"You're really relentless…"
Shūichi Hoshita dodged yet another lava orb and suddenly shot upwards.
Boom!
On the ground, a torrent of water surged up, crashing into the pursuing Rōshi, causing steam to rise.
At that moment, Chihiro completed her hand seals as well.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
Taking advantage of the water terrain created by Sarutobi Shinnosuke, a massive water dragon quickly formed, its enormous body twisting skyward before diving down to strike Rōshi.
Rōshi clasped his hands together and spewed out a massive lava ball, colliding with the dragon's head. With a deafening explosion, the dragon's head disintegrated into mist and steam.
"Hm?"
Rōshi frowned as he looked down and saw that the ground beneath him had turned into a swirling swamp, dragging him downwards.
Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld!
"Nicely done!"
In the air, Shūichi silently praised them as he raised his hand. Amid a harsh, screeching sound, a Wind Release: Rasenshuriken rapidly formed in his palm.
On the ground, Chihiro heard the sound and looked up in awe. "Such powerful Wind Release chakra… Is this the S-rank Wind Release Shūichi mentioned before?"
"So terrifying!"
"But…"
She turned her gaze to Rōshi, knowing that, just like the previous encounter with A, the Swamp of the Underworld wouldn't be enough to hold him.
Back then, A had used the intense heat from his Lightning Release to dry up the swamp quickly, and now Rōshi was using his Lava Release's heat in a similar manner.
However, just as Rōshi was about to leap out of the swamp, Sarutobi Shinnosuke's jutsu was completed.
Lightning Release: Four Pillar Bind!
Four pillars rose from the ground, and arcs of electricity appeared, trapping Rōshi in mid-air and causing him to fall back down.
In the air, Shūichi seized the opportunity and hurled his Rasenshuriken.
But in the next moment, his eyes widened.
He saw the crimson Tailed Beast chakra rapidly covering Rōshi's body. Originally, Rōshi only had one tail, but now he quickly grew four.
"This guy's going into partial Tailed Beast Mode…"
The four tails shot up, colliding with the rapidly descending Rasenshuriken.
In an instant, a blinding white light expanded, enveloping Rōshi and his four tails.
"Retreat!"
Shūichi appeared beside Shinnosuke and Chihiro, grabbing them both and using his Fiery Lotus Steps technique to dash away at full speed.
As they fled, both Shinnosuke and Chihiro couldn't help but look back. The glowing sphere expanded dramatically, illuminating the night sky before rapidly shrinking, followed by a devastating shockwave.
"So…so strong!"
Chihiro was stunned. It was her first time witnessing such a powerful ninjutsu.
Shinnosuke was equally astonished, but then he smiled and shouted, "Excellent work, Flame!"
After gaining enough distance, Shūichi stopped and braced against the incoming gusts from the explosion. He warned, "Captain, now's not the time to celebrate. That guy's in partial Tailed Beast Mode. As strong as the Rasenshuriken is, it might not be enough to take him down."
Shinnosuke nodded, "To deal with him, we'll need to use Water Release to exploit the elemental advantage and wear him down."
As the storm subsided, a crimson figure emerged in their line of sight.
Just as expected!
Shūichi wasn't surprised. In his Lava Release Chakra Mode, Rōshi's molten armor was absurdly tough—it had even withstood his Blue Flame Waterfall Blade. The Tailed Beast cloak was even stronger, with incredible regenerative abilities.
Moreover, the Rasenshuriken hadn't fully hit Rōshi; his Tailed Beast cloak's tails had absorbed much of the impact, keeping him at a distance.
"He's coming!"
Shinnosuke's voice was tense as Rōshi, now cloaked in the Tailed Beast's chakra, charged at them at high speed.
The three of them simultaneously formed hand seals.
Water Release: Water Colliding Wave!
Shinnosuke was the first to unleash his technique, spewing a torrent of water that rose into a massive wave, crashing towards Rōshi.
But in the next moment, the wave was torn apart as Rōshi's tails slashed through it, and he continued charging across the water's surface.
However, Chihiro and Shūichi's Water Release jutsu were also ready, and they launched their attacks.
Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!
Shūichi used two hand seals, while Chihiro used eight. Despite the difference, they synchronized their timing perfectly.
Two water dragons intertwined, then dove down together.
Twin Dragon Strike!
This time, the attack finally knocked Rōshi off his feet.
But before Shinnosuke could follow up with his Lightning Release, several tails shot out of the water like arrows, aimed directly at them.
Shūichi Hoshita and the others quickly dodged the attack.
"Captain, I'll engage him in close combat!" Shūichi shouted.
Although he only needed two seals for Water Release, he was far from mastering it. Plus, the Jinchūriki's attack speed was too fast. Without someone to engage in close combat, and without a master of Water Release like Kisame or his chakra-absorbing Samehada, it would be difficult to handle.
Shinnosuke was proficient in all five elements, but when it came to Water Release, he still couldn't match Kisame, especially in terms of chakra capacity.
"Understood!" Shinnosuke responded as he leaped to dodge.
Shūichi charged forward, moving rapidly across the water's surface.
Water Body Flicker Technique!
He had learned this technique from Shinnosuke! It was the third type of Body Flicker technique Shūichi had mastered, in addition to the basic Body Flicker and the Fire Body Flicker: Fiery Lotus Steps.
While advancing at high speed, he skillfully evaded the two crimson tails that kept attacking him.
Meanwhile, Shinnosuke and Chihiro combined their Water Release techniques, dodging the tail strikes and using Water Severing Wave to cut through the tails aiming for Shūichi.
Seizing the opportunity, Shūichi dashed forward and reached Rōshi. His Totsuka Blade glowed with a blue flame as he slashed down.
Clang!
Rōshi surprisingly caught the descending blade with both hands.
But the intense heat of the blade scorched through his Tailed Beast cloak, causing excruciating burns and making Rōshi scream in pain.
However, he gritted his teeth, refusing to let go. By this point, Rōshi was on the verge of losing control, and the tails regrown behind him shot toward Shūichi like swords.
Two water streams surged up, wrapping around two of Rōshi's tails.
At the same time, lotus-like flames bloomed from Shūichi's Totsuka Blade.
Inferno Lotus!
Boom! Boom!
Before the remaining tails could hit Shūichi, Rōshi's entire body was blasted backward.
Immediately after, a water dragon roared, opening its jaws and biting down on Rōshi. It then plunged into the water with a loud crash, sending huge waves skyward.
As the water rippled, Shūichi raised his left hand, curling his fingers into a claw. A dragon's head appeared, and as the chakra condensed into a searing white light, a thin beam shot out.
Dragon Flame Breath!
The high-temperature beam penetrated the water. Instinctively sensing danger, Rōshi twisted his body, barely avoiding a critical hit, but the beam pierced through his shoulder.
Shūichi raised his left hand, causing the scorching white beam to rise, slicing through Rōshi's body and his Tailed Beast cloak.
Crimson chakra spilled from the wound, and Rōshi let out a beastly roar.
Boom!
Violent, malevolent chakra surged, sending water flying in all directions.
