We spent three more days in the Land of Rivers, moving at a steady, almost lazy pace, stopping at the usual landmarks as if the noble wanted to linger and enjoy the scenery. The air grew warmer as we traveled, and the river often glinted beside the road like a strip of polished steel. No other attackers showed themselves.
When Shisui received the memories from the shadow clone that had escorted the real noble's cart and confirmed it had already reached Konoha, he decided we had done enough. He asked the driver to take us straight back to the village, and sent his remaining shadow clones off in different directions to make sure we were not being followed.
The carriage rattled over the road's uneven stones, the faint scent of water grass drifting in through the open window. Shisui sat across from me, his eyes following the passing trees for a long moment before he spoke in a low voice.
"I am not certain, but there may have been a signal or message the enemy sent periodically to report success or failure. Not receiving that message, especially from the strong team we faced, might have told any other groups that the mission failed. If there were others waiting, they likely slipped back into the Land of Wind rather than risk exposure."
I nodded, but most of my attention was fixed on the small wooden fox toy in my hands. Its carved lines were smooth, and I turned it slowly between my fingers.
Shisui glanced at me and chuckled. "You really do like that toy, don't you? I never expected you to have such an appreciation for art. Very unusual."
The toy vanished into my hand seal as I smiled faintly. "Beauty is rare in this world. I want to appreciate it whenever I find it."
Shisui nodded with a small, approving smile. "A good attitude to have."
For a while, only the soft creak of the wheels and the distant murmur of the river filled the silence. Then his tone shifted, calm but edged with curiosity.
"Noa, how did you achieve that state you were in when you fought Aoya?"
My eyes widened a little. I had expected the question sooner or later, but I had hoped enough time had passed that he might let it slide. I let out a short sigh.
"With a lot of blood, sweat, and tears," I said with a light, half-hearted chuckle.
His gaze stayed steady and serious, the same sharp, assessing look he had worn when he fought the captured jonin held in a genjutsu-induced calm. I scratched the back of my head and added, "Honestly, it started as just an idea. A lot of trial and error, and more than a little luck, before I finally made it work."
I stopped there. I had no intention of going into the details. The method was my secret for a reason, and I did not want to explain it to anyone.
He noticed that and didn't press further. We both knew he could have forced the answer from me with genjutsu if he chose to. But Shisui valued trust. He wouldn't break it.
He looked out the window and asked quietly, "Is it that dangerous?"
I nodded. "More than dangerous. I worry someone might try to force other children to go through the same method. Most wouldn't survive. Those who did would be crippled or left broken. I don't want that on my conscience."
Shisui exhaled slowly. "Do you understand the magnitude of what you've created?"
A smug smile tugged at my lips. "Of course I do. I created something incredible. Something that will push me to the level of the top shinobi, maybe even beyond."
He let out a soft laugh at my confidence. "True. But you know, there are other prodigies who might manage it."
I shook my head. "No other kid can duplicate my feat. I'm sure of it. And it has to be done while they're still young, while the chakra network is still malleable, before it settles into fixed patterns."
Shisui's eyes sharpened. "That's an awfully deep insight."
I shrugged. "I got it from an expert."
His gaze stayed fixed on me. "Someone else knows about this?"
"Yes," I said evenly. "But they're trustworthy."
Shisui looked away again, his tone calm but thoughtful. "I won't force you to say more. But I'm not sure the village will be as patient."
I lowered my eyes, feeling a twinge of unease. "I hope they won't force me. Have you told anyone?"
"Only Lord Third," Shisui said. "And he decided to keep it a secret. In fact, we have a plan for you."
A small smile formed on my lips. "What plan?"
He shifted slightly, leaning his elbow against the side of the cart as he studied me. "I only saw you use that state once," he said at last. "But with the Sharingan, one time was enough. The way your chakra floods your network is impressive, but it's rough. You push it through by brute force instead of guiding it. That's why it drains you so fast and strains your body."
