Chapter 23: Kurama Kaeha
But if he didn't want to draw attention… then what?
Was he seriously supposed to just unleash Judgment Lightning and reduce the entire newly-built training ground into a massive field of craters?
Letting out a quiet sigh, Hatake Kyūjō shook his head slightly as he filtered through the vast list of jutsu in his memory. Eventually, he settled on something less dramatic—a mid-tier Lightning Release technique: Lightning Release: Lightning Serpent.
It was a single-target, long-range ninjutsu. The user transformed their lightning chakra into the form of a golden serpent and hurled it toward the enemy.
With his chakra capacity—comparable to that of an elite Chūnin—Kyūjō could strike targets up to fifty meters away. Just right for this trial.
Once his decision was made, Kyūjō began the hand seal sequence. In the span of a single breath, his fingers moved with precision through four signs—Rat, Hare, Goat, and Boar.
Now, to explain briefly: in order for a shinobi to perform ninjutsu, they had to guide and mold their chakra into the appropriate form using hand seals.
This required concentration, precision, and extensive training. A single mistake in the sequence could ruin the technique—weakening it, misfiring it, or causing wasted chakra.
Of course, there were geniuses who, through mastery, could reduce or even eliminate the need for hand seals when casting certain jutsu.
In the world of ninja, where mere seconds could determine the outcome of battle, the ability to shorten hand seals could be a decisive edge—especially when evenly matched.
Among all the shinobi Kyūjō had seen, only Namikaze Minato rivaled him in speed and control over hand seals.
That blond-haired prodigy… definitely worthy of the title "The Fastest Man in the Shinobi World."
In truth, Kyūjō could've skipped the seals entirely by using his Thunder Eyes to directly channel lightning chakra from within. His ocular ability was the perfect natural conduit for Lightning Release techniques.
But this was an unofficial "test." There was no reason to draw unnecessary attention.
So, he followed the standard procedure.
His seals were crisp. Efficient. Controlled.
— — —
"Lightning Release: Lightning Serpent."
From the tip of his extended finger, a radiant golden serpent burst forth—its body made of crackling lightning. The serpent hissed through the air, racing across the training field with a piercing hum.
A moment later, it struck the wooden target placed fifty meters away.
A loud blast echoed across the field. Dust exploded into the air.
When the smoke cleared, the target was gone. In its place was a charred crater nearly a meter wide, scorched and uneven.
Captain Araki gave a small nod, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
"Not bad," he thought. "His seals are precise. That tells me he's disciplined with his daily training. And that C-rank Lightning Release had enough punch to hit elite Chūnin standards. At ten years old… yeah, this kid's a prodigy, alright."
After a moment of silent observation, Araki turned toward the rest of the squad.
"What do you all think? His Lightning jutsu's got bite, doesn't it? Anyone want to test him out directly?"
It was a reasonable offer.
After all, being a shinobi wasn't just about hurling jutsu from a distance.
You had to master Taijutsu. Learn how to substitute, move fast, throw accurately, react instinctively.
Still, considering Kyūjō came from the Hatake clan, Araki was confident the boy had covered all those basics from a young age.
Predictably, Sarutobi Chikawa's eyes lit up with enthusiasm. He was already half a step forward, eager to challenge the newest member.
But before he could make a move…
A small, pale hand gently tapped his shoulder from behind. Soft and refined—not the kind you'd expect from a shinobi.
"Chikawa. Let me."
The voice was soft. Calm. Like the gentle trill of a songbird.
Chikawa froze.
He turned around slowly, wide-eyed. The moment he recognized who it was, he smiled.
"Well, well. It's rare for you to step in, Kaeha. Be my guest. But…"
He paused, his tone suddenly serious.
"…Go easy on him."
Kurama Kaeha gave a quiet nod.
With measured grace, she stepped forward and stood directly across from Hatake Kyūjō.
Captain Araki frowned slightly but didn't interfere.
He trusted Kaeha. She knew her limits. She wouldn't act recklessly.
Though she was the only kunoichi in the squad, anyone who underestimated her just because of her gender was making a grave mistake.
In truth, Kurama Kaeha might be the most dangerous one on the team.
To date, she had single-handedly turned over thirty Sunagakure shinobi into "living vegetables"—motionless, mindless, their souls trapped in endless illusions, victims of her Genjutsu.
Because Kurama Kaeha was no ordinary shinobi.
She was a direct descendant of the Kurama Clan, and more importantly, a rare user of their long-lost Kekkei Genkai:
Absolute Sensory Manipulation.
Once one of the most feared bloodlines in the shinobi world—on par with even the Uchiha—the Kurama Clan fell into obscurity due to how few could awaken its bloodline limit.
But Kaeha had succeeded.
And that ability… it was terrifying.
Her Genjutsu didn't just affect the mind—it manipulated all five senses simultaneously. It could trap targets in pure illusion, completely overriding their reality, leaving them paralyzed and helpless while still fully conscious.
That was the fate of those unlucky Sunagakure ninja.
And now… she stood in front of Kyūjō.
— — —
But something was wrong.
Kurama Kaeha's expression wasn't calm.
She was tense.
Her eyes—usually soft—were fixed squarely on Kyūjō. Her gaze turned sharp, intense, then slowly started to glow faint red as she activated her Kekkei Genkai.
And yet…
There was no effect.
Again.
Yes—again.
Because this wasn't the first time she had tried.
The moment Kyūjō had first stepped into the tent with Araki, she had secretly launched her Genjutsu at him.
That was when she'd looked at him with shock and hidden fear.
Now, she was trying again.
To be sure.
To confirm it wasn't a fluke.
But the result was the same.
No response.
No reaction.
No chakra disturbance. No illusion taking hold.
Nothing.
The boy in front of her…
Was immune to the most powerful Genjutsu her clan had ever developed.
Kurama Kaeha stared at him, breath caught in her throat.
Kyūjō simply stood there, relaxed, wearing a faint smile—calm as ever.
Her mind reeled. And as the truth settled deep within her bones, one word echoed silently in her head:
"Monster…"
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