"Looks like I might've overdone it…" Shūichi muttered, sensing the danger. It seemed like Rōshi was about to lose control.
He quickly retreated to Shinnosuke and Chihiro's side. "Captain, this isn't good—he's about to go berserk!"
Sure enough, in the next moment, a massive figure appeared.
"Die!" Rōshi's voice bellowed.
"He's still maintaining his sanity…?" Shūichi was surprised but quickly raised his right hand, sheathing his sword.
Wind Release: Rasenshuriken!
At the same time, the Tailed Beast Bomb in Rōshi's mouth, now in full Four-Tails form, was completed and launched.
Shūichi hurled his Rasenshuriken, and it collided with the Tailed Beast Bomb.
"Retreat!"
Shūichi and the others quickly retreated.
As the Rasenshuriken and the Tailed Beast Bomb exploded, the deafening blast was accompanied by an intense light, like a miniature sun. A terrifying force expanded outward, forming a rapidly swelling sphere of energy.
Then, just as quickly, the energy began to contract, triggering a devastating shockwave that ripped through the ground.
Shinnosuke pressed both hands to the ground.
Earth Release: Multiple Earth Flow Walls!
Three earthen walls rose from the ground in front of Shūichi and the others.
In the next moment, the shockwave hit. The first two walls were torn apart, but the third wall finally held back the destructive force.
When the storm subsided, the ground was left trembling violently.
Shūichi Hoshita and the others climbed onto the earthen wall, just in time to see the Four-Tails charging at them, its tails thrashing wildly.
"What a pain…" Shūichi muttered with frustration.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke said, "Flame, Seeker and I will distract it. You find the right moment to use the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken. If you can land a hit, even a Tailed Beast won't come out unscathed."
"No, Captain. I want to keep it simple—take it out in one move," Shūichi replied.
With that, he leaped off the earthen wall. Holding the Totsuka Blade, he drove it into the ground under the watchful eyes of Shinnosuke and Chihiro.
At that moment, the chakra he had stored in his abdomen surged forth. Not only that, but the Yin Seal on his forehead—unused even in his battle against the A-B combo—was also unleashed.
Inferno Lotus: Fire Prison!
Crack!
The ground split open as brilliant blue flames surged from within, like a terrifying dragon slithering beneath the earth.
"This is…" Shinnosuke was stunned. "An S-rank sword technique secret art!"
Chihiro was equally shocked. "Such massive chakra… Flame…"
Shinnosuke explained, "It must be some kind of sealing technique that allows him to store chakra."
Their gaze followed the crack in the earth, which split into three directions—one straight toward the charging Four-Tails, while the other two encircled it.
Seeing the approaching cracks, the Four-Tails stopped, pressing its palms to the ground and turning the terrain into a sea of lava.
Fire Release?
The Four-Tails feared nothing less than Fire Release.
Rumble!
Flames erupted from beneath the ground, clashing with the sea of lava created by the Four-Tails, sending waves of molten rock into the air.
But this did nothing to harm the Four-Tails. Even extreme heat had no effect on it.
However, around the Four-Tails, a fissure had formed a circular boundary, and from it, blue flames burst forth, transforming into blooming lotuses of fire.
Some of these fiery lotuses were massive, towering over the Four-Tails itself.
Every lotus bud faced toward the Four-Tails in the center. Then, they bloomed—exploding.
In that instant, a terrifying, enclosed explosion erupted, compressing all of its destructive force toward the center, where the Four-Tails stood.
For a brief moment, under the shocked gazes of Shinnosuke and Chihiro, their vision became completely distorted. The space around the Four-Tails seemed to be twisted, as if several invisible hands were squeezing it.
This was a true Fire Prison.
In the instant that the enormous Four-Tails wrapped its tails around itself for protection, its body was momentarily frozen, and then, massive holes burst open across its form.
It could resist or even ignore the extreme heat, but it couldn't withstand the crushing pressure.
Though it sounds long, the entire Inferno Lotus: Fire Prison technique exploded in mere moments.
Afterward, Shinnosuke and the others felt the waves of heat rushing toward them, and the warped space gradually returned to normal.
The massive Four-Tails collapsed, its form rapidly shrinking, until it reverted back into Rōshi, who lay in pain on the scorched, cracked ground.
Almost simultaneously, Shūichi's body gave way.
"Flame!"
Shinnosuke instantly appeared beside him, catching Shūichi in his arms. Chihiro quickly followed, pulling the Totsuka Blade from the ground.
"Retreat!"
Without checking Rōshi's condition, they immediately moved to evacuate with the exhausted Shūichi.
"Wait…" Shūichi weakly called out. "Captain, use a sealing scroll to collect some pieces of the Four-Tails' flesh."
Shinnosuke glanced at the small scroll on Shūichi's back, nodding as he quickly went to work.
Chihiro supported Shūichi and asked, "Flame, do you plan to study the Tailed Beast's power? That's very dangerous."
Shūichi gave a tired smile. "Don't worry. I'll hand it over to Orochimaru-sama for research."
Chihiro nodded, pulling out a soldier pill. She removed Shūichi's mask and fed it to him.
Shinnosuke soon returned, and together they swiftly retreated with Shūichi.
As Shūichi lay on Shinnosuke's back, his eyes blank, he couldn't help but silently curse, "Why are my opponents always so strong? Damn it!"
His hope of filling both Yin Seals by the end of the year was thoroughly dashed after these two intense battles!
However… the feeling of unleashing a massive attack like that was undeniably exhilarating.
That moment of release, the beautiful technique, the rush—it was a high like no other!
And it wasn't without its rewards.
The flesh of the Four-Tails…
It's got incredible research value!
On the battlefield, one Iwa ninja after another appeared.
They crossed over the massive crater, stepping into the still-scorching ground. As they took in the sight of the scorched and cracked earth, each one slowed their pace.
"Who could have done something like this?"
"Could Lord Roshi be in danger?"
"Impossible! He's already transformed into his Tailed Beast form. No ordinary person could stand against him."
"But the enemy this time is clearly no ordinary ninja."
Breathing in the hot air, a few Iwa ninja cautiously advanced while continuing their search.
"Lord Roshi is here!"
Suddenly, someone shouted.
Upon hearing that, several Iwa ninja immediately rushed over.
There, inside a sunken crater, lay Roshi, barely breathing.
"To think he was pushed to this extent!"
"Could it have been the Sannin from Konoha?"
The two Jonin leading the squad couldn't help but be shocked. Without wasting any time, they quickly took Roshi and retreated straight back to Iwagakure, bypassing the Daimyo's palace in the Land of Birds entirely.
...
Riding on Shinnosuke's back, Shūichi Hoshita, who had recovered some of his strength, couldn't help but ask, "Captain, that guy... he didn't die, right?"
Shinnosuke nodded, "You inflicted serious injuries on him, but Jinchuriki have incredibly strong vitality. Plus, with his Lava Release powers, he was able to negate a large portion of the damage."
Although Shūichi didn't ask further, Shinnosuke knew what he was curious about, so he continued, "Iwa reinforcements are already on their way, and at a time like this, we can't give them an excuse to start a war."
