After Minato Namikaze escorted Shindai and the others to deliver supplies to the designated frontline camp, he brought them back to their stationed camp.
Shindai returned to his base and finally lay on his own bed again.
Except for meals, Shindai didn't move an inch.
Three days passed like this before Minato gathered Shindai, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara together.
Minato told the four, "The investigation is complete. The Jinchuriki from Iwagakure have left Grass Country and returned to Land of Earth. It seems that Iwagakure doesn't plan to involve the Jinchuriki in combat. They probably only sent them because my teacher Jiraiya and I were causing some trouble from behind enemy lines."
Obito raised an eyebrow, "Some trouble? Some trouble made Iwagakure send out two Jinchuriki just to deal with you, Sensei, and Master Jiraiya?"
Shindai had no interest in any of this. Right now, he was extremely excited. He blurted out excitedly, "Since Iwagakure doesn't plan to deploy their Jinchuriki into battle, does that mean... we can go to Konoha?"
Minato smiled slightly, "Yes, exactly. Now that the situation in Grass Country has stabilized, I can take you all back to Konoha for a visit. My teacher Jiraiya will return with us too. Get your stuff packed—we're leaving immediately!"
"Yay!"
Shindai leapt up with joy!
He immediately ran to his tent and stuffed everything into his backpack within moments, then returned to Minato's side.
Soon, Kakashi and the other three also finished packing and reunited with Minato and Shindai.
Shindai burst out excitedly, "Lord Minato! Let's get started!"
"Then let's go!"
Minato led Shindai and the others to meet up with Jiraiya, who was already ready, and they set off toward Konoha.
...
While traveling, Shindai noticed Minato always staring at his right palm thoughtfully.
Curious, Shindai asked, "Lord Minato, why do you keep looking at your hand?"
Minato replied, "I have an idea for a new jutsu in my mind. I'm thinking about how to develop this new technique."
Jiraiya looked surprised, "Oh? You want to create a new jutsu? What kind of jutsu? Maybe I can give you some suggestions."
Minato pondered while stroking his chin, "It'll be similar to the Tailed Beast Ball."
Jiraiya stared at Minato with wide eyes.
Jiraiya thought in disbelief, "Create something as powerful as the Tailed Beast Ball?"
"...Honestly, I don't think I can offer much advice. Still, good luck!"
Jiraiya didn't want to discourage Minato's enthusiasm, so he just offered encouragement.
Realization dawned on Shindai—Minato had already started developing the Rasengan.
Now Minato Namikaze is creating the Rasengan. Does that mean he'll one day master it well enough to form it effortlessly in battle?
The Rasengan really is an amazing technique—almost anything can be infused into it.
Minato Namikaze's son, Naruto Uzumaki, would later traverse the ninja world, one Rasengan after another.
One Rasengan not enough? Make another! Keep going—Shadow Clones are everywhere. Just how many Rasengans can there be?
A few days later.
As the gates of Konoha finally came back into view before Shindai's eyes, a wave of mixed emotions hit Shindai hard.
Back then when he first arrived at Konoha, he had been an undercover agent, going through all sorts of trouble just to gain entry.
Now he was finally able to join Konoha openly—not as a spy anymore.
Talk about the unpredictability of life—one twist after another!
Once inside Konoha, Shindai's eyes sparkled with excitement as he said to Minato Namikaze, "Lord Minato, treat me to dinner! I want to eat grilled meat!"
Minato Namikaze shuddered slightly, recalling how last time he treated Shindai nearly emptied his wallet entirely.
This time though, besides Shindai, there were Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara too.
Obito wasn't exactly frugal with his appetite either—he gorged himself just like Shindai.
Though Obito didn't have quite the appetite Shindai did.
But with four of them together, Minato Namikaze seriously doubted his wallet could handle the damage.
"Let's visit the Hokage Building and meet the Third first. Then we'll have Jiraiya treat you guys."
Minato Namikaze immediately passed off the responsibility of hosting dinner to Jiraiya—it wasn't like Jiraiya lacked money.
Unaware of the seriousness of the situation, Jiraiya generously slapped his chest and declared, "Sure, I'll host! Consider it a celebration for Shindai joining Konoha. Eat your fill, don't hold back!"
Minato Namikaze turned his head aside slightly, secretly hoping Jiraiya had brought enough cash.
Jiraiya and Minato Namikaze led Kakashi and the other three into the Hokage Building, entering the office where they met Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Seeing his student Jiraiya and his protégé Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen felt genuinely delighted.
The trio discussed current affairs in Konoha right in front of Shindai without reservations.
The present situation of Konoha seemed relatively promising.
Because Kumogakure had been becoming increasingly aggressive, Iwagakure had no choice but to focus primarily on them. This meant that Konoha ninjas stationed in Grass Country weren't under such tight pressure anymore.
What surprised Shindai was that Sunagakure had actually started fighting Kirigakure.
And the reason behind their clash lay with Orochimaru.
Mist ninjas had originally infiltrated the Land of Fire via its coastline, intending to launch a surprise attack on Konoha, but were waylaid by Orochimaru.
Orochimaru had orchestrated a trap using decoys, luring the Mist and Sand ninjas into an encounter in Tea Country, leading to a fierce battle between both sides. The feud began there. Now both Kirigakure and Sunagakure had dispatched ninja units into Tea Country, turning it into their battlefield.
Shindai now understood why Pakura would be betrayed by Sunagakure in the future, sacrificed to reconcile with Kirigakure and then assassinated.
Previously, Shindai couldn't figure it out. After all, the Land of Wind and the Land of Water were so far apart—one a country of endless desert, the other a nation surrounded entirely by sea. How could there be such deep enmity between them that even Pakura, a hero of Sunagakure, had to be sacrificed to appease Kiri?
Iwagakure and Kumogakure were locked in war, and Sunagakure and Kirigakure were also embroiled in conflict.
Originally, Konoha had been in the worst situation, but now it ironically found itself in the most favorable position.
After finishing the serious discussion, Minato Namikaze began praising Shindai, Kakashi, Obito, and Rin Nohara's performances to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
Hiruzen took a puff from his pipe, smiling kindly: "Takei already informed me about your accomplishments. You've all done exceptionally well. Therefore, Obito and Rin, I hereby decide that you two will be promoted to Chunin. As for Kakashi, you'll be promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin."
Obito had originally been quite happy, but upon hearing that Kakashi was promoted to Tokubetsu Jonin, he immediately grew upset. Once again, he ended up in Kakashi's shadow.
Jiraiya said with a grin: "Hey, an 11-year-old Tokubetsu Jonin—Kakashi, you're the first one ever!"
Under Shindai's hopeful gaze, Minato spoke solemnly:
"Third, I hereby guarantee Shindai's conduct and formally request his acceptance as a ninja of Konoha!"
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