Shūichi ultimately fell victim to Ōtsutsuki Kaguya's determination.
Her strength in battle was unmatched, far beyond Shizune and the others. For the first time, Shūichi felt he had found a worthy opponent, rekindling his belief in the saying: "There are no fields that wear out, only oxen that collapse."
For the first time ever, he was completely drained by one person!
But he had to admit, Kaguya was extraordinary.
She appeared cold and aloof, almost indifferent, yet when the moment came, she was as soft and endearing as a kitten.
Her skin was so white it reflected light, as smooth as silk, with her natural beauty unblemished and flawless.
However...
The joy of the night was quickly followed by the harsh reality of Tsunade's iron fists.
Like Jiraiya before him, Shūichi found himself being chased by Tsunade across nine streets.
In the end, he had no choice but to run away.
Sigh, karma truly is inevitable.
Shūichi thought back to how he had once impersonated Jiraiya to teach Naruto the Sexy Jutsu, which ended with Jiraiya fleeing. Now, the tables had turned, and it was his turn to escape.
But where should he go?
After some thought, Shūichi decided to head to the experimental base near the Daimyo's residence.
Although Pakura had returned to Konoha, the base here hadn't been dismantled.
The base was managed by Haku's mother, Mizu, with White Zetsu as the housekeeper and Zabuza serving as the bodyguard.
By now, Zabuza had become one of the new Seven Ninja Swordsmen, wielding the "Sewing Needle" blade that Shūichi had given him.
However, for someone like Zabuza, being stationed at the base was dull.
Most of the time, he preferred to take his entourage out on missions, primarily assignments from the Ninja Alliance.
Though he hadn't returned to Kirigakure, he was under Shūichi's command and thus part of the Ninja Alliance, eligible to accept missions.
Unfortunately, Zabuza was somewhat dissatisfied. With the ninja world becoming increasingly peaceful, opportunities for combat had significantly decreased.
More often than not, missions involving battles or assassinations were snatched up by ninja from the Five Great Villages before Zabuza even had a chance.
Still, as a skilled water-style user, he wasn't completely without work.
For instance, during droughts, he could assist farmers with irrigation.
Even so, it was undeniably boring.
---
Mizu managed the experimental base but wasn't involved in the experiments herself. To her, the base was more like a safe haven.
It was a place where she could live without fear of hostility and where her child could grow up safely—and that was enough.
Her relationship with Shūichi Hoshita was entirely unplanned, a serendipitous outcome of various circumstances.
For several reasons, Mizu had not moved to Konoha.
When Shūichi arrived, he found her knitting a sweater, with another completed one resting nearby.
One glance told him the finished sweater was meant for him, while the one she was working on was undoubtedly for her son, Haku.
Seeing Mizu's gentle smile, radiating maternal warmth, Shūichi felt a profound sense of tranquility.
This woman was different from Tsunade, Shizune, or Asuka.
She exuded a serene aura that always calmed Shūichi, washing away all his restlessness.
Quietly observing her, Shūichi didn't immediately announce his presence.
After a while, Mizu suddenly became alert and turned around. Upon seeing Shūichi, her face lit up with surprise and joy. "Lord Shūichi, why are you here?"
Shūichi smiled as he stepped closer. "I came to see you!"
Mizu rose to greet him.
Shūichi wrapped an arm around her waist and leaned down to capture her soft lips. Only when Mizu was breathless did he let go, smiling as he said, "I missed you, so I came to visit."
Of course, it had nothing to do with seeking refuge.
Mizu's face turned red as she shyly murmured, "Mm." Then, she took the initiative to kiss him, even using her Ice Release technique.
She knew Shūichi loved the sensation of icy coolness mixed with fiery passion.
After a long while, Shūichi finally released her and asked, "Is this for me?"
Mizu quickly let go, picked up the sweater, and replied, "Yes, Lord Shūichi, please try it on!"
Shūichi nodded and let her help him put it on, basking in her gentle care.
Happiness truly is born of comparison.
Compared to Mizu, Tsunade seemed downright ferocious.
"It fits perfectly."
Shūichi stretched his arms, finding the sweater both comfortable and well-fitted.
The design—a high-collared white sweater—was exceptionally nice.
---
During lunch, Haku returned to the base to join them.
Seeing Shūichi, Haku was overjoyed. He was fully aware of his mother's relationship with Shūichi and wholeheartedly accepted it.
To him, Shūichi was already like a father figure—a man he admired above all others.
Lunch felt like a warm family reunion, the three of them enjoying the meal together in harmony.
