Boom!
The tree trunk toppled over as Hoshita Shūichi panted heavily, his gaze fixed on the cut—now a charred, blackened mark.
"Cutting is definitely easier now... with added high-temperature burn damage."
"The direction is right, but further refinement is needed."
After swallowing a soldier pill, Hoshita Shūichi began summarizing his findings.
He needed more efficient chakra nature transformation, faster chakra circulation, and greater chakra control.
Once his stamina recovered, he continued.
Trial after trial, iteration after iteration.
Days like these passed in a blur, and before he knew it, his three-day break was over. Mission duty resumed.
Even during missions, Hoshita Shūichi didn't pause his sword technique development.
During a rest break on a northern border patrol, Kurama Sanyō scratched his head as he watched Hoshita Shūichi engrossed in his new technique. He had just entertained the idea of developing his own genjutsu but found his mind blank.
"I'm really no genius..."
Kurama Sanyō sighed dejectedly.
Namikaze Minato smiled reassuringly. "Don't compare yourself to Shūichi. He's developing his own sword technique because he has an advantage in Fire Release."
"Sanyō, you specialize in genjutsu. What you've learned so far is already plenty to master."
Kurama Sanyō was instantly convinced, his gloom vanishing. He then asked, "Shūichi, how exactly are you combining Fire Release with swordsmanship—or rather, your blade techniques?"
In shinobi tradition, "swordsmanship" encompassed both swords and blades, but Hoshita Shūichi preferred the term "blade techniques."
Hoshita Shūichi looked up with a smile. "Fire Release and blade techniques are essentially about combining chakra, ninjutsu, and swordsmanship."
"And chakra application boils down to two directions: nature transformation and shape transformation."
"For example, Minato-sensei's Rasengan is purely shape transformation."
"Right now, I'm focusing on nature transformation with shape transformation as a supplement. Nature transformation here refers to Fire Release's properties—specifically, high heat."
"Shape transformation involves the chakra's circulation pattern, allowing me to layer Fire Release chakra more effectively, raising the temperature to enhance the blade's cutting power."
Namikaze Minato was impressed. "That's incredibly clear development logic, Shūichi. Your talent for ninjutsu surpasses mine."
Hoshita Shūichi humbly replied, "Only in Fire Release."
Namikaze Minato shook his head. "No, this kind of thinking can be applied to any technique's development."
Uchiha Shisui chimed in, "So, Minato-sensei, your Rasengan could incorporate nature transformation and evolve into a new technique?"
Namikaze Minato nodded. "Exactly. I've considered that."
"But I haven't made much progress yet."
"Nature transformation makes chakra harder to control, and the Rasengan is already highly stable. Adding nature transformation might disrupt that."
At this, Namikaze Minato couldn't help but sigh.
The Rasengan had initially been inspired by the Tailed Beast Ball, but taking it further required a new direction.
Hoshita Shūichi knew about the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken, but he hadn't fully grasped its theory and couldn't offer advice.
The timing isn't right.
Time flew by. By the time Hoshita Shūichi returned to Konoha after the border patrol, it was already October.
One day, as he left Konoha Hospital for the nearby training ground to meet Tsunade, he spotted an unexpected figure.
"Jiraiya... He's back? At this point, Nagato and the others are only around ten years old?"
Hoshita Shūichi was surprised but continued forward.
"Tsunade-sama!"
He greeted her, then turned to Jiraiya with polite respect. "Jiraiya-sama, I'm Hoshita Shūichi!"
Jiraiya, mid-conversation, turned and looked down at him. "Huh?"
"Where'd this kid come from?"
"You know me?"
"Hahaha! Even after being away so long, my reputation still precedes me!"
Hoshita Shūichi nearly facepalmed. Instead of seeking out his student Minato first, Jiraiya had come straight to Tsunade.
Typical Pervy Sage.
And so full of himself.
Despite his inner complaints, Hoshita Shūichi maintained an innocent smile. "Of course! You're one of the legendary Sannin, a distinguished shinobi like Tsunade-sama."
Jiraiya brightened immediately and struck a pose. "Compared to 'Sannin,' I prefer 'Toad Sage of Mount Myōboku, the Gallant Jiraiya!'"
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "Idiot."
Jiraiya deflated slightly but quickly recovered. "By the way, have you forgotten you took on a student?"
Jiraiya grinned. "No need to worry about Minato. He's a once-in-a-decade genius, a natural-born shinobi!"
Hoshita Shūichi added helpfully, "Jiraiya-sama, Minato-sensei is currently my team's jonin leader."
"Jonin leader?"
Jiraiya laughed. "That's my Minato for you! To think he's already a jonin mentoring the next generation in just a few years!"
But then it clicked. "Wait, so you're here learning medical ninjutsu from Tsunade?"
Hoshita Shūichi nodded. Tsunade, however, waved impatiently. "We're starting training."
Jiraiya took the hint and turned to leave. "Let's grab drinks tonight!"
"Fine," Tsunade replied dismissively.
As Jiraiya walked away, Hoshita Shūichi and Tsunade began their session—not medical ninjutsu this time, but the Strength of a Hundred Seal, a fuinjutsu.
Meanwhile, Jiraiya paused after a few steps and glanced back at Tsunade, smiling. "Seems things aren't as bad as I thought."
His first order of business upon returning had been "research," followed by reporting to Sarutobi Hiruzen. That was when he learned about Tsunade's hemophobia and rushed to see her.
Earlier, she had seemed listless, but now she was full of energy.
Relieved, Jiraiya set off to find Namikaze Minato.
Thanks to his high aptitude, Hoshita Shūichi grasped fuinjutsu quickly.
But the Strength of a Hundred Seal was unique—it specialized in sealing chakra, involving chakra refinement and control.
Hoshita Shūichi's medical ninjutsu training had honed his chakra control, but the finer details still required Tsunade's guidance.
Moreover, his situation differed from Tsunade's.
Aside from sparring, Tsunade rarely used chakra, allowing her to store it freely.
But once the Strength of a Hundred Seal was activated, it had to be maintained until completion. Stopping midway meant starting over.
If the stored chakra was insufficient, the effort would be wasted.
Hoshita Shūichi, however, needed chakra constantly—for training, missions.
He couldn't afford to waste three years just for this seal.
He recalled Haruno Sakura's solution: creating a secondary "pool" within the seal to divert chakra—a main reservoir for storage and a smaller one for daily use.
But Hoshita Shūichi had another idea.
"Tsunade-sama, the Strength of a Hundred Seal stores chakra in the forehead, but does it have to be there?"
"The body has three major chakra circulatory systems: the forehead, the heart, and the abdomen near the navel—all connected to the entire body."
He posed his question: "So, could the seal be placed in the abdomen instead?"
Tsunade fell into thought.
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