In the small forest, Shūichi Hoshita, Kakashi, and Might Guy lay side by side on the grass, gasping for breath. Their stamina was completely drained.
Despite his physical exhaustion, Shūichi's mind was buzzing with excitement.
The activation conditions for the Strong and Sturdy tag had finally been met!
Activation!
In Shūichi's mind, the Strong and Sturdy tag fully lit up, glowing green.
Immediately, he felt a mysterious power surge through his entire body.
Perhaps because his stamina was depleted, he could distinctly feel his body rapidly recovering.
Strong and Sturdy: Brimming with energy and vitality. Recovery rate increased by 100%, resistance to injuries and illness increased by 100%, and taijutsu talent increased by 100%.
While he hadn't experienced the other effects yet, just the doubled recovery rate alone made Shūichi feel incredible.
However, as his stamina returned, a strong wave of hunger swept over him.
His stomach growled with urgency!
"It seems this recovery isn't coming from nowhere. The tag enhances my body's natural constitution…"
Understanding this, Shūichi quickly got up, grabbed his bento, and began eating voraciously.
Bringing a bento for training had already become a habit for him. Of course, the bento was store-bought, and he always brought two.
High focus and high efficiency also meant high energy consumption.
As he ate, the hunger subsided, and by the time he finished one bento, his body started to feel a warm, comforting sensation.
"So fast… could the increased recovery rate also mean my digestion has doubled?"
Shūichi was pleased with this discovery but decided not to eat the second bento himself. Instead, he handed it to Kakashi, who hadn't brought food since his visit was spontaneous.
Might Guy, like Shūichi, had prepared a bento during lunch.
"Thanks!"
After thanking him, Kakashi accepted the bento and joined Might Guy in replenishing their energy.
Meanwhile, Shūichi got up and took a walk.
The recovery effect was already evident, but it would take long-term training to assess the increased resistance to injury and illness.
Then there was the 100% increase in taijutsu talent. If his original talent level in taijutsu was a 5, it would now be a 10.
If his taijutsu talent was 5, how high must Kakashi's be? And how high would Guy's be?
At this moment, Shūichi couldn't help but wish he had some kind of system that could quantify these abilities.
But based on his memory, if he didn't consider the Eight Gates, Kakashi's and Guy's performance in taijutsu shouldn't differ too much.
And the Eight Gates… Kakashi could only open the Third Gate.
Could this secret technique be the true measure of one's taijutsu talent?
…
After digesting most of his food, Shūichi was tempted to test the effects of his enhanced taijutsu talent, but he restrained himself.
Too much of a good thing can be harmful, and today's training had already been intense.
The three packed up and headed home.
Once at home, Shūichi first cleaned up, washed his clothes, and then headed to the kitchen to prepare more food.
His body, still signaling hunger, told him he needed more food to replenish and store energy.
After eating until he was about 70% full, Shūichi cleaned up and headed to his study.
It was 9 PM.
Nighttime Study Session Continues,
That night, Shūichi Hoshita's study session resumed.
This time, his focus was on one of the Three Basic Jutsu: the Transformation Jutsu.
After so many weeks since the start of school, their teacher, Kazuya Kimura, had finally taught the Transformation Jutsu, one of the Three Basic Jutsu.
Given the progress of their class, where all the students had already mastered the refinement of chakra, the timing for teaching ninjutsu was just right.
Entering a focused state, Shūichi began by recalling the explanations his parents had left him about the Transformation Jutsu, along with Kazuya Kimura's teachings. He reviewed these three sets of memories.
Building on what he had learned during the day's lessons, Shūichi deepened his understanding, forming his own insights and comprehension.
After completing this step, Shūichi began to practice.
First, he formed the hand seals while guiding his chakra. The hand seals for the Transformation Jutsu were already deeply ingrained in his memory. Due to Nono's teachings and his own dedicated training, he was also quite proficient in refining and controlling chakra.
In this aspect, Shūichi had a clear advantage.
The third step was to choose a target for transformation.
This required a thorough understanding of the person he wanted to transform into.
The level of skill in the Transformation Jutsu depended on the control of chakra, but the key lay in the details.
The person Shūichi was most familiar with was, without a doubt, Might Guy, with whom he had been training for over three months.
With memories of Might Guy in mind, a puff of smoke rose, and Shūichi, sitting in the chair, transformed into Might Guy.
He stood up and walked to the bathroom mirror. The appearance was flawless, but the demeanor was slightly off.
Releasing the jutsu, Shūichi took a moment to gather himself and then formed the hand seals again, performing the Transformation Jutsu once more.
*Poof!*
Might Guy reappeared, this time with a more accurate demeanor.
However, when Shūichi tested his voice, it was still far from perfect.
This was the subtlety of chakra—even the voice could be altered.
