Tonbee swept his gaze across everyone and said,
"Now that the young lady is safe, hurry and come back to the village with me. Everyone there is waiting anxiously."
"I don't want to go back."
Tsuchigumo Hotaru said stubbornly.
Then, she repeated to Tonbee everything she had just told Shinju and the others.
After listening, Tonbee only sighed.
"We're all family… I never thought they would actually do something like this, just because they fear your power, young lady…"
"In a world this vast, there's still no place where we can belong…"
At that point, Tonbee let out a sorrowful sigh.
Beside him, Utakata suggested,
"The villagers' prejudice against you comes down to that secret technique. When the previous kinjutsu owner passed it to you, did he ever tell you how to undo it?"
"If we could just remove that so-called secret technique from you, it should solve the problem."
For once, Naruto grew serious. He glanced at Utakata and spoke slowly.
"The prejudice in people's hearts is not so easy to move."
"But if Hotaru no longer carries that secret technique, maybe the villagers will at least try to accept her…"
Hotaru shook her head firmly.
"No. The secret technique is my grandfather's legacy!"
Tonbee suddenly comforted her.
"Actually, when the kinjutsu owner transferred the secret technique to you, young lady, he already foresaw this day. He told me the method of removing it in advance."
"In other words, he had already prepared for the possibility of ending the secret technique's inheritance."
But Hotaru still held on stubbornly.
"Even so, I won't allow it…"
Nearby, Shinju listened to everyone's discussion, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.
From the looks of it now, undoing the secret technique on Hotaru really did seem like the best option.
Not only would the villagers accept her, but it would also prevent a lot of trouble in the future.
After all, many people were bound to covet the Tsuchigumo clan's secret technique…
Yet, if they did this, the technique would vanish from the world altogether. That was a pity.
He'd heard it was quite powerful.
After thinking it over, Shinju made up his mind.
Letting something this valuable just disappear would be too wasteful. Might as well freeload it.
"Transfer your Tsuchigumo clan's secret technique onto me instead. (o´Д`o)ノ"
Hotaru froze.
"But you're not part of our clan…"
Even Tonbee looked troubled.
"This…"
Shinju knew just how important and confidential a clan's secret techniques were, so he gave his word.
"As an exchange, you'll have three chances to call on my protection."
With that, Shinju took out three pieces of the Stone of Gelel from his summoning scroll, each inscribed with his unique Flying Thunder God mark…
"These three stones have a special technique placed on them. As long as you channel chakra into one, I'll receive your distress signal—and then I'll arrive immediately through the Flying Thunder God to protect you…"
Tonbee hesitated.
He knew that with Shinju's strength, even if he forcibly took it, they wouldn't be able to stop him…
Hotaru, meanwhile, had been staring into Shinju's eyes the entire time he spoke.
Finally, after conferring briefly with Tonbee, she stepped forward.
"Alright."
"But I have one condition."
Shinju spread his hands.
"Say it. As long as it's something I can do. ( ´▽` )"
Hotaru declared openly,
"I want you to be my teacher, to teach me ninjutsu."
"Don't refuse. Your strength is recognized across the entire shinobi world…"
Shinju: (||๐_๐)
This request of hers… was pushing it a bit too far!
He and Naruto were doing just fine as they were—dragging along a burden would be a huge inconvenience…
"I refuse."
He said it flatly.
Hotaru: "…"
Tonbee: "…"
Shinju's firm attitude seemed to drive the negotiations into a dead end…
At last, Tonbee spoke up.
"Then, can you at least bring the young lady to Konoha to study?"
Shinju thought for a moment, then nodded.
"That, I can do. （＾ワ＾）"
"With your identity, you'll be free to learn whatever you want in Konoha."
After a bit more discussion, they finalized the matter.
Then, the process of transferring the kinjutsu began…
With Tonbee's original control over the technique combined with Shinju's sealing arts, the ritual was completed in just a few dozen seconds…
When it was over, the kinjutsu appeared on Shinju's right arm.
Taking off his shirt, Shinju looked at the strangely shaped core.
He wasn't exactly a scholar, but after three years of traveling the nations with Jiraiya, he knew at least a few things.
Even so, he couldn't identify what this core was made of…
"There really are so many secrets in the shinobi world."
Shinju murmured.
Seeing him take off his shirt, Hotaru nearly fainted from excitement.
(´◊ω◊｀)
There wasn't a single girl in the world who, when faced with a sunny, handsome, well-built, and overwhelmingly powerful boy, could say "no."
"Young lady, please calm yourself!" Tonbee hurriedly reminded her.
Since Hotaru was unwilling to return to her village, Shinju used Wood Release to construct a small house outside the settlement for everyone to rest. The next day, they would head back to Konoha.
Utakata bid Shinju farewell then, returning to Kirigakure to seek answers about the past.
...
The next day.
Shinju used the Flying Thunder God to bring Tonbee and Hotaru to Konoha.
...
In the Hokage's office.
Tsunade looked at Shinju suspiciously.
"And these two are…?"
Shinju ┓( ´∀` )┏:
"They're the Tsuchigumo successor and her attendant."
Tsunade instantly facepalmed.
"I told you to protect the girl and her secret technique, but you took the easy way out and dragged them straight to Konoha instead! (▼ヘ▼#)"
Helpless, Shinju explained the situation.
After listening, Tsunade nodded repeatedly and shot Shinju a meaningful glance: ❛‿˂̵✧
It was like she was saying: "Well done, kid. You actually managed to trick the Tsuchigumo clan's secret technique over here. Close enough to free loot! ୧⍢⃝୨"
A few minutes later, Tsunade sent people to arrange accommodations for Hotaru. The Hokage's office was left with just master and disciple.
Feigning seriousness, Tsunade asked,
"So, that secret technique—have you tested its power yet?"
Shinju answered honestly.
"No. I was planning to try it once I left the village."
Tsunade frowned.
"No way. That's still too close. If you're going to test it, go to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Wind! (′д｀σ)σ"
Shinju protested.
"Hey, the Land of Wind is still an ally of the Land of Fire! What kind of way is that to treat a friend? (ー_ー)!!"
Tsunade defended herself.
"What are you talking about? I've heard that 'Fury' once covered over a hundred kilometers when released during the Third Shinobi World War—absolutely terrifying! The Land of Wind has nothing but open desert and blowing sand. It's perfect for your test…"
Then she shifted topics.
"Oh, right. Since you're back, I might as well tell you something else."
Shinju nodded, adopting a look of earnest attention.
Tsunade said,
"Do you remember the message I passed to you earlier—that several kekkei genkai ninja have gone missing near the Land of Earth's border…"
Shinju nodded.
"Yeah, I remember. Either way, I'm not going anywhere near that place. ┑(￣Д ￣)┍"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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