Minato didn't know the full extent of Ren Kurogane's strength, but his intuition constantly whispered that Ren was powerful—even more so after the Chunin Exams.
While he didn't know exactly what level Ren had reached, Minato was certain he was no match for him.
Nawaki, however, was clueless.
He admitted that Minato learning the Flying Raijin was impressive—incredible, even—and he respected him for it. But what did that have to do with Ren? Why was Ren wearing such a smug expression while Minato was the one showing off the technique? What exactly are you so proud of?
Nawaki crossed his arms, raised an eyebrow, and challenged Ren. "So? How exactly are you going to protect a 'super baby' like me?"
"Well..." Ren glanced around, his eyes settling on a massive boulder in the distance.
Under Nawaki's puzzled gaze, Ren walked up to the rock, clenched his fist, and punched it!
With a thunderous CRACK, the boulder shattered into a dozen pieces instantly.
"There was no chakra fluctuation. That was pure physical strength," Shibi noted.
"What?! He pulverized that rock with nothing but his bare hands!"
"That's Ren for you. He makes the impossible look easy!"
Ren turned back to Nawaki with a grin. "Do you think a guy like me can protect you, super baby?"
Nawaki's face stiffened. He swallowed hard. "Ye... yes..."
Once the shock wore off, Nawaki's eyes began to sparkle. He dashed over to Ren, his face full of worship. "Big Brother! Please teach me taijutsu! I want to train my body to be as strong as yours!"
Seeing the speed of the kid's face-turn, Ren suspected he had inherited the core of Jiraiya's shamelessness.
"Ahem!" Ren cleared his throat, putting on a sage-like front. "Training your body is grueling work. Are you sure you can handle it?"
"Please, Master, whip me with everything you've got!"
"You really know how to take a mile when given an inch..." Ren said, speechless. What happened to that arrogant attitude from ten seconds ago? Could you bring that back for a second?
Nawaki laughed, completely unbothered. "But I really admire your powerful physique, Master! Please, make me as strong as you!"
"Are you sure?"
"Absolutely!"
"Fine. Once we return to Konoha, we'll begin your training." Ren didn't refuse him. He had the complete physical training records from Pirate Ren; he just had to use them.
However, looking at Nawaki's relatively slender frame, Ren worried if the boy could actually endure it.
If he can't handle it, I'll have to dial back the volume. People in this world generally can't compare to the physical freaks of the One Piece world.
Since they were still at the front lines, he couldn't start Nawaki on a heavy regimen immediately. Seeing everyone busy, Nawaki lingered by Ren. Noticing Ren sitting with his hands clasped in deep concentration, he asked, "Master, what are you doing? Are you constipated?"
"No," Ren replied flatly.
"Then what are you doing?" Nawaki wondered. Then, as if a lightbulb went off, he gasped. "I get it! You're practicing some high-level taijutsu! Is this the ultimate state of 'Stillness Like a Mountain'?!"
A vein throbbed in Ren's temple. "Don't you have anything better to do?"
Nawaki scratched his head with a grin. "Hehe, to be honest, I don't really have anything specific to practice."
Minato, who was currently tying heavy stones to his own limbs, overheard this and asked, "Really? Didn't Lady Mito teach you Sealing Jutsu?"
"Well..." Nawaki scratched his cheek sheepishly. "To be honest, I just can't get that stuff into my head."
He looked away, his eyes darting around like a guilty thief.
"Can't get it in? More like you never intended to learn it." Ren calmed his nerves. He realized Nawaki's personality was likely a carbon copy of Naruto's and Kushina's. There was no point in getting annoyed by his pestering. If this guy ever actually went quiet, he was probably about to drop a massive disaster on your head.
"That's not true! I tried really hard! But those runes just don't make sense to me!" Nawaki admitted he was a bit thick, but he insisted he had made an effort. It wasn't his fault his brain wasn't wired for it!
Seeing Nawaki getting worked up, Ren waved him down. "Alright, alright. I know you're a dummy. No need to keep emphasizing it."
Nawaki's face flushed beet-red, and he stammered, unable to find a comeback.
Ren handed Nawaki a leaf that had been sliced into a perfect five-pointed star. "Since you're a blank slate, it means you have high potential for molding. See this star?"
Nawaki calmed down slightly and nodded, unsure of where Ren was going with this.
"Chakra training has two directions: Form Transformation and Nature Transformation."
"Basic stuff like the Three Academy Jutsu, or walking on trees and water—that's all Form Transformation. You're just controlling the shape of the chakra within your body. It doesn't require 'processing' the energy."
"But the elemental ninjutsu we use, like the Earth Style: Mud Wall, requires changing the nature of your chakra into the Earth element. Other moves like earth pillars or spears are essentially the same; they are the simplest forms of nature transformation."
Nawaki looked dazed, but to avoid looking like a fool, he nodded along as if he understood perfectly. Ren could tell at a glance that the boy was completely lost.
However, Minato, having finished tying his weights, spoke up. "Ren! Is this what you meant about the future of the Rasengan?! The original Rasengan is pure Form Transformation. If we add an element, the power would skyrocket. And if we can achieve true Nature Transformation and add it to the sphere, the resulting power would be unheard of!"
"As expected of Minato. You take one look and see the entire path of development!" Ren praised him. "Exactly. Adding elemental chakra would make the Rasengan a top-tier A-rank jutsu. But if you achieve a true change in nature, it would undoubtedly become an S-rank jutsu!"
Knowing the future plot, Ren could say this with absolute certainty. S-rank ninjutsu were often referred to as Forbidden Jutsu!
This was because they often inflicted horrific damage on the user as well. After all, even a human tank like Naruto was recoiled by the Rasenshuriken to the point of needing arm casts. For a normal person, using such a move was basically a suicide attack.
Calling it a "Forbidden Jutsu" was no exaggeration.
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