Konoha: Sorry, I’m undercover

“Master Ai, it’s been three years, and the system has made me a Raikage directly!”

“Go! Go get the master’s beloved sister Samui first, and you can choose the position of Raikage at will!”

“Uh… Master, you said this!”

Good news: I was reincarnated as a genius of Kumogakure, and the Raikage will protect me. The future fourth Raikage will be my teacher.

Bad news: I am an undercover agent sent by Iwagakure, codenamed “Moonlight”.

In critical moments, the Ninja Mark System awakens! At the beginning, the god-level “Hidden Shadow” hides everything, and the superior “Thunder Resonance” thunder escape talent is against the sky!

Fusion explosion body, resist the Tailed Beast Ball! Learn the Lightning Release Armor, punch the Eight-Tails and kick the Two-Tails! Unlock the Lightning Release Seal Therapy, I am a god on the battlefield!

Konoha: Sorry, I’m undercover
Chapter 1: The Raikage’s Decision and the Rebirth of the “Seed”
The air in the Raikage’s office seemed to freeze, and the heavy pressure made it almost impossible to breathe. Outside the window, the iconic mountains of the Hidden Cloud Village, which looked like they were split by a giant axe, were even more majestic under the dark clouds.
“Lord Raikage, this child, Gekkou Shun, must be handed over to our Eagle Division for strict supervision!”
A hoarse and sharp voice broke the silence. The speaker was an old man with a shriveled figure and eyes as sharp as a hawk. He was the representative of the hawk faction in the Yunyin Elders Group – Lei Yun. He was bowing slightly at this moment, but his tone was firm and unquestionable.
“Oh? The reason.”
The Third Raikage, who sat behind a large desk, was as burly as a mountain, with muscles knotted on his bronze skin, emitting a palpitating sense of oppression. He didn’t even look up, just playing with a special kunai in his hand, his voice was low, but it exploded like thunder in the heart of the thundercloud.
Elder Leiyun’s eyes twitched, and he resisted the invisible pressure and said in a deep voice: “This boy’s origin is unknown. The file only records that he is a war orphan. It was initially sorted out by the Yakushi Kabuto in the shelter. But according to the initial observation of the ‘Eye’, the nature of the chakra in his body is extremely special. It is not ruled out that he is a ‘seed’ planted by those rats in the Hidden Rock Village! The ‘Eagle’ department has special means to identify and ‘correct’ such suspicious personnel, making them the sharp blade of the village!”
The “eyes” he mentioned were naturally the Hyuga clan members who were responsible for monitoring the village. Although they were branch families, their insight of the Byakugan should not be underestimated. And “correction” was a cruel method used by the Hawks to deal with potential threats or cultivate special combat power.
“Yakushi Kabuto…” The Third Raikage’s fingertips gently slid across the smooth surface of the kunai, emitting a barely audible hum, “He is loyal to your Hawk Faction.”
Elder Leiyun’s expression changed slightly, then he returned to normal: “Kabuto was just doing his duty. Lord Raikage, the ninja world is now undercurrent, and the Hidden Rock Village is determined to destroy us. We cannot let go of any possible threat, nor can we waste any available ‘tools’!”
“Tools?” The Third Raikage finally raised his head. A flash of cold lightning flashed in his deep eyes, and the air in the office seemed to crackle because of it. “Leiyun, are you teaching me how to govern Kumogakure, or are you questioning my judgment?”
The terrifying aura pressed down on the thundercloud like a substance, causing his breathing to stagnate and beads of sweat to form on his forehead. This hawkish figure who was considered a tough figure in the elders’ council had to lower his proud head in the face of the true wrath of the Third Raikage.
“I dare not!” Lei Yun’s voice became much drier.
“Hmph,” the Third Raikage snorted coldly, his pressure slightly reduced, “I have read the information about Gekkou Shun. The observation report about Hinata was also submitted. He is indeed special, but not because he is the ‘seed’ of Iwagakure.”
He paused, his tone carrying a hint of unquestionable authority: “That child possesses the ‘Innate Thunder Soul’! He is an excellent gem for practicing my Cloud Hidden Hidden High-level Thunder Release, or even the Thunder Release Chakra Mode! This kind of talent, if given to those idiots of your Hawk Faction who only know how to kill and brainwash, would only be a waste of talent!”
Elder Leiyun’s face turned pale and blue, and he was furious, but he didn’t dare to vent his anger. He knew very well that once the Third Raikage made a decision, no one could change it. The so-called Elders’ Council, in front of the absolute strength and prestige of the Raikage, was more often just an organization that provided advice and handled miscellaneous matters.
“Then…what does Lord Raikage mean?” Lei Yun asked unwillingly.
“I have made up my mind.” The Third Raikage stood up and walked to the window, overlooking the fortress-like Kumogakure Village below. “Didn’t the kid Yeyue Ai just come back from the front line recently? Let him teach Shun. Ai’s attainments in lightning escape techniques are second to none among the younger generation, so it’s a good opportunity to hone his character.”
Yeyue Ai! The future Fourth Raikage! Elder Leiyun’s pupils shrank, and the last bit of fantasy in his heart was shattered. Handing Shun over to Yeyue Ai meant that Shun would be included in the direct training of the Raikage and would no longer have anything to do with their Hawk Faction.
“Yes, I understand.” Elder Leiyun took a deep breath, suppressed the resentment and anger in his heart, bowed respectfully, and then quietly left the Raikage’s office.
The door was closed gently, and the Raikage’s office returned to silence again.
The Third Raikage looked out the window with deep eyes: “The ‘seed’ of Iwagakure… Humph, even if it is true, in my Cloud Village, a dragon has to coil and a tiger has to lie down! ‘Innate Thunder Soul’… kid of the Night Moon Clan, don’t let me down.”
…
Yue Guangshun suddenly opened his eyes, and the severe headache made him groan. He felt as if his brain was forced into a mess, and countless unfamiliar memory fragments came like a tide, impacting his consciousness.
“Um…where is this…?”
He looked around blankly. This was a simple room, with cold and rough stone walls. Only a small window let in a little light, and the air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant. This was obviously not the cozy little house filled with figurines and comics in his previous life.
Yes, past life.
Memories rushed back like a flood. He remembered that he was an ordinary young man from the 21st century. Because of an accident, his soul traveled to this dangerous world of Naruto. And his current identity is a seven-year-old orphan named “Moonlight Shun” from the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Orphan…that’s not right!” Shun’s face suddenly turned pale.
Deeper memories emerged – he, Gekkou Shun, was not an ordinary war orphan at all, but a “seed” carefully cultivated by the Hidden Rock Village and secretly sent to the Hidden Cloud Village to lurk! Its purpose was to provide fatal intelligence or sabotage actions for the Hidden Rock Village at a critical moment in the future!
“Damn… the game is at the top level of difficulty right from the start!” I instantly felt a chill running from the soles of my feet straight up to the top of my head.
What would happen to a spy from the Hidden Rock Village if he was discovered in the Hidden Cloud Village? He simply couldn’t imagine it. The ninjas of the Hidden Cloud Village were known for their hot tempers and cruel methods. Once their identities were exposed, they might not even be able to leave a complete body.
What made him feel most desperate was that the original owner of this body seemed to have fallen into a coma due to abnormal fluctuations in his soul during routine monitoring by the Hyuga clan, which aroused suspicion. This gave him the opportunity to merge the memories of this body.
“The Hyuga clan’s Byakugan… It is said that high-level Byakugan can even see abnormalities at the soul level! As a time traveler’s soul, won’t I be able to see it accurately?” Shun’s heart sank to the bottom, and cold sweat instantly soaked his back.
Kabuto Yakushi… this name also flashed in his memory. He was the medical director of this special shelter and the person in charge of organizing Shun’s files. If Shun remembered the plot of Naruto correctly, Kabuto Yakushi at this time might have already been connected to a certain big snake, or simply an eyeliner of a certain force. Considering Elder Leiyun’s attitude towards him, Kabuto might be a hawk!
“It’s all over. With the Hyuga looking down on me in front of me and the Hawks following me from behind, my life is hanging by a thread!” I suddenly felt dizzy.
Just as he was terrified and almost fell into despair, a cold, emotionless mechanical voice sounded in his mind:
[Ding! The Ninja Mark system is loading… 10%… 50%… 100%! Loading completed! ][Welcome to the Ninja Mark system. The host is detected to be bound for the first time. The novice gift package has been issued! ]“Huh?” Shun was stunned for a moment, and then his eyes burst into incredible ecstasy.
“System?! My cheat finally arrived?!”
As a senior online novel reader, he knew the significance of the system to the travelers. This was like timely help, no, it was a life-saving measure!
He suppressed his excitement and focused on perceiving the system in his mind. A virtual interface similar to a property panel slowly unfolded:
[Ninja Mark System]Host: Moonlight Shun
Mark level: ordinary, excellent, good, refined, extreme, absolute, divine (can be integrated and promoted)
Mark categories: physical, spiritual, and technical
[Newbie gift pack is now available! ][Congratulations to the host for obtaining the god-level spiritual mark – Hidden Shadow (only one)][Hidden Shadow]: A divine spiritual mark. Effect: The host’s soul fluctuations will be perfectly synchronized with the surrounding environment, and cannot be detected by any pupil technique, perception ninjutsu or secret technique. Unless the host actively exposes himself, the soul-level concealment is absolute.
[Congratulations to the host for obtaining the superior spiritual mark – Thunder Resonance][Thunder Resonance]: Superior spiritual mark. Effect: The host’s affinity and control over lightning chakra increases by 100%, the speed of practicing lightning ninjutsu increases by 100%, and the power of lightning ninjutsu increases by 20%.
“The god-level mark of ‘Invisibility’?! Soul fluctuations cannot be detected?!” Shun’s eyes widened and his heart began to beat violently due to excessive excitement.
This is a magical skill tailor-made for him! With this mark, the Byakugan surveillance of the Hyuga clan will no longer be a threat to him! His biggest identity exposure crisis was solved so easily!
“Huh…” Shun let out a long sigh of relief, feeling as if he had been pulled back from the brink of drowning. As his tense nerves relaxed, he was hit by a strong sense of fatigue and hunger.
The “Thunder Resonance” mark was an unexpected surprise. The Lightning Release talent increased by 100%! The Hidden Cloud Village was already famous for its Lightning Release, and the Third Raikage was known as the “Strongest Spear”. Having such a Lightning Release talent meant that his Lightning Release training would improve rapidly in the future!
“Calm down, calm down…” Shun tried to calm down his excitement. “Although we are safe for the time being, the identity of Iwagakure’s ‘Seed’ is still a time bomb. The system has only solved the current crisis, and there is still a long way to go in the future.”
He knew that he had to familiarize himself with this world as quickly as possible and improve his strength in order to truly control his own destiny.
At this moment, with a “creak”, the door of the room was gently pushed open.
A figure walked in.
He subconsciously became alert and looked up.
What came into view was a girl of about six or seven years old. She had dazzling golden hair that seemed to glow in the slightly dim room, and her skin was as white as the finest porcelain. The most eye-catching thing was her pair of turquoise eyes, which were like the purest ocean, but with a hint of coldness and alienation that was inconsistent with her age.
The girl was wearing the simple clothing common in the Hidden Cloud Village, but her small body stood straight.
“Yeyue…Samui?” The name and corresponding appearance instantly appeared in Shun’s mind.
The Yeyue clan is a respected family in the Hidden Cloud Village, famous for its powerful lightning escape technique and outstanding combat talent. The girl in front of him is the future famous female ninja of the Hidden Cloud Village, Yeyue Ai’s younger sister – Samui.
However, at this moment, she is still a little loli with a little baby fat but a cool expression.
“You’re awake.” Samui’s voice was as cold as her eyes, without much emotion. “Come with me, my brother wants to see you.”
“Your brother? Master Yeyue Ai?” Shun’s heart moved. It seemed that the decision of the Third Raikage to entrust him to Yeyue Ai’s teaching had been passed down.
“Yeah.” Samui simply responded, then turned and walked out, as if he was sure that Shun would catch up.
Shun took a deep breath, suppressed all the thoughts in his mind, and got off the simple bed. No matter what the future holds, he must take this first step.
“A new life has begun…” He glanced at the unique scenery of the mountains hidden in the clouds outside the window, and his eyes gradually became firm.
Feilu novel, Fei will make you look good!
Automatically subscribe to the latest chapters
APP audiobook (free)
High-quality audio, popular voice actors, offline listening
ActivityRegister as a Filo member and get 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 2: Gifted (Old Version)
Under the guidance of Samui, Yueguang Shun soon stepped into the main house of Yeyue’s family. Different from the rough style of the Hidden Cloud Village in his imagination, the restaurant of Yeyue’s family was decorated quite elegantly, and the air was filled with a faint aroma of barbecue and a special spice, which made people salivate.
Sitting at the head of the table was a burly, resolute-looking middle-aged man. He wore the high-collared, sleeveless combat uniform that was unique to the Hidden Cloud Village, revealing his bronze, muscular arms, which were wrapped in white bandages, with lightning flickering under his skin. His short, snow-white hair stood up like a lion’s mane, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, with a powerful presence. It was the Hidden Cloud Village’s jonin, Yeyue Ai.
Shun remembered that this man who would become the fourth Raikage in the future was well-known in the ninja world for his powerful Lightning Release Ninja Technique and his violent temper.
“Sit down.” Ye Yueai’s voice was low and magnetic, with unquestionable majesty. He nodded slightly, motioning Shun to sit down opposite him.
“Thank you, Master Ai.” Shun sat down as he was told, with a humble and polite attitude, and looked back at Yeyue Ai calmly. He knew that from this moment on, his life would be closely connected with this man.
“From today on, you will live in my house, and I will personally guide you in the practice of Lightning Release.” Ye Yueai’s speech was not fast, but every word was powerful. “This is the order of the Third Raikage, and it is also a recognition of your talent.”
An order from the Raikage? Shun’s heart was slightly moved. It seemed that the influence of the “Thunder Resonance” mark was greater than he expected.
“Eh?” Samui, a girl with dazzling short golden hair and healthy tan skin, exclaimed in surprise. Her blue eyes were full of curiosity and a subtle scrutiny. “Father, is he really that powerful? Raikage-sama actually gave the order himself… and he wants your personal guidance?”
In Samui’s opinion, although her father Yeyue Ai was not the only lightning escape master in the village, his strength was definitely among the best, and there were only a handful of people who could be personally guided by him. Moreover, she herself had only just received systematic guidance from her father.
“Samui, Shun’s talent may even be better than yours.” Yeyue Ai glanced at her daughter. Her tone was calm, but it was like a thunderclap exploding in Samui’s heart. “Also, starting tomorrow, Shun will enter the ninja preparatory class and become your classmate.”
“Better than me?!” Samui’s delicate eyebrows slightly raised, her small nose wings twitched slightly, and she was obviously a little unconvinced. She had shown an outstanding talent in lightning escape since she was a child, and had always been the best among her peers, and was hailed as the hope of the new generation of the Yeyue clan. “Father, didn’t you say that my lightning escape talent is already top-notch among my peers?”
Shun looked at the slightly arrogant blonde girl in front of him and couldn’t help but smile. The young version of Samui, compared to the calm and capable image in the future, has a bit more lively childishness. However, this confidence in one’s own strength is the same.
“Okay, let’s eat first.” Yeyue Ai interrupted her daughter’s questioning and turned her gaze to Shun, her serious expression slightly relaxed, “Shun, the Hidden Cloud Village values strength and also values inheritance. Lord Raikage has high hopes for you, I hope you will not disappoint him.”
“Shun understands. I will live up to the cultivation of Lord Raikage and Lord Ai.” Shun bowed slightly, his tone sincere.
The dinner ended in a slightly dull but warm atmosphere. Samui would occasionally secretly look at Shun, as if he wanted to find out something special about him, while Yeyue would occasionally mention some basic points about the practice of lightning escape, as if he was preparing for the lesson in advance.
After dinner, Yeyue Ai brought Shun to the exclusive training ground behind the house. This was a fairly open area, with hard black soil on the ground, and some huge rocks and charred wooden stakes that had been chopped by lightning chakra scattered around. The air seemed to still have the unique burnt smell left after the fierce collision of lightning chakra.
Samui followed suit, crossing her arms and looking like she was going to see what you can do. She still felt bad about her father’s words that he might be more talented than her.
“The training of a ninja begins with chakra.” Yeyue Ai stood in front of Shun with a solemn expression, “Chakra is the product of the perfect fusion of physical energy extracted from human cells and spiritual energy accumulated through training and experience. Sensing and guiding the flow of chakra is the first and most critical step to becoming a ninja.”
He paused, his eyes sweeping over Shun and Samui: “This process tests the ninja’s perception and control of his own energy. Generally speaking, people with average qualifications need weeks or even months to successfully sense and guide chakra. Even so-called geniuses usually need three to five days.”
At this point, Yeyue Ai’s eyes paused on Samui’s face: “Samui, how long did it take you?”
“Five days!” Samui puffed out her chest and answered with a hint of pride. Successfully guiding chakra in five days was an outstanding achievement among her peers at the time, and she received a lot of praise from the elders in the tribe for this.
Yeyue Ai nodded without commenting, and turned to Shun and said, “Now, close your eyes, concentrate and calm your mind, try to sense the two energies in your body, and then use your mind to guide them to converge and merge.”
Shun took a deep breath and slowly closed his eyes.
He was no stranger to the perception and guidance of chakra. As a senior Naruto fan in his previous life, he had a rich theoretical knowledge reserve; and in this life, the huge spiritual power brought by the fusion of the souls of two lives laid a solid foundation for him. More importantly, he had the “Thunder Resonance” mark!
With a slight movement of his mind, he tried to activate the “Thunder Resonance” mark. In an instant, he felt as if his perception was infinitely magnified, and the weak energy contained in every cell in his body became clearly discernible, like the stars in the night sky. And the spiritual energy from the depths of his soul was like a rushing river, majestic and magnificent.
Channeling these two energies was as natural to him as breathing.
Physical energy was like a trickle, while spiritual energy was like a vast ocean. Under the guidance of his mind, the two began to quickly contact and blend, without any stagnation or conflict, blending harmoniously. A gentle and powerful new energy was quietly born in his body and began to flow slowly along specific meridians.
“Buzz——”
A faint but clear chakra fluctuation emanated from Shun’s body.
“Huh?” Ye Yueai raised his eyebrows suddenly, and a hint of surprise flashed in his sharp eyes.
Samui, who was standing nearby, also felt the fluctuation. Her blue eyes widened slightly, her mouth opened slightly, and she was a little bit unbelievable. Although the fluctuation was weak, it was indeed a sign that the chakra was successfully refined and flowing!
How long has it been?
Three seconds? Five seconds?
“This…how is this possible?!” Ye Yueai’s face, which had always been as firm as a rock, twitched uncontrollably at this moment. A terrifying light burst out of his deep eyes. He stared at Shun, his tone full of unbelievable shock.
He had seen geniuses before. His brother Killer Bee was a rare prodigy, with an unrivaled talent in the Eight Swords Style. He himself, and even his daughter Samui, were also far more talented in Lightning Style than ordinary people. But for someone like Shun, who had just come into contact with chakra refining for the first time, he was able to successfully guide the flow of chakra in just a few breaths with just a few words of instruction… This kind of thing was simply unheard of!
This is no longer a genius, this is simply a monster! A demon!
“Five… five seconds…” Samui muttered to herself. She clearly remembered that she had worked hard for five days without sleep to sense and guide chakra before she barely succeeded. But the boy in front of her, who was younger than her, only took five seconds!
Five days and five seconds, a difference of three hundred and sixty times!
This realization hit Samui’s little heart like a huge rock, instantly shattering her previous pride. She stared at Shun blankly, her dazzling golden hair seemed to have lost some of its luster, and her little face was filled with disbelief and a strong sense of frustration.
Just as Yueguang Shun successfully guided the chakra to form a stable circulation in his body, a strange warm current surged from his body. Then, a clear message emerged in his mind, as accurate as a system prompt.
【A new mark has been generated.】
[Mortal level physical mark: Ninja apprentice. 】
[Trigger condition: Successfully guide the flow of chakra. ][Effect: The total amount of chakra increases slightly, and the chakra recovery speed increases slightly. ][Note: This mark has two explorable fusion paths.][Fusion Path 1 (Ordinary Apprentice): Master the “Three Body Techniques” and be proficient in throwing at least three basic ninja tools. This can be fused into the “Apprentice Ninja” mark.][Fusion Path 2 (Elite Apprentice): Master the “Three Body Techniques”, accurately throw at least five basic ninja tools, complete at least one C-level difficulty actual combat (or show corresponding strength in sparring), and rank among the top in the comprehensive assessment of the Ninja Preparatory Class, and you can be merged into the “Elite Apprentice Ninja” mark. ]He slowly opened his eyes, and a hint of understanding and joy flashed in his eyes.
Sure enough, as one’s behavior changes and abilities improve, new marks will appear. This “Ninja Apprentice” mark, although only at the mortal level, has a direct effect on chakra and provides two fusion paths.
“Ordinary” and “Elite”, he knew which one to choose. The so-called “ranking at the top of the comprehensive evaluation of the ninja preparatory class” did not seem to be a difficult thing for him.
“Shun, you…” Yeyue Ai took a deep breath and tried to calm his inner excitement. He walked in front of Shun and carefully sensed the flow of chakra in Shun’s body. After confirming that it was correct, he finally showed an unconcealable satisfaction and shock on his face, “You…how do you feel?”
“It feels good, Master Ai.” Shun smiled slightly, his tone calm, “The energy in your body seems to have become more condensed and easier to control.”
“Good! Good! Good!” Yeyue Ai said “good” three times in a row, her eyes full of ardent expectation, “Shun, you really did not disappoint Raikage-sama’s expectations! There must be a place for you in the future of Kumogakure! Your talent even exceeds my initial estimate of Killer Bee!”
His mood at the moment was as if he had unearthed a rare piece of unpolished jade. With a little carving, it would surely shine throughout the ninja world in the future!
Samui on the side, like a grass wilted by the autumn frost, pouted slightly, looking at Shun with a very complicated look, which contained shock and a hint of unwillingness, but more of it was the confusion brought about by the insurmountable gap in talent.
