Minato One Shot: The Yellow Flash’s Epic Tale
The Minato One Shot manga, titled “Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral,” focuses on Minato Namikaze’s creation of the Rasengan and his love story with Kushina Uzumaki during the Third Great Ninja War.
The Origin of the Minato One Shot
The Minato One Shot manga came into existence following a worldwide character popularity poll called NARUTOP99, which was held to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Naruto anime. Minato Namikaze emerged as the winner of this poll, and as promised, series creator Masashi Kishimoto wrote and illustrated a special one-shot manga featuring him. The manga was officially titled “Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral” and was made available to read on MANGA Plus.
The one-shot was highly anticipated by fans who had been yearning for original content from Kishimoto since the Boruto series took over. The release did not disappoint, as it showcased Kishimoto’s strengths as a writer and delivered a story of exceptional quality that surpassed expectations.
The Story Setting
The Minato One Shot is set during the Third Great Ninja War, a conflict that lasted for several years. During this period, Minato transitioned from being a member of Team Jiraiya to eventually leading his own team. The manga begins with a glimpse of Team Jiraiya engaging in battle with two Jinchuriki from the Hidden Rock village, Han and Roshi.
This setting provides the perfect backdrop for exploring Minato’s growth as a shinobi and his development of the Rasengan, as well as his deepening relationship with Kushina Uzumaki, the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Minato’s Rasengan Development
One of the central focuses of the Minato One Shot was the creation of the Rasengan, which Kishimoto had emphasized would be a key element of the story even before its release. The manga confirms that Minato is indeed the original creator of the Rasengan, settling debates within the community about whether Ashura might have created it first.
Inspiration from the Tailed Beast Ball
In the one-shot, it is revealed that Minato got the idea for the Rasengan after observing the Tailed Beast Ball during the Third Great Ninja War. Specifically, he witnessed two Jinchuriki—Han and Roshi—perform this unique technique during battle. This observation became the foundation for his creation of the Rasengan.
This revelation connects well with the original manga, where Killer Bee suggested that Minato based the Rasengan off of a Tailed Beast Ball. The main difference between the two techniques was that instead of mixing positive and negative chakra like the Tailed Beast Ball, Minato’s Rasengan relied on high-speed rotation of chakra.
The Training Process
The manga dedicates significant attention to Minato’s training process as he works to develop the Rasengan. We see him struggling to contain the spherical jutsu, highlighting the difficulty of the technique. However, his genius shines through as he persists in his efforts to create this powerful jutsu.
It was mentioned in the original manga that it took Minato three years to complete the Rasengan. The one-shot reinforces this timeline, showing that the period between Minato’s initial clash with the Jinchuriki and his first successful use of the Rasengan spans approximately three years, further emphasizing the scale and duration of the Third Great Ninja War.
Purpose Behind the Jutsu
Interestingly, the one-shot reveals that Minato’s motivation for creating the Rasengan was to protect Kushina. Recognizing the real possibility of Jinchuriki warfare, he wanted to develop a jutsu that could resonate with Kushina’s powerful chakra and be effective against other Tailed Beasts if necessary. This is precisely why he modeled the Rasengan after the Tailed Beast Bomb, which is known to be the ultimate attack of the Tailed Beasts.
Kushina and Minato’s Relationship
The Minato One Shot is, at its heart, a love story between Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. The manga provides fans with the opportunity to see how their relationship developed and how they eventually confessed their feelings to each other.
Kushina’s Role as a Jinchuriki
Kushina plays a major role throughout the one-shot, with much of the story told from her perspective. We see her rebellious nature, which she was known for, demonstrated when she steps outside the bounds of her protection after using her Sealing Jutsu to easily subdue the two ANBU guards assigned to watch her.
As the Jinchuriki of the Nine-Tails, Kushina faces unique challenges. The manga shows her learning from Mito Uzumaki, the previous Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, about how to cope with this responsibility. Mito shares that she found happiness and was able to tame the Nine-Tails to a degree through the love she received from her husband, Hashirama Senju.
The Tailed Beast Transformation
One of the questions answered in the one-shot is what Kushina’s Tailed Beast transformation looked like. Although she was the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki for a long time, fans never got to see her utilize this power in the original series.
In the Minato one-shot, Kushina is shown using this power, albeit without control over it. She manifests seven tails, and her transformation is notably different from Naruto’s. While Naruto developed a skeletal structure at the seven-tailed stage, Kushina simply enters a powerful Tailed Beast Mode with seven tails, strong enough to stab Minato through the gut. This form is eventually suppressed through the combined efforts of both Kushina and Minato.
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Their Mutual Strength
A touching aspect of their relationship revealed in the one-shot is Minato’s admission that Kushina is stronger than him. In fact, he states that his love for her stems from her superior strength. This mutual respect and admiration form the foundation of their relationship.
During a critical moment when the Nine-Tails takes over Kushina’s body outside the protective barrier, Minato is injured but still manages to reinforce her seal with his own technique, despite not being a member of the Uzumaki Clan. This impresses even Kurama (the Nine-Tails), who acknowledges that Minato is a shinobi of the same caliber as the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
The Power of the Nine-Tails
The Minato One Shot provides valuable insights into the relationship between Jinchuriki and their Tailed Beasts, particularly focusing on Kushina’s connection with the Nine-Tails.
