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Decide and act—that was Kurenai Yuhi's motto. She immediately packed her luggage, stuffing her backpack into a storage scroll.
Looking at Ryūsei, who had nothing in his hands, Kurenai couldn't help but ask, "Aren't you going back to pack your things?"
Ryūsei pulled a storage scroll from his person and smiled. "I've already prepared everything."
"Impressive. It seems you anticipated I'd agree."
"Of course. Teacher Kurenai, you're the gentlest and kindest teacher I've ever met."
"Sweet talker. No wonder Hinata and the others can't get enough of you."
If there weren't a height difference, Kurenai would have definitely pinched Ryūsei's cheek right then.
Ryūsei's flattery genuinely made her happy.
Thus, Kurenai led Ryūsei out of her home and headed to the Hokage Building to obtain their village exit permits.
Just as Kakashi could, in emergencies, issue A-rank missions to genin like Ryūsei as an elite jonin—
Kurenai, who had been promoted from special jonin to jonin at the beginning of the year, also enjoyed considerable privileges within the village.
At the very least, leaving the village was no issue for her.
As Kurenai finished handling the exit permits and led Ryūsei out of Konoha—
Asuma, who had been in a foul mood these past few days due to his father's sacrifice and had stayed cooped up at home smoking, finally stepped out.
As if he'd suddenly made a decision, Asuma mustered his courage and arrived at Kurenai's doorstep, knocking on her door.
Knock, knock, knock…
The knocking continued, but there was no response.
Seeing that Kurenai wasn't home, Asuma, who had barely worked up the nerve to come, deflated like a punctured balloon. He hung his head and slouched away.
His dejected posture, combined with the cigarette dangling from his mouth, exuded an air of melancholy.
Neither Kurenai nor Ryūsei knew that Asuma had come by shortly after they left.
By now, they had already handed their exit permits to the gate guardians, Izumo and Kotetsu, and stepped beyond Konoha's gates.
Until the Fifth Hokage was selected, the mission system would be suspended—no one could accept or request missions.
Thus, during this period, aside from border guards and those stationed in major cities, all other ninjas were on leave.
This was one of the reasons Kurenai decided to venture out for a change of scenery.
Since the Hokage's inauguration would be announced nationwide in advance, and Tanzaku Town was one of the Land of Fire's small towns, Kurenai and Ryūsei weren't in a rush. They didn't use Body Flicker to hurry along but instead strolled leisurely, like tourists.
Along the way, Kurenai and Ryūsei chatted idly.
"Ryūsei, how do you manage to release genjutsu without seals?"
"Well... it's not entirely without seals. At least for the genjutsu you taught me, Teacher Kurenai, I use single-handed seals—it's just that my sealing speed is so fast no one notices. As for the truly seal-less ones, I activate them through sound. I learned that from a Sound ninja specializing in auditory genjutsu during the second exam."
"I see. I thought your Yin Release chakra was so powerful you didn't need seals at all."
Kurenai nodded in realization, buying into Ryūsei's fabrication.
Single-handed seals could indeed catch enemies off guard, which was why Ryūsei coveted Haku's ability so much.
And since Ryūsei had practiced sealing speed from a young age, he could, if he wanted, seal as quickly as Itachi—fast enough to be imperceptible.
"Your genjutsu proficiency is already on par with mine, if not better."
Kurenai patted Ryūsei's shoulder with a smile. "When we get back from Tanzaku Town, come find me when you have time. We can spar on genjutsu—it might help us both improve faster."
"Sure."
Ryūsei nodded obediently on the surface, but inwardly, he pondered how to hold back during the session.
It wasn't that he looked down on Kurenai; it was just that his current genjutsu mastery was only a Mangekyō Sharingan away from reaching the level of masters like Itachi.
Itachi and Shisui became genjutsu masters primarily due to the overwhelming output of their Mangekyō Sharingan.
The Three-Tomoe Sharingan was already known for their genjutsu and hypnosis capabilities, allowing seal-less genjutsu use and even genjutsu reflection against enemies with weaker Yin Release.
But its Yin Release output was nothing compared to the Mangekyō's.
Only the Mangekyō could truly control tailed beasts.
How much Yin Release chakra did it take to subdue a tailed beast with a single glance?
Uchiha Obito, with half his body made of Hashirama cells, controlled one of the Five Kage—Yagura—with just one Mangekyō Sharingan.
