after Jiraiya, who was whisking Minato away without a word. When would they meet again? He wasn't fond of leaving things to fate, confirming his distaste for anything remotely mystical.
"Sorry, sorry," Jiraiya said sheepishly. "We'll meet back here in spring." His expression turned serious. "Train hard. We're going to the front lines in spring."
"What?!" Jin exclaimed, stunned. He looked at Kushina, who seemed excited. Jin turned back to Jiraiya. "All of us?"
Jiraiya nodded. "All of you."
Jin gasped. Hiruzen had lost his mind! They were still children. Sending them to war… what if something happened to Kushina? And Jin? Hiruzen probably wouldn't mind if he died. "Train hard," Jiraiya repeated.
Jin gazed at the sky, speechless. He already knew who Jiraiya had chosen as their instructors. But what was the point? The battlefield didn't care about your connections.
Kushina walked home, leaving footprints in the snow, her ninja training forgotten. She looked up at the setting sun, a cold wind blowing. "Who's my teacher?" She couldn't think of anyone suitable. Perhaps another jinchuriki or an Uzumaki. But… she sighed. She might be the last Uzumaki.
She reached her house and saw the open door, her eyes widening.
"I closed the door this morning." She hurried inside, spotting a pair of shoes at the entrance. A familiar pair. She kicked them aside, rushing into the house, where she saw a woman sprawled on the floor, clearly drunk.
Daytime drinking. She'd completely disregarded the ninja rules. Kushina wasn't bothered; she was ecstatic.
"Tsunade-nee-chan, you're back!"
Tsunade opened her eyes blearily, her body swaying before she sat up and beckoned to Kushina. "I'll be staying for a while."
Kushina's teacher is Tsunade.
Jin easily vaulted over the fence surrounding the Forbidden Forest. Orochimaru will be my teacher. Who else? He was slightly annoyed by the unequal treatment. He'd approached Orochimaru first.
He walked towards Orochimaru's hidden laboratory, having skipped it yesterday to rest. The forest was unusually silent. He didn't need to think to know why. The forest was normally filled with the sounds of wild animals.
"I know you're there. Come out," Jin called towards a dense thicket. He had uninvited guests. And they weren't friendly.