Chapter 85: Minato: You’ve Also Learned Sensing Secretly?

In Kyohiko’s view, once one reaches Tsunade’s level, competing for the Hokage position isn’t about ability anymore. At their level, no one is inferior to the other. The difference lies in who is perceived as more capable by the people. It’s all about exposure! Hiruzen’s decision to send Orochimaru away and involve Tsunade and Jiraiya in Kurokawa’s research was indeed a strategic move. However. As Tsunade said, she also has her advantages. Kyohiko couldn’t help much. At the Hokage Building. "My disciple’s reputation has spread. Someone specifically requested his team for an escort mission. He’s definitely going to be our village’s top mission specialist!" Jiraiya laughed heartily. This morning, a merchant from the capital had specifically requested Minato’s team for an escort mission. As his teacher, Jiraiya felt proud. Tsunade, holding some documents, ignored him and walked to the door. Before leaving, she turned back and said, "Jiraiya, there’s something you need to consider." "What?" Jiraiya stopped laughing. "You’re not leading missions anymore. How’s your income been lately?" Tsunade "kindly" reminded him. During her time in ANBU, Hiruzen had provided compensation, but it was far less than what she could earn from missions. In the past, this wouldn’t have been an issue. But now. Jiraiya’s face fell. Reminded by Tsunade, he realized that continuing like this might lead to financial difficulties. He needed to find a solution! "Wait, where’s my money? You’re back to work now, aren’t you?" "Cough, I’m just on a salary. I don’t have much savings. Give me some time, and, uh, I have an appointment. I’ll take my leave!" Tsunade quickly made her escape. However, she did indeed have an appointment. With a former subordinate. ... "Taji, you’ve been doing genin missions all these years?" "I’m sorry, Tsunade-sama. I just can’t hold a scalpel anymore! I’m not as strong as you!" The man before her wept bitterly. Tsunade sighed softly. Taji, a medical ninja she had once trained. After repeated failures in battlefield surgeries, he developed a trembling hand and could no longer perform surgeries. She had only learned the details after reviewing hospital records. "Don’t be afraid. There are many ninjas like you in the village. In the past, you were deemed unfit for ninja duties and could only perform genin missions, but..." Tsunade’s voice was firm and inspiring, "I’m here to solve this very issue!" "What? Can this really be solved?" Taji was stunned. Tsunade nodded. "Of course. I’m living proof, aren’t I? But it requires long-term research and treatment. I’m currently working on this." She handed him a list. It contained the names of ninjas who had lost their abilities due to psychological issues, each marked with their specific problems. Some were unmarked. The list was extensive! Tsunade’s expression was serious. "Taji, this condition doesn’t require you to hold a scalpel, but it does require you to empathize and help patients. Are you willing to fight once more?" "Fight," a term so distant. Taji’s eyes widened in disbelief. He never thought he could "fight" again. Then, he felt warm tears streaming down his face. Unconsciously, he had shed tears of excitement. "Of course!" No one understood the need for help more than those trapped in such predicaments. If there was a solution, Taji wouldn’t sit idly by. Similar situations continued to unfold— Tsunade’s first priority was to "save" these former medical ninjas. Save yourself before saving others! ... Outside Konoha, the young man being escorted whispered a question. "Um, Mr. Ninja, why are you walking like that?" "Hahaha, of course, it’s because—" Might Gai was running on his hands, yet it didn’t hinder the group’s progress. Facing the "employer’s" question, he responded with enthusiasm, "Sweating is the brilliance of youth!" The man fell silent for a moment but then continued to chat with Gai. Up ahead, Minato and Kyohiko were at the front and rear, respectively. Seeing this, Minato gestured for Kyohiko to come closer. "Minato-senpai..." "We’re familiar enough. Just call me Minato. Kyohiko, this employer... don’t you think something’s off?" Minato lowered his voice. Kyohiko nodded. Of course, it’s strange! There was no word of this yesterday, and today, someone suddenly appeared, specifically requesting him, and then insisting on Minato’s team for the mission. Clearly, they were targeting him. Moreover. Escorting them back to the capital... The Land of Fire is vast, but the distance from Konoha to the capital isn’t that far. Unless they’re of high status, there’s no need for a special escort. Either they’re up to something, or... Kyohiko hadn’t figured it out yet, but he had a vague idea. Perhaps— It’s related to his promotion to jonin! Normally, even if his strength reached jonin level, directly promoting him to jonin would be impossible. As he had said himself. Jonin are the core of a team, the middle and upper echelons of the village. It’s not just about strength but also leadership and command abilities. Therefore, promotions must be handled carefully. But. His promotion was because... The Daimyo. The Daimyo of the Land of Fire had heard about him, which influenced Hiruzen’s decision—at least, that’s what Hiruzen said. If the Sandaime wasn’t lying, then a reasonable guess would be— The Daimyo wants to meet him? Guardian Shinobi? Kyohiko thought of the Twelve Guardian Ninja in the future and speculated that the Daimyo might be wavering in his control over ninja forces. If that’s the case... He glanced at Minato and Gai in the