By the time we made it back to our quarters, the sun was already sliding down low behind the cliffs to the west, painting the upper terraces of Uzushiogakure in gold and red hues that mixed together beautifully... It was... a scene to behold, especially because the wind stopped blowing for once and I could look at it without squinting. After getting home, Kushina kicked the door shut behind us and dropped onto the floor cushions like she'd worked really hard, but honestly, it was Minato who did the most of the testing, not us.
"That," she said as if she figured out some great secret, pointing at Minato, "was reckless." Well... if she says it like that, I had to agree, because the last hour or so of testing was indeed... a sight to behold.
"It was well within my calculations," Minato blinked his eyes at the sudden accusation leveled at his face, looking innocent, "And it worked."
"That," she repeated, not lowering her finger, "was reckless and lucky, dattebane."
"It wasn't luck," he protested immediately, pursing his lips, "The seal worked as I said it would, and even after repeated modifications, the displacement was executed without distortion or-"
"Your kunai ended up INSIDE the tree!" she snapped, sitting up straighter. "If that was you or me, we would be stuck in a tree like two idiots, dattebane! And... what if your mark tore something apart instead of transferring it? What if it left part of it behind? Ew..."
"That..." Minato opened his mouth, then he closed it. "…That would be bad," he admitted, sighing, because as it turned out, even though he kind of understood the logic behind the jutsu, he was far from recreating it. So... the more he modified it, the weirder it became. You just can't really change all the variables when you don't have everything. At first, he was trying to keep the transfer's momentum the same... but it had begun producing other anomalies the moment one was fixed.
"Bad?" Kushina's eye twitched after hearing his answer, "That would be you exploding across two locations at once, dattebane!"
As for me, I stayed quiet, leaning back against the stone carving of Madara, just looking at the two with a grin. Ahh... A lovers' quarrel, what a lovely sight.
"Look," Minato ran a hand through his hair. "I calculated the chakra compression ratio carefully... A few more modifications, and we should be back on track. I will work out all the kinks before attempting it myself!"
"And you recalculated the recoil variable?" she shot back instantly.
"Um..." He paused, throwing a glance at me, but I just shrugged, because I had no idea what she meant. "…The what?"
"Even the great geniuses don't know everything, huh?" She looked at both of us, "Dattebane..." She groaned and grabbed one of the brushes from the low table, drawing a quick circle on scrap paper. "Your mark stores coordinates, yes?" she said, making Minato lean over with sparkling eyes, apparently still just as fired up as before... or he was simply happy to work with her. Mhm... Probably both. "But when you push or pull something through space, there's resistance," Kushina continued, "We figured that part out. It is not physical resistance... But... As far as you described it, it is a kind of chakra-based opposition. Probably because we don't have ample reserves to overcome it yet, or I don't know..."
"That's what I also thought of, yes," Minato's eyes sharpened, already getting where Kushina was going with it.
"So, if you don't stabilize the chakra at the moment of being sent away, to make it last until arrival," she continued, tapping the center of the circle, "even if the transfer point pushes back, it will go through. But the moment it's a bit off... Well, that's probably why your kunai lost momentum in the first attempt... And if you add too much, the kunai appears ahead of the mark, right in the trunk of a tree. It needs just the perfect amount, that's why this is an S-rank jutsu, dattebane!"
"That is why I said," Minato began, "That if I try it myself, I will feel the correct amount! I can then adjust on the fly, because I can't do the same with just a weapon! It's different than sending a kunai forward."
"We are talking about a fraction of a second, dattebane!" She moaned, wanting to hit his head, "If you can't make an object transfer perfectly, you won't be able to do it yourself either! What I am trying to tell you is that trying it for real would end up with you killing yourself, dattebane!"
She continued as they were going back and forth, talking about seals, flow, containment logic, vector correction, receiver stabilization, and theoretical chakra imprint memory. By then, I had completely tuned out and let their voices blend into background noise, focusing on my own thoughts.
I might have already changed their future...
