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Chapter 5: The Seven Chakra Natures
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"Shin, what are you daydreaming about?"
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Kushina nudged Shin, snapping him out of his trance.
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His conversation with the System had been a mental one, so to Kushina, he just seemed spaced out.
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"Nothing much," Shin replied with a grin he couldn''t quite suppress.
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"Liar! You wouldn''t be grinning like that if it was nothing. Something good must have happened. Fine, keep your secrets," Kushina huffed, pouting.
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Shin shook his head, his smile fading. He realized his earlier plan had been a bit too ambitious.
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Just as the System had said, his progress was limited by Replication Cards. Even with dozens of Common cards, he wouldn''t be able to stack his physique to Might Guy''s Eight Inner Gates level.
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Besides, he''d never wanted to be a one-trick pony, specializing only in Taijutsu. Being well-rounded was the key to minimizing weaknesses. Specializing in one area made you an easy target.
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"Uzumaki Shin, is that you?"
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Uzumaki Hikaru, the Jonin whose physique Shin had just copied, looked over.
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A Jonin''s senses were sharp; Hikaru had noticed Shin staring at him.
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He had no idea that the physique he''d spent over a decade honing, enduring countless hardships to achieve, had been duplicated in an instant.
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Shin''s System was truly broken; it allowed him to gain the fruits of someone else''s labor without putting in the work.
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If Hikaru knew, he''d probably want to strangle Shin.
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But even without knowing, Hikaru wasn''t exactly thrilled to see Shin. They had a history.
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Or rather, Shin had a history with Hikaru''s son. Back when Shin was still living in the clan grounds, he''d had a run-in with the boy.
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Shin had broken the kid''s leg, putting him out of commission for three months.
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Hikaru had been furious, ready to tear Shin apart. But even though Shin wasn''t popular, he was still the clan elder''s grandson. Hikaru couldn''t touch him.
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"Yo, Hikaru. Fancy meeting you here. How''s your son doing?"
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Shin asked with a casual smile. He wasn''t afraid of the Jonin.
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Not because of his own strength, though. Honestly, even with Hikaru''s physique stacked on top of his own, he was no match for the experienced Jonin in a fight.
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Shin lacked Combat Experience. Hikaru, on the other hand, was a seasoned warrior. Even with superior physical abilities, Shin would lose.
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He thought of Kaguya ōtsutsuki, who, despite her immense power, was ultimately sealed due to her lack of battle experience.
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If Madara Uchiha had obtained Kaguya''s power, he would have been truly unstoppable.
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Shin''s confidence stemmed from his identity. No matter how disliked he was, he was still the clan elder''s grandson. Would Hikaru dare lay a finger on him?
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"Hmph."
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Hikaru snorted, reminding himself that Shin was just a child, not worth his time.
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But even so, he couldn''t completely let it go. He glared at Shin before turning and walking away.
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He couldn''t do anything to Shin, so out of sight, out of mind.
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Shin continued exploring the training grounds. He used another Common Replication Card, this time copying a Jutsu: the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu.
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The Shadow Clone Jutsu was created by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju. But its practicality led to it being stolen by ninjas from other nations.
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Countless Shinobi in the ninja world knew the Shadow Clone Jutsu, including those in the Uzumaki Clan. Shin copied it from an elite Chunin.
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With his [Perfect Sage Body] and the Shadow Clone Jutsu, his training efficiency would skyrocket.
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Of course, he would have preferred the forbidden Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu.
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Despite being A-rank, it was classified as forbidden. Forbidden didn''t necessarily mean powerful.
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Jutsu that caused harm to the user or were deemed too dangerous were classified as forbidden. This included Jutsu like the Edo Tensei.
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Unfortunately, Common Replication Cards couldn''t copy A-rank Jutsu, only B-rank at most.
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And even if he could copy it, he wouldn''t find anyone to copy from. While many knew the Shadow Clone Jutsu, those who knew the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu were few and far between.
