Chapter 72: The Genjutsu Genius Who Surpasses the Uchiha
"Being around a genius is truly a hassle," Yamanaka En complained. "Especially since you work so hard, Genichi."
Genichi smiled. "It's because I find it interesting."
"If I didn't work hard, it would be too boring."
En said, "You don't have any other hobbies, do you?"
Genichi said seriously, "Of course I do."
"For example, going to the hospital to dissect corpses, and going for a soak in the hot springs."
En couldn't help but roll his eyes. "Hey, hey, how can you put dissecting corpses and soaking in hot springs in the same category!"
"I'm not talking about this anymore. I'm leaving. You can continue!" With that, En waved his hand, then turned and leisurely walked away.
Genichi watched him leave, then continued to explore his Sharingan on his own.
Before he knew it, the sky was gradually getting dark.
Genichi finished his training, bought some dinner, and went to his master's house.
"Kakashi!" Genichi was surprised to see Kakashi was back.
"Genichi, thank you!" Kakashi said gratefully. Genichi had been the one taking care of Sakumo during this time. Although Sakumo had been discharged from the hospital, the injury to his left hand had still not fully recovered.
"Don't mention it." Genichi smiled, showing off the dinner he was carrying. "Have you eaten yet, Kakashi? I didn't bring a portion for you!"
Sakumo's voice came from the living room. "Kakashi has already made dinner. Come in and eat with us, Genichi."
"Yes, Sensei," Genichi replied, then gave Kakashi a thumbs-up.
Kakashi saw that Genichi's mental state was quite good and secretly breathed a sigh of relief. He then took the dishes from Genichi's hands and went to get plates to serve them. The three of them then ate dinner together, as harmonious as a family of three.
After eating, Genichi and Kakashi cleaned up together, then went out for a stroll.
"I heard from my father that you're preparing to travel on your own?" Kakashi asked, seemingly nonchalantly, with his hands clasped behind his head.
Genichi nodded. "I have a plan for that, but it'll be a while."
Kakashi turned his head slightly. "Won't that be too dangerous?"
"I just got back to the village and heard that you're famous now. There's already a bounty on you in the shinobi world."
A bounty?
This was the first time Genichi had heard of this. He was very curious. "How much is the bounty?"
Kakashi turned to look at Genichi, his expression a little strange. He's a little excited about having a bounty on his head?
"Twenty million ryo!" Kakashi held up two fingers, then reminded him, "Don't be careless. There are many bounty hunters in the shinobi world, and many powerful rogue ninja."
The moment he said this, the name Kakuzu immediately appeared in Genichi's mind.
"Don't worry, I know." Genichi pursed his lips. "But isn't twenty million ryo a little too low?"
"Those guys from the Cloud Village are a bit cheap."
Only twenty million? Who are they looking down on? More than one of their Jonin had died at his hands. If it were him, he would have put up more money to crush the opposing force's genius.
Under his mask, the corner of Kakashi's mouth twitched. He asked helplessly, "How long do you plan to travel?"
Genichi reined in his thoughts and considered for a moment. "A year or two, I guess." It was now Konoha Year 45. The situation in the shinobi world was getting more and more tense. It probably wouldn't be many years before war broke out. No matter what, he couldn't stay outside for too long. After two years, he would be recalled directly if he hadn't returned.
"Kakashi, do you have some ideas too?" Genichi turned his head slightly and asked.
Kakashi shook his head. "I'm following Minato-sensei for now."
Hearing this, Genichi smiled. "Then keep up the good work!"
"Minato-niisan is a very powerful ninja. His Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu) and Sealing Techniques (Fūinjutsu) are very much worth learning."
Kakashi shook his head. "My energy is mainly focused on Lightning Release right now."
Genichi looked at him with an expression of "disappointed in a son who won't live up to expectations." "Does practicing Lightning Release (Raiton) conflict with becoming his disciple?"
Kakashi was taken aback. "Minato-sensei doesn't seem... to have that intention."
Genichi was speechless. "Minato-niisan isn't even twenty yet. Of course, he's not in a hurry to take on a disciple. And he also needs to see how you perform."
"I remember Minato-niisan also knows Lightning Release (Raiton), although he doesn't usually show it."
In Genichi's original impression, Minato basically didn't use conventional ninjutsu. Taijutsu, the Flying Thunder God Technique (Hiraishin no Jutsu), the Rasengan, Sealing Techniques (Fūinjutsu)... that seemed to be it. But now that he had more contact with him, Genichi knew that Minato could be said to be proficient in Wind, Lightning, and Fire Release. According to Minato himself, his Water Release was just average. The reason he didn't use them was that after he had the Flying Thunder God, these conventional ninjutsu were no longer suitable. He couldn't just use the Flying Thunder God to fly over to an enemy and form hand seals, could he? That would be serving his head on a platter. With a kunai, he could instantly kill an average ninja. And from the way Minato could cut the Eight-Tails' tentacle with just a kunai, you knew it was no ordinary feat; it was likely infused with wind nature transformation.
During the Nine-Tails' attack on Konoha, all those ninjutsu were like tickles to the Tailed Beast. The durability of the Eight-Tails' body was definitely no less impressive. Just because Minato didn't use them didn't mean he didn't know them.
"Besides, even if you become Minato-niisan's disciple, you don't necessarily have to learn Lightning Release (Raiton) from him." Genichi was nagging like a mother. "For swordsmanship and Lightning Release (Raiton), having Sensei guide you is enough. If you can become Minato-niisan's disciple, then it will be much more convenient to learn Sealing Techniques (Fūinjutsu) and the Body Flicker Technique (Shunshin no Jutsu) in the future."