After three more attempts, Shūichi finally achieved a transformation with no discernible flaws.
"Hmm?"
His Tag Tree began to stir again. Shūichi quickly checked it and saw that a new leaf had sprouted on the tree.
Tag: Transformation Expert
Condition to Obtain: Transform into 100 different targets, meeting certain criteria.
Effect: Your keen insight allows you to quickly grasp the characteristics of others, making the jutsu second nature to you. You can even skip the hand seals, transforming into anyone with perfect accuracy. Even seasoned ninja can only detect you through flaws in intelligence. However, beware of chakra-sensing ninja, especially those with the Sharingan or Byakugan.
Shūichi was both surprised and a bit disappointed.
When it comes to the Transformation Jutsu in the Naruto world, the most powerful user is White Zetsu, who can even mimic chakra, making it undetectable by the Byakugan, Sharingan, or even sensory techniques like the Mind's Eye of the Kagura. This Transformation Expert tag fell a bit short of that level.
Still, transforming into 100 targets wasn't too difficult.
Between his classmates and the companions from the orphanage, Shūichi had more than enough people to meet the requirement.
"So the criteria are…"
Shūichi realized that he had already completed one of the 100 targets—Might Guy had met the standard.
"Appearance, demeanor, and voice…"
Shūichi now had a clear understanding.
He then thought, since the Transformation Jutsu could trigger a tag, could the Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu do the same?
Should he self-study the Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu first?
Even though Kazuya Kimura hadn't taught them yet, with the notes left by his parents and Nono Yakushi, Shūichi felt confident that these basic ninjutsu wouldn't pose a problem for him.
The key to the Clone Jutsu lay in chakra control.
The most basic Clone Jutsu only created a false image, not a solid clone, making it far less difficult than techniques like the Shadow Clone Jutsu or Water Clone Jutsu.
As for the Substitution Jutsu, the most critical aspect was timing and prediction.
It required preparing a substitute item in advance.
Often, the Transformation Jutsu served as the foundation for this.
This was also why Kazuya Kimura had taught the Transformation Jutsu first.
A more advanced form of the Substitution Jutsu involved using a clone as the substitute.
For instance, Orochimaru's Earth Substitution or Kakashi's Lightning Clone Substitution could even counterattack when the clone was destroyed.
Going even further, Shūichi considered that Uchiha Sasuke's Amenotejikara could be seen as a form of the Substitution Jutsu.
Just like how the Flying Thunder God Technique could be classified as a Body Flicker Jutsu.
Shūichi Hoshita ultimately decided not to alter his study plan to practice the Clone Jutsu and Substitution Jutsu first.
The next morning, he woke up at 5 AM, feeling more energized than ever before—no longer the fatigue that used to linger after staying up until midnight to study.
Shūichi felt invigorated, full of energy, and could clearly sense the extraordinary effects of the "Strong and Sturdy" tag!
Moreover, he noticed another aspect of his recovery: his injuries. The swelling and redness from yesterday's training had completely disappeared.
In the past, his recovery was never this fast.
After breakfast, Shūichi was the first to arrive in the classroom, followed shortly by Shizune.
Taking advantage of the fact that the other students hadn't arrived yet, Shūichi began observing Shizune closely.
She was his second target for the Transformation Jutsu.
Feeling his gaze, Shizune blushed and turned to ask, "Shūichi, is there something you need?"
"If there's anything I can help with, just let me know."
Recalling their interactions over the past two months, Shūichi identified one of Shizune's key traits: her kindness and thoughtfulness.
"I'm observing you for the Transformation Jutsu," Shūichi explained with a smile. "On the battlefield, in enemy territory, the Transformation Jutsu is often used spontaneously and for short periods. That requires keen observational skills to capture details quickly, avoiding any flaws that might give you away."
"Besides the appearance and shape, I believe we also need to pay attention to demeanor and aura. Additional details like voice and walking posture are crucial too."
"These elements need to be practiced, and you have to carefully observe the characteristics of different people."
Shizune nodded enthusiastically. "Lady Tsunade says the same thing!"
After finishing his observation, Shūichi formed the hand seals and performed the Transformation Jutsu under Shizune's watchful eyes.
*Poof!*
When the smoke cleared, there were two identical Shizunes sitting across from each other.
Just then, someone walked into the classroom—it was Rin Nohara.
She froze at the sight of the two Shizunes, unable to tell which one was the real one.
Suddenly, with a puff of smoke, one of the Shizunes transformed into Rin Nohara.
"Kakashi!" the 'Rin Nohara' next to Shizune clasped her hands in front of her chest and cheered.
This was exactly how Rin acted every time Kakashi stood out during practical or shuriken-throwing lessons.
Although she wasn't the only girl who did this, the real Rin standing at the door still blushed deeply upon hearing it.
