Shortly after his meeting with the Third Hokage, Iruka called Shorai to stay behind. The office door closed, and a while later Iruka returned with a small stack of delicate papers.
"This is far beyond Academy-level knowledge," Iruka said, "but given what you've shared, we should find out what's happening to you." He held up a sheet. "This is chakra-sensitive paper—used to detect elemental affinity. It's typically for chunin, but… you're not typical."
Shorai nodded calmly. "I've read about it. Fire burns it, Water dampens, Wind splits it, Lightning wrinkles it, Earth crumbles it."
Iruka raised a brow. "You know more than most graduates."
Shorai took the paper, heart steady despite the moment's weight. He focused chakra into his palm.
The paper wrinkled—Lightning.
Then split in half—Wind.
Then dampened—Water.
Iruka froze. "W-what…?"
Shorai feigned shock. "More than one…?"
Iruka handed him another sheet. And another.
Each time, the same result.
"Lightning, Wind, Water," Iruka whispered, eyes wide. "You're a prodigy."
Shorai looked down. "I didn't earn this. It's just… biology. But… could this mean I have a hidden kekkei genkai?"
Iruka gripped his shoulders. "Say nothing. Not even to Naruto. I'm reporting this to the Hokage immediately."
Alone again, Shorai clutched the fuinjutsu scroll Hiruzen had given him. His training now had a new dimension. That night, he studied the scroll in depth—decoding the symbols, understanding chakra programming, comparing it to the clone technique. He realized sealing wasn't just storage—it was intent made manifest, dormant until triggered.
The next day, he met Iruka and Hiruzen in the Hokage's office. The Third listened intently, then nodded.
"Keep this secret," he said. "Let your abilities develop naturally. I'll watch your progress."
Shorai bowed and left.
—
During the summer, as Shorai delved into fuinjutsu, he maintained a spectral sentry—a silent reminder that the Third Hokage watched from afar. Late at night, free from prying eyes, he trained relentlessly. Driven by curiosity, he used the Reality Stone to warp his body and mind into a fully mastered Swift Release state, seeking to understand its limits.
The first attempt nearly killed him. The surge of speed was blinding—his nerves and muscles unprepared for such velocity. Only years of reflexive training saved him from colliding with a boulder. Gradually, he adapted. The sensation of frictionless movement became natural, exhilarating. When he felt ready, he tested it in combat simulations.
He summoned three lifelike replicas: Hatake Kakashi, Uchiha Itachi, and Obito—each programmed with their known combat behaviors. Starting with Kakashi in a relaxed, non-combative stance, Shorai gathered his thoughts of the warped knowledge.
"There are levels to it?" he murmured, surprised.
Then, he calmly activated the first stage.
"Swift Release: Shadowless Flight."
A woosh of wind and a flicker of lightning preceded his movement. In an instant, he appeared behind Kakashi, palm coated in chakra scalpel, poised to strike. The replica's eye widened in delayed shock—too slow to react, died on the spot.
"Wow... that's impressive..." he uttered with excitement. Although he expected this from a technique emphasized for speed, experiencing it firsthand was different.
After a small pause, his gaze moved to the next target, trembling with anxiety to test the next level.
"Swift Release, Stage Two: Phantom Step."
This time, his speed increased far beyond the first level. A fleeting afterimage remained as Shorai reappeared behind Itachi. He struck—again, undetected. But Itachi, battle-hardened, sensed the attack through instinct and transformed into crows. Shorai responded with rapid bursts of speed, creating multiple clones mid-movement. The battlefield filled with distortions, each step leaving a fading silhouette. Itachi dodged, adapted—but couldn't track the real one. Shorai shifted mid-approach, striking from unexpected angles. The replica's expression flickered with confusion, but nonetheless the longer they fought the more evident their stalemate appeared.
Shorai stopped and sighed, shaking his head—a one-hit kill is unlikely to work on them.
Yet, a strange confidence stirred. The temporary knowledge suggested there was more—far more—awaiting him.
His mind reached for what was his, yet soon to be gone.
But... for now, the apex of mastery loomed, the knowledge a siren call, tempting and luring him to try it.
His expression serious as ever, but calm as water, focusing on the name.
"Swift Release, Stage Three... Reaper's Trail!"
He took a deep breath, and as he exhaled, an invisible field of vibration and vacuum pulsed outward. Wind and lightning fused around his body, forming an insulating layer. To his senses, the world slowed—frozen in time. His nerves fired at lightning speed, his vision sharpened beyond human limits—the world hadn't stopped. He had simply outpaced it.
"You two are far beyond what a normal ninja can fight you with taijutsu..." As he voiced it, he stepped forward, appearing behind Itachi while his original form still stood mid-sentence, mouth moving. He struck. Then, he turned and pierced Obito through the chest.
He took a breath—and time flowed again.
Both replicas jolted, gaping at the wounds they hadn't seen coming. Shorai stared at his hands, breath ragged.
"That's... scary... to step on the path that leads to death..." he whispered in shock.
He had moved beyond the speed of thought—beyond even the Sharingan's perception. The power was real. And dangerous.
Then, the backlash hit.
A crushing wave of dizziness slammed into him. His vision blurred, knees buckled. Thanks to reflexes honed by years of training, he stabilized himself just enough to rush back to his room—where he collapsed, breath ragged, body trembling from the strain.
The Reality Stone had granted him godlike speed.
But his body was still human.
And it would pay the price.