After witnessing the grand battle between the Tailed Beasts, Shūichi returned to Konoha, feeling quite satisfied. He organized the information he had gathered and sent it to the Hokage's office via a crow, while he himself retreated to his study. There, he carefully transcribed the seal patterns of Shukaku onto a blank scroll.
After studying the patterns for a while, a look of delight appeared on Shūichi's face. "This is a real treasure!"
"These seal patterns can completely form a set of talismans..."
Shūichi picked up pen and paper, beginning to analyze and combine Shukaku's seal patterns, one by one creating talismans that he wrote onto the paper.
Before he knew it, night had fallen.
As Shūichi put down his pen and examined the talismans he'd inscribed, he suddenly felt a sense of familiarity.
"This is... similar to the Adamantine Sealing Chains' effect?"
"Not just that, there are traces of binding seals as well."
Furrowing his brow, Shūichi pondered, "The origin of the Tailed Beasts is the Divine Tree. The Uzumaki Clan's sealing techniques trace back to the Sage of Six Paths, and further beyond that, to Kaguya Ōtsutsuki and the Divine Tree."
"When you think of it that way, it's not so strange."
"However, compared to Shukaku's seal patterns, the sealing techniques I've learned, including the Adamantine Sealing Chains, all seem more complex."
"Shukaku's patterns, on the other hand, give off a more... primitive feeling."
So, is this power from the Sage of Six Paths, or does it still stem from the Divine Tree?
Just as Shūichi was lost in thought, he heard some noise from outside.
Asuka and Nonō had returned.
That evening, Shūichi did not travel to the Land of Wind. Instead, he continued to study the power of the Adamantine Sealing Chains with Asuka. His new insights from Shukaku's seal patterns complemented his understanding, leading to even more breakthroughs.
But just as he was about to fall asleep at 10 PM, memories from one of his shadow clones suddenly flowed back to him, making him pause—and then smile.
"Ah, of course! How could I have forgotten? Since shadow clones are physical entities, they too can absorb natural energy by transforming into a Tailed Beast to restore stamina and chakra."
Shūichi remembered that Naruto's clones were able to recover stamina and chakra through medical treatment from Tsunade.
Without hesitation, he created another shadow clone to send off to the Land of Wind, and then peacefully went to sleep.
In the following days, Shūichi himself shuttled back and forth between Konoha and the Land of Wind. However, he spent most of his time training in Konoha, while leaving the task of gathering intelligence to his shadow clones.
Even the troublemaking was left to the clones.
Additionally, after discovering that his shadow clones could restore stamina by transforming into Tailed Beasts and absorbing natural energy, Shūichi's main body didn't need to travel as much.
However, while playing the role of a disruptor, he couldn't be as blatant as before in impersonating the Four-Tails Jinchūriki.
Instead, his shadow clones simultaneously posed as Iwa, Suna, and Kiri ninja, creating chaos in non-primary battlefields and behind enemy lines. This only intensified the already heated conflict between the three factions.
Resentment isn't just an individual emotion—groups can harbor it too!
Even though both Iwa and Suna, as well as Kiri, sensed that something was off, the chaotic nature of the battlefield made investigation difficult. And with Shūichi's clones never leaving any survivors, there was no evidence left behind.
There was nothing to investigate, and no time to conduct a thorough search.
Suna, in particular, found itself in a difficult position, as it was already strained fighting a war on two fronts.
...
As the fierce battle between the three great ninja villages raged on, the tension across the entire shinobi world escalated.
Konoha began its preparations for war, bolstering the border defense forces both in the north and the west.
Even Jiraiya, who had been traveling abroad, returned. The first thing he did was seek out Shūichi for some "inspiration."
After dealing with Jiraiya using various distractions like bunny girls and cat girls, Shūichi immersed himself in his own training and research.
Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, summer turned to fall, and the chill of late autumn began to set in.
Under the waterfall that he regularly trained beneath, created by his Earth and Water Release, Shūichi stood with his entire body weighted down, swinging a large sword.
This sword had been taken from the ANBU. It was the same type that the burly Akimichi Chōgan once used, but in Shūichi's hands—standing just over 1.6 meters tall—it appeared enormous.
Yet under the waterfall, Shūichi wielded it with ease and grace, without a hint of clumsiness.
He had been training his physical potential with this blade since June and had long since become accustomed to it.
Under this intense training regimen, Shūichi noticed a significant increase in his chakra capacity in a relatively short period.
After half an hour of sword practice under the waterfall, Shūichi sat cross-legged beneath the cascade, letting the water crash over him while watching Kakashi and Might Guy sparring nearby.
It was rare for both of them to be free of missions.
"Huh?"
Shūichi suddenly noticed that Kakashi was being overpowered. Not only that, but Might Guy's speed and strength had noticeably increased.
It had only been a short while since he last saw them—how had Guy improved so quickly?
Had he removed his weights?
Probably not.
Could it be...?
Shūichi stood up and walked out of the water onto the shore.
A moment later, Kakashi fell, defeated, while Might Guy knelt on one knee, gasping for breath, sweat pouring from him like rain.
Shūichi stepped forward and placed a hand on Guy's shoulder, using the Strength of a Hundred Seal technique to inject chakra into Guy's body, relieving his fatigue. With a smile, he said, "Guy, it looks like you've developed a secret technique of your own!"
With his chakra replenished, Might Guy stood up, grinning, "You really can't fool Shūichi! This is a forbidden taijutsu technique my father passed down to me!"
Shūichi glanced at Kakashi, who was still lying on the ground, panting, and nodded with a smile, "The results speak for themselves."
Kakashi spoke up, "Hey, shouldn't you help me recover too?"
Without turning around, Shūichi waved his hand dismissively, "Kakashi, you can recover on your own. I'm more interested in testing Guy's forbidden technique."
Might Guy explained, "This taijutsu is called the Eight Gates. It's a technique that releases the limits on the body's eight gates, greatly enhancing physical abilities."
"Just now, I opened the First Gate—the Gate of Opening."
Guy continued seriously, "This gate releases the brain's restrictions on the body, allowing me to use 100% of my physical strength. However, it comes at the cost of overloading the body's energy, which is why my speed, strength, and stamina saw such a drastic increase."
Shūichi nodded, "The human body indeed has many hidden limits. For example, if the pain becomes too intense, we pass out. Fainting is actually a form of protection from the brain."
"And the same applies to chakra. Once we reach a certain threshold in chakra exhaustion, we also lose consciousness, as part of the body's self-defense mechanism."
Kakashi, now sitting up, listened intently, while Might Guy appeared to have an epiphany.
Shūichi continued, "That's why the Multiple Shadow Clone Jutsu is classified as forbidden—it bypasses the body's natural limits, draining physical strength excessively, which can result in life-threatening chakra depletion."
Kakashi stood up, "So, that's the reason why the Eight Gates are also forbidden techniques."
"By overriding the brain's restrictions, excessive consumption of energy would lead directly to death, rather than simply passing out for self-preservation."
Shūichi nodded, then looked at Guy, "So, Guy, you need to be fully aware of your stamina."
Guy nodded solemnly, "Don't worry, my father warned me about this. That's why I need to train even harder, so that my body can grow strong enough to handle opening more of the gates and the power they unleash."
With a determined grin, Guy added, "With the Eight Gates, I'm confident I can become a Chūnin this year!"
Konoha held Chūnin Exams twice a year—once in July, and again around mid-November, which wasn't too far off now.
"Well then, I'll be looking forward to it," Shūichi said with a smile before his tone shifted, "But for now, why don't you show me the power of the Eight Gates?"
"I was just about to suggest that!"
Fueled by passion, Might Guy opened the Gate of Opening again, his form blurring as he charged at Shūichi, leaving afterimages in his wake.
The taijutsu spar began, with Kakashi watching from the sidelines, analyzing the movements of both fighters.
Meanwhile, Shūichi was deep in thought.
Not only had Guy's speed and strength improved, but he could now execute techniques he couldn't before.