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With three Replication Cards remaining, Shin decided to call it a day. He left the training grounds with Kushina and bought some ninja tools and two Chakra Papers.
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Chakra Papers were used to determine a Shinobi''s Chakra Nature. There were seven Chakra Natures in total:
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Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth, Yin, and Yang.
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The Yin and Yang Natures couldn''t be tested with Chakra Paper.
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"Why did you buy these? They''re so expensive, a thousand Ryō each!" Kushina looked at the papers with distress.
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"These are Chakra Papers. They tell you what kind of Chakra you have. Here, try it."
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Kushina curiously took a Chakra Paper and channeled her Chakra into it. The paper reacted immediately.
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It split down the middle, and the corners became damp.
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"Kushina, your Chakra Natures are Wind and Water," Shin explained.
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Kushina looked confused; she didn''t understand these concepts yet.
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Shin took a Chakra Paper and infused it with his Chakra. The paper split, indicating Wind Nature. One corner ignited, revealing Fire Nature.
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Then, a corner became damp (Water), another wrinkled (Lightning), and the last one crumbled (Earth).
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Shin possessed five Chakra Natures: Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth.
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Yin and Yang couldn''t be detected with the paper, but with his [Perfect Sage Body], he definitely had Yang.
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And he also had the Sharingan, a manifestation of Yin Release, suggesting he likely possessed Yin Nature as well.
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This meant he might have all seven Chakra Natures. That was definitely something to be excited about.
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"Whoa, five Transformations! You have five Chakra Natures?"
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Shin smiled faintly, choosing not to mention Yin and Yang for now.
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It was getting late. They returned home before dark. Shin put away the ninja tools he''d bought and started preparing dinner.
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"Kushina, what do you want to eat?"
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"Hee hee, anything you make is delicious."
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Shin smiled and decided to make a hearty meal. They''d had a long day of training and needed to replenish their energy.
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It was especially important at their age to eat nutritious food to support their growth and development.
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After a satisfying dinner, Kushina, exhausted, washed up and went to bed. Shin, however, continued studying the [Adamantine Sealing Chains].
--
Chapter 6: Disaster Strikes the Land of Whirlpools
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Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
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Shin had made significant progress, mastering the [Adamantine Sealing Chains].
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Thanks to the Shadow Clone Jutsu, he could create over a dozen clones to study simultaneously. Even without a teacher, he managed to learn the Jutsu on his own.
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"Haa! [Rasengan]!"
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Shin focused on the large tree before him, a rapidly spinning sphere of Chakra forming in his hand. He thrust his hand forward, smashing the Rasengan into the tree trunk.
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BOOM!
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Wood splintered and flew as the massive tree, one that would take two people to encircle, was pierced straight through, leaving a gaping hole with spiral patterns etched into its edges – a testament to the rotating Chakra''s power.
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"If that hit a person, it would go right through them, no problem."
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Shin was more than satisfied with the Rasengan''s destructive power. A-rank Jutsu were no joke.
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He had developed the Rasengan himself. Understanding the principles behind it, recreating it wasn''t that difficult.
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This was the culmination of his half-month''s training. Not only had he mastered the Adamantine Sealing Chains, but he''d also developed the Rasengan.
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"That tree must have been decades old, and you just punched a hole through it," Kushina said, staring at the poor tree.
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"Hey, Kushina, do you still want to learn the Rasengan or what?"
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"Of course I do! Teach me, teach me!" Kushina jumped up, grabbing Shin''s arm excitedly.
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"Ouch, my shoulders are kinda sore."
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Shin sat down, looking expectantly at Kushina.
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Kushina knew what he wanted. With a reluctant sigh, she walked over and started massaging his shoulders.
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"Not bad, but a little more pressure would be perfect," Shin said, leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
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Kushina gritted her teeth, but for the sake of learning the Rasengan, she endured.
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"It''s getting late, almost lunchtime. Let''s head back. I''ll teach you in the afternoon."