In that situation, he could have easily ended Roshi's life with a single kunai or taken the heavily injured Roshi away.
But either option would have driven Iwa into a mad pursuit.
Most importantly, Konoha did not want a war to break out.
After hearing the explanation, Shūichi nodded.
In fact, when Shinnosuke chose to retreat immediately, Shūichi understood the reasoning. That's why he had suggested gathering the scattered pieces of the Four-Tails' flesh, rather than capturing Roshi.
The Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had made it clear he did not want war. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been assigned this mission today.
Still, next time, Shūichi thought, he should modify his Lotus Inferno Fire Prison Explosion into a Dragon Flame Breath beam. That way, he could blast the Four-Tails Jinchuriki into a sieve. Let's see if he could survive that!
...
Shūichi was thinking to himself, but with a smile on his face, he said, "If Iwagakure dares to start a war, next time we meet, I'll finish that guy off!"
Shinnosuke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He had been worried that Shūichi might not understand the village's policies or the stance of his father, Hiruzen.
After all, Shūichi was someone highly regarded by his father, a key figure in the Hokage's faction, a young genius with immense potential. His future was incredibly promising.
Now that Shūichi wasn't harboring any resentment, it was a huge relief.
Hearing Shūichi's somewhat childlike remark, both Shinnosuke and Chihiro couldn't help but chuckle.
Chihiro added, "Shūichi, those two jutsu of yours are powerful, but they consume too much chakra. You can't use them recklessly, especially without teammates to back you up."
Shūichi replied, "With you and Captain around, I can let loose without holding back!"
...
Half an hour later, Shūichi had mostly recovered his strength and climbed down from Sarutobi Shinnosuke's back.
Without pausing, the three continued their journey towards the border of the Land of Birds.
By the time the sky began to brighten, the trio reached the rendezvous point and found Yamanaka Shinichi and Nara Satoshi waiting for them.
"Where's Force?" Sarutobi Shinnosuke asked.
Satoshi and Shinichi remained silent.
Shūichi's heart sank.
Moments later, they returned to the cave, where they found Akimichi Chōgan's lifeless body.
Shūichi knelt by the body to examine the wounds, which were identical to those of Kurama Sanyō's from before.
Both had been struck by an Iwa Iron Cannon(Rock Bullets), the blow piercing through vital areas.
Shūichi sighed in frustration.
This was the second teammate he had lost.
Taking lives in battle didn't faze him, but watching those around him die magnified the fragility of life tenfold.
Behind him, Satoshi explained, "We ran into Iwa ninja reinforcements while retreating after completing the mission. They were likely the squad protecting the Daimyo of the Land of Birds."
"Chōgan died covering our escape," Yamanaka Shinichi added. "If it weren't for your fight with Roshi drawing the pursuers away, Satoshi and I might not have made it out in one piece."
They were elite members of the Anbu, but the Iwa forces were no slouches either, with two Jonin leading them.
Sarutobi Shinnosuke, suppressing his grief, nodded. "Understood."
"Let's rest while we can. We'll head out in two hours—this place isn't completely safe."
Everyone nodded silently. Chihiro stayed behind to help Shūichi prepare Akimichi Chōgan's body.
Two hours later, they sealed Chōgan's body in a scroll, and the five of them set off again, crossing the border of the Land of Birds into the Land of Rain.
By evening, they had returned to the Land of Fire.
Compared to the lighthearted mood of their departure, their return was much heavier.
After resting at the border for two hours, the team resumed their journey, traveling through the night until they finally reached Konoha.
...
In the locker room.
The four of them silently removed their gear, waiting.
About half an hour later, Sarutobi Shinnosuke returned. After a brief pause, he said, "We'll hold a funeral for Chōgan tomorrow. Everyone should attend."
"And unless something unexpected happens, the team will have a month-long break."
"Dismissed!"
Everyone nodded and left.
Outside the Anbu headquarters, Shinichi and Satoshi left together.
Chihiro patted Shūichi on the shoulder and softly asked, "Want us to walk you home?"
"Don't worry about me, Chihiro-san. I'm not that fragile."
Shūichi shook his head, waved to Shinnosuke and Chihiro, and disappeared in an instant using the Body Flicker Technique.
...
"How can I improve my defense?"
On his way home, Shūichi pondered to himself.
A ninja's body sometimes felt too fragile.
Orochimaru's current research on snakes and his experiments with soft-body modifications stemmed from this very issue.
"Looking across the ninja world, the highest defense is probably the Lightning Release Chakra Mode used by the Cloud Ninja, which forms a Lightning Armor. Though it can't block something like Amaterasu and has elemental weaknesses, it can withstand many physical attacks. Otherwise, the Third Raikage wouldn't have died from exhaustion."
"Then there's the Chakra Cloak, but without massive amounts of chakra, it's impossible. Plus, regular chakra wouldn't be enough. Still, Chakra Modes could also be seen as a form of Chakra Cloak."
"Creation Rebirth is another safeguard, but the cost is steep."
Suddenly, Shūichi thought of Orochimaru's ability to shed his skin to avoid death, and for a moment, he felt a twinge of envy.
"Stop it!"
He shuddered, pushing away those dark thoughts. "I have the Tag System; I don't need those methods. Even if I can't escape becoming a freak in this world, I refuse to lose my humanity."
"Working with Tsunade to develop the Strength of a Hundred Seal, then combining it with a Fire Release Chakra Mode... After that, Creation Rebirth. Losing lifespan is better than dying outright."
"Besides, with the Strength of a Hundred Seal, I can use chakra to slow cellular aging, indirectly increasing my lifespan."
"And what's after that? Mastering all five elemental releases would make me versatile, but it wouldn't necessarily raise my overall potential that much."
Lost in thought, Shūichi didn't realize he had reached home until he snapped back to reality.
Yakushi Nonō and Asuka were already asleep, so he moved quietly.
But when he came out of the bathroom, he saw that Yakushi Nonō had already prepared a late-night snack for him.
"It must have been exhausting to rush back after completing your mission. Come, have something to eat before resting," she said, smiling warmly.
Nonō's gentle, comforting smile immediately melted away the fatigue in Shūichi's heart.
He hurried over and, without a word, wrapped his arms around her, pressing his ear to her chest to listen to her strong heartbeat. A sense of peace filled him.
Nonō was momentarily surprised but quickly understood. She returned the hug with one arm, softly stroking his hair with the other.
Meanwhile, the door to Asuka's room opened slightly, and a pair of eyes quietly watched the scene unfold.
A few moments later.
Shūichi pulled away from Nonō and smiled. "Director, I'm fine now!"
Nonō didn't ask any more questions. She simply nodded with a smile. "How about that snack, then?"
She added, "Asuka, would you like some too?"
Asuka, who had been secretly watching, was startled and panicked. "U-uh... yes, please!"
Shūichi couldn't help but chuckle.
Not long after, Asuka emerged from her room in her pajamas, her face still slightly flushed.
Being caught peeking was understandably embarrassing.
But Shūichi thoroughly enjoyed the late-night snack.
After all, who doesn't like being cared for?