At that moment, Shūichi once again performed the Transformation Jutsu, turning into Kakashi with a puff of smoke.
He stood up, hands in his pockets, and started walking towards Kakashi's seat.
Rin stared in surprise.
The cool expression, the hands-in-pockets stance, that back—it was just like…
"Could it be Kakashi…?"
Rin almost believed it, but then quickly dismissed the thought.
Kakashi wouldn't play such a prank.
Just then, Shūichi stopped in the aisle, turned around, and with another puff of smoke, transformed into Uchiha Obito, complete with goggles.
Pushing up the goggles, the "Uchiha Obito" snorted, "That arrogant Kakashi! Next time, I'll make sure he gets a taste of my power!"
Rin was startled. "Obito?"
"No, wait, Obito wouldn't arrive this early."
*Poof!*
Shūichi returned to his original form and smiled, "Sorry, I was practicing the Transformation Jutsu."
As expected.
Rin breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled, "Shūichi, you're amazing! Sensei only taught this yesterday, and you've already mastered it."
Shūichi shrugged and said with a smile, "But I still didn't fool you, did I?"
His rapid, precise transformations were thanks in large part to his Memory Palace technique.
After all, he had already stored samples of each of his classmates in his Memory Palace.
He had now completed five targets.
Returning to his seat, Shūichi chatted with Shizune for a bit. As more classmates arrived, he began observing each one, adding more details to his Memory Palace.
By the afternoon, during the practical training class, Shūichi also felt the noticeable effects of his improved taijutsu talent.
Even though Shūichi Hoshita had struggled with certain techniques despite rigorous training, today he found himself using them with remarkable ease, leaving his opponent, Might Guy, at a loss.
"Shūichi, you've gotten stronger again!"
"But I won't fall behind at all!"
Might Guy felt the pressure but became even more fired up, increasing the speed of his punches and kicks.
*Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The two fought fiercely, exchanging blows and strikes, with neither able to gain a decisive advantage.
Most of the students watching were cheering for Shūichi, especially the girls.
Kakashi, however, keenly noticed that Shūichi seemed to have experienced a significant improvement.
Kimura Sensei also nodded in appreciation. "Shūichi has made notable progress again. I wonder if he has been practicing privately."
"With such learning talent, he's only slightly behind Kakashi in this batch. Compared to Asuma, he is equally impressive."
...
After several more rounds, the two combatants finally separated, both on one knee, breathing heavily, drenched in sweat.
They had exhausted all their fighting strength.
"Hoshita Shūichi and Might Guy, it's a draw!" Kimura announced loudly.
After Shūichi and Guy performed the reconciliation seal, Kimura Kazuya declared the next match: "Kakashi Hatake versus Obito Uchiha!"
Kakashi maintained his aloof demeanor, while Obito Uchiha, after a quick glance at Rin Nohara, swaggered onto the field and said, "Kakashi, this time you will definitely lose to me!"
Kakashi replied calmly, "If you didn't show up late every day, I might believe that."
Obito Uchiha gritted his teeth in frustration. "Arrogant Kakashi, you're so infuriating!"
The remark had clearly rattled Obito Uchiha.
After performing the confrontation seal, Obito rushed in eagerly, and a fierce clash began, just as intense as Shūichi and Guy's earlier battle.
The surrounding girls, meanwhile, were all cheering in unison for Kakashi.
Shūichi was focused, his eyes fixed on the two fighters.
It wasn't just him who had improved.
After twenty or so exchanges, Obito Uchiha was kicked flying by Kakashi.
Rolling several times on the ground, Obito leaped up, brandishing kunai and charging forward again.
Kakashi also drew his kunai, and the two figures clashed, sparks flying from their intense combat.
"It looks like Kakashi has been training with kunai," Shūichi observed. Kakashi's kunai techniques were noticeably different from their previous fights.
After another dozen or so exchanges, Obito, once again at a disadvantage, suddenly performed a series of backflips. After retreating a distance, he puffed out his cheeks and unleashed a fiery attack.
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!
Shūichi was surprised to see this for the first time. Despite Obito having lived with his grandmother and lost his parents, he was still a disciple of a prominent clan.
Clearly, clans like the Uchiha and Hyuga had established systems for training ninjas.
Looking at Kakashi, he placed his hands on the ground, and a wall of earth shot up.
Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!
*Boom!*
The fireball collided with the earth wall, causing flames to scatter and forcing the spectators to retreat.
"Damn it!"
Obito, whose carefully prepared technique had failed, scowled in frustration and charged forward again.
...
"This is the difference!" Shūichi couldn't help but reflect inwardly.
Kakashi had obviously not been using his full strength in their previous encounters, relying solely on taijutsu. The proficiency Kakashi displayed with earth-style jutsu indicated he had learned it a long time ago.
