Tōma stared at the unmoving floor.
Under normal circumstances, the Flying Thunder God kunai would have already answered his call. This time, there wasn't even the faintest response.
He frowned slightly, but there was no panic. Closing his eyes, he slowed his breathing and let his perception spread outward, searching for the fragile thread of connection he knew was still there.
Good mindset. And he figured out the right approach immediately, Jiraiya thought, eyes lighting up. At this pace, this test won't hold him back for long.
What surprised Jiraiya even more was Tōma's composure. He'd expected at least a hint of frustration after the first failure. Instead, there was only calm focus. That kind of confidence didn't come from arrogance. It came from knowing exactly where one stood.
Soon, Jiraiya saw movement again.
That fast already?
Tōma opened his eyes, grasped the faint connection he'd finally located, and activated the summoning technique once more.
Nothing happened.
The kunai still didn't appear.
This time, Tōma felt a ripple of disappointment, but he exhaled slowly and steadied himself. His gaze sharpened.
No matter what, he was learning the Flying Thunder God.
What Tōma didn't know was that both Jiraiya and the Third Hokage were watching the kunai itself. It had trembled, just slightly.
The two exchanged a glance, surprise unmistakable in their eyes.
They had used a sealing method to obscure the connection. Not a full seal, but something subtle and layered. And yet, on only the second attempt, Tōma had already brushed against it.
Jiraiya sucked in a sharp breath.
"That kind of affinity…" he muttered internally. It really might not be inferior to Minato's.
The Third Hokage smiled faintly and returned to his paperwork, though his pen moved slower than before.
Jiraiya, meanwhile, kept his eyes on Tōma. He'd noticed it. The brief emotional fluctuation, and how quickly it vanished. That recovery speed mattered.
At that moment, Jiraiya made his decision.
This disciple was worth taking.
Time passed.
Tōma sensed the connection again, clearer than before.
He attempted the summoning. Failed again.
This time, there was no reaction at all. No frustration. Just adjustment.
So that's how it works, he thought. They're not strengthening the link. They're hiding it. Each summoning attempt is breaking through the interference.
That explained the one-day time limit.
By his estimate, two hours would be enough.
But simply passing wasn't enough.
This was a rare chance to display his value. Wasting it on the bare minimum would be a mistake.
So Tōma stopped using the summoning technique altogether.
Jiraiya frowned.
Based on the previous rhythm, the next attempt should have succeeded. Had the kid misunderstood at the last moment?
For the first time since arriving, Jiraiya felt a twinge of worry. He'd already decided to take Tōma as a student. If the test failed now, would he really walk back his words?
Then he noticed something.
Tōma's state felt… familiar.
Jiraiya narrowed his eyes, but quickly dismissed the thought. Sage techniques were impossible. Not with that chakra level. He'd never consider it.
If someone like Fukasaku were here, they might have seen it clearly.
Tōma had entered the Deep Focus State.
Within it, his perception underwent a qualitative shift.
This time, the connection to the Flying Thunder God kunai was unmistakable. Clear. Stable. Untouched by the interference placed upon it.
Which meant one thing.
At a higher level of perception, the concealment methods used by the Third Hokage and Jiraiya simply didn't work.
That realization sent a thrill through Tōma.
This wasn't just about the Flying Thunder God anymore. This state was far more powerful than he'd imagined. In the future, it would become one of his greatest weapons.
A confident smile formed on his face.
Slowly, deliberately, his hands began to form seals.
The Flying Thunder God… is mine.
Jiraiya was still thinking about how to justify taking Tōma as a student if things went wrong when he suddenly froze.
Tōma had moved again.
And this time, the confidence was different. Absolute.
"Don't tell me…" Jiraiya muttered.
The seals completed.
There was no tremor.
The Flying Thunder God kunai vanished outright.
The next instant, it appeared in Tōma's hand.
He held it by the familiar grip, smiling as he looked up.
"Third Hokage-sama. Jiraiya-sama. I succeeded."
Jiraiya stood there, mouth open, staring at the kunai in stunned silence.
The Third Hokage's scroll had slipped from his hand without him noticing.
He had only looked away for a short while.
And it was already done.
At last, he laughed softly, amazement and pride mingling in his eyes.
For a fleeting moment, he even wondered whether letting Jiraiya teach this child was a waste. With talent like this, perhaps he could have taken Tōma as his own student instead.
After all, Jiraiya didn't even know the Flying Thunder God.
In the Hokage's office, two shinobi who stood at the very peak of the village looked at a seven-year-old boy with pure astonishment.