Listening to Uchiha Shisui, both Shūichi Hoshita and Kurama Sanyō turned their attention to the Anbu ninja.
He had returned to report, but without the intel. This suggested that something went wrong either during or just before the rendezvous.
The Anbu ninja seemed to be around the same age as Minato, and Shūichi felt a sense of familiarity with him.
Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Shisui swallowed a military ration pill and said, "Rest up for a bit longer. A sudden mission like this is bound to be challenging."
Shūichi and Sanyō nodded in agreement, then sat down and each took a military ration pill.
About half an hour later.
Minato opened his eyes and stood up, followed by the Anbu ninja.
"Shūichi, are you all ready?" Minato asked Shūichi and the others.
Shūichi and Sanyō both nodded, "No problem at all, Sensei."
Minato nodded, "Alright then, let's move out!"
Swish, swish, swish!
The three of them followed closely behind Minato, leaping through the forest and carefully avoiding the traps they had previously set.
The Anbu ninja trailed behind them.
After crossing a large forest, the Land of Rain appeared before them, and the group came to a halt.
Fortunately, it wasn't raining.
Shūichi silently sighed in relief, while Minato spoke up, "The mission is to rendezvous with an intelligence officer. The opposition consists of a large number of rogue ninjas from the Land of Rain, who can also be considered bounty hunters."
"In addition to them, there are two more elite forces. As for their identities..."
Minato paused before continuing, "They are suspected to be Suna-nin and Ame-nin."
Shūichi shivered instinctively and blurted out, "Is this related to the last mission?"
Minato replied, "It's uncertain at this time."
"Once we enter the Land of Rain, stay on high alert. As soon as we secure the intelligence officer, Shisui, Shūichi, and Sanyō, the three of you will prioritize escorting him back to the Land of Fire. The border patrol squad will meet you."
"If…"
"If the mission can't be completed, then initiate Plan B—bring back the intel!"
Shūichi and the others instantly felt a chill in their hearts.
They understood very well what that meant.
If it came to that, any one of them might be the one to bring back the intel.
However, Minato suddenly smiled, "But don't worry too much. I doubt it'll come to that."
The atmosphere lightened significantly, and the four of them resumed their journey, entering the Land of Rain.
Shūichi glanced back at the Anbu ninja, whom Minato hadn't introduced. Seeing him unarmed, Shūichi slowed his pace slightly and handed over a kunai.
The Anbu ninja was momentarily surprised, then accepted it with a smile, "Thank you. I'm Sarutobi Shinnosuke!"
The Hokage's son!
Shūichi was taken aback, then responded, "I'm Hoshita Shūichi."
They didn't speak further, focusing instead on the mission.
Soon, Shinnosuke surged ahead, leading the group.
In the dark of night, they crossed a barren expanse, climbed over two mountains, and then Shinnosuke stopped, pointing to a town with only a few scattered lights in the distance, "The intelligence officer is hiding in there, using the complex sewer system for cover. But his current situation is unclear."
"However, he will have left clues to help us find him."
Upon hearing this, Minato immediately said, "In that case, Shisui, Shūichi, Sanyō, you stay here to provide support."
"Shinnosuke, let's infiltrate and extract the intelligence officer."
Shinnosuke nodded in agreement without hesitation.
As for Shūichi Hoshita and the other two, they had no choice but to follow orders.
After making the decision, Minato and Shinnosuke immediately set off, quickly disappearing from the sight of the three.
After retracting his gaze, Uchiha Shisui said, "Sanyō, Shūichi, you two rest up. I'll keep watch."
"Got it!"
Shūichi and Kurama Sanyō nodded in agreement, sitting down cross-legged to rest and recover their strength.
At a time like this, there was no need for politeness. Having one person on watch while the other two rested to maintain optimal condition was the best choice.
Time passed slowly, and an hour went by without any disturbances. Shūichi finished his rest and took over the watch from Shisui.
Before they knew it, dawn had arrived.
Kurama Sanyō was beginning to get restless. "Shisui, Shūichi…"
Shisui calmly replied, "Don't worry, Sanyō. Don't forget the special kunai that Minato-sensei gave me last time."
Hearing this, Sanyō nodded repeatedly, taking a deep breath to calm himself. He then turned to Shūichi with a wry smile, "Shūichi, your mental resilience is really impressive."
Just as Shūichi was about to respond, Minato suddenly appeared with a person who was battered and covered in wounds.
"Sensei!"
All three of them were pleasantly surprised.