Kakashi nodded, then said a little shyly, "Um... what if Minato-sensei refuses?"
Genichi couldn't help but sigh. He patted Kakashi's shoulder. "Perform well. I have faith in you!"
"Mm, let's go to Minato-niisan's house tomorrow!"
Kakashi nodded. "Alright!"
...
The next day, a little after nine in the morning, Genichi met up with Kakashi, and they went to Minato's house together. After knocking, the one who opened the door was, as expected, Uzumaki Kushina.
"Kushina-neesan!"
"Shibo!" (Translator's Note: "Shibo" is a respectful term for a female master or a master's wife.)
Genichi and Kakashi greeted her one after the other.
"Genichi and Kakashi!" Kushina was all smiles. After letting them in, she looked Genichi up and down. "Genichi, I heard you were injured. It looks like you're alright now?"
Genichi smiled. "They were just minor injuries. I'm fine now."
The three entered the living room. Minato, dressed in casual home clothes, beckoned. "Kakashi, Genichi, come and sit."
Genichi put down the fruit he had brought and plopped down on the sofa without ceremony. He asked, "Kushina-neesan, is that sealing technique finished yet?"
Hearing this, Kushina immediately looked a little guilty. "Um, it's almost, almost done!"
Alright then, looks like I'll have to rely on my cheat system after all.
Genichi saw through her and said it outright. "Kushina-neesan, you've been busy studying cooking lately, haven't you?"
Kushina's face turned red, and she put her hands on her hips. "Developing a new sealing technique is a very serious matter! You can't be too hasty. Genichi, this isn't right of you, you know!"
Genichi spread his hands. "My genjutsu is already developed, you know. Just yesterday."
The three people in the room all stared at him.
Minato asked, "Is it the one you mentioned before, Genichi?"
Genichi nodded. "Yes, Minato-niisan. It's preliminarily completed. A-rank difficulty."
Kushina couldn't help but grit her teeth. "You guy, aren't you a little too fast?"
Kakashi was also shocked. His own lightning ninjutsu wasn't even finished yet. First, it was the Rasengan, and now another A-rank genjutsu. It seems I'm still not working hard enough!
Minato, on the other hand, smiled. "As expected of the greatest genjutsu genius!"
The greatest genjutsu genius? Since when do I have that title? Genichi was completely bewildered.
Minato explained, "Your name is already very famous in the Cloud Village. It's said that the Third Raikage has given an order that if anyone encounters you, they must treat you with the same caution as a three-tomoe Sharingan user. He has also named you 'the genjutsu genius who surpasses the Uchiha.'"
What the hell? The genjutsu genius who surpasses the Uchiha?
This... the Cloud Village is trying to stir up trouble, aren't they? It's a sow-discord scheme! Those simple-minded brutes actually know how to do this?
Genichi's face turned a little green. It was as if he could see a line of Uchiha waiting to challenge him.
Seeing the look on his face, Kushina couldn't help but burst out laughing. "Don't tell me you're afraid of the Uchiha clan coming to challenge you?"
Hearing this, Genichi immediately puffed out his chest. "How could that be?"
"I just feel that as a ninja, it's more appropriate to be silent and unknown."
"Being too famous easily attracts the attention of the enemy. I'd rather the enemy always underestimate me."
Minato heard this and nodded. "That is indeed true."
"But there are also benefits. A great reputation and strong abilities have a deterrent effect on the enemy, making them fear you before the battle even begins."
Everyone nodded. In a battle to the death, morale was also very important.
"Kakashi, I heard from Minato that you're also developing your own ninjutsu. How is it coming along?" Kushina asked, shifting the topic to Kakashi.
Kakashi said honestly, "I still need some time to figure it out."
Kushina smiled. "Why don't you tell us about it? We can all help you brainstorm."
"Even though this guy Genichi doesn't use Lightning Release, his head is always full of new and strange ideas. Maybe he can help you."
Kakashi hesitated slightly. Developing a ninjutsu was a rather private matter. Was it appropriate to talk about it? Sakumo had only ever given him theoretical guidance on the matter, so as not to influence his own thinking. And this teaching method had clearly influenced Kakashi's own views.
Genichi knew Sakumo's style very well. He said directly, "Kakashi, the development of a conventional ninjutsu is nothing more than two aspects."
"One is nature transformation, the other is shape transformation."
"Take my Rasengan, for example. The inspiration came from the vortex formed by high-speed rotating water, and the outward force it carries."
"This is a pure application of shape transformation, without involving nature transformation."
"Afterward, I added water nature transformation, and it became the Water Release Rasengan."
Kushina said, "Minato added wind nature transformation, and it became the Wind Release Rasengan."
"And Jiraiya-sensei took the Wind Release Rasengan and further developed its shape transformation, and thus came the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, which became an S-rank ninjutsu."
"Of course, the original concept for the Rasenshuriken also came from this guy, Genichi."
With the two of them going back and forth, Kakashi finally opened up. "My idea is to gather lightning-natured chakra in my hand. The strong lightning nature transformation can activate my cells and dramatically increase my speed."
"That way, with a high-speed charge for a surprise attack, I can inflict astonishing damage."
Minato said, "Lightning-natured chakra has always been very difficult to control. The difficulty of gathering it at a single point in your hand is very high."
Kakashi nodded. "Yes, Minato-sensei."
Kushina pinched her chin. "This point is rather similar to the Rasengan. The Rasengan also requires compressing chakra inwards to a single point in the center."
"Kakashi, maybe you can practice the Rasengan first to improve your control in this area?"
(End of Chapter)
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