The scroll the Third Hokage gave Ethan not only contained the complete Flying Thunder God Technique, but also included the insights and experiences of both the Second and Fourth Hokage, who had mastered the technique. It even documented the training attempts of jonin who had tried to learn the Flying Thunder God but failed, only managing to activate the Flying Thunder God Formation in coordination with others.
These materials offered significant guidance for new learners, helping them avoid many unnecessary detours.
However, in return, the scroll was filled with extensive, complex, and difficult-to-memorize content. This was manageable for Ethan, but if it were anyone else, they likely wouldn't have been able to do anything else that night, spending all their time just trying to memorize it.
This was exactly what the Third Hokage expected. He knew how complicated the content of the scroll was. His decision to stay wasn't about supervising Ethan, but because this advanced ninjutsu surely contained parts Ethan wouldn't understand. He wanted to be there to answer any questions.
After all, as Hokage, he was very busy. After tonight, he might not have another opportunity to help Ethan like this. Since he had already decided to place a big bet on this child, spending one night to guide him was worthwhile.
What Hiruzen hadn't expected was that Ethan read through it quickly, just like an ordinary person reading a regular book, and finished it in just over an hour.
He thought Ethan wanted to read it through once and then slowly begin memorizing it. But unexpectedly, Ethan directly rolled up the scroll and handed it back to him.
"You've memorized it already?"
"Yes, I've remembered everything."
Although the Third Hokage was surprised, he didn't doubt Ethan's words and casually took the scroll back.
"Is there anything you don't understand?"
"There's a lot."
Ethan then picked out some points to ask about. These questions weren't for show. Ethan truly didn't understand the meaning of many terms and phrases, or rather, he didn't know what the descriptions were trying to convey. How should he follow the explanations to proceed with training?
This was normal. Ethan was ultimately still a genin. Even though he had crammed a large amount of ninjutsu knowledge recently, most of it was basic content and a few intermediate techniques.
The Flying Thunder God Technique was an extremely advanced and difficult jutsu. It involved many theoretical concepts that Ethan had never come across. No matter how strong he was, he couldn't understand content he had absolutely no foundational knowledge of. (Even if he already possessed the power or principle the technique referred to, achieving it through "magic" was different from mastering it through "ninjutsu.")
As he listened to Ethan's questions, the Third Hokage was certain the child had indeed memorized the entire technique.
"What excellent talent."
As Ethan's questions grew fewer but more precise and in-depth, even the Third Hokage gradually found himself unable to answer them.
Although he had mastered nearly all common ninjutsu, he lacked talent for certain specific types, and the Flying Thunder God was one of them.
As Hokage and a highly knowledgeable ninja, he had studied this kind of technique before, allowing him to answer most questions. But in the end, he had never truly mastered it. For many of Ethan's deeper questions, he could only make educated guesses.
By the time dawn broke, the Third Hokage had run out of things to say. From here on, it was up to Ethan himself.
"That's all I can answer. The rest you'll have to figure out on your own."
In truth, Hiruzen wasn't sure whether Ethan could really master the Flying Thunder God Technique. Maybe it was just because Ethan reminded him so much of that person that he made this decision on impulse.
Fortunately, it seemed that the choice was the right one.
In just one night, Ethan already said he had some ideas and knew how to proceed with his training. Judging by his expression, he was full of confidence in mastering the technique.
"In that case, that's truly excellent."
He habitually reached for his pipe to light it, then remembered this was a room full of important ninjutsu records, and smoking here would be inappropriate. So, he forced himself to put the pipe away, placed the Flying Thunder God scroll back on the shelf, and left the building with Ethan.
As Hokage, he had to return to deal with official matters. Ethan left on his own and made his way home.
The one-month break was meant to give the participants time to gather intel on their opponents, make specific preparations, and rest. However, people like Naruto and Sasuke would definitely spend this time training intensively to grow stronger.
In the original story, Kakashi handed Naruto over to Ebisu, who was then replaced by Jiraiya. After that, Naruto trained under one of the Legendary Sannin and learned the Summoning Technique.