In the show, Minato never threw weapons or teleported them mid-flight, at least, not like what we was experimenting with here. He teleported himself, along with others, sending away incoming Bijuu bombs and enemy techniques. But weapons? I tried to recall it clearly... hm... Nothing. And that meant one of two things. Either he always could do it, and we simply never saw it, or he couldn't… until now.
"Haaaah..." I exhaled quietly, opening my eyes and looking at them again.
It wasn't a catastrophic change, and it may be just what I needed to make sure the two of them won't end up dead before they can enjoy becoming parents. With the thought making me smile, I tilted my head slightly, listening to them still debating.
"…If the receiver stabilizes spatial data," Minato was saying, "then the sender doesn't need to carry its original velocity information, halving the chakra the jutsu already needs to initiate!"
"Exactly," Kushina replied. "But you still need to use enough to make it work, the trick is in calculating the amount that changes by the distance and if the target is moving..."
"Then I'll need to build spatial coordinate preservation into the arrival formula," Minato muttered, making Kushina bite the end of her brush.
"You'll need to," she agreed, "But that will also complicate it even more..."
I wonder how far this ripple will go... For both of us, because when Minato had been drawing earlier… When I'd been watching through my Sharingan, something had happened to me. At first, I thought I was just analyzing the chakra flow, reading it to help him determine how much to put into his throw, my eyes breaking it apart instinctively to try and decipher it... But now…
Now that I replayed it in my mind, I wasn't just observing the thing. It was a kind of... understanding appearing within me, working its way from theory to certainty, right in my head. Somewhere in the back of my mind, there was a structure forming, one that I wouldn't be able to put into words and explain, mostly because it didn't even look like the one Minato was working on. It was similar, yes, it used his ideas, yes, but my eyes were reconstructing it in a way that was different. And as far as I could tell, it was also working from my memory, pulling from my actual recollection of the show, and all the scenes I had seen in it. I just don't know if I was brave enough to try anything that my mind and eyes conjure, seeing how I could end up blowing myself apart.
"Renji?"
"Hm?" I blinked my eyes, realizing that Minato was looking at me.
"Are you listening?"
"Yes," I lied smoothly, pushing myself off the wall. "You're about to overcomplicate it again."
"Pft," Kushina snorted, glancing at Minato with a grin, "See? Even he knows."
"Hey!" Minato protested, looking at us both. "I'm not overcomplicating it."
"You are," we both said at the same time, watching as he pouted.
And just like that, the tension dissolved while I walked over to them, sitting down at the table. Should I tell him? I should, but not right now... Let him work on it, develop it, and while I listen and watch, hopefully, my own version will work out just right. Then, I can tell him and start thinking about what the hell is really happening deep in my mind.
Did all Uchihas work like this? Because honestly, this was more like, hey, your eyes have their own mind, and they will do things to you, ruining your psyche and whatnot. Make you go insane or not, it's the roll of the dice, good luck, buddy!
Haaah...
"You spaced out again," Minato said, hearing me exhale.
"It's too complicated for my smooth-brain," I said, making Kushina laugh loud enough to make my ears ring. "I'm tired."
"It is complicated." Minato agreed, "Especially because it needs proper chakra control... which I now know, I sorely lack for something as advanced as this. I will have to work on it a lot more before I continue on instant transmission or even attempt to try it..."
"Which means that you need training."
The one speaking of it was neither of us, as we all flinched, looking at Jiraiya standing behind us, looking at us with an expectant smile. Wait... He just heard what Minato said and... nothing? No surprise? No... questions? Was this... pre-planned? Did Minato find them... not by accident? Suddenly, I felt very suspicious.
"Chakra training?" Minato asked, watching Jiraiya-sensei nod his head, looking over all of us.
"For the three of you. Well, Kushina, you will continue your own training, but I will take you two out myself to work on your chakras."
"Ugh... Separated, again?" Kushina pouted, stealing a look at Minato.
"Can't help it," Jiraiya shrugged, shaking his head, "You need to learn Uzumaki methods. I can't teach those to you, at least not at the level your own people can. As for these two blockheads, I can handle it."