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Shin glanced at the sun high in the sky.
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Kushina, though eager to learn the Rasengan, knew that food came first.
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After lunch, Shin began teaching Kushina the Jutsu. Half a day wasn''t enough to master it, though.
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"You can already burst a water balloon. That''s the second stage completed. You''ll have the Rasengan down in no time."
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As the sky darkened, Shin told Kushina to stop for the day and continue tomorrow.
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The Rasengan had four stages. The first was simple: gathering Chakra in your palm.
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The second stage involved stable and continuous Chakra release. This was practiced by placing a water balloon in your hand and releasing Chakra to make the water inside move erratically until the balloon exploded.
Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.
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The third stage used a rubber ball. The goal was to maintain Chakra release, solidifying the Chakra until it could burst the ball.
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At the third stage, the Rasengan could already cause damage, but its power was limited.
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The final stage combined everything learned previously. High-density Chakra was gathered in the hand, released continuously, maintained, and finally completing the Jutsu.
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After dinner, Kushina went to bed. Shin returned to his room.
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"I don''t know why, but I have a bad feeling about this." Shin looked out the window. The sky was unusually dark, not a moon or star in sight.
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"Can''t sleep. Might as well refine some Chakra."
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Time passed. It was past one in the morning when Shin finally stopped. He was feeling sleepy. Just as he was about to lie down, a loud noise jolted him awake.
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He rushed to the window. In the direction of the Uzumaki Clan grounds, flames lit up the night sky.
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"Could it be...?"
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His drowsiness vanished. He ran to Kushina''s room.
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"Kushina, wake up!"
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"Shin, what''s going on? I was sleeping so soundly. Why did you wake me up?" Kushina grumbled, her eyes barely open.
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"Wake up, something''s wrong!"
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Shin flicked Kushina''s forehead to bring her to her senses. This was no time for jokes.
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If his hunch was right, the disaster had struck the Land of Whirlpools. There was nothing he could do to stop it, but he could protect himself and Kushina.
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"What''s wrong?" Kushina asked, seeing the seriousness in Shin''s eyes.
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Shin pointed towards the window. Kushina followed his gaze and saw the fire raging in the distance.
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"Whoa, the clan grounds are on fire!"
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"It''s more than just a fire. We''re under attack. Listen to that! Those explosions are from Explosive Tags."
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"Who would dare attack the Uzumaki Clan?"
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"Now''s not the time to discuss that. Come on!"
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Shin urged Kushina to get dressed, pack their essentials, and prepare to leave.
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Even though they were far from the clan grounds, there was no guarantee of safety.
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"Captain, this is the outer perimeter of the Uzumaki Clan grounds, right? Why is there a house here?"
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Just as they stepped out, Shin saw several figures in ninja attire, their faces hidden behind masks. His heart sank.
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Kushina gripped his arm, fear creeping into her eyes.
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"Well, well, look what we have here. A couple of stragglers. And just kids, too."
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A ninja wearing a tanuki mask leered at them.
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"Talk about bad luck."
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They were so far out, yet they still ran into enemies.
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The five ninjas were equally surprised. They had been tasked with sealing off the Uzumaki Clan grounds, preventing anyone from escaping. They hadn''t expected to find two children out here.
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Judging by their red hair, they were definitely Uzumaki. And if they were Uzumaki, they had to be eliminated.
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"Enough chatter. Kill them."
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The leader of the squad ordered.
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The squad consisted of one Jonin and four elite Chunin.
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Seeing them move to attack, Shin swiftly pulled three Shuriken from his pouch and flung them at the Jonin leader.
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While the Jonin was dodging, Shin made his move. He appeared before one of the Chunin in a flash, leaping up and delivering a powerful blow to the ninja''s neck.
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His speed was such that the Chunin didn''t even have time to react. The blow snapped his neck.
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Blood gurgled from the Chunin''s mouth. Within a second, he was dead.