Yue Guang Shun felt the weak but endless chakra in his body and the clear imprint information in his mind, and a confident arc appeared at the corner of his mouth.
Three things to do when reading: read, collect, and reward!
Turn on lazy reading mode
Chapter 3 The Shadow of the Black Butterfly Project (Old Version)
In the courtyard of the Yeyue family, the morning breeze brought a hint of Yunyin’s unique coolness and moisture. Yueguang Shun had just finished his chakra refinement meditation, slowly opened his eyes, and exhaled a long breath of turbid air.
On the side, Yeyue Samui, who had gotten up half an hour earlier than him, was still sweating profusely. Her petite figure leaped and leaped, her fists and feet made whirring sounds, and she put all her strength into every strike, obviously mistaking the dummy on the training ground for some hateful guy. Her short golden hair was soaked with sweat, and a few strands stuck to her cheeks disobediently, and her face was flushed due to the intense exercise.
“Hoo…Hoo…” Samui finished the last set of movements with a beautiful spinning kick, and breathed heavily with both hands on her knees, her chest rising and falling violently. She saw Shun standing up refreshed, and his calm look made her feel a little unbalanced.
“Hey, Moonlight Shun!” Samui wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked a few steps to Shun, and questioned with a bit of dissatisfaction, “You guys, it was just your first time to refine chakra yesterday, right? How come you seem to have improved a lot today? Are you a monster or not?”
Shun looked at her angry expression, a slight smile appeared on the corner of his mouth, and he replied calmly: “Maybe I slept well last night and I am more energetic.” He did not want to publicize his talent too much, especially in the Hidden Cloud Village that was eyeing him covetously.
“Hmph! Don’t be so complacent!” Samui clenched his fists, his sparkling blue eyes burning with the fire of competition. “Don’t think you can always be ahead just because you are faster! I am Samui from the Yeyue family, the future elite of Yunyin! I will leave you far behind in no time!”
“I’m looking forward to it.” Shun’s tone was still calm, but with a hint of seriousness that was hard to detect. He knew that Samui was also very talented, and having such a competitor around was also a spur for him.
At this time, the door of the inner room was opened, and a tall and burly figure walked out. The person who came was Ye Yue Ai, who was wearing the standard vest of the Cloud Hidden Village ninja, and there was a striking thundercloud-shaped patch sewn under the collar on the back, which was the unique symbol of the Cloud Hidden Village ninja costume. He held a scroll in his hand and walked straight towards Shun.
“Shun, this is the admission certificate for the Ninja Preparatory Class,” Ye Yue Ai’s voice was low and powerful. He handed the scroll to Shun, “Lord Raikage has personally approved all the procedures. You can report directly to the preparatory class tomorrow.”
Shun took the scroll with both hands, and his hands were slightly heavy. He opened it and saw that it was indeed the official admission notice for the Kumogakure Ninja Preparatory Class, with the bright red seal of the Raikage’s office on it. “Thank you, Master Ai, for your trouble.” Shun bowed slightly. He understood that behind this “smooth” was the special care of the Raikage Yeyue Ai.
Yeyue Ai patted Shun’s slightly thin shoulders with his broad palm, with expectation in his eyes: “Work hard, Shun. Lord Raikage has high hopes for you, don’t let him down. I have to leave the village today to carry out an emergency mission, and it will take a few days to come back. The house will be left to you to take care of for the time being.” His words undoubtedly placed Shun in a very important position.
“Don’t worry, father!” Samui, who was standing by, immediately puffed out his chest and patted it loudly. “I’m here. I promise to keep a close eye on this guy and not let him slack off!”
Upon hearing this, Ye Yueai smiled and nodded to his daughter. Then he turned to Shun with an imperceptible solemnity in his eyes: “Be careful in the village.” After saying that, he turned around and strode away. His tall figure quickly disappeared outside the courtyard gate.
Shun held the admission certificate in his hand, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. The care of the Raikage is a shelter, but it also means greater responsibility and a more complicated vortex.
About an incense stick of time after Yeyueai left, there was a knock on the courtyard door again.
“Who is it? Didn’t father just leave?” Samui muttered and ran to open the door.
Standing outside the door was a young man wearing round-framed glasses, who looked about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a slightly thin figure, and wearing standard Kumogakure Chunin clothing, with thundercloud patches on the corners of his clothes. He had a gentle smile on his face, but the look behind the glasses was hard to read.
“Excuse me, is Gekko Shun-kun here?” The young man’s voice was as gentle as spring rain, completely different from the rough style of ordinary Kumogakure ninjas.
When Shun heard this strange voice, his heart tightened for some reason, and he walked out from under the eaves: “I am Yueguang Shun, may I ask who you are?”
The young man pushed his glasses on his nose and smiled gently, “Nice to meet you, Shun-kun. I am Kabuto Yakushi, and I am under the order of Elder Leiyun. I want to discuss something with you alone.”
Elder Leiyun!
These four words exploded in Shun’s mind like a thunderbolt. Are those old guys in the elders finally unable to hold back? He glanced at Samui beside him calmly and said to her, “Samui, go to the house first and review your training experience yesterday. I have something to discuss with Senior Dou.”
Although Samui was curious, she could tell that something was wrong with the atmosphere. She pouted, but turned around and went into the house obediently. However, before entering the door, she couldn’t help but turn around and cast a wary look at Pharmacist Dou.
Shun invited Yakushi Kabuto to sit down at the stone table in the corner of the courtyard, and he sat down opposite him. A breeze blew through, rustling the leaves of the unknown trees in the courtyard, adding a bit of solemnity.
“Shun-kun,” Kabuto Yakushi was the first to break the silence. His gaze lingered on Shun’s face for a moment, and his tone was filled with admiration. “I have heard about you from the elders. You are so young that you can awaken such a powerful eye technique, and show amazing talent in chakra refinement. It is really a blessing for Kumogakure. Raikage-sama also favors you and personally arranges your admission.”
“Senior Kabuto, you are too kind. All this is due to the cultivation of Raikage-sama.” Shun said modestly, but he was secretly alert in his heart. This Yakushi Kabuto first praised and then criticized, and I am afraid that the next words are the key.
As expected, Kabuto Yakushi sighed slightly, and the smile on his face faded a bit, his expression became complicated: “Shun-kun, the elders have very high expectations of you. They believe that you are the key to changing the future of the Hidden Cloud Village. Therefore, they unanimously decided that they hope you can ‘voluntarily’ join a special elite training program directly under the charge of the Elders Council – the ‘Black Butterfly Project’.”
“Black Butterfly Project?” Shun’s pupils shrank slightly. The name had an ominous meaning and reminded him of some forbidden experiments.
There was a hint of barely perceptible hesitation in Kabuto Yakushi’s eyes, but he continued, “Yes, the ‘Black Butterfly Project’. The purpose of this project is to use all the village’s top resources to deeply ‘optimize’ and ‘transform’ your body and pupil techniques through a series of special methods, in order to fully stimulate your potential in the shortest possible time, making you the most powerful ‘weapon’ in the history of the Hidden Cloud Village, a black blade that can tear through all obstacles.”
“Reform?” Shun keenly caught the harsh word, and the uneasiness in his heart became stronger. The so-called “reform” was probably not a gentle method.
Kabuto Yakushi lowered his head, avoiding Shun’s gaze, and his voice became much deeper: “Yes, Shun. This process… may be accompanied by great pain and risks. But the elders firmly believe that for the glory and future of the Hidden Cloud Village, such a sacrifice is worthwhile and necessary.” He paused, then raised his eyes to look at Shun again, with an indescribable heaviness in his tone, “Of course, the elders respect your personal wishes very much. They hope that you can understand this ‘hard work’ and ‘voluntarily’ accept this honor and mission.”
“Voluntary?” Shun sneered in his heart. How could this be voluntary? It was clearly coercion wrapped in sugar coating. Those old guys in the elders’ group were attracted by his eyes and wanted to make him a puppet and tool in their hands!
The atmosphere in the courtyard suddenly became extremely solemn, and even the sound of the wind seemed to have stopped.
Kabuto Yakushi seemed to sense Shun’s inner resistance. He leaned forward slightly and lowered his voice to a level so fast that it was almost inaudible: “Shun-kun, Lord Raikage thinks highly of you and has secured for you the opportunity to enter the ninja preparatory class. This is a buffer and also a signal. If you can perform far better than your peers in the preparatory class and gain more direct attention and protection from Lord Raikage, then… the elders may be more patient and not be so anxious to advance the progress of the ‘Black Butterfly Project’.”
Shun’s heart suddenly moved, and he understood the hidden meaning behind what Kabuto Yakushi said. This was pointing him to a clear path – using the Raikage as a shield to delay time! This Kabuto Yakushi did not seem to be completely on the side of the Elders.
“I understand.” Shun’s eyes were clear and firm, and he nodded to Yakushi Kabuto, “Thank you Kabuto-senpai for your honest advice and advice. I will cherish the opportunity in the preparatory class, work hard to practice, and will never let Raikage-sama down.”
A relieved smile finally appeared on Kabuto Yakushi’s face, but the worry between his brows had not completely disappeared: “Shun-kun, you have to understand that the patience of the elders is limited. The ‘Black Butterfly Project’ is very important to them. You must grow up as quickly as possible. Only when you have strong enough strength and value that no one can ignore, can you truly control your own destiny and have the confidence to refuse.”
“I will.” Shun’s eyes flashed with determination. Pressure, unprecedented pressure, like a heavy mountain pressing on his heart. But he was not a person who would sit and wait for death. A vague idea gradually became clear in his mind – he could not always rely on the protection of the Raikage, he needed his own strength, and needed a plan that could completely get rid of the control of the Elders. He silently named this plan in his heart – “Breaking the Cocoon Plan”. Break free from the shackles, transform from a cocoon into a butterfly, and firmly grasp your destiny in your own hands!
Yakushi Kabuto looked at Shun meaningfully again, and said a few words of “be careful”, then stood up and said goodbye. To Shun, his back as he left seemed a little lonely, and also a little helpless.
After seeing off Kabuto Yakushi, Shun stood alone in the courtyard. The cool breeze of the evening made him feel a little chilly. The sky above his head was still the gloomy color common in the Hidden Cloud Village, just like the lingering shadow of the Elders.
“Black Butterfly Project…” Shun whispered to himself and clenched his fists. He felt a strong sense of crisis and urgency.
He took a deep breath, calmed his agitated heart, and looked inside the house. As expected, Samui couldn’t help but look out from the crack in the door.
Shun walked over. When Samui saw him coming, he immediately jumped out of the house and asked impatiently, “Hey! Moonlight Shun! What did that guy with glasses say to you in a mysterious way? Is he trying to poach you and let you join some weird department?”
Shun looked at her alert appearance like a little adult, and the haze brought by the “Black Butterfly Project” in his heart dissipated a little. He did not directly answer Samui’s question, but changed the subject and asked: “Samui, your basic physical skills are considered top-notch in the preparatory class, right?”
Samui was stunned by his sudden question, but then she puffed out her chest with a proud look on her face: “Of course! I am the genius girl of the Yeyue family! Basic physical skills are naturally among the best. How can those ordinary students compare with me!”
“Then…” Shun’s tone became particularly sincere, even with a hint of request, “Can you please… guide me in the practice of basic physical skills? I want to lay a solid foundation as soon as possible.” He knew that the fusion of his “Elite Apprentice” entry required a “Physical Skills Entry” mark as a prerequisite. And Samui in front of him was undoubtedly the most suitable “teacher” at this stage.
Samui opened her mouth in surprise and looked at Shun. Didn’t this guy always act like he knew more than anyone else and didn’t need anyone’s help? Today, he actually took the initiative to ask for advice from her? An inexplicable sense of satisfaction and superiority rose in her heart.
She cleared her throat and tried to put on a reluctant elder sister’s attitude, with her chin slightly raised: “Ahem! Since you’ve asked so sincerely, I’ll be merciful and give you some pointers since you’re still pleasing to the eye! But let me make it clear first, my training methods are very strict. If you can’t keep up with the progress, or are lazy and play tricks, don’t blame me for being rude to you!”
Shun looked at her trying hard to pretend a serious expression and couldn’t help but smile in his heart, but a serious smile appeared on his face: “Thank you very much, Samui ‘sister’.” He deliberately emphasized the pronunciation of the word “sister”.
“Who, who is your sister? I’m just a little older than you!” Samui’s cheeks instantly turned red, and she retorted incoherently, but the corners of her mouth couldn’t help but secretly raise up, “Humph! Then, then it’s settled! Starting from tomorrow, the training volume will be doubled! If you dare to complain about the hardship, I will… I will punish you to run around the Yeyue family’s house a hundred times!”
“Okay, it’s a deal.” Shun looked at her cute appearance, and the pressure in his heart seemed to be relieved a lot.
The shadow of the elders is like a dark cloud, the hint of Yakushi Kabuto is a glimmer of light in the fog, and Samui’s help is a rare bright spot in this depressing atmosphere. All of this will become the starting point of his “breakout plan”. Yue Guang Shun understands that he must work a hundred times harder to grow up as soon as possible in this thundercloud-covered Cloud Village, for survival and freedom.
Chapter 4: Ai’s Iron Fist Training (Old Version)
The dense forest behind the Yeyue family’s mountain has now become Yue Guang Shun’s exclusive training ground.
“Listen carefully, Shun! As a future ninja, strong physical skills are an indispensable foundation! Watch me!”
Samui’s clear voice echoed in the woods. She stood in a standard horse stance with a serious face, trying to create the majesty of a senior.
She took a deep breath, thrust her right fist forward, and shouted, “Ha!”
The fist made a sound of wind, and the target was a small tree in front of him that was as thick as a bowl.
However, perhaps because she wanted to show off in front of Shun, she used too much force and her fist scraped the bark. The powerful impact caused her small body to stagger and she almost fell on her butt.
“Ahem,” Samui steadied himself, a suspicious blush on his cheeks, and said calmly, “That was a wrong demonstration just now. It’s easy to lose balance if you use too much force. Look at this time!”
Shun blinked and silently watched Samui adjust his posture in a slightly awkward manner. Well, it was indeed a “wrong demonstration”.
Samui once again took up her stance, and this time, her eyes were much more focused. Straight punches, swinging punches, whip kicks, blocking, dodging… She performed a set of basic boxing and kicking movements smoothly. Although her strength still seemed immature, each movement was extremely standard, revealing a solidity that far exceeded that of her peers.
“Do you understand? This is the most basic offensive and defensive move. You should start with straight punches and sideways dodges.” Samui wiped the sweat from his forehead, his tone carrying a barely perceptible expectation.
Shun nodded, recalling Samui’s movements.
He got into a stance and threw a punch, imitating Samui’s move.
Soft and fluffy, as if I hadn’t eaten.
One more punch.
Well, at least there was some sound this time, although it was still not very strong.
“Hey, Shun, try harder! Use all your strength!” Samui shouted impatiently with her hands on her hips.
Shun didn’t say anything, but just silently adjusted his breathing and strength.
Once, twice, ten times, a hundred times…
At the beginning, his movements were indeed very clumsy. His fists seemed to be pushing the air. He was always half a beat slow in dodging and almost tripped himself several times.
Samui went from giving instructions at first, to standing with her hands on her hips and watching, and then to opening her mouth slightly with a look of disbelief in her eyes.
This kid’s learning ability… isn’t it a bit too fast?
But within an hour, Shun’s straight punch had become quite good, with a slight sound of breaking through the air when he threw it. Although it was still not as good as Samui’s, it was no longer “soft”. And his sideways evasion also changed from being flustered at the beginning to gradually becoming coordinated.
Another standard straight punch was thrown, followed by a clean sideways dodge, avoiding a small stone thrown by Samui.
At this moment, a cold, emotionless voice suddenly sounded in Shun’s mind.
[Basic Mark: Introduction to physical skills (not obtained). ][Triggering conditions: Basic punch and kick attacks and dodges reach a certain level of proficiency.][Current progress: 1%…5%…12%…]Here we come!
A hint of understanding flashed across Shun’s eyes, and the corners of his mouth rose slightly without being noticed. Sure enough, hard work never deceives people, especially when there is a “golden finger”.
Very good, the growth speed of this progress bar makes my Qilin arm eager to move… No, it makes my heart of cultivation burn.
“Shun…you, you seem…” Samui looked at Shun, not knowing what to say for a moment. This speed of progress was simply unheard of. Could this be the legendary genius?
“It feels okay.” Shun retracted his fist and said calmly, as if the amazing progress just now was just an ordinary thing.
Seeing Shun’s calmness, Samui became even more depressed. Couldn’t this guy be more excited? At least give her, the “teacher”, a sense of accomplishment!
On the second day, the sky was just beginning to brighten, and the morning light shone through the mist onto Yeyue’s courtyard.
Shun had quietly stood up and came to the dense forest behind the mountain. He had not forgotten the exhilarating feeling of progress he had yesterday, and the progress bar that kept jumping in his mind.
He repeated the basic punching and kicking movements meticulously, and sweat soon soaked his forehead hair and slid down his cheeks.
Straight punch, side dodge, swing punch, block… every move is done to standard, and every effort is made to the best of one’s ability.
The progress bar of “Introduction to Physical Training” was also growing slowly but steadily: 15%… 18%… 23%…
Just when Shun was immersed in the trance state of cultivation, a powerful voice sounded behind him.
“Oh? You’re up so early to practice. You’re really diligent, kid.”
Shun’s heart trembled, and he suddenly retracted his attack and turned around, only to see a tall and burly figure standing not far away. It was Ye Yueai. He crossed his arms, his wheat-colored skin shone with a healthy luster in the morning light, and his eyes were filled with a hint of scrutiny and… appreciation?
“Brother Ai.” Shun called out respectfully.
“Yeah,” Yeyue Ai nodded and walked over slowly. “The basics that girl Samui taught you are pretty good. But real physical skills can’t be learned just by practicing blindly.”
His heart suddenly moved, and he had a bad feeling.
Sure enough, Ai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. To Shun, that smile looked like a big bad wolf seeing a little sheep: “Since you’ve worked so hard, I’ll come and give you some pointers myself. Remember, actual combat is the fastest way to test and improve physical skills!”
Before he could finish his words, Ai’s figure rushed over like a cannonball, and a huge fist with a whistling sound went straight to Shun’s face!
“!” His pupils suddenly shrank and he subconsciously leaned back to avoid it.
Too fast!
Ai’s fist almost brushed the tip of his nose, and the strong wind it created made his cheek hurt.
Before he could catch his breath, Ai’s next round of attacks came one after another. Fists fell like raindrops, heavy and powerful, and each blow contained amazing explosive power.
Shun could only rely on the basic dodging skills he had just mastered yesterday to dodge awkwardly.
“Bang!”
After all, the gap in strength was too big. Shun was unable to dodge and was hit in the lower abdomen by Ai’s hook punch.
“Hmm!” Shun groaned and flew backwards like a kite with a broken string. He fell heavily to the ground. His throat felt sweet and he almost vomited his breakfast.
This… is this “guidance”? This is clearly a one-sided beating!
Shun struggled to get up from the ground, rubbed his aching belly, and looked at Ai with resentment in his eyes. Brother, can you try a gentler way of “guiding”?
“Too slow! Your reaction is too slow!” Ai showed no mercy and frowned, “You are still too weak and lack coordination. Keep going!”
After that, there was another round of violent attacks.
Shun clenched his teeth and focused all his attention on Ai’s movements. Although he was beaten badly and had a black eye and a swollen face, he could clearly feel that under Ai’s high-intensity pressure, his understanding of punches and kicks and his instinct to dodge were improving at an incredible speed.
Every time he was hit, his body felt severe pain, but every time he fell, he forced himself to get up quickly.
He saw that although Ai’s attack was very heavy, each attack cleverly avoided his vital points, and the force was controlled within a range that he could barely bear. This made him understand that Ai was indeed “instructing” him, rather than simply abusing him.
After an hour of “Iron Fist Training”, Shun felt like his whole body was falling apart, his face was covered with bruises, and his clothes were tattered.
[Basic Mark: Introduction to Physical Techniques (Not Obtained). Current Progress: 55%! ]The rapid growth of the progress bar in his mind was the only thing that could comfort his devastated body and mind at this moment.
“Huh… That’s all for today.” Ai retracted his fist and looked at Shun, who looked embarrassed but still had a resolute look in his eyes. A glimmer of satisfaction flashed in his eyes. This kid’s resilience and perseverance were beyond his expectations.
It’s a good seedling.
“Thank you, Brother Ai, for your guidance.” Shun panted heavily, his voice was a little hoarse, but his tone was sincere. Although the process was painful, the effect was outstanding.
“Hmph, that’s good to know.” Ai said coolly, “From now on, I will come to ‘guide’ you every morning. If you don’t want to be beaten too badly, work hard!”
Shun: “…” Can I refuse?
The answer is of course no.
After a simple wash and breakfast, Shun followed Ai to the ninja preparatory class in the Hidden Cloud Village.
Walking on the unique streets of the Hidden Cloud Village built between the mountains, Shun silently felt the subtle changes brought about by the progress of the entry-level physical skills mark in his body. His body seemed to become lighter and his reactions became sharper.
“Shun, the ninja preparatory class is just the basics. The real road of training is still very long. Don’t slack off just because you have a little talent.” Ai walked in front and said without turning his head, his tone as stern as always.
“Yes, Brother Ai.” He responded immediately. He naturally understood this principle.
At this moment, a rhythmic voice came from the front:
“Yo yo! The morning sun shines on my shoulders! Today is another beautiful day, go to school and fill your knowledge! Checkitout!”
A dark-skinned boy wearing sunglasses, a white turban on his head, and carrying seven small swords on his back, jumped out from the corner of the street while walking with a step that showed he didn’t care about his relatives and freestyled.
It was Kirabi.
“Bi!” Samui had caught up at some point, and when he saw Kirabi, a happy smile appeared on his face and he ran over quickly.
“Hey, Samui, my little sister! You’re so cute today and keep shining!” When Kirabi saw Samui, he immediately improvised a piece.
When Ai saw Kirabi, he frowned out of habit, but didn’t say much.
Kirabi’s gaze quickly fell on Shun behind Ai. His eyes narrowed slightly under his sunglasses, flashing a hint of curiosity and imperceptible vigilance.