Sasuke, on the other hand, received personal instruction from Kakashi. During this time, Sasuke learned the Chidori, which became one of his signature jutsu, and later developed a whole series of Lightning Release techniques based on it.
But now...
"What are you two doing blocking my door?"
"Obviously, we're here to train with you! Don't you need to prepare for your match next month?"
Just as Ethan reached his door, he saw Naruto and Sakura standing there together. Judging by the situation, if Sasuke hadn't been hospitalized, he would have come too.
"I've always been training hard."
He had just learned an advanced technique last night. He already understood the principles of the Flying Thunder God and just needed practice to fully master it.
What was really troubling him now was choosing a symbolic object to use as the teleportation medium for the Flying Thunder God Technique.
In truth, given Ethan's situation, even without relying on divine power, he possessed exceptional spatial talent. He could pinpoint exact spatial coordinates without needing any medium.
But that was far too over-the-top. He decided to keep that for later. For now, he'd just pick something simple as a marker. If nothing else came to mind, he'd just use a kunai like everyone else.
Besides, if he was going to reveal his Wood Release, maybe he could combine both techniques somehow.
He was thinking too far ahead. First, he needed to deal with these two.
From Naruto and Sakura's explanation, Ethan understood why they had come looking for him.
It was precisely because Ethan had been training diligently and rapidly growing stronger that, when Naruto was wondering how to improve quickly, Sakura had suggested Ethan, someone they had a decent relationship with.
The straightforward Naruto didn't see any problem in training with a future opponent. He thought Sakura's suggestion was a great idea and came right over.
"Train together? Then let's train together."
Just as Naruto cheered and excitedly asked if they could start right away, Kakashi suddenly appeared.
"So this is where you were. I've been looking for you two."
"Ah, Kakashi-sensei!"
Naruto didn't believe Kakashi's claim that he had been looking for them all morning. After all, it was still early, and Kakashi was known for being late. How could he be out searching so early? Still, Naruto was curious why he had come.
"Training? Have you found an instructor?"
Kakashi had already planned to give Sasuke special training next. But since two of his students had advanced, he couldn't just ignore Naruto. He had been thinking about finding someone else to train him.
"I think training with Ethan is great."
"Training with Ethan?"
Kakashi realized that this might actually be a great choice. If Naruto trained with Ethan, he might make even greater progress.
"That does sound like a good idea."
Just as Kakashi was considering handing Naruto over and focusing on Sasuke, Ethan made a suggestion that caught him by surprise.
"When Sasuke recovers, he can join us too."
"Huh?"
"Training together helps push each other forward."
More accurately, it stimulates growth. Another reason was that Ethan didn't like how Kakashi had secretly given Sasuke one-on-one tutoring. Even if the purpose was to teach powerful jutsu and avoid potential leaks, Naruto and Sasuke weren't opponents in the first round. Even if they met later, Naruto would eventually see everything Sasuke had learned.
Of course, it was also possible that Kakashi already knew Naruto had other arrangements—namely, Jiraiya.
"That said... don't you need to train alone?"
"That doesn't conflict."
Kakashi suspected Ethan had just learned a new advanced jutsu, and that training for it should be private. But Ethan didn't seem to mind.
"Alright, alright, let's start training already! We're all here. It'll be easier for Kakashi-sensei to guide us too!"
With Naruto's interruption, Kakashi swallowed what he was about to say and ended up going to the training ground with them.
It was the same place where Team 7 had taken the bell test, the spot where they officially became genin. Now it had become their shared training ground.
"What should we train first?"
Train what? That question stumped Kakashi. He honestly didn't know how to teach Naruto at the moment, and he hadn't given it much thought either.
So everyone turned to look at Ethan.
"What should we train first?"
Ethan stroked his chin, then looked toward the small river nearby.
"Let's spar first. That way, I can better assess what you need to focus on next."
"I like this kind of training!"
Naruto stretched his arms, then suddenly noticed Ethan's figure flicker. In the blink of an eye, he was already standing on the river's surface in the distance.
"Let's fight on the river. Whoever falls onto the shore first loses. Oh, right, you and Sakura come at me together."
(To be continued.)