Naruto: The Ōtsutsuki Bloodline Development Manual

"Another day of work completed."

Under the enchanting moonlight, Hiruzen Sarutobi walked home after concluding his day's duties.

Today had been far from smooth—not merely because of the intelligence Jiraiya had returned with, but also due to Jiraiya's mischievous antics.

Still, he had to acknowledge that amidst the chaos Jiraiya stirred, his mood had somewhat improved.

"Especially that boy, Kitagawa Minamoto—he seems truly remarkable..."

Recalling Jiraiya's praise, Hiruzen couldn't suppress a smile. Konohagakure desperately needed fresh talent to emerge and flourish.

More than anyone, Hiruzen yearned to witness the rise of a new "Minato Namikaze."

"Though I wonder if that boy will manage to master the Flying Thunder God Technique. Even if he doesn't, it's no significant concern..."

Hiruzen mused inwardly, not from doubt regarding Minamoto's capabilities, but because the Flying Thunder God Technique was notoriously challenging.

Over the years, many had attempted to master it, yet only Minato had succeeded after the Second Hokage.

"With that Purple Lightning and sufficient combat experience, he won't be inferior to anyone..."

Humming a melody in his heart, Hiruzen strolled toward his residence. En route, he noticed a signal from the Hidden ANBU in the shadows.

Looking up, he observed a small figure near his front gate, carrying a large pot and glancing around nervously.

"Naruto?"

Hiruzen's expression shifted to curiosity. Waving discreetly to dismiss the ANBU, he approached with a benevolent smile.

"Oh, Grandpa Hokage! I finally found you!"

Naruto, hearing the voice, immediately brightened with excitement. He rushed toward Hiruzen, carefully balancing the pot.

Hiruzen reached out to ruffle Naruto's hair affectionately.

"What brings you here, Naruto? Why are you seeking me so late at night?"

"Well, well..."

Naruto lifted the pot and presented it, his face beaming.

"Grandpa Hokage, this is for you."

"What might this be?"

Hiruzen regarded him, puzzled. Naruto scratched the back of his head and grinned.

"It's soup I prepared myself! You should sample it."

"Soup?"

Hiruzen experienced a wave of warmth and emotion. Smiling, he inquired,

"What inspired you to bring this to me?"

"Um... it was Minamoto! He said I should respect the elderly and care for the young, so..."

"Minamoto, you say?"

Hearing Naruto's response, Hiruzen's smile broadened significantly.

The influence of positive example was undeniable!

Though Minamoto had frequently exploited Naruto previously, Hiruzen recognized the boy's struggles with poverty.

And since Naruto appeared unbothered, they had even developed a bond of friendship. In retrospect, this represented a positive development.

"You've matured, Naruto."

With that thought, Hiruzen accepted the pot from Naruto with a smile.

"Thank you, Naruto. I shall certainly savor the fruits of your labor!"

"No gratitude necessary..."

Naruto shrugged, his grin unwavering. Then, as if recollecting something, he displayed a slight pout.

"Oh, right, Grandpa Hokage, there's one additional matter."

"What might that be?"

"That jerk Minamoto subsequently attempted to dissuade me from delivering this. But I disregarded him, so he instructed me to convey a message: Be sure to examine it thoroughly before sampling."

"Examine it thoroughly?"

Hiruzen appeared puzzled. He casually removed the lid from the pot, and his complexion instantly paled.

Inside lay an assortment of colorful mushrooms!

"Where... where did you acquire these?"

Hiruzen inquired, his voice trembling. Naruto, oblivious to the concern, shrugged again.

"From the forest behind the mountains! They're abundant there, and completely free! They appear delicious, don't they?"

"..."

Hiruzen stared at Naruto in silence, then glanced back at the pot in his hands.

He finally comprehended—Minamoto had recognized the problem but couldn't persuade Naruto otherwise. So, he had simply transferred the issue to him.

While Minamoto was undeniably virtuous, his character indeed possessed that mischievous streak Jiraiya had mentioned...

"Grandpa Hokage!"

As Hiruzen was absorbed in thought, Naruto blinked his large, innocent eyes at him.

"Try it! I invested considerable time preparing this, you know..."

"..."

For a moment, Hiruzen perceived the atmosphere shift, as if he genuinely ought to sample it...

The Next Day

At a training ground in Konohagakure, Kakashi regarded Kitagawa Minamoto with his characteristic dead-fish eyes, his tone tinged with exasperation.

"What manner of trouble have you instigated this time?"

Minamoto, feigning innocence, shrugged in response.

"Don't pretend ignorance. Are you aware of last night's events? The Hokage convened a late-night meeting, emphasizing the necessity for enhanced awareness education at the ninja academy—particularly regarding poisonous substances.

He even detained Jiraiya and myself afterward to discuss improving our students' sense of responsibility. You're suggesting this bears no relation to you?"

"..."

Minamoto chuckled awkwardly. Honestly, he couldn't entirely deny involvement.

He had casually joked with Naruto about respecting the elderly, and somehow the boy had interpreted it literally.

Minamoto had attempted to dissuade him, but it proved futile. After all, this represented an educational deficiency!

So, he had surrendered and left it to Naruto to "warn" Hiruzen, hoping to avoid personal repercussions.

But he hadn't anticipated Hiruzen's reaction would be so dramatic...

"Honestly..."

Observing Minamoto's silence, Kakashi sighed and covered his face in resignation.

"The Hokage was already dissatisfied with certain aspects of the ninja academy. You witnessed it yourself during graduation—students engaging in conflict.

And now, who knows what you've done? Konohagakure is in turmoil again..."

"Hey, hey, hey, Kakashi-sensei, is it truly reasonable to attribute the graduation incident to me?"

Minamoto protested, though feeling somewhat guilty, knowing both incidents were intimately connected to him.

Shaking his head, he swiftly changed the subject.

"Very well, let's not dwell on that, Kakashi-sensei. How are you feeling now?"

"Not bad. I believe I'm fine."

Kakashi seemed equally eager to progress. He shook his head, then touched the eye concealed beneath his forehead protector.

"It's just this Sharingan—it feels somewhat peculiar. Probably because of that individual..."

"A peculiar Sharingan?"

Minamoto glanced at Kakashi, suspecting the issue might not relate to Obito Uchiha but rather to the eye itself.

In his recollection, Kakashi had only begun exploring his Sharingan's secrets after experiencing Itachi's Tsukuyomi.

Even if the current situation wasn't equally extreme, it was possible the process had accelerated.

"The Mangekyō Sharingan..."

Minamoto contemplated silently. While he harbored no particular interest in the eye, its power could certainly assist against the masked man.

Moreover, the associated exclusive quest might yield intriguing rewards.

"Very well, Jiraiya will continue guiding you for now. Now that I've returned, I'll need to evaluate your progress."

As Minamoto pondered, Kakashi shook his head and continued.

"Additionally, I understand you're planning to apply for the Chūnin exam?"

"Yes, I believe I'm prepared to attempt it. Although my mission count might be insufficient, I believe my abilities are adequate."

"Indeed, I concur you're prepared. After all, at your age, I had already attained Jōnin rank."

"..."

"Don't concern yourself with that. Times have evolved. But continued diligence remains essential."

"..."

Observing Kakashi's eye curve into a crescent moon shape, Minamoto elected to remain silent.

Sometimes, silence constituted the most appropriate response...

~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~

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