You can see your own efforts, but you can't see others' efforts; that doesn't mean they don't exist.
Kakashi, with his background, must have started training at a very young age.
However, Shūichi didn't let this discourage him. With the help of his Tag Tree, he was confident that with continued effort, he would catch up.
After another dozen rounds, Kakashi used a clone to outmaneuver the reckless Obito. He kicked Obito away and, before he could rise, Kakashi's kunai was already at his face.
Obito, unwilling to give up, could only sigh in defeat.
Teacher Kimura Kazuya reflected, "As expected of the son of Konoha's White Fang. With such strength, without considering mission experience, he could easily qualify as a genin."
However, considering Obito's poor theoretical knowledge and impatient nature, Kimura Kazuya shook his head and announced, "Kakashi wins!"
"Perform the Seal of Reconciliation!"
Kakashi sheathed his kunai and extended his hand.
Obito hesitated for a moment, took Kakashi's hand to stand up, and then the two performed the reconciliation seal.
Student life is always carefree, and because of this, time slips away unnoticed.
In the blink of an eye, July arrived. With the release of exam results, summer vacation began.
In the final exams, Shūichi Hoshita ranked tenth in his class.
He scored perfect marks in the written tests, but his scores in ninja tool throwing and combat dragged him down.
Those who ranked higher than him were students like Kakashi and Asuma Sarutobi, who were both highly talented and from ninja clans.
Don't be fooled by how inattentive they seem during class—there's a good chance they get private tutoring outside of school!
As for Obito Uchiha, he naturally ended up at the bottom of the class.
There was nothing to be done; he was hopeless in the theoretical exams.
Rin Nohara had tried her best to give him opportunities, but unfortunately, Obito was just too useless—he couldn't even cheat properly.
...
After leaving the school, Shūichi Hoshita was stopped by Shizune.
Shizune asked, "Shūichi, do you have any plans for the summer?"
Shūichi smiled and said, "I've already made plans to train with Guy and Kakashi."
Guy, standing nearby, flashed his white teeth in a confident and proud smile. "We've already set up a training schedule—we're calling it the 'Summer Operation!'"
"Shizune, why don't you join us?" he suggested.
Shizune looked at Shūichi, her clear eyes showing a hint of anticipation. "Is that okay? I hope I'm not too much trouble?"
Shūichi immediately smiled and nodded. "Of course, you're more than welcome!"
"Starting tomorrow, we'll meet outside the school at 9 a.m. And… it'd be best to bring lunch with you."
Shizune quickly nodded. "Got it! I'll be there on time… see you tomorrow then."
"See you tomorrow!" Shūichi and Guy said in unison.
Waving goodbye, Shizune walked away with a cheerful bounce in her step.
Shūichi thought to himself that having a pretty girl join their training might not be so bad—it could help avoid getting too tired of the same scenery.
Should I invite Kurenai Yūhi, Rin Nohara, and the others as well? Shūichi pondered, rubbing his chin. But then he quickly shook his head, dismissing the idea. "Forget it, women will only distract me from my training."
"Let's go, Guy. Today's training officially begins!"
Shūichi called out.
Might Guy grinned widely. "Shūichi, let's have a race and see who gets there first!"
Just then, Kakashi appeared. "I'll give the signal!"
Shūichi immediately dropped into a starting stance. "No problem."
Guy also got ready.
Behind them, Kakashi took on the role of referee. "1, 2… 3, go!"
As soon as the words left Kakashi's mouth, Shūichi burst into motion. His legs powered forward, kicking up a burst of air as he shot ahead.
Guy was a split second slower to react, but he quickly caught up, his explosive power surpassing Shūichi's. In an instant, he was neck and neck with Shūichi.
The two of them leaped and dashed through the streets and across rooftops, racing at top speed toward the training ground.
Kakashi followed behind, his eyes locked on the two in front as he silently analyzed the situation. "Their reaction speed is incredible, and they're both still improving. But Shūichi's explosive power doesn't match Guy's…"
At this point, Guy had overtaken Shūichi. But just as they were about to reach the destination, Kakashi's eyes narrowed.
Guy's speed had started to drop, and Shūichi overtook him.
"Was he holding back?"
Kakashi quickened his pace. "No, Guy's speed is decreasing because he's running out of stamina. Shūichi may have been overtaken earlier, but his speed hasn't changed. His stamina shouldn't be better than Guy's, so… is it his recovery ability?"
Studying and analyzing others—this was something Kakashi had learned from Shūichi Hoshita.
---
Soon, the three of them arrived at the training ground one after another.
Might Guy bent over, panting heavily, but still gave Shūichi Hoshita a thumbs up. "As expected of you, Shūichi!"
Shūichi, also slightly out of breath, smiled. "I just managed my stamina better."