Once they finished eating, the three cleaned up and chatted for a bit in the living room before bidding each other goodnight and heading to bed.
Shūichi had only just fallen asleep when he was suddenly woken up, feeling a soft body pressing against him.
"Shūichi, I've decided—I'm going to apply to join the Anbu, and we'll form a team together, okay?"
Asuka's voice whispered in his ear, sending a tingling sensation through him. Just as he was about to respond, she continued, "With me around, I won't let anything happen to you. I've already mastered the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Kagura Mind's Eye. I won't be a burden."
Shūichi turned to face her and smiled. "Asuka, I'm not the Hokage."
Her bright red eyes shone brilliantly in the darkness. "Then, when you become Hokage, I'll be your personal guard!"
Shūichi embraced her, burying his head against her chest. "It's a deal, then."
But in his heart, he thought that becoming Hokage felt like a distant dream.
Once Minato-sensei became Hokage, he could arrange for Asuka to be on his team.
Yeah, and maybe he could pull Shisui into the team as well.
...
The next day, Shūichi dressed in black and bought flowers to attend Akimichi Chōgan's funeral.
Accompanying him, much to his surprise, was Asuka, who had insisted on coming. Yakushi Nonō had also approved of her decision.
While Asuka stayed outside the cemetery, Shūichi joined Shinnosuke and the others and entered the burial grounds.
There weren't many people at the funeral, just the members of their squad and the Akimichi clan. But what surprised Shūichi slightly was the presence of the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
They observed a moment of silence, laid down flowers...
After speaking briefly with Chōgan's family, Shūichi, following a gesture from Shinnosuke, went to meet Sarutobi Hiruzen.
After paying his respects, the Third Hokage said, "Shūichi, during your break, try to spend more time with Tsunade and Minato. I've heard Tsunade is developing a new technique?"
Shūichi nodded. "Yes, Lord Third, I also plan to assist Lady Tsunade soon."
"And I'll be studying sealing techniques with Minato-sensei."
After observing Shūichi's condition for a moment, Sarutobi Hiruzen nodded again and added, "As for the research on the Four-Tails, don't push yourself too hard. And don't experiment on yourself lightly. Prioritize your safety above all."
All his words were filled with concern. Shūichi quickly replied, "Don't worry, Lord Third. I'll be careful. Besides, Orochimaru-sama will take the lead in that research."
Let Orochimaru handle everything!
After leaving the cemetery, Shūichi and Asuka made their way to the Konoha Hospital.
By spending the entire morning helping to save lives, Shūichi had finally shaken off the impact of Akimichi Chōgan's death.
After lunch, Shūichi headed to Orochimaru's lab, bringing along a medical scroll.
As expected, Orochimaru wasn't there. Shūichi wasn't surprised—Orochimaru had missions to carry out as well.
First, Shūichi went through the research data collected in his absence, ensuring he was up to date. Once he had a clear understanding, he unsealed the scroll he had brought and retrieved the three fist-sized chunks of Four-Tails' flesh that Sarutobi Shinnosuke had collected for him. He carefully placed them in glass jars, prepared a solution, and preserved them.
Next, he began using the lab's equipment to observe the Four-Tails' cells.
"Amazing!"
"Even after being separated from the body for so long, the cells are still incredibly active."
Shūichi marveled at the discovery.
He then moved on to analyze the Four-Tails' DNA and compared it to that of various species of monkeys.
"It's closest to that of gibbons…"
He made a note of this and continued with various observations and small experiments.
These procedures closely mirrored Orochimaru's research process when he studied the Eight-Tails' cells.
Time flew by, and before he knew it, night had fallen.
Orochimaru returned to the lab and, upon seeing the glass jars containing the Four-Tails' flesh, smiled.
"Even though I was aware of this, seeing the spoils in person, I can't help but be impressed by Shūichi-kun's excellence."
Without looking up, Shūichi replied, "Orochimaru-sama, if you have time to be impressed, wouldn't it be better to dive straight into the experiments?"
"Though the Tailed Beasts share some similarities, they're also vastly different, especially in the unique ways they manifest their power."
"Orochimaru-sama, wouldn't you want to research Lava Release?"
Orochimaru grinned. "Of course!"
"After all, Sunagakure managed to develop Magnet Release by studying the One-Tail."
With that, Orochimaru quickly made preparations and, together with Shūichi, got to work.
Having experience with the Eight-Tails, Orochimaru handled the Four-Tails with ease, leaving Shūichi to assist.
But Shūichi didn't mind—he enjoyed learning from Orochimaru's expertise.
In the blink of an eye, it was already 9 PM, and Shūichi left the lab to head home.
The next day, aside from the fundamental physical training and taijutsu practice that shadow clones couldn't substitute for, he spent most of his time at the lab.
He used shadow clones or crow clones to train ninjutsu or study sealing techniques under Uzumaki Kushina.
Lab work was monotonous, but the excitement that came with each new discovery was exhilarating.
Gradually, Shūichi grew fond of this feeling, to the point where he even forgot about the eating contest he had once been interested in.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and November was nearing its end.
In the lab, Shūichi was in the middle of cultivating cells when he suddenly froze.
The Tag System had triggered!
Upon closer inspection, Shūichi realized that he had unknowingly fulfilled the conditions to activate the Substitution Expert tag.
This tag was closely related to the Clone Expert tag.
Aside from the basic Substitution Jutsu, most advanced techniques were linked to clone jutsu, such as Earth Substitution, Water Substitution, and so on. Master one type of clone jutsu, and you could quickly master the corresponding substitution technique.
On the other hand, the Body Flicker Expert tag required mastery of various types of body flicker techniques. While Konoha had the Water Body Flicker, techniques like the Lightning and Earth Body Flicker were missing, so Shūichi had devoted extra attention to them.
Looking at the newly activated Substitution Expert tag, Shūichi suddenly thought of the Eight-Tails.
He remembered that during Killer B's battle with Uchiha Sasuke, when he was struck by Amaterasu, B had used one of his tentacles as a substitute, allowing Sasuke to capture a decoy instead of his real body.
At that time, Sasuke had the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet he hadn't seen through the substitution.
"This could be a great research opportunity."
With that thought, Shūichi activated the Substitution Expert tag.
His substitution talent increased by 100%, and he could now perform any substitution technique without hand seals.
"Huh?"
Just after activating Substitution Expert, Shūichi noticed two new, unactivated leaves on the Tag System's tree.
He immediately inspected them.
Tag: Substitution Master
Conditions to Obtain: Develop a substitution technique similar to the Eight-Tails' tentacle substitution through research on the Eight-Tails.
Effect: Substitution talent increases by 100%. By selecting a specific body part for enhancement, its performance can be boosted by 100%. Anything in the world can be used as a substitute. As a Substitution Master, no one can fool you with substitution techniques—you'll see through them instantly.
Shūichi was stunned as he read through the information.
"Enhance a specific body part for a 100% boost? That's incredible!"
Unfortunately, only one part could be chosen.
He moved on to the second tag.
Tag: Clone Master
Conditions to Obtain: Develop a clone technique similar to the Eight-Tails' tentacle-based clones through research on the Eight-Tails.
