《Naruto: Copy System》 [1] : System Activated! Perfect Sage Body!
In a dense forest, a red-haired boy, no older than five, diligently practiced his swordsmanship with a short blade.
It was midday, the sun beating down mercilessly. Sweat plastered the boy''s clothes to his skin.
"Man, this heat is brutal," Shin Uzumaki grumbled, but his training continued unabated. A little sunshine wouldn''t derail his pursuit of strength.
"Shin, there you are! What are you doing out here in this inferno? Trying to fry your brains?" A small head popped out from behind a large tree. Kushina Uzumaki skipped towards Shin, her red hair a fiery halo in the sunlight.
Shin paused his practice and turned, a wry smile on his face as he looked at the adorable girl.
"Kushina, now''s not really the time for a tea party."
Kushina puffed out her cheeks, her pout on full display. "Shin, you used to hang out with me all the time. Now you''re giving me the cold shoulder."
Tears welled up in Kushina''s eyes, threatening to cascade down her cheeks. Shin felt a wave of exasperation.
"Kushina, do you think I''m out here baking in this heat for fun? It''s not exactly a picnic."
Shin sat down, taking a long pull from his water bottle to rehydrate.
Unlike the carefree Kushina, Shin carried a secret burden. He was a Transmigrant, reborn into the world of Naruto as a newborn baby.
The initial shock of landing in this world, where danger lurked around every corner, had been profound.
Fortunately, he wasn''t just some random civilian but a member of the Uzumaki Clan in the Land of Whirlpools. But even that was a double-edged sword.
It was the period after the First Shinobi World War, before the Second had erupted. The Naruto storyline he knew was still decades in the future. This was the era when the Land of Whirlpools faced its imminent demise. Shin didn''t know the exact date, but he knew the clock was ticking.
His only path forward was to grind his strength, to maximize his chances of surviving the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools. He wasn''t about to let his second chance at life go to waste.
"Shin, are you keeping secrets from me?" Kushina asked, her eyes mirroring the concern she felt for him.
Shin looked at Kushina, his gaze serious. "Kushina, what if I told you that soon, the Land of Whirlpools, the Uzumaki Clan, will face a disaster unlike any other? Would you believe me?"
"No way, Shin. You''re pulling my leg, right?" Kushina giggled, taking his words as a joke.
Shin shrugged. If even Kushina, who trusted him implicitly, wouldn''t buy it, convincing the rest of the clan was a lost cause. The destruction of the Land of Whirlpools seemed inevitable.
He wasn''t exactly Mr. Worldwide; no one would take him seriously.
[Ding!]
A crisp, mechanical chime echoed in Shin''s mind, jolting him.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Replication System activated. Greetings, Master. I await your commands."
Shin felt a surge of excitement. He had a Golden Finger!
But why now? After five years in this world, the system finally decided to wake up?
"Shin, what''s up?" Kushina asked, attuned to his every shift in mood.
"Nothing, Kushina. Just remembered something I gotta do. I''ll definitely hang out with you tomorrow. Gotta run for now."
Shin sprang onto a tree branch, vanishing in a blur of motion.
Kushina''s jaw dropped. That speed and agility were beyond most genin. Shin was hiding some serious skills! Kushina clenched her fists, a playful anger bubbling up.
"If you ditch me tomorrow, you''ll be sorry!" she shouted after him.
Instead of heading home, Shin made his way to a secluded riverbank to delve into his system''s interface.
"System, lay it on me. What can you do?" Shin asked, a mix of anticipation and anxiety in his voice.
If this system turned out to be a dud, it would be a major letdown.
"This system is designated the Replication System. It can copy anything, from Jutsu to Chakra, even Kekkei Genkai."
Shin''s eyes widened. Madara Uchiha''s Rinnegan, Kaguya ¨­tsutsuki''s Rinne Sharingan¡ªall within his grasp?
The various overpowered D¨­jutsu of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, Kaguya ¨­tsutsuki''s immortality, all those S-rank Jutsu and Kekkei Genkai¡ªthe possibilities were endless.
"Hold on, there have to be some strings attached, right?" Shin asked, his excitement tempered by a dose of realism. It couldn''t be that easy.
"Affirmative. Replication requires the expenditure of Replication Cards. These are categorized into Common, Advanced, and Divine levels."
"Common Replication Cards can replicate jutsu up to B-rank, including B-rank Jutsu, chakra and physical abilities of J¨­nin, and so on."
"Advanced Replication Cards can replicate jutsu and secret techniques up to S-rank, including S-rank, chakra and physical abilities of Kage, and common Kekkei Genkai, such as Scorch Release and Lava Release."
"Divine Replication Cards are unrestricted and can replicate any target."
"Alright, so how do I get my hands on these Replication Cards?" Shin asked, barely able to contain his impatience.
"There are two primary acquisition methods. First, the system will bestow upon you one Replication Card annually. The specific category¡ªCommon, Advanced, or Divine¡ªis determined by a random variable."
"The second method involves the completion of missions tailored to your preferences. Upon successful completion, you will be rewarded with Replication Cards. Missions are optional, and there are no penalties for failure."
"One card per year, not bad at all," Shin mused. His system seemed to be quite the benevolent benefactor.
And the missions were optional, with no repercussions for failure? That was a relief.
Shin valued his freedom; the last thing he needed was some overbearing system bossing him around.
"Oh, and system, don''t suppose there''s a welcome package for new users?" Shin asked, a hopeful glint in his eyes.
"The Newbie Gift Pack was granted to you at the moment of your birth, Master. You should be cognizant of its presence."
Shin paused, then ventured a guess. "Could it be the Sage Body?"
The Sage Body was a Kekkei Genkai common to the Uzumaki Clan. Every member of the Senju and Uzumaki Clans possessed it, but Shin had always felt his was different, more potent.
"Affirmative. Upon your transmigration into this world, Master, the system bestowed upon you the [Perfect Sage Body]."
Shin couldn''t contain his elation. A [Perfect Sage Body], putting him on par with the legendary Hashirama Senju?
Hashirama, with his [Perfect Sage Body] and self-developed Wood Release, had taken down Madara Uchiha, wielder of the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, and the full-fledged Nine-Tails!
Did this mean he could achieve Hashirama''s level of power? With the system''s assistance, surpassing Hashirama and reaching the realm of the Six Paths might not be just a pipe dream.
His future was looking brighter by the minute! [2] : Adamantine Chains and Four Symbols Seal
"Whew, with the system in play, at least I''ve got a fighting chance in this crazy world."
Shin noticed he had five Replication Cards stocked up. He''d been in the Naruto world for five years now, and even though the system had been snoozing this whole time, it hadn''t skimped on the annual card handouts.
"Is my luck really this rotten?"
Shin checked the cards and found they were all Common. The yearly card was a random drop; with a bit of luck, he could have scored a Divine card. Sadly, fortune didn''t seem to be on his side¡ªnot even an Advanced card in sight.
"Let''s see what''s on the mission board."
Shin opened the system''s mission interface and found a single quest waiting for him.
[Survival: Survive the destruction of the Land of Whirlpools. Reward: 1 Common Replication Card. Failure: No penalty.]
"System, are you kidding me? No penalty for failure? If I fail, I''m dead!" Shin couldn''t help but complain.
Could this survival mission even be failed? Failing meant kicking the bucket, didn''t it?
"And the reward is pretty stingy, too."
"Master, rewards are commensurate with mission difficulty. This particular mission is not classified as high-difficulty."
Shin couldn''t argue with that. For someone who was prepared, this mission wasn''t exactly climbing Mount Everest.
In the original story, when the Land of Whirlpools went kaput, a good number of Uzumaki Clan members survived, like Karin''s mother, for example.
"Time to head back."
Shin channeled chakra to his legs, leaped onto a tree branch, and vanished in a few swift movements.
He lived in a secluded spot, far from the clan''s main grounds. It had its perks, mainly peace and quiet.
"You''re finally back, Shin."
Kushina was sitting on the steps in front of the house, chin resting on her hands. Her eyes, which had been downcast, lit up when she saw him.
"Kushina, you haven''t been sitting here this whole time, have you?"
Shin walked over and pulled her up. It was just the two of them living here.
A year ago, he had still been living with the clan, but things had happened, and he''d moved out.
Kushina had no family left in the clan. Her parents had died in an accident when she was three. Shin was her only friend, so she came with him.
"I''ve been waiting for you forever. If you hadn''t come back soon, I would have starved to death."
Kushina said weakly. She couldn''t cook, so she relied on Shin for meals.
"Weren''t there some snacks left? You could have munched on those."Stolen story; please report.
Kushina gave an awkward laugh, her small hands fidgeting with her clothes. "I, uh, might have finished those already."
"Alright, alright. I''ll whip something up right away."
As Shin was about to lead Kushina inside, he heard a faint sound behind him. He turned and saw a middle-aged man with red hair, dressed in shinobi garb, standing a short distance away.
The man was expressionless. He held a small bundle, which he tossed to Shin.
"This is your living allowance."
Shin caught the bundle and opened it. Besides money, there were two Jutsu Scrolls.
"Those Jutsu Scrolls are your mother''s belongings. The elder instructed me to deliver them to you."
With that, the man vanished in a swirl of leaves.
"Mother''s belongings." Shin felt a pang of sadness. He unfurled the two Jutsu Scrolls. They contained two sealing jutsu: the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Four Symbols Seal.
Both were incredibly powerful Sealing Jutsu, especially effective against Tailed Beasts.
"Shin, are you okay?" Kushina asked cautiously.
"Don''t worry, I''m fine. I''ll make dinner first, and after we eat, we can practice these sealing jutsu together."
Shin gave Kushina a reassuring smile.
"Huh? That''s not right. These are your mother''s legacy. I can''t practice them with you," Kushina shook her head.
"Kushina, you''re my best friend. You were there for me when everyone else shunned me. Of course I want to share good things with you."
Shin placed a hand on Kushina''s shoulder, his voice sincere.
Shin was the grandson of the Uzumaki Clan elder. His mother was the elder''s daughter, but his father wasn''t an Uzumaki.
Not only was he not an Uzumaki, but he was from the Uchiha Clan, once sworn enemies of the Uzumaki.
During the Warring States Period, the Uzumaki and Senju Clans were allies, while the Uchiha and Senju were locked in a bitter feud.
Because of their alliance with the Senju, the Uzumaki had clashed with the Uchiha numerous times. Even though the Warring States Period was long gone, the animosity lingered.
Naturally, Shin''s parents'' relationship didn''t end well. The man returned to the Uchiha Clan, and Shin''s mother, heartbroken, eventually succumbed to her grief.
Shin had heard that the man also died on a mission shortly after his mother''s passing.
This was the reason Shin wasn''t well-liked within the Uzumaki Clan. Even his grandfather, the clan elder, treated him coldly.
Soon, Shin had dinner ready. He was a decent cook, at least good enough for Kushina, who ate with gusto.
After dinner, Shin called Kushina over, and they began studying the Adamantine Sealing Chains and the Four Symbols Seal.
The Adamantine Sealing Chains was an A-rank sealing jutsu. When used, it produced multiple chakra chains from the user''s back. These chains were not only powerful offensive weapons but could also be used to create barriers and seal Tailed Beasts.
The stronger the user''s chakra, the greater the jutsu''s power. And what were the Uzumaki known for? Their massive Chakra Reserves, of course.
The Uzumaki possessed the Sage Body. Even Kushina, who had only recently learned to mold chakra, had reserves comparable to an average Genin.
With their powerful chakra and this sealing jutsu, even the Nine-Tails would be wary of facing an Uzumaki.
The Uzumaki Clan''s strength lay in their chakra and Sealing Jutsu. The seal used to contain the Nine-Tails in Konoha was, in fact, an Uzumaki sealing jutsu.
"I don''t get it at all. Am I just dumb?" Kushina said, staring at the scrolls with a furrowed brow.
Shin was engrossed in studying the Jutsu. After coming to this world, he realized his learning ability had skyrocketed.
He was starting to grasp the concepts behind these sealing jutsu, but mastering them would take time.
After all, these were A-rank sealing jutsu. Many elite J¨­nin couldn''t learn them; it required a certain level of talent.
They studied late into the night. When Shin finally set the scrolls aside, he noticed Kushina had fallen asleep beside him.
"Silly girl, falling asleep like that."
Shin gently scooped Kushina up and laid her on the tatami mat, tucking a blanket around her.
"Well, time for me to hit the hay too."
Shin stretched. A good night''s rest was essential for the intense training he had planned for the next day.
After washing up, Shin returned to his room and drifted off to sleep. [3] : Shins Sharingan
Dawn broke, painting the sky with hues of orange and pink as Shin opened his eyes.
"Another day, another chance to grind. Time to refine some chakra." Shin sat up and began his morning ritual.
He had only received the [Chakra Refinement Technique] a week ago. It was a standard issue scroll provided by the clan.
Despite being ostracized due to his parentage, Shin still received the basic necessities. Things like a living allowance, the [Chakra Refinement Technique], and even those two sealing jutsu from yesterday.
The [Adamantine Sealing Chains] and the [Four Symbols Seal] were prized even within the Uzumaki Clan; most elite J¨­nin could only dream of learning them.
Chakra was the fusion of physical and spiritual energy extracted from the 130 trillion cells in the human body. Overdoing it could lead to fatigue or even worse, risking one''s life.
Shin spent an hour refining chakra. Despite being only five years old and a newbie to chakra refinement, the amount he generated was startling.
Thanks to his [Perfect Sage Body], the quality and quantity of his chakra were several times greater than that of a normal Sage Body.
Sensing the energy coursing through him, Shin figured his chakra reserves were probably on par with a J¨­nin.
And this was just the beginning. If he kept refining his chakra for a few years, could he reach Tailed Beast levels?
He thought of Hashirama, the man who wielded chakra like it was an infinite resource, even the Nine-Tails paling in comparison.
Shin got up, washed up, and prepared breakfast.
"Kushina, breakfast is ready! Snooze, you lose!"
A while later, Kushina emerged from her room, yawning, her usually silky red hair a tangled mess.
"Go wash up, sleepyhead. Breakfast is getting cold. And look at your hair, birds could build a nest in there."
Shin reached out and gently combed his fingers through Kushina''s hair. Her face flushed slightly, but she was used to Shin''s casual touch.
After washing up, Kushina took her seat at the table.
Shin had prepared a feast: fish, meat, and two large glasses of milk.
Being a shinobi was energy-intensive; they couldn''t skimp on nutrition. Proper fuel was essential for training.
Both Shin and Kushina had healthy appetites, so Shin had prepared enough food for five people.
Thankfully, the Uzumaki Clan provided a generous allowance, and Shin supplemented their income by hunting in the forest. Otherwise, they''d be struggling to keep their bellies full.
"Kushina, after breakfast, it''s training time. You''re coming with me."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.
Shin said as he ate. As a transmigrant, he knew the dangers of the Naruto world.
He wanted Kushina to become stronger, to be able to protect herself.
Kushina nodded. Staying home alone was boring; she''d rather train with Shin.
After breakfast, Kushina took the initiative to wash the dishes. While she was busy, Shin opened his system interface and accepted the only mission on the quest board.
He hadn''t accepted it yesterday, but there was no point delaying. It was a mission he had to complete no matter what.
Once Kushina finished with the dishes, they headed out to the nearby forest.
"Kushina, you work on refining your chakra," Shin instructed.
"Okay." Kushina sat on a clean rock and started the monotonous process of chakra refinement.
Shin took out his weighted clothing and put it on. Then, he drew the short blade from his hip and began practicing his swordsmanship.
Before he got the [Chakra Refinement Technique], Shin had focused on Kenjutsu and Taijutsu.
With his [Perfect Sage Body], his physical strength was exceptional, making taijutsu training twice as effective. The Uzumaki and Senju were natural-born brawlers.
It was just that the Uzumaki Clan prioritized sealing jutsu, neglecting their powerful physiques.
After a thousand swings, Shin wiped the sweat from his brow and took out his kunai and shuriken.
Fifty meters away, he had set up a target. It was crude, but it served its purpose.
Shin focused, his blue eyes morphing into a blood red, a single black tomoe swirling into existence.
The target, which had been a small speck at fifty meters, was now crystal clear.
The [Sharingan], a One-Tomoe Sharingan.
Shin had Uchiha blood flowing through his veins; awakening the [Sharingan] wasn''t surprising.
He had awakened it when his mother died, but he had kept it a secret, even from Kushina.
The fewer people knew, the better. If others found out he had the [Sharingan], his life within the Uzumaki Clan would become even more difficult.
Fixing his gaze on the distant target, Shin launched a kunai. With the [Sharingan]''s enhanced vision, he could clearly see the bullseye.
The kunai struck dead center, its force so strong that it pierced through the target, leaving a gaping hole.
After practicing kunai throwing for a while, Shin decided to move on. Compared to kunai throwing, mastering jutsu was far more critical.
"Next up, time to crack this sealing jutsu."
Shin pulled out the jutsu scroll and started studying the [Adamantine Sealing Chains]. He wasn''t in a hurry to learn the [Four Symbols Seal]; that could wait.
Mastering the [Adamantine Sealing Chains] would significantly boost his combat power, giving him a way to utilize his massive chakra.
After all, what good was a mountain of chakra if you didn''t have the jutsu to use it effectively?
Shin had figured out some basic chakra control techniques, like channeling it to his legs for explosive jumps, propelling him several meters into the air.
That''s how he had been leaping onto trees, but his self-taught techniques were rough around the edges.
Not only did they guzzle chakra, but they also put a strain on his legs. He was lucky to have a [Perfect Sage Body]; a normal person attempting those jumps might end up crippled.
"What I need are the fundamentals."
Shin tried to use the [Adamantine Sealing Chains], but nothing happened. He realized he didn''t have the fine motor control needed to manipulate his chakra effectively.
Despite his vast reserves, he couldn''t achieve the precise control needed to channel chakra for complex jutsu.
How could he learn the [Adamantine Sealing Chains] with such poor chakra control? He needed to master the basics first.
Tree Climbing and Water Walking immediately came to mind. He had to start somewhere, and refining his chakra control was paramount.
Under Kushina''s surprised gaze, Shin began his tree climbing training. He had assumed it would be a piece of cake, but it turned out to be more challenging than he anticipated.
"Turns out having too much chakra can be a pain."
The more chakra he had, the harder it was to control. It seemed there was a trade-off to everything. [4] : Copying a Taijutsu Masters Physique
"After countless faceplants, I finally nailed Tree Climbing."
Shin looked like he''d wrestled a mud monster and lost. He''d fallen out of the trees more times than he could count.
But it was worth it. He could now scale a tree with the grace of a squirrel, his Chakra finally under his command.
"Shin, how did you do that?"
Kushina stared at him with wide, awestruck eyes.
"Heh, wanna learn?"
Kushina nodded eagerly.
"Nope, not gonna teach you. That''s what you get for laughing at me." Shin crossed his arms. Kushina had found his repeated tumbles from the trees quite amusing.
It couldn''t be helped. Controlling his massive Chakra reserves was no walk in the park, especially without a teacher. He''d had to figure it all out himself, the hard way.
He''d mastered Tree Climbing through sheer stubbornness and a high tolerance for pain.
"You''re so mean, still holding a grudge." Kushina stuck her tongue out at him.
"By the way, you don''t like it when I call you ''Shin-chan'', right? If I learn how to climb trees without using my hands, I''ll stop calling you that, deal?"
It made him sound like a little kid. But Kushina was used to it; breaking the habit would be tough.
Kushina called him ''Shin-chan'' because he was younger than her. Well, only by three days, but still younger.
She used to make him call her "big sis," but as a transmigrant, there was no way he was calling someone his own age "big sis."
"Fine."
Shin nodded and shared all the tricks he''d discovered.
With Shin''s guidance and insider knowledge, Kushina mastered Tree Climbing in just half an hour. The girl was a natural.
"Shin, I learned way faster than you!" Kushina said, a smug grin on her face.
It had taken Shin over three hours, while Kushina had done it in thirty minutes. But that didn''t mean he was less talented.
He''d had to figure it out through trial and error, while Kushina had a shortcut, thanks to him.
After the Tree Climbing lesson, Shin led Kushina to a nearby river for Water Walking practice.
Water Walking was definitely trickier. Water offered no resistance; one wrong step, and you were taking a dip.
Thankfully, Shin''s Tree Climbing experience gave him a head start. He only fell in twice before he was walking, even running, on water.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Kushina, on the other hand, wasn''t having as much luck. She''d already fallen in a dozen times, much to Shin''s amusement.
After splashing around for hours, Kushina finally got the hang of Water Walking.
"Kushina, you''re officially a prodigy."
Mastering both Tree Climbing and Water Walking at the age of five, with such precise Chakra control? That was prodigy-level stuff.
"Let''s go change first," Kushina said, her clothes dripping.
They went back, changed, and finally had lunch. It was already three in the afternoon.
Kushina had stubbornly refused to eat until she mastered Water Walking, hence the late lunch.
After their meal, Shin decided to skip training and headed towards the clan grounds with Kushina.
"Shin-chan, why are we going to the clan grounds?" Kushina asked, surprised.
"Didn''t we have a deal?" Shin lightly flicked Kushina''s forehead.
"It''s a habit! I''ll get better, I promise."
Kushina rubbed her forehead, pouting at Shin.
Shin chuckled. Breaking that habit was probably going to be an uphill battle.
"By the way, Shin-ch.. i mean, Shin, why are we going to the clan grounds? You don''t usually like going there."
They lived outside the clan grounds and rarely ventured in, except when they needed supplies.
This wasn''t a supply run. Shin wanted to put his Replication Card to use.
As they entered the Uzumaki Clan grounds, the atmosphere became livelier. The Uzumaki Clan wasn''t small; they had over two hundred members.
It was a far cry from their glory days during the Warring States Period, but they were still a force to be reckoned with in any Hidden Village.
"Hey, System, when I use a Replication Card, can I see the target''s abilities? How am I supposed to copy something if I don''t know what they can do?"
"That is for you to determine, Master. This System does not possess such functionality."
"..."
Fortunately, he had some knowledge of the Uzumaki Clan ninjas. He pulled Kushina towards the clan''s training grounds.
The training grounds were vast; almost everyone in the clan trained there.
Shin ignored the Genin and Chunin, his eyes scanning for Jonin.
The Uzumaki Clan had its fair share of Jonin; a large clan like theirs couldn''t survive without them.
But finding a Jonin in this crowded training ground was like finding a needle in a haystack. Even if they came here to train, they''d likely find a secluded spot.
Common Replication Cards could copy the Chakra and physical abilities of a Jonin at most, so Shin needed to find one to maximize his gains.
"Bingo!"
Shin spotted someone he knew, an Uzumaki Jonin who specialized in Taijutsu.
"System, use a Common Replication Card to copy Uzumaki Hikaru''s physique."
Physique encompassed strength, speed, stamina, agility, and flexibility. He could copy each attribute individually, but that would be a waste of a precious Replication Card.
In an instant, Shin felt his body swell. His bones hardened, his muscles tightened, all thanks to an unseen force.
He felt lighter, more agile.
"This power is insane!" Shin threw a punch, the force generating a sharp gust of wind. He was at least seven or eight times stronger than before.
With his [Perfect Sage Body], Shin was already freakishly strong.
Now, with this boost, he felt like he could punch a tree in half.
"System, does the copied strength stack with my original strength?" Shin asked a crucial question.
"Affirmative. Copied attributes are additive to your existing capabilities."
Shin''s eyes lit up. If he could keep stacking attributes, why bother learning Jutsu?
If he could stack his physique to the level of Might Guy using the Eight Inner Gates, he''d be unstoppable with Taijutsu alone.
"System, can I keep stacking with no limits?"
"Your limitations are defined by the number of Replication Cards at your disposal, Master. As long as you possess Replication Cards, you can continue to copy and enhance your physique." [5] : The Seven Chakra Natures
"Shin, what are you daydreaming about?"
Kushina nudged Shin, snapping him out of his trance.
His conversation with the System had been a mental one, so to Kushina, he just seemed spaced out.
"Nothing much," Shin replied with a grin he couldn''t quite suppress.
"Liar! You wouldn''t be grinning like that if it was nothing. Something good must have happened. Fine, keep your secrets," Kushina huffed, pouting.
Shin shook his head, his smile fading. He realized his earlier plan had been a bit too ambitious.
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.
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.
"Uzumaki Shin, is that you?"
Uzumaki Hikaru, the Jonin whose physique Shin had just copied, looked over.
A Jonin''s senses were sharp; Hikaru had noticed Shin staring at him.
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.
Shin''s System was truly broken; it allowed him to gain the fruits of someone else''s labor without putting in the work.
If Hikaru knew, he''d probably want to strangle Shin.
But even without knowing, Hikaru wasn''t exactly thrilled to see Shin. They had a history.
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.
Shin had broken the kid''s leg, putting him out of commission for three months.
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.
"Yo, Hikaru. Fancy meeting you here. How''s your son doing?"
Shin asked with a casual smile. He wasn''t afraid of the Jonin.
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.
Shin lacked Combat Experience. Hikaru, on the other hand, was a seasoned warrior. Even with superior physical abilities, Shin would lose.
He thought of Kaguya ¨­tsutsuki, who, despite her immense power, was ultimately sealed due to her lack of battle experience.If you spot this story on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
If Madara Uchiha had obtained Kaguya''s power, he would have been truly unstoppable.
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?
"Hmph."
Hikaru snorted, reminding himself that Shin was just a child, not worth his time.
But even so, he couldn''t completely let it go. He glared at Shin before turning and walking away.
He couldn''t do anything to Shin, so out of sight, out of mind.
Shin continued exploring the training grounds. He used another Common Replication Card, this time copying a Jutsu: the B-rank Shadow Clone Jutsu.
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.
Countless Shinobi in the ninja world knew the Shadow Clone Jutsu, including those in the Uzumaki Clan. Shin copied it from an elite Chunin.
With his [Perfect Sage Body] and the Shadow Clone Jutsu, his training efficiency would skyrocket.
Of course, he would have preferred the forbidden Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu.
Despite being A-rank, it was classified as forbidden. Forbidden didn''t necessarily mean powerful.
Jutsu that caused harm to the user or were deemed too dangerous were classified as forbidden. This included Jutsu like the Edo Tensei.
Unfortunately, Common Replication Cards couldn''t copy A-rank Jutsu, only B-rank at most.
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.
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.
Chakra Papers were used to determine a Shinobi''s Chakra Nature. There were seven Chakra Natures in total:
Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, Earth, Yin, and Yang.
The Yin and Yang Natures couldn''t be tested with Chakra Paper.
"Why did you buy these? They''re so expensive, a thousand Ry¨­ each!" Kushina looked at the papers with distress.
"These are Chakra Papers. They tell you what kind of Chakra you have. Here, try it."
Kushina curiously took a Chakra Paper and channeled her Chakra into it. The paper reacted immediately.
It split down the middle, and the corners became damp.
"Kushina, your Chakra Natures are Wind and Water," Shin explained.
Kushina looked confused; she didn''t understand these concepts yet.
Shin took a Chakra Paper and infused it with his Chakra. The paper split, indicating Wind Nature. One corner ignited, revealing Fire Nature.
Then, a corner became damp (Water), another wrinkled (Lightning), and the last one crumbled (Earth).
Shin possessed five Chakra Natures: Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, and Earth.
Yin and Yang couldn''t be detected with the paper, but with his [Perfect Sage Body], he definitely had Yang.
And he also had the Sharingan, a manifestation of Yin Release, suggesting he likely possessed Yin Nature as well.
This meant he might have all seven Chakra Natures. That was definitely something to be excited about.
"Whoa, five Transformations! You have five Chakra Natures?"
Shin smiled faintly, choosing not to mention Yin and Yang for now.
It was getting late. They returned home before dark. Shin put away the ninja tools he''d bought and started preparing dinner.
"Kushina, what do you want to eat?"
"Hee hee, anything you make is delicious."
Shin smiled and decided to make a hearty meal. They''d had a long day of training and needed to replenish their energy.
It was especially important at their age to eat nutritious food to support their growth and development.
After a satisfying dinner, Kushina, exhausted, washed up and went to bed. Shin, however, continued studying the [Adamantine Sealing Chains]. [6] : Disaster Strikes the Land of Whirlpools
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Shin had made significant progress, mastering the [Adamantine Sealing Chains].
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.
"Haa! [Rasengan]!"
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.
BOOM!
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 ¨C a testament to the rotating Chakra''s power.
"If that hit a person, it would go right through them, no problem."
Shin was more than satisfied with the Rasengan''s destructive power. A-rank Jutsu were no joke.
He had developed the Rasengan himself. Understanding the principles behind it, recreating it wasn''t that difficult.
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.
"That tree must have been decades old, and you just punched a hole through it," Kushina said, staring at the poor tree.
"Hey, Kushina, do you still want to learn the Rasengan or what?"
"Of course I do! Teach me, teach me!" Kushina jumped up, grabbing Shin''s arm excitedly.
"Ouch, my shoulders are kinda sore."
Shin sat down, looking expectantly at Kushina.
Kushina knew what he wanted. With a reluctant sigh, she walked over and started massaging his shoulders.
"Not bad, but a little more pressure would be perfect," Shin said, leaning back with a satisfied sigh.
Kushina gritted her teeth, but for the sake of learning the Rasengan, she endured.
"It''s getting late, almost lunchtime. Let''s head back. I''ll teach you in the afternoon."
Shin glanced at the sun high in the sky.
Kushina, though eager to learn the Rasengan, knew that food came first.
After lunch, Shin began teaching Kushina the Jutsu. Half a day wasn''t enough to master it, though.
"You can already burst a water balloon. That''s the second stage completed. You''ll have the Rasengan down in no time."
As the sky darkened, Shin told Kushina to stop for the day and continue tomorrow.The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
The Rasengan had four stages. The first was simple: gathering Chakra in your palm.
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.
The third stage used a rubber ball. The goal was to maintain Chakra release, solidifying the Chakra until it could burst the ball.
At the third stage, the Rasengan could already cause damage, but its power was limited.
The final stage combined everything learned previously. High-density Chakra was gathered in the hand, released continuously, maintained, and finally completing the Jutsu.
After dinner, Kushina went to bed. Shin returned to his room.
"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.
"Can''t sleep. Might as well refine some Chakra."
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.
He rushed to the window. In the direction of the Uzumaki Clan grounds, flames lit up the night sky.
"Could it be...?"
His drowsiness vanished. He ran to Kushina''s room.
"Kushina, wake up!"
"Shin, what''s going on? I was sleeping so soundly. Why did you wake me up?" Kushina grumbled, her eyes barely open.
"Wake up, something''s wrong!"
Shin flicked Kushina''s forehead to bring her to her senses. This was no time for jokes.
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.
"What''s wrong?" Kushina asked, seeing the seriousness in Shin''s eyes.
Shin pointed towards the window. Kushina followed his gaze and saw the fire raging in the distance.
"Whoa, the clan grounds are on fire!"
"It''s more than just a fire. We''re under attack. Listen to that! Those explosions are from Explosive Tags."
"Who would dare attack the Uzumaki Clan?"
"Now''s not the time to discuss that. Come on!"
Shin urged Kushina to get dressed, pack their essentials, and prepare to leave.
Even though they were far from the clan grounds, there was no guarantee of safety.
"Captain, this is the outer perimeter of the Uzumaki Clan grounds, right? Why is there a house here?"
Just as they stepped out, Shin saw several figures in ninja attire, their faces hidden behind masks. His heart sank.
Kushina gripped his arm, fear creeping into her eyes.
"Well, well, look what we have here. A couple of stragglers. And just kids, too."
A ninja wearing a tanuki mask leered at them.
"Talk about bad luck."
They were so far out, yet they still ran into enemies.
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.
Judging by their red hair, they were definitely Uzumaki. And if they were Uzumaki, they had to be eliminated.
"Enough chatter. Kill them."
The leader of the squad ordered.
The squad consisted of one Jonin and four elite Chunin.
Seeing them move to attack, Shin swiftly pulled three Shuriken from his pouch and flung them at the Jonin leader.
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.
His speed was such that the Chunin didn''t even have time to react. The blow snapped his neck.
Blood gurgled from the Chunin''s mouth. Within a second, he was dead.
The entire encounter took less than two seconds. After taking down the Chunin, Shin retreated to Kushina''s side.
"Run!"
He scooped Kushina into his arms and fled towards the forest.
"Damn it! After them!"
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.
The other three Chunin snapped out of their shock. Shin''s ruthless efficiency had stunned them.
A five-year-old, killing an elite Chunin? Even in the brutal Warring States Period, such a thing was unheard of. [7] : Taking Out a J艒nin
"Shin, carrying me is slowing you down. Put me down."
Kushina, nestled in Shin''s arms, spoke up.
"You weigh about as much as a rabbit. How am I slow?" Shin shot her a look.
"Ugh, you jerk, comparing me to a rabbit!" Kushina lightly nipped his arm, then quieted down.
"Hey, Shin, if they catch up, just ditch me and run. I''ll buy you some time. Just promise you''ll avenge me, okay?"
Kushina''s voice was barely a whisper.
"Don''t be ridiculous. You think those clowns can catch us?"
Shin gave her another exasperated look.
"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."
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.
He was outpacing his pursuers with ease. If only he knew the Body Flicker Jutsu, he could have vanished from their sight completely.
Even now, he was leaving them in the dust.
"Master, you have triggered a new mission: Eliminate the pursuing squad. Reward: One Advanced Replication Card. Accept?"
"An Advanced Replication Card, huh?"
Shin weighed his options. "System, what are their strengths?"
He had taken out one of them with a single punch, but he didn''t know their actual skill levels.
"The leader is a J¨­nin. The remaining three are elite Chunin."
Shin hadn''t expected the System to answer, but it did.
Knowing their strengths, Shin accepted the mission without hesitation. If they had an elite J¨­nin, he might have reconsidered.
But a regular J¨­nin? He could handle that.
Shin stopped running.
"Why are we stopping? Are you tired? I told you to put me down!"
Kushina looked at him, panic rising in her voice.
"Kushina, we don''t need to run anymore. I''m going to take them out."
"Are you crazy, Shin?! They''re real ninjas! We don''t stand a chance!"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Kushina knew Shin was strong, but against actual ninjas? She didn''t have much faith.
"Kushina, remember when I took out that guy back there?"
Kushina was speechless. He had indeed killed one, but that was a surprise attack.
"Kushina, you hide. Watch and learn. I''ll show you what I''m truly capable of."
Shin punched a nearby tree. With a loud crack, the tree snapped in two.
Kushina shook her head. "I''m staying with you."
"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."
Persuaded by Shin''s reasoning, Kushina agreed. She found a hiding spot, clutching her Kunai and Shuriken, ready to strike.
Shin glanced back. Ninjas were excellent trackers. They would find him soon, following the trail he''d left.
An idea sparked in his mind. He leaned against a large tree, panting dramatically, feigning exhaustion.
If he could lure them into a trap, he would.
Less than a minute later, the ninjas arrived. With one down, there were four left.
"Finally found the brat. Didn''t expect him to be so fast," one of the Chunin remarked.
They were exhausted from the chase.
"Captain, where''s the girl?"
The Jonin leader scanned the area. Kushina had concealed herself well. In the darkness, the Jonin couldn''t find her.
"She must have run off. Let''s deal with this kid first."
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.
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.
"Little brat, out of steam, are you? Time to die."
The Jonin grinned cruelly, his expression hidden behind his mask.
As the Jonin lunged with his sword, Shin activated his [Sharingan] and sprang into action.
He nimbly dodged the sword thrust and delivered a swift kick to the Jonin''s groin.
With Shin''s speed and the close proximity, even an elite Jonin wouldn''t have been able to dodge.
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.
The result was inevitable. With a sickening crack, the Jonin crumpled to the ground, a scream tearing from his throat.
A shattered groin would bring even a Kage-level ninja to their knees. The Jonin was effectively out of the fight.
Shinobi had a high pain tolerance, but this kind of pain was unbearable for any man.
"You''ve gotta be the most pathetic Jonin to ever die," Shin remarked.
He formed a [Rasengan] between his hands. He couldn''t create it with one hand yet, so he had to use both.
He pressed the [Rasengan] into the incapacitated Jonin''s chest, the swirling sphere of Chakra tearing through his heart.
"Took out a Jonin just like that? He was weaker than I thought." Shin blinked.
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.
But this Jonin hadn''t even had a chance to use his full strength. He''d been taken out before he could even react.
This served as a reminder to Shin. In this dangerous world, he could never let his guard down.
Otherwise, he might end up like this Jonin.
He thought of Madara Uchiha, betrayed and used as a sacrifice for Kaguya ¨­tsutsuki''s revival.
"Your boss is dead. Care to join him?"
Shin''s eyes hardened as he glared at the remaining three Chunin.
With the Jonin out of the way, dealing with these three would be a piece of cake.
The Chunin were still in shock. They couldn''t believe their captain had been killed by a five-year-old.
It was so absurd that they couldn''t process it.
"You killed our captain with dirty tricks! We''ll avenge him!" one of the Chunin shouted, rage fueling his voice. [8] : Spoils of War! Shins Speculations
Shin eyed the three remaining Chunin, picking up the fallen J¨­nin''s sword.
"So, you want to avenge your captain? Come get some."
The three Chunin exchanged glances. None of them dared to make a move.
This kid was creepy. He''d already killed one of them and taken down their captain.
They weren''t about to underestimate him now.
"Fine, I''ll come to you then."
Shin vanished into the darkness. In the thick forest, his speed and controlled ferocity, much like Toji Fushiguro, rendered him untraceable.
"Watch out!"
But it was too late. Shin''s sword pierced the Chunin''s heart before he could finish his warning.
Shin withdrew his sword and dashed towards the next Chunin.
"Water Style: Water Prison Jutsu!"
Sensing the danger, the Chunin swiftly formed hand seals, encasing himself in a sphere of water for protection.
The Water Prison Jutsu was a C-rank Jutsu that could trap enemies or be used defensively.
"You think that can stop me? How naive."
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.
Another one down.
"Just one left."
Shin looked at the last Chunin. Killing these elite Chunin was starting to feel like swatting flies.
"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?"
Shin muttered to himself.
"Monster! You''re a monster!"
The last Chunin pointed at Shin, his eyes wide with terror. He turned and fled.
"You''re the monster! And you''re not getting away."
Shin stomped on the ground, creating a small crater. He shot forward like an arrow, chasing after the fleeing Chunin.
This guy was crucial to his mission; Shin couldn''t let him escape.
And for his and Kushina''s safety, he couldn''t leave any witnesses.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"Die!"
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.
The sword connected, and just as Shin relaxed, the figure he''d struck transformed into a log. A Substitution Jutsu.
"Substitution?"
Shin hadn''t expected the Chunin to use a Substitution Jutsu at the last moment.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Chakra Chains erupted from Shin''s back, snaking through the forest and ensnaring the fleeing Chunin.
"Constrict!"
The Chains tightened, tearing the Chunin apart.
Shin''s face paled as he looked at the gruesome sight. He quickly turned away.
He was used to blood, having hunted animals in the forest. He hadn''t felt anything when he killed the first Chunin.
The next few deaths had caused a slight ripple in his emotions, but this last one... this was too much.
The Chakra Chains dissipated. Shin leaned against a tree, gagging.
He swore he''d never use the Chains like that again. It was too brutal, even for him.
"Congratulations, Master. Mission complete. You have been awarded one Advanced Replication Card."
"Whew, finally got the reward." Shin composed himself and called out to Kushina. "Come out, Kushina. It''s over."
Kushina emerged, looking bewildered. It was over?
It was too dark, and she didn''t have the Sharingan. She hadn''t seen anything.
She walked over and saw the Jonin''s body. "Shin, how did you do it?"
"Doesn''t matter. Let''s see what loot we got."
Shin started rummaging through the Jonin''s pouch while Kushina stood back, a little scared.
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.
Shin found several Explosive Tags, a valuable commodity.
There were also Kunai, Shuriken, and two Jutsu scrolls.
"B-rank Water Style: Water Dragon Jutsu and Water Style: Hiding in Mist Jutsu."
Shin frowned. These Jutsu gave him a clue about the attackers'' identities. They were likely from Kirigakure.
"Looks like Kirigakure is behind this attack on Uzushiogakure."
Only the Five Great Nations had the strength to attack the Uzumaki Clan. Konoha was an ally; they wouldn''t be involved.
Sunagakure and Iwagakure were too far away; attacking Uzushiogakure would be logistically impractical.
That left Kumogakure and Kirigakure, both of which could launch attacks from the sea.
Kirigakure''s involvement was confirmed. He wasn''t sure about Kumogakure, though.
If there was one village with the most ambition, it was Kumogakure. Their involvement was highly probable.
After all, the Uzumaki''s Sealing Jutsu were something Kumogakure would covet. No, not just Kumogakure, every village would want them.
Possessing powerful Sealing Jutsu that others feared and desired, yet lacking the strength to defend themselves, was the reason for Uzushiogakure''s downfall.
Having something valuable without the power to protect it was a recipe for disaster, no matter the world.
"I wonder if Konoha had a hand in this."
Shin was suspicious of their supposed ally. After all, Konoha had Danz¨­.
To think Danz¨­ wouldn''t be interested in the Uzumaki''s Sealing Jutsu was laughable.
Shin shook his head, pushing those thoughts aside. He collected the pouches of the other two Chunin and left with Kushina.
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.
He led Kushina to a small stream in the forest, the same one where they had practiced Water Walking.
"Are you tired? If you are, get some sleep. We''re safe now," Shin said.
Kushina shook her head. After everything that had happened, sleep was the last thing on her mind. [9] : The Fall of the Uzumaki Clan! Survivors
"Shin, I''m worried."
Kushina''s voice was filled with anxiety. She was smart. If they had encountered enemies so far from the clan grounds, she could only imagine the horrors that must have befallen Uzushiogakure.
"Worrying won''t change anything."
Shin shook his head. Despite not being well-liked, he had received his due within the clan. He didn''t want to see the Uzumaki Clan destroyed.
But he was powerless to stop it. He had known about the impending disaster, but who would have believed him?
Besides, he didn''t know when it would happen. Even if people believed him, they wouldn''t have been able to prepare.
The enemies had targeted the Uzumaki Clan. Their attack was swift and brutal. In the original story, Uzushiogakure fell before Konoha could even send reinforcements.
As for him saving the clan? Don''t make him laugh. He wasn''t going to get cocky just because he''d taken out a J¨­nin. Going there would be suicide.
They sat by the river, Kushina leaning against Shin. Shin was a transmigrant; his body was that of a five-year-old, but his mind was not.
Kushina, however, was just a five-year-old girl. Even though children in the ninja world matured quickly, the events of the night had shaken her to her core.
Only in Shin''s arms did she feel a sense of security.
"Shin, promise me you''ll never leave me."
Kushina looked up at him, her eyes pleading.
She was terrified. When Shin had faced those ninjas, she had been so afraid he would be killed.
She was relieved he was okay. If he hadn''t been, she didn''t know if she would have had the courage to go on. The thought of being alone was unbearable.
"I promise, Kushina. I''ll never leave you."
Shin met her gaze, his voice firm and reassuring.
Kushina hugged him tightly, burying her face in his shoulder. Exhaustion finally caught up with her, and she drifted off to sleep.
Shin smiled as he watched her sleep. He pulled out his pouch and examined its contents.
He had already checked the J¨­nin''s pouch. Besides ninja tools and two Jutsu scrolls, there were some Soldier Pills and rations.
He opened the pouches of the two Chunin.
Kunai, Shuriken, even Senbon. More Soldier Pills, rations, and a few Explosive Tags.
Explosive Tags were valuable, but expensive. Their blast radius was small, but their destructive power was significant.
He also found a Jutsu scroll containing the Chakra Refinement Technique and the basic Academy Three.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it
The Academy Three consisted of the Substitution Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Clone Jutsu. They were the most basic E-rank Jutsu.
But basic didn''t mean useless. The Transformation and Clone Jutsu were easy to see through.
Clones created with the Clone Jutsu couldn''t attack; they were no match for Shadow Clones.
The Substitution Jutsu, however, had its uses. It allowed for a quick swap with another object, useful for dodging attacks.
The Chunin had used it to escape Shin''s attack.
Of course, as the most basic Jutsu, it wasn''t invincible. Its effectiveness depended on the user.
The Substitution Jutsu allowed the user to swap with another object, but it wasn''t Space-Time Ninjutsu. It relied on speed.
So, it was less effective against stronger opponents who could easily see through it. It was just an E-rank Jutsu; it couldn''t compare to something like Sasuke Uchiha''s Amenotejikara.
Shin studied the Academy Three. He was a genius; it didn''t take him long to master these simple Jutsu.
Hours passed. Dawn arrived, the sun peeking over the horizon. The warm sunlight seemed to dispel the darkness and gloom.
Kushina woke up, rubbing her eyes. She looked around frantically, calming down only when she saw Shin.
"Morning. Have something to eat."
Shin handed her some dried meat. It was part of the food they had hastily packed before fleeing their home.
"I''m not hungry," Kushina said, shaking her head.
It wasn''t that she wasn''t hungry; she simply didn''t have the appetite.
"You have to eat. We need our strength in case we run into danger."
Persuaded by Shin, Kushina ate a few pieces of meat.
"I sent out Shadow Clones to scout. The invaders have left," Shin informed her.
He had sent out ten Shadow Clones to gather information. The invaders had left around four in the morning.
And Shin knew they were safe now.
Because the System had awarded him the Common Replication Card for completing the Survival mission.
"They left? What about the clan grounds?" Kushina''s face lit up, but then her expression turned to worry.
Shin shook his head, remembering the images his Shadow Clones had sent back. It was a bloodbath.
He didn''t know if there were any survivors. His clones hadn''t found any.
Kushina''s heart sank. She knew it wasn''t good.
But as long as Shin was okay, she didn''t care about the rest.
After resting for a while, Shin and Kushina left the forest and headed towards the clan grounds. They could smell the stench of blood from a distance.
"Kushina, don''t be scared," Shin said, holding her trembling hand.
Kushina nodded bravely and continued walking.
But when they finally reached the clan grounds and saw the carnage, Kushina threw up.
Even though Shin had seen the images through his Shadow Clones, the sight still made his stomach churn.
Over two hundred Uzumaki, practically all dead. The blood... it was truly a river of blood.
And it wasn''t just the blood of the Uzumaki. There must have been casualties among the invaders as well, though their bodies were nowhere to be seen. They must have taken their dead with them.
"Kushina, are you okay?"
Kushina shook her head, the meager breakfast she''d eaten now gone. The scene was too horrific.
"Shin, our clan...?"
"The Uzumaki Clan is gone," Shin said with a sigh. His desire for strength intensified.
In this world, without power, this was the consequence. If the Uzumaki Clan had someone like Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, would they have met such a fate?
Crack!
A faint sound, but Shin''s sharp ears picked it up. He looked towards the source. "Who''s there?"
"Don''t... don''t kill me!" A young girl''s terrified voice. Then a scream, followed by silence.
"Red hair... A survivor?" Shin pulled Kushina towards the sound.
A girl their age lay unconscious in a pool of blood in front of a burned-out house.
There was a cellar nearby. She must have hidden there to survive.
She must have made a noise while climbing out, alerting Shin. Then, the sight of the destruction must have been too much for her. [10] : Konohas Reinforcements - Tsunade
"That''s Uzumaki Akiko," Kushina said, surprised, as she looked at the unconscious girl.
"Oh, you know her?" Shin didn''t recognize the girl, but it seemed Kushina did.
"We''ve met a few times, but we''re not close."
Kushina was only really close to Shin. She knew other kids in the clan, but they weren''t friends.
A short while later, Akiko woke up. She looked around in a panic, but calmed down when she saw Shin and Kushina''s red hair.
Red hair was a trademark of the Uzumaki Clan. Of course, there were exceptions, like Ch¨­ji Akimichi''s father, Ch¨­za, who also had red hair.
But most people associated red hair with the Uzumaki.
"Who are you?"
Akiko didn''t recognize Shin and Kushina. She guessed they were Uzumaki survivors, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
It wasn''t surprising that she didn''t know them. Shin and Kushina lived far from the clan grounds.
Even when they had lived within the clan, they hadn''t interacted much. Shin had never even seen Akiko before.
"Same as you," Shin replied simply.
Akiko fell silent, her eyes filled with sadness as she looked at the destruction around her. Tears streamed down her face as she thought of her parents.
"Should we comfort her?" Kushina asked Shin.
"How? Let her cry. She''ll have to rely on herself from now on. Being strong is better."
Shin shook his head and sat on a nearby rock, contemplating their future.
He had two choices: leave with Kushina and live a life on the run, or wait for Konoha''s reinforcements and go with them to Konoha.
He glanced at Kushina and made up his mind. They would go to Konoha.
It was the safer option. With their distinctive red hair, wandering around would make them targets.
And as two young children, where could they even go? It would be incredibly difficult.
Going to Konoha offered safety and security. As long as they didn''t draw too much attention to themselves, they would be fine.
Especially with Uzumaki Mito still alive. Even the scheming Danz¨­ wouldn''t dare try anything.
In Konoha, Shin could also learn the basics of being a Shinobi, which were essential.
Konoha was the best choice. But if they went there, he would have to change Kushina''s fate as the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.
He didn''t want that for her. The Nine-Tails'' power was immense, a great asset if used correctly, but it was also a ticking time bomb.
And being the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki meant a life under constant surveillance, with Anbu watching your every move.
As for himself, Shin never wanted to become a Jinch¨±riki. He simply didn''t need the Nine-Tails.
With his Perfect Sage Body, once he grew stronger, he could take on the Nine-Tails single-handedly.
And with his Sharingan, he could probably subdue the beast with a glance.
With the System at his disposal, why would he need the Nine-Tails?
But most importantly, he didn''t want something else living inside him. It was an unsettling thought.
Shin''s gaze shifted to Akiko. It wasn''t just him and Kushina anymore; there was another Uzumaki survivor to consider.
"Kushina, come here. I need to talk to you."
Kushina, though curious, walked over.
"Kushina, Konoha''s reinforcements might arrive soon. They might take us to Konoha. If we go, remember, don''t stand out too much."
Shin advised.
When choosing a Jinch¨±riki, they would look for someone with talent. Standing out too much might attract the attention of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and the shadowy Danz¨­.
Hiruzen would be fine, but Danz¨­... that was a different story.
Kushina didn''t understand why Shin was saying this, but she nodded, committing his words to memory.
Another day passed. The sun began to set, casting long, eerie shadows over the blood-soaked ruins of Uzushiogakure.
*Thump! Thump! Thump!*
"Footsteps?"
Shin''s senses went on high alert. His left hand went to his pouch, gripping an Explosive Tag. His right hand held a katana.
He was a bit small to be wielding a katana, but he had found it among the debris. It had a few chips, but it was still usable.
Kushina moved closer to Shin, and Akiko, frightened, huddled next to them.
"Three kids?"
A woman with striking blonde hair and cold eyes approached them.
Despite her beauty, her expression was intimidating.
Several other ninja followed behind her.
"You''re Uzumaki, right? Don''t be afraid. I''m a Konoha Shinobi. My name is Tsunade."
Tsunade''s harsh gaze softened. Seeing the state of Uzushiogakure had filled her with rage, hence her initial coldness.
Hearing her name, Shin relaxed, but he couldn''t help but stare. He couldn''t believe this was Tsunade.
She was so... flat. He couldn''t fathom how she would transform into the, well, busty woman she would become.
"Are you all that''s left of the Uzumaki Clan?" Tsunade asked.
"I don''t know. Maybe there are other survivors."
Shin was certain there were others, but they had either escaped the Land of Whirlpools or were in hiding.
"Let''s search the area. See if we can find anyone else. Damn it, if I find out who did this, I''ll..."
Tsunade''s killing intent flared. The Uzumaki were her grandmother''s people. They had a long-standing alliance with the Senju Clan.
During the Warring States Period, the Uzumaki had fought alongside the Senju against the Uchiha.
Tsunade was furious, but it was useless now. She had rushed to the Land of Whirlpools as soon as she received the news, but it was too late.
The enemy had annihilated the Uzumaki Clan in a single night. They must have planned this for a long time.
Shin couldn''t help but roll his eyes at Tsunade''s tough talk. Empty threats were so childish.
Unfortunately, Tsunade caught his expression. She glared at him. This little brat was looking down on her?
"Hey, brat, what was that look for?"
"What look?" Shin feigned innocence.
"Don''t play dumb. I saw you. You were totally dissing me."
Shin wanted to nod, but he thought better of it. Tsunade was known for her temper; she might just punch him.
"Nope, not me. You must be mistaken," Shin denied, maintaining his facade of innocence. [11] : Leaving the Land of Whirlpools! Journey to Konoha
But she couldn''t exactly punish him for that. She wasn''t going to beat up a child, no matter how infuriating he was.
Suddenly, Tsunade chuckled.Tsunade glared at Shin. The little punk was clearly looking down on her, yet he denied it.
"You''ve got guts, kid. Recovering from your clan''s destruction so quickly."
She placed a hand on Shin''s head, ruffling his hair with more force than necessary.
As she messed up his hair, she realized how soft it was. It was almost addictive.
Looking at his cute little face, she couldn''t resist pinching his cheek. So soft, so adorable!
Kushina, seeing Tsunade manhandling Shin, yelled, "Hey, stop that!"