If it weren't for the buff from the [Strong and Sturdy] tag, he would have lost just now.
Guy's training regimen was more intense than his own.
After all, Shūichi still had to spend time studying other subjects, while Guy focused solely on taijutsu.
In this situation, Guy's progress was clearly greater than his.
With faster recovery and better stamina management, Shūichi was able to secure a slight advantage over Guy.
Talent and hard work—what can compare?
Of course, having a cheat!
---
Shūichi Hoshita's summer vacation started with a race.
Time quickly flew by, and before long, it was afternoon.
Today's training ended earlier than usual, wrapping up by 4 PM.
However, Shūichi didn't head home right away. Instead, he strolled around the busiest part of Konoha.
This summer, he was determined to find a way to earn some money. He wasn't aiming to get rich—just to make some extra cash.
"Write a book?"
Seeing a bookstore, Shūichi had a fleeting thought, but he quickly dismissed it.
He wasn't Jiraiya, with all the time in the world to write books.
He barely had enough time for studying and training as it was!
Making money was just a means to get stronger, so he couldn't lose sight of the main goal.
"So, it's best if it's related to being a ninja…"
Shūichi thought to himself, scanning the shops along the street one by one.
Learning medical ninjutsu to treat people and working part-time at the Konoha Hospital?
But medical ninjutsu wasn't easy to learn.
Suddenly, Shūichi's gaze locked onto a shop selling ninja tools, and he stepped inside.
"Little boy, are you here to buy a kunai?"
The one who greeted him was a well-endowed young woman. Shūichi couldn't help but take a second look before focusing on her youthful face, large, bright eyes, and rosy lips. He blinked and asked, "Sister, do you have anything other than kunai and shuriken here?"
The shop was small, with only various kunai and shuriken visible.
There were also some long, rectangular boxes on the wooden racks, likely containing swords or similar weapons.
The young woman leaned forward, her ample chest nearly pressing against Shūichi's face. She pointed toward the wooden rack. "Of course."
"Are you looking for a short sword?" she asked.
The scent of milk filled his nostrils, and Shūichi took a deep breath, then shook his head.
The young woman blinked. "Explosive tags?"
"Little boy, you're still a student at the ninja academy, right? Explosive tags are very dangerous for someone like you!"
Shūichi immediately reached out and gently grasped the woman's cool, soft hand. Using his youthful age, innocent looks, and bright, dark eyes to his advantage, he pleaded, "Sister, you're so beautiful, please sell me just one?"
The young woman smiled warmly at Shūichi. "Even though you're flattering me, I still can't sell it to you."
"But what do you want it for?"
"Maybe I can help you," she offered.
Shūichi hung his head, putting on an act. "Sister, I want to learn how to make explosive tags so I can earn some money."
The young woman was stunned.
Shūichi looked up, his eyes glistening with tears. "Sister, I got into the ninja academy from the orphanage, so I want to earn some money…"
What a pitiful and sensible little guy!
The young woman pulled Shūichi into a tight hug, almost making it hard for him to breathe.
But when she released him, she still said, "Even so, I can't sell it to you. It's too dangerous for you."
"But I can help you in another way."
"How about working here during the summer? I can pay you a salary."
This isn't how the script was supposed to go!
Shūichi was speechless and quickly replied, "Thank you, sister, but I believe I can learn it. You should know I'm the top student in theory exams at the academy. If you don't believe me, you can ask Kimura Sensei."
"Impressive!"
The young woman praised him before smiling again. "I believe you, but making explosive tags isn't easy."
"First, you need to understand sealing techniques. Second, you need to have fire-release chakra!"
"Also, the materials for explosive tags are quite expensive."
Shūichi immediately changed his strategy, adopting a proud expression and tone. "Sister, I do understand sealing techniques."
"Plus, I inherited my father's fire nature and my mother's wind nature chakra."
"Sister, if I learn to make explosive tags, you could provide the materials, and I could make them. Then we could sell them in your shop, and you'd just need to pay me a fixed amount for each tag."
What a clever little guy!
Impressed by Shūichi's proposal, the young woman, Tenka, couldn't help but be amazed. She thought for a moment, then stood up and took an explosive tag from a drawer. She waved it in front of Shūichi and smiled. "This explosive tag sells for 1,000 ryō, and the material cost is usually around 300 ryō."
"Little boy, if you can figure out which seals were used to create this explosive tag, I'll teach you how to make them. Plus, for every tag you make, I'll pay you 200 ryō."
1,000 ryō for a single tag, and such a small one at that.
Shūichi Hoshita recalled that explosive tags could come in larger sizes, which likely meant they were even more expensive.
As expected of military-grade equipment!
Suddenly, Shūichi thought of Konan and her billions of explosive tags. Where did they come from?
Did she buy them?