The Inner World Interaction
The manga shows an “inner world” interaction between Kushina and Kurama, where the Nine-Tails attempts to manipulate her. This interaction feels different from what was shown with Naruto in the original series. While Kurama would try to convince Naruto to use his power in Part One, his approach with Kushina is more deliberate and manipulative, explicitly telling her that he can release her from those who have bound her and encouraging her not to trust anyone.
The Sealing Process
The one-shot also delves into the sealing process and the Uzumaki clan’s special connection to this art. It is mentioned that with each passing year, the binding power of the seal gets stronger. This provides context for why the seal weakens during childbirth, as seen when Kushina gave birth to Naruto in the original series.
The Rasengan vs. Tailed Beast Ball Clash
In one of the most notable scenes from the one-shot, Minato’s Rasengan clashes with Kurama’s Tailed Beast Ball. The next page shows that this clash subdued Kurama, pushing his chakra back inside Kushina. This demonstrates the effectiveness of the Rasengan against Tailed Beast power, validating Minato’s purpose in creating the technique.
It’s important to note that during this clash, Kurama was still technically sealed, unlike when Naruto fought him after fully opening the seal in the original series. This means that Minato was facing a partially released Kurama rather than the full power of the Nine-Tails.
The Legacy of the Uzumaki Clan
The Minato One Shot also provides more information about the Uzumaki clan, which was largely shrouded in mystery in the original series.
The Uzumaki Hideout
The manga reveals a special place referred to as the “Uzumaki Hideout,” which features a spiral staircase leading to a beautiful view of the Hokage Monument. Mito Uzumaki takes Kushina to this place, telling her that it will help clear her mind. She shares a profound insight: “It’s true that we may be inside the vortex, but if you can find love, the vortex will turn into a spiral.” This metaphor connects to the Rasengan, which is a spiral, and foreshadows Kushina’s relationship with Minato.
The Spiral and Vortex Symbolism
Interestingly, this concept of the spiral and the vortex being connected to bonds and affection appears to be a theme that extends beyond the one-shot. It has been suggested that this theme might be tied to Boruto: Two Blue Vortex, the ongoing new generation series. The artwork for chapter 5 of Boruto: Two Blue Vortex features Japanese text that translates to “deep affection” or “profound love,” potentially linking back to the themes explored in the Minato One Shot.
The Impact on the Naruto Universe
The Minato One Shot not only tells a beautiful standalone story but also enriches the broader Naruto universe by filling in gaps and providing context for events and relationships that were previously unexplained.
Connections to the Original Series
The one-shot ties well into the original Naruto series, answering several key questions that fans have had. It explains when Minato observed the Tailed Beast Ball, confirms him as the creator of the Rasengan, shows Kushina’s Tailed Beast transformation, and provides insight into their relationship, which eventually led to the birth of Naruto, the series protagonist.
The Third Great Ninja War Context
The manga also gives fans a closer look at the Third Great Ninja War, a significant event in the Naruto timeline that was often referenced but not extensively shown in the original series. By setting the one-shot during this period, Kishimoto provides context for Minato’s rise to prominence as the Yellow Flash of the Leaf and his eventual appointment as the Fourth Hokage.
Fan Reception and Cultural Impact
The Minato One Shot was highly anticipated and well-received by the Naruto community. Fans appreciated the opportunity to see more of Minato, a character who, despite his limited screen time in the original series, made a significant impact and became one of the most popular characters.
YouTube Analysis and Discussion
Following the release of the one-shot, numerous YouTube channels created videos analyzing and discussing its content. These videos highlighted the “amazing” nature of the one-shot and provided thoughts on the manga that came “straight from Kishimoto.” They discussed how the manga affects our understanding of Minato as the Fourth Hokage and his relationship with Kushina and the Nine-Tails.
Gaming and Merchandise
The release of the Minato One Shot also had an impact on Naruto gaming content. The official Naruto website featured a section titled “Check Out Gaming Info on Minato Namikaze to Celebrate the Publication of Naruto: The Whorl Within the Spiral!” This indicates the cross-media promotion that accompanied the one-shot’s release.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who created the Rasengan in Naruto?
The Minato One Shot confirms that Minato Namikaze is the original creator of the Rasengan. He developed this technique after observing the Tailed Beast Ball during the Third Great Ninja War, specifically when facing the Jinchuriki Han and Roshi.
How long did it take Minato to create the Rasengan?
According to the original manga and reinforced in the one-shot, it took Minato three years to complete the Rasengan. The manga shows his training process and the challenges he faced in developing this powerful jutsu.
What was Kushina’s relationship with the Nine-Tails?
Kushina, as the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, had a challenging relationship with Kurama. The one-shot shows Kurama attempting to manipulate her by offering to release her from her “captors” and encouraging her not to trust anyone. This differs from Naruto’s relationship with Kurama, which eventually evolved into a partnership.
How did Minato and Kushina fall in love?
The Minato One Shot reveals that Minato fell in love with Kushina because she was stronger than him. Their relationship developed during the Third Great Ninja War, and their love for each other became a source of strength, particularly for Kushina in her role as a Jinchuriki.
What is the significance of the spiral in the Minato One Shot?
The spiral symbolism in the one-shot connects to both the Rasengan technique and the metaphor of love transforming a vortex into a spiral. This theme may also tie into the ongoing Boruto: Two Blue Vortex series, suggesting a continuity of these concepts across generations.
Samantha Yates is a creative writer and journalist with expertise in content creation and editing. She holds an MA in Creative Writing and brings professional experience from Lionbridge, where she developed engaging content for leading technology companies