I stayed quiet, waiting.
Shisui turned his gaze to the river again, his voice steady. "The Hokage and I discussed it. If you want to keep using that power, you'll need to develop it properly. I'd break it into steps."
He raised a hand, counting them off.
"First, you need to refine your chakra flow. Right now it's like forcing water through a narrow, uneven channel. Too much energy is wasted, and the rest batters your system. We'll smooth the flow so your network stops fighting you every time you activate the state. That will make it cleaner, steadier, and less painful."
He let that sink in before going on.
"The second step is endurance. Not just how long you can hold the state, but how well you can stay in control while doing it. At the moment you burn too hot, too fast. We'll build it up gradually and teach you to let out power in measured bursts instead of flooding your whole system."
He rested his chin on his palm.
"The third step is recovery. That state leaves you drained and shaky once you drop it. That's one of the most dangerous moments in a fight. We'll work on ways to reduce the backlash and help you recover faster through proper breathing, recovery exercises, and simple routines that let your body mend between uses."
Finally, his tone softened, almost like an older brother's advice.
"The last part isn't training, it's judgment. You need to learn when to use that state and when to hold back. It's powerful, but if you rely on it too much, it becomes a weakness. Sometimes timing matters more than raw strength."
He let the words settle, his eyes briefly meeting mine. "That's how I see it. Do you think I missed anything?"
I was honestly impressed. "Wow. The Sharingan really is one powerful set of eyes. You pretty much nailed it. I like to think I'm making good progress on my own, but having advice and supervision from an expert will definitely speed things up and help iron out the rough edges. I think it's a great plan."
Shisui's lips curved slightly, clearly pleased with my openness.
His faint smile lingered for a moment before fading into a thoughtful look. "You've built a solid core of techniques," he said evenly. "But most of them focus on offense, and you're still lacking in defense. Relying on speed to dodge everything works only until you face someone just as fast or even faster."
I tilted my head. "So you're saying I need a shield."
"In a sense," Shisui replied. "You already have your Static Field. Right now it slows incoming weapons. I want you to refine it so it not only slows them but also interferes with their trajectory. A subtle disturbance in the field can make a kunai wobble or drift off course just enough to throw off an enemy's aim."
I pictured it and gave a slow nod. "Like turning the air around me into a small obstacle for anything metal."
"Exactly," Shisui said. "You won't be knocking weapons out of the sky, but that little edge can make all the difference in a fight."
He glanced out the window, then looked back at me. "The second thing is a Water Release: Water Formation Wall. A defensive jutsu you'll need to learn eventually. I know you're not comfortable with other chakra natures, but you'll have to broaden your range. A wall of water can absorb impact better than lightning ever could. You won't need to master it right away. Just understand the principle and start small. It'll teach you how to manage defensive chakra shaping more efficiently."
I frowned, not even trying to hide it. "Water Release, huh? That's not really my thing."
Shisui chuckled quietly. "I know. But every shinobi needs at least one tool that doesn't rely on their comfort zone. You can bend lightning to your will, but someday you'll need something that can stop it too. Not to mention, if you ever combine it with your Lightning Release, it could turn into a deadly trap for anyone foolish enough to try and charge through."
I leaned back, thoughtful. "I've been so focused on hitting harder and faster that I didn't think much about putting something between me and an attack."
A faint smile touched his lips again. "That's why I brought it up. Offense wins fights, but defense keeps you alive long enough to use it. Once we're back and rested, we'll start drills for the wall and work on refining your Static Field."
I nodded, feeling that familiar spark of anticipation. "I can work with that."
Shisui's smile turned slightly amused. "Most people your age aren't that excited about training. That's one of your better habits."
I dipped my head in a small bow. "Thank you, sensei, for the effort and for your dedication."
He shook his head with a quiet laugh. "It's my duty. And don't forget, I promised I'd train you. Besides…" His smile sharpened a little. "You'll need it. You're going to be taking the next chunin exam."