The moment Ryūsei extracted the genjutsu expert talent from Kurenai and his Sharingan evolved to three tomoe, she was no longer his match.
Though his strength far surpassed Kurenai's, Ryūsei held no disrespect for his mentor.
Just as Might Guy willingly taught the Eight Gates to his students, Kurenai had quickly shared the Yuhi clan's genjutsu secrets with Ryūsei and the team shortly after meeting them.
If Shino and Hinata had Yin chakra natures, they would be genjutsu specialists now, and Team 8 would have a nickname beyond "tracking team"—perhaps "genjutsu team" as well.
Thus, Ryūsei felt gratitude and respect toward Kurenai.
He had even decided that once Karin joined Konoha, he'd use her as a cover to teach Kurenai some sealing techniques.
Especially the Uzumaki clan's Yin Seal—which woman could resist eternal youth?
Kurenai, of course, had no idea of Ryūsei's thoughts. If she did, she'd be deeply moved and gratified.
A good teacher needs good students too! Otherwise, it's one-sided effort, and sometimes it even leads to disrespectful or even traitorous pupils!
"Oh, right!"
Kurenai's ruby-like eyes suddenly lit up with excitement. "Ryūsei, did you bring a camera?"
"I did. Do you want to take photos, Teacher Kurenai?"
"Yes! It's rare to leave the village without a mission—how can we not make some wonderful memories?"
Kurenai suddenly flickered forward, her voice echoing in the air. "Grab the camera and follow me. I want to take pictures at a few spots."
Watching Kurenai's vanishing figure, Ryūsei grew interested too. He retrieved a film camera from his spatial inventory and flickered after her.
The Land of Fire's hallmark was its abundant forests—lush trees, cliffs, and waterfalls everywhere.
The place Kurenai led Ryūsei to was very similar to his training waterfall spot.
Next, Kurenai struck various poses beside the waterfall, having Ryūsei snap photos.
She then channeled chakra to her feet, standing on the river or under the waterfall, letting Ryūsei capture misty, ethereal shots.
Ryūsei clicked the shutter repeatedly, occasionally glancing at the sky to direct Kurenai's positioning based on the light, framing beautiful scenes of her amid the water landscapes.
Finally, Kurenai said, "Ryūsei, let's take a photo together."
"Sure."
Ryūsei didn't refuse. He formed a single-handed seal to create a shadow clone, handed the camera to it, and stood beside Kurenai, both facing the clone.
Kurenai draped an arm over Ryūsei's shoulder, her smile radiant, eyes curving into crescents like a moon.
Ryūsei, with one hand in his pocket, grinned.
Click!
With the shutter's snap, the image of master and student—against a waterfall backdrop, shrouded in mist like an immortal realm—was forever captured.
Once developed, it would surely be framed and placed on Kurenai's desk.
After the joint photo, Kurenai took Ryūsei to a few more scenic spots for more pictures and selfies.
Until noon, when her stomach growled in protest. The black-haired beauty, her face flushing red, threatened Ryūsei to forget the sound he'd just heard and led him to the nearest town for lunch.
After eating, they continued traveling by day, sightseeing along the way.
By afternoon, as the sun began to set, they prepared to use Body Flicker to speed up, aiming to find a village or town to rest before nightfall.
Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling…
Suddenly, the crisp, pleasant sound of wind chimes reached their ears.
Ahead on the forest path, two figures had appeared, slowly approaching them.
Seeing these two, both Kurenai and Ryūsei's pupils contracted.
For Kurenai, it was the instinctive tension from sensing powerful presences.
For Ryūsei, it was recognition.
No helping it—their attire left an indelible impression on Ryūsei, the transmigrator.
Loose black cloaks embroidered with red clouds, heads topped with conical hats adorned with wind chimes.
Even without seeing their faces, Ryūsei identified them instantly.
Itachi and Kisame!
Ryūsei's mood grew heavy. He hadn't expected to encounter Itachi and Kisame in this remote area. Officially scouting Konoha intel, but actually heading back to warn Shimura Danzō.
"Teacher Kurenai, don't act rashly. They're very strong," Ryūsei whispered, audible only to them.
Kurenai nodded, her heart sinking.
She didn't need the reminder; she could sense an unprecedented pressure from them.
Undoubtedly, these were powerhouses. The faces under those hats might even be "acquaintances" from the ninja handbook.