Effect: Mental energy increases by 100%. Anything in the world can be used for cloning. As a Clone Master, no clone technique can deceive you—you'll see through any clone instantly.
Shūichi was surprised. "Both tags are triggered by the Eight-Tails? That's unexpected."
He had originally thought that developing the Crow Clone technique might trigger the Clone Master tag, but it hadn't.
"Using parts of the body to perform clone techniques or substitutions…"
Shūichi fell into deep thought, only to be snapped out of it by Orochimaru's sudden appearance.
"Encountering a challenge?" Orochimaru asked with concern.
Shūichi smiled. "Not at all. Just had an interesting idea pop up."
Orochimaru chuckled, "Ah, the energy of youth!"
Shūichi complimented, "Orochimaru-sama, your mind is still as sharp as ever."
Without confirming or denying the flattery, Orochimaru asked, "So, what's your take on the Four-Tails' cells? For example, would you consider using monkeys for experiments?"
Shūichi thought for a moment before responding, "I've reviewed the experimental records. Orochimaru-sama, when you studied the Eight-Tails, you experimented with various animals that had similar DNA, but none of them could handle the strain."
Orochimaru nodded, "Indeed. The Tailed Beasts are far too powerful. It's like…"
He paused briefly before continuing, "Even shinobi struggle to withstand the Tailed Beasts' power and malevolence. It's even harder for ordinary animals."
"Unless you selectively breed and train them into a superior summoning beast, there's little chance they could fuse with the power of a Tailed Beast."
Shūichi, after hearing this, said, "In that case, there's no need to pursue such experiments."
Orochimaru smiled, "But there's still a small chance. Are you sure you don't want to give it a try, Shūichi-kun?"
Shūichi shook his head firmly. "Orochimaru-sama, given how slim the odds are, I believe it's better to explore a different path."
"Oh?" Orochimaru abandoned his persuasion, intrigued. "It seems you've made some other discoveries?"
Shūichi smiled, "It's just an idea for now. However, I do have a request. I hope Orochimaru-sama can agree to it."
"You want cells from the Eight-Tails, don't you?"
Shūichi nodded, "Yes. In exchange, I'll keep only a small portion of the Four-Tails' flesh for my own experiments. The rest can be handed over to you."
"I've already spoken to the Third Hokage about this. Since you're leading the current experiment, it's only natural that the remaining Four-Tails' flesh goes to you."
Orochimaru grinned knowingly, "It seems you've been planning this for a while."
Shūichi shrugged, "After all, it's the Eight-Tails. I've even fought the Eight-Tails' Jinchūriki."
"Deal."
Orochimaru agreed without hesitation. He needed the Four-Tails' cells for other experiments in different labs.
And so, the transaction was completed.
Having been interrupted, Shūichi decided to wrap up his research for the day and left the lab.
As he walked through Konoha's bustling night market, he pondered Orochimaru's suggestion: "Is this a step-by-step attempt to lead me into human experimentation?"
"First animal experiments, then human experiments…"
Shūichi didn't have any moral objections to animal experimentation—he wasn't a saint, after all.
Using lab mice, monkeys, and other animals for experiments was perfectly normal and didn't violate human ethics.
But human experimentation, especially unrestricted human experimentation, was undeniably cruel.
"Still, if animal experiments are unlikely to yield results, I'll have to explore a different approach to study Lava Release," Shūichi mused. "I could either raise a small Four-Tails Beast and extract Lava Release chakra from it, or… follow in the footsteps of Kinkaku and Ginkaku."
Kinkaku and Ginkaku, shinobi from the Hidden Cloud, had consumed the flesh of the Nine-Tails and gained its chakra. Most importantly, they survived.
However, Shūichi suspected that those two likely had extraordinary bloodlines. Just looking at them made it clear.
It wasn't hard to believe that they had managed to kill the Second Hokage with an elite squad. After all, if Tobirama hadn't intended to flee, anything could have happened in a battle.
Lost in thought, Shūichi unknowingly arrived at Konoha Hospital. He quickly pushed these thoughts aside as he entered.
"Eh?"
Upon seeing him, Shizune was initially startled, but then she beamed with joy. "Shūichi! What brings you here?"
Shūichi smiled as he walked up to her. "Just came to check on you all."
"It's so late. Why are you still at the hospital?"
Shizune laughed, "Lady Tsunade is still here, working on some research with Nono-sensei."
Shūichi understood and then, pulling Shizune along, said with a grin, "Shall we go see them?"
Shizune quickly nodded. "Yes, yes!"
The two of them strolled to Tsunade's office, where they found Tsunade and Nono Yakushi frowning over a scroll.
Shūichi pushed open the door.
Without looking up, Tsunade snapped, "I already said, don't bother me unless it's something important!"
Such a bad temper!
Shūichi thought to himself, completely forgetting how respectful he had been to her when he needed something from her in the past.
"Shūichi!"
Nono Yakushi greeted him with a smile.
Tsunade, hearing this, turned around and sneered, "Finally decided to step out of that snake's lab, huh?"
Unfazed by her attitude, Shūichi smiled and said, "Of course. In my heart, Lady Tsunade is always number one. Orochimaru-sama comes after."
Tsunade's mood lightened a bit at that, though she still maintained a stern expression and huffed, "Smooth talker."
Shūichi pretended not to hear the comment and glanced at the scroll filled with seals and techniques. "Encountering some difficulties?"
Nono nodded, "The technique requires precision down to each individual cell. The difficulty is extremely high, and the mental strain is enormous."
Shūichi agreed. When he had unlocked the Sensory Expert tag, his mental fortitude had improved, allowing him to extract chakra with cell-level precision.
Before that, his body had undergone several enhancements, including faster thought processing, nerve reactions, memory, and chakra control.
All of these were closely tied to mental strength and chakra refinement.
The technique Tsunade was developing worked in both directions—extracting chakra at the cellular level and controlling it at the same precision.
It also involved distributing the chakra.
Simply put, the technique Tsunade was working on required creating a dual-channel system between the Yin Seal and every cell in the body.
One channel would extract chakra into the Yin Seal, while the other would direct chakra from the Yin Seal to every cell. This was specifically designed for medical ninjutsu.
The goal was to ensure that any severe injury could be healed instantly and without hand seals by building a high-speed channel to every part of the body.
Shūichi knew even he couldn't achieve this level of precision yet.
Controlling and distributing chakra was far more difficult than merely extracting it.
In the office, Shūichi stared at the scroll in deep thought before looking up after a moment.
Tsunade immediately looked over with anticipation, but Shūichi said, "How about we grab some late-night snacks first?"
"If we can't find a solution right now, maybe taking a break and relaxing will help us come up with something."
Tsunade instantly flared up.
Shūichi continued, "Lady Tsunade, have you ever entered an eating contest?"
Tsunade's face darkened. "No."
Shūichi grinned, "Then let's enter one tomorrow together!"
"If I lose, I'll follow your orders and let you command me however you like."
Tsunade scoffed, "Tch, don't be so confident, kid. You're not that important."
