Analyzing the Ninja World Starting from Konoha

Chapter 131 Kushina's Guidance

Kushina hid in the kitchen, but Minato couldn't hide. His ears turned red instantly, and he scratched the back of his head, trying to laugh awkwardly.

Aoba touched her nose, looking somewhat innocent.

Since we're living together, it doesn't feel wrong to casually ask when we're getting married.

However, Aoba found it quite interesting to see Minato make that expression.

Don't be fooled by Minato's seemingly gentle and sunny demeanor. Once you get to know him better, you'll discover that he possesses a level of perseverance and rationality that is hard for ordinary people to imagine, not to mention the Nine-Tails' future rampage.

Let's talk about the dragon vein mission he carried out together with Minato.

Minato not only deduced that Naruto was his future child, but also, when he saw that Naruto did not recognize him, he deduced that he had not been able to accompany Naruto as he grew up, in addition to the Nine-Tails inside Naruto.

He knew that he and Kushina were probably both dead.

It is common knowledge in the ninja world that if a tailed beast is extracted from its jinchūriki, the jinchūriki will die.

Faced with such a future, Minato did not seek information about the future or think about changing it. Instead, he resolutely sealed his memories. Was it because he was afraid of some kind of time-space change?

Not!

He believed in himself and in his future self, and he was sure that the choice he made at that time was the most correct one!

This kind of mental fortitude cannot be described simply as "strong".

Absolutely terrifying!

Soon, Kushina emerged from the kitchen carrying plates of delicious-looking dishes. It must be said, Kushina's culinary skills were indeed quite good.

The atmosphere at the dinner table was very harmonious.

Halfway through her meal, Aoba picked up a piece of tempura, put it in her mouth, chewed it a couple of times, and suddenly asked out of the blue, "Minato-senpai, did the Third Hokage send you to find me?"

Kushina, who was carrying soup out of the kitchen, paused and looked at the two of them with a puzzled expression.

Minato paused slightly with his chopsticks, then nodded calmly.

"Um."

"So, how did it go?" Aoba asked.

"no problem."

Minato answered with a smile.

The two exchanged a smile, as if they had reached some kind of tacit understanding, and continued eating.

Kushina, standing nearby, looked at this and then at that, and the food in her mouth no longer tasted good.

What kind of riddle are these two playing?

But she still resisted her curiosity and didn't ask. After all, she understood that there were some things she shouldn't ask.

After the meal, Kushina served tea.

Aoba took a sip of tea, then took out a notebook from his ninja tool bag, turned to a blank page, and started drawing on the spot.

"Minato-senpai, I have a few questions about sealing techniques."

Before Aoba could finish drawing, Kushina's eyes lit up instantly. She pulled over a chair and sat down, staring excitedly at Aoba: "You're learning the Four Symbols Sealing Technique?!"

"I just exchanged it from the secret jutsu room of the Hokage Building a few days ago, and it feels a bit difficult."

Aoba nodded in explanation, then asked in return, "You know Kushina-nee too?"

"Hmph, how could I not recognize it? This is a ninjutsu of our Uzumaki clan."

Kushina crossed her arms and said somewhat angrily.

Minato quickly interjected with a smile, explaining, "Aoba, the Four Symbols Sealing Technique originated from the Uzumaki clan. In terms of sealing techniques, Kushina is far more skilled than me. You should ask her that; she's a true master of sealing techniques!"

Aoba knew perfectly well what was going on, but she still had to play dumb.

And at just the right moment, he revealed a look of admiration, "So Kushina-nee's sealing techniques are this powerful!"

With the atmosphere already set, Kushina stopped worrying about where the sealing technique came from, took the pen from Aoba's hand, and began to draw and explain on it.

Aoba listened attentively from the side, occasionally asking a question or two.

At first, Kushina only talked about some basic node control.

However, as Aoba's questions became more in-depth, each question precisely hit the key points of the Four Symbols Sealing Technique, and some even touched upon the underlying logic of the Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques.

Kushina's expression gradually became serious.

"Your sealing technique foundation is very solid."

Kushina looked up at Aoba with a scrutinizing gaze, her tone filled with obvious astonishment, "These questions are not something a beginner should be asking."

Aoba humbly stated that he still has a lot to learn.

Minato sat to the side, watching the two rapidly deducing runes on the paper, and was quite surprised.

He knew that he was the one who taught Qingye the basics of sealing techniques, and it hadn't been long before Qingye's understanding of sealing techniques had reached this level.

Sealing techniques differ from ordinary ninjutsu; they require an extremely solid theoretical foundation and exceptional spatial imagination.

Many ninjas spend their entire lives only to remain at the beginner level.

However, the question raised by Qingye has touched upon the core technical logic of the Four Symbols Seal.

Judging from the angle of his questions, Aoba's research on sealing techniques has reached a certain level.

Before I knew it, the sky outside the window had completely darkened.

Aoba glanced at the clock on the wall and stood up. "It's getting late. Thank you so much for your guidance today, Kushina-nee. I've learned a lot."

"You're leaving already?"

Kushina, still somewhat unsatisfied, said, "I'm home every day anyway, so if you have any questions about sealing techniques in the future, feel free to come to me anytime!"