"It's probably related to Konan's secret technique," Shūichi speculated. "The money Kakuzu earned was probably used by Konan to purchase paper or the materials to make it."
The paper that could carry ninjutsu and chakra clearly wasn't ordinary paper.
Just like the unique chakra-conductive metals in the ninja world.
"It seems I'll need to adjust my summer plans…"
Shūichi had already made up his mind.
A reward of 200 ryō per tag—this was definitely money he could earn.
And when he said earlier that he had fire and wind nature chakra, he wasn't lying; he had tested it with chakra paper before.
Taking the explosive tag in his hand, Shūichi immediately got serious, focusing on the tag.
In the center of the paper was the kanji for "explosion" surrounded by a complex array of seals.
To the untrained eye, these seals would look like random scribbles without much pattern.
But for Shūichi, who had self-studied all the basic sealing scripts and memorized them, it was different.
These seals were full of elegance and had a unique order.
However, what seemed like simple seals actually contained a lot of information.
"The base of the sealing script seems straightforward, but it's actually a condensed version," Shūichi mused, slightly furrowing his brows.
Reverse-engineering the completed explosive tag to deduce the full, non-simplified formula was challenging.
But it wasn't impossible.
The process mainly involved two aspects: sealing and fire release.
Although Shūichi hadn't formally learned sealing techniques, their foundation was essentially the sealing scripts.
The academy's textbooks listed the nine most common basic sealing scripts.
Likewise, examples of fire-release seals were also provided.
Moreover, activating an explosive tag was simple—the hand sign required was the right half of the "Ram" sign.
Shūichi knew this well from watching Uchiha Obito. The Fireball Jutsu involved six hand signs, and the second one was the "Ram" sign.
Additionally, the first hand sign for his father's Fire Release: Flame Bullet technique was also the "Ram" sign.
Fully focused, Shūichi analyzed the tag, retrieving a wealth of knowledge from his memory palace.
After a moment, Shūichi reached into his backpack, pulled out some paper and a pen, and quickly began sketching seals under Tenka's astonished gaze.
"Amazing… truly amazing!" Tenka covered her mouth to stifle a gasp of surprise.
However, as Shūichi neared completion, she let out a sigh of relief.
Thankfully, it wasn't perfect.
But it was still incredibly impressive!
This little boy wasn't lying—he was a remarkable genius.
Konoha might produce many geniuses, but he was still astonishing!
At that moment, Shūichi tore off the sheet filled with seals and began forming hand signs at lightning speed.
"Wait…"
Tenka cried out, but it was too late to stop him.
Shūichi completed the hand signs and pressed his right palm onto the paper covered in seals, which he had placed on the floor.
The next moment, as chakra flowed into the paper, the tadpole-like seals seemed to come to life. They quickly moved and gathered, centering around Shūichi Hoshita's palm, arranging themselves in a circular pattern.
"Careful!" Tenka shouted, grabbing Shūichi and pulling him into her arms as she swiftly leaped onto the counter.
In the following instant, the paper seal emitted a soft "hiss" and spontaneously ignited without any external fire.
Holding Shūichi on the counter, Tenka had already prepared a ninjutsu scroll in her left hand, which turned out to be a Water Release scroll.
Seeing the paper ignite naturally without an explosion, she refrained from activating the Water Release sealed within the scroll and let out a long breath of relief.
If it had exploded, that would have been trouble.
After storing the ninjutsu scroll away, Tenka set Shūichi down from her embrace.
Shūichi was panting heavily, but more from being squeezed too tightly than from exertion.
Before Tenka could speak, he quickly said, "Sister, I didn't inject too much chakra—it wouldn't have exploded."
Even if it had, the explosion would have been no more dangerous than a firecracker.
He wasn't about to risk his life over something like this.
Tenka blushed slightly and flicked Shūichi's forehead, retorting, "Still, you shouldn't do that! It's very dangerous."
She set him down from the counter, and as she watched him rub his forehead, she chuckled. "Well, even though your seals had some mistakes, they were still very impressive. So, I've decided to hire you!"
Shūichi was overjoyed, immediately bowing, "Thank you, Sis! I won't let you down!"
Tenka smiled warmly, then asked, "By the way, little boy, shouldn't you tell me your name?"
Shūichi quickly replied, "Hoshita Shūichi! You can just call me Shūichi!"
---
Half an hour later, Shūichi walked out of the shop, muttering to himself, "Tenka... Could she be related to Tenten?"
Just earlier, he had received the full explosive tag seals and the sealing formulas from Tenka, along with an agreement to visit every afternoon to learn how to make explosive tags. The shop, Tenka's shop, would cover the cost of materials.
Yes, the shop was called Tenka's Shop.
Glancing back at the shop's sign, Shūichi quickened his pace to head home.