Afterward, the trio headed to a nearby training ground.
Being older than Naruto and his peers, Haku had already graduated from the ninja academy and become a ninja of the Ninja Alliance. This year, he had passed the Chūnin Exam and was officially a Chūnin.
Additionally, this year Haku is preparing to participate in the new Eighth Chūnin Championship Tournament.
When he saw Shūichi today, he immediately asked for guidance.
Shūichi, naturally, wouldn't refuse Haku, as he had a fondness for him and valued his potential.
Moreover, an Ice Release user like Haku was well worth nurturing.
Standing in the center of the training field, Shūichi addressed Haku, "Come, attack me with all your strength. Let's see where your skills stand now."
Haku nodded. "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"
With that, Haku raised one hand vertically, and with a gust of wind, his figure disappeared.
Wind Body Flicker Technique!
Shūichi casually extended his hand backward, blocking Haku's strike. In his grasp were three sharp senbon needles.
Failing with his first strike, Haku vanished again, launching attacks from various unpredictable angles.
"Your Body Flicker Technique is impressive," Shūichi remarked casually while effortlessly parrying each assault.
Haku's mastery of the Wind Body Flicker was indeed remarkable—fast, elusive, and difficult to predict.
After demonstrating his agility, Haku suddenly halted, throwing a handful of senbon with one hand while forming seals with the other.
Water Release: Water Wave Technique!
Boom!
A torrential wave surged forward, targeting Shūichi, who had dodged the senbon.
Without forming seals, Shūichi summoned water from the moisture around him, spinning it rapidly. The roaring water clashed against Haku's attack, sending splashes everywhere.
Standing atop the water's surface, Haku wasted no time. He seamlessly transitioned to another technique, completing the seals for Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
A roaring water dragon dove down toward Shūichi.
Shūichi waved his hand, conjuring a massive fireball. The fireball collided with the water dragon in a fiery explosion, creating billowing steam that obscured visibility.
At that moment, ice began to form around Shūichi on the water's surface, transforming into a barrage of senbon that shot toward him.
Shūichi leapt into the air, but Haku was already waiting above him, wielding a blade of ice that slashed downward.
"Well done!"
Shūichi grinned, throwing a punch that shattered the ice blade. Haku, in turn, exploded into water, revealing himself to be a water clone.
Water Clone Technique!
Beneath Shūichi, an ice dragon surged upward, snapping its jaws around him.
Ice Dragon Bullet Technique!
Of course, such an attack couldn't truly harm Shūichi.
However, the sequence of attacks showcased Haku's proficiency with Water and Ice Release techniques, as well as his tactical thinking.
Breaking through the water dragon, Shūichi landed gracefully, only to find himself surrounded by mirrors of ice. Haku's reflection appeared in each one.
Ice Release: Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals!
Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh!
Haku began darting between the mirrors, launching attacks from all angles.
"An excellent jutsu," Shūichi praised, skillfully deflecting each assault. Then, he looked down at the water beneath him. "So the apparent main attack was just a diversion. Clever thinking—it's hard to guard against."
A hand suddenly emerged from beneath the water, grabbing Shūichi's ankle.
---
On the sidelines, Mizu watched the sparring match with a smile. She couldn't help but feel as if she were watching a father and son bonding.
Just as Shūichi broke through the Demonic Mirroring Ice Crystals, Haku suddenly said, "Lord Shūichi, I'm about to use a special move."
Under Shūichi's curious gaze, Haku extended his hand, forming a Rasengan.
This technique had, of course, been taught to him by Shūichi.
Shūichi's eyes sparkled, already guessing what Haku was about to do next.
As expected, accompanied by a sharp whirring sound, Haku's Rasengan expanded, transforming into a massive windmill.
However, unlike the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, this one was an Ice Windmill.
The rapidly spinning blades weren't formed purely from chakra but from solid ice.
In the next moment, under Shūichi's approving gaze, Haku hurled the Ice Release Rasenshuriken toward him.
Shūichi left a water clone in his place, while his real body appeared beside Mizu, observing as the icy shuriken struck the clone.
First, the sharp, high-speed ice blades shredded the water clone, reducing it to a splash.
Then, the Rasenshuriken expanded, unleashing a powerful freezing force that rapidly turned not only the clone's water but also the surrounding water into solid ice.
The icy explosion extended its reach, freezing everything within a ten-meter radius in mere moments.
But it wasn't over yet.
What followed was a terrifying ice storm. As the storm swept through, the thin layer of ice shattered into countless sharp shards, which were carried outward by the violent winds.