Aoba didn't agree immediately, but turned to look at Minato.

Minato looked at Aoba's questioning gaze and nodded gently, his eyes full of sincerity: "Aoba-kun, Kushina is often bored at home alone. She would be very happy if you could come and discuss sealing techniques with her. You are welcome anytime."

With Minato's endorsement, Aoba finally felt relieved.

After all, Kushina's identity was special. As the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, her residence was surrounded not only by the Anbu but also by the Root.

Only with the consent of Watergate, the "legal" guardian, can some unnecessary trouble be avoided.

He turned his head, looked at Kushina, gave her a bright smile, and bowed slightly.

"Then I'll leave the rest to Kushina-neechan."

"Just call me 'older sister'!"

Kushina patted her chest and laughed heartily, "If you have any questions about sealing techniques in the future, just ask me."

Aoba bid farewell to the two and left the courtyard.

The cool night breeze dispelled the daytime heat.

On her way home, Aoba looked up at the starry sky and smiled slightly.

Meanwhile, at the other end of Konoha.

In a secluded underground room, the lights were dim.

Danzo leaned on his cane, half of his body hidden in the shadows. His only visible eye, like stagnant water in a dry well, showed no emotion as he listened quietly to the Root ninja kneeling below him.

When Danzo heard that Aoba Yamashiro had been in close contact with the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, a chilling glint flashed in his single exposed eye.

Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.

The most core strategic weapon of Konoha.

A young Jonin who had just made a name for himself on the front lines returned to the village and the first thing he did was to go to the Jinchuriki's side.

Danzo didn't believe a word of it, even when it was said to be a coincidence.

"You mean, when he left, the Jinchūriki even invited Yamashiro Aoba out?"

"Yes, Lord Danzo. From what I've observed, it seems that Yamashiro Aoba is seeking guidance from the Jinchuriki on sealing techniques. His talent in sealing techniques has impressed the Jinchuriki, who has extended an invitation for him to come and learn from him from time to time."

The voice from the root was devoid of any emotional fluctuation; it was simply stating the facts objectively.

Danzo narrowed his one eye slightly.

Sealing technique?

A fourteen-year-old Chunin—no, he's already a Jonin—is going to ask the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for sealing techniques?

Oh.

If it were someone else, Danzo might have thought it was just a normal behavior of a young ninja eager to learn.

But that person is Yamashiro Aoba, and Danzo would never think that way.

Looking back at Aoba Yamashiro's growth, from the initial hot pot restaurant incident to his relationship with Tsunade in the hospital, to his friendship with Minato Namikaze during the Roran mission, and now to his openly entering and leaving the Jinchuriki's residence.

Every step seemed to happen naturally.

Every step was perfectly timed.

This incredibly precise and chilling social arrangement—you'd say he's someone who inherited the "Will of Fire"?

"Hiruzen is still too naive."

Danzo muttered to himself, his cane tapping lightly on the ground.

Hiruzen warned him to stop targeting Aoba, saying that the young man was loyal to Konoha and was a pillar of Konoha's future.

loyalty?

Would someone who could be sidelined on the front lines without complaint and then turn around and destroy a Sand Village stronghold be a loyal dog willing to be driven?

No.

In Danzo's eyes, Yamashiro Aoba was more dangerous than any other ninja he had ever seen.

The danger lies not in his strength, but in his forbearance and disguise.

However, both of his operations against Aoba ended in failure, not only causing Shinnosuke to get himself killed but also making Hiruzen dissatisfied with him. This forced Danzo to re-evaluate his strategy.

Danzo took a deep breath and suppressed the surging emotions.

He won't make the same mistake again.

"Continue to monitor, but don't alert them."

Danzo gave the order in a deep voice.

"Record his every entry and exit time, every person he came into contact with, and every word he uttered."

"Yes."

The figure from the shadows flashed and disappeared into the darkness.

Danzo turned his head, a cold light flashing in his single eye.

For the sake of Konoha, he cannot leave any hidden dangers.

The next few days were fulfilling and structured for Aoba.

During the day, he would spend his time in the hospital laboratory deducing the underlying logic of bloodline limits, and in the evening, he would go to Minato's house for dinner and ask Kushina for advice on sealing techniques.

It must be said that, as the last surviving member of the Uzumaki clan, Kushina's mastery of sealing techniques is truly at a master level.

Under her guidance, and with the powerful computing capabilities of the chip within his body, Aoba's understanding of sealing techniques progressed by leaps and bounds.

It has begun to touch upon some deeper levels of tactical logic.

However, on the third day, Minato received an urgent order from the front lines, requiring him to immediately go to the front lines of Kumogakure to provide support.

Before leaving, he made a special trip to say goodbye to Aoba and told him to spend more time chatting with Kushina when he had time.

Aoba watched as Minato's figure disappeared at the village entrance and sighed sincerely.

"The Flying Thunder God is so useful."

While others take several days to reach the front lines, Minato can do it in an instant by picking up the marked kunai.

They can come and go as they please, fight when they want, and return when they want.

This strategic mobility is simply incredible.