Why were such strong individuals in the Land of Fire?
And their direction—they were likely heading to Konoha.
What business did they have there?
This thought made Kurenai even more cautious—not just for Ryūsei's safety, but so she could create distance and send a message back, alerting the village to these mysterious figures.
Encounters on a forest path were as awkward as meeting in a narrow alley.
Any sudden move from either side would reveal intentions.
If one party were harmless, it might be fine, but both sides harbored secrets.
So, like Team 8's brush with Kurosaki back then, Kurenai and Ryūsei, along with Itachi and Kisame, made no moves, pretending the others were mere passersby.
Yet, as the four passed each other, the unexpected happened!
Rip—
The massive sword Samehada, wrapped in white bandages on Kisame's back, shuddered violently as if scenting the world's most enticing aroma. Its barbed body burst through the bandages, its gaping maw lunging toward the source—Ryūsei.
Kurenai and Ryūsei, ever vigilant, immediately flickered away.
Facing Itachi and Kisame, Ryūsei, mid-air in a backward flip, puffed his cheeks and expelled a super-high-pressure linear water stream. With a sound like tearing air, it sliced toward the two.
Kisame grabbed Samehada's hilt, and both he and Itachi flickered away.
Ryūsei's eyes flashed red briefly as he redirected the linear water stream toward the three o'clock position.
Boom...
Trees were bisected, crashing down and kicking up dust clouds and deafening noise.
This linear water stream was none other than Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
After developing all the photos, Ryūsei didn't first learn Wood Release techniques or the sealing arts best for leapfrogging enemies. Instead, he focused on Senju Tobirama's Water Release ninjutsu.
Because Ryūsei had trained Water Release nature transformation since childhood, and with the chakra control extracted from Sakura, he'd innovated the Helix Water Dragon and S-rank Hard Vortex Water Blade based on his ideas.
As Konoha's top Water Release user, Ryūsei could develop various Water Release techniques with some effort.
With the training methods for other Water Release jutsu, mastering them was like one-click learning in a game—simple and effortless.
The linear water stream felled countless trees, turning a swath of forest into a logged clearing, before Ryūsei suddenly stopped spitting water, as if spotting something.
Splash...
The sound of surging water rose.
A massive wave crashed through the rising dust, roaring toward Ryūsei and Kurenai.
The two, just landing, flickered again to the treetop.
The waves scattered, the torrent turning the surroundings into a lake, water level reaching halfway up the trunks.
On the lake's surface ahead, where trees once stood, two figures without hats now stood.
Kisame gripped the quivering Samehada, which seemed to urge him on. His shark-like face twisted into a ferocious grin. "To make Samehada lose control and crave food... Itachi-san, that kid isn't the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, is he?"
"No."
Itachi replied flatly. "The Nine-Tails Jinchuriki is the Fourth Hokage's posthumous son. His hair and eye color match the Fourth's."
Kisame's grin widened. "Not the Nine-Tails, yet with chakra that excites Samehada... and that insanely powerful Water Release... Itachi-san, your Konoha truly is a cradle of geniuses."
"That Water Release is the Second Hokage's Water Severing Wave," Itachi said expressionlessly, inwardly sighing.
As expected of the top student who suppressed Sasuke—not a mere common orphan.
Yes, Itachi knew Ryūsei.
He hadn't recognized him at first due to Ryūsei's rapid growth, but upon closer inspection of his hair and eyes, Itachi recalled him.
As a brother-con like Uchiha Madara, Itachi had always quietly watched over Uchiha Sasuke.
Before the clan massacre, Sasuke was already seven.
Ryūsei, at six, had acquired Asura's chakra and claimed the top student title over Sasuke, naturally known to Itachi.
He'd thought Ryūsei was just a commoner genius, but now it seemed he was the strongest monster in Sasuke's generation.
In Itachi's Sharingan view, Ryūsei's chakra reserves rivaled Kisame's beside him.
Kisame was known as the tailless tailed beast.
And Ryūsei was only twelve, in the midst of his growth spurt.
By the time he reached Kisame's age, how terrifying would his chakra be?
Was he a Senju descendant, awakening the clan's bloodline after generations?
No, even Senju blood couldn't explain such exaggerated reserves.
His body must hide unknown secrets, leading to this astonishing chakra amount!
Itachi mused inwardly.