With the Rasengan now in his hands, Kazuya was one step closer to mastering the legendary technique. However, upgrading it presented a bit of a challenge. In the current ninja world, there were only a handful of people who had mastered the Rasengan. This meant that gathering experience points for the skill would be no easy feat.
Ninjutsu, after all, was considered a strategic asset by every major village. Even a basic C-rank technique like the Great Fireball Jutsu was classified as confidential. Only a select few had access to it, and Rasengan was far beyond that.
Thankfully, the Rasengan wasn't too difficult to learn. Jiraiya had supposedly mastered it in just three days, and with Kazuya's talent, he figured it wouldn't take him long either. Besides, his Rasengan was already nearing level 3, which was more than sufficient for now.
"Rasengan…" Kazuya muttered, deep in thought.
The Rasengan had two key advantages: no need for hand signs and no elemental affinity.
The absence of hand signs made it incredibly fast to use and paired with the Flying Thunder God technique, its potential for destruction was terrifying. The lack of an elemental nature meant it could easily integrate with elemental transformations, similar to how Naruto later developed variants of the Rasengan in the original storyline.
In a way, the Rasengan was practically tailor-made for Kazuya. With both Flying Thunder God and the ability to manipulate all five elemental natures—Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, and Water—his potential was leagues beyond Naruto's starting point.
"Right now, my base setup is already pretty luxurious," Kazuya thought. "The next step… is all about bloodlines."
Kazuya had already formed a broad vision for the future. His perspective was leagues ahead of even the Kages of the various villages. After all, he alone possessed the knowledge of how the entire plot would unfold.
For ordinary shinobi, the peak of their power would be at the level of the Fourth Hokage, Killer Bee, or Hanzo of the Salamander. But when beings like the Six Paths and the Ōtsutsuki clan appeared, even the most powerful humans would seem insignificant.
Just look at Hanzo, revered as a "Demi-God" of the ninja world for decades, only to be effortlessly crushed by the Six Paths of Pain. The so-called Shinobi Alliance was nothing more than a joke when faced with Six Paths Obito. They didn't even get the chance to make their presence known before being wiped out.
Of course, such events were still a long way off. Kazuya had plenty of time to prepare. His immediate goal was to acquire the bloodlines of the Six Paths brothers—Asura and Indra.
More specifically, he was targeting the descendants of Asura's lineage: the Senju Clan, and Indra's lineage: the Uchiha Clan.
Senju! Uchiha!
Kazuya had already set his sights on these two clans. Conveniently, Hiruzen had just assigned him a mission to find Tsunade, a perfect excuse to pursue his plans.
Kazuya had been observing the Uchiha clan for some time now but hadn't yet found the right opportunity to act. Kakashi, though possessing the Sharingan, could only yield points for his eye techniques, not the full Indra bloodline. Plus, he was utterly outclassed in the battle against Orochimaru, leaving Kazuya with only a few dozen points of chakra.
As for Shisui Uchiha and the rest of the Uchiha clan, Kazuya hadn't had the chance to interact with them at all.
"Such a waste…" Kazuya sighed.
Fugaku Uchiha, you've awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, yet you don't even dare challenge the Third Hokage? You're even softer than Danzo! What a disappointment!
For the next two days, Kazuya's life was relatively peaceful. He clocked in at the ANBU headquarters daily, collected some experience points at the training grounds, and even spent time shopping with Kurenai, all while gathering more chakra.
By now, Kazuya had amassed an additional 2,000 chakra points, bringing his total to:
[Chakra: Lv.4 (92,100/100,000)]
With 92,000 chakra points, he was nearing the peak of the Kage level.
At this point, Kazuya felt confident enough to overpower Jiraiya in a head-to-head fight.
Sage Mode?
Sorry, I can use that too.
In the current ninja world, there weren't many shinobi left who could pose a real threat to him. Thanks to the Flying Thunder God technique, most enemies couldn't even land a hit.
