C2

"Creak!"

As Russell pushed open the door and stepped inside, he immediately sensed something out of the ordinary.

Instinctively, his right hand reached for the ninja pouch at his waist, where his sole weapon—a shuriken—was kept.

A wave of dread washed over him; he was just an average kid, now an orphan. Who could possibly be seeking him out?

And at such a pivotal time, with the three battles nearing their end, he couldn't help but be wary.

"Don't be nervous. I'm a friend of your father's!"

Before Russell could react further, a soothing voice emanated from the courtyard.

Looking up, Russell saw Namikaze Minato, with his blond hair and warm smile, gazing at him.

Beside Minato stood Uzumaki Kushina, her red hair cascading over her shoulders.

Russell's anxiety melted away. With these two present, he felt safe, even though he was unsure why they had come for him.

"Greetings, Jonin Minato, Jonin Kushina. May I ask what brings you here?"

Russell greeted them with a respectful bow.

In the world of ninjas, the key to survival for the weak was never to provoke those beyond your means.

Not everyone was Uchiha Sasuke, who could defy all odds and still thrive.

Russell lacked a brother like Uchiha Itachi and certainly didn't possess the lineage of the Sage of Six Paths.

Kushina and Minato, being skilled ninjas, quickly noticed Russell's subtle movements.

"Do you recognize us?" Kushina asked, crouching down to gently caress Russell's face with her delicate, ivory hands.

She harbored no suspicions about Russell; she simply seized the chance to dote on him.

Russell's cherubic features and his slight stature, barely reaching a meter tall, captivated Kushina's attention.

At first, Russell was startled by her words, but as he felt her tender touch, he relaxed.

He then stole a glance at Minato, who, despite his sunny disposition, wasn't as easygoing as Kushina. Russell worried that Minato might harbor doubts about him.

"Mmmph... Can't... understand..."

Russell's muffled words were barely intelligible as Kushina playfully pinched and pulled at his cheeks.

"Speak clearly, please!"

Confused by his garbled speech, Kushina paused, then with a chuckle, she resumed her affectionate teasing.

Seeing her puffed-up, angry expression, it was clear she thought Russell was toying with her deliberately.

"Cough, cough! Kushina, Russell says it was his parents who told him. Let him go for now," Namikaze Minato interjected, covering his forehead with one hand as he noticed the growing frustration on Russell's brow.

Kushina finally caught on and, with some reluctance, released Russell's cheeks. Feeling the numbness setting in, Russell shot her an annoyed look. But he knew Kushina was just that kind of blunt and straightforward person, so he let it slide without getting upset.

Turning his attention back to Minato, Russell waited for his response. "Here's the thing," Minato began, "Kushina and I want to take you back with us to live as a family, and we've already got Lord Sandaime's blessing."

As he spoke, Minato stepped closer and affectionately ruffled Russell's jet-black hair, all the while carefully watching for any sign of rejection. Minato, haunted by his failure to protect his friends on the battlefield, was determined to give their children a better life and couldn't bear the thought of failing his own conscience.

To his relief, Russell's eyes sparkled with interest at his words, easing Minato's worries considerably. Without waiting for a response, Minato quickly said, "See what you want to take with you. Kushina and I will wait here for you," and gently nudged Russell toward the house.

But Russell was baffled by the exchange. He had merely noticed a high-level golden card slip from Minato's possession; when did he agree to anything? Indeed, it was the sight of the golden card falling as Minato stepped forward that had left him momentarily dazed.

A golden card, the system's highest tier! The significance of the card that had fallen from Minato was not lost on Russell—it could only be the legendary Flying Thunder God Technique!

With no time to waste on other matters, Russell decided to go along with the adoption. The card was paramount. He let Minato's momentum carry him forward, tumbling towards the location of the card with a thud. By the time he hit the ground, the card was securely in his pocket.

Kushina, quick to react, teleported to Russell's side and helped him to his feet, asking with concern, "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, just took a little tumble! I'll go pack up now."

Russell waved dismissively and dashed into the house.

With the golden card in his possession, there was no time for airs; checking his prize was the priority!

Back inside, Russell could still hear Kushina's furious roars and Minato's pleas for mercy. The thought of Minato getting the short end of the stick on their very first meeting, and Kushina giving him a hard time, brought a smirk to Russell's face.

The "clean-up" was hardly that; all he had to take was his own change of clothes.

The rest of his belongings were safely tucked inside a storage scroll. All Russell needed to do was grab the scroll and go.

Armed with the knowledge of an adult and having read the original "Naruto" series, Russell was acutely aware that it wouldn't be long before the Sandaime Hokage would toss him into an orphanage and seize his property.

Sticking with Minato and Kushina was a far better option than the orphanage—infinitely better, in fact.

At the very least, he could claim the wealth his parents had left behind!

Determined not to let the greedy old man benefit, Russell adopted a scorched-earth policy, leaving not even a single grain of rice.

He had always found the Sandaime particularly distasteful in the series.

Of all the Hokage, he was the weakest, yet he had the audacity to claim the title of the strongest Hokage.

He was obsessed with conspiracies and deceit for the mere title of village chief, never focusing on strengthening Konoha, only on undermining the good and loyal.

Instead, he could have been finding ways to enrich Konoha and free it from the Daimyo's control.

But what really irked Russell was how the Sandaime had pinned every misdeed on Danzou, remaining unscathed as if untouched by the fallout.

He epitomized the very essence of shamelessness!

But these thoughts were for Russell's mind only; he would never voice them aloud.

What could he do? The shameless old coot had outlived them all, and speaking up would likely mean not seeing another sunrise.

Once he finished his preparations, Russell finally accessed the system.

Though Minato and Kushina hadn't followed him, their formidable abilities surely allowed them to detect his movements.

Thus, stopping after tidying up due to reluctance was the perfect excuse.

Ding! A golden card representing beginner-level Space Talent appears. Will you absorb it?

"Absorb!"

Despite the outcome being different from his expectations, Russell went ahead and absorbed it.

As with the power card he had taken in before, a warm sensation coursed through him, this time significantly more intense.

Once the absorption was complete, Russell clenched his fist, yet felt no enhancement.

His system was utterly ineffective, leaving him to figure things out on his own.

"Display the system panel!"

Host: Russell

Strength: 5

Speed: 4

Physique: 4

Spirit: 22

Talent: Space Talent Level 3

Skill: Basic Shuriken Level 1

None of his attributes had changed, except for the new addition of Space Talent.

Upon seeing this talent, Russell immediately understood its golden hue.

It signified that he could now train in all space-related ninjutsu, notably including the Flying Thunder God Technique.

Amidst his excitement, Russell's lips twisted with a hint of greed. The talent levels ranged from 1 to 9, yet his was merely Level 3—hardly impressive.

"Namikaze Minato, what a disappointment!"

Having acquired the card, his Space Talent equaled Minato's, prompting an involuntary sigh from Russell.