"And what that will look like, Sensei?" I asked, raising a hand, "Are we going to run on water? Maybe you will throw us into a pit to summon something massive, releasing all our chakra?"
"Boy, I will throw you into one of the whirlpools in the ocean," He snorted, knocking on my head, unappreciative of my revelation of future events. "You boys don't have enough chakra to summon animals, nor have any of you contracted any of them. So instead of being a smartmouth little Uchiha, I will force you to make your own jutsus."
"Really?!" Minato perked up, and I also became interested, rubbing the top of my head.
"Eh..." Kushina pouted, angry that she was about to be left out of such an exercise.
"Don't," Jiraiya glanced at her, "You already have your chains."
"I will teach you what I learn," Minato quickly added, making Jiraiya raise an eyebrow, but he didn't say anything else regarding that.
"It won't be easy, so don't try to complete it in one day. Tomorrow, I will test the nature of your chakra and teach you the basics of how one develops their own jutsu. That is the hardest part, because it comes from understanding your capabilities, your body, and psyche. It's not something that everyone can do, but it is a feat that people like you must achieve."
"People like us?" I asked, grinning, making him also smile, scanning our faces.
"Yes. My disciples. I am one of the Sannins... anyone I teach has to have their unique methods! Don't you dare shame my title by only copying others!"
"Sensei," I said, twitching the edge of my mouth, "Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Nothing."
"Yeah..." I shrugged, rolling my eyes at the other two who were silently giggling, "Suuuuure..."
But he was right. I can't just copy things. Even Kakashi had his own jutsu that he developed by, well, my age. Mhm... Right. If my eyes are already trying to come up with something, it is time to unleash them... And let's see what I can come up with!
------
When we left for training the next day, Jiraiya had led us out past the terraces and down into a quieter bay near the eastern edge of the island, where the surrounding horseshoe-shaped rocks had blocked out the wind and herded the ocean into a single focal point, washing the rocky beach. It was pretty early when we got there, barely past dawn, with a heavy mist covering the land, right up to our knees.
"This will do," he said, dropping his pack beside a big rock stuck in the rough sand, "We won't be disturbed here, and we also won't cause trouble for the Uzumakis."
Minato and I exchanged a glance, a bit unsure what he meant by causing trouble... we are here to train, not to... I don't know, blow up something of theirs... are we?
"We're not fighting anything?" I asked, looking around, "Some beast this time and not people perhaps?"
"The only thing you are going to fight against today," Jiraiya replied, looking at me. "Is going to be against yourselves."
Like shadow-clone style or... is this a metaphor? But before I could ask, he reached into his sleeve and pulled out two small rectangular slips of paper. Of course, they looked ordinary, very thin, with an off-white color...
"What's that?" Minato asked, but I already knew before Jiraiya-sense answered, because I remembered it from the show.
"Chakra paper," he stated, watching us. "It was developed a long time ago to test elemental affinity, and before we develop anything further, we will have to see what you are born with. It will help you set your path, instead of fumbling around blindly." With that, he handed one to Minato and one to me. "Channel a small amount of chakra into it," he instructed us, crossing his arms. "And try to do it evenly. Don't flood it like you try to make the biggest fireball, just feed it a bit."
Minato looked down at it immediately, holding the paper between his fingers as he began preparing himself to gently infuse his chakra into it, while I was simply watching him. Aaaand... Nothing. Then our eyes met, and apparently, he was waiting for me to do it, just as curious, not wanting to be the first to go through with it. Hah! With a smile, I decided to go for it, so I let my chakra rise from my body, guided it down my arm into my fingers, and from there onto the paper.
At first, nothing happened, but a second later, the center of the paper darkened and a faint loop of smoke rose from the edges. Then, the moment I increased it, suddenly, the sheet blackened and burned from the middle outward, going up in flames with a wooshing sound.
"Fire," Jiraiya said simply, "As expected."