Shūichi crossed his arms. "Of course. Lady Tsunade, you're the key player here. But… I do have a bit of an idea."
"Then spit it out already, idiot!" Tsunade slammed her hands on the table and yelled at Shūichi, spraying him with spit. His hair even flew back from the force.
Shizune looked worried from the side. Angering Tsunade wasn't a good idea. Meanwhile, Nono Yakushi remained calm, smiling as she watched the scene.
Wiping his face, Shūichi sighed, "I was just trying to lighten the mood!"
But the next moment, his expression turned serious. "Lady Tsunade, if your brain and consciousness are the Hokage, then your body's cells are the multitude of Konoha's shinobi."
"So, how would you command them as easily as you move your arm?"
Tsunade thought for a moment. "The Hokage can't directly manage every shinobi or give orders to each one individually."
"They have advisers by their side to strategize, ANBU captains to manage the ANBU, and squad leaders below them. Regular shinobi are overseen by Jōnin squad leaders, and Jōnin can often handle things on their own."
"So, you're saying we need layers, a hierarchical system to simplify control?"
Shūichi nodded. "Lady Tsunade, you understand the human body better than I do. When it comes to chakra flow, the human body can be divided into three systems, or rather, three cores."
He pointed to his forehead, chest, and abdomen.
"These three locations are like transport hubs, linking all the body's chakra networks. That's why I also placed a Yin Seal on my abdomen."
"The human body is an incredibly precise and perfect system."
"We already have a ready-made, perfectly intricate system capable of linking to every cell."
Tsunade furrowed her brow. "I know that, but it's precisely because of how perfect and intricate it is that it's so hard to utilize."
Shūichi chuckled and shook his head. "Lady Tsunade, every jutsu has its difficulties."
"Even the most basic techniques, like the Transformation Jutsu, require effort to master."
"This jutsu we're developing is undoubtedly of S-rank difficulty. You can't expect everyone to be able to learn it."
Tsunade had clearly fallen into a misunderstanding.
At that moment, Nono Yakushi chimed in, "What Shūichi mentioned about layers of management means using the body's three chakra cores for tiered control."
"Chakra is unique because it's formed from both spiritual and physical energy, which imbues it with personal will. That's why techniques like clones and shadow clones exist, as chakra links to one's consciousness."
"If the brain is the Hokage, then the forehead, heart, and abdomen represent the Hokage's advisers, ANBU, and Jōnin squads."
Shizune added, "It's like setting up three shadow clones at those core locations to manage the body's three main regions."
Shūichi gave her a thumbs-up immediately.
Shizune smiled back and then carefully looked at Tsunade. "Lady Tsunade, I think Shūichi's idea is worth trying."
Tsunade didn't respond and instead got up, heading toward the door. "Weren't we going for snacks?"
Everyone exchanged amused glances before following her out.
They invited Asuka as well, and the five of them enjoyed a late-night meal before parting ways.
---
The next day.
At 9 a.m., Shūichi, along with Tsunade, Shizune, and their group, arrived at the Akimichi clan's shop to participate in the eating contest.
The contest had been running for nearly a month, so it wasn't as crowded as it had been at the start.
Still, it attracted many regulars who came to see if anyone had broken the record.
As soon as Shūichi and the others entered the shop, they overheard the diners chatting.
"As expected of one of the Legendary Sannin. It's been ten days, and no one's beaten his record yet!"
"I wonder if Lady Tsunade or Lord Orochimaru, also of the Sannin, can break it?"
"Lady Tsunade has signed up, but Lord Orochimaru hasn't."
"Then let's look forward to Lady Tsunade giving it a try!"
"Jōnin Minato is also impressive. As Jiraiya-sama's disciple, he only fell short by two bowls."
"And Lady Kushina? She's even better than Minato!"
"Who's this guy named Might Guy? He ate so much—he even surpassed many Jōnin, including Sakumo-senpai!"
...
"Lady Tsunade!"
"What?"
"Lady Tsunade is here!"
The customers and onlookers in the shop immediately became excited. Before long, the shopkeeper also came over. Upon learning that Shūichi and his group of five were all here to compete, they quickly began to make arrangements.
Word that Tsunade was participating in the eating contest spread quickly, drawing more and more people to the shop. Many ordered a bowl of udon just to watch the spectacle.
While waiting, Shūichi found himself studying the ranking board on the wall.
The first-place record was held by Jiraiya, with an impressive 41 bowls.
Second place belonged to Kushina Uzumaki, with 40 bowls.
Third place went to Minato, with 39 bowls.
Shūichi also noticed other familiar names: Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi, Asuma Sarutobi, and even Might Guy, who had eaten a considerable amount—30 bowls.
If Guy ate like this regularly, Shūichi wondered if his father, Might Duy, could afford it.
Speaking of Duy, he also had quite the appetite—36 bowls.
Unfortunately, there was no sign of Chōji's father, Chōza Akimichi.
Shūichi sighed to himself.
Soon, the shopkeeper announced that everything was ready.
Shūichi cleared his thoughts and took his seat alongside Tsunade and the others. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the referee from the Akimichi clan gave the signal, and the contest began.
Shūichi started eating steadily, while Nono Yakushi and the others also ate with a calm, graceful pace. Despite their composed eating styles, they all maintained a quick tempo, bowl after bowl.
After 20 bowls, Shizune was the first to give up. She could no longer eat and collapsed onto the table, staring at Shūichi in awe.
After 25 bowls, Nono Yakushi also stopped, though she still seemed to have some energy left.
Shūichi and Tsunade, however, showed no signs of slowing down, while Asuka's pace had noticeably decreased.
At 32 bowls, Asuka also threw in the towel.
Now, everyone in the shop had their eyes glued to Shūichi and Tsunade.
People began to whisper, "Who is this kid? He's eating so much, it seems like he's on par with Lady Tsunade!"
"You don't know who he is?"
"No, should I?"
"Hmph, Jōnin Shūichi is one of Konoha's, and perhaps the entire shinobi world's, youngest Chūnin and Special Jōnin!"
"What? A S-Special Jōnin? At his age?"
"He's not even 10 years old yet, I think."
"Gulp... That's incredible!"
"He's also Minato's student, and he's currently studying medical ninjutsu under Lady Tsunade. He's a Special Jōnin in the Medical Corps now!"
"Amazing!"
...
Listening to the whispers around him, Shūichi thought to himself, "After this eating contest, I'll probably become famous throughout all of Konoha."
Previously, when he broke the record as the youngest Chūnin and Special Jōnin, only people in the ninja circles knew about it, and many had never even seen him in person.
But now, with this eating contest, his face would be up on the leaderboard for everyone to see.
Hmm?
Suddenly, Shūichi noticed some activity in his Tag System.
He paused for a moment and diverted a bit of his attention toward the system.
As expected, a new tag had appeared.
Tag: Renowned Across Nations (Alternative Name: Famous)
Condition to Obtain: Spread your fame across the major countries and ninja villages of the shinobi world.
Effect: Increases luck by 50%, boosts "Talk no Jutsu" effectiveness by 100%, and enhances charisma by 100%.
It can increase luck!
