Naruto: Flash Reborn — Minato’s Second Life

"What exactly do you mean by that?"

Though she held back her emotions, Mito, who possessed powerful sensory abilities, could clearly feel how violently Kushina's heart was trembling.

The destruction of her homeland and village had caused her to live a wandering life since childhood, facing death and hunger—horrors unimaginable to children in Konoha village.

One could say Kushina's early life had been tragic.

Therefore, when Mito revealed that the cause of her misfortune was simply due to the Sealing Technique, Kushina's emotions became uncontrollable.

It wasn't only Kushina—Mito herself, though she knew the truth, couldn't help trembling whenever this topic arose. After all, she was already old, nearing the end of her life, and this subject always stirred deep feelings within her.

After all, that was where her soul belonged.

"Cough… cough…" Mito began coughing violently. Once possessing great vitality and chakra, she had now become frail with age.

She could feel it—the creature sealed deep inside her body began stirring restlessly whenever she got this emotional.

"Are you alright, Lady Mito?"

Two attendants rushed over quickly, their movements surprisingly agile. Though dressed like ordinary maidservants, they were clearly much more than simple servants.

Mito shook her head slightly while grabbing Kushina's hands tightly. At that moment, a trace of her former vigor seemed to return to her eyes.

"Stay still!"

Suddenly, Kushina felt an icy chill run through her entire body. Instinctively, she yanked her hands away from Mito.

In that instant, she sensed an indescribable force—a chilling power beyond comprehension.

"I'm sorry, Kushina."

Mito said softly, placing her dry hand gently on Kushina's cheek. Warmth immediately spread through Kushina once more.

This sudden shift left Kushina feeling somewhat disoriented. She slowly lifted her gaze to meet Mito's.

"You've just experienced the true power of the Sealing Technique," Mito continued. "Though it may not possess massive destructive force, for many ninja, it's a far scarier tool than Ninjutsu…"

Mito didn't wish to reveal everything yet, so she used this opportunity to divert Kushina's attention.

Predictably, as expected, Kushina's heart now burned with a quiet urgency to know everything about the Land of Whirlpools (Uzugakure) and the fall of the Uzumaki clan. Her eyes locked onto Mito's, fully focused.

"Moreover, the Sealing Technique can be applied in many different fields. In this world full of ninja battles, such techniques could not be allowed to exist freely. As a result, our homeland became a target, eventually leading to its downfall and the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools."

"How could things turn out like this?"

Clearly unable to accept what she'd just heard, Kushina still lacked understanding of the cruelty of the ninja world. Even having learned the reason, she refused to come to terms with it.

Seeing this, Mito let out a soft sigh. "Someday, you'll understand," she whispered.

She studied Kushina carefully. This girl looked just like her younger self from decades ago, bearing an uncanny resemblance in both appearance and ability.

"Back to the topic," Mito said with a slight smile. "As I mentioned earlier, I'll be giving you the reward for the Chakra Aptitude Test. Therefore, starting today, I will personally teach you all the sealing techniques of the Uzumaki clan. Even if our village no longer exists, these techniques must continue to be passed down."

Kushina's beautiful eyes widened slightly, her mouth opening in surprise. In her mind, Mito was a ninja of legendary status—back when the First Hokage was alive, she had been the strongest among the Uzumaki clan.

To have someone like her personally teaching the art of sealing? It was something Kushina had never even dared to dream about before.

"Whether as a survivor of Whirlpool Village or as a ninja of Konoha," Mito continued kindly, "you must study sealing seriously. Only then can you hope to accomplish your dreams."

Mito smiled warmly. Kushina paused for a moment, then nodded firmly.

Speaking of her dreams, she suddenly thought of someone whose dream was exactly the same as hers—the very first day she entered the Ninja Academy.

...

The sky gradually darkened. After parting ways with Mikoto, Minato returned home.

The three-day Chakra Aptitude Test drained everyone completely.

Still, as soon as he got home, Minato followed Jiraiya-sensei's advice and, despite feeling exhausted, prepared a rather hearty meal.

By "hearty," it was only relative. Even now, cooking was something he still struggled with.

After eating, Minato treated himself to a nice hot bath and changed into clean clothes.

Though tired, he did not slack off on training at all, practicing hand seals diligently.

He hadn't trained at all during those three days in the Forest of Death.

However, tonight's practice didn't last long, because several inexplicable questions were swirling through his mind.

The test itself, its rules, and finally Hatake Sakumo ordering them to keep it secret—all pointed to the fact that this matter wasn't as simple as it seemed.

But what concerned him most was the Third Hokage's reaction.

He had given it his all already, but whether that would earn the Third's approval remained uncertain.

...

Inside the Hokage Office, Hatake Sakumo stood before the Third Hokage, reporting the details of this Chakra Aptitude Test.

After listening to the report, the Third's face broke into a faint smile. "Haha, these kids are growing up faster than I expected. It really surprises me."

"Yes," Sakumo replied. "Nawaki Sarutobi and Ao Sarutobi graduated merely a year ago, yet their combat and ninjutsu skills now rival full-fledged chunin. Truly exceptional."

Sakumo himself didn't seem particularly surprised—he had become chunin by their age.

The Third smiled again. "That's not who I meant. For a test where only ten out of three hundred participants qualified, so many students from the Ninja Academy made the cut. Seems like the teaching standards at the Ninja Academy keep improving."

"No one cares more about raising the next generation than the man standing before me. He himself has received immense support and mentorship to become who he is today."

"Hmm, the Nara, Yamanaka, Akimichi, Aburame, and Hyuga—those are indeed the prestigious clans of Konoha. Their heirs, no matter which generation they come from, never turn out to be ordinary."

Sakumo mused. In contrast, the Hatake clan he came from used to be nearly unknown in Konoha village.

But that was in the past. With Sakumo Hatake's rise, the Hatake clan has completely outshone even the most prominent families.

"Still," Sakumo's expression suddenly turned more serious, "Lord Third, that young boy named Yan Uchiha is even more astonishing. For the village, the appearance of such an extraordinary genius within the Uchiha clan may not necessarily be good news..."

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