The despair that had threatened to suffocate Ishiki only moments earlier… slowly, finally, began to dissolve.
The pain of hearing "no elemental affinity" still echoed in his chest, but it no longer consumed him. In its place, something new and fragile began to form.
Hope.
Not blind hope,but a sharp, calculated hope fueled by possibility.
"Ishiki," Hashirama said gently, stepping forward. His warm voice filled the silence like sunlight piercing clouds."There are many powerful jutsu that require no elemental affinity. You can still become strong. Incredibly strong."
Madara nodded beside him, arms crossed, expression stern, but his tone firm and honest.
"Don't start crying about your destiny. Elemental affinity isn't everything. There are paths, if you're not too slow to find them."
His smirk didn't match his sincerity, but Ishiki understood the intention.
And just like that, the impossible world he had envisioned reopened… in a different direction.
He took a slow breath as the possibilities replayed through his mind:
The Three Basic TechniquesHenge no JutsuKawarimi no JutsuKage Bunshin no Jutsu
These foundational techniques required only chakra control, not elemental nature.
And beyond those,
Medical Ninjutsu.He could enhance his body, heal others, and strengthen his strikes with refined chakra—just like Tsunade, whose monstrous strength came not from elemental mastery, but from precision.
Taijutsu and Chakra Flow.Physical strength and chakra reinforcement could let him fight on par with element users.
The Rasengan.A legendary jutsu formed purely from spiralling chakra, no elemental affinity required.
Senjutsu.A higher path, a forbidden dream, but one he could now imagine reaching someday.
The future wasn't closed.It was simply… different.
His heart steadied.
His hands stopped trembling.
He wasn't doomed; he was challenged.
Hashirama misread his silence and called him over with gentle concern.
"Look here," he said, weaving signs. In a puff of smoke, a perfect clone of Madara appeared, complete with crossed arms and a disapproving scowl.
Madara groaned loudly."Do you have to pick me for every demonstration?"
Hashirama ignored him with a saintly smile.
"These three techniques," he said, dispersing the clone, "are the foundation of every shinobi. None require elemental affinity."
Ishiki stared at the man who would one day be the God of Shinobi, demonstrating beginner jutsu with patient kindness.
Then he looked at Madara, who would become one of the strongest beings in history.
And somehow, standing between them…
He smiled.
A real smile.
"Thank you," he said softly. "Both of you. Truly."
The weight that had crushed his chest lifted as he straightened his back.
"I'm not dejected. In fact… I'm excited."
His grin widened, sharp, confident, even mischievous.
"Maybe, someday, I'll grow strong enough to surpass both of you."
Hashirama let out a deep sigh, the tension melting from his shoulders.
Madara scoffed immediately."In your dreams, brat."
But a small, amused smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
And in that moment, the glade felt brighter.
They began his instruction immediately.
Hashirama took the lead.
"First: Shadow Clone Jutsu."His hands blurred. A perfect clone popped into existence.
"This creates a physical clone that shares your chakra. Whatever the clone learns returns to the original. A great tool for training."
Madara stepped forward.
"Next: Transformation Jutsu.Use it to take on any form, perfect for infiltration, escape, and trickery."
He demonstrated by transforming into a replica of Ishiki… including the bewildered expression.
Then Hashirama finished the trio.
"And finally: Body Replacement Jutsu.When you're about to be hit, you substitute yourself with a nearby object. If you master this, it will save your life many times."
Their teaching styles couldn't have been more different:
Hashirama explained every detail with patience.Madara barked corrections with precision.
Together, they created the perfect balance.
Ishiki trained with them until his limbs felt like melting wax, until sweat blurred his vision, until his chakra coils tingled with strain.
He drank his Concentrated Food repeatedly, its potent energy allowing him to train far beyond natural limits.
By twilight, he was barely standing.
But his heart was soaring.
He bathed quickly, letting cold water shock his muscles awake, then stumbled home and collapsed onto his bed.
With trembling fingers, he opened the System, his silent companion.
STATUS
Name: Ishiki
Age: 12
Chakra: 46 / 46
Strength: 23
Ninjutsu:• Shadow Clone — Entry
• Transformation — Entry
• Body Replacement — Entry
Taijutsu: Beginner
Genjutsu: None
Elemental Affinity: None
He stared at the panel, exhaustion fading into pride.
He wasn't just surviving anymore.
He was becoming a shinobi.
Slowly.Painfully.But undeniably.
As he prepared to close the screen, something flickered.
A pulsing glow.
A notification.
His breath caught.
He sat up straight.
A NEW GADGET UNLOCKED.
Adrenaline cut through the fatigue like lightning.
His heart hammered as he tapped the notification.
Whatever was inside…
Would change everything.