Tenjin tilted his head, considering the request. His feathers ruffled slightly in the mountain breeze before he responded.
"Thunder Release… It's not something I can just teach you without knowing if you can handle it. You need to prove to me that you can even learn the Kekkei Genkai."
Renjiro raised an eyebrow. "Prove it? I am already close to mastering Lightning release, and I'm keeping up with this ridiculous Natural Energy training. What more do I need to do?"
"The basics of Lightning Release are one thing," Tenjin said, his deep voice resonating with the authority of centuries of wisdom, "but Thunder Release is a Kekkei Genkai. It's a combination of Lightning and Wind nature. Your primary chakra affinities are Fire and Wind. That alone creates a challenge."
Renjiro paused, realizing the complexity of what Tenjin was saying. His mind raced, and he could feel a slight frustration creeping in.
"So, you're saying that because my chakra affinities aren't Lightning and Wind, I might not be able to use Thunder Release at all?"
"Precisely," Tenjin replied with a nod.
"Kekkei Genkais are unique, often tied to bloodlines and inherent chakra natures. Just because you have a strong affinity for Wind doesn't mean it will automatically combine with Lightning in the way needed for Thunder Release. Your affinity with Fire could complicate things even more."
Renjiro frowned for a moment, his brow furrowed in deep thought. But then, an idea sparked in his mind, and a determined grin spread across his face.
"Even if I fail to master Thunder Release, I could use the knowledge I gain from trying to create my own Kekkei Genkai."
Tenjin's eyes gleamed with interest, the sharp gaze of the eagle softening slightly as he considered Renjiro's ambition.
"Your own Kekkei Genkai?" he repeated, his tone curious. "And what kind of Kekkei Genkai do you have in mind?"
"Scorch Release," Renjiro said without hesitation, his eyes glowing with determination. "Fire and Wind—if I could combine those two elements, I could create something that burns hotter than anything else. Scorch Release would be devastating."
Tenjin tilted his head, pondering the possibility. He folded his wings a bit closer to his body as he spoke. "It's an ambitious idea, Renjiro, but I doubt it would work. Creating a Kekkei Genkai isn't that simple."
Renjiro blinked, taken aback by Tenjin's response. "Why not? I've got the elements for it, right?"
"Creating a Kekkei Genkai is more than just combining chakra natures," Tenjin explained.
"There are many factors at play—bloodline, race, even the nature of your chakra itself. For example, my Thunder Release can be attributed to factors I inherited from my race. It wasn't just a combination of Lightning and Wind chakra; it's in my very being."
Renjiro nodded slowly, processing what Tenjin was saying. A part of him understood, though the idea still frustrated him.
He thought back to the third Hokage, someone who had mastered all five basic nature transformations, and how, despite his vast experience and power, he never possessed a Kekkei Genkai like the future Mizukage, Mei Terumi.
'There might be some sense in what he's saying,' Renjiro thought. 'If it were as simple as combining elements, people like Hiruzen would've had dozens of Kekkei Genkai by now.'
"Okay, I get it," Renjiro said, crossing his arms.
"But even if it doesn't work out, I think it's worth trying. If I fail, Kekkei Genkais are a bit overrated anyway, so it won't be the end of the world." Renjiro said the last part with a forced chuckle, trying to manage his own expectations.
Tenjin, who had been observing Renjiro closely, let out a rumbling chuckle of his own. "You don't believe that for a second," he said, his sharp gaze softening.
"But your spirit is admirable. Whether it works or not will depend on your ability to adapt… especially when you reach the sixth level of this mountain."
Renjiro nodded, his determination unwavering despite the doubts in his mind. "Then I'll keep adapting. But if you're not going to teach me Thunder Release just yet, are we moving straight to the fourth level now?"
Tenjin shook his head. "No. You cannot go to the fourth level yet."
Renjiro's expression shifted into confusion. "Why not? I'm fine, and I've acclimated to the third level. What's stopping me?"
"You've been pushing your body too hard," Tenjin replied, his voice firm but not unkind.
"Your regeneration ability has been stretched to its limit. You've been relying on it to keep you going for an entire week without proper rest, and if you continue like this, you may damage your ability to regenerate entirely."
The weight of Tenjin's words hung in the air. Renjiro knew better than to argue. He could feel the exhaustion in his bones, the strain his body had been under, and though his mind was still sharp, his body had been pushed far beyond what was normal for a near superhuman like him.
"You need rest, Renjiro. Proper rest. Otherwise, your regeneration will begin to decline, and that's a risk I'm sure you don't want to take," Tenjin added, his voice gentler now, but still filled with authority.
Renjiro exhaled, reluctant to agree but knowing it was the right call. "Yeah… you're right. I'll take the time to recover." He stepped back, bowing his head slightly. "Thanks for the advice, Tenjin. I'll be back after I've rested."
Tenjin nodded in acknowledgement, watching as Renjiro raised his hand to form a quick seal. In a cloud of smoke, the jounin vanished from the mountaintop, returning to his home.
As the smoke cleared, Tenjin remained still, deep in thought. The boy had incredible potential, but pushing himself too hard, too fast, could end in disaster. He hoped Renjiro would take the rest seriously, though he sensed the fire within the young shinobi wouldn't be easily quenched.
When Renjiro reappeared in his room, the familiar surroundings brought him an odd sense of calm. His room was quiet, a sanctuary of sorts, but his mind was buzzing with everything he had learned and the next steps that lay ahead. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Renjiro began to assess the effects of the intense training.
His chakra control had noticeably improved. He could feel it. The way his chakra moved through his body was more fluid, and more precise than it had been before.
His chakra reserves, too, had grown. He wasn't sure by how much, but it was clear that all the exposure to Natural Energy had bolstered his chakra pool.
Renjiro flexed his fingers, feeling the energy coursing through his system. "I'm going to have a lot more freedom using my Adamantine Chains now," he muttered to himself, thinking aloud.
"They always used to drain my chakra reserves way too fast… but now, I can use them more efficiently. It is still not as easy as it is with opening the gates, but it is now manageable. I just need to make sure I don't overdo it. If I reinforce the chains with too much chakra, I'll burn through my reserves again."
Feeling satisfied with his self-assessment, a wave of exhaustion hit him like a crashing tide. The last week had been brutal. Staying awake for that long, battling the intense energy of the mountain, and pushing his body beyond its limits—it was all catching up to him now.
"Man, staying awake for a week really does a number on you," he muttered with a tired smile. "I need some serious sleep."
Without another word, Renjiro slipped under his blanket, the cool fabric soothing against his skin. His body felt heavy, sinking into the mattress as sleep began to claim him. Within minutes, he was fast asleep, his breathing deep and steady as his body finally began the recovery it so desperately needed.
The next morning, Renjiro woke up feeling somewhat refreshed, though the aches in his muscles were still there, a reminder of the training he had endured. After getting dressed and eating a quick breakfast, he decided it was time to head to the mission center.
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