However, after assessing the situation, Shūichi concluded that the Eight Gates were rather useless for him.
Moments later, Guy collapsed on the ground, exhausted yet content. "Shūichi, you truly are my eternal rival!"
Kakashi approached and asked, "Shūichi, your stamina... it's probably far greater than ours by now, isn't it?"
Shūichi gave it some thought and replied, "Roughly... 26 times yours, I'd say."
Kakashi broke into a cold sweat upon hearing that, while the downed Guy looked equally stunned. "Shūichi, do you have some kind of special body? That's... that's just absurd!"
Even Kakashi found it hard to believe.
Shūichi chuckled, "Maybe it's just natural talent."
In truth, based on his earlier estimates, his stamina should have been around 24 Kakashis.
But after continuously doubling his physical prowess, eating Four-Tails meat, and further honing his potential, his chakra levels had now reached the equivalent of 26 Kakashis.
Of course, this comparison was based on the current Kakashi.
For his age, this amount of chakra was indeed quite outrageous—far surpassing the peak level of Nonō Yakushi.
Even Asuka, who had massive chakra reserves and was approaching her peak as an adult, only had about 10 times Shūichi's capacity. It was far from the terrifying 30 times gap they once had.
But it was clear that Asuka's chakra reserves had grown significantly over the past few years.
Seeing the expressions on both of their faces, Shūichi smiled and said, "Hard work can also increase your stamina."
"And there's one more crucial factor."
Kakashi and Guy both focused intently on Shūichi.
With a serious expression, Shūichi declared, "You need to eat more!"
Guy's face lit up with understanding as he nodded earnestly, "I see! Looks like I'll need to increase my meal portions from now on."
"After all, Shūichi was the champion of the first-ever eating contest, and no one's broken his record yet!"
With renewed determination, Guy looked at Kakashi and said, "Kakashi, let's enter the eating contest again this year!"
Kakashi nodded, taking Shūichi's advice seriously. He also resolved to start eating more.
Perhaps he could even try training with weights and practicing under waterfalls.
...
After their exchange, everyone resumed their respective training.
Shūichi returned to his spot under the waterfall, shifting his focus to the Tag Tree.
Tag: Taijutsu Master
Condition to Obtain: Create a forbidden taijutsu technique on par with the Eight Gates.
Tag Effect: Physical strength +100%, Recovery speed +100%, Resistance to injuries +100%, Control over the body +100%.
Looking at the newly triggered Taijutsu Master tag, Shūichi didn't know what to think.
Creating a taijutsu technique comparable to the Eight Gates... That was no easy feat.
After all, Guy was able to kick around opponents at the level of the Six Paths with the Eight Gates!
While different people would experience different results with the Eight Gates, it was clear the technique had immense potential.
Shūichi had initially assumed the requirement was to master the Eight Gates. If that had been the case, he would have trained in it, even if it was of little use to him, just for the benefits.
But now... Shūichi felt a bit overwhelmed.
"Guess I'll set it aside for now..."
Reluctantly, Shūichi shifted his gaze away.
...
Time flew by, and November passed in the blink of an eye. Just as he predicted, Might Guy was finally promoted to Chunin.
At the same time, Uchiha Obito once again failed the Chunin exam, and for the umpteenth time, was defeated by Guy.
Shūichi Hoshita, who had gone to spectate the match, couldn't help but feel speechless. Obito clearly had decent strength. Among the graduates of his cohort, he was actually one of the better ones.
But for some reason, Obito always seemed to fall apart at critical moments.
This time, it was his stomach acting up. In the middle of his duel with Guy, Shūichi could even hear his stomach rumbling.
Looking at Obito, both frustrating and amusing at the same time, Shūichi felt a growing sense of urgency.
With the outbreak of the Great Ninja War, the preparations of Uchiha Madara — who's lying in wait with his tubes hooked up — were advancing fast! And then there's Black Zetsu and White Zetsu, who are likely out there actively searching for their targets.
Unfortunately, Shūichi had not been able to track down any trace of Black Zetsu or White Zetsu during his time in the Land of Wind.
Maybe his sensory ninjutsu just wasn't up to par!
...
As time entered December of the 44th year of Konoha, the wars involving the Sand, Stone, and Mist villages started to shift.
The Iwagakure forces had retreated to the borders of the Land of Wind. However, thanks to the change in terrain and the shortened supply lines, they managed to stabilize their position with the support of the Bird Country.
Yet Rasa had indeed led the Sunagakure forces to push back the Iwagakure ninjas.
On December 8th of Konoha's 44th year, Rasa, backed by his great accomplishments, officially became the Fourth Kazekage.
At the same time, the battle between Sunagakure and Kirigakure had reached a stalemate.
In his study, Shūichi was sorting through the latest intelligence reports his shadow clones had gathered. After a moment of hesitation, he decided to include his analysis of the current situation.
He predicted that next year, Sunagakure would likely seek peace talks with Kirigakure and form an alliance. Only by doing so would they be able to focus all their forces on fighting Iwagakure.
This choice was also closely related to how Rasa had ascended to power by defeating the Iwagakure forces.
Given the current state of affairs, a reconciliation between Sunagakure and Iwagakure seemed much less likely.
If Sunagakure and Kirigakure did form an alliance, they would share common interests and a united goal.
In the end, Shūichi recommended: "Reinforce the border of the Land of Rivers and remain vigilant of Kirigakure!"
After writing his analysis, he sent the report to the Hokage's office via his messenger crow.
Then, he returned his focus to his own training.
December had arrived, and it was time to make use of his "Flash of Insight."
Technically, this ability could be used once a year, at any time. However, he had deliberately waited until December to ensure maximum preparation and efficiency, aiming to make the most of the 10 minutes of heightened productivity.
But there were many problems to solve, and he needed to prioritize.
"First, the sealing jutsu, especially the key point related to souls… though that might be a bit tricky."
"Next, sensory ninjutsu. I need to improve the Listening Technique and integrate malicious intent detection…"
"And then there's enhancing the Bijuu Sealing Mark. Currently, the seal only boosts Fire Release techniques, and it can't store natural energy yet. While I've made progress on the energy storage, there's been no breakthrough on expanding the range of amplification. Maybe I need to focus on absorbing natural energy from tailed beasts and converting it into stamina?"
"Or, should I focus on improving the Bijuu Sealing Mark and attempt Sage Mode using the *Hundred Seals Technique?"
Shūichi mentally organized his thoughts.
Further down the list was the development of the Tailed Clone Technique, which was connected to the Substitution Jutsu.
Even further down were S-rank Earth Release defensive jutsu and techniques like the Electromagnetic Cannon for Lightning Release, which were lower in priority.
After carefully reviewing his plans, Shūichi was just about to head to the research lab when he received feedback from one of his shadow clones.
"It worked at last!"
Shūichi's face lit up with joy.
The memory that had returned came from a clone working on the Eight-Tails research at the lab.
After combing through the clone's feedback, Shūichi had a revelation. "The key is in the cells…"
The Tailed Clone Technique of the Eight-Tails involved using part of its body to form a clone, which made it undetectable even to the Sharingan.
This concept was similar to the Wood Clone Technique of Hashirama Senju, which had a similarly high level of undetectability.
The Wood Clone worked because it was infused with Hashirama's life force — the powerful Yang Release chakra.
In essence, there were key similarities between the Tailed Clone Technique and the Wood Clone Technique.
Using a living body part as a medium for creating clones wasn't new to Shūichi. His Crow Clone Technique operated on a similar principle.
Thus, creating a clone using a part of his own body as a medium wasn't particularly difficult for him.
In fact, Shūichi had previously tried using his own hair as a medium for clones. Unfortunately, the results weren't as impressive. The deception wasn't much better than his crow clones or shadow clones.
What he hadn't anticipated was that the real key was using living cells!
As if a paper-thin barrier had finally been pierced, Shūichi couldn't help but feel a wave of regret at not realizing this sooner.
After all, a strand of hair plucked from his head might not contain living cells.