Shin wasn''t happy either. Tsunade might enjoy pinching his cheek, but he found it extremely annoying.
Having his face pinched by a woman? Humiliating!
"Get your hands off me! I don''t like being touched by men," Shin said, scowling.
"Men?"
Tsunade froze. ''Was he blind? Where did he get the idea that she was a man?''
"Kid, you need to get your eyes checked. I''m a woman, not a man," Tsunade said through gritted teeth.
"Hah! I may be young, but I know the difference between a man and a woman. You don''t exactly scream ''Woman'' to me."
Shin''s eyes drifted towards her chest, his expression a mix of disdain and disbelief.
Tsunade''s face flushed red. This brat was deliberately mocking her!
"Princess Tsunade, we found two survivors!"
Tsunade, about to give Shin a piece of her mind, glared at him one last time before turning towards the newcomers.
Two males, one around Shin''s age, the other in his twenties. Both Uzumaki survivors.
Shin recognized the boy.
"Uzumaki Kai, long time no see. How''s your leg?"
Shin gave Kai a sly smile, which earned him a glare filled with anger and a hint of fear.
Kai was the son of Uzumaki Hikaru, the Taijutsu master whose physique Shin had copied. Shin had broken the boy''s leg during their previous encounter.
He hadn''t expected Kai to survive the destruction of the clan. The kid was lucky to be alive.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Tsunade''s eyes flickered between Shin and Kai. There was definitely bad blood between these two.
But she wasn''t interested in getting involved in a squabble between kids. She turned to the older Uzumaki.
"What''s your name?"
"I... I''m Uzumaki Hikaru. A Jonin of the Uzumaki Clan."
"Do you know who attacked the clan?" Tsunade asked.
"I don''t know. I was scared, so I hid right away. I don''t know what happened after that."
Hikaru hung his head in shame, earning a scornful look from Tsunade.
This guy was older than her, yet he was a coward. When his clan was in danger, he hid like a rat.
Tsunade wasn''t even as old as this Hikaru. Despite calling Shin a "kid," she was only sixteen.
But in the ninja world, sixteen wasn''t that young. During the Warring States Period, people were already married with children at that age.
Tsunade ordered her men to continue searching for survivors while investigating who was behind the attack.
Judging by the water damage and the traces of Lightning Release, she had a pretty good idea.
If her suspicions were correct, there wasn''t much she could do.
"Kid, what''s your name?" Tsunade asked Shin.
Shin was getting tired of being called "kid." Too bad he couldn''t beat Tsunade in a fight.
He estimated her strength to be at elite J¨­nin level, definitely stronger than him.
"I''m Uzumaki Shin. And don''t call me ''kid''. You''ll regret it when I''m stronger than you."
"Regret it? Heh, I''ll be waiting for that day," Tsunade said with a smirk.
Shin snorted. She might be looking down on him now, but she''d sing a different tune when he surpassed her.
"Shin, I''m hungry," Kushina tugged at his sleeve.
Shin took out some dry rations and jerky. It wasn''t much, but it would fill their stomachs for now.
Three days later, the bodies of the Uzumaki Clan members were buried, including Shin''s grandfather, the clan elder.
Seeing his grandfather''s body, Shin felt a strange mix of emotions. He hadn''t been close to the man; they had barely interacted.
But he still felt a pang of sadness.
After the burial, they set off for Konoha with Tsunade.
Shin carried a katana strapped to his back. It was over three feet long, with a simple gold design on the hilt.
He had found it in the Uzumaki Clan shrine. It was incredibly sharp, able to slice through stone with ease.
He hadn''t tested it on steel yet, though.
They sailed towards the Land of Fire. Shin stood at the stern, watching the Land of Whirlpools disappear over the horizon.
Kushina stood beside him. They didn''t know when they would return.
"Feeling sad to leave?"
Shin and Kushina turned to see Tsunade standing behind them.
Kushina puffed out her cheeks, glaring at Tsunade.
Shin was also keeping his distance from Tsunade. The woman was relentless, constantly ruffling his hair and pinching his cheeks.
He was annoyed, but he didn''t want to reveal his strength, so he hadn''t resisted much.
He wondered if she had some weird fetish.
Kushina''s reason for disliking Tsunade was simple. She hadn''t even ruffled Shin''s hair or pinched his cheeks.
Yet this woman was doing all the things she hadn''t done. It felt like Tsunade was stealing Shin away from her.
"When you get to Konoha, think of it as your new home. In time, you''ll forget all the unpleasantness."
"Hmph, we don''t need your comforting words. Come on, Shin." Kushina glared at Tsunade and dragged Shin into the cabin. This woman was the source of all her unpleasantness.
"That little brat..."
Tsunade noticed the hostility.
"Could she be... jealous? Does she like Shin?" Tsunade wondered.
"Kids these days, maturing so fast. That girl''s only five, right?" [12] : Ambush on the Road
"Shin, stay away from that woman from now on," Kushina said seriously once they were inside the cabin.
"Yeah, no arguments here."
Shin wasn''t keen on being manhandled and unable to retaliate. It was infuriating.
He''d get her back when he was stronger. For now, he''d steer clear of Tsunade and her vice-like grip. His cheeks were still sore.
''Just wait, Tsunade,'' Shin thought darkly.
Hours later, the ship finally reached the shore. Kushina, pale and nauseous, leaned heavily against Shin.
"Shin, I don''t feel so good. My head is spinning."
Shin supported her, surprised that she was seasick. It was probably because this was her first time on a ship.
"We''re here, Kushina. Hang in there."
"Tsk, tsk, getting seasick? How embarrassing," Tsunade quipped, arms crossed.
Kushina''s open hostility had irked her. She didn''t want to stoop to the level of a child, but seeing Kushina''s pathetic state, she couldn''t resist a jab.
"I am not seasick!"
Kushina weakly shook her head, trying to maintain a defiant front despite her nausea.
Tsunade merely clicked her tongue. Continuing this squabble with a child was beneath her.
"Let''s rest for a bit before we continue."
Seeing that not only Kushina, but also Akiko and Kai, were suffering from seasickness, Tsunade called for a break.
Shin was fine; he didn''t get seasick. And Uzumaki Hikaru, being a Jonin, was also unaffected.
They rested, ate some rations, and then resumed their journey.
"How long will it take to reach Konoha from here?" Shin asked Tsunade.
"Come closer, and I''ll tell you," Tsunade said with a sly grin, beckoning him with a finger.
"Nah, I don''t need to know that badly."
Shin and Kushina trailed behind, taking in the scenery of the Land of Fire.
They had set foot on Land of Fire soil as soon as they disembarked. While not the largest of the Five Great Nations, it definitely had the most fertile land.
The trees here were lusher than those in the Land of Whirlpools, and the people seemed more prosperous.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there.
"Shin-chan, how are we going to live in Konoha?" Kushina asked, her voice laced with worry.
"Same as always. Don''t stress, Kushina. And please, stop calling me ''Shin-chan''."
Shin patted her head reassuringly.
Kushina felt a wave of warmth. She was apprehensive about this unfamiliar place called Konoha, but with Shin by her side, her fears seemed to melt away.
As long as she was with Shin, it didn''t matter where they were.
Gradually, Kushina''s anxiety lessened. The shadow of the Uzumaki Clan''s destruction seemed a little less dark.
"What are you two chatting about?"
Tsunade had fallen back to join them.
"Wow, you actually have time to talk to us?" Shin remarked.
"We''re escorting you, but we''re in Land of Fire now. The most we''ll encounter are bandits. It''s safe here."
Tsunade had been vigilant before entering Land of Fire, but now she was completely relaxed.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
A volley of Kunai and Shuriken rained down on them, some even strapped with Explosive Tags.
Shin''s face paled. He couldn''t worry about hiding his strength now. He grabbed Kushina and dodged.
The Senju ninjas, though caught off guard, were still highly skilled.
They reacted quickly, shielding the Uzumaki survivors and evading the attack.
Tsunade''s eyes widened.
She had been about to pull Shin and Kushina out of the way, but Shin had reacted first, moving with incredible speed.
She estimated his speed to be on par with her own.
''Looks like that kid Shin isn''t simple after all.''
She quickly dodged the projectiles. Now wasn''t the time to ponder this; she had to deal with the attackers.
Her eyes turned cold. To be ambushed within Land of Fire borders was unacceptable.
And she had just told Shin that it was safe here. This was a slap in the face.
Tsunade felt her cheeks burn with shame. These attackers would pay.
Shin and Kushina took cover behind a large tree, Shin''s arm protectively around Kushina. His eyes darted around, alert for any movement.
If only I could awaken the Uzumaki Clan''s Mind''s Eye of Kagura...
The Mind''s Eye of Kagura was a Sensory Technique unique to the Uzumaki Clan, one of the most powerful in the ninja world.
When activated, it allowed the user to sense Chakra fluctuations within a radius of several dozen kilometers.
With a known Chakra signature, it could pinpoint the target''s location, movement, number of people, and even their speed.
Its sensory capabilities were comparable to the Byakugan. Unfortunately, very few Uzumaki could awaken this ability.
In the original story, only Karin was known to possess it. Shin didn''t know if he could awaken it.
If he had the Mind''s Eye of Kagura, he could easily pinpoint the enemies'' location and movements, making it easier to defend against them.
Unlike now, where he was forced to rely on his senses and constant vigilance to avoid being caught off guard.
Shinobi were masters of assassination; surprise attacks were their specialty.
"Kushina, don''t be afraid. I''ll protect you."
"I''m not afraid," Kushina said, clenching her fists. She hated being the damsel in distress.
''I have to train harder.''
She resolved to become stronger so she wouldn''t be a burden to Shin.
As Shin and Kushina hid, the battle raged. Over twenty ninjas, clad in identical uniforms and without forehead protectors, emerged from the forest.
It was impossible to tell which village they were from. They charged towards the Senju ninjas, weapons drawn.
Tsunade channeled Chakra throughout her body, activating her monstrous strength. A powerful aura enveloped her.
"Die!"
She punched one of the attackers, sending him flying like a ragdoll.
He was dead before he hit the ground. That was the power of Tsunade''s monstrous strength. [13] : Arrival at Konoha
"Yikes, that''s brutal."
Shin watched from his hiding spot as Tsunade pulverized another ninja with a single punch, the impact leaving the poor guy looking like he''d been hit by a truck. Shin winced.
''Twice.''
"This woman''s strength is ridiculous. I Must not... Wait, what am I even thinking?"
"Shin, what are you muttering about?" Kushina nudged him.
"Nothing. Kushina, don''t you think she''s a bit... violent?"
Shin eyed the mangled remains of the ninja. He wouldn''t want to be on the receiving end of one of those punches.
"Violent? Nah, she''s alright," Kushina said, her eyes practically sparkling with admiration.
Shin instinctively took a step back. Did Kushina have violent tendencies?
He suddenly remembered that Kushina''s temper wasn''t exactly angelic.
Shin turned his attention back to Tsunade. Her strength was probably at elite J¨­nin level, but she was displaying power far beyond that.
One-punching ninjas like they were toddlers.
"Who sent these guys?"
Shin observed the attackers. Initially, he thought they were after the Uzumaki survivors.
But now it seemed they were targeting the Senju.
He noticed that Uzumaki Hikaru, was no longer under the protection of the Senju ninjas. If the attackers were after the Uzumaki, they would have gone for Hikaru.
A strange thought crossed Shin''s mind. ''Could these ninjas be from Konoha?''
It wasn''t impossible. They were in Land of Fire, after all.
If over twenty foreign ninjas could infiltrate Land of Fire without Konoha, the most powerful Hidden Village, noticing, something was fishy.
"Man, maybe going to Konoha isn''t such a safe bet after all."
Perhaps Konoha had something to do with the destruction of Uzushiogakure.
Konoha had only sent Tsunade and nine other Senju to aid the Uzumaki.
It was a good thing the invaders had already left; otherwise, this "rescue team" would have been slaughtered.
Now they were being attacked within Land of Fire, and the attackers seemed to be targeting the Senju. Considering the future of the Senju Clan, with only Tsunade remaining, Shin''s suspicions grew stronger.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
But even if he was right, he wouldn''t say anything. It was just speculation; he had no proof.
And even if he did, what good would it do? Loose lips sink ships. Some things were better left unsaid.
He didn''t know if these were Hiruzen''s men or Danz¨­''s. His gut said Danz¨­.
Tsunade was Hiruzen''s disciple. Hiruzen wasn''t a saint, but he wasn''t evil either. He wouldn''t attack his own student.
But Danz¨­? That guy was capable of anything.
''I''ll have to watch out for Danz¨­ in Konoha. But as long as I keep a low profile, he shouldn''t notice me.''
But Tsunade had seen him move with incredible speed while dodging the Kunai and Shuriken. Hopefully, she wouldn''t mention it.
"Damn it!"
Tsunade noticed one of the attackers cutting down Senju ninjas with ruthless efficiency.
She estimated his strength to be at elite J¨­nin level, perhaps slightly weaker than her, but far stronger than the others.
He had already killed three Senju J¨­nin.
Tsunade''s eyes blazed with fury. She tried to reach him, but she was blocked by Chunin who fought with suicidal desperation.
"Get out of my way, you little ants!"
Tsunade slammed her foot into the ground, creating a spiderweb of cracks. The earth shook, throwing the Chunin off balance.
Some of them even stumbled and fell into the fissures, unable to move.
Tsunade ignored them and charged towards the elite J¨­nin.
The J¨­nin retreated, shooting Tsunade a cold look. "Retreat!" he yelled.
The attackers vanished into the forest without hesitation. Tsunade glared at their retreating figures, frustrated.
They had managed to capture one alive, but he had committed suicide before they could interrogate him.
Shin and Kushina emerged from their hiding spot. Shin looked at Tsunade, her eyes red with rage, and shook his head. This was a tragedy.
Three Senju J¨­nin were dead. Only six remained, and they were all wounded.
J¨­nin were valuable assets to any Hidden Village, even more so to a clan.
The Senju Clan was a shadow of its former glory. Besides Tsunade, they only had nine J¨­nin, and now three were gone.
"Collect their bodies. Let''s go," Tsunade said grimly.
They continued towards Konoha, the mood somber.
Two days later, they finally reached Konoha, the most powerful Hidden Village in the ninja world.
The rest of the journey was uneventful.
"You all head back and see to their burial. I''ll take these children to see the Hokage," Tsunade instructed the remaining Senju.
They nodded and headed towards the Senju Clan compound.
Tsunade led Shin, Kushina, Akiko, Kai, and Hikaru, the five Uzumaki survivors, to the Hokage''s office.
Upon reaching the office, Tsunade punched the door to splinters. Hiruzen Sarutobi looked up, his eyebrow twitching as he saw Tsunade.
"Ah, Tsunade, you''re back. How did it go with the Uzumaki Clan?"
He didn''t even bother mentioning the door. This wasn''t the first time she''d done this.
"The Uzumaki Clan is gone. These are the survivors," Tsunade said, her voice heavy with grief.
"What? Gone? How?" Hiruzen shot to his feet.
"I was too late. The clan was already destroyed when I arrived."
Tsunade clenched her fists. If only they had received the news sooner, perhaps this tragedy could have been averted.
"I see."
Hiruzen sat back down, his gaze sweeping over Shin and the other children, assessing them.
Shin squirmed under his scrutiny.
Hiruzen''s eyes were sharp. This was Hiruzen in his prime, not the old man he would become.
His gaze seemed to pierce through you, seeing all your secrets. Shin didn''t like it one bit. [14] : Settling into the Senju Compound
Hiruzen observed the children for a moment, then his face took on a mournful expression.
"It grieves me to hear of the tragedy that befell the Uzumaki Clan. Rest assured, Konoha and the Uzumaki are steadfast allies. We will find the perpetrators and bring them to justice."
"For now, make yourselves at home in Konoha. You are safe here; no one will harm you."
Hiruzen''s words seemed to ease the tension. Hikaru and Kai visibly relaxed.
"Lord Hokage, please, you must find those who did this!" Kai cried.
Akiko also wept, tears flowing freely as she remembered her loved ones.
"We will avenge the Uzumaki Clan. They are our allies, and anyone who harms them is an enemy of Konoha," Hiruzen declared solemnly.
Hiruzen was a skilled leader. His words calmed even Kushina, who had been on edge.
Shin could tell because Kushina''s grip on his hand loosened.
When they first arrived in Konoha, Kushina had been clinging to him, her small hand tightly gripping his. Coming to this unfamiliar place, it was impossible for a five-year-old not to be nervous.
"Tsunade, how about we have them stay at the Senju compound?"
Hiruzen turned to Tsunade.
"That''s fine, but there''s something you need to explain to me first."
BAM!
Tsunade slammed her fist on Hiruzen''s desk, the solid wood splitting under the force.
"Sandaime, we were attacked by unknown assailants within Land of Fire borders. What''s going on?"
Hiruzen''s eyes widened. He stood up.
"You were attacked?"
Seeing the fury in Tsunade''s eyes, he knew it was true. Had ninjas from another village infiltrated Land of Fire?
"How many were there?" Hiruzen asked, his voice grave.
"Twenty-five. At least ten J¨­nin, and one of them was an Elite."
Hiruzen''s expression darkened. That was a significant force.
If they were indeed foreign ninjas, this could be a serious threat.
"Tsunade, this is my oversight. I failed to detect such a large force within our borders. I will have the Anbu investigate this thoroughly."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
He knew that Tsunade''s anger meant there had been casualties.
"Let me know when you have more information."
Tsunade left the Hokage''s office with the children. Just as they stepped out, they saw a man with a grim aura approaching.
Tsunade frowned. It was Danz¨­.
He held a high position in Konoha, but Tsunade loathed him. He was a man who operated in the shadows, his methods ruthless and underhanded.
"Tsunade, welcome back. Are these the Uzumaki survivors?"
Danz¨­''s eyes flickered as he looked at the children. He still had both his eyes and his arm; he hadn''t undergone his future modifications yet.
Tsunade scoffed and walked away without a word, the children following behind.
As they left, Shin glanced at Danz¨­. He recognized him instantly; the scar on his chin was a dead giveaway.
Danz¨­ scowled. Tsunade had just disrespected him, just like the rest of the Senju Clan.
He entered the Hokage''s office, noting the shattered door with a frown. He turned to Hiruzen.
"Danz¨­, what brings you here?" Hiruzen asked, his brow furrowed.
"I have something to discuss with you."
"As do I." Hiruzen walked to the window, watching Tsunade lead the Uzumaki survivors away. He waved a hand.
The Anbu guards hidden in the shadows vanished. Only Hiruzen and Danz¨­ remained in the office.
"Danz¨­, Tsunade said she was attacked on her way back. I want to know if you had anything to do with it."
Hiruzen''s gaze was sharp and accusatory.
"Hmph, Are you implying that I attacked your student?" Danz¨­ snorted, his eyes narrowing.
"I had nothing to do with it."
Danz¨­ stormed out, abandoning whatever he had wanted to discuss.
"It was you, wasn''t it, Danz¨­?"
Hiruzen sat down heavily. He knew Danz¨­ better than anyone. Even though Danz¨­ hadn''t betrayed himself, Hiruzen could see through his lies.
Punish Danz¨­? He had no concrete evidence. And even if he did, he would protect Danz¨­. He would have to find a way to appease Tsunade.
<><><>
"This is the Senju Clan compound. You''ll be staying here. Most of the houses are empty; choose whichever you like."
Tsunade led the children into the compound.
"It''s so big! Even bigger than the Uzumaki Clan Grounds," Akiko exclaimed.
Shin looked around. It was eerily empty. It seemed the once-great Senju Clan was a shadow of its former self.
"Kushina, which one do you want?" Shin asked.
"Shin, and you, little girl, come with me," Tsunade said.
Shin looked at her questioningly.
"Kid, you weren''t exactly subtle back there. I saw what you did," Tsunade said with a knowing smirk before turning and walking away.
Shin''s face stiffened. He hesitated for a moment, then took Kushina''s hand and followed Tsunade.
Kai watched them leave, jealousy burning in his eyes.
"Why is Lady Tsunade treating him differently?" he muttered resentfully.
Akiko didn''t think too much about it. Having a place to stay was good enough for her. She chose an empty house and started cleaning.
"Why are we following her?" Kushina grumbled.
Shin shrugged. Tsunade had seen a glimpse of his true strength. He just hoped she wouldn''t tell anyone.
If she did, life in Konoha would become complicated.
They followed Tsunade to a small courtyard. "There are a few empty rooms over there. You can stay here," Tsunade said.
"Thank you, Lady Tsunade."
Shin looked around the courtyard. It was much nicer than the other houses they had seen.
"Does anyone live here?" he asked.
"Yes, I do. It gets lonely living alone, so I thought I''d have you, my interesting little friend, stay here."
Tsunade looked at Shin with amusement. She was intrigued by this unusual child.
"And you too, little girl. You''re welcome," Tsunade said to Kushina.
"I won''t thank you!" Kushina snapped, clearly annoyed at being treated as an afterthought. [15] :Too Exceptional for This World
In the living room, Shin and Kushina sat facing Tsunade. They had finished tidying up their rooms, and now Shin felt it was time to have a chat with Tsunade.
She knew he was hiding his strength. While she didn''t know the extent of it, she knew he wasn''t just an ordinary child.
If she told the Sandaime, knowing his personality, he would definitely have Anbu keep an eye on Shin.
Shin didn''t want to be monitored. It would expose his secrets and complicate things.
"Lady Tsunade, there''s something I need to talk to you about."
"Oh? Go ahead."
Tsunade took a sip from her cup, her eyes twinkling with amusement.
She wasn''t stupid; she had a good idea what Shin wanted to talk about.
"Lady Tsunade, you''re aware that I''m... not exactly normal, strength-wise."
Shin didn''t beat around the bush. There was no point; it was already out in the open.
"Indeed. The speed you displayed when we were attacked was quite surprising."
Tsunade''s gaze was intense. She had been genuinely shocked. Shin''s speed rivaled her own.
It was hard to believe a five-year-old could move that fast.
"Well, it''s not that unusual. People can exhibit superhuman strength in moments of danger. It was probably just an adrenaline rush."
Shin made up a flimsy excuse.
"Heh, you think I''m an idiot? I''m a Medical Ninja."
Tsunade scoffed. What Shin described was possible; people could unleash incredible power in life-or-death situations.
But such bursts came at a cost, either a shortened lifespan or even death.
Shin, however, was perfectly fine. This wasn''t just an adrenaline rush. He was trying to fool her, and she wasn''t falling for it.
"Okay, fine. I''m a bit stronger than I look. But I need you to keep it a secret, Lady Tsunade."
Shin knew Tsunade wasn''t easily fooled, so he dropped the act. There was no point; it would only make her more suspicious.
"Why should I?"
Tsunade was puzzled. ''Why hide his talent?''
He was just a child, yet he could move with such speed. Regardless of the method, he was a genius.Unauthorized tale usage: if you spot this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"Lady Tsunade, have you ever heard the saying..."
"A tree that stands taller than the rest will be felled by the wind. A mound that rises above the shore will be eroded by the current. One who walks above others will be criticized by the masses."
"When someone is too exceptional, they attract not only admiration but also envy. And envy is a dangerous thing; it can twist people beyond recognition."
Shin''s words startled Tsunade. She stared at him as if he were a monster.
"I haven''t heard that saying before, but I understand the sentiment. You make a good point. I''m starting to doubt you''re really a five-year-old."
Tsunade eyed him skeptically.
If these words had come from someone much older, she wouldn''t have been surprised. But Shin was only five!
Shin coughed awkwardly. He might have overdone it with the profound act.
"Don''t ask me how I know these things. I''ve always been too exceptional for my own good, always attracting envy and jealousy."
Shin tilted his chin up, a smug expression on his face. Tsunade burst out laughing.
"You''re quite the character."
"It''s not an act. It''s the truth. I''m so used to an extraordinary life that I want to experience what it''s like to be normal."
Tsunade and Kushina both stared at him, speechless. One word echoed in their minds: ''show-off!''
Shin smirked inwardly. He had successfully diverted her attention from his strength.
"Fine, I''ll keep your secret. But you have to agree to a few conditions," Tsunade said.
"A few? Are you sure it''s not just one?"
Shin smiled, but inwardly, he was groaning.
"Yes, a few, not one," Tsunade said triumphantly. ''Let''s see how you weasel your way out of this, kid.''
"As long as they''re not unreasonable, I suppose I can agree," Shin said cautiously.
Kushina''s expression changed. She glared at Tsunade. "Don''t you dare ask for anything outrageous!"
"Don''t worry, I won''t make things difficult for you," Tsunade said, completely ignoring Kushina.
Kushina slammed her hand on the table, fuming. This woman was deliberately ignoring her!
"First, from now on, when I ruffle your hair or pinch your cheeks, you''re not allowed to resist or dodge."
Shin''s face fell. Kushina''s expression mirrored his.
"Old hag! You just want to take advantage of Shin!" Kushina jumped onto her chair, glaring at Tsunade.
"What did you just call me?!"
Tsunade was furious. She was only sixteen, and this little girl was calling her an old hag?!
"You heard me. Cougar!" Kushina was fearless when it came to Shin.
"Little girl, if you weren''t so young, I''d teach you some manners."
"Hmph, old hag, if I were your age, I''d be the one teaching ''you'' some manners."
Tsunade and Kushina locked eyes, the air crackling with tension.
"Ahem, shouldn''t we focus on the important matters at hand? I agree to your condition, Lady Tsunade," Shin interjected.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Shin had been so resistant to her touch before, why the sudden change of heart? Was he up to something?
She wasn''t going to underestimate him now.
In truth, Shin was playing the long game. He''d let her have her fun for now, but he''d get his revenge later, with interest.
He''d make her regret taking advantage of him.
"Shin, you agreed?!" Kushina looked at him, betrayed, then turned away, refusing to acknowledge him.
Seeing Kushina''s anger, Tsunade felt a strange sense of satisfaction.
Then she mentally slapped herself. Why was she competing with a five-year-old?
"Now, on to my other conditions," Tsunade announced.
She watched Shin closely, trying to gauge his reaction.
But to her disappointment, his expression remained unchanged. He even gestured for her to continue.
Tsunade''s suspicion grew. Something was off.
She had no idea that Shin was planning to settle the score in the future, with interest. [16] : A Spar with Tsunade
"Weren''t you going to tell me your other conditions? Cat got your tongue?"
Shin looked at Tsunade expectantly.
"I haven''t quite decided yet. I''ll let you know later." Tsunade looked at Shin, her mind still searching for suitable conditions.
"You might not get another chance."
Shin''s words held a hidden meaning. He was confident that his strength would soon surpass Tsunade''s.
With his Perfect Sage Body and the System''s cheat, his growth rate was unpredictable, even to him.
"Speaking of which, I''m curious about your strength. Come with me to the training grounds."
Tsunade stood up and led Shin to her private training area behind the courtyard. It was a spacious area.
Kushina trailed behind them, her cheeks puffed out like a disgruntled chipmunk. She was still sulking.
"Alright, Shin, let''s spar."
"Wait, what?"
Shin stared at Tsunade in disbelief. Spar with her? Was she joking? He was no match for her right now.
He wasn''t into Masochism.
"Don''t worry, I''ll go easy on you," Tsunade said reassuringly.
"Go for it, Shin! Beat her!" Kushina cheered, pumping her little fist.
"Kushina, are you crazy? If I could beat her, I would! But I can''t. Do you want to see me get pulverized?"
Shin whispered to Kushina.
"Pulverized? That bad? On second thought..."
Kushina recalled Tsunade''s brutal display during the ambush and shook her head.
One punch could turn a person into a mangled mess. Fighting her was definitely risky.
"Umm, how about we settle this peacefully? I''m not a fan of violence," Shin said to Tsunade, spreading his hands.
Tsunade''s eyes narrowed. She chuckled. "Fine, if you don''t want to fight, then you can just take a beating."
With that, she threw a punch at Shin. Feeling the force of the blow, Shin''s eyes widened.
Was she serious?
He didn''t think she would actually hurt him, but his instincts screamed at him to dodge.
"Quick reflexes."This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.
Tsunade retracted her fist, impressed. Even a Chunin wouldn''t have been able to dodge that.
"Hold on!"
Shin quickly stopped her as she prepared to attack again.
"There''s no benefit for me in fighting you. So, I''ll have to decline."
"Benefit? What kind of benefit do you want?" Tsunade asked.
"Well, if you teach me an A-rank Jutsu, I wouldn''t mind sparring with you," Shin said, his eyes gleaming.
If she refused, he wouldn''t lose anything and would avoid a beating.
If she agreed, he''d gain an A-rank Jutsu. It was a win-win situation.
"You''re a shrewd one, aren''t you? Fine, I agree. I can part with an A-rank Jutsu."
Tsunade said nonchalantly. As the Senju Clan princess, if he had asked for an S-rank Jutsu, she might have hesitated.
But an A-rank Jutsu? She didn''t mind. She was more interested in uncovering Shin''s secrets.
"Alright then, please go easy on me, Lady Tsunade."
Shin stepped back, putting some distance between them. He focused on Tsunade. This was a chance to test his strength.
Of course, there were some things he wouldn''t use, like the Rasengan and the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
The Chains were fine, but using the Rasengan would raise too many questions.
It would cause a commotion. After all, the Rasengan was a Jutsu that required no hand seals.
The most impressive thing about the Rasengan wasn''t its power, although it was powerful. There were other A-rank Jutsu that were stronger. But the fact that it didn''t require hand seals made it unique.
No hand seals meant instant activation. In a life-or-death battle, even a fraction of a second could make all the difference.
Besides, Shin wasn''t planning on going all out. He always kept some cards up his sleeve.
He knew Tsunade would keep her word about not revealing his strength, but he was still used to hiding his true abilities.
"You can make the first move," Tsunade said.
"Then I won''t hold back."
Shin wasn''t going to be polite. He was clearly at a disadvantage.
Holding back half his strength, Shin charged towards Tsunade. When he was three meters away, he leaped into the air, aiming a punch at her face.
"You can do it, Shin!" Kushina cheered nervously.
"You little brat!"
Tsunade scowled. Attacking someone''s face was a low blow, especially a woman''s.
The fist might be small, but the force behind it was undeniable. Tsunade dodged. She wasn''t going to take that punch to the face.
"Don''t jump so carelessly, kid. You have no leverage in the air. Let me show you how it''s done."
After dodging Shin''s attack, Tsunade retaliated with lightning speed, aiming for his stomach.
BAM!
Wood splintered. Her fist connected, not with Shin''s body, but with a log. He had used the Substitution Jutsu.
Tsunade''s eyes narrowed. She spun around and threw another punch.
Their fists collided. Shin was sent flying backward. Just before he crashed to the ground, he twisted in mid-air, landing gracefully on his feet.
Tsunade shook her arm, the ground beneath her cracking slightly.
"What a Strength!"
Her arm was numb. She hadn''t used her monstrous strength, but even her normal punches packed a wallop.
What kind of monster was this kid? How could he be so strong at such a young age?
"Hey, are you alright?" Tsunade asked, concerned.
After using the Substitution Jutsu, Shin had appeared behind her, launching a surprise attack. Her counterattack had been a bit hasty; she hadn''t controlled her strength.
"Ouch! That hurts! I think my arm is broken! I can''t continue!"
Shin cried out dramatically, his expression exaggerated.
"Shin, are you hurt?" Kushina rushed over, checking his arm with worry. She glared at Tsunade.
Tsunade also hurried over to check on him. Her punch had been powerful; even a J¨­nin would have been injured.
"Ahem, Kushina, I''m fine," Shin winked at her.
Kushina relaxed, understanding his silent message. He was faking it. [17] : Uzumaki Mito
"Sorry, Shin. I didn''t control my strength back there. Here, let me heal you."
Tsunade approached Shin, a green glow of Chakra forming in her hand. She was about to use Medical Ninjutsu.
Shin didn''t feel a thing. He wasn''t injured; there was nothing to heal.
Even if he had been injured, with his Perfect Sage Body, he would have recovered in moments.
Tsunade''s expression shifted from concern to anger.
"You little liar!"
She threw a punch. Shin dodged just in time.
"Busted," Shin mumbled, rubbing his nose sheepishly. Tsunade was the best Medical Ninja in Konoha; fooling her was a long shot.
"Ahem, Lady Tsunade, as you can see, I''m not that strong. How about we call it a draw?"
Tsunade looked at him, then nodded.
She felt she had a decent grasp of his abilities. He was strong and fast, likely at Elite Chunin level, maybe even higher.
He had used the Perfect Sage Body proficiently, but hadn''t displayed any other Jutsu.
It was hard to gauge his combat experience from just a few exchanges, especially since she hadn''t gained the upper hand.
She watched Shin chatting with Kushina, seemingly unharmed, then flexed her slightly numb arm. ''Monster,'' she thought.
No wonder he wanted to hide his strength. If it were exposed, it would only cause him trouble.
If only she knew he hadn''t even used his full power...
"Umm, Lady Tsunade, about that A-rank Jutsu..."
Shin looked at her expectantly.
"I keep my promises. What''s your Chakra Nature?" Tsunade asked.
"No need to ask, Lady Tsunade. I want to learn the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu."
Shin had already decided. The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu would be incredibly useful to him.
"The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu?"
Tsunade frowned. "You should choose another Jutsu. The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu is dangerous. It''s forbidden."
The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu could be fatal if not used carefully. Tsunade was hesitant to teach it to Shin.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
"Lady Tsunade, I understand the risks. I''m an Uzumaki, remember?"
Shin smiled. The Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu would accelerate his training significantly.
He already had the Shadow Clone Jutsu, but creating clones one by one was inefficient.
"Fine. I don''t know why you want to learn this Jutsu, but I''ll teach you. Just promise me you''ll be careful."
Seeing his insistence, Tsunade agreed, but she stressed the dangers of the Jutsu.
Even for an Uzumaki with large Chakra reserves, it was a Jutsu to be treated with caution.
"I haven''t learned the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu myself, but I have a scroll with the training method. Here you go."
Tsunade pulled out a small scroll and handed it to Shin.
"Uh, you''re just going to give me the scroll and let me figure it out myself? Aren''t you worried I won''t be able to learn it?"
"You have the scroll; it''s up to you to learn it. Honestly, I''d prefer it if you didn''t," Tsunade said bluntly.
Shin shrugged. Not learning the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu wasn''t an option. It wasn''t that difficult for him.
It only required a single hand seal. For ninjas with limited Chakra, it might be challenging, but Shin had Chakra to spare.
"Oh, I almost forgot."
Tsunade smacked her forehead. "You two need to come meet my grandmother."
Shin''s heart skipped a beat. Tsunade''s grandmother was Uzumaki Mito, the wife of Hashirama Senju and a former princess of the Uzumaki Clan.
Mito knew all the Uzumaki Sealing Jutsu and was the previous Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki. She must be powerful.
Shin guessed her strength might even surpass the Sandaime''s. Of course, this was just speculation. Perhaps she wasn''t a combat specialist.
Tsunade called the other three Uzumaki survivors. They were all going to meet Mito.
<><><><>
They followed Tsunade deep into the Senju compound, arriving at a small, Elegant Courtyard.
There, they met Uzumaki Mito. She looked quite old, which made sense, considering she had lived through the Warring States Period.
But Shin was confused. Didn''t Mito have the Strength of a Hundred Seal? Why did she look so old?
The Strength of a Hundred Seal was an S-rank Jutsu that allowed the user to store Chakra in their forehead, marked by a diamond-shaped seal.
When needed, the stored Chakra could be released by using the Release technique.
And it had another benefit that women would kill for: eternal youth.
Mito knew the Strength of a Hundred Seal. Why didn''t she use it to maintain her youth? Perhaps she no longer cared about her appearance.
After all, she was nearing the end of her life. Why bother with such superficial things?
"Grandmother, I''m sorry. The Uzumaki Clan... Only these few remain." Tsunade hung her head, unable to meet Mito''s eyes.
Mito sighed. She hadn''t expected the Uzumaki Clan, with its thousand-year history, to meet such a tragic end.
Her gaze swept over Shin, Kushina, and the others, finally settling on Shin.
Shin felt a strange sensation as Mito''s eyes locked onto him. It was as if she could see right through him, even more so than the Sandaime.
Mito gave Shin a kind smile. "What''s your name, young man?"
"Uzumaki Shin."
Shin met her gaze. He could sense no hostility from her.
"Shin, I can sense an Extraordinary Power within you. I hope you use it wisely," Mito said, her voice solemn.
"Extraordinary Power?" Tsunade looked at Shin, surprised.
Shin''s heart pounded. Was she referring to his Perfect Sage Body? Had she seen through him?
Then he remembered Hashirama Senju, who also possessed a Perfect Sage Body. And Mito was his wife. It wasn''t that strange for her to be able to sense something like that.
In truth, Mito didn''t know about the Perfect Sage Body. She simply sensed a life force within Shin that was similar to Hashirama''s, vast and vibrant. [18] : Tsunades Brother, Nawaki
After a short visit, they left as Uzumaki Mito retired to rest.
"Hey, my grandma said you have some extraordinary power. What is it? You seem to have a lot of secrets."
Tsunade fixed Shin with a curious stare.
"How should I know?" Shin shrugged, feigning ignorance. He couldn''t reveal his Perfect Sage Body.
Besides, even if he did, no one would understand what it meant.
Hashirama Senju was remembered for his Wood Release, not his Sage Body. But without the Perfect Sage Body, his Wood Release wouldn''t have been so devastatingly powerful.
Yamato''s Wood Release, for example, was only slightly stronger than regular Jutsu. It was even dubbed "Pseudo Wood Release."
Speaking of the Senju Clan, they must have some Wood Release Jutsu scrolls left behind by Hashirama. Shin was eager to see them.
He didn''t have the Wood Release Kekkei Genkai yet, but he was confident that with enough research, he could develop it. Not the watered-down version Yamato had, but the real deal, like Hashirama''s.
"Shin, what are you thinking about? You''re about to walk into a wall!"
Kushina pulled him back, snapping him out of his thoughts.
Shin stared at the wall in front of him, embarrassed. If Kushina hadn''t stopped him, he would have walked right into it.
"Seriously? Are you blind?"
Tsunade chuckled.
Shin glared at her. He really wanted to punch her right now.
But he wasn''t strong enough yet. He''d have to bide his time. He''d get her back one day.
Tsunade noticed his glare but dismissed it.
"By the way, I''m planning on enrolling the four of you in the Academy."
Tsunade looked at Shin, Kushina, Kai, and Akiko. They couldn''t stay at the Senju compound forever. They were at the right age to start school, and Tsunade thought the Academy would be a good environment for them.
"Of course, if you don''t want to become ninja, you don''t have to go."
She wouldn''t force them.
"I''ll go! I want to be a ninja and avenge my family!" Kai declared, his eyes burning with hatred.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it.
"I want to go too," Akiko said.
The destruction of the Uzumaki Clan had taught her a harsh lesson about the importance of strength. She wanted to become a ninja, at least strong enough to protect herself.
"Alright, since you''ve both decided, I''ll talk to the Sandaime tomorrow," Tsunade said.
"Hey, you haven''t asked us yet."
"Oh? Don''t you two want to become ninja?" Tsunade looked at Shin and Kushina, surprised.
"Of course we do. But shouldn''t you at least pretend to care about our opinion?" Shin said.
Tsunade clenched her fist, annoyed. "Brat, if you don''t want a beating, stop messing with me."
Shin wisely shut his mouth. Knowing Tsunade, she would make good on her threat.
"Umm, Lady Tsunade, what about me?" Hikaru, the only adult among the survivors, spoke up.
"You... if you can pass the test, you can become a Konoha Shinobi. If not, you''ll have to find another way to make a living," Tsunade said.
Hikaru thought for a moment. "Please tell Lord Hokage that I want to become a Konoha Shinobi."
"Fine, I''ll let him know. But whether you become one or not depends on you."
With that, Tsunade left with Shin and Kushina. Akiko, Kai, and Hikaru headed towards their assigned houses.
"Damn it! Why is Lady Tsunade so nice to that Shin?" Kai seethed with jealousy.
And earlier, when they met Uzumaki Mito, she had mostly focused on Shin, ignoring him completely.
He already had a grudge against Shin; now, fueled by jealousy, his hatred deepened.
Akiko and Hikaru glanced at Kai but didn''t say anything.
<><><><>
As they walked back with Tsunade, Shin noticed a boy around his age carrying several skewers of grilled meat.
The boy''s face paled when he saw Tsunade. He turned and tried to sneak away.
"Nawaki! Stop right there! Where do you think you''re going?"
Tsunade marched towards the boy, her expression fierce.
''Is that Tsunade''s brother, Nawaki?'' Shin thought, observing the boy. Nawaki''s fate was a tragic one; he died at the young age of twelve.
"Sis..."
Nawaki turned reluctantly, hiding the skewers behind his back.
"I saw that. Don''t even try to hide it. Where did you get those?"
"I... I bought them."
"Bought them? I thought you were broke?" Tsunade questioned.
The last time Tsunade had lost a gamble, she had tried to "borrow" money from Nawaki. But Nawaki knew his sister''s gambling habits. If he lent her money, he''d never see it again.
So, he had lied, saying he had spent all his money on ninja tools. Tsunade had left empty-handed.
Now, he had been caught red-handed with these delicious skewers. Nawaki felt tears welling up.
"Lying to your own sister? Those are confiscated."
In a flash, the skewers were in Tsunade''s hands, leaving Nawaki staring at her with puppy-dog eyes.
"Fine, fine. Here''s one."
There were four skewers in total. She gave one to Nawaki, one to Shin, one to Kushina, and kept one for herself.
"Mmm, smells delicious! Even better than the ones we make ourselves," Kushina said, sniffing the air.
"Yeah, not bad. And they''re huge!"
Shin took a bite. They were indeed delicious, better than anything he could make. Perhaps he needed better ingredients.
"Sis, who are they?" Nawaki asked curiously.
"They''re from the Uzumaki Clan, distant relatives of the Senju. Something happened to their clan, so they''ll be living here from now on."
"They''ll be attending the Academy soon. Make sure you look after them," Tsunade said to Nawaki.
"Oh, hi! I''m Nawaki!" Nawaki introduced himself.
"Nice to meet you. I''m Uzumaki Shin, and this is Uzumaki Kushina. We look forward to getting to know you," Shin said, officially acquainted with Nawaki. [19] : Ninja Academy! Enrollment
"Nawaki, do you have any allowance left? I''ll pay you back tenfold when I win big."
Tsunade looked at her brother hopefully.
"Nope, not a penny."
Nawaki even turned his pockets inside out to prove he was broke.
But Tsunade wasn''t convinced. She suspected he was hiding money, but she had no proof.
"Oh well, it seems you''re not destined for wealth," Tsunade sighed dramatically.
Nawaki breathed a sigh of relief. He wanted nothing to do with that kind of "wealth."
He sidled up to Shin and whispered, "Remember, never lend my sister money. You''ll never see it again."
Then he scurried off, afraid Tsunade might overhear.
"Doesn''t he live with you?"
Shin watched Nawaki go, confused.
"He lives with Grandma. That little rascal avoids me like the plague," Tsunade grumbled.
"That''s understandable. If I were your brother, I''d avoid you too."
Shin looked at Tsunade pointedly. Who wouldn''t avoid someone who took all their allowance?
Tsunade might not eat people, but she sure ate money. Shin suspected her gambling habits had something to do with the Senju Clan''s decline.
"Hey, what''s that supposed to mean?"
"Nothing. Come on, Kushina, let''s go."
Shin took Kushina''s hand and returned to Tsunade''s courtyard. He pulled out the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu scroll and started studying.
The Jutsu was simple enough. It didn''t take him long to master it.
He formed the Ram seal. Poof! Dozens of Shin clones filled the room.
He dispelled the clones and went to inform Tsunade and Kushina that he was leaving the courtyard to explore the Senju compound.
He wasn''t just wandering aimlessly. He was looking for a suitable training spot. There was a training ground within Tsunade''s courtyard, but he didn''t want to train there and risk exposing his secrets.
After a thorough search, he found no suitable location within the Senju compound. He''d have to look elsewhere in Konoha.
But he wasn''t going to wander around just yet. He had just arrived; the Sandaime was likely keeping an eye on them.You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
He''d wait a while, lay low for now.
He also had his Replication System to consider. He currently had three Common Replication Cards and one Advanced.
The Advanced card could copy a wide range of things: S-rank Jutsu, Kage-level Chakra and physique, even Kekkei Genkai.
But there were limitations to copying Kekkei Genkai. He couldn''t copy the Rinnegan, or even the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, however, was within reach.
"If I awaken the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan and then copy another pair, could I evolve it into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?"
Shin wondered.
The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan was the Uchiha Clan''s ultimate d¨­jutsu, but it had a fatal flaw: overuse led to blindness. It was like a curse.
The only way to overcome this was to evolve it into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, which also granted the ability to use the Perfect Susanoo.
But to evolve it, one had to transplant the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan of a sibling.
Shin had no siblings. That path was closed to him.
He''d have to find another way. The System was one option. He also suspected there might be other ways to evolve the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
Otherwise, how did Indra ¨­tsutsuki obtain his Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan? And Hagoromo ¨­tsutsuki''s Rinnegan wasn''t innate; it had evolved from the Sharingan.
Shin wasn''t too worried. Even if he couldn''t evolve his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, he wouldn''t go blind.
He had the Perfect Sage Body. Obito Uchiha had been able to use the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan without side effects after transplanting Hashirama Senju''s cells.
With the Perfect Sage Body, Shin didn''t have to worry about blindness.
But even so, he still wanted to evolve his Sharingan into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. He coveted its power.
The Perfect Susanoo was practically invincible.
And with the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan and his Perfect Sage Body, he could potentially awaken the Rinnegan himself.
Just the thought was exciting.
But it was too early to think about that now. His Sharingan was only at the one-tomoe stage. It would take time to reach the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, and even then, evolving it wouldn''t be easy.
By the time Shin returned to the courtyard, it was already dark. He had dinner and went to bed.
<><><><>
The next day, Tsunade took Shin, Kushina, Akiko, and Kai to the Ninja Academy.
The Academy had been founded by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
"It''s already been a while since the semester started, so you''ll be joining as transfer students. If there''s anything you don''t understand, don''t hesitate to ask your teacher."
Tsunade instructed them.
"Tanaka-sensei, these children are in your care now."
"Don''t worry, Lady Tsunade. I''ll take good care of them," Tanaka-sensei assured her.
After entrusting the children to Tanaka-sensei, Tsunade left. As an Elite J¨­nin, she was a busy woman.
They followed Tanaka-sensei to their classroom. Shin spotted Nawaki immediately.
"Hey, Shin, Kushina! You''re in our class!" Nawaki exclaimed, jumping up.
"Nawaki, sit down!" Tanaka-sensei scolded.
Nawaki obediently sat back down. Despite being the grandson of the Shodaime Hokage, he still had to behave in class.
"We have four new transfer students. Please welcome them to our class," Tanaka-sensei announced.
The other students looked at Shin and the others curiously. Red hair was rare; to have four at once was unusual.
No, wait, there were five, including the other red-haired student already in the class.
Ch¨­za Akimichi.
"Why don''t you all introduce yourselves? You first," Tanaka-sensei said, pointing to Shin.
Shin shrugged. "I''m Uzumaki Shin. I like beautiful girls and dislike creeps. That''s all."
Tanaka-sensei''s lips twitched. That was certainly an interesting introduction. [20] : Kushinas Jealousy
"Uzumaki Shin, don''t you think your introduction was a bit short? Shouldn''t you talk about your dreams?"
Tanaka-sensei looked at Shin expectantly.
"Dreams are fleeting. That''s why they''re called dreams. Just keep them to yourself, I say."
"Alright... Next."
Tanaka-sensei shook his head and turned to Kushina.
Kushina looked at the class, feeling nervous. Shin gently squeezed her hand, reassuring her.
Kushina relaxed instantly.
"I''m Uzumaki Kushina! I like Shin, I hate Tsunade, and my dream is to be with Shin forever!"
Kushina declared boldly.
The class erupted in gasps and whispers. Such a forward declaration!
"She hates my sister?!" Nawaki gaped, shocked that Kushina disliked Tsunade.
Tanaka-sensei sighed. Kids these days were so precocious.
Shin looked at Kushina, who had buried her face in her hands, her cheeks flaming red.
"Ahem, settle down!"
Tanaka-sensei cleared his throat and sternly called for order.
"You two, find an empty seat."
Shin scanned the classroom. The only empty seats were at the back, so he led Kushina there.
Akiko and Kai gave their introductions. Akiko''s was unremarkable; she came across as a shy, timid girl.
Kai, on the other hand, simply stated his name coldly, giving the impression that he wasn''t approachable.
"They all have the name ''Uzumaki'' and the same red hair. Are they all from the same clan?"
A boy with a pineapple-shaped haircut and bored eyes glanced at them.
"Shikaku, you''re awake? That''s a rare sight," Inoichi Yamanaka, sitting next to Shikaku Nara, remarked.
"I didn''t want to wake up, but you were all so loud," Shikaku grumbled.
"Hi, I''m Uzumaki Shin. Nice to meet you."If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Shin, settled in his seat next to Kushina, greeted the girl with beautiful black hair sitting next to him.
The girl looked surprised, then gave a gentle smile. "Hello, I''m Uchiha Mikoto. Nice to meet you too."
Shin froze. He had only greeted her because she was pretty, but he hadn''t expected her to be Uchiha Mikoto.
But something wasn''t right. He looked at Kushina, then back at Mikoto. Were they the same age?
No, that couldn''t be right. Mikoto should be older than Kushina. She should have already graduated from the Academy.
''Maybe it has something to do with me being a transmigrant. In the original story, only Kushina came to Konoha. Now there are four of us, including me.''
Even a butterfly flapping its wings could cause a hurricane, let alone a person.
''Looks like I''m one of those people who inadvertently change the world.''
Shin felt a surge of pride.
"Ouch! Kushina, what was that for?"
Shin looked at his arm, which was turning red from Kushina''s pinch.
"Hmph, you lecher!"
Kushina glared at him. So that was why he had chosen this seat, to be next to this pretty girl.
Shin felt wronged. He admitted Mikoto was pretty, but he was just being friendly. He wasn''t a pervert! He didn''t have any inappropriate thoughts about little girls. He couldn''t understand Kushina sometimes.
But then he remembered Kushina''s bold declaration in front of the whole class. She was definitely jealous.
Kids in the ninja world really did mature fast. Obito had a crush on Rin before he was five, and Sakura was infatuated with Sasuke at six.
"Uchiha-san, why are you sitting at the back?"
Shin was curious. It wasn''t common for girls to sit at the back. At least, that hadn''t been his experience in his past life. The back was usually reserved for the tall kids and the troublemakers.
"Because no one wants to sit with me."
Mikoto gave a wry smile. Everyone avoided her, so she had resigned herself to sitting at the back.
"Why?"
Kushina, her jealousy momentarily forgotten, was also curious.
"You''re not from Konoha, are you?" Mikoto asked.
"Wow, you''re amazing! You figured that out right away!" Kushina exclaimed.
Mikoto shook her head. "I''m from the Uchiha Clan. That''s why they avoid me."
Kushina looked at her, confused. Shin, however, had an idea.
The Uchiha Clan''s reputation in Konoha was... complicated. They had basically offended every other clan and even the civilians.
The Uchiha were known for their arrogance. Mikoto didn''t seem arrogant, but it was a common trait among the Uchiha.
Their arrogance made them unpopular, and their tendency to act superior only worsened things.
The Uchiha Clan was in charge of the Konoha Police Force, an important department responsible for maintaining law and order within the village.
This position required them to interact with the other clans and the civilians.
For other clans, it would have been an opportunity to build relationships and gain favor. For example, if someone from another clan committed a minor offense, they could turn a blind eye and earn their gratitude.
But the Uchiha, with their strict adherence to the rules and their tendency to escalate minor offenses, had made themselves unpopular. And when it came to their own clan members, they were lenient, often turning a blind eye to their wrongdoings.
This behavior naturally led to resentment from the other clans and the villagers.
But the Uchiha Clan was powerful. With the decline of the Senju, they were the strongest clan in Konoha. No one challenged them or even speak ill of them, for fear of being summoned to the Police Force headquarters for "Questioning."
If they couldn''t fight them, they would avoid them. The Uchiha Clan was isolated, which was exactly what some people wanted. [21] : Uchiha Mikotos Envy
After the first class, Nawaki rushed over to Shin.
"Shin, I can''t believe you''re in our class!"
"Yeah, looks like I''ll be needing your guidance," Shin said with a grin.
"No problem! In this class, I''m the top dog!"
Nawaki puffed out his chest, giving a thumbs-up.
"Hello, let''s get acquainted. I''m Nara Shikaku, and these are Yamanaka Inoichi and Akimichi Ch¨­za," Shikaku said, approaching with his two friends.
Shin''s eyebrows shot up. The Ino-Shika-Ch¨­ trio, in his class?
He decided not to dwell on it. With his influence, who knew how the Naruto timeline had changed?
He figured the major events would still occur, like the Second Shinobi World War. But with him in the mix, things might unfold differently.
"Nice to meet you all. I''m Uzumaki Shin. You can just call me Shin. I''m from Uzushiogakure in the Land of Whirlpools."
