"Damn it..."
"It's not enough!"
"Too slow!"
Hoshita Shūichi gritted his teeth, pouring out chakra from within himself, desperately trying to control it to regenerate and heal Kurama Sanyō's wounds.
But the speed was still too slow.
If he spread the power across all four wounds, none of them would heal quickly enough.
Even when he focused his power on the two most critical wounds, the speed was still insufficient.
The arterial wound healed the fastest, but the heart was slower.
At this rate, Sanyō would still be dead due to massive bleeding from either the lungs or liver.
In his current situation, Shūichi could only manage to create a single shadow clone. But without the Regeneration Technique, the clone could only use basic medical ninjutsu, which was inadequate for treating such extensive internal injuries where the organs were shredded.
These injuries were caused by the Iwa-nin's notorious "Rock Gun Technique," where the stone bullets not only caused a cavity effect but also scattered fragments upon impact.
Though Sanyō had a penetrating wound, the internal damage was far more complex.
If there were multiple medics, they could use the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique to remove the stone fragments, followed by the Mystical Palm Technique for the superficial injuries, and then collaborate on the Regeneration Technique to handle the internal damage. Only then would it be possible to treat such wounds quickly.
But now, Hoshita Shūichi was alone.
"Shisui, find Minato Sensei!"
Shūichi shouted.
Uchiha Shisui immediately created a shadow clone to search for Minato Namikaze, while he stayed behind, wary of the four Kusagakure ninjas.
However, as Shisui's clone departed, a loud crash resounded behind them as the wall was blasted through, and several figures charged straight for the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
"Stop them!"
The four Kusagakure ninjas rushed forward, but with the sound of thunder, they were all sent flying one after another.
"A brat from the Uchiha clan, with a single tomoe Sharingan..."
The tall man dressed as a Kusagakure man stared intently at the wary Uchiha Shisui. "You three take the ninja tool; I'll capture this Uchiha brat and bring back his Sharingan."
Before he could finish his sentence, his hands had already completed a series of hand seals.
Lightning Release: Lightning Illusion Flash of Lightning Pillar
A blinding flash of light erupted, making it impossible for anyone to see.
The tall man then lunged at the now blinded Uchiha Shisui.
Boom!
Before he could get close, the tall man was sent flying back, crashing into the wall.
Minato Namikaze appeared, flinging a kunai, and in a flash, the three ninjas who were about to take the Box of Ultimate Bliss were struck down with screams of agony.
Within a second, the enemies were eliminated. Minato Namikaze returned to Hoshita Shūichi's side. "Shūichi..."
"Minato Sensei, Sanyō's injuries are too severe," Shūichi quickly said. "Even the medical scroll isn't enough."
"Can you take Sanyō back to Konoha, or use the Flying Thunder God to bring...?"
Shūichi trailed off, unable to finish his sentence.
Even if Tsunade were here without her hemophobia, she might not be able to handle such injuries alone.
Now, with Tsunade suffering from hemophobia, even bringing Nono Yakushi might not be enough.
But Kusagakure was far from Konoha, and Minato Namikaze wasn't in his Edo Tensei state, nor did he have Kurama's chakra within him.
He might be able to take one person, but with more, his chakra would likely be insufficient.
As for bringing Sanyō back to Konoha...
Looking at the critically injured Sanyō, Minato was also deeply saddened. "It's impossible to reach Konoha in one go, and with my current chakra, I can't teleport two people over such a long distance in a single trip."
"And if I take one person, without you, Sanyō wouldn't survive the journey back to Konoha."
Uchiha Shisui trembled upon hearing this. "Minato Sensei, is there no other way?"
"Ugh... ugh..."
Sanyō, who had been unconscious, suddenly coughed, blood foam spilling from his mouth.
He opened his fading eyes and vaguely saw the silhouettes of Hoshita Shūichi and the others, a faint smile appearing on his face. "Looks like... I can't... keep going with you guys..."
Shūichi opened his mouth but couldn't bring himself to make a promise of recovery.
Sanyō slightly turned his head, his gaze falling on Shūichi. "Shū... Shūichi, you've done... exceptionally well... to give me time... to say goodbye."
Shūichi gritted his teeth, holding back his tears.
But Sanyō's life was slipping away quickly. He looked at Minato Namikaze one last time, with regret in his voice. "I'm sorry, Minato Sensei, I couldn't give you a wedding gift."
Minato Namikaze opened his mouth but could only say, "Sanyō, you will be a hero of Konoha!"
Sanyō's gaze began to fade. He opened his mouth again, his voice growing faint. "I... I never wanted to be a hero. I just wanted to be with you guys..."
Shisui lowered his head, unable to hide the sudden, intense crimson light that flared in his eyes.
...
Kurama Sanyō could not be saved.
As Shūichi slowly withdrew his trembling hands, he stared at Sanyō's lifeless body, the faint smile of regret still on his face.
Shūichi had seen death in Konoha Hospital before.
Countless shinobi had died under his care.
But for the first time, he felt death so close, so deeply sorrowful.
And as Sanyō's friend, he felt utterly powerless in the face of his death.
Suddenly, Shūichi began to understand why Tsunade, a strong kunoichi who had experienced countless battles, would develop hemophobia—a condition that might seem almost laughable to others.
If one day, Nono were to die like this before his eyes...
If Shizune were to die like this before his eyes...
If Tenka, Minato Sensei, Kakashi, or Guy...
Just imagining it filled Shūichi with an inexplicable fear and resistance.
Minato Namikaze patted Hoshita Shūichi on the shoulder and was about to speak when his expression suddenly changed. "Shisui, retreat!"
Shisui had already sensed the danger and immediately vanished with the Body Flicker Technique.
The moment Shūichi and the others disappeared, the Box of Ultimate Bliss, which had been silent until now, suddenly launched an attack on its own.
An invisible force swept through, engulfing the four Kusagakure shinobi, as well as the four that Minato had already defeated, pulling them all into the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
Minato appeared outside the gate, his expression solemn. Although the Box of Ultimate Bliss did not attack them again, it emanated a malevolent aura and intense chakra fluctuations.
Shisui, his Sharingan glowing red, stared at the Box of Ultimate Bliss. "Minato Sensei, it seems this ninja tool absorbed their chakra."
Minato Namikaze nodded. "Shūichi, we must seal it!"
Shūichi nodded silently, blocking out his grief as he activated double focus mode.
He spread out the sealing scroll again, and together with Minato, formed hand seals and pressed their hands against the scroll. Seals immediately spread towards the Box of Ultimate Bliss.
This time, there were no complications. The Eight Trigrams Seal was completed successfully, sealing the Box of Ultimate Bliss. The malevolent aura receded, and the fluctuating chakra calmed.
As soon as the sealing was complete, Kusagakure's Mu Wei arrived. "Jōnin Minato, our village leader has been killed in battle."
Shūichi and the others exchanged surprised looks.