“Brother Ai, is this your new little brother? Yo, he looks like something, and his aura is very steady!” Kirabi tilted his head and looked at Shun, his tone carrying his unique rap accent.
“His name is Yue Guang Shun, and he will study with us in the preparatory class starting today.” Ai Yan introduced him briefly, “He will live in my house temporarily.”
“Oh?” Kirabi’s eyes flashed behind his glasses, and he said in a long tone, “Living in Brother Ai’s house? That’s really amazing! Is there any hidden secret?”
When Samui chattered on the side and explained Shun’s amazing talent in physical skills, the expression on Kirabi’s face became even more interesting, from the initial curiosity, to obvious surprise, and even mixed with a hint of… an inexplicable desire for challenge?
Interesting, what an interesting guy! Kirabi thought to himself. This guy must be extraordinary to be able to make Ai look at him differently and even take him home to live.
Shun met Kirabi’s scrutinizing gaze and nodded slightly calmly: “Hello, Kirabi-senpai.”
Shun still had some respect for this future perfect Jinchūriki, the Rap King of the Hidden Cloud Village, even though he looked more like an energetic street boy now.
“Hello, hello, brother Shun, your name is cool too! I hope we can make progress together in the future and find our own way! Yeah!” Kirabi made a “Yeah” gesture to Shun.
Looking at the three future backbones of the Yeyue family with different personalities in front of him, Shun couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder in his heart.
The days ahead will surely be very… “lively”.
He silently glanced at Ai, who was expressionless but might have already started to think about how strong his “guidance” would be next time. He then glanced at Kirabi, who was lively and rapping non-stop, and Samui, who was chattering beside Kirabi.
Well, the future is bright.
Chapter 5 Passionate Yukito (Old Version)
“Hey! New face, would you like to freestyle? Feel the flow of Kumogakure, don’t be shy bro!”
A little guy wearing sunglasses, a white baseball cap worn backwards on his head, and a thick silver chain around his neck (which looked like it was strung together by some metal parts) suddenly stood in front of Yue Guang Shun, gesticulating exaggeratedly with his hands and muttering to himself with a full sense of rhythm, but his childish voice made this “hip-hop” seem a little funny.
Shun paused, looking expressionlessly at the over-energized kid in front of him. He recognized this face, the future perfect Jinchūriki, the partner of the Eight-tailed Gyuki – Killer Bee. He didn’t expect that he was so… well, eccentric in his childhood.
Seeing that Shun had no reaction and just looked at him quietly with those deep eyes that didn’t look like those of a child, Kirabi was not discouraged. Instead, he seemed to have discovered a new continent. His eyes behind the sunglasses sparkled: “Cool! Cool enough! I like your tone, it’s more stylish than the uncle’s jokes! Yeah!” As he said this, he snapped his fingers and twisted his body twice to the non-existent beat.
Shun remained silent. He was not used to this overly enthusiastic way of communication, especially when the other party was a chatterbox.
“Kirabi, stop making trouble.” A crisp female voice came, with a bit of helplessness.
Following the voice, she saw a girl with neat short golden hair coming over. She had fair skin, delicate features, and a heroic look between her eyebrows. It was Yeyue Samui, her future teammate, who looked much calmer than Kirabi.
“Sister Samui,” Kirabi’s hip-hop enthusiasm slowed down a bit when he saw the newcomer, but he still winked at Shun, “This new brother is super cool, right?”
Samui ignored Killer Bee’s antics and nodded slightly to Shun: “You are Moonlight Shun, right? Lord Ai asked me to take you to the instructor’s office.” Her voice was calm, but there was a hint of curiosity in her eyes. She was obviously quite interested in this peer who was specially approved by the Raikage to enter the school.
Shun nodded, speaking sparingly: “Yeah.”
“This way.” Samui led Shun around Kirabi who was still saying “YoYo”. Kirabi looked at Shun’s back and stroked his chin. With an expression that said “I’ll remember you”, he continued his impromptu rap. The lyrics had changed to “Cold new friend, you must be awesome. Let’s see who’s the better player in the next battle. Yeah!”
The instructor’s office of the Ninja Preparatory Class was not big and was simply furnished. There was a desk, a few chairs, and on the wall hung the emblem of the Hidden Cloud Village – a lightning bolt splitting the clouds, and portraits of successive Raikages. The air was filled with a faint smell of ink and paper, and a barely detectable smell similar to the smell of burning caused by metal friction, which was probably the unique smell of a Lightning Release Ninja.
A man wearing a Kumogakure Chunin uniform, with a square face and sharp eyes, was sitting behind a table reviewing documents. He looked up and saw Samui and Shun, and put down his pen.
“Instructor Tu Daifeng, this is Yueguang Shun. He is here today to complete the admission procedures.” Samui said respectfully.
“Oh, you are Shun,” Toshiro Fuu’s gaze lingered on Shun for a few seconds, his tone was quite polite, “Lord Raikage has already greeted you. I am your first-year instructor of the Kumogakure class, Toshiro Fuu. Welcome to Kumogakure.” He pointed to a stack of documents on the desk, “This is your enrollment registration form, fill it out. And these are the textbooks for the preparatory class, familiarize yourself with them first.”
Shun took the form and textbooks and glanced at them. There were five textbooks in total, namely “Introduction to the History of the Hidden Cloud Village and the Worship of the Thunder God”, “Detailed Explanation of the Basic Theory of Thunder Release”, “Introduction to Taijutsu and Practical Skills”, “Basic Ninja Rules” and a thin “Introduction to Chakra Refining”. The content seemed to focus more on practical combat and village-specific ninjutsu than Konoha’s textbooks.
Shun quietly filled out the form, while Samui was quietly reporting something to Todaifu, probably about some instructions for Ai. Todaifu nodded from time to time, and occasionally glanced at Shun with a bit of scrutiny. He naturally did not dare to neglect this young man whose background was unknown but who was personally taken care of by the Raikage, but he also had some considerations.
“Okay, Shun, the formalities are complete.” Todaifu put away the form and glanced at the wall clock. “It’s almost time. Come with me. I’ll take you to class.”
Samui gave Shun an encouraging look and said softly, “Shun-kun, keep going. We’ll be classmates from now on.”
He nodded slightly as a response.
“Ding-ling-ling–” the crisp school bell echoed in the corridor.
Tu Daifeng picked up a copy of “Detailed Explanation of the Basic Theory of Thunder Release” and walked out of the office first. Shun followed him silently. The corridor was empty, and only their footsteps echoed.
Soon, they arrived at the door of the first-grade Yun class. The door of the classroom was open, and it was already full of students. The chattering noise could be heard from a distance.
Tu Daifeng signaled Shun to wait at the door, and he walked up to the podium first.
Shun stood at the door, his eyes calmly scanning the scene in the classroom. The style of the classroom in the Hidden Cloud Village was slightly different from the classroom in Konoha that he remembered. The desks and chairs were more rugged, and in addition to the regular teaching diagrams on the walls, there were also some simple diagrams of lightning escape ninjutsu and decorations of the Thunder God totem.
His eyes searched the crowd. Soon, he locked onto a blonde girl sitting by the window. The girl had brilliant blonde hair that looked like flowing golden sand in the sun. The most striking thing was her unusually upright pupils that looked a bit like a cat. At this moment, she was holding her chin with one hand, looking out the window boredly, seemingly not paying any attention to the noise around her. The second Yukito, the future Two-Tails Jinchuriki, a genius girl. Shun could sense a faint but unignorable chakra fluctuation from her, as well as an innate arrogance.
Not far from Yumoto, a dark-skinned girl wearing round-framed glasses was looking down at a book, looking quiet and intellectual. That was Mabui, the future secretary of the Fourth Raikage, known for her calmness and wisdom. She seemed to notice the gaze at the door, raised her head, briefly met Shun’s eyes, then nodded politely and continued reading.
In the classroom, Kirabi’s conspicuous sunglasses and outfit made him stand out. He was dancing and boasting to several classmates around him, and from time to time he made strange shouts of “Yeah!” “Checkitout!”, which caused bursts of laughter.
“Quiet!” Tu Daifeng tapped the podium gently with the lesson plan, and the noise in the classroom suddenly became much quieter.
Just then, a hurried and chaotic sound of footsteps came from the end of the corridor, getting closer and closer, accompanied by exclamations of “Oh my God——”.
“Bang!”
A red figure rushed into the classroom like a cannonball. Because of its speed, it stumbled and almost fell flat on its face. It finally managed to stabilize its body, but due to inertia, it staggered forward several steps and almost hit the desks in the first row.
“Huh…Huh…Report to the instructor! I…I am not late!” The red-haired boy held his knees, breathing heavily, his forehead covered with sweat, and his cheeks flushed due to the intense exercise.
Tu Daifeng held his forehead and looked at the reckless guy with a headache: “Aciyi, look at the time now?”
Atsuyi raised his hand to wipe the sweat off his face and said confidently, “Report to the instructor! I was just helping Aunt Nanako from the next block move! Her Lightning Release Chakra Amplifier is too heavy, and I almost couldn’t carry it by myself! For the spirit of mutual help and friendship among neighbors in the Hidden Cloud Village, I…”
“Alright, alright,” Todaifu waved his hand, interrupting his long speech, “You used this excuse once last week. Last time, you were helping Uncle Yamada fix the lightning-release light bulb. Go back to your seat.”
“I’m telling the truth!” Atsyi muttered quietly, but still walked to his seat obediently. When he passed by the two Yukitos, he secretly glanced at her, a hint of subtle shyness flashed across his face, and then he quickly straightened his back, raised his thumb in the direction of Kirabi, and showed his white teeth.
You Muren seemed to have noticed his gaze and just glanced at him lightly, then turned his gaze to the window again, with the corner of his mouth curling up almost imperceptibly.
Ma Buyi looked at Atsyi with concern and asked in a low voice: “Atsyi, are you okay? Why are you running so fast?”
“It’s okay, it’s okay, Mabui, I’m a powerful ninja in the future!” Atsu patted his chest, full of energy.
This little episode was instantly seen. Atsuyi, Samui’s younger brother, a typical hot-blooded idiot and the future elite of Kumogakure.
“Okay, classmates, there will be a new student joining our class today.” Tu Daifeng cleared his throat, drawing everyone’s attention back, and at the same time waved to Shun at the door, “Shun, come in.”
Shun walked into the classroom and stood next to the podium.
In an instant, dozens of pairs of eyes in the class were focused on him, full of curiosity, scrutiny, and all kinds of complex and inexplicable emotions.
“Wow, he’s a handsome guy!” a girl exclaimed in a low voice.
“You look so cold, are you difficult to get along with?”
“I don’t know how strong you are, but in our Hidden Cloud Village, the strong are respected.”
Kirabi whistled excitedly: “Yeah! My cool new brother! Welcome!”
Atsuyi also widened his eyes and looked at Shun curiously: “New here? He looks very powerful!” He subconsciously touched the back of his head, as if he remembered something, “Oh, that guy Xi seemed to have mentioned before that he sensed a strange but strong chakra near the instructor’s office. Could it be him?”
Toshiro Fuu motioned for everyone to be quiet, then said to Shun, “Shun, introduce yourself to everyone.”
Shun’s eyes swept calmly across the crowd, and finally paused for a moment on the two wooden figures’ sharp cat pupils. He could feel the scrutiny in their eyes, as well as the hint of a challenge.
He nodded slightly, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by everyone:
“Moonlight Shun. Please give me your guidance.”
A brief self-introduction without any unnecessary nonsense was just like the first impression he gave people – calm, even a little indifferent.
The two Yukito raised a playful smile and whispered to themselves: “Gekko Shun… Humph, I hope he is not a guy who only knows how to play it cool. In Kumogakure, only strength can be recognized.”
Chapter 6: The Tampered Heritage (Old Version)
The morning sun shines through the mountain mist unique to the Hidden Cloud Village, lazily sprinkled on the classroom of the first-year ninja preparatory class. The air is filled with a faint pine scent mixed with the unique vitality of children.
On the podium, a middle-aged instructor with a serious face and a Kumogakure forehead protector, Toshiro Kaze, cleared his throat and said, “Okay, students, we have a new student in our class today. Moonlight Shun, come up and introduce yourself.”
Amid the curious gazes, a boy with black hair, black eyes and a calm expression walked up to the podium. Although he looked young, his eyes revealed a calmness that did not match his age.
“My name is Gekkou Shun,” he said in a clear, neither humble nor arrogant voice, “My hobbies are practicing and learning all kinds of ninjutsu knowledge. My dream is… to become a powerful ninja like the Third Raikage, who can protect the village by himself and make all his companions feel at ease!”
Shun silently added in his heart: Moreover, it would be best if he could face the tailed beast head-on and still be alive and kicking. After all, in this world, survival is the most important thing. However, it is better to keep this kind of overly “real” dream to oneself. Mentioning the Third Raikage not only fits the martial arts atmosphere of the Hidden Cloud Village, but also expresses a pure yearning for power. For a child in the preparatory class, it is just right.
Just as he finished speaking, a boy with conspicuous yellow hair and a white bandage on his forehead in the back row of the classroom suddenly stood up and shouted with full energy: “Humph! The future Raikage will definitely be me, Atsushi-sama! I will be stronger than the Third Raikage-sama!” He habitually said “It’s so hot”, but he forgot about it at this moment because of excitement.
A dark-skinned boy next to him, wearing sunglasses and carrying two small wooden swords, also joined in the fun, but his way was much more unique: “Yo yo! Raikage is nothing, Atsuyi, don’t be in a hurry if you want to be Raikage! I, Kirabi, want to be a rap king who surpasses Raikage and conquer the world with my rhyme, yeah! Idiot, bastard!”
“What nonsense are you talking about again!” Atzi immediately turned his head and glared at Kirabi, and the two of them started their daily bickering as if no one was around.
The veins on Instructor Toshiro Feng’s forehead jumped. He took a deep breath and patted the podium: “Quiet! Atsuyi, Kirabi, the two of you just stop it! If you want to be the Raikage, if you want to be a rap king, you have to start by listening to the class seriously!” He rubbed his temple, obviously having a headache with these two funny guys.
Then, he turned to Shun and said in a softer tone, “Tsuki Shun, you can sit in the empty seat over there, next to Mabui-san.”
Shun looked in the direction of the instructor’s finger. Sitting next to the window in the last row was a quiet girl with short black hair and a pair of small glasses. She was looking down at an open textbook, not seeming to care much about the noise in the classroom.
“Yes, teacher.” Shun responded, walked to the seat, and nodded politely to the girl: “Hello, I am Yueguang Shun, please give me your guidance in the future.”
The girl raised her head and pushed her glasses up, revealing a pretty face. She said in a soft and gentle voice, “Hello, I’m Ma Buyi. Welcome.”
Shun’s heart was slightly moved. Mabui, the future secretary of the Fourth Raikage, was famous for her calmness and powerful “Heaven’s Sentence Technique”. I didn’t expect that I would be her deskmate so early. But looking at her current appearance, she is just an ordinary and quiet little girl.
He had just sat down when a girl in the front row with striking short silver-white hair and delicate features like a doll turned around and handed him a brand new notebook with a friendly smile on her face: “Hello, classmate Yueguang Shun, I’m Yeyue Samui. These are some class notes and study materials I sorted out. You just arrived, so you may not be able to keep up with the progress. I hope I can help you.”
Samui’s voice was clear and pleasant, with a hint of concern. Shun was a little surprised and thanked him quickly: “Thank you so much, Samui-san, this is a great help to me.” He could feel that this future elite jonin had a heart that was willing to help others since he was a child.
“Samui, you’re too nice to him!” Atsuyi grumbled in dissatisfaction, his eyes flickering between Shun and Samui, with a hint of subtle vigilance. The two Yukitos sitting next to Atsuyi kept a cold expression, as if they didn’t care about it all, only occasionally glancing at Kirabi, seeming to be more interested in his rap.
Kirabi made a “V” sign in the direction of Shun, his eyes behind the sunglasses were ambiguous, and he hummed softly: “The new guy is quite something, yo! Samui’s heart is attracted to him, check it out!”
Shun could only respond with a polite smile, but he was secretly calculating in his heart. Samui, Atsu, Kirabi, Yukito, Mabui…these future backbones of Kumogakure are still just immature children now.
“Okay, students, be quiet!” Instructor Toshiro Fuu knocked on the podium again, “Today we continue to study the third chapter of “History of the Development of the Hidden Cloud Village”, about the origin of the ‘AB combination’ tactics. Please turn to page 25 in your textbooks.”
The classroom was filled with the sound of flipping pages. Shunya followed his instructions and opened the textbook with a thundercloud on the cover.
“‘AB combination’ is a powerful combat system unique to our Hidden Cloud Village,” Instructor Toshiro Fuu’s voice echoed in the classroom, “It emphasizes the ultimate coordination of strength and speed, as well as the unbreakable bond between brothers. According to historical records, this tactical system was first created and perfected by our great first-generation Raikage, his most trusted brother, the ancestors of the Night Moon clan…”
When Shun heard this, his brows unconsciously frowned.
The “AB combination” created by the first Raikage?
This is not right.
In his memory, or rather, in the “original” plot that he was familiar with, the title of “AB combination” and the true development of its fighting style were clearly the exclusive pair of brothers, the Third Raikage and the future Fourth Raikage Ai, and the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee! Especially the cooperation between Ai and Killer Bee, that was the model that pushed the power of “AB combination” to the peak.
During the time of the first Raikage, there might have been a prototype of a similar two-person cooperation tactic, but to say that it was “created and perfected” and directly named the “AB combination” was a clear deviation from the history he knew.
He lowered his head and read the text on the textbook carefully: “…The first Raikage was far-sighted and deeply aware of the limitations of individual strength. He studied with his brother Yeyue B (a code name here to protect the privacy of the sage). After countless actual combat tests, they finally formed an ‘AB combination’ with one person as the main attacker and one as the auxiliary support. The two were as tacitly coordinated as one person’s two arms. This tactic not only greatly improved the combat efficiency of the early Kumogakure ninjas, but also laid a solid foundation for the village’s later ‘elite two-man team’ combat mode…”
The more Shun read, the more he felt uncomfortable. The textbook was written with details, as if it was an indisputable historical fact. He subconsciously glanced at the publication information of the textbook – approved by the Education Department of the Hidden Cloud Village, and recommended by the Third Raikage himself.
This is even more strange. If it was the Third Raikage who recommended it, then how could his own achievements be attributed to the First Raikage? Was it to highlight the long history of the village and the orderly inheritance? Or… is the history of this world really fundamentally different from the “Naruto world” in his memory in some details?
For a moment, Shun was filled with doubts. After crossing over, he always thought that he had the upper hand in the “plot”, but now it seems that the “script” of this world has been quietly modified.
“Ding-ling-ling——” the bell for the end of get out of class rang at the right time.
Instructor Tu Daifeng gave the students some pre-study homework and then left the classroom. The classroom immediately became noisy again.
Atsyi came to Yumu Ren again, chattering non-stop, but Yumu Ren still looked indifferent. Kirabi took out a small notebook and began to write his “lyrics” while shaking his head.
“Tsukumi Shun-kun,” Samui came over again, holding a lunch box in his hand, “Would you like to have lunch together? By the way, I can tell you some things to pay attention to in the preparatory class.”
“Okay, thank you.” Shun agreed happily. If someone took the initiative to show goodwill, he would naturally not refuse.
The two found an empty seat by the window and sat down.
“Shun, you just got here, so you may not know it yet,” Samui opened the bento, which contained exquisite rice balls and tempura. “The competition in our ninja preparatory class in the Hidden Cloud Village is actually very fierce. Especially for people like Atsu and Killer Bee, they are people with very clear goals.”
Shun nodded and listened while eating the simple dry food he brought with him.
“By the way, Shun-san,” Mabui came over without her knowing, holding a thick book in her hands. She asked a little embarrassedly, “Um…you mentioned the Third Raikage just now, do you admire him very much?”
“Yes,” Shun replied, “The Third Raikage is the pride of our Cloud Village. His strength is beyond doubt.”
“Yes,” Ma Buyi nodded and whispered, “I heard that among the candidates for the Fourth Raikage, Senior Ye Yue Ai is very popular. He is now a very outstanding Jonin in our village.”
Shun’s heart moved, and he pretended to ask casually: “Student Ma Buyi, do you know Senior Yeyue Ai?”
Ma Buyi shook his head, a trace of yearning on his face: “I don’t know him. Senior Ai is an elite jonin, and I’m just a student in the preparatory class. I don’t have the opportunity to meet him normally. However, I really hope to have the opportunity to see Senior Ai fight in person. He must be very powerful.”
Shun’s eyes flickered. Ma Buyi didn’t know Ai. This seemed to confirm his guess. In the “original work”, Ma Buyi later became Ai’s right-hand man, and the two should have had some intersection a long time ago. But now it seems that, at least at this point in time, there is no connection between them.
The trajectory of history seems to have really shifted in some unknown place.
Did the first Raikage really create the “AB combination”, or did the third Raikage “give” this achievement to the first for some reason? Or is it that the “original work” he knew was different from the real world?
Shun looked out the window, and the Thunder Cloud Peak in the distance was faintly visible. This world seemed to be more complicated than he had imagined.
As for Atsei who was still trying to attract Yukito’s attention, Shun just glanced at him and then looked away. The children’s fighting and playing could not attract too much of his attention for the time being. At the moment, it was more important to figure out the difference between this world and his own memory, as well as the inheritance that had been “tampered with”.
At least, one thing is certain – the goal of becoming a strong person will not change. No matter what history is like, strength is the most real passport to this world.
Chapter 7: That’s What I Wanted (Old Version)
The afternoon sun made the training ground warm, but few of the students in the preparatory class had the heart to enjoy the comfort. After all, the next step was the physical training class to strengthen their muscles.
Teacher Toshirofu stood in front of the team, his voice as calm as ever, without the slightest ripple: “Taijutsu is the foundation of all ninja combat. Strength, speed, reaction, and flexibility are all indispensable. Today, we will focus on practicing the basics of punches and kicks and sparring reactions. Each of you should disperse and warm up first, and then I will check your movements one by one.”
As soon as the words fell, a figure rushed out impatiently.