Shikaku''s eyes flickered with interest. They chatted for a bit, then Shikaku and his friends left.
Shin scanned the classroom. He had already seen so many familiar faces; there were bound to be more.
To his left, he saw two pairs of Byakugan staring at him. They looked similar. Could they be Hiashi and Hizashi Hy¨±ga?
His gaze continued its sweep, stopping at the two students in front of Akiko and Kai. A boy with bright blond hair and a sunny smile...
It had to be Minato Namikaze, the future Yondaime Hokage.
But Minato looked quite feminine right now. His hair was a bit long, and his features were delicate. If Shin didn''t know better, he would have mistaken him for a girl.
"So, are you enjoying yourself?"
Shin asked Kushina.
Kushina nodded. She had been nervous at first, but now she was feeling more comfortable.
Perhaps because there were four of them, plus Ch¨­za with his red hair, no one had made fun of Kushina''s hair color.
Without any unpleasant incidents, Kushina was finding the Academy quite enjoyable. Well, it would be even better if she wasn''t sitting next to Uchiha Mikoto.
"Shin, who do you think is prettier, her or me?"
Kushina whispered, glancing at Mikoto.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
"Pretty? Neither. You''re both cute."
They were five-year-olds; ''Cute'' was the appropriate descriptor.
"Shin, you dummy! I''m not talking to you anymore!" Kushina huffed and turned away.
Mikoto poked Shin timidly. "Are you two fighting?"
"Yeah, you know how it is with kids. They get upset easily," Shin chuckled.
"Shin! You think I''m just a kid?!"
"Aren''t you? You''re literally a child," Shin said, shrugging.
"Grrr!"
Kushina chomped down on his arm and refused to let go.
"Kushina! You bit me! Let go, or you''ll regret it! I''ll flick your forehead so hard, you''ll cry!" Shin threatened.
Kushina finally released him, but not before leaving teeth marks on his arm.
"Look, you''re making me bleed!" Shin pointed at his "wound." There was no blood, just teeth marks.
But Kushina didn''t know that. Embarrassed, she gently rubbed his arm, looking up at him with pleading eyes.
"I''m sorry, Shin. I was wrong. Please don''t be mad at me. Don''t ignore me, okay?" Kushina was terrified of Shin ignoring her.
"I''m not mad." Shin ruffled her hair.
Seeing that he really wasn''t angry, Kushina giggled and snuggled closer to him.
Mikoto watched them, envy gnawing at her.
She thought of her own life, devoid of family and friends. Even her relationship with her clan wasn''t good. She had always been alone.
Shin noticed her gaze and looked at her. Mikoto quickly looked down, flustered.
*Oh no, he caught me staring. What do I do?* Mikoto panicked.
"I feel like a third wheel here," Nawaki said glumly.
"Eek!"
Kushina, who had been comfortably nestled against Shin, sat up abruptly. She glared at Nawaki. "Why are you still here?"
"I wanted to talk to Shin, but you''re both ignoring me," Nawaki grumbled.
Just then, the bell rang, signaling the start of the next class. Nawaki trudged back to his seat, dejected.
Tanaka-sensei entered the classroom. The chatter died down instantly. It seemed he commanded respect.
"Alright, class, today we''ll continue our lesson on Chakra."
Tanaka-sensei launched into a basic explanation of Chakra. Shin already knew all this, even more than Tanaka-sensei.
"The Chakra Refinement Technique? Is this all we''re learning in the Academy?" Kushina whispered to Shin.
If this was all there was, it was pretty boring. She had already mastered Chakra Refinement and had quite a lot of Chakra.
She had expected to learn powerful Jutsu in the Academy.
Most students probably thought the same. But the Academy only taught the fundamentals.
These fundamentals were important, but they wouldn''t be learning any powerful Jutsu here.
They might learn the Academy Three, some basic trap-making, and Kunai and Shuriken throwing techniques.
As for other Jutsu, unless you had a clan to teach you, you''d have to wait until you became a full-fledged ninja and find other ways to learn them.
Suddenly, Mikoto passed Shin a notebook.
Shin took it, looking at her questioningly.
"These are the notes I took during the lesson. Maybe they''ll be helpful," Mikoto said softly.
"Thank you, Mikoto-san," Shin said gratefully, opening the notebook.
Her handwriting was elegant, far neater than his. It was a pleasure just to look at.
Mikoto blushed, her head lowered. Shin had called her ''Mikoto-san,'' omitting her family name. Only close friends did that.
"Uzumaki-san, are we friends now?" Mikoto asked, her eyes shining with hope.
Shin paused, then smiled. "Of course. And please, call me Shin. ''Uzumaki-san'' sounds too formal."
"Thank you, Uzumaki... Shin-san."
Mikoto beamed. She finally had a friend. [22] : Copying Sharingan Prowess
At noon, Shin and Kushina left the Academy. School was out, and they were heading home for lunch.
"Shin, wait up!"
Shin stopped and turned to see Nawaki running towards them.
"Shin, you''re new to Konoha, right? You probably don''t know your way around. Would you like me to give you a tour?" Nawaki offered enthusiastically.
Shin thought it over. Familiarizing himself with Konoha was a good idea, and having Nawaki as a guide wouldn''t hurt.
"Sure, that would be great, Nawaki."
"Awesome! Let''s grab some food first. My treat! Ramen, anyone?" Nawaki grinned.
"Thanks for showing us around, but lunch is on me," Shin insisted.
They had a decent amount of money saved up from their allowance in Uzushiogakure.
"Well, if you insist..."
Nawaki considered his meager funds. He probably didn''t have enough to treat them, so he didn''t argue.
Despite being the grandson of the Shodaime Hokage, Nawaki was perpetually broke, thanks to his gambling-addict sister.
Nawaki led them to a small street lined with food stalls near the Academy. They entered a ramen shop.
"Looks like a lot of Academy students eat here," Kushina observed.
"Yeah, it''s too much trouble to go home and come back. We''d lose all our lunch break. Most of us either bring our own lunch or eat here," Nawaki explained.
"Makes sense. There''s only a little over an hour for lunch break. Going home would be cutting it close," Shin agreed. If your house was close to the Academy, it wouldn''t be a problem, but if it was far, you might be late.
"Hey, Mikoto-san, you''re here too?"
Shin scanned the ramen shop and saw Uchiha Mikoto sitting quietly in a corner, eating her ramen.
"Wow, you have good eyes. You spotted her all the way over there," Kushina said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.
"Shin-san?"
Mikoto looked up in surprise.
"Mind if we join you?" Shin smiled as he walked over. Kushina trailed behind him, shooting Mikoto a hostile look.
Nawaki hesitated, then followed.Find this and other great novels on the author''s preferred platform. Support original creators!
He wasn''t thrilled about sitting with an Uchiha. The feud between the Senju and Uchiha Clans ran deep.
"I didn''t expect to see you all here, Shin-san, Kushina-san, Nawaki-san," Mikoto said with a gentle smile.
"Knowing this, I would have rather gone home," Kushina muttered under her breath, loud enough for only Shin to hear.
Shin ordered a bowl of Tonkotsu Ramen. Kushina ordered the same. Nawaki went for Miso Ramen.
Perhaps because of Mikoto''s presence, Nawaki, usually a chatterbox, was unusually quiet.
Kushina waited for her ramen, chin resting on her hand. Mikoto ate quietly. The atmosphere was a bit awkward.
The ramen shop, however, was bustling with activity.
<><><><>
A while later, their ramen arrived. As Shin slurped his noodles, the shop suddenly fell silent.
He looked up, confused. Then he saw a ninja enter the shop and understood.
The ninja''s uniform bore the same clan symbol as Mikoto, the Uchiha fan.
''The Uchiha Clan sure has a presence,'' Shin thought.
"He''s a J¨­nin from our clan. He has a bad temper," Mikoto explained.
''An Uchiha J¨­nin, huh?''
Shin thought of his Replication System. ''System, can a Common Replication Card copy his Sharingan prowess?''
He wanted to Copy, not the Sharingan Kekkei Genkai itself, but the ocular prowess it granted. He wasn''t sure if it was possible.
"His strength is at J¨­nin level. Copying is feasible," the System confirmed.
Shin looked at the Uchiha J¨­nin. [Use one Common Replication Card to Copy his Sharingan Prowess.]
He felt a tingling sensation in his eyes. A surge of power flooded his vision.
Surprised by the sudden change, Shin quickly covered his eyes. Three black tomoe swirled momentarily in his eyes.
"Shin, what''s wrong?"
Kushina asked, alarmed.
"Nothing, just got some soup in my eye," Shin said with a chuckle, removing his hand.
"Oh, be careful."
Shin continued eating, but his mind was racing. He had copied the Uchiha''s Sharingan prowess, his one-tomoe Sharingan instantly evolving to three-tomoe.
A five-year-old with a Three-Tomoe Sharingan? If the Uchiha Clan found out, who knew what they would do?
''This System cheat is insane. What''s the point of training when you can just copy everything?''
But even with this cheat, he couldn''t slack off. He had to work hard, or it would be a waste of the System''s potential.
''If I keep accumulating Sharingan prowess, can I keep evolving my [Sharingan]?''
Shin theorized that with enough Ocular Power, he could evolve his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan without needing a sibling''s eyes.
Sharingan prowess was essentially Yin Release, the manipulation of spiritual energy. Genjutsu, for example, relied on Yin Release.
So, theoretically, with enough spiritual energy, he could even awaken the Rinnegan.
No, the Rinnegan probably wasn''t that simple. It seemed to require a combination of Yin and Yang Release.
But regardless, Shin felt he had stumbled upon another way to obtain the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
"Hey, Shin, why are you spacing out while eating? You''re getting noodles in your nose!"
Kushina nudged him, bringing him back to reality.
Kushina, Mikoto, and Nawaki were all staring at him. Shin felt his cheeks burn.
"Just thinking about something," he mumbled, shaking his head to clear his thoughts. He''d contemplate this later, at home.
After finishing their meal, Shin paid for everyone''s ramen, including Mikoto''s.
Mikoto tried to pay him back, but Shin insisted, saying they were friends. [23] : First Encounter with Orochimaru and Jiraiya
"I''m stuffed. Let''s go."
Shin wiped his mouth, then Kushina''s, earning him a smug grin from her. She shot a triumphant look at Mikoto.
Mikoto didn''t react to the provocation, instead returning a gentle smile, much to Kushina''s annoyance. Mikoto didn''t seem to care about her rivalry at all.
And after interacting with her, Kushina found it hard to maintain her hostility towards such a sweet girl.
"Hold it right there."
Just as they were about to leave the ramen shop, the Uchiha ninja stopped them.
Shin frowned, turning to face the man.
He had just copied the man''s [Sharingan] Prowess, evolving his own Sharingan to three-tomoe, but he still didn''t like the guy.
The man was arrogant and unpleasant; no one would like him.
"You''re an Uchiha, aren''t you? Why are you with a Senju?"
The Uchiha ninja questioned Mikoto.
Mikoto lowered her head, remaining silent, her face pale.
Seeing Mikoto like this, Kushina bristled. "What''s it to you?" she retorted.
She didn''t like this Uchiha one bit.
"What did you say?"
The Uchiha stood up, his three-tomoe Sharingan glaring at Kushina. Kushina, intimidated, hid behind Shin.
He was a J¨­nin, a killer. His killing intent, amplified by his Sharingan, was palpable.
If Kushina hadn''t witnessed the destruction of her clan and experienced such trauma, she might have been paralyzed with fear.
Shin''s eyes narrowed. He could tolerate a lot to maintain his low profile, but this was crossing the line.
He was about to step in when a familiar voice rang out.
"Shin, Kushina, Nawaki, what are you doing here?" Tsunade approached, flanked by two others.
One had a pale face and an aura of coldness, like a venomous snake lurking in the shadows. This was Orochimaru, Tsunade''s teammate.
The other had spiky white hair and red markings under his eyes. Jiraiya.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
"Is there a problem here?"
Tsunade noticed the Uchiha J¨­nin, his Sharingan activated and killing intent radiating from him.
"A J¨­nin intimidating children? How impressive. What''s your name?" Tsunade asked coldly.
The Uchiha J¨­nin paled. He recognized Tsunade; every ninja in Konoha knew her. He could act tough in front of others, but not in front of Tsunade.
She wasn''t afraid of the Uchiha Clan, and she wasn''t afraid to use her fists. If she punched him, even the Uchiha Clan Head wouldn''t be able to do anything about it.
He had no choice but to back down.
Besides, Tsunade was the best medic in Konoha. If he ended up in the hospital, she could make sure he never left.
"Get lost. And if you ever bother them again, I''ll make sure you regret it" Tsunade threatened.
The Uchiha J¨­nin, Uchiha Ryota, scurried away. Even if he was an Uchiha genius, the clan wouldn''t risk disrespecting Tsunade for him.
Tsunade was the Sandaime Hokage''s student. fighting her was the same as fighting the Hokage. If the Hokage found a reason to punish them, the Uchiha Clan would suffer.
The current Sandaime Hokage wasn''t the weak old man he would become; he was still a force to be reckoned with.
"Kushina, are you alright?" Shin asked.
Kushina shook her head. With Shin by her side, she wasn''t that scared.
"I''ll get you back for this. one day, Ryota."
Shin glared at the Uchiha''s retreating figure. If they weren''t in Konoha, Ryota would be dead.
Shin was confident he could kill an Uchiha J¨­nin. He might not be able to take on an Elite J¨­nin yet, but a regular J¨­nin was no problem.
"Pfft, hahahaha! What did you say, kid?" Jiraiya burst out laughing.
Shin looked at Jiraiya and said with a smirk, "I said, one day, I''ll dig a hole and bury you in it."
Jiraiya''s laughter died in his throat.
"Sis, thank goodness you came. That was a close one," Nawaki said, relieved.
"I''m sorry. It''s my fault," Mikoto apologized.
"It''s not your fault, Mikoto. That guy was just being a jerk. If I were stronger, I''d punch him in the face," Kushina said, patting Mikoto''s shoulder.
Shin looked at Kushina, then at Mikoto. When did they become friends?
Kushina had been so hostile towards Mikoto earlier.
Seeing Mikoto''s vulnerability had softened Kushina''s heart. Her hostility had melted away.
"You''re an Uchiha?" Tsunade asked Mikoto.
"Y-yes."
Mikoto looked at Tsunade nervously.
"Don''t be scared. I''m not going to eat you. But you''re quite different from the other Uchiha, aren''t you?" Tsunade observed. Mikoto didn''t have the usual Uchiha arrogance.
Most Uchiha, regardless of age or gender, were arrogant and haughty.
They were the classic "young masters," always looking down on others.
Tsunade had a good impression of Mikoto. She didn''t judge her based on her clan.
"Let me introduce you. This is my teammate, Orochimaru, and this dead weight is Jiraiya."
Tsunade gestured towards her two companions.
Shin had already recognized them. They were hard to miss.
"Dead weight? You''re calling me dead weight?" Jiraiya grumbled.
Orochimaru remained silent, his gaze fixed on Shin.
Shin looked back at the Snake Sannin. Why was he staring at him? Had Orochimaru already embarked on his path of forbidden research and taken an interest in him?
No, that was impossible. It was too early for that.
But why was he staring?
Shin felt uncomfortable under Orochimaru''s intense gaze, like a mouse being watched by a snake.
"Interesting," Orochimaru said with a sly smile.
Shin frowned. Orochimaru''s smile didn''t bode well. [24] : Guidance from Uzumaki Mito
After a brief exchange, Orochimaru and Jiraiya left, but Tsunade stayed behind.
As Orochimaru departed, he cast another lingering glance at Shin.
Shin didn''t sense any malice, but he still felt uneasy.
"What was that confrontation with Uchiha Ryota about?" Tsunade inquired.
Nawaki explained the situation, causing Tsunade to frown.
"The Uchiha are always causing trouble."
Mikoto shifted uncomfortably. She knew Tsunade wasn''t referring to her specifically, but she still felt awkward. She was an Uchiha, after all.
"Don''t worry, I wasn''t talking about you," Tsunade reassured her, noticing Mikoto''s discomfort.
She had a good impression of Mikoto, who seemed different from the other Uchiha.
"By the way, I have to leave the village for a mission. It''s an escort mission, should take about half a month."
Tsunade informed them.
"Oh..."
Nawaki couldn''t help but grin.
Tsunade''s smile vanished, replaced by a dangerous glint in her eyes. "Nawaki, you seem happy about this?"
"No, no, not at all!" Nawaki shook his head vigorously.
"I''ll deal with you later. I have to go."
Tsunade glared at Nawaki, then waved goodbye to the others before turning to leave.
Nawaki breathed a sigh of relief once she was out of sight.
"Nawaki, are you scared of your sister?" Shin asked.
Nawaki scratched his head. "A little. She''s really strict when she trains me."
"Come on, weren''t you going to show us around Konoha? We have some time before class. Let''s explore the area."
Shin looked at Mikoto.
"Mikoto-san, want to join us?"
"Oh, may I?" Mikoto looked surprised and pleased.
"Of course." Shin smiled, and the four of them set off to explore Konoha.
Shin and Kushina were unfamiliar with the village, so Nawaki acted as their guide, pointing out various landmarks and locations.
Since they didn''t have much time before their afternoon class, they only explored the area near the Academy.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
It was good to familiarize themselves with the surroundings. Soon, it was time to head back for class.
Back in their seats, Shin asked Mikoto, "Mikoto, that incident earlier... It won''t cause you any trouble, will it?"
He had dropped the honorifics, a sign of their growing friendship.
Mikoto shook her head.
"I''ll be fine. I''m practically invisible in the Uchiha Clan. No one will bother me over this. Actually, I should be the one apologizing." Mikoto looked at Shin and Kushina apologetically.
"Mikoto, we''re friends now. No need to apologize," Kushina said.
Perhaps they were destined to be best friends. Kushina, who had initially been hostile towards Mikoto, now seemed quite fond of her.
The afternoon class was another lecture. Kushina wasn''t interested in theory; she felt like falling asleep.
Shin felt the same. If the lecture had been useful, he would have paid attention, but it was all stuff he already knew or found irrelevant.
School let out early, a little after four in the afternoon.
After school, they accepted Nawaki''s invitation to explore more of Konoha.
Back at the Senju compound, Shin refrained from practicing Taijutsu or Kenjutsu. He didn''t want to attract attention so soon after arriving in Konoha, so he focused on Chakra refinement.
He didn''t know if the Sandaime had assigned Anbu to watch them, but it was better to be safe than sorry.
Practicing Taijutsu or Kenjutsu might reveal his true strength. Even practicing Ninjutsu was risky. For now, he''d stick to refining Chakra.
''Should I copy the Byakugan?''
Shin thought of his Advanced Replication Card. He had four cards in total: three Common and one Advanced.
The Advanced Card could copy S-rank Jutsu, Kage-level Chakra and physique, and even Kekkei Genkai.
The Byakugan, while seemingly less impressive than the Sharingan and Rinnegan, had powerful sensory capabilities and could even evolve into the Tenseigan.
The Tenseigan was a d¨­jutsu on par with the Rinnegan, perhaps even surpassing it in offensive power.
After some consideration, Shin decided against it. While the Byakugan''s sensory abilities were useful, especially for detecting surveillance, it would also turn his eyes completely white.
Walking around with those eyes would draw unwanted attention, especially from the Hy¨±ga Clan.
''If only I had the Mind''s Eye of Kagura... It''s even better than the Byakugan.''
He shook his head, pushing the thought aside. He didn''t know how to awaken it, or if it was even possible for him.
As far as he knew, only Karin possessed that ability.
<><><><>
A few days passed. Shin and Kushina''s days were filled with school, exploring Konoha with Nawaki and Mikoto, and Chakra refinement.
One day, they were summoned to Uzumaki Mito''s residence, along with Kai and Akiko.
"I''ve called you here today to teach you the Uzumaki Clan''s Sealing Jutsu."
Shin''s face lit up. This was great news! With Mito''s guidance, they would progress quickly in F¨±injutsu.
Kai and Akiko were also excited.
"We''ll start with the most basic sealing formulas," Mito said seriously.
These children were the last remnants of the Uzumaki Clan, the Hope for its Revival.
As a former princess of the clan, Mito wanted nothing more than to see it restored to its former glory.
She would teach them everything she could.
How much they learned, however, depended on their talent.
From then on, their days were filled with school, followed by lessons in F¨±injutsu from Mito after dinner.
Under Mito''s tutelage, Shin, already a genius, progressed rapidly.
Kushina also learned a lot. She was talented, second only to Shin.
But Shin had warned her not to stand out too much. She should learn the Jutsu, but pretend she wasn''t as skilled as she actually was. [25] : Time to Ditch the Dead Weight
Over a year had passed since Shin arrived in Konoha.
In the training ground of Tsunade''s small courtyard, Shin practiced his Swordsmanship, his Katana flashing in the sunlight.
Not many in the Shinobi world specialized in Kenjutsu. Most relied on Ninjutsu; it was the primary focus of their training.
The most skilled swordsman in Konoha was probably Sakumo Hatake, though it seemed he hadn''t earned the moniker "Konoha''s White Fang" yet.
Shin hadn''t even heard the name Sakumo Hatake before. He was probably still relatively unknown.
Mastering Kenjutsu required not just hard work, but also finding your own path.
From the beginning, Shin had known what path he wanted to take: one that Maximized His Strengths.
And his strengths were? His [Perfect Sage Body], granting him monstrous Strength and Speed. His Kenjutsu would be one of overwhelming power and swiftness.
"Three-Step Slash!"
Shin unleashed three slashes in the blink of an eye, effortlessly slicing the wooden training dummy into four pieces.
Three slashes per second were child''s play for him now. His limit was five.
Five slashes in a single second, a True Testament to his speed.
Even an Elite J¨­nin, caught off guard, wouldn''t be able to withstand such an assault.
"If I could combine this with Space-Time Ninjutsu... I can already imagine myself racking up kills on the battlefield."
Unfortunately, he didn''t know any Space-Time Ninjutsu. He was eager to learn, though. Such Jutsu were incredibly versatile, invaluable for both offense and defense.
"Shin, breakfast is ready! We have that test today, so we need to leave early," Kushina called out.
Shin sheathed his katana and headed inside. Kushina had already prepared breakfast.
It was a simple meal of bread and milk. Shin had baked the bread; Kushina had only set the table.
He didn''t dare let Kushina cook. She was a master of creating culinary abominations. The one time he had tried her cooking, he had spent the entire morning throwing up.
From then on, he had banned her from the kitchen.
<><><><>
After breakfast. Shin packed their lunches and they headed out.
Tsunade wasn''t home. As an elite J¨­nin, she was always on missions.Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
At the Academy, the classroom was filled with a mix of anxiety and excitement.
Those with good grades were eager to show off, while those who struggled dreaded the test.
"Mikoto, I''m counting on you for the written exam."
Shin said as he sat down.
The morning was dedicated to the written test. Shin had no interest in studying those theoretical concepts, and the questions were often bizarre. Cheating was his only option.
But he had to choose his source wisely. Most of the class were hopeless. Thankfully, Mikoto was a top student, consistently scoring first in the written exams.
"Just don''t get caught," Mikoto said with a smile.
"Don''t worry, I won''t," Shin assured her.
Mikoto gave him a dubious look.
"That''s what you said last time, and we both ended up getting punished."
"Ahem, that was an accident."
Shin cringed, remembering the time he got caught cheating. But that was a fluke; it wouldn''t happen again.
The morning passed, and the written test concluded. Shin had copied Mikoto''s answers; he was confident he''d done well.
He had also helped Kushina and Nawaki cheat. They were both terrible at academics.
After the written test, they had a break for lunch. Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto found a quiet spot to eat their lunch.
Over the past year, they had become close friends.
"We have the practical test this afternoon. Are you nervous?" Mikoto asked.
"Why would we be nervous? We''ve done this so many times already," Shin said nonchalantly.
The Academy held tests every month.
"These test scores don''t even matter. They don''t affect graduation," Shin added.
"Then why did you cheat?"
Mikoto''s question almost made Shin choke on his food.
"Ahem, I just don''t want to be at the bottom of the class."
"Yeah, me neither," Kushina chimed in.
After lunch, they had a short break before the practical test. Tanaka-sensei led the class to the training grounds.
"The results for the written test are in. Uchiha Mikoto scored a perfect score, placing first in the class," Tanaka-sensei announced.
No one seemed surprised. Mikoto was always at the top.
"Also, Uzumaki Shin, Senju Nawaki, did you two cheat? Who copied from whom? You have the same score, and you even got the same questions wrong."
Tanaka-sensei glared at them. Nawaki avoided his gaze, while Shin remained calm.
Inwardly, however, Shin was cursing Nawaki''s stupidity. He had helped him cheat, but did he have to copy everything?
When Shin copied from Mikoto, he had deliberately answered a few questions incorrectly. Kushina had done the same when she copied from him.
But Nawaki had copied everything, including the wrong answers. It was no wonder they got caught.
''Nawaki, sorry buddy, but it''s time to ditch the dead weight,'' Shin thought ruthlessly.
"Tanaka-sensei, Nawaki copied from me. I know it was wrong, but he threatened to beat me up if I didn''t let him. I didn''t have a choice."
Shin put on an Oscar-worthy performance, as if he had truly been threatened.
Nawaki gaped at him. He had begged Shin to help him cheat, but he had never threatened him!
"Nawaki, I can''t believe you''d do that! I''m telling Grandma Mito! Well, maybe if you confess, I might reconsider..."
Kushina said "Angrily."
Shin mentally gave Kushina a thumbs-up. He decided he wouldn''t help Nawaki cheat anymore. This guy was a liability.
Nawaki felt a wave of despair. Kushina''s words were a clear threat. She was forcing him to confess. Shin and Kushina were so mean!
"I''m sorry, Tanaka-sensei. I copied," Nawaki confessed, hanging his head.
"Copy the questions from this test a hundred times. You have three days," Tanaka-sensei said without a trace of sympathy.
Nawaki felt like he had been struck by lightning. Copying the questions a hundred times? He''d be dead from exhaustion! And he only had three days! He wanted to cry. [26] : Shins Bribery and Threats
Nawaki squatted on the ground, his face a picture of despair. Copying the test questions a hundred times was pure torture.
Shin gave him a sympathetic look. ''Honest,'' he thought. ''Not gloating at all.''
"Next up, the practical test. We''ll start with Kunai throwing."
Tanaka-sensei announced, glancing at Nawaki.
"Nawaki, what are you still doing on the floor? Want me to add another hundred lines?"
Nawaki shot to his feet, glaring at Tanaka-sensei as if he were a demon.
Shin patted Nawaki''s shoulder. "Sacrifices must be made, my friend. You understand."
Nawaki gave him a mournful look. A hundred times! How could he understand?
"Alright, let''s begin. Uzumaki Shin, you''re first."
"Lucky me, first up."
Shin smiled, pulled a Kunai from his pouch, and stood at the designated distance, about fifteen meters from the target.
They were still young students; throwing accurately from a greater distance would be challenging for most.
With a flick of his wrist, the Kunai flew through the air, striking the target with a satisfying thud.
"Nine points. Not bad. Almost a perfect score," Tanaka-sensei said approvingly.
"Hmph, is that all you''ve got?"
A sneer reached Shin''s ears. He didn''t need to turn around to know it was Kai.
Shin turned and faced him.
"Kai, what was that? I didn''t quite catch it. Say that again."
Kai met Shin''s gaze, a flicker of fear in his eyes. Shin had broken his leg when they were younger; the memory still haunted him.
He wasn''t sure if he hated Shin more than he feared him, or the other way around.
Seeing Kai shut his mouth, Shin snorted and returned to Kushina''s side.
"Why only nine points?" Kushina whispered.
"Don''t want to stand out too much. Nine is a good score," Shin said with a smile. He didn''t need to flaunt his abilities.
He was still a young dragon, learning to fly. He would soar through the skies one day.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.
The Kunai throwing test concluded. Four students achieved a perfect score: Mikoto, Nawaki, Minato, and, surprisingly, Kai.
"That smug look on his face is really annoying."
Kushina glared at Kai, her fists clenched. If he came any closer, she''d punch him.
"Don''t mind him," Shin said calmly.
But inwardly, he was plotting ways to take Kai down a peg or two.
After the Kunai throwing, it was time for the sparring matches. They were paired up for one-on-one combat.
"I''ll now announce the pairings. Uzumaki Shin and Senju Nawaki, Uzumaki Kushina and Uchiha Mikoto, Hy¨±ga Hiashi and Hy¨±ga Hizashi, Uzumaki Kai and Namikaze Minato..."
"Whoa, sibling rivalry? Tanaka-sensei is ruthless."
Shin looked at Hiashi and Hizashi, feigning sympathy while inwardly relishing the upcoming match.
"I wouldn''t mind being paired with you," Hiashi said to Shin, his expression stoic.
"Nah, I don''t want to be with a stick-in-the-mud."
Hiashi always had the same serious, expressionless face. Shin found it boring.
"Shin, we''re paired up. What am I supposed to do?" Nawaki asked, his voice filled with dread.
"Nawaki, out of allowance again? Tell you what, I''ll treat you to Yakiniku. Just throw the match, okay?"
Shin gave him a friendly smile.
"And Nawaki, you wouldn''t want Tsunade to find out you cheated on the test, would you?"
Bribery and threats. Nawaki caved instantly. Hiashi, standing nearby, twitched. ''Sensei, something''s fishy here...''
The sparring matches began. Shin had bribed Nawaki, so their match ended quickly.
"Ouch! Why did you have to hit so hard?" Nawaki clutched his stomach, barely able to stand.
"Duh, it has to look convincing. What if they find out we''re faking it?" Shin helped Nawaki up.
They watched the other matches. Kushina and Mikoto were evenly matched, though Kushina wasn''t using her full strength.
At this stage, most of them didn''t know any Jutsu. The Uzumaki and Senju, with their superior physique, had an advantage in Taijutsu.
This was evident in Kai and Minato''s match. Minato was getting pummeled.
The Senju and Uzumaki were incredibly durable. Minato''s punches barely fazed Kai, but when Kai landed a blow, Minato felt it.
In the end, Kai emerged victorious.
Shin shook his head. This was the advantage of having a Kekkei Genkai. The world was unfair.
But this was only temporary. Kai could bully Minato now, but in the future, he wouldn''t stand a chance.
"Umm, Minato-san, are you alright?" Akiko approached Minato, concern in her eyes.
"Thank you for your concern, Akiko-san. I''m fine," Minato said with a smile. Despite the bruises, his smile remained bright.
Kai, who had been gloating over his victory, froze when he saw Akiko fussing over Minato.
He had a crush on Akiko. Seeing this, jealousy burned within him.
"Looks like things are about to get interesting," Shin said to Nawaki, a mischievous glint in his eyes.
Kai stomped towards Minato.
"Minato!"
Minato turned, only to be met with Kai''s fist.
Caught off guard, Minato was struck squarely in the eye, earning himself a shiner.
"Kai, what are you doing?!" Akiko yelled angrily.
Tanaka-sensei''s attention was drawn to the commotion. He rushed over and grabbed Kai.
"Kai, your match is over. Why did you attack Minato-san?" Tanaka-sensei demanded.
"Hey, what''s going on?" Kushina and Mikoto joined Shin.
"Huh? Your match is over?"
"Yeah, and I won!" Kushina said excitedly, looking at Shin expectantly.
"Oh." Shin''s flat response deflated Kushina''s excitement.
Kushina pouted. Couldn''t he at least sound a bit more enthusiastic? [27] : The Choice for Nine-Tails Jinch奴riki
"Shin, what''s going on here?"
Mikoto, seeing Tanaka-sensei scolding Kai, asked Shin for an explanation.
"Well, it''s a bit complicated, but I''ll give you the short version."
Shin cleared his throat.
"Kai likes Akiko, but Akiko seems to have a thing for Minato. So, Kai, in a fit of jealousy, punched Minato."
"Wow, Kai likes Akiko? Poor Akiko," Kushina said, shaking her head.
"By the way, your match ended so quickly. Who won?"
Mikoto asked curiously.
"I did, of course. Nawaki is no match for me. I could take him down with one hand tied behind my back."
Shin glanced at Nawaki, but he wasn''t exaggerating. He really could defeat Nawaki with one hand.
"You''re so mean, Shin! You bribed me! If you hadn''t, I would have crushed you!" Nawaki protested.
"Yeah, right. You''d be the one getting crushed," Kushina scoffed. If Shin used his full strength, Nawaki wouldn''t stand a chance.
"It''s satisfying to see Kai get scolded," Shin said with a smirk.
Kai was severely reprimanded and forced to apologize to Minato.
Minato readily forgave him.
"He forgave him just like that? Shouldn''t he at least try to get even?" Shin remarked.
"Uzumaki Shin!!!" Kai roared.
"What? Want to fight me? I''ll break your other leg."
Kai, who had been fuming, felt a phantom pain in his leg and backed down.
The other students were surprised. Why was Kai so afraid of Shin?
Shin was good, but he wasn''t that much better than Kai. What was going on?
"Alright, no fighting! If I catch you brawling, you''ll be punished!" Tanaka-sensei warned.
"That concludes today''s test. Class dismissed. Minato-san, go get those injuries treated."
Cheers erupted as the students celebrated their early dismissal.
"Shin, don''t forget you owe me Yakiniku," Nawaki reminded him.
"Don''t worry, you''ll get your meat. Let''s go."If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
Shin, Kushina, Mikoto, and a hopeful Nawaki headed towards a Yakiniku restaurant.
????
At the Senju compound, the Sandaime Hokage stood outside Uzumaki Mito''s residence.
"Mito-sama, Sarutobi Hiruzen requests an audience."
"Ah, it''s little monkey. Come in."
Hiruzen blushed at the nickname. Thankfully, they were alone; it would have been embarrassing otherwise.
"Mito-sama, you summoned me?"
Hiruzen hadn''t come of his own volition; Mito had sent for him.
"Hiruzen, I called you here to discuss the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki." Mito had stopped calling him "little monkey," much to his relief.
"This...?"
"I''m old, Hiruzen. I don''t know how much longer I can hold on. We need to choose a new Jinch¨±riki soon."
Hiruzen was silent for a moment. "What are your thoughts, Mito-sama?"
"The Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki should ideally be an Uzumaki. Only their constitution can properly suppress the Kyuubi. Otherwise, it might go on a rampage or even break free from the seal."
Mito''s voice was grave. The Nine-Tails was a force to be reckoned with. Without Hashirama, Konoha would struggle to contain its power.
"I agree."
Hiruzen was also cautious when it came to the Nine-Tails. Its importance was undeniable, and the Uzumaki were the most suitable candidates for becoming its Jinch¨±riki.
"Do you have anyone in mind, Mito-sama?"
"I can only offer suggestions. The final decision is yours, Hiruzen."
"First, I recommend Uzumaki Shin. He''s the most suitable candidate. Then there''s Uzumaki Kushina and Uzumaki Akiko."
"What about Uzumaki Kai? He seems quite talented."
Mito shook her head. "He is talented, but he''s also consumed by hatred and jealousy. He''s not suitable to be the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki."
Any Uzumaki was technically suitable, but Kai''s personality made him a poor choice.
"Uzumaki Shin?"
Hiruzen frowned. He had gathered information on the Uzumaki survivors. Uzumaki Hikaru was out of the question; he was an adult and harder to control. Hiruzen didn''t trust him.
As for Shin, his performance at the Academy wasn''t as impressive as Kai''s. Why was Mito recommending him?
''Is this for the Senju Clan?'' Hiruzen wondered.
Shin was close to Tsunade and was practically considered a Senju. Perhaps Mito was trying to secure an advantage for the Senju.
Hiruzen''s guess was completely off the mark. Mito recommended Shin because of his immense life force, which could suppress the Nine-Tails completely. He would be the safest choice.
"The Kyuubi is volatile, filled with hatred. I think a female Jinch¨±riki would be better. Perhaps we can use love to tame the beast. Uzumaki Akiko seems like a good choice."
Hiruzen lowered his head.
Mito looked at him, disappointment clouding her eyes. Hiruzen had changed.
His thoughts were transparent to her.
She understood why he wasn''t choosing Shin or Kushina. It was because of their close ties to the Senju Clan.
"Mito-sama, what do you think?" Hiruzen asked, a flicker of guilt in his eyes.
The Nine-Tails was too important. He couldn''t allow any single clan to control it.
"You''ve already made up your mind, Hiruzen. Do as you see fit. I''m tired. You may leave."
Mito waved him away, her disappointment evident.
"Then I''ll take my leave. If you need anything, Mito-sama, please don''t hesitate to send for me."
Hiruzen bowed and left.
Outside, his guilt was overwhelming, but then his expression hardened.
"Forgive me, Mito-sama, but the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki is too important. No single clan in Konoha should have control over it."
Shin and Kushina were too close to the Senju. Kai''s personality was unsuitable. That left Akiko.
Hiruzen didn''t want to see the Senju Clan rise to power again. [28] : Profiting Off Tsunade
Evening fell, and Shin and his friends emerged from the Yakiniku restaurant, Nawaki patting his full stomach with satisfaction.
"You sure can pack it away, Nawaki. Looks like I''ll have to drag your sister to the gambling dens again."
Shin patted his wallet, which was significantly lighter than before.
"Can I come too? I want to make some money!"
Nawaki''s eyes lit up.
"You want to make money? What for? Tsunade will just take it all," Shin said, pitying the boy.
Having a gambling-addicted sister must be tough.
"Shin, Kushina, I''ll see you tomorrow," Mikoto said with a smile.
The Senju and Uchiha compounds were on opposite sides of the village. With the deep-rooted animosity between the two clans, they naturally wouldn''t live close to each other.
"See you tomorrow," Shin waved.
Kushina pinched Shin discreetly, then gave Mikoto a bright smile.
Shin glared at Kushina, who glared right back.
"What was that for?" Shin grumbled. He hadn''t done anything to deserve a pinch.
"Hmph, you and Mikoto seem to be getting awfully chummy. A bit too chummy," Kushina huffed, jealousy evident in her voice.
Shin shook his head at Kushina''s childish jealousy and headed home with her.
As for Nawaki? He was left behind, forgotten.
Back at the Senju compound, Nawaki went to his own residence, while Shin and Kushina returned to Tsunade''s courtyard.
"Oh, Tsunade, you''re back!" Shin''s eyes lit up when he saw her.
Tsunade glanced at him. Seeing that sparkle in his eyes, she knew he wanted something.
"Spit it out. What do you need? I''m in a good mood; I might just agree."
"You''ll definitely agree to this. I''m a bit short on cash. How about we make a trip to the gambling dens?"
"Hmph, using me to make money again? Do you have no faith in my gambling skills?" Tsunade stood up, grabbed Shin''s face, and started pinching his cheeks.
"Tsunade, let go of Shin right now!"
Kushina, the queen of jealousy, couldn''t stand seeing Tsunade manhandle Shin.This book is hosted on another platform. Read the official version and support the author''s work.
Tsunade chuckled at Kushina''s outburst.
After a while, she finally let go. Shin''s cheeks were so soft and squishy; she could pinch them all day.
"Fine, I''ll help you make some money. But we split the profits fifty-fifty," Tsunade declared.
"What? Fifty-fifty? That''s not fair!" Shin protested, rubbing his cheeks.
If it weren''t for the fact that Tsunade had agreed to keep his strength a secret, he would never have agreed to her cheek-pinching condition.
"Not fair? Don''t forget, you''re relying on me to make the money," Tsunade said with a smirk.
"Fine."
Shin might be complaining, but he knew this was a good deal. All he had to do was bet against Tsunade, and he''d make a killing.
That was his strategy.
Thankfully, Tsunade wasn''t infamous yet. She wasn''t known as the "Legendary Sucker" yet. Otherwise, this plan wouldn''t work.
"Let''s go!"
Tsunade grabbed Shin''s hand, channeled Chakra to her feet, and vanished in a series of leaps, leaving Kushina fuming.
"That woman! She left me behind again!"
Kushina wanted to follow, but she didn''t know where they were going. She could only wait at home.
They returned late at night, both grinning as they counted their winnings.
"Shin, when are we going to make another killing?"
Tsunade had earned over ten million Ryo, even after splitting the profits. That was equivalent to the reward for over a dozen S-rank missions.
"When we run out of money. This should last us a while."
If they were frugal, ten million Ryo could last them over a decade.
But being a Shinobi was expensive. Still, this should be enough to last them until graduation.
"You''re finally back! Shin, did that woman do anything to you?"
Kushina rushed out, grabbing Shin and glaring at Tsunade.
"Hey, brat, do you think I''m some kind of pervert?" Tsunade said indignantly.
"Hmph, you think you''re being subtle? I see right through you, you cougar!!"
Shin, embarrassed, excused himself and went to his room.
"You two have fun arguing. I''m going to bed."
"Little girl, if you weren''t so young, You''d be crying in a corner right now," Tsunade threatened, slamming her fist on a nearby table, shattering it.
"I''m not scared of you! In a few years, I''ll challenge you to a duel, and we''ll see who''s stronger!"
Kushina declared, her small fist clenched.
Tsunade simply chuckled, her dismissive attitude clear.
Kushina took a deep breath. She wasn''t strong enough to defeat Tsunade yet. She''d have to be patient.
"I''m warning you, if you pinch Shin''s face again, I won''t forgive you!"
Kushina left to train, seemingly motivated by her rivalry with Tsunade.
Tsunade smiled after Kushina left.
She didn''t mind their bickering. Having Shin and Kushina around had livened up the place.
Before, she had lived here alone. It had been lonely.
As for Nawaki, he was terrified of Tsunade, always afraid she''d take his allowance. He usually avoided her.
In his room, Shin sat on the tatami mat, refining Chakra.
He didn''t know how much Chakra he had now, but he felt it surpassed that of most Kage.
Of course, this was just in terms of quantity. The quality of his Chakra was probably inferior to that of a Kage who had been honing their Chakra for decades.
Having a large amount of Chakra wasn''t enough; quality was also important. For example, a Tailed Beast''s Chakra was undoubtedly superior to that of a human.
Shin, despite having a Perfect Sage Body, still had to refine his Chakra to improve its quality. There were no shortcuts, unless he became the Ten-Tails Jinch¨±riki. [29] : Lets Sleep Together From Now On
The next morning, Shin woke up early, washed his face, brushed his teeth, and headed to the training ground.
He focused on Taijutsu and Kenjutsu, leaving Ninjutsu practice for later.
''Well, not here, at least.'' He had sent several Shadow Clones to secluded areas in Konoha to train in Ninjutsu.
When the clones dispersed, their memories and experiences would return to him, making it an efficient way to train.
''Sharingan¡ªactivate!''
Shin''s eyes turned crimson, three tomoe swirling within.
"Still just a three-tomoe Sharingan. When will it evolve into the Mangeky¨­?"
Shin sighed.
Over the past year, he had used his three Common Replication Cards, copying the Sharingan prowess of Uchiha J¨­nin.
He had discovered that he could copy the same ability from the same person multiple times.
All three copies were from Uchiha Ryota, the J¨­nin he had encountered at the ramen shop.
These repeated copies had significantly increased his Ocular Power. Even Elite Uchiha probably couldn''t match him in that regard.
But his Sharingan still hadn''t evolved into the Mangeky¨­, which was disappointing.
Did he really need to copy an existing Mangeky¨­ Sharingan? He could, technically. He had two Advanced Replication Cards.
One was a reward from a mission, and the other was from the System''s annual gift. He had been lucky that year.
He had the cards, but where could he find an Uchiha with the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?
Did any even exist right now? He wasn''t sure. And even if they did, he had no way to approach them.
The three-tomoe Sharingan was still useful. It granted enhanced visual perception, the ability to copy basic Jutsu and Taijutsu, and even some Genjutsu.
But compared to the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, it was flawed. He wouldn''t mention that to anyone, though.
Shin deactivated his Sharingan. He couldn''t let Tsunade see it; who knew what kind of trouble it might cause.
????
After training for a while, he went back to prepare breakfast. Neither Kushina nor Tsunade were the type to cook.
"Yo, Shin, you''re up early as always."The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation.
Tsunade had just woken up and saw that Shin had already prepared breakfast.
"It''s nice having someone make breakfast. I never used to eat breakfast," she said, taking a seat at the table.
"That explains why you''re so... underdeveloped." Shin glanced at her chest.
Had his transmigration somehow affected Tsunade''s development? It was a cruel twist of fate.
Sensing his pitying gaze, Tsunade scowled.
"Want to taste my fist?"
"I''ll go wake Kushina up." Shin made a quick escape.
Tsunade snorted, then glanced down at her chest. It was a bit... small.
"Damn that brat. I''m still growing!" she grumbled, digging into the breakfast Shin had prepared.
If Shin had heard her, he would have scoffed. She was already seventeen. In the world of Shinobi, that was practically an adult.
Shin entered Kushina''s room. He stared at the mess, speechless.
It had only been two days since he last cleaned her room, and it was already a disaster zone.
Unlike other girls with their tidy rooms, Kushina''s was always chaotic. It was clear she wasn''t the most organized person.
"Kushina, wake up!" Shin nudged her. Her sleeping position was... interesting.
"Ugh, I''m so tired. Five more minutes..."
Kushina mumbled, her eyes still closed, her arms wrapping around Shin.
"It''s getting late. If you don''t get up now, we''ll be late for school."
"No, I don''t want to get up."
Kushina snuggled closer to Shin, enjoying the warmth and comfort.
"This is so comfy. Shin, let''s sleep together from now on, okay?"
"Sure, if you don''t mind. I''m not complaining," Shin said with a smile.
Sleeping with Kushina would be like cuddling a soft pillow. It wouldn''t be bad.
"I don''t mind at all. Let''s sleep together from now on!" Kushina opened her eyes, looking at Shin with a bright smile.
"Alright, let''s get up and eat breakfast first. Otherwise, Tsunade will finish it all."
"But I''m so sleepy..." Kushina rubbed her eyes. She had trained late last night and hadn''t gotten enough sleep.
"Were you refining Chakra again? Don''t push yourself too hard. It''s not good for you," Shin said sternly.
"And it''s not just about having a lot of Chakra. There''s more to strength than that. You need to know how to use it. Having Chakra without knowing any Jutsu is useless."
"But I know Jutsu! The Rasengan, the Water Dragon Jutsu, the Shadow Clone Jutsu..."
Kushina counted off the Jutsu she knew. They were all Jutsu that Shin knew and had taught her.
"You haven''t mastered them yet. Focus on honing your Jutsu. Don''t worry about Chakra Refinement for now."
Shin pulled Kushina out of bed.
"Wait, can you go outside? I need to change."
Kushina was usually carefree, but she wouldn''t change clothes in front of Shin.
"Alright."
Shin left the room. When he returned, he found that Tsunade had already devoured most of the breakfast.
"You sure can eat."
He''d have to make more; it wasn''t enough for the three of them.
"You''re one to talk. I''m full. Gotta go; I have things to do."
Tsunade pinched Shin''s cheek and left.
Shin made more breakfast, and after they finished eating, they left for the Academy.
"Aren''t we taking lunch today?" Kushina asked.
"Kushina, remember? Mikoto said she''d make us lunch. She''s a much better cook than I am."
"Hmph, I can cook too! It''s just lunch. I''ll make you lunch tomorrow!"
Kushina was jealous that Shin had praised Mikoto''s cooking.
Shin''s face paled. Kushina making him lunch?
"Kushina, let''s not. I don''t want to end up in the hospital, or worse, the cemetery."
He wouldn''t dare eat anything she made. [30] : Kushina, Youre Really Going to Sleep With Me?
Shin and Kushina arrived at the Academy just in time.
But someone was even later: Nawaki. Under Shin''s amused gaze, Nawaki was sent out to stand in the hallway as punishment.
"Huh, where''s Akiko?"
Shin scanned the classroom, but Akiko was nowhere to be seen.
"Shin, what are you thinking about?"
Mikoto asked curiously, noticing his distraction.
"I was just wondering why Akiko isn''t here."
Kushina, who had been drowsy, suddenly perked up, her eyes fixed on Shin.
"Shin, don''t tell me you have a thing for Akiko?" she asked suspiciously.
"Kushina, your eyes are scary," Mikoto giggled.
"I''m not interested in Akiko. I was just curious," Shin said, a bit exasperated.
He had no interest in little girls. He wasn''t a creep.
Besides, Akiko wasn''t as pretty as Kushina or Mikoto.
"I have an announcement regarding Uzumaki Akiko. I''m sure many of you are wondering why she isn''t here today."
Tanaka-sensei stood at the podium.
"Akiko has taken a leave of absence. She won''t be coming to school for a while."
Shin pondered the announcement, a suspicion forming in his mind.
After class, Shin approached Kai. "Kai, you live with Akiko. Do you know why she''s absent?"
"Why should I tell you?"
Kai glared at Shin.
"Good question. How about this?" Shin placed a hand on Kai''s shoulder, applying pressure.
Kai broke out in a cold sweat, his shoulder screaming in pain.
He didn''t cry out, though, maintaining his pride. But he quickly caved.
"Akiko was called away early this morning. I think she went to Lady Mito''s place."
"Thanks for the info." Shin smiled and returned to his seat, his suspicions confirmed.
He guessed that Akiko had been chosen as the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki. He didn''t know why Akiko, but it was good news for him and Kushina.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings.
Becoming a Jinch¨±riki wasn''t a good thing. Not everyone could be like Naruto and gain the Tailed Beast''s approval.
"Shin, you''ve never cared about Akiko before. Why are you suddenly interested in her?"
Kushina asked when Shin returned to his seat.
She knew Shin wasn''t romantically interested in Akiko, but she couldn''t help but feel jealous.
"Because it''s important to us," Shin said cryptically.
If he or Kushina had been chosen as the Jinch¨±riki, he would have had to find a way to refuse.
Now, he didn''t have to worry about that.
Akiko''s absence meant she was probably receiving special training from Mito. Becoming a Jinch¨±riki wasn''t easy; it required rigorous preparation.
After school, they received a notice that they wouldn''t be attending Mito''s lessons for the time being.
Shin wasn''t disappointed. He had already learned everything he needed to know.
''Mind''s Eye of Kagura!!!''
Shin closed his eyes, and his surroundings appeared in his mind. He could sense Chakra with incredible clarity.
He had awakened the Mind''s Eye of Kagura, a secret technique that only the Uzumaki Clan could learn. Mito had taught it to him.
She had also taught it to the others, but he didn''t know if they had mastered it. Kushina hadn''t. He doubted Kai and Akiko had either.
He scanned the entire Senju compound and its surroundings with his expanded sensory range.
He continued using the Mind''s Eye of Kagura for an hour before finally opening his eyes, exhaustion weighing on him.
It was mental exhaustion. The Chakra cost was minimal, but the strain on his mind was significant, especially with prolonged use.
But it had its benefits. It slowly increased his mental power. It was one of the ways he had found to strengthen his mind.
The other method was to use the System''s Replication Cards to copy Uchiha ocular prowess.
"Looks like Tsunade isn''t coming back. Let''s eat."
Shin exited his room and announced to Kushina.
"I''ve been waiting forever! I''m starving!" Kushina whined dramatically.
Shin chuckled and prepared a lavish dinner. They had money now; there was no need to be frugal.
After dinner, Shin trained his Taijutsu and Kenjutsu in the training ground. He then dispelled his Shadow Clones, absorbing their memories and experiences.
He had secretly sent them out to train in Ninjutsu.
Shin organized the knowledge he had gained, refined Chakra for an hour, then took a bath and prepared for bed.
Just as he lay down, his door creaked open, and Kushina entered, clutching a blanket.
Shin stared at her, bewildered.
"Kushina, what are you doing in my room? Shouldn''t you be sleeping?"
"Did you forget what you said this morning? We''re sleeping together from now on. You promised! Don''t tell me you''re going back on your word?"
Kushina tried to sound fierce, but Shin only saw cuteness. Fierce cuteness.
"Kushina, you''re really going to sleep with me?" Shin asked, surprised.
"Of course! And we''ve slept together before, haven''t we?"
Kushina climbed onto the tatami mat, snuggled up next to Shin, wrapped her arms around him, and rested her head on his chest.
"That was when we were little. Don''t you feel awkward now, Kushina?"
Shin inhaled the sweet scent of her hair.
"Not at all. I feel comfortable sleeping with you, Shin."
Kushina snuggled closer, nuzzling him.
Shin wasn''t going to argue. That would be stupid.
"Alright, let''s get some sleep. But try to stay still, okay? No moving around."
"Shin, do you dislike me?"
Kushina pouted. Even in the darkness, with only the moonlight filtering through the window, Shin could see her expression.
"Even if I were to dislike someone, it wouldn''t be you. Now go to sleep."
Shin pinched her cheek and closed his eyes, enjoying the warmth of this human-shaped pillow.
Kushina also felt comfortable and safe in Shin''s arms. She quickly drifted off to sleep. [31] : Graduation Exam
Time flew by like a rushing river, and four years passed in the blink of an eye.
Throughout those years, Shin diligently attended the Ninja Academy. As for graduating early? No, that had never crossed his mind.
Now, it was finally time for him to graduate. Currently, the Academy''s program was five years, a year shorter than it would be in the future.
"The graduation exam is coming up soon. Are you nervous, Shin?"
Nawaki sidled up to Shin, his voice laced with anxiety.