Minato immediately instructed, "Shūichi, tend to his wounds. Then you three take him back to the Land of Fire."
After giving the order, Minato vanished again.
Shūichi quickly moved to support the wounded intelligence officer that Minato had rescued, checking his injuries.
There were many wounds, but fortunately, most of them were not deep.
Shūichi quickly had Sanyō help bandage the minor wounds with medical bandages, while he focused on the deeper ones, mainly stopping the bleeding and providing emergency treatment.
"Thank you. My name is Koichi Hatada," the intelligence officer said weakly.
Shūichi smiled and handed Koichi a military ration pill along with his own sugared water.
This was his habit—whenever he went on a mission, he always brought salt and sugar. With a water flask, it was easy to make saltwater or sugared water to quickly replenish his body's needs.
After about 10 minutes, Koichi Hatada stood up and said, "I'm ready."
Shisui immediately commanded, "Let's go!"
He took the lead, with Koichi close behind, and Shūichi and Sanyō followed on either side.
At that moment, Shūichi entered a state of 100% focus.
Up front, Shisui had also activated his Sharingan.
The four of them moved swiftly through the mountains and forests, quickly crossing over a large mountain.
Suddenly, Shisui warned, "Be careful, enemies are approaching!"
Shūichi scanned the sides, his gaze sweeping over the trees. The previously fast-moving scenery seemed to slow down, and he was able to spot the figures swiftly moving through the forest.
He immediately alerted the group, "There are a lot of them… We're surrounded!"
Enemies were closing in from behind and on both sides.
It was likely these enemies had been lying in ambush in the forest for some time.
"Sanyō, take Hatada-senpai and go ahead. Shūichi and I will hold them off!" Shisui's voice had barely faded when the sound of clashing metal rang out.
He had already engaged two enemies who were blocking their path.
"Understood!"
Sanyō quickly formed a hand seal, casting a genjutsu to assist Shisui in taking down his first opponent.
Without looking back, Sanyō then led Koichi Hatada away from the battlefield, breaking through the enemy lines.
The enemies on the flanks quickly swarmed after them, ignoring Shūichi.
Shūichi Hoshita didn't bother with the enemies on either side. Instead, he dashed forward to join forces with Uchiha Shisui, swiftly slashing the throat of the enemy who was fighting Shisui.
The two of them then unleashed their chakra without hesitation, propelling themselves forward with the Body Flicker Technique to its maximum potential.
This was Shisui's specialty, and his speed was faster than Shūichi's. Within seconds, he caught up with two enemies, and the sounds of clashing metal rang out through the forest.
Shūichi was a bit slower, and when he intercepted two enemies, he wielded a kunai in his left hand, the Totsuka Chakra Blade in his right, and had a senbon clutched between his teeth.
"Brat, get lost!"
"You're in the way! Die!"
The enemies, dressed as rogue ninjas, snarled with twisted expressions, brandishing their swords as they charged at Shūichi.
Shūichi also surged forward, and in his eyes, the movements of the two enemies seemed to slow down.
Clang!
Squelch!
"Ah, my eyes!"
Three sounds rang out almost simultaneously. Shūichi dodged one attack, blocked another with his kunai, and at the same time, his Totsuka Blade slashed open one enemy's throat while the senbon he spat out pierced the eye of the other.
With a quick follow-up strike, Shūichi turned and continued his pursuit.
At the same time, he swallowed another military ration pill and grabbed another senbon to hold between his teeth.
For most people, consuming a solider pill during battle wouldn't have much effect.
But Shūichi had the "Strong and Sturdy" Tag, which doubled his body's recovery ability, giving him an astonishingly fast digestion rate.
By sparing no effort with his stamina and chakra, Shūichi soon caught sight of the enemy ahead.
Meanwhile, the group ahead, led by Shindō Masaru, was surprised.
A kid, a Konoha genin, had actually caught up?
Though they weren't elite ninja from a major village, but rather part of one of the many small ninja organizations in the Land of Rain, they were still quite experienced.
Judging by Shūichi's age, he likely just graduated.
A Konoha prodigy?
The thought flashed through Shindō Masaru's mind before he ordered, "Leave two to hold off the kid. The rest of you, speed up!"
"Yes, sir!"
The five ninja at the rear followed the order. Two of them immediately halted, turning to face Shūichi.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
Shuriken and kunai sliced through the air.
Shūichi easily deflected them, and just as he was about to engage in close combat, he spat out the senbon from his mouth.
"Don't underestimate me, kid!"
