Chapter 41: The Most Suitable Technique for Kushina

After leaving the Ninja Academy, the two of them ran at a pace that even Kushina found difficult to sustain.

Ten minutes later, they arrived at the back mountains of Konoha, the same place where Minato had trained a year ago.

"Huff, huff." Minato finally released Kushina's hand, and even with her stamina, her breathing had become extremely rapid.

However, for Minato, this was merely a regular speed and couldn't make him feel fatigued.

It had been a year since he last came here. The darkening sky, the cool breeze caressing their faces, felt extremely comfortable.

The dim golden sunlight shone on the boy and girl's faces, making them appear perfect and flawless at that moment, like a heavenly couple.

Kushina's stamina was astonishing, so this feeling didn't last long. She stood up and looked at the setting sun about to disappear behind the mountain, exclaiming, "So beautiful!"

Her fair face and sparkling eyes radiated beauty. In the year since she came to Konoha, her freedom had been restricted, making it impossible for her to visit such secluded areas of the village.

Gazing at Kushina's smiling face, Minato didn't want to say anything, only to gently watch over her.

"I came here to train today; I can't waste time on such things!" Suddenly, a strong gust of wind blew, ruffling her long red hair and slightly obstructing Kushina's view, snapping her out of her trance.

The absorbed Minato was also brought back to his senses by her somewhat boisterous voice, only then realizing his earlier demeanor. Before Kushina noticed, he turned his slightly reddened face away.

"By the way, I never knew you were so skilled, Minato, and knew so many ninja techniques!" Kushina was oblivious and didn't notice Minato's slightly strange behavior. Instead, she was in awe of the techniques he had displayed earlier.

Although she didn't know the levels of the Summoning Jutsu and Shadow Clone Jutsu, she knew they were not taught at the Ninja Academy.

"Can you teach me?" She blinked her beautiful eyes at Minato, her voice pleading.

Minato was taken aback, but the Summoning Jutsu required a pre-established blood contract, and the scroll for writing the contract was with his master Jiraiya, so he couldn't give it to her.

As for the Shadow Clone Jutsu, it was very suitable for Kushina to practice, because her chakra reserves were even greater than his current ones.

Minato was absolutely certain of this.

However, he still asked Kushina, "Didn't your family teach you any ninja techniques?"

As someone who was under the protection of the Anbu, Kushina must have had something extraordinary about her, perhaps being a prodigy in a particular field.

Upon hearing this, Kushina immediately pouted and said, "They did teach me, but until today, they've only made me memorize some very complex and difficult patterns. As for performing techniques, I haven't learned yet."

"Patterns?" Minato wondered if Kushina was practicing a secret technique similar to seals.

However, such secret techniques required at least Chunin or Jonin-level skills, which seemed unrealistic for Kushina, who was not yet proficient in ninja techniques.

It was difficult to discern from Kushina's fragmented words. After some thought, Minato probed, "You're not learning ninja techniques just to vent your frustration at Uchiha Homura, are you?"

"Yes, that guy is so arrogant; I've disliked him for a long time!" Kushina said openly, her eyes starting to look fierce, revealing her fiery personality once again.

Minato laughed awkwardly beside her.

"But his movements and swordsmanship are too fast; I can't keep up with him. In our class, you're the only one who can do it!" Although oblivious at times, Kushina also had a perceptive side.

Compared to a year ago, Uchiha Homura had undoubtedly become stronger, but she could sense that Minato, who had been by her side all along, was the one with the most profound and unfathomable strength.

Minato only smiled at Kushina's assessment. To counter him, Uchiha Homura had specifically learned the Body Flicker Technique, so his movements were naturally imperceptible to ordinary students.

After all, even Mikoto, who had received training from the Uchiha clan since childhood, had been defeated by him.

However, to perceive Uchiha Homura's movements, one needed to spend a lot of time training their basics. Only by increasing one's speed could their visual reflexes keep up.

As for his swordsmanship, even Minato couldn't match it, so how could he guide Kushina?

In a short time, Minato couldn't help her achieve the two things she had requested, and as she progressed, Uchiha Homura wouldn't be standing still either.

Seeing Minato not respond, Kushina thought perhaps her foundation was too poor for Minato to help her.

Just as her expression changed, and she was about to speak, Minato said first.

"What you've proposed, I can't help you achieve in a short time." Minato noticed her slightly dejected expression and added, "However, not being able to keep up with movements and swordsmanship doesn't necessarily mean resolving it through the same means."

"Even the most formidable taijutsu movements and swordsmanship have flaws, and you have an advantage that Uchiha Homura and the rest of us don't have."

Kushina's eyes lit up, and she asked, "What advantage?"

"Chakra reserves." Minato said that Kushina's chakra reserves were on a completely different level from ordinary nine-year-olds.

Even those from prestigious clans with the Uchiha bloodline, like Uchiha Homura and Mikoto, including himself, paled in comparison.

Kushina was also vaguely aware of this advantage, but what use were abundant chakra reserves if she couldn't utilize ninja techniques?

"You wanted to learn my techniques earlier, so I'll teach them to you."

"Since your eyes and body movements can't keep up, then you can have a few extra pairs of eyes and bodies. Even if someone's movements are fast, they ultimately can't overcome the advantage of numbers."

Minato looked at Kushina and smiled slightly, "If individual ability isn't enough, then increase the numbers."

Throughout this, Kushina was dumbfounded. At that moment, Minato didn't seem like a child her age but an exceptionally skilled ninja!

In the original work, Tsunade said that Naruto and Kushina were proficient in the same technique. I think it's the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu. What do you think? Feel free to leave me a message in the comments section.

(End of chapter)