Chapter 136: Improving Relations
Kaito continued striving to create the complex Vacuum Core.
He quickly managed to envelop a chakra membrane within another vacuum layer, but dividing it into six segments remained incredibly challenging.
He spent the next three hours attempting it without success.
Hiruzen watched Kaito, thinking to himself,
I originally didn't intend to teach this advanced form to Kaito. After all, even the basic Vacuum Core is extremely destructive. Danzo and I both took several months to fully master this technique. However, he learned the basic Wind Release: Vacuum Sphere in less than a day. I'm very curious to see how quickly he can fully master this advanced version.
At ten o'clock, an ANBU operative appeared behind Hiruzen, which broke Kaito's concentration. He noticed the arrival.
The ANBU greeted him respectfully.
"Hokage-sama."
He handed Hiruzen a lunch box. Kaito, who had been subsisting on ration bars, found this amusing.
After Hiruzen accepted the lunch and thanked him, the ANBU departed.
Hiruzen looked at Kaito and said,
"Kaito, come eat with me."
Since refusing would be impolite, Kaito joined him.
Hiruzen opened the lunch box, which contained several sandwiches.
Kaito sat down and picked one up. While eating, he said quietly,
"I didn't expect ANBU to handle these kinds of tasks."
Hiruzen chuckled. "He's my personal guard. They'll do whatever I ask of them."
Kaito nodded, thinking,
Hmm, except paperwork apparently.
Seeing that Kaito had no intention of speaking first, Hiruzen asked,
"Kaito, what do you usually do in your free time?"
Kaito took a bite of his sandwich. "Hokage-sama, it's basically training, eating, and sleeping. Before the Chunin Exams, Renjiro-sensei would train me all day."
Hiruzen knew this already. He laughed.
"You don't have to keep calling me Hokage-sama. You can call me Gramps."
Kaito felt slightly suspicious.
Is this old fox planning something?
He put on an enthusiastic expression and said,
"Okay, Gramps!"
Hiruzen laughed when he heard this.
Since there wasn't much casual conversation to have with Kaito, Hiruzen began sharing old stories from his own experiences.
Kaito listened attentively. After all, Hiruzen's record as a ninja was truly legendary! Few could claim to be stronger than him.
As for experience, it would be difficult to find anyone in the ninja world with more extensive knowledge than him. Perhaps only Ōnoki of Iwagakure would dare claim such rich experience.
After breakfast, Kaito tried again but still without success.
They broke for lunch around one in the afternoon, then trained until four.
The next few days passed similarly. Kaito continuously refined his Vacuum Core technique, but it still hadn't reached a satisfactory level. Hiruzen continued monitoring him, offering advice and guidance.
During meals, Kaito proactively asked for more stories. In particular, he asked many questions about Hashirama and Tobirama Senju.
After Hiruzen finished telling their stories, Kaito then inquired about the Second Kazekage, the Third Raikage, Sakumo Hatake, and the Legendary Sannin.
He initially framed his questions to show admiration for past Hokage.
But as Hiruzen shared more, the conversation naturally shifted to their techniques—how they created these jutsu and abilities, how Hiruzen or others fought against these skills.
Of course, Hiruzen noticed the shift in conversation. But he didn't mind.
After all, if he told these stories to other children, they'd get bored and fall asleep.
It was rare to find someone who was a good listener, asked thoughtful questions, and was genuinely interested in these topics.
Once, Kaito asked Hiruzen,
"Gramps, how do you counter the Sharingan in battle? Is avoiding eye contact the only way?"
Hiruzen asked,
"Don't you have a Sharingan user on your team?"
Kaito nodded. "Yes. But every time I spar with her, I keep my distance and use clones to fight. Unlike close combat with Hodaka, I prefer having my clones face Mieko."
Hiruzen nodded. He'd witnessed their sparring matches firsthand. "The advantage of the Sharingan is that they can cast genjutsu extremely quickly. However, even though it's fast, it still takes a split second to activate."
"While not looking into their eyes or fighting with clones are effective methods, these approaches are quite limiting. A better technique is to sense when they're using Sharingan genjutsu. Before they cast it, disrupt your own chakra flow so the genjutsu won't take effect."
Kaito frowned. "But how can someone sense it that quickly?"
Hiruzen replied, "You can channel chakra into your eyes, which enhances your vision and allows you to perceive chakra flows. Since you're a sensory-type ninja, you should be capable of this. This is what Sakai Yumi did during the Chunin Exams."
Kaito exclaimed, "I didn't realize that was possible."
Hiruzen continued, "Yes, but it's not easy. First, you need to understand how their chakra changes before they cast genjutsu. And you need to be quick enough to recognize it and disrupt your own chakra. However, even this isn't foolproof. Some members of the Uchiha clan can cast extremely powerful genjutsu, and even if you detect and disrupt your chakra, you might still be trapped."
Kaito frowned hearing this. He wondered,
Is he talking about the Mangekyō Sharingan, or can even a regular three-tomoe Sharingan cast such powerful genjutsu?
Hiruzen noticed Kaito's frown and said reassuringly,
"But don't worry—after all, the Uchiha clan is also part of Konoha."
There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in Hiruzen's tone. The relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha was deteriorating daily!
Kaito didn't notice this subtle emotion. He sighed inwardly,
Yes, I certainly hope so. But even without a coup, the strongest Uchiha already became an enemy of Konoha—no, an enemy of the entire ninja world!
Hodaka and Mieko also continued their training. Hodaka was the first to learn his technique, mastering it in three days.
However, his Vacuum Palm was still quite weak. Hiruzen offered insights on improving its power before concluding their training.
Mieko learned her jutsu on the fifth day. Hiruzen spent several additional days helping her refine her mastery of the technique.
He gave her excellent advice and proper guidance. After all, Hiruzen hoped this gesture could improve his relationship with the Uchiha clan.
The Uchiha clan was indeed grateful that the Hokage had personally taught his original jutsu to Mieko. Unfortunately, the village leadership continued ignoring their other grievances, and their resentment didn't diminish.
Later, Hiruzen would attempt to lift surveillance on the Uchiha clan and allow them to move back to their original district.
Unfortunately, his plan would be opposed by Danzo and the two village elders. The Fourth Hokage's death at the hands of the Nine-Tails controlled by a Sharingan was a devastating blow to the village.
Minato Namikaze was gone, and if something similar happened again, other villages might invade Konoha! The elders refused to take that risk.
So the fate of the Uchiha clan would remain unchanged.
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