The bearded enemy sneered, tilting his head to dodge the senbon.
But then, Shūichi's mouth suddenly shot out a stream of fire.
Fire Release: Flame Bullet!
At such close range, and with no warning signs, Shūichi Hoshita had no free hands to form hand signs, making it impossible to anticipate a jutsu. The bearded enemy barely had time to react before a flame bullet blasted into his face, sending him flying without even a chance to scream.
The other enemy was initially shocked, then delighted. Seizing the opportunity, he lunged forward, swinging his blade at Shūichi. He believed that this swift strike, honed over ten years, was something the boy couldn't possibly dodge.
However, in Shūichi's eyes, the attack seemed slow.
He ducked, using his arms to support himself on the ground, and kicked out with both legs, striking the enemy squarely in the abdomen and sending him flying.
Shūichi then flipped back onto his feet, already hurling the kunai in his left hand.
This enemy was tough, though; despite the pain, he managed to swing his sword and deflect the kunai. As he hit the ground, he rolled several times before springing back up.
But at that moment, Shūichi was upon him. His small frame plunged into the enemy's chest, stabbing rapidly with the Totsuka Blade in his hand, slicing upward to disembowel him.
The enemy fell to the ground, and Shūichi used his body to propel himself forward, not stopping for a moment to continue his pursuit. The enemy's blood was warm, its metallic scent filling the air.
Shūichi didn't bother wiping the blood splattered on his face. He grabbed a new senbon to hold between his teeth and readied another kunai in his left hand.
At that moment, Uchiha Shisui caught up and quickly passed Shūichi.
By the time Shūichi reached them, Shisui had already intercepted Shindō Masaru and his four men, but he was being pushed back under their combined assault, with two wounds already on his body.
Shūichi immediately threw the kunai in his hand, aiming directly at Shindō Masaru, the strongest of the group.
Then, with a quick movement, he pulled three shuriken from his pouch and threw them while spitting out a stream of flames that ignited the shuriken.
Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!
Shindō Masaru easily dodged Shūichi's kunai, unaffected as he continued his attack on Shisui.
However, the other three enemies had to dodge Shūichi's Phoenix Flower Jutsu.
Though Shūichi wasn't skilled in flashy ninja tool techniques, his talent in using them had doubled, and with his dynamic vision, his accuracy had greatly improved.
Even though the attacks ultimately missed, Shisui was freed from the encirclement.
Seeing this, Shindō Masaru immediately retreated.
Shūichi joined Shisui, standing side by side as they caught their breath. "Are you okay?" he asked.
Shisui shook his head. "Just minor injuries!"
Shindō Masaru's gaze fell on Shūichi, thinking to himself, "It looks like this brat is running low on stamina. I'll take him out first!"
"No, I'll take both of these brats out!"
Whoosh!
Shindō Masaru flicked a shuriken at Shūichi and shouted, "Attack!"
The three enemies charged forward. Shindō Masaru saw Shisui forming hand signs and immediately realized he was preparing to release a Fire Release jutsu. He quickly planted his sword into the ground and formed hand signs as well.
Water Release: Water Formation Wall!
A water barrier appeared in front of the three advancing ninjas.
However, Shisui seemed to hesitate for a moment, and the Great Fireball Technique didn't come out.
"Cunning brat!"
Realizing he had been tricked into wasting a jutsu, Shindō Masaru was furious. But just as he was about to drop the water barrier, Shūichi quickly threw three ninja tools in succession.
The first was a shuriken, the second a hand grenade, and the third a kunai.
The three projectiles were lined up almost perfectly, so the shuriken and the hand grenade passed through the water barrier without losing much speed.
"Smart brat, but this trick won't work on me!"
Shindō Masaru sneered internally.
The kid probably thought that forcing him to drop the Water Release would allow the Uchiha brat to use his Fire Release.
But that was underestimating him!
Maintaining the Water Release, Shindō Masaru kicked the sword in front of him. The sword flew up, accurately hitting the kunai and deflecting it.
The shuriken, having lost momentum after passing through the water, fell to the ground before reaching him.
Across from him, a smile crept onto Shūichi's face. "Retreat!"
Both Shūichi and Shisui swiftly hid behind a tree.
The next moment, the hand grenade exploded mid-air, flames erupting as countless tiny iron beads shot out in all directions.
Pfft pfft pfft...
The closest, Shindō Masaru, had his head blown apart, and the water barrier collapsed instantly.
The other three enemies, still unaware of what had happened, were pierced by the steel balls from behind.