But if the hair still had its follicle attached, the results were entirely different.
A small overlooked detail had cost him a lot of time.
"At least the research on the Eight-Tails wasn't in vain, especially regarding its regenerative abilities. The time wasn't wasted."
Comforting himself, Shūichi pulled out a strand of hair with the follicle attached and used it as the medium for a clone.
It posed no challenge for him.
Poof!
A clone appeared.
Shūichi examined it closely, then smiled with satisfaction.
It was far more convincing than a shadow clone. This clone not only possessed his chakra but also his cells.
Immediately, Shūichi began testing the clone.
First, he inflicted serious injuries, but the clone remained intact.
Next, he dealt a lethal blow. The clone collapsed but maintained its form for a while, only dispersing after its chakra could no longer sustain the life force within the cells.
This made the clone far more useful as a substitution than any other clone techniques.
Additionally, it shared the same deceptive properties as the Tailed Clone Technique.
Staring at the strand of hair that had fallen to the ground, Shūichi absentmindedly touched his own hair. "Good thing I'm a medical ninja and can regenerate my hair follicles. Otherwise, if I used this too much, I'd end up bald."
"But it doesn't have to be head hair. Any hair with a follicle would work."
With that thought, Shūichi couldn't help but recall a certain all-powerful monkey.
He chuckled. "A handful of monkey hair, and there'd be countless clones!"
If he did the same… the image was too much to bear!
After Shūichi completed his tests, the Tag Tree immediately reacted.
His mental energy coalesced, and beneath the Tag Tree, he saw that both the tags [Clone Master] and [Substitution Master] were now ready to be activated.
Activate!
Shūichi lit up the two leaves on the Tag Tree, and their effects immediately triggered.
His mental strength increased by 100%, and as a Clone Master, there was now nothing in the world he couldn't use for clones. Additionally, he could see through any clone jutsu with ease.
His substitution technique aptitude also improved by 100%. By designating a specific body part for enhancement, he could boost its ability by 100%. As a Substitution Master, no one could deceive him with a substitution technique — it would be child's play for him to see through their tricks at a glance.
The increase in mental power made Shūichi feel a cool sensation in his brain, and even his mental projection felt noticeably stronger.
Now, as for the ability to designate and enhance a specific body part by 100%...
Shūichi pondered: "The brain?"
The Tag Tree responded immediately: Yes!
"The torso?"
No response.
"The heart?"
Yes.
"…Uh, well, how about… down there?"
Yes.
(T/N: Bruh! -_-)
…
So, which one should he choose?
Shūichi silently considered: "The brain, the heart, or… the kidneys…"
"My thought processing speed, mental power, and willpower have all been increasing, which should be considered brain enhancements. Naturally, overall physical constitution improves with every upgrade."
"If I enhance my brain, even without the protection of the Hundred Seals technique's chakra, I could maintain a high level of focus all the time, making heightened concentration a normal state."
"Meanwhile, the heart pumps blood throughout the body, providing energy to every part. A strong heart is essential for explosive power."
"And then there are other organs, like the kidneys and spleen… every single one is crucial."
It was a tough decision.
After thinking it over for a while, Shūichi finally chose to enhance his brain.
This included both the cerebrum and cerebellum.
In an instant, he felt a surge of energy through his brain, followed by a brief moment of blankness before his awareness returned.
Shūichi then pushed his thought-processing speed to its limit, starting by testing a focus level at twice his normal concentration.
It was effortless.
"Also, my body coordination feels even smoother..."
With a flicker, Shūichi moved into the courtyard to stretch and exercise his body.
Four times concentration!
Shūichi felt a slight strain, but as soon as he used a small amount of chakra from the Hundred Seals technique to nourish his cells, that strain vanished.
This wasn't a full activation of the Yin Seal or the Hundred Seals technique, but rather a method similar to Tsunade's way of maintaining her appearance and extending her lifespan.
Shūichi had never used this technique before because he was still growing and didn't need it yet.
Five times concentration!
Shūichi tested it out. "This seems to be the limit…"
"However, I'd better avoid using the Hundred Seals technique regularly for now. My brain is still developing, at least until I turn 18."
Shūichi deactivated the Hundred Seals effect and reduced his focus to three times.
This was a very comfortable state.
In the past, Shūichi could only maintain 100% concentration for extended periods.
But now, even in this state, his thought-processing speed had increased to twice the normal rate.
"Excellent, I'm much stronger now!"
A bright smile spread across Shūichi's face as he made his way to Orochimaru's laboratory.
...
Meanwhile, in the Hokage's office…
Hiruzen Sarutobi reviewed the intelligence report Shūichi had sent, along with his recommendations.
The Hokage looked up at his son and asked, "Shinnosuke, what do you think of Shūichi's analysis and suggestions?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke responded sincerely, "Shūichi's insights and instincts have always been sharp. I believe his judgment is completely accurate."
"The Mist's assault on the Sand has met with resistance, and they haven't gained much from it. They certainly won't be satisfied with leaving things as they are. Meanwhile, the Fourth Kazekage needs to further cement his power and secure benefits for Sunagakure, which gives them a foundation for cooperation."
Hiruzen nodded and sighed before giving his orders: "Then let's quietly reinforce our forces. Additionally, dispatch more Anbu to the borders of the Land of Rivers, and also to the directions of the Land of Whirlpools and the southern Land of Tea."
The most likely direction for the Mist to attack Konoha would be landing on the east coast, especially through the Land of Whirlpools.
The second most probable route would be from the south, through the peninsula where the Land of Tea was located.
"Understood!"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke immediately accepted the task and left to make the arrangements.
...
Time quickly flew by, and soon it was December 28th, with the New Year just around the corner.
Just the day before, Shūichi Hoshita's shadow clone, stationed in the Land of Wind, reported back. After a tense standoff, the Sand Shinobi had begun secret talks with the Mist Shinobi.
Upon receiving this intelligence, Shūichi knew it wouldn't be long before the Mist and Sand Shinobi would reach a ceasefire.
After that, the Sand Shinobi would likely focus all their efforts to the north, either driving the Stone Shinobi out of the Wind Country's borders or launching a counterattack on the Stone while teaming up with the Mist to strike Konoha.
Everything was interconnected.
Would the Stone Shinobi, who had long been eyeing the Land of Grass, sit back and watch if the Mist and Sand made a move?
And what about the ever-aggressive Cloud Shinobi to the north, who had been lying in wait for so long—could they remain patient any longer?
"The earliest prediction is by the second half of next year… Konoha will likely be forced into war," Shūichi sighed.
"Too bad Konoha doesn't control the entire Fire Country. Otherwise, we could at least make a profit by selling supplies to the Mist, Sand, and Stone Shinobi before the war breaks out."
"But at the end of the day, ninja village battles are just mercenary wars supported by the great nations."
Clearing his thoughts, Shūichi wrote down the intelligence and had a crow deliver it to the Hokage's office.
Immediately after, he activated the Yin Seal on his forehead, allowing the Hundred Seals technique to envelop every brain cell with chakra. His state was fully unlocked.
Maximum thought processing speed!
Full concentration!
"Flash of Insight" activated!
Ten minutes of "God Time" began.
In his rapidly functioning brain, countless pieces of information surfaced—all the knowledge Shūichi had accumulated in the past. Under the influence of his enhanced comprehension, this knowledge was reorganized, collided with each other, and sparked new ideas.
Brilliant flashes of insight appeared, lighting the way through the darkness.
Many challenges that had stumped him before now became clear in an instant. Dead-end paths found new directions.
What's more, Shūichi realized the more knowledge he had, the greater his gains in this state.
Many details he hadn't paid much attention to before, or had overlooked, now became the keys to solving problems and breaking through difficulties.
Unfortunately, the time was too short—ten minutes passed in a flash.
Shūichi opened his eyes, letting out a sigh of dissatisfaction.
He hadn't had enough yet!
Reining in the Yin Seal and returning to his normal state, Shūichi picked up a brush and started writing.
