Naruto: The Hyuga Mastermind

Chapter 23: Tsunade is Too Idle, Time to Get Her Moving

The next day, as Hyuga Fuji had expected, Uchiha Yakumaru took leave and didn't show up.

Shadow clones accumulate fatigue. Even though Yakumaru had been practicing taijutsu since childhood, at most, he only dared to use five clones for training. What Yakumaru did was simply courting disaster.

Not everyone was like Naruto, blessed with the Uzumaki clan's unique physique and supported by the Nine-Tails' chakra.

If Kushina assisted with the Nine-Tails' chakra during morning training, everything would be fine—even more clones could be used.

But once Yakumaru tasted success, he evidently didn't take things slowly when he got home. Instead, he directly summoned as many clones as possible for training.

And then… he collapsed.

For a few days, no one paid much attention to his absence. Minato's shadow clone initially assumed Yakumaru had personal matters to attend to, but eventually suggested checking on him.

Unexpectedly, they got an explanation from Fuji.

"I warned him," Hyuga Fuji calmly explained to Watergate's shadow clone. "But he didn't listen."

"…"

Given Fuji's calm demeanor, it would have been strange if Yakumaru had listened. Yakumaru would only stubbornly push himself to train with even more clones to outdo Fuji.

Minato shook his head with a smile. "You'll be on the same team in the future. Try to get along."

"I don't recall ever provoking him," Fuji replied. "I simply stated the facts."

"…"

Minato fell silent again.

Technically, Fuji was right, but his demeanor made those facts feel like the ultimate provocation.

"Who would've thought, Fuji actually has quite an interesting personality," Kushina chuckled from the side. "I think he'll be able to handle Kakashi."

Fuji glanced at Kushina but didn't respond.

Everyone wore masks to some extent. To Fuji, that wasn't exhausting—it was natural.

However, revealing glimpses of his true self occasionally proved to be more effective in earning trust.

Because when someone shows a different side of themselves, it signifies they've let their guard down.

And sincerity… is the best weapon.

That said, Fuji admitted that interacting with the Namikaze couple and Yakumaru was relatively easy, especially the latter.

In a world brimming with hidden dangers, Yakumaru's constant drive to surpass Fuji seemed refreshingly straightforward.

At least he was open about it.

"Kakashi…"

Thinking of his student, Minato's shadow clone's expression darkened slightly. He shifted his gaze to Fuji, changing the subject.

"Speaking of which, there's something I haven't asked for your opinions on. My shadow guard squad will follow the standard three-person team format. Do you have any thoughts on the third member?"

"Lord Minato, the shadow guard exists to protect your safety. There's no need to consider our opinions," Fuji replied, frowning.

"The problem is, among Konoha's current jonin and special jonin, there aren't many suitable candidates. I've already conducted one selection process."

Although he managed to placate the advisors using the Flying Thunder God technique, Minato had genuinely struggled to find someone suitable among Konoha's younger generation.

Yes, younger generation.

His criteria for the shadow guard limited candidates to ninja under the age of sixteen.

The Flying Thunder God technique held immense strategic value. Watergate hoped to pass it down to Konoha's next generation. Initially, he had planned to teach it directly to Kakashi and Obito.

But with Obito dead and Kakashi's will shaken, the plan was put on hold.

So, Minato decided to teach it to the younger generation as part of his legacy.

"You and Yakumaru are both highly talented. If the third person is too far behind, it wouldn't be appropriate from any perspective."

Fuji quickly understood Minato's reasoning. "You want to train the younger generation?"

He then directly suggested, "After your Yellow Flash name spread across the ninja world, many Konoha jonin have expressed interest in learning the Flying Thunder God technique."

"Yet to this day, not a single ninja has mastered it. Neither Yakumaru nor I have comprehended it yet."

"In that case, why not focus on developing a different type of talent? Neither Yakumaru nor I know medical ninjutsu. If you were injured, we wouldn't be able to help."

