[Kangetsu: Chūnin (Overall)
Chakra: Chūnin (Natural Chakra)
Affinities: Earth, Water, Wind, Fire, Lightning
Taijutsu: Chūnin
Genjutsu: Genin
Ninjutsu: Chūnin
Ninjutsu —
Henge no Jutsu (Transformation Jutsu) (E): LV3 (5%)
Bunshin no Jutsu (Clone Jutsu) (E): LV3 (3%)
Kawarimi no Jutsu (Substitution Jutsu) (E): LV3 (42%)
Kiso Shunshin no Jutsu (Basic Body Flicker Technique) (D): LV4 (99%)
Gōkakyū no Jutsu (Great Fireball Jutsu) (C): LV2 (55%)
Chakra Tansei (Chakra Refining) (LV5 (18%)
Genjutsu —
Magen: Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique) (D): LV3 (11%)
Taijutsu —
Kiso Konoha Taijutsu (Basic Konoha Taijutsu) (LV4 (99%)]
...
Kangetsu was completely absorbed in training.
If you wanted to forge iron, you had to make yourself hard first.
In the shinobi world, that was the foundation he stood on. He could not afford to slack off.
Hands flashed through seals.
[Kiso Shunshin no Jutsu (Basic Body Flicker Technique) (D): LV4 (99%) → Kiso Shunshin no Jutsu (Basic Body Flicker Technique) (D): LV5 (0%)]
[Kiso Konoha Taijutsu (Basic Konoha Taijutsu): LV4 (99%) → Kiso Konoha Taijutsu (Basic Konoha Taijutsu): LV5 (0%)]
All at once, the kind of growth that was far more immediate than ninjutsu surged through his body.
His physical strength climbed rapidly.
If before he'd been the "no bloodline, no special physique" kind of gutter-tier taijutsu type…
Now, even without relying on Natural Chakra, he could trade blows with elite taijutsu chūnin who actually had talent.
And LV5 Kiso Shunshin no Jutsu (Basic Body Flicker Technique) was even more outrageous.
At LV5, the technique ditched the need for hand seals, and its burst and speed both improved.
Of course, the Basic Body Flicker was still just chakra gathered under the feet to increase movement speed. It was nowhere near space-time shunshin techniques like Hiraishin no Jutsu (Flying Thunder God Technique).
If he wanted it to undergo a second qualitative leap, he'd have to wait until LV10.
Every five levels, a ninjutsu on the panel would experience a qualitative change.
So Kangetsu planned to start laying groundwork for higher-level techniques.
Sure, his panel could raise him without limit, but having access to high-tier ninjutsu would open up an entirely different horizon.
No.
On second thought, he decided there was no need to rush.
Time was on his side. He did not have to chase quick results.
With Natural Chakra, he was already comparable to a jōnin.
Half a year, from gutter-genin to jōnin-tier, was already plenty impressive.
Inside the house.
Sae finally came back to herself.
Her face was still a little numb as she tried to prop herself up, but her body trembled almost immediately.
The lingering aftereffects refused to let her settle.
After all, last night had been another… intense one.
So Sae could only sit quietly in the room and recover.
That, however, made Haruno frown in open dissatisfaction.
She considered herself the "main wife."
And this latecomer was going to put on that much airs?
She'd even managed to press Yukine down before. So what made a mere teacher think she could start throwing her weight around?
Haruno decided she would give her a little "color" tonight.
She was going to "teach her a lesson."
Yukine's face flushed. She shot her daughter a vicious glare.
She had to admit it.
Haruno's "lesson" was a brutal move.
Why?
Because this rebellious girl never cared whether you could take it. She just kept pushing, never stopping.
Even if you protested, she still did exactly what she wanted.
Whatever that kind of thing meant in other households…
In the Shimizu household, Haruno had turned it into a term with nothing but negative connotations.
"Negative?" Haruno planted her hands on her hips, looking thoroughly pleased with herself. "That's just because you don't know how to have fun."
Ever since she'd had a man backing her up, she'd completely unshackled her true nature.
I'm the main wife. Got it?
Sae stared at Haruno's gesturing with a blank expression.
Then she nodded quietly.
Sure, sure.
She wasn't stupid.
After plenty of pillow talk with her man, she now understood exactly what kind of value the Yukinoshita mother and daughter had created for him.
So for the time being, they were not people she could afford to provoke.
Fine. Let her have her moment.
I'm not pregnant yet. When I am, everything changes.
Given how relentless things had been lately, Sae suspected she wouldn't have to wait long before she was carrying a noticeable belly.
Heh…
Haruno could see what Sae was thinking, and she almost laughed.
You think you're the only one?
She and Yukine had been put through the wringer too, and neither of them had gotten pregnant.
"Haruno, go make food."
Yukine checked the time. Her man should be hungry by now.
Then she started preparing tea.
Haruno narrowed her eyes the moment she saw that.
Oh…
This old woman's game is on another level…
…
…
Hokage Tower, Office.
Danzo crept around like a thief, glancing left and right.
Only after confirming there was no one else did he pull Hiruzen in close to speak in a hushed voice.
Hiruzen's eye twitched.
He had no idea what his old companion was scheming now.
"Hiruzen, the Ino-Shika-Cho clans, and Homura and Koharu… they haven't been here, right?"
"…No," Hiruzen said slowly. "What is this? Did you borrow money again?"
The moment the possibility crossed his mind, Hiruzen's face turned green.
He very nearly shoved the old bastard away.
Let go.
I'm not lending you a single coin.
"Ahem. Not borrowing money."
Danzo's old face reddened.
He didn't want to be acting like this either.
But recently, he'd heard rumors: Ino-Shika-Cho, along with the two advisors, wanted to push Danzo out as the one to "make concessions."
Concessions to whom?
"The Hyūga. The Hyūga clan."
Why make concessions?
Because Kangetsu had become the Hyūga clan's son-in-law.
So naturally, Kangetsu would have to secure some benefits for the Hyūga.
And that meant Danzo, a man with a record, became the most suitable "concession target" of all.
Oh.
Just that?
Hiruzen felt his teeth ache.
"You don't know?" he said. "Kangetsu already gave a concrete plan."
"What plan? Let me see it, quickly!"
Danzo panicked the moment he heard that.
Was he really going to take Danzo's money and hand it out?
Absolutely not…
If his money got carved up, the Shimura clan, Orochimaru, and Root would all come knocking.
He did not want to get blocked at his own door again.
Hiruzen shook his head and murmured a few low instructions.
Danzo's eyes lit up as he listened, nodding repeatedly.
"Good, good, good! I knew that boy Kangetsu was one of the good ones!"
As long as they weren't dividing up Danzo's money, everything was negotiable!
He was still riding that excitement when, in the next moment, Ino-Shika-Cho arrived at the Hokage's office together with the two advisors.
(End of Chapter)
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