The first thing he began drafting was a sealing technique—a seal that was a culmination of everything he had learned about sealing jutsu up to now.
Unfortunately, his research on souls was still lacking and hadn't yet reached his ultimate goal.
Next, he worked on a more complex formula. This was an enhancement to the Bijju Sealing mark, a refinement of that curse mark.
After completing that, Shūichi continued drawing, this time integrating the Hundred Seals technique into the formula.
Half an hour later, Shūichi put down his brush and reviewed the array of seals on the scroll. He smiled and nodded in satisfaction.
Although it wasn't perfect, this progress was still impressive.
"Alright, time to test out the sealing technique!"
"Though it hasn't reached S-rank yet, it should still be solid at A-rank."
Shūichi stood in the center of his study and clapped his hands together, rapidly gathering chakra—extracting 70% of his physical limit in chakra.
His hair fluttered, and his clothes billowed.
Then, a crackling sound echoed in the room.
From Shūichi's back, deep blue chains began emerging from his body, segment by segment.
Each segment of these deep blue chains flickered with a lighter shade of blue flames.
Clang! Clang!
The chains rattled, and the once slow-emerging chains suddenly accelerated, extending rapidly.
After the first chain, a second followed, then a third... until finally, a total of six chains appeared, and then they stopped.
Huff! Huff!
"Too… too chakra-consuming!"
Shūichi let his hands drop, gasping for air.
At his current age, his chakra reserves were already impressive, yet even using this sealing technique was still strenuous.
"The Adamantine Sealing Chains, which can restrict a Tailed Beast, really aren't overrated…"
After catching his breath, Shūichi felt the power of the chains he had conjured and smiled with satisfaction.
This sealing technique clearly had traces of the Adamantine Sealing Chains, borrowing from its form.
However, its sealing power was different. He still hadn't fully deciphered the Adamantine Sealing Chains from Asuka to unlock all its secrets as an A-rank technique.
"I need to find a target to test this on..."
Shūichi's gaze shifted toward the small Four-Tails sealed inside the Eight Trigrams Seal on his abdomen.
It wasn't much—barely one tail's worth of chakra—but it should be enough for a test.
Clang! Clang!
The chains retracted back into Shūichi's body, and in the lake inside his Eight Trigrams Seal, blue chains wreathed in flames suddenly appeared.
The resting Four-Tails jolted awake, opening its eyes in shock: "Sealing jutsu?"
"Hey, kid! What are you up to?"
The Four-Tails roared, raising its arms to grab the incoming chains, but the chains moved like serpents, wrapping around it instead.
In no time, the Four-Tails' neck, torso, and legs were bound by the chains, lifting the beast up from the lake of chakra.
"Damn it!"
The Four-Tails bellowed in fury. This position was too humiliating!
Chakra surged from its body, but the beast quickly let out a howl of pain: "Damn… this sealing jutsu… it's burning my chakra!"
"No… it's also burning my spirit!"
At that moment, the Four-Tails found it not only immobilized but also unable to use its chakra. Whenever it tried, the chakra would ignite, dissipating while causing excruciating pain as its consciousness burned, making it impossible to control its chakra.
"This brat's sealing technique… I can sense Shukaku's influence on it."
"Could it be… he's acquired Shukaku's chakra as well?"
The Four-Tails, now exhausted and terrified, lowered its head in defeat.
Shūichi observed the scene, nodding in satisfaction.
It was still unclear how this technique compared to the Adamantine Sealing Chains, but its restraining power was impressive.
It perfectly complemented his vast mastery of Fire Style!
Of course, this wasn't just a simple Fire Style technique, but like the Adamantine Sealing Chains, it was based on Yin Release.
"So, what should I call it?"
Retracting the chains from the Four-Tails, Shūichi pondered.
"Hmm… this sealing jutsu is still at an A-rank difficulty, not fully complete yet, so I'll consider the name for later."
"For now… let's call it Fire Nether Chains!"
Shūichi had already made up his mind. Once this sealing technique was fully developed, capable of extracting souls and splitting Tailed Beasts, reaching S-rank, he would establish it as his Bloodline Limit Sealing Technique!
After testing the Fire Nether Chains sealing technique, Shūichi shifted his attention to the Bijuu Sealing Mark.
With a single thought, a brilliant blue light immediately burst forth from the center of his forehead.
Tadpole-like symbols then emerged, spreading across his entire body, with the blue light at the center of his forehead as the origin.
This was the first version of the Bijuu Sealing Mark, which, when activated, could absorb natural energy from the environment to amplify the power of Fire Release jutsu.
The advanced version he now possessed also recreated the sealing technique from the Tostuka Blade, granting the ability to store natural energy.
However, the seal could still only enhance Fire Release, without increasing the power of other types of jutsu.
Nevertheless, Shūichi was confident that with further research, he could develop a natural energy seal capable of enhancing all kinds of jutsu.
Now, it was time to modify the Bijuu Sealing Mark on his own body.
This wasn't too difficult; the symbols could be formed entirely by chakra.
As a result, the runes that appeared on his body swiftly shifted and transformed. New symbols emerged, integrating into the original seal.
Once the new formula was completed, the symbols contracted, returning to his forehead, and the once-bright blue light faded away.
Shūichi could now feel natural energy flowing continuously into the seal, stopping only when the amount matched his chakra reserves.
The speed of absorption was incredibly fast.
"The power of a human is insignificant compared to the vast energy of nature. No wonder the Ōtsutsuki clan plants trees everywhere."
After a moment of reflection, Shūichi stowed away two scrolls, sealing them securely.
"With the Fire Nether Chains, my abilities have become even more versatile, especially now that I have a method to subdue Tailed Beasts."
"And the new Bijuu Sealing Mark raises my upper combat limits."
For Shūichi, his strongest ability remained his Fire Release techniques.
In particular, developing the Fire Nether Chains allowed him to skillfully integrate the power of Yin Release into his Fire Release.
This not only enhanced the strength of his Fire Release but also improved his ability to manipulate its forms.
...
The year 44 of Konoha passed quickly, and the 45th year arrived.
This New Year, Yakushi Nono led Shūichi and Asuka in celebrating at the orphanage.
While Shūichi was playing ninja games with the children, elsewhere, in Sunagakure, Pakura, fresh from the battlefield, was being hailed as a village hero, receiving cheers and praise from all the villagers.
At that moment, Pakura was bathed in supreme glory.
However, as Pakura basked in the villagers' admiration, within the Kazekage office, Sunagakure's upper echelon was holding a high-level meeting.
"The demands from Kirigakure for a ceasefire and alliance are outrageous! There's no way we can agree to them!"
"But the village can't handle an attack from two other villages simultaneously!"
"How about we ask Konoha for aid?"
"No way! If we do that, Konoha will demand concessions from the Land of Rivers, and we'll end up being branded as traitors to our village and the Land of Wind!"
"Then how about negotiating with Iwa?"
"The Third Kazekage was killed by Iwa! How can we make peace with the murderers?"
"Besides, we're already close to driving Iwa-nin out. We could even push into the Land of Birds next!"
A heated argument broke out among the elderly Sunagakure jonin.
Rasa, the Fourth Kazekage, remained silent.
Chiyo and her brother Ebizō were absent from the meeting, stationed at the frontlines to guard against sudden attacks from Iwa or Kiri-nin.
After a long, fruitless debate, the Sunagakure leadership was unable to reach a consensus, and the first meeting ended without resolution.
...
Konoha Year 45, January 12th.
While Shūichi was in his study working on improvements to the Spirit Transformation Technique, he suddenly looked up as Sarutobi Shinnosuke appeared outside his window, removing his mask. "Shūichi, Lord Third Hokage has summoned you!"
"Understood!" Shūichi nodded, tidied up his things, and followed Shinnosuke to the Hokage's office.
When they arrived, not only was Hiruzen Sarutobi present, but also Mitokado Homura, Utatane Koharu, and Jiraiya, who greeted Shūichi with a playful wink.