Atsei couldn’t hold back any longer. He secretly glanced at the two Yukitos who were chatting and laughing with a few female students not far away, took a deep breath, stepped forward, and shouted in a loud voice: “Teacher Tushirofu, I want to show you my recent training results first!”
Without waiting for Tushirofu’s nod, Atsuyi had already started to fight, unleashing a set of punches that he thought were extremely powerful. The wind from his punches even stirred up the dust on the training ground. As he fought, he even chanted “Hey! Ha!” to himself, trying to make a loud noise and attract everyone’s attention – especially the two wooden figures.
Yue Guangshun watched silently from the side, and couldn’t help curling his lips. This guy, is his desire to perform too strong? He is simply a peacock with its feathers spread out, but unfortunately the feathers are not very full.
After Atsyi finished a set of punches, her chest heaved and sweat appeared on her forehead, but she turned her head suddenly with a smug look on her face, looking in the direction of the two wooden figures with burning eyes, expecting to see a hint of surprise or admiration in her eyes.
However, reality is cruel. The two wooden men just glanced at him indifferently, as if they just saw an ordinary stone, and then turned their heads away and continued to chat with their companions, with a relaxed smile on their lips.
The smile on Atzii’s face froze instantly, like a punctured balloon, and his whole body wilted and he retreated to the side dejectedly.
Shunze paid no attention to this little farce. He followed the instructions of Master Toshiro Fuu and practiced the basic punches and kicks in a methodical manner. His movements were perhaps a little awkward, and not as “powerful” as Atsuyi’s, but he tried to follow the standard in every move and form, feeling the strength of his muscles and the subtle changes in his body.
Yeyue Samui came over at some point. Seeing Shun practicing seriously, she whispered to him, “Shun, when you punch, you can focus more on your waist. This way, you can punch faster and more powerfully.”
“Well, thank you, Samui.” Shun nodded sincerely upon hearing this, and immediately adjusted his movements carefully according to Samui’s instructions. He could feel that Samui’s instructions did give him a deeper understanding of the power technique.
Atziyi, who was not far away, saw this scene and felt even more disappointed and unhappy. He sneered loudly and raised his voice deliberately: “Humph, the last one is the last one. What’s the point of practicing hard? You are still a waste!”
Shun didn’t even bother to raise his eyelids, still immersed in the practice. He could clearly feel that with each standard movement, there seemed to be a weak warm current slowly accumulating and growing in his body. To him, the ridicule of others was nothing but wind in his ears.
The physical training class ended after Tushiro Fu’s routine summary and after-class exercises. Shun rubbed his sore arms and legs, and felt an indescribable joy in his heart.
[Introduction to Physical Techniques: Progress 10%]The system’s prompt sounded in his mind on time. Although it was only 10% progress, for him, it was already a huge improvement that could be seen with the naked eye. It seemed that this kind of professionally guided, focused, systematic training was indeed much better for improving the imprint than just thinking about it on his own.
Just as the students were packing up their things in groups of two or three and preparing to leave the training ground, a clear and energetic voice cut through the noisy environment: “Kirabi! Come and fight me!”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw two petite but imposing wooden figures, staring with shining eyes at a boy wearing sunglasses and looking nonchalant not far away – Kirabi.
Kirabi was humming a tuneless little song of his own. When he heard the two Yumuren’s signature declaration of challenge, he stopped, put his hands in his trouser pockets, and responded in his unique rap tone: “Yo, yo, Yumuren sister, you want to compete with me again? The weather is so good today, and the sunshine is so beautiful, why don’t we go eat barbecue, it must taste good, yo?”
“Stop talking nonsense! Today I will let you see my new moves!” The two wooden men didn’t buy his tricks at all. Before he finished speaking, his figure pounced forward silently but swiftly like a hunting cat.
Her movements were incredibly fast, and her body was so flexible that it was astonishing, as if all the bones in her body could be disassembled and reassembled freely. She attacked Kirabi’s lower body at an angle that was unimaginable to ordinary people, with her body almost touching the ground.
Shun’s eyes lit up as he watched, and he secretly praised in his heart: Is this the flexible physical technique that the two wooden men are famous for? It really lives up to its reputation! No wonder she is highly regarded within the Hidden Cloud Village, and is considered a rare fighting genius in a century.
Kirabi seemed careless, but his reaction was ridiculously fast. He made a seemingly random mistake, and his body twisted in an incredible way, narrowly avoiding the wooden man’s attack that was like a poisonous snake. At the same time, he was rapping impromptu, without any nervousness:
“Little cat, you are so naughty, your attacks are tricky and fierce! Unfortunately, I am best at dodging and hiding, but I just can’t catch you, yo!”
The wooden man’s attack was like a violent storm, one move after another, with strange angles and extremely fast speed. Kirabi was like a slippery loach, always able to dodge her fatal attacks at the last moment, and occasionally used some funny and antic movements to symbolically counterattack, causing the surrounding students to burst into laughter.
“This guy…” Shun couldn’t help but twitch his lips as he watched Kirabi, who was performing acrobatics in the field. He obviously had strength far beyond his peers, but he always looked cynical and played with the world. However, his precise control of his own strength and unparalleled coordination of his body were indeed really amazing.
Looking at the two people fighting fiercely in the field, especially the two wooden men who fought again and again despite repeated defeats but still had high morale and were indomitable, a strange light suddenly flashed in Atsyi’s originally dim eyes.
He seemed to have “realized” something from Yumu Ren’s persistence in challenging the strong. He turned his eyes and stared at Yueguang Shun, who was talking to Samui and about to leave, then strode over and blocked Shun in front of him.
“Moonlight Shun!” Atsyi raised his chin, nose pointed upwards, and said in a provocative tone, “I want to challenge you!”
Shun raised his eyebrows in surprise and looked at the guy who suddenly blocked his way: “Challenge me?” He wondered if he had heard it wrong.
“That’s right! It’s you!” Seeing Shun’s expression, Atsuyi said even more proudly, “Do you dare to accept it? We will have a formal competition at the end of this semester!”
He felt that the two Yumu people liked to challenge the strong, so if he defeated a “weakling” like Moonlight Shun, although he could not directly gain the favor of the Yumu people, he could at least prove in front of everyone that he was not someone to be trifled with! Moreover, this Moonlight Shun seemed to be a little close to Samui recently, which made him feel very unhappy, so he took this opportunity to teach him a lesson.
“Aziyi! You’re going too far!” Samui immediately stood up, with his eyebrows raised, blocking Shun, staring at Aziyi unceremoniously, “Shun has just started to systematically learn physical skills not long ago. You challenge him now, isn’t this obviously bullying?”
“I… I didn’t!” Atsyi’s momentum weakened a bit after being scolded by Samui, but he still tried to argue, “It’s the end of the semester! There are still several months until the end of the semester! He has enough time to prepare! What, Yueguang Shun, are you afraid? Or are you afraid of losing to me, a recognized genius?” He deliberately emphasized the word “genius”.
Shun looked at Atsuyi’s face, which was flushed with excitement and full of the expression “Come and hit me, I’m invincible”, and his heart was very calm. He even wanted to laugh.
This guy is really a living treasure. But…
He subconsciously glanced at the [Introduction to Physical Skills] progress bar on his system panel, which had just reached 10%, and thought about his subsequent series of improvement plans.
A challenge?
Hey! That’s exactly what I meant!
I just wanted to use this ignorant kid to test my cultivation results during this period. Moreover, a clear goal at the end of the semester can also give me some necessary pressure and motivation.
“Okay, I accept your challenge.” Shun said in a flat tone, as if he was just responding to an insignificant invitation.
“Instant!” Samui looked at him anxiously, trying to persuade him not to be impulsive.
Shun gave her a reassuring look and said with a smile, “It’s okay, Samui. Atsuyi-san is right. We still have some time until the end of the semester. I will work hard.”
“Very good! You said it yourself!” When Atsuyi saw that Shun actually agreed, he was so excited that he almost jumped up, as if he had seen the scene of himself beating Gekko Shun in the end-of-term competition. “When the time comes, I will definitely not show mercy! Just wait for me to teach you a lesson, you loser!”
After saying this, he turned around and walked away triumphantly, seemingly completely unaware of the even more contemptuous and disdainful look Samui gave him.
Shun looked at Atsyi’s back as he left in a proud and heroic manner, and sneered in his heart: Who will be the loser will be revealed when the time comes.
As night fell quietly, warm lights gradually lit up in every household in the Hidden Cloud Village.
In his sparsely furnished little room, Shun spread out the illustrations of basic taijutsu moves that he had borrowed from the Ninja School library and studied them carefully.
After a simple dinner, he went to the yard again, and under the dim moonlight, he patiently repeated hundreds of times the basic boxing and kicking moves he had practiced in the training class during the day, until his clothes were soaked with sweat and his limbs began to tremble uncontrollably. Only then did he finally stop.
[Introduction to Physical Techniques: Progress 11%]The system prompt came to my mind again. It has increased by another 1%. Although the increase is not large, persistence is the key, and little by little it adds up to a lot.
He sat cross-legged on the cold floor, adjusting his breathing and feeling the faint but real chakra in his body flowing slowly through his meridians.
“Improvement in physical skills cannot be achieved overnight, and requires perseverance. However, it is almost time to put the study of lightning-style ninjutsu on the agenda.” Shun planned silently in his mind.
The Hidden Cloud Village is famous throughout the ninja world for its powerful Lightning Release Ninjutsu. As a student who is “determined” to become an excellent Hidden Cloud Ninja, Lightning Release is a core skill that must be mastered. Moreover, he vaguely feels that the nature of Lightning Release may produce some wonderful chemical reactions with some secrets hidden in himself.
“It’s decided. Starting tomorrow, I’ll do physical training and school classes during the day, and when I come back at night, I’ll begin to study the basic theoretical knowledge of Lightning Release.” Shun set a new learning goal for himself, with a determined light in his eyes.
It was late at night and there was only a few sparse chirping of insects outside the window, which seemed particularly clear in the silent night.
Shun was lying on the bed, about to fall asleep, his mind still uncontrollably recalling the scenes that happened on the training ground during the day: the agile and swift figures of the two wooden men, Kirabi’s seemingly nonsensical but actually clever response, and Atsui’s face full of provocation and complacency.
Just as his consciousness began to blur and he was about to fall asleep, a very slight, almost imperceptible sound, like a feather gently brushing against the window frame, instantly alerted him!
He suddenly opened his eyes, held his breath, and sat up silently like a cheetah. His eyes were as sharp as a hawk, and he vigilantly scanned the direction of the window where the sound came from.
The bright moonlight shone through the thin window paper, casting mottled shadows on the floor of the room. Everything seemed to be the same as usual, with nothing unusual.
Is this an illusion? Or am I just too nervous?
Shun frowned slightly and was about to lie down again, when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of something extra on the windowsill.
It was a small scroll tightly wrapped in some special dark oil paper, only as long and thick as a finger, lying quietly on the windowsill, as if it appeared out of thin air.
Shun’s heart skipped a beat and all the hair on his body stood up in an instant.
He carefully moved to the window and listened for a moment. After making sure that there was no unusual movement outside the window, he held his breath, reached out his hand, and quickly picked up the cold little scroll.
It felt slightly cool to the touch, and the texture of the scroll was unusually tough, obviously not ordinary paper.
He took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and then slowly unfolded the small scroll in his hand.
There was no writing on the scroll, only a very rough map with a clear red dot marked with bright red cinnabar. Next to the red dot, three small characters were written in a graceful yet cold handwriting: “Intelligence Office.”
At the very bottom of the map, there was another line of words written in even smaller font: “Come alone tomorrow night at midnight. – Yan.”
Yan? Could it be… a ninja from the Hidden Rock Village? !
Shun’s pupils suddenly contracted and the blood color on his face faded instantly.
Is it finally here? As an undercover agent planted by the Hidden Rock Village in the Hidden Cloud Village, this is his first official contact with the “upline” organization!
However, the location of this meeting… the intelligence library of the Hidden Cloud Village? That is an important place in the Hidden Cloud Village where a large amount of confidential information and advanced ninjutsu scrolls are stored! The defense must be extremely strict!
The other party chose to make contact in such a sensitive place. Was it to test my ability and loyalty, or… did they have some more sinister plot?
He clenched the thin secret letter in his hand, and his eyes became extremely solemn.
It seems that his career of hiding will face its first real and severe test starting tomorrow night.
Who is this contact person codenamed “Yan”? What kind of difficult instructions will he bring to himself? The fog of the unknown is quietly enveloping him.
Chapter 8 Study (Old Version)
The sky was just beginning to turn pale, and the edges of the thick clouds unique to the Hidden Cloud Village, which seemed to be accumulating thunder, were tinged with a faint golden color.
Yue Guang Shun’s biological clock is more punctual than the crowing rooster at the village entrance.
He changed into a pair of shorts that were easy to move in, took a deep breath of the slightly cool, slightly humid morning air, and felt his entire lungs being cleansed. There was no alarm clock, only the chirping of insects and birds in the mountains. This was the rhythm of life that a ninja should have.
His goal was the rugged mountain trail behind the village. This was not only a physical training, but also a test of willpower. Moreover, he vaguely felt that this high-intensity activity might activate some dormant “surprises” in his body.
The mountain path was winding and covered with gravel. Shun’s breathing gradually became heavy, and sweat oozed from his forehead and slid down his cheeks. He did not deliberately pursue speed, but focused on the stability of each step and the rhythm of his breathing. He knew that for a child who was still growing, laying a solid foundation was far more important than pursuing a momentary burst.
“Hoo…Hoo…”
Just when I felt my calf muscles beginning to protest and was about to find a rock to rest for a while, I heard steady and rhythmic footsteps accompanied by slightly childish breathing from the front.
He looked up and saw a figure running down the mountain path. It was a girl who was slightly taller than him, with neatly combed short hair and a gray training suit. She also had iron blocks tied to her chest and back that looked as heavy as the training weights in his backpack. The girl’s forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and her face was flushed with a healthy blush from exercise, but her eyes were unusually firm.
“Hi!” The girl spoke first. Her voice was clear and a little hoarse, like a stream in a mountain stream sharpened by stones.
Shun was a little surprised. At this time, there were not many “like-minded people” on this road. He nodded and responded, “Good morning.”
The girl ran up to him and stopped, looking him up and down, revealing a row of neat white teeth, and smiled: “Are you here for morning exercise too? My name is Niwei Yumuto, and I’m a second-year student. What about you?” She spoke crisply and her familiar personality was in line with the straightforward style of most people in the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Moonlight Shun, a freshman.” Shun answered simply. He had some impression of this name, which seemed to be the name of a powerful being in the future. Sure enough, those who can stick to this unique training method are not simple characters.
“Moonlight? Hmm, I’ve never heard of that name.” Yukito tilted his head, then said with relief, “But it doesn’t matter, the Hidden Cloud Village welcomes every hard-working partner! I come here to run with weights every day, and then go to the waterfall over there to practice paddling. See you next time!”
After saying that, she waved to Shun, then took a step forward, carrying the heavy load, and continued running down the mountain, her steps still steady.
“The waterfall hits the water…” Shun smacked his lips, thinking that this girl was really a ruthless person. He shook his head, stopped thinking about it, and continued to climb up.
When he finally climbed to a platform with a wide view in the middle of the mountain trail, the sun had already jumped out of the clouds, and the golden sunlight filled the mountains and forests. Shun leaned on his knees, breathing heavily, and sweat almost soaked his clothes. He mobilized a trace of chakra that had just condensed in his body, and tried to guide them to flow through the meridians according to the method learned in class to relieve the fatigue of the body.
At this moment, there was a sudden “ding” sound in his mind.
[D-level talent mark: Lightning affinity (not activated)][Triggering conditions: Lightning Chakra quality reaches the minimum standard of Genin. ][Current progress: 1%]Here it comes! Shun was delighted. Sure enough, high-intensity physical training combined with the use of chakra is an effective way to activate this kind of talent mark. Although it is only 1%, it means that the direction is right. The Hidden Cloud Village is famous for its lightning escape technique. This “thunder affinity” mark is crucial to his future development.
He wiped the sweat from his face and felt full of energy.
On the way down the mountain, Shun’s steps became much lighter. When he was about to reach the village entrance, he ran into a tall and burly figure.
“Hey, Shun!” The person who came was Ye Yueai. He was carrying a huge barbell. The number of discus hanging on it made Shun’s eyelids jump. “You finished training so early? You are really hardworking!”
Ai’s tone was full of undisguised admiration. He told his sister Samuel in person how hard Shun worked, and now that he had seen it with his own eyes, he felt that this boy was indeed a good material.
“Good morning, Brother Ai.” Shun greeted politely, “Just some basic exercises.”
“Only when you have a solid foundation can you go further!” Ai laughed and patted Shun’s shoulder, controlling the strength very well. “Not bad, not bad. She is much more self-aware than my girl. If she worked half as hard as you, I would wake up laughing in my dreams.”
Shun laughed dryly twice, thinking that if Samui heard this, he would probably get angry again.
Ai seemed to have thought of something, and frowned slightly, muttering: “But then again, this kid works so hard every day, don’t let him lead my sister astray. He just knows how to fight and kill all day long, and doesn’t behave like a girl at all…”
Shun: “…” He pretended not to hear. Brother Ai, isn’t what you are worrying about a bit off?
After saying goodbye to Ai, Shun passed by a famous snack shop in the village. The freshly baked “thunder cloud candy” in the shop exuded an alluring sweet aroma. This is a kind of cotton candy made with special syrup, shaped into small balls of thunderclouds, and sprinkled with a layer of slightly sour lemon powder. It has a unique taste and is the favorite of children in the Hidden Cloud Village.
Shun thought about it and went in to buy a small bag. Samui helped him answer several questions about the basic theory of chakra yesterday, and this small gift was a thank you. He still knew a little about the ways of the world.
On the way to the Ninja Preparatory Class, Shun indeed met Samui who was chatting and laughing with some female classmates.
“Here, this is for you.” Shun handed over the bag of “Thunder Cloud Candy”.
When Samui saw that it was Shun, he first raised his chin habitually. When he saw what was in Shun’s hand, his eyes lit up, but he still pretended to be reserved and snorted: “Why are you giving me something all of a sudden? If you are being nice to me for no reason, you are either a traitor or a thief.”
“Thank you for tutoring me yesterday.” Shun said truthfully.
Samui took the bag of candy with a faint smile on his face, but complained: “You still have some conscience. My brother compared you to me again yesterday. It’s so annoying! He said I didn’t work as hard as you. Humph, what does he know!”
Shun smiled and didn’t respond.
After walking a few steps, Samui suddenly seemed to remember something, turned to look at Shun, and asked, “Hey, Gekkou Shun, did you solve the homework assignment about the nature change of lightning chakra that the teacher assigned yesterday?”
Shun scratched his head, a little embarrassed: “Uh, there are a few places I don’t quite understand.” He was indeed a little stuck in this area. After all, he had just been exposed to these theories not long ago.
“I knew it!” Samui’s mouth curled up unconsciously, revealing a smug expression of “everything is under control”. She cleared her throat and put on the posture of a little teacher, “Those questions are a bit difficult for beginners. Considering that you are sincere in asking for advice, and the ‘Thunder Cloud Candy’ tastes good…”
She paused, raised her chin slightly, and said in an unquestionable tone: “How about this, come to my study after school, and I will personally tutor you!”
“…Thank you very much.” Shun was slightly startled, then responded. Why does this development feel so familiar?
After making an agreement with Samui, Shun felt as if something in his mind seemed to touch him gently.
He had an idea and checked it silently.
[D-level talent mark: profound knowledge (not activated)][Trigger condition: Ranked first in the total score of theoretical courses in the first semester. ]Shun touched his chin. It seems that interacting with a top student like Samui (at least for now) can also promote the activation of the “Learning” mark. I just don’t know what practical role the top students in this world can have besides good test scores. Mabui is a think tank character in the original book. I guess her “Learning” mark must have been lit up to a very high level a long time ago.
It seems that if you want to go further on the road of being a ninja, you not only have to be able to fight, but you also have to have the brain to keep up.
He glanced at Samui, who was discussing the opponent for the afternoon practical class with his classmates, and looked forward to the “tutoring” after school. Not only for the knowledge, but also for the ever-growing progress bar.
Chapter 9: Thunderous Omen and Strong Wall Heart (Old Version)
The Raikage’s office.
The Third Raikage’s burly figure was like a silent mountain, sitting on a chair that symbolized the pinnacle of power in Kumogakure. His eyes were not cast toward the cascading cloud peaks outside the window, but were fixed on a fist-sized, dark blue crystal in the center of the table, with faint electric light flowing inside. This crystal was the product of the village’s use of special minerals combined with the Lightning Chakra technique, which could sense and vaguely reflect the dynamics of a specific chakra target from a distance.
At this moment, the light and shadow in the crystal swayed, revealing a blurry scene of a corner of the ninja preparatory class. A small figure with dreadlocks was lying on the table, seemingly troubled by something, scratching his head from time to time. It was his adopted son Killer Bee. The corners of the Third Raikage’s mouth rose slightly for a moment, and then he returned to his usual majesty. Killer Bee was a gifted child, but he was erratic and not as calm as Ai. However, it was precisely this unruly nature that gave him a free mind that ordinary people could not achieve, which might not be a bad thing for controlling the unruly tailed beast in the future.
He tilted his head slightly, and his deep and penetrating voice rang out in the empty office: “Feng Festival.”
“Swish!”
A figure wearing a black cheetah mask appeared silently in the office, knelt on one knee, and bowed his head. “Lord Raikage.” Fuu Matsuri’s voice was capable and without any emotion. He was the direct subordinate of the Raikage, responsible for transmitting intelligence and carrying out various secret missions.
“Present the records of Gekko Shun’s performance over the past three days.” The Third Raikage’s gaze still remained on the perception crystal, as if he could penetrate the blurry image and see through everything.
“Yes.” Feng Ji responded, and his figure disappeared again like a ghost.
Soon, Kazesai appeared again with a thin scroll in his hand. The Third Raikage took it and slowly unfolded it. The scroll detailed the recent study status, training progress, and simple interactions between Gekkou Shun and his classmates. When he saw that Shun was not only extremely hardworking, but also indirectly led Samui, who was a little slack in the class, to start working hard, the Third Raikage’s eyes flashed with approval.
