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Kitagawa Gen hadn't given it much thought before, but now a realization dawned on him.
"Eyes that are beginning to form, bones that are gradually taking shape—when all of these come together…"
Maybe he wasn't quite on the level of Ōtsutsuki Kaguya yet—after all, no eye had sprouted from his forehead—but as for Ōtsutsuki Hamura, that didn't seem out of the question anymore.
Even if he was just a miniature version, he might as well be called the 'complete edition of the Hyūga Clan'.
And clearly, he was steadily moving in that direction.
"Even those guys up on the moon probably aren't as complete as I am, are they?"
Kitagawa Gen couldn't help but murmur inwardly. As for what the people on the moon were truly like, he couldn't say with certainty.
At the very least, judging from Ōtsutsuki Toneri's appearance, there were no obvious traits of the Shikotsumyaku in him.
"Could it be that Ōtsutsuki Hamura also had two sons, one who went to the moon and one who remained in the ninja world?"
On the journey back to Konoha, walking behind Jiraiya, Kitagawa Gen couldn't help but wonder silently.
Moreover, he had noticed something else—his Yin Release came from Uchiha Obito, while his Yang Release came from Kimimaro. And yet, the final direction they led him seemed largely the same.
Perhaps, to the Ōtsutsuki, these distinctions did not matter much after all. There might be no real difference between them.
"Hey, kid. What are you thinking about?"
His prolonged silence even made Jiraiya curious. Turning his head slightly, he asked with a hint of amusement.
"You've barely said a word this whole way."
"I was thinking about soaking in a proper hot spring once we get back to Konoha."
Snapping out of his thoughts, Kitagawa Gen shrugged and let out a sigh.
"After all, I didn't get to step into a single hot spring back in the Land of Hot Water."
"Oi, oi, oi, that wasn't my fault. Those were their regulations, not me stopping you."
Jiraiya gave a light snort, then quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.
"Alright, enough of that. You really are something, kid. That Purple Lightning of yours is no joke. Such extreme transformation in both shape and nature—this kind of precision and control… not even I, the great sage, or Minato might be able to match you. Honestly, I'm starting to believe you really might be able to master the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Jiraiya had seen Kitagawa Gen's Purple Lightning before, but that time it was a fleeting move used against Uchiha Obito—over in an instant.
This time, although he had been busy fighting Orochimaru, he had still kept an eye on Gen's battle. Naturally, he felt the intensity of it much more clearly.
That staggering level of control even made him marvel inwardly. He truly believed now that this boy might just pull it off.
"Well, that was a clumsy shift in topic."
Kitagawa Gen raised an eyebrow but chose to go along with Jiraiya's words.
"Maybe. But the Flying Thunder God isn't something you can learn just because you want to. It demands not only extraordinary chakra control but also an incredibly strong body."
"Sounds like you've grasped some of its secrets."
Jiraiya smiled without a hint of surprise and explained earnestly.
"That's right. This technique also calls for exceptionally sharp reflexes and perfect bodily coordination. After all, it's about teleporting right next to an enemy and launching a fatal surprise attack."
"If your reflexes and coordination aren't up to par, you'll either fail to react in time after teleporting, or you won't even be able to stay on your feet."
"In that case, you might crash headfirst—or worse, land right on someone else's kunai. Wouldn't that be suicide?"
Hearing this, Kitagawa Gen nodded thoughtfully. Without that kind of refined control over one's body and reactions, mastering the Flying Thunder God truly would be no different from inviting death.
"But physical strength can be trained. Reflexes, too, can be improved with time."
Just then, Jiraiya spoke again.
"But when it comes to chakra control, it's not that simple. I'm not saying it's impossible, but sensitivity plays a huge role."
"There's a real difference between what's innate and what's acquired. The precision required for space-time teleportation is terrifying. Even the slightest error could cost your life."
"You, on the other hand, have a natural gift in this area. Don't waste it. Make the most of it."
"Is that so?"
Kitagawa Gen nodded modestly, though in truth, chakra control was probably the last thing he needed to worry about.
Especially now that he had even discovered a way to sense the space itself. With some time after returning to Konoha, he might soon be ready to start trying it out.
"But if I remember right, the Flying Thunder God that the Fourth Hokage used was quite different from the Second's version."
Although it bore the same name, it was clear that the Fourth Hokage had made significant improvements upon the foundation laid by the Second.
