"Damn it, this person has seen through my true identity from the beginning. What should I do? What should I do..."
Nawaki, dodging the relentless strikes of the water whip, felt embarrassed and anxious as he pondered his predicament.
He had initially believed that defeating his opponent would be a straightforward task this time. However, he hadn't anticipated that this girl from the Hyuga clan would prove to be such a formidable adversary. His typical shadow clone tactics were utterly ineffective against her Byakugan, and he couldn't deceive her vision.
It was the first time he had encountered such a situation.
Furthermore, his opponent outpaced him in speed, and her Water Release ninjutsu was formidable, leaving him with no opportunity to execute his sealing techniques.
Regretfully, Nawaki wished he had invested more effort into improving his chakra control, which would have allowed him to simplify the number of handseals required for his jutsu. Ninjutsu could be streamlined, and a proficient ninja could reduce complex seals to single digits or even perform unmarked releases. Achieving this level of mastery demanded exceptional chakra control.
The reason ninjutsu relied on seals was that they enabled chakra to flow through specific meridian paths in the body and be released smoothly.
The necessity of hand seals in ninjutsu lay in their ability to mobilize chakra within the body, guiding it along specific meridian pathways, and facilitating the smooth release of the jutsu. If a ninja was well-versed in the chakra flow patterns required for a particular ninjutsu, they could rely on precise chakra control to streamline the number of hand seals, ultimately achieving simplified releases or even seamless, markless releases.
"See, if you don't heed my advice, you'll end up at a disadvantage," Kirito commented, observing Nawaki's disgruntled expression.
Kirito had repeatedly encouraged Nawaki to concentrate on improving his chakra control after their sparring sessions. However, Nawaki had typically dismissed his counsel, preferring to rely on the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique and neglecting the development of his chakra control skills. Now, he found himself facing Hana, who possessed superior observation abilities to the Sharingan. She accurately located his real body, rendering his shadow clone tactics ineffective and leaving him in a challenging predicament.
Even so, Kirito was astonished by Hana's ability to consistently pinpoint Nawaki true body with her Byakugan. In theory, the shadow clones should be indistinguishable from the main body, and even Neji Hyuga, the genius of the Hyuga clan, couldn't differentiate between Naruto's clones and his true self.
There was undoubtedly a unique secret belonging to Hana that allowed her to maintain such precision.
"Almost there, this guy is on the verge of losing," Chizuru interjected suddenly.
Kirito turned his attention to Nawaki's increasingly troubled expression and the laughter from other students. He nodded thoughtfully.
Nawaki's temperament was simple and impulsive, similar to Naruto's. When faced with challenges that couldn't be resolved quickly, he became impatient and often acted recklessly without thinking things through.
Judging by the current circumstances, Nawaki's patience had likely reached its limit.
When the shadow clone created by using the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique for the fourth time was defeated once more by Hana , Nawaki, who was growing increasingly agitated, finally erupted. He shouted in anger, "You think I won't fight you?!"
This time, instead of evading the rapidly approaching water whip, he brandished his kunai and charged towards Hana Lian.
However, Hana adjusted the movements of her hand controlling the water whip slightly, allowing it to sidestep Nawaki's kunai before ensnaring his body.
Restrained by the water whip, Nawaki panicked and began forming hand seals to employ the Body Replacement Technique to escape his predicament.
But in that moment, a flash of lightning surged from Hana hand controlling the water whip.
Instantly, electricity surged through the nawaki via water conduction.
"No!!!" Nawaki screamed as numbness enveloped him, rendering him unable to move.
"At this point, the victor is Hyuga Hana," Mitarashi Wasabi declared decisively after witnessing the outcome of the battle.
Hana , her breathing slightly labored, heard the announcement. She promptly ceased her release of Lightning Release chakra and dispelled the Water Release·Water Whip technique. She then closed her Byakugan and turned to Kirito with a smile.
However, she noticed that Kirito was engaged in a conversation with a masked individual. She recognized the masked person as an ANBU operative from the village.
"Tohsaka Kirito, the Third Hokage wishes to see you. Please accompany me," the ANBU operative stated in an indifferent tone.
"The Third Hokage wants to see me?" Kirito pondered, puzzled by the sudden summons.
"Yes "
"Oh ! understood," he replied after realizing the reason behind the Third Hokage's request. Kirito then glanced at Mitarashii Wasabi, who was observing the anbu with suspicion.
"Teacher, i have to go "
"Mmm..." at this, she made a signal.
The anbu made a signal too.
Wasabi gave a sigh a this. Since it was an order from the Third Hokage himself, she had no grounds to object. Nonetheless, she remained vigilant, keeping a watchful eye on the ANBU operative.
Wasabi nodded to Kirito, indicating that he could go with the ANBU operative.