“This kid knows the importance of hard work. If he can persevere, he will achieve great things in the future. Samui was also touched by him, which is good.” He murmured to himself. He was quite satisfied with Shun’s performance. The Hidden Cloud Village needs fresh blood, and even more so, role models who can lead others to progress together. Didn’t he also rely on the belief of “the strongest spear” and “the strongest shield” to lead the Hidden Cloud Village to prosperity step by step?
Just then, there was a gentle knock on the office door.
“Come in.” The Third Raikage put down the scroll in his hand and turned his eyes to the door.
The door was pushed open, and a tall, strong, dark-skinned, short-haired young man walked in. It was his most proud disciple and a strong contender for the next Raikage – Yeyue Ai. At this moment, Ai was already a leader among the jonin of Kumogakure. There was a faint flash of lightning around him, which was a manifestation of his extreme activation of lightning chakra, and he had begun to take shape as the “fastest lightning”.
“Teacher Raikage.” Yeyue Ai bowed respectfully, his tone steady and powerful.
“Yes, Ai,” the Third Raikage nodded slightly, indicating that he didn’t need to be polite, “What’s the matter? Could it be that there is a problem with the two of you, the wooden man?”
When mentioning the two Yukito, the Jinchuriki of the Two-tailed Matatabi, the Third Raikage’s brows furrowed slightly unconsciously. Jinchuriki is a strategic weapon of the village, but it is also like a double-edged sword. Yukito is a proud child who hates being restrained. In addition, an enemy village planned to kidnap her not long ago (although she was rescued by Ai in time), which makes her more sensitive to the surrounding environment and more prone to emotional fluctuations.
Yeyue Ai nodded solemnly and said, “Yes, teacher. This afternoon, Mu Ren was once again agitated by a trivial matter, which caused a small leakage of the two-tail chakra in his body. Fortunately, it was discovered in time and did not cause a major disaster.”
“Is it like this again…” The Third Raikage rubbed his forehead and said in a deep voice, “We must not slack off in our psychological counseling work for her. At the same time, we must also find a way to let her learn to take the initiative to control herself, rather than just suppressing her.”
“Disciple understands.” Yeyue Ai responded, “At present, with the assistance of Kirabi, I am trying to guide Yumu Ren to develop a new physical technique. This physical technique imitates the form of a cat, using its flexibility and explosive power, perhaps allowing her to better resonate with the power of the two-tailed beast, so as to find a balance between venting and controlling. Although Kirabi is usually unreliable, he unexpectedly has some unique insights on this matter.”
“Oh? Taijutsu in the form of a cat?” A hint of interest flashed in the eyes of the Third Raikage. “That’s a good idea. The Two-tailed Matatabi is in the form of a giant cat. If we can use this to guide it, it may be possible to achieve twice the result with half the effort. Ai, I will leave this matter to you. You and Killer Bee, one has the potential for the fastest lightning, and the other has a natural affinity with the tailed beasts. You two brothers are the hope for the future of the village.”
“I will definitely live up to your trust, teacher.” Ye Yueai said in a firm tone.
The father and son talked for a while, and Ai bowed and left. The Raikage’s office returned to silence, with only the perception crystal still flashing a faint blue light.
Ninja preparatory class, arithmetic class.
The old man on the podium was explaining the trajectory calculation of Lightning Release Ninjutsu with saliva flying all over his body.
“…So, to accurately hit the neck of a high-speed moving target 100 meters away, taking into account the initial speed, the effect of air humidity on the efficiency of lightning conduction, and the target’s possible evasive actions, your lightning attack angle must be accurate to this value…”
Gekko Shun was overwhelmed by what he heard. It had been a while since he traveled to this world and became Gekko Shun. He had basically adapted to the ninja worldview, but the damn arithmetic, especially the precise calculations involving lightning escape, a high-speed, high-energy ninjutsu, was even more painful than running dozens of kilometers with a load.
The draft paper in front of him was filled with all kinds of crooked parabolas and scribbled formulas. Calculating the landing point and speed of the lightning escape? Shouldn’t this kind of thing be judged by combat intuition and experience? When it comes to the moment of life and death, who has time to take out a pen and paper to do some calculations?
“Alas…” Shun sighed silently in his heart. But when he thought about the activation conditions of the vague “mark” that seemed to be related to the mastery of knowledge, he had to force himself to cheer up and try to understand those symbols that were like a heavenly book.
“Boom!”
A muffled sound, not too loud, followed by a suppressed exclamation, interrupted the dullness of the class. Looking in the direction of the sound, I saw a small group of people gathered in the open space behind the classroom.
The bell for break rang at this moment.
“It’s that guy Atsuyi again. He’s going to challenge Kirabi-sama again.” Mabui, who was beside him, said to Shun in a low voice while packing up her textbooks, with a bit of helplessness in her tone. Mabui was a quiet girl who wore a pair of small glasses. She didn’t talk much on weekdays, but she knew all the gossip in the class.
Shunya stood up and looked towards the center of the crowd with curiosity. He saw the relatively thin Atsei staring at Kirabi with an unconvinced look on his face. The sleeve of his right arm was a little burnt, obviously he had suffered a loss in the “challenge” just now. Kirabi was dressed in hip-hop style, with his hands in his trouser pockets, humming a tuneless self-composed rap, shaking his head in a relaxed manner, and he didn’t take Atsei’s provocation seriously at all.
“Yo, little Atsuyi, your Lightning Escape is not obedient again. You electrocute yourself. You are such a fool. Come again next time. Cheke!” Kirabi said in his unique accent, causing several familiar friends around him to laugh.
Atsyi’s face flushed red, he clenched his fists, and a faint lightning flashed on his arms again, as if he wanted to go up again. He longed for recognition, especially… His eyes unconsciously drifted to the door of the classroom.
There stood a tall, cold-faced girl, none other than the two Yukitos. She seemed to have just finished a special training with her instructor, and happened to pass by. At this moment, she simply glanced at the farce in the field, with her cat-like sharp golden pupils without any emotion, as if the conflict in front of her was just a boring children’s game. Then, she turned around and left without any hesitation.
Seeing Yumuren leave, the lightning that Atsei had finally gathered on his arm dimmed instantly, and his eyes were full of disappointment. He challenged Kirabi, of course, because he didn’t want to admit defeat, but more importantly, he wanted to attract Yumuren’s attention. Unfortunately, the results were always unsatisfactory. He covered his still numb arm and retreated to the side in dismay.
Shun saw all this, but his heart was not too disturbed. It was normal for a child of this age to be competitive. He retracted his gaze and opened the thick “Basic Applied Mathematics of Thunder Escape” again. No matter how exciting other people’s stories were, they had nothing to do with him. He had his own way to go. In order to gain a foothold in this world as soon as possible, in order to activate the mysterious “mark” and gain real power, these boring knowledge were the difficulties he had to overcome.
Outside the window, clouds were rolling and thunder was faintly heard, foreshadowing the approach of a storm.
Chapter 10: Meeting between Secret Agents (Old Version)
The Sunday morning light shone through the layers of clouds unique to the Hidden Cloud Village, and sprinkled on Yueguang Shun’s sweaty forehead. He was shirtless, and the lines of his muscles were clearly visible every time he exerted force, full of explosive beauty.
“drink!”
With a low roar, Shun’s right fist was like a cannonball, tearing through the air and slamming hard into the weathered training rock in the yard. It was not the blessing of chakra, but pure physical strength.
With a dull sound, the surface of the rock shattered into several fine spider-web patterns.
At this moment, Shun felt a warm current surge in his body, as if some shackles were broken. In the upper right corner of his vision, a line of light golden text quietly emerged:
[The ordinary physical mark “Introduction to Physical Skills” has been activated! 】
[Effect: Permanently increase strength by 20%, permanent increase agility by 15%][The way to obtain the new mark “Eight Weapons” has been unlocked (0/8): Please master the basic usage of at least one mainstream weapon and reach the entry level. ]“It’s done!” Shun was delighted and clenched his fists, clearly feeling the increase in strength. This kind of real improvement is much more reassuring than simple chakra training. Moreover, the new mark “Eight Weapons” sounds very promising.
He wiped the sweat off his face, put on a loose training suit, and thought about his next move. Today was the day to meet with Ishida, the contact person of the Iwagakure Village.
“I must be careful.” Shun reminded himself secretly. He took a deep breath of the slightly humid air of the Hidden Cloud Village in the early morning, adjusted his breathing, and began to jog along the streets outside the village. This was his usual way of cover, which not only exercised his body, but also allowed him to approach the target location naturally without arousing suspicion.
Most of the buildings in the Hidden Cloud Village were built against the mountain, with a rough and majestic style, full of power. On the streets, many early-rising ninjas were doing morning exercises, and shouts could be heard one after another.
Shun’s eyes swept through these figures, but he was calculating the time and route in his mind. His target was the “Yunyin Village Intelligence Book House” located on the edge of the village. It sounded like an official organization, but in fact it was a mixed bag of people, and it was also one of the few safe contact points for the Iwagakure Village in Yunyin.
About half an hour later, Shun’s forehead was slightly sweaty and his breathing was a little rapid. He looked like a teenager who needed a rest after morning exercise. He naturally stopped at the door of the “Yunyin Village Information Book Pavilion”.
The front of the bookstore is small and even a little old. The word “Intelligence” on the plaque is carved in a flourish, but it exudes a sense of desolation that no one cares about. Compared with the bright and beautiful ninja tool shops and restaurants in the center of the village, this place seems particularly low-key.
The creaking wooden door was pushed open, and a mixture of the musty smell of old books and the faint scent of ink hit me. The light in the library was a little dim, and the tall bookshelves extended all the way to the roof, filled with various scrolls and books, which looked a little messy.
An old man with gray hair and wearing reading glasses was dozing off behind the counter. Hearing the noise, he slowly raised his head and scanned Shun with his cloudy eyes: “Little guy, what book are you looking for so early in the morning?”
Shun looked around calmly, and after confirming that there was no one else around, he lowered his voice and said, “Old man, I want to find an ancient book about The Whisper of the Rocks. It’s said to be a unique copy.”
“Whisper of the Rocks” is one of the secret codes of the Hidden Rock Village, indicating urgent information transmission or important meetings.
When the old man heard this, a light flashed in his eyes, but he soon returned to his lazy look. He stood up slowly and said, “Oh, Whisper of the Rocks… That’s the boss’s treasure. Come with me, it’s in the back room.”
Shun nodded and followed the old man, passing through rows of tall bookshelves and arriving at a small room at the innermost part of the library.
The old man opened an inconspicuous secret door for him and motioned for him to go in. He did not follow him in and turned back to the counter outside.
Behind the secret door was a narrow staircase leading down. Shun walked down cautiously. At the end of the staircase was a small secret room, lit only by an oil lamp. A middle-aged man in a grey robe with a medium build and ordinary face was sitting behind a table, tapping his fingers rhythmically on the tabletop.
“Codename ‘Shizi’, you’re finally here.” The middle-aged man raised his head, his eyes as sharp as an eagle. It was Shun’s contact, Ishida.
Shun bowed slightly, “Sir Ishida, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting.”
Ishida’s expression was not relaxed. He sighed and said, “No need to be polite. Sit down.”
After Shun sat down, Ishida said in a deep voice: “The situation is very bad. Kumogakure recently conducted a targeted internal investigation, and the means were extremely cruel. Our ‘seed’ plan lurking in Kumogakure… was almost wiped out.”
Shun’s heart trembled. He knew about the “seed” plan, which was a long-term strategy that the Hidden Rock Village had spent years of hard work to select orphans with potential from various countries, train them from a young age, and place them in other ninja villages. Each “seed” carried great expectations.
“The whole army was wiped out?” Shun’s voice was filled with just the right amount of surprise and grief. “Then our group…”
“You are the only survivor.” Ishida’s eyes were complicated. “Your file said that you were mediocre and your performance in the ninja school was unremarkable. I didn’t expect that you escaped because of this. Those who performed well became the first targets for investigation.”
Shun secretly felt lucky, but he also understood that if he hadn’t deliberately concealed his incompetence, he would have been exposed long ago.
Ishida paused and continued, “However, you seem to be a little… high-profile recently. Not only did you graduate early, but you also got the attention of the Raikage. Although this disrupted our original plan, it also brought new possibilities.”
Shun immediately stated: “For the Iwagakure Village, I will do my best in any mission!” He must show enough loyalty in order to gain more trust and resources.
Ishida looked at him deeply, as if assessing his determination. After a moment, he nodded: “Very good. In view of your current situation and the… well, ‘potential’ you have shown, the village leaders have adjusted your mission positioning.”
He leaned forward slightly, his tone becoming serious: “Shun, your next mission is no longer a simple intelligence gathering. The village hopes that you will thoroughly play the role of a ‘super genius’!”
“Super genius?” Shun raised his eyebrows slightly, seeming a little puzzled, but his heart was already getting excited.
“That’s right.” Ishida affirmed, “You must enter the core power layer of Kumogakure in the most dazzling manner. Become their most trusted sharp weapon, and then, at the most critical moment, give them a fatal blow!”
He paused for a moment, observing Shun’s reaction. Seeing that Shun looked calm and seemed to be thinking seriously, he continued, “This mission is extremely difficult and risky, but the rewards are equally rich. If you can succeed, you will not only receive a personal reward from Lord Tsuchikage, but you will also have the opportunity to… learn the ultimate secret technique of our Iwagakure Village – Dust Release!”
Dust escape!
Shun’s pupils shrank slightly. This was what he really wanted! The power of the bloodline was enough to make him stand proud in the ninja world. He suppressed his excitement and showed a firm look on his face: “Please rest assured, Master Ishida, Shun will not fail in his mission!”
Ishida smiled with relief: “Very good. Here are some new contact information and some initial activity funds. Remember, from now on, you are the rising star of the Hidden Cloud Village, Gekko Shun. Do not contact me again unless there is an emergency that jeopardizes the entire plan. I will follow your progress through a single line.”
He handed over a small scroll and a heavy bag of coins.
Shun took it and nodded solemnly: “I understand.”
“Go ahead. When you leave, just pick up two books from the bookshelf outside, just to make it look like you’re leaving.” Ishida waved his hand and disappeared into the shadows again, as if he had never appeared.
He immediately stood up, bowed again, then turned and left the secret room.
Back at the bookstore outside, the dozing old man was still lying on the counter, as if he was fast asleep. Shun followed his instructions and randomly picked two travel notes about the customs and practices of Kumogakure from the bookshelf, then walked to the counter to pay.
The old man took the money slowly without even looking at him.
Walking out of the Intelligence Bookstore, the sunlight outside was a bit dazzling. Shun squinted his eyes, adjusted to the light, and then walked along the street towards his residence as if nothing had happened.
As soon as he turned a corner, he saw a familiar little figure not far away.
It was a little girl of about six or seven years old, with long flaxen hair casually scattered, and a stubborn and cold look that did not match her age.
At this moment, she was squatting by the roadside, carefully holding a shivering black kitten covered in mud. One of the kitten’s hind legs seemed to be injured and hung limply.
Next to Yukito, a red-haired boy, probably Atsuyi, was holding a steaming breakfast at a loss, trying to hand it to Yukito eagerly, but she completely ignored him.
“Yumujin, you should eat something first, this cat…” Atsui advised in a low voice.
Yu Mu Ren didn’t even raise her head and said in a cold voice: “It’s injured and needs bandage.” Her movements were very gentle, trying to comfort the frightened kitten.
Shun’s pace subconsciously slowed down a bit.
Just as he was about to pass by, the kitten held in the wooden figure’s arms suddenly raised its head. Its two different colored pupils – one blue and one yellow, looking particularly strange in the morning light – stared straight at Shun.
There was no timidity or curiosity of ordinary animals in that look, but instead a hint of… scrutiny and vigilance?
His heart moved slightly, but his face remained expressionless. He just paused for half a second and then continued walking forward.
The kitten let out a low whimper from its throat, as if trying to break free from the wooden man’s arms.
“Don’t move, little guy, I won’t hurt you.” Yu Mu Ren gently stroked the kitten’s head, trying to calm it down.
Shun didn’t look back, but that strange gaze seemed to follow him until he turned the next corner and disappeared completely.
“A cat…” Shun frowned slightly, then relaxed.
The Hidden Cloud Village seemed to be more complicated than he had imagined. But it was more challenging, wasn’t it? The corners of his mouth curved up in an imperceptible arc.
Chapter 11 Samui’s Pocket Money (Old Version)
“Mr. Dou, are you going out?”
As soon as Yue Guang Shun stepped into the slightly old gate of the special shelter, he saw Yakushi Kabuto adjusting his white coat. He looked hurried, as if he was about to leave.
“instant?”
Yakushi Kabuto looked up at the voice, a trace of mild surprise flashed in his eyes behind the lenses, and then asked: “Today is not the weekend, how come you have time to come here? Is there something special?”
“It’s nothing serious. I just wanted to come and see the kids. I also wanted to ask you some questions about the changes in the nature of chakra.”
Shun raised the bags of beautifully wrapped candies and some small wooden toys in his hands and added, “These are small gifts for them.”
“You are always so polite. The children like you very much.”
A relieved smile appeared on Kabuto Yakushi’s face. That smile was like the warm sunshine in spring, which could easily dispel the haze in people’s hearts. He pointed outside the door and said, “I am about to go to the medical department of Kumogakure. The Third Raikage has convened an emergency meeting, which seems to be related to the supply of frontline soldiers and the treatment of the wounded.”
“A meeting of the medical department?” Shun’s eyes lit up slightly, and a thought flashed through his mind, “Is it about… the application of lightning ninjutsu in medical treatment or combat assistance? I have always been full of admiration and yearning for the strongest lightning ninjutsu in our Hidden Cloud Village. I wonder if there is a chance to witness that ultimate power with my own eyes?”
He deliberately led the topic to Lightning Release, his tone full of curiosity and longing that only teenagers have. He knew that it might be abrupt to directly ask to see high-level ninjutsu, but expressing his yearning as a “fan” would always be more acceptable.
After hearing this, Kabuto Yakushi pondered for a moment, as if he was weighing something. He pushed his glasses up and said, “Today’s meeting is confidential, so you are not suitable to participate yet. However, if you really want to watch a high-intensity lightning chakra duel, I can take you to see Captain Ai’s training next Sunday. He is the most promising young talent in our Hidden Cloud Village who has the best chance of mastering the lightning chakra mode. The Third Raikage has high hopes for him.”
“Captain Ai? Captain Yeyue Ai?” Shun’s heart moved, and he tried hard to suppress the excitement in his tone, “That’s great! Thank you very much, Mr. Dou!”
Yakushi Kabuto nodded slightly: “Captain Ai is currently one of the captains of the jonin squad. Although his lightning escape technique has not yet reached perfection, its power is already quite amazing. If you can go and observe, it will also be beneficial to your future practice of lightning escape technique.”
“Yeah!” Shun nodded vigorously, but he was thinking rapidly in his mind. From Mr. Dou’s tone, it seemed that Yeyue Ai’s lightning chakra mode had not yet been fully developed, which was slightly different from the image of the future fourth-generation Raikage who dominated the ninja world in his memory. Was it because the timeline of this world was slightly different, or did Ai’s growth require more tempering?
Shun’s thoughts drifted to the “Lightning Affinity” mark. This mark is said to be the ultimate manifestation of the Lightning Release talent, which can greatly enhance the power of Lightning Release Ninjutsu and reduce chakra consumption. There seem to be two ways to obtain it: one is to become a recognized Lightning Release elite in the village and comprehend it by yourself through countless battles and training; the other is to have an extremely rare natural Lightning Body to be integrated under specific conditions. For me now, no matter which path I take, it seems a bit far away.
“Okay, I have to go now, otherwise I’ll be late.” Pharmacist Kabuto looked at his watch and recalled his thoughts. “I’ll ask you to take care of the children. They will be very happy to see you.”
“Go ahead, Mr. Kabuto.”
After watching Yakushi Kabuto’s figure disappear around the corner of the street, Shun took a deep breath, calmed his excited mood, and then turned and walked into the yard of the shelter.
In the yard, the sun shines through the sparse leaves, casting mottled spots of light. When the children see Shun, they immediately gather around him like a group of happy little birds, chirping and calling out “Brother Shun”.
Shun smiled and distributed candies and toys to them. Looking at their innocent smiles, the urgency for power in his heart seemed to fade a little. He glanced at the young faces and couldn’t help thinking that the future Xi should still be in an unknown corner of the battlefield, and had not yet been discovered by Mr. Dou and brought back to this shelter that could bring him temporary peace. Has the trajectory of this world quietly undergone some unknown deflection because of his arrival?
He played the shuriken throwing game with the children for a while and told them a few short stories that he had searched out from his memories of past lives. It was not until the afterglow of the setting sun began to rim the clouds with gold that he politely declined their reluctant pleas to stay and left the shelter.
On the way home, Shun was a little excited because he was about to be able to observe Ai’s training. The streets of the Hidden Cloud Village seemed particularly quiet at this moment, with a faint smell of sulfur hot springs and the aroma of barbecue floating in the air.
“instant!”
A clear and slightly naive cry came from above and behind him.
He looked up subconsciously and saw Yeyue Samui sitting cross-legged on the edge of the iconic green tiles on the roof of his house. His two slender legs swayed from time to time, and his short golden hair seemed to be coated with a soft halo under the setting sun, reflecting bits of gold.
“Samui, what are you doing up there? The sun is about to set, aren’t you afraid of catching a cold?” Shun asked, looking up while standing under the eaves.
Samui snorted, but she jumped down from the edge of the roof very nimbly, landing steadily in front of Shun. She put her hands on her waist, puffed her cheeks, and looked like she was going to “call a grudge”: “How dare you say that! You went out and didn’t even bring me some of the limited edition flavors of the new meatball shop at the entrance of the village? You’re going too far!”
Shun heard this and said “Ah” pretending to be surprised. He scratched his head and said with a hint of apology: “Oh, I went to the shelter to visit Mr. Dou today. I was so immersed in chatting with him that I forgot about this. Next time, I will make it up to you next time.”
In fact, he really forgot. These days, most of his mind was focused on the precise control of chakra and thinking about lightning escape.
