Chapter 266: Keep on Bluffing!
"Light, fast, and sharp."
The moment the Longsword, Nuibari, entered her hand, Shizune felt the unique weapon's silky lightness and razor-sharp edge.
Whoosh—
She instinctively gave it a flourish. The long, thin blade cut through the air with a barely audible whisper.
Even in a world with the supernatural power of chakra, there was still a natural difference in strength between male and female ninja. Generally, kunoichi who chose to specialize in weaponry would opt for lighter blades like daggers or wakizashi. Only then would the weapon not hinder their own combat ability.
Shizune was not a combat-specialist, but she had some training with blades. And even from a purely medical perspective, she could feel the special power of this sword.
"Captain," she said, reluctantly handing it back. "This is an excellent weapon."
"If it's so excellent, why are you giving it back to me?" Keisuke asked, waving her hands away. "This sword is yours now. By the way, you can try and form a summoning contract with it later. As far as I know, all seven of the Ninja Swords can be used as summoning tools."
"Huh?" Shizune looked from him to the sword in her hands in disbelief, her small mouth forming a perfect 'O'. "This sword... is for me?"
"Yes. I asked Shisui and Retsu earlier," Keisuke said, using the other two as examples. "But one of them is too weak, and the other has the Gentle Fist. Neither was interested."
"Captain, I'm not weak, I'm just not finished developing," Shisui tried to explain.
"Right, right, right," Keisuke said with a dismissive wave, so perfunctory that even Retsu rolled her eyes.
Shizune ignored the crushed Shisui and looked at her captain. "Captain, to give such a powerful weapon to me... it's a waste."
"How is it a waste?" he shrugged. "They're ninja swords. They're meant for fighting. Of the seven, the only ones I have any interest in are Samehada and Hiramekarei. The other five, I plan to give away. I was originally just going to dump them on the clan, but considering you three, I decided to ask your opinions first. If there was one you wanted, you could have it. Shisui and Retsu didn't want one, but I really feel that this sword's special ability suits you. Piercing, suturing... that's what it's for."
His original plan had been to just seal all seven swords away. But he couldn't think of a single time or place he would ever need to use them. For a Tailed Beast Bomb, why would he use the Executioner's Blade when he had the Gunbai? In that case, giving them away was the best option. To let them gather dust in his scroll would be a waste of resources. And Shisui, Retsu, and Shizune were his direct subordinates. In his mind, their relationship was much closer than that of the "strangers" in his clan.
"Thank you, Captain!" Shizune finally accepted the priceless gift. As a medical-nin, she rarely fought on the front lines, but that didn't mean she never encountered danger. This sword would be a massive help. And to so casually give away a legendary weapon... only her captain could do something like that.
At the same time, a new resolve formed in her heart. She had received so much from him. Perhaps it was time she gave that other jutsu to him.
"Alright," Keisuke nodded. "As for how to use it, I don't have any advice. You'll have to figure that out yourself. It's getting late. Shisui, you take Retsu and Shizune back to the camp. Be safe. I'm going to stay here a little longer. Shizune, remember to come back tomorrow morning. Shisui and Retsu can come too, if you don't have other missions."
"Yes, Captain!"
After the three had left, Keisuke turned to Isobu. "So, Isobu, what do you think of those three?"
"They are all ninja cubs. Too weak," the Three-Tails rumbled, its assessment harsh. "The yellow-haired one was okay. His sealing jutsu... was strong."
"That was Minato Namikaze," Keisuke explained, then added, "Isobu, a ninja's strength grows and fluctuates. Today they are a leaf, but tomorrow they could become a great tree. If nothing unexpected happens, your new partner will be chosen from among those three..." He trailed off, stopping himself from saying, "You should probably pay attention to the white-haired one." The higher-ups wanted Kakashi to be the new Jinchuriki, and he certainly had the potential. But nothing was set in stone until Keisuke got a satisfactory price.
"Can't you be the one?" Isobu asked, its head drooping.
"No." Kokuō stomped one of its feet, asserting its dominance. It felt a certain sympathy for Isobu—they were both Tailed Beasts, after all—but for it to want Keisuke as its Jinchuriki? You rotten-shelled turtle, die!
"Get your foot off me, Kokuō," Isobu growled, not moving. "Others may be afraid of you, but I'm not!"
"Really? I don't believe you." Kokuō increased the pressure, and a surge of boiling power sent Isobu sliding across the ground.
"You!"
Just as Isobu was about to charge, Keisuke shot it a cold glare. Don't make me use the Adamantine Sealing Chains.
"...Hmph!" Isobu snorted and pulled its head into its shell. This human-deer combo is ganging up on an old, injured turtle. Is that fair?
"Stop playing dead, Isobu. I have something else to tell you," Keisuke's voice drilled into its shell. "Have you ever heard of a jutsu called the 'Shadow Clone Technique'?"
"No!" it snapped, poking its head out. "What do you want?"
"Let me explain the principle of it to you," Keisuke began, "Kokuō, you can listen too. By separating a portion of one's own chakra, one can create a clone that inherits one's will and thoughts. The chakra between the clone and the main body can resonate and be transferred back and forth."
"Keisuke, what you're describing reminds me of the Sage," Kokuō said, its blue eyes fixed on him. "The Sage's Ninshū had a similar concept: to distribute and transmit chakra among all living beings, allowing everyone's chakra to resonate and thus allowing humans to understand one another."
Hm? So the Shadow Clone Technique is similar to the principles of Ninshū? That was an interesting blind spot. But he was allergic to the topic of the Sage of Six Paths.
"Mutual understanding is a great vision," Keisuke said, quickly moving on. "Isobu, do you want to learn the Shadow Clone Technique?"
"What good would that do me?" it asked coldly. "I'm going to be sealed up anyway."
"If you learn it, you can leave a portion of your chakra outside," he said slowly. "If the clone is free, then in a way, you are also free. One of you has to be comfortable, right?"
Of course, this wasn't his real reason. He just wanted a portion of Isobu's chakra to remain outside for his own "research," and also as a stepping stone for his future "Tailed Beast Synthesis Plan."
Isobu's cold attitude began to thaw. "That... jutsu... how do you learn it?"
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