"For the time being, I could call it... Light Release? Hmm... or maybe Flash Release?"
Minato weighed the options, but both names felt like they were missing a certain flair. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration from his previous life hit him, and his eyes lit up. "How about this: Dimensional Flash Descending Upon Konoha's Hope—"
"Chotto matte! Stop right there," Tsunade interrupted, raising a hand to cut him off. She rubbed her temples as a dull headache began to throb.
This kid... what a bizarre talent for terrible names, she thought. Is it true that no one is perfect?
Minato offered an awkward, sheepish smile. His memories of Earth's pop culture influenced him deeply, and honestly, he felt his naming sense had improved significantly thanks to that cross-cultural "bonus."
"The name isn't the important part, right? It's the power that counts," Minato said, maintaining his airheaded, innocent facade.
Tsunade sighed, feeling completely helpless against his polite deflection. "Do you actually know anything about this Kekkei Genkai?"
Minato nodded dutifully. "I have a basic understanding. It's a very powerful force; I just haven't had a proper chance to develop it yet."
"And its primary function?" she pressed.
"Just like the name implies: light," Minato spoke carefully. "The specifics still need work."
While Minato didn't have a PhD in optics, he knew that Devil Fruits were fueled by imagination. In his mind, sunlight and lasers functioned on different principles, yet Kizaru had mastered both. Following that logic, he could eventually develop anything from auroras to X-rays. The Pika Pika no Mi would be his primary combat tool in the early stages, but he had no intention of revealing his ultimate trump card: Elementalization.
In the six months since his memories awakened, he had stayed home to focus on his cultivation. Tree Climbing and Water Surface Walking—skills that Team 7 only mastered after graduation in the original timeline—took Minato a mere 10 minutes to grasp.
The moment he mastered walking on water, he began practicing the Rasengan . It was the only technique from the original series with a detailed training manual, and in this world, it was his own legacy to claim.
The training followed three strict stages:
Rotation: Bursting a water balloon by spinning Chakra chaotically.Power: Increasing that rotation to burst a thick rubber ball.Stability: Containing that power in a perfect sphere without damaging the casing.
While Naruto had used Shadow Clones as a crutch, Minato used a more refined trick. He summoned a clone to help form the sphere but dispelled it at the last possible second. This forced his physical hand to adapt to the chaotic pressure. After three months of constant practice, he had mastered the one-handed Rasengan .
During this period, he also confirmed a crucial fact: standard Chakra cannot touch his elemental form. Physical strikes failed; Chakra attacks passed through. Aside from Genjutsu—which his Sharingan handled—his only real threats were Sealing Jutsu and Senjutsu from the Three Holy Lands.
"Two types of Bloodline Limits... and one of them is Wood Release. Just thinking about it gives me a migraine," Tsunade muttered dejectedly.
She knew the Konoha higher-ups. Once they realized Minato possessed Mokuton , their first instinct would be to put him under a leash. It would be easy if he were a hot-headed brat like Nawaki, but Minato was different.
From their brief talk, she saw a child who wasn't just mature, but shrewd enough to see the heart of any problem. Brainwashing wouldn't work on him. The Third Hokage's "Will of Fire" speeches would slide right off him; after all, the kid had already dared to question the Hokage's authority. He didn't have the natural reverence for power that most civilians possessed.
"Forget it, come with me," Tsunade said, beckoning him. "Since Wood Release is involved, Grandma will want to see you."
Minato paused, glanced at the dirty dinner plates, and quietly formed a Shadow Clone to handle the chores.
"You really enjoy ordering your clones around," Tsunade noted, her lips curling into a small smile of appreciation. "Just don't overexert yourself." She liked his efficiency. If it were her, the dishes would have stayed in the sink until they grew a soul, or until she could bully Nawaki into doing them.
Minato smiled gently, grabbed the trash, and followed her out.
They walked toward the base of the Hokage Rock, arriving at a prominent red building. Minato recognized the style immediately; it was the heart of the village.
"You live here?" Minato asked, his eyes widening.
"No," Tsunade shook her head. "Grandma does."
She pointed to a specialized structure adjacent to the main office—a building shaped like a copper pot with a massive sphere on top, designed to amplify Uzumaki sealing arrays. As they entered, two masked Anbu shimmered into existence.
"Lady Tsunade," they greeted respectfully, before shifting their gaze to the boy. "This is..."
"None of your business. Don't be annoying," Tsunade snapped, waving them off.
The Anbu retreated without a word, though Minato knew his file would be on Hiruzen Sarutobi's desk within the hour. They reached a private room. Before Tsunade could knock, a weathered, calm voice drifted from inside.
"It's Little Tsuna. Come in."
Tsunade's face softened into a real smile as she pushed the door open. "Grandma!"
On the bed sat an elderly woman in a kimono. Her eyes were full of warmth as she looked at her granddaughter, but they sharpened with curiosity when they landed on Minato. "And this child is...?"
"Hello, Grandma. My name is Minato Namikaze," he said, bowing politely.
"This kid is a genius who just started at the Academy," Tsunade explained, patting the back of Minato's head. "He needed help with a few things. Minato, this is my grandmother, the wife of the First Hokage. You should call her Lady Mito."
"Just call me Grandma," Mito corrected, her eyes twinkling as she studied the boy. A nostalgic smile touched her lips. "This warm, familiar Chakra... it's quite pleasant. Little Tsuna, you must teach him well. Pass this power on as a legacy..."
An ordinary ninja might not have sensed it, but as Hashirama's wife, Mito recognized the resonance of Mokuton instantly. Between the Chakra signature and Tsunade's sudden protective streak, the conclusion was obvious.
Chakra doesn't lie, Mito thought. This boy's energy is warm. He's a good soul.
"The problem is, I'm not sure I have much to teach him," Tsunade admitted, her confidence wavering. She had been a Jonin for a few years, but Minato was a different breed. He had dual Bloodline Limits and had already thrashed the Hokage's son. "His talent is already miles ahead of where I was at his age."
"There is more to being a powerhouse than just Ninjutsu," Mito said with a smile. "The only question is: are you willing to guide him?"
"Guiding him... isn't that just babysitting?" Tsunade grumbled, though she glanced at Minato's "innocent" face and snorted. "Hey kid, do you want to be my disciple?"
"I'll be in your care, Teacher Tsunade," Minato replied with a polite nod.
"Don't get cocky," Tsunade teased, clearly enjoying the title despite her act. "I'm strict. First, you show respect. That means preparing delicious meals for your teacher every day! I'll cover the costs, obviously..."
"I understand. I'll work hard," Minato agreed. He had to cook for himself anyway; an extra portion was no trouble for the sake of this connection.
Mito watched them, her gaze softening. "I'll speak to the Monkey about this. Don't worry. This old woman's bones are still sturdy enough to hold the line for a few more years."
"Grandma— stop saying things like that," Tsunade complained.
Mito simply smiled. As an Uzumaki with the Yin Seal , she could technically revert to her physical peak at any moment. But since Hashirama had passed, she saw no reason to look young. The only person she ever wanted to dress up for was gone.
Now, she had only two goals left: to see her grandchildren grow up, and to prepare the next Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. Since Tsunade was nearly 20 and Nawaki was approaching graduation, Mito knew it was time to put the succession plan in motion.