Mu Wei glanced at Sanyō's lifeless body on the ground and apologized. "I'm terribly sorry. Our leader was ambushed and killed, which is why we couldn't come to help sooner."
The three remained silent.
At that moment, Shūichi, having dropped out of high-focus mode, felt a surge of irritation and spoke up. "There should be attackers who managed to escape, right?"
Mu Wei nodded. "Yes, they were very powerful. We couldn't stop them."
Hoshita Shūichi turned to Minato Namikaze. "Minato Sensei, I want to do something for Sanyō."
Uchiha Shisui quickly added, "So do I."
Minato Namikaze glanced at Shisui's three-tomoe Sharingan and nodded. "Be careful, both of you. I'll come after you once things are settled here."
He handed the Flying Thunder God kunai to Shūichi.
Taking the kunai, Shūichi and Shisui headed west, leaving Kusagakure.
The two followed the tracks, but after some distance, they halted. Uchiha Shisui examined the trail and said, "They've split up!"
Shūichi analyzed carefully. "These aren't shadow clones. Let's just follow one trail!"
Shisui nodded, and they chose the trail on the left.
Ten minutes later, they passed through an area of flooding water. As the water rippled, a figure emerged from beneath, firing several rock bullets straight at the backs of Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui.
But in the next moment, their figures shattered like illusions.
"Not good, genjutsu!"
The Iwa-nin realized too late, and the next moment, his eyes were locked onto a pair of crimson, three-tomoe Sharingan. His eyelids grew heavy, and he began to drift into sleep.
The Iwa-nin, hiding in the water, had already been discovered. The genjutsu he was caught in was a masterful deception.
But just as he was hypnotized, the Iwa-nin burst into a puff of smoke.
Shadow Clone!
Shisui immediately warned, "Shūichi, we need to be even more careful. This guy is probably a Jōnin."
Hoshita Shūichi nodded, continuing forward.
Uchiha Shisui quickly followed.
They had failed to protect Sanyō, but from now on, he would use his "Ominous Eye" to safeguard his friends!
After pursuing for a while, Shūichi suddenly stopped.
At that moment, the Iwa-nin, hiding behind a giant mushroom and a tree, frowned. "These brats are not simple."
"The one with the Sharingan is particularly troublesome, with his three-tomoe."
He was indeed the one left behind to cover the retreat, and as Uchiha Shisui had guessed, he was an Iwa-nin Jōnin.
However, just as the Iwa-nin was contemplating how to take them down one by one, Shūichi suddenly leaped into action.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The air exploded as blazing white fire lotuses bloomed beneath Shūichi's feet, propelling him at high speed towards the Iwa-nin's hiding spot.
"What?"
The Iwa-nin's eyes widened in disbelief. "How is this possible?"
"Genjutsu?"
"No, it's not genjutsu!"
At that moment, as Shūichi soared through the air, he drew his blade. The instant he raised the sword with both hands, blue flames erupted along the blade, forming a massive, slightly ethereal blue sword.
He slashed it down towards the Iwa-nin hiding behind a tree, despite the distance of several meters.
"This brat…"
The Iwa-nin was shocked again, momentarily hesitating before throwing his kunai.
But before the kunai could reach its target, it was swiftly intercepted by Shisui's shuriken.
Boom!
The thick tree trunk was split open by the slash. The Iwa-nin leaped back, but not before a charred line appeared across his chest.
His clothing and flesh had been seared by the burning blade, and the excruciating pain contorted the Iwa-nin's face.
At that moment, Shisui's shuriken attacked once more, while Shūichi, still in the air, unleashed a barrage of flames from his mouth, attaching themselves to the shuriken.
Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson!
Despite the intense pain, the Iwa-nin drew his sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
He deflected each shuriken, but Shūichi was already closing in.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Metal clashed with metal, and sparks flew as the two figures engaged in a fierce battle within the forest of gigantic plants.
Shisui moved swiftly, his three-tomoe Sharingan spinning as he kept a close eye on the combatants, ready to assist at any moment.
Suddenly, a blue light flared.
The Iwa-nin's sword was cleaved in two by the Totsuka Blade. In shock, he still attempted to slash at Shūichi with the broken blade, while his left hand reached for a kunai to stab Shūichi in the abdomen.
But Shūichi ignored the kunai aimed at him and brought his sword down again. The blue-flamed blade easily severed the Iwa-nin's broken sword, then sliced through his arm.
Almost simultaneously, the Iwa-nin's kunai pierced Shūichi's vest and stabbed into his abdomen.
This action shocked Shisui, as Shūichi could have easily dodged the attack if he had just given up on his own strike.
The Iwa-nin let out a scream of agony, using the tree trunk to push himself back and away.
As the kunai was pulled out, the wound in Shūichi's abdomen began to bleed, but it quickly healed.
Yin Healing Wound Destruction!
Shūichi didn't even flinch, thanks to his 10x focus mode. He watched as the retreating, one-armed Iwa-nin, despite his intense pain, still managed to throw a kunai with an explosive tag to block Shisui's Fireball Jutsu.
Shūichi then unleashed a blazing white beam of light from his mouth, undeterred by the burns that blistered his lips.
The high-temperature ray shot forward with incredible speed. The Iwa-nin instinctively raised his short sword and tilted his head to the side.
In the next moment, the beam pierced through the short sword and grazed past the Iwa-nin's ear.
But just as the Iwa-nin thought he had narrowly avoided the attack, the beam, guided by Hoshita Shūichi's movements, lowered and slashed across the Iwa-nin's neck.
In an instant, his head was severed from his body.
Shisui appeared beside Shūichi, concern in his voice. "Shūichi, you..."
Shūichi exhaled a long breath, feeling a sense of relief wash over him as he smiled and said, "Don't worry, with Yin Healing Wound Destruction, the wound has already healed."
Shisui glanced at Shūichi's blistered lips.
Shūichi explained helplessly, "It's an incomplete jutsu."
The high-temperature ray was merely a jutsu in form; it didn't even have a proper name yet.
Uchiha Shisui felt reassured, then asked, "Should we continue the pursuit?"
Shūichi looked at the Iwa-nin's fallen body and shook his head. "The enemy's situation is unclear. Continuing to chase them could be dangerous. Let's wait for Minato Sensei."
He had been driven by pent-up frustration, but now that he had vented it, his rationality had returned.
Sitting on top of the large mushroom cap, Hoshita Shūichi glanced at Uchiha Shisui's three-tomoe Sharingan.
Uchiha Shisui had a gentle smile on his face, but there was a hint of sadness in his voice. "These are cursed, ominous eyes."
Hoshita Shūichi shook his head. "To me, these are eyes that can turn grief into strength."
Uchiha Shisui was taken aback.
Shūichi continued, "Everyone dies eventually, whether it's from war, illness, or old age."
"When a person dies, their light goes out, but the grief remains with those who survive."
