Naruto : The ultimate Troublemaker

"Minato!" Kushina protested, crossing her arms. "You took a break to help me with the housework, didn't you? And now you want to run all over the place!?"

"Just a little race, Kushina," he replied with a wink. "After all, I'm still the fastest, right?"

Shikai couldn't help but smile. He knew that challenging the legendary *Yellow Flash of Konoha* in a speed trial was almost madness, but he couldn't refuse such a challenge.

"Alright," he said, standing up. "But don't be surprised if I win."

The two ninjas positioned themselves, ready to start. Minato seemed relaxed, but Shikai felt the excitement bubbling within him. It wasn't just a race; it was an opportunity to measure his progress.

Kushina, with an amused smile, raised her hand to signal the start.

"Ready? Go!"

Minato disappeared almost instantly, leaving behind a mere yellow flash. Shikai, focused, activated his *Yellow Flash*, his own speed technique inspired by Minato's.

The trees rushed by at an incredible speed as Shikai pursued the yellow flash through the forest. He used his marked kunais as relays, jumping from point to point with calculated precision.

Despite his efforts, Minato maintained a comfortable lead, his smile visible each time Shikai managed to briefly catch up.

As they approached the Valley of the End, Shikai used a final kunai to teleport himself a few meters from the finish line. But at that moment, Minato appeared in front of him, welcoming him with a triumphant smile.

"Not bad, Shikai, you've already mastered the second level of Hiraishin, but you still have a long way to go before beating me," he said, laughing.

Breathless but proud of his efforts, Shikai nodded.

"That's cheating, Minato-sensei. You had a seal placed here in advance."

Minato raised his eyebrows, shrugging with a mischievous smile.

...

After a few moments of discussing under the shadow of the imposing statues in the Valley of the End, Shikai and Minato sat near the water, gazing at the shimmering reflections on the lake's surface formed by the river. Minato, ever attentive to others' needs, seemed lost in thought.

"Shikai," he said, breaking the silence. "There's someone I'd like you to meet someday. My master, Jiraiya-sama. I'm sure he'd find you interesting."

Shikai raised an eyebrow, slightly intrigued.

"The legendary Sannin?" he asked, a hint of curiosity in his voice.

"Exactly," Minato replied, nodding with a smile. "He's a bit... questionable, but his knowledge is immense. He was crucial in my training, and I think he could also bring a lot to you. Unfortunately, he's often on the move, outside the village, aiding Konohagakure's intelligence."

A slight laugh escaped Minato as he mentioned his master's well-known habits.

"If he returns, I would be honored to receive his teachings."

Minato then turned his serious gaze to Shikai.

"Tell me, Shikai," he began. "I know you already master a great number of complex techniques, but I wonder why you still don't want to learn the Rasengan. It's a technique I developed to be fast and devastating. With your chakra mastery, it could become an incredible asset for you."

Shikai slightly averted his eyes, pensive. He searched for his words, not wanting to appear ungrateful or disrespectful.

"It's not that I lack respect for your technique, sensei," he said softly. "On the contrary, it's a masterpiece of chakra control. But... I feel like it's not meant for me."

Minato tilted his head, intrigued.

"Why is that?"

Shikai took a deep breath before answering.

"The Rasengan is a purely offensive technique, a beautifully mastered brute force. But me... my style relies on something else. Shadow, trickery, the versatility of my techniques, and unpredictable movements. My abilities are more suited to long-term strategies than direct impact."

Minato slowly nodded, his benevolent smile reappearing.

"I understand," he said. "It's rare to see a ninja as young as you with such a deep understanding of your own strengths and weaknesses. Very well, Shikai. I won't ever force a technique on you if you feel it doesn't fit your style."

A respectful silence settled between them, but Shikai felt a weight pressing down on his heart. Minato, always so wise and warm-hearted, didn't seem to realize that his days were numbered.

After a moment, Minato spoke again, this time with an enthusiastic tone.

"There's another thing I wanted to propose to you, Shikai. Next month, I'd like you to consider signing an invocation contract with the toads of Mount Myôboku."

Shikai nodded, although his heart tightened once more.

"Yes, Minato-sensei," he replied simply.

Minato seemed satisfied with this answer, but Shikai lowered his eyes slightly.

'Next month...' he thought, his mind filled with dark images. 'You won't be there to accompany me in this endeavor.'

Although he kept a neutral face, a deep sadness crept into his being.

Minato suddenly stood up and extended his hand to help Shikai do the same.

"Don't let yourself be overwhelmed by useless thoughts," he said, as if he had perceived the turmoil in his disciple's mind. "The path of a ninja is full of obstacles, but as long as you stay true to yourself, you'll always know what to do."

Shikai gave him a half-smile, but his thoughts were in a loop. He wondered if there was a solution, a way to change the future, to thwart the fate that awaited his master and Kushina.

After a final glance at the Valley of the End, Minato and Shikai returned to the village, discussing lighter subjects to mask the intensity of their respective reflections.

Back in the village, Shikai thanked Minato for the day and took his leave, slowly heading towards his home. With each step, he relived the moments shared with his master, his gestures, his words, his smile.

"Should I tell him?" he wondered. "If he knew what awaited him, could he avoid this tragedy? Or would it only make things worse?"

***

The afternoon was well underway when Shikai arrived at the Uchiha clan residence. Seated calmly in a spacious room, he was discussing with Fugaku, the clan's leader. The man wore his usual stoic expression, but Shikai knew that behind this severe facade, Fugaku was deeply attached to his clan and family.

Shikai, for his part, remained on his guard. Fugaku, although friendly in his words, represented a constant danger to him.

"You seem quite comfortable here, Shikai," Fugaku remarked in a neutral tone, but with a hint of curiosity.

Shikai smiled slightly, but his gaze remained calculating.

'I can't afford to let my guard down,' he thought. 'If Fugaku knew I was a Senju, he wouldn't hesitate to consider me an enemy.'

"Well, it's hard not to feel welcome with Izumi around," he replied, feigning a casual tone.

Fugaku raised an eyebrow at this response, but he said nothing. It seemed to amuse him slightly, as he continued with a hint of cynicism.

"You seem quite interested in Izumi. But if you're serious, know that to marry a girl from the Uchiha clan, you'll have to abandon your name and take ours. That includes responsibilities that I don't take lightly."

'Because of her mother, Izumi doesn't have a good position in the clan. And now he's talking to me about taking my responsibilities.'

Shikai almost grimaced at this remark, but he merely averted his eyes.

"Who said I'm serious?" he replied sharply, trying to hide his embarrassment.

Fugaku fixed his gaze on Shikai, clearly amused.

"You're a funny boy, Shikai. But know that if you want to be considered a member of this family, you'll have to prove yourself worthy of our expectations."

Shikai nodded silently.

The sliding door gently opened, interrupting their conversation. Itachi entered the room with his usual impassive face. His cold and calculating gaze swept the room before settling on Shikai.

"Come," he said simply.

The tone was calm, but the message was clear: it was time to face off.

"It won't take long," Itachi added, almost mechanically. It wasn't arrogance but a quiet certainty.

Shikai stood up.

"You're sure of yourself," he replied with a half-smile.

Fugaku, who was observing the scene, crossed his arms and turned to Shikai.

"Show me what you're capable of," he said simply, a gleam of interest shining in his dark eyes.