"Water Release: Wild Water Wave."
Souji released the same amount of water as Hiruzen and controlled its flow so that it crashed into a tree.
Bam!
"..."
The tree fell because of Souji's jutsu.
"..."
[Ding.]
[Creating a sub-list on nature transformation.]
[Water Release: Wild Water Wave LV1 (1/100)]
"..."
Hiruzen nodded his head. "There's no gap at all. I even suspect you're an Uchiha." Hiruzen said in a joking tone.
Souji himself had the characteristics of the Uchiha clan, black hair and a handsome face, although not all Uchiha are handsome. Then there was his ability to use jutsu at a glance. Of course, ninjas who are experts in ninjutsu can also have such abilities, but Souji really had no experience in ninjutsu. He could even use Mystical Palm with just one look. Not to mention, he could control his chakra easily.
If it weren't for his red eyes, he would have suspected that's a Sharingan.
"Really? Having the Sharingan sounds pretty cool." Souji replied.
Twitch
Hiruzen's face twitched at Souji's words.
'Is there any ninja who cares more about appearance than usefulness?' Hiruzen thought.
"Oh? I'm quite curious, old man." Souji asked, "If you fight a Sharingan user, how do you deal with them?"
"..."
After a moment, Hiruzen replied, "Don't look into their eyes, and defeat them as quickly as possible."
"How can you attack them if you don't look at them?" Souji asked.
"Of course you can. That doesn't mean you or I, have to close our eyes when fighting a Sharingan user." Hiruzen replied.
"Ah? I thought you had a technique that allowed you to fight without looking at the enemy." Souji said.
Twitch
Hiruzen's face twitched again upon hearing Souji's words. 'If i could use that technique to the fullest, why would i have to be so wary of the Uchiha clan?' Hiruzen thought.
"If you train your senses and instincts, perhaps you can achieve that." Hiruzen said.
"I see." Souji nodded.
"..."
"Shadow clone jutsu." Hiruzen used his Shadow Clone Jutsu. Then, his clone disappeared and appeared instantly in the distance, facing the real Hiruzen.
From a distance, the shadow clone made hand seals, "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet."
The clone then released a high-speed burst of fire in the shape of a dragon from its mouth, aimed at Hiruzen and Souji.
"All right, now it's a defensive jutsu." Hiruzen said, making hand seals. "Water Release: Water Formation Wall." Hiruzen then created a wall of water that blocked the fire jutsu from his shadow clone.
Pshh!
The water and fire collided, causing the water wall to evaporate but reducing the intensity of the fire jutsu.
"..."
All that remained was water pooling on the ground along with mist from the vaporized water.
"..."
Souji nodded his head and asked, "Can that jutsu also be used for attacking?"
"Yes, depending on how you want to use it." Hiruzen continued. "But, since this jutsu is stronger defensively than offensively, it is usually used for defense."
He then dispelled his shadow clone and went to where it had been standing. "Try it!" He shouted at Souji while making hand seals, "Fire Release: Fire Dragon Bullet."
Hiruzen spewed fire toward Souji. Souji made hand seals and said, "Water Release: Water Formation Wall."
He released a lot of water from his mouth, forming a wall to stop Hiruzen's fire jutsu and protect himself.
Pshh!
"..."
Hiruzen nodded in satisfaction at what Souji had shown him.
Hiruzen approached Souji and said, "All right, this is the last jutsu for today." He made a series of long hand seals and said, "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet."
Hiruzen then spewed a high-speed stream of water resembling a dragon that hit the trees.
Boom!
Several trees fell because of Hiruzen's jutsu.
"..."
"That is an offensive jutsu." said Hiruzen.
"Yes, I can see that." Souji replied.
"Try it." said Hiruzen. He only needed to demonstrate it once, and Souji could already do it. This wasn't like when he taught his former students. Souji was like a combination of three of his students at once, maybe even two, because Souji wasn't perverted like Jiraiya.
If only Hiruzen knew what Souji had done to Mebuki, he might be prostrating himself before Souji and calling him "Sensei."
Souji made a series of hand seals, the same as Hiruzen's: "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet."
He spewed high-speed water in the shape of a dragon and slammed it into the trees.
Boom!
"..."
