After a grueling morning of training with Daichi and Katsume, a body enhancement treatment, and a breakfast large enough to fuel him for days, Haruto found himself headed toward Kushina's home, eager to share his latest creation: the ninja claymore. He could have kept it to himself, sure, but it didn't sit right. Kushina and Minato had poured so much into his training that showing them felt like the only option. Besides, he trusted them completely with the secret.
When they reached the house, Daichi, as usual, made a scene of bursting in without so much as a knock. "Kushina! We're here!" he shouted, his voice reverberating through the quiet house.
The response was immediate. From somewhere deeper inside, a clattering noise sounded, followed by an exasperated, "Daichi!" A moment later, Kushina appeared, her gaze sharp and her fiery hair slightly tousled. Her expression clearly said she'd been interrupted, and her eyes practically crackled with annoyance. Haruto, who had waited politely outside, fought down a grin as Minato appeared behind her, still straightening his cloths and looking far too amused.
Kushina planted her hands on her hips, eyes narrowing at Daichi. "Have you ever heard of knocking?"
Unfazed, Daichi flashed his usual, disarming grin. His eyes sparkled with that unmistakable charisma that somehow always got him out of trouble. "Ah, c'mon, Kushina, no need to get all riled up. Haruto's got something cool to show us—some impressive fuinjutsu work. Stuff he probably picked up from your lessons." Without missing a beat, Daichi strolled to the kitchen, raiding the fridge as though he owned the place.
Kushina huffed, rolling her eyes, but Haruto could see her interest spark as she looked his way. "Alright, Haruto, what is it? Let's see what you've got, genius."
With a steadying breath, Haruto stepped inside, feeling the energy of the tag safely tucked in his pouch. "Okay, but you both have to promise to keep this a secret. I'm calling it my 'ninja claymore.'"
As soon as he pulled out the tag, Kushina's eyes widened, and before he could blink, she had snatched it from his hand, examining it with a fervent curiosity. "Hold on," she muttered, twisting the tag in her hands. "Minato! Get over here!" She practically shoved it at him, her excitement contagious.
Minato took the tag, his calm exterior hiding the glint of intrigue in his eyes. He turned it over slowly, and Haruto watched as his expression shifted from curiosity to outright fascination. "A double-sided seal?" he murmured, exchanging a look with Kushina. "Kushina, have you ever seen anything like this?"
Kushina shook her head, leaning over his shoulder, her eyes darting over every line and detail. "No! This is… impossible, almost. How did you get both sides to work without disrupting the chakra flow? It's like you've meshed two different seals together. That's… that's not supposed to work!"
Haruto couldn't help the grin that tugged at his lips as the two of them dove deeper into examining the seal, their enthusiasm almost childlike.
"It took a lot of trial and error," he said, a hint of pride slipping into his voice.
Minato's eyes lit up even more, studying the tag intently. "So, this is a directional explosive seal… modified to go inward? And there's a timed storage release seal on the other side?" His voice took on a tone of awe. "Wait—what's stored inside it?"
"Metal bits," Haruto answered simply.
As realization dawned on them, Kushina's eyes widened, and she looked at Haruto as if she'd just seen a genius at work. "Haruto, that's… you've basically created a weaponized seal. Do you realize how powerful this is, how did you do this?!"
Haruto hesitated, scratching the back of his head. "I'd rather not give away everything. But if you really want to know how it's done, I can show you."
Kushina's eyes gleamed with excitement, her curiosity as fierce as ever. "Oh, I definitely want to know!"
Minato chuckled, giving Haruto a respectful nod. "We won't tell anyone."
"Promise," Kushina added, jabbing Minato in the ribs, making him laugh again.
With a smile, Haruto led them to Kushina's study, a room filled with scrolls, ink, and paper stacked high in every corner. Taking his place at the small desk, he hung a blank tag on a rack and picked up a brush in each hand. In his left hand, he prepared to inscribe the release seal, while his right hand would handle the inverse directional explosion seal.
As he began, his left hand meticulously drew the release seal, each line controlled and precise. Simultaneously, his right hand mirrored the process, inscribing the inverse directional seal, his chakra focused perfectly in sync. His hands moved in harmony, every brushstroke as natural as breathing.
Kushina and Minato watched, utterly captivated.
"He's doing it simultaneously," Kushina whispered, her gaze riveted to his hands. "It's as if he's focusing on two entirely different things at once."
Minato nodded slowly, awe in his voice. "It's like his mind is split in two, his right hand and left are doing completely different tasks. I guess that explains why his fighting style is so unique.
Just then, Daichi, who had been shamelessly eavesdropping from the kitchen, leaned in. "Wait—that's why your fighting always looked so weird! You're doing two things at the same time?!" He blinked, as if everything had suddenly clicked. "Man, I always knew there was something off about you, Haruto."
Haruto shrugged, though he was secretly pleased at the reaction. "It's just how my brain works, I guess. Didn't think it was all that special."
Minato shook his head, still watching with admiration. "That's something truly remarkable, Haruto. It may very well be a bloodline ability—few could manage that kind of dual precision and control."
Kushina grinned, her expression softening with pride. "Haruto, this is beyond impressive. You'll have to show us the claymore in action sometime. But please," she added with a smirk, "not near the house."
Minato chuckled, giving Haruto a friendly, knowing nod. "Haruto, you've really created something extraordinary here. Your dedication shows."
As Haruto took a moment to savor their praise, Kushina shared a look with Minato—a wordless exchange layered with both warmth and resolve. Over time, Haruto had become more than just a promising student; he was a friend, someone they respected and felt a deep loyalty toward, especially given his close bond with Daichi.
Kushina felt a fierce protectiveness swell in her chest. She understood the weight of carrying an extraordinary ability in a world where power could so easily be twisted and used. She saw Haruto not just as a talented shinobi, but as someone she'd stand by, as fiercely as she would Daichi.
Minato met her gaze, his eyes reflecting the same sentiment. For him, Haruto was more than an impressive student; he was a trusted friend, someone worth shielding from the harsher sides of their world. They both knew that what Haruto had shared was more than a secret—it was a leap of trust.
Together, in that single, silent look, they made a quiet, unbreakable promise.