distance. Minato, him, and Kakashi. The three of them might all be targets of the Daimyo’s interest. In a special genius team, someone like Gai would naturally attract the "employer’s" attention. Thinking this, he became more convinced of his theory. However. All of this was based on his own knowledge. For Kyohiko, who had never been to the capital or met the Daimyo, this should all be unknown. So, he remained silent, shaking his head. "Hokage-sama didn’t give any hints. Maybe I’m overthinking it. Let’s escort them to the capital first." "Alright." ... On Tea Street, Uzumaki Yuki had been working for half a month. From initial observation and learning, she had started helping with flower arrangements within just two weeks. Today was different. A customer from two days ago came back for a follow-up. "Yuki, your flowers are beautiful. My wife loved them. Thank you so much!" "Not at all. I’ve only been learning for half a month. My arrangements are still rough. I’m glad they could help." Yuki blushed and bowed in gratitude. The old man sighed. "She loved peonies the most. The first bouquet I arranged myself. She said your flowers reminded her of the beginning..." "You must have been very happy together." Uzumaki Yuki said. The old man paused, then smiled. "Yes, we were very happy. Thank you again for the flowers." With that, he stood up and left, trembling slightly. Not long after, Yamanaka Rika returned. "Yuki, what did Mr. Takenaka come for?" "He said he was very grateful for the flowers. His wife loved them..." Yuki recounted the conversation. Rika was silent for a moment, then sighed softly. "I heard his wife passed away at Konoha Hospital yesterday." "What? How could that be..." Uzumaki Yuki was in disbelief. "The flowers from our shop are either given to young lovers, placed at the memorial, or sent to the hospital." Yamanaka Rika said quietly. "For them, flowers are a way to express emotions and memories. Perhaps, before she left, your flowers reminded her of the beautiful times in the beginning." She glanced at Yuki and smiled. "Don’t be sad. Compared to the names on the memorial, they were very happy." "The memorial? Does Konoha also have sacrifices?" Uzumaki Yuki wiped her tears. Yamanaka Rika nodded, arranging the flowers as she spoke. "Of course. Since the Shodaime Hokage passed away, Konoha has been at war. That’s why we built the ninja academy, the hospital, and developed medical ninjutsu..." She spoke of Konoha’s past. As long as there is war, there will be sacrifices. Uzumaki Yuki was stunned. So, even Konoha, one of the Five Great Shinobi Villages, faces war and sacrifice. "Then, what about the Uzumaki clan? Konoha has their symbol on the forehead protector, but now the Uzumaki clan seems to have been wiped out, right?" "Well..." Yamanaka Rika pondered for a moment, then said, "You won’t get the answer you’re looking for from me." "What do you mean?" "Although I run a flower shop, I’m from the Yamanaka clan, a shinobi. My husband is a jonin in the village. Would you believe what I say?" Yamanaka Rika smiled. Uzumaki Yuki was speechless. She knew her identity couldn’t be hidden, and she hadn’t tried to hide it. But. As Yamanaka Rika said, would she really believe what Riko said about the Uzumaki clan? Yuki couldn’t answer. "Here are some flowers. Deliver them to a customer for me. They’re ordinary people. You can chat with them and maybe find your answer." "Yes!" ... In the capital of the Land of Fire, the streets were bustling with activity as soon as they entered the city gates. Vehicles came and went, and the city was lively. Besides nobles and commoners, there were also some Konoha shinobi around, mostly children. Most of them were helping noblewomen catch their pets and then wandering the streets on their way back. Kyohiko couldn’t help but sigh— Back then, to quickly take on C-rank missions, he had done many of these tasks. Now, the missions were the same, but the people had changed. A new generation replaces the old! As they entered the city gates, he suddenly heard a familiar sound. Kyohiko quickly checked his system panel. Indeed! It’s Uzumaki Yuki? [Under your guidance and assistance, a person with a special constitution has joined Konoha] [Reward: Chakra Sensing (Proficient)] Chakra Sensing? Previously, he had seen some basic records about chakra sensing in Tobirama’s notes, but they were only rudimentary and not deeply analyzed. Was this technique similar to Tobirama’s? Kyohiko followed Minato’s steps without changing his expression, while organizing the memories in his mind. After finishing, he was somewhat surprised. His mind was filled with techniques to enhance perception using chakra! With this technique, he could sense the number of people within a large range, similar to Tobirama’s "Chakra Sensing," but with some differences. The range wasn’t as extensive as Tobirama’s. Based on the memories he received, he could currently sense up to three kilometers. However, if there was a specific chakra signature, this ability could track it. It seemed like a low-level version of the Kage-level sensing and Tobirama’s Chakra Sensing? Reaching proficiency directly... It was probably because he already had some sensing skills, and his hearing and chakra control were strong, allowing him to skip the beginner stage. This sensing technique, combined with his hearing, would be quite useful in the current team. Kyohiko glanced around. Kakashi and Gai both had some sensing skills, but neither was proficient. Minato’s sensing abilities were decent. However. The current Minato hadn’t reached his future strength, and Kyohiko hadn’t seen him