"Sensei," he asked, "what's the difference between your Vacuum Sword and the Shojoji Wind Release Ninjutsu?"
Hayama nodded, expecting the question. He sheathed his blade before speaking, his voice calm and instructional.
"The Sword of Wind Count, as used by Shojoji," he began, "is a technique that draws in and compresses the surrounding wind to form a blade of vacuum. It's a powerful method, able to slice through almost anything because of how tightly it compresses the air into a deadly edge."
Enso listened closely, absorbing every word.
"Now," Hayama continued, "my Vacuum Sword is different. It creates a vacuum not through natural compression but by generating a suction force. In essence, it pulls the air away from the strike path, creating a blade of emptiness."
He paused, watching Enso's expression shift as the concept clicked.
"In terms of raw power, it's weaker. The vacuum I generate doesn't have the same lethal pressure as Shojoji's method. Plus, it consumes more chakra to maintain. But through years of refinement, I've mastered it to the point that I can match Shojoji in combat despite the difference in Ninjutsu Grade."
He let the words hang in the air a moment before continuing.
"When I tap into the Curse of Killing," he explained, "I channel blood energy into the technique. It acts as a catalyst—an amplifier. Blood contains potent chakra essence. So when I use it to fuel the Vacuum Sword, the suction intensifies, and the compression becomes much more violent. I'm feeding the blade with a denser energy source."
Hayama gave a faint smile. "At that point, the technique reaches an S-Rank level."
Enso was thrilled to learned Hayama's signature moves. Since he already possessed the Sword of Wind Count, the possibility of combining the two techniques stirred excitement within him. If he could successfully merge their strengths, he might be able to forge a new, even more powerful technique—one that surpassed the limitations of either method on its own.
With that, Hayama motioned for Enso to follow. "Come. I'll show you the proper execution."
He led him toward a great waterfall nearby, where the roaring curtain of water thundered against the rocks below. Hayama drew his blade once again.
"This is the place," he said.
With a fluid motion, he slashed through the air. The moment his blade connected with the falling water, the cascade halted. A gap appeared where the sword had passed—an eerie silence where even the waterfall obeyed his will.
Enso's eyes widened at the sight.
"My sword's broken from the last mission," he said. "Can I borrow yours?"
Hayama handed the weapon over with a nod.
"Go ahead. Let's see what you can do."
Enso stepped forward, channelling his chakra just as he had been shown. The first attempt fell short—the water barely rippled. The second slice through the air, but not forcefully enough. The third was slightly better. By the fifth try, however, the waterfall parted.
Not as clean as Hayama's, but it was enough. Enough to prove he understood the concept. Hayama smiled silently. He was impressed—not many could mimic the technique in so few tries.
Although Enso had already learned it after seeing it once, he chose to pretend he was still struggling. Hiding one's true ability was the nature of a great Shinobi.
Hayama was curious to see just how much this student of his could absorb in a single day."But first," he said, turning away, "wait here. Keep practising while I fetch something."
With that, Hayama disappeared down the forest trail, heading home.
About thirty minutes later, he returned with two spare blades—longer than Enso's usual Wakizashi but balanced enough for training. He handed them both to the young Shinobi.
"You'll dual-wield today."
Enso nodded and accepted the weapons, holding one in each hand. With barely a pause, he stepped forward and attempted the same Vacuum Sword slash—only this time, he overlapped the two strikes perfectly. The resulting impact carved a deep gash into the stone behind the waterfall, shaving off a solid chunk of rock.
Hayama was stunned.
"You overlaid two vacuum blades perfectly," he said. "With one motion."
He took a moment before adding, "You should learn more Wind Release techniques. They'll help you mould and control larger volumes of chakra. My Vacuum Sword works as well as it does because I built it on a foundation of Wind Style Ninjutsu."
He wasted no time in beginning the next lesson.
First, Hayama demonstrated two C-Rank jutsu: Gale Palm and Great Breakthrough. Both involved chakra shaping to manipulate wind for offence or disruption. Enso imitated them carefully and, to Hayama's surprise, succeeded on his second attempt.
Next came the more advanced B-Rank techniques: Vacuum Sphere and Vacuum Wave. These required greater chakra control and precision. Yet Enso learned even faster this time, mastering the execution within just three attempts.
Now truly intrigued, Hayama showed him the evolved forms of the Vacuum Slade, integrating those four Wind techniques. These personalised variations represented Hayama's mastery over wind-based chakra moulding. Enso watched attentively and followed along, again absorbing the lessons with an almost unnatural efficiency.