Shūichi was astonished. Luck was something intangible, mysterious, and difficult to grasp. In the simplest terms, it was like pure fortune.
Bad luck, and you could chip a tooth while drinking water.
Good luck, and even choosing a random path could lead you to success.
As the saying goes: "When fortune smiles, the heavens align, but when it fades, even heroes are powerless."
"Though... drawing this much attention as a ninja could be risky..."
Just as Shūichi was pondering this, exclamations erupted from the crowd around him.
"Jiraiya-sama's record has been broken!"
"As expected of Lady Tsunade!"
"Jōnin Shūichi is doing really well too—he's already at 40 bowls!"
Shūichi glanced over at Tsunade. She had eaten two more bowls than him. He quickly refocused and continued the contest.
Eat, eat, eat!
Both Shūichi and Tsunade were different from the others. They had both trained in the Yin Seal and possessed extraordinary chakra control and refining abilities.
They could eat while simultaneously refining and storing chakra.
Even though they were still bound by the limits of their digestive systems, they were undeniably formidable in this aspect.
Especially Shūichi—his body had undergone several enhancements, and his recovery ability had doubled, which also greatly boosted his digestive capacity.
Before long, Shūichi caught up with Tsunade, which caused another round of gasps from the crowd: "Incredible!"
At 50 bowls, Tsunade glanced at Shūichi and thought, "This kid... his digestion is actually better than mine?"
She could definitely keep eating, but continuing would put too much strain on her digestive system and might cause damage.
Besides... maybe it was time to let the kid have his moment.
At 52 bowls, Tsunade finally stopped.
But Shūichi kept going.
He hadn't reached his limit yet—his digestive system was still working strong.
He realized that the full benefits of his enhanced physique extended far beyond just an increase in chakra reserves.
At this rate, if his chakra reserves ever reached the level of Hashirama Senju, his physical strength might even surpass Hashirama's.
60 bowls!
The spectators in the shop were left speechless.
Even the shop owner was stunned.
70 bowls!
The room fell completely silent.
At 75 bowls, Shūichi finally set down his chopsticks and let out a satisfied burp.
That was his limit.
Any more, and it would start to harm his stomach and spleen.
"This should be enough, right?" Shūichi thought to himself.
Immediately after, the shop erupted in applause, and countless voices praised him.
"No one can beat that number, right?"
"That was amazing!"
"He's not even 10 years old!"
"Jōnin Shūichi will probably surpass even Lady Tsunade and the others in the future!"
After taking the top spot in the eating contest rankings, Shūichi shifted most of his focus to developing a new jutsu alongside Tsunade.
If they could create it this year without using his "Flash of Insight" ability, that would be ideal. Shūichi could then save his once-a-year "Flash of Insight" for other purposes.
For example, it could be used to comprehend the technique inscribed on the Totsuka Blade granted by the Tag Tree.
Or it could aid in studying the Four-Tails' Lava Release or even the Eight-Tails' technique of tail shedding and substitution.
There were countless areas where he needed this ability, but since it could only be used once a year, saving it was crucial.
Sometimes, time was incredibly valuable. Other times, not so much.
Of course, although he was busy with Tsunade's project, he still relied on shadow clones to handle various other ninjutsu training.
Time flew by, and before long, it was December of the 42nd year of Konoha.
Shūichi's vacation ended.
On this particular day, after returning to the ANBU headquarters and waiting for a bit in the locker room, only Sarutobi Shinnosuke and Chihiro showed up. He had a hunch.
Sure enough, the next moment, Sarutobi Shinnosuke said, "Deer and Mind have both withdrawn from ANBU."
Shūichi nodded and asked, "Are there any new recruits coming in?"
Shinnosuke shook his head. "Not for now. The three of us will form a squad and handle the upcoming missions."
Then, he smiled. "But before the year ends, there probably won't be any major tasks, so for now, we'll be acting as guards for the Third Hokage."
Chihiro laughed as well, "I heard you've been busy with experiments and developing new jutsu recently. You can just use a shadow clone for this."
"The Third Hokage rarely leaves the village these days."
Shūichi nodded, "Understood. I'll leave the heavy lifting to Captain and Chihiro-san!"
For him, this was great news.
The development of the new jutsu with Tsunade was at a critical stage. Contributing to this process wasn't just helping Tsunade, but also honing his own talents and gaining valuable experience.
So the new task began. The three of them were stationed at the Hokage's office.
When Hiruzen Sarutobi stayed inside, they were just hanging around, occasionally running errands for him.
When he went out for a casual stroll, they would follow discreetly.
It was a pretty laid-back job!
As a result, Shūichi was "ordered" to slack off. Leaving a shadow clone behind, he took his real body to the Senju residence.
Since Shizune was at Konoha Hospital, only Tsunade was at home.
But Shūichi found her... fast asleep!
Tsunade was slumped over the desk, seemingly having a pleasant dream—she was even drooling.
Ugh~~
Shūichi sat across from her and, after a moment of curiosity, entertained a mischievous thought: Should I poke her cheek with my finger?
The wicked idea flashed through his mind, but he quickly dismissed it.
With Tsunade's temper, she'd probably chase him through the village for a hundred streets.
Shaking his head, Shūichi didn't wake her. Instead, he began tidying up the nearby scrolls and reviewing the notes.
Most of the scrolls contained incomplete jutsu formulas, some written by Tsunade, and others that he had contributed to.
Shūichi reorganized the scrolls, then started sorting his thoughts, pulling out fresh scrolls to work on seals and adjust the formulas.
Two hours passed in the blink of an eye. When Tsunade woke up and saw Shūichi, she was momentarily surprised. "Huh, aren't you supposed to be on a mission?"
"Since it's a pretty easy task, I get to slack off a bit," Shūichi replied with a grin, glancing up at her.
He couldn't help but laugh.
Tsunade, still looking a bit drowsy, had ink marks smeared across her cheek.
It was... kind of cute.
"Lady Tsunade, you've got something... here," Shūichi said, pointing to his own face.
Tsunade wiped her face, blushing a little, but quickly brushed it off. "Stayed up too late last night."
She stood up and went to wash up.
When she returned, fully refreshed, she asked, "Any new ideas?"
Shūichi shook his head with a wry smile, "Lady Tsunade, I may be a genius, but I'm not a god."
"Let's start by going over everything we've done so far."
Tsunade sighed and nodded, then started organizing the scattered scrolls.
Time passed, and before they knew it, it was already noon. Shūichi decided to cook lunch himself, while Tsunade leaned against the doorframe, munching on an apple. "It's looking pretty good!"
Shūichi chuckled, "Of course! I've been honing this skill since I was little."
Tsunade smirked, "You're still just a kid."
"But I'll grow up eventually, Lady Tsunade."
"Yeah, but in front of me, you'll always be a kid."
Their banter continued throughout lunch, and before they knew it, the meal was over.
After cleaning up, the two returned to work.
Over the next two days, they went over their previous progress and then continued advancing step by step.
Before long, 10 days had passed.
On this day, the jutsu formula had finally taken shape, and Tsunade began testing it herself.