"The living are always more important than the dead. To transform grief into strength to protect those who are still alive—how could that be considered ominous?"
Though his words might seem like mere platitudes, they were not without merit.
To Uchiha Shisui, these words were like a bolt of lightning, piercing through the gloom in his heart.
His character was indeed gentle and sunny, but that didn't mean he had no sorrow within him.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have awakened his Sharingan with three tomoe immediately after the death of Sanyō.
He just hid his sorrow beneath his gentle demeanor.
Since his eyes were already considered cursed, he felt that he shouldn't let this curse affect others. Instead, he believed he should use his warmth and kindness to counteract the curse and sadness.
This was his ninja way!
But after hearing Shūichi's perspective, Uchiha Shisui felt enlightened, as if a guiding light had illuminated the path before him.
From this moment on, he felt he was no longer walking in darkness!
"Shūichi, you're right!"
Uchiha Shisui smiled with newfound clarity and warmth. "Turning grief into strength to protect the living—this is the true purpose of the Sharingan!"
...
After their conversation, Shūichi had not only convinced himself but also managed to change Shisui's mindset.
With the blisters in his mouth now healed, Shūichi asked, "Shisui, this jutsu of mine generates such high temperatures. Is there any way to avoid burning my mouth?"
Shisui responded, "Shūichi, your chakra control is exceptional. I've never seen anyone better at manipulating Fire Release, both in terms of nature and form, not even the leader of my clan."
"So you don't necessarily have to release it through your mouth."
"Ordinary shinobi often use their mouths because the throat and mouth are better suited for chakra gathering."
Hoshita Shūichi nodded in agreement.
Uchiha Shisui continued, "But your abilities aren't bound by those limitations."
"For instance, you could use your hands. While there would still be a risk of burns, you could create an internal and external layering."
Hoshita Shūichi had a flash of insight, recalling Pakura's Scorch Release fireballs.
Scorch Release fireballs were orange-red on the outside, with a searing white core.
With that in mind…
Just as Hoshita Shūichi was about to experiment, Minato Namikaze suddenly appeared beside them.
"Minato Sensei!"
Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui immediately stood up.
Minato Namikaze breathed a quiet sigh of relief seeing them unharmed, then said, "I've sealed away Sanyō's body in a scroll."
"The leader of Kusagakure did indeed die at the hands of Iwa-nin."
"However, given today's attack, there might be a traitor within Kusagakure."
Uchiha Shisui pondered, "If there's a traitor within Kusagakure, that's an internal matter. We can't intervene directly, or it could spark conflict between our villages."
"Even though the Kusagakure leader was killed by Iwa-nin, those Iwa-nin weren't wearing any identifying symbols."
"Kusagakure might choose not to pursue the matter to ensure their survival."
Hoshita Shūichi scoffed, "The next leader of Kusagakure could very well be pro-Iwa."
Minato Namikaze nodded. "Exactly."
He had considered that possibility as well.
After a brief pause, Hoshita Shūichi asked, "Minato Sensei, are we going to continue pursuing the Iwa-nin?"
Minato Namikaze nodded. "I've already forced Kusagakure to issue us a mission to hunt down the attackers."
"Although using jutsu commonly associated with Iwa-nin doesn't necessarily mean they were Iwa-nin, whoever the culprits are, they must be held accountable."
"So…"
"Let's go!"
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Minato Namikaze, Hoshita Shūichi, and Uchiha Shisui vanished from their spots, using the Body Flicker Technique.
The three of them tracked the Iwa-nin all the way to the borders of the Land of Grass, where they finally caught up to them.
Or rather, the Iwa-nin had regrouped here, waiting for their rear guard.
At this moment, five figures, now back in their Iwa-nin attire, were waiting at the bridge.
Kannabi Bridge!
To Hoshita Shūichi, this bridge was legendary.
After a quick observation, he finally understood why the Third Shinobi World War would leave such a mark here.
This massive bridge spanned a wide, fast-flowing river, with mountains on either side.
That was likely the reason for the river's rapid current.
Such a fast-moving river wasn't something just any shinobi could cross, especially not while transporting supplies.
As for using scrolls to seal and transport kunai or other supplies, creating such scrolls wasn't easy. They were expensive, had limited space, and weren't practical for large-scale material transport.
Squinting at Kannabi Bridge, Hoshita Shūichi felt an urge to destroy it.
But he knew that if he did, both Iwa-nin and Kusagakure would likely confront Konoha together!
In the worst-case scenario, it could trigger an international incident.
...
"Minato Sensei, these guys have resumed their Iwa-nin identities. Should we attack?" Uchiha Shisui asked.
Minato Namikaze nodded. "They're still on this side of the bridge, meaning they're still in the Land of Grass."
"Also, Shisui, later on, capture one of them alive and deliver them to Kusagakure!"
Uchiha Shisui quickly responded, "Understood!"
"Attack!"
Minato Namikaze gave the order, disappearing from his spot before the sound of his voice even faded.
"Enemy attack!"
The Iwa-nin shouted, blocking a barrage of kunai and shuriken. However, under the cover of Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui, Minato Namikaze appeared behind them.
Holding the Tostuka Blade, Hoshita Shūichi addressed the five Iwa-nin. "You're surrounded. Surrender your weapons, and you might live!"
"You arrogant brat!"
"Die!"
The Iwa-nin facing Shūichi and Shisui yelled. One threw a shuriken while charging forward with a drawn blade, and the other stayed back to form hand seals. The remaining three attacked Minato.
The battle erupted instantly.
Shūichi snorted, easily deflecting the shuriken with his sword. He then opened his mouth, unleashing a searing white fireline that quickly expanded into a massive white-hot fireball.
The charging Iwa-nin leaped into the air to avoid the fireball and threw several more shuriken from above.
Clang, clang, clang.
Shisui jumped up, deflecting all the shuriken, his eyes transforming into a three-tomoe Sharingan as he locked eyes with the Iwa-nin midair.
In an instant, the Iwa-nin's eyes rolled back, and he plummeted to the ground.
Simultaneously, another Iwa-nin finished his hand seals, unleashing a volley of rock bullets. However, they melted before they could penetrate the fireball due to the intense heat.
Boom, boom, boom!
Burnt craters appeared on the ground as Shūichi moved at high speed. The Iwa-nin who had just performed the jutsu didn't even have time to react before Shūichi decapitated him from the side.
On the other side, Minato finished his fight even faster, defeating all the Iwa-nin.
After tossing the four Iwa-nin corpses into the river, Shūichi, Shisui, and Minato took the Iwa-nin that Shisui had subdued with a genjutsu back to Kusagakure.
Meanwhile, on the other side of Kannabi Bridge, another Iwa-nin watched helplessly as his comrades were wiped out.
It wasn't that he didn't want to help, but the battle ended before he could even react.
Now, he didn't dare to reveal himself.
Despite having a mission to report back, he didn't dare send out a distress signal to the border patrol unit.
