Watching the four Kirigakure warships sail away, Seimei confirmed they wouldn't return and began ordering everyone to clean up the battlefield.
Originally, for this battle, he had planned to hold the fort and wait for reinforcements.
Unexpectedly, due to Kirigakure's targeted action, things turned out like this.
It could only be said that man proposes, but God disposes.
However, the outcome was still decent.
Although their side suffered significant losses in this battle, with around eighty casualties out of a two-hundred-person team, leaving less than sixty percent survivors, they managed to repel the Kirigakure forces.
At the same time, they also killed quite a few Kiri-nin.
This way, the enemy shouldn't launch any large-scale attacks in the short term.
And he could take advantage of this time to further improve himself.
Thinking this, Seimei found a place and continued to perform the "Palm Healing Jutsu," strengthening his body.
About half an hour later, a team arrived.
It was none other than the reinforcements sent by Kuroiwa Naruki.
Unfortunately, their trip was destined to be in vain.
Well...
It couldn't be considered entirely in vain.
At least they brought fresh troops.
...
Two days passed in a flash.
Just as Seimei had expected, after the failed probing attack two days ago, Kirigakure didn't launch any large-scale offensives.
However, there were many more small-scale battles.
Seimei wasn't interested in such battles, so he simply handed them all over to his subordinates and entered his usual training state.
This afternoon.
Near the stronghold.
In an open space.
Seimei finished this round of "Palm Healing Jutsu" training and felt that the time was about right, so he raised his hand and dispelled the "Shadow Clone Jutsu."
In the next moment, the shadow clones practicing various skills around him disappeared, returning to his body with their training experience and memories from the past hour.
A flood of experience and memories surfaced in his mind. Seimei closed his eyes and began to carefully digest them, converting them into proficiency.
Fifteen minutes later, Seimei opened his eyes, a flash of understanding in his eyes.
Then, a joyful expression appeared on his face.
After nearly ten days of training, his "Wind Release: Rasenshuriken" had finally leveled up.
Seimei opened the panel and glanced at it. The level behind "Wind Release: Rasenshuriken" had risen from lv5 (2326/5000) to lv6 (1/10000)!
Now, when using this technique, he could gather even more chakra.
Correspondingly, its power would also be further enhanced.
Of course, these were secondary.
The most important thing was that this level-up gave him a deeper understanding of Wind Release.
Combined with the insights gained from the "Wind Release: Wind Blade," which had reached perfection four days ago, he was now confident in developing a Wind Release-based flying technique.
Thinking of doing it, Seimei raised his hands, crossed them into the 'Ram' hand seal, and once again performed the "Shadow Clone Jutsu"!
Poof~
With a puff of chakra smoke, nine shadow clones appeared on the field.
Seimei let eight of them continue their previous training, while the remaining one started working on developing the flying technique.
That's right, Seimei didn't plan to develop it himself.
Not to mention the risks involved in developing new ninjutsu, even the practice of "Palm Healing Jutsu" and "Mind Reflection Jutsu" couldn't be neglected.
So, he might as well let the shadow clone figure it out slowly!
Anyway, he didn't have any urgent need for flying techniques right now. It didn't matter if it was sooner or later.
...
Another five days passed in a flash.
It had to be said that developing new ninjutsu wasn't a simple task.
In just five days, his shadow clones had exploded over a hundred times due to chakra rampages.
Because of this, he had lost quite a bit of chakra.
If it weren't for the fact that the Mist ninja attacks had become more frequent these days, and he had to go out from time to time, incidentally harvesting some chakra, it might have already started affecting the progress of his other skills.
On the open ground, feeling the memories resurfacing in his mind, Seimei sighed and quickly browsed through them, digesting them. Then, he opened the panel and glanced at it.
After confirming that no new skills had appeared, he once again performed the "Shadow Clone Jutsu," creating a shadow clone to continue the development of the flying technique.
Compared to ordinary people, developing ninjutsu was already much simpler for him. As long as there was a basic form and it was recognized by the proficiency panel, it was considered a success.
As for further refinement, it could be done entirely through grinding.
However, even so, he still hadn't succeeded.
From this, one could imagine how difficult it was for other ninjas to develop new ninjutsu.
Of course, this definitely also had to do with the difficulty of developing flying techniques, but it was undeniable that developing a new ninjutsu was no easy feat.
All he could do now was keep trying and making mistakes.
Shaking his head, Seimei stopped thinking further. After quickly calming his mind, he began to perform the "Mind Reflection Jutsu" to promote the evolution of his Sharingan.
Through his practice these days, his Sharingan's evolution progress was close to reaching the ten-thousand-point mark.
If his previous premonition was correct, when he broke through this threshold, his "Spirit" attribute would receive a boost.
At that time, his potential would also increase as a result.
And based on past experience, every time his potential increased, his chakra recovery speed would also improve.
This way, the progress speed of his other skills would also be enhanced.
Undoubtedly, this would be an all-around improvement.
Various thoughts flashed through his mind.
Soon, Seimei immersed himself in the evolution of his Sharingan.
Once, twice, thrice...
Unconsciously, Seimei had already performed the "Mind Reflection Jutsu" over forty times.
And on his panel, the Sharingan's evolution progress was gradually approaching the ten-thousand-point mark.
Finally, at a certain moment, when he performed the "Mind Reflection Jutsu" again, and the special chakra born from the stimulation in his brain flowed into his eyes, an invisible barrier was broken.
Seimei felt his head go blank, and his consciousness fell into a chaotic state.
At this moment, time seemed to lose its meaning.
Seimei's entire being was in a daze. It felt like a year had passed, yet it also felt like only a second had gone by.
Suddenly, Seimei opened his eyes.
In the next moment, an endless stream of mental energy was born within him, directly enhancing his ocular power, and the Mangekyo Sharingan involuntarily activated.
Seimei carefully sensed the changes within.
Intuitively, Seimei had a feeling that his "Susanoo" had shed its initial form and officially entered the first stage.
Seimei released his perception, confirmed that there was no one around, and with a thought, a silvery-white skeleton appeared, protecting him from all sides.
This was the first stage of "Susanoo." Although it was still just a skeleton, it wasn't like the initial form where only ribs and arms could be manifested.
Having entered the first stage, he could now condense a complete upper body.
Thus, its defensive capabilities were naturally greatly enhanced.
(End of Chapter)