"Good." said Hiruzen, satisfied. "Now, taijutsu."
He took off his formal clothes, revealing his black ninja armor.
"I haven't used it in a long time. Don't hold back because I won't either." he added.
"Yes." Souji responded.
Then, the two of them performed the Seal of Confrontation.
"..."
"Start." said Hiruzen.
Swish Swish
Souji and Hiruzen both used Body Flicker Jutsu and charged at each other.
Bang!
Hiruzen parried Souji's punch, and Souji parried Hiruzen's.
Souji took a step back, and Hiruzen followed. With his left hand, Hiruzen delivered a punch, but Souji dodged to the side and tried to attack Hiruzen's exposed side. He threw a quick punch at Hiruzen.
Realizing this, Hiruzen quickly pulled back his left hand, turned his body toward Souji, and parried his punch with his right hand.
Bang!
Hiruzen retaliated with a kick to Souji's face. Souji pulled back his hand and retreated to avoid Hiruzen's kick.
"Old man, what if I use my enhanced punch? Didn't you say I didn't need to hold back?" Souji asked.
"Did I ever allow you to use that? I'm not ready to die at the hands of my own student." Hiruzen replied.
"Heh, can you see the future, old man?" Souji said as he charged at Hiruzen again.
"Huh?" Hiruzen hadn't had time to respond when Souji attacked him.
Bang!
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
At the Uchiha residence.
"Really? You're completely healed?" Mikoto asked Itachi, who was still somewhat worried about his condition.
"Yes, Mother. If you don't believe me, you can go to the Konoha hospital and confirm it. Moreover, it was Souji-san who healed me." Itachi said.
"Eh? Souji-kun?" Mikoto asked.
She didn't expect Souji to be able to heal Itachi.
"..."
Mikoto nodded. "If your father knew you were healed, he would be happy."
"..."
"Where's Father?" Itachi asked.
"He's been very busy these past few days. Even Mother is helping to take care of him." Mikoto replied. "But, Itachi, Mother is worried about your father. When I'm took the care of the boxes of goods, purchased by the clan, i didn't know what was inside them. When mother asked your father about it, he said it was for the clan's preparations."
"Itachi, do you know what our clan is preparing for?" Mikoto asked. Mikoto herself had an idea, but she refused to believe it. Again, she sensed that the atmosphere within the clan was really tense.
"..."
Itachi fell silent after hearing that. Didn't his father think of another way? Or did he not consider the consequences of his actions?
Konoha is going through a difficult time, yet his father wants to make things worse. Itachi shook his head. He had to convince his father to abandon his clan's coup plan. Not only would his clan be harmed, but the village would be too.
"Where is Father now?" Itachi asked.
"At the police force office." Mikoto replied.
"Then I'll go first, Mom." Itachi said.
Mikoto nodded in response. 'I hope nothing happens between Fugaku and Itachi.' Mikoto thought.
She really needed a break from all the tension, but she couldn't just leave her husband.
"..."
Maybe after everything is over, she will go to the hot springs.
'I can't possibly go alone, can I?' Mikoto thought.
Of course, she would go with Fugaku, yes, Fugaku.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
In the afternoon, Souji sat alone on the training ground. He looked at his system's skill status.
"..."
———————————————————
[Status]
Name: Souji
Race: Human
Exclusive Skill: [Master Key.].
Skill: None
Extra Skills: Chakra Control LV10 (MAX), Rasengan LV10 (MAX), Mystical Palm LV10 (MAX), Shadow Clone LV10 (MAX), Body Flicker LV10 (MAX), Clone Jutsu LV10 (MAX), Transformation Jutsu LV10 (MAX), Soul Sense LV10 (MAX), Astral Projection LV10 (MAX), Chakra Scalpel LV1 (1/100).
Nature Transformation:
Water Release LV10 (MAX) : Wild Water Wave (1/100), Water Formation Wall (1/100), Water Dragon Bullet (1/100).
Yang Release LV10 (MAX): Mystical Palm LV10 (MAX)
Yin Release LV1 (0/100): None.
Inventory: [Only items from the system.]
Skill points: 27
———————————————————
"..."
'I haven't upgraded my Chakra scalpel yet. And I haven't touched the Yin release too.' Souji thought.