Stepping out from behind the tree, Uchiha Shisui looked at the bodies scattered on the ground in shock.
It was his first time witnessing the power of a hand grenade.
Shūichi Hoshita was quite satisfied with the grenade's debut, smiling as he said, "Just a small design, Shisui, you'll understand more about it in the future."
Uchiha Shisui immediately understood and nodded without asking further questions.
As he walked forward, Shūichi opened his mouth and unleashed a Great Fireball, engulfing and incinerating all the bodies.
Given the amount of chakra he had, he couldn't melt the steel balls, but it was enough to destroy the evidence on the battlefield, ensuring no one could uncover the mystery behind the hand grenade.
After finishing this, Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui turned and pursued Kurama Sanyō.
Ten minutes later.
Shūichi and Shisui reunited with Kurama Sanyō and his companion, then retraced their steps, entering the Land of Fire, where they were met by a squad of ANBU operatives.
Unlike Sarutobi Shinnosuke's team from before, these ANBU members all wore animal masks. Unless you were familiar with them, it was hard to identify who they were.
These ANBU operatives didn't engage in any conversation with Shūichi and his group; instead, they spread out around them, ensuring their protection.
While Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō rested, Shūichi popped another soldier pill and continued treating Koichi Hatada's injuries.
His proficiency in the Mystical Palm Technique wasn't particularly high, so it took more time for him to heal the deep wounds on Koichi Hatada's body, which also meant consuming more chakra.
As for Minato Namikaze and Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Shūichi wasn't sure of Shinnosuke's exact strength, but he trusted Minato and his Flying Thunder God technique.
Time passed slowly.
An hour later, the ANBU operatives suddenly reacted, with two of them heading west.
Shūichi and Shisui exchanged glances, both showing signs of happiness.
Sure enough, not long after, Minato Namikaze appeared within their sight.
"Sensei!"
All three of them hurriedly approached.
Minato smiled and said, "You all did an excellent job on this mission."
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, having completed his handover with the ANBU squad, also came over and said to Shūichi, "Shūichi, I'm sorry, I couldn't retrieve your kunai."
Shūichi quickly responded with a well-rehearsed line, "Ninja tools are just consumables, but comrades are not."
This statement made everyone turn their heads in surprise. As Minato and the others silently pondered his words, Kurama Sanyō enthusiastically exclaimed, "Shūichi, that was spot on!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke also nodded in approval, genuinely believing that his father hadn't misjudged Shūichi.
Minato patted Shūichi on the shoulder, smiling as he said, "You've all done well. Rest up, and then we'll head back to Konoha."
The three of them nodded in agreement—they definitely needed the rest.
However, the ANBU squad, having completed the handover with Sarutobi Shinnosuke, was the first to set off, taking Koichi Hatada back to Konoha.
While resting in the woods, Kurama Sanyō couldn't resist asking, "Sensei, was it Sand Shinobi?"
Minato glanced at Sarutobi Shinnosuke before nodding. "Yes, it was Sand Shinobi."
"It's related to our previous mission. There are signs that Sand Shinobi and Hanzo might be joining forces, likely due to their interest in the Land of Rivers."
Uchiha Shisui quickly asked, "Sensei, could Sand Shinobi be planning to ally with Hanzo to compete with us for the Land of Rivers?"
"If they do, what's in it for Sand Shinobi? Even if they take over the Land of Rivers with Hanzo, they'd have to share the benefits."
Minato nodded. "You're right, Shisui, but Sand Shinobi has the upper hand against Hanzo, while they're at a disadvantage against us, Konoha."
"Additionally, the Land of Rivers hasn't aligned itself with Konoha."
What?
Both Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō were stunned, unable to comprehend this. After all, the evidence from their last mission was clear—how could the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers ignore Sand Shinobi's atrocities?
Shūichi, however, pondered, "Sensei, could this be more than just a struggle for missions in the Land of Rivers?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke was surprised, but Minato smiled. "You really are something, Shūichi."
"Moreover..."
Shūichi looked at Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō. "To the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers, that village might not be important at all."
"Sandwiched between great nations, the best strategy is to remain neutral, reaping benefits from all sides rather than fully siding with one—unless that side possesses absolute power."
Despite saying this, Shūichi couldn't help but suspect that Danzo might be involved in this.
It wasn't that he wanted to slander Danzo, but the guy was an extremist.
Hiruzen Sarutobi often delegated dirty and tough tasks to Danzo, giving him the opportunity to amass his own power and ambitions.