Graduating required passing an exam, and the current exam was more challenging than the one in the future.
First, you had to demonstrate proficiency in the Academy Three: the Substitution Jutsu, Transformation Jutsu, and Clone Jutsu.
Then, you had to survive a spar against a Genin for ten minutes. Only then could you graduate. Otherwise, you were held back.
The Academy recognized that surviving ten minutes against a Genin was a tall order for a student, so they allowed them to form teams.
Teams could have up to three members. As long as one member survived the full ten minutes, the entire team passed. That made it a bit easier.
"I''m not nervous, but you seem to be, Nawaki."
Shin noticed Nawaki''s trembling hands.
"Yeah, a little. It would be embarrassing to fail. How about we team up?"
"Sorry, I''ve already teamed up with Kushina and Mikoto. You''ll have to find someone else."
Shin glanced at Kushina and Mikoto, then back at Nawaki. It was obvious who he''d rather be with.
"Fine. I knew it. I was going to carry you, but I guess you don''t need my help."
Nawaki sulked.
Soon, Tanaka-sensei arrived and announced the start of the exam. The morning was dedicated to the Jutsu proficiency test.
This part was easy for everyone in the class. They were in the elite class, after all. Either clan members or exceptionally talented civilians.
The Academy Three posed no challenge to them.
After the morning session, they didn''t go home. They ate the lunch Mikoto had prepared in a quiet corner of the training ground.
"We''re finally graduating! Does that mean we can go on missions now?" Kushina asked excitedly.
Mikoto was unusually quiet, her expression downcast.
"What''s wrong, Mikoto? Are you worried about the exam?" Shin asked.This novel is published on a different platform. Support the original author by finding the official source.
"No, I''m confident I''ll pass. But... we''ll be separated after graduation, won''t we?"
Mikoto looked at Shin, her voice laced with sadness.
"Don''t worry, Mikoto! Maybe we''ll all be assigned to the same team!" Kushina said, trying to sound cheerful.
But even she was worried about being separated from Shin.
"If you don''t like your assigned team, you can always request a transfer."
Shin reassured them. There was no need to worry. They could always ask Tsunade for help.
Mikoto and Kushina relaxed, relieved.
In the afternoon, the second part of the graduation exam commenced. Even Hiruzen Sarutobi was present.
He wouldn''t normally pay attention to a graduation exam, but this wasn''t an ordinary class.
The students in this class were the future of Konoha. Even Hiruzen couldn''t ignore them.
And it wasn''t just Hiruzen. Danz¨­ was also observing, looking for promising recruits for his Root organization.
After forming their teams, they were assigned their opponents. Shin''s team was up against a Genin who looked about sixteen.
Being a Genin at sixteen had made him arrogant. He looked down on the Academy students.
As a Genin who had completed several missions, he saw these students as pampered flowers who had never experienced real combat.
He didn''t even bother hiding his disdain.
"You three brats should just surrender. Don''t blame me if I''m rough."
Kimura, their opponent, held his Kunai, his eyes filled with contempt.
"We''ll see how rough you can get."
Kimura''s arrogance annoyed Shin. He was just a lowly Genin; what was he so smug about?
"You''re asking for it."
Kimura sensed Shin''s disdain and felt a surge of anger.
A mere Academy student, looking down on him, a real Shinobi? He was determined to make sure Shin didn''t graduate.
"With that attitude, you''d think you were a Kage. What''s with the arrogance, newbie?"
Shin said calmly. He disliked this Genin from the start. Just a Genin, and he dared to look down on him? Did he think he was Madara Uchiha?
"Begin! No lethal force!"
The Chunin examiner announced. He was there to assess their performance and ensure no one got killed.
"No need for you two to get involved. I''ll take care of him," Shin said to Kushina and Mikoto.
He walked towards Kimura, his steps measured and confident.
Kimura glared at Shin, enraged by his casual attitude.
"I''ll show you the difference between you and a real Shinobi!"
He charged at Shin, his speed impressive.
Well, impressive for a regular person. To Shin, he was moving in slow motion.
Kimura lunged, thrusting his Kunai towards Shin. He aimed for non-lethal areas; he wasn''t going to kill him.
He wouldn''t kill, but he wouldn''t hesitate to injure.
"Weakling."
Shin casually deflected the Kunai and punched Kimura in the gut. Kimura flew backward like a cannonball, crashing to the ground. He twitched a few times, then passed out.
"Examiner-san, I believe we passed?"
Shin looked at the examiner, who was staring at him with his jaw hanging open.
Shin chuckled. He had shocked the examiner.
He had revealed a bit of his strength, but he didn''t care anymore. He wasn''t the same weakling he used to be.
Before, he had hidden his strength because he was weak. But now, he was strong enough to not have to hide.
In four years, his Taijutsu, Ninjutsu, and Kenjutsu had improved drastically. Most importantly, his three-tomoe Sharingan had evolved into the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, combined with his Perfect Sage Body, meant he could use its powers without fear of blindness. What did he have to fear now?
It was time to step into the spotlight. ------ Read +45 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available! [32] : A Surprise For You
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto left the exam area. Mikoto stared at Shin, her mouth slightly agape.
"Shin, how are you so strong?"
She was astonished. One-Punching a Genin? Even most Chunin couldn''t do that.
"It''s not that I''m strong; it''s that he was weak."
Shin didn''t consider himself strong. Compared to powerhouses like Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha, he was still a fledgling.
"Kushina, aren''t you surprised? Did you know Shin was this strong?"
Mikoto looked at Kushina with envy. Living with Shin, she must have known all about his abilities.
"Of course I knew. And I''m stronger than that guy, let alone Shin."
Kushina was indeed stronger than Kimura, the Genin they had faced. She might lack combat experience, but her raw power was undeniable.
Kushina''s strength was probably at elite Chunin level. Considering her knowledge of Ninjutsu and F¨±injutsu, she might even be comparable to a Tokubetsu J¨­nin.
But her combat experience was lacking. Her actual fighting prowess was probably at the level of an elite Chunin.
Mikoto was also quite strong. She had awakened the Sharingan, and even though it was only at the one-tomoe stage, it still gave her an edge against Genin.
Even without Shin''s help, she could probably hold her own against Kimura. She was talented.
They returned to the classroom to await their team assignments.
Soon, Minato, Akiko, and Tsume Inuzuka returned. They had been a team.
"You''re back already? Did you pass?" Minato asked.
"Failing the graduation exam would be embarrassing. You defeated the Genin, right?"
Shin asked.
They must have defeated the Genin to be back so soon. Minato and Akiko were both strong; there was no way they would fail.
Judging from his usual performance, Minato''s strength was easily Chunin level. Akiko, chosen as a Jinch¨±riki candidate, had been trained by Mito and was probably just as strong as Minato.
As for Tsume, she was from the Inuzuka Clan and was also comparable to a Genin.
Even Minato alone could defeat a Genin, let alone the three of them together.
"Yep!"The story has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
Minato was beaming. He was still young and inexperienced, so defeating a Genin was a big deal to him.
The future Minato, at his peak, wouldn''t even blink at killing a J¨­nin.
A while later, Nawaki returned with the Hy¨±ga brothers. They had also defeated their opponent.
"Shin, that Genin was so weak! We crushed him!"
"Yeah, Genin are pretty weak," Shin agreed.
"Shin, we''re not officially Genin yet. It''s not good to say that," Hiashi said.
"I meant the average Genin."
Shin was referring to the average Genin. There were exceptions, of course.
The future protagonists, Naruto and Sasuke, and Might Duy, Might Guy''s father, were all Genin, but they were far from average.
Soon, everyone in the class returned. As the elite class, they had all passed.
If even the elite students couldn''t pass, the regular classes would have no hope.
Tanaka-sensei entered the classroom, carrying a box.
"You are all officially Shinobi now. Here are your forehead protectors. Come and get them."
The box contained their forehead protectors, a symbol of their graduation and their new status as Shinobi.
"Also, team assignments will be announced tomorrow morning, so please come back then."
Tanaka-sensei dismissed the class. Nawaki invited his friends to celebrate, including Shin and the others.
As dusk fell, Shin and Kushina said goodbye to Mikoto and headed back to the Senju compound with Nawaki.
"Hey, Nawaki, where did you get the money?" Shin asked.
Nawaki had treated them to dinner. Where did he get the money?
"Sis hasn''t borrowed any money from me for the past few years. I''ve been saving up. And now that I''m a Shinobi, I''ll be making my own money."
Shin shook his head. Did Nawaki really think making money as a Shinobi was easy? Small missions barely paid anything, and the high-paying ones were dangerous.
Back at the compound, Shin stopped Nawaki before he could go to his own residence.
"Nawaki, you dream of becoming Hokage, right? Now that you''re a Shinobi, you''ll be facing danger. Be careful."
Nawaki paused, then smiled. "Don''t worry, I''ll be fine. You and Kushina should be the ones being careful."
Nawaki left. Shin and Kushina returned to Tsunade''s courtyard. To their surprise, Tsunade was home.
"Surprised to see me?" Tsunade asked, noticing their expressions.
"Yeah, you said you''d be gone for a few days on a mission. What are you doing here?"
Shin''s eyes swept over Tsunade''s figure. Her most noticeable change in the past four years was... well, there..
He couldn''t fathom how she had gone from an ''airport'' to a ''mountain range''.
"The mission was canceled. Now hurry up and make me dinner. I''m starving."
"Hmph, why should Shin cook for you? We already ate. You''re on your own," Kushina stuck her tongue out at Tsunade.
"Shin, if you make me dinner, I''ll give you a surprise tomorrow."
Tsunade ignored Kushina and looked at Shin expectantly.
"A surprise?" Shin looked at her thoughtfully.
"Hey, what''s with that look? I hate that know-it-all expression."
"Fine, I''ll make you dinner. I look forward to your surprise." Shin smiled and headed to the kitchen.
Kushina and Tsunade glared at each other.
"Why don''t you make your own dinner? Why bother Shin?" Kushina grumbled.
"Duh, if I could cook, I wouldn''t be starving," Tsunade rolled her eyes.
Tsunade''s cooking skills were... well, let''s just say they were on par with Kushina''s.
"Wait, you said you already ate?" Tsunade suddenly remembered Kushina''s earlier comment.
"Yeah, we had Yakiniku. Nawaki treated us. It was delicious, crispy and juicy," Kushina said, deliberately trying to make Tsunade jealous.
Tsunade gritted her teeth. That little rascal, treating everyone but his own sister!
Of course, Nawaki had no idea she was home. [33] : Tsunade-sensei
It was eleven at night. Kushina tiptoed into Shin''s room. Shin was still awake.
"Shin, I''m here to sleep with you."
Kushina lunged towards him, but a hand shot out and grabbed her by the collar.
"Hey! Put me down, Tsunade! You meanie!"
Kushina shrieked, glaring at Tsunade. She hadn''t expected Tsunade to be awake at this hour.
"Hmph, I knew you''d sneak in here. Back to your own room, young lady."
Tsunade dragged Kushina away, ignoring her protests.
Kushina cast a pleading look at Shin, but he could only offer a helpless shrug.
"Tsunade, what''s it to you if I sleep with Shin?" Kushina demanded.
"You''re both too old to be sharing a bed now."
Tsunade ignored Kushina''s further protests and tossed her back into her own room. Kushina pouted, defeated.
The next morning, at breakfast, Kushina glared at Tsunade before dragging Shin off to school.
"Little brat, still glaring at me? Just you wait," Tsunade muttered under her breath.
At the Academy, Shin noticed that they were the last to arrive. Even Nawaki, who was usually late, was already there.
The students, all wearing their forehead protectors, were a mix of excitement and nervousness. After the team assignments, they would be real Shinobi, ready to go on missions.
"Shin, who do you think your J¨­nin-sensei will be?" Nawaki asked excitedly.
"My guess is your sister, Tsunade," Shin replied.
Tsunade had promised him a surprise yesterday, and he suspected this was it.
"Really? Did she tell you? Did she say who my sensei would be?" Nawaki looked at Shin with anticipation.
"She didn''t tell me. It''s just a guess. Who do you want your sensei to be, Nawaki?"
Shin shook his head. It wasn''t confirmed, but he was pretty sure Tsunade would be their J¨­nin-sensei.
"I want Orochimaru-sama!"
Nawaki''s eyes shone with admiration. He seemed genuinely eager to be on Orochimaru''s team.Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.
Shin gave him a strange look. Orochimaru? What was so appealing about him?
Then he remembered that Orochimaru did have a certain charisma. In the original story, many were devoted to him.
"I don''t understand why you like that creepy guy."
Shin shook his head. He didn''t dislike Orochimaru, but he didn''t particularly like him either. The current Orochimaru wasn''t as sinister or twisted as he would become.
"Orochimaru-sama is a genius, one of the strongest in Konoha. He''s way stronger than my sister."
Nawaki seemed to idolize Orochimaru.
"Don''t let your sister hear you say that, or you''ll be in trouble," Kushina warned.
"Settle down!"
Tanaka-sensei entered the classroom. Seeing the chaos, his face darkened.
Nawaki scurried back to his seat, and the others followed suit.
Tanaka-sensei was still a formidable presence.
The team assignments began. One by one, J¨­nin entered the classroom, read out the names of their team members, and left.
"Team Three: Senju Nawaki, Uzumaki Kai, Hy¨±ga Hizashi."
Orochimaru entered, read the names, and left without a word.
Nawaki''s face lit up. He couldn''t believe he was actually on Orochimaru''s team. He rushed out with Kai and Hizashi.
"Team Five: Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Akiko, Inuzuka Tsume. Follow me."
Jiraiya entered and called out the names.
Minato and his team left. The classroom was getting emptier.
"Uzumaki Shin, Uzumaki Kushina, Uchiha Mikoto, you three are Team Nine. Come with me."
When only a few students remained, Tsunade entered and called out their names.
Shin smiled. He had guessed correctly. Tsunade was their J¨­nin-sensei.
They followed Tsunade to a training ground in Konoha.
"Shin, you don''t seem surprised at all," Tsunade observed.
"I already guessed it was you. This must be the surprise you mentioned."
"Hmph, you guessed it again. How annoying."
Kushina scowled. She wasn''t thrilled about having Tsunade as their sensei. She almost wanted to request a transfer.
Mikoto, however, was delighted. Not because of Tsunade, but because she was on the same team as Shin and Kushina.
"Now, I''ll assess your abilities. Don''t hold back," Tsunade said.
She wasn''t going to give them another test, but gauging their strength was necessary.
As their J¨­nin-sensei, she needed to know their capabilities to assign them appropriate missions.
"Is this assessment really necessary?" Shin asked.
"Of course. I can''t assign you missions without knowing your strength. Unless you want to do D-rank missions, then we can skip this."
There were five mission ranks in Konoha. D-rank missions were the lowest, simple tasks with no combat or risk, such as weeding, babysitting, and cleaning the streets.
C-rank missions involved some risk of injury, but no combat against enemy Shinobi.
B-rank missions were dangerous, often involving combat and the risk of death.
A-rank missions were even more dangerous, often involving J¨­nin or stronger opponents. Genin weren''t allowed to participate in these.
S-rank missions were the most dangerous, involving the safety of the village or even the nation. They were rare, but when they did occur, they were a big deal.
S-rank missions required elite J¨­nin or even Kage-level Shinobi. They were the highest paying missions, but also the most perilous.
Fresh graduates usually started with D-rank missions. But it seemed Tsunade wasn''t planning on giving them those.
That was fine with Shin. He had no interest in those low-level missions. They wouldn''t help him improve, and the pay was pathetic.
Besides, he didn''t need the money. [34] : Shins Full Power?
"Come on, attack me with all your might. If you impress me, I might even give you a reward."
Tsunade tried to motivate them with the promise of a reward.
"You don''t have to tell me twice!"
Kushina cracked her knuckles, eager to fight. If she could defeat Tsunade, she''d be ecstatic.
"Then let''s begin!"
Tsunade didn''t waste any time. She lunged at Kushina, her fist aimed at her head.
Shin reacted instantly, pulling Kushina out of the way. He then grabbed Mikoto and leaped back, putting distance between them and Tsunade.
"Hey, Tsunade, you''re an elite J¨­nin, attacking three Genin fresh out of the Academy? And you''re not even holding back? That''s shameless!"
"What did you say, brat?" Tsunade glared at Shin. How dare he call her shameless?
If they were ordinary Genin, she might have been going a bit overboard, but Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto were far from ordinary.
She didn''t know the extent of Shin''s strength, but she knew he was a genius among geniuses.
When he was five, she had estimated his strength to be at elite Chunin level. Now? Who knew?
As for Kushina, as an Uzumaki, she couldn''t be weak.
And Uchiha Mikoto? While Tsunade didn''t know her well, she was an Uchiha; she couldn''t be weak either.
"Take this!"
This time, Tsunade targeted Shin. He had called her shameless; now he would pay.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Mikoto formed hand seals and unleashed a fireball at Tsunade.
Tsunade was impressed. Not many Genin fresh out of the Academy could use Jutsu, let alone with such proficiency.
Uchiha Mikoto was definitely a genius.
Despite Mikoto being an Uchiha, Tsunade held no prejudice against her. She had gotten to know Mikoto and liked her personality.
Unlike most Uchiha, Mikoto was gentle and kind. That was why she had been allowed to join this class.
Tsunade channeled Chakra to her fist, and with a powerful burst of air pressure, extinguished the fireball.
"Shin, let''s see how much you''ve improved."
Tsunade lunged at Shin, her fist propelled by a gust of wind that forced Kushina and Mikoto to retreat.The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"She''s serious!"
Shin clenched his fist. He didn''t dodge, meeting Tsunade''s attack head-on.
The ground beneath his feet cracked. Tsunade was thrown back several meters, her arm numb.
But the numbness was nothing to her. She used the Mystical Palm Jutsu, and the numbness vanished.
"Brat, how are you so strong?" Tsunade asked, bewildered. She had used her monstrous strength, yet she was the one sent flying.
"Simple. If you trained as hard as I do, you wouldn''t be so weak," Shin said with a smirk.
"Weak? You think you''re stronger than me just because you landed a lucky punch? I wasn''t even using my full strength!"
Tsunade was amused.
"And you think I was?"
Shin''s eyes gleamed. He decided to fight Tsunade seriously. This was a good opportunity to test his strength.
He wasn''t afraid to reveal his power anymore. He might as well let Tsunade help him gauge his progress.
"Tsunade, use your full strength, or I might just send you to the hospital."
Shin''s Chakra flared, powerful enough to peel back the ground and shake the surrounding trees.
Tsunade gulped. Was this kid a monster? How could he have so much Chakra?
She had thought her Chakra reserves were impressive, but compared to Shin''s, they were nothing.
She felt like even a Tailed Beast''s Chakra might be comparable. She knew the Uzumaki Clan had large Chakra reserves, but this was ridiculous.
Composing herself, Tsunade said, "Your Chakra is impressive, Shin, but Chakra alone doesn''t determine strength."
You had to be able to use it effectively.
"You''re right. But... I''m strong in every aspect."
As soon as he finished speaking, Shin vanished. A wave of intense danger washed over Tsunade, sending chills down her spine.
It had been a long time since she had felt this threatened. But her reflexes were still sharp. She activated her monstrous strength and dodged.
Just as she moved, Shin''s axe kick landed where she had been standing. Missing his target, his foot slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
A massive crater formed, the ground around Shin collapsing.
Tsunade''s jaw dropped. That kick was devastating. Even her strongest attack, the Heavenly Foot of Pain, couldn''t cause this much destruction.
And his speed! She had barely dodged in time. If that had connected, she would have been done for.
"Missed. Too bad," Shin said with a smile.
"Brat, are you trying to kill me?" Tsunade grumbled.
"If you couldn''t dodge, I would have stopped at the last moment. I have control."
"What if you couldn''t stop in time?"
Shin sighed. "Well, then there''s nothing I can do. I''ll visit your grave next year."
Kushina, who had been stunned into silence, burst out laughing.
Her laughter snapped Mikoto out of her daze. She stared at Shin in disbelief.
That kick must have been A-rank level! How could he be so strong?
If they knew that wasn''t even his full power, they might faint.
Shin had only used eighty percent of his strength. He could have done even more damage.
He had never neglected his Taijutsu training. With Shadow Clones helping him train in Ninjutsu and F¨±injutsu, he had focused mostly on Taijutsu and Kenjutsu. And Kenjutsu training also improved his Taijutsu.
With his Perfect Sage Body, even without training, he would have been physically strong. But he had trained diligently.
And he had also copied the physique of a Taijutsu master. His physical strength couldn''t be judged by his age.
Not only could his Chakra rival that of a Tailed Beast, but so could his strength. He wondered how he compared to the Third Raikage in terms of physical prowess.
Perhaps the current Third Raikage was still stronger. After all, he was much older and had decades more experience.
But in terms of potential, Shin was far superior. The Third Raikage had already reached his peak, while Shin still had room to grow. [35] : Learning the Strength of a Hundred Seal
"Tsunade, are we going to continue our spar?" Shin asked.
"Of course. You think I''m afraid of a little brat like you?"
Tsunade''s Chakra flared as she activated her Strength of a Hundred Seal. Her punches and kicks now carried monstrous power.
"Come on, show me what you''ve got."
Tsunade was taking Shin seriously now. After his display of strength and speed, she couldn''t underestimate him.
She used the Body Flicker Jutsu to close the distance, then aimed a punch at Shin''s face.
"Trying to rearrange my face, are you?"
Shin blocked the punch and grabbed her wrist, flinging her away.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Shin unleashed a massive fireball, far more powerful than Mikoto''s. It was a C-rank Jutsu, but in his hands, it rivaled a B-rank.
He had Mikoto to thank for this Jutsu; she had taught it to him.
"That''s incredible!"
Mikoto gasped, her eyes wide. Shin''s Fireball Jutsu was over ten times stronger than hers.
Tsunade, airborne, quickly formed hand seals and used the Substitution Jutsu, replacing herself with a log.
But the danger wasn''t over. Shin appeared behind her, a Rasengan swirling in his hand.
"How is he so fast?"
Relying on her years of battle experience, Tsunade narrowly dodged the Rasengan.
"If I had used the Adamantine Sealing Chains, you''d be down for the count, Tsunade," Shin remarked.
The Chains would have restrained her, leaving her vulnerable to the Rasengan.
Tsunade had a weakness: her lack of long-range attacks. Relying solely on Taijutsu put her at a disadvantage.
"Where did you learn that Jutsu? It doesn''t require any hand seals!" Tsunade asked, referring to the Rasengan. She understood the significance of a Jutsu that could be activated instantly.
"I created it," Shin replied casually.
Minato hadn''t invented it yet, so Shin could claim credit.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there.
"You''re full of surprises. I thought you were a genius, but you''re a monster."
"Is that a compliment or an insult, Tsunade?" Shin asked, rubbing his nose.
"Hmph, let''s continue. I won''t be defeated by a brat like you."
"Hold on."
Shin stopped her. He wasn''t interested in fighting anymore. He had a good grasp of his strength now.
Besides, fighting Tsunade with restrictions was boring.
"There''s no point continuing. Let''s call it a draw."
Shin was being generous. If they continued, Tsunade would lose.
"You win, brat. I admit defeat."
Tsunade glared at him. She knew she couldn''t defeat him. It was embarrassing, but she wasn''t afraid to admit it.
"How did you get so strong?"
Tsunade was an elite J¨­nin, bordering on Kage level. She might even reach that level soon.
But she couldn''t defeat a ten-year-old? No one would believe it.
"That''s the difference between a genius and an common person. Reality is cruel."
Shin''s smug grin annoyed Tsunade.
Was she not a genius? She was indignant, but compared to Shin, she didn''t seem that special.
No, that wasn''t right. She was a genius; it was just that Shin was a monster.
"By the way, Tsunade, you mentioned a reward. I think we earned it." Shin smiled.
"You did. Here''s the Strength of a Hundred Seal. Since I''m your sensei now, I should teach you something."
Tsunade handed them the scroll, surprising Shin. This was her signature technique.
Besides Medical Ninjutsu, the Strength of a Hundred Seal was what she was known for.
"But don''t teach it to anyone else," Tsunade said sternly.
She was willing to teach them, but she didn''t want it spreading.
"We''re not idiots. We won''t," Shin assured her.
"Thank you, Tsunade-sensei," Mikoto said gratefully.
"Look at Mikoto, so polite. She even called me ''sensei.'' Learn from her, you two."
Tsunade glared at Shin and Kushina.
Kushina glared right back, while Shin focused on the Strength of a Hundred Seal scroll.
It involved precise Chakra control, focusing Chakra throughout the body, and releasing it in a burst of power, strong enough to shatter walls.
Shin studied the scroll and realized it wasn''t that difficult. It was simply a technique for unleashing explosive power with Chakra.
"This is easy."
Shin focused, controlling his Chakra with ease. With his powerful mind and Chakra control, this was child''s play.
He channeled Chakra throughout his body, feeling it coat him like armor.
So that was how Tsunade could withstand the recoil. The Chakra acted as a buffer.
This meant the Strength of a Hundred Seal wasn''t just for offense; it could also be used defensively.
Tsunade gaped at him. She had been annoyed when Shin called the technique easy, but now he was using it! He might not be displaying its power, but she could tell he had mastered it.
But he was using it differently. She usually focused the Chakra in one area, like her fist or leg.
Shin, however, was channeling it throughout his body. Was this the privilege of having massive Chakra reserves?
"You really are a monster," Tsunade said, shaking her head.
"It''s not that difficult. Anyone with good Chakra control can learn it."
Shin was telling the truth. The Strength of a Hundred Seal was powerful and versatile, but it was easy to learn, no harder than a C-rank Jutsu.
Of course, that was assuming you had excellent Chakra control.
Kushina and Mikoto also started practicing. They couldn''t master it instantly like Shin, but with his guidance, they learned it within half a day. [36] : Shins Abnormal D艒jutsu
"You''ve all mastered Tree Climbing and Water Walking? No wonder you learned the Strength of a Hundred Seal so quickly."
Tsunade was no longer surprised by their rapid progress.
"Well, I guess I have nothing left to teach you. Let''s start taking missions tomorrow."
She sounded a bit disappointed.
"Tsunade, want to learn a Jutsu?"
Shin asked, a Rasengan swirling to life in his hand.
Tsunade had taught them her secret technique; he didn''t mind returning the favor.
"You''re going to teach me that no-hand-seals Jutsu?"
Tsunade was surprised. Not many Shinobi were willing to share their Jutsu.
"Of course. You taught us your secret Strength of a Hundred Seal technique; it''s only fair that I teach you something in return. Besides, don''t you want to learn it?"
"Well, since you''re offering, I suppose I''ll learn it," Tsunade said with a playful arrogance.
Shin''s lips twitched. He hadn''t expected Tsunade to be so tsundere.
He explained the Rasengan training method to Tsunade and even provided personal guidance. But even so, it wasn''t something that could be mastered quickly.
It would take at least a few days.
"This Rasengan is pretty good, but I don''t see how it''s useful for me."
Tsunade said. No-hand-seals Jutsu were powerful, but her fists were just as strong.
Why bother with the Rasengan when she could just punch her enemies?
"Don''t underestimate the Rasengan. It has a lot of potential. The basic Rasengan is a non-elemental Jutsu, but you can add Chakra Nature transformations to create even stronger Jutsu."
Shin explained.
In the original story, Naruto had taken the Rasengan to incredible heights.
"And the Rasengan isn''t limited to close-range combat. It can be used for long-range attacks as well."
Shin held out his hand, Chakra gathering and swirling into a Rasengan.
He increased the Chakra output, the pale blue sphere deepening in color.
Then he threw it. The Rasengan struck a rock thirty meters away, exploding on impact, pulverizing the rock and creating a small crater.
"You can throw the Rasengan?" Kushina gasped.Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
"Yes, but you need to make it more condensed and stable."
Naruto, in the original story, couldn''t throw the Rasengan, but Shin, after some research, had figured it out.
The reason the Rasengan couldn''t be thrown was that its unstable rotation would cause it to dissipate once it left the user''s control.
By increasing its stability, it could be thrown.
But this came with a drawback: increased Chakra consumption. Making the Rasengan more stable required more Chakra.
A thrown Rasengan consumed three times the Chakra of a regular Rasengan.
It was a trade-off, but Shin had Chakra to spare. For him, the benefits outweighed the costs.
Kushina and Tsunade''s eyes lit up as Shin explained how to throw the Rasengan. Mikoto, however, sighed.
Shin had already taught her the Rasengan, but she couldn''t throw it.
She didn''t have enough Chakra. The Uchiha Clan had decent Chakra reserves, but they couldn''t compare to the Senju and Uzumaki.
Mikoto could barely create two Rasengan. It was an A-rank Jutsu, after all. Even though it was less Chakra-intensive than other A-rank Jutsu, it still required a significant amount.
"Let''s head back for today. Meet me at this training ground tomorrow," Tsunade said.
"You two go ahead. I''ll train here for a bit."
Tsunade nodded and left with Kushina and Mikoto. Kushina had wanted to stay, but Tsunade dragged her away.
Once they were gone, Shin activated the Mind''s Eye of Kagura, confirming that there was no one within several dozen kilometers. His eyes turned crimson, three black tomoe swirling.
The tomoe spun faster and faster, merging into a five-pointed shuriken shape.
The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
The Sharingan was a reflection of the heart. When it evolved from the three-tomoe stage to the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, it awakened three new abilities.
Besides the Susanoo, which was common to all Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, the other two abilities were unique to each user, born from their deepest desires.
The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan could awaken incredibly powerful abilities, like Obito Uchiha''s Kamui and Shisui Uchiha''s Kotoamatsukami.
And Shin''s two abilities were perhaps even more broken.
His left eye''s ability was Yomotsu Hirasaka, the ultimate Space-Time Ninjutsu. It allowed the user to travel between dimensions instantaneously, without the need for any markings or formulas.
It was far superior to the Flying Thunder God Jutsu.
It was a Jutsu that could only be used by those who possessed all three d¨­jutsu: the Sharingan, Byakugan, and Rinnegan.
In the original story, even including Boruto, only Kaguya ¨­tsutsuki and Urashiki ¨­tsutsuki could use this Jutsu.
But as Shin''s Mangeky¨­ ability, he could use it even without the Byakugan and Rinnegan.
His right eye''s ability was even more broken. It was called Tenmomei, and if Yomotsu Hirasaka controlled space, Tenmomei controlled time.
It allowed Shin to rewind his personal time by three minutes.
Three minutes might not seem like much, but in battle, it was a game-changer.
If he was injured, he could rewind time and undo the damage.
Unless someone could kill him instantly, they wouldn''t be able to harm him. He could be injured one second and perfectly fine the next.
And combined with Yomotsu Hirasaka, his survivability was practically unmatched.
"Am I really that afraid of death?" Shin chuckled to himself.
He decided to test his new abilities. He took out a Kunai and slashed his arm. His clothes tore, but his skin was unharmed.
Shin blinked. Had his skin become so tough that even a Kunai couldn''t pierce it?
"Looks like I''ll have to use the big guns."
He took out a scroll and unsealed a sword.
He made a small cut on his arm, then activated Tenmomei. The wound vanished instantly.
His clothes, however, remained torn. It seemed Tenmomei only affected his body. Clothes were external objects; the Jutsu didn''t apply to them. The Chakra and d¨­jutsu strain, however, was significant.
Using Tenmomei didn''t rewind the Chakra and d¨­jutsu exhaustion he had experienced. [37] : Accepting a Mission
Shin experimented with Yomotsu Hirasaka. This technique could be used offensively, to shorten the distance for long-range Jutsu, or to disrupt and ambush opponents. It could also be used defensively, for evasion and escape. It was incredibly versatile.
The Chakra cost was manageable, but the strain on his eyes was significant. His Mangeky¨­ Sharingan had limited ocular power.
If he didn''t have the Perfect Sage Body, using these abilities a few times would risk blindness.
Blindness was caused by depleting ocular power. Once depleted, the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan''s power couldn''t be replenished. There were two ways to overcome this: evolve it into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, or transplant Hashirama''s cells and survive.
With his Perfect Sage Body, Shin didn''t have to worry about permanent blindness. His ocular power would regenerate, but he was concerned about running out mid-battle.
Regeneration took time. In a fight, he wouldn''t have time to wait for his eyes to recover.
If he evolved his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, he would have practically unlimited ocular power. The regeneration rate would match the consumption rate.
He needed to find a way to evolve his Sharingan quickly.
He wasn''t worried, though. As long as he had time, he could evolve his Sharingan naturally.
After awakening the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, Shin had sensed a resonance between his eyes and his body.
Influenced by his Perfect Sage Body, his ocular power was slowly increasing. Once it reached a certain threshold, his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan would evolve into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
The Sage Body and the Sharingan were indeed complementary, representing Yin and Yang, the perfect balance.
"Time to head back. Kushina will be looking for me."
Shin headed towards the Senju compound, his sword strapped to his back.
This wasn''t just any sword; it was the one he had taken from the Uzumaki Clan Shrine.
After some research, he discovered it was one of the Kusanagi swords.
There were eleven Kusanagi swords in the Naruto world. Itachi Uchiha''s Totsuka Blade was one of them.
Shin''s Kusanagi sword didn''t have the lengthening ability of Orochimaru''s Kusanagi sword or the sealing ability of Itachi''s Totsuka Blade, but it did have the Chakra-conducting ability of Sasuke''s sword.
Its greatest strengths were its durability and sharpness. It could cut through steel like butter.
Shin didn''t need any special abilities. He just needed a sword that could withstand his strength and swordsmanship. In his hands, it was the ultimate weapon.If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.
Back at the courtyard, he saw a feast laid out on the table. His face paled.
"Who made this?"
He looked at Tsunade and Kushina suspiciously. The food looked and smelled delicious, but to him, it was poison.
"I did," Mikoto said, emerging from the kitchen with a pot of miso soup.
"Oh, Mikoto. That''s a relief."
Shin sat down, ignoring Tsunade and Kushina''s glares.
"Mikoto, you didn''t go home?"
"Why, Shin? Don''t you want me here?"
Mikoto''s gentle gaze made Shin feel a strange sense of danger. Was it just his imagination? Mikoto was so sweet; how could she be dangerous?
"Of course I''m glad you''re here, Mikoto. I was just curious."
"I asked her to stay," Tsunade said.
Knowing Mikoto had no family, Tsunade had invited her to stay, hoping she would keep Kushina company and prevent her from sneaking into Shin''s room at night.
Shin and Kushina were too old to be sharing a bed. Tsunade didn''t want to see that.
The next morning, Tsunade took Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto to the Hokage''s office to accept a mission.
They didn''t need to see the Hokage for ordinary missions; he''d be overwhelmed.
But as new graduates, if they wanted to take on missions above D-rank, they needed his approval.
"Sandaime, I want to take on a higher-level mission. Please sign this application."
Tsunade placed the form in front of Hiruzen.
"A higher-level mission?"
Hiruzen frowned, glancing at Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto. "No," he said, shaking his head.
"They''re new graduates. They should start with D-rank missions to gain experience."
"What kind of experience? How to be better farmers? So they can become farmers or pig breeders if they fail as Shinobi?"
Hiruzen''s lips twitched. Tsunade had a point. D-rank missions were mostly useless and didn''t provide any real training.
"But what if they''re in danger?"
"I''ll take responsibility. Just sign the form."
Tsunade slammed the form on his desk.
"Fine."
Hiruzen sighed and signed the form. With Tsunade leading the team, he wasn''t that worried.
Tsunade took them to the mission assignment desk.
"What kind of mission do you want?" she asked.
"Something with blood," Shin said after exchanging glances with Kushina and Mikoto.
The type of mission didn''t matter, as long as it helped Kushina and Mikoto grow.
For a new Genin, the best way to grow was to kill someone.
If you didn''t have the resolve to kill, you shouldn''t be a Shinobi. It wasn''t a merciful profession; killing was part of the job.
Tsunade nodded. "Let''s take this C-rank mission: bandit extermination."
She handed the form to the mission desk clerk and accepted the mission.
Bandit extermination was a common mission for Genin teams. Being a bandit in the Shinobi world was a tough job.
New graduates, after completing a few D-rank missions, would move on to higher-level missions.
Facing enemy Shinobi directly was out of the question. Sending new graduates against experienced Shinobi was suicide.
But they needed to experience real combat, to kill, to become true Shinobi.
Killing innocent people was unacceptable. Shinobi weren''t executioners. So, bandits were the next best thing. They were a menace, and killing them was a public service.
In the Shinobi world, bandits were both hated and pitied. They were constantly being hunted, serving as stepping stones for new graduates.
Alert: New mission available. View?
The System''s voice echoed in Shin''s mind.
Shin opened the mission panel and saw the bandit extermination mission.
[Bandit Extermination: Eliminate the bandits near Nishi-mura. Reward: One Common Replication Card. Failure: No penalty.] [38] : Marry You If I Cant Find Anyone Else
A System mission! Shin was finally seeing another mission, the first one since arriving in Konoha five years ago.
And a chance to get another Replication Card! Even a Common card was valuable to him.
Currently, he had three Replication Cards.
The System gifted him one card annually. In the past four years, he had received four cards: one Advanced and three Common.
He hadn''t used the Advanced cards yet. They were precious, capable of copying Kekkei Genkai. He had used the Common cards to copy Sharingan prowess.
That was how he had awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. By accumulating enough ocular power through repeated copying, he had forced his Sharingan to evolve.
He had copied the Sharingan prowess of Uchiha J¨­nin seven times. Combined with his own training, that was enough to push his Sharingan to the next level.
Shin immediately accepted the mission. He was going on this mission anyway; getting a Replication Card was a bonus.
"System, will you issue missions that match the missions I take on?"
Shin was excited by the possibility.
If that were the case, he could become a mission master, grinding missions to farm System rewards.
"Do not get your hopes up, Master. There is no pattern to the System''s mission assignments."
The System''s response dashed his hopes, leaving him disappointed.
"Shin, let''s go. What are you daydreaming about?" Kushina nudged him.
Shin snapped back to reality and followed Kushina and Mikoto. They didn''t know he had been communicating with the System.
"Tsunade-san! What a coincidence! We meet again."
A ninja with light blue hair, a handsome face, and a J¨­nin vest greeted Tsunade.
Tsunade frowned. "Kato Dan, this is the fifth time this week. The first time was a coincidence. The second time, maybe. But the third, fourth, and fifth? Really?"
Her bluntness made Dan''s smile falter.
''That''s Kato Dan? Why is Tsunade so cold to him?''
Shin observed Dan.
Dan looked at Shin and the others, seemingly trying to deflect the awkwardness. "These must be your students."
"You''re Uzumaki Shin, right? I''m Kato Dan. Nice to meet you." Dan smiled at Shin.Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site.
But Shin sensed malice. He trusted his instincts.
After awakening the Mind''s Eye of Kagura, he had gained the ability to sense negative emotions directed at him.
Dan might be smiling, but his malice was clear to Shin.
Shin frowned. He had never interacted with Dan before. Why the hostility?
Was it because of Tsunade?
Was he jealous of Shin''s closeness to Tsunade? But that didn''t make sense. Who would be jealous of a ten-year-old?
Whatever the reason, Dan clearly disliked him. Shin wasn''t going to be polite.
He glanced at Dan, then ignored him completely.
Dan''s smile became strained. His eyes flashed with anger, then he turned and left with his team. He was also a J¨­nin-sensei, leading a team of Genin who had graduated last year.
"You don''t seem to like him very much."
Tsunade looked at Shin with amusement. "Are you jealous that he''s talking to me? Do you have a crush on me, little Shin?"
"Even though you''re young, if you confess your feelings, I might be impressed by your courage and give you a chance."
Shin''s lips twitched.
"Tsunade, you''re so self-centered. I was rude to him because he was giving me bad vibes. It has nothing to do with you."
"Yeah, Tsunade, you''re so full of yourself! Shin likes me, don''t you, Shin?" Kushina suddenly clung to Shin''s arm.
"Brat, I gave you a chance, and you didn''t take it."
Tsunade raised her fist playfully, aiming for Shin''s head. He dodged easily.
"Tsunade, with that violent temper, you''ll never get married," Shin teased.
Tsunade scowled. "If I can''t find anyone else, I''ll marry you. And if you refuse, I''ll castrate you."
Shin quickly backed away, feeling a chill in his nether regions.
Kushina''s expression changed. Shin didn''t like violent girls. Should she try to be more gentle?
She glanced at Mikoto, her eyes filled with suspicion.
Mikoto was gentle. Would Shin like her? And from Kushina''s observations, Mikoto seemed to like Shin. She was a rival!
She had thought Tsunade, the "cougar," was her biggest threat, but it seemed Mikoto was the one to watch out for.
Mikoto was confused by Kushina''s sudden hostility. She had no idea what was going on in Kushina''s mind.
"Shin, you said Dan was giving you bad vibes?"
Tsunade looked at Shin.
"Yeah, don''t you believe me?"
Tsunade shook her head. "I believe you. And there''s something else that''s been bothering me."
"What is it?" Shin asked curiously.
"Want to know?"
A mischievous smile spread across Tsunade''s face. Shin had a bad feeling about this.
"If you want to know, come here and let me pinch your cheeks."
"On second thought, I don''t need to know that badly," Shin rolled his eyes.
"Brat, don''t try to weasel your way out of this. You promised to let me pinch your cheeks if I kept your strength a secret."
"What promise? Sorry, I have a bad memory. Kushina, did I promise Tsunade anything?" Shin asked innocently.
"Nope, I don''t remember anything," Kushina shook her head. She wasn''t going to let Tsunade take advantage of Shin.
Tsunade glared at them. These two brats!
"Fine, I''ll tell you. Kato Dan asked me about you a while back. I thought it was strange, but I didn''t think much of it at the time," Tsunade said, giving in.
Shin frowned. Dan had asked about him? They had never even interacted. Why would he do that?
Had he met Dan before? Shin thought it over, but he couldn''t think of anything. He had been keeping a low profile in Konoha.
He didn''t know enough about Dan to understand his motives. ------ Read +39 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [39] : Pitiful Bandits
"Finally out of the village!"
Kushina skipped ahead, a cheerful grin on her face. She hadn''t left Konoha since arriving.
Mikoto also looked around curiously, taking in the sights.
"Hey, it''s more dangerous outside the village. Don''t let your guard down," Tsunade warned.
Most Shinobi died because of carelessness. It was important to be vigilant at all times.
"Okay."
Kushina ran back to Shin, who seemed lost in thought. "Shin, are you still thinking about that guy?" she asked, nudging him.
"Yeah, it''s hard not to."
Shin nodded. He was contemplating how to eliminate Kato Dan. Since Dan harbored ill will towards him, he was an enemy.
And the best way to deal with an enemy was to nip the threat in the bud.
But there was no opportunity in Konoha. If he was discovered, his only option would be to defect.
He was enjoying his life in Konoha; he didn''t want to become a missing-nin, constantly on the run.
"There''s a Shinobi approaching."
Shin turned and looked back.
Tsunade immediately followed his gaze. She didn''t see anyone, but she trusted Shin''s judgment. He had proven himself to be reliable.
Shin''s eyes widened as he saw the approaching Shinobi. It was Kato Dan.
"Tsunade-san, finally caught up to you."
Dan and his three-man team arrived, smiles plastered on their faces.
"What are you doing here, Dan-san?" Tsunade asked coldly.
Dan, unfazed by her hostility, replied smoothly, "The Sandaime Hokage sent me to assist you with your mission."
"Really?" Tsunade eyed him skeptically. Did they really need assistance for a simple bandit extermination mission?
"We don''t need your help. Go back."
Tsunade waved them away dismissively.
Dan feigned a troubled expression. "I apologize, Tsunade-san, but these are the Hokage''s orders. I can''t disobey."
"Tsunade, since it''s the Hokage''s kind intention, let''s accept their help. It''ll make things easier for us" Shin said with a smile, as if welcoming him.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto looked at Shin strangely. They didn''t believe his act for a second.
Dan''s smile faltered. Shin''s expression seemed familiar. It was the same fake smile he himself often wore.
"Fine, follow us. But don''t get in our way," Tsunade said, glancing at Dan and his team.
She didn''t know what Shin was planning, but she decided to play along.
"Dan-san, we look forward to working with you," Shin said with a smile.
"Likewise," Dan replied, mirroring Shin''s expression.
"Ugh, that''s so fake," Kushina muttered, shivering.
Tsunade and Mikoto shared her sentiment.
With Dan and his team tagging along, the atmosphere became awkward. No one spoke.
Shinobi traveled quickly. Within half a day, they reached their destination, Nishi-mura.
"Where are the bandits?" Kushina asked, eager for action.
"Not far from here. See that mountain? According to the mission details, they''re hiding there. Six of them, all civilians."
"Only six?"
Shin was surprised. He had expected a larger group.
But he had overestimated the bandit population. Within Land of Fire, bandits were rare, constantly hunted by Shinobi.
After searching for half an hour, they finally found the bandits. Shin had expected some kind of hideout, but they were living in a cave. How pathetic.
And the six bandits were all skinny and malnourished. Were they really bandits? They looked more like refugees.
"Are those really bandits? They look so pitiful," Kushina said.
"I guess so. That''s what the intel said." Even Tsunade wasn''t sure. If these were bandits, they were the most pathetic bandits she had ever seen.
"Boss, look! Women!"
One of the skinny bandits called out to their leader, a lanky man standing in the middle.
"No shit, I have eyes. Kill the men, keep the women." The leader drew a rusty sword and charged forward.
"Are you brain-dead? Can''t you see we''re Shinobi? Do you not see our forehead protectors?"
Shin was speechless. Fighting these guys was an insult to his skills.
"Mikoto, Kushina, I''ll leave them to you. I believe in you," Shin said.
This mission was mainly for Mikoto and Kushina''s benefit. Shin had killed enemy ninja when he was five.
Kushina and Mikoto were nervous, despite the bandits'' obvious lack of strength.
Even Kushina, who had been eager for action, froze.
"Kushina, Mikoto, if you don''t do something, this guy is going to kill me!"
Shin looked at the bandit leader, who was about to reach him, and sighed dramatically.
"Huh?"
Kushina and Mikoto snapped out of their daze. Seeing the bandit leader about to strike Shin, their eyes turned serious. They threw their Kunai with deadly accuracy.
Thud! Thud!
The bandit leader''s eyes widened as one Kunai pierced his neck and the other his heart.
Mikoto and Kushina ignored the dead bandit and rushed to Shin. "Shin, are you okay? Why didn''t you dodge?"
"If I dodged, you two would have hesitated even longer," Shin said.
"But that was dangerous! What if you got hurt?" Kushina glared at him.
"I didn''t get hurt, did I? And do you really think he could hurt me?"
A malnourished civilian? If that guy could hurt him, he might as well commit suicide.
"You''re not scared at all, are you?" Shin asked with a smile.
Kushina and Mikoto finally looked at the dead bandit. Kushina''s expression was grim, while Mikoto''s was pale.
They had been too worried about Shin to pay attention to the bandit they had killed. Now that the adrenaline was wearing off, the reality of what they had done was sinking in.
Kushina had seen far worse during the destruction of Uzushiogakure, but taking a life, even a bandit''s, still weighed heavily on her.
Mikoto, who hadn''t experienced such trauma, was shaken.
Tsunade remained silent, letting them process their emotions. This was an important step for every Shinobi. [40] : Kato Dan, a Root Member?
"Kushina, Mikoto, they''re getting away!"
Shin pointed at the remaining five bandits, who were fleeing in panic after their leader''s death.
Kushina reacted first. Without using any Jutsu, she threw two Shuriken, killing two bandits instantly.
Mikoto, her initial shock subsiding, activated her Sharingan and unleashed a Fireball Jutsu, incinerating another bandit. She then threw a Kunai, taking out the fourth.
Mikoto might look gentle, but she was a fierce fighter when necessary.
Shin finished off the last bandit with a Kunai.
"Congratulations, Master. Mission complete. Reward: One Common Replication Card."
"Looks like you''ve taken care of the bandits." Kato Dan arrived, having witnessed the last bandit''s death.
Tsunade frowned at him. "I thought you were waiting at the bottom of the mountain. Why are you here?"
Dan hadn''t followed them up the mountain.
"I was a bit worried, so I came to check. It seems the bandits have been dealt with. Your students are quite impressive, Tsunade-san."
Dan said with a smile.
"Dan-san, where are the three Genin you brought with you?"
Shin''s sharp gaze made Dan feel exposed.
"They didn''t come with me. I left them waiting at the bottom," Dan replied, his smile stiffening.
"Dan-san, are you familiar with the Uzumaki Clan''s secret technique, the Mind''s Eye of Kagura? It can sense Chakra within a radius of several dozen kilometers and pinpoint their location."
Dan''s smile faltered, then vanished completely.
"Everyone''s Chakra is unique. I memorized the Chakra signatures of the three Genin you brought with you. But I can''t sense them. Care to explain, Dan-san?"
Tsunade''s eyes narrowed.
She knew about the Mind''s Eye of Kagura. Her grandmother, Mito, had told her about it. It was a powerful sensory technique, comparable to the Byakugan.
She believed Shin. If he couldn''t sense those Genin, there were only two possibilities: they had left, or they were dead.
They couldn''t have left; even she couldn''t cover that much distance in such a short time. That left only one possibility: they were dead.
"Kato Dan, explain yourself." Tsunade was ready to apprehend him.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Tsunade-san, you''re not going to believe this brat, are you?" Dan said, frowning.
"I believe Shin. He''s more trustworthy than you."
Tsunade channeled Chakra to her fist, creating a gust of wind. Dan gulped, his heart pounding.
He knew how strong Tsunade''s punches were. She could kill him with a single blow.
"Also, I sensed five unfamiliar Chakra signatures at the bottom of the mountain. Judging by their strength, they''re at least J¨­nin level, maybe even elite."
Shin stared at Dan. Those five Shinobi were definitely connected to him.
"Looks like I''ve been found out."
Dan dropped the act. There was no point pretending anymore.
His previously gentle expression turned cold. He took out a signal flare and launched it into the air.
"Tsunade, don''t attack yet," Shin stopped her.
"Hey, brat, what are you doing? This guy is clearly up to something. We need to apprehend him..."
"Relax, I''m ready for whatever he throws at us. But first, I have some questions for him."
Shin interrupted Tsunade, his eyes fixed on Dan.
"Dan-san, we have no quarrel. Why do you dislike me so much?"
This was what Shin wanted to know. He hadn''t done anything to provoke Dan.
"I''ll tell you now that I''ve been exposed. It''s Lord Danz¨­''s order. He wants me to bring you back."
Dan glared at Shin.
"Danz¨­? You''re working for Danz¨­?" Shin was surprised.
"That bastard Danz¨­!"
Tsunade clenched her fists in anger. Kushina and Mikoto didn''t know who Danz¨­ was, but they understood that Dan was the enemy. They prepared for battle.
"I can''t believe it. But why would Danz¨­ target me?"
Shin was baffled. He had been keeping a low profile. Why was Danz¨­ interested in him?
Was he simply too dazzling to ignore? Shin couldn''t help but feel a bit narcissistic.
"I don''t know Lord Danz¨­''s reasons. My mission is to bring you back and eliminate Tsunade."
Dan looked at Tsunade.
His mission was twofold: capture Shin and kill Tsunade.
"That bastard wants me dead?" Tsunade was furious. She wanted to pulverize Dan and then tear Danz¨­ apart.
Just then, Dan''s reinforcements arrived: five masked ninja, dressed similarly to Anbu. They were probably Root Members.
Shin''s eyes narrowed as he noticed the only red-haired ninja among them.
"Uzumaki Hikaru, is that you?"
Among the Uzumaki survivors who came to Konoha, besides Shin and Kushina, there were Akiko, Kai, and Hikaru, the only adult.
Shin hadn''t expected him to join Root and become Danz¨­''s lackey.
He suddenly understood why Danz¨­ had targeted him.
Shin''s lineage was a secret. He had both Uzumaki and Uchiha blood. Kushina didn''t know the full details, and neither did Akiko or Kai. They were too young.
But Hikaru knew. If he had told Danz¨­, it would explain his interest in Shin.
He probably wanted to capture Shin for research. After all, who knew what kind of power a combination of Uzumaki and Uchiha blood could produce? Danz¨­ would be intrigued.
As for killing Tsunade, that was also understandable. It would weaken both the Senju Clan and the Sandaime Hokage. Two birds with one stone.
"Shin, you said that''s Uzumaki Hikaru?" Kushina asked, moving closer to Shin.
Shin nodded. His senses couldn''t be wrong. He could sense the Uzumaki''s Sage Body.
The Uzumaki''s Chakra, due to their Sage Body, was different from others. A sensitive sensor could detect it.
Shin, with his Mind''s Eye of Kagura, was practically the best sensor there was. He hadn''t been able to sense Hikaru from a distance, but now that they were close, there was no mistaking it.
"Betrayed by my own clan. How unpleasant." Shin''s eyes glowed red, his three-tomoe Sharingan fixated on Hikaru, killing intent radiating from him. [41] : Killing Elite J艒nin Like Chopping Vegetables
"Sharingan?!"
Everyone was stunned, even Hikaru.
It wasn''t just that Shin had the Sharingan; it was that it was a three-tomoe Sharingan.
"Shin, why do you have the Sharingan?" Tsunade asked, shocked.