He was sure that before the patrol unit could arrive, those three Konoha shinobi would kill him.
Given the choice between his life and the mission, he chose the former.
...
After handing over the prisoner in Kusagakure, Shūichi, Shisui, and Minato had just finished lunch, arranged by the Kusagakure shinobi, when a Kusagakure Jōnin came to invite Minato to discuss some matters. They also asked Hoshita Shūichi to help treat the wounded.
Although Shūichi harbored some resentment towards Kusagakure, he agreed, remembering Karin's mother.
"Shisui, go with Shūichi," Minato Namikaze instructed.
Uchiha Shisui nodded seriously. "Understood!"
The group split up, with Shūichi and Shisui heading to the chaotic Kusagakure hospital.
Shūichi quickly scanned the area and locked onto a figure with red hair.
It was a girl around sixteen or seventeen years old!
At that moment, the girl was extending her hand to allow a severely injured Kusagakure shinobi to bite it.
"That's her…"
Shūichi looked away but couldn't help thinking, "If we had found her earlier, perhaps we could have saved Sanyō…"
But as soon as the thought arose, Shūichi pushed it aside.
Given Sanyō's severe injuries, no one could say for sure what would happen if the red-haired girl was bitten.
With a silent sigh, Shūichi steadied his mind and began treating the wounded.
Following Shūichi's gaze, Shisui also noticed the red-haired girl. "Could she be from the Uzumaki Clan too?"
...
As evening approached, Shūichi finished treating the wounded and was leaving when he happened to see the red-haired girl walking away, her head down, looking exhausted.
When he returned to their lodging, Minato had already come back. Shūichi immediately spoke up, "Minato Sensei, I want to take someone from Kusagakure with us."
Minato was momentarily surprised, and Uchiha Shisui asked, "Shūichi, is it that red-haired girl?"
"Red-haired girl?"
Minato Namikaze caught on. "Like Kushina?"
Shūichi nodded. "She seems to be from the Uzumaki Clan, just like Kushina-san."
"She has a unique constitution. The Kusagakure shinobi only need to bite her, and their wounds heal rapidly."
"Minato Sensei, whether it's because of her Uzumaki heritage or her abilities, she's worth bringing back to Konoha."
Minato nodded and then gathered more information about the red-haired girl. He quickly grasped the situation.
She seemed to be around Kushina's age, and they might even know each other.
"If Kushina had a childhood friend around, she wouldn't be so lonely when I'm on missions."
"Not to mention her exceptional Yang Release powers…"
Minato immediately made up his mind. "I'll go negotiate right away."
Shūichi added, "Minato Sensei, what if Kusagakure refuses?"
Minato smiled. "Don't worry. Kusagakure has no reason to refuse, especially at a time like this."
"If they do refuse… we'll take her by force!"
Minato wasn't one to stick strictly to the rules!
From what Shūichi described, if that girl stayed in Kusagakure, her fate likely wouldn't be good.
With that, Minato left the room.
After about half an hour, Minato returned, accompanied by a timid red-haired girl.
Shūichi's gaze fell on the red-haired girl, silently observing her.
Her red hair was loose, and she looked fragile and pitiable. However, the old-fashioned glasses she wore greatly concealed her beauty.
Minato Namikaze introduced her, "This is Asuka."
Shisui smiled warmly, "Hello, I'm Uchiha Shisui!"
Shūichi was just about to speak when Asuka suddenly said, "Um... your companion is already dead. There's nothing I can do to heal him."
Her words left all three of them in an awkward silence.
Asuka, seeing their reactions, instinctively took a step back, fear welling up inside her.
After a brief pause, Minato spoke, "We're not asking you to heal anyone. We want to bring you back to Konoha."
"Konoha…" Asuka opened her mouth, then fell silent again.
The atmosphere became tense once more, and Minato felt a little awkward.
He knew a bit about the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan. It happened right before the Second Shinobi World War, and several villages participated in the attack—Kirigakure, Iwagakure, Kumogakure, Sunagakure, and some smaller villages. The Land of Whirlpools was practically wiped out under the onslaught.
At the time, Konoha was powerless to help.
When the war broke out, the remaining survivors of the Uzumaki Clan scattered across the lands.
For Konoha, the destruction of the Uzumaki Clan meant their extinction, and the outbreak of the Second Shinobi World War left no room to search for survivors.
...
"Asuka…"
Shūichi finally broke the silence, speaking bluntly, "We're not really asking for your permission. Taking you from Kusagakure wasn't Minato Sensei's decision, nor Konoha's. It's mine—Hoshita Shūichi's!"
Asuka stared at the much shorter Shūichi in shock. "You…"
"Is it because of my abilities?"
Shūichi didn't directly respond. Instead, he said, "Your abilities could have been a precious gift, but because you are so weak, they've become a curse."
"If you stay in Kusagakure, you'll eventually exhaust your life through this form of treatment."
"And it won't stop with you. If you marry and have children, your descendants will suffer the same fate."
"Asuka, you don't want your daughter, or son, to live a life covered in bite marks, ending their days in misery, do you?"
Asuka was stunned, but fear rose from within her. Stumbling backward, she collapsed to the ground in a kneeling position.
Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Shisui exchanged glances, both feeling a bit strange about Shūichi's words. While everything he said was true, something about it felt a little off.
Shūichi continued, "Asuka, the truth is, you don't have any other options."
"Even if you refuse, I will still take you to Konoha by force. Leaving your abilities here in Kusagakure would be a complete waste."
Shūichi stepped forward, standing in front of Asuka. His voice was calm yet firm as he persuaded her, "However, if you come with me to Konoha, I will teach you medical ninjutsu, so you won't need to use your ability in this way anymore."
"I'll also teach you how to protect yourself and the people you care about."
"And most importantly, when you become one of us, I, Minato Sensei, Shisui, the Third Hokage, and many others will stand by you. We'll have your back, supporting and protecting you!"
With that, Shūichi extended his hand toward Asuka.
Asuka looked up at him, seeing the sincerity and determination in his eyes. "Th-thank you…" she whispered, reaching out her hand.
Shūichi grasped her cold, soft hand and pulled her to her feet.
However, Asuka stumbled, and in her panic, accidentally pulled Shūichi into her embrace.
"Ah… I'm sorry, Shūichi-kun!"
Asuka hurriedly apologized, quickly letting go of him.
Shūichi awkwardly sniffed, a little embarrassed.
Minato Namikaze immediately broke the tension. "Now that we've come to an agreement, let's get some rest. We'll head back to Konoha first thing in the morning."
"Yes, Minato Sensei!" Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui responded in unison.
Minato then made the arrangements. "Shisui, you'll stay with me. Shūichi, you stay with Asuka."
After setting up two rooms, Minato took Shisui and left.
Once they were gone, Shūichi felt more at ease.
Still, he thought to himself, I need thicker skin!
