"Chakra reserves?" Naruto asked, confused.
Sasuke: "You idiot! It's the 'vitality' stat."
"Vitality?"
"Did you sleep through every class at the Ninja Academy?! You're a complete moron."
Watching their exchange, Minato couldn't help but recall the times when he tutored Kushina when she was younger.
"Ninjutsu, physical strength, genjutsu, intelligence, stamina, speed, chakra volume, and hand seals."
Minato explained, "These are the Eight Ninja Attributes established by the Second Hokage. They correspond to: Ninjutsu, Stamina, Genjutsu, Intelligence, Strength, Speed, Chakra Volume, and Hand Seal Speed. Each is scored from zero to ten, based on estimated data from your combat experience."
Naruto buried his face in his hands. "I HATE talking about grades!!!"
Minato smiled. "Both of you should score at least eight points in 'Chakra Volume.'"
Especially Naruto—even though he inherited my hair and eye color, that surging chakra volume was undoubtedly inherited from Kushina's bloodline.
Sasuke recalled, "I remember my Ninja Academy Potential Test scores: 10, 7, 8, 7, 7, 9, 7, 3. Total: 63."
"Quite elite results," Minato praised. "The academy predicted your 'Spiritual energy' at 7, but I believe you have greater potential—and Naruto too! One day, you might even surpass Kakashi and me in chakra reserves."
Hearing Minato's words, Sasuke stared at Naruto, surprised.
Naruto's eyes shone brightly. He had rarely received affirmation from others since childhood.
Throughout his training and the Ninja Academy curriculum, he had always been criticized as the bottom-of-the-class, the one holding everyone back. No one had ever so clearly guided his training steps or given him confidence and encouragement with such a tone of recognition during practice!
This feeling...
Naruto licked his dry lips.
It felt as if the long-dried well within him—the one sealed by the Hokage Grandfather, forbidding questions about his parents—had finally begun to well up with clear, spring water.
"Alright, once you've rested, we'll continue with the afternoon tree-climbing training."
Inspired by the Fourth Hokage's encouragement, Naruto and Sasuke rallied, repeatedly running up the tree only to tumble back down.
"Don't release all your chakra at once—that'll only make you break the trunk."
Minato watched the two boys leap down again and explained.
"Think of your limbs like a gecko's suction cups or a spider's claws. Maintain an equal amount of chakra throughout your body, allowing any part touching the trunk to adhere instantly."
He leapt onto a tree, using chakra at his fingertips to hang himself from it, or concentrating chakra on his back to cling to the trunk and conceal his form.
Had they not known the Fourth was there beforehand, suddenly searching for him in this forest would have made him incredibly hard to spot—even right under their noses. Because he blended so seamlessly with the tree trunk, the most dangerous spot became the safest.
"Amazing! Absolutely incredible!"
After Minato's explanation, they no longer rushed headlong into the trees. Instead, they practiced evenly distributing chakra throughout their entire bodies, then slowly and steadily channeling it into their feet!
Both sensed it simultaneously!
Their eyes snapped open!
Thud! One foot planted on the tree!
Then the second foot took a step upward!
Immediately after, the first leg crossed over the second and took another step up!
One step! Another step! Yet another step!! Until, in one determined push, they reached the treetop?!!
Sakura stared at them in astonishment, her eyes widening in disbelief. "You're kidding me?! Just hearing the Fourth Hokage tell us once, and you climbed this high?!!"
Minato smiled. "This is also connected to their relentless practice this morning, trying to project their chakra outward. There really are no shortcuts in training, but finding the right method is crucial."
Naruto, overcome with excitement, slipped while bouncing on the tree...
That was a tree over forty meters tall! The fall would be catastrophic. Minato, speaking to Sakura with his back turned, didn't see it happen, but when he caught Sakura's face turning pale in an instant, he whipped around immediately!
As Naruto screamed in terror, Minato drew his Flying Thunder God Technique kunai!
Simultaneously, Sasuke leapt from another tree to grab Naruto's ankle!
But Sasuke's foot was just under three centimeters too far from the branch!!
Both boys tumbled downward together!
Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique kunai had already been thrown!
Swish!
Like a golden flash streaking past!
Naruto and Sasuke found themselves caught in the arms of someone on either side!
Turning to look, the Fourth Hokage's face was indistinct against the backlight, but the overwhelming aura emanating from his ice-blue eyes sent shivers down their spines!
He held the thrown Flying Thunder God Technique kunai in his mouth, guiding them both to a safe landing.
"Phew... That was too dangerous."
In the next moment, Minato returned to his usual polite and incredibly likable demeanor.
Sasuke and Naruto, however, remained frozen for a few seconds, still in shock.
"Are you hurt?" Minato crouched down in front of Naruto, looking him directly in the eyes as he asked.
"N-no." Naruto felt like he might have been genuinely startled, his heart still racing and not quite back to normal.
Minato ruffled his hair. "That's good."
"Sasuke-kun, you're not hurt either, right?"
"I'm fine."
"Then you two rest for now. I need to teach Obito how to complete the mission on that scroll."
Minato Namikaze walked over to the young Kakashi and Obito.
Sakura, who had also screamed in shock earlier, hurried over. First, she scolded Naruto with concern, then shyly asked Sasuke if he was hurt.
Sasuke didn't respond. He just stared at the Fourth Hokage's retreating figure, lost in thought.
Sakura, always eager to talk to him, tried to find a topic: "I feel like the Fourth Hokage really cares about Naruto... in a special way..."