Would Danzo simply present evidence to the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers and gently persuade them to abandon Sand Shinobi?
Now, Shūichi was more inclined to believe that Danzo would use a tough stance to pressure the Land of Rivers.
In fact, if he were to be more cynical, could Danzo even be trying to stir up conflict on purpose?
...
Upon hearing Shūichi Hoshita's words, Uchiha Shisui fell into deep thought, while Kurama Sanyō remained puzzled.
Politics—he didn't understand it. (T/N: Me too bro!)
Shūichi Hoshita didn't fully grasp it either, but he knew a little.
After resting for about two hours, Shūichi and his group of five set out for Konoha, arriving late at night.
After completing their mission and reporting to the Hokage at the tower, Minato Namikaze announced a three-day vacation.
Once they were dismissed, Shūichi headed home, enjoyed a long bath, and then went out for a big meal.
As he exited the restaurant, he happened to spot Tenka in a kimono. Her graceful figure was a sight to behold, so he immediately approached her. "Sister Tenka!"
Tenka turned around, surprised and delighted to see Shūichi. "Shūichi, didn't you say it would take half a month?"
Shūichi smiled, "The mission ended earlier than expected."
He glanced up and down at Tenka's curvaceous figure and teased, "You look so beautiful, Sister Tenka. Are you going on a date?"
Tenka's face flushed slightly, and she huffed, "Do I look like someone who needs to go on a date?"
Then she added, "I'm out with my sister—she's about to get engaged."
"Sister? Engaged?"
This was the first time Shūichi learned that Tenka had a sister. He quickly smiled and offered his congratulations.
Tenka wrapped her arm around Shūichi's shoulder and said, "If you're in the village, you must come. You'll be a guest of honor for our family."
Shūichi agreed immediately; he had no objections to getting closer to Tenka's family.
...
Back home, Shūichi tossed his bags onto the floor and flopped onto the sofa. "Sure enough, no matter where you are, shopping with women is the most exhausting thing."
After spending an hour shopping with Tenka, he felt more tired than he did during a mission.
But Tenka also bought him a bunch of stuff—clothes, shoes, a magatama pendant, and so on.
After resting for a while, Shūichi sorted through the gifts from Tenka and then went to sleep.
He planned to go to bed early today since tomorrow would mark the beginning of three days of intensive training.
As for taking a vacation? That was out of the question!
However, while Shūichi was peacefully asleep, the lights in the Hokage's office were still burning brightly.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, Danzo, Koharu Utatane, and Homura Mitokado were gathered there.
"Danzo, you shouldn't have pressured the Land of Rivers like that—they have a Daimyō after all," Homura Mitokado complained.
Danzo replied calmly, "But the truth is, our methods have been too soft."
"The Third Kazekage has helped the Land of Rivers discover iron ore, so it's inevitable that they'll side with the Sand Shinobi."
"Unless we make the Daimyō of the Land of Rivers understand that without Konoha, they won't be able to mine that iron ore peacefully."
"You should know, the Land of Rain is currently filled with numerous ninja organizations. If the Sand Shinobi and Hanzo can hire them to fight against us, then it's only natural for these ninja organizations to enter the Land of Rivers."
"So, resolving this matter completely is not difficult."
Koharu Utatane agreed, "Danzo has a point. Now is not the time to discuss who's at fault."
She turned to Hiruzen Sarutobi. "Hiruzen, how do you plan to handle this?"
Hiruzen Sarutobi exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a low voice, "We cannot afford to lose the missions from the Land of Rivers."
"Moreover, we must prevent Hanzo and the Sand Shinobi from joining forces."
"Danzo, I'll leave this matter to the Root division."
Though he felt a tinge of disappointment, Danzo nodded in agreement.
Hiruzen Sarutobi continued, "As for the cooperation between the Land of Rivers and the Sand Shinobi, I'll have Sakumo investigate it thoroughly."
April 16th, Konoha Year 39.
Shūichi Hoshita woke up early.
After washing up and putting on his black training uniform, he jogged out the door.
First up, a 10-kilometer run around the village!
With a light step, Shūichi disappeared into the morning light.
Ten minutes later, a familiar voice reached his ears.
It was Might Guy!
Sure enough, Shūichi soon saw Guy approaching from around a corner, moving towards him on his hands.
Guy lifted his head and spotted Shūichi as well, flipping upright with a joyful shout, "Shūichi, you're back!"