Shin scratched his head. "It''s a long story. Let''s deal with these guys first."
"Kushina, Mikoto, stay back," he said to the girls.
The enemies were all J¨­nin level or higher; Kushina and Mikoto wouldn''t be much help.
Seeing his serious expression, they nodded and retreated.
"Uzumaki Hikaru, allow me to release you from this world of suffering. No need to thank me; we''re practically family."
Shin''s three-tomoe Sharingan spun rapidly as he focused on Hikaru.
"Don''t look into his eyes! Beware of Sharingan Genjutsu!" Dan shouted.
But Shin didn''t use Genjutsu. The three tomoe merged, and his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan activated.
"Yomotsu Hirasaka!"
A dark portal opened in front of Shin.
He drew his Kusanagi sword and thrust it into the portal.
Thud!
Hikaru stared in disbelief as a sword pierced his heart from behind. The light faded from his eyes.
Shin withdrew his sword. Hikaru collapsed, a dark portal appearing behind him.
Yomotsu Hirasaka had opened a dimensional path from Shin to Hikaru''s back.
Shin''s sword had passed through the portal, killing Hikaru instantly.
Yomotsu Hirasaka wasn''t just for defense and escape; it was even more effective for offense and surprise attacks.
Hikaru''s instant death shocked Dan. The other four Root Members looked at Shin warily.
"What was that Jutsu?"
Dan had a bad feeling about this. They had only been concerned about Tsunade, but this kid was unexpectedly powerful.
"The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?"
Tsunade was even more shocked than when she first learned Shin had the Sharingan. The Sharingan wasn''t uncommon; the Uchiha Clan was still around. But the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan was rare. As far as she knew, only Madara Uchiha possessed it.
"Seems effective enough." Shin flicked his sword, the blood splattering harmlessly on the ground.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
"Wind Style: Great Breakthrough!"
One of the Root Members unleashed a torrent of flames shaped like a dragon, while another used Wind Release to amplify its power.
Tsunade''s eyes widened. Even she would be in danger if hit by that. Most Shinobi, except for Taijutsu specialists, were physically frail.
Tsunade was skilled in Taijutsu, but that was due to her Strength of a Hundred Seal. Without it, her Taijutsu was average at best. She was primarily a Medical Ninja.
She had to dodge.
As she retreated, she saw Shin standing still, seemingly frozen in fear. She panicked.
"Shin, what are you doing? Dodge!"
She tried to reach him, but it was too late. The fire dragon was upon him.
"Nice teamwork. Now taste your own medicine."
Shin used Yomotsu Hirasaka again, a portal opening in front of him. The fire dragon entered the portal and vanished.
Then, another portal opened above Dan and his team. The fire dragon emerged, roaring towards them.
They were too close, caught completely off guard. Two died instantly, and three were severely injured. Dan survived, but he suffered extensive burns, his hair and face singed.
"That''s some power. A B-rank Jutsu, amplified by Wind Release, reaching A-rank level."
Shin observed the damage with a critical eye.
Thwack!
Tsunade smacked him on the head, glaring at him.
"Are you trying to give me a heart attack?!"
She wanted to hit him again, but Shin dodged.
"I''m fine, aren''t I?"
"Shin!"
Kushina launched herself at Shin, tears in her eyes, and hugged him tightly. She had been terrified.
"Shin, are you hurt?" Mikoto checked him for injuries.
"I''m fine. Not a single hair out of place. Tsunade, hurry up and attack! They''re getting away!"
Shin pointed at Dan and the two surviving Root Members, who were trying to flee.
The two who had died, including Hikaru, were J¨­nin. Dan and the other two were elite J¨­nin. Their experience had allowed them to survive the surprise attack.
But they knew they were outmatched. They were retreating.
Tsunade glared at them, her face contorted in anger. Trying to run? Not so fast.
If it weren''t for Shin''s unexpected strength, they would be dead.
She couldn''t take on three elite J¨­nin alone.
They could even kill her if they worked together. She wasn''t at her peak yet.
And if Dan''s plan hadn''t been exposed, he could have launched a surprise attack and killed her easily.
Danz¨­ had sent a strong team, a testament to how much he valued Tsunade''s life.
But he hadn''t anticipated Shin''s strength. He probably hadn''t even considered Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto as threats. This time, he had miscalculated.
Three elite J¨­nin and three regular J¨­nin. Danz¨­ had suffered a significant loss, especially with Kato Dan, who was likely a valuable asset.
Tsunade charged forward, intercepting one of the fleeing elite J¨­nin. Dan and the other elite J¨­nin split up, escaping in different directions. Tsunade couldn''t stop them both.
"Three elite J¨­nin, running away like scared dogs. How pathetic."
Shin watched them go. He had to act now, or they would escape.
Yomotsu Hirasaka!
He stepped through a portal, appearing behind one of the fleeing J¨­nin. His sword flashed, slicing the man in two.
"Aah!"
Kushina screamed. It was a gruesome sight.
She had followed Shin through the portal.
Shin looked at the bisected corpse, blood pooling on the ground. It was indeed gory.
He hadn''t meant to be so brutal, but it was his first time killing with a sword. He hadn''t controlled his strength properly. And the Kusanagi sword was incredibly sharp.
But still, he had just killed an elite J¨­nin. It had been as easy as chopping vegetables.
With Space-Time Ninjutsu and his lightning-fast swordsmanship, killing was a simple matter, especially against weaker opponents. It was a massacre. [42] : Killing Kato Dan! Return to the Village
After killing the elite J¨­nin, Shin used Yomotsu Hirasaka to return to Mikoto and Kushina.
Mikoto sighed in relief when she saw them.
"Kushina, what''s wrong?"
She noticed Kushina''s pale face and worried she might be injured.
Kushina glared at Shin, then shook her head at Mikoto.
"I''m fine. Just a bit queasy after seeing that... mess."
"Shin, Kato Dan got away," Mikoto reported.
Shin looked in the direction Dan had fled. Despite his injuries, the elite J¨­nin was still fast.
"Let him run. Some people run in circles," Shin said cryptically.
He then turned his attention to the elite J¨­nin fighting Tsunade.
Tsunade had the upper hand, but the J¨­nin was holding his own with his superior experience.
"Too slow, Tsunade. Let me help."
"Flash Slash!"
Without using Yomotsu Hirasaka, relying solely on his speed, Shin appeared next to the J¨­nin in a flash. His Kusanagi sword blurred, too fast for even Tsunade to see.
When Shin sheathed his sword, the J¨­nin collapsed, eight fatal wounds appearing on his body.
Tsunade gasped. It had taken less than a second, and Shin had landed eight blows in that time.
"You have to be decisive in battle. If you fought like that, I''d finish my dinner before you finished your opponent," Shin said, half-teasing, half-boasting.
Tsunade was speechless. Was that really an elite J¨­nin he had just killed?
Elite J¨­nin were veterans, the strongest forces in each village. Killing one was no easy feat.
But Shin had done it in under a second.
And his speed... even she couldn''t have dodged that.
"Shin, are you a monster? How are you so strong?" Tsunade asked, bewildered.
"Monster? What are you talking about? I''m a genius. A hardworking genius."
Shin looked indignant.
"I have talent, I work ten times harder than anyone else, and I have cheats. Why wouldn''t I be strong?"You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version.
Tsunade stared at him, speechless. He had a point. But what did he mean by "cheats?"
"What about Kato Dan and the other elite J¨­nin?"
Tsunade decided to ignore the "cheats" comment for now.
"The other elite J¨­nin is dead. Dan is still running."
"He got away?" Tsunade frowned.
"I said he''s still running, not that he got away. Some people run in circles, remember?"
Shin activated Yomotsu Hirasaka, opening a portal in front of them. Kato Dan stumbled out of the portal.
He stared at Shin and Tsunade, his burned face contorted in confusion.
As he had been fleeing, a portal had suddenly appeared in front of him. He had been too close to stop and had run straight into it.
"Not so fast, Dan. Try running now. If you escape, I''ll admit defeat."
Shin smirked. With the Mind''s Eye of Kagura and Yomotsu Hirasaka, there was no way Dan could escape.
Dan was in a tough spot. He couldn''t use his Spirit Transformation Jutsu here.
If he did, he''d be killed instantly. It was a technique meant for stealth and surprise attacks.
"Well, I''m done playing with you." Shin launched a Rasengan, piercing Dan''s chest. Dan didn''t even have time to react.
This confirmed Shin''s suspicions. He could take on Kage-level opponents now and kill elite J¨­nin with ease.
Even Kage couldn''t kill elite J¨­nin so effortlessly. Shin could do it because of his speed.
Speed was unmatched. Even a Kage, caught off guard, could be killed by Shin in an instant.
"Shin, why did you kill him?"
Tsunade looked at Dan''s lifeless body.
"No point keeping him alive. Don''t tell me you were hoping to use him as evidence against Danz¨­? That''s pointless."
"Why?"
Tsunade had indeed been thinking that. She wanted Danz¨­ to pay for this.
Shin didn''t know how to explain. Why? Because even with evidence, Hiruzen wouldn''t punish Danz¨­.
Besides, Dan was a Root Member. Knowing Danz¨­, he would have implanted some kind of safeguard in Dan. He wouldn''t be able to reveal anything.
"You think you can take down the Hokage''s advisor with just Kato Dan? And do you really think he''d be able to say anything? Even if everything went perfectly, would the Sandaime actually punish Danz¨­?"
Shin''s questions stumped Tsunade. Even with evidence, knowing her teacher, he wouldn''t do anything to Danz¨­.
"Let''s dispose of the bodies and pretend this never happened," Shin said.
"But the Sandaime approved their involvement. Won''t he ask about them?" Mikoto asked.
"Mikoto, you really believed Dan''s lies? I guarantee you, the Sandaime never sent him to help us," Shin said with a smile.
The Sandaime wouldn''t send reinforcements for a C-rank mission. Dan had been lying.
"Tsunade, you realized that too, right?" Shin looked at her.
"Ahem, yes, of course."
Tsunade blushed slightly. Whether she had actually realized it or not was another matter.
Shin used the Fireball Jutsu to incinerate the bodies, leaving no trace. Then they returned to Konoha.
Shin opened a Yomotsu Hirasaka portal, and they appeared near the village.
"That Space-Time Ninjutsu can cover such a distance? That''s convenient," Tsunade remarked.
"By the way, where did you learn that Jutsu?"
"It''s my Mangeky¨­ Sharingan ability," Shin pointed at his eyes.
Tsunade opened her mouth, wanting to ask about his Sharingan, but hesitated.
It was probably a sensitive topic.
Shin noticed her hesitation.
"Want to know about my Sharingan?"
"Yes, but if you don''t want to talk about it, I won''t pry."
"I''ll tell you everything when we get back."
Shin wasn''t planning on hiding it. If he were, he wouldn''t have used his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan in the first place. [43] : Helping Mikoto Awaken Her Two-Tomoe Sharingan
Back in the village, they went to the mission assignment desk and completed their mission, receiving their reward.
The reward for a C-rank mission was 10,000 Ryo. It wasn''t much, especially since it had to be split four ways.
2,500 Ryo each. Enough for a month''s worth of living expenses, but for a Shinobi, that barely covered the cost of replenishing their ninja tools.
After completing the mission, they returned to Tsunade''s house, Mikoto tagging along.
Seeing Tsunade and Kushina staring at him expectantly, Shin cleared his throat.
"I know you''re curious about my Sharingan. There''s no need to hide it anymore. I have Uchiha blood."
Shin explained his lineage, revealing that his mother was an Uzumaki, but his father was an Uchiha.
"So your father was an Uchiha. Do you know his name?" Tsunade asked curiously.
Shin glared at her. "Don''t be so nosy. I don''t know who he is, and I don''t care. Besides, he''s dead."
He might have feelings for his mother in this life, but he felt nothing for his father. He had never even met the man.
"Mikoto, you can stay here for now," Tsunade said.
Seeing Mikoto''s confusion, she explained, "It''ll be easier for me to train you here. And it''s also to protect you from Danz¨­."
Tsunade knew Danz¨­ was ruthless. After suffering such a loss, who knew what he might do?
"Tsunade''s right, Mikoto. Stay here for now," Shin agreed.
He had been about to suggest the same thing.
He knew Danz¨­ even better than Tsunade. If Mikoto wasn''t under their protection, she might be in danger.
Even within Konoha, Danz¨­ wouldn''t hesitate to act. He knew that even if Hiruzen found out, the punishment would be a slap on the wrist.
"Tsunade, you should be careful too," Shin warned.
Tsunade was strong, but she wasn''t Kage level yet. If Danz¨­ wanted to eliminate her, he could easily send a few elite J¨­nin.
If it weren''t for Shin, Tsunade would have been killed.
"Danz¨­ wouldn''t dare attack me within Konoha," Tsunade said confidently.
She was right. Danz¨­ might try something outside the village, but within Konoha, he wouldn''t risk it.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story.
Killing an elite J¨­nin quickly was difficult. Not everyone was Shin. Even Danz¨­ himself couldn''t take down Tsunade quickly.
And if he couldn''t finish her off quickly, other Konoha Shinobi would intervene. Even Hiruzen wouldn''t be able to protect Danz¨­ then. Attacking the Senju Clan princess? What was he thinking?
The Senju Clan might have declined, but they weren''t extinct. They still held influence in Konoha.
"Shin, how did you awaken the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan? I thought only Madara Uchiha had it."
Tsunade was curious.
"Madara''s isn''t a normal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. It''s the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. And awakening the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan is simple."
Tsunade''s lips twitched. Simple? Then why couldn''t so many Uchiha awaken it?
Mikoto looked at Shin with curiosity. As an Uchiha, she had heard of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, but no one knew how to awaken it.
"Emotional turmoil. If your emotions are intense enough, your Sharingan will evolve."
Emotional turmoil was the key to awakening the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. In the original story, everyone who awakened it had experienced intense emotional trauma.
Itachi Uchiha witnessed Shisui Uchiha''s suicide, which triggered his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. Obito Uchiha saw his beloved Rin Nohara die, and his Sharingan jumped from two-tomoe to Mangeky¨­.
Shin''s Mangeky¨­ Sharingan awakening, while not triggered by trauma, was still related to his mental state.
"If you see your loved one die in front of you, awakening the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan is almost guaranteed."
"That''s brutal," Tsunade frowned.
"How did you awaken yours then?"
"Ahem, I have my methods. Not something people can replicate."
The System had played a significant role in his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan awakening. Without it, he would have awakened it two years later.
"Fine, keep your secrets. Can you help Mikoto evolve her Sharingan?" Tsunade asked.
Mikoto looked at Shin hopefully. The Sharingan was a powerful asset for an Uchiha.
Evolving the Sharingan also increased Chakra and overall strength.
"I can, but it''s a bit... unpleasant."
Shin looked at Mikoto, considering his options.
Mikoto had a bad feeling about this, but she was determined to become stronger. She gritted her teeth.
"Shin, please."
"Mikoto, are you sure? Don''t blame me later," Shin warned.
Mikoto nodded resolutely.
"Let''s go outside then."
Tsunade and Kushina followed, curious.
"Yomotsu Hirasaka."
Shin activated his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan and opened a portal.
"Go on, Mikoto."
Mikoto, trusting Shin completely, stepped through the portal.
She vanished. Seeing Tsunade and Kushina''s confused expressions, Shin pointed upwards.
They looked up and saw Mikoto falling from the sky.
The portal had deposited her hundreds of meters in the air.
Mikoto was terrified. Even a Kage would be scared falling from that height, let alone a new Genin.
Her Sharingan activated instinctively. As the ground rushed towards her, her fear peaked. The single tomoe in her eyes spun rapidly, then another tomoe appeared.
She had awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan.
But she didn''t have time to celebrate. She was about to die!
Just before she hit the ground, another portal appeared, and she fell through.
The portal reappeared in front of Shin. Mikoto stumbled out, almost falling, but Shin caught her.
"Mikoto, are you alright?"
Mikoto was still in shock, her mind reeling from the near-death experience. [44] : Mikotos "Gratitude"
"Mikoto, your Sharingan has evolved to two-tomoe!"
Kushina exclaimed. Even Tsunade was surprised. Shin had actually done it.
Mikoto, who had been in a daze, finally snapped back to reality, her face pale.
"Mikoto, are you alright?" Shin asked cautiously.
He knew she wasn''t in any real danger, but his method wasn''t exactly pleasant.
But there was no easy way to force the Sharingan to evolve. Gain came with pain.
"I''m fine," Mikoto said through gritted teeth, glaring at Shin.
"Ahaha, that''s good."
Shin chuckled nervously. Mikoto looked like she wanted to eat him alive. Was it just his imagination?
Mikoto tried to calm her racing heart. She was still shaken.
"Mikoto, I could probably help you awaken the three-tomoe Sharingan too. Maybe two more falls, and you''ll have it. Want to try?"
Mikoto took a step back. No way. She couldn''t handle that again. She''d rather stick with the two-tomoe Sharingan.
"No, thank you. I''ll awaken it on my own," she said quickly.
"Is it really that scary?" Kushina asked.
Mikoto looked at her. "You should try it, Kushina. Then you''ll know."
"No, thank you."
Kushina had watched Mikoto fall from the sky; just thinking about experiencing it herself made her shudder.
Mikoto might have been terrified, but the results were worth it. Her Chakra had doubled, and with her two-tomoe Sharingan, she was now comparable to an elite Chunin.
Shin was a bit disappointed that Mikoto refused, but he quickly moved on. He was about to go train when Tsunade stopped him.
"Tsunade, what is it?" Shin asked.
"You said Madara Uchiha doesn''t have the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, but the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. What''s that? An evolved form of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?"
She had forgotten about this earlier, but now she remembered.
"Yes, the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan is an evolved form of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. You didn''t know that?"
Shin was surprised. The Senju and Uchiha were mortal enemies; how could she not know about Madara''s Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?
"Is it that strange that I don''t know?"Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Tsunade glared at him. "How do you know about it?"
"I, uh... I just do." Shin didn''t know how to answer.
Tsunade gave him a knowing look. She had known from the beginning that he had many secrets.
But she wouldn''t pry. If he didn''t want to tell her, she wouldn''t ask.
Changing the subject, she asked, "What''s the difference between the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan and the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan?"
"The difference is huge. First, the ocular power. If the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan''s ocular power is a river, the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan''s is an ocean."
"The Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan can use the Perfect Susanoo, while the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan can''t due to insufficient ocular power."
"Also, the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan can be used without limitations, while the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan can''t. The ocular power it consumes doesn''t regenerate. Overuse leads to vision loss and eventually blindness."
"What? You''re saying the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan can cause blindness?!"
Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto exclaimed in unison.
"Don''t worry, I''m special. I won''t go blind," Shin reassured them, seeing the concern in their eyes.
"Really?" Kushina looked at him skeptically. "Don''t lie to us."
"I swear, if I''m lying, I''m a puppy."
Kushina finally believed him.
"Don''t worry, I have a way to evolve my Sharingan. I''m going to train now."
Shin left to train. Mikoto checked the time and went to the kitchen to cook. Kushina and Tsunade were left staring at each other.
Soon, Mikoto finished cooking and went to call Shin for dinner.
"Smells delicious," Shin said as he entered, inhaling the aroma. Mikoto might be young, but she was a great cook.
"Shin, I made this chicken soup for you. It''s to thank you for helping me awaken my two-tomoe Sharingan."
"No need for thanks, Mikoto. We''re friends; we don''t need such formalities," Shin said with a smile.
"Friends? What kind of friends?" Kushina interjected, glaring at Shin.
"Teammates, of course. What else would we be?" Shin said innocently.
"That soup smells amazing."
Kushina reached for a bowl, but Mikoto swatted her hand away.
"Kushina, this is for Shin. Only he can have it. It''s my way of thanking him. You have to finish it all, Shin," Mikoto said seriously.
"Hmph, who cares? I don''t even want any," Kushina pouted.
"Since it''s Mikoto''s kind gesture, I''ll finish it all," Shin said, taking the bowl from Mikoto.
The aroma was enticing; it must be delicious.
He blew on the soup to cool it down and took a sip. His face contorted. It was incredibly salty!
"What''s wrong? Don''t you like it?" Mikoto asked with a smile.
Shin looked at her. Was it just his imagination, or was her smile a bit creepy?
Tsunade, eating quietly, glanced at Shin''s face and immediately knew something was wrong with the soup. No wonder Mikoto wouldn''t let them have any.
"Mikoto, it''s a bit salty," Shin said with a wry smile. He understood now. This wasn''t gratitude; it was revenge.
Mikoto was still holding a grudge for the way he had helped her awaken her Sharingan.
"Salty? Just drink more water then," Mikoto said cheerfully.
Shin stared at her. Was she a demon? This wasn''t the sweet Mikoto he knew.
"Mikoto, I helped you awaken your Sharingan, and this is how you repay me?" Shin sighed dramatically.
"You almost scared me to death!" Mikoto glared at him. She still had nightmares about that experience.
"Ahem, it was all part of the process. And look, you have your two-tomoe Sharingan now."
Shin coughed awkwardly. He had been a bit harsh.
"Fine, I''ll finish the soup." He looked at Mikoto''s vengeful expression and sighed.
"Don''t. I might have gone a bit overboard with the salt," Mikoto admitted, taking the soup away.
"You''re too kind, Mikoto," Shin said with a grin.
Mikoto blushed and glared at him playfully.
Kushina watched their exchange, a pang of jealousy in her heart. [45] : Danz艒s Fury
"Kushina, where are you going?"
Mikoto asked as Kushina headed out the door.
"Mikoto, I have something to discuss with Shin. You can go to bed," Kushina said, a slight tremor in her voice.
"Nope."
Mikoto blocked her path, shaking her head.
"Tsunade-sensei told me to keep an eye on you and make sure you don''t sneak out at night, especially to Shin''s room."
Kushina gritted her teeth. Tsunade was so mean! And Mikoto too!
In the end, Kushina couldn''t escape Mikoto''s watchful eye and had to return to her room, fuming.
The next morning, Shin woke up early, but someone was already up before him.
"Morning, Mikoto."
"Shin, you''re awake! I''ll go make breakfast."
"No, wait until Tsunade and Kushina wake up. Who knows when they''ll grace us with their presence? They''re both lazy."
"It''s not wise to gossip about people behind their backs, especially when they''re within earshot." Tsunade''s voice was cold.
"Shin, did I just hear you call me lazy?" Kushina glared at him.
Shin was speechless. Had the sun risen in the west today? Why were they up so early?
"Ahem, I''m going to practice Kenjutsu. Can''t let my skills get rusty. See you later."
Shin made a quick escape, using Yomotsu Hirasaka to teleport away before Tsunade could catch him.
He returned half an hour later for breakfast. Seeing Tsunade and Kushina''s icy expressions, he decided to change the subject.
"Tsunade, should we go on a mission today?"
"It''s up to you. If you want to go, we can. If not, I wouldn''t mind taking a break."
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto exchanged glances. Kushina and Mikoto looked at Shin expectantly.
It was his decision. If he wanted to go on a mission, they would.
Shin thought it over. "Can we take a B-rank mission?" he asked Tsunade.
C-rank missions rarely involved combat against ninja. Kushina and Mikoto needed to fight real Shinobi to gain experience.This tale has been pilfered from Royal Road. If found on Amazon, kindly file a report.
He also needed to face stronger opponents to improve.
But finding opponents who could challenge him was difficult. He could kill elite J¨­nin like they were nothing. Even a quasi-Kage would be a walk in the park. He needed Kage-level opponents.
A ten-year-old Kage? That would be a record. Shin didn''t believe anyone his age was as strong as him. After all, he had cheats. Even the Sage of Six Paths'' sons wouldn''t be his match at this age.
"A B-rank mission? Impossible. The Sandaime won''t allow it. The C-rank mission was already an exception."
Tsunade shook her head. They were Genin fresh out of the Academy. The C-rank mission was only approved because of her.
"If that''s the case, we might as well stay in Konoha and train."
Shin decided to skip the missions. They didn''t need the money; there was no point doing those pointless missions.
...
In the Root base, Danz¨­''s face was dark with fury.
"You''re saying Tsunade and those brats returned?"
"Yes, Danz¨­-sama. They completed their mission."
"What about Kato Dan? Any news?" Danz¨­ was livid. He had sent such a strong force, yet Tsunade had returned, and they hadn''t captured that Uzumaki Shin brat.
"No news. They haven''t returned."
Danz¨­''s anger subsided, replaced by a frown. He had sent them to kill Tsunade. She was back, but they weren''t. And there was no news? Something must have happened.
"Investigate. And don''t let Sarutobi find out," Danz¨­ ordered the Root Member.
After the Member left, Danz¨­ slammed his fist on the table, his anger boiling over.
Three elite J¨­nin and three regular J¨­nin, gone without a trace. How could he not be furious?
"Sarutobi Hiruzen, I hope you''re not involved in this." Danz¨­''s eyes narrowed. He suspected Hiruzen had something to do with this.
If it were just Tsunade, he was confident she would be dead. That was why he suspected Hiruzen''s involvement.
Perhaps his actions had been discovered.
He didn''t suspect Shin. After all, Shin was only ten. Who would think a child could be that strong?
So, he blamed Hiruzen for interfering with his plans.
Shin, of course, had no idea about Danz¨­''s suspicions. If he knew, he would have laughed.
Let Danz¨­ and Hiruzen fight amongst themselves. Neither of them were good people.
Shin and his team were training, with Tsunade overseeing them.
Well, she was overseeing Kushina and Mikoto. She couldn''t train Shin; he was stronger than her.
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
Shin threw the Rasenshuriken. It struck the wooden target and exploded, obliterating the target and leaving a massive crater in the ground. The Chakra storm raged for a while.
"Finally perfected it."
Shin was satisfied. He had created thousands of Shadow Clones to research and refine the Rasenshuriken, and now it was complete.
The Rasenshuriken was a Jutsu Naruto had developed from the Rasengan. It was powerful, but it had drawbacks.
It was unstable, required close-range combat, and had the side effect of damaging the user''s arm. It was classified as an S-rank forbidden Jutsu.
But those were the drawbacks of the incomplete version. In the original story, Naruto had overcome those weaknesses after mastering Sage Mode.
Shin didn''t have Sage Mode, but that didn''t stop him from perfecting the Rasenshuriken.
The key to the Rasenshuriken was stability. With enough control, the Jutsu wouldn''t harm the user.
Shin''s Rasenshuriken caught Tsunade''s attention.
"What was that Jutsu?" she asked, stunned.
"I developed it. It''s a combination of the Rasengan and Wind Release. Not bad, huh?" Shin grinned.
Tsunade was speechless. This Jutsu was S-rank level, and Shin had developed it? She felt a pang of jealousy. This kid was a monster! How could common Shinobi like her compete? [46] : Making Tsunade Call Me Teacher
"Shin, that Jutsu is incredible! I want to learn it!"
Kushina''s eyes sparkled as she witnessed the destructive power of Wind Style: Rasenshuriken.
Shin shook his head. "Kushina, it''s not that I don''t want to teach you, but you''re not ready for this Jutsu yet."
"Kushina, S-rank Jutsu are beyond your reach for now. They''re not easy to learn," Tsunade added.
S-rank Jutsu were powerful, but also difficult to master. The Rasenshuriken was no exception; it was an S-rank forbidden Jutsu.
Training in the Rasenshuriken was risky; you could easily injure yourself.
"The Rasenshuriken transforms Wind Release Chakra into microscopic needles that attack the opponent''s cells directly. Even if it doesn''t kill them, it can cause paralysis."
"But it has drawbacks. If you lose control during training, you can injure yourself. And the incomplete Rasenshuriken can''t be thrown, so you risk getting caught in the blast."
"It''s best to use Shadow Clones to train in this Jutsu."
Shin explained the intricacies of the Rasenshuriken.
He had used Shadow Clones to develop and refine the Jutsu before attempting to use it himself.
But if Kushina used Shadow Clones to train, she would run out of Chakra quickly.
She wasn''t ready for this Jutsu yet.
"The Chakra consumption is immense. Even with your large reserves, Kushina, you can''t handle it. Let''s wait until you''re older."
"Fine."
Kushina wasn''t too disappointed.
"But Tsunade can learn it." Shin looked at Tsunade.
Tsunade had enough Chakra. As a Senju, she also possessed the Sage Body. While it wasn''t as potent as Shin''s, her Chakra reserves were still massive.
Despite being an elite J¨­nin, her Chakra volume was several times greater than Hiruzen''s.
A Shinobi with the Sage Body rarely had Chakra issues. And those with the Perfect Sage Body had Chakra overflowing.
"You''re going to teach me this Jutsu?" Tsunade looked at Shin, surprised.
This wasn''t some common Jutsu; it was an S-rank! Was this kid really interested in her?
"If you don''t want to learn it, that''s fine. It''s just an S-rank Jutsu. Nothing special to me."This book''s true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.
Shin shrugged nonchalantly.
He wasn''t boasting. The Rasenshuriken was powerful, but there were stronger Jutsu out there.
"Of course I want to learn it! It''s an S-rank Jutsu!"
Even Tsunade couldn''t resist the allure of an S-rank Jutsu.
"In that case, call me Shin-sensei." Shin grinned.
"You''re looking for a beating!!" Tsunade raised her fist playfully.
Shin dodged easily. Tsunade''s punches were slow to him.
"Damn it."
Tsunade was annoyed that she couldn''t land a hit on him.
"Come on, Tsunade. This is a great opportunity. One ''sensei'' for an S-rank Jutsu."
Kushina egged her on.
"Mikoto, don''t you think so too?" Kushina nudged Mikoto.
"Yes, I think Tsunade-sensei is getting a great deal," Mikoto agreed with a smile. She and Kushina were enjoying this.
Tsunade snorted. An S-rank Jutsu for calling this brat ''sensei''? No way.
"Shin-sensei."
Well, it seemed no one was immune to the allure of a good deal, not even Tsunade.
Shin was surprised. He had been joking. He hadn''t expected her to actually call him ''sensei.''
Knowing Tsunade''s personality, this was hard to believe.
"What? Do you want to get punched?"
Tsunade blushed under their gazes. Calling Shin ''sensei'' felt like a loss of dignity.
"Since you''ve made such a sacrifice, Tsunade, I''ll teach you the Rasenshuriken," Shin said with a grin.
Tsunade gritted her teeth. She felt like kicking herself. Why had she called him ''sensei''?
If she could turn back time, she would take it back and punch Shin instead.
Seeing her anger, Shin coughed and started explaining the key points of the Rasenshuriken.
"So I need to learn the Rasengan first?"
"Yes, the Rasengan is the Basics of the Rasenshuriken. You can''t use the Rasenshuriken without mastering the Rasengan," Shin confirmed.
He had already taught Tsunade the Rasengan, but she hadn''t mastered it yet. It wasn''t that difficult, though. She should be able to learn it in a few days.
"By the way, Tsunade, as the Senju Clan princess, you shouldn''t be lacking in S-rank Jutsu, right?"
"Who said I wasn''t? I could get my hands on Wood Release S-rank Jutsu, but the other S-rank Jutsu are sealed in the Forbidden Scroll by my grandfather."
Tsunade explained.
She couldn''t use Wood Release. Besides Hashirama, no one else could.
And the other S-rank Jutsu developed by Tobirama, like the Flying Thunder God Jutsu and the Edo Tensei, were sealed in the Forbidden Scroll.
Even if they weren''t, she might not be able to learn them.
The Flying Thunder God Jutsu required a talent for Space-Time Ninjutsu, and the Edo Tensei was a complex forbidden Jutsu.
"By the way, Shin, don''t reveal this S-rank Jutsu to anyone," Tsunade said seriously.
S-rank Jutsu were rare and coveted by even Kage-level Shinobi.
Revealing it could be dangerous, especially with Danz¨­ around. She didn''t trust him not to try and steal it.
"Don''t worry, I won''t reveal it. And most people wouldn''t even force me to use it."
Unless something unexpected happened, Shin wouldn''t be facing any truly strong opponents for now. And against ordinary Genin, Chunin, or even J¨­nin, he wouldn''t need the Rasenshuriken.
It was much faster to just kill them with his sword.
Tsunade nodded, reassured.
"If only Nawaki was half as strong as you, I wouldn''t have to worry. I wonder how he''s doing with Orochimaru."
At that moment, a certain boy who was shoveling manure sneezed.
"Is someone thinking about me?" Nawaki wondered, then continued his task.
As for why he was shoveling manure, Orochimaru had accepted a mission to clean up a farm, which included cleaning up the animal droppings. It was certainly an interesting mission choice. [47] : Nawaki, Are You Here to Disgust Us?
After a day of training, Shin rubbed his stomach. He was hungry.
"Let''s call it a day. I''m starving."
He announced to the girls, who were sprawled on the ground, exhausted.
"No wonder you''re so strong. You have endless stamina," Tsunade said, panting.
She was exhausted. They had been training intensely for half a day, following Shin''s lead, and they were worn out. Shin, however, seemed perfectly fine.
"Don''t compare yourselves to me. I have an advantage," Shin said.
The regenerative ability of his Perfect Sage Body was incredible. Unless the training was excessively intense, he wouldn''t feel tired. He was like a perpetual motion machine.
As they were about to head back, they saw a figure approaching in the distance.
"It''s Nawaki."
Shin''s eyesight was excellent; he recognized Nawaki from afar.
"Shin! Sis! There you are!"
Nawaki approached with a cheerful grin, as if he had just won the lottery.
"Nawaki, you seem happy. Did you find some money?" Shin asked.
"No, but I earned some! And quite a bit, too! I''m treating you all to dinner today!"
Nawaki announced excitedly. He seemed genuinely happy.
But Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto all took a step back. Even Shin instinctively moved away.
"Nawaki, why do you stink?" Tsunade asked, wrinkling her nose.
"Stink? Do I?" Nawaki sniffed himself, but he couldn''t smell anything.
It wasn''t that his sense of smell was faulty; he was simply used to it. He had been exposed to foul odors all day.
"Nawaki, did you fall into a latrine?" Kushina asked suspiciously, taking another step back.
"No, I was just shoveling manure all afternoon."
As soon as he said that, Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto retreated even further. Even Shin moved away.
"Nawaki, are you crazy? Why were you shoveling manure?" Shin asked, incredulous.
"I didn''t want to! But Orochimaru-sensei took a mission to clean up a farm, and that included shoveling manure. What could I do?"
Nawaki said with a grimace. He didn''t want to fail his first mission, so he endured the unpleasant task. And the reward was generous for a D-rank mission, comparable to a C-rank.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
Shin looked at Nawaki with sympathy. Orochimaru had certainly chosen an interesting mission.
"I earned a lot, so I wanted to celebrate. Yakiniku, on me!" Nawaki declared grandly.
Tsunade''s face darkened.
"Nawaki, couldn''t you have at least taken a bath and changed clothes before coming here? You''re not here to treat us; you''re here to disgust us."
Nawaki was bewildered. He was offering to treat them to Yakiniku; why were they reacting like this?
But with the stench emanating from him, no one had any appetite. Even Shin, who had been hungry, felt his stomach churn.
"Shin, why are they looking at me like that?"
Nawaki didn''t understand the murderous glares he was receiving.
Shin shook his head. "Let''s do this another time, Nawaki. We''re not up for it today."
Shin rejected his offer. Nawaki was both disappointed and relieved. Disappointed that they weren''t accepting his offer, but relieved that he got to keep his money.
Nawaki left, dejected, chased away by Tsunade.
"Orochimaru has no shame, taking a mission like that. Only he would do such a thing," Tsunade grumbled.
"Are we still having dinner? I''ve lost my appetite," Kushina said.
"Of course we''re eating. We''ll starve if we don''t."
Shin wasn''t going to let a little smell ruin his dinner.
Food was important, especially for training. Even with his Perfect Sage Body, he needed to eat.
In the end, only Shin ate dinner that night. Kushina and the others had no appetite.
"Mikoto, you''re living here now. Won''t the Uchiha Clan say anything?" Shin asked.
Mikoto shook her head.
"I''m practically invisible in the Uchiha Clan. No one will say anything."
Mikoto might be pretty, but in the world of Shinobi, beauty wasn''t everything. Her quiet personality made her blend in.
"Don''t worry, no one will say anything about my student," Tsunade said confidently.
Shin rolled his eyes. She made it sound like she was some kind of big shot.
"Hey, brat, are you looking down on me?"
Tsunade caught his expression and glared at him.
"Haha, you''re mistaken. I was just thinking how amazing you are," Shin said, trying to appease her.
"Amazing? Shin is way more amazing than you!" Kushina declared.
Shin glared at Kushina. Was she trying to get him in trouble?
"Kushina, do you want to taste my fist?" Tsunade threatened.
"What are you going to do?"
Kushina hid behind Shin, glaring at Tsunade.
"Come here, I''ll punch you so hard, you''ll be crying in bed," Tsunade taunted.
"Threatening me? You think you''re so great? Give me three years, and I''ll surpass you!" Kushina retorted.
Shin''s lips twitched. Was Kushina challenging Tsunade to a duel in three years?
But even in three years, Kushina wouldn''t be a match for Tsunade.
Unless she became the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki and could perfectly control its power, defeating Tsunade within three years was impossible.
But Kushina couldn''t become the Jinch¨±riki now. The position was already filled.
And even if she did become the Jinch¨±riki, controlling the Nine-Tails'' power was no easy feat.
"Heh, fine. I''ll be waiting. But that doesn''t mean I can''t beat you up now."
Tsunade hadn''t given up on teaching Kushina a lesson. She approached Kushina with a mischievous grin.
"Shin, help!"
Kushina was scared of that grin. She clung to Shin.
"Even Shin can''t help you now. I''m going to teach you some manners, little girl."
Tsunade reached for Kushina.
"Come on, Tsunade, why are you bullying Kushina? She''s still weak. There''s no satisfaction in that," Shin said, stopping her.
"Hmph, I knew you''d protect her." Tsunade let Kushina go, giving Shin face.
Kushina bit Shin''s arm lightly. What did he mean by "she''s still weak?" That was insulting! [48] : Copying the Kurama Clans Kekkei Genkai
"Tsunade, do you know of any Kekkei Genkai users in Konoha?"
Shin asked Tsunade during breakfast the next morning.
Tsunade looked at him curiously. "Kekkei Genkai are rare in the Shinobi World. There aren''t many in Konoha."
"There''s the Uchiha Clan''s Sharingan, the Hy¨±ga Clan''s Byakugan, the Senju Clan''s Sage Body, your Uzumaki Clan, and... the Kurama Clan."
Shin''s eyes lit up when he heard the name "Kurama Clan." He had completely forgotten about them.
Thanks to Tsunade''s reminder, he remembered. The Kurama Clan possessed a powerful Kekkei Genkai: Five Senses Control.
A Genjutsu that could control the five senses and even turn illusions into reality. It was the pinnacle of Yin Release.
Yin Release could create form out of nothingness, while Yang Release could breathe life into form. Together, they could create life.
Shin didn''t know if this Five Senses Control was comparable to Aizen S¨­suke''s Ky¨­ka Suigetsu from Bleach, but it was undoubtedly powerful.
It probably wasn''t as potent as Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, though. Otherwise, the Kurama Clan wouldn''t be such a small clan.
If they could truly control all five senses, dominating the Shinobi world wouldn''t be impossible.
"Tsunade, are there any Kurama Clan members who have awakened their Kekkei Genkai?"
Shin asked.
He wanted to copy this Kekkei Genkai.
The Kurama Clan might have a powerful ability, but their weak constitutions might prevent them from utilizing it fully.
The Kurama Clan was known for their frail bodies. They tired easily and probably didn''t have large Chakra reserves.
Chakra was extracted from cells. A weak body meant limited Chakra.
"There used to be quite a few Kurama with Kekkei Genkai. They were once as prominent as the Senju and Uchiha Clans. But now they''ve declined. I think there''s only one with an awakened Kekkei Genkai."
Tsunade answered, curious about his interest in the Kurama Clan.
"That''s good. I was afraid there might be none."
Shin was relieved. If there were no Kekkei Genkai users in the Kurama Clan, he''d have to wait for Yakumo Kurama to be born.
But that was over a decade away. He didn''t have time to wait.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
And by then, he might not even need the Kurama Clan''s Kekkei Genkai.
"Shin, why are you asking about this?" Kushina asked curiously.
Mikoto and Tsunade were also curious.
"It''s a secret."
Shin shook his head. Some secrets were better left unsaid.
"Tsunade, do you know where this Kurama Clan member is?"
"He''s in the Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force. With his powerful Genjutsu, he''s the head of the department."
The Konoha Torture and Interrogation Force. It was a position well-suited for the Uchiha Clan, but Hiruzen wouldn''t allow it.
"I want to meet him. Can you take me?" Shin asked Tsunade.
He couldn''t meet the head of the Torture and Interrogation Force on his own. It was an Anbu department.
Tsunade looked at Shin, then nodded.
"You agreed? Aren''t you going to ask why?" Shin was surprised.
"Would you tell me if I asked?"
Shin chuckled awkwardly. He couldn''t tell her.
"Let''s go."
Tsunade and Shin left. Kushina and Mikoto stayed behind.
Even as the Sandaime Hokage''s disciple, Tsunade couldn''t enter the Torture and Interrogation Force freely. But she could summon its leader, Kurama Kaze.
"Tsunade-sama, you summoned me?"
Kaze was surprised. He hadn''t expected the Senju Clan princess to seek him out.
The Kurama Clan was no longer prominent. To him, Tsunade was an important figure.
Tsunade looked at Shin. It wasn''t her who wanted to see Kaze, but Shin. She had no idea what he was planning.
"Kurama-san, I hear you''re quite skilled in Genjutsu. I was wondering if you could teach me." Shin said with a smile.
But as he spoke, he used an Advanced Replication Card to Copy Kaze''s Five Senses Control.
He felt his already powerful mental energy surge. Even his ocular power increased, causing a tingling sensation in his eyes.
He blinked a few times until the tingling subsided.
He could sense a change in his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. It hadn''t evolved into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan yet, but it was showing signs of it.
Shin was ecstatic. This was an unexpected bonus.
Kaze looked at Shin, his expression troubled. Shin wanted to learn Genjutsu from him, but he wasn''t keen on teaching.
But if he refused, would he anger Tsunade? She was right here, after all.
Tsunade glanced at Shin, puzzled. Why would he need to learn Genjutsu from Kaze when he had the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan? She knew Shin must have another motive.
"I apologize, but I don''t have the time to teach you," Kaze said apologetically.
He had decided to refuse. He turned to Tsunade. "As you know, Tsunade-sama, the Torture and Interrogation Force is quite busy. I don''t have the time to teach."
He was afraid of angering Tsunade. The Kurama Clan couldn''t afford to make enemies of her.
"That''s a shame, but I understand." Shin said.
Asking for Genjutsu lessons was just an excuse. Approaching Kaze without a reason would be suspicious.
Shin''s goal was the Kekkei Genkai; he didn''t care about anything else. Whether Kaze agreed or refused, it didn''t matter.
He actually preferred it if Kaze refused. He had no intention of taking lessons.
"Tsunade, let''s go," Shin said.
Tsunade glanced at him, still clueless about his motives. But since he was ready to leave, she followed.
As they left, Kaze''s eyes widened. Something felt off. Why was Tsunade acting like that kid''s follower?
It must be his imagination.
If Tsunade knew Kaze thought of her as Shin''s follower, she would probably punch him. His frail body wouldn''t be able to withstand a single blow. ------ Read +33 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available! [49] : Tsunade Goes on a Mission
"Tsunade took Uzumaki Shin to meet with Kurama Kaze."
The Sandaime Hokage puffed on his pipe, his brow furrowed.
"Yes, Sandaime-sama. Apparently, Uzumaki Shin wanted to learn Genjutsu from Kurama Kaze, but he was refused."
An Anbu agent reported.
Tsunade and Shin''s meeting with Kaze hadn''t escaped the Anbu''s notice. And if the Anbu knew, Hiruzen would know.
"I see." Hiruzen nodded, dismissing the matter.
Meanwhile, Tsunade and Shin had returned to the courtyard. Shin went straight to his room and activated his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
He could feel the increase in his Ocular Power. His Genjutsu must be even stronger now, but he had no one to test it on.
With his immense mental energy, he felt like his Genjutsu could manifest into physical attacks.
Copying the Kurama Clan''s Kekkei Genkai had been the right choice. His overall strength had increased, and his Genjutsu, which had been his weakest area, was now much stronger.
His Genjutsu hadn''t been weak before, thanks to his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, but it had paled in comparison to his Taijutsu and Ninjutsu.
He examined the changes in his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. His ocular power was immense, but he still wasn''t sure when it would evolve into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
"Shin, come out here."
Shin heard Tsunade''s call and exited his room.
Orochimaru and Jiraiya were there, along with their respective Genin teams.
"Shin-kun, long time no see."
Orochimaru greeted Shin with a smile, surprising him.
Not just Shin, but Tsunade and Jiraiya were also surprised. Orochimaru wasn''t the type to initiate conversations.
"Actually, I wanted to be Shin-kun''s J¨­nin-sensei," Orochimaru declared.
"Wow, even you have your eyes on this kid, Orochimaru? But his performance at the Academy wasn''t that impressive," Jiraiya said, looking at Shin with curiosity.
"If you want to switch sensei, Shin, you can come to me."
Orochimaru ignored Jiraiya and continued talking to Shin.
"Orochimaru, are you trying to steal my student?" Tsunade glared at him, her Chakra flaring.Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
This snake was trying to poach her student? Did he think she was easy to bully?
"Such powerful Chakra..." Orochimaru glanced at Tsunade, a hint of envy in his eyes. Her Chakra reserves dwarfed his.
But he wasn''t afraid of her. Chakra wasn''t the sole determinant of strength.
"Shin-kun, what''s your choice?" Orochimaru looked at Shin, his eyes filled with interest.
Shin shuddered.
"I''m happy with Tsunade-sensei. I haven''t considered switching."
Tsunade sighed in relief. She had been worried Shin might actually go with Orochimaru. But she had worried for nothing; Shin wouldn''t follow that creep.
Orochimaru might be a genius in research, but he was also undeniably creepy.
"That''s a shame." Orochimaru shook his head in disappointment.
"What are you all doing here?"
Shin asked Orochimaru and Jiraiya. They wouldn''t be here without a reason.
"We have a mission that requires the three of us. So, you nine will be working together for now. The Sandaime will assign a J¨­nin to lead all three teams," Jiraiya explained.
"I see." Shin nodded, then looked at Tsunade.
"Tsunade, if you encounter any danger on this mission, run."
"Aww, Shin, are you worried about me?"
Tsunade teased.
"Yeah, it would be a pain if you died out there," Shin said, scratching his head.
Tsunade scowled and lightly punched his arm.
"Can''t you say something nice?"
"The mission is urgent. I have to go. Head to Training Ground 24 and wait for your new J¨­nin-sensei."
Tsunade, Orochimaru, and Jiraiya left. A mission that required the three of them must be dangerous.
But they were all strong; they should be able to handle it.
"Shin, we''re going on a mission together!" Nawaki said excitedly.
"Heh, I''d rather not join you in shoveling manure."
Shin''s words made Hiashi and Kai, Nawaki''s teammates, scowl. Nawaki had blabbed about their manure-shoveling mission.
"Let''s go to Training Ground 24."
Shin led the way, followed by Mikoto and Kushina. Nawaki, Minato, and the others followed.
At Training Ground 24, their new J¨­nin-sensei hadn''t arrived yet. Shin sat down, waiting.
"Hey, Shin, have you been on any missions?" Nawaki asked.
"Yeah, just a C-rank mission," Shin replied with a smile.
Nawaki jumped up.
"What?! A C-rank mission?! That''s not fair! Why do we only get D-rank missions?"
He yelled, attracting the attention of the others.
"Kushina, you really went on a C-rank mission?" Akiko asked.
Kushina nodded proudly. There was no need to hide it.
"Hmph, who knows if that''s true," Kai scoffed.
He seemed out of place, even his teammates, Nawaki and Hiashi, ignored him.
Nawaki had initially tried to befriend Kai, but he had given up.
"Kai, are you looking for a beating?" Kushina stood up, glaring at him.
"You think I''m scared of you?" Kai sneered.
"Don''t waste your breath on him. Just hit him," Shin said to Kushina.
Trash talk was pointless. Actions spoke louder than words.
Kushina nodded and used the Adamantine Sealing Chains, binding Kai instantly.
Akiko''s eyes widened. Kushina was using the Adamantine Sealing Chains so skillfully! Even she couldn''t do that.
Akiko, as a Jinch¨±riki candidate, had received special training from Mito. But even so, she could barely use the Adamantine Sealing Chains. She was nowhere near as proficient as Kushina.
Kai struggled, humiliated and enraged, but Kushina just looked at him with disdain. [50] : I Was Always Strong
Staring at the immobilized Kai, Nawaki whispered to Shin, "What Jutsu was that? I don''t remember Sis knowing that."
He assumed Tsunade had taught Kushina the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"It''s the Adamantine Sealing Chains, an Uzumaki Clan Jutsu," Shin explained.
"Oh, so Kai should know it too, right?"
Nawaki glanced at Kai.
"Him?" Shin scoffed. "That guy''s too talentless. He probably hasn''t learned it yet."
Shin didn''t lower his voice; Kai heard him clearly and almost choked on his own rage.
Shin was practically calling him weak to his face!
Kushina used the Chakra Chains to fling Kai away. He crashed into a tree with a groan, almost passing out.
"That''s a small lesson for you."
"Kushina-san is that strong?" Minato exclaimed in surprise.
Kai had been bothering him lately, so he knew how strong Kai was.
Minato could defeat Kai, but it wouldn''t be easy. Kai was talented, more so than Akiko.
After that little "lesson," Kai didn''t try to pick a fight. He had learned his place.
An hour passed, but their temporary J¨­nin-sensei still hadn''t arrived.
"What''s taking so long?"
Tsume grumbled impatiently.
Finally, after another half hour, their sensei appeared. Shin didn''t recognize him.
"Hello, I''m Asakawa Ki. You can call me Asakawa-sensei. I''ll be your J¨­nin-sensei for a while."
He introduced himself. He seemed like a decent guy.
"Asakawa-sensei, can we go on a mission?" Nawaki asked eagerly.
"A mission? Sure, I was planning on taking you on one anyway," Asakawa-sensei agreed.
"Not a D-rank mission, sensei. A higher-level one."
After learning that Shin and his team had completed a C-rank mission, Nawaki wanted to do the same.If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
Asakawa-sensei frowned and shook his head. It was too soon for them to take on higher-level missions.
If something happened, he would be held responsible.
And these were the students of the Hokage''s three disciples. He couldn''t afford any mishaps.
No matter how much Nawaki pleaded, Asakawa-sensei refused. Nawaki could only sulk.
Asakawa-sensei ended up taking them on a weeding mission.
"I, the great Uzumaki Shin, reduced to pulling weeds..." Shin stared at the field and sighed dramatically.
Mikoto giggled.
It was rather amusing. A few days ago, he was slaughtering elite J¨­nin, and now he was weeding a field. What a difference.
"What''s so funny, Mikoto?" Shin asked.
"Guess," Mikoto winked playfully. It was the first time Shin had seen her act so mischievously.
Kushina, however, saw it as Shin being captivated by Mikoto. Jealousy flared within her.
"What are you two doing? Stop flirting and start weeding!" she huffed.
"Kushina, your puffed-up cheeks are so cute."
Shin couldn''t resist teasing her, pinching her cheeks gently.
"I''m not cute!" Kushina glared at him. She''d rather be called beautiful.
Calling her cute made her feel like a child.
"Mikoto, come weed over here with me. Stay away from him; he''s a bad influence."
Kushina dragged Mikoto away, leaving Shin feeling a bit hurt.
"Ninja Art: Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
Dozens of Shin clones appeared beside him. He could have created thousands, but he restrained himself.
"Get to work."
He ordered his clones to start weeding. Nawaki and the others stared in awe at the army of Shin clones.
Even Asakawa-sensei was surprised. He couldn''t create that many clones.
Actually, he didn''t even know the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu.
"Why didn''t I think of that?"
Kushina smacked her forehead. She was so dumb! Why weed herself when she could use Shadow Clones?
She used the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, creating over a dozen clones. Having large Chakra reserves was a blessing.
"Why do you all know Jutsu?" Nawaki asked enviously.
"Nawaki, don''t tell me you don''t know any Jutsu. I might have to make fun of you," Shin teased.
"I know Jutsu, but not the Shadow Clone Jutsu," Nawaki grumbled.
He knew a few C-rank Jutsu, but he hadn''t learned the Shadow Clone Jutsu yet.
"Don''t worry, Nawaki. You''re only a little behind me. Keep working hard, and you''ll catch up."
Shin patted his shoulder encouragingly.
"A little? You''re exaggerating!" Nawaki protested, looking at the vast difference in their clone count.
"Don''t mind the details. Just keep chasing my shadow. Even though you can''t even see it, you have to have dreams. What if they come true?"
"I really want to punch you right now." Nawaki clenched his fists. Shin was getting more and more annoying.
"Go ahead, try it. You can''t beat me anyway," Shin said with a grin.
"I don''t believe you."
Nawaki launched a surprise attack, aiming a punch at Shin. He couldn''t take it anymore.
Shin effortlessly sent Nawaki flying. He landed headfirst in the dirt, his limbs flailing.