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The entire encounter took less than two seconds. After taking down the Chunin, Shin retreated to Kushina''s side.
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"Run!"
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He scooped Kushina into his arms and fled towards the forest.
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"Damn it! After them!"
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The Jonin leader roared in fury. To have one of his men killed by a five-year-old brat, right under his nose, was a disgrace.
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The other three Chunin snapped out of their shock. Shin''s ruthless efficiency had stunned them.
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A five-year-old, killing an elite Chunin? Even in the brutal Warring States Period, such a thing was unheard of.
--
Chapter 7: Taking Out a Jōnin
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"Shin, carrying me is slowing you down. Put me down."
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Kushina, nestled in Shin''s arms, spoke up.
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"You weigh about as much as a rabbit. How am I slow?" Shin shot her a look.
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"Ugh, you jerk, comparing me to a rabbit!" Kushina lightly nipped his arm, then quieted down.
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"Hey, Shin, if they catch up, just ditch me and run. I''ll buy you some time. Just promise you''ll avenge me, okay?"
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Kushina''s voice was barely a whisper.
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"Don''t be ridiculous. You think those clowns can catch us?"
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Shin gave her another exasperated look.
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"We practically live in this forest. We know it way better than they do. Besides, Do you have any idea how fast i am? Don''t worry."
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Shin had copied the physique of the Taijutsu master, Uzumaki Hikaru. Combined with his already impressive physical abilities, he was more than a match for any Taijutsu specialist.
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He was outpacing his pursuers with ease. If only he knew the Body Flicker Jutsu, he could have vanished from their sight completely.
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Even now, he was leaving them in the dust.
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"Master, you have triggered a new mission: Eliminate the pursuing squad. Reward: One Advanced Replication Card. Accept?"
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"An Advanced Replication Card, huh?"
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Shin weighed his options. "System, what are their strengths?"
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He had taken out one of them with a single punch, but he didn''t know their actual skill levels.
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"The leader is a Jōnin. The remaining three are elite Chunin."
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Shin hadn''t expected the System to answer, but it did.
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Knowing their strengths, Shin accepted the mission without hesitation. If they had an elite Jōnin, he might have reconsidered.
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But a regular Jōnin? He could handle that.
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Shin stopped running.
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"Why are we stopping? Are you tired? I told you to put me down!"
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Kushina looked at him, panic rising in her voice.
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"Kushina, we don''t need to run anymore. I''m going to take them out."
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"Are you crazy, Shin?! They''re real ninjas! We don''t stand a chance!"
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Kushina knew Shin was strong, but against actual ninjas? She didn''t have much faith.
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"Kushina, remember when I took out that guy back there?"
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Kushina was speechless. He had indeed killed one, but that was a surprise attack.
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"Kushina, you hide. Watch and learn. I''ll show you what I''m truly capable of."
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Shin punched a nearby tree. With a loud crack, the tree snapped in two.
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Kushina shook her head. "I''m staying with you."
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"Kushina, listen. I need you to hide and wait for an opportunity to ambush them. If I start losing, your surprise attack will give us a chance to escape."
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Persuaded by Shin''s reasoning, Kushina agreed. She found a hiding spot, clutching her Kunai and Shuriken, ready to strike.
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Shin glanced back. Ninjas were excellent trackers. They would find him soon, following the trail he''d left.
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An idea sparked in his mind. He leaned against a large tree, panting dramatically, feigning exhaustion.
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If he could lure them into a trap, he would.
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Less than a minute later, the ninjas arrived. With one down, there were four left.
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"Finally found the brat. Didn''t expect him to be so fast," one of the Chunin remarked.
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They were exhausted from the chase.
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"Captain, where''s the girl?"
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The Jonin leader scanned the area. Kushina had concealed herself well. In the darkness, the Jonin couldn''t find her.
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"She must have run off. Let''s deal with this kid first."
