"This is what makes it challenging and exciting!" Ringo Ameyuri grinned, baring her sharp teeth. "If it were easy, Kage-level and beyond wouldn't be so rare."
"I think, since we're here, it means we've earned the recognition of the Kage—and Lord Shūichi."
"If we can't achieve our goals, it's probably because we're not putting in enough effort!"
Darui frowned slightly. "Sorry, even though that sounds logical, I feel like this is going to be very troublesome."
Kisame chuckled. "Trouble makes it fun!"
At this point, Shūichi spoke: "That's enough for today. Take some time to think carefully about the path you want to follow."
"Consider what kind of technique you wish to develop. Remember, the process of developing a technique is also a form of training—mastering the nature transformation, the shape transformation, and, of course, chakra control!"
As his words fell, the illusionary realm shattered like a dream, and the scenery shifted as everyone found themselves back in the stone chamber.
"We'll meet at the same time tomorrow. Dismissed!"
With that, Shūichi vanished from sight.
Kakashi and the others remained silent for a moment before dispersing one by one from the chamber.
---
Near the Root base's training grounds, Kisame and Baki appeared.
Looking at Baki, Kisame grinned. "I might need your help for what's next."
"Of course. In return, I won't hold back anything regarding Water Release. Besides, Ice Release could be quite useful in the desert."
Baki responded, "I haven't decided on which Kekkei Genkai to pursue yet. Honestly, I aim to become someone like the Third and Fourth Kazekage."
"Magnet Release, huh?" Kisame mused. "Doesn't that mean you'll need Earth Release in addition to Wind Release? Seems like I'm not the best partner for this."
"It's too early to say that," Baki replied.
"For now, my task is to develop my own Wind Release chakra mode. I assume you have a similar goal."
Kisame chuckled, baring his sharp teeth. "Not quite. I already have an idea—one I've wanted to realize for a while. I think it'll be a technique that Lord Shūichi would approve of."
"Once I complete this jutsu, developing a Water Release chakra mode might become easier."
Baki nodded. "In that case, let's spar. It might help you refine your ideas."
Kisame's grin widened. "Exactly what I was thinking!"
Baki quickly formed hand signs. "Let's begin, then!"
Kisame followed suit. "Be ready!"
---
In the Root office, Shūichi watched through a water mirror, which displayed Kisame and Baki's sparring session.
Seeing the two meticulously forming seals, Shūichi couldn't help but chuckle. "Such earnestness."
Behind him, Anko Mitarashi curiously asked, "Lord Shūichi, why do you say that?"
Shūichi replied, "There's no time for lengthy seals in real combat."
Anko was puzzled. "But isn't forming seals the standard for using ninjutsu?"
Well…
Shūichi realized most ninja, even someone like Hiruzen Sarutobi, performed seals methodically. Even Madara Uchiha formed seals for his Fire Release, though fewer.
Adjusting his tone, Shūichi explained, "Of course seals are necessary. But the fewer seals you require, the greater your advantage."
"Once you've mastered a technique, you should work on reducing the number of seals needed and finding a method that suits you. It's excellent training for chakra control."
Anko's eyes lit up. "So that's why you can use techniques without seals!"
Shūichi shamelessly nodded. "Exactly."
"Originally, ninjutsu didn't even require seals. Using them was a method devised by Indra, the Sage of Six Paths' son, to aid in controlling techniques."
Anko was stunned. "Is that true?"
Shūichi nodded and waved his hand, changing the image on the water mirror to show Kakashi battling Ringo Ameyuri, with a lounging Darui observing nearby.
After some thought, Shūichi said, "Anko, I have a task for you."
Anko immediately straightened. "Yes, Lord Shūichi!"
Shūichi summoned two blades—the Thunder Swords, Kiba.
"Take these to Ringo Ameyuri."
Anko accepted the blades but hesitated, then boldly asked, "Lord Shūichi, wouldn't these also suit Kakashi-senpai?"
Shūichi smiled. "True, but Kakashi doesn't need them."
Anko nodded and quickly left to carry out her mission.
---
Soon, Anko arrived at the training grounds where Ringo, Kakashi, and Darui were.
Despite his relaxed demeanor, Darui noticed her immediately and gave a slight nod without speaking.
In the middle of a sparring session, Kakashi and Ringo paused as Anko dramatically tossed the two swords between them. She then performed an impressive aerial spin and landed deftly on the blades.
Her grand entrance left Darui momentarily stunned.
With her cloak billowing dramatically, Anko declared to Ringo, "A mission from Lord Shūichi."
