"Iruka, is there something else you need again?" The Third Hokage looked at Iruka with slight confusion. His visits were becoming rather frequent, almost making the Hokage consider putting away his crystal ball.
"This is still about Kaito," Iruka replied. "I'd like to help him get a library card for the archive." Of course, by "library," he was referring not to the general library but to the archives containing vital information and techniques for Konoha's ninja.
"Oh? Why did you suddenly decide that Kaito should have access to the archives?" The Third Hokage was a bit intrigued.
Iruka sighed, looking slightly exasperated as he explained Kaito's daily regimen. He emphasized how the boy's innate talent had outpaced what Iruka could teach him at the academy, leaving the instructor feeling more like a bystander than a mentor. The best Iruka could do, it seemed, was help the young prodigy have more tools for self-study.
"Shadow Clone Jutsu? Are you certain he's fine using it?" The Third Hokage furrowed his brows slightly. Unlike Iruka, the Hokage was well aware of the inherent dangers associated with the technique.
"Yes. Kaito's been using his Shadow Clones for quite some time now, and his condition has remained stable. Every day, he seems full of energy, with no signs of exhaustion or strain," Iruka confirmed.
"I see. Talent, indeed," the Hokage murmured. Learning the Shadow Clone Jutsu itself was commendable, but not necessarily shocking—any sufficiently skilled shinobi could master a technique eventually. What stood out was Kaito's ability to employ the Shadow Clones for advanced study, utilizing them in ways that most others simply could not.
Perhaps there was no Uzumaki blood within Kaito, yet his talent in chakra control was undeniable.
"Very well, I will allow him access to information beyond basic jutsus," the Third Hokage concluded after a brief consideration.
His background was clear, his abilities impressive, and his personality mature—the kind of potential Konoha was more than happy to invest in. Such individuals were rare gems, worthy of support and trust.
Soon, Iruka left the office, a library card signed by the Third Hokage in hand, and a wide smile on his face. He was slightly astonished at how much access had been granted. He had only expected some introductory materials, but this... This level of clearance was beyond generous. After all, not even every jonin could access these archives. For his student, the future seemed incredibly bright.
Once alone, the Third Hokage lit his pipe and took a deep draw of tobacco, exhaling a thick puff of smoke. He had sent Jiraiya a letter about this boy before, but, to his annoyance, his old student still had no plans to return. Now, seeing Kaito's talent firsthand, the Hokage decided it was time to write again. A promising student needed a capable teacher—preferably one of the Sannin.
Sending the letter with a small toad, the Hokage sighed heavily.
"What a pity."
The next day, the Third Hokage's office was quieter. He observed the academy through his crystal ball, the moving figures of students coming into focus. Once again, his sight was drawn to Kaito, but this time, the scene took him aback—Naruto was with him. The two seemed comfortable with each other, laughing and talking as they approached the school.
The Hokage paused. He studied the interaction for a while longer, then nodded slowly to himself. Kaito's presence might just be a good influence. If Kaito grew strong enough, he could help rein Naruto in when needed—perhaps even reach him in the darkest moments through friendship. The boy could be Konoha's asset not just against external threats, but also in nurturing bonds within.
Kaito, of course, remained oblivious to the fact he was under the Hokage's scrutiny. Even if he knew, he wouldn't have cared; he had nothing to hide. Later, Kaito successfully received the library card from Iruka and made his way to the strictly guarded archive.
The result was satisfying—he was allowed access to knowledge up to B-rank. Although he couldn't learn B-rank techniques themselves, even having access to theory, tactics, and non-combat related scrolls was more than sufficient.
Kaito quickly understood this wasn't something a mid-level ninja like Iruka could achieve alone—the Hokage had given him special permission. Kaito was satisfied. He hadn't been so naive as to expect a gift like the Flying Thunder God Jutsu—that was something only in dreams.
Still, the Flying Thunder God Jutsu remained part of his long-term goal. While it wasn't an absolute necessity, it was a highly prioritized technique in his plan. After all, under Minato Namikaze's hands, it had proven its worth a thousand times over.
The crucial point was that the technique's chakra consumption wasn't excessive. Considering Minato wasn't from an inherently powerful clan like the Uzumaki, it was logical to assume Kaito could one day reach the same level of chakra control.
However, the issue wasn't just chakra—it was also talent. Learning the Flying Thunder God required an innate talent for spacetime manipulation, and superior combat reflexes—the kind that allowed Minato to weave in and out of danger unscathed.
Minato became "The Yellow Flash," feared by enemy ninjas due to his incredible mastery of the jutsu. Against most foes, the Flying Thunder God was practically invincible, allowing Minato to take down entire battalions alone.
But against high-level opponents, like the Third Raikage, Minato faced certain limits. The problem wasn't reaching him; it was being able to deal significant damage. Against the Raikage's raw resilience, Minato would still struggle in a fair fight.
Reflecting on the past, Kaito marveled at how incredible shinobi like Minato and the Third Raikage were—peak examples of what pure human tenacity could achieve without any specialized bloodlines.
Still, Minato fell too early. Kaito mused about what could've been if Minato had lived longer—he could've potentially created techniques like the Rasenshuriken or something of equal power, closing the gap between him and monsters like the Raikage.
With Flying Thunder God combined with a perfected Rasenshuriken, a flying sneak attack was more than feasible. Although Minato's skill with Sage Mode was rudimentary, it was still enough to make Kaito dream—Sage Chakra paired with Rasenshuriken and Flying Thunder God could make him truly unstoppable, even against jinchūriki like the Ten-Tails hosts.
Kaito's eyes narrowed in determination. The legacy that Minato never got the chance to fulfill, Kaito would accomplish. He might not have Minato's blood, but he'd do everything he could to reach that pinnacle. Learning the Flying Thunder God seemed almost impossible, but Kaito could only have faith that his talent was sufficient. He wouldn't stop pushing himself, trusting that effort could match destiny.
Today, though, it was back to work. His schedule just got a bit more demanding, given the library card now burning a hole in his pocket. No complaints—the days were tiring, but fulfilling. Every increase in his chakra reserves, every bit of gained knowledge brought a sense of satisfaction. Kaito could feel himself inching closer to something greater. The future wasn't just bright; it was within his grasp.