In the Land of Rivers, low-level summoning creatures like water bats weren't hard to capture.
The real challenge was obtaining a basic summoning scroll—something that nearly stumped him.
Fortunately, he had saved up enough mission merit points to exchange for ninjutsu, which came in handy just in time.
After spending most of his hard-earned points, he managed to get:
A basic summoning scroll (Uzumaki Clan variant, only capable of contracting Genin-level creatures). A manual titled "On the Care and Training of Summoning Creatures."
Damn, summoning scrolls were expensive!
And this was just the entry-level version—higher-tier ones would've bankrupted him. At least the training manual was thrown in as a freebie.
But hey, "you get what you pay for." Uzumaki-made goods were worth every ryō.
Contracting the water bat went smoothly, but the real struggle came afterward.
The Evolution of a Technique
Through joint training with his water bat and reverse-engineering the Transformation Jutsu, he realized just how difficult this process was.
Despite his mastery of Transformation and occasional insights from Inuzuka Ryō's Beast Mimicry techniques, it still took him months to achieve partial transformation—mimicking the bat's echolocation ability by borrowing its chakra.
This ultrasonic perception became his lifeline in the Second Shinobi War, allowing him to drag his three Genin deadweights through battle after battle without a single casualty.
Over time, he began deconstructing the bat's echolocation using real-world sonar principles, attempting to replicate the ability with his own chakra instead of relying on the summon.
After thousands of trial-and-error attempts, he finally succeeded—creating an entirely new sensory ninjutsu.
"Radar Technique" – A Self-Made Sensory Jutsu
Range: Less than 100 meters (compared to the 3-kilometer range when paired with the water bat).
But even this was groundbreaking.
This technique had the potential to evolve into something on par with the Second Hokage's Earth-Style Sensory abilities—if developed further.
Fate was funny like that.
Back then, he couldn't even get his hands on a C-rank jutsu. Now, he had accidentally invented a sensory technique with limitless potential—all through sheer scientific curiosity and brute-force experimentation.
This experience also gave him a deeper understanding of chakra's nature:
Connectivity (like the Sage's original intent for chakra as a spiritual bond). Transference (how abilities could be mimicked, similar to the Sharingan's copying ability). Hereditary traits (explaining how clans like the Inuzuka developed their heightened senses from their ninken partners).
A Sudden Threat
"Captain, we've got at least a full squad of Suna puppeteers incoming."
Inuzuka Ryō, his nose twitching, delivered the bad news with a grimace. Even his usual "Will of Fire" enthusiasm wavered as he glanced at their youngest teammate, Kosugi.
"Ryō, don't tell me you're scared now?"
Shukudō, ever the loudmouth, tried to play it cool—though his voice cracked slightly.
"With the captain here, those Suna puppeteers are just target practice, right?" He grinned at Umino Yoru, clearly hoping for reassurance.
Yoru rolled his eyes.
"Fine. You three stay here and patrol. I'll handle the reinforcements alone."
He knew exactly what Shukudō was thinking—*"Captain's giving us an easy mission to farm merit points."*
But this time?
They weren't ready.
"Captain, we can't let you go alone!" Ryō protested, his Inuzuka pride flaring up.
Shukudō, despite his usual scheming, wasn't about to abandon his leader either. And Kosugi? She just nodded firmly, ready to follow.
Yoru felt a surge of pride.
"Good. None of them are ungrateful brats."
If they were loyal, then…
"Fine. Let's go make some money."
The Art of the Ninja Sprint
With a burst of speed, Yoru leaned forward at a 30-degree angle, arms stretched back—the classic ninja sprint.
This posture, while looking ridiculous to civilians, was actually the most aerodynamically efficient for shinobi, reducing air resistance while keeping hands free for seals or weapons.
In five seconds, he covered 100 meters.
"Uh, Captain… we're going the wrong way?" Ryō frowned as they veered off the expected path.
But Shukudō's eyes lit up with realization.
"Ah. So that's the plan."
Yoru smirked.
"In a standard shinobi battle, the key is intelligence and tactical advantage. Even a lion uses full strength to kill a rabbit."
The best strategy?
"Ambush them where they least expect it."
Even Kage-level shinobi could die if caught off-guard.
"Ohhh!" Ryō's face brightened. "We're setting a trap on their escape route!"
Shukudō grinned.
"Now this is more like it."
If they could predict the puppeteers' path, they could intercept and eliminate them before reinforcements were even needed.
"Captain, you're a genius!" Ryō's admiration skyrocketed.
Even Shukudō, the king of "survival first", felt a surge of confidence.
"With this plan… we might actually pull off an A-rank mission!"
Now, all that was left was to—
Strike fast. Strike hard.