<h4>Chapter 73: Chapter 73: The Envoy of Space-Time</h4>


    While eating snacks and watching the intense discussion between Shūichi and Tsunade, Shizune felt very happy, even though she couldn''t participate in the conversation.


    The discussion between Shūichi and Tsunade continued well into the night, only stopping when Shizune finished preparing dinner.


    During dinner, Tsunade said, "Shizune, once school starts, apply for graduation."


    Shizune was taken aback, then instinctively nodded, "Okay, Lady Tsunade."


    Tsunade nced at Shūichi before continuing, "After you graduate, start at Konoha Hospital. I''ll have Yakushi Nono mentor you."


    Shūichi understood and quickly added with a smile, "Don''t worry, Shizune, I''ll talk to the director too."


    With her cheeks puffed up from the delicious food, Shizune nodded happily, "Mm!"


    After dinner, Shūichi, wrapped in the scarf Shizune had given him, waved goodbye and left.


    Under the streetlights, Shizune watched as Shūichi disappeared into the darkness, snowkes swirling around him.


    "He''s already out of sight!" Tsunade''s voice suddenly broke the silence.


    Blushing, Shizune turned around to see Tsunade leaning slightly tipsy against the doorframe, holding a sake bottle.


    "Lady Tsunade, it''s too cold out here. Let''s go back inside!" Shizune quickly stepped forward to support Tsunade.


    Tsunade took another sip of sake and muttered, "That little rascal is just like Jiraiya—such a pervert!"


    "That''s not true, Lady Tsunade. You must have misunderstood Shūichi," Shizune softly defended.


    "Hmph, that kid always stares at my chest!"


    "Oh no..."


    As the door closed behind them, their voices were gradually drowned out by the wind and snow.


    ...


    Returning home through the snow, Shūichi found that Yakushi Nono had already prepared a hot soup.


    After taking a sip, the chill in his body melted away, and he smiled, "Director, your cooking is getting better and better!"


    Nono smiled as she gently brushed the snow off Shūichi, "As long as Shūichi likes it."


    "The herbal bath is ready too, so head there after you finish your soup."


    Nodding, Shūichi downed the rest of the soup, then gathered his clothes and headed to the bathroom for a bath.


    When he emerged from the bathroom, he saw Nono quietly mending his clothes with a focused and tender expression that tugged at his heart.


    Stepping closer, Shūichi grinned, "Director, could you help dry my hair?"


    "Shūichi, you''re almost eight years old now!" Nono chuckled.


    Despite her words, she set aside the needle and thread.


    Shūichi immediatelyy down on the sofa, resting his head on Nono''sp.


    With gentle care, Nono used a towel to dry andb Shūichi''s medium-length hair.


    As the familiar scent surrounded him, Shūichi unknowingly drifted off to sleep, his arms wrapped around Nono''s waist.


    Seeing him asleep, Nono became even more tender in her actions.


    She was well aware of the unique attachment Shūichi had toward her, but she also saw his relentless efforts, and her heart ached with sympathy, unable to refuse any of his requests.


    "Being able to stay by Shūichi''s side like this... it''s good," Nono thought to herself.


    ...


    Shūichi Hoshita woke up at 5 AM, feeling refreshed after rolling around in bed, thinking about the events of the previous night.


    The world outside was covered in a nket of snow, but that didn''t stop Shūichi from heading out for his morning training.


    "Shūichi, I knew you''d be here!"


    In the snowyndscape, Might Guy, dressed in his iconic green outfit, stood out vividly.


    The cold did nothing to dampen his enthusiasm. "Since we''ve run into each other, let''s have a sparring match, Shūichi!"


    "As you wish!" Shūichi agreed with a smile.


    Training with a partner was always more effective than going at it alone. Soon enough, the two of them were leaving clear tracks in Konoha''s snow-covered world.


    Partway through, they encountered Kakashi, and their duo became a trio.


    ...


    After finishing his morning training and returning home for the hearty breakfast Nono had prepared, Shūichi didn''t follow his original n to go out and train.


