Natsuhiko truly hadn't expected that this groundbreaking meeting would yield results that were both good and bad.
He was very clear that Namikaze Minato did not fully trust him.
But he was even more aware that Minato currently had little choice.
Therefore, building upon a foundation of doubt while offering measured trust—and judging Natsuhiko's true intentions based on the intelligence he provided—was likely Minato's best option at the moment.
Moreover, Natsuhiko carried several identities that added weight to his value.
For example, he was Kakashi's former classmate—and now someone Kakashi trusted.
He was also an ANBU squad captain with five years of service. Though not high-ranking, he still had access to considerable internal matters.
The value of these identities was significant, and Minato genuinely needed that value.
Minato also understood that, at present, he had no way to deal with the department heads—let alone the division commanders.
In that sense, someone like Natsuhiko was actually his best available choice.
From childhood to adulthood, from weakness to strength, Minato had always carefully planned his path.
And to facilitate continued contact with Natsuhiko, he had even decided to personally teach him the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Minato was well aware that someone from the Senju clan like Natsuhiko would not lack access to materials regarding the Flying Thunder God.
Natsuhiko's own actions had already proven that—he understood the technique and could even activate its mark.
What he lacked was only one thing:
Sealing techniques.
However, Minato felt that teaching only sealing techniques would not be enough to satisfy Natsuhiko.
Since he had limited options, he might as well maximize his gains within the choices available.
The war had taught Minato many things.
Even though he was gentle and kind-hearted, there were moments when he would make calculated decisions.
Teaching Natsuhiko the complete Flying Thunder God Technique would demonstrate far greater trust than simply teaching a sealing technique.
And that investment was far more worthwhile.
But Natsuhiko was genuinely caught off guard by Minato's decision.
He did need guidance on the Flying Thunder God.
However, as someone with a cheat-like advantage, he could probably master it quite easily on his own.
Compared to the Flying Thunder God, he was actually more interested in the broader applications of sealing techniques.
Yet in the blink of an eye, Minato had decided to personally step in and teach him.
How could that not give Natsuhiko a headache?
The worst part was that he had no way to refuse Minato's "good intentions."
"…Forget it. It is what it is."
Sitting in the ANBU lounge, Natsuhiko sighed inwardly.
The outcome of his meeting with Minato was decent.
It didn't achieve everything he had hoped for—but it was far better than many alternatives.
At the very least, his Flying Thunder God training was now secured.
All that remained was to fully master it within the next ten months or so—and find ways to obtain more sealing techniques.
Natsuhiko wasn't worried about whether he could master the Flying Thunder God.
With his cheat-like ability, he was extremely confident in that regard.
What he needed to focus on was how to fully unleash the technique's power in real combat once he mastered it.
Those who had mastered the Flying Thunder God were never weak.
Just look at the Second Hokage and the Fourth Hokage—the only two known users of the technique.
Not only were they exceptionally powerful, but the enemies they had defeated—or even killed—using the Flying Thunder God alone demonstrated its immense potential.
As for sealing techniques, the same was true.
Though unlike the Flying Thunder God, sealing techniques encompassed a far wider range of variations.
Moreover, Natsuhiko personally believed that in terms of potential, sealing techniques were absolutely no weaker than the Flying Thunder God!
"Those ferocious Tailed Beasts—when they run into sealing techniques, don't they all end up being disciplined like sons?"
The Tailed Beasts were indeed terrifying existences. For ordinary shinobi—and even for some Kage-level shinobi—they were extremely difficult to deal with.
Yet there were certain people who, when facing Tailed Beasts, could completely suppress them from start to finish, leaving them no room to resist.
For example, the Senju clan's physical domination of Tailed Beasts;
the Uchiha clan's mental domination through their illusion techniques;
and the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques, which inflicted both physical and mental torment.
Strictly speaking, the Uzumaki clan's sealing techniques were inferior to the Uchiha's genjutsu and also inferior to the Senju's Wood Release.
But their strength lay in combining both effects—allowing a Tailed Beast to experience "double pleasure" at the same time: imprisoning its body while forcing it to see the outside world, yet never allowing it to truly feel freedom.
At Natsuhiko's current stage, he had no Wood Release—perhaps because he hadn't obtained the "seed" yet.
Thus, he was more than willing to devote time to studying sealing techniques. And he certainly didn't believe sealing techniques were effective only against Tailed Beasts.
Such techniques could have unimaginable effects on people as well.
Just look at how the Third Hokage used the Reaper Death Seal against Orochimaru—that was a derivative application of sealing techniques.
Natsuhiko had no intention of using something like the Reaper Death Seal.
But he did consider other applications—for example, directly sealing someone's chakra.
"Captain."
While Natsuhiko was deep in thought, a voice suddenly came from behind him.
"What are you thinking about?"
"Oh, Kakashi." Natsuhiko turned slightly and smiled. "Nothing much—just thinking about some things."
"I see." Kakashi nodded and sat down without overthinking it. "By the way, Sensei is looking for you—"
"He plans to teach me sealing techniques," Natsuhiko said with a smile, making no attempt to hide it.
Minato personally teaching sealing techniques—or even the Flying Thunder God—was a valuable headline for Natsuhiko.
In fact, he had deeper plans in mind, though those would require careful plotting and patience.
He didn't believe that as an ANBU squad captain maintaining close contact with Minato, the Third Hokage would remain completely unresponsive.
Once there was a reaction, Natsuhiko could extract even greater benefits.
Why would he hide such an opportunity when it had practically delivered itself to his doorstep?
"Sensei is personally teaching you sealing techniques?"
Kakashi froze for a moment—then, surprisingly, a smile appeared on his face.
His eyes curved slightly into crescent shapes. Even though most of his face was hidden, Natsuhiko could tell—
Kakashi was genuinely smiling.
"In that case, I guess that makes us fellow disciples."
"Well, that's true," Natsuhiko replied, somewhat surprised at Kakashi's change but keeping his composure. "Though we'll have to wait until Lord Hokage has the time."
"Right. Oh, there's something I need to tell you." Kakashi quickly reopened his eyes, his expression returning to its usual calm. "Do you remember the Second Division's Fifth Squad and Ninth Squad that were wiped out?"
"Of course." Natsuhiko nodded. Two of his own subordinates had been reassigned as captains to help rebuild those squads. How could he forget?
"According to intelligence, they were taken out by a single person."
"Oh? Who could have done something like that?"
"Speaking of which… this has some connection to us."
"The one who killed them was Kakuzu."
"…"