Inside the dimly lit cave, Uchiha Qin Yu sat cross-legged, focusing on recovering his depleted chakra. The aftershocks of battle still lingered in his body, but his mind was already working through solutions to his most pressing issue—his rapidly dwindling chakra reserves.
After consecutive battles, his chakra had been nearly exhausted, with only the residual strength of his Mangekyō Sharingan keeping him from collapsing outright. Without a viable solution, he knew that prolonged fights would become a liability.
Carefully analyzing his options, Qin Yu arrived at two potential solutions.
The first was to establish a summoning contract with Mount Myōboku and learn Sage Mode. By harnessing natural energy, he could extend his endurance and dramatically increase his chakra reserves. However, such a feat was easier said than done. Ever since Orochimaru's defection from Konoha, the Great Toad Sage had become increasingly cautious, making it difficult to establish contact with the revered sages of Myōboku.
The second option was to seek out a tailed beast. If he could obtain chakra directly from a Bijū, it would serve as an enormous power boost. However, this was even more difficult than the first option. Of the nine tailed beasts, only the Three-Tails was currently without a jinchūriki. The other eight were securely sealed within their hosts, and each of the major villages guarded them with utmost caution, especially during the ongoing Third Shinobi War.
With the difficulty of both solutions apparent, Qin Yu let out a resigned sigh.
"This is such a pain..."
His muttered complaint was interrupted by a calm but authoritative voice.
"Qin Yu, if something is troubling you, you can talk to me."
The voice belonged to Namikaze Minato, the man known as Konoha's Yellow Flash. As he stepped into the cave, his signature blue eyes locked onto Qin Yu with curiosity and concern.
Upon seeing Minato, Qin Yu's eyes lit up.
Minato's skills were legendary. Not only was he a master of the Flying Thunder God Technique, originally developed by the Second Hokage, but he had also created the Rasengan—an A-rank jutsu with devastating potential. His battlefield prowess was undeniable; entire squads of enemy shinobi had been annihilated in mere moments due to his overwhelming speed.
However, for Qin Yu, the most valuable ability Minato possessed was undoubtedly the Flying Thunder God. The combination of his own Lightning Chakra Mode with space-time ninjutsu would make him nearly untouchable in combat.
Sensing hesitation in Qin Yu's expression, Minato spoke again.
"Are you worried about Danzo causing trouble for you?" he asked carefully.
Qin Yu raised an eyebrow at Minato's assumption but remained silent for a moment. He had indeed considered the threat Danzo posed, but that wasn't his primary concern at the moment. Still, Minato's words provided an opportunity.
Initially, Qin Yu had been unsure of how to convince Minato to teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique. Now, Minato had given him the perfect excuse.
With a deliberate pause, Qin Yu responded, "That's only a minor concern. If Danzo targets me, I won't hesitate to leave Konoha."
Minato's expression stiffened.
That was exactly what he feared.
From what he had gathered through Yuèyuè Cangwu and others, Qin Yu's strength had already surpassed that of many elite jōnin. If someone of his talent abandoned the village, not only would it be a great loss for Konoha, but it could also create a dangerous rogue element.
"Qin Yu, don't be so hasty," Minato said seriously. "I have a good relationship with Fugaku, and I won't let Danzo act recklessly. Once I report this to the Third Hokage, he'll ensure that Danzo doesn't overstep his authority."
Qin Yu already knew Minato's character from the original timeline—an honorable man with unwavering loyalty to Konoha. However, that same noble nature was what ultimately led to his early demise.
Minato's words didn't surprise Qin Yu, but he wasn't about to let this opportunity slip away so easily.
"I'd consider staying," Qin Yu said with a smirk, "if you teach me the Flying Thunder God."
Minato blinked in surprise before chuckling wryly.
"So that's what you were after all along."
He sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I had a feeling you weren't actually concerned about Danzo. But the Flying Thunder God isn't just any technique. It was developed by the Second Hokage, and it's classified as a forbidden jutsu. Even if I wanted to teach you, I'd need the Third Hokage's approval."
Seeing Qin Yu's disappointment, Minato added, "However, I can teach you something else—my own technique."
"You mean the Rasengan?" Qin Yu raised an eyebrow.
Minato's eyes widened slightly. "You've heard of it?"
Rasengan was undoubtedly a powerful technique, but compared to the Flying Thunder God, it didn't align with Qin Yu's immediate goals.
Still, Minato was an extremely principled man. Expecting him to break protocol and teach a forbidden technique in secret was unrealistic.
"I've heard a little about it," Qin Yu replied nonchalantly.
Minato took his words as interest and smiled. "The Rasengan is an A-rank jutsu, but it doesn't require hand seals. It's purely chakra manipulation, making it accessible as long as one has good chakra control. With your talent, I estimate that you could master the basics within a week."
Minato raised his right hand, and with precise chakra control, a swirling blue sphere rapidly formed. The air vibrated around it, and the cave was briefly illuminated by its glow.
"Rasengan."
The spiraling chakra sphere shimmered like a miniature star in Minato's palm.
Despite its seemingly small size, Qin Yu knew the Rasengan's true potential. In the original timeline, Naruto had used this technique as the foundation for many of his strongest jutsu—including the Rasenshuriken.
"Did you get a clear look?" Minato asked, dispersing the Rasengan. "I'll demonstrate again. Once you learn it, it'll become a valuable tool in battle."
Qin Yu hesitated briefly but ultimately decided to humor Minato. While it wasn't what he originally wanted, the Rasengan was still an incredibly useful jutsu.
However, as Minato began forming another Rasengan, Qin Yu activated his Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Sharingan was the ultimate tool for battle insight. He wasn't about to waste an opportunity to analyze the jutsu's mechanics firsthand.
The moment Minato's Rasengan took shape, Qin Yu's Sharingan whirled to life, capturing every detail—the intricate chakra control, the formation process, the minute adjustments Minato made in real-time.
Minato felt an odd sensation, as though he were being scrutinized down to his very core. When he met Qin Yu's gaze, his breath hitched.
"Those eyes..." Minato murmured. "Is that... a Mangekyō Sharingan?"
His hands faltered for a moment, and the Rasengan dissipated prematurely.
Qin Yu wasn't surprised by Minato's reaction. Konoha had records of the Uchiha Clan's most powerful dōjutsu. The Mangekyō Sharingan had been wielded by legendary figures such as Madara Uchiha, and the Second Hokage had made extensive studies of its capabilities.
For a moment, silence filled the cave.
"You seem surprised," Qin Yu said lightly. "Is it really that strange for an 'insignificant junior' to awaken the Mangekyō?"
Minato took a deep breath, composing himself.
"No, I suppose it's not surprising at all," Minato admitted. "I finally understand why people say you have an extraordinary talent for ninjutsu."