    Instead, he headed to the study.


    Last night, he had intended toplete the summoning scroll and wrap up his summoning jutsu training, but he had been derailed by Nono''s kindness.


    "As expected, a gentle embrace can be a hero''s downfall!" he sighed to himself before activating his double concentration mode to get to work.


    Time flew by, and after two hours, Shūichi deactivated his double concentration mode and let out a deep breath.


    "Finally done!"


    He smiled, satisfied after inspecting the seal on the scroll. Then, he walked to the window and opened it, letting the cold air clear his slightly foggy mind.


    Just then, Nono entered with a bowl of bone broth. "It''s fine to air out the room, but don''t stand by the window!" she reminded him as she gently pulled him away to sit down.


    "Thanks, Director."


    Shūichi took the hot soup and drank it down in big gulps.


    ncing at the scroll, Nono asked, "Is it finished?"


    "Of course."


    Feeling warm and content after finishing the soup, Shūichi smiled. "I am a genius, after all."


    "Amazing!"


    Nono took the bowl from him, cautioning, "Even geniuses shouldn''t be arrogant, Shūichi!"


    "I know."


    Shūichi replied earnestly, "I promised to protect you for a lifetime, didn''t I?"


    Nono responded with equal sincerity, "I believe in you, Shūichi!"


    The two exchanged smiles.


    After Nono left the study, Shūichi retrieved his Totsuka de and ced it on a scroll inscribed with a seal.


    He then formed a series of hand seals and finally pressed his hands onto the Totsuka de.


    In an instant, the seal on the scroll activated, quickly moving onto the sword, and forming the word "Totsuka" on the hilt.


    With the sealing processplete, Shūichi grabbed the Totsuka de, swung it, and stabbed it into the snow outside the window.


    Next, he approached another summoning scroll, leaving his bloody handprint and chakra on it. With everything ready, Shūichi formed the hand seals again.


    Summoning Jutsu!


    As soon as hepleted the jutsu, the Totsuka de, which was stabbed into the snow outside, reappeared in his hand.


    The summoning jutsu was a sess!


    Almost simultaneously, Shūichi noticed some movement in the "Tag Tree" within his mind.


    Focusing his attention, he was surprised.


    "Huh?"


    He had expected to unlock something like the "<strong>Space-Time Expert</strong>" tag, but it turned out to be more than that.


    The "<strong>Ninjutsu Master</strong>" tag had also unlocked.


    "So I''ve already mastered 30 ninjutsu?"


    Shūichi realized btedly and started counting. Including the summoning jutsu, he had indeed mastered 30 ninjutsu.


    He used to think mastering 30 jutsu was a huge task, but now, it waspleted almost without him noticing.


    But how many Chunin in the entire ninja world could boast of mastering this many jutsu?


    It wasn''t just about having the talent and time to train; resources yed a crucial role too.


    Back when Shūichi decided to graduate early, it was primarily for ess to more jutsu resources.


    Without graduating early, he would have been limited to medical ninjutsu resources—other than what Nono knew, there would have been nowhere else to learn from.


    ...


    <strong>Tag: [Ninjutsu Master]</strong>


    <strong>Condition to Obtain:</strong> Proficiently master at least 30 ninjutsu.


    <strong>Effect:</strong> Any ninjutsu hand seals can be reduced to two, and ninjutsu talent is increased by 100%.


    The effect of this tag is undoubtedly exceptional, as expected from a master tag.


    Being able to reduce any jutsu to just two hand seals will significantly enhance the first-strike advantage.


    The increase in ninjutsu talent applies to all types of ninjutsu.


    Fire Release, Wind Release, Lightning Release, Water Release, Earth Release, Genjutsu, and more.


    "With this, I won''t have to worry about having a low aptitude for Lightning, Water, and Earth Release techniques anymore."


    Shūichi Hoshita smiled.


    And then there''s Genjutsu. Right now, he was delving into the Darkness Technique.