Shūichi stopped in his tracks and smiled, "Yeah, I returned to the village last night."
"So, Guy, how about a little competition?"
Guy, eager as ever, immediately agreed, "That's exactly what I was going to suggest."
"If I don't win, as punishment, I'll do another lap around the village this afternoon—on frog jumps!"
Shūichi added, "And if I don't win, I'll have a taijutsu match with Kakashi as my punishment!"
"Then let's get started!"
With passion surging through him, Guy flipped back into his handstand, and Shūichi quickly followed suit. The two of them moved in sync, racing on their hands.
They ran around the village, their sweat glistening in the morning light, creating a striking scene.
Twenty minutes later, they both returned to the starting point, leaning against the wooden fence and panting heavily.
Shūichi had lost!
But he clearly felt that his stamina had significantly improved.
The Double Physical Enhancement was really paying off!
As he dug deeper into its benefits, he realized that his chakra might not double, but increasing it by two-thirds wouldn't be out of reach.
While resting, Shūichi chatted casually with Guy. Ten minutes later, Guy left for academy, and Shūichi headed home for breakfast.
After breakfast, he went to his usual training spot to continue his regimen.
He walked across the river while carrying a large rock.
He climbed the cliff while holding that same large rock.
This was both a physical training exercise and a chakra control exercise.
After his morning training, Shūichi returned to the village's shopping district for a big meal—he needed a lot of energy.
At 2 PM, when he returned to his training spot, he saw Kakashi hanging from the cliff with one hand.
A smile immediately spread across Shūichi's face.
The Taijutsu Expert tag would require Kakashi!
So, when Kakashi climbed to the top of the cliff, he was greeted by Shūichi's smiling invitation, "Kakashi, how about a taijutsu match? Let's see if you've been slacking off in your training."
Kakashi responded with a hint of reluctance, "I'd be happy to, but at least let me rest first, okay?"
"Of course!"
Shūichi smiled and tossed a bottle of lightly salted water from his bag to Kakashi.
Kakashi accepted it without hesitation, taking large gulps.
The two sat side by side on the edge of the cliff, and Shūichi casually asked, "Learned any new jutsu recently?"
Kakashi replied, "Lightning Release Chakra Nature Transformation."
Shūichi was slightly surprised. "So, you've already completed your Earth Release nature transformation training?"
Kakashi nodded casually, "Yeah."
Shūichi gave him a thumbs up.
Kakashi was naturally gifted with two chakra natures: Earth and Lightning Release.
This meant that when training in Earth and Lightning Release jutsu, he didn't need to go through the specific chakra nature transformation training to use the corresponding jutsu.
For example, Kakashi had mastered the Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall jutsu early on and had used it many times in the practical classes at the Ninja Academy.
However, the same jutsu would have different power levels depending on the person using it.
The two main factors that influenced this were chakra amount and chakra nature transformation.
For instance, the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken is a prime example of the extreme combination of wind chakra nature transformation and shape transformation.
This is also why Shūichi hadn't specifically trained in Fire Release chakra nature transformation but was still able to train in Fire Release jutsu.
Because he was naturally gifted with Fire Release.
Of course, after training in five Fire Release jutsu, Shūichi had actually completed his Fire Release chakra nature transformation training in the process.
However, he hadn't started on Wind Release yet.
...
After resting for half an hour, Shūichi Hoshita and Kakashi squared off, ready to begin their taijutsu duel.
Dust flew and sweat splattered as the two clashed.
They fought from the top of the cliff to the ground, and then moved to the river's surface.
The more they fought, the more astonished Kakashi became.
He was being completely overpowered!
Though Kakashi primarily focused on ninjutsu, he had never neglected his taijutsu training.
He was confident that he had made considerable progress recently, especially with Guy, that overly enthusiastic guy, pushing him, and Shūichi, this overly disciplined guy, as his rival.
"It's his reaction speed…"
"Shūichi's reaction speed has increased again!"
Kakashi quickly realized the key difference. He intensified the weight of his strikes and increased the frequency of his attacks.
But Shūichi countered everything with relative ease.
Ten minutes later, Kakashi collapsed onto the grass, utterly exhausted.
He had no strength left, not a drop.
Meanwhile, though Shūichi was also drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, he remained standing.
Victory!
This was his first time winning a taijutsu duel against Kakashi, and it marked a significant step forward toward unlocking the Taijutsu Expert tag.
...
In the evening, after a long day, Shūichi relaxed in his bath, soaking in the warm water with his eyes closed as he pondered his next training plan.
