Chapter 38: Aizen Lecture Hall
Inside Aizen's classroom.
"I'm so sorry!"
"…."
Kakashi stood in silence, staring at the man bowing before him on the floor. The older ninja's exaggerated posture—hands pressed together, pleading like a desperate monk—made a vein twitch on Kakashi's forehead.
He suddenly realized just how young he still was.
Perhaps it was because he'd been surrounded by calm, composed adults for so long. Men and women like Aizen Sosuke—polite, dignified, reliable. Even the masked uncle from the same division, the one who quietly pulled weeds near the graves, carried himself with quiet discipline. The Anbu agents who occasionally appeared in Aizen's courtyard were always serious and refined, too.
Every one of them exuded professionalism and poise.
Even ordinary villagers, inspired by Aizen's influence, had begun wearing imitation haori and offering help to others. Some helped merchants, others cleaned the streets, all moving with quiet purpose.
After several months in such an environment, Kakashi had formed a distinct ideal in his mind.
To him, adults were supposed to be calm, respectful, and in control.
Then came Jiraiya—one of the Legendary Sannin—groveling on the ground like a toad.
"Please forgive me this time, little brother Kakashi!" Jiraiya wailed, clapping his hands together. "I swear I meant well! I just didn't expect your research to be this advanced!"
Kakashi's expression didn't change, but his forehead twitched again.
How could such a shameless adult exist?
First, this man had insulted his research. Then he'd questioned his safety. And now he was apologizing like some rogue caught peeping through a window.
Worse still, Kakashi knew the rumors. This was the Sannin who regularly got caught spying on the women's bathhouse and writing novels about it. If he weren't such a powerful ninja, he'd probably have been arrested long ago and "re-educated" by the village authorities.
Even now, his words grated on Kakashi's nerves.
"Ah, how about this?" Jiraiya said, still kneeling but now grinning. "Let's study Sage Mode together! Forget your 'Blut Arterie,' that name sounds awful. I can teach you the secret arts of Mount Myoboku! Way stronger than your research, kid. You want to learn?"
Kakashi's face darkened.
"Oh, wait, if you're not interested in that," Jiraiya continued cheerfully, "I've got some special material I wrote on the battlefield. Not published yet. You want a peek?"
Kakashi exhaled slowly, tilting his head up to the clear blue sky.
Breathe. Relax. Don't get angry. He's uneducated.
After all the months under Aizen's tutelage, Kakashi had learned to observe, analyze, and respond rationally. Anger was for amateurs.
When he finally turned back toward Jiraiya, his gaze was calm—expressionless, even clinical.
"First of all," he said evenly, "the Blut Arterie isn't the crude invention you imagine. And as for your Sage Mode, we've already studied it thoroughly. The results show it's not universally applicable."
Jiraiya blinked. "Huh?"
"Myoboku Mountain's Sage Mode," Kakashi continued in that same detached tone, "requires unique environmental conditions, extensive training, and biological adaptation. It demands precise control over the ratio between natural energy and chakra. One misstep results in petrification. You likely need assistance from others to maintain balance, correct?"
"???"
"So you see," Kakashi said matter-of-factly, "the Blood Suit system doesn't rely on such outdated practices. Your Sage Mode is too specialized—effective, but narrow. It can't be standardized for mass use. In short, it's unsafe and inefficient."
Jiraiya's eyebrow twitched.
"It's not that we can't replicate it," Kakashi added calmly. "We just don't need to. The Blut Arterie is designed for universality, something your so-called secret art lacks. Try to understand what universality means, uncle."
"…Uncle?!"
Of all the words thrown at him, that last one hit hardest.
Jiraiya froze.
Uncle? Uncle?!
His brain processed Kakashi's words in pieces. Something about Sage Mode, something about research—but all that stuck was that single insult.
Sure, he'd trained Minato. Sure, Minato had become a jonin. But he was still in his prime! How dare this little brat call him "uncle"?
Jiraiya clenched his fists, his face twitching between disbelief and indignation.
"Hey, kid! Take that back right now! Apologize to the Myoboku Secret Arts—and to me! I'm not that old!"
"Only old men care about their age."
"You little brat!"
The air between the two crackled as their gazes met—one sharp and cold, the other full of fiery indignation. Invisible sparks seemed to fly from the friction between them.
