The Forgemage of Konoha

Shiro's Plan

"Alright, Shirō, we're heading back now. See you tomorrow."

"Mm, see you tomorrow."

Although Shirō didn't know exactly what Kushina wanted to talk to him about, he understood one thing clearly: if he dared to ditch her plans tonight…

"Mmm mmm mmm!" Shirō vigorously shook his head, abandoning that suicidal thought before it even took root.

Besides, he had something of his own to ask Kushina—something daring, maybe even reckless, but possibly game-changing.

If his guess was correct, the jutsu the Third Hokage had mentioned earlier must have been the Flying Thunder God Technique. The way the Hokage had spoken hinted at a jutsu of considerable importance and rarity. After all, for a long stretch in the near future, Minato Namikaze's entire combat style would revolve around the Flying Thunder God—blink in, strike, blink out.

There weren't many techniques more versatile—or dangerous—than that.

Which led Shirō to an idea.

A wild one.

He wanted to try Projecting a Flying Thunder God Kunai.

It wasn't because he planned to learn the jutsu itself. He knew his limitations. Even basic C-Rank Ninjutsu gave him trouble. As for a complex Space-Time Ninjutsu developed by Tobirama Senju? That was a fantasy.

No, the reason lay elsewhere.

In his past life, Shirō had read a Type-Moon light novel where the protagonist had replicated a teleportation ability using Lancelot du Lac's Noble Phantasm:

---

Noble Phantasm: Knight of Owner – "Knight Who Turns Every Weapon into His Own"

Rank: A++

Bearer: Sir Lancelot du Lac

Effect: Bestows Noble Phantasm properties onto any object recognized as a weapon.

Details: Even an ordinary tree branch becomes a D-Rank Noble Phantasm in Lancelot's hands. If the weapon already holds power, it retains or amplifies its original rank. This allows Lancelot to wield virtually anything as a deadly artifact.

---

Shirō's theory was this: if he used Projection Magecraft to replicate a Flying Thunder God Kunai, and then treated it like a Noble Phantasm, perhaps it could inherit the conceptual space-time properties embedded in the original.

Even if he couldn't use the technique directly, perhaps—just perhaps—he could cheat his way into creating a one-time teleportation item.

And if it failed?

Well, nothing lost.

---

Hokage's Office – Later That Evening

"You can talk now, old man," Kushina said with arms folded.

The Third Hokage sighed and took a slow puff from his pipe. "We recently discovered that the Hidden Sand Village hasn't promoted many genin to chunin since the war."

"At first, we thought they were simply trying to further temper their forces. So we let our intelligence division monitor it passively."

"But not long ago… they formally requested a joint Chunin Exams."

"We don't have to participate," Kushina replied sharply.

"No, we must," Hiruzen said gravely. "We're one of the Five Great Shinobi Nations. Pulling out would be a diplomatic disgrace. Besides, the Fire Daimyo has specifically instructed us to win."

"I don't care. Minato better not be dragged into any political games."

"I understand," he said, waving her off. "Don't worry. I already have arrangements in place. I'll see to it that everyone involved is compensated."

"Good." She paused. "Oh, and you don't have to compensate Shirō. I plan to teach him the Shadow Clone Technique. That's alright with you?"

"If I said no, would that stop you?"

"No," Kushina said flatly.

"…Then why even ask?"

"Courtesy," she said smugly. "Minato said I should inform you first."

"…"

So this is what 'asking permission' means these days?

Still, Hiruzen didn't complain further. He'd dealt with her impulsive nature for years. At least she was informing him now. That was an improvement.

"Fine. Do what you want. Just be careful."

"Will do. Thanks, old man. I'm heading out."

---

Later that evening, Kushina dragged Shirō toward one of the training grounds.

"Shirō, let's get started. I'm going to teach you a jutsu that'll help in the upcoming exams."

"Big Sis, uh… what kind of jutsu? You know my bloodline only allows Wind Release out of the five elements."

"Don't worry. This isn't elemental. I'm going to teach you the Shadow Clone Technique."

"Shadow Clone?!" Shirō stopped dead in his tracks. "Isn't that restricted to Jonin and above?"

"It was. But I got clearance from the Hokage himself. Hmph! You're my little brother. He'd have to be crazy to deny me."

Shirō looked at her, touched. Kushina had always had his back. He rarely had the chance to return the favor. But that would change soon. He'd make sure of it.

This time, he wouldn't let Madara's plan succeed.

He had no intention of interfering by killing Obito. Not only was Obito still innocent—just a foolish boy in love—but he wasn't the core of the problem.

Even without Obito, Madara still had Zetsu. He still had contingencies.

The true threat was always Madara himself.

So Shirō would bide his time. He'd prepare. And when the day came, he would be ready—with Magecraft, Noble Phantasms, and his Reality Marble.

---

"Smack!"

"What are you spacing out for?" Kushina said, slapping him lightly on the back of his head.

"Hehe, nothing. Say, Big Sis… that jutsu the Hokage mentioned earlier… Was it the Flying Thunder God?"

"Yeah. Pretty sure it was. Not many jutsu cause the old man to be that serious."

She smirked proudly. "We're heading to Minato's training field. I'll have him show you how it works."

And along the way, she kept gushing about how amazing Minato was.

Shirō could practically smell the love in the air.

Sour. So sour.

But he kept silent and nodded along like a good little brother.

---

At the training grounds:

"Minato!"

"Kushina? What's up?"

"Sorry to bother you, Minato-nii," Shirō said politely.

"Don't worry about it. What's going on?"

"Nothing serious!" Kushina grinned. "We want Shirō to see your Flying Thunder God in action. Come on, show off a little!"

Minato chuckled. "Alright."

He pulled out a special kunai from his pouch—three-pronged, with a unique formula etched into the handle. He threw it toward a nearby tree stump.

In the blink of an eye, he vanished—and reappeared instantly beside it.

"Whoa! That's amazing!" Shirō clapped and cheered—more to make Kushina happy than anything else.

"Hehe! Told you Minato was incredible!"

Right then and there, Shirō decided to Project the Flying Thunder God Kunai.

He didn't hide it. If the Projection succeeded and replicated the spatial marker, he could pass it off as a legacy technique or inherited tool. If not? Well, they'd just think it was a failed imitation.

At his current level, Projecting a simple kunai—even a specialized one—was trivial.

Moments later, a near-perfect replica appeared in his hand.

Unfortunately, as he examined it… it lacked the formula's space-time signature.

It was just a fancy kunai.

Minato raised an eyebrow. "Shirō… what's that?"

So Shirō, a bit sheepish, explained his idea.

He left out the Type-Moon details, of course. But he explained his hypothesis: that replicating the kunai might allow him to mimic part of the Flying Thunder God's effect.

"…"

"…"

Minato and Kushina stared at him, dumbfounded.

Eventually, Minato smiled.

"That's… not entirely foolish," he said. "Your logic is interesting. But the technique doesn't just lie in the kunai—it's in the formula etched onto it. A unique space-time coordinate marker. Without that—and the corresponding chakra signature—replication won't help."

"So close," Shirō muttered.

"But don't give up," Minato added warmly. "That kind of thinking… It's exactly how people develop new jutsu. Who knows? Maybe someday you'll create a teleportation technique of your own."

Kushina ruffled his hair. "You're still amazing, little bro!"

Shirō chuckled, tucking the projected kunai away.

Even if it failed, it still gave him data—and with each Projection, he got closer to the truth.

He'd walk his own path, with Magecraft, with secrets, and with power they couldn't understand.

One day, when Madara rose from the shadows, he'd be waiting.