Ignoring Jiraiya's usual antics, Shūichi respectfully greeted the senior advisors.
Hiruzen Sarutobi then spoke: "Shūichi, based on the intelligence you provided, and the information gathered by the Anbu from Sunagakure, we've confirmed that Sunagakure is determined to negotiate peace with Kirigakure."
"As such, we need to determine whether they plan to ally with Kirigakure to attack us."
"If they do intend to form such an alliance, we must disrupt it, buying more time for Konoha to prepare."
At this, Jiraiya chimed in, "I'll handle the infiltration. That's my specialty, after all."
Mitokado Homura shook his head. "Jiraiya, we need you to stay in Konoha to handle any unexpected situations."
Hiruzen Sarutobi then turned to Shūichi and asked, "Shūichi, what do you think?"
After a moment of thought, Shūichi replied, "Since Sunagakure is planning to ally with Kirigakure, they'll likely send someone to the Land of Water as an envoy, correct?"
"In that case, we can tackle both tasks at once."
"We should intercept Sunagakure's envoy. Not only would we disrupt their alliance, but we could also extract information about Sunagakure's future plans from the envoy."
Utatane Koharu frowned. "Such an envoy would likely be a highly secretive individual. It won't be easy to intercept them en route."
Shūichi smiled. "In that case, we'll use a simpler method."
"Keep track of everyone leaving Sunagakure."
Koharu blinked in surprise. "Is that... even feasible?"
As soon as she finished speaking, Shūichi began filling the Hokage's office with his Shadow Clones.
Then, under their watchful eyes, one of Shūichi's clones opened a window, and they transformed into crows and hawks, flying out of the office, much to the astonishment of Koharu and Homura.
However, Homura quickly regained his composure and said to Hiruzen, "Given this, Hiruzen, I think Shūichi's suggestion is worth adopting. He's also the most suitable candidate for the task."
Koharu nodded in agreement. "I also heard Shūichi is due to be promoted to jonin. I believe, once this mission is completed, we can officially promote him."
Homura immediately concurred. "I agree."
After listening, Hiruzen turned to Shūichi and said, "Shūichi, this will be your final mission before becoming a jonin!"
Shūichi solemnly responded, "Rest assured, Lord Hokage, I will do everything in my power to complete this mission!"
"Then go make your preparations."
Hiruzen nodded approvingly.
Without delay, Shūichi used the Flying Thunder God technique and disappeared.
...
At home, Shūichi was packing his things when Jiraiya suddenly appeared, leaning against the doorframe. "You seem pretty invested in this mission, huh?"
Without turning around, Shūichi responded, "If I become a jonin before March, I'll be an 11-year-old jonin."
"Plus, to fully master the Flying Thunder God Technique, I need real combat experience."
Hearing Shūichi mention the Flying Thunder God Technique, Jiraiya stroked his chin and said, "Speaking of which, maybe I should continue studying the Flying Thunder God as well. After all, I'm pretty talented myself!"
Shūichi couldn't help but glance back with a grin. "Jiraiya-sama, don't waste your time. Some things just can't be learned. It's not a matter of effort—it's about brains!"
Jiraiya's face immediately twitched in embarrassment. "You little brat, you're really blunt, aren't you?"
Shūichi continued packing. "Everyone has their strengths. If you asked me to write a book, I wouldn't be able to match you, Jiraiya-sama."
Jiraiya's face lit up, and he burst into laughter. "Seems like you've got good judgment after all!"
Then, looking a bit bashful, he added, "This mission of yours will probably take a while. How about giving me a bit of inspiration before you go?"
Shūichi barely resisted the urge to roll his eyes. "Jiraiya-sama, be careful, or I might just tell Lady Tsunade."
Jiraiya immediately adopted a serious expression. "Actually, I came here for a reason!"
With that, he took the scroll off his back, placed it on the ground, and unrolled it. "Even though your crows and that white tiger of yours are quite well-trained, they still don't compare to the sages of Mount Myōboku."
"Why don't you go ahead and sign a contract with Mount Myōboku? Minato mentioned it to me when I got back, but you know, gathering research materials takes time."
Shūichi hadn't expected that he would be signing a contract with Mount Myōboku.
Should he sign it?
Of course!
Even if he didn't need the Sage Mode from Mount Myōboku, it was still a place worth exploring.
After thanking Jiraiya, Shūichi expertly placed his chakra and blood handprint on the scroll.
Jiraiya smiled. "Even though you have the Flying Thunder God, sometimes Reverse Summoning can be really useful too."
"Call on them whenever you need to. Don't hesitate!"
With that, Jiraiya slung the scroll back over his shoulder, waved, and left casually.
After watching Jiraiya leave, Shūichi left a Shadow Clone behind, strapped on his scroll, and disappeared.
...
In the southeastern mountains of the Land of Rivers, Shūichi's figure suddenly appeared.
There was a Flying Thunder God mark left by one of his Shadow Clones on a large rock nearby.
Sitting on the rock, Shūichi gazed in the direction of the Kirigakure frontline base.
Although he had told Koharu and the others he would use a "dumb" method, he didn't actually plan to do so.
Two Shadow Clones were watching over Sunagakure, while two more were keeping an eye on the major ports.
As soon as Pakura appeared, she wouldn't escape his sensory abilities.
Of course, things could change, and Pakura might not end up as Sunagakure's sacrificial pawn.
But no matter who Sunagakure sent for the negotiations, he'd be able to sense them.
For Shūichi, who had a bit of an "omniscient" view of the situation, this mission was relatively easy, so he felt quite relaxed.
"I'll let my Shadow Clones handle it for now..."
Shūichi withdrew his gaze, unrolled the scroll, and resumed the interrupted research from earlier.
Time quickly passed, and before he knew it, it was February.
Shūichi had only returned to Konoha once, before coming back to continue his vigil.
With this level of dedication, it would indeed be unreasonable not to promote him to jonin.
"The youngest jonin, but the 'Tag Tree' hasn't shown any updates yet..."
Feeling a bit disappointed, Shūichi unstrapped his scroll and sat back down on the large rock. Suddenly, a flood of memories surged into the seal within his memory palace.
"They're finally here!"
Shūichi leaped to his feet.
Pakura of the Scorch Release had appeared!
Strapping on his scroll, Shūichi leapt into the air, transforming into a hawk and soaring through the sky with a sharp cry, heading straight for a port in the southern part of the Land of Wind.
Upon reaching the port, Shūichi dispelled his transformation technique and touched the ground with his fingers, sensing the surroundings. "It's definitely Pakura."
"Alone... It seems the wheels of fate have begun to turn!"
After confirming his target, Shūichi altered his appearance and entered the port.
However, he didn't approach Pakura directly. Instead, he waited for her to hire a ship to sail out to sea. Once she had departed, he left the port, found a secluded spot along the coast, dismissed his other Shadow Clones, and then leaped into the water, transforming into a fish and swimming swiftly after her.
Once deep in the sea, Shūichi transformed again, this time into a shark.
This transformation felt even more natural, and he quickly caught up to Pakura's ship.
From a distance, he followed her trail. To his surprise, Pakura switched ships three times, taking three full days before finally entering an area of islands under Kirigakure's control.
The route she took led out of the southeastern coast of the Land of Wind, then eastward around the peninsula that extended from the south of the Land of Fire, eventually reaching the Land of Water.
Watching Pakura disembark and the ship sail away, Shūichi finally came ashore. Transforming into a seabird, he flew into the mist-covered island.
...
Mist swirled thickly, with steep mountains rising on either side as Pakura walked forward slowly.
"Lady Pakura of the Scorch Release!"
Suddenly, a clear voice echoed out, causing Pakura to stop in her tracks, her eyes narrowing. Ahead of her, a figure emerged from the mist.
It was a young ninja wearing the standard Kirigakure attire, his face full of a warm and cheerful smile. "I'm here to escort you!"
"It's truly an honor to meet you!"
The young Mist ninja stepped closer to Pakura, still smiling. "In such heavy mist, you definitely need a guide, after all."