Across from me, Minato's paper fluttered just then, as it split apart, cleanly, with a vertical tear down its center.
"Wind," Jiraiya nodded, "Also, just as expected."
"Wind release…" Minato muttered, blinking his eyes, then glancing at me, "We are indeed a good combination, Renji."
"You could say that." I grinned, but before we could continue, Sensei interrupted us.
"Boys, elemental affinity isn't just a decoration to your jutsus," he explained in a serious tone, "Because it's the nature of your chakra, the affinity that your body prefers, it's also the foundation of your futures. You can't go against it, and you must use it when advancing... Otherwise, you will simply fall away to the wayside and become nothing. Don't take this as a game."
"What type do you have, Sensei?" I asked out of curiosity because I don't remember whether it was ever mentioned... probably was there in a wiki or something, somewhere in an appendix...
"Fire." Jiraiya answered, and then added with a smile, "And earth."
"One can have multiple?" Minato asked, a bit surprised.
"One can develop them with time, yes," Sensei snapped his fingers, and a small spark left his fingertips, "But if you don't have the inherent connection to the element... It may never work out. That is why this test is important; it shows the main affinity you must develop. It will be your strongest tool for the future. No one is limited to one element," he added, "but your primary affinity determines what will feel natural and what you may develop as your secondary."
"I'm fine with working only on one for now," I shrugged, elbowing Minato, knowing where his thoughts were going at the moment, and quickly began pulling him back to the present. "Don't try to eat the whole chicken at once."
"I'm not..." He grumbled, rolling his eyes.
"Now comes the boring part." Jiraiya chuckled, looking at us, "Because you will have to gain control over it." And with that, he pulled out from nowhere a stack of leaves, handing it over to Minato and me.
"For wind users, the first step is simple in concept. Infuse your chakra into a leaf… and try to cut it. That's all!" Of course, Minato picked one up immediately, holding it between two fingers, but before he could do anything, Sensei raised a finger warningly, "Not with brute force," he added. "Wind chakra is about refined precision. Try thinning your chakra and making it sharper. You have to cut it, just like how it affected the paper. If it tears just because of the amount you push through, it doesn't count."
Listening intently, Minato nodded his head before he closed his eyes. Then, instead of pinching it, he placed the leaf on his palm, making sure he wasn't making any mistakes... and began channeling chakra into it. At first, nothing... It was expected, somewhat, but then, the leaf trembled slightly and... it split, not completely, but it did. However, it wasn't a clean cut; it was very jagged and uneven, making Minato frown as he looked at it.
"Too much," Jiraiya said, being encouraging with his tone, "You forced it, but having a result this fast is already a good sign."
"I'll try again," Minato adjusted himself immediately, reducing his chakra output with the next one. This time, the leaf quivered… then got a tear at its edge, with a much cleaner line, but barely cutting into it. "…I see."
Of course you do, I chortled, rolling my eyes, and seeing that Minato was getting the hang of it, Jiraiya turned towards me.
"For you, it's about controlling the ignition and then the intensity of the fire; otherwise, it will just burn everything."
"Isn't that the whole reason behind it?" I asked, while he placed a thicker leaf in my hand.
"No, it isn't." He said, looking into my eyes, "If you can't make it work, all your jutsus will simply drain you without a chance to stay standing in a prolonged battle. So, your task is to NOT burn it completely. Infuse it and singe only the edges."
"That sounds... annoying," I muttered, realizing it won't be easy indeed.
"Of course it is." He chuckled, crossing his arms and watching me.
Taking a deep breath, I exhaled slowly. Let's see... I don't think regular fire and chakra-made fire are the same, but I still tried to think through everything I knew about how fire works. At the same time, I let the chakra gather in my palm, causing the leaf to smoke instantly. Damn it, already too much as it curled up and then disintegrated. There wasn't even really any fire, just a sweep of heat, and the leaf was gone.