In Minato's hands, the Flying Thunder God was no longer merely a teleportation technique. It had become something akin to a unique space-time barrier!
"Speaking of which, why didn't didn't you tell me about all this earlier?"
There was still much to study regarding the Flying Thunder God, so Kitagawa Gen let the thoughts rest for now and turned to Jiraiya with curiosity written all over his face.
"Is this information from the Fourth Hokage's notes?"
"Of course it is. I can't use the technique myself."
Jiraiya nodded, completely unfazed by the fact that he couldn't perform it.
"I didn't mention it before because I didn't want to distract you. Learning any technique takes patience and progression."
"One step at a time. First, master what's written on the scroll, then we can talk about the rest."
"See? Now the time has come, so I'm telling you."
"Tch. If you'd told me earlier, maybe I would have learned it already."
"You little brat. Always full of hot air. You think this is some kind of beginner's jutsu?"
"And besides, Lord Jiraiya, didn't you say you were going to teach me some special techniques? In the end, there wasn't anything all that special, was there?"
"Hey now hey now, you can't blame me for that. You're the one who refused to learn Mount Myōboku's summoning technique. What could I possibly do about it?"
The two of them kept bickering lightheartedly all along the road, their banter filling the air with a rare sense of ease. The journey back, for once, felt leisurely and unburdened.
Several days later, they finally returned to the Hidden Leaf Village. With Jiraiya leading the way, flashing his credentials at every checkpoint, they passed through the gates without a single hitch.
"We're finally back. Hard to believe it's been nearly half a month already," Jiraiya muttered, gazing at the familiar surroundings with a long-suffering expression, as though his cherished freedom had just slipped from his grasp.
"You go ahead and rest for a bit, or maybe drop in on your teacher Kakashi. I need to go report to the old man. Ugh, what a pain," he grumbled with a sigh.
"Sure sure."
Kitagawa Gen shrugged nonchalantly. Traveling with these jōnin had its perks. For one, he never had to worry about debriefing. They took care of all that tedious business for him, leaving him free to relax.
However, just as Jiraiya turned to leave, Gen seemed to recall something. He suddenly called out.
"Right, Lord Jiraiya. Can I apply for the Chūnin Exams?"
"Huh? Chūnin?"
Jiraiya blinked in surprise. Only then did he remember that this kid was technically still a fresh graduate straight out of the academy.
"You should just go talk to Kakashi about that. He's directly responsible for you anyway, so he can handle it. Honestly, I don't think you even need to take the exam. What's the point in bullying the other participants?"
Jiraiya wasn't exaggerating in the slightest. As far as he was concerned, Kitagawa Gen had already surpassed the qualifications for a chūnin.
Sure, the boy had plenty of quirks and his leadership skills were still... a work in progress. But continuing his training under Kakashi while carrying the title of chūnin wouldn't be an issue in the least.
Becoming a chūnin usually required a wealth of mission experience, along with the ability to command and coordinate a team. But there was no rule stating that a chūnin had to lead their own squad. Even jōnin could choose to stay in a team if they wished.
"I see. Understood. Thank you, Lord Jiraiya."
Gen's eyes brightened a little at the news, though he still intended to confirm it with Kakashi later.
After all, in his memory, even Naruto had to go through the Chūnin Exams despite being hailed as the savior of the world. And in the end, during his match with Konohamaru, he had disqualified himself by accidentally activating Sage Mode.
"My main quest is to become a jōnin. I wonder what kind of rewards that'll get me this time. Besides, wouldn't it be fun if I could serve as the proctor for Naruto and the others during the exam?"
Smiling to himself, Kitagawa Gen gave Jiraiya a small bow, then turned and walked away at a leisurely pace.
But as he walked, a thought suddenly struck him.
"Come to think of it, during the whole confrontation with Orochimaru, I didn't catch even a glimpse of Yakushi Kabuto. That guy should be in the Leaf right now. So..."
He wouldn't be participating in the Chunin Exams starting this year, would he?
"This kid..."
Jiraiya watched Gen's departing figure and couldn't help but chuckle softly. Turning his head, his gaze lifted toward the towering Hokage Rock.
Bathed in the warm glow of sunlight, the four carved faces stood proudly, radiating a quiet strength.
His eyes slowly moved across each one until they came to rest on the fourth face, young and resolute. For a long moment, he stood in silence. Then, a gentle smile touched the corners of his lips.
"Minato, this kid isn't like you... but at the same time, he really is."
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[Chapter End's]
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