Shin pulled him out like a radish. "Believe me now?" he asked, looking at Nawaki''s mud-covered face.
"Shin, why are you so strong after graduation? What''s your secret?" Nawaki asked, defeated.
"I was always strong. You just didn''t notice." [51] : The Ch奴nin Exams
Half a month passed in a flash. During this time, Shin and his team continued to carry out D-rank missions under the guidance of their temporary J¨­nin-sensei, Asakawa Ki.
One day, Tsunade finally returned, looking exhausted from her journey.
"Tsunade, what mission were you on? It took you so long," Shin asked curiously.
"I was in the Land of Wind, investigating the movements of Sunagakure. I''m afraid things are about to get a bit turbulent in the Shinobi world," Tsunade replied after taking a long drink of water.
Suna had been showing signs of activity, which Konoha''s intelligence network picked up on. The Sandaime Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had dispatched Orochimaru, Tsunade, and Jiraiya to investigate.
It had been a while since the First Shinobi World War. The various Hidden Villages had been bolstering their forces, and the war hawks were starting to gain influence.
Tsunade''s investigation revealed that Suna was indeed preparing for war, and their target was Konoha.
Konoha was always the target, not just because of its strength, but also because of the Land of Fire''s strategic location and resources.
Compared to the fertile and prosperous Land of Fire, the Land of Wind, where Suna resided, was practically barren.
Shin nodded. It seemed the Second Shinobi World War was drawing near.
The Second Shinobi World War involved Konoha, Suna, Iwa, and Amegakure.
Amegakure, from the small nation of the Land of Rain, would become the main battleground.
"By the way, although I''m back, I still don''t have time to take you on missions," Tsunade said.
She had other duties to attend to.
With Suna preparing for war, Konoha had to make its own preparations.
As one of Konoha''s top J¨­nin, Tsunade couldn''t rest. She would be joining the Konoha forces heading to the border soon.
"That''s fine. We''re planning to take the Ch¨±nin Exams," Shin said casually.
Once they became Chunin, they wouldn''t have to do those pointless D-rank missions anymore. They could take on C-rank or even B-rank missions.
Tsunade frowned.
"You''re taking the Ch¨±nin Exams now?"
She wasn''t keen on them becoming Chunin at this time. With the war looming, they might be sent to the battlefield.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Tsunade hadn''t experienced the horrors of war herself, but she knew how dangerous it was.
"Yeah, doing missions in the village is boring. We want to become Chunin and see the world."
They hadn''t left Konoha since that mission with Tsunade.
"If you''ve made up your mind, I won''t stop you."
Tsunade considered Shin''s strength. There wasn''t much to worry about. He was stronger than her.
And if he had decided, she couldn''t change his mind.
"What''s the Ch¨±nin Exam process like now?" Shin asked.
"Simple. Survive a spar against an elite Chunin for three minutes, and you pass," Tsunade explained.
The current Ch¨±nin Exams weren''t as complicated as the Chunin Exams in the future. As long as you could prove you had the strength of a Chunin, you passed.
Surviving three minutes against an elite Chunin was proof enough.
They prepared for a day, and the next morning, they applied to take the Ch¨±nin Exams.
The Sandaime Hokage examined their applications. As Hokage, he had to review all Chunin applications.
Chunin were the core fighting force of a Hidden Village. Hiruzen couldn''t neglect this matter.
Especially with Uzumaki Shin, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uchiha Mikoto. Two Uzumaki and one Uchiha. He had to pay attention.
"You''re sure you want to apply to become Chunin?"
The Sandaime looked at the three Genin, who were currently in his office.
"Yes, we''ve made up our minds."
"Very well. I will arrange your exam. But if you fail, even as Tsunade''s students, you won''t become Chunin."
He stamped their applications, approving their request.
He then assigned an Anbu agent to escort them to the exam location.
The exam was held in one of Konoha''s training grounds. Three elite Chunin soon arrived.
One of them had the Uchiha Clan symbol.
"I am your examiner. You will each face one of these elite Chunin. As long as you can last three minutes, you pass."
The Anbu agent said coldly.
"What''s with that icy tone? It''s like we owe him money," Kushina grumbled.
"Ignore him. All talk, no action," Shin whispered back.
That was how he saw Anbu. They acted tough, but they rarely achieved anything.
"I''ll take the Uchiha," Shin said to Kushina and Mikoto.
He hadn''t expected an Uchiha to be here. He suspected it was a deliberate arrangement by the Sandaime Hokage.
He was right. The Uchiha elite Chunin was indeed assigned by Hiruzen.
Uchiha were naturally stronger than most. In a one-on-one fight, they rarely lost.
Kushina and Mikoto had no objections.
The exam was a series of one-on-one battles, but they would be held simultaneously. The training ground was large enough.
Shin walked towards the Uchiha, while Kushina and Mikoto faced the other two Chunin.
The Anbu agent with the animal mask watched from the side, a detached observer.
''That prying feeling... is that the Sandaime?''
Shin sensed someone watching him and frowned. It had to be the Sandaime Hokage using the Telescope Jutsu.
To use the Telescope Jutsu, one needed to know the target''s Chakra signature. The Sandaime wasn''t familiar with Shin''s Chakra, but he could use someone else''s vision, like that of Shin''s opponent.
"You chose me? It seems you don''t want to become a Chunin."
The young Uchiha said calmly.
"Skip the trash talk and let''s fight."
Shin drew his Kusanagi sword and attacked.
Knowing that Hiruzen was watching, Shin held back. He didn''t want to reveal too much of his strength. [52] : Hiruzen Sarutobis Invitation
Shin struck the Uchiha elite Chunin with the flat of his blade. The force of the blow sent the Chunin flying, his grip loosening on his Kunai.
Shin frowned. He had held back considerably, yet the Chunin was still so easily defeated. How weak.
In the Hokage''s office, Hiruzen watched with surprise. That was quite a display of strength.
But the boy was an Uzumaki; it wasn''t that surprising.
The Uzumaki Clan was known for their strong bodies, vitality, and large Chakra reserves.
"Attacking with the flat of your blade? Are you mocking me?"
The Uchiha Chunin had his pride. Shin''s action had wounded it deeply.
"Better to be mocked than dead," Shin said calmly.
The Kusanagi sword was incredibly sharp. It could easily slice through the Chunin''s Kunai. If Shin hadn''t held back, the Chunin would be dead.
But the enraged Chunin didn''t care. He attacked with Ninjutsu.
"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"
Shin simply swung his sword, cleaving the fireball in two.
The Anbu examiner was startled. Could swordsmanship be that powerful?
He rarely saw Kenjutsu used like this.
"Sharingan!"
Two tomoe appeared in the Chunin''s eyes. He was serious now.
Shin used the Body Flicker Jutsu, appearing before the Chunin in an instant.
He punched the Chunin in the gut, sending him crashing to the ground.
"I passed, right?" Shin asked the Anbu examiner.
The examiner nodded, his shock evident despite the mask. Defeating an elite Chunin in under a minute? Was this kid a genius?
Ten-year-old Chunin weren''t unheard of in Konoha. Orochimaru had become a Chunin at ten.
But defeating an elite Chunin at that age? That was rare. Only one other person came to mind: Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi''s father.
In the Hokage''s office, Hiruzen pondered. Judging from Shin''s performance, his strength was easily at Tokubetsu J¨­nin level.
Shin hadn''t used any Ninjutsu, so Hiruzen couldn''t assess his skills in that area. But one thing was certain: this boy was a genius.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
Hiruzen was already considering recruiting Shin into the Anbu.
After Shin''s battle ended, Kushina and Mikoto also defeated their opponents.
The Anbu examiner was stunned. One genius was rare, but three at once? This was unprecedented.
"Come with me to the Hokage''s office."
He escorted them back to the office and reported the results to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen was also surprised. He had stopped observing after Shin''s fight. He hadn''t expected Kushina and Mikoto to defeat their opponents as well.
Defeating an elite Chunin within three minutes meant their strength surpassed that of an elite Chunin. Three geniuses at once... Hiruzen was speechless.
"I''m pleased you all passed the Ch¨±nin Exams. I have a question for you: would you be willing to join the Anbu?"
Hiruzen extended the invitation to all three of them.
He had initially only considered Shin, but now that he knew Kushina and Mikoto were also geniuses, he couldn''t let them go.
"The Anbu, or the Anbu Black Ops, is a special assassination and tactical squad. Only the most elite Shinobi are allowed to join."
He explained, in case they weren''t familiar with the Anbu.
Kushina and Mikoto indeed weren''t familiar with the Anbu, but Shin was. Almost every Hidden Village had an Anbu organization.
But joining the Anbu? No, that had never crossed his mind. What were the benefits?
With his current strength, he didn''t need the Anbu''s training. And joining the Anbu meant a life of secrecy and restrictions.
"Sandaime-sama, I don''t believe I''m worthy of being called an elite Shinobi yet. I''m not qualified to join the Anbu."
Shin refused. Kushina and Mikoto, following Shin''s lead, also refused. If Shin wasn''t joining, they weren''t interested either.
Hiruzen frowned. He was displeased. Being rejected after personally extending an invitation didn''t sit well with him.
"Won''t you reconsider? The Anbu can help you improve your skills."
He was still trying to persuade them.
"If you join the Anbu, I''ll reward you with a B-rank Jutsu."
Shin scoffed inwardly. A B-rank Jutsu? That was all he was offering? How stingy.
Even if Hiruzen offered an S-rank Jutsu, Shin wouldn''t be tempted. He wouldn''t be lacking in S-rank Jutsu in the future.
Besides, Hiruzen wouldn''t be that generous.
"We''re not interested in joining any organization. We prefer freedom. And as for strength, we''re not worried about that."
Shin was firm in his refusal.
Hiruzen sighed, giving up. He could see that Shin had no interest in the Anbu.
There was no point pushing it. It would only damage his pride further.
"Very well. Since you''re not interested, I won''t force you. Here are your Chunin certificates. From now on, you are Chunin of Konoha."
Hiruzen handed them their certificates.
After they left, Hiruzen pondered.
He might not have been able to recruit them into the Anbu, but he couldn''t let anyone else poach them either.
Especially not Danz¨­''s Root or the Uchiha Clan. Mikoto was an Uchiha. Once they learned of her talent, they would definitely try to recruit her.
No, he couldn''t allow the Uchiha Clan to have another powerful Shinobi. With their ambition, they might cause trouble for the village in the future.
Thankfully, Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto were all students of his disciple, Tsunade.
If Danz¨­ or the Uchiha tried to recruit them, he had a legitimate reason to intervene.
He couldn''t allow the Uchiha Clan to become too powerful, nor could he allow Danz¨­''s Root to grow unchecked. Too much power would lead to them escaping his control. As Hokage, he couldn''t allow any faction within the village to become too strong. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 9 Exciting Fanfics already available! [53] : B-Rank Mission: Hunt Down a Missing-Nin
When Shin and his team returned to the Senju compound, Tsunade was already there. Seeing them, she asked, "Done with the exam?"
"Yes, I''m a Chunin now!" Kushina announced proudly.
"It''s just Chunin. What''s there to be proud of?" Tsunade said, glancing at Kushina.
"The Sandaime Hokage tried to recruit us into the Anbu," Shin said, looking at Tsunade.
"And you agreed?"
"No way. Joining the Anbu is boring. I crave freedom, not a life hiding in the shadows like a rat."
Tsunade was speechless. He compared the Anbu to rats? If the Anbu heard that, they''d probably come after him.
"I''m heading to the border tomorrow. Be careful when you go on missions, especially you two. Listen to Shin."
Tsunade looked at Kushina and Mikoto.
She was mainly talking to Kushina. Mikoto was obedient and cautious; she wouldn''t cause trouble. Kushina, on the other hand...
"Got it, Tsunade. You be careful too," Kushina said.
Tsunade was surprised. She had expected Kushina to argue, but she actually sounded concerned.
"If the war breaks out, be careful on the battlefield. We don''t want to hear any bad news," Shin added.
Tsunade was fine in the original story, but things might be different now.
"Don''t worry, no one can defeat me."
"Just don''t be reckless and charge at Kage-level opponents. If you''re in danger, sell out your teammates. Let Orochimaru and Jiraiya take the hit. Especially Orochimaru; he''s hard to kill."
Shin offered his advice.
Tsunade''s eye twitched. What kind of advice was that?
"Relax, the war won''t start that easily. It might just be a show of force," Tsunade said dismissively.
Shin shook his head. He knew this war would definitely happen, and it wouldn''t end quickly.
The next morning, Tsunade left for the Land of Fire''s border. Hiruzen had mobilized a force of three thousand Shinobi.
Including Genin, Konoha had a little over ten thousand Shinobi. Three thousand was a significant force.
"Let''s go on a mission and have some fun outside the village!"The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
Shin said to Kushina and Mikoto.
The mission was secondary; exploring the world was the real goal.
At the mission assignment desk, they ran into Nawaki and his team.
"Shin, you''re here! I thought you weren''t coming," Nawaki said.
"Nawaki, we probably won''t be able to do missions with you anymore."
Nawaki was confused. "Why not?"
"We passed the Ch¨±nin Exams. We''re Chunin now. We won''t be doing D-rank missions anymore. You should try it too, Nawaki."
Kushina answered.
"We graduated together! Why did you become Chunin without telling me?" Nawaki whined.
"Don''t worry, Nawaki. Genin are the strongest in Konoha. They can destroy the world."
Shin patted Nawaki''s shoulder and took the mission list, scanning it.
[S-Rank Mission: Capture S-Rank Missing-Nin Uchiha Ryota]
Shin froze. Uchiha Ryota? If he remembered correctly, that was the guy he had a minor conflict with at the ramen shop.
He had also copied Ryota''s Sharingan prowess four times.
But how did he become a missing-nin? And an S-rank one at that?
S-rank missing-nin varied in strength, but they were generally Kage-level or quasi-Kage level.
"Sorry, wrong list."
The clerk took the list back.
"These are S-rank and A-rank missions. Chunin can''t take those. Here''s the correct list."
He handed Shin another list.
"What are the requirements for taking S-rank missions?" Shin asked.
"You need a team of at least three elite J¨­nin," the clerk replied.
"Fine. I''ll take this mission to hunt down a Konoha missing-nin."
Shin chose a mission to hunt down an elite Chunin-level missing-nin. It was a B-rank mission.
"Are you sure you want to take this mission?"
"Is there a problem?"
Shin frowned. Could they not even take B-rank missions?
He had looked at the C-rank missions; they were all escort missions or bandit extermination. He wasn''t interested in those.
"You can, but it''s dangerous. You three are newly promoted Chunin."
"We''ll take it," Shin said firmly.
He wasn''t worried about danger. Hunting down a Chunin-level missing-nin shouldn''t be a problem.
The clerk shrugged and handed Shin the mission details. It wasn''t his problem if they failed.
"We''re still stuck with D-rank missions, and you''re already doing B-rank?"
Nawaki, Minato, and the others looked at them with envy. They also wanted to do higher-level missions. D-rank missions were mind-numbingly boring.
"We''re going on a mission. We''ll treat you all to dinner when we get back," Shin said to them.
They left Konoha. Unbeknownst to them, Hiruzen was informed of the mission they had taken.
"Hunting down an elite Chunin-level missing-nin? With their strength, they shouldn''t be in any danger."
Hiruzen estimated Shin''s strength to be around Tokubetsu J¨­nin level. Kushina and Mikoto could also defeat elite Chunin.
He didn''t think Shin was J¨­nin level yet. A ten-year-old J¨­nin was too absurd, even for him.
Meanwhile, Danz¨­ was also informed.
"Uzumaki Shin, Uzumaki Kushina, and Uchiha Mikoto have left Konoha. This is our chance. I don''t want another failure. Understand?"
Danz¨­ looked at the kneeling Root member.
His previous attempt to kill Tsunade and capture Shin had failed miserably.
He had sent members to investigate, but they found nothing. The bodies had been disposed of. Danz¨­ blamed Hiruzen for this.
Hiruzen was also puzzled by Kato Dan''s disappearance. He had sent Anbu to investigate, but they found nothing. He eventually concluded that Dan had been killed by enemy ninja. [54] : Genjutsu: Tsukuyomi?
After leaving Konoha, Shin took out the mission details. It contained information about the missing-nin they were hunting.
The missing-nin''s name was Kawada Heiwa. His strength was at the level of an elite Ch¨±nin. He had defected after accidentally killing a comrade during a heated argument.
He had been gone for half a year and was suspected to be hiding in the Land of Whirlpools.
Shin paused when he saw that. Kushina, peering over his shoulder, also froze.
"We''re going to the Land of Whirlpools?" Kushina asked, looking up at Shin.
"Yeah, I wonder what it''s like now."
Mikoto looked at them. She knew the Land of Whirlpools was their former home, a place filled with both good and bad memories.
"When we left, I didn''t think we''d ever go back."
Shin wasn''t one to dwell on sentimentality.
"We''ll have to take a ship. Do you get seasick, Mikoto?"
"I''ve never been on a ship before. I don''t know," Mikoto replied.
Kushina''s face paled. She suddenly remembered her unfortunate tendency to get seasick.
"Can we not take a ship?" she asked weakly.
"Sure, you can always run there on water."
Shin offered an alternative. It wasn''t entirely a joke. The Land of Whirlpools wasn''t that far from the Land of Fire. It was doable.
"Okay, let''s run to the Land of Whirlpools!" Kushina declared, clapping her hands.
Shin shrugged. He didn''t mind.
"But before we go, we have a tail to deal with. I don''t like being followed. Come on out."
Shin''s voice turned cold.
The Root Member hiding in the shadows was startled. ''Discovered? How did he know?''''
Since he had been found out, there was no point hiding. As an elite J¨­nin, he didn''t need to rely on sneak attacks to deal with three Chunin.
"An Anbu?" Kushina and Mikoto saw his attire and assumed he was Anbu.
"Not Anbu. Root. Danz¨­''s lackey. One of the guys who attacked us before," Shin corrected them.
Hearing that he was one of Danz¨­''s men, Kushina and Mikoto prepared for battle. From Shin and Tsunade, they had learned that Danz¨­ was a bad guy.Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
"Just how much does that geezer Danz¨­ hate me?" Shin wondered.
He had barely left the village, and Danz¨­ had already sent someone after him.
"You bastard! You killed my comrades! Danz¨­-sama ordered me to kill you!"
"You''re here to kill us?"
Kushina clenched her fists, ready to fight. She wasn''t going to be bullied.
But Shin stopped her.
"Kushina, he''s an elite J¨­nin. You''re not strong enough."
If it were a regular J¨­nin, he might let Kushina spar with him, but against an elite? She didn''t stand a chance.
"An elite J¨­nin, huh? Fine, I''ll let you off the hook for now."
Kushina stepped back, letting Shin handle this.
She wasn''t worried. She had seen Shin slaughter elite J¨­nin before.
"I''ll use you to test my Genjutsu."
Shin hadn''t had a chance to test his Genjutsu since acquiring the Kurama Clan''s Kekkei Genkai. This was the perfect opportunity.
Danz¨­ was a lifesaver, sending him a free sparring partner.
Shin looked at the Root Member, and in a flash, pulled him into a Genjutsu world. This world was constructed from Shin''s imagination.
It was a dark and eerie place. The Root Member found himself bound to a cross.
"Is this Genjutsu?"
He wasn''t panicked. He tried to disrupt his Chakra flow to break free.
But to his horror, it didn''t work. He couldn''t even sense his Chakra. It was as if he had become a normal human.
"It''s useless. Enjoy your suffering."
Shin drew his sword and used the Root Member as a training dummy, slashing and stabbing him repeatedly.
The Member didn''t know how many times he died. Each time he was killed, he would revive, only to be killed again.
After dozens of deaths, his eyes glazed over, his mind broken.
In this Genjutsu world, everything, including time, space, and even the laws of physics, was under Shin''s control. It was a mental assault that could crush even the strongest minds.
Shin''s Genjutsu was similar to the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan''s Tsukuyomi, which Obito had called the ultimate mental attack.
Of course, Obito''s words weren''t always trustworthy, but Tsukuyomi was undeniably powerful.
Shin didn''t have Tsukuyomi. His Mangeky¨­ Sharingan abilities were Yomotsu Hirasaka and Tenmomei. This Tsukuyomi-like Genjutsu was something he had developed after copying the Kurama Clan''s Kekkei Genkai. He called it Tsukuyomi as well.
Its effects were the same as the original Tsukuyomi. He didn''t bother thinking of a new name.
Once the Genjutsu was released, Shin looked at the unconscious Root Member and shook his head.
A single Tsukuyomi had broken him. Shin hadn''t even used his other Genjutsu, the one that could control the five senses.
"What happened to him?"
Kushina asked. They hadn''t even fought, and the guy was already down.
From their perspective, Shin had simply looked at the man, and he had collapsed.
"Was it Genjutsu?" Mikoto asked.
"Yep," Shin confirmed.
Looking at the unconscious Root Member, Shin threw a Kunai, piercing his heart.
He wouldn''t show mercy to his enemies. Mercy to the enemy was cruelty to himself. He lived by that motto.
In the world of Shinobi, there was no room for sentimentality.
"We can''t leave the body here." Shin thought for a moment, then incinerated the corpse with a Fireball Jutsu.
They continued on their journey to the Land of Whirlpools. Danz¨­ didn''t yet know that he had lost another elite J¨­nin.
Danz¨­ didn''t have many elite J¨­nin to spare. Including Kato Dan, Shin had now killed four of them. Danz¨­ must be furious.
Perhaps after this, he would stop targeting Shin.
He had already suffered heavy losses. Until he understood what was happening, he wouldn''t dare attack Shin again.
Elite J¨­nin weren''t easy to replace. Training one took years. Danz¨­ couldn''t afford to lose any more. [55] : The Girls Team Up
After two days of travel, Shin and his team finally arrived in the Land of Whirlpools.
"This is the Land of Whirlpools?"
Mikoto looked around in surprise. There was no one in sight, only dilapidated buildings.
"It is. Looks a bit run-down, doesn''t it?"
Shin surveyed the surroundings. "It wasn''t always like this. It used to be a beautiful country. But after the Uzumaki Clan was destroyed, the Land of Whirlpools ceased to exist."
The people of the Land of Whirlpools had abandoned the island nation after the Uzumaki Clan''s downfall.
"It''s so big. How are we supposed to find that missing-nin?" Kushina asked.
The Land of Whirlpools wasn''t huge, but it wasn''t small either. Finding someone here would be difficult.
"Don''t worry, I have the Mind''s Eye of Kagura," Shin reminded her.
Finding an ordinary person might be challenging, but finding a Shinobi was easy.
He could sense Chakra within a radius of several dozen kilometers. As long as the missing-nin had Chakra, he couldn''t escape Shin''s detection.
After some searching, Shin finally sensed a Chakra signature. But its location was unexpected.
"Did you find him?" Kushina asked impatiently.
"Yeah, but he''s at our old house."
Kushina was surprised, and Mikoto looked curious. Their old house?
"Let''s go."
Shin led Kushina and Mikoto towards their former home.
"Is this where you used to live?" Mikoto asked Kushina.
"Yeah, this was our house. I can''t believe someone''s squatting here now." Kushina was indignant.
Even though they had abandoned it, it was still their home.
"Hey, you squatter! Get out here!" Kushina yelled.
Kawada Heiwa, the missing-nin, emerged from the house. He wore a Konoha forehead protector with a scratch across it, signifying his status as a missing-nin.
Shin didn''t understand why missing-nin still wore their old forehead protectors. Was it to show which village they had betrayed?The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"Who are you?"
Heiwa frowned at them. He had been here for a while and hadn''t seen anyone else.
"You''re Kawada Heiwa, the Konoha missing-nin, right? We''re here to take you down."
Heiwa burst out laughing.
"Is Konoha that desperate? Sending three brats after me?" he scoffed.
"Don''t underestimate us! Shin, you stay back. I''ll take him!" Kushina declared.
Shin nodded.
He wasn''t planning on interfering anyway. This mission was mainly for Kushina and Mikoto''s benefit.
"Kushina, Mikoto, he''s all yours," Shin said.
"I can handle him myself!"
Kushina used the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Several Chakra chains erupted from her back, whipping towards Heiwa.
Heiwa''s eyes widened, and he leaped back, narrowly dodging the attack.
"You''re not getting away that easily!"
The chains, under Kushina''s control, pursued him relentlessly.
Mikoto activated her Sharingan. She could see Heiwa''s movements clearly. She swiftly threw several Shuriken, blocking his escape routes.
Heiwa''s face paled.
If he dodged the chains, he would be hit by the Shuriken. And he didn''t have time to use the Substitution Jutsu.
Mikoto had seized the perfect opportunity. Even Shin was impressed.
"Nice teamwork, Mikoto and Kushina," he praised.
"Damn it! Two little girls, cornering me like this..."
A Shuriken was embedded in Heiwa''s arm, blood dripping to the ground.
He had chosen to block the Shuriken with his arm to avoid the Chakra Chains.
"Kushina, keep attacking! Don''t let him use any Jutsu!"
Mikoto instructed.
Jutsu required hand seals. If he couldn''t form hand seals, he couldn''t use Jutsu.
Kushina nodded and disrupted his attempts to weave hand seals with her chains.
"The intel was wrong. This guy is stronger than an elite Chunin. His speed is comparable to a J¨­nin''s."
Shin observed Heiwa''s movements.
If he were just an elite Chunin, he wouldn''t be able to dodge Kushina''s Adamantine Sealing Chains so easily.
"Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!"
Mikoto seized the opportunity and unleashed a stream of fire towards Heiwa.
The Dragon Flame Jutsu was only a C-rank, but it could still kill. The human body was fragile.
The flames could pierce a tree; burning through flesh was no problem.
Kushina''s chains closed in from all sides, leaving Heiwa with no escape.
"You think you can kill me with just this? Water Style: Water Trumpet!"
Trapped, Heiwa used a Water Jutsu to counter Mikoto''s flames.
But the moment he did, Kushina''s chains bound him tightly.
It was a fatal blow. He had avoided being burned, but he couldn''t escape the chains.
As a Ninjutsu specialist, he didn''t have the strength to break free. The Adamantine Sealing Chains could even restrain Tailed Beasts.
"I never thought I''d be defeated by two little girls," Heiwa said, his voice filled with regret.
"There''s a lot you haven''t thought of. You underestimated us. Still think we''re weak?" Kushina sneered.
"If you kill me, you''ll only get a measly reward. Why not let me go? I''ll give you all my Jutsu and money."
Heiwa tried to bargain.
"Do you think Jutsu can be measured with money?"
Kushina and Mikoto looked at Shin. The decision was his.
"Kill him," Shin said coldly.
What Jutsu could this guy possibly have that would interest him?
Mikoto threw a Kunai, ending Heiwa''s life. Their mission was complete.
But Shin wasn''t planning on returning to Konoha yet. He had come all this way; he wasn''t going to rush back. [56] : Infiltrating Kirigakure
"Kawada Heiwa is dead. Are we going back?" Mikoto asked Shin.
"Shin, let''s stay out here and play for a bit longer, okay?"
Kushina pleaded, tugging on his arm.
"Call me ''big brother,'' and I''ll agree," Shin said with a smirk.
"No way! I''m older than you! You should be calling me ''big sister''!" Kushina retorted, turning away with a huff.
"Kushina, you''re older than Shin?"
Mikoto looked at Kushina in surprise. She hadn''t noticed.
"Of course! I was born three days earlier!" Kushina said proudly.
"What''s there to be proud of?" Shin flicked her forehead, earning him a yelp.
Seeing her pout, Shin quickly changed the subject. "We''re not going back to Konoha just yet."
"You agreed!" Kushina''s pout vanished, and she clung to his arm excitedly.
"We''re going to the Land of Water."
Shin looked towards the Land of Water.
"The Land of Water? Why?" Kushina and Mikoto asked in unison.
"Kirigakure was definitely involved in the Uzumaki Clan massacre. Time to collect some interest."
"But is it safe to go there? Just the three of us?" Mikoto asked worriedly.
"Don''t worry, I know what I''m doing. We won''t be in any danger."
Shin smiled confidently. In the current Shinobi world, even Madara Uchiha couldn''t threaten him. If he couldn''t win, he could always escape.
They left the Land of Whirlpools and returned to the Land of Fire, then took a ship to the Land of Water.
"We can''t escape the fate of riding a ship, huh?" Kushina grumbled.
"Kushina, just because you got seasick last time doesn''t mean you will this time. See? You''re not feeling sick at all."
Shin reassured her.
After a day''s journey, they arrived on a small island in the Land of Water. It wasn''t the main island, but one of the smaller ones surrounding it.
This time, Kushina didn''t get seasick, and neither did Mikoto.
"Kushina, Mikoto, I''ve scouted the island. It''s safe. Stay here for now."
Shin said.You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.
He had already told them about his plan to infiltrate Kirigakure. He wasn''t taking them with him.
He could protect himself, but taking Kushina and Mikoto into Kirigakure was too risky.
"I know we''ll just hold you back, so we won''t go. But you have to be back within three days, or we''ll come looking for you."
Kushina said seriously.
She wasn''t going to throw a tantrum and demand to go with him. She knew she''d be a burden. But she set a deadline.
If Shin didn''t return within three days, she would go to Kirigakure to find him.
"Shin, be careful," Mikoto said.
"Don''t worry, I can always escape if I can''t win. With my Space-Time Ninjutsu, no one can stop me," Shin said confidently.
He had a trump card, after all. Kirigakure wasn''t the weakened village it would become after the Bloody Mist era. It was still a powerful force.
Shin was strong, but he couldn''t take on an entire village alone. Only those at the level of Madara Uchiha or Hashirama Senju could do that.
It took him less than half an hour to reach the main island. After asking around, he found the location of Kirigakure.
He killed a Kiri Shinobi and used the Transformation Jutsu to disguise himself, entering the village undetected.
The guards at the village gates couldn''t see through his disguise.
"The current Mizukage is the Third Mizukage. I wonder how strong he is."
Shin sat in a ramen shop, pondering.
Information on the Third Mizukage was scarce. Shin didn''t even know his abilities. But he was sure the Third Mizukage wasn''t that strong.
If he were, he wouldn''t have been controlled by an elderly Madara Uchiha.
Although it wasn''t explicitly stated, Shin suspected that the Third Mizukage had been under Madara''s control during the Third Shinobi World War. He didn''t know if that was still the case.
He finished his ramen. It was quite good.
Shin had several objectives in Kirigakure. One was to acquire Kekkei Genkai.
The Kaguya Clan in Kirigakure possessed the Shikotsumyaku Kekkei Genkai. They were suspected to be related to Kaguya ¨­tsutsuki.
Perhaps Shikotsumyaku was derived from the All-Killing Ash Bones. It was just speculation, but it didn''t really matter.
Shin wasn''t interested in copying Shikotsumyaku. He had two reasons. First, it had a drawback: the Shikotsumyaku disease. Although he had the perfect Sage Body and theoretically shouldn''t be affected, he didn''t want to risk it.
Second, not every Kaguya Clan member possessed Shikotsumyaku. Perhaps there weren''t any with an awakened Kekkei Genkai right now.
He wanted the Ice Release of the Mizunashi Clan.
(OC Clan of Hy¨­ton - Ice Release)
And he also wanted the Forbidden Scroll, which contained Kirigakure''s secret Jutsu.
First, Copy Ice Release. Then, try to steal the Forbidden Scroll. The scroll was a valuable item; obtaining it wouldn''t be easy. Shin didn''t have high hopes.
He used his Sharingan to hypnotize several Kiri Shinobi and learned the location of the Mizunashi Clan.
He infiltrated the Mizunashi Clan compound and copied the Ice Release from a clan member.
Not every Mizunashi had awakened Ice Release. It took Shin a while to find a suitable target.
He used an Advanced Replication Card. He now had one Advanced card left and one Common card.
Although he had copied the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, he didn''t know any Ice Release Jutsu. To avoid causing a commotion, he didn''t search for any scrolls within the Mizunashi Clan compound.
It didn''t matter. He was confident he could create his own Ice Release Jutsu, and they would be even stronger than the Mizunashi''s.
He went to a small forest in Kirigakure and waited for nightfall.
Copying Ice Release was done. Stealing the Forbidden Scroll during the day was too risky. He would wait until the dead of night.
In the Shinobi world, the dead of night wasn''t the best time to act. Shinobi were more alert at night.
The best time was just before dawn, when their guard was down.
Shin decided to wait. He leaned against a tree and refined Chakra.
He also activated the Mind''s Eye of Kagura, scanning Kirigakure. [57] : The Forbidden Scroll Acquired
At four in the morning, Shin opened his eyes, transformed his appearance into that of an adult, and donned a three-tomoe Sharingan mask.
This mask was identical to the one Obito Uchiha wore during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
He couldn''t use his true appearance to steal Kirigakure''s Forbidden Scroll. Whether he succeeded or failed, he would become a wanted man.
"You coveted the Uzumaki Clan''s Sealing Jutsu. Now it''s my turn to covet yours."
Shin smirked, his figure melting into the darkness.
At this hour, the night was still deep. Shin moved swiftly towards the Mizukage Tower.
"Who''s there?"
He had barely entered the building when he was discovered. He sighed inwardly.
Despite his strength, he was still a novice at infiltration.
Sneaking into Kirigakure was one thing, but infiltrating the heavily guarded Mizukage Tower was another.
"Hey, guys, I''m just here for a stroll. Trust me!" Shin asked the Anbu surrounding him.
Kirigakure''s Anbu were dressed differently from Konoha''s Anbu, but the differences were minor. They also wore masks to conceal their identities.
The Kiri Anbu glared at him, their killing intent palpable.
"You''re clearly here to cause trouble. A stroll? Yeah, right."
They were especially annoyed by Shin''s mask. Everyone was wearing masks, but his was way cooler.
"Sorry to bother you. Goodbye."
Shin used the Body Flicker Jutsu to escape. The Anbu immediately gave chase.
Once they were gone, Shin emerged from the shadows.
"Idiots. Fooled by a Shadow Clone."
The one who had escaped wasn''t the real Shin. He had used the Substitution Jutsu to swap with a Shadow Clone.
He was too fast; they hadn''t noticed the switch.
Shin quickly made his way to the Mizukage''s office. Such an important item would definitely be kept there.
He had already scanned the office with the Mind''s Eye of Kagura. The Third Mizukage wasn''t there.Stolen story; please report.
The Mizukage had to sleep, after all. He wouldn''t be staying in his office. And since there had never been an incident of someone infiltrating the Mizukage Tower, the security wasn''t as tight as Shin had expected.
"Genjutsu: Ky¨­ka Suigetsu."
This was the Five Senses Control of the Kurama Clan. Shin had given it a name: Ky¨­ka Suigetsu.
It could only briefly control the five senses, unlike Aizen''s complete hypnosis, but Shin liked the name.
Although it wasn''t as powerful as Aizen''s Shikai, it had an advantage.
It didn''t require eye contact. Shin could control the target''s five senses without them even seeing him.
After activating Ky¨­ka Suigetsu, Shin swaggered into the Mizukage''s office. The guards stationed outside didn''t react.
Their five senses were under his control. They saw and heard what Shin wanted them to see and hear.
Under this Genjutsu, they were puppets, unaware of their surroundings or even their own deaths.
Shin wondered why the Kurama Clan, with such a powerful Kekkei Genkai, was still a small clan.
They couldn''t use it as effectively as him, though. Their mental power was weaker, and their Chakra reserves were smaller.
The stronger the Jutsu, the greater the Chakra cost. They couldn''t afford to use it often. Even Kurama Kaze, the only Kurama with an awakened Kekkei Genkai, struggled to control the five senses of a single J¨­nin.
Shin started searching the office, but he couldn''t find the Forbidden Scroll. He almost turned the place upside down.
"Could it be somewhere else?" he frowned.
He continued searching, and finally, he found a hidden compartment. Inside was the Forbidden Scroll of Kirigakure.
It was a huge scroll with the words "Forbidden Scroll" clearly written on it.
There was also another sealed scroll beside it. Shin took that as well. Anything kept with the Forbidden Scroll had to be valuable.
Just as he secured the scrolls, a group of Anbu stormed in.
"Welcome back," Shin greeted them casually.
"Bastard! The one who escaped was your Shadow Clone!"
The Anbu leader roared.
They hadn''t caught the clone, but they had realized they had been tricked. They rushed back, but it was too late. Shin had already found the Forbidden Scroll.
The Third Mizukage also arrived. Someone must have informed him of the commotion.
He entered his office and saw the open compartment. His face hardened.
"Where''s the Forbidden Scroll? Hand it over!"
He glared at Shin.
"You think I''d return something I already have?" Shin looked at him as if he were an idiot.
"Who are you?"
The Mizukage didn''t attack. He questioned Shin''s identity. This intruder had guts, infiltrating Kirigakure and stealing the Forbidden Scroll.
And he was so calm, facing him and the Anbu. He was either an idiot or had a trump card.
"Who am I?"
Shin smirked. "I am Uchiha Madara."
He altered his voice, mimicking Madara''s tone.
The Mizukage paused, then scowled.
"You''re mocking me. Do you think I''m that gullible?"
Everyone knew Uchiha Madara was dead. He had fought Hashirama Senju in the Valley of the End and been killed.
Hashirama had also been mortally wounded in that battle.
The deaths of Hashirama and Madara had triggered the First Shinobi World War. If either of them had survived, no one would have dared to start a war.
"Why would I lie to a mere child?"
Shin''s Mangeky¨­ Sharingan activated, his imposing aura pressing down on the Mizukage.
The Mizukage stumbled back, staring at the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan in fear.
Even those outside Konoha knew of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, the ultimate d¨­jutsu that had allowed Madara Uchiha to dominate the Shinobi world. [58] : The Might of Susanoo
In the Mizukage''s office, Shin stared coldly at the Third Mizukage. Neither the Mizukage nor the Anbu made a move.
The Anbu looked at the Mizukage nervously, waiting for his orders.
"Who are you? Impersonating Uchiha Madara? Do you think I don''t know that he was killed by the Shodaime Hokage in the Valley of the End?"
The Mizukage''s voice was glacial.
Shin scoffed. There was no need to explain. The more he said, the more likely he was to slip up.
He could escape now that he had the Forbidden Scroll, but he couldn''t leave without making an impression.
This was also for revenge for the Uzumaki Clan.
"Susanoo!"
Black Chakra materialized around Shin, forming arms and ribs, then a skeletal frame.
Muscles and tendons appeared, followed by a flesh-like covering. Finally, a Tengu-like armor materialized, completing the fifty-meter tall warrior god, a long katana strapped to its waist.
Shin''s Susanoo was black, like Amaterasu flames, an intimidating demonic figure.
The only flaw was that it only had an upper body. He needed the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan to manifest the full-bodied Susanoo.
It was difficult to use the Perfect Susanoo with just the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. In the original story, only Kakashi had done it during the Fourth Shinobi World War.
And Kakashi had only been able to use it because he had received Obito''s Chakra, which contained remnants of the Sage of Six Paths'' power.
Shin''s current Susanoo couldn''t have legs, but he was still a genius for manifesting the strongest form possible with the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
His immense ocular power and Chakra reserves made this possible.
The moment his Susanoo appeared, the Mizukage Tower was reduced to rubble.
The Mizukage and the Anbu were sent flying by the shockwave. Some of the weaker Anbu were killed instantly.
The Third Mizukage stared at the fifty-meter tall Susanoo in terror.
It was like facing a Tailed Beast, no, something even stronger.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
He almost believed Shin was Uchiha Madara.
He had never seen Madara Uchiha in person. He didn''t know that Madara''s Susanoo was blue, while Shin''s was black.
Shin grumbled. His Susanoo only had a katana, and it didn''t have any special abilities.
He looked at the Mizukage and the others, a cold smile hidden behind his mask. They couldn''t see his expression, but they could sense the danger.
The Mizukage didn''t bother warning the others. He used the Body Flicker Jutsu to escape.
Just as he moved, the Susanoo''s massive fist slammed down, crushing several Anbu where they stood.
Even those who weren''t crushed were injured by the shockwave.
"As expected from Susanoo. This destructive power is insane." Shin was pleased.
"Damn it! Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu!"
The Mizukage watched in fury as over a dozen of his men were killed, including several J¨­nin.
J¨­nin were elite forces. Losing so many in an instant... He had to do something.
The Great Waterfall Jutsu was an A-rank Ninjutsu that created a massive torrent of water, powerful enough to rival a natural disaster.
But it had no effect on the Susanoo.
The attack even destroyed several buildings in Kirigakure.
Other Shinobi attacked with Kunai, Explosive Tags, and Shuriken, but their attacks couldn''t penetrate the Susanoo''s defenses.
The Susanoo''s defenses were among the strongest in the Shinobi world. And its offensive power was even greater.
Shin slowly drew the katana from the Susanoo''s waist. The Mizukage tensed. "Defend!" he roared.
This giant could cause unimaginable destruction with its fists. With a sword? He didn''t even want to imagine it.
The Mizukage and the other Shinobi formed a Water Wall.
"Will this even work?"
Shin drew the black katana.
"Slash!"
The black blade flashed, cleaving through the Water Wall and bisecting the Shinobi in its path. The others were blown away by the force of the attack.
"I like this feeling."
Shin smiled, enjoying the overwhelming power.
The ground cracked, a long fissure snaking outwards. Some Shinobi fell into the chasm, breaking their limbs.
Shin''s single slash had killed dozens. They wanted to dodge, but the attack was too fast.
To ordinary Shinobi, the Susanoo was a weapon of mass destruction. Their attacks couldn''t harm it, but it could easily wipe them out.
"Stop this! Whether you''re Uchiha Madara or not, as the Mizukage, I won''t allow you to wreak havoc in my village!"
The Third Mizukage charged towards the Susanoo.
Shin watched calmly. The Mizukage''s attacks couldn''t harm the Susanoo.
To break through its defenses, he needed powerful Jutsu, which the Mizukage clearly didn''t have.
Ignoring the Mizukage, Shin turned his attention to the other Shinobi.
Attacking the Mizukage was pointless. As a Kage, he was difficult to kill quickly.
The Mizukage might not be able to harm the Susanoo, but killing him wouldn''t be easy either.
Shin couldn''t stay in Kirigakure for long. The Jinch¨±riki and other powerful Shinobi would arrive soon.
He had to take advantage of the situation before they arrived. He wasn''t strong enough to take on the entire village yet.
If all of Kirigakure''s forces gathered, even his Susanoo would be destroyed. It wasn''t the Perfect Susanoo, after all.
Ignoring the Mizukage, Shin swung the Susanoo''s sword, each swing claiming several lives. He was a grim reaper, harvesting souls. [59] : Leaving in Style! The Fury of Kirigakure
The deafening roar of the Susanoo echoed throughout Kirigakure, sending villagers scrambling for safety as ninja ushered them away.
Powerful Shinobi converged on the ruins of the Mizukage Tower, their faces contorted with rage as they beheld the towering Susanoo.
"Kaguya Clan, attack!"
The Kaguya Clan Head, a fierce warrior, led the charge, followed by a horde of battle-hungry Kaguya.
"Tsk, more and more are gathering."
Shin noticed cracks appearing on the Susanoo''s armor, but he wasn''t worried.
''Ants can still bite an elephant to death.''
The relentless attacks were taking their toll. Even the Susanoo was starting to buckle.
Seeing the widening cracks, Shin quickly channeled Chakra to repair the damage.
The Kiri Shinobi, who had cheered at the sight of the damaged Susanoo, now felt despair as the cracks vanished.
Sensing their despair, the Third Mizukage yelled, "Don''t give up! Maintaining that Susanoo must be draining! We can outlast him!"
He was right. The Susanoo was powerful, but it consumed a lot of energy.
Shin could handle the Chakra consumption, but it was also draining his ocular power.
His Mangeky¨­ Sharingan couldn''t withstand prolonged use.
He cut down several Kaguya with his sword, then deactivated the Susanoo. He couldn''t afford to exhaust his ocular power. He needed it to escape with Yomotsu Hirasaka.
"He''s weakening! Keep attacking!"
The Third Mizukage shouted excitedly.
"Fire Style: Great Dragon Fire Jutsu!"
A massive fire dragon erupted, incinerating several Kiri Shinobi before being extinguished by the Mizukage''s Water Style Jutsu.
"Kill him!" the Mizukage roared.
A barrage of Ninjutsu, Kunai, and Shuriken rained down on Shin.
"I''m done playing with you."
Shin activated Yomotsu Hirasaka, stepping through a portal.
The portal vanished, and the attacks missed their mark.
...
"Mizukage-sama, he''s gone!"
An Elite J¨­nin reported.The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
The Mizukage''s face was grim. Kirigakure had suffered heavy casualties, and they hadn''t even captured the intruder.
They didn''t even know how he had escaped.
"Search the entire village! I don''t believe he can escape Kirigakure! Find him!"
The Mizukage roared in fury.
They had lost over three hundred Shinobi, including J¨­nin and even elite J¨­nin. The Susanoo''s destructive power was immense. If the Mizukage hadn''t ordered the weaker Shinobi to retreat, the casualties would have been even higher.
And they hadn''t even injured the intruder. He had even stolen the Forbidden Scroll.
The loss of the Forbidden Scroll was a devastating blow. It contained many of Kirigakure''s secret Jutsu.
"Fire! Fire! We need to put out the fires!"
A Shinobi shouted.
The Mizukage snapped out of his rage and looked around. Fires were raging throughout the village.
Shin had set the village ablaze with Shadow Clones before escaping.
Shin watched the burning village without a shred of sympathy. Kirigakure had been involved in the Uzumaki Clan massacre. He wouldn''t show them any mercy.
''Time to go.''
He had what he came for. He had taken his revenge. It was time to leave.
He used Yomotsu Hirasaka to teleport back to Kushina and Mikoto.
It was still early morning, the sky still dark.
Kushina and Mikoto were asleep in a tent they had set up. Shin appeared inside the tent.
Kushina and Mikoto woke up instantly, reaching for their Kunai.
"Good, you''re alert," Shin said, pleased. It was important to be vigilant, especially when outside the village.
"Shin, you''re back!"
Kushina launched herself at Shin, and Mikoto also rushed over.
"Shin, are you hurt?" Mikoto scanned him for injuries.
"Of course not. Those Kiri weaklings couldn''t even touch me."
Shin reassured Mikoto. They hadn''t been able to break through his Susanoo''s defenses.
And even if he had been injured, he could always use Tenmomei to rewind time and heal himself.
Relieved that he was unharmed, Kushina and Mikoto went to prepare breakfast.
Shin was hungry, so they got to work.
Breakfast in the wilderness was barbecue. Shin went hunting, Mikoto prepared the ingredients, and Kushina gathered firewood.
...
While Shin and his team enjoyed their breakfast, the Kiri Shinobi were fuming.
They had extinguished the fires Shin had set, but the damage was extensive.
The Third Mizukage personally led the search for Shin, but they couldn''t find him.
Shin had already left. How could they find him?
"Mizukage-sama, what should we do? We can''t let this go!"
The Kiri Shinobi were frustrated and angry. They were one of the Five Great Villages! Someone had infiltrated their village, killed hundreds of their Shinobi, burned down countless houses, and escaped! This was a disgrace.
If they found Shin, they would make him pay.
The Mizukage was the most furious of all. He had failed to protect the Forbidden Scroll. He had no face left.
He opened his eyes, which were usually closed, revealing a chilling glint. He was a "Tojitame" (someone with perpetually closed eyes), and when a ''Tojitame'' opened their eyes, it meant trouble.
"Uchiha... Konoha..."
He gritted his teeth. He would make Konoha pay for this. He wouldn''t let this go.
Shin had claimed to be Uchiha Madara, but the Mizukage didn''t believe that. But he was certain the intruder was an Uchiha.
"Calm the villagers. I will handle this."
The Mizukage said to the other Shinobi.
He would send someone to Konoha to demand an explanation. The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan was unmistakable. He would hold Konoha and the Uchiha Clan accountable.
Shin had tried to use Madara as a scapegoat, but the Mizukage didn''t believe Madara was alive. Now Konoha and the Uchiha Clan would bear the brunt of his anger. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [60] : Steaming Danger Tyranny
Shin took out the Forbidden Scroll and the other sealed scroll he had acquired.
These scrolls weren''t easily opened. They were protected by seals.
An ordinary person wouldn''t be able to access the Jutsu within, but Shin was different. He was an Uzumaki.
Mito had taught him everything she knew about F¨±injutsu.
"Sealing Jutsu!"
Shin easily dispelled the rudimentary seals and opened the Forbidden Scroll.
It contained many Water Release Jutsu.
"What''s that?"
Kushina and Mikoto approached, their eyes fixed on the large scroll.
"This is one of my trophies from Kirigakure: their Forbidden Scroll. Unfortunately, there aren''t many Jutsu worth learning."
Shin skimmed through the scroll. The strongest Jutsu was probably the Second Mizukage''s Steaming Danger Tyranny.
This Jutsu was known as the Infinite Explosion Ninjutsu. It created clones with the appearance of children, formed from oil and water. These clones were fast, agile, and could explode repeatedly.
The outer layer of the clones was made of oil, while the inside was filled with water. Once the clone moved, the oil would heat up rapidly, causing the water to evaporate and create a steam explosion.
The clone would then shrink and absorb the surrounding water vapor to create more explosions, an endless cycle.
But this powerful Jutsu had a drawback: it weakened the user. The Second Tsuchikage''s body was covered in bandages because he had been burned by this Jutsu during a battle with the Second Mizukage.
Besides this Jutsu, there was also the H¨­zuki Clan''s Water Gun Jutsu, a B-rank, and the A-rank Water Style: Great Waterfall Jutsu.
There was also a terrifying Genjutsu from the First Mizukage: Mirage. But it required the summon, the clam, to use.
So, no matter how powerful it was, it was useless to Shin.
Besides, Shin didn''t need it. His Genjutsu was far superior, thanks to his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan and Five Senses Control.
"See if there''s anything you want to learn."
Shin handed the scroll to Kushina and Mikoto.
He was disappointed. Kirigakure was so weak. There wasn''t a single Jutsu that caught his eye.Unauthorized use of content: if you find this story on Amazon, report the violation.
Perhaps his standards were too high. He was looking for Jutsu with immense destructive power; ordinary Jutsu didn''t interest him.
While Kushina and Mikoto looked through the scroll, Shin unsealed the other scroll.
It contained money.
A lot of money.
Ten billion Ryo, to be exact. It must have been Kirigakure''s budget. Shin had inadvertently stolen their funds.
"Looks like we won''t have to worry about money anymore."
Shin smiled faintly. Kushina, however, tossed the Forbidden Scroll aside and hugged the pile of money.
"Kushina, you''re such a money-grubber," Shin teased.
"This is all mine now!" Kushina declared, sealing the money back into the scroll.
"..."
"Kirigakure must be furious," Mikoto said worriedly.
Shin knew what she was worried about. "Don''t worry, Mikoto. No matter how much they investigate, they won''t find me. And by the time they do, it''ll be too late."
No one would suspect him. His age was his best disguise.
And he had used the Transformation Jutsu and a mask.
By the time Kirigakure discovered the truth, it would be too late. He would be strong enough to crush them.
Even if they found out, they wouldn''t be able to do anything. They''d have to swallow their anger and accept their loss.
"Let''s go to the main island of the Land of Water," Shin said.
"Shouldn''t we leave the Land of Water? Kirigakure won''t let this go," Mikoto said.
They had stolen the Forbidden Scroll; it was too dangerous to stay.
"It would be a shame to leave just like that. Let''s explore the Land of Water and broaden our horizons."
"I agree!" Kushina chimed in.
Seeing Mikoto''s worry, Shin smiled. "Don''t worry, Mikoto. Even if we''re discovered, I can get us out of here."
Yomotsu Hirasaka ignored distance. He could teleport them back to Konoha, though the Chakra cost would be immense.
"By the way, do you want to learn any of the Jutsu in the Forbidden Scroll?" Shin asked.
"I don''t have Water Release Chakra. Most of the Jutsu in there are Water Release," Mikoto said.
She was a genius, possessing Wind, Lightning, and Yin Release.
Chakra Natures could be acquired through training, but it was a long and arduous process.
Having multiple innate Chakra Natures was definitely an advantage.
"I''ll try to learn some," Kushina said.
She had Wind, Water, and Yang Release.
She could learn Water Jutsu, and she had taken an interest in the Steaming Danger Tyranny.
It was an S-rank Jutsu. Seeing Shin use the Rasenshuriken, she understood the power of S-rank Jutsu.
Their destructive power and range were terrifying, even on the battlefield.
Ordinary Shinobi had limited Chakra. Even if they learned an S-rank Jutsu, they could only use it as a trump card. But Kushina, as an Uzumaki, had enough Chakra to spam S-rank Jutsu.
Of course, that was in the future. Currently, her Chakra reserves weren''t that vast.
Once she reached Kage level, her Chakra would rival that of a Tailed Beast. Perhaps not the Nine-Tails, but at least the Eight-Tails.
Shin used Yomotsu Hirasaka to transport them to the main island of the Land of Water.
There were people here.
"The Land of Water doesn''t seem as prosperous as the Land of Fire," Kushina observed, looking at the houses and the people''s attire.
It was clearly a step down from the Land of Fire.
