Chapter Thirteen: Development Method of Sealless Jutsu (Part 2)

This would be Obito Uchiha's turn to be astonished; he hadn't expected such a twist. Amidst Kakashi's expression of disbelief, he actually noted down this method. However, he hadn't considered the feasibility of truly gaining leverage over Minato using this approach.

The subsequent conversation was clearly heard by both Minato and Kushina. Minato simply smiled knowingly, while Kushina seemed a bit irritated.

"Hey, what's with your reactions?" Kushina's face turned red from the responses of Minato's students. What did they mean? It was as if she wasn't worthy of Minato.

"Ahem," at this point, Kenji cleared his throat and took out a small notebook from his ninja tool pouch. He began speaking with an air of importance, "According to my intel, Minato-senpai developed a crush on Kushina-sensei when they were both at the ninja academy. I won't specify their ages then, because going into too much detail here could potentially lead to Minato-senpai being accused of a crime. In any case, Minato-senpai really liked Kushina-sensei, especially her red hair. Well, I must admit that the red hair is indeed one of sensei's charming points. But considering that she was called 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero' due to her fierceness back then, we have to wonder if Minato-senpai's taste in the opposite sex is a bit off."

Listening to his disciple's three parts teasing, seven parts truth, Kushina couldn't stand it any longer. She turned sharply to face Kenji and said, "Kenji, where did you come up with all this nonsense?"

She was almost on the verge of bursting from embarrassment, as what Kenji had said wasn't far from the truth. She snatched the notebook from Kenji's hand, only to find it empty – not a single word written on it.

Kenji pointed a finger at his own head, indicating that all that information was stored in his mind.

Realizing Kenji was jesting at her expense, Kushina gave him a firm tap on the back of his head, then blushing, she warned, "Just don't pry into your sensei's business."

As for Minato, he didn't display any dissatisfaction. On the contrary, he wore a big smile towards Kenji, even giving him a thumbs up.

"Are you Kenji? Impressive gathering of information," Minato praised.

"Thank you for the compliment, Minato-senpai. If you're interested in hearing more, I've got plenty of this kind of gossip," Kenji replied playfully.

"Enough, you two," Kushina forcefully intervened, stopping their mutual admiration.

One person, many facets. Observing how his usually laid-back teacher responded, Kenji found it quite amusing. However, he understood when to quit, or else he might end up in a bloody mess soon – kidding, did they think the nickname 'Red Hot-Blooded Habanero' was just for show?

Perhaps due to having their students near by, despite Minato and Kushina being a couple, their mannerisms were casual, lacking the overt intimacy. Look at that, a teacher who understood how to consider the feelings of their students.

This was the second time Kenji had seen Minato Namikaze and his first proper interaction with him. The last time he had glimpsed Minato was during the graduation ceremony at the ninja academy, but it was just a fleeting look.

The famed 'Yellow Flash' lived up to his reputation. Despite his immense strength and achievements, he was utterly devoid of arrogance, giving off the vibe of a friendly neighborhood friend.

Kenji couldn't help but feel deeply moved. With his impressive strength, kind and accommodating personality, and his profound sense of belonging to the village, he was the perfect candidate for being not only Hokage but also Village Leader.

Obito hadn't changed much since Kenji last saw him three months ago. Kenji wasn't that familiar with Kakashi during this time period. Obito still had his usual playful aura, but among the three, the one who had transformed the most was the person beside him – Rin Nohara.

Kenji gaze fell upon Rin Nohara standing next to him. Compared to three months ago, Rin seemed to have grown taller, and her personality seemed to have shifted a bit. To put it simply, she had lost some of the lively spirit she had back in the ninja academy, now appearing more gentle.

Hmm, one might call this transformation "feminine refinement."

Soon, Rin noticed Kenji's gaze upon her. Though not entirely sure what his gaze meant, she responded with a sweet smile.

"Minato, how long do you get to stay this time?" Kushina turned to Minato and inquired.

"Probably about a week or so. Mainly here to look after these little guys. That's why I managed to get such a long break," Minato had been on the frontlines without a break for a whole year. This time back in Konoha was for rest and recuperation, though not for an extensive period.

After all, every frontline in Konoha lacked manpower, and individuals like Minato, who were top-tier combatants capable of quickly traversing between different battlefields, were hard to pull out of the fray.

"How's the front line treating you, Rin?" Kenji broke the silence and asked.

After some contemplation, Rin answered, "It's different from the ninja academy and the village. We've already lost some of our fellow Genin from the same class."

Kenji nodded. This wasn't unexpected. Even though Konoha still appeared serene, ninja were dying on the frontlines every day, most of them nameless to the village.

"The medical ninja on the frontlines are in severe shortage. I heard that the higher-ups in the village are starting to regret not agreeing with Lady Tsunade's suggestion to establish a medical ninja academy before the war. Some ninja are volunteering to receive medical jutsu training during times when they're not engaged in combat. I've also started delving deeper into medical ninjutsu."

Rin spoke hesitantly about the frontlines. In just three months of war, her changes and growth were shocking. The extent of her change was so startling that he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. Rin used to be a more cheerful girl, not so gentle and quiet. This unfamiliarity bothered him.

"Um, Instructor Kushina, Minato-senpai, if there's nothing else, I'll take my leave now."

Kenji realized that he and the others were now essentially third wheels. He was ready to leave so that this moment of reunion, so hard-won amid the Ninja World War, wouldn't be disrupted.

Kushina, knowing her student's tendency to act mature beyond his age, understood exactly what Kenji was thinking. It both angered and pleased her. Did she, as a sensei, really need her student's concern?