Chapter 68: One Month Training Summary
On the way to Yakiniku Q, Kaito thought analytically,
"Hmm, 2 hours of work for 10,000 ryo payment. If I created Shadow Clones and worked with them instead of my teammates, I'd finish even faster. It's decent income, but not as lucrative as selling storage scrolls. Anyway, earning 2,000 ryo weekly is significantly better than the 1,000 ryo monthly stipend I received before. Though it's still not enough for me to make major purchases like I used to."
"Should I accept more D-rank missions individually over the next few days to establish that I'm earning money through legitimate means... or should I just confess my ability to create storage scrolls?"
He contemplated this dilemma and reached a decision.
"No, Renjiro barely gives me any unsupervised free time now. If I claim I'm studying fuinjutsu at night, it'll seem extremely suspicious. I should wait until the intensive training under Renjiro concludes, or at least until the schedule becomes less demanding. He's an elite jonin, after all. I don't believe Konoha would allow him to train three genin indefinitely."
Lost in thought, he arrived at the restaurant. He entered and placed his order. While waiting for his food, he reflected,
"This world is genuinely dangerous. Originally, I was simply very cautious, but now I'm genuinely glad I was so careful and concealed most of my abilities. Even without considering the numerous powerful and capable shinobi here, the sheer shamelessness of people in positions of authority is shocking."
"Hiruzen could make those statements with complete sincerity, Renjiro claimed forty percent of the mission payment without contributing any actual work, and today's client sat comfortably on her balcony enjoying the spectacle of children's suffering... The shamelessness in this world is truly extraordinary. Their figurative skin is thicker than the Hokage Monument itself! Enemies will be equally ruthless. I just hope Obito and Nagato follow the general timeline I remember. If they deviate significantly, everything will become chaotic."
His meal arrived. Kaito picked up the raw meat with tongs and placed it on the charcoal grill. While waiting for the meat to cook properly, he thought,
"Well, there's no point worrying excessively about these uncertainties. Anyway, there's nothing I can realistically do to influence those events, so I can only hope everything proceeds reasonably well."
After reaching this conclusion, he focused his attention on enjoying his lunch.
The next day, after completing morning training, Renjiro held another strategic discussion with his team. He announced,
"Over the past month, you've all demonstrated good progress. Next, I'll discuss how you can continue improving further."
The genin nodded attentively, listening carefully.
Renjiro looked at Mieko and stated,
"You possess sufficient techniques now, so you don't need to learn additional jutsu yet. Simply focus on perfecting the techniques you already know, especially Fire Release: Flame Finger. Besides ninjutsu, you also need to develop genjutsu capabilities, so during your free time, please ask your parents or clan elders to teach you more Sharingan-based illusion techniques. Continue training your physical conditioning as well. You need to complete the morning exercises while enduring 10% maximum seal pressure."
Mieko nodded earnestly and said,
"Okay, sensei. I will work diligently."
He then regarded Kaito and asked,
"Have you decided on the second chakra nature you plan to develop?"
Kaito nodded and replied,
"Yes, sensei. I've decided to pursue Earth Release as my secondary nature."
Renjiro nodded and asked,
"Which techniques do you want to learn? Do you have specific ideas?"
Kaito stated,
"I've decided to learn Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall, Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage, and Earth Release: Earth Prison Dome."
Renjiro asked,
"Explain your reasoning."
Kaito elaborated,
"Earth-Style Wall provides strong defensive capability. Subterranean Voyage is a movement technique that also offers stealth. Earth Prison Dome can trap enemies or provide stable footing for myself and my teammates."
Renjiro considered this thoughtfully and said,
"Earth-Style Wall would definitely benefit you. But why do you want to learn Subterranean Voyage? You already possess two movement techniques. And Earth Prison Dome is really too slow to effectively trap skilled opponents, so its practical utility is questionable. Why do you still want to learn it?"
Kaito explained,
"I understand the limitations, but there's no harm in mastering additional movement options. Also, traveling underground provides excellent defense and stealth capabilities. If the enemy lacks sensory abilities, it can also enable surprise attacks from below."
"As for Earth Prison Dome, my primary purpose is creating distractions, forcing enemies to constantly watch the ground—especially if I can execute it without hand seals. I also want to test if I can suppress its chakra signature to cast it very covertly. If it can temporarily immobilize an enemy even briefly, they can be subdued during that window."
Renjiro thought appreciatively,
"Another solid tactical concept. However, even with reasonable justification, learning a third movement technique still seems somewhat wasteful of training time."
Renjiro nodded and said,
"Acceptable. Earth-Style Wall can be self-taught from scrolls. The remaining two will be learned under my direct supervision. Besides these, you must work diligently to master all the techniques you already know."
Finally, Renjiro looked at Hodaka and stated,
"Hodaka, your ninjutsu repertoire is considerably better now than before we began training, but it's still insufficient."
Hodaka nodded, listening intently. Renjiro continued,
"You need to learn four Earth Release techniques: Earth Release: Rock Shuriken, Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld, Earth Release: Stone Spear, and Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage. Rock Shuriken is mid-range offensive capability, Swamp of the Underworld provides area control and trapping. Stone Spear offers mid-range attacks, and Subterranean Voyage is movement technique."
Hodaka sighed heavily and nodded reluctantly, having no choice but to agree.
Renjiro smiled and then reassured him,
"Don't worry, these are the only C-rank techniques I'm requiring you to master. I'll suggest you learn more later, but those decisions will be yours. Learning C-rank techniques will prove extremely helpful for your future development."
"Furthermore, once you've mastered these Earth Release techniques, you should immediately begin learning 2 B-rank Earth Release jutsu. The first is Earth Release: Earth Dragon Bullet, which will dramatically improve your long-range combat capability. The other is Earth Release: Earth-Style Rampart, which ranks among the best defensive techniques available. They'll perfectly complement your Gentle Fist style, and then you can focus primarily on your taijutsu specialization."
Hodaka's expression became determined and he replied,
"Yes, sensei. I will work hard to master these techniques."
Renjiro continued,
"Besides your ninjutsu and taijutsu training, I'll also begin training your genjutsu capabilities..."
He intended to continue, but Hodaka's expression after hearing "genjutsu" proved extremely entertaining. Renjiro chuckled and revised,
"Whether or not to learn offensive genjutsu, let's postpone that discussion. For now, I'll teach you how to recognize and counter genjutsu."
Renjiro's laughter and pointed gaze attracted his students' attention. Kaito and Mieko looked at Hodaka's relieved face and both laughed.
Renjiro's training regimen continued intensively. Over the following six weeks, Kaito and Hodaka had mastered all the assigned techniques and were practicing to perfect them.
Currently, Kaito only required one hand seal to execute all his newly learned C-rank jutsu. Renjiro proved significantly more skilled at instructing Earth Release techniques than Wind Release jutsu.
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