Upon arriving home, after freshening up, Shūichi didn't immediately prepare dinner. Instead, he went to his study to revise his summer plans.
According to his original plan, he intended to complete water walking, tree climbing, and cliff climbing training during the summer.
But that was only part of the chakra control training, with the ultimate goal being the medical ninjutsu left to him by Nonō Yakushi.
Additionally, he planned to master the Clone and Substitution techniques.
Next, he intended to familiarize himself with the layout of the entire Konoha Village, embedding it into his memory palace as the primary structure.
Finally, he aimed to learn at least one medical ninjutsu.
However, due to the explosive tags, Shūichi now felt it was necessary to first master a Fire Release ninjutsu. This would allow him to better utilize the fire-nature chakra transformation.
In fact, after today's experiment with the explosive tag, Shūichi was already somewhat confident about the Fire Release: Flame Bullet jutsu.
But learning and becoming proficient in a technique were two different things.
---
The next day, at 9 a.m., Shūichi, Guy, Kakashi, and Shizune gathered with their backpacks and set off towards the village's training grounds.
Their destination was a location beside a mountain with a river running through it.
Tree climbing, water walking, cliff climbing—this place was perfect for all these training activities.
And during breaks, they could even catch fish to grill.
After reaching the spot and resting briefly, the four of them began their training.
Shūichi, Guy, and Shizune all started with water walking, while Kakashi went straight to cliff climbing.
It was clear that Kakashi had already completed his tree climbing and water walking training.
However, not far away, in the nearby forest, a figure was observing them.
Tsunade stood with her arms crossed, scrutinizing Shūichi Hoshita, then scoffed, "This brat doesn't seem all that special."
Shizune had mentioned Shūichi's name multiple times, and now that they were training together, even though Kakashi, the son of the White Fang, was present, Tsunade still decided to take a look.
Seeing Shūichi and the others quietly focused on their training, Tsunade was about to leave, but just as she moved, she paused, frowning slightly as she looked toward a certain part of the forest.
"Anbu… Root!"
Tsunade turned back to the group training by the river, her thoughts becoming clear: "Danzo, that bastard… hmph!"
With a cold snort, Tsunade's figure vanished from the spot.
The morning passed quickly. After a short break following lunch, Shūichi balanced himself on a tree branch, hanging upside down, hands clasped together, refining his chakra.
This was another method to train chakra control.
After maintaining this position for half an hour, he dropped to the ground, took a sip of salted water, and headed towards the river.
Shizune and Guy were still practicing water walking, but Shūichi had already mastered it by the end of the morning.
Now standing by the river, he took a moment to prepare, then suddenly formed hand seals.
Fire Release: Flame Bullet!
Shūichi opened his mouth, releasing a stream of fire that extended over three meters across the river's surface. The flames gathered, swelling and forming a fireball.
With a boom, the half-meter-wide flame bullet erupted, sending up waves and steam.
"Amazing!" Shizune exclaimed from the water's surface.
Guy grinned, baring his teeth. "Impressive as always, Shūichi! You learned a Fire Release jutsu so quickly."
"Eh?"
"Wait…"
Suddenly, Guy flailed wildly before toppling into the river.
---
By the riverbank, Shūichi quietly reflected: "The chakra output wasn't fast or stable enough."
"And it wasn't concentrated enough either. The more condensed the chakra, the stronger the explosive force, and the faster the flame extends, which means quicker attack speed."
After reviewing his performance, Shūichi turned his attention to the Tag Tree in his mind.
There was a new tag.
"As expected…"
Shūichi wasn't surprised when he saw the tag's name.
Tag: Fire Release Expert
Condition to Obtain: Proficiently master at least 5 Fire Release jutsu of at least C-rank.
Effect: Fire Release aptitude increases by 100%, and Fire Release jutsu can be performed without hand seals.
Not bad, not bad at all!
However, for Shūichi, obtaining this tag wouldn't be easy.
Mastering jutsu is already challenging, and finding five C-rank Fire Release jutsu takes considerable effort.
With his experience learning Fire Release: Flame Bullet, Shūichi was confident he could self-learn the Great Fireball Technique he'd observed from Obito Uchiha.
Add to that the Dragon Fire Technique his father left behind, also C-rank, and that made three.
But where would he find the other two?
Konoha doesn't have a store that sells jutsu.
"Could I get them from Tenka's shop?"
After pondering it for a moment, Shūichi decided to set the thought aside for now.
---
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
On his day off, Shūichi Hoshita visited the orphanage. Unfortunately, Nonō Yakushi had been away on a mission and hadn't returned for over a month.
After spending the entire day at the orphanage, Shūichi returned home in the evening and immediately completed the conditions required to unlock the "Transformation Expert" tag.
Activate!