On one side stood the legendary Sannin, Jiraiya—veteran of countless battles, master of Sage Mode, and self-proclaimed man of culture. On the other side, the prodigy Hatake Kakashi—Konoha's youngest researcher, developer of the Blut Vene and the Blut Arterie.
It was a clash of generations: the pride of experience against the confidence of genius.
When Aizen slid open the door, the sight before him was almost comical.
"Ah, Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi-kun. I trust you're… enjoying your conversation?"
"Of course!" Jiraiya said, grinning. "Just teasing the kid a bit! No reason to get so worked up."
"Not at all," Kakashi replied flatly.
Hearing their completely opposite tones, even Aizen paused for a moment.
Kakashi turned away, expression indifferent, while Jiraiya awkwardly reached out to ruffle his hair—only for Kakashi to vanish in a blur, reappearing behind Aizen in a seamless body flicker.
"Huh?" Jiraiya blinked, startled. "That move…!"
Before he could ask, Aizen gently adjusted his glasses and spoke in his usual calm, measured tone.
"Jiraiya-sama, Kakashi-kun is an exceptional talent in technological development. Without him, many of our current breakthroughs would still be theoretical. He helped us refine the Blut Arterie to the point that even children can use it safely. I'm sure you understand the magnitude of that achievement."
Jiraiya scratched his cheek awkwardly. "Ah, well… that's impressive, but the Sage Mode of Mount Myoboku is still something special. You're really not planning to study it? Also—was that instant movement his own invention?"
"As for the first," Aizen replied with a faint smile, "we have no intention of learning the Myoboku Sage Arts. As Kakashi-kun said earlier, no matter how powerful they are, they cannot be popularized. Their conditions for success are far too limited."
He paused briefly, then continued with serene composure.
"As for the second, the technique was developed through reverse engineering—using data drawn from the Sannin's demonstrations. The principles and results were already available; Kakashi-kun merely refined the method. It was only natural for him to succeed."
"…."
Then why can't I?
Jiraiya swallowed the words that rose to his throat. Looking at the calm, almost smug face of the seven-year-old before him, he felt a complicated mix of pride and irritation.
He knew people were different—some were born with talent, others earned it through pain—but seeing a child surpass him so effortlessly still stung.
Sensing Jiraiya's silence, Aizen spoke again, his tone polite but carrying an undercurrent of quiet authority.
"Next, I'd like to discuss some matters regarding development and instruction with Kakashi-kun. If you don't mind, Jiraiya-senpai…"
"Oh? I'll stay," Jiraiya said with a grin. "I'm curious to hear what kind of 'technique' you think surpasses Mount Myoboku's secrets. But if I find any flaws, I'll call them out—no mercy."
Aizen smiled faintly. "That would be wonderful. A second perspective from someone experienced in practical arts will only help refine the theory further. I'm grateful for your insight."
Bowing slightly, Aizen lifted his hand.
"Then, let's begin."
He traced several glowing symbols in the air with chakra. The strokes hung suspended, shimmering faintly like ink on glass.
Jiraiya's eyes widened.
Of course, any ninja could leave a brief trace of chakra in the air—but to maintain its stability, to hold it there as if it were solid, was something entirely different.
Can a Chunin-level body really manage this? he thought, astonished. Even for me, that would take precise control far beyond ordinary means…
After inscribing a string of formulaic runes, Aizen turned toward the two in front of him—then glanced toward the door, where a familiar golden-haired figure had just appeared.
A gentle smile spread across Aizen's face.
"Today," he said softly, "I'll be discussing the possibilities and methodologies of chakra application."
He gestured toward the suspended characters, his tone calm yet commanding.
"This is an open discussion. Feel free to speak your minds."
Then, his gaze shifted toward the newcomer at the door.
"That includes you as well, Minato-kun."
The young jonin froze mid-step, eyes wide.
As Aizen adjusted his glasses once more, the floating chakra runes glowed brighter, casting soft light across the room.
<><><><><>
[Check Out My Patreon For +40 Advance Chapters On All My Fanfics!]
[[email protected]/FanficLord03]
[Every 100 Power Stones = +1 Bonus Chapter]
[Join Our Discord Community For Updates & Events]
[https://discord.gg/MntqcdpRZ9]