In terms of wealth, no other nation could compare to the Land of Fire, thanks to its fertile lands and strategic location. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [61] : The Third Mizukage Demands Justice
In the Hokage''s office, Hiruzen Sarutobi puffed on his pipe, a troubled expression on his face. The sudden arrival of a delegation from Kirigakure, led by the Third Mizukage himself, was unexpected.
Hiruzen couldn''t believe that the Mizukage had came to Konoha.
He wouldn''t dare visit another Hidden Village. If the village had ill intentions, even a powerful Shinobi could be captured or killed.
Unless you were at the level of Hashirama Senju or Madara Uchiha, visiting another village was practically suicide.
Although the delegation was led by the Third Mizukage, Hiruzen wasn''t entirely sure it was really him.
The Third Mizukage was shrouded in mystery. Even Hiruzen didn''t know what he looked like.
Kirigakure was an isolated village, rarely interacting with the mainland. And the Third Mizukage was a reclusive leader. It wasn''t surprising that Hiruzen didn''t know him.
Hiruzen pondered the situation. The door opened, and Danz¨­ entered, along with the two elders, Homura Mitokado and Koharu Utatane.
Hiruzen had summoned them to discuss the Third Mizukage''s visit.
"You know why I called you here. The Third Mizukage has suddenly visited Konoha. What do you think his motive is?"
Hiruzen got straight to the point.
He had already met with the Mizukage, but the meeting hadn''t gone well. The Mizukage had been blunt and accusatory.
Although Hiruzen was angry, he kept his cool and arranged for them to stay at Konoha''s guesthouse, treating them with courtesy.
"Whatever his reason, as a Kage, leaving his village to visit another is foolish."
Danz¨­ scoffed. "With Suna making moves against us, now is not the time to fight Kirigakure."
Hiruzen looked at Danz¨­ sternly.
This was one of the reasons he had summoned Danz¨­: not just to discuss the Mizukage''s visit, but also to warn him.
Danz¨­ met his gaze and nodded. He wasn''t stupid enough to act rashly.
Attacking the Mizukage now would only bring trouble.
Besides, he wasn''t even sure if it was really the Third Mizukage. He didn''t believe the Mizukage would do something so reckless.
Unless they had a very close relationship, a Kage wouldn''t risk visiting another Hidden Village.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.
"Hokage-sama, the Kiri delegation requests an audience."
A Shinobi entered and announced.
Hiruzen frowned, then nodded. "Bring them to the meeting room."
"Let''s go meet them."
Hiruzen led Danz¨­ and the elders to the meeting room. The Third Mizukage and several elite J¨­nin were already waiting. It was indeed the Mizukage.
"The Third Mizukage is quite young," Danz¨­ remarked, looking at the Mizukage.
Indeed, compared to Hiruzen, the Mizukage looked much younger.
"Sandaime Hokage, I''m here to demand justice."
The Mizukage ignored Danz¨­ and glared at Hiruzen.
Danz¨­ scowled but didn''t say anything. He sat down, followed by Homura and Koharu.
Hiruzen frowned. Konoha and Kiri had no conflict. What justice was the Mizukage talking about?
"Your Konoha Shinobi infiltrated my village and stole our Forbidden Scroll. What do you have to say for yourself, Sandaime Hokage?"
The Mizukage stood up, his eyes narrowed dangerously. Killing intent filled the room, prompting Konoha''s Anbu to emerge from the shadows.
"Mizukage-sama, are you mistaken?"
Hiruzen was confused. He had never sent anyone to steal Kirigakure''s Forbidden Scroll.
Could it be Danz¨­? He glanced at Danz¨­, then shook his head. Danz¨­ didn''t have the ability to pull off something like that.
Honestly, even Hiruzen didn''t think he could infiltrate Kirigakure and steal the Forbidden Scroll.
The scroll was a valuable item; it would be heavily guarded.
And even if someone managed to steal it, they''d have to escape Kirigakure''s forces.
But seeing the Mizukage''s fury, it seemed the scroll was indeed gone.
"Hmph, can''t even protect your own village''s Forbidden Scroll. Useless." Danz¨­ sneered.
The Mizukage, who usually had a calm demeanor, was enraged. He slammed his hand on the table, shattering it.
Hiruzen glared at Danz¨­, then looked at the Mizukage. "Mizukage-sama, how do you know it was a Konoha Shinobi?"
"The Sharingan. The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. You can''t fake that. Besides the Uchiha Clan of Konoha, who else possesses the Sharingan?"
Hiruzen''s face hardened. Danz¨­ and the elders also paled.
"Hand over the Forbidden Scroll, or Kirigakure will declare war."
The Mizukage''s voice was firm.
He had to retrieve the scroll, or his position as Mizukage would be in jeopardy.
There were already dissenting voices in Kirigakure, criticizing his leadership and calling for his removal.
The other clans were eager for him to step down. If he did, they would have a chance to take his place.
That was why he had risked coming to Konoha. He had to retrieve the Forbidden Scroll.
Hiruzen took a deep breath. If he didn''t handle this carefully, Konoha and Kirigakure would go to war.
And if that happened, Suna, who was already making moves, would definitely take advantage of the situation.
Iwa, who had a grudge against Konoha, and Kumogakure, with their ambitions, might also join in. It could escalate into a four-village alliance against Konoha.
Konoha was strong, but even they couldn''t withstand an attack from four other Hidden Villages.
The stakes were high. He had to appease the Mizukage.
Hiruzen looked at Danz¨­, then said, "Mizukage-sama, I won''t lie to you. It''s been a long time since the Uchiha Clan has produced a Mangeky¨­ Sharingan user. But recently, one did awaken the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. However, he is now a missing-nin of Konoha." ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [62] : The Scapegoat
The Third Mizukage''s expression darkened. He didn''t believe Hiruzen''s claim that the Uchiha who stole the Forbidden Scroll was a missing-nin.
He saw it as a flimsy excuse.
"Do you think Kirigakure is afraid to go to war with Konoha?"
The Mizukage stood up and glared at Hiruzen.
"I know you suspect I''m lying, Mizukage, but he really is a missing-nin. He defected a year ago. You can investigate if you don''t believe me."
Hiruzen said calmly.
"His name is Uchiha Ryota. Feel free to investigate. He''s the only one I know of with the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. He''s been classified as an S-rank missing-nin."
Hiruzen was indeed referring to Uchiha Ryota, the one Shin had seen on the mission list.
He glanced at Danz¨­. Ryota''s defection and Mangeky¨­ Sharingan awakening were connected to Danz¨­.
Ryota was talented and powerful, a genius of the Uchiha Clan. Naturally, he had caught Danz¨­''s attention.
Danz¨­ had tried to recruit Ryota into Root, but Ryota had refused and even injured the Root Agents sent to persuade him.
This had offended Danz¨­, who believed that any talented Shinobi who wouldn''t serve him should be eliminated, especially an Uchiha.
Danz¨­ had captured Ryota''s parents and used them as bait to lure Ryota into a trap.
He didn''t know what had happened after that. All he knew was that all his men were dead, and so were Ryota''s parents.
The last report he received was that Ryota had awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
Hiruzen had learned of this incident and helped Danz¨­ clean up the mess.
Otherwise, with the Uchiha Clan''s genius suddenly becoming a missing-nin, and with evidence pointing to Danz¨­''s involvement, the Uchiha Clan wouldn''t have let it go so easily.
Hiruzen had appeased the Uchiha Clan with various concessions.
But now this had happened. Had Ryota become that strong? Strong enough to infiltrate Kirigakure and steal the Forbidden Scroll?
Hiruzen was worried. Ryota''s parents were dead, killed by Danz¨­''s men. Would Ryota seek revenge on Konoha?
The world only knew of Madara Uchiha''s Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, but Hiruzen had another teammate, Uchiha Kagami, who had also awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, though he was now deceased.Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
As Kagami''s teammate, Hiruzen understood the terror of the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
And the more he understood, the more worried he became. This was all Danz¨­''s fault. He had to stop Danz¨­ from doing whatever he pleased, even if he claimed it was for Konoha''s sake.
But was it truly for Konoha''s sake?
Perhaps Konoha held some importance in Danz¨­''s heart, but it definitely wasn''t his top priority. Danz¨­ was a selfish man; he only cared about himself.
After a lengthy discussion, Hiruzen finally managed to appease the Mizukage.
The Mizukage left, determined to declare war on Konoha if he discovered Hiruzen had lied to him.
Hiruzen breathed a sigh of relief, then turned to the Anbu.
"Find Uchiha Ryota. We have to find him."
"Leave Uchiha Ryota to me. I will find him and eliminate this threat."
Danz¨­''s eyes gleamed.
Hiruzen took a deep breath. "Can your Root handle him? You know how powerful the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan is."
To be able to infiltrate Kirigakure single-handedly and steal the Forbidden Scroll... Hiruzen didn''t believe Kirigakure was that weak.
He was wary of Ryota now. The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan was the eye that could subdue even Tailed Beasts.
He was overestimating Ryota, though.
It was Shin who had infiltrated Kirigakure, not Ryota. If Ryota had tried, he would have been killed instantly.
Ryota was just a scapegoat, blamed for something he didn''t do.
And now he would be hunted by both Kirigakure and Konoha.
Especially Kirigakure. If they found him, even the Mizukage might personally pursue him.
And if Shin learned that Ryota had the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, he might hunt him down to copy it.
Ryota''s situation was tragic. He might as well change his name to "Uchiha Deadmeat."
...
Meanwhile, the true culprit was still enjoying himself in the Land of Water.
"This croquette is disgusting."
Shin tossed the croquette aside. It was made with squid meat and tasted fishy.
Kushina and Mikoto also made faces and discarded their croquettes.
"How can you make croquettes with squid? Do they even know how to cook?" Kushina complained.
"Look, they seem to be enjoying it. Maybe it''s just their taste," Mikoto said.
Just because they didn''t like this strange croquette didn''t mean others didn''t.
"The takoyaki here is good, Shin. Try it."
Kushina offered Shin a takoyaki ball.
"Mmm, it is good. And cheap too."
Anything seafood-related was cheap in the Land of Water. As an island nation, they had plenty of seafood.
"We''ve been in the Land of Water for days. When are we leaving?"
Kushina asked.
She wasn''t used to the Land of Water. It was humid, and there was always a thick fog in the mornings and evenings.
And the worst part was the fishy smell that blew in from the sea when it was windy.
The locals were used to it, but Kushina wasn''t.
The Land of Whirlpools was also an island nation, but it was closer to the mainland and had a different climate.
Kushina wasn''t used to it, and neither was Mikoto. Even Shin found it a bit unpleasant.
"Let''s leave today then," Shin said.
He decided to take Kushina and Mikoto to a food street in one of the towns before they left. They might not come back to the Land of Water again, so they might as well enjoy a feast. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [63] : Developing Ice Release! Return to Konoha
Shin and his team left the Land of Water, but instead of returning to Konoha, they went back to the Land of Whirlpools.
They built a small hut near the coast.
Kushina and Mikoto sparred on the beach, trying to gain combat experience.
But it wasn''t very effective. They were just sparring; they weren''t using any dangerous Jutsu or trying to kill each other.
Shin sat by the shore, developing new Jutsu.
He wanted to create Ice Release Jutsu. He had the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai, but he didn''t know any Ice Release Jutsu.
He reviewed his knowledge of Jutsu and recalled ice-based abilities from his past life.
Those abilities could serve as inspiration. Perhaps he could adapt them into Ninjutsu.
There were many ice-based abilities, such as the Hie Hie no Mi from One Piece, Esdeath''s Teigu from Akame ga Kill, and even the ice-manipulating Stand, White Album, from JoJo''s Bizarre Adventure.
There were many powerful ice abilities, but replicating them with Ninjutsu would be challenging.
After much deliberation, Shin realized that adapting those abilities into Jutsu wasn''t something he could achieve in a short time.
"I''ll have to create Ice Release Jutsu based on existing Jutsu."
Shin sighed. He would have to put in some effort, but Ice Release was a powerful element, worth the effort.
He used the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu to create a thousand clones and set them to work, experimenting and researching Ice Release.
"Shin, are you sure you''re okay?"
Mikoto approached him, concerned. Creating a thousand Shadow Clones wasn''t just physically taxing; it was also mentally demanding.
If he dispelled all those clones at once, the mental fatigue could be overwhelming, potentially even fatal.
"Don''t worry, I know my limits," Shin reassured her with a smile.
He wouldn''t let the clones research for too long. He would maintain control, ensuring he didn''t damage his mind.
Mental fatigue was inevitable, but he wouldn''t harm himself. In fact, after the fatigue subsided, his mental power would increase.
This was another method he had discovered for strengthening his mind. But it wasn''t something most people could handle. Without immense willpower, they wouldn''t be able to endure the mental strain.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.
A week passed. They had been away from Konoha for almost half a month.
Shin had developed three Ice Release Jutsu:
Ice Wall
Ice Spear
Ice Dragon Bullet Bomb
These were his original creations.
Well, not entirely original. They were modified versions of existing Jutsu. Ice Wall was based on the Water Wall Jutsu.
But even though it was based on an existing Jutsu, the hand seals were different. It was a completely new Jutsu, just like the Earth Release: Earth Wall.
Ice Spear was based on Kakuzu''s Earth Spear, and Ice Dragon Bullet Bomb was based on the Water Dragon Bullet Jutsu.
These were all at least B-rank Jutsu. And this was just the beginning. Shin would continue to develop even stronger Jutsu, such as an Ice Age Jutsu that could freeze the sea between islands, or even a Time Stop Jutsu. He believed that with enough time, he could achieve anything.
"Let''s pack up and head back to Konoha," Shin said to Kushina and Mikoto.
They had been away for a while. He wondered if the Sandaime Hokage would send someone to look for them.
After all, they weren''t ordinary ninja. They were all talented.
She was eager to return. The Land of Whirlpools was scenic, but it was deserted and boring. And Shin had been busy developing Jutsu, so he hadn''t had time to play with her.
Mikoto had also been busy training. Kushina was bored and wanted to go home.
They used Water Walking to travel across the sea, their Chakra-coated feet gliding over the waves.
Running on water in the open sea was more challenging than on a river. The waves were stronger.
But it didn''t stop them. Their Chakra control was excellent; they could handle most waves.
It took them a few days to reach Konoha.
As soon as they returned, Hiruzen was informed. So was Danz¨­.
Hiruzen was relieved. He didn''t want to lose these talented youngsters.
Danz¨­, however, was furious. He had sent someone to capture Shin when they left the village.
Although he had a bad feeling when he didn''t hear back from his elite J¨­nin, Shin''s return still angered him.
His subordinate must have failed. As for how, he had no idea.
He wanted to capture Shin and his team and interrogate them, but Hiruzen was keeping a close eye on him.
If he made any moves within Konoha, Hiruzen would find out.
Danz¨­ might be good at operating in the shadows, but he couldn''t hide everything from Hiruzen.
Shin and his team went to the mission assignment desk and completed their mission.
After receiving their reward, they returned to the Senju compound.
Hiruzen didn''t summon them.
As long as they were back, he didn''t care about the details. And he wasn''t surprised that they had taken so long.
Missions to hunt down missing-nin could take a while. Finding the target wasn''t easy.
"Finally home."
Kushina looked around the familiar courtyard with a sense of relief.
Mikoto smiled. "You two rest for a bit. I''ll make dinner."
"Don''t bother, Mikoto."
Shin stopped her before she could enter the kitchen.
Seeing her confused expression, he smiled. "You just got back; no need to tire yourself out. Let''s eat out. I''ve been craving Konoha''s food."
"I agree!" Kushina chimed in. Mikoto nodded and sat down. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [64] : The Kumo Attack
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto strolled through Konoha''s bustling food street.
"We''re finally rich! We can buy anything we want!"
Kushina clutched a handful of snacks, her eyes scanning the stalls for more treats.
"We weren''t exactly poor before, but now we''re loaded," Shin said.
With the ten billion Ryo he had swiped from Kirigakure, they wouldn''t have to worry about money for a while.
"Let''s go get some Yakiniku!"
Shin led Kushina and Mikoto into a popular Yakiniku restaurant.
"Shin!"
A familiar voice called out.
"Nawaki, you''re living the good life, huh? Eating Yakiniku? Looks like you''re rolling in dough."
Shin teased Nawaki.
"Of course! I''ve made a lot of money lately. I even completed a C-rank mission outside the village!"
Nawaki said proudly.
"Do missions really take that long? You were gone for over half a month."
Nawaki was curious about their long absence.
"Yeah, some missions take time," Shin said vaguely.
He couldn''t tell Nawaki the truth. What he had done could make him an enemy of Kirigakure.
If Kiri found out he was the one who infiltrated their village, killed their Shinobi, and stole the Forbidden Scroll, they would demand Konoha hand him over.
And knowing Hiruzen, he might actually do it.
If word got out, Shin might become an enemy of not just Kiri, but Konoha as well.
"By the way, Nawaki, are you here alone?" Shin changed the subject.
"Nope, I''m with some friends. They''re not here yet. I came to reserve a table."
"Who''s coming?" Kushina asked.
"My team, and Minato''s team. We''re still working together."If you find this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the infringement.
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto used to be part of their group, but after becoming Chunin, they had moved on to higher-level missions.
"Since we''re all here, let''s eat together. My treat!" Nawaki said grandly.
"No, it''s my treat. I promised to buy you all dinner when we got back."
Shin shook his head. The food here was good, but it was also expensive. Nawaki''s allowance probably wouldn''t cover it.
"Well, if you insist..."
Nawaki grinned.
They reserved a large private room. Soon, Minato, Akiko, Tsume, Hiashi, and Kai arrived.
Kai''s expression changed when he saw Shin, but he remained silent.
Shin was surprised to see Kai there. He wasn''t exactly the social type.
"Shin, you''re back!" Minato and the others greeted them with surprise.
"Yep, that mission was tough."
Shin lied. Kushina and Mikoto had been the ones who defeated the missing-nin; he hadn''t even lifted a finger.
"I want to go on B-rank missions too," Minato said enviously.
After completing a C-rank bandit extermination mission, he was eager for more challenging tasks.
"Actually, after this trip, I realized it''s better to stay in the village. We''re not taking any missions for a while."
Shin said. It was the truth. He wanted to focus on developing his Ice Release. Training was more important than pointless missions.
After dinner, Shin and his team headed back to the Senju compound with Nawaki. Akiko and Kai, however, went in a different direction.
"What''s going on? Don''t they live in the Senju compound too? Why aren''t they going home?"
Kushina was puzzled.
"Didn''t you know? Akiko moved out last week. Then Kai suddenly moved out too," Nawaki explained.
"Oh, and there''s something else..." Nawaki''s expression turned mischievous.
"Akiko seems to like Minato."
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto remained expressionless. They already knew.
Nawaki was disappointed, then continued, "Shin, you must be wondering why Kai came with us today. He has a crush on Akiko, so he tagged along."
Still no reaction.
"Nawaki, I figured that out back in the Academy. You''re just realizing it now?"
"Oh... so you knew." Nawaki was surprised.
"Huh?"
Shin suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on a nearby alley.
"What''s wrong?" Mikoto asked softly.
"No point hiding. Come on out," Shin said calmly.
"What?" Nawaki looked at Shin, confused.
Kushina and Mikoto, however, drew their Kunai, their eyes alert.
"I can''t believe a brat like you discovered us."
Three Shinobi emerged from the alley. They were tall and muscular, with dark skin and a powerful aura.
"You''re from Kumogakure, aren''t you?" Shin asked.
The leader of the Kumo Shinobi was about to speak, but Shin''s question surprised him.
"They really are from Kumo."
Shin saw their surprised expressions and confirmed his suspicions.
He had never seen Shinobi with such dark skin in Konoha.
Only those from the Land of Lightning had that skin tone. It was easy to tell.
He hadn''t been entirely sure at first, but their reaction confirmed it.
Their hostility was clear. They were here for them, or rather, for the Uzumaki.
In the original story, Kushina had been captured by Kumo.
Even though the timeline had changed, it seemed Kumo was still targeting Kushina.
"Capture the two Uzumaki brats. Kill the other two. Be quick. Don''t attract the Anbu''s attention."
The Kumo leader lunged at Shin. [65] : Ice Release Annihilates Kumo Shinobi
In the dim alleyway, a wall of ice, shimmering with a pale blue light, blocked the Kumo captain''s grasping hand.
"Ice Release?"
The captain stared at the ice wall in surprise.
"You''re quite knowledgeable," Shin said with a smirk, his eyes fixed on the three Kumo Shinobi like a predator sizing up its prey.
"Hmph, I''ll shatter this ice wall!"
The captain channeled Chakra into his fist and punched the ice wall.
His attack resembled Tsunade''s monstrous strength, but it was weaker.
His fist struck the wall, causing barely a tremor.
"Weak!" Shin muttered.
He wasn''t trying to be insulting; he genuinely thought the captain was weak.
Enraged, the captain called out to his comrades, and they unleashed a triple Lightning Release attack.
Electricity crackled as they channeled lightning through their hands, using the earth as a conduit to attack Shin.
But the lightning strikes were blocked by the ice wall.
"Lightning Release: Double Lariat!"
The captain focused lightning Chakra into his elbow and slammed it into the ice wall. Cracks spread across the surface.
It was a Nintaijutsu technique, a combination of Ninjutsu and Taijutsu, similar to the Chidori, but using the elbow instead of the hand.
"Not bad. You managed to crack the wall. You''re quite strong."
Shin looked at the captain with an appreciative smile.
"You''re asking for it!"
The captain couldn''t stand Shin''s patronizing attitude.
"Ice Release: Ice Dragon Bullet Bomb!"
Shin''s hands moved in a blur, forming hand seals with incredible speed. Six seals in two seconds.
An ice dragon emerged, roaring towards the captain. It slammed into him, sending him flying, then continued its trajectory towards another Kumo Shinobi.
The ice dragon opened its jaws and swallowed the Shinobi whole, freezing him solid.
Crack!
The ice dragon shattered, and the frozen Shinobi within crumbled into a pile of ice shards.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
"One left. Ice Release: Ice Spear!"
Several ice spears materialized before Shin, then shot towards the last Kumo Shinobi, piercing his heart and limbs.
"Is that one dead too?"
Kushina pointed at the captain, who had been sent flying by the ice dragon.
"Not yet, but he''s as good as dead."
An ordinary Shinobi would have been killed by the impact, but this was a Kumo J¨­nin, a master of Nintaijutsu.
His body was more durable, so he was still clinging to life. But he was barely alive.
His bones were broken, his internal organs ruptured. He was better off dead.
"Wh-what happened?"
Nawaki stammered, finally snapping out of his shock. He stared at the scene in horror.
The Shinobi who had been swallowed and frozen by the ice dragon... it was too much for him.
He had seen blood before, but nothing this gruesome.
"As you can see, they were Kumo Shinobi. They attacked us, and we retaliated. Why are you so shocked, Nawaki? Don''t you have any guts?"
Shin shook his head at Nawaki.
Nawaki was bewildered. Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto seemed unfazed. Was he really that weak-minded?
Kushina and Mikoto had witnessed far more gruesome scenes. They were somewhat desensitized to violence.
"Let''s wait for the Anbu," Shin said, sitting down.
The commotion wasn''t huge, but it wasn''t small either. The Anbu would have noticed.
Besides their main duties, the Anbu were always lurking in the shadows, protecting Konoha.
Unless it was in a remote training ground or the forest, any significant disturbance would attract their attention.
This was practically the center of the village. Attacking here was foolish.
Shin frowned. They had just returned to Konoha, and these Kumo Shinobi had attacked them. It was strange.
"Shin, what are you thinking?" Mikoto asked.
"I''m thinking their real target might not be us."
This wasn''t a good place for an attack. It was too close to the Hokage Tower, and the security was tight. Attacking here would attract attention.
Or perhaps that was their goal. To distract Konoha''s forces while their accomplices carried out their true objective.
If Shin''s guess was correct, their real targets were Kai and Akiko.
He was right. That was their plan. Sacrifice three of their own to distract Konoha while the others captured their targets.
Shin and his team hadn''t been part of the original plan. When they formulated their plan, Shin and his team weren''t even in Konoha. They had intended to attack Nawaki to draw attention.
Nawaki was the grandson of Hashirama Senju. He was a potential threat, so they wanted to eliminate him. And even if they couldn''t kill him, they could use him as a distraction while their accomplices captured Akiko and Kai.
The three Kumo Shinobi had been surprised to see Shin and Kushina.
They had done their research before infiltrating Konoha.
They knew Shin and Kushina weren''t in the village. Their targets were Akiko and Kai.
But seeing Shin and Kushina, they decided to capture them as well.
Then... they became test subjects for Shin''s new Ice Release Jutsu.
Nawaki had been lucky. If Shin and his team had returned a day later, he might be dead.
Of course, he didn''t know how close he had come to death.
"Shin, you think their real goal was to kidnap Akiko and Kai?"
Kushina and Mikoto were surprised by Shin''s theory.
"It''s just a guess. I''m not sure."
But he was at least eighty percent sure.
"Should we go save them?" Nawaki asked.
"How? If Shin''s right, it''s too late. They must have already made their move. I hope Akiko''s okay," Kushina said.
She didn''t care about Kai, but she still hoped Akiko was safe.
Shin also hoped Akiko was fine. The Nine-Tails hadn''t been transferred yet. If something happened to Akiko, he and Kushina would be in trouble.
Minato had left with them. Hopefully, he was strong enough to protect them. [66] : Hiruzen Wants to Introduce His Niece
It didn''t take long for the Anbu to arrive.
They examined the bodies of the three Kumo Shinobi. Shin couldn''t see their expressions behind their masks.
"What happened here?"
One of the Anbu questioned them. The others continued to inspect the bodies.
"We were attacked by Kumo Shinobi. We killed them in self-defense. Oh, and they said their accomplices were going after Akiko and Kai."
Shin reported.
"What?! You, take them to the Hokage''s office. The rest of you, with me!"
The Anbu squad leader immediately left with three other Anbu. Akiko was under the Sandaime Hokage''s protection; she couldn''t be harmed.
He didn''t have time to verify Shin''s claims. If something happened to Akiko, it would be too late.
"You three, follow me to the Hokage''s office. You need to report this to the Sandaime Hokage."
The remaining Anbu said to Shin and his team.
Shin shrugged and followed the Anbu, Kushina and Mikoto trailing behind him. Nawaki also tagged along, not wanting to be left alone with the corpses.
Shin''s use of Ice Release had been exposed, but he didn''t care. If he had wanted to keep it a secret, he wouldn''t have used it against the Kumo Shinobi.
Ice Release wasn''t his trump card, not yet anyway.
They arrived at the Hokage''s office, and the Anbu agent reported the incident to Hiruzen.
Hiruzen immediately dispatched several Anbu squads to retrieve Akiko.
He then turned his attention to Shin and the others.
"Shin, Nawaki, Kushina, Mikoto, are you all alright?" Hiruzen asked with concern.
"Thank you for your concern, Sandaime-sama. We''re not injured."
Shin looked at Hiruzen, knowing the Hokage was about to get down to business.
As expected, Hiruzen asked, "Shin, those ice Jutsu you used earlier... What was that?"
"It''s my Kekkei Genkai," Shin replied truthfully.
Hiruzen was taken aback. Wasn''t the Uzumaki Clan''s Kekkei Genkai the Sage Body? Had Shin developed a new Kekkei Genkai?If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it''s taken without permission from the author. Report it.
Besides Kekkei Genkai like the Sage Body, Sharingan, and Byakugan, it was possible to develop new elemental Kekkei Genkai.
By combining two different Chakra Natures, one could create a new type of Jutsu. This was a Kekkei Genkai.
Ice Release was a combination of Wind and Water Release.
The Mizunashi Clan of Kirigakure also possessed Ice Release. And once a Kekkei Genkai was successfully developed, it could be passed down to future generations.
(OC Clan of Ice Release!)
"You developed it yourself?" Hiruzen asked.
"Yeah, I stumbled upon it by accident," Shin said casually.
Hiruzen''s lips twitched. This wasn''t just genius; it was monstrous. He had never heard of anyone developing a Kekkei Genkai at the age of ten.
He didn''t know that Shin had copied the Ice Release. He assumed Shin had developed it himself.
He didn''t ask how Shin had done it. In the Shinobi world, it was taboo to pry into someone''s Kekkei Genkai or Jutsu.
Besides, developing a Kekkei Genkai often involved luck. Some stumbled upon it accidentally, while others spent their entire lives researching without success.
It mainly depended on the ratio of the two Chakra Natures being combined. Even those who had successfully developed a Kekkei Genkai couldn''t explain the exact process. They often experimented until they suddenly succeeded.
So, luck was a factor.
Even if Hiruzen asked, Shin couldn''t answer. He hadn''t developed the Ice Release himself.
"Ahem, Shin, are you married?"
Hiruzen suddenly asked.
Shin stared at him, bewildered.
"I have a niece around your age. I could introduce you."
The temperature in the room plummeted. Kushina glared at Hiruzen, her body radiating killing intent.
Mikoto''s smile vanished, replaced by a frown.
Nawaki shivered. Why were Kushina and Mikoto so scary?
Shin''s eye twitched. He knew what Hiruzen was thinking.
Kekkei Genkai could be passed down. That was Hiruzen''s motive.
"No, thank you," Shin refused politely.
Kushina and Mikoto were glaring at him. He had to prioritize his safety.
Besides, he didn''t know if Hiruzen''s niece was even pretty. If she was, he might consider it. But considering the Sarutobi Clan''s... unique looks, he decided against it. He preferred humans.
Hiruzen was embarrassed, but thankfully, several Anbu entered the room, saving him from further awkwardness.
"Hokage-sama, we brought Uzumaki Akiko."
They had also brought Minato and Kai, all three of them injured.
Seeing Akiko safe and sound, Hiruzen sighed in relief. She was already being groomed as the Jinch¨±riki. If something happened to her, finding a replacement would be troublesome.
"Are you sure those Shinobi were from Kumo?"
Hiruzen asked the Anbu.
"Judging from the Jutsu they used, it''s highly likely."
The Anbu couldn''t be completely sure. It was possible that Shinobi from another village were impersonating Kumo. They would need to investigate further.
Hiruzen nodded and asked about Minato and the others'' injuries. He was mainly concerned about Akiko, though. She was too important.
After a brief questioning, Hiruzen dismissed them.
As they left the Hokage Tower, Shin sensed two Anbu following them. Or rather, following Akiko.
He didn''t care, as long as they weren''t following him. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [67] : All Things Can Be Copied
"Akiko, are you alright?"
After leaving the Hokage Tower, Kai asked Akiko with concern.
Akiko shook her head at Kai, then looked at Minato.
"Thank you, Minato. If it weren''t for you, I would have been captured." Akiko looked at Minato gratefully, her cheeks flushed.
"Don''t mention it. We''re teammates." Minato smiled back.
Kai scowled. He had helped rescue Akiko too. Why was she only thanking Minato?
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto walked behind them. Shin couldn''t help but chuckle.
Kai, hearing Shin''s chuckle, turned around angrily.
"What are you looking at? Want to fight?" Kushina threatened, raising her fist.
Her threat wasn''t very convincing, but Kai was intimidated nonetheless.
Kushina had taught him a lesson before; he didn''t want a repeat, especially not in front of the girl he liked.
Shin and his team parted ways with Minato''s team. Shin sensed the two Anbu agents following Minato and the others.
Good. No one was following him. He didn''t want to be monitored.
Back at the Senju compound, Shin and the girls returned to Tsunade''s courtyard, while Nawaki went to his own residence.
"It''s late. Let''s take a bath and get some rest," Shin said.
He went to his room, while Kushina and Mikoto went to theirs.
Shin lay on the tatami mat, but he couldn''t sleep.
''I''ll chat with the System and ask some questions.''
He called out to the System in his mind.
"System, are you there?"
"Always at your service, Master."
"System, how are missions assigned?" Shin asked.
When he infiltrated Kirigakure and stole the Forbidden Scroll, he had expected the System to issue a mission, but nothing happened.
"System missions are random. The difficulty and rewards are also random."
Shin was disappointed. He preferred patterns to randomness.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.
"System, can Replication Cards copy anything?"
"Only Divine Replication Cards can copy anything. Common and Advanced cards have limitations."
"Can you copy a person?"
"Yes. The required card level depends on the person''s strength. Kage-level or above requires a Divine Replication Card. With a Divine card, even a world can be copied. All things can be copied."
Shin was surprised. The difference between Advanced and Divine cards was vast.
"What level of card would I need to copy myself?" Shin asked curiously.
"Due to your perfect Sage Body, you would require a Divine Replication Card."
Shin nodded. He was just curious; he wouldn''t actually copy himself. Everyone wanted to be unique.
"System, I think there should be more card levels."
He felt the gap between Advanced and Divine cards was too large.
"You can anticipate a System upgrade, Master. After the upgrade, there might be new card levels between Advanced and Divine."
"So the System can be upgraded? When will that happen?"
"I do not know, Master."
Shin sighed. The System was powerful, but it lacked Replication Cards.
He currently had two cards left: one Common and one Advanced.
He couldn''t use the Advanced card carelessly. He planned to use the Common card to copy either ocular power or physical abilities.
As he chatted with the System, he drifted off to sleep.
The next morning, after refining Chakra for a while, he heard a knock on his door.
"Shin, why are you so lazy today?"
Kushina entered, and Shin stopped his Chakra refining.
Unlike martial arts training, Chakra refining couldn''t be disrupted.
"Kushina, why did you barge in like that? What if I wasn''t dressed?" Shin said, exasperated.
"So what? I''ve seen it all before." Kushina blushed slightly, then shrugged.
She had indeed seen everything when they were younger. But that was then. Now, even though they weren''t that old, they were practically adults by Shinobi standards.
"I haven''t been to your room in a while."
Kushina pounced on Shin, tackling him to the tatami mat.
Knock knock
"What are you two doing?"
Mikoto stood at the door, knocking gently.
Kushina jumped up, flustered, as if she had been caught doing something wrong.
Then she realized she hadn''t done anything wrong.
"If you don''t come out for breakfast soon, it''ll get cold," Mikoto said calmly.
Shin didn''t sense anything unusual in her tone, but Kushina felt a hint of danger.
They went out for breakfast. Afterwards, Shin went to the small training ground in the courtyard.
He continued to experiment with Ice Release. It had so much potential, as did every element, as long as the user could realize it.
Developing Jutsu wasn''t easy. Only geniuses could do it, and the process was tedious.
But Shin could handle the tedium. Taijutsu training was even more monotonous and tiring, yet he had persevered for years.
Kushina and Mikoto were also training diligently. They wanted to be able to help Shin.
During the Kirigakure incident, they had been helpless, forced to wait anxiously for Shin''s return. They would rather face danger with him than worry about him.
They were currently sparring.
"Mikoto, you''re attacking so fiercely!" Kushina dodged a sudden Fireball Jutsu and pouted.
"You''re not holding back either. I won''t go easy on you."
"I''m always serious in a fight."
Mikoto smiled. She recalled the scene she had witnessed that morning, of Kushina pouncing on Shin, and her attacks intensified. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [68] : The Nine-Tails Jinch奴riki Transfer
"Mikoto, you lost again."
Kushina looked at the exhausted Mikoto.
Kushina had won their spar. Mikoto was no match for her.
Unless Mikoto awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, she would always be at a disadvantage against Kushina in Taijutsu.
But Mikoto''s Sharingan was only at the two-tomoe stage. The Mangeky¨­ Sharingan was still a distant goal.
"I lost again..."
Mikoto sighed. She had never won against Kushina, even in a spar. It was frustrating.
"You''re already very strong, Mikoto. Your strength is around Tokubetsu J¨­nin level. In a year or two, you''ll reach J¨­nin level."
Shin comforted her.
J¨­nin was a level many Shinobi could never reach. Mikoto was already a genius.
Of course, this was also due to her hard work and Shin''s guidance. Talent alone wasn''t enough.
Two months passed. During this time, Shin and his team didn''t go on any missions. Shin focused on developing Jutsu.
Nothing major happened, though Hiruzen did try to introduce his niece to Shin again.
Hiruzen hadn''t given up. But when Shin saw the girl, he ran away.
She looked like a gorilla. He couldn''t handle it.
Kushina and Mikoto chased her away before Shin could even say anything.
"Something feels off in the village today."
Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto were strolling through the village.
They needed a break from training. But as they walked through the streets, Shin noticed something was amiss.
Many Shinobi were hidden in the shadows. The entire village seemed to be on high alert.
"What''s wrong?" Kushina asked, confused.
"Can''t you sense it? There are Shinobi hidden everywhere. Something big is about to happen."
Shin had a bad feeling.
But what could be considered a big deal? A Kage-level invasion? No, no one below Sannin-level would dare invade Konoha. They''d be crushed.
Konoha might not be at its peak, but it was still several times stronger than it would be at the start of the main storyline.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
"It must be the Nine-Tails."
Shin''s eyes narrowed. The only thing that could warrant such a high level of security was the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, the Ky¨±bi.
Perhaps the Jinch¨±riki transfer ceremony was about to begin.
Shin didn''t tell Kushina and Mikoto. There was no point in them knowing.
After a relaxing stroll through the village, they returned home in the evening.
They had bought many high-quality ingredients. Mikoto had been experimenting with cooking lately. They were going to have a feast.
<><><>
In a hidden area behind the Hokage Rock, Hiruzen stood with a solemn expression.
He wasn''t wearing his Hokage robes. He was dressed in battle attire.
The Hokage robes were a symbol, not practical for combat. He didn''t expect a fight, but it was better to be prepared.
Besides Hiruzen, there were also Anbu and elite J¨­nin. Konoha''s strongest forces were gathered here.
Shin had guessed correctly. The Nine-Tails transfer was about to take place. They were going to seal the Kyuubi into Akiko.
"Mito-sama, are you sure we should do this now? You can still hold on for a while longer."
Hiruzen said to Uzumaki Mito.
Mito opened her eyes and shook her head.
"We have to complete the transfer while I can still suppress the Kyuubi. Otherwise, it will be a disaster."
Hiruzen remained silent. He hadn''t witnessed the Nine-Tails'' power himself, but he had heard stories.
The Nine-Tails was the strongest of the Tailed Beasts, its power surpassing that of the other eight combined.
If Hashirama Senju were still alive, they wouldn''t need to be so cautious. To Hashirama, the Kyuubi was practically a pet.
He had treated the Tailed Beasts as pets, while Madara Uchiha had seen them as beasts.
To them, the Tailed Beasts were nothing special.
But to other Shinobi, the Nine-Tails was a terrifying monster.
"Akiko, are you ready?" Mito asked seriously.
Akiko clenched her fists and nodded. She couldn''t deny she was nervous.
"Akiko, the Kyuubi isn''t inherently evil. I hope you can guide it to the right path," Mito said.
"I will, Mito-sama."
"Good. Let''s begin."
Mito didn''t hesitate any longer. She formed hand seals and released the seal on her body. Crimson Chakra seeped out, and a malevolent aura filled the air.
Hiruzen''s expression turned grim. "Sealing Team, prepare!" he shouted.
The Nine-Tails'' Chakra, even a small amount, was overwhelming.
The Four Symbols Seal was released, and the Kyuubi emerged, its massive form towering over the prepared J¨­nin.
Roar!
The Nine-Tails roared, its voice and Chakra shaking the entire village. Even Hiruzen felt suffocated. What a monster!
Shin, eating dinner at home, sensed the Kyuubi''s Chakra and looked towards the mountain.
"What''s that?"
Kushina and Mikoto asked, confused.
The Chakra was so immense that even they could sense it. Most Shinobi in Konoha could.
"It seems my guess was right. It''s none of our business. Let''s eat. This Cola Chicken is delicious."
Shin held up a chicken wing, unconcerned about the Nine-Tails transfer.
Kushina and Mikoto, although curious, continued eating.
While they enjoyed their dinner, Hiruzen was panicking. The Kyuubi was more ferocious than he had imagined. The Sealing Team couldn''t contain it.
The Kyuubi lunged at the Konoha Shinobi, its fangs bared. It hated them with a passion.
It had been living a carefree life, then Hashirama had captured it and sealed it away. Its resentment was immense.
"Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Several Chakra chains erupted from Mito''s back, binding the Kyuubi and restricting its movements.
The Uzumaki Clan had incredible life force. Ordinary Jinch¨±riki died the moment the Tailed Beast was extracted, but Mito was different. Her life force could sustain her for a while longer. [69] : The Second Shinobi World War Begins
The mountain-sized Nine-Tails was firmly bound by the Adamantine Sealing Chains, unable to move.
"Uzumaki Mito, I''ll kill you!"
The Kyuubi roared in fury.
Sealed within Mito for decades, it naturally harbored immense hatred towards its container.
Mito ignored the Kyuubi''s threats, focusing all her energy on suppressing the beast.
"Sealing Team, now''s your chance! Use the Sealing Jutsu!" Hiruzen yelled.
They had to seize this opportunity. If the Kyuubi broke free, even Hiruzen wouldn''t be able to stop it.
Hiruzen was a Kage-level Shinobi at his peak, one of the strongest in the world, but he was no match for the Nine-Tails.
He had mastered ordinary Jutsu, but against a Tailed Beast, those Jutsu were ineffective.
Unless he used the Dead Demon Consuming Seal, but that was a suicidal Jutsu. Would he risk his life?
"Hurry! Don''t let the Kyuubi use Bij¨±dama (Tailed Beast Ball)!"
Mito yelled to Hiruzen. She was losing control.
Extracting a Tailed Beast drained the host''s life force. And Mito was already nearing the end of her lifespan. She couldn''t hold on much longer.
If they didn''t seal the Kyuubi now, while she was still alive, Konoha would face a catastrophe.
The Sealing Team didn''t disappoint. They worked together to seal the Kyuubi into Akiko.
"Four Symbols Seal!"
Mito, her life fading, used the last of her strength to apply the Four Symbols Seal, leaving a mark resembling the Uzumaki Clan symbol on Akiko''s stomach.
Akiko had fainted, but her steady breathing indicated she was fine.
Mito closed her eyes. After applying the seal, she breathed her last.
Hiruzen sighed, then ordered the Anbu to take Akiko back to the village and protect her.
Now a Jinch¨±riki, Akiko could no longer leave the village for missions.
Unless it was absolutely necessary, Hiruzen wouldn''t allow her to leave. She was now Konoha''s weapon.
Three days later, Konoha held a funeral for Mito. The entire village attended.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.
Tsunade, who had been deployed to the border, returned for the funeral.
"Tsunade''s not taking this well, is she?"
Shin watched Tsunade, who had been silent since returning from the funeral. He wanted to comfort her, but he didn''t know what to say.
He wasn''t good at comforting people.
"I knew this day would come... but it still hurts."
Tsunade slumped over the table, her emotions a mix of grief and anger.
The Nine-Tails transfer, such a major event involving her grandmother, and they hadn''t even informed her. She didn''t even get to say goodbye.
Shin looked at Tsunade, unsure how to help. He shook his head and left the room, giving her some space.
"Weren''t you going to comfort her? Why are you back?"
Kushina, who had been chatting with Mikoto, asked Shin.
"I''m not good at that kind of thing," Shin said with a helpless shrug.
...
Two days passed. Tsunade was no longer consumed by grief. News of Mito''s death had spread throughout the Shinobi world.
"Are you sure Uzumaki Mito is dead?" The Third Kazekage asked the reporting Shinobi.
"Yes, Kazekage-sama. They held a funeral for her a few days ago. Konoha wouldn''t joke about something like this."
"Chiyo, what do you think?"
The Kazekage turned to the woman standing beside him. This was Chiyo, Suna''s advisor, around the same age as Hiruzen.
"Suna has been preparing for so long. We haven''t attacked because the timing wasn''t right. I believe now is the perfect opportunity to strike Konoha."
Chiyo said seriously.
Suna had been facing off against Konoha at the border for months, waiting for the right moment. And now, the opportunity had arrived.
A few days ago, they had finally convinced the Third Tsuchikage, ¨­noki, to join them in attacking Konoha.
And with Mito''s death, Konoha''s strength had been significantly weakened.
Mito was the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki. This wasn''t a secret. Now that she was dead, and with the new Jinch¨±riki still adjusting, the Nine-Tails was effectively out of commission. It was like their nuclear weapon had been temporarily deactivated. This was their chance.
"By the way, have we reached an agreement with Amegakure?" Chiyo asked.
"No. Hanz¨­ refuses to cooperate. He wants to forbid us from entering the Land of Rain."
The Kazekage was furious. Hanz¨­ might be strong, but that didn''t give him the right to disrespect Suna.
"If Hanz¨­ refuses to cooperate, then we''ll ignore him. I don''t believe that little Amegakure would dare oppose Suna."
Chiyo''s eyes flashed with determination. She wasn''t the frail old woman she would become in the future.
"Then I''ll leave this to you, Chiyo."
The Kazekage said. He wouldn''t be leading the forces from the front lines. As a Kage, he wouldn''t participate in battle unless it was absolutely necessary.
Chiyo nodded. After the Kazekage returned to the village, she and her brother, Ebizo, led the Suna forces across the border into the Land of Rain.
They had already agreed with ¨­noki to attack the Land of Fire from the Land of Rain. The Land of Rain would become the battleground for the three Great Nations.
As for Amegakure''s opinion? They had no say in the matter. The weak were always at the mercy of the strong.
After months of stalemate, the Second Shinobi World War finally began, initiated by Suna.
Chiyo sent a team of elite J¨­nin to launch a surprise attack on the Konoha forces stationed at the border.
Caught off guard, Konoha suffered heavy losses.
Then the main Suna force arrived, led by Chiyo herself. Konoha was forced to retreat.
After months of stalemate, the Konoha Shinobi had grown complacent. That was why they were so easily defeated in the surprise attack.
Suna occupied Konoha''s former base and seized a large amount of supplies. They had gained a significant advantage. [70] : You Might Hate It, But I Like It
Hiruzen slammed his fist on the desk in fury. The news of the Suna attack had reached Konoha.
The bastards! Mito''s funeral had just ended, and they were already making their move.
The Suna attack had resulted in over a hundred Konoha Shinobi dead and three hundred injured. Many of the injured were poisoned.
If they didn''t receive treatment soon, the death toll would rise sharply.
Three hundred was a significant number. A small Hidden Village might not even have that many Shinobi.
"Inform Tsunade. Tell her to head to the front lines."
Hiruzen ordered an Anbu agent. According to the reports, Chiyo''s poison was potent. The medics on the front lines could only slow its effects, not cure it.
Tsunade was Konoha''s best medic. She was the only one who could handle this.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
An Anbu agent hidden in the shadows vanished to relay the message.
Knock knock knock
"Come in."
A white-haired Anbu with a sword strapped to his back entered and bowed.
"Sakumo, you are relieved of your duties as Anbu Commander. I have a more important mission for you," Hiruzen said gravely.
Sakumo Hatake was Kakashi''s father. Besides Hiruzen, he was the strongest in Konoha.
He wasn''t much older than Hiruzen''s three disciples, but he was far stronger, already at Kage level. A true genius.
"Your orders, Hokage-sama."
Sakumo had no objections to being removed from his position. He would obey the Hokage''s commands.
"I''m sending you to the battlefield to replace Orochimaru as the commander."
Hiruzen said.
Orochimaru was currently the commander, but he was still too young and inexperienced for such a responsibility.
Sakumo nodded, accepting the mission without hesitation.
...
"The Second Shinobi World War has begun?" Shin asked Tsunade after seeing off the Anbu messenger.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work!
"It''s not a ''World War'' yet. Just a conflict between Konoha and Suna," Tsunade corrected him.
Shin scoffed. "Tsunade, do you really think Suna would dare attack Konoha alone?"
If Suna had the guts to attack Konoha alone, they wouldn''t have waited this long.
Maintaining a stalemate at the border for months wasn''t cheap. Suna wouldn''t have done that if they weren''t afraid of Konoha.
Now that they were attacking, besides the Nine-Tails Jinch¨±riki being out of commission, they must have another reason: allies.
Konoha was undeniably powerful. Shin didn''t believe Suna would attack without backup.
"What do you mean?" Tsunade frowned.
"Suna must have found allies. Otherwise, why would they attack Konoha alone?"
Tsunade shook her head. Konoha might have suffered a setback, but that was only because Suna had caught them off guard.
Suna was weaker than Konoha. They knew that. If they were attacking, they must have help.
Her expression turned grim.
"Are you going to tell the Sandaime?" Shin asked.
Tsunade nodded. She had to warn him.
"There''s no need. If even I can figure this out, don''t you think the Sandaime already knows?"
"I''m just saying this war won''t be easy. Be careful."
"So you''re worried about me?" Tsunade looked at Shin and suddenly pinched his cheek.
"I haven''t done this in a while. Feels good."
A smile finally appeared on her face. She hadn''t smiled since Mito''s death.
"I hate it." Shin swatted her hand away. He wasn''t a child; he didn''t like being pinched.
If it were someone he wasn''t familiar with, he would have trapped them in a Genjutsu world.
"You might hate it, but I like it."
Tsunade reached for his cheek again, but this time, two small hands intercepted her.
"Tsunade-sensei, it''s rude to make others uncomfortable," Mikoto said.
"Hmph, why are you touching him?" Kushina glared at Tsunade.
"What''s wrong with me touching him? He''s my student. I can show him affection. Besides, you''re both my students. What right do you have to lecture your teacher?"
Tsunade pulled Shin into a hug, burying his face in her ample bosom. Shin felt a wave of warmth and a slight lack of oxygen.
He could resist, but he wasn''t stupid. This was a golden opportunity; he wouldn''t waste it.
Tsunade looked at Kushina triumphantly. She was deliberately provoking her.
And she succeeded.
"Mikoto, help me pry this cow off him!"
Kushina yelled through gritted teeth.
"Sorry, Tsunade-sensei, but this is inappropriate. You can''t just do that to a boy."
Mikoto sided with Kushina without hesitation. They tried to pull Tsunade away, but they were no match for her strength.
In the end, Shin had to push her away himself.
He would have loved to stay in her embrace, but he needed to breathe.
"I''m leaving. You three stay in the village. Don''t go anywhere."
Tsunade said, then left for the battlefield. They didn''t know when she would return.
After she left, Kushina and Mikoto glared at Shin.
"Why didn''t you resist when Tsunade was taking advantage of you?" Kushina demanded.
Shin was confused. Wasn''t he the one taking advantage?
"Ahem, I couldn''t resist her strength. Believe me!"
Shin said weakly.
Kushina and Mikoto rolled their eyes. They didn''t believe him for a second. He had probably enjoyed it. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [71] : Konan the "Angel"
Half a year passed in a flash. The war had been raging for six months.
Konoha, Suna, Iwa, and Amegakure were locked in a bloody conflict.
Even Konoha''s Genin were being deployed to the battlefield.
Shin and his team were also on the front lines. If even Genin were being sent, Chunin like them were indispensable.
"War is so cruel. These people are so unfortunate."
Mikoto looked at the gaunt and fearful civilians of the Land of Rain with pity.
The Land of Rain was already impoverished due to its harsh climate. Now, ravaged by war, it was filled with refugees.
Even as refugees, they had to hide, afraid of encountering Shinobi. To them, ninja were no different from demons.
"Everyone knows war is cruel, but the rewards are too tempting," Shin said softly. Without conflicts of interest, there would be no war.
"What are you guys sighing about? Aren''t you hungry?" Kushina complained. "I''m starving!"
"We have rations."
Kushina took out the rations and glared at Shin. "You eat one and show me."
"Ahem, I''m not hungry."
Shin looked away. The rations were rock-hard.
"This is what they gave us? How are we supposed to eat this? Use it to sharpen our teeth?" Kushina grumbled.
Konoha seemed to be low on funds. They had to make do with these for now.
If they wanted decent food, they''d have to wait for the Land of Fire''s Daimyo to provide more funding.
"Let''s go find something to eat."
If they wanted good food, they had to hunt for it themselves. They entered the forest, the drizzle soaking their clothes.
Shin wasn''t sure if there were any animals left in this forest. They weren''t the only ones hunting.
"This damned weather. It rains nine days out of ten, and the one day it doesn''t, it''s cloudy."
Shin looked up at the overcast sky. He had been on the battlefield for half a month and hadn''t seen the sun once.
After searching for a while, they finally found a rabbit. A scrawny one, but it was better than nothing.Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.
Mikoto roasted the rabbit, ending its miserable life.
"Smells good!" Kushina''s eyes sparkled.
"Kushina, you''re drooling," Shin teased.
Kushina quickly wiped her mouth, then realized there was no drool. "You tricked me!" she glared at Shin.
Shin shrugged. It was her fault for being so gullible.
Roar!
A roar echoed through the forest. Shin''s eyes lit up. It sounded like a bear.
"I''ll go check it out. Maybe we can have bear for dinner." Shin informed Kushina and Mikoto, then vanished in a flash.
"Hey, I want to come too!" Kushina jumped up.
"Kushina, stay here," Mikoto said, gently pushing her back down.
Shin followed the sound of the roar and found the bear. It was charging towards a small, dirty girl.
The girl stood frozen in fear, her eyes wide with terror.
The bear wasn''t that big, but it was more than capable of killing a child.
"Lucky for you, I happened to be passing by."
Shin threw an ice-blue Kunai. It embedded itself in the bear''s head, and the bear collapsed.