After a moment, Shūichi spoke to Asuka, "You can sleep in the bed. I'll stay by the door and keep watch."
With that, he sat cross-legged near the door.
Asuka opened her mouth as if to say something, but instead quietly nodded, turning toward the bed and lying down.
At first, she faced away from Shūichi, but before she realized it, she turned over, watching him through her glasses, observing his back.
Meanwhile, Shūichi's attention was focused on the mental "tag tree" in his mind.
Tag: Pioneer
Condition to Obtain: Develop at least 5 A-rank or higher ninja techniques, including but not limited to ninjutsu, sealing techniques, genjutsu, or taijutsu. If someone assists, you must play a key, pioneering role in the process.
Effect: Once per year, you can activate a "Flash of Insight" for 10 minutes. During this time, both comprehension and creativity are maximized.
Rasengan, Blue Flame Sky Blade, Blue Flame Waterfall Blade, Fiery Lotus Steps, Fire Release - Fiery Lotus of Buddha's Wrath.
Four A-rank techniques and one S-rank technique in total.
Shūichi had already partially mastered the A-rank sword technique, Blue Flame Waterfall Blade, before the mission. After repeated use in actual combat, the technique had finally become fully developed.
"Activate!"
With a thought, Shūichi activated the [Pioneer] tag on the mental tag tree. But instead of a blue glow, it lit up with a red one!
This was the first red tag he had unlocked, a tier even higher than the Master tags! The ability "Flash of Insight" that came with it was truly remarkable—maximum comprehension and creativity, both fully boosted.
"However, it only activates once a year, so I must use it wisely."
After unlocking the tag, Shūichi started planning, "First, I need to build a solid foundation. Even with maxed-out comprehension and creativity, without a base, it's like building castles in the air."
"Next, I should prepare the groundwork for techniques, so that I can use this ability at a critical moment."
"For example, I shouldn't waste this year's chance on developing the high-temperature ray technique."
"This year… it would be best to use it on mastering the S-rank sword technique and unlocking the [Swordsmanship Master] tag."
"Next year… if there's time, I'll focus on Wind Release."
"And then, medical ninjutsu..."
That night, Shūichi thought about many things.
Meanwhile, on the bed, Asuka also had a lot on her mind as she watched Shūichi's back. She felt a mixture of confusion, hope, anticipation, and fear of the unknown.
Unconsciously, she drifted into a deep sleep.
When she woke up, it was already daylight.
"Get up and wash up. We're about to set off."
A gentle voice echoed in her ears, and Asuka blinked in surprise.
It was the first time she had slept so soundly since her mother passed away.
Quickly, she got up, her face flushing as she hurried to wash up.
After breakfast, with a polite but indifferent farewell from the Kusagakure ninjas, Shūichi and the other three left the village.
They traveled swiftly, and only after entering the Land of Fire did they stop to rest.
As usual, Shūichi caught a couple of small animals, then brought Asuka to a small river to prepare them.
When she saw him laying out various medical tools, Asuka was stunned.
"This..."
Asuka opened her mouth to speak, but Shūichi reassured her, "Don't worry, they've all been sterilized."
"And as a medical ninja, you need to be proficient in using these tools."
"Although there's a technique like the Chakra Scalpel, these are still essential until you master it, even if they aren't usually used on the battlefield."
Asuka nodded, "I understand."
She then squatted beside him, assisting as Shūichi expertly prepared the animals. After that, he went to the river and caught two fish.
Fish soup and grilled meat—the taste was as good as ever.
But for Shūichi and the other two, things were no longer the same.
There were still four people, but everything had changed.
Unlike before, when they would chat and joke during meals, this one was eaten in silence.
After resting for half an hour, the team continued their journey.
Around 3 PM, they arrived at Konoha Village after going through registration. Together, they headed to the Hokage's office.
In the Hokage's office, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, was smoking his pipe as he listened to Minato Namikaze's report. When Minato finished, Hiruzen sighed, "Sanyō was a good kid. He's a hero of Konoha. The village will arrange his funeral."
"Let's hold it the day after tomorrow."
Minato nodded, "Yes."
He then added, "Shisui has already awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan."
Through the rising smoke, Hiruzen's eyes sharpened. "At his age... he surpasses even Kagami!"
"Shisui is indeed outstanding," Minato agreed. "Moreover, his character hasn't changed despite this."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction, "He's a child with a strong will."
Minato then brought up Asuka.
Hiruzen listened quietly and, after a moment of thought, said, "Let her stay with Shūichi for now. Once we're sure there are no issues, Kushina can meet her."
Minato agreed, "Understood."
Hiruzen then asked, "How is Shūichi doing?"
Knowing what he meant, Minato replied, "Though affected, he hasn't let it get him down."
"However, Shūichi has expressed a desire to continue his medical ninjutsu studies at Konoha Hospital."
Hiruzen nodded, contemplating, "In that case, let him study at the hospital, and have him teach Asuka as well."
"When the time is right, we'll arrange for him to train with Root and then join the Anbu."
"Shisui will be placed in a Chūnin squad."
With that, the Minato team was officially disbanded!
...
Both Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui had anticipated the disbandment.
It wasn't really a big deal, but Sanyō's death made it all the more painful.
Minato patted Shūichi and Shisui on the shoulder, "Go home and rest. Attend Sanyō's funeral the day after tomorrow."
"Yes, Minato Sensei!" Shūichi and Shisui responded, and the three of them went their separate ways.
After bringing Asuka home, Shūichi began to busy himself.
The two-bedroom apartment was a bit cramped for three people. Shūichi had been sleeping in the study most of the time, while the master bedroom belonged to Nonō Yakushi.
Now, with Asuka here, the study was cleared out for her, and Shūichi moved back to the master bedroom, setting up a tatami mat.
"Looks like I'll need to buy a house and move…"
After tidying up for over an hour, Nonō Yakushi returned home. She was surprised to see Asuka cleaning.
"Director!"
Seeing Nonō return, Shūichi was in high spirits and quickly introduced her, "This is Asuka, formerly from the Land of Whirlpools. She'll be learning medical ninjutsu from me from now on!"
Nonō noticed Asuka's red hair and immediately understood. She smiled and said, "Hello, I'm Nonō Yakushi. You can just call me Nonō."
Asuka quickly nodded, "Yes, Nonō-senpai!"
"Don't be nervous."
Nonō took Asuka's hand and smiled, "Since Shūichi brought you here, consider this your home."
"Come on, let's go buy groceries together."
"Do you have any favorite dishes?"
As she spoke, she was already out the door, leaving Shūichi scratching his head with a wry smile.
March 10, Konoha Year 41.
A light spring rain fell, as if even the heavens understood the sorrow of the day.
In front of the Memorial Stone, Shūichi Hoshita, Uchiha Shisui, Minato Namikaze, and Kushina Uzumaki, all dressed in black, gathered to bid farewell to Sanyō Kurama.