In front of Shūichi, a transparent ice wall rose to shield him from the storm.
Meanwhile, Haku used several Body Flicker techniques to avoid the raging ice storm.
When it finally ended, Haku reappeared beside Shūichi and Mizu, panting heavily. His face was pale, and his chakra was nearly depleted—almost at its limit.
Of course, he could have activated the Star Seal that Shūichi had given him, but he chose not to.
Haku knew that Shūichi wanted to see his own abilities, unaided by external enhancements.
Clap, clap, clap!
Shūichi clapped his hands and laughed. "I didn't expect you to master the Ice Release: Rasenshuriken on your own. Very impressive!"
Just now, Haku had used the technique and even thrown it without activating the curse seal.
While the unique properties of Ice Release made the Rasenshuriken tangible and more controllable—making it easier to train with than the Wind Release version—it was still a remarkable feat for someone Haku's age.
He was undoubtedly a genius.
Hearing Shūichi's praise, Haku couldn't hide his joy, smiling shyly.
Mizu was also thrilled. However, she couldn't help but feel a pang of worry as she gently ruffled her son's hair.
Shūichi said, "Your body is still growing, and your chakra reserves will increase with time. Your combat awareness and sense of rhythm are already excellent. With the Ice Release: Rasenshuriken in your arsenal, becoming an elite jōnin is well within your reach."
"With the addition of curse-seal-enhanced sage techniques, even Kage-level strength won't be a problem."
"However, if you want to become even stronger, you'll need to push further in nature transformation."
"For example, developing your own unique Ice Release mode."
As he spoke, Shūichi raised a finger.
In the next moment, under the amazed gaze of Haku and Mizu, a colossal ice giant emerged from beneath the frozen surface, glimmering brilliantly in the sunlight.
"So incredible!" Haku couldn't help but exclaim.
But it wasn't over yet. From the ice giant's body, an ice dragon materialized, coiling itself around the massive figure.
It was a complete reimagining of the Wood Human Technique.
Ice Release: Ice Giant Technique!
Shūichi said, "The shape transformation of ice is relatively easy to manipulate, and it can give rise to countless jutsu."
"Techniques like this require a massive chakra foundation to execute."
"But there are also more refined methods. For example…"
As he spoke, a mist began to spread around them.
"Hidden Mist Technique? No, the air is so cold. This mist has Ice Release chakra mixed into it."
Haku observed carefully but soon realized something was wrong. His expression shifted.
"My body…"
Looking down slowly, Haku felt his body becoming immobile. His blood was freezing from the inside out, and in an instant, he turned into an ice statue.
However, Shūichi quickly dispelled the technique, placing a hand on Haku's shoulder. Warm chakra flowed into Haku's body, instantly reviving him.
Excited, Haku exclaimed, "Lord Shūichi, that technique just now—did it use the Hidden Mist Technique to mix Ice Release chakra into the moisture in the air, allowing it to enter the body through breathing before being activated?"
Shūichi smiled. "Exactly."
"It's a technique that doesn't consume much chakra, but it requires exceptionally precise chakra control and advanced nature transformation."
As he spoke, he raised his right hand, transforming it into an ice blade.
With his left hand, he shattered the blade, but it immediately reformed and reverted to a hand.
Haku asked, "Lord Shūichi, is this an Ice Release transformation technique similar to the Hōzuki clan's Hydrification Technique?"
Shūichi nodded and continued demonstrating.
This time, he rose into the air, his body surrounded by massive chakra. The chakra solidified into ice, forming an enormous ice giant.
Unlike before, this time, Shūichi sat in the giant's forehead, much like Susano'o.
"This is another possible approach…"
He deactivated the Ice Giant mode and landed gracefully, now encased in a layer of ice armor.
One after another, Shūichi showcased various Ice Release techniques with ease, leaving Haku in awe.
These jutsu weren't something Shūichi had developed beforehand; he was improvising them on the spot.
But for him, they were effortless, with little need for innovation.
For Haku, however, these techniques provided more than enough material to train and strive for improvement over a long time.
After finishing his guidance, Shūichi patted Haku on the shoulder and suddenly asked, "Haku, how about taking my surname and becoming part of the Hoshita clan?"
Mizu was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed. However, she quickly looked at Haku with some concern, afraid he might refuse.
But clearly, Shūichi held an unparalleled place in Haku's heart. Hearing the suggestion, Haku nodded emphatically. "Thank you, Lord Shūichi!"
(End of Chapter)
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