    After briefly savoring the thought, Shūichi shifted his attention to another leaf on the Tag Tree.


    <strong>Tag: [Space-Time Envoy]</strong>


    <strong>Condition to Obtain:</strong> Proficiently master at least five Space-Time Ninjutsu.


    <strong>Effect:</strong> Space-Time ninjutsu talent is increased by 100%, and physique is increased by 100% (since long-distance space-time travel requires a strong body).


    Reading the description on the tag leaf, Shūichi felt a bit overwhelmed.


    At least five Space-Time ninjutsu!


    Where was he supposed to find them?


    "The Summoning Jutsu, Reverse Summoning Jutsu, Cloud Vige''s Heavenly Transfer Technique, the Flying Thunder God Technique—aside from the ones linked to kekkei genkai, what other ninjutsu falls under Space-Time?"


    Shūichi couldn''t help but scratch his head.


    If it weren''t for the boost to his physique, he''d be tempted toin.


    "Fortunately, both the [Ninjutsu Master] and [Konoha Genius] tags enhance all types of ninjutsu, including Space-Time. Otherwise, I wouldn''t be confident about mastering the Flying Thunder God Technique."


    "But the Heavenly Transfer Technique from Cloud Vige will be tricky."


    "Maybe I''ll have to create one myself?"


    After pondering for a moment, Shūichi set aside the thought, tidied up the study, and headed to the Forest of Death with the summoning scroll.


    The white tiger was hibernating, but as soon as Shūichi appeared, it woke up, gave a low growl, and got up to nuzzle him.


    Shūichi yed with the white tiger for a while before injecting chakra into its body, helping it be more ustomed to the energy.


    After feeding it some medicine, he opened the summoning scroll. While the white tiger was savoring the taste of the medicine, he quickly pricked its paw.


    Blood oozed out, which Shūichi pressed onto the summoning scroll, leaving a paw print.


    The white tiger didn''t even have time to react before the wound was healed with medical ninjutsu, leaving it staring nkly at Shūichi.


    "Hahaha..."


    Shūichiughed heartily, rubbing the white tiger''s head. "Shiro, now I can feed you even when I''m on a mission."


    After ying with the white tiger a bit more, Shūichi finally left.


    ...


    Entering the Uchiha n''spound, Shūichi curiously observed his surroundings.


    The Uchiha were indeed a unique presence in Konoha, with the entire n living in close quarters.


    In contrast, even the prestigious Hyūga n didn''t live so closely together.


    "Shūichi!"


    A voice suddenly called out, making Shūichi stop and turn. An unfamiliar Uchiha nsman was approaching him.


    After a quick nce, Shūichi suddenly remembered, "It''s you!"


    The person was Uchiha Yū. He walked up to Shūichi and introduced himself with a smile, "I''m Uchiha Yū. You must be here to see Shisui, right?"


    Shūichi quickly greeted him, "Hello, Yū-senpai. Yes, I''m here to see Shisui."


    "Let me take you to him!"


    Uchiha Yū offered.


    Not wanting to refuse, Shūichi quickly said, "Thank you, senpai!"


    The two chatted as they walked to Uchiha Shisui''s house, but Uchiha Yū soon excused himself and left.


    After watching him leave, Shisui gave Shūichi a tour of his home.


    It was quiterge, with theyout of a mansion,pletely different from the two-room apartment Shūichi lived in.


    But living alone made the house seem too empty, a stark contrast to Shisui''s warm and sunny personality.


    Finally, the two arrived at the ce where Shisui kept his crows.


    Shisui had built wooden houses to serve as nests for the crows during winter.


    "Look, these are specially prepared for you."


    Shisui pointed to a few nests inside one of the wooden houses.


    Shūichi looked inside and saw several young birds in the nests.


    Shisui smiled, "But I don''t rmend taking them now. The weather is too cold."


    "Why note by every day to feed them, and take them home after spring arrives?"


    Shūichi agreed readily, "You''re the expert, Shisui. I''ll follow your advice!"


    (End of Chapter)


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