The discussion about Wind Release ninjutsu came to an end, and Danzō was clearly satisfied with Kizaru's answers.
With a rare, faintly gentle smile, Danzō raised his right hand and pulled a scroll from inside his robe.
"This is my personal experience with Wind Release ninjutsu. It also contains two relatively simple Wind Release techniques. Take it and practice them on your own."
As he spoke, Danzō placed the scroll on the low tea table and pushed it across to Kizaru.
"What kind of ninjutsu~?" Kizaru asked curiously.
"B-rank techniques. Wind Release: Vacuum Wave and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere."
Kizaru gave a small nod, picked up the scroll, and tucked it away.
"In one month, the Academy will be holding its first test. I expect you—"
"Don't worry, I'll definitely take first place~," Kizaru cut in, full of confidence.
Even though he was interrupted, Danzō didn't get angry. Instead, the corners of his mouth rose in a satisfied smile.
"Go on back, then. I won't keep you from dinner."
Kizaru stretched lazily and stood up. "Got it. See you, clan leader~."
He didn't even bother finishing his bow properly before he turned and headed for the door.
"You brat, learn some manners from me once in a while!" Danzō called after him with a wry smile.
"Eeeh~ let's talk about it when I've got time," Kizaru replied over his shoulder, one hand tucked in his pocket, the other lifting for a half-hearted wave.
Sitting where he was, Danzō watched Kizaru's figure gradually disappear from sight. The smile on his face slowly faded, and the familiar "Darkness of Konoha" expression returned as he slipped back into work mode.
More than ten years had passed since the First Great Ninja War. All the major powers in the shinobi world had long since recovered and, in many cases, grown stronger than before.
These forces were already eyeing Konoha's position, ready to challenge its status and tear off pieces of flesh from both the village and the Land of Fire to boost their own strength.
War was coming. Danzō could already smell it on the wind.
That was the reason he had decided Kizaru should graduate within three years.
With Kizaru's natural talent and power—combined with Danzō's support—there was no doubt he would be able to gain plenty from the war: military achievements, status, and fame.
In the days that followed, Kizaru's life settled into a boring, almost routine pattern.
During the day, he lazily muddled through Academy lessons, pretending to pay attention while his mind wandered elsewhere.
In the afternoon, he practiced ninjutsu under Danzō's guidance.
At night, he trained with his Devil Fruit abilities.
Unlike the Sarutobi clan, who prided themselves on mastering a wide range of complex ninjutsu, the Shimura clan specialized in Wind Release.
Because of that, even though Kizaru possessed three chakra natures—Wind, Fire, and Lightning—Danzō's teaching for now focused solely on Wind Release ninjutsu.
Perhaps because of his Reincarnation, Kizaru's soul—his spiritual energy—was just as abnormally strong as his physical body.
That was also why his chakra reserves were something else entirely.
His powerful spiritual energy made his perception and control of chakra exceptionally good.
It only took Kizaru a single day to completely master the two Wind Release techniques Danzō had given him.
That kind of progress made Danzō very happy… and also, just a bit depressed.
When your student is that good, being a teacher stops feeling fun.
At that moment, Danzō suddenly understood his friend a little better. Back when Sarutobi Hiruzen had been teaching Orochimaru, he'd grumbled every day about how "unsatisfying" the process was.
Danzō had always assumed Hiruzen was just complaining to show off.
But now… it seemed he might have misunderstood his friend after all.
Once Kizaru had mastered Wind Release: Vacuum Wave and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, Danzō went on to teach him, one after another:
Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves,
Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere,
Wind Release: Vacuum Shuriken,
and Wind Release: Vacuum Kunai.
In less than a month, Kizaru had learned every Wind Release technique that Danzō himself had spent most of his life polishing.
For the first time, Danzō felt genuine pressure from his position as "sensei."
"Wind Release: Vacuum Wave!"
On the Shimura clan's training ground, Danzō stood at the edge while Kizaru stood in the center, facing a row of wooden stakes.
Kizaru inhaled lightly, then spat out over a dozen scythe-like blades of compressed air.
Those transparent wind blades shot forward at tremendous speed. Their cutting power was terrifying—wooden posts and stone targets alike were shredded and carved into countless fragments in an instant.
In Kizaru's hands, this B-rank Wind Release: Vacuum Wave unleashed destructive power far beyond its usual level.
Seeing that display, Danzō nodded in satisfaction.
It had taken him over twenty years of practice to perfect his own B-rank Vacuum Wave and push its destructive force beyond the standard limit.
Kizaru had managed to reach that level in under a month.
He really lived up to expectations.
"Very good. At this point, you can already be called a master of Wind Release ninjutsu," Danzō said as he stepped onto the training field and walked over to Kizaru's side.
"Speaking of which, clan leader… when are you going to teach me that S-rank Wind Release you promised~?" Kizaru asked, glancing over at him.
Danzō's lips curled into a meaningful smile. "Haven't I already taught it to you?"
"When?" Kizaru blinked.
"The improved Wind Release: Vacuum Wave and Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere I showed you. Not only are they harder to learn and control… but in your hands, they produce destructive power and lethality far beyond ordinary ninjutsu," Danzō said with a low laugh.
"But they're still just B-rank ninjutsu," Kizaru protested.
"No. All we have to do is change their names," Danzō replied, smiling like an old fox.
"Shimura Kizaru, having improved Wind Release: Vacuum Wave and Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere, created A-rank techniques—Super Wind Release: Vacuum Wave, Super Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere.
"And after refining Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves and Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere, he created S-rank techniques—Super Wind Release: Vacuum Serial Waves and Super Wind Release: Vacuum Great Sphere."
"…You can even do that?" Kizaru muttered, speechless.
"The difficulty of training them is already at that level, and the destructive power has increased dramatically. Why can't they be reclassified?" Danzō continued. "Besides, I've optimized these techniques. They're no longer the same as they were originally."
"But you're the one who improved all of them," Kizaru pointed out.
"A mere title means nothing to me," Danzō said seriously. "If attaching my name or effort to them raises your standing, why not? Remember this—everything I have will one day be yours."
"Tch… suit yourself."
The sky had already grown dark. Kizaru shoved both hands into his pockets and turned away. "Anyway, it's about time for dinner~."
"There are still matters to handle at Root. You go on ahead," Danzō said, remaining where he was without following.
"Alright then, see you, dear uncle~."
Just like always, Kizaru kept one hand buried in his pocket and lazily lifted the other to wave.
"You brat, at least mind your manners when you're outside!"
"Eeeh~ I'll think about it when I have time," came the same unchanging reply as Kizaru walked off at an unhurried pace.
"Kizaru, tomorrow is your exam day at the Academy, isn't it?" Danzō called, already knowing the answer.
"Seems like it~. Doesn't really matter, I'll be first anyway. The timing doesn't change that," Kizaru answered confidently without turning around.
"Don't disappoint me, Kizaru."
Bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, Danzō watched Kizaru's back as it gradually receded into the distance, his voice calm but filled with expectation.
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