He had forgotten to ask Hiruzen to teach him basic genjutsu.
'Can I create my own genjutsu?' Souji wondered.
"..."
Maybe he just needs to ask Iruka. 'Ah! Substitution jutsu! I forgot about that, too.' Souji sighed.
"..."
'I better go home now.' Souji thought. He got up from his seat and immediately left the training ground.
"..."
Souji arrived at Naruto's apartment.
"I'm home." He said.
"Welcome back, Dad!" Naruto replied from inside.
Souji went inside and stepped into the living room. He saw Naruto sitting on the floor with leaves stuck to his face. Naruto was with Souji's shadow clone.
"Oh? Are you training your focus?" Souji asked, raising his eyebrows.
"Un." Naruto replied briefly.
"Hm..." Souji felt that something was strange.
"Did something happen?" He asked his shadow clone.
"You better see for yourself." His shadow clone said, and then it dispelled itself.
Poff
"..."
'Huh?'
When Souji's shadow clone arrived at the apartment to deliver the groceries, he accidentally saw Naruto looking sad and upset. When he asked what had happened, Naruto said, it was because Souji's story. He was sad about the endings of Senjuuichi Morino and Uchiwa Yukie and about Kurogaze's past. He was frustrated because it was hard to determine who was at fault for all the tragedies they experienced.
He was especially sad for Uchiwa Yukie. Naruto even dreamed about it and couldn't do anything.
"..."
"Naruto, it's just a story." Souji said while stroking Naruto's hair.
"Uh, but I really feel bad for them. Dad, why did you write a story like that?" Naruto asked. His feelings were now really mixed up.
"Naruto, what did you learn from the story you read?" Souji asked.
"..."
"Um... War is bad?" Naruto answered uncertainly.
"Anything else?"
"... Don't trust someone too much?"
Twitch
Souji's face twitched when he heard that.
'And look at yourself. You're so trusting of me.' Souji thought.
"Again?"
"Hm..." Naruto thought hard.
"Don't express your feelings through letters?" Naruto answered.
"Correct, but not quite right."
"..."
Naruto tilted his head in confusion.
"What I mean is, if you have feelings for someone, just express them directly. Do it before it's too late." Souji said.
"..."
"Oh, so it's like, I want to buy premium instant ramen, but I'm afraid you'll get angry if I ask, so I don't say anything? A few days later, the premium ramen is sold out, and I can't buy it anymore." Naruto explained.
"..."
"Hm...yes, more or less like that." Souji said, impressed by Naruto's explanation.
"All right, I want to take a shower first." Souji said.
"Un." Naruto answered.
"..."
"..."
———————————————————
At the Haruno residence.
"Sakura! Come out quickly, the food is ready." Mebuki called from outside Sakura's room.
"Yes!" Sakura replied from inside. Mebuki walked downstairs to the kitchen. Her husband, Kizashi, was drinking coffee in the kitchen.
"You drink coffee at night?" Mebuki asked.
"Uh, yes. I thought that while waiting for dinner, I could drink some coffee." Kizashi replied. Mebuki wanted to scold him. What if he couldn't sleep?
But then she remembered her thoughts from this morning when she was with Souji. If Kizashi didn't sleep, he wouldn't be able to refuse "that", right?
She held herself back, then Mebuki set the table with plates.
"Sakura... Why isn't she coming down?" Mebuki muttered.
"Sakura! Come down now!" Mebuki shouted.
Bang!
The sound of a door slamming loudly could be heard.
"Mom, I'm not deaf!" Sakura shouted back while going down to the kitchen.
"If you're not deaf, then what?!" Mebuki asked, also emotional. "I've told you repeatedly, and you still didn't come down!"
"I heard it! I was just about to come down. You're just impatient!" Sakura replied.
"Haruno Sakura! You've been like this before! This dinner isn't just about you!" Mebuki said, truly losing her patience. Kizashi, who had been silent until then, finally spoke up.
"Maa, maa, both of you. This isn't a big deal, so why don't we sit down and eat?"
"SHUT UP!" Mebuki and Sakura said to Kizashi. This finally made Kizashi decide not to interfere with the mother-daughter relationship.
He chose to enjoy his coffee instead. 'Women.'
"..."
"..."