She formed a series of hand seals, and as the final seal was completed, the Yin Seal on her forehead activated. The curse marks immediately spread and intertwined, covering her entire body.
Then, with a decisive motion, she released the Yin Seal!
In the next instant, Shūichi sensed an enormous surge of chakra.
To his perception, Tsunade had transformed into a massive reservoir of chakra. However, Tsunade herself frowned slightly. "The chakra flow isn't stable enough, and the control is still too rough."
Shūichi chuckled and replied, "Then we'll just keep controlling it. To get this far already means we've essentially succeeded, doesn't it?"
"Alright, fair enough," Tsunade nodded, still a little dissatisfied. The curse marks on her body faded away as the chakra flowed back into the Yin Seal, sealing itself again.
What followed was a long period of adjustments and tests, refining the jutsu step by step, moving ever closer to the vision that both Shūichi and Tsunade had in mind.
...
On December 24th, in the 42nd year of Konoha.
At the Senju residence, by the fireplace, Shūichi wrote the final stroke, completing the complex jutsu formula.
Shūichi looked up at Tsunade across from him. "Lady Tsunade, how about naming this technique?"
Indeed, just before the new year arrived, the new jutsu was finally perfected.
Tsunade glanced at the jutsu formula on the scroll, nodded, and said, "Let's call it the Hundred Healings Technique."
Shūichi immediately wrote the name of the technique on the scroll.
Then, he pulled out another blank scroll and continued writing.
Tsunade, puzzled, raised an eyebrow after a moment. "You're planning to use three versions of the Hundred Healings Technique?"
"Even if you set up Yin Seals on your forehead, heart, and abdomen, there's no need to use three separate Hundred Healings Techniques, right?"
"Even if the seals are pre-arranged, maintaining them still requires mental focus. That's going to put a lot of strain on your mind."
Shūichi continued writing, smiling as he explained, "We also need to consider the possibility that one of the curse marks might get damaged."
Tsunade huffed. "The core of the Hundred Healings Technique is located in the forehead. If that gets destroyed, you'd already be dead..."
Her voice trailed off as her brow furrowed in thought. "You're trying to ensure that even if your head—or specifically, your brain—is hit, the jutsu can still activate and heal critical brain injuries, even if you lose consciousness."
A look of realization crossed her face. "So, when you suggested adding the Eight Trigrams Seal earlier, this was what you were aiming for?"
It was a well-known fact that if a person dies or loses consciousness, most techniques—like the Shadow Clone Technique—disappear.
But during their development of the Hundred Healings Technique, Shūichi had proposed that the heart and abdomen serve as two additional layers of control, each acting as separate chakra control cores, to ease the burden of controlling the technique and make it easier to manage.
However, if the head were to sustain critical damage, and the user lost consciousness, those two additional control cores would also fail, much like how shadow clones vanish.
But by incorporating the Eight Trigrams Seal, a protective mechanism could be added, allowing these control cores to maintain independent thought processes.
This was the brilliance of sealing techniques!
And also the versatility of chakra itself!
Chakra could carry not only one's thoughts but also one's consciousness, or even soul.
This was why techniques like the Shadow Clone Technique allowed the clones to have independent thoughts and actions.
In the original story, Minato Namikaze sealed remnants of his and Kushina Uzumaki's chakra inside Naruto using the Eight Trigrams Seal. When Naruto was about to release the Nine-Tails, Minato and Kushina appeared to intervene.
Similarly, when Naruto was training in Nine-Tails Chakra Mode, Kushina appeared to assist him.
Sealing techniques had limitless potential!
...
Seeing that Tsunade understood, Shūichi smiled. "Although we don't yet know what kind of advanced healing jutsu this could lead to, at the very least, it could enable regeneration without requiring hand seals."
"If the brain sustains serious damage and consciousness is lost, as long as healing begins before the brain cells die en masse, it could potentially bring someone back from the brink of death."
"All three cores would have to be destroyed for us to truly lose the ability to heal."
"Though it's not perfect, we can now say that both the head and the heart—two of the body's most vulnerable and lethal weak points—are no longer as deadly."
Tsunade's expression turned serious as she nodded, feeling the weight of the responsibility. "It looks like I'll need to devote my full attention to developing a healing jutsu that's fast enough to keep up with this concept. Otherwise, this 'brat' will outdo me."
She realized that the next step would be creating a healing technique with rapid regeneration speed to match Shūichi's design.
Otherwise, the three healing cores would merely act as chakra storage points without true function.
With this thought, Tsunade was reminded of her grandfather, the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju.
"Grandfather's ability to heal without hand seals... I may not be able to reach that level, but I can't be too far off!"
...
Watching Tsunade's serious demeanor, Shūichi laughed and said, "No need to put so much pressure on yourself, Lady Tsunade. We still have plenty of time."
While Tsunade's version of the Hundred Healings Technique would assist with healing, maintaining her appearance, and extending her lifespan, Shūichi's version could assist in combat.
Finally, he could unlock the Fire Release Chakra Mode!
...
With the new jutsu formula complete, Shūichi spread the scroll on the ground, then removed his forehead protector and shirt, revealing his toned upper body.
Sitting cross-legged on the scroll, he clasped his hands together, focusing as Tsunade watched.
The next moment, the formula on the scroll came to life. Tadpole-like symbols rapidly climbed onto Shūichi's body, gathering at his forehead, heart, and abdomen, integrating with the pre-arranged Yin Seal and Eight Trigrams Seal.
When the process was complete, Shūichi softly uttered, "Open!"
Instantly, under Tsunade's gaze, Shūichi's previously smooth forehead began to glow with a blue light.
Unlike Tsunade's diamond-shaped Yin Seal, this light was circular—clearly tied to the Eight Trigrams Seal.
But what surprised Tsunade the most was that, although she sensed Shūichi activating the Hundred Healings Technique, no curse marks appeared on his body.
Yet, his chakra quickly filled his head and became visible on the surface, bathing his entire head in a blue glow.
"So this is the benefit of using the Eight Trigrams Seal? Maximum control over chakra."
"No, wait!" Tsunade's eyes narrowed. "This is... Fire Release chakra!"
As she watched, the chakra around Shūichi's head retracted back to his forehead, and the blue glow there faded away.
But then, the same blue glow appeared at Shūichi's heart, and the chakra spread out from there, covering his neck, chest, and arms.
Tsunade silently noted, "Each core can be activated individually, like Yin Healing Wound Destruction. This method would indeed conserve chakra and prevent over-healing."
Shūichi then completed the trial of the Hundred Healings Technique at the heart core.
Next was the abdomen, with the technique enveloping his lower body, including his legs and feet.
In this way, he divided his body into three zones.
Though it was a bit cumbersome, it had plenty of advantages.
Moreover, since the formula was pre-arranged, activating it would only take a single thought or hand seal, wasting no time.
Of course, each of the three cores could also cover the entire body, not just a single zone.
Everything was perfect. Shūichi stood up and put his shirt back on.
As for the forehead protector, after some thought, he decided not to tie it back on his forehead, but around his neck instead.
Tsunade asked, "Hey, you're planning to use the Hundred Healings Technique for something else, aren't you?"