Hatani was caught in a "happy dilemma." He couldn't decide whether to stick to the original plan of unlocking Juggernaut to master the blade, or save up to unlock Storm Spirit and become a "jolly blue spirit." Beside him, Minato was still struggling to wrap his head around why Hiruzen Sarutobi had declared Danzo innocent without so much as an investigation.
At this point, Minato wasn't even fifteen. He was far from the future Hokage candidate seen as the savior capable of resolving Konoha's long-standing internal contradictions.
Furthermore, because his life was cut short so suddenly in the original timeline, it remained an open question whether he would have ever developed the political finesse required to navigate the village's deep-seated friction. As the old saying goes: The living have no way to compete with the dead.
This was especially true when the deceased possessed such a brilliant, near-perfect legacy.
After all, Minato's very title was the "Yellow Flash"...
"Minato."
Sakumo Hatake, who had been observing Minato's inner turmoil, finally decided to offer some guidance. Although Sakumo wasn't exactly a political animal himself, he hadn't spent decades swinging a sword for nothing.
"If you can't understand it, just remember one thing: Konoha cannot afford any internal strife or attrition right now."
Minato looked at him, his eyes still clouded with confusion. Right and wrong seemed so clear-cut; shouldn't those who do wrong be punished?
"Root is deeply entrenched with a vast network of personnel," Sakumo explained in a low, careful voice. "If Lord Third truly attempted an all-out purge, Konoha's remaining strength and time would be wasted on infighting. Moreover, Root's intelligence network is vital for the upcoming war. If we want to win, we must rely on their information."
Sakumo let out a small sigh. "Lord Third is making this decision for the sake of the village's interests."
Though Sakumo understood the logic, admitting it out loud left a bitter taste in his mouth. He couldn't help but wonder why an even-tempered and wise leader like Hiruzen hadn't seen the threat Root posed earlier. If they had started dismantling Root and folding its responsibilities back into the Anbu before the war, they wouldn't be in a position where they had to hold their noses and swallow such a rotten dish.
Nearby, Hatani—who had finally tuned back in from the system interface—couldn't help but scoff inwardly.
You reap what you sow.
Since Hiruzen Sarutobi had allowed Danzo and Root to act as his "white glove" for all the dirty work, he had to accept the risk of being bitten. It was the same as how he would eventually let a defecting Orochimaru go out of sentimentality, only to die by Orochimaru's hand years later.
In that regard, Hiruzen Sarutobi lived up to his title as the "Shinobi Hero." When he finally fell to Orochimaru, he did so without a word of resentment, only regretting that he had been an inadequate teacher.
"You're saying Hatani has also learned the Flying Raijin?"
While Hatani was busy critiquing Hiruzen in his head, Hiruzen was busy discussing Hatani with Sarutobi Yuki.
"Based on my observations and his own admission, his Flying Raijin is still far from Namikaze Minato's level," Yuki reported. As a professional Anbu and Hokage Guard, his assessment was clinical.
"His version seems limited to his line of sight. He can't use it as freely as Minato; there's a noticeable delay or 'cooldown' between uses. However..." Yuki paused.
"However what?"
"However, his Flying Raijin doesn't seem to require throwing a marked kunai beforehand. He seems to trigger it at will."
Yuki looked slightly uncertain as he recalled Hatani using his "Flying Raijin" to ambush the Root guards at the gate.
"No formula?!"
Hiruzen's eyes widened in shock. Even the news that Hatani had learned the technique at all hadn't hit him this hard. As Tobirama Senju's prize student and someone who had personally studied the mechanics of the Flying Raijin, Hiruzen knew that the spatial formula was the absolute requirement for the jump. To be able to trigger it without a mark defied his understanding of the jutsu.
"Are you sure?" he pressed.
"I..." Yuki tried to recall every detail. Seeing Hiruzen's intense reaction, he began to second-guess himself. He remembered that Hatani had only "jumped" after Sakumo had already lunged at the Root ninjas. "Perhaps he placed a formula on Sakumo-sama beforehand?"
"Hmm."
Hiruzen frowned, wondering if he should probe Hatani for details when the boy returned. Before he could dwell on it, Yuki spoke up again.
"Besides that, Hatani's Shadow Clone Jutsu is also... strange."
Yuki's mind went back to the fight with Hanzo. "When he fought the Salamander, he seemed to be constantly splitting off new clones. They were all physical, solid entities. But his method is unique; his body briefly disappears—for about a second—before he reappears in a different spot. His position becomes so scattered and unpredictable that even without any feints, it's almost impossible to tell which one is the original."
Hiruzen mentally reviewed every clone-related ninjutsu he had ever taught or documented, his surprise growing with every word.
"Oh, one more thing," Yuki added. "When he uses that clone technique, he doesn't use hand seals."
"No-seal ninjutsu?!"
Hiruzen instinctively reached for his pipe, needing the nicotine to steady his nerves. He then remembered that Tsunade had confiscated it, warning him that he wasn't allowed to touch it until his wounds were fully healed.
"It seems this little fellow is bringing me even more surprises than Minato," Hiruzen muttered. He gave up on the pipe and rubbed his chin, a look of genuine anticipation crossing his face as he thought of his infant son at home.
If I calculate the timing... by the time Asuma graduates, Hatani's age and experience would make him the perfect choice for a Jonin Sensei.
Unaware that he had already been "volunteered" to be Asuma's future teacher, Hatani was currently preoccupied with the physics of using wind to generate a storm, and subsequently, lightning.
Convinced that he had found the logic behind the massive discount on Storm Spirit, he had made his final decision. He was going to put the Juggernaut on the back burner.
He was going all-in on the jolly blue spirit.