"Subtlety," Jiraiya said dryly, "Try to empty your senses and focus on the heat, to be able to control it properly. Fire jutsus are not only about burning your opponents down; they also have many other uses. What if you want to protect yourself with it? You don't want to burn yourself, no? Or you will end up summoning a jutsu and then proceed on fighting butt naked!"
"Yes, Sensei, that would not be... ideal." I nodded and took a deep breath before I tried again.
This time, I suppressed the flare that wanted to burst out again by doing my best to control my flow. Deciding to use my brain rather than just force it, I began imagining my chakra as oil. I let it spread across the surface of the leaf, without trying to make it 'catch on fire,' and... apparently it was working. The leaf darkened as I did that, while the edges glowed faintly red... but then woosh! All of it went up in flames the moment I lost my focus.
"Better," Jiraiya nodded, smiling at me, "You two will do just fine. Don't rush it, and you will get the hang of it. You already made more progress than most of the shinobi I knew while growing up. Elemental training is about transforming chakra before its release," he explained with patience. "Most shinobi never fully master the transformation stage, yet look at what you are doing already. The average shinobi simply just memorizes hand seals and brute-forces the rest. As you were taught in the Academy, hand-seals are a crutch. The better you are, the less you will use, and this is mainly because you can also master your elements. By the time you will be my age, you won't even need hand seals to release jutsus of your nature!"
"So... we are just going to do this until we succeed?" I asked, looking at him, watching him slowly nod while sitting down on the rock he threw his bag down at.
"Yes!" He stretched, pulling out a bottle and a small cup, putting them down next to him, before reaching for a notebook and a pencil. "Go on, I never said you can stop!"
"Well," I glanced at Minato, as we both just shrugged with a smile, "It is training..."
...
....
...
Turns out, doing the same thing, over and over again, stops being fun after the fifteenth leaf. The mist had lifted by the time we were deep into it, and the sun had climbed high enough to chase away the morning chill... not that any of that actually mattered. By now, Minato sat cross-legged amidst a small pile of halved leaves at his side, but neither of them was good enough to count as good enough to stop.
"Reduce it further," Jiraiya called lazily from his rock from time to time, not even looking up from his notebook, probably writing one of his stories.
"It won't cut if I thin my chakra more than it already is."
"It will," Jiraiya replied, "That is the whole reason for this training. If you think you can't do it, then give up."
While he was struggling in his own way, my twentieth leaf had just turned to ash.
"That was close," Jiraiya said, clearly talking to me. "Almost got it."
"I know!" I snapped back, wiping soot off my fingers, grumbling, because I felt it... I almost did it! Before Minato... Okay, calm down. I can do this! "But close is not what I need, isn't it?" I chuckled, shaking my head to regain my focus.
"Exactly."
Damn it, fire wasn't built to be subtly lit, so it felt like I was going against nature's own desire to burn things down.
But then again, all I knew about fire from my old life flashed through my mind, and I let my imagination run with it, incorporating it into this world's chakra system. Well, at least that was what I was trying to do. I had to look at chakra as the fuel to the fire, so I had to also think about how the fire could burn, spread, or act. Not to mention, what about 'fire' that is created through fusion? Like... the sun? Can I... do that? Well, the answer was that the leaf in my hand burned up in a blazing flash.
"If your chakra spikes too fast, the reaction spikes too fast," Jiraiya said without looking at me.
Yeah, I get that... but whoa... I looked at my hand because I felt the reaction of my chakra was immense just a moment ago, as I began imagining how fusion worked, to my knowledge... Huh... It also told me that the problem wasn't the output but my acceleration method for transforming my chakra. So, I tried again...
"Finally...!" I let out a breath because this time around, I pinched the leaf with two fingers while its edges were smoking, but it didn't turn to ash yet!
As for Minato, he was also grinning, with a perfectly split leaf. Apparently, we did it at the same time... tsk, I almost got you!
"I'll be damned..." Jiraiya murmured, putting away his notebook, "It's not even lunchtime, and you both did it..." He stood up, looking over us, being deadly serious, "Well... I didn't expect it but... Okay. We will move to the second phase then... To teach you the proper nature release."