Feeling the coolness of the spring rain, Shūichi's thoughts drifted to the Pure Land.
What could the Pure Land be like?
Could it be connected to the Sage of Six Paths?
Is that why there's no reincarnation in this world, except for Indra and Asura?
But even Indra and Asura only reincarnate their chakra, over and over again.
Should I learn the Edo Tensei in the future and summon Sanyō for a chat?
Maybe not. If I become strong enough, I could just use a summoning technique to bring out his soul, without even needing a sacrifice.
Shūichi's thoughts wandered until he felt a tap on his shoulder, snapping him back to reality. Turning around, he saw it was Kushina Uzumaki.
"Shūichi, come over to our place for dinner tomorrow. Jiraiya-sensei will be there too!" Kushina invited him.
Shūichi nodded, "I'll be there on time, Kushina-san."
Kushina gently ruffled Shūichi's hair and softly said, "Don't think too much about it."
Minato, standing beside them, added, "You can also learn sensory ninjutsu from me tomorrow."
Shūichi nodded eagerly.
As the crowd gradually dispersed, Uchiha Shisui came over to Shūichi and invited him, "Shūichi, want to come feed the crows with me?"
"Sure!" Shūichi agreed, and the two walked away together.
Goodbye, Sanyō...
(T/N: I will miss you, bro, Take care of Six Paths in Pure Land.)
...
At Uchiha Shisui's home, Shūichi and Shisui fed the crows together. Shūichi decided that once he bought a new house, he would take this nest of crows that Shisui had given him and raise them there.
Yes, he should also start working on the Crow Clone Jutsu.
With the Clone Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Fire Release Clone Technique, and soon the Crow Clone Technique, he would be just one step away from unlocking the [Clone Expert] tag.
As noon approached, Shūichi said his goodbyes to Shisui and returned home.
As expected, Nonō Yakushi had already prepared lunch and was waiting with Asuka.
After lunch, Nonō left for Konoha Hospital, leaving Shūichi and Asuka sitting on the living room floor, facing each other.
Shūichi extended his hand, motioning for Asuka to do the same. Asuka quickly complied, and Shūichi took hold of her hand.
"Medical ninjutsu utilizes Yang Release chakra, which isn't a commonly used chakra nature."
As Shūichi spoke, a warm Yang Release chakra flowed from his right hand into Asuka's. "Asuka, your body is special. You naturally possess strong Yang Release chakra, so you should be able to grasp this chakra nature transformation easily."
"Chakra is said to be a force that connects minds. Asuka, try to feel this chakra carefully."
Nervously, Asuka nodded repeatedly.
However, the warmth of Shūichi's chakra, like the gentle sun on a winter's day, calmed her nerves considerably.
Following his instructions, she lowered her gaze and began to focus intently.
Gradually, she started to perceive many things, or rather, information.
"Isn't it fascinating?" Shūichi's voice suddenly echoed in her mind.
The next moment, Asuka found herself in another world.
"This is the world of the mind!" Shūichi said with a smile. "Communicating here is much easier than in the outside world, and many things that are hard to express with words can be felt with the heart."
"Back then, Director Nonō taught me how to quickly master Yang Release chakra nature transformation in this way, and then learn medical ninjutsu."
Asuka nodded, then shyly said, "I can feel... your feelings for Nonō-senpai..."
Shūichi froze for a moment, then his face darkened.
Asuka, like a frightened little rabbit, quickly retreated, sensing Shūichi's embarrassment and anger.
How scary!
In an instant, their mental connection was severed.
Opening his eyes, Shūichi almost jumped up in frustration.
He even regretted using this method to teach Asuka.
"You can practice on your own..." Shūichi muttered, standing up and quickly leaving the room.
Asuka sighed in relief, a blush spreading across her cheeks. "Luckily, Shūichi-kun couldn't sense my feelings..."
"But Shūichi-kun must be really lonely, which is why he has such feelings for Nonō-senpai, right?"
"Shūichi-kun taught me medical ninjutsu this way, so I can't let him down."
With that thought, Asuka lowered her gaze, recalling the feeling of Yang Release chakra, and began to try channeling her own power.
Meanwhile, Shūichi, now feeling slightly more composed, walked out of his room and saw the green glow of medical chakra on Asuka's hand.
"This... She's already done it?"
Shūichi was stunned, feeling a bit down.
That was way too fast!
"This is what it means to be an overpowered genius!" Shūichi grumbled to himself.
He then thought of Nagato, who had mastered all six chakra nature transformations in three years.
Clearly, his abilities still weren't at that level!
Sitting back down in front of Asuka, Shūichi took her hand again, and they reentered the mindscape.
"Now that you've mastered Yang Release chakra nature transformation, let's start learning medical ninjutsu."
Asuka was taken aback, "Isn't this too fast?"
Shūichi decided to push her, "No, it's not."
"Let's begin. The first medical ninjutsu is the Mystical Palm Technique!"
...
True geniuses cannot be described by common logic.
In just one afternoon, Asuka was already able to perform the Mystical Palm Technique. Although she wasn't particularly proficient yet, it was still an impressive feat.
At this moment, Shūichi could somewhat understand how others felt when they were shocked by his development of the 'Fiery Lotus Steps' technique.
A genius should understand another genius.
So, the next day, Shūichi left Asuka in the care of Nonō Yakushi and sent her to the Konoha Hospital.
---
At the Namikaze residence.
When Shūichi arrived, Jiraiya was in the middle of talking about his upcoming new work.
Make-Out Paradise? (Icha Icha)
Probably not, right?
As Shūichi listened in, he realized it wasn't. Instead, it was The Tale of the Gutsy Ninja.
"This book will definitely be a bestseller and spread across the entire ninja world," Jiraiya said with a mix of imagination and innocence.
"Jiraiya-sensei is right; I'm sure it will," Kushina Uzumaki said with a smile, though her tone was slightly perfunctory.
She pulled Shūichi closer and said to Jiraiya, "Jiraiya-sensei, Minato is planning to officially take Shūichi as his disciple."
Jiraiya's attention immediately shifted, and he looked at Shūichi, "The youngest Chūnin in Konoha, truly remarkable."
He then turned to Minato, who was smiling, and said with emotion, "I never thought you'd take on a disciple, Minato!"
Minato smiled, "The things passed down from our predecessors must be inherited by the next generation."
Shūichi was taken aback. He had thought he was just here to learn sensory ninjutsu, but he hadn't expected to be taken as a disciple.
Previously, although he, Shisui Uchiha, and Sanyō Kurama referred to Minato Namikaze as their teacher, they weren't truly in a master-disciple relationship.
Their real relationship was that of a team leader and his team members(T/N: IT Guys Can Understand The Pain!), or a Jōnin and his subordinates.
A true master-disciple relationship was more like the one Shūichi had with Kimura-sensei at the Ninja Academy, which was distinct from the kind of lineage-based relationship between Minato and Jiraiya.