Shin appeared next to the bear. It wasn''t small, but it was thin, almost malnourished.
Most of the edible resources in this forest had been hunted by Shinobi. This bear probably hadn''t eaten a decent meal in a while.
"Are you alright?"
Shin turned to the girl, who was still cowering with her eyes closed. She was covered in dirt, but her light blue hair was beautiful.
"I-I''m fine..."
She opened her eyes, looking at Shin with a mixture of gratitude and fear. She was grateful he had saved her, but she was also afraid of him. He was a Shinobi.
Shinobi were feared and hated in the Land of Rain.
"Don''t worry, I''m not going to kill a child," Shin reassured her.
He ignored her and picked up the bear carcass, preparing to leave.
"W-wait..." the girl called out weakly.
"Here... this is for you... thank you for saving me."
She offered Shin a mushroom she had been holding.
Shin smiled. "What''s your name?"
"Konan."
She spoke softly, her head lowered. She was both grateful and terrified of Shin.
"You''re Konan?"
Shin''s mind flashed to Konan, the "Angel" of the Akatsuki.
He looked at her light blue hair, then stepped closer and wiped the dirt from her face.
Her young features seemed vaguely familiar. It really was Konan of the Akatsuki.
She hadn''t met Yahiko and Nagato yet, or she wouldn''t be alone.
Konan looked at Shin, her eyes filled with fear.
"Come with me."
Shin picked her up with one arm and the bear with the other, then vanished in a flash.
The heavy bear didn''t slow him down at all.
"You''re finally back! We were about to come looking for you! Who''s this little girl?"
Kushina looked at Konan curiously.
"I found her. She looked pitiful, so I brought her back," Shin said.
Of course, Konan''s identity was also a factor. He was quite fond of Konan, the Angel of the Akatsuki.
"She does look pitiful. And cute."
Kushina examined Konan, then looked at Shin suspiciously.
Had he brought her back because she was cute? Why else would he be so compassionate? ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [72] : The Third Kazekage Arrives on the Battlefield
Shin enjoyed his roasted rabbit, ignoring the curious stares from Kushina and Mikoto. He cleared his throat.
"Kushina, Mikoto, is something wrong with the rabbit? Why are you staring at me like that?"
"We''re just curious," Mikoto said.
They were both puzzled by Shin bringing Konan back. They didn''t believe he had done it out of pure compassion.
"What''s there to be curious about? Finish eating, and let''s head back to camp to report," Shin said.
They were on a mission to scout for enemy Shinobi in the area.
"Konan, here''s a rabbit leg for you." Shin offered Konan a leg.
Konan looked at him timidly, then at the rabbit leg with longing, but she didn''t dare take it.
"Go on, eat. Don''t be afraid," Mikoto said gently.
"Yeah, we won''t hurt you," Kushina added.
Unable to resist the temptation, Konan finally took the rabbit leg and nibbled on it.
She hadn''t eaten in two days. She had managed to find some mushrooms, but then she encountered the bear and almost died.
A single rabbit wasn''t enough, so they roasted the mushrooms Konan had found and a bear paw as well.
"Bear paw is so good! What about the rest?" Kushina looked at the bear carcass. There were three more paws, and they hadn''t even touched the meat.
"We can''t waste it." Shin sealed the carcass in a scroll.
"Konan, are you coming with us, or are you going to continue wandering around?"
Shin asked Konan.
"Come with us. It''s dangerous for a little girl to be alone," Kushina said.
"The entire Land of Rain is dangerous right now. You should stay with us," Mikoto added.
"You... you really want me to come with you?" Konan asked timidly.
She was young, but the war had forced her to mature quickly. She knew she was a burden.
"It''s your choice, Konan. If you want to come with us, you can. If you want to leave, we won''t stop you," Shin said.Stolen story; please report.
He wouldn''t force her either way.
"I... I want to go with you," Konan said, looking at Shin.
"Alright, let''s go then."
Shin smiled and led Konan out of the forest.
They arrived at a small town. Due to the war, it was practically deserted.
They bought Konan some new clothes at a clothing store, then found an inn and had Mikoto help Konan wash up and change. She was covered in mud from being chased by the bear.
They then headed back to the Konoha camp. No one questioned them about the little girl; they were Tsunade''s students, after all.
This was the battlefield between Konoha and Suna. Orochimaru was the commander, with Tsunade and Jiraiya as his deputies. No one would question them.
As for the original commander, Sakumo Hatake, he had been transferred to the Iwa front.
They went to find Tsunade. She was surprised to see Konan.
"Who''s this little girl?" Tsunade asked Shin.
"Her name is Konan. I saved her in the forest and brought her back. She can stay with you for now."
Shin and his team often went on missions. It was better for Konan to stay with Tsunade, who was responsible for treating the injured and developing antidotes for Chiyo''s poison.
Tsunade rarely participated in direct combat.
Tsunade frowned. Wasn''t it dangerous to bring a stranger into the camp? She could be a spy.
"Don''t worry," Shin said, sensing her concern.
Tsunade trusted Shin. She nodded and said to Konan, "You can stay with me for now."
Konan took a step back and looked at Shin, clinging to his clothes.
She was anxious in this unfamiliar environment. Only Shin, her savior, could give her a sense of security.
"Don''t worry, Konan. If I''m in camp, you can stay with me. But if I''m on a mission, you''ll have to stay with Tsunade. It''s too dangerous to take you with me."
Shin pinched Konan''s cheek. It was so soft; he couldn''t resist pinching it again.
Konan blushed and nodded.
"Tsunade, we have a problem!"
Jiraiya and Orochimaru suddenly arrived. Their presence meant trouble. Jiraiya looked at Konan curiously.
"Didn''t you say there was a problem? Tell us what it is."
"Yeah, yeah, business first." Jiraiya turned serious. He wasn''t interested in some random little girl.
"I''ll explain. The Third Kazekage is here."
Orochimaru said. It was better than letting Jiraiya waste time with his rambling.
"What?!" Tsunade''s eyes widened in alarm.
The Third Kazekage''s presence meant he was participating in the war.
The Third Kazekage was considered the strongest Kazekage. Even Hiruzen might not be able to defeat him.
Tsunade was overestimating him, though. The strongest Kazekage wasn''t the Third. After all, he had been killed and turned into a puppet by Sasori.
Regardless of whether Sasori used tricks or schemes, it didn''t change the fact that the so-called "strongest Kazekage" had been defeated.
But to Orochimaru and the others, the Third Kazekage was still a formidable opponent.
"Do you have a plan?" Tsunade asked Jiraiya and Orochimaru.
"Orochimaru has already sent someone back to Konoha to inform the Hokage. We have to stall for time," Jiraiya said.
Tsunade nodded. That was their only option. They had to wait for Hiruzen''s instructions. ------ Read +32 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [73] : Shin Joins the Battle
The result of Orochimaru and Jiraiya''s discussion was that if the Third Kazekage joined the battle, the three of them would team up to hold him back.
On a battlefield with thousands of Shinobi, a Kage-level fighter might seem insignificant, but their impact was still immense. They could create a breakthrough, potentially leading to a complete rout.
Tsunade was worried. Even though Konoha was strong, facing two other Hidden Villages and Amegakure was a challenge.
With the Third Kazekage joining the fray, Konoha might be defeated.
Konoha''s strongest period was probably during the Third Shinobi World War, with the Sannin, the Yellow Flash Minato Namikaze, Hiruzen Sarutobi, and Danz¨­ Shimura.
But now, during the Second War, the Sannin were still developing; they hadn''t earned their title yet.
"Why the long face? It''s just the Third Kazekage."
Shin said to Tsunade, who glared at him in response.
Just the Third Kazekage? How could he underestimate him so much? He was known as the strongest Kazekage in history.
A good reputation wasn''t easily earned.
Tsunade rolled her eyes at Shin. "You three stay in camp for the next few days," she ordered.
This was for their protection.
"Want me to take out the Third Kazekage?" Shin offered.
"No."
Tsunade refused without hesitation. She knew Shin was strong, but she didn''t think he was stronger than a Kage.
And the Third Kazekage wasn''t just any Kage; he was the strongest Kazekage, with a Kekkei Genkai.
"I knew you''d say that."
Shin shook his head and returned to their tent with Kushina, Mikoto, and Konan.
He had been staying in camp for the past few days, training and teaching Konan the Chakra Refinement Technique.
He hadn''t been on any missions, but he was well-informed. He knew Konoha had suffered several defeats. Even with Orochimaru, Jiraiya, and Tsunade working together, they couldn''t turn the tide.
It wasn''t that they couldn''t defeat the Third Kazekage. They could handle him together.
But Suna had other powerful Shinobi, like Chiyo and her brother, Ebizo, both Kage-level.
Against them, the Sannin were at a disadvantage.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
"Tsunade, are you injured?"
Shin noticed blood on Tsunade''s arm.
"Tsunade-sensei is hurt!" Mikoto rushed over to examine the wound.
There was a deep gash on Tsunade''s right arm.
"It''s nothing. Just a scratch from that old hag Chiyo''s puppet."
Tsunade''s eyes flashed with anger. She wouldn''t have been injured if Chiyo hadn''t used her puppets to attack while Tsunade was busy fending off the Third Kazekage.
Shin examined the wound. It was deep, but not life-threatening. It hadn''t reached the bone. With Tsunade''s healing abilities and Medical Ninjutsu, she would recover in a few days.
Shin channeled green Chakra into his hand and placed it on Tsunade''s arm.
Tsunade was surprised. "You learned the Mystical Palm Jutsu?"
The Mystical Palm Jutsu was an advanced Medical Ninjutsu. Tsunade had taught it to him just a few days ago. She hadn''t expected him to master it so quickly.
"You know, I have thousands of Shadow Clones helping me train. It only took a few days."
With thousands of clones practicing the Mystical Palm Jutsu, an hour was equivalent to months of training for others.
But Shadow Clones could only assist with Ninjutsu training. Chakra refining, Taijutsu, and Kenjutsu still required him to train personally.
"How are Orochimaru and Jiraiya?" Shin asked.
Tsunade had recovered from her shock. Shin had surprised her so many times that she was becoming immune to it.
"Orochimaru has some minor injuries. Jiraiya is worse; he won''t be able to fight for at least half a month," Tsunade sighed.
"What''s the plan?" Shin asked.
"Orochimaru wants to avoid further conflict and wait for reinforcements. It''s been a few days; they should arrive soon."
Shin shook his head. "I don''t think reinforcements are coming. If the Third Kazekage is involved, he won''t let us send for help so easily. The messenger was probably intercepted."
It was just a guess, but Shin was almost certain. Suna wouldn''t allow Konoha to call for reinforcements.
"Avoiding conflict isn''t that easy. I''m going to the battlefield tomorrow," Shin said.
"What? Why?" Tsunade was alarmed.
"I''ve been on the front lines for so long, and I haven''t even seen the battlefield. That''s pathetic." Shin grinned.
"This is not a joke, Shin! The battlefield is dangerous!" Tsunade scolded him.
"I know you''re worried about me, but I can protect myself. Besides, I want to see how strong I am now."
"And seeing you injured... it makes me want to avenge you and teach that old hag Chiyo some manners."
Shin finally persuaded Tsunade. Or rather, she realized she couldn''t stop him.
Even if she disagreed, Shin would still go.
<><><><>
The next day, on the battlefield, Orochimaru noticed Shin.
"Shin-kun? What are you doing here?"
"Orochimaru-sama, the Third Kazekage isn''t that much older than you, is he? I''m disappointed you can''t defeat him."
Shin looked at Orochimaru''s injuries. They were minor, but he still looked a bit battered.
Orochimaru frowned. "Shin-kun, you''re not here to help us defend against Suna, are you?"
"Yeah, if we lose, we''re all doomed. I have to think about my own safety."
Shin watched the approaching Suna forces, his eyes turned serious. It was clear that Suna wanted to crush Konoha before reinforcements arrived.
If Konoha received reinforcements, and Hiruzen joined the battle, Suna wouldn''t stand a chance.
"So, Shin-kun, how do you plan to help? Do you have a way to repel them?"
Orochimaru looked at Shin. He didn''t believe Shin could turn the tide, but he was curious.
Orochimaru''s senses were sharp. He could sense danger emanating from Shin. ------ Read +32 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [74] : One Against a Thousand
The Third Kazekage led the Suna forces in a fierce charge. Orochimaru had erected a tall earth wall as a barrier, but he didn''t expect it to hold for long. It was merely a delaying tactic.
Retreating was the wisest course of action, but they had to choose the right moment. Otherwise, they''d be hunted down by Suna, and perhaps even Amegakure would join in for a share of the spoils.
"I hear the Third Kazekage boasts absolute defense."
Shin''s eyes were fixed on the Third Kazekage, who looked deceptively young. He was a genius, possessing the Magnet Release Kekkei Genkai.
It was likely a Kekkei Genkai he had developed himself. The Fourth Kazekage, Rasa, had learned Magnet Release from him.
"I don''t know about ''absolute defense,'' but his defense is certainly strong. Even Tsunade couldn''t break through his Iron Sand," Orochimaru said.
He looked at Shin. "Shin-kun, do you have a way to break through his defenses?"
"If even Tsunade can''t do it, what makes you think I can? I''m just a Ch¨±nin."
"Oh? Are you really only Ch¨±nin, Shin-kun?" Orochimaru gave him a knowing look.
"Who knows?"
Shin watched the approaching Suna forces, drew his Kusanagi sword, and leaped over the earth wall.
Orochimaru frowned.
"Orochimaru-sama, he went down there. Should we bring him back?"
A J¨­nin asked Orochimaru.
"Observe. Perhaps he''ll surprise us. I''m quite curious." Orochimaru waved a hand dismissively, his snake-like eyes gleaming with anticipation.
<><><>
"You''ll be my whetstone."
Shin''s eyes also held a glint of excitement. He didn''t know exactly how strong he was, but the battlefield was the perfect testing ground.
He wasn''t afraid of danger. His Mangeky¨­ Sharingan abilities could protect him. With Yomotsu Hirasaka, he could escape any situation.
Wielding his Kusanagi sword, Shin charged towards the Suna forces, a blur of motion against the backdrop of the battlefield.
"He''s fast!"
Orochimaru''s eyes widened. Even he would struggle to dodge at that speed.
Clang!
Shin''s sword clashed against the Third Kazekage''s Iron Sand, sending the Kazekage flying.This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
If the Kazekage hadn''t sensed the danger and used his Magnet Release to defend at the last moment, he would be dead.
"What?!"
The Suna Shinobi stared in disbelief at the young boy who had just sent their Kazekage flying with a single blow.
They couldn''t believe their eyes. This kid, who looked no older than twelve, had repelled their Kazekage?
At the Konoha camp, Tsunade clenched her fists.
"Damn it, he''s reckless! Orochimaru, why did you let him go? Why didn''t you stop him?!"
She glared at Orochimaru. She had been treating some injured Shinobi and had arrived late. She hadn''t expected Shin to charge into the enemy ranks alone.
"Tsunade, do you want to go down there too?" Orochimaru asked, seeing her agitation.
"You''re still injured. Even if you go, you won''t be much help. If he dared to face them, he must have a plan. You''d just be a burden."
Tsunade hesitated. He was right. She would be a liability in her current state.
Shin had Space-Time Ninjutsu; he should be fine. She''d give him a good scolding when he got back.
<><><>
"Are you all stunned?"
Shin looked at the Suna Shinobi, who were frozen in shock. He swung his sword, cutting down several of them.
Their deaths snapped the others out of their daze. They glared at Shin with fury.
Shin charged into the enemy ranks. They wouldn''t dare use large-scale Ninjutsu now.
That was how the Third Raikage had been able to fight a thousand Shinobi for three days and three nights. They didn''t use powerful Jutsu for fear of harming their own comrades.
With their own allies mixed in with the enemies, how could they use Ninjutsu?
Shin reveled in the chaos. In terms of Taijutsu, perhaps only the Third Raikage could match him. And in Kenjutsu, he believed he was unmatched in the Shinobi world.
"Flash Slash!"
He combined the Body Flicker Jutsu with his swordsmanship, killing over a dozen Suna Shinobi in an instant, including a J¨­nin.
"Weak."
Shin flicked the blood off his Kusanagi sword.
He had already killed dozens. His sword danced through the enemy ranks like a reaper''s scythe.
He kicked a Shinobi who tried to attack him from behind. The man flew through the air and landed with a sickening thud, his body twisted at an unnatural angle.
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
The giant shuriken, formed from swirling Wind Chakra, shot towards the Suna forces. It exploded, the countless tiny needles tearing through flesh and bone.
Shin had aimed for the densest part of the enemy formation. The Shinobi there were helpless against the Rasenshuriken.
"MOVE!! SCATTER!!"
The Third Kazekage yelled.
He had a gash on his chest, courtesy of Shin''s sword. Even with his Iron Sand defense, he had still been injured.
The Kusanagi sword was incredibly sharp, and Shin''s strength was monstrous. Thankfully, the Kazekage''s defense was strong, or he would have been gutted.
"I''m almost tempted to copy his Magnet Release," Shin mused, seeing the Kazekage''s relatively minor injury.
But he didn''t. He had learned that Uchiha Ryota had awakened the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. He was saving his last Advanced Replication Card for that.
His own Mangeky¨­ Sharingan had reached its limit, but it still hadn''t evolved into the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan. He wanted to copy another Mangeky¨­ Sharingan to help his own evolve.
Compared to the Eternal Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, Magnet Release was nothing. The choice was obvious.
The Third Kazekage ordered his men to retreat, then faced Shin alone. He wasn''t trying to be a hero; he simply didn''t want his men to get caught in the crossfire.
He glared at Shin with murderous intent. If he hadn''t reacted quickly, he would have been killed by Shin''s sword. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [75] : Ice Release: Ice Age!
Shin and the Third Kazekage faced each other. The other Suna Shinobi formed a circle around them.
"Kazekage-sama, do you need assistance?" Chiyo asked.
"No." The Kazekage refused. He wasn''t going to gang up on a kid.
Chiyo frowned. They couldn''t underestimate this boy. He had injured the Kazekage with a single blow.
She felt the Kazekage was being arrogant. This could end badly.
"Vacuum Slash!"
Shin swung his sword with full force, slicing through the air. A blade of compressed air shot towards the Kazekage.
Creating an air blade with a sword was far more difficult than with a punch.
The air blade was incredibly fast. The Kazekage''s eyes widened.
"Magnet Release: Iron Sand World Method!"
Iron Sand swirled around the Kazekage, forming an impenetrable sphere.
The air blade struck the Iron Sand, sparks flying. It slowly cut through the Iron Sand, but the defense was thick, over thirty centimeters.
The air blade managed to penetrate twenty centimeters before dissipating.
"Couldn''t break it. Disappointing." Shin sheathed his sword.
"But since you like staying in there so much, why don''t you stay there forever?"
"Ice Release: Ice Age!"
Shin''s hands flew through a series of hand seals, fifteen seals in two seconds. An icy chill emanated from him.
Ignoring the Chakra cost, frost spread from his feet, covering the ground in a thick layer of ice.
The Iron Sand sphere encasing the Kazekage was instantly frozen. The ice continued to spread outwards.
"Retreat! Everyone, retreat!"
Chiyo yelled, leading the Suna forces in a hasty retreat. Those further away were fine, but the Shinobi near the front couldn''t escape.
The stronger ones managed to flee, but the Chunin were too slow. They were frozen solid, encased in ice. Within moments, a one-kilometer radius was transformed into a world of ice.
Hundreds of ice pillars stood frozen in this icy wasteland. They were the Suna Shinobi who hadn''t been able to escape.
"Still not as powerful as Kuzan''s Hie Hie no Mi."A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.
Shin observed his Ice Age Jutsu. He had developed it based on Kuzan''s Devil Fruit ability, but it was still far weaker.
Kuzan could freeze dozens of kilometers of ocean with ease.
But Shin''s Ice Release was still developing. Perhaps one day, he would surpass Kuzan.
Shin wasn''t completely satisfied, but the Suna and Konoha Shinobi were stunned.
"That''s Ice Release?! When did he get Ice Release? He didn''t tell me!" Tsunade was indignant.
"What incredible power..." Orochimaru''s eyes widened in shock.
"Damn that brat!"
Chiyo almost fainted, seeing her frozen comrades.
"Quick! Save the Kazekage!"
Ebizo, Chiyo''s brother, yelled, his eyes filled with worry. The Third Kazekage was trapped in the ice.
If they didn''t rescue him soon, he would suffocate.
They had to break the ice. If the Kazekage died here, Suna would be in danger.
Ebizo charged forward, using Wind Release to attack the ice encasing the Kazekage. But the ice was as hard as steel.
Shin watched them calmly. They wouldn''t be able to break it. He wondered if the Kazekage could escape from the inside.
The Kazekage had deactivated his Iron Sand defense. He looked at the ice surrounding him, his face pale.
He manipulated the Iron Sand, forming various weapons, and attacked the ice from the inside.
With attacks from both inside and outside, and with some Shinobi using Fire Release, the ice finally shattered. The Kazekage emerged, gasping for air.
The space within the sphere hadn''t been large; the air had been thin.
"Retreat!" the Kazekage ordered.
He didn''t try to attack Shin. He chose to retreat.
The Suna Shinobi wanted to save their frozen comrades, but they knew the chances of survival were slim.
"You think you can just retreat? Did you ask me?"
Shin charged towards them, his sword flashing. A massive air blade sliced through the ice.
"Puppet Technique: Human Puppet!"
Chiyo used the Human Puppet Jutsu to defend, and the Third Kazekage used his strongest Iron Sand defense.
The other Suna Shinobi also used defensive Jutsu. The sight was spectacular, even more so than when Shin had faced the combined might of Kirigakure.
The air blade sliced through ten puppets and broke through the Kazekage''s Iron Sand defense. The air blade was too large, and the Kazekage''s Iron Sand wall wasn''t thick enough.
But after breaking through the Iron Sand, the air blade''s power was spent. It was easily blocked by the other Suna Shinobi''s defenses.
The Suna forces retreated hastily, abandoning their frozen comrades.
The chances of survival for those trapped in the ice were slim. The Kazekage wouldn''t risk further losses to save them.
If Shin used another Ice Age Jutsu, the consequences would be dire.
Chiyo winced as she retrieved the broken Human Puppet. It was a masterpiece by the previous generation''s Puppet Master, Monzaemon Chikamatsu. It was irreplaceable, and now it was damaged.
She didn''t know if she could repair it.
As she collected the puppet, she suddenly felt a chill, a sense of danger. She instinctively leaned to the side.
A flash of white, and a sword pierced through her body.
She had dodged slightly, avoiding a fatal blow. The sword, aimed for her heart, had missed, piercing her side instead.
"Too bad."
Shin deactivated his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, disappointed. He had almost killed Chiyo.
He had used Yomotsu Hirasaka to open a small, invisible portal and thrust his Kusanagi sword through it.
The sword had emerged from another portal near Chiyo, stabbing her from a distance of several hundred meters.
This was another application of Yomotsu Hirasaka. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [76] : Just Warming Up
Shin returned to the Konoha camp, greeted by awestruck stares. Before, he was just Tsunade''s student.
Now, he was a hero, a powerhouse who had single-handedly forced a retreat from three thousand Suna Shinobi.
In their eyes, he was comparable to the Sandaime Hokage.
If Shin knew what they were thinking, he would laugh. If Hiruzen faced the Third Kazekage and the Suna forces, he''d be dead in an instant.
Among the current Five Kage, the ones Shin looked down on the most were the Third Hokage and the Third Mizukage. Not in terms of strength, but in terms of value.
The Third Kazekage had Magnet Release, which Shin wanted to copy. If he hadn''t been saving his Advanced Replication Card for the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, he would have copied it already.
The Third Raikage had Lightning Release Chakra Mode, a powerful Jutsu passed down through generations of Raikage.
And the Third Tsuchikage had Dust Release, a Kekkei T¨­ta that could disintegrate anything into atoms.
The Third Hokage and Third Mizukage, however, had nothing that interested Shin.
Hiruzen''s mastery of ordinary Jutsu was impressive, but he didn''t have a Kekkei Genkai. He wasn''t worth copying.
Tsunade approached Shin with a frown and grabbed his ear.
"You''re quite capable, aren''t you? Facing three thousand Suna Shinobi alone? Do you have a death wish?" she scolded.
"Ahem, have some respect. There are people watching."
Shin removed her hand. "I wasn''t in any danger."
"No danger? Do you know how powerful a coordinated Ninjutsu assault from that many Shinobi can be?"
Shin knew. He had seen it during the Fourth Shinobi World War.The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.
But he had Yomotsu Hirasaka. He wasn''t afraid of any combination Jutsu.
And he had charged into their ranks. They wouldn''t dare use any large-scale Jutsu for fear of friendly fire.
"Shin-kun, I didn''t expect you to be this strong."
Orochimaru approached, his eyes filled with caution. He knew Shin was stronger than him.
"That was Ice Release, wasn''t it? I didn''t know it could be so powerful."
Orochimaru was intrigued by the Ice Release. He was always interested in powerful abilities.
"It''s nothing special," Shin said modestly, though his tone was a bit smug.
He couldn''t help it.
"When did you learn Ice Release?" Tsunade asked.
She was still angry that he hadn''t told her. Did he see her as an outsider?
"About six months ago. Shortly after you left for the border."
"You knew for so long, and you didn''t tell me?" Tsunade glared at him.
Shin shivered. He had never seen her this angry before.
"I''ll be going now."
Shin made a quick escape. Kushina and Mikoto were probably worried. He had to find them.
...
"Kushina, Shin''s back!"
Mikoto nudged Kushina, who had been lost in thought, snapping her out of her daze.
"He''s back!" Kushina looked up and saw Shin. She rushed towards him and leaped into his arms.
"Sorry for making you worry," Shin said, hugging her back.
Mikoto and Konan also approached. Konan relaxed, relieved to see Shin''s safe return. Mikoto checked him for injuries.
Shin accepted her concern with a smile.
Seeing that he was unharmed, Mikoto sighed in relief. "You must be hungry. I''ll make you something to eat."
She went to prepare some meat from the bear Shin had brought back.
"I''m not that hungry. I didn''t use much energy. Just a warm-up." Shin grinned.
Tsunade, who had followed them, overheard his comment and rolled her eyes. A warm-up? His "warm-up" had resulted in hundreds of Suna Shinobi dead.
"Don''t brag. You must have used a lot of Chakra, right?" Tsunade asked.
That Ice Release Jutsu had frozen an entire kilometer; the Chakra cost must have been immense.
"Chakra consumption?"
Shin shook his head. "That was nothing to me. Have you forgotten how much Chakra I have?"
Tsunade recalled his monstrous Chakra reserves, rivaling those of a Tailed Beast.
"Right... I guess that wasn''t much for you."
She had thought her own Chakra reserves were impressive, but Shin had put her to shame.
She had the Sage Body, but hers was a weaker version. Shin''s Perfect Sage Body was the real deal. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [77] : Danz艒 Arrives as Reinforcement
Three days later.
Konoha''s reinforcements finally arrived. Hiruzen had sent Danz¨­ Shimura, leading a thousand Konoha Shinobi.
Perhaps intimidated by Shin''s display of power, Suna hadn''t launched any further attacks in the past three days. But they hadn''t retreated either.
With Danz¨­''s arrival, command of the Konoha forces naturally fell to him.
Danz¨­ immediately gathered the Shinobi for a meeting, eager to announce his new position as commander. The man craved power.
"Orochimaru, you managed to hold back the Third Kazekage? You''re quite capable."
Danz¨­ said to Orochimaru, his tone laced with disdain.
"It was all thanks to Shin-kun. I had nothing to do with it. If it weren''t for him, Suna would have already invaded the Land of Fire."
Orochimaru glanced at Danz¨­.
"Shin-kun?" Danz¨­ frowned.
"Uzumaki Shin. Surely you know him, Danz¨­-sama?" Orochimaru looked at Danz¨­ pointedly.
"Uzumaki Shin..."
Danz¨­''s face contorted in anger. He had lost four elite J¨­nin and several other Shinobi trying to capture that brat. He had been so furious that he couldn''t eat for days.
Orochimaru noticed his reaction. It seemed Danz¨­ had a grudge against Shin.
He wasn''t surprised. Danz¨­ was the type to make enemies easily. And judging from his expression, he had probably been on the losing end of their encounter.
"What does he have to do with this?"
Danz¨­ pushed down his anger and asked Orochimaru.
Uzumaki Shin was barely ten years old. Danz¨­ couldn''t imagine a child playing a significant role on the battlefield.
"Shin-kun single-handedly repelled the Third Kazekage and forced the retreat of three thousand Suna Shinobi. Otherwise, we would have been forced to retreat, and Suna would have invaded the Land of Fire."
Orochimaru explained, watching Danz¨­''s reaction with amusement.
"Are you serious?"
Danz¨­ shot to his feet. He couldn''t believe it. Repelling the Kazekage and three thousand Suna Shinobi? Even Hashirama Senju couldn''t have done that at that age. He suspected Orochimaru was lying.Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.
"Why would I lie, Danz¨­-sama? You can ask anyone here."
Danz¨­''s expression flickered. He finally understood why the Shinobi he had sent to capture Shin had never returned.
It wasn''t Hiruzen who had interfered. It was that brat Uzumaki Shin who had killed them all.
After a moment of silence, Danz¨­ changed the subject. "Where are Tsunade and Jiraiya?"
Most of the J¨­nin and elite J¨­nin were present, but Tsunade and Jiraiya were missing.
"Danz¨­-sama, Jiraiya-sama is severely injured and recovering. Tsunade-sama is busy treating the wounded," an elite J¨­nin explained.
"Hmph."
Danz¨­ snorted. He didn''t care about Jiraiya''s injuries, but he suspected Tsunade was deliberately avoiding him.
He knew Tsunade disliked him.
He then discussed strategies against Suna with the others. Finally, he said, "Summon Uzumaki Shin."
Orochimaru looked at Danz¨­, curious about his intentions.
At Shin''s tent, a Chunin arrived.
"Shin-sama, Danz¨­-sama requests your presence."
Shin emerged from the tent and looked at the Chunin.
"Danz¨­ wants to see me?"
"Yes, Shin-sama. I''m here to deliver the message." The Chunin was respectful.
Shin might be young, but his strength had earned him respect. All the Shinobi in the camp treated him with deference.
"I understand. You''re dismissed."
Shin sent the Chunin away and entered the tent.
"Just as I expected, Danz¨­ wants to see me."
He said to Tsunade, who was sitting inside. She wasn''t busy treating the wounded; the medics could handle that.
It was just an excuse to avoid Danz¨­.
"Danz¨­''s summons are never a good thing," Tsunade said.
"Yeah, don''t go," Kushina agreed.
"Good or bad, I''m not afraid of him. I''ll go see what he wants."
Shin decided to meet with Danz¨­. Tsunade didn''t stop him. She didn''t think there was any danger.
He arrived at Danz¨­''s tent. Several Root agents stood guard outside. Shin could sense their presence with his heightened senses.
He had encountered Root agents before and was familiar with their Chakra signature.
He ignored them and entered the tent. They didn''t stop him; Danz¨­ must have given them orders.
Inside, Danz¨­ was waiting for him. This was the first time Shin had properly met Danz¨­.
Their first encounter had been a brief one when Shin first arrived in Konoha.
The current Danz¨­ was different. He hadn''t implanted all those Sharingan in his body yet. But his aura was still dark and sinister.
It was different from Orochimaru''s, but even more unpleasant. Shin disliked him instantly.
He had tried to capture him and kill Tsunade. Shin had no good feelings towards him.
"Uzumaki Shin."
Danz¨­ looked up at Shin.
"Danz¨­-sama, what do you want with a Chunin like me?"
Shin smiled, but Danz¨­ hated that smile.
He had learned that his subordinates had been killed by Shin. He wanted to kill the brat.
But he held back. He had investigated and confirmed that it was indeed Shin who had repelled the Third Kazekage and forced the Suna forces to retreat with his powerful Ice Release Jutsu.
To be able to defeat the Kazekage and repel the Suna forces alone... Although Danz¨­ hated to admit it, he was no match for Shin.
"If you have nothing to say, I''ll be taking my leave."
Shin saw Danz¨­''s hesitant expression and turned to leave.
"Wait."
Danz¨­ stopped him. He had summoned Shin for a reason. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [78] : What is Root?
"Danz¨­-sama, if you have something to say, spit it out. I don''t have time to waste."
Shin said with a nonchalant air.
Danz¨­ glared at Shin, his arrogance infuriating. Despite addressing him with the proper honorifics, Shin''s lack of respect was clear.
Danz¨­ was delusional. Expecting respect from Shin was like expecting Hiruzen to step down and hand him the Hokage hat.
"Uzumaki Shin, your strength is impressive. Would you be interested in joining Root?"
Danz¨­ suppressed his anger and extended the invitation.
If Shin joined Root, he would forget about the deaths of his subordinates. Shin was clearly more valuable.
"Root? What''s Root? I''ve never heard of it. Is it some insignificant organization?"
Shin feigned ignorance.
Danz¨­ couldn''t hold back anymore. His Kage-level chakra exploded outwards, his eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Why so worked up, Danz¨­-sama? Is this ''Root'' thing your creation? If so, I must criticize your marketing strategy. I''ve never even heard of it."
Shin said with a straight face, though he was struggling to contain his laughter. If he laughed, Danz¨­ would explode.
He knew Danz¨­ wasn''t known for his patience.
"If that''s all you wanted, Danz¨­-sama, then goodbye. I have no interest in some unknown organization."
Shin didn''t give Danz¨­ a chance to respond and used the Body Flicker Jutsu to disappear.
Danz¨­''s face was a mask of fury.
"Uzumaki Shin, I''ll remember this!" he snarled.
Shin, of course, didn''t hear him. And even if he did, he wouldn''t care. He wasn''t afraid of fighting Danz¨­.
He was strong enough to escape even a full-on assault from a Hidden Village. With that kind of power, he didn''t have to be cautious or play nice.
If he wanted to keep a low profile, he wouldn''t have attacked the Suna forces. That display had revealed a portion of his true strength.
He had another reason for attacking, though: a System mission he had received a few months ago.
The mission was to help Konoha win the Second Shinobi World War. The reward was a [Divine Replication Card]. There was no penalty for failure.Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
He didn''t want to fail, though. A [Divine Replication Card] was too precious.
It was a choice-based mission. He could choose to help any of the six villages involved in the war: Konoha, Suna, Iwa, Kumo, Kiri, or Amegakure. The reward was the same regardless of which village he chose. He had chosen Konoha.
Konoha was likely to win anyway, and he was a Konoha Shinobi.
Helping Konoha win the war wasn''t a difficult task. He might not even have to do anything.
But that was assuming there were no unexpected events. The timeline had already diverged; anything was possible.
Regardless, Shin was determined to get that [Divine Replication Card]. With it, he could copy the Rinnegan.
Madara Uchiha''s Rinnegan was currently with Nagato. Trying to steal it was out of the question.
If Shin tried to take the Rinnegan, Madara would definitely intervene.
Shin had never considered stealing the Rinnegan anyway. He preferred his own eyes. He wouldn''t transplant someone else''s.
He could evolve his own eyes; there was no need for a transplant. And transplanted eyes were never fully compatible with the new host.
Nagato couldn''t even use the Rinnegan''s full power. Even if Shin could use it better than Nagato, he probably wouldn''t be able to match Madara.
But the eyes copied with the System''s Replication Cards were different. They would be perfectly compatible with him.
"You''re back."
Tsunade approached Shin curiously. "What did Danz¨­ want?"
Kushina and Mikoto also gathered around, eager to hear what that shady character was up to.
They also wanted to warn Shin.
"Nothing much. He wanted me to join Root," Shin said.
Tsunade nodded. That wasn''t surprising. Danz¨­ would definitely try to recruit Shin.
"Was that all?" Kushina asked.
"He probably had other motives. Maybe he''s interested in my Ice Release. But I didn''t give him a chance to elaborate."
Shin had gone to see Danz¨­ to annoy him, to see his angry expression.
He had succeeded. Danz¨­''s face had been livid.
"No wonder you came back so quickly. He must have been furious," Tsunade chuckled.
"But knowing that old geezer, he''ll definitely try to get back at you."
Tsunade''s smile vanished. Danz¨­ was vindictive. Shin had angered him; there would be repercussions.
"It doesn''t matter."
Shin wasn''t afraid of Danz¨­''s revenge. If Danz¨­ pushed him too far, he wouldn''t hesitate to kill him.
He glanced at Kushina and Mikoto. He wasn''t worried about Danz¨­''s revenge on himself, but he was worried about them.
He thought of a solution: the Transcription Seal. He could seal his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan abilities into their eyes, set to activate under certain conditions.
Itachi had implanted the Amaterasu Transcription Seal in Sasuke''s eye, set to activate if he saw Obito''s Sharingan.
Shin knew how to use the Transcription Seal, but he hadn''t tested it yet. He didn''t want to risk using it on Kushina and Mikoto without being sure it was safe.
But that was easily solved. He just needed a test subject.
And finding one was easy. They were in the middle of a war with Suna. He could just capture a Suna Shinobi.
Shin decided to do just that. He wondered which unlucky Suna Shinobi would be his test subject.
"How''s Konan''s training coming along?" Shin asked, patting Konan''s head.
"Still Refining Chakra," Konan replied, nuzzling his hand. She seemed to enjoy his head pats. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [79] : One-Tail Jinch奴riki, Bunpuku
At the Konoha-Suna battlefront, things had been quiet since Shin repelled the Suna forces. They seemed to be genuinely intimidated by him.
Danz¨­, however, wasn''t impressed by their timidness. He wanted to take advantage of the situation and earn some glory for himself, increasing his chances of becoming Hokage.
So, he decided to launch a counterattack.
No one objected to his decision. With the arrival of reinforcements, they outnumbered Suna. It was the perfect time to strike back.
At the Konoha logistics base, Shin, Kushina, and Mikoto were busy with their assigned duties.
Danz¨­ had assigned them to the logistics department.
Shin was happy with this arrangement. Logistics work was safe and relatively comfortable.
"Kushina, Mikoto, come with me." Shin called out to the girls, stepping out of the tent.
They followed him, confused, to a secluded area.
"Mikoto, keep watch. If anyone approaches, chase them away. Kushina, sit down."
"What are you doing, Shin?" Mikoto asked.
"Giving you some life-saving gifts."
Shin used the Transcription Seal on Kushina, implanting his two Mangeky¨­ Sharingan abilities into her eyes.
Transcription Seal: Tenmomei. It could rewind her personal time by three minutes. Shin set two activation conditions: manual activation with Chakra, and automatic activation upon receiving a fatal injury.
Transcription Seal: Yomotsu Hirasaka. It could also be activated manually with Chakra. The passive trigger was linked to Tenmomei. If she activated Yomotsu Hirasaka after Tenmomei, she would be transported to Shin''s location.
This meant that if Shin wasn''t around and Kushina was in danger, she could use Yomotsu Hirasaka to teleport to him.
After sealing the abilities into Kushina''s eyes, Shin did the same for Mikoto.
He then explained the Transcription Seal and its triggers to them.
"By the way, do you feel any discomfort?" Shin had captured a Suna Shinobi the night before and used him as a test subject. The experiment had shown no adverse effects, but he was still a bit worried.
"My eyes itched a bit when you were applying the seal, but I feel fine now," Kushina said.This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
"Me too," Mikoto confirmed.
"That''s good. Let''s head back." Shin''s eyes suddenly narrowed. The supply depot was on fire.
"What''s going on?" Kushina stared at the blazing inferno.
"It must be a Suna attack. They''ve been quiet for days, and now they''re targeting our supplies."
Shin led Kushina and Mikoto towards the commotion. By the time they arrived, Konoha Shinobi were already engaged in battle with Suna Shinobi. Among them was a monk who stood out.
The monk was powerful, controlling sand to attack. Even J¨­nin were no match for him.
"That Chakra... is he the One-Tails Jinch¨±riki?"
Shin recognized the monk. It was Bunpuku, the current One-Tails Jinch¨±riki.
"Wasn''t Bunpuku imprisoned? Did Suna release him out of desperation?" Shin wondered.
"Engage! But be careful!" Shin said to Kushina and Mikoto.
They nodded. Mikoto activated her Sharingan. It had evolved to three-tomoe.
She was not yet eleven and already had a three-tomoe Sharingan. But Shin had helped her awaken it through rather unpleasant means. Mikoto had been angry at him for days.
"Kushina, you assist me," Mikoto said.
"Hey, why can''t you assist me?"
Mikoto ignored her and unleashed a massive fireball, engulfing a Suna Shinobi.
The Shinobi was thrown back several meters, landing motionless, his body still burning.
Kushina used the Adamantine Sealing Chains to bind three Suna Shinobi. Mikoto then threw three Kunai, each a precise and fatal blow.
Shin nodded approvingly. Kushina was controlling and protecting Mikoto, while Mikoto was the attacker. Their teamwork was excellent.
"Monk, you''re not holding back at all, are you?"
Shin intercepted Bunpuku, the One-Tails Jinch¨±riki.
Bunpuku frowned at Shin. He couldn''t attack a child.
"He''s underestimating me."
Shin could sense Bunpuku''s disdain.
He didn''t waste his breath. He launched a kick at Bunpuku, the force of the blow creating a sonic boom.
Bunpuku was sent flying, landing on his stomach, clutching his gut. He felt like his insides were twisting; the pain was unbearable.
"Underestimating your opponent comes at a price. But you''re a Jinch¨±riki; you''re quite durable."
Bunpuku couldn''t hear Shin anymore. The pain had overwhelmed him. As his consciousness faded, an ominous Chakra enveloped him.
"Is that... Shukaku? Is it coming out?"
Shin watched as Bunpuku was completely enveloped in the One-Tail''s Chakra. Then, a massive, tanuki-like figure emerged, a single tail swaying behind it.
Shin recognized it instantly. Shukaku, the One-Tails.
"Gahahaha! I''m finally free!" Shukaku roared.
"Shin, what is that thing?"
Kushina and Mikoto retreated to Shin''s side.
"A Tailed Beast. But it''s just the One-Tails. I hear the number of tails indicates their strength. The One-Tails is the weakest."
Shin deliberately raised his voice for Shukaku to hear.
Shukaku was enraged. Weakest? He couldn''t tolerate that insult.
Shin had only said that to provoke Shukaku. The One-Tails wasn''t the weakest of the Tailed Beasts.
It wasn''t the strongest either. It was somewhere in the middle.
To other Shinobi, Tailed Beasts were a disaster. Their immense size and destructive power made them practically invincible.
But to Shin, even the Nine-Tails was nothing. His Mangeky¨­ Sharingan could control any Tailed Beast except for the Ten-Tails. A single glance could subdue Shukaku. ------ Read +31 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [80] : Beating Up Shukaku
"You''re the one who called me the weakest of the Tailed Beasts!"
Shukaku glared at Shin. This brat was as annoying as that damned fox.
The "damned fox" was, of course, Kurama... who often judged a Tailed Beast''s strength by the number of tails and looked down on Shukaku.
That was why Shukaku and Kurama didn''t get along.
"That''s right. I heard it from Kurama himself. The One-Tails is the weakest. It should be removed from the Tailed Beasts Club."
Shin said, barely suppressing a grin.
"That damned fox! I''ll rip its fur off one day! And you''ll die too!"
Shukaku swiped at Shin with its claws. Shin grabbed Kushina and Mikoto, then used the Body Flicker Jutsu to dodge.
Shukaku''s attack missed, its claws gouging the earth. The ground cracked, and the entire Konoha camp shook.
Tailed Beasts were powerful. In a one-on-one fight, a very strong Kage could defeat one.
But on the battlefield, a Tailed Beast''s destructive power was amplified tenfold.
"What''s going on? Why is the One-Tails here?"
Tsunade arrived, her eyes fixed on Shukaku.
Danz¨­ had taken most of the Konoha forces to attack Suna, but Tsunade had stayed behind to treat the wounded and develop antidotes for Chiyo''s poison.
She couldn''t ignore the commotion caused by Shukaku''s appearance.
"You''ll have to ask Suna about that," Shin said with a shrug.
"Damn you, brat! I''ll kill you!"
"Wind Release: Drilling Air Bullet!"
Shukaku opened its maw and unleashed a massive wind sphere.
Tsunade stepped forward to block the attack.
"I''ll handle this." Shin said. Tsunade could probably block it, but it would be a struggle. Shukaku wasn''t weak.
"Ice Release: Triple Ice Wall!"
Three massive ice walls materialized. Shukaku''s attack shattered the first two, but the third held.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original.
"Shukaku seems to have a grudge against you. What did you do?" Tsunade asked Shin, turning to face him.
"Nothing much. He just said Shukaku is the weakest of the Tailed Beasts," Kushina replied.
Tsunade gave Shin an exasperated look. Of course Shukaku was angry. Shin had insulted him!
"You two can''t handle this. I''ll take care of it. You go deal with the other Suna Shinobi."
Shin said to Tsunade and the girls. The ice wall in front of him shattered, and he vanished in a flash.
Thud!
Shukaku was sent flying, crashing to the ground.
"He can handle the One-Tails. Let''s go deal with those Suna bastards."
Tsunade watched in surprise as Shin sent the Tailed Beast flying with a single kick. A human, kicking a Tailed Beast? Had their roles been reversed?
"I want to fight that big guy too!"
Kushina was eager to join the fray.
Mikoto held her back. "Kushina, don''t be reckless."
Kushina glared at Mikoto. "I''m not being reckless! That big guy is all bark and no bite."
Tsunade smacked Kushina on the head. "Mikoto''s right. Don''t be foolish. Even I''m no match for that thing."
"You''re not a match for it. That doesn''t mean I''m not either," Kushina muttered under her breath.
Shin didn''t hear their conversation. He was currently using Shukaku as a punching bag.
He unleashed his Taijutsu skills, a mix of kicks, punches, and throws, honed through years of training.
He also used the [Strength of a Hundred Seal], each blow carrying monstrous power.
Each strike sent Shukaku flying. He was practically playing volleyball with the Tailed Beast.
"Damn you, little insect! I''ll kill you!"
Shukaku roared, its voice filled with rage.
Shin punched it in the jaw, shutting it up. He then launched it into the air with a powerful uppercut.
"Shukaku, you should thank me. I''m helping you achieve your dream of flying."
As Shukaku fell from the sky, Shin leaped up and delivered a kick, sending it even higher.
"Wind Style: Rasenshuriken!"
He threw a massive Rasenshuriken at the falling Shukaku.
Shukaku screamed in pain. It might be a Chakra construct, but it could still feel pain.
"That hurt! I''ll kill you!"
Shukaku crashed to the ground, creating a large crater. One of its arms was missing, ripped off by the Rasenshuriken.
Shin was impressed. Even with a missing arm, Shukaku was still full of bluster.
It might be weak and getting its ass kicked.
But Shin soon understood why Shukaku didn''t seem to care about its missing arm. The arm regenerated.
The arm was back, but Shin noticed that Shukaku''s body had shrunk slightly.
He realized that Shukaku, while a living being, wasn''t an ordinary one.
It was a life form created by the Sage of Six Paths from the Ten-Tails'' Chakra, using Yin-Yang Release.
Even if it lost an arm, it could simply use Chakra from other parts of its body to regenerate. But overall, its Chakra had Decreased, hence the smaller size.
"Surprised, aren''t you? You think I''m that easy to defeat? Die, insect!"
Shukaku unleashed a barrage of Drilling Air Bullets.
"You''re all bark and no bite," Shin scoffed.
He easily dispersed the wind bullets with his punches. Those attacks were only effective against those below Kage level.
And those at Kage level could easily dodge them. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available! [81] : Danz艒s Defeat?
Shukaku roared and attacked, but Shin easily dodged, treating the beast like a punching bag.
"Shukaku, I''ve helped you lose weight. Several times over. Aren''t you happy?" Shin taunted.
Shukaku had indeed shrunk considerably and was no longer as arrogant. It didn''t even dare to roar at Shin anymore.
"Sealing Jutsu: Adamantine Sealing Chains!"
Dozens of Chakra chains bound Shukaku tightly, rendering it immobile.
"Let me go! Release me!"
Shukaku roared and struggled, but it was futile. These chains could even bind the Nine-Tails.
"Be quiet if you don''t want another beating. I''ll kill you if you annoy me."
Shin threatened. Even though Tailed Beasts could regenerate after death, that didn''t mean Shukaku wanted to die.
Regeneration took time, perhaps years, or even decades. It might not even be possible. Shukaku wasn''t willing to risk it.
Life inside a Jinch¨±riki might be unpleasant, but it was better than death.
After restraining Shukaku, Shin was joined by Tsunade, Kushina, and Mikoto.
"You captured it?" Kushina stared at the bound Shukaku.
The chains were strong; Shin wasn''t worried about Shukaku escaping. But he didn''t want to stay here and hold it forever.
He could use his Sharingan to control Shukaku, but he didn''t want to reveal his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan yet.
He hadn''t forgotten his rampage in Kirigakure. If he revealed his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan, he would attract the attention of Kiri.
They were currently very sensitive to the Mangeky¨­ Sharingan.
And it wasn''t just Kiri. Hiruzen, Danz¨­, and the Uchiha Clan... revealing his Mangeky¨­ Sharingan would cause too much trouble.
Those weren''t major threats to him, but he didn''t like complications.
"What do we do with Shukaku?" Shin asked Tsunade.
"I can''t just keep holding it here. I don''t have the time."
Tsunade looked at the massive beast, then her eyes lit up.
"Shin, you and Kushina know Sealing Jutsu, right? Can''t you just seal it?"
"We need a medium. And its Jinch¨±riki isn''t..."If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.
"Its Jinch¨±riki isn''t what? Why did you stop?" Kushina asked, seeing Shin hesitate.
"I have an idea. Let''s use its Jinch¨±riki as the sealing medium."
Shin used the Four Symbols Seal to seal Shukaku back into Bunpuku, also sealing Bunpuku''s Chakra.
"I can''t believe that monster was inside him," Mikoto said, staring at Bunpuku in awe.
"Tailed Beasts are fascinating. I wonder how they were created," Tsunade mused.
The people of the Shinobi world didn''t know the origin of the Tailed Beasts. The creation of the One-Tails to the Nine-Tails had happened over a thousand years ago. Only Black Zetsu and Madara Uchiha and Shin knew the truth.
"I''ve sealed his Chakra, but he might still escape. Keep an eye on him. I''m not responsible if he gets away."
Shin tossed Bunpuku to the other Konoha Shinobi who had arrived.
"Where''s Konan?" Shin asked Tsunade.
They hadn''t brought Konan with them to the logistics base. She had stayed with Tsunade.
"She''s with the medics. I wouldn''t bring her here; it''s too dangerous."
"Okay, we''ll go find her then. You handle the rest, Tsunade."
Shin left with Kushina and Mikoto. Tsunade sighed and started dealing with the aftermath.
Danz¨­ and Orochimaru weren''t here, and Jiraiya was still recovering. She was in charge now.
They went to the medical tent and retrieved Konan, then returned to their tent.
They had wanted to go out and hunt for food, but the rain was getting heavier.
"What''s with this weather? It never stops raining in the Land of Rain," Kushina grumbled.
The occasional rain was nice, but constant rain was depressing.
"I don''t like it either. It weakens my Fire Release Jutsu," Mikoto said.
"It''s just a local characteristic. You''ll get used to it. Look at Konan." Shin smiled and patted Konan''s hair.
"I hate this weather too. It''s always raining, as if the sky is crying for the people of this country."
Shin''s expression turned awkward.
As evening approached, the rain finally stopped. Danz¨­ returned with the Konoha forces, his face grim, his body bearing several wounds.
The Shinobi following him were also dejected. It was clear they had suffered a major defeat.
Suna had anticipated their attack and set a trap. Danz¨­ had led them straight into it.
He had also been defeated by the Third Kazekage in their confrontation.
But what angered Danz¨­ the most was Hanz¨­ of the Salamander. He had suddenly joined forces with Suna, attacking Konoha from both sides.
Danz¨­ had been forced to retreat, leaving hundreds of Konoha Shinobi dead on the battlefield. They couldn''t even retrieve the bodies.
And then he received news that the supply depot had been attacked and half their supplies destroyed. Danz¨­ was furious.
He had brought supplies from the Land of Fire''s Daimyo. Now half of it was gone.
The only good news was that they had captured Suna''s One-Tails Jinch¨±riki. It wasn''t enough to make up for their losses, but it was something.
"Uzumaki Shin, Danz¨­-sama has called a meeting. You''re required to attend."
A Shinobi informed Shin, then left. It was more of an order than a request.
Shin''s face remained expressionless. He ignored the summons. If Danz¨­ had asked politely, he might have gone, but he wasn''t going to obey an order.
Besides, what did Danz¨­''s meeting have to do with him?
He might be strong, but he was still just a Chunin.
The meeting was for J¨­nin and above. He had no business being there. And he knew Danz¨­ had no good intentions.
He''d rather eat Yakiniku. Mikoto had prepared a feast; he wasn''t going to miss it for a meeting, especially not one called by Danz¨­. ------ Read +30 Ad-va-nced Ch-ap-ters on my Pat-re-on! patr-eon.com/dragonnx (Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.) - There is 8 Exciting Fanfics already available!