Pakura nodded slightly. "Thank you for your trouble."
"But once we pass through this gorge, I shouldn't have any trouble finding my way, right?"
The young ninja scratched the back of his head and laughed. "That's true!"
As he spoke, he walked to Pakura's side, gesturing with his hand. "Please, lead the way!"
"Mm."
Pakura nodded again and took a step forward.
Thud!
Pakura's body suddenly froze, her eyes widening in shock.
Behind her, the young Mist ninja had plunged a kunai into her back, the once-warm smile on his face now twisted into a cruel, vicious grin.
"You…"
Pakura slowly turned her head. "What are you doing?"
"The pain of my comrades who were killed by Sunagakure…"
The young ninja shouted, "Now you'll taste it too!"
With those words, he pulled the kunai from her back.
Pakura staggered forward. Suddenly, a group of Mist ninjas appeared on both sides of the gorge, sending a barrage of shuriken raining down, pinning Pakura to the ground.
However, just as the Mist ninjas moved closer to Pakura, a figure suddenly appeared beside her.
"Watch out! Enemy!"
One of the Mist ninjas shouted in alarm.
But before the Mist ninjas on both sides of the gorge could react, two of Shūichi Hoshita's Shadow Clones, disguised as Sunagakure ninjas, descended from the sky.
"Wind Style: Vacuum Serial Waves!"
Sharp gusts of wind swept across both sides, tearing through the Mist ninjas.
Slash! Slash!
Screams echoed as blood splattered, and in the blink of an eye, severed limbs and bodies littered the ground.
"Damn it, Sunagakure has no intention of negotiating!"
"Kill that guy!"
A few surviving Mist ninjas, having escaped using the Body Flicker Technique, shouted in fury.
But Shūichi didn't intend to continue the fight. In one swift motion, he scooped up Pakura with one arm.
In a flash, he grabbed the young Mist ninja who had stabbed Pakura and was preparing to weave hand signs for a jutsu.
With a burst of strength, Shūichi hurled the Mist ninja into the stone wall, knocking him out cold.
As the ninja lay unconscious, a Flying Thunder God mark silently appeared on his neck, then spread into a lotus-shaped seal at the back of his head, hidden beneath his hair.
Just as quickly as he had come, Shūichi vanished.
The Mist ninjas had no time to counterattack—Shūichi was already gone, disappearing so swiftly that even sensory ninjutsu couldn't track him.
"Damn it!"
"Bastard!"
The remaining Mist ninjas looked at the dismembered bodies of their fallen comrades, their faces grim and filled with rage.
What should have been a satisfying act of revenge had turned into the loss of more comrades.
"That guy… he probably wasn't from Sunagakure."
The Mist ninjas, having calmed down, quickly realized the gravity of the situation.
"If he were from Sunagakure, there would have been no need to wait for us to kill Pakura before intervening."
"Could it be the action of an individual from Sunagakure?"
"Either way, we need to report this to Lord Mizukage immediately and let him decide!"
In the Land of Rivers, inside a mountain cave, a flickering bonfire cast dancing shadows across the walls.
Pakura, lying down, twitched her eyelids and slowly opened her eyes.
Her vision was blurry at first, and her mind felt sluggish. "Is this... the Pure Land?"
As her sight cleared, Pakura instinctively followed the light. She turned her head and saw the fire—and the figure sitting in front of it.
'Who is he? Why does he seem familiar…'
'A fallen comrade?'
"Comrade…!"
Memories flooded back to Pakura—she recalled being stabbed in the back by a Mist ninja. Her heart immediately ached with sorrow.
Her former comrades had betrayed her!
Those people had used her as a bargaining chip, offering her to the Mist!
Pakura wasn't a fool. She quickly pieced it together.
"You're awake."
Suddenly, a gentle voice rang out, startling Pakura. "Who… who are you?"
"Is this the Pure Land?"
Shūichi couldn't help but laugh. "The Pure Land?"
"There's no way I'm going to a place like that with you."
Turning to look at her, Shūichi smiled and said, "Pakura, long time no see!"
Pakura's eyes widened in shock. "You… Shūichi Hoshita!"
She was so agitated that she tried to move, but pain instantly surged through her body, making her head throb.
Sweat beaded on her forehead as she looked at Shūichi. "Did you save me?"
Shūichi stood up, poured a cup of his homemade salt-sugar water, and brought it to her lips. "Who else could it be?"
"You think you're dreaming?"
"Drink up—you need to replenish your fluids."
Pakura looked down at the bamboo cup in his hand.
Shūichi added, "Don't worry, I haven't used it. I made it just for you."
"You're lucky to have met a medical expert like me, or you'd already be dead."
Pakura drank the water in one go and then stared at Shūichi. "Why did you save me?"
Shūichi put down the cup and sat back by the fire. "There are many reasons."
"First, you're the envoy sent by Sunagakure to Kirigakure."
"Even though you were betrayed, saving you might disrupt the alliance between Sunagakure and Kirigakure."
"And even if it doesn't, it could at least delay them a little."
"Second, you hold quite a few secrets in that head of yours, especially about Sunagakure's next moves."
Pakura gave a bitter, mocking smile. "I knew it…"
Shūichi grinned and asked, "What, did you think I saved you out of pity?"
"Or because of your beauty? I'm not that shallow."
Pakura turned her head, staring blankly at the shadows dancing on the cave ceiling. "What do you want to know?"
"After all, I've already been betrayed by them. How ridiculous for a so-called hero…"
Shūichi asked, "Is Sunagakure's next move after the alliance with Kirigakure to attack the Land of Fire?"
Pakura responded flatly, "That's correct."
"But to be precise, they plan to first join forces to take over the Land of Rivers, with Kirigakure claiming the parts that once belonged to Konoha. After that, they'll invade the Land of Fire together."
"Though I don't know the specifics of the plan."
"I've said what I needed to. You can kill me now…"
Shūichi shook his head. "How weak."
Pakura spoke softly, "Do you plan to use my hatred against them?"
"I am filled with anger, but my hatred is for the higher-ups in the village who sold me out, and for Kirigakure."
Shūichi stood and walked over to sit beside Pakura, lifting her chin with his hand.
Their eyes met!
Staring into Shūichi's sharp, domineering, and predatory gaze, Pakura suddenly felt intimidated. But with her chin held firmly in place, she couldn't pull away.
Shūichi leaned in, his voice low and commanding. "Pakura, I saved your life."
"So, from this moment on, you belong to me—you are my property!"
"Without my permission, you are not allowed to die."
With that, Shūichi released her chin.
Pakura let out a small grunt of defiance and turned her head away.
Shūichi's tone softened a bit. "Of course, I'm not someone who's unreasonable with my subordinates."
"Don't worry, I won't make you kill innocent people from Sunagakure. But when it comes to those higher-ups, or enemies from other villages, you'll have to follow my orders."
With that, Shūichi began to undo Pakura's clothes.
Startled, Pakura tried to move despite the intense pain. "What… are you doing?"
"I'm a medical ninja."
Shūichi clarified, "Besides, I'm not even twelve years old!"
Hearing this, Pakura's cold expression suddenly flushed red, and she stopped resisting.
Shūichi continued working on her injuries while remarking, "Plus, with all the wounds you had before, I've already seen everything."
Pakura clenched her teeth. "You little brat…"
Shūichi's sharp ears caught that, and he laughed. "You should be calling me Lord Shūichi!"
Pakura gritted her teeth in silence.
While treating her wounds, Shūichi teased, "What's the matter? The great Pakura of the Scorch Release, an elite jōnin of Sunagakure, doesn't appreciate being saved?"
"Or do you think I'm not qualified to be your superior?"
"You know I'm stronger than you, right?"
That damned brat!
Reluctantly, Pakura muttered, "Lord… Shūichi…"
A strange feeling of shame crept over her, especially since this guy was undoing her clothes.
Shūichi, hearing her reluctant voice, felt a wave of satisfaction.