use techniques similar to Tobirama’s Chakra Sensing. Kyohiko didn’t try to use it here. He followed Minato. "Straight ahead, yes, that’s it!" "We’re here!" A voice came from behind. Kyohiko looked up. The Daimyo’s residence! He glanced at Minato. The two exchanged looks. Indeed, the person they escorted was from the Daimyo. Minato turned around with a smile. "Enishi-sama, we’ll leave you here..." "Wait." Enishi smiled. "Minato, since you’re here, why not come in? My father has heard about a genius from Konoha, said to be the reincarnation of the Nidaime Hokage, and would like to meet him." "Well..." Minato looked at Kyohiko. Indeed, his instincts were right. This mission was filled with oddities. However. Before he could decide, the gates of the Daimyo’s residence opened. Enishi called out, "Invite the guests from Konoha inside. My father wishes to see them." "Yes!" The subordinates stood at attention and quickly ran into the residence. Kyohiko tugged at Minato’s sleeve. Minato nodded slightly, expressed his thanks, and followed them into the Daimyo’s residence. Inside, people were bustling about, and the place was lively. Soon, Enishi hurried inside, presumably to inform the Daimyo. Kyohiko and the others waited in the courtyard. "Kyohiko, what’s this..." "Wait, something feels off. Let me sense it first." Kyohiko crouched down, closed his eyes, and performed the technique he had just learned, sensing the flow of chakra in his body. Then, he placed his fingers on the ground. Chakra spread through the earth, extending outward. Then, he opened his eyes. Kakashi was initially puzzled, but then he remembered that one of the books he had read was about "sensing." Could it be? He looked at Kyohiko in disbelief. The next moment, Kyohiko stood up, his expression grave. After a moment of hesitation, he leaned closer to Minato. "In the Daimyo’s residence, there are several individuals with chakra. After we arrived, they all left through an underground passage." "Shinobi?" Minato’s eyes twitched. Shinobi appearing in the Daimyo’s residence was not a good sign. But when did Kyohiko learn such powerful and detailed sensing? After all, the Daimyo’s residence was quite large, and the chakra fluctuations of those individuals weren’t strong. He hadn’t noticed anything, but Kyohiko had detected their movements using a special technique. This sensing technique was very similar to the Nidaime’s... That thing was incredibly difficult to master! In just over half a month, Kyohiko had made such terrifying progress... Minato was shocked, but what shocked him even more was Kyohiko’s news. Shinobi in the Daimyo’s residence! "Enemies or...?" "I’m not sure. I only sensed that they have chakra, and they didn’t want us to know. But based on them using an underground passage, they must be familiar with the layout and routes here." Kyohiko whispered his analysis. Might Gai stayed put, continuing his exercises. Kakashi moved his fingers, muttering silently, seemingly uninterested in Kyohiko’s conversation, but his position coincidentally blocked the path between Kyohiko and the building. Everyone was in sync. However. Kakashi was actually quite surprised. The sensing technique Kyohiko used was very similar to what he had read about in the book, but the book’s content was extremely obscure and difficult to understand. At the time, he could only grasp a small portion. Even so, his sensing skills had improved significantly after training and practice. He never expected Kyohiko not only to understand it but also to master such an incredible sensing ability. Truly remarkable! But behind every genius is unimaginable effort... Can’t slack off! Kakashi focused intently, starting to train seriously. In the corner, Kyohiko and Minato remained silent for a while, with Minato being the first to apologize. "I was too hasty. There’s no way to know with just sensing, but since they’re familiar with the Daimyo’s underground passages, they might be his subordinates." Minato whispered, "Let’s pretend we don’t know." "Alright." Kyohiko nodded. He had the same thought! Not long after, Enishi returned and saw them "training" in the courtyard. A bright smile appeared on his face. "Even on such a mission, you all continue to train diligently. No wonder you’re Konoha’s elite." "Not at all..." Minato responded modestly. Enishi smiled. "My father is waiting inside." "Thank you." Minato followed. Soon, led by Minato, they entered a side hall of the main building. Inside, the Daimyo sat on a raised platform, holding a small fan. "Greetings, Daimyo-sama!" Minato and Kyohiko bowed in unison. The four introduced themselves. The Daimyo’s face was full of smiles, though he showed a hint of confusion when he saw Might Gai. However, the strange expression quickly disappeared. "You are all Konoha’s elite, especially Kyohiko. I heard you made the Land of Water suffer a great loss in Taki Village and even managed to gain benefits from the Land of Earth!" "As a citizen of the Land of Fire, it’s my duty." Kyohiko replied respectfully. The Daimyo chuckled. He looked around and said, "Your team is quite interesting. I heard Minato is Jiraiya’s disciple, and that Hatake Kakashi was also under his command. But this one..." "Daimyo-sama, I’m Might Gai, a shinobi who will become a taijutsu master!" Gai stammered. The Daimyo laughed. "Good, good! Ambitious!" Taijutsu. Whether in status or ability, Gai stood out from the other three. The Daimyo smiled and said, "I wanted to meet you all and have a casual chat, so I asked Enishi to invite you when he passed by. Enishi, please show them around the capital." "Understood!"