"It's like he's a dry sponge soaking up every drop," Hayama thought. "He's a natural."
Finally, the master decided it was time for the last technique of the day.
"Watch closely," Hayama said. "This is my most versatile Wind Release technique—Wind Release: Vacuum Blade."
He tossed a kunai into the air, moulded chakra around it, and slashed through a tree branch. The blade didn't touch the wood, but the wind chakra extension cut clean through.
"This allows you to infuse chakra into any bladed weapon—kunai, Shuriken, even pieces of broken metal. It's crucial for combat situations where your sword is lost or destroyed. Think of it as creating a makeshift blade."
Enso nodded and got to work. It took five solid attempts, but by the end, he succeeded in channelling his chakra into a thrown kunai, extending its range and power through wind.
Hayama watched, pride beginning to surface behind his composed exterior.
"You're doing well," he said, offering a nod of approval. "But remember—don't get complacent. Progress invites danger when you let your guard down."
Hayama gave a slight nod. "That's enough for today. Head home and get some rest," he said, turning away to signal the end of the session.
Enso bowed slightly, sweat dripping from his brow, but a look of quiet satisfaction shining in his eyes.
"Tomorrow," Hayama added, "we'll spar. Only Wind Release and Kenjutsu. It's time you learn how to use what you've absorbed... in real combat."
Enso had just learned that Hayama might be just as strong as Danzo, given his incredible mastery over Wind Release. Enso had seen firsthand how Hayama could use nearly all forms of Wind Release with precision and power. It was a revelation that left him contemplating just how far his own skills could go.
After the intense training session, Enso decided it was time for a well-earned break. He headed back to his place for a long, refreshing shower, letting the water wash away the sweat and fatigue. The day had been long, filled with intense training and a whirlwind of new techniques and ideas swirling in his mind. Yet, despite the fatigue settling into his limbs, Enso knew there was one more thing he had to do—visit Kushina.
Enso hadn't stopped by since returning from the Daimyo-escorted mission, so there was plenty to catch up on. He was eager to share his new experiences with her.
That evening, as they sat down for dinner, Enso finally revealed something he had kept to himself during the mission. The encounter had been far more dangerous than he had let on. As he looked across the table at Minato and Kushina, he hesitated for a moment before speaking.
"There's something I need to tell you both," Enso began, his voice low but steady. "I didn't mention this when I was at the office with Hiruzen and Danzo, but I think the masked man we encountered is the same one who was involved with the Nine Tails attack."
Minato frowned at this, clearly concerned. "Did you manage to get more information on him?"
Enso leaned forward, his voice lowering slightly as he spoke. "When I severed his hand, there wasn't even a drop of blood. It just... didn't feel right. And even with his limb cut off, he didn't show any sign of pain—not a flinch, not a sound. It was unnatural. Before I could do anything else, he used a space-time jutsu to escape. He even managed to take the severed hand with him—slipped it away before I could grab it."
Minato's eyes narrowed slightly, his fingers tapping the table in thought, while Kushina's grip on her cup tightened. The idea that someone so powerful and mysterious was still roaming freely weighed heavily on both of them.
"Don't blame yourself, Enso," Kushina said gently, reaching out to pat his head. "You did well to survive this encounter."
Minato nodded in agreement, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Enso felt the weight in his chest lighten slightly at their words, though the memories of Obito still lingered in his mind. He gave them a small nod in response, grateful for their support.
Minato suddenly stood up, walking toward a storage room in the corner of the house. He returned shortly after, holding a scroll in his hands. Kushina recognised it immediately and smiled knowingly, but said nothing.
"Enso," Minato began, beckoning him toward the backyard, "come outside for a moment. We've been waiting for the right time to give you this. You've shown remarkable progress, and we believe you've earned it."
Curious, Enso followed Minato outside, with Kushina carrying Naruto in her arms. She looked just as eager to see Enso's reaction.
Minato unfurled the scroll, revealing two drawings. They looked like elongated kunai, but the ends of the handles were not rings—they were sharp drills. Enso raised an eyebrow, intrigued. Minato summoned the blade from the scroll, and the sharp drill at its end sank into the ground with a resounding thud—the sheer weight of the weapon anchoring it in place. It felt as though the earth itself had been pierced.
"These," Minato said, "are called the Vajra Blades. They are powerful weapons, designed to change shape based on the chakra you pour into them."
Enso blinked in surprise. "Change shape? How does that work?"
Minato smiled, his expression calm and confident. "I'll show you," he said, his voice steady with a hint of pride.
He closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as his chakra began to circulate. For a moment, everything fell silent—the air still, the tension almost palpable. Then, slowly, a visible change overtook him.