He had already unlocked the Ninja Tools Expert tag, but the Taijutsu Expert tag required winning 50 taijutsu duels against Kakashi. Today was just the first victory, so there was still a long way to go.
Moreover, after today, Kakashi would likely train even harder, and Shūichi couldn't afford to slack off either.
So, which direction should he focus on next?
Which tag should he aim to unlock?
Medical Expert?
Wind Release Expert?
Clone Expert?
Body Flicker Expert?
Shūichi's eyes roamed over the gray, unactivated tags on his Tag Tree.
For most of the ninjutsu-related tags, the activation conditions were tied to the number of jutsu learned.
If Shūichi had come from a ninja clan, he would have had more access to ninjutsu resources.
His previous Fire Release techniques—two came from his father, one he learned from Uchiha Obito, and the remaining two were from Tenka.
As for the clone jutsu, Shūichi currently knew the basic Clone Technique and the Shadow Clone Technique. He still needed to learn three more clone techniques.
He naturally possessed Fire and Wind Release, which meant he would need to develop another chakra nature transformation to train in the corresponding clone techniques.
The situation with the Body Flicker Technique was similar.
"Ninjutsu resources..."
Shūichi sighed.
"In that case, I'll focus on Medical Expert first, and then Wind Release Expert."
Shūichi had made up his mind.
The resources for medical ninjutsu were available through Nonō Yakushi, while the resources for Wind Release ninjutsu could be obtained from his sensei, Minato Namikaze.
Besides, his role in the team was that of a medical ninja—he couldn't let that character setting fall apart.
With a splash, Shūichi finished his bath, dressed, and headed out to the orphanage.
Tonight, he planned to stay with Director Nonō Yakushi and study medical ninjutsu.
The three-day vacation flew by in the blink of an eye.
April 19th, Konoha Year 39.
Shūichi Hoshita and Uchiha Shisui met up at their usual spot. After waiting for a moment, Minato Namikaze appeared.
"Shūichi!" Minato called out as he handed over a scroll.
"Minato-sensei, this is..." Shūichi reached out and took the scroll.
Minato smiled and said, "This is a special request I made to the Third Hokage, Konoha's Swordsmanship style."
"I've noticed that you've become proficient in using short swords, so I thought this would be perfect for you."
Shūichi was immediately overjoyed and quickly bowed. "Thank you, Minato-sensei."
Minato laughed and said, "I haven't trained in swordsmanship specifically, so I can't guide you in the details of your practice. However, the Uchiha clan's swordsmanship is also quite formidable within Konoha's style, so Shisui will be an excellent sparring partner for you."
Uchiha Shisui smiled right away, "If you need any help, Shūichi, just let me know."
Shūichi thanked them both repeatedly. He certainly wouldn't be shy about asking for help.
After giving away the scroll, Minato announced, "This mission will take us to the Daimyō's residence. It should take about seven days, so make your preparations and meet at the village gate in half an hour."
"Understood!"
The three of them immediately dispersed.
Returning home, Shūichi began packing his things while also checking the tags in his mind's Tag Tree.
On the tag tree, the Swordsmanship Expert tag had appeared.
Despite becoming proficient with the short sword earlier, it hadn't triggered—until now.
Tag: Swordsmanship Expert
Condition to Obtain: Master the Konoha Swordsmanship style assigned by Minato Namikaze and win a swordsmanship duel against Kakashi Hatake.
Effect: Swordsmanship talent increased by 100%, and the designated weapon's quality improved by 100%.
Looking at the unlock conditions, Shūichi couldn't help but laugh wryly.
Kakashi again!
"Fortunately, though it's a swordsmanship duel, it won't be purely about swordsmanship."
Shūichi knew that if it were purely about swordsmanship, he wouldn't have much confidence in beating Kakashi.
After all, Kakashi had been trained by Sakumo Hatake and possessed extraordinary natural talent.
As for why it was called "swordsmanship" when it involved a sword, in the ninja world, the term "sword" encompasses swords and is often referred to as "true sword." Therefore, whether it's a knife or a sword, it's generally referred to as swordsmanship.
The Konoha Swordsmanship style is quite comprehensive and serves as an umbrella term for various techniques. For instance, the Uchiha clan's swordsmanship, the Hatake style, and even the Flying Thunder God Slash of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, are all included.
Additionally, techniques like the Dance of the Crescent Moon, Moon Shadow, and Leaf-Style Willow are all highly representative.