This feeling... indescribable!
Could it be that this reluctance is what makes it so enjoyable?
Realizing his thoughts were straying, Shūichi quickly focused on treating her wounds.
After a moment, he finished the treatment and draped his outer robe over Pakura. "You should be fully recovered in two or three days."
"During that time, stay here. My Shadow Clones will take care of your food and water."
Pakura was surprised. "You're… leaving?"
"Remember, you must call me Lord Shūichi!"
Shūichi emphasized, then continued, "I have to return to Konoha."
"Although my presence might slow down Sunagakure and Kirigakure's plans, they could also decide to act sooner."
After a brief pause, just as Shūichi was about to exit the cave, Pakura finally spoke up. "I understand, Lord Shūichi."
Hearing this, Shūichi turned back with a smile. "Good, keep it up!"
...
After leaving the cave, Shūichi created a Shadow Clone to stay behind before heading back to Konoha.
---
In Sunagakure, in the Kazekage's office, Rasa was startled upon hearing that Pakura's body had been taken by a mysterious individual. He quickly asked his subordinates, "What did Kirigakure say?"
"The messenger from the Mist Village conveyed the Third Mizukage's message. They believe it was another village, most likely Konoha, that intervened."
"So, the alliance remains unchanged."
"However, the details of the plan will likely need to be renegotiated."
Upon hearing this, Rasa quietly let out a sigh of relief before asking, "Are you sure she's dead?"
The reporting Sand ninja quickly responded, "The Mist said that under those circumstances, there's no way she could have survived—unless the one who intervened was Tsunade of Konoha!"
Rasa was now completely reassured. "Go tell the Mist Village messenger that I will send a new envoy to discuss the plans."
"Yes, Kazekage-sama!"
---
In Konoha, at the Hokage's office.
Shūichi reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi the general details of how he saved Pakura of the Scorch Release from Sunagakure, as well as the intelligence he had gathered from her.
Hiruzen Sarutobi couldn't help but sigh. "I didn't expect such a thing to happen."
"It seems Sunagakure has made quite a significant sacrifice to secure an alliance with Kirigakure. They must be extremely determined!"
After reflecting on the situation, Hiruzen asked, "Shūichi, what do you think Sunagakure and Kirigakure will do next?"
Shūichi pondered and replied, "They'll likely suspect it was us who intervened. While this might delay their alliance, it won't stop it."
"Additionally, even if they're unsure whether Pakura is alive or dead, they'll probably alter their original plans."
"My take is that regarding the Land of Rivers, Sunagakure and Kirigakure will try to bypass us and make a direct strike into the Land of Fire, avoiding our surveillance as much as possible."
Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slowly. "That does seem highly plausible."
"So, what do you plan to do with Pakura?"
Shūichi responded, "For now, I'll keep her working under me, but I won't officially register her as part of Konoha's forces to avoid giving Sunagakure any excuses."
"Pakura is very powerful, and if it comes to fighting the Mist, she'll be a valuable asset."
Hiruzen Sarutobi agreed that this was the best course of action for the time being. "Very well, I'll leave her in your hands then."
---
After leaving the Hokage's office, Shūichi stretched his arms lazily.
Tomorrow, the Hokage's office would officially announce his promotion to jōnin, making him the youngest jōnin in Konoha's history!
"First, I should head over to Konoha Hospital…"
Shūichi made his way to Konoha Hospital, where he wandered around, visiting Yakushi Nonō, Shizune, and others before heading out.
Once he returned home and freshened up, Shūichi went straight to his bedroom for a much-needed sleep.
He hadn't slept well in a while.
When he woke up, it was already around three in the afternoon. Shūichi headed out to stroll through the village, stopping to buy some underwear for Pakura, along with several black, backless outfits of different styles to suit her figure.
With such a beautiful back, it deserved to be properly appreciated.
...
After buying the clothes, Shūichi returned to the Land of Rivers.
When he dispelled his Shadow Clone and entered the cave, Pakura was sitting by the campfire, lost in thought.
"Here, I bought you some clothes."
Shūichi placed the bag at Pakura's feet.
Startled, Pakura realized it was the real Shūichi. "You… how are you back so quickly?"
"Body Flicker Technique!"
Shūichi didn't elaborate further.
Pakura looked down and rummaged through the bag, growing more embarrassed. This guy, how could he know my size so well…
"And everything's lace and backless… Does he have these kinds of tastes at such a young age?"
Seeing Pakura's expression, Shūichi quickly explained, "Hey, I picked them out based on your style."
Pakura turned her back to him. "Lord Shūichi, I'm going to change."
Shūichi clicked his tongue and flickered out of the cave.
Moments later, Pakura, now dressed in the new clothes, stepped outside the cave and was taken aback by the sight. "This is the southern part of the Land of Rivers, and… over there is the Mist Village's base?"
Shūichi nodded. "Exactly."
Pakura looked at the boy, who was significantly shorter than her, and asked, "You're far too bold. Kirigakure isn't without sensor ninjas, you know!"
Shūichi chuckled lightly. "Don't worry, it only looks close. It's actually quite far."
"Well? Do you feel like rushing over there?"
Pakura scoffed, "I'm not foolish, nor am I blinded by hatred."
That's only because I saved your life!
Shūichi silently scoffed to himself.
After a brief pause, Pakura asked, "So, what are your plans for me?"
"Call me Lord Shūichi!" Shūichi corrected her again.
Pakura clenched her teeth. "Lord Shūichi, how do you plan to handle me?"
Shūichi nodded in satisfaction. "Don't worry, you won't need to become one of Konoha's people. You're just my subordinate, and you'll only follow my orders."
"Once your wounds are fully healed, we'll head back to the Land of Fire."
"Before the Sand and Mist attack the Land of Fire, I'll need you to go to the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire on my behalf."
Pakura was startled. "The Land of Fire's Daimyo, you…"
Shūichi smiled. "You guessed right. I'm a double agent for both the Daimyo and the Hokage."
He handed Pakura the Yagakigami sword and continued, "This is the token."
"Your mission is to secure material support from the Daimyo to help me establish an underground research base."
Holding the Yagakigami sword, Pakura nodded. "Understood… Lord Shūichi."
---
In the blink of an eye, two days passed, and Pakura's injuries had mostly healed. Shūichi and Pakura left the Land of Rivers together.
This time, he didn't use the Flying Thunder God technique. By the second day, after they had entered the Land of Fire, Shūichi handed Pakura a mask and a black hooded robe, saying, "Let's split up here."
"I'll find you in three days."
Pakura nodded but hesitated for a moment before asking, "Aren't you afraid I'll run off?"
Shūichi confidently replied, "Without me, is there anyone in the ninja world who could treat you better than I do?"
Of course, this was just a boast.
His true confidence came from the Flying Thunder God seal.
"Remember, you have to call me Lord Shūichi!"
Shūichi emphasized once again.
Pakura clenched her fists, feeling frustrated. This guy really knows how to ruin the mood.
"Lord Shūichi…" she said, reluctantly but obediently.
Shūichi nodded in approval. "Work hard. If you do well, there will be rewards."
"And it won't be something meaningless like the 'hero' title the Fourth Kazekage gave you with no real benefit."
With that, Shūichi's figure vanished.
Pakura was silently fuming. That guy was clearly mocking me!
Wait.
Suddenly, her eyes narrowed. That Body Flicker Technique just now… was it the same as Konoha's Yellow Flash's space-time ninjutsu?
At such a young age… what a terrifying kid!
But… being the subordinate of someone with such limitless potential doesn't seem like a bad thing.
Just hope this jerk doesn't get himself killed too soon on the battlefield.
I, Pakura of the Scorch Release, am not someone who forgets a debt of gratitude!
With that thought, Pakura donned the mask and pulled up the hooded robe, then leaped toward the Daimyo's mansion in the Land of Fire.
In the Hokage's office at the Leaf Village.
Shūichi reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi about establishing a secret experimental base in collaboration with the Daimyo.