"Ringo Ameyuri, if you defeat me, these swords are yours to wield."
Ringo glanced at the Thunder Swords and grinned. "In that case, I won't hold back."
"Besides, as Lord Shūichi's assistant, I doubt you're weak."
Watching from the side, Kakashi felt a twinge of exasperation. This doesn't seem like Shūichi's style. This so-called mission… probably something she made up.
Still, Kakashi didn't interfere.
Anko, standing atop the wild and imposing Ringo Ameyuri's Thunder Blades, raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Bring it on, then!"
Ringo Ameyuri grinned back. "I like courageous people."
Without further ado, she raised her hands and began forming seals.
Anko, perched on the blades, sprang into action. With a swift motion, two venomous snakes shot out from her sleeves, hissing as they lunged at Ringo.
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
As the snakes flew toward her, Ringo remained unfazed, not even flinching. She continued her hand signs with incredible speed.
Boom! Crack!
Just as the snakes were about to sink their fangs into her, lightning descended from the sky, obliterating them. Bolts of electricity then arced toward Anko.
Lightning Style: Thunderbolt!
Seeing the oncoming strikes, Anko leapt into the air, hooking her feet around the Thunder Blades. Using them as projectiles, she hurled them at Ringo while dodging the lightning strikes.
Kakashi, observing from the side, silently praised her agility. "Not bad."
Even Darui, watching lazily from afar, couldn't help but think, She's more prepared than I thought. Not just some reckless fighter. Konoha really is full of talent.
Ringo deftly dodged the first blade, then caught the second with remarkable agility.
Clang!
Ringo swung her blade to easily deflect two kunai that Anko had simultaneously thrown. She chuckled lightly. "As expected of one of the Seven Ninja Swords. It's only right that it returns to its rightful wielder."
"Tch!" Anko clicked her tongue and snorted. "This isn't over yet!"
Hidden Shadow Snake Hands!
This time, four venomous snakes burst from her left hand, hissing as they shot toward Ringo.
Ringo slashed two of them mid-air, but the other two coiled tightly around her.
Even so, she remained calm. Lightning flickered across her body, electrocuting the snakes before the current traveled down their bodies toward Anko.
Frowning, Anko quickly formed seals.
Fire Style: Dragon Flame Jutsu!
With a deep breath, Anko unleashed a torrent of flames that surged along the snakes, colliding with the lightning.
Boom!
The fire and lightning clashed, creating a massive explosion that shattered the snakes into fragments.
Amid the rising smoke and debris, Anko narrowed her eyes, moving swiftly to avoid stray bolts of electricity snaking along the ground.
She landed a safe distance away, only to see Ringo emerge from the smoke, dual-wielding the Thunder Blades. "Thanks!"
Anko stood, brushing off her clothes. "That's your own strength. It seems Lord Shūichi didn't misjudge you."
"I'll leave you to it. Carry on!"
With that, Anko disappeared in a blur, knowing full well that continuing the fight would only lead to her defeat.
---
Back in the Root office, Shūichi had watched the entire match unfold through his water mirror.
The disparity in skill was clear.
Anko had been entirely serious, while Ringo had approached the fight with a more playful demeanor.
At her current level, Anko was no more than a mid-level Chūnin.
Of course, that was without using the power of her Curse Mark.
Still, she had potential. Otherwise, Orochimaru wouldn't have taken her as a student.
When Anko returned to the office, Shūichi didn't wait for her to speak. He smiled and asked, "Why didn't you use the power of your Curse Mark earlier?"
Anko froze for a moment before responding, "That wouldn't have been fair, right?"
"Besides, she's incredibly strong. Even if I used the Curse Mark, I might not have won. Losing after that would've been even more embarrassing for you, Lord Shūichi."
Embarrassing for me?
Shūichi was speechless. What does this have to do with me?
He shook his head slightly and said, "First of all, when you're in a serious fight, there's no such thing as fair or unfair."
"Against your enemies, you should use every tool at your disposal."
Anko immediately nodded. "Understood!"
Shūichi continued, "However, as my assistant, having subpar strength isn't ideal."
Hearing this, Anko tensed up in worry.
But then Shūichi's tone softened. "So, is there any ninjutsu you'd like to learn? I'll teach you."
"Or, if you'd prefer to continue learning Orochimaru's techniques, that's fine too. He's returned to Konoha, after all."
At the mention of Orochimaru, Anko's expression turned complicated. But after a moment of hesitation, she firmly replied, "No need, Lord Shūichi."
