Naruto: Tenseigan Eye

Shinki asked playfully, "Didn't you sleep well last night?"

"It's okay..."

Namikaze Minato smiled bitterly and replied, "Nawaki kept laughing all night. He even came to my room to sleep. It was... a bit much."

It seemed Nawaki had truly worn Namikaze Minato down.

Shinki raised an eyebrow and asked, "Did what happened yesterday affect you a lot?"

Namikaze Minato straightened his posture, thought seriously for a moment, and replied, "Teacher, it did. Although I can adjust my attitude, knowing that three years of my hard work were easily surpassed... it stings a bit."

"Feeling that way is normal; everyone does," Shinki said with a smirk, patting Namikaze Minato's head.

"Many people wonder, 'Why do I work so hard but still feel weak? Why are others who work just as hard—or less—stronger than me?'

"The answer is simple: talent. No matter how hard someone works, there are limits to what they can achieve if their talent is lacking."

Shinki continued, "Think about all the Genin in Konoha. Many of them work hard their whole lives but can't even pass the Chunin Exams. Do you think the Chunin Exams are difficult?"

Namikaze Minato thought for a moment, then shook his head. "Not really..."

"Exactly," Shinki replied. "But why do so many fail despite working hard?"

"They lack talent," Namikaze Minato guessed.

"Precisely. This exam may seem simple to you, but when we talk about the Special Jonin or Jonin exams, it becomes even clearer. The higher you aim, the slower the progress and the fewer the successes."

Namikaze Minato nodded in understanding.

"Teacher," he asked, looking curious, "which is more important: talent or hard work?"

Slap!

Shinki smacked him lightly across the head.

"Only children make choices," Shinki said with a grin. "Adults know you need both."

Rubbing his head, Namikaze Minato nodded sheepishly. "That makes sense..."

"If you want to be truly strong," Shinki explained, "you need talent and hard work. But luck is also vital. Without it, even talented, hardworking people may falter. Some people have incredible potential but lack the discipline to grow, while others work hard but are unlucky and fail to reach their potential.

"To succeed, you need a mix of all three. You're fortunate, Minato. You have talent, you work hard, and you're lucky. Focus on being the best version of yourself, and you'll reach great heights."

Namikaze Minato straightened his back. "I understand, Teacher."

"Good. Now tell me about your recent missions."

When discussing tasks, Minato became slightly bashful.

"Jiraiya-sama has been teaching Nawaki and me seriously," he admitted. "He's responsible and skilled, though... he does have a habit of sneaking off to odd places now and then."

Shinki chuckled. "That's Jiraiya for you."

Minato continued, "Nawaki's gone for now. He's likely with Tsunade-sama."

"It seems Tsunade and I had a good chat," Shinki said thoughtfully.

Namikaze Minato felt a bit guilty. Nawaki, I'm sorry, but Teacher is too clever. He got it out of me without much effort. Don't hold it against me.

"Now," Shinki said, "show me all the sealing techniques you've learned."

"Yes, Teacher!"

Minato executed the techniques with precision, demonstrating his grasp of the basics. Shinki nodded in approval.

Later that day, Shinki met Orochimaru for a planned dinner. Upon arrival, he discovered Jiraiya and Tsunade were also invited.

"Orochimaru," Tsunade began cheerfully, "if you're inviting us to dinner, why not just tell us all at once?"

"Exactly!" Jiraiya chimed in. "You're always so secretive, Orochimaru."

Orochimaru, as calm as ever, sipped his tea and replied, "I invited Shinki-kun specifically. You two simply insisted on tagging along."

Tsunade gave Orochimaru a middle finger, and Jiraiya followed suit.

Ignoring their antics, Orochimaru turned to Shinki. "Yesterday, I visited the Hokage's office and encountered an envoy from the Daimyo's mansion. The envoy seemed... agitated. Do you think the Hokage upset the Daimyo again?"

Shinki smirked. "That's likely. The Daimyo tried interfering with Konoha's military affairs and was rebuffed. Not long after, Konoha began disarmament discussions and negotiated with the Sand Village. It's no surprise the Daimyo feels slighted."

"Typical," Orochimaru said, a hint of amusement in his voice.

Tsunade, however, frowned. "Orochimaru, the tension between the village and the Daimyo affects everyone, especially the Hokage. You shouldn't be so pleased about it."

"True," Shinki agreed, "but it's also a reminder that power dynamics are ever-shifting. What matters is how we adapt."

The group shared a tense yet reflective silence, sipping their tea as the weight of their responsibilities loomed over them.

>>>>>

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[Naruto: Maelstrom Of the Uzumaki]