"Go, stay safe "
Anbu ninjas were well-acquainted with their role, and they acted swiftly. After receiving a nod from Mitarashi Wasabi, indicating Kirito could go with them, they led him out of the ninja school.
The appearance of the Anbu ninja had naturally aroused the curiosity of the students, and they couldn't help but discuss the reason for Kirito being summoned by the Third Hokage. Clever individuals like Qianhe, Shikaku, and Hana suspected it might be related to Kirito's recent development of Magnetic Release ninjutsu, while others, who were less astute and envious of Kirito's talents, speculated that he might have done something wrong and was about to face punishment from the Third Hokage, leading to amused laughter at the prospect of him being scolded by the Hokage.
However, given Kirito's exceptional performance at the ninja school, the majority of students believed that the Third Hokage's summons was likely to commend him for his achievements.
Mitarashi Wasabi, who wasn't particularly fond of her group of students, swiftly silenced their chatter with a cold gaze and proceeded to announce the next set of matches.
ChIzuru, on the other hand, left before the end of the class, vaulting over the wall to make her exit. She headed home without delay.
Once the whip effects had subsided, Nawaki quietly retreated to a secluded corner. Frustration gnawed at him, and he vented it by drawing circles on the ground with a branch.
Shortly after, he rose to his feet and, much like Chizuru, left the ninja school before the class concluded.
Hana reverted to her meek and unassuming self. As she rejoined the crowd, she watched Kirito depart with a smile, reflecting, "I won, Kirito-san, are you happy?"
...
"Wow!"
A sharp hawk's cry pierced the air above the sand-covered ninja village.
A messenger eagle with a letter tube attached to one foot flew to a tall tower within the village.
"First-class intelligence, huh?"
The shinobi stationed in the tower displayed an expression of astonishment upon seeing the red tube attached to the messenger eagle's foot. He promptly removed the information from the tube.
The urgent, declassified intelligence was swiftly relayed to the Kazekage's office.
---------------------------------------------------------
Hokage Tower, Kirito entered for the first time since his rebirth.
Upon entering, his exceptional chakra perception immediately detected the presence of numerous chakras within the building. Most of them belonged to chuunin-level ninjas, and a few even radiated jounin-level chakra. Furthermore, he sensed a number of concealed chakras carefully scrutinizing him, indicating that several skilled sensory ninjas were utilizing perception jutsu to observe him covertly.
Kirito might not yet be proficient in sensory ninjutsu, but since he had cultivated the Yin Release chakra nature two years ago, he had been diligently refining it. Surprisingly, his aptitude for mastering the Yin Release nature surpassed that of the Lightning Release. Over the past two years, he had seen his Yin Release chakra property increase from 1 to 3, while his Lightning Release property had only reached 2. As a result, his usage of Yin Release jutsu had become more convenient, and the power of his Lightning Release techniques had significantly improved. Additionally, his resistance to these two chakra natures had been enhanced.
For instance, when Kirito initially trained in Lightning Release, he would often suffer electric shocks. However, as he deepened his mastery of the nature, he progressed from being injured by high-voltage electricity to merely experiencing slight numbness when exposed to it.
This enhancement in his Yin Release nature was also evident in his resistance to genjutsu. Despite his lack of proficiency in genjutsu, he had not fallen victim to Chizuru's illusions. His chakra perception allowed him to swiftly decipher and dispel her genjutsu attempts.
The Yin Release chakra nature not only bolstered his resistance to genjutsu but also amplified the potency of his own genjutsu and enhanced his perception abilities. Even without mastering sensory ninjutsu, he was able to discern the chakra of any living creature within a radius of 100 meters, rendering it nearly impossible for any chakra-bearing entity to deceive his senses.
Guided by the Anbu ninja, Kirito navigated through a corridor under the vigilant gaze of numerous Anbu operatives. Finally, he arrived at the Hokage's office.
The Hokage's office was as Kirito had remembered: a spacious room containing a large desk piled high with documents. Shelves lined the walls, holding various scrolls and documents. There was also a couch, along with a few chairs, and the overall decor was modest and practical.
Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Third Hokage, sat behind the desk, peering at Kirito with a warm and kind smile. Kirito had seen him several times before but never up close. On previous occasions, he had only observed him from a distance within the village.
At this point, Sarutobi Hiruzen was a wise and compassionate leader who always prioritized the village's welfare. He embodied the Will of Fire and had achieved numerous accomplishments, including nurturing the legendary Sannin. Currently, at not yet 50 years old, he was at the peak of his strength. His rule was secure, and even Danzo, a formidable and influential figure, did not dare to challenge him openly. This period marked the zenith of his power, before the seeds of Konoha's future decline were sown.
"I apologize for interrupting your class, Kirito," the Third Hokage greeted with a friendly smile.
Kirito, aware of the significance of the summon, maintained his respectful demeanor. He offered a polite bow and replied, "Not at all, Sandaime-sama. I'm honored to be summoned by you."
What a polite kid