With just a thought, the "Transformation Expert" tag on his tag tree lit up green.
The next moment, he felt a significant difference.
The Transformation Jutsu now felt like an innate ability, hardwired into him. He no longer needed to form hand seals—he could perform it effortlessly.
"No wonder it's a green tag!" Shūichi silently praised, and with another thought, he transformed into Kakashi.
No hand seals, no smoke, and the transformation took less than 0.1 seconds—smooth as silk!
"Excellent, excellent, excellent!"
Shūichi was increasingly satisfied and grew more eager to unlock the "Fire Release Expert" tag.
Not needing to form hand seals meant he could be more stealthy and unpredictable.
The speed of execution alone would give him an unparalleled advantage in combat.
If an enemy hadn't gathered prior intelligence on him, they'd be caught completely off guard.
Even the most experienced opponents wouldn't be able to predict which jutsu he was about to use.
After releasing the Transformation Jutsu, Shūichi pondered, "It seems I should focus my training based on the tag tree."
Trigger the tags, complete the conditions (training), and activate the tags.
"I've already mastered water walking, tree climbing, and cliff climbing. Those training goals are complete."
"I've also proficiently mastered the Flame Bullet technique, meeting the tag tree's requirements."
"So now, aside from maintaining basic taijutsu and physical training, I should focus my energy on specialized training."
Shūichi's progress over the summer was faster than he had anticipated, prompting him to revise his plans once again.
"But why haven't I unlocked any tags for taijutsu or ninja tool throwing?"
Shūichi was puzzled.
"Are taijutsu and ninja tool throwing not considered important enough?"
Or was there some other reason?
After thinking carefully, Shūichi speculated, "Could it be because I don't have a style?"
His current taijutsu training didn't follow any particular style; there were no fixed techniques or names.
Techniques like the Konoha Whirlwind or Konoha Strong Whirlwind were part of a style that Might Guy had created.
Rubbing his chin, Shūichi felt like he had an epiphany.
So, without any shame, he decided to name his taijutsu Konoha Style Taijutsu and his ninja tool throwing Konoha Style Ninja Tool Throwing.
Sure enough, the tag tree immediately responded, and two gray-white tag leaves appeared.
Tag: Taijutsu Expert
Condition to Obtain: Defeat Kakashi in taijutsu battles a total of 50 times.
Effect: Taijutsu aptitude increases by 100%, physical strength increases by 100%, and nerve reaction speed increases by 100%.
Tag: Ninja Tool Expert
Condition to Obtain: Proficiently use at least 10 types of ninja tools.
Effect: Ninja tool usage aptitude increases by 100%, physical strength increases by 100%, and nerve reaction speed increases by 100%.
"Hiss…"
Looking at the two newly appeared tags, Shūichi couldn't help but feel envious.
These tags offered enhancements to his physical capabilities!
As a ninja, having a body with high potential and a high ceiling was incredibly important.
Physical attributes largely determined one's chakra capacity.
And for a ninja, chakra capacity could be seen as the ceiling of their overall potential.
"Can't rush it—one step at a time. I'll get them all eventually."
Shūichi was now more motivated than ever.
---
Time flowed like water, and in the blink of an eye, September arrived, leaving only four days until the start of the new academy term.
Shūichi Hoshita and his friends officially concluded their summer operation, reserving the remaining four days as a vacation.
Shūichi decided to spend all four days at the Tenka's Shop, fully dedicating himself to making Explosive Tags.
Yes, he had completely mastered the art of making Explosive Tags.
However, with his current chakra reserves, he could only create a maximum of three tags in a row before needing to rest and recover his strength.
Root Base.
Once again, Danzo received a report on Shūichi Hoshita.
Compared to the last one, it contained a lot more information.
He had proficiently mastered the Three Basic Justus, Fire Release: Flame Bullet, and Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu (likely learned by observing the hand signs from Uchiha Obito).
His Transformation Jutsu seemed to require no hand signs.
He had also begun to grasp Medical Ninjutsu—specifically, Basic Healing Jutsu.
He could now independently produce Explosive Tags.
…
After Danzo finished reading the report, the Root ninja in charge of monitoring Shūichi said, "Lord Danzo, the Academy is about to start. With Shūichi Hoshita's current skills, he's bound to make a big impression in the new term, catching the attention of the Third Hokage."
In fact, Shūichi had already caught the eye of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi. After all, Sarutobi was the principal of the Academy, and Shūichi's consistent perfect scores in theory exams hadn't gone unnoticed.
However, Danzo understood the underlying message from his subordinate.
Sarutobi's knowledge of Shūichi couldn't match their own. Once Shūichi began to shine, it would be much harder for the Root to recruit him without Hiruzen intervening.
Danzo's gaze darkened, and after a moment, he said, "Then let's pay him a visit tonight."