"If the third person were a medical ninja, it would undoubtedly be a great asset."

Minato fell into thought.

Fuji's idea aligned with the standard four-person team structure.

The only difference was that the leader would be Minato himself.

The team would include two jonin and one medical ninja. Fuji, on top of that, had sensory abilities.

It was a well-rounded setup.

Seeing Minato pondering, Fuji continued, "Moreover, if the medical ninja possesses exceptional combat ability, the team will have no obvious weaknesses. Konoha's strongest medical ninja is in the village right now. Perhaps she could train someone suitable."

"After all… Lady Tsunade seems quite idle lately. I saw her spending an entire afternoon at a tavern yesterday."

"At a tavern? The whole afternoon?"

Before Minato could respond, Kushina narrowed her eyes and looked at Fuji with interest. "And how exactly do you know that?"

"I had some errands to run on that street in the afternoon and happened to pass by twice. I noticed she was still there each time," Fuji replied without batting an eye.

"Is that so?"

Kushina gave him a half-smile, but her expression was useless against Fuji's stoicism. Giving up, she rolled her eyes and turned to Minato's shadow clone.

"You put Kakashi in the Anbu to keep him close and under your watch. But Rin's situation is more troublesome, isn't it? Why not send her to Lady Tsunade to study medical ninjutsu?"

"She's always blaming herself for holding back Obito and Kakashi."

"Hmm…"

Minato's shadow clone pondered silently before dissipating into white smoke. Only a single sentence lingered in the air:

"I'll pass the suggestion to my real body and discuss it with the advisors to see if we can get Lady Tsunade to reopen the medical training program."

Suddenly, it was just Kushina and Fuji left at the scene.

Kushina looked at Fuji, her expression turning unexpectedly warm and genuine.

"I think the reason you and Yakumaru haven't grasped the Flying Thunder God technique is that you lack pressure. Let me help with that."

With Mikoto taking her son to the battlefield to find Fugaku, and Minato rarely home due to work, Kushina had been bored for a while now.

Now that Minato's shadow clone was gone, it was her turn to act as the responsible elder.

As Kushina's smile became increasingly mischievous and her golden chakra began to radiate, Fuji calmly raised two fingers.

"Release."

—Poof!

In an instant, Fuji disappeared in a puff of white smoke, just like Minato's shadow clone. A single slip of paper fluttered to the ground.

Kushina blinked, momentarily stunned, before picking up the note.

Outwitting both her and Minato with a shadow clone? That wasn't an easy feat.

"Lord Minato, Lady Kushina, my apologies. I've had some new insights into Gentle Fist techniques. Please allow my shadow clone to take my place in today's training."

"So, it was a shadow clone from the beginning…"

Letting out a helpless sigh, Kushina didn't find Fuji's actions inappropriate.

After all, the Flying Thunder God technique relied on skill and experience, which could be learned through clones. Improving taijutsu, however, required the real body.

Tucking away the note, Kushina's gaze lingered on a certain corner before turning back toward the village.

Another half-day of solitude lay ahead.

Aside from the monitoring and protection personnel Minato had replaced with familiar faces, nothing else seemed to have changed.

The same clans and elders still held sway over Konoha.

Although Minato had gained some support from the Uchiha and Hyuga clans thanks to Yakumaru and Fuji, their influence remained limited since both clans were long marginalized from the village's core.

The Hokage's authority was still not entirely his own.

"Third Hokage really is a hands-off leader," Kushina muttered.

Although the Third Hokage had ceded his position to Minato, Kushina instinctively held little fondness for him.

If he had truly retired, why hadn't he dismissed the advisors and aides from his era?

To put it bluntly, was it just to dilute Minato's authority?

These were all part of Konoha's old guard. No matter Minato's accomplishments or qualifications, he couldn't remove them. Instead, he was forced to consult their opinions on everything.

Kushina wasn't particularly well-versed in such matters, but she understood enough to know that a Hokage without sufficient authority was bound to invite trouble!

(End of Chapter)