This was all part of the plan.
On the surface, the secret experimental base was for Shūichi, acting as a spy, to steal Konoha's research on tailed beasts and use it on subjects provided by the Daimyo.
However, the success of the experiments and whether the subjects would ultimately obey the Daimyo remained entirely within Shūichi's control.
Naturally, Hiruzen Sarutobi was aware of all this.
As a loyal subordinate, Shūichi reported everything in a timely manner, as was expected.
Hiruzen simply nodded, showing his acknowledgment. He trusted Shūichi completely to handle this task.
Then, Hiruzen spoke, "Shūichi, the announcement of your promotion to Jōnin has already been made. Go and collect your Jōnin gear shortly."
Shūichi nodded, "Yes, Lord Hokage!"
---
After leaving the Hokage's office, every staff member he encountered smiled and greeted Shūichi, or gave him respectful salutes. Their attitudes had shifted noticeably from before.
When he stepped out of the Hokage Building, he saw four figures smiling at him.
"Shūichi!"
It was Chihiro who called out, waving to him.
The group consisted of Sarutobi Shinnosuke, Chihiro, Nara Satoshi, and Yamanaka Shinichi. No wonder Shūichi hadn't seen Shinnosuke inside the Hokage Building earlier.
Shūichi quickly walked over to them.
"Shūichi, congratulations on becoming the youngest Jōnin in Konoha's history!" Nara Satoshi said with a smile.
Yamanaka Shinichi chimed in, "Hey, since we all happen to be free today, how about we celebrate together?"
Sarutobi Shinnosuke added, "The four of us are treating you today, Shūichi. You can eat as much as you want!"
Shūichi grinned and said fiercely, "Then I won't hold back today. I'm going to make sure to empty your wallets!"
The group burst into laughter.
---
Meanwhile, at Orochimaru's experimental base.
Danzo, having returned from the Land of Rain, watched as Orochimaru slowly busied himself with his work and said, "The war with the Sand and Mist is now inevitable. This time, the commander for the combined Sand and Mist forces will be Koharu, but I've already discussed it with her. You will be leading the troops in the field."
"As long as you win this war, I, along with Homura and Koharu, will support you as the next Hokage. There will be no obstacles."
Orochimaru smiled. "Thank you very much, Danzo-sama."
"But I imagine the Third Hokage won't be stepping down anytime soon."
Danzo replied sternly, "You don't need to concern yourself with that."
"With Hiruzen's current weak policies, it's only a matter of time before he makes a mistake."
Orochimaru nodded, refraining from saying more.
He was fully aware of Danzo's immense ambition in supporting him to become Hokage, but Orochimaru was confident that once he became Hokage, he wouldn't be under Danzo's control.
Still, people can sometimes be blindly overconfident! Orochimaru chuckled to himself.
At that moment, Danzo asked, "How is the tailed beast research coming along?"
"Are we ready to proceed with human trials?"
Orochimaru looked up. "Is Lord Danzo growing impatient?"
"The power of the tailed beasts is no less than that of Hashirama's cells."
Danzo's voice lowered, "With the Great War looming, now is when we need strength the most."
"Besides, if Shūichi can endure it, others can too."
"If it comes down to a contest of willpower, I'm certain that the ninja trained in Root would surpass Shūichi Hoshita."
Orochimaru, however, didn't share that sentiment.
If Root's ninjas could compare to Shūichi, then it wouldn't be him, but one of them who had become a Jōnin before the age of 12.
Still...
Orochimaru considered for a moment and then nodded, "We can start with two test subjects. We have enough Four-Tails tissue ready."
Danzo nodded in satisfaction. "I'll send them over tomorrow."
...
After the meal with Shinnosuke and the others, Shūichi made his way to Konoha Hospital.
However, just as he reached the entrance, he was suddenly grabbed by Might Guy.
"Shūichi, come with me quickly!"
"Huh? What's going on?"
Confused, Shūichi was dragged by Guy to another location.
Pop!
Colorful streamers rained down from above, and then Shizune, Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, Kakashi, Obito Uchiha, Ebisu, and others appeared one after another.
"Shūichi, congratulations on becoming a Jōnin!"
Shizune handed him a bouquet of flowers.
Shūichi took the bouquet and smiled at everyone, "Thank you all, this is a wonderful surprise!"
Ebisu, wearing his signature sunglasses, said, "Shūichi, you're the first of our generation to become a Jōnin. No one is likely to break your age record either!"
Shūichi looked over at Kakashi with a smile, "Kakashi might still have a chance."
After all, Kakashi was younger than him by a bit, and he was less than a month away from turning 12.
Kakashi shook his head, "The mission requirements for Jōnin are too high; it's hard to complete them in such a short time."
Kurenai Yuhi laughed, "No matter what, Kakashi, it's only a matter of time before you become a Jōnin too."
"But today, let's celebrate Shūichi! Here, Shūichi, this is my gift to you."
Shūichi quickly took the gift. "Thank you!"
One by one, the others also presented their gifts.
Shūichi opened each gift on the spot, thanking them one by one.
Rin Nohara gave a handmade medical kit, Kakashi offered notes on Lightning Release, Ebisu gifted his signature sunglasses, Genma Shiranui gave custom senbon, Aoba Yamashiro presented homemade raven feed, and Obito Uchiha gifted a pair of goggles identical to his own.
The most outrageous gift came from Might Guy—a green spandex suit, exactly like the one he was wearing.
Shizune's gift was a custom white scarf with a golden fire lotus design, which Shūichi immediately asked her to tie around his neck.
"Since everyone's here, how about we all grab dinner together later tonight?"
"For now, how about we find a snack shop?" Shūichi suggested with a smile.
Kurenai was the first to agree, and no one else objected, so the group moved to a nearby snack shop, eating and chatting.
Before they knew it, the conversation turned to Sarutobi Asuma, who wasn't present.
Kurenai Yuhi expressed her concern, "Asuma is still at the Daimyo's palace."
Shizune immediately reassured her, "Being by the Daimyo's side should make him safer, right?"
Shūichi smiled and said, "Don't worry, Kurenai. Asuma is more than capable."
"Plus, he'll return to the village eventually."
Kurenai nodded.
The conversation shifted again, and before they knew it, they were discussing the ongoing war between the Sand and the Mist.
However, Uchiha Obito and the others didn't seem to realize just how quickly the shadow of war was approaching them.
---
Later that evening, after the meal, Shūichi escorted Shizune home before heading to the experimental base.
Tsunade was still busy working there. When she saw Shūichi arrive, she briefly looked up and said, "Congratulations on becoming a Jōnin!"
"A Jōnin before the age of 12—you're the first one, huh."
Shūichi walked over to Tsunade and extended his right hand.
Tsunade raised an eyebrow in confusion and looked up at him.
Shūichi smiled, "Since you're congratulating me, shouldn't you be giving me a gift? Everyone else got me something."
Tsunade turned around and looked at Shūichi seriously, asking, "Is war about to break out?"
Shūichi nodded, "Yes, the Sand and Mist have already allied, and their next move will be to attack us."
"Once the war begins, both the Stone and Cloud villages might get involved as well."
Tsunade fell silent for a moment before unclasping the necklace around her neck and placing it on Shūichi. "This was my grandfather's... Don't you dare die in the war, kid!"
"A dead genius is useless!"
Shūichi was stunned.
This necklace... wasn't it supposed to be cursed? What should he do now?
But Tsunade had already gone back to her work.
Shūichi looked at her profile and then smiled. "Don't forget, I know the Flying Thunder God Technique."
Without lifting her head, Tsunade replied, "My granduncle knew that jutsu too."
Shūichi was instantly speechless.
Damn it, did she have to be so harsh?
Tsunade continued, "Anything can happen on the battlefield."
"Don't act impulsively. Don't be careless—at any time!"
"Don't think your strength is enough to do whatever you want. You must have respect for war."
Shūichi grew serious and nodded, "Don't worry, Tsunade. I'll come back safely. After all, our research isn't finished yet."