Of course, this also depended on the attitudes of the Jōnin and Chūnin involved.
Although there wasn't any special ceremony to mark the occasion, Jiraiya's presence seemed to serve as a witness.
After lunch, Jiraiya left gracefully, and Minato formally began teaching Shūichi the sensory ninjutsu he had mastered.
"Shūichi, this sensory ninjutsu has been passed down from the Second Hokage."
Minato handed a scroll to Shūichi and explained, "It doesn't have a specific name, but it's extremely powerful and highly precise."
"Once mastered, the range of your sensing ability will depend on your chakra reserves."
"Of course, this jutsu is also difficult to master, as it's classified as an S-rank jutsu."
Minato then smiled, "But with your talent, Shūichi, I'm sure it won't be a problem."
Shūichi wasn't sure how strong his sensory abilities were, but with the all-around talent boost from his [Konoha Genius] and other tags, he felt confident.
As he opened the scroll, Minato began to formally explain the technique, "The key to learning this sensory ninjutsu lies in sensing a certain force of the earth."
"This force varies in strength but is omnipresent. Once you can sense it, you've entered the doorway to this technique."
Force of the earth?
Shūichi was puzzled. Could it be geomagnetic force?
At this point, Minato pointed to a complex formula on the scroll, "This is an auxiliary technique left by the Second Hokage to help sense the earth's force. It's quite complicated."
"But I've developed a set of hand signs based on this formula that allows you to use chakra to sense the earth's force."
Shūichi looked at the formula on the scroll. It was indeed very complex, involving Earth Release, Lightning Release, Wind Release, Water Release, and Fire Release—the five basic chakra natures.
And there was more: Yang Release, as well as Yin Release, which Shūichi had only just begun to master, represented by genjutsu.
Of course, Yin Release isn't limited to genjutsu.
"Minato-sensei, this formula is indeed quite intricate," Shūichi said seriously, but his interest was piqued.
Minato smiled, "It's true, if you were to start with this formula, you'd need to master all seven chakra nature transformations first."
"But if you fully master this formula, you'll definitely succeed in learning this sensory ninjutsu."
"However, the requirements are too high, so I developed a set of hand signs from the formula to assist, though it's not as effective as the formula itself."
"Whether you can sense the earth's force might depend a bit on luck."
Kushina Uzumaki laughed, "Like me, I wasn't very lucky."
Minato chuckled awkwardly.
Shūichi smiled at Kushina, "Don't worry, Kushina-san. I've always been lucky."
---
The afternoon was spent delving into the sensory ninjutsu.
The technique was indeed difficult, and Shūichi didn't make much progress in one afternoon.
When he returned home in the evening, he brought the ninjutsu scroll with him.
He had a feeling it would take some time to master this technique.
While washing up at home, Shūichi turned his attention to the tag tree.
As expected, a new tag had been triggered.
Tag: [Sensory Expert]
Condition to Obtain: Master the sensory ninjutsu taught by Minato Namikaze.
Effect: Sensory talent increased by 100%, mental and spiritual strength increased by 100%.
Shūichi was a bit surprised. Mental and spiritual strength?
"It seems that mental processing speed and spiritual power in ninjutsu are different."
Shūichi couldn't help but feel a sense of anticipation.
---
The next day, Shūichi spent the morning purchasing a house with a courtyard and moved in with Nonō Yakushi and Asuka in the afternoon.
The new house had six bedrooms and a dedicated study, offering plenty of space.
Although Shūichi was thick-skinned enough to want to stay with Nonō Yakushi, he was ultimately old enough to need his own room.
After moving in, Shūichi officially reported to Konoha Hospital.
This time was different. He was now formally employed at the hospital, working as a full-time medical ninja.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, the year 41 of Konoha was coming to an end.
In a snow-covered grove, Shūichi let out a long breath, feeling a weight lifted off his shoulders. "Finally, I've unlocked the [Wind Release Expert] tag!"
Tag: [Wind Release Expert]
Effect: Wind Release talent increased by 100%, allows for Wind Release techniques to be used without hand seals.
The effect was similar to that of the [Fire Release Expert] tag.
To obtain this tag, he had mastered five Wind Release jutsus: Gale Palm, Vacuum Sphere, Vacuum Wave, Vacuum Great Sphere, and Vacuum Blade.
Aside from Gale Palm, which was inherited from his mother, the other four jutsus were taught to him by Minato Namikaze.
After unlocking the [Wind Release Expert] tag, Shūichi immediately focused on another grayed-out tag on the tree.
This was just triggered recently.
Tag: [Wind Release Master]
Condition to Obtain: Create five Wind Release jutsus of at least A-rank, or develop one S-rank Wind Release jutsu.
Effect: Wind Release talent increased by 100%, Wind Release chakra nature transformation increased by 100%, Wind Release shape transformation increased by 100%; any Wind Release jutsu or secret technique, except for those involving Kekkei Genkai, will have no learning barriers.
Both the acquisition conditions and the tag effects were as expected.
"Next up is mastering the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!"
Shūichi aimed to unlock the [Wind Release Expert] tag before the year 41 of Konoha ended to avoid wasting the once-a-year "Flash of Insight" ability.
He already had a general idea for the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, an S-rank Wind Release jutsu.
If he were to use "Flash of Insight" elsewhere without adequate preparation, it might be wasted.
Even with 10 minutes of maxed-out comprehension and creativity, there's no guarantee of developing an S-rank jutsu from scratch.
"Only three days left until the new year..."
He took out a soldier pill and swallowed it, sitting quietly to restore his energy.
Although he wasn't sure if "Flash of Insight" would consume a lot of stamina, it was better to be fully prepared.
Once his energy was fully restored, Shūichi lowered his eyes and said, "Flash of Insight, Activate!"
In an instant, Shūichi felt like his brain had been replaced with a new one.
All the problems he had encountered during the past year of training now had clear solutions in his mind.
For instance, the sensory ninjutsu he had been struggling to master.
The high-temperature ray Fire Release that was just one step away from completion.
Medical ninjutsu, medical knowledge, and so on.
At that moment, Shūichi felt like he had opened a massive door—the door to infinite knowledge, the door to omniscience.
But he quickly realized something was wrong.
Because there was so much he didn't know before, now that his brain was functioning at this level, countless ideas flooded in.
"Not good!"
Shūichi quickly activated 10x focus, suppressing the overwhelming thoughts and concentrating solely on Wind Release, specifically the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
He truly felt the power of maxed-out comprehension and creativity.
How to perform the shape transformation to form a high-speed rotating shuriken?
It turned out you had to first undergo the Wind Release nature transformation.
How to make the formed shuriken stable enough to be thrown?
By constructing a double-loop system, creating an interconnected, three-dimensional cross-loop.
An S-rank Wind Release jutsu?
Simple!
Too simple!