After placing the scroll into his backpack, Shūichi headed out to the village gate, where he met up with Minato and the others before setting off towards the Daimyō's residence.
This mission allowed plenty of time, so they didn't travel at a fast pace.
Along the way, Minato briefed the team on their mission: "This time, we're going at the invitation of the Daimyō."
"The Daimyō?" Kurama Sanyō's eyes widened with excitement. "Does that mean the Daimyō has heard of us?"
Minato smiled, "No, the Daimyō wants to form his own ninja guard and has already recruited a few people. He requested that the village send some ninja to exchange ideas with them, so the Third Hokage assigned this mission to us."
Kurama Sanyō was a bit disappointed but then asked with some confusion, "But isn't Konoha the ninja village of the Land of Fire? Why would the Daimyō need to form his own ninja guard when he could just have the village send people?"
This was also something Uchiha Shisui was curious about, so he looked toward Minato.
Minato, however, turned to Shūichi, "Shūichi, what do you think?"
Shūichi pretended to think for a moment before responding, "The Hokage is the Hokage, and the Daimyō is the Daimyō!"
"The Land of Fire is the Land of Fire, and the Daimyō is the Daimyō!"
Kurama Sanyō looked confused.
Uchiha Shisui seemed deep in thought.
Minato explained, "While the village can dispatch ninja squads to guard the Daimyō in rotation, for the Daimyō, having his own ninja who answer directly to him is more practical."
Shūichi added, "It's like how the Hokage has his own ANBU, rather than giving orders to use Root."
Kurama Sanyō suddenly understood. "I see!"
Minato, however, was inwardly impressed, "Such sharp intuition..."
Before the Second Shinobi World War, there wasn't much of an issue, but after the war ended, the Hokage indeed only issued orders to Root through Danzo, the leader of Root, rather than directly.
Of course, under normal circumstances, this was standard practice.
Just as the Hokage wouldn't directly command Shūichi Hoshita, Uchiha Shisui, or Kurama Sanyō to carry out a mission but would instead give orders to him as the Jonin commander—unless the Jonin commander was unavailable.
But now, Root and Danzo...
Minato furrowed his brow in thought.
At this moment, Uchiha Shisui mused aloud, "It's like ninja tools—borrowing someone else's is naturally not as good as having your own."
Shūichi nodded, "Exactly, and since people have thoughts of their own, they're even harder to control than tools."
Minato smiled and shifted the topic, "Alright, that's the mission briefing. When we arrive at the Daimyō's residence, do your best to make a good impression. We want the Daimyō to know that Konoha's ninja are the best."
"Understood!"
"Don't worry, Minato-sensei, we won't let anyone underestimate us!"
...
Although the topic had shifted, Shūichi Hoshita's thoughts remained focused.
The Daimyō wants to form ninja directly under his command. Is this the beginning of the Twelve Guardian Ninja?
This made Shūichi think of Sarutobi Asuma.
Then he remembered Sarutobi Shinnosuke.
Compared to his older brother, Sarutobi Asuma indeed seemed quite rebellious.
Back in the Ninja Academy, when Hiruzen Sarutobi came to lecture on the Will of Fire, this guy challenged him several times.
But at only five or six years old, that was understandable.
Wasn't Kakashi also a bit arrogant?
"Maybe I'm the odd one out," Shūichi thought with an inward smile.
…
By noon, the four of them had arrived at the Daimyō's residence in the largest and most bustling city in the Land of Fire.
The weather was clear, and the streets were lively, offering a feast for the eyes.
Minato Namikaze wasn't in a hurry to meet the Daimyō and took the time to stroll around with Shūichi and the others, even buying various snacks.
At 2 PM, the four of them entered the Daimyō's mansion and were introduced to the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.
Upon seeing the four of them, the Daimyō appeared slightly displeased. "Did the Hokage only send you?"
A young man who looked no older than twenty, along with three children. Was the Hokage underestimating him? Brushing him off?
At this moment, all four of them were kneeling on one knee. Upon hearing this, Minato Namikaze slightly raised his head and said, "Rest assured, Lord Daimyo. Shisui and the others are exceptionally skilled Genin, who have previously defeated enemies in the Land of Rain that far outnumbered them."
"As for me, I am a Jonin of Konoha and am willing to undergo any test Daimyo-sama deems fit. I assure you, we will not disappoint."
The Daimyō of the Land of Fire remained noncommittal, responding coolly, "Very well then, let's put that to the test."
With that, he covered his mouth with his fan and whispered some instructions to a nearby attendant.