Samui stared at him suspiciously for a few seconds, and when she saw that his expression was sincere, the “unhappiness” on her face faded a little. Her small nose twitched slightly, and then she shyly took out a small and exquisite cloth wallet with a few cute cloud patterns sewn on it from the pocket of her ninja uniform and stuffed it into Shun’s hand without saying anything.
“Here, this is for you!” She tilted her head slightly to one side, leaving a faint blush on her face, but her voice was still a little arrogant, “This is the pocket money I saved this month, and the extra reward for the last mission. Didn’t you say you wanted to buy some better kunai and detonating tags? Take them and buy them first!”
The wallet was warm to the touch, still with the girl’s body temperature. Shun was slightly stunned, and subconsciously opened the wallet. Inside were some small-denomination banknotes and a few shiny coins neatly stacked. Although not much, for a child who had not yet officially become a Genin, this was undoubtedly a “huge sum of money”.
A warm current instantly surged into his heart, and Shun suddenly felt a little sour in his nose. He knew that Samui usually treated his pocket money like a treasure, but now she took it all out at once.
This thought is more precious than any expensive gift.
But how could a “big guy” like him accept the pocket money that a little girl had worked so hard to save? Wouldn’t it be a joke if the news got out?
“No need, Samui.” He closed the wallet immediately, grabbed Samui’s fair wrist, and stuffed the wallet back into her hand without explanation. His tone was gentle but unquestionable. “I appreciate your kindness, but I have my own money, enough to buy those things.”
“Hmm?” Samui tilted his head and blinked his beautiful blue eyes, seeming a little puzzled and a little aggrieved. “But… Brother Ai said that an excellent ninja needs the best equipment…”
Shun looked at her silly yet serious expression, his heart moved, and he couldn’t help but stretch out his index finger and lightly tap her smooth and plump forehead.
There was a soft “pop” sound.
“Ouch!” Samui felt pain and subconsciously covered his forehead, staring at Shun with wide eyes. A layer of mist instantly covered his eyes, as if he had suffered a great injustice.
“I’m your brother, and it’s my duty to take care of you. How can I spend your money?” Shun took his hand back with a gentle smile on his face, “Keep this money to buy things you like. Besides, we will be able to carry out missions together soon to make money, and then I will take you to buy more delicious food.”
Samui rubbed her forehead, pouted her lips, and muttered in dissatisfaction: “Humph! You don’t know how to appreciate kindness! Who asked you to take care of me? I am obviously a few months older than you…” Even so, the grievance in her eyes quietly dissipated, replaced by a barely perceptible joy. She carefully put the wallet back into her pocket.
“Alright, alright, you two little guys, stop standing at the door. That’s not nice of you.”
A steady and magnetic voice interrupted the interaction between the two. Ye Yue Ai’s tall and burly figure appeared at the gate of the courtyard. He was wearing a standard Kumogakure jonin combat uniform and carrying a training weighted sandbag on his shoulder. It was obvious that he had just finished the daily training and official duties of the jonin class and was preparing to go home.
His eyes swept between Shun and Samui with a hint of insightful smile.
“Brother Ai!” Shun and Samui straightened up at the same time and shouted respectfully.
Yeyue Ai casually placed the sandbag in the corner, making a dull “dong” sound. He walked in front of Shun, looked him up and down with sharp eyes, and asked in a deep voice: “Shun, I heard from Dou that you went to the shelter to help again today? Very good. How are you doing with the chakra fine control technique I taught you recently?”
“Replying to Brother Ai, I have basically mastered it. The flow and condensation of chakra are much smoother than before!” Shun replied quickly, with a hint of anticipation in his tone.
Yeyue Ai nodded with satisfaction, a hint of approval on her face: “Well, your understanding and hard work have exceeded my expectations. Same with Samui, both of you have made great progress in this period of time, and the amount of chakra in your body and your control over chakra have reached the minimum threshold for learning basic lightning-style ninjutsu.”
When Shun heard this, his eyes suddenly lit up, and his heart beat faster. Samui also had a look of surprise and expectation on his face, and his little fists clenched subconsciously.
Yeyue Ai looked at the two people’s excitement, with a smile on his face, and announced: “So, I have decided to formally teach you the basic lightning body-building techniques and several entry-level lightning ninjutsu of the Yeyue clan starting from tomorrow.”
“Great! Thank you, Brother Ai!” Shun blurted out, the joy in his heart was beyond words. He knew that this not only meant an improvement in strength, but also meant that he was one step closer to the “Lightning Affinity” mark!
“Hmph, Shun, don’t get complacent too soon!” Samui on the side raised his little chin, with a fierce competitive flame burning in his eyes, “I will definitely master all the Lightning Release techniques before you! When that happens, I will be the strongest in our team!”
Ye Yue Ai looked at the undisguised healthy competition between the two children and chuckled in a low and pleasant voice: “It’s good to have ambition. However, the path of practicing Thunder Escape is not as easy as you think. It is full of hardships and sweat. Both of you must be prepared to endure hardships.”
He paused, and his tone became serious: “Lightning Release is the foundation of our Cloud Village’s foothold in the ninja world. It pursues extreme speed and unparalleled destructive power, and has extremely strict requirements for the control of chakra’s nature and form changes. You still have a lot to learn, and you must not slack off at all.”
He glanced at the setting sun outside the window that was gradually sinking into the horizon, and said, “Okay, let’s all go inside first. I will tell you in detail about the specific matters of cultivation tomorrow. Today, take a good rest.”
Shun and Samui looked at each other and could see the excitement shining in each other’s eyes.
A new challenge is about to begin!
Chapter 12 I brought my talent to Lightning Escape (old version)
The Yeyue family’s exclusive training ground was much wider than Shun had imagined. There were charred wooden stakes standing around it, and the ground was also bumpy, obviously showing the traces of years of destruction by lightning. There seemed to be a faint smell of ionization in the air.
“Lightning escape, to put it simply, is a technique that changes the nature of chakra to highly activate body cells, thereby bursting out with lightning speed and power, and can materialize lightning to attack.” Ye Yue Ai crossed his arms across his chest, his voice loud and clear, with the unique penetrating power of a lightning escape ninja, “Its core lies in the precise control of chakra and the extreme stimulation of the body.”
He paused, and his sharp eyes swept over Shun and Samui in front of him, finally fixing on Shun: “The practice of Lightning Release requires extremely high physical fitness and chakra affinity. Samui, you have good talent, but Shun,” Ai’s mouth curled up with a hint of approval, “your body is simply born for Lightning Release! Even I am surprised by your natural affinity for lightning attribute.”
Samui’s face puffed up slightly when he heard this, but he quickly regained his composure, except for a hint of competition in his eyes. Shun, on the other hand, had a calm expression, as he knew where his advantage lay, and the bonus from the system mark was no joke.
“No matter how much theory we talk about, it’s useless. The key is practice.” Ye Yueai took a step forward and stretched out his right hand. “Today, I will teach you the most basic mortal-level lightning escape technique – the lightning ball technique. Watch carefully!”
Before he finished speaking, dazzling lightning gathered in his palm, making a “sizzling” sound, and even a faint smell of burning filled the air. A fist-sized lightning ball flashing with unstable arcs suddenly took shape, with a heart-pounding energy fluctuation.
“The principle of the Thunder Ball Technique is to highly compress the lightning chakra and change its shape to form an offensive lightning sphere. Although the power is not great, it is the basis of all offensive lightning techniques.” Ye Yue Ai casually swung the thunder ball in his hand, and the thunder ball shot out and hit the wooden stake beside him, exploding a small ball of electric sparks, and leaving a new charred area on the surface of the wooden stake.
“Do you understand? The change of chakra nature and form of Lightning Release must be carried out at the same time, which requires extremely strong control.” Yeyue Ai looked at the two juniors, “Samui, you try it first.”
Samui took a deep breath, followed Yeyue’s example and stretched out her hand, trying to mobilize the chakra in her body. Her face looked a little serious because of her concentration, and beads of sweat oozed from her forehead. After a long while, her little hand made a “sizzle” sound, and a small, shaky electric spark emerged, which was not much brighter than a firefly, let alone forming a sphere, and soon went out.
“Not bad, you were able to activate lightning chakra and generate an arc the first time, you are already very talented.” Yeyue Ai nodded in encouragement, not blaming Samui for his failure. For a beginner, this is indeed a good start.
He turned to Shun again: “Shun, it’s your turn.”
Shun nodded, closed his eyes and recalled Ai’s chakra flow and seals just now – oh, this technique doesn’t seem to require seals, and focuses more on the internal operation of chakra. He took a deep breath, guided the chakra to the palm of his right hand, and began to change the nature and form according to his understanding of the principles of lightning escape in his mind.
Almost at the moment when Yeyue Ai finished speaking, a flash of lightning that was more stable and condensed than the lightning ball in Ai’s palm lit up in Shun’s right hand! With a clear sound of “Zila–“, a lightning ball of the same size as the one in Ai’s demonstration, but with denser arcs and brighter light, was steadily suspended in Shun’s palm, emitting eye-catching energy.
“…” Ye Yueai opened his mouth slightly, his eyes almost popping out. He just wanted to say that Shun was successful if he could draw out the electric sparks for the first time, but… this guy just rubbed out the finished product? And it looked even more refined than what he had casually performed!
Samui was also stunned, her mouth opened into an “O” shape. She had worked so hard for a long time but couldn’t even make a decent electric spark, but she could make a finished lightning ball in a flash? The difference between people is really that big!
[Ordinary skill mark: Thunder ball technique. ][Obtaining conditions: Successfully perform the Thunder Ball Technique. ][Effect: The Thunder Ball Technique automatically reaches the proficient level. ][Note: Gather three common-level lightning marks to fuse with the superior-level spiritual mark ‘Lightning Apprentice’. ]A stream of information flowed through Shun’s mind, about the various tricks of the Thunder Ball Technique and the subtleties of chakra control, as if he had practiced it thousands of times and mastered it instantly.
“Uncle Ai, I have mastered this thunder ball technique.” He instantly dispersed the thunder ball in his hand, looked at the dazed Ye Yue Ai, and said calmly, “Can you teach me the next thunder escape technique? I want to collect three marks quickly.”
“Mastered it?” Ye Yueai’s mouth twitched. He had lived for so many years and claimed to be a genius in thunder escape, but he had never seen such an outrageous thing. He could do it after just one look, and mastered it in a short time? This was no longer a gifted talent, this was simply the treatment of the illegitimate son of Thunder God!
He suppressed his shock and asked, “You said you have mastered it? Perform it again for me to see! Remember, the proficiency of ninjutsu lies in the speed and power of the casting, as well as the control of chakra consumption!”
Shun Yi stretched out his hand again, and almost in the blink of an eye, with a “sizzle”, another stable and bright lightning ball appeared in his palm. From the activating of chakra to the formation of the lightning ball, the whole process was smooth and fast, which made people astonishingly fast.
“Monster… What a monster!” Yeyue Ai came back to his senses from the shock, looking at Shun with eyes full of indescribable ecstasy and excitement, “Good boy! Good boy! The future of our Yeyue family, no, the entire Thunder Release lineage, depends on you!”
His original teaching plan was to let Shun and Samui spend a few days to get familiar with the Thunder Ball Technique and lay a solid foundation. But now it seems that the step-by-step plan is a waste of time for Shun!
“In that case, I will make an exception today and teach you two more ordinary-level lightning escape techniques!” Ye Yue Ai’s mood became excited. “Look carefully, this is ‘Lightning Escape: Electric Walk’, a technique that uses lightning escape chakra to stimulate the body and greatly increase the speed of instantaneous bursts!”
As he spoke, Ye Yueai’s figure suddenly blurred, and with a slight sound of electricity, he instantly appeared ten meters away, so fast that only a faint afterimage was left.
Shun concentrated on memorizing Ai’s chakra operation mode. After Ai finished the demonstration, he immediately tried it. The lightning chakra in his body flowed along a specific path, stimulating muscles and nerves.
“Swish!” Shun’s figure also brought up a breeze. Although he was not as fast and silent as Ai, he also successfully teleported a distance of seven or eight meters.
[Ordinary skill mark: Lightning escape, electric shock. ][Obtaining conditions: Successfully perform Lightning Escape. 】
[Effect: Lightning escape and electric run automatically reach the proficiency level. ]Another mark is obtained! Shun was delighted.
Yeyue Ai was already somewhat numb, and just kept grinning: “Good! Good! Good! Come again! ‘Lightning Release: Thunder Binding’, use lightning to form ropes or electric nets to bind the enemy!”
He quickly formed a few seals with his hands and shouted, “Thunder Escape: Thunder Binding!”
Several electric currents shot out from his fingertips, interweaving in the air to form a crackling electric net, covering a dummy target.
Shun followed suit, and although his seals were a little awkward, his chakra control was extremely precise. Soon, a slightly smaller but equally effective electric net formed in his hands, successfully restraining another dummy target.
[Ordinary skill mark: Lightning Escape, Lightning Binding. ][Obtaining conditions: Successfully perform Lightning Release: Lightning Binding. ][Effect: Lightning Release: Lightning Binding automatically reaches the proficiency level. ]“Huh…” Shun’s face turned pale after performing and mastering three lightning techniques in a row. Beads of sweat oozed out of his forehead, and his breathing became heavy. Although his chakra capacity was greater than that of his peers, he could not withstand performing new techniques one after another.
“The three ordinary-level Thunder Escape Marks are all here!” Shun muttered to himself, feeling the resonance emanating from the three marks in his mind, as well as the fusion hint about “Thunder Escape Apprentice”, and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
Ye Yue Ai looked at Shun, who looked a little tired but still had bright eyes, and the joy in his heart almost overflowed. He patted Shun on the shoulder and laughed, “Good boy, that’s all for today! You’ve consumed too much chakra, and you need to rest. But don’t worry, starting tomorrow, I will teach you all the Lightning Release I know!”
Samui, who was standing by, was shocked and unwilling at first, and now she was dumbfounded. Now, she was watching Shun master three lightning techniques in a row with ease, and then she was weak due to the exhaustion of chakra. The unwillingness and competitive spirit in her heart were like a balloon that was punctured, and it deflated in an instant. She grinned with a helpless and relieved smile.
Wouldn’t it be boring to compare with such a monster? It didn’t seem that difficult to admit that others were excellent. She just needed to work hard to catch up and find her own way.
Ye Yue Ai looked at Shun with burning eyes, as if she saw a new star shining with lightning, rising slowly and illuminating the entire future of Thunder Escape.
Chapter 13 You Mu Ren: You successfully caught my attention (old version)
Yue Guang Shun stared at the golden mark that was slowly emerging in his sea of consciousness, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously raised.
Just now, he successfully merged the three basic “Thunder Escape Mastery” marks into a new, superior spiritual mark that exuded a faint sense of oppression.
[Superior spiritual mark: Thunder escape apprentice. ][Trigger condition: Successfully fuse three basic marks of the Lightning Escape system. ][Effect: The power of all Lightning Release Ninjutsu is permanently increased by 30%. ][Note: Continue to study the secrets of Lightning Release in depth, and try to reach a higher level of “Lightning Release Chunin” mark. ]Unlike the common understanding in the ninja world that one can be promoted to Genin by mastering several D-level ninjutsu, the improvement brought by this “Thunder Release Apprentice” mark is real. The 30% increase in power is enough to make his Thunder Release Ninjutsu stand out among ninjas of the same level, and even have a considerable advantage against some inexperienced Chunins.
Shun thought to himself that the effect of this mark was probably even stronger than the gains that those so-called “Thunder Style geniuses” in the Hidden Cloud Village could obtain during their apprenticeship stage.
However, Shun did not get complacent because of this. He knew very well that although lightning escape was powerful, ninja fighting was all-round. Being strong alone was not enough to deal with all situations, and the training of physical skills and the familiarity of weapon techniques were also indispensable.
Unless the system shows mercy one day and directly rewards him with a “Lightning Release Armor” mark as powerful as the Third Raikage’s, otherwise, the consequences of being biased in one subject are often miserable.
A lot of chakra in the body was consumed in the previous mark fusion, and it was almost dry at this moment. Shun took a breath and waited for his physical strength to recover a little, then he stood up and left his room, heading straight for the dense forest behind the Yeyue family.
The total amount of chakra he has now is not enough to support him in learning higher-level lightning-style ninjutsu. One has to eat one bite at a time and take one step at a time. It is equally important to polish the basics.
Deep in the dense forest, Shun stopped in front of a relatively open space and took out several specially made lightning rods from his ninja tool bag.
This lightning rod is not a traditional Senbon, but a special ninja tool developed by the Hidden Cloud Village for lightning-style ninjas. The needle body is made of metal with excellent conductivity, and there are tiny runes engraved on the tail. It can attach a small amount of lightning-style chakra when thrown to increase penetration and paralysis effects.
“call out!”
With a flick of his wrist, a lightning rod with a faint electric light broke through the air and accurately nailed the thick trunk of a big tree dozens of meters away, and the tail of the needle trembled slightly.
Very good, the power and accuracy are maintained well.
Lightning Rods, Shuriken, and Kunai are all throwing ninja tools, and they share similar techniques, but Lightning Rods place more emphasis on accuracy, speed, and subtle control of chakra.
He took a deep breath and began to practice throwing regularly.
[Mark “Eight Weapons” Proficiency +0.5%]Looking at the progress bar of the “Eight Weapons” mark in his sea of consciousness rising slowly and steadily, he instantly revealed a satisfied smile. What he had to do now was to polish these foundations into an extremely solid foundation through hard practice day after day.
The fulfilling and busy weekend passed in a flash.
It’s a new week, and the classroom of the first-year Cloud Class of the Ninja Preparatory Class is as noisy as ever.
There is still some time before the official class starts, and the energetic little ones gather in twos and threes, chattering about interesting things that happened over the weekend or discussing the new knowledge they have learned recently.
Yeyue Samui supported her fair chin with one hand, frowned slightly, and looked towards the classroom door from time to time, as if waiting for someone. In her ears, Atziyi’s slightly boastful voice chattered non-stop, making her feel a little annoyed.
“Yumoto, let me tell you, I worked really hard over the weekend, and have successfully mastered the prototype of a new earth escape ninjutsu – Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall! Although it’s just a small earth slope, its defensive power is quite good!” Atsuyi raised her chin slightly, her tone full of pride, but her eyes kept glancing at the two Yumoto who were sitting quietly beside them, hoping to see a hint of appreciation or surprise on their faces.
Most of the ninjas in the Hidden Cloud Village are good at Lightning Release, and being able to master release techniques of other attributes at this age is indeed considered a bit talented.
Upon hearing this, the two wooden men simply nodded and politely replied, “Yeah, very impressive.” Their tone was flat, without much emotion.
Seeing this, Atsyi’s smugness faded a little, and he felt a little resentful. He felt that the wooden man didn’t seem to be very interested in his new earth escape technique.
“So what?” Samui couldn’t bear to listen any longer, and interrupted with her cold voice, “Shun, that guy, only spent one day in the past two days to master three lightning-style ninjutsu in one go! And the power of each one is quite impressive!”
When she spoke, there was a barely perceptible hint of pride in her tone, as if she was the one who had mastered the three Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!” Atsuyi jumped up immediately like a cat whose tail was stepped on, and retorted with a red face, “Mastering three Lightning Release Ninjutsu in one day? Samui, there should be a limit to your bragging! In the entire Hidden Cloud Village, who doesn’t know that Lightning Release is one of the most difficult escape techniques to master? Even the genius of the Yeyue family can’t achieve this!”
He was so excited that his voice rose a few notches, attracting many students around him to look over curiously.
“Humph, you are so ignorant.” Samui curled his lips, showing an expression that said “I’m too lazy to explain to you”, “If you don’t believe it, forget it.”
“Of course I don’t believe it!” Atziyi said with his neck stiff, “Unless he performs it in front of me! Otherwise, I will never believe that anyone can do such a thing! You must have seen it wrong, or he used some tricks!”
As the distant nephew of the Raikage (as he called himself), he had some understanding of the difficulty of practicing Lightning Release. Although Gekkou Shun’s last name was Gekkou, he was not from the Yeyue family. How talented could he be? Samui must have been exaggerating to help that kid gain attention.
Just then, Yue Guang Shun stepped into the classroom.
Samui’s eyes lit up, and he immediately stood up to greet him, repeating Atsyi’s unbelievable remarks with exaggeration, and added at the end: “Shun, Atsyi underestimated you too much, and even said you were bragging!”
“Oh?” Shun heard this without much surprise on his face, just smiled faintly, “It’s a small matter.”
These days he was so obsessed with practicing the lightning rod and consolidating his newly acquired “Thunder Escape Apprentice” mark that he almost forgot that he had an unfinished battle with Atsyi.
Since the other party doesn’t believe it, just let the facts speak for themselves.
He also wanted to try to see how much his lightning power would be improved after integrating the “Lightning Apprentice” mark. Atsei was a good touchstone.
Shun walked over to Atsuyi’s seat and looked at him calmly.
“Aciyi,” Shun spoke, his voice was not loud, but it was clearly heard by the people around him, “I heard that you have great doubts about my mastering three lightning ninjutsu in one day?”
“Humph, of course!” Seeing the real boss coming, Atsyi became even more aggressive, “Unless you can prove it, I…”
“Of course I have to prove it.” Shun interrupted him with a faint smile on his face. “How about we move the competition we agreed on earlier to after school today at the third training ground? By then, you will naturally know whether it is true or not.”
“In advance?” Atziyi was stunned at first, then a hint of anger flashed in his eyes.
Are you looking down on me? It’s only been a few days, and you’re already so eager to be taught a lesson by me?
He laughed out of anger: “Good! Very good! Moonlight Shun, you asked for this! After school, at the third training ground, I want to see what you can do! I hope you don’t cry when you lose!”
“It’s a deal.” Shun nodded slightly, his expression still calm and composed.
He exchanged a glance with Samui, then walked straight to his seat and took out his textbook, as if the previous battle was just a trivial matter. For him, the most important thing at the moment was to prepare for the upcoming theoretical course test, strive to get a good score, and perhaps unlock new marks.
“Damn it!” Seeing Shun being so nonchalant and not taking him seriously at all, Atzii became so angry that his teeth were itching.