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The Jonin drew his sword, approaching Shin slowly. Shin had killed one of his men right in front of him; he would avenge this humiliation personally.
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Shin watched the Jonin approach, a glint in his eyes. He''d hoped to ambush a Chunin, but having the Jonin come to him was even better.
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"Little brat, out of steam, are you? Time to die."
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The Jonin grinned cruelly, his expression hidden behind his mask.
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As the Jonin lunged with his sword, Shin activated his [Sharingan] and sprang into action.
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He nimbly dodged the sword thrust and delivered a swift kick to the Jonin''s groin.
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With Shin''s speed and the close proximity, even an elite Jonin wouldn''t have been able to dodge.
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The Jonin had been careless. Even though Shin had killed one of his men, he was still just a child. The Jonin had underestimated him.
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The result was inevitable. With a sickening crack, the Jonin crumpled to the ground, a scream tearing from his throat.
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A shattered groin would bring even a Kage-level ninja to their knees. The Jonin was effectively out of the fight.
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Shinobi had a high pain tolerance, but this kind of pain was unbearable for any man.
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"You''ve gotta be the most pathetic Jonin to ever die," Shin remarked.
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He formed a [Rasengan] between his hands. He couldn''t create it with one hand yet, so he had to use both.
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He pressed the [Rasengan] into the incapacitated Jonin''s chest, the swirling sphere of Chakra tearing through his heart.
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"Took out a Jonin just like that? He was weaker than I thought." Shin blinked.
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It wasn''t that the Jonin was weak. Jonin were the backbone of any Hidden Village. In smaller villages, they were the peak of fighting power.
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But this Jonin hadn''t even had a chance to use his full strength. He''d been taken out before he could even react.
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This served as a reminder to Shin. In this dangerous world, he could never let his guard down.
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Otherwise, he might end up like this Jonin.
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He thought of Madara Uchiha, betrayed and used as a sacrifice for Kaguya ōtsutsuki''s revival.
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"Your boss is dead. Care to join him?"
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Shin''s eyes hardened as he glared at the remaining three Chunin.
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With the Jonin out of the way, dealing with these three would be a piece of cake.
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The Chunin were still in shock. They couldn''t believe their captain had been killed by a five-year-old.
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It was so absurd that they couldn''t process it.
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"You killed our captain with dirty tricks! We''ll avenge him!" one of the Chunin shouted, rage fueling his voice.
--
Chapter 8: Spoils of War! Shin''s Speculations
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Shin eyed the three remaining Chunin, picking up the fallen Jōnin''s sword.
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"So, you want to avenge your captain? Come get some."
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The three Chunin exchanged glances. None of them dared to make a move.
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This kid was creepy. He''d already killed one of them and taken down their captain.
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They weren''t about to underestimate him now.
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"Fine, I''ll come to you then."
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Shin vanished into the darkness. In the thick forest, his speed and controlled ferocity, much like Toji Fushiguro, rendered him untraceable.
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"Watch out!"
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But it was too late. Shin''s sword pierced the Chunin''s heart before he could finish his warning.
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Shin withdrew his sword and dashed towards the next Chunin.
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"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"
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Sensing the danger, the Chunin swiftly formed hand seals, encasing himself in a sphere of water for protection.
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The Water Prison Jutsu was a C-rank Jutsu that could trap enemies or be used defensively.
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"You think that can stop me? How naive."
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Shin channeled Chakra into the sword, enhancing its piercing power. The water prison shattered like a fragile bubble as the sword plunged through, impaling the Chunin''s heart.
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Another one down.
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"Just one left."
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Shin looked at the last Chunin. Killing these elite Chunin was starting to feel like swatting flies.
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"Kakashi graduated and became a Genin at five, and everyone called him a genius. I''m five, and I''m wiping the floor with elite Chunin. What does that make me? A prodigy? A monster?"
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Shin muttered to himself.
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"Monster! You''re a monster!"
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The last Chunin pointed at Shin, his eyes wide with terror. He turned and fled.
