The clan's merit system had been set into motion, and now Tianyi's mind turned to infrastructure. With contractors gaining access to exclusive techniques, the clan would need funding—lots of it. The weapons industry plan was just one piece of the puzzle. But another key lay in his hands: space-time mastery.
Minami-Kaga River, secret training base.
"Tianyi, you're here?"
"Good morning, Mr. Tianyi!"
Shikaku, Minato, Kushina, and the others greeted him as his Shadow Clone continued their training.
"Keep going," Tianyi said with a smile.
He stepped aside, withdrew two of his newly forged daggers, and sat cross-legged to etch the Flying Thunder God Technique's space-sealing formula.
With the full Senju inheritance now his, Tianyi had quickly absorbed the theory behind Tobirama's technique. Now came the real test.
In minutes, the runes were complete.
He flung the daggers—Thunk! Thunk!—embedding them in trees over ten meters apart.
Closing his eyes, Tianyi connected to their spatial coordinates with ease.
Good. Just as clear as if I held them.
He vanished.
Swish!
A flash of movement—he reappeared by the first dagger, retrieved it, then warped to the second.
Another flash—he stood next to it, grinning.
"Hey, why are you staring? Don't stop training!"
Minato and the others gaped.
"That's—Flying Thunder God, right?" Shikaku breathed. "You already mastered it?!"
Tianyi twirled a dagger smugly. "What can I say? I'm talented."
Kushina ran over, eyes shining. "Can I learn it too, Brother Tianyi?"
He handed her the dagger. "Try sensing the spatial coordinate. If you can feel it clearly within half a day, you've got real talent. If it takes a day or more... maybe not viable in battle."
He turned to the others. "Anyone else want to try?"
Heads nodded.
Tianyi chuckled and set to work etching more daggers. Ten minutes later, everyone had one.
"Don't expect miracles," he warned. "True spatial talent is rare. If you've never felt spatial fluctuations before, chances are low."
He glanced at Minato.
Minato's eyes lit up. "Actually... I've always felt something—like I could sense spatial pulses sometimes."
"Oh?"
Tianyi tossed him a dagger. "Try it."
Minato nodded and stepped aside, sitting cross-legged with the blade in hand. Kushina mirrored him, determined not to be outdone.
Half an hour passed.
"I did it!" Minato shouted, leaping up. "I can feel the coordinate!"
Cheers erupted.
Shikaku sighed. "Jealous. I felt nothing."
"Same!"
"Buy us lunch to celebrate, Minato!"
Tianyi returned from his own spatial experiments and raised a brow. "Only thirty minutes? That's faster than me."
Minato flushed. "But Flying Thunder God... it's built on a complex seal. I'd need advanced training to really learn it."
Tianyi patted his shoulder. "I'll teach you. No need to be shy—we're comrades. And the stronger you get, the more you can help me with my goals."
Shikaku grinned. "Didn't we already swear loyalty for life? What's one more favor?"
Minato bowed deeply. "Then, Tianyi—please teach me both the Flying Thunder God and sealing arts!"
"Gladly."
Tianyi considered. "But I'm already stretched. Kushina and I are studying sealing under Lady Mito. How about we ask her to take you on too?"
Minato blinked. "That's... the wife of the First Hokage. You'd do that for me?"
"Of course. Let's go."
—
They arrived at Uzumaki Mito's residence ten minutes later.
"Well, this is rare. What brings you both?" Mito asked with a smile.
Tianyi pushed Minato forward. "Minato has spatial talent. He sensed the Flying Thunder God coordinate in thirty minutes. I offered to teach him, but he needs sealing foundations first. Would you take him as a student?"
Minato bowed low. "Lady Mito, I humbly request to learn from you."
Mito examined him, then nodded. "Of course. Tobirama would be pleased. Konoha needs more talents like you."
Minato beamed.
Tianyi smiled to himself.
Konoha's future is beginning to take shape.
Author's Note: Minato steps into his legacy! If you're enjoying the rise of the new generation, keep those subscriptions and custom orders coming!