A secluded training ground lay quietly at the edge of Konoha, surrounded by tall trees and soft rustling leaves. This was Aomizu's regular place for training—remote, undisturbed, and perfect for experimentation. Today, however, it wasn't just him. His shadow clone stood beside Minato, who had arrived moments earlier.
"Big Brother Aomizu," Minato asked curiously, "what did you call me here for?"
Aomizu folded his arms and smiled. "I recently completed a new ninjutsu. When Mikoto and Kushina arrive, I'll teach it to all of you."
Minato's eyes widened in surprise. To create one's own ninjutsu was something even many elite jonin would never accomplish. Twenty days had passed since the conclusion of the Chunin Exam preliminaries, and during that time, Aomizu had been working tirelessly—obsessively—to finish developing the Rasengan.
He had originally believed he could complete it within a few days. How difficult could it be to compress chakra into a sphere? But once he started, reality proved far more complicated. He finally understood why the Fourth Hokage in the original timeline took three years to perfect the Rasengan. The level of chakra control and stability required was absurd.
Minato was no ordinary genin. Gifted with natural talent, discipline, and unmatched chakra precision, he had once attempted to create his own jutsu. But the path of invention was a mountain too steep. Even he had abandoned the idea. So Aomizu's accomplishment—done within twenty days—left a deep mark on him.
Still, he hesitated. "But Big Brother Aomizu… this is your personal, self-created ninjutsu. Is it really okay for me to learn it?"
In the shinobi world, ninjutsu was not shared freely. Clan secrets were guarded closely, and self-created techniques were rarely taught except to direct disciples or trusted family. Spreading such a technique could mean exposing weaknesses.
Aomizu only grinned and slapped Minato's shoulder.
"You call me Big Brother, don't you? So what's there to hesitate about?"
Minato lowered his head respectfully. "Thank you, Big Brother Aomizu." He engraved the kindness deeply in his heart. This was not a favor he would forget.
Moments later, Mikoto and Kushina arrived together.
Kushina waved energetically. "We're here! Aomizu, what did you want to show us?"
Mikoto, elegant as always, stood quietly beside her, though her curious gaze rested on Aomizu.
Nodding, Aomizu lifted his right hand and extended it toward the three of them.
Chakra gathered instantly.
A swirling blue sphere formed in his palm—compact, rotating, dense with incredible destructive power.
"This," Aomizu announced, "is my self-created ninjutsu. The Rasengan."
The air trembled faintly with the chakra's rotation. All three genin stared, stunned. Even Minato, who already knew Aomizu had created something new, hadn't expected this—a technique activated without any hand seals.
In the ninja world, controlling chakra typically relied on forming sequences of hand seals. Skilled shinobi could shorten the sequence or perform one-handed seals, but eliminating hand seals entirely? That was extremely rare.
Techniques that activated instantly, with no seals, granted overwhelming advantages in battle—surprise, speed, and fluidity.
Ignoring their shock, Aomizu walked toward a thick tree—large enough that two adults would need to wrap their arms around it to encircle it. Maintaining the Rasengan, he pressed it gently against the trunk.
The reaction was anything but gentle.
The swirling sphere burrowed into the tree, carving out a perfectly round hole the size of a football. A moment later, crackling echoed as the trunk tore apart. The tree split in half, then burst into countless wooden fragments under the Rasengan's explosive finish.
If an unprepared shinobi took that hit, there would be no chance of survival.
"So powerful!" Kushina gasped.
Aomizu chuckled. "Actually, this jutsu suits people like you, Kushina—those with massive chakra reserves. It lets you use your natural strength more effectively."
Kushina bounced excitedly. "Then teach me, teach me! I can't wait!"
Aomizu explained the principles behind the Rasengan: chakra rotation, chakra shape transformation, and controlled compression. Then he described the three stages of practice.
All three listened intently. They were geniuses—Minato with his chakra control, Kushina with her overflowing chakra and stubborn determination, Mikoto with her exceptional visual perception. Naturally, they learned rapidly.
But the fastest among them was Mikoto.
The moment Aomizu finished his explanation, she activated her Sharingan. Red tomoe spun lightly, capturing every detail of the chakra's movement. Within minutes, she formed a small but perfectly rotating Rasengan in her palm.
Kushina's mouth fell open.
"Sharingan is so unfair! Just one look and you already learned it!"
If she had a Sharingan, sealing techniques wouldn't give her so much trouble.
Mikoto frowned. "Do you think the Sharingan is omnipotent? If that were true, every member of the Uchiha clan would know thousands of ninjutsu."
The Sharingan could copy jutsu, but only under certain conditions. It couldn't replicate bloodline limit techniques. And even for basic ninjutsu, if the user lacked the correct chakra nature, then even if the technique was "copied," they couldn't use it.
Otherwise, Kakashi Hatake wouldn't have earned the nickname "Copy Ninja"—only he could use nearly everything because he possessed all chakra natures.
Aomizu added with a smile, "Although the Rasengan is A-rank, it shouldn't be too difficult for you, Kushina. But if you slack off, Minato might surpass you."
At that exact moment, Minato was already moving on to the third training stage—compression.
Kushina puffed her cheeks angrily and jumped into training with fierce determination. "Hmph! Like I'd lose to Minato!"
Aomizu watched them with amusement, then motioned for Mikoto to walk with him a short distance away.
"Mikoto," he said quietly, "the Rasengan can be developed further using chakra nature transformations."
He demonstrated by forming another Rasengan, but this time he infused it with Water Release chakra. The sphere shifted instantly. The deep blue color turned translucent, the surface flowing like a whirlpool.
"This is Water Release: Rasengan. Since your specialty is Fire Release, you can develop Fire Release: Rasengan."
Mikoto's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Aomizu… you really are incredible. To not only create a jutsu like this, but also to think of evolving it further…"
Ten days passed in a flash.
By the fifth day, Minato had completely mastered the Rasengan. By the seventh, Kushina finally caught up—loudly announcing her victory and declaring she was definitely not losing to that "blond show-off."
Mikoto, meanwhile, continued refining her chakra nature variants.
When the day of the third stage of the Chunin Exams arrived, Aomizu headed to the tournament venue. The stands were already overflowing—ninjas from various villages, Konoha villagers, merchants, nobles, and even several daimyō had gathered to witness the event.
But far away, in the ominous fortress of Hōzukijō…
A different scene unfolded.
Within the dim chamber housing the colossal Box of Ultimate Bliss, the Grass Village chief trembled with excitement and greed. With aid from the Hidden Cloud Village, they had finally gathered enough chakra to open it.
He stepped forward, voice shaking.
"Box of Ultimate Bliss—grant my wish! Destroy Konoha!"
His words had barely faded when the rune-covered box trembled violently. A monstrous roar burst forth, and a terrifying creature shot out—dark, violent, and filled with destructive intent.
It spread its wings and instantly flew toward Konoha.
The final exam had begun.
But so had a new disaster.
Advance Chapters avilable on patreon (Obito_uchiha)