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"You''re the monster! And you''re not getting away."
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Shin stomped on the ground, creating a small crater. He shot forward like an arrow, chasing after the fleeing Chunin.
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This guy was crucial to his mission; Shin couldn''t let him escape.
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And for his and Kushina''s safety, he couldn''t leave any witnesses.
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"Die!"
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Shin quickly caught up, swinging the sword. It wasn''t ideal for slashing, but with Shin''s strength, it would cleave the Chunin in two.
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The sword connected, and just as Shin relaxed, the figure he''d struck transformed into a log. A Substitution Jutsu.
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"Substitution?"
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Shin hadn''t expected the Chunin to use a Substitution Jutsu at the last moment.
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"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
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Chakra Chains erupted from Shin''s back, snaking through the forest and ensnaring the fleeing Chunin.
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"Constrict!"
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The Chains tightened, tearing the Chunin apart.
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Shin''s face paled as he looked at the gruesome sight. He quickly turned away.
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He was used to blood, having hunted animals in the forest. He hadn''t felt anything when he killed the first Chunin.
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The next few deaths had caused a slight ripple in his emotions, but this last one... this was too much.
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The Chakra Chains dissipated. Shin leaned against a tree, gagging.
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He swore he''d never use the Chains like that again. It was too brutal, even for him.
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"Congratulations, Master. Mission complete. You have been awarded one Advanced Replication Card."
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"Whew, finally got the reward." Shin composed himself and called out to Kushina. "Come out, Kushina. It''s over."
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Kushina emerged, looking bewildered. It was over?
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It was too dark, and she didn''t have the Sharingan. She hadn''t seen anything.
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She walked over and saw the Jonin''s body. "Shin, how did you do it?"
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"Doesn''t matter. Let''s see what loot we got."
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Shin started rummaging through the Jonin''s pouch while Kushina stood back, a little scared.
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Even though the ninjas were dead, she was still frightened. It was a good thing she hadn''t seen the Chunin Shin had torn apart with the Chains; she might have fainted.
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Shin found several Explosive Tags, a valuable commodity.
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There were also Kunai, Shuriken, and two Jutsu scrolls.
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"B-rank Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu and Water Style: Hiding in Mist Jutsu."
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Shin frowned. These Jutsu gave him a clue about the attackers'' identities. They were likely from Kirigakure.
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"Looks like Kirigakure is behind this attack on Uzushiogakure."
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Only the Five Great Nations had the strength to attack the Uzumaki Clan. Konoha was an ally; they wouldn''t be involved.
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Sunagakure and Iwagakure were too far away; attacking Uzushiogakure would be logistically impractical.
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That left Kumogakure and Kirigakure, both of which could launch attacks from the sea.
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Kirigakure''s involvement was confirmed. He wasn''t sure about Kumogakure, though.
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If there was one village with the most ambition, it was Kumogakure. Their involvement was highly probable.
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After all, the Uzumaki''s Sealing Jutsu were something Kumogakure would covet. No, not just Kumogakure, every village would want them.
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Possessing powerful Sealing Jutsu that others feared and desired, yet lacking the strength to defend themselves, was the reason for Uzushiogakure''s downfall.
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Having something valuable without the power to protect it was a recipe for disaster, no matter the world.
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"I wonder if Konoha had a hand in this."
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Shin was suspicious of their supposed ally. After all, Konoha had Danzō.
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To think Danzō wouldn''t be interested in the Uzumaki''s Sealing Jutsu was laughable.
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Shin shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. He collected the pouches of the other two Chunin and left with Kushina.
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He left the last Chunin''s pouch where it was. The sight was too gruesome; he''d lose his appetite if he looked at it.
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He led Kushina to a small stream in the forest, the same one where they had practiced Water Walking.
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"Are you tired? If you are, get some sleep. We''re safe now," Shin said.
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Kushina shook her head. After everything that had happened, sleep was the last thing on her mind.