This guy, am I so unworthy of being your opponent? After school, I will make sure you know that my Earth Release Ninjutsu is not something to be trifled with!
He secretly made up his mind to defeat Shun in the competition, not only to prove himself, but also to let Yukito see who the real genius is!
The other corner of the classroom.
“Master Youmu Ren, what are you looking at?” Ma Buyi, who had been paying attention to the movements of the two Youmu Ren, followed her line of sight and saw Yue Guang Shun’s profile as he calmly opened the book.
“Tsuki Shun and Atsu have agreed to compete at the third training ground after school today.” The two wooden men withdrew their gazes, with a barely perceptible hint of amusement in their tone.
Her perception was extremely sharp, and she heard every word of the conversation between Shun and Atzii.
Mastering three lightning ninjutsu in one day… If what Samui said was true, then this Moonlight Shun was indeed quite interesting. For ordinary ninjas, even those from the Night Moon tribe who specialized in lightning ninjutsu, it would take days or even weeks of hard training to master a lightning ninjutsu.
“Moonlight Shun…” The two Yukitos whispered the name, and a strange light flashed in their ice-blue eyes, “You have successfully attracted my attention.”
She developed a strong interest in this young man who dared to take the initiative to challenge in advance and might really possess amazing talent for lightning escape.
“Hey! Atsuyi, weren’t you very arrogant just now? Why, are you scared by Shun’s words and dare not speak loudly?” Kirabi, who was not far away, challenged him with his unique rap style in a strange tone, “You will be beaten after school, yo! Let’s see what you can do, stupid bastard, yeah!”
“What are you talking about! Bakayaloo, Kongmayalu!” Atziyi was already furious, and was provoked by Kirabi. He immediately exploded, “Want to fight? I’ll grant your wish now!”
“Come on! I’m not afraid of you! Yo! Yo!” Kirabi showed no weakness and made strange gestures.
“Alright, alright, stop talking!” Seeing that the two were about to fight in the classroom, the monitor stepped forward to stop them, “The teacher will be here soon!”
An upcoming competition has already thrown a small stone into the peaceful school life, causing ripples.
Chapter 14: Paralysis is normal (old version)
The sparse shade of the trees at the edge of the training ground could not block the growing heat in the afternoon.
The bell for the end of get out of class at the Hidden Cloud Village Ninja Preparatory Class was like a clarion call of relief. Most of the students who would have scattered in the past, stayed reluctantly today and gathered in the venue dedicated to the practical class.
Without exception, their eyes were cast towards the two people confronting each other in the center of the venue – Gekko Shun and Atsu.
This sudden competition had already spread widely in the class.
Yueguang Shun, this name is not unfamiliar to the first-year students in the Cloud Class. He is usually taciturn, but in training he always shows a calmness and precision that is inconsistent with his age. He is the type of person who will make a big splash if he does not make a big splash.
As for Atsu, he is a well-known “hot-blooded boy” in the class. He has a loud voice and a straightforward personality. His catchphrases are “It’s so hot!” and “It’s on fire!”. His strength is pretty good among his peers, and he is especially good at close combat.
In the eyes of many people, this competition is quite interesting.
“Hey, Bi, who do you think will win?” The two wooden men crossed their arms and glanced leisurely at Kirabi, who was shorter, dark-skinned, always wore sunglasses, and carried seven small training knives.
Kirabi grinned, revealing two rows of neat white teeth, and responded in his unique rap tone: “Yo yo! Need I say more? It must be Brother Atsyi. His passion will erupt like a volcano and burn that guy to slag! Yeah!”
“Really?” You Mu Ren raised his eyebrows. “I think Shun is a very capable guy. How about we make a bet? The loser will treat the loser to the premium barbecue at the Yunlei Canyon Restaurant. How about that, idiot, bastard!” She habitually used Kirabi’s catchphrase.
“Barbecue? Deal! My wallet can’t wait to offer fireworks to celebrate Atzii’s victory! Check it out!” Kirabi was full of confidence, as if he had already seen the scene of Atzii’s victory.
Ma Buyi pushed her glasses aside, her eyes behind the lenses flashing with curiosity and anticipation. She was very interested in the outcome of the bet and the competition itself. In a further corner, Yeyue Samui’s short light blond hair stood out in the sun. She clasped her hands tightly in front of her chest, with a hint of barely perceptible worry in her clear blue eyes, staring closely at Shun in the field.
In the center of the field, Atsyi had already taken up his stance, and his entire body seemed to be emitting scorching heat.
He pointed at Shun who was standing opposite him, and said in a loud voice full of middle school atmosphere: “Moonlight Shun! Today, I will let you see my boiling fighting spirit! Are you ready to tremble under my hot and passionate iron fist?”
Shun just looked at him quietly, his blue eyes were calm, as if Atsuyi’s lofty words were just a breeze blowing past his ears. He raised his hand, facing Atsuyi, and slowly made a sign of opposition.
This is the standard etiquette before a sparring match in a ninja school, indicating that both parties are ready to begin.
Upon seeing this, Atziyi also quickly responded with a seal.
The moment the seal was completed, Atsuyi swung his right arm violently without any hesitation. Three khaki shurikens used for training shot out in the shape of a V-shaped V-shaped V-shaped towards Shun from above, middle and below with a sharp sound of breaking through the air.
“Douge shuriken!”
This is a trick to infuse chakra into the shuriken to increase its power and tracking ability, and it is also one of Atsuyi’s special moves. Although the ninja tools used for training are made of special wood and the edges are blunted, after being infused with chakra, being hit will still be quite painful.
The students watching let out a low cry of surprise. Atsyi’s attack was both fast and accurate.
However, Shun’s reaction was faster.
He just flipped his wrist and three shurikens flew out of his hand, but they were not khaki in color. Instead, they flashed with light bluish-white arcs of electricity and made a slight “sizzling” sound.
“Lightning rod!”
The three wooden shurikens imbued with lightning chakra were obviously faster than Atsuyi’s earth flow shuriken, and their trajectories were also straighter and sharper.
“Ding! Ding! Ding!”
There were crisp collision sounds one after another, and the three earth flow shuriken thrown by Atsuyi were all accurately knocked down by Shun’s lightning rod, falling to the ground helplessly. After Shun’s lightning rod knocked down the opponent’s ninja tools, the remaining force was still there, and it continued to shoot towards Atsuyi.
“What?!” Atsuyi’s pupils shrank. He obviously didn’t expect that his first attempt would be broken so easily. Moreover, the nature of the chakra attached to the opponent’s ninja tool seemed to be more condensed and domineering than his own earth flow.
Seeing the lightning rod approaching his body, Atsuyi let out a low roar and chakra exploded under his feet.
“Flash step!”
His figure left a trail of afterimages on the spot, narrowly avoiding the three lightning rods. The next moment, he appeared on Shun’s right side, and with the impact of Shunbu, he punched Shun directly under the ribs with a whistling sound, using all his strength.
“Heavy flow!”
This is the basic move of the Kumogakure fluid technique, which focuses chakra on one point and generates a powerful impact. Atsuyi’s punch was so fast and fierce that it seemed to knock Shun away directly.
Samui’s heart suddenly rose to his throat and he clenched his hands even tighter.
Kirabi shouted proudly: “That’s it, Atsuyi! Use your passionate iron fist to show him how powerful you are! Ohyeah!”
Facing Atsu’s powerful close-range attack, Shun’s expression remained unchanged. He leaned back slightly at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding Atsu’s fist, which brushed past the corner of his clothes, bringing up a gust of wind.
Just as Atsui’s attack missed, with his old strength exhausted and new strength not yet generated, Shun’s hands formed several seals as fast as a phantom.
“Is this seal… Lightning Release?” Yumu Ren’s eyes focused. Her perception of chakra was much sharper than Kirabi’s.
“Lightning Release: Lightning Binding Technique!”
Shun let out a low growl and pushed his hands forward suddenly.
A series of fine blue-white electric snakes appeared out of thin air, as if they had life, and instantly wrapped around Atsei who was close at hand.
“Wow! What, what is that!” Atzii felt his whole body numb and a strong electric current ran through his limbs and bones. It seemed that he had taken away control of his body in an instant and his movements suddenly froze.
“Damn it! Move!” Atsuyi screamed frantically in his heart, trying to mobilize chakra to break free from the sudden restraints.
However, at the moment he was hit, a strange mental fluctuation quietly invaded his perception.
The scene before my eyes suddenly changed.
He saw Shun still standing not far away, with a hint of mockery on his face. He, like a madman, waved his fists again and again, used “Heavy Flow” and “Instant Step”, and even took out all the training tools, and attacked Shun with all his strength.
Every attack was powerful, and every attack seemed to be able to tear Shun apart.
However, no matter how hard he tried, Shun always managed to dodge it easily with a nonchalant manner, and his posture was full of ease.
“Why… why can’t I hit you!” Atsuyi roared, urging his chakra more frantically, and the frequency of his attacks became faster and faster. He could feel his chakra being consumed rapidly, his physical strength was also decreasing sharply, sweat soaked his clothes, and his breathing became heavier and heavier.
Damn it! Faster! Stronger!
He can’t lose! How can he lose to this guy who always has a blank expression!
The students outside the venue saw a completely different scene.
After being hit by the instant technique, Atzii’s body twitched violently for a few times, and then he stood still with his eyes wide open, veins bulging on his forehead, and a ferocious expression on his face, as if he was fighting a desperate battle with some invisible enemy, and meaningless “ho ho” sounds came out of his mouth.
“What happened to him?” a student asked in confusion.
“It’s the paralysis effect of the lightning escape technique,” Yukito said with sharp eyes, “but judging from his appearance, it seems that it’s not just a simple paralysis of the body. Shun has added something else to his lightning escape technique.”
Kirabi scratched his head, his eyes behind the sunglasses full of confusion: “Something is attached? Why didn’t I see it? Why didn’t Atsuyi move? Was he frightened by Shun’s aura? Impossible, Atsuyi is braver than a hippopotamus, ah!”
Just as everyone was talking, Atsuyi, who was in a hallucination, finally felt that the chakra in his body was completely exhausted. A deep feeling of powerlessness surged up, the scene in front of him began to blur, and his body became extremely heavy.
With a “plop” sound.
In reality, Atzii fell straight down, stirring up a cloud of dust. He was breathing heavily, his muscles trembling due to excessive tension and electric stimulation, and his eyes were full of fatigue and unwillingness.
Shun slowly walked to Atsuyi’s side, with a training kunai in his hand. He gently placed the blunt tip of the kunai against Atsuyi’s neck.
“You lose, Atsei.” A calm voice announced the end of the competition.
Atsuyi struggled to get up, but found that he didn’t even have the strength to lift a finger. He could only stare at Shun with angry and weak eyes.
Shun retracted his kunai, squatted down, looked at Atsuyi, and said in a tone that seemed to be full of concern: “Don’t force yourself, Atsuyi. You just consumed too much chakra, so it’s normal to be paralyzed all over your body. Have a good rest.”
“puff–!”
When Atsuyi heard this, he felt a surge of anger rushing to his head, and he almost vomited blood. What do you mean by chakra consumption causing full body paralysis? It was obviously your damn lightning escape! And that damn illusion!
He wanted to retort, wanted to roar, but he was so exhausted that he could only utter a few unwilling whimpers.
“You…you guy!” Atzi gritted his teeth, and every word seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth.
Yu Muren watched this scene, a knowing smile appeared on his face, he walked to the dejected Kirabi and patted him on the shoulder: “Hey, idiot, bastard. Barbecue, special grade, don’t forget it.”
Kirabi wailed: “My barbecue… my wallet… Atsyi, you are such a loser, wuwuwu…”
Ma Buyi’s eyes flashed with surprise, and then she felt relieved. Shun’s strength was indeed beyond her expectations.
In the distance, Samui let out a long sigh of relief, loosened his clenched hands, and a faint smile appeared on his face.
The students who were watching the competition burst into discussion. They did not expect that the competition would end in this way. The strength displayed by Shun, especially the strange lightning escape, left a deep impression on them.
Shun stood up, without looking at Atsuyi who was trembling with anger on the ground, but just glanced at the clouds in the sky, as if the easy victory just now was just a trivial matter to him.
Chapter 15: Shun is a good candidate (old version)
The end of the competition was somewhat unexpected, and the ninja preparatory class students who were watching the competition at the edge of the training ground were all stunned for a moment.
In their view, the competition between Yueguang Shun and Atsuyi was more like a one-sided suppression.
The earth escape technique that Atsuyi was so proud of seemed to be completely useless in front of Shun’s elusive lightning escape technique. In the end, he was restrained by a sudden lightning and could not move.
Shun easily declared victory with just a training kunai against Atsu’s throat.
Most of the students thought that this would be a fair fight, after all, Atsuyi’s talent in earth escape was obvious to all. A few, especially those who had seen Shun’s lightning escape awakening a week ago, felt that Shun would win, but they had never expected it to be so easy.
“Brother Shun is so awesome!” Yeyue Samui’s short blond hair stood up slightly in excitement, and her fair face was full of admiration. She had known for a long time that Shun was not simple, but she didn’t expect him to be so strong.
“Shun-kun’s Lightning Release… is simply unbelievable!” Ma Buyi, who was wearing glasses and had a calm temperament, couldn’t help but push up his glasses, his eyes flashing with shock. “It’s only been a week since he started school, but he’s already so skilled in using Lightning Release, and even has the rudiments of a chakra mode…”
In the crowd, the two Yukitos with mint green short hair silently clenched their fists. She had always considered herself the best among her peers, but at this moment, the strength shown by Moonlight Shun made her feel a huge pressure for the first time. “Moonlight Shun… He is so strong. It seems that I can’t relax.” She regarded Shun as a goal that she must surpass.
Only Killer Bee, the boy who always wore sunglasses and liked to say “yo yo” and “stupid bastard”, curled his lips and hummed disapprovingly: “Tsk, no matter how fast your Lightning Style is, it’s still afraid of a kitchen knife! In front of my Eight Swords Style, it’s all false, yo! Not worth mentioning, baka! yaro!” As he spoke, he also demonstrated a few unstructured knife-swinging movements.
Yue Guang Shun in the field slowly retracted his kunai under the various looks of the crowd. He ignored the noise around him and focused completely on the information that just appeared in his mind.
[Ordinary spiritual mark: Son of Earth. ][Trigger condition: Defeat young Atzii head-on (a person with the earth escape talent at the ordinary level).][Effect: The host’s earth escape talent is permanently increased by 10% on the original basis. ]“Sure enough…” Shun’s mouth curled up slightly. This was pretty much what he expected. Although it was just a common mark, and the improvement was only 10%, it was a huge improvement for his current earth escape talent, which was almost zero. More importantly, this verified his conjecture – by defeating people with specific talents, he would have the opportunity to obtain the corresponding mark and thus improve himself.
“Aciyi.” Shun turned around with a gentle and sincere smile on his face, and said to the still somewhat distraught Aciyi, “You are actually very strong. Your earth escape technique caused me a lot of trouble. If it weren’t for my lightning escape technique which happened to be a little restrained in speed, plus a little luck, it would be hard to say who would win today. You have great potential. If you work harder next time, you might be able to beat me.”
These words are, of course, carefully woven “encouragement”.
Shun knew that if he wanted to continue to “swipe” higher-level earth escape marks from Atsei, he had to keep him hopeful, let him feel that he was only one step away from victory, and thus arouse his desire to continue challenging. This “PUA” strategy was very effective against this kind of self-respecting and somewhat naive hot-blooded boy.
Upon hearing this, Atsuyi suddenly raised his head and looked at Shun with complicated eyes.
Is this to comfort me? Or…to mock me?
But Shun’s expression was so sincere, and his tone so honest, that he was a little confused for a moment.
“Hmph! I won’t let this go!” Atzii gritted his teeth, uttered a harsh word, then turned around and ran away in embarrassment.
His depression did not diminish at all. He just felt that he was extremely unlucky today. Not only did he lose the competition, but he also lost face in front of so many people. Today, my fists are hard, and today, my heart is even more depressed!
Atsuyi kept his head down and walked with heavy steps back to the residence of the Yeyue clan, which was the residence of his father as the Hidden Cloud Ninja Jonin.
He opened the door, changed his shoes silently, and wanted to rush back to his room.
“Aziyi, you’re back.” A deep and majestic voice came from the living room.
The speaker was a burly middle-aged man, Atsuyi’s father, the elite jonin of the Hidden Cloud Village, Tsuyoshi (meaning “strong”). He was discussing matters in the living room with several important figures in the clan, including the Third Raikage and his son, Tsuyoshi.
Atzii paused, but still didn’t look up. He just said “hmm” vaguely and was about to walk around the living room.
Ye Yuegang frowned slightly. He noticed that his son was in a bad mood. Although he was a little careless in the past, he still had basic etiquette when meeting elders and guests. Today, he looked dejected, obviously he had encountered something unpleasant.
“Aziyi, come here.” Ye Yuegang’s tone left no room for doubt.
Atzi reluctantly moved to the door of the living room, still with his head down, like a defeated rooster.
“What happened at school?” Ye Yuegang asked in a deep voice.
“…Nothing.” Atsuyi muttered softly.
The Third Raikage, who was sitting next to him, was even more burly than Yeyue Gang, and was full of oppressive momentum. He looked at Atsyi with interest, and a barely perceptible gleam flashed in his turbid old eyes. Yeyue Ai, who was sitting next to him, looked calm and steady, but his eyes stayed on Atsyi for a short while.
Seeing that his son refused to speak, Ye Yuegang stopped asking and just waved his hand: “Go ahead. Come to my study before dinner.”
After Atsei fled away, Ye Yuegang whispered to an Anbu member beside him, “Go check what happened to Atsei in the preparatory class today, and pay special attention to any conflicts or competitions he had with others.”
“Yes!” The Anbu ninja flashed and disappeared silently.
The Third Raikage picked up the teacup, took a sip, and said slowly: “Steel, your son’s temper is just like you when you were young, straightforward and can’t stand the slightest grievance.”
Ye Yuegang showed a bitter smile on his face: “Please forgive me, Lord Raikage. This kid is just too smooth. He needs more polishing.”
Not long after, the Anbu ninja appeared again, presenting a scroll with both hands.
Ye Yuegang took the scroll and quickly started reading. His brows furrowed at first, then a hint of surprise flashed across his eyes, and finally turned into a thoughtful look.
“Oh? Interesting.” He murmured.
“What’s wrong, Steel? What is it that even an elite jonin like you finds interesting?” The Third Raikage put down his teacup, his tone filled with curiosity.
Yeyue Ai also cast a concerned look.
Ye Yuegang handed the scroll to the Third Raikage and said, “Please read this, Raikage-sama. Inuko had a sparring match with a student named Gekkou Shun in the preparatory class today, and he lost.”
“If you lose, you lose. On the road of ninja, victory and defeat are common.” The Third Raikage took the scroll indifferently.
But when he finished reading the contents of the scroll, the expression on his face became serious, and he even uttered a light exclamation in the end.
“This Gekko Shun… He’s only been in school for a week, but he’s already used Lightning Release to this extent? Moreover, according to intelligence, the calmness and tactical wisdom he displayed in battle far exceeds that of his peers?” The Third Raikage looked at Yotsuki Steel and confirmed.
“The information should be correct.” Ye Yuegang nodded. “It is said that this boy just awakened his talent for lightning escape a week ago. He can be called a genius. Moreover, after he defeated Atsei, he took the initiative to comfort him. He doesn’t seem to be arrogant at all.”
“Ai,” the Third Raikage suddenly turned to his son, “this Gekkou Shun uses lightning chakra to attach to his body, allowing him to move and attack at high speeds, and paralyze his opponent with lightning. If you were to face such a move and be restrained by his lightning, how would you break it?”
Yeyue Ai thought for a moment and said in a deep voice: “Father, I will use a more powerful lightning chakra burst to forcibly break through his restraints!”
The Third Raikage heard this and shook his head slightly: “Brute force is certainly a method, but it is not the best. A true Lightning Release master relies on the exquisite control of chakra. You have to learn to sense the flow nodes of the opponent’s Lightning Release chakra, and use your own chakra to attack its weakest point at the lowest cost, or disrupt the stable structure of its chakra, and you can easily break it. Shun, at such a young age, can think of using Lightning Release for binding. His thinking is very flexible.”
As he spoke, there was a faint flicker of electricity at his fingertips, and he demonstrated to Ai several subtle changes in chakra.
Yeyue Ai listened attentively, with a thoughtful look in his eyes, and understood his father’s advice. He also paid more attention to Yueguang Shun, whom he had never met before: “Father, this Yueguang Shun seems to be worthy of our attention. He has achieved such success within a week, and his potential is limitless.”
Ye Yuegang also spoke up at this time: “It’s not unfair that Atsyi lost this time. It’s just right for him to know how high the sky is and how deep the earth is. It’s actually good for his future growth.” He paused, a hint of determination flashed in his eyes, “I will personally teach him how to deal with this type of lightning escape.”
He stood up and shouted towards the direction of Atsyi’s room: “Atsyi, come out! Do you want to know how to break that kid’s lightning binding technique?”
After a moment’s silence, the door of the room was suddenly opened.
Aciyi had a stern face, but his eyes were filled with a hint of desire and unwillingness. He asked stubbornly, “…How do we crack it?”
Ye Yuegang looked at his son’s renewed fighting spirit and a gratified smile appeared on his lips.
The Third Raikage also smiled as he watched this scene. He stroked his iconic beard and said in a deep voice, “Well, he can inspire others’ fighting spirit, not be arrogant when they win, and comfort them when they lose. This Moonlight Shun is a good talent.”
Chapter 16 Meeting with Ai (Old Version)
The morning light was just breaking, and the fresh air of the Hidden Cloud Village, mixed with a faint smell of sulfur, rushed into his lungs. Yue Guang Shun had already started a new day of training in the simple open space of the special shelter. Sweat flowed down his forehead like a fine stream, soaking his training clothes, but his tightly pursed lips and focused eyes showed that the boy was far more tenacious than his peers.
“Hoo…Hoo…” The heavy panting sound echoed in the empty field. Every muscle pain and every limit of breathing were broken by him tenaciously.