Within 10 minutes, Shūichi didn't even need 2 minutes to fully understand the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken.
Why not add Fire Release?
In addition to the deadly wind needles, let's add some high temperature.
Adding Fire Release wasn't difficult either; after forming the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, you could inject Fire Release chakra.
Soon, Shūichi had also grasped the principle behind the Wind-Fire Rasenshuriken.
No, it should be called the Wind-Fire Radiant Wheel Rasenshuriken(?).
Over 6 minutes left.
Keep going!
This time, Shūichi's target was the extremely complex formula of the sensory ninjutsu.
Minato's hand signs relied somewhat on luck, but now that his brain was working at full capacity, he would rely on logic.
Time ticked by, and this time it took unexpectedly long.
That formula contained knowledge that Shūichi hadn't mastered before, like Earth Release, Lightning Release, and Water Release.
However, with maxed-out comprehension, there were no real issues.
Finally, 10 minutes passed.
His brain downgraded instantly, and Shūichi felt as if he had fallen from sky, as if he had suddenly become stupid.
But it was only for a moment. Then, his head throbbed, his vision darkened, and he felt something trickling out of his nose.
Gritting his teeth to avoid fainting, Shūichi deactivated tenfold focus, quickly ate another soldier pill, and grabbed a thermos from his bag, drinking the warm water mixed with salt and sugar.
He drained it in one go and, after nearly 5 minutes, his head began to clear, and the dizziness faded.
Only then did he realize that blood had been flowing from his nose.
"'Flash of Insight' combined with 10x focus is truly terrifying..."
Shūichi chuckled bitterly and used snow to cover the bloodstains, but his mind was still sluggish, and his body felt extremely weak. He had no choice but to give up on trying to use the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken for now.
After resting for another half hour, Shūichi packed up and headed home.
To his surprise, it took him a full seven days, well into the year 42 of Konoha, to return to peak condition.
And that was with his previous 100% recovery boost.
Otherwise, it might have taken half a month to recover.
Shūichi decided that the next time he used it, Asuka should be by his side.
...
Konoha Year 42, January 5th
Just after fully recovering, Shūichi Hoshita couldn't wait any longer and headed to a secluded, open area in the village.
Today, he planned to test the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, turning theory into reality.
Buzz!
Shūichi raised his right hand, palm facing up, as chakra gathered to form a rapidly spinning Rasengan.
He rarely used the Rasengan in actual combat because it didn't suit his personal style.
Using Rasengan was not as effective for him as using Blue Flame Sky Blade or Blue Flame Waterfall Blade.
Even without a blade, he preferred to enhance a kunai with Wind Release.
...
The second step after forming the Rasengan was to apply the Wind Release nature transformation.
As Shūichi continued to pour chakra into it, the whistling sound grew louder, and a blazing white ring formed around the Rasengan.
This ring was the high-speed rotating Wind Release chakra.
"This consumes so much chakra..."
Shūichi frowned slightly, then proceeded to the third step: shape transformation!
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
With the sharp, ear-piercing sound of friction, four shuriken-like "blades" appeared around the blazing white ring, spinning at high speed.
These spinning "blades" were actually formed by the high-speed flow of Wind Release chakra.
The chakra flowed out from the second layer of the blazing white ring and back in, and with the high-speed rotation of both the inner and outer rings, it formed the shape of a shuriken.
Additionally, the further out from the center, the less chakra was concentrated, but the faster it rotated. Therefore, the core Rasengan was blue, the outer ring was blazing white, and the outermost shuriken shape was almost transparent.
"With my chakra, I can only manage one shot..."
Shūichi was speechless.
But this was without tapping into the chakra stored in the Yin Seal.
"Let's see if it's truly complete..."
Shūichi raised his right hand and then threw the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken like a wind shuriken.
Buzz, buzz, buzz!
The Wind Release: Rasenshuriken spun rapidly, cutting through the air as it flew over a hundred meters away. Then, as it lost stability, the entire jutsu expanded rapidly, emitting a dazzling white light, forming a massive sphere over 25 meters in diameter.
Next came a fierce windstorm, kicking up a wave of earth!
After a while, the storm subsided. Shūichi lowered his arm from in front of his eyes and used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the center of the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken's explosion.
A giant crater had formed here.
"The power is indeed impressive," Shūichi noted to himself. "Not only does it have powerful cutting abilities, but also terrifying high-speed rotating wind needles."
"Especially when the jutsu loses stability and explodes, there's no orderly trajectory. Unless someone has the regenerative abilities of Six Paths Madara or Hashirama Senju, their chakra pathways would be severed, and their cells pierced. Even if they don't die, they'd be crippled."
"If this were the Wind-Fire Radiant Wheel Rasenshuriken, the resulting storm would have been a deadly firestorm, turning it into a mass slaughter technique."
Shūichi refocused his attention on the tag tree.
The [Wind Release Master] tag lit up in blue!
Wind Release talent increased by 100%, Wind Release chakra nature transformation increased by 100%, Wind Release shape transformation increased by 100%; any Wind Release jutsu or secret technique, except for those involving Kekkei Genkai, will have no learning barriers.
With the tag's enhancement, Shūichi raised his right hand and extended one finger, and a mini version of the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken quickly formed at his fingertip.
He then flicked the mini Rasenshuriken, which flew about 20 meters before expanding, covering an area two to three meters wide.
The larger version of the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken consumed too much chakra, but the mini version was much more efficient and sufficient for single-target attacks.
Moreover, he could adjust the size of the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken according to the battle's demands.
Sitting down, Shūichi ate a soldier pill to restore his energy, thinking to himself, "With the Wind Release and Fire Release jutsus I currently possess, the title of Master is well-deserved."
"In terms of killing power, I'm not inferior to an elite Jonin, even if I lack their battle experience."
"But my biggest weakness remains my insufficient chakra."
"One reason is my physical constitution, and the other is my age. That's why I rely on the Yin Seal to compensate, though I've failed twice before."
In fact, Shūichi's chakra reserves were already outstanding among his peers.
In December of last year, he estimated that he had around 3 units of chakra.
Compared to Sarutobi Asuma, his reserves were roughly twice as much.
"I can't control growing up, so I'll have to improve my physical constitution and focus on the Yin Seal."
Shūichi plotted to himself, "I'll bide my time for two years and fully store the Yin Seal."
"Once I unlock the [Swordsmanship Master] and [Space-Time Envoy] tags, I'll get two chances to enhance my physical constitution."
"I'm almost 9 years old now. This year or next year, I should complete my goals by Konoha Year 43 at the latest."
"The Flying Thunder God Technique is difficult to learn, so I'll start with other space-time ninjutsu. Even if I have to use 'Flash of Insight' to create one myself, I'll do it."
With his plan set, Shūichi stood up and headed home.
He wanted to go back and review the complex formula of the sensory ninjutsu, then master the technique, reducing one more shortcoming.