Beneath the Super Kage level, Kazuya stood as the strongest. And with one foot already in the door to transcendent power, it was only a matter of time before he surpassed even that.
One afternoon, while out shopping with Kurenai, a few ANBU agents delivered several scrolls to Kazuya on behalf of the Third Hokage.
Inside were a series of powerful jutsu, including:
A-rank: Shadow Shuriken Jutsu!
Fire Release: Great Fire Annihilation!
Lightning Release: Lightning Clone!
Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves!
Each jutsu was a formidable technique, clearly a reward for Kazuya's recent contributions.
The Third Hokage had grown increasingly generous, satisfied with Kazuya's performance.
Shadow Shuriken Jutsu? Kazuya raised an eyebrow. Isn't this a secret jutsu created by the Third Hokage himself? Why give it to me?
For a moment, Kazuya froze, then quickly pieced it together.
First, you want me to become Tsunade's apprentice. Now you're handing me your jutsu…
Hiruzen, you old snake. You want to groom me into a future Hokage candidate, don't you?
Kazuya was taken aback.
He'd been shouting slogans half-heartedly for the longest time. Was Hiruzen taking him seriously?
This could get interesting…
The Hokage seat itself wasn't something Kazuya desired particularly, but gaining higher status would come with benefits. Who knew? Maybe he could stir up the Fourth Great Ninja War all on his own, without Uchiha Obito's help.
Meanwhile, Uzuki Yūgao, one of Kazuya's loyal ANBU subordinates, had grown even more infatuated with him after their mission to capture Orochimaru.
Her eyes practically sparkled with admiration whenever she looked at him, filled with a deepening obsession.
"Captain Kazuya, please train me thoroughly!" Yūgao pleaded, her voice brimming with enthusiasm.
Kazuya, however, couldn't resist a mischievous smile as he called Kurenai over.
The three of them headed to a secluded training ground together.
"Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"
"Genjutsu: Triple Cherry Blossom!"
"Genjutsu: False Surroundings Technique!"
"Genjutsu: Naraku Split Body!"
"Genjutsu: Fallen Sakura's Endless Vision!"
Kurenai was following instructions perfectly.
During the sparring session, she threw all the genjutsu she knew at Yūgao Uzuki.
Even the most gentle of women have their moments of irritation.
Seeing Yūgao constantly by Kazuya's side, her eyes sparkling as she eagerly begged to be "trained thoroughly," Kurenai's emotions had reached their limit!
So, she took this sparring session seriously, pushing herself to the fullest.
A Jōnin versus a Chūnin—it became a one-sided battle almost immediately.
[You have picked up: Genjutsu – Fallen Sakura's Endless Vision]
[You have picked up: Genjutsu – Naraku Split Body]
[You have picked up: Genjutsu – Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death]
[You have picked up: 100 points in Genjutsu talent]
[You have picked up: 100 points in Genjutsu talent]
[You have picked up: 80 points in Genjutsu talent]
[Your Genjutsu talent has leveled up to Lv.4 (0/1000)]
…
Soon enough, just from watching the two women spar, Kazuya's Genjutsu talent leveled up to Lv.4!
At least now, his Genjutsu wouldn't be a weak point anymore!
"Not bad! You're really good!" Kazuya smiled warmly at Kurenai.
"Kazuya-kun…" Kurenai, although exhausted, beamed happily at the compliment.
Meanwhile, Yūgao Uzuki, with tears streaming down her face, was running away from the training grounds.
Five hours!
She had been tormented by relentless genjutsu for a full five hours!
Her mind felt on the brink of collapse!
To make matters worse, after such an ordeal, she was greeted by a front-row seat to the "Kazuya and Kurenai show," with their smiles and mutual admiration.
The young kunoichi's spirit completely crumbled.
Kazuya-taichō!
I hate you the most!
And Kurenai-taichō!
You're both horrible people!