While guiding Yahiko and Konan in their training, Yuya never neglected his own cultivation.
He had only completed half of the first stage of the Lightning Release Body-Forging Technique before being forced to leave Konoha's encampment.
This was the perfect opportunity to finish it.
During the period he trained and instructed Yahiko and Konan, Yuya didn't completely isolate himself from the outside world. He still frequently visited nearby towns, hunting enemy shinobi and gathering intelligence.
At the same time, he regularly sent information and confirmed kills back to Konohagakure.
Gradually, more than half a month passed, and the situation in the Second Shinobi World War grew increasingly intense.
The most obvious change Yuya felt was this—
He was encountering more and more shinobi.
Some of them were likely scouts or spies he couldn't even identify.
At the same time, Amegakure—under the leadership of Hanzō of the Salamander—had begun active resistance and counterattacks.
Although the Second Shinobi World War was primarily a conflict between the three great shinobi villages, the Land of Rain itself was the battlefield.
It was also the place where those great villages repeatedly looted supplies.
As the leader of Amegakure, Hanzō naturally couldn't stand by and watch.
And even if he tried, clashes with the Rain shinobi were inevitable sooner or later.
The war raged fiercely—
Yet Yuya's life remained strangely routine.
Training on schedule.
Teaching Yahiko and Konan on schedule.
Going out on schedule to hunt enemy shinobi and collect intelligence.
In just over half a month, Yuya completed most of the first stage of the Lightning Release Body-Forging Technique, bringing it close to full mastery.
It wasn't that Yuya's cultivation speed was absurd—
Rather, the first stage itself was relatively simple.
Combined with Yuya's already formidable physique, he could ignore most of the dangers inherent in the process.
As a result, his progress was unstoppable.
As his body grew stronger, his shock force naturally increased as well.
More importantly, this physical enhancement was rapidly pushing him toward the next threshold of the Eight Gates (Hachimon).
As for Yahiko and Konan, both had successfully cultivated chakra.
Just like in canon, Yahiko's chakra nature was Water Release.
Yuya himself didn't know many Water Release techniques, but with his status, obtaining a few such jutsu was effortless.
Konan, however, refused to train in the standard elemental releases—Wind, Lightning, Water, Fire, or Earth.
Instead, she focused on independently developing the technique she loved most:
Paper Release.
Although the Land of Rain was almost constantly drenched, there were occasional days without rainfall.
Even then, the sky remained overcast and gloomy.
In an open clearing, countless paper sheets floated around Konan—but they carried little real power.
At her current level, she could only exert minimal control.
"Your chakra control is excellent," Yuya said from behind her, watching the scene.
"Far better than Yahiko's."
In truth, Konan's chakra control was even superior to Yuya's.
That could only be explained by talent.
Without extremely fine chakra control, mastering something as delicate and complex as Paper Release would be impossible.
"Teacher Yuya."
Hearing his voice, Konan turned around and smiled shyly at him.
The floating paper sheets immediately lost control and scattered to the ground.
"Mm."
After Yuya began formally teaching them, both Konan and Yahiko added "teacher" to how they addressed him.
Although they were close in physical age—nearly ten years old—Yuya's mental age was far greater.
He had long since grown accustomed to the title.
Konan said it naturally.
Yahiko, on the other hand, always felt awkward about it and tried to avoid saying it whenever possible.
"Teacher Yuya, look."
Like a young girl proudly showing off a treasured discovery, Konan raised her hand slightly.
A single sheet of paper floated before her.
Under her control, it bent, folded, and twisted—
Until it transformed into a small paper flower.
This time, even Yuya couldn't help showing genuine amazement.
Konan's chakra control was astonishing.
Though her chakra reserves were still very weak, she was already capable of such refined manipulation.
"Teacher… here."
A faint blush appeared on Konan's face as she carefully guided the paper flower toward Yuya.
Halfway there, however, her chakra faltered, and the flower fell.
Yuya stepped forward and caught it.
"Keep working hard."
Looking at the paper flower resting in his palm, Yuya nodded gently at her before turning away.
"Mm."
Konan responded softly and resumed her chakra training.
Yuya then went to check on Yahiko's training.
In the Land of Rain, Water Release techniques received a significant environmental boost, making Water-style shinobi feel like fish in water.
Yahiko's progress, therefore, wasn't slow either.
That said, there wasn't much remarkable about it.
After all, Yahiko didn't possess the Rinnegan, nor was he yet the future Tendo Pain.
After giving him some brief guidance, Yuya returned to his own cultivation.
And at that moment—
Not far from their location, a figure dressed in unusual attire slowly approached.
Wrapped in a black cloak from head to toe, he moved silently.
He was a shinobi.
And judging by his presence alone, he was far from ordinary.
He was an ANBU of Sunagakure.
In terms of status, he outranked Yuya—still beneath the ANBU captain, but above squad leaders.
Countless shinobi had died by his hands—
Including many jōnin, and even elite jōnin.
He specialized in assassination.
And he always worked alone.
"According to the intelligence, it should be somewhere in this area…"
Looking ahead, the man—Senjin—remained expressionless beneath his mask, though a sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
Because Yuya had stayed in this region to teach Yahiko and Konan, he couldn't avoid being noticed entirely.
Although he killed any shinobi he encountered with ease, it was impossible to completely escape the notice of hidden scouts and spies.
Especially after Sunagakure lost multiple shinobi in this area—
Including the total annihilation of an entire unit—
The village had finally taken it seriously.
And so, based on gathered intelligence, they dispatched Senjin.
...
Crackle! Snap!!
Lightning arced around Yuya's body, continuously stimulating his skin and penetrating deeper into his flesh and blood.
If an ordinary person were subjected to this, they would already be convulsing violently—
their flesh torn apart by the electrical discharge.
Yuya, however, endured it with ease.
In fact, all he felt was a mild numbness—
Not even a trace of pain.
It was similar to training with shock force.
Neither method caused pain.
Shock force ultimately produced a sense of exhilarating release,
while lightning stimulation left behind a hollow, drained feeling.
Altogether—
It felt strange.
"Hah…"
Another training cycle ended.
Yuya opened his eyes, and the lightning around his body instantly dispersed.
Feeling his body grow stronger once again, he showed a faintly satisfied expression.
But in the very next moment—
Yuya's brows furrowed.
As if sensing something, he suddenly turned his head and looked into the distance.
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