Two symmetrical orange markings formed around his eyes, signalling his entry into Perfect Sage Mode. The atmosphere around him seemed to grow heavier, filled with a quiet yet undeniable power.
With his enhanced strength, Minato stepped forward and gripped one of the heavy blades embedded in the ground. Despite its enormous weight, he lifted it effortlessly, as though it weighed no more than a training sword. The sharp, drill-like point that had anchored the weapon deep into the earth slid free with a gritty rumble.
Then, with a focused breath, Minato channelled his chakra into the blade. Instantly, the weapon responded. It began to glow faintly, humming with energy, and in the blink of an eye, the compact blade elongated, transforming into a full-length longsword. The sharp edges shimmered with an unnatural sheen, as though infused with raw chakra.
"This," Minato said, holding the transformed weapon upright for Enso to see, "is the true power of the Vajra Blade. Its shape shifts according to the user's chakra. The more refined your chakra control, the more precise the transformation."
Enso watched in awe, his eyes wide as he took in the transformation. The once dagger-like weapon now stood as tall as a full sword, radiating weight, strength, and a sense of ancient craftsmanship. It didn't just look powerful—it felt alive, as though it responded to the will of its wielder.
The transformation was so smooth that Enso had to take a step back. He could feel the weight of the change in the air, a heavy presence that threatened to crush anything beneath it.
Minato grinned, holding one of the Vajra Blades in his hand. "They're unbreakable. So heavy that I used to call them 'Heavy Rods.'"
Enso couldn't believe what he was seeing. "Unbreakable? No weapon can be truly unbreakable, can it?"
Kushina chuckled softly. "You'd be surprised. These blades were crafted from materials that are said to be indestructible.
They could withstand nearly anything—explosive force, cutting chakra, even some of the most powerful jutsu known to Shinobi. But as Minato had explained, it wasn't just their durability that made them so formidable.
It was the weight.
That overwhelming, immovable mass turned each strike into a devastating blow and made wielding them a feat only a select few could manage."
Minato placed the sword upside down again, letting the pointed drill tip plunge back into the ground. With a loud crack, it pierced through the stone tiles beneath them, embedding itself deeply.
Without a word, a Rasengan formed in Minato's palm—silent, controlled, and dense with power. He turned toward the sword, now standing upright with its drill-point embedded deep in the ground, and drove the Sage Mode-infused Rasengan directly into the sharp edge.
The result was startling.
Instead of shattering, cracking, or even vibrating from the impact, the blade didn't move an inch—except to sink even deeper into the earth beneath it. A loud rumble echoed out as stone split and crumbled around the point of contact. The Rasengan had achieved nothing. The sword remained unscathed.
Kushina stepped forward with a knowing smirk and summoned her "Adamantine Chains." With a single graceful motion, the glowing chains wrapped around the embedded blade and pulled it free from the stone with surprising ease.
"It's still pristine," Kushina said, as she gently lowered the weapon to the ground beside Enso.
Enso crouched beside it and hesitated. With a deep breath, he gripped the hilt and tried to lift it.
But it didn't budge.
He clenched his jaw and tightened his grip, putting more force into his effort. The blade shifted slightly, but the weight was overwhelming. It felt as though the weapon weighed well over a ton. Now, it made sense why even Minato needed to enter Sage Mode to wield it effectively.
Beads of sweat formed on Enso's forehead. He grunted and activated his Chakra Reinforcement Technique, channelling his chakra throughout his arms, shoulders, and core. A faint glow surrounded him as his muscles pulsed with newfound strength.
With a deep exhale, Enso made another attempt—and this time, the blade rose.
The handle felt stable in his grip, and the immense pressure now coursing through his arms was almost enough to make them go numb. Yet, beneath the weight, he could feel the blade responding as he injected his Chakra.
He looked down at the blade in awe. Even when transformed into a longer form, the weight didn't change at all—it remained absurdly dense. It was like it existed beyond the normal laws of physics, as if forged from some divine material that denied nature's rules.
Minato held out another Vajra Blade to Enso, offering it to him. "This weapon is yours, Enso. We had planned to give it to you after you became a Chunin, but your performance in the field has shown that you're more than ready. We do not doubt that you'll put it to good use."
Enso looked down at the Vajra Blade, feeling the weight settle into his grip. With a deep breath, he nodded. "Thank you. I'll make sure to live up to your expectations."
Minato gave a slight nod of approval. "We know you will."
With that, Enso stood tall, his resolve firm. This was just the beginning of his journey, and now he had a weapon worthy of his potential.