She had once idolized Orochimaru deeply, but she had also been abandoned by him.
Now, the man she admired most—and who had stirred her heart—stood right before her.
Orochimaru? To hell with him!
Hmph, when I'm strong enough, I'll track him down, give him a good beating, and then toss him onto a deserted island. Let him taste his own medicine.
Seeing Anko's determined expression, Shūichi nodded slightly and said, "Very well, tell me, what kind of ninjutsu do you want to learn?"
Anko replied, "Aside from Orochimaru's techniques, I only know Fire Style."
"Fire Style?"
Shūichi nodded. "That's fine."
"I know quite a few Fire Style techniques."
As he spoke, Anko suddenly found herself in a training ground.
"This is… a genjutsu training method?"
Anko looked around, astonished.
Having joined the Root, she had heard of Shūichi's unique training approach, but experiencing it firsthand was a shock. It felt eerily similar to the Infinite Tsukuyomi—so realistic it was impossible to discern any flaws.
Even though she knew it was a genjutsu, she couldn't identify any weak points. She instinctively began forming seals to dispel the illusion, but it was futile.
Shūichi chuckled at her attempts. "Don't bother. Standard methods for breaking genjutsu won't work here."
"This doesn't merely interfere with your chakra flow—it traps your soul and consciousness within a genjutsu barrier."
Anko was stunned. "A genjutsu barrier…"
Shūichi didn't elaborate further. She wouldn't understand anyway. Instead, he shifted to the main topic. "Fire Style ninjutsu… hmm, since you don't use blades, I won't teach any sword techniques."
"The first one: Fired Pottery Technique."
As soon as he spoke, Anko realized she was on fire. Alarmed, she immediately rolled on the ground, shrugging off her jacket to extinguish the flames.
Shūichi nodded with a smile. "Not bad reflexes."
Anko stood up, still shaken. Though she knew Shūichi could perform ninjutsu without seals, experiencing it firsthand was incredibly shocking.
He's amazing!
Shūichi, noticing her awestruck gaze, seemed pleased and said, "This technique isn't too advanced. In fact, you could request to learn it through Root's regular training channels."
"Memorize the hand seals and practice on your own. If you encounter any issues, you'll find my annotations on this technique in Root's archives."
As he spoke, he began forming the seals.
Anko watched intently, committing each movement to memory.
After demonstrating the sequence twice, Shūichi stopped. "This one is a standard Konoha technique. Next, I'll show you an original technique of mine."
"The first is Fire Clone Jutsu—a variant of the Shadow Clone Jutsu using Fire Release chakra."
"The principle is simple, but the key lies in controlling Fire Release chakra."
"Watch the seal sequence carefully."
Shūichi slowly formed the seals.
Anko focused intently.
Poof!
With the seals complete, a clone materialized beside Shūichi.
The clone leaped into the air and exploded mid-flight, resembling a burst of fireworks.
Anko's pupils contracted. "It's like a self-detonating tag, but much harder to guard against."
Shūichi nodded. "Did you memorize the seals?"
Anko quickly nodded. "Yes!"
The sequence was simple, consisting of only three seals.
Shūichi nodded approvingly. "Then give it a try."
"Start by forming the seals slowly while simultaneously refining Fire Release chakra within your body. If you can't manage that, refine the chakra first, then proceed with the Fire Style transformation."
Sweat beaded on Anko's forehead. She realized she couldn't refine Fire Style chakra directly within her body yet.
Moreover, performing elemental transformations internally wasn't as simple as it sounded.
In the past, she had always relied on forming seals to guide chakra into its elemental form for Fire Style techniques.
Poof!
A puff of smoke erupted beside her, but there was no clone—just a wisp of smoke.
Anko blushed in embarrassment.
Shūichi's face remained expressionless. "Continue."
"You need to complete the elemental transformation internally. Anko, you have the talent to achieve this."
"If you're unsure how, recall the feeling when you cast a Fire Style jutsu. Control your chakra in the same way."
"Remember, chakra is your power. It's the combination of your physical and spiritual energy. You can manipulate it entirely—shape it according to your will—so long as that will is clear enough."
"Believe in yourself."
Anko clasped her hands together, closing her eyes and gritting her teeth as she focused on Shūichi's guidance.
I can do this.
I must do this.
Suddenly, Anko's eyes snapped open, filled with joy.
I've got it!
So this is how it's done.
She realized that with this method, even casting other Fire Style techniques could save several hand seals.
Incredible!
At that moment, Anko felt as though she'd glimpsed an entirely new world.
(End of Chapter)
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