Just as he finished his last set of weighted squats and his muscles were almost cramping, the familiar stream of words appeared before his eyes again:
[Mortal-level physique mark: Lightning affinity (already obtained). ][Triggering conditions: The adaptability of body cells to lightning energy reaches the initial threshold, and the efficiency of lightning chakra recovery is slightly improved. ][Effect: Lightning Chakra recovery speed increases by 15% from the original level. ][Note: The new fusion path of the ‘Natural Thunder Body (Excellent)’ mark has been unlocked. ][New path: Natural Lightning Body (Superior) = Lightning Affinity (Ordinary) + Lightning Escape Medical Mastery (Inferior) + Thunder Run (Ordinary). ]Shun’s eyes suddenly lit up, and his fatigue seemed to be diluted by this sudden surprise. “Lightning affinity! Finally got it!” He thought to himself, and the corners of his mouth raised an arc involuntarily. The 15% increase in the recovery speed of lightning chakra was undoubtedly a huge gain for him who used lightning as his main fighting method, which meant that he could use lightning ninjutsu for a longer period of time.
What made him even more excited was the new path of “Natural Lightning Body” fusion. He originally thought that obtaining “Natural Lightning Body” would be a long and vague process, but he didn’t expect that the appearance of “Lightning Affinity” would directly light up the way forward. “Lightning Release Medical Mastery…” He chewed on these words, his eyes becoming more and more determined, “Sure enough, learning Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu is not only to master a skill to save people, but also a key step to a higher level of Lightning Release!”
He was well aware of the special status of Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu in the Hidden Cloud Village and its extremely high learning threshold, but this clear path made his already firm determination even more unshakable as a rock.
After a quick wash and changing into clean clothes, Shun came to Pharmacist Kabuto’s temporary office in the shelter as agreed.
“Good morning, Mr. Dou.” Shun bowed slightly.
Pharmacist Dou was sorting some medicinal herbs. He looked up and pushed up his round glasses. The look behind the lenses was still a bit scrutinizing, but also had a hint of imperceptible recognition: “Shun-kun, very punctual. It seems that you attach great importance to this meeting.”
“Yes, I feel very honored to have the opportunity to meet Lord Ai.” Shun’s tone was neither humble nor arrogant.
“Lord Ai’s time is precious, let’s set off now.” Dou put down the work in his hands, stood up and led the way.
The two walked out of the special shelter one after the other. The Hidden Cloud Village was built between towering mountains. Its architectural style was rough and majestic, full of power, just like the powerful lightning ninjas that were born in this village. Compared with other combat departments, the medical department building was less solemn and more rigorous and peaceful.
After passing through several corridors, Kabuto stopped in front of a door with a sign that read “Jounin Squad Captain’s Office” and knocked gently on the door.
“Come in.” A deep and penetrating voice came from inside the door. The mere sound carried an unquestionable majesty.
Kabuto opened the door and motioned for Shun to follow.
The furnishings in the office were simple and practical. The most eye-catching thing was the tower-like figure behind the desk. Ye Yue Ai, the future Fourth Raikage, was in his prime at the moment. He was extremely burly, his bronze skin shone with a healthy luster, and his knotted muscles contained explosive power. He sat casually in a large reclining chair, his arms folded across his chest, his eyes as sharp as an eagle, as if he could see through people’s hearts.
Shun only felt a strong sense of oppression coming towards him. This was not the chakra pressure that was deliberately released, but the natural power formed by the strong who had been in a superior position for a long time. He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, and said respectfully: “Master Ai, I am Moonlight Shun. Today I am fortunate to be introduced by Mr. Kabuto to come and meet you. I have always admired the ultimate lightning escape technique you have mastered and your strong will to protect the village!”
These words were half sincere and half strategic. For a strong man like Ai, direct admiration is often more effective than beating around the bush to gain initial favor.
Upon hearing this, a barely perceptible fluctuation flashed across Yeyueai’s sharp eyes. He obviously had some impression of this name: “Yueguang Shun? I heard Tutai mention you. He said that you are quite talented in practicing Thunder Escape and that you are a good prospect.” His voice was still low, but not as aloof as before.
Shun was slightly pleased, knowing that his name was at least registered with the other party. But he did not follow Ai’s words to ask for guidance on lightning escape, as that would seem too eager for quick success and would easily be rejected directly. He cleverly turned his gaze to the pharmacist Kabuto and said sincerely: “Mr. Kabuto, I… I want to ask you about the way to learn lightning escape medical ninjutsu.”
When these words came out, not only Yao Shidou, but also Ye Yueai, who had a strong aura at the side, raised his eyebrows slightly.
A hint of surprise flashed through Yakushi Kabuto’s eyes behind his glasses. “Shun-kun, your lightning talent is already quite good in attacking, why do you suddenly want to learn lightning medical ninjutsu? You should know that this ninjutsu is extremely difficult to learn and requires a huge amount of energy. It may even affect your progress in practicing offensive lightning ninjutsu.”
Shun’s eyes did not waver at all, but became clearer: “Mr. Kabuto, I believe that medical ninjutsu and combat ninjutsu are not completely separate. Mastering lightning-style medical treatment can not only save lives, but also allow me to reach a new level of understanding of lightning-style chakra. Moreover, to become an excellent ninja, comprehensive abilities are essential. I… am ready to meet the challenge.”
Yakushi Kabuto stared into Shun’s determined eyes and was silent for a moment. He saw a rare persistence and foresight in this young man. He was just fulfilling his promise to bring Shun to see Ai and observe this young man who was being watched by the top management, but now he really felt a little bit of appreciation for his talent.
“Haha,” Kabuto chuckled, breaking the brief silence in the office, “It seems that you are not just impulsive. Learning Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu does require extremely high precision control of chakra and understanding of lightning attributes. Since you have this determination…” He took out a scroll from his arms and handed it to Shun: “This is the basic introductory scroll of Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu. It records some of the most basic theories and chakra stimulation therapies. The medical department’s data room will open some permissions to you, and you can go there to check the relevant information. How much you can learn depends on your own efforts and understanding.”
Shun took the scroll with both hands, feeling excited, and said solemnly: “Thank you, Mr. Dou! I will definitely live up to your expectations!”
Ye Yueai, who had been silent the whole time, finally spoke at this moment, with a hint of scrutiny in his tone: “Kid, a medical ninja not only needs talent, but also extraordinary perseverance and sense of responsibility. Your persistence is quite promising.” He did not say that he would accept you as a disciple, nor did he say that he would give you guidance, but this sentence was undoubtedly a recognition.
“Thank you, Lord Ai, for your advice!” Shun bowed again.
After leaving the medical department, Shun tightly grasped the scroll in his hand, his heart full of energy. He had obtained the “Lightning Affinity” mark and gained access to the Lightning Escape Medical Technique. Today’s harvest had far exceeded his expectations. Next, he would work hard for the “Thunder Run” mark!
The fourth training ground of the Hidden Cloud Village is a vast area dedicated to speed and physical training, filled with various obstacles and simulated terrains. Shun’s goal is clear – to constantly stimulate the body’s adaptability to speed through extreme running, so as to achieve the “Running Like Thunder” mark progress.
He poured chakra into his legs and shot out like an arrow. The wind whistled in his ears and the scenery flew backwards. He kept challenging his limits, sweat pouring down his body and his lungs burning, but his speed did not slow down at all.
Just as he was sprinting around the edge of the training ground for the fifth time and his vision was beginning to blur due to extreme fatigue, he caught a glimpse of the scene in the central area of the training ground out of the corner of his eye.
Two boys who were about his age, or perhaps even younger, were sparring fiercely.
One of them had dark skin, wore sunglasses, and carried seven short swords of different shapes. He was holding two swords at the moment, waving them in a wild yet delicate manner. The flashing of the swords had a unique rhythm that vaguely resembled rap. It was Kirabi in his childhood, and his eight-sword style had already begun to show its edge.
His opponent was a young man with fair skin, light hair, a slightly lazy look, but an extremely focused look. He held a standard long sword in his hand, and his sword moves were wide and wide, with the calmness and sharpness unique to Yunliu swordsmanship, and every block and counterattack was just right.
“That’s… Darui?” Shun’s heart slightly moved. The future Raikage’s guard, a powerful ninja known for his catchphrases of “lazy” and “sorry”, the focus and sharpness he showed in the sparring at this moment were quite different from his future image.
The sparring between the two talented young men was full of explosive power. The clanging sound of blades colliding was endless, stirring up clouds of dust. Shun stopped and watched from a distance, and couldn’t help but sigh in his heart, worthy of being the future mainstay of Kumogakure.
After a short breath, Shun took another step and continued to run at his limit. Other people’s talents and efforts can serve as inspiration, but one’s own path must be paved by oneself step by step. In order to “run as fast as thunder”, to “be born with thunder body”, and more importantly, to have the capital to stand in the magnificent tide of the ninja world!
Chapter 17: Studying Medicine Can’t Save Yunyin (Old Version)
The fourth training ground of the Hidden Cloud Village, the compacted land was as hard as rock after countless ninjutsu and taijutsu training. The morning sun had not yet completely dispelled the mist, but a thin figure was already running tirelessly at the edge of the training ground, his short gray hair soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead.
“Hey, look at that kid, he’s running like a clockwork rabbit, wow, this energy is interesting, yeah!” A man wearing sunglasses, carrying seven swords, exuding a unique sense of rhythm, is none other than the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki Killer Bee. He crossed his arms and looked at the boy running hard in the distance with interest.
Next to him, a boy with dark skin, dark circles under his eyes, and a somewhat lazy look, was the future fifth Raikage Darui. He yawned, glanced at where Kirabi was looking, and said casually, “Brother Bi, he’s just a runner. Every day there are a few youngsters who try to attract attention with this stupid method. Besides, this speed is just so-so.”
“No, no, no, Xiaoda, you’ve made a mistake, you idiot, you bastard!” Kirabi shook his finger and retorted in his unique rap tone, “Look at his rhythm, it’s consistent, without any slackness. This is not an impulse of one or two days, but a persistent perseverance, understand? I think Brother Ai will like this kid, maybe he can become Brother Ai’s favorite student, yeah!”
Darui curled his lips and stopped arguing. He admitted that the boy had indeed been running for a long time, since he arrived at the training ground, and now the sun was almost up, and he was still insisting. This kind of perseverance was indeed rare. But he still felt that just running alone, how much could he achieve in Kumogakure, a village that advocated extreme strength and speed?
At this moment, Yue Guang Shun didn’t know that he had become the subject of discussion between the two future high-level members of Kumogakure. He just immersed himself in his own rhythm, feeling every muscle pain and breakthrough of his limit. His lungs pumped like a bellows, inhaling and exhaling the hot air, and with every step he took, he seemed to be able to feel the faint feedback from the earth.
“Just a little bit longer… hold on a little longer…” Shun muttered to himself.
Finally, when he felt his legs were about to lose feeling, he slowly stopped, breathing heavily, sweat dripping down his cheeks like a stream. At this moment, a faint but clear reminder sounded in his mind.
[“Running like thunder” mark, current progress: 45% (slowly growing)]Shun’s mouth opened into a tired but satisfied smile. Sure enough, every effort has its rewards. This mark was something like a “golden finger” that he awakened after crossing into this world. It can improve his potential through specific training methods. In order to activate and improve this mark related to lightning escape, he has been running in the morning for more than a month.
Just as he was about to find a place to rest and plan other training for the day, a Kumogakure ninja hurried over: “Shun, Master Ai wants you to come over. He is in the office now.”
Is it finally coming? Shun’s heart moved. He traveled through time with a clear goal, which was to become a disciple of the future Fourth Raikage, Yozuki Ai, and learn the Lightning Chakra Mode and Lightning Ninjutsu. To this end, he showed efforts far beyond his peers and a certain talent for Lightning.
However, when Shun arrived outside the office of the Raikage’s assistant, he was told that Master Ai was dealing with an urgent matter and asked him to wait. Through the half-open door, he could vaguely hear the deep and powerful voice of Ai inside, as well as another slightly anxious male voice.
“…The injury is very serious. Ordinary medical ninjas are helpless. I can only ask you for help, Lord Ai!”
Shun waited quietly outside the door, but he was worried. It seemed that becoming a disciple was not that easy.
About half an hour later, the office door opened and a solemn-looking middle-aged ninja walked out. Shun recognized him as Toshiro Fuu, the jonin commander of the Hidden Cloud Village. Toshiro Fuu glanced at Shun, nodded slightly, and left in a hurry.
“Come in, boy.” Ai’s voice came from the office, still so powerful.
Shun took a deep breath, tidied his messy clothes, and pushed the door open.
Ye Yue Ai’s office is simple and practical, which fits his vigorous and decisive personality. He is sitting behind a large desk, his bronze skin glowing with a healthy luster in the sun, his muscles bulging, full of oppressive power. Next to the desk, there is a young ninja wearing round glasses and with a gentle temperament. Shun recognized him. He is the backbone of the village’s medical team, Pharmacist Kabuto.
Yes, for some reason, the Kabuto Yakushi in this world did not become Orochimaru’s subordinate, but instead showed outstanding medical talents in the Hidden Cloud Village and was highly regarded by Ai.
“Shun, what do you want from me? If you want to spar with me, I’m not free today.” Ai’s eyes were as fast as lightning as he stared at Shun.
“Master Ai,” Shun bowed slightly and said firmly, “I want to learn the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu!”
When these words came out, not only Ai raised his eyebrows, but even the pharmacist Dou beside him showed a little surprise.
Ai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, and said with a hint of sarcasm: “Oh? Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu? Boy, did you get something wrong? In our Kumogakure, fists are the only way to go! Counting on medical ninjutsu to save Kumogakure? Don’t be ridiculous, studying medicine can’t save Kumogakure! If you have that much time, you might as well hone your lightning release attack ninjutsu and kill more enemies on the battlefield in the future!”
These words are very similar to the famous saying of a great man in Shun’s memory, but the core is completely opposite. Shun did not back down. He looked directly into Ai’s eyes and said seriously: “Lord Ai, I understand that fighting is the foundation of Kumogakure. But I think that powerful medical ninjutsu is equally important. It can allow our companions to return to the battlefield faster and save more precious lives. Moreover, lightning medical ninjutsu requires extremely high precision control of chakra. I believe that mastering it will greatly improve my overall strength of lightning ninjutsu.”
The teasing look on Ai’s face slowly faded, and he stared at Shun for a long while, his eyes so sharp that he seemed to see through him. The atmosphere in the office was a little stagnant for a moment.
Yakushi Kabuto spoke at the right time to break the silence: “Lord Ai, Shun-kun’s kindness is rare. Moreover, the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu does require extremely high talent and perseverance, and not many people are willing to take the initiative to learn it.”
Ai snorted and leaned back on the chair, making a creaking sound. “That’s a nice thing to say. Boy, do you know what lightning-style medical ninjutsu means? It’s not just a child’s play, it’s not as simple as applying some ointment.”
“I know it will be difficult, but I’m ready.” Shun’s answer was still calm.
Ai hesitated for a moment, and suddenly said, “It just so happens that I will be performing a lightning-style cell activation operation with a medical ninja. The injured is an elite Chunin under Toshirofu, who was ambushed while patrolling the border and is in critical condition. Since you are so ‘determined’, come and watch. If you can’t even stand watching, forget about learning lightning-style medical ninjutsu.”
Shun’s heart trembled, and then he was filled with excitement. He knew that this was a test given to him by Ai.
“Yes! Thank you, Master Ai!”
The operating room was located deep inside the medical department, separated from the ordinary wards, and filled with the smell of disinfectant. The lights in the room were bright enough to be blinding, and all kinds of cold metal instruments were flashing coldly.
A pale-faced Kumogakure Chunin, wrapped in bandages, was lying on the operating table, breathing weakly. Toshiro Kaze stood beside him, his expression more solemn than in the office, his clenched fists showing his inner anxiety.
The surgeon was Kabuto Yakushi, while Ai stood beside him, his hands covered in crackling blue lightning chakra.
“Master Ai, I’m ready,” Kabuto’s voice was calm and professional.
Ai nodded and said to Shun, “Boy, stand further away and don’t get in the way. And don’t make a fuss and affect us.”
Shun retreated to the corner as he was told, his eyes fixed on the operating table.
The operation begins.
Dou treated the wounds skillfully, his movements were precise and swift, and the various medical instruments seemed to have life in his hands. Ai’s role was to use his pure lightning chakra to stimulate the activity of cells in the injured, accelerate wound healing, and remove necrotic tissue.
Light blue lightning flowed in Ai’s palm, like a gentle electric current, carefully penetrating into the body of the injured. Shun could clearly see that under the effect of the lightning chakra, the injured’s originally lifeless muscle tissue began to wriggle slightly, and some tiny blood vessels were reconnected under the stimulation of the lightning.
This is a way of using lightning that is completely different from violent destruction. It requires a subtle level of control over chakra. If you are not careful, a mild activation current may turn into a fatal lightning strike.
The smell of blood gradually spread in the air, mixed with the smell of disinfectant, forming a nauseating smell. Shun saw Dou cutting open the rotten flesh and draining the pus and blood, while Ai used lightning to accurately burn the tiny bleeding points. The whole scene was undoubtedly very shocking to a twelve-year-old boy.
Shun’s face turned pale, and his stomach churned. But he endured the discomfort, clenched his teeth, and watched without blinking. He told himself that if he couldn’t even bear this kind of scene, how could he learn such a difficult ninjutsu, how could he become stronger, and how could he gain a foothold in this cruel ninja world?
Time passed by, and the atmosphere in the operating room was tense and solemn. Ai and Dou worked in perfect harmony, with beads of sweat on their foreheads.
Shun’s attention gradually shifted from the bloody scene to Ai’s exquisite control of lightning chakra. He saw Ai sometimes condense lightning chakra into fine needles to stimulate specific acupuncture points; sometimes he turned it into a soft electric net to cover the entire wound surface and promote cell regeneration. That kind of extreme control of power made Shun marvel.
It turns out that Lightning Release can be used like this!
This is not just about saving lives, but also a profound understanding and application of the essence of chakra!
I don’t know how long it was, but when Ai withdrew his hands and breathed a long sigh of relief, the operation was finally over.
“The situation has stabilized for now.” Kabuto wiped the sweat from his forehead and said to Todai Feng, “It will require careful care and observation from now on.”
Tu Daifeng’s tense face finally showed a trace of relaxation, and he bowed deeply to Ai and Dou: “Thank you, Lord Ai, thank you, Mr. Dou! I am grateful for your kindness!”
Ai waved his hand and turned his gaze to Shun in the corner.
Shun was still standing there. Although his face was still a little pale, his eyes were unusually bright, full of yearning for the Lightning Release medical ninjutsu and a hint of enlightenment.
“Boy, how do you feel?” Ai’s voice contained a barely perceptible hint of consideration.
Shun took a deep breath, trying to calm his somewhat excited mood, and replied respectfully: “Lord Ai, I am more determined to learn the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu. This power is too fascinating!”
Ai looked at the light flashing in Shun’s eyes. It was not fear, nor was it showing off, but a desire from the heart. He was silent for a few seconds, then the corners of his mouth slightly raised: “Humph, the psychological quality is not bad. At least he didn’t vomit or faint on the spot.”
He paused and continued, “If you want to learn the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu, determination alone is not enough. Accurate control of chakra is the foundation of the foundation. Starting tomorrow, you will follow Kabuto to learn the basic medical knowledge and chakra control techniques. When he thinks you are qualified, come back to me.”
Although he did not directly agree to accept me as a disciple, this is undoubtedly a huge step forward!
Shun’s heart skipped a beat, and an irrepressible joy appeared on his face: “Yes! Master Ai! I will never let you down!”
“Don’t be happy too soon, kid.” Ai’s expression returned to his usual seriousness. “The road to Kumogakure is paved with fists and blood. Medical ninjutsu is only auxiliary, and your own strength is the foundation. Don’t put the cart before the horse!”
“I understand!” Shun nodded vigorously.
Studying medicine can’t save Kumogakure? Maybe. But in Shun’s opinion, saving one life is saving one life, and making his companions suffer less and have more life is the greatest significance of medical ninjutsu. And the lightning medical ninjutsu, even more so, leads the power of lightning from pure destruction to the possibility of creation and protection.
Walking out of the operating room, the bright sunshine sprinkled on his body, dispelling the remaining coldness and bloody smell. Shun felt full of energy. He knew that the road ahead was still long and difficult, but the goal became more clear.
The survival rules of the Hidden Cloud Village may be cruel, but he believes that as long as he persists, he will always find his own way.
Chapter 18: Cloud Hidden Black Panther Night Moon Ai (Old Version)
The fourth training ground of the Hidden Cloud Village, day after day, echoed with the breeze caused by the running boy and his heavy breathing.
Yue Guang Shun had been running here for seven days straight. Sweat soaked his training suit, which was then dried by the mountain wind, leaving a light layer of salt frost. His legs felt as heavy as if they were filled with lead, and every step he took was an extreme test of his willpower.
But he didn’t stop.
“That boy is really tenacious.”
On a huge rock at the edge of the training ground, the burly, dark-skinned Ye Yueai folded his arms, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, staring at the tireless figure in the field. There was a subtle admiration in his deep voice.
“Brother Ai, is Shun really that amazing? He’s just running. Look at me, Killer Bee, I can run non-stop, chequenao!” The young Killer Bee wore sunglasses and made uncoordinated hip-hop gestures with his hands, his tone full of dissatisfaction. Although he also admired Shun’s perseverance, Brother Ai repeatedly emphasized Shun’s potential, which made the future Eight-Tails Jinchuriki feel itchy and always wanted to find an opportunity to compete with Shun.
Yeyue Ai glanced at Kirabi and didn’t explain much. Some things can only be understood by witnessing them with one’s own eyes.
Time passed quietly in the boring running. When the first ray of morning light pierced through the clouds and gilded the training ground, something strange happened!
He had been running at a steady pace when his body suddenly froze, as if being pulled by an invisible force. Then, his leg muscles suddenly expanded, and he exerted force with his feet, and he shot out like an arrow from a bow!
“Hmm?” Ye Yueai’s eyes narrowed, and his arms, which were originally across his chest, unconsciously dropped down.
Shun’s speed increased by at least 10% at this moment! Moreover, it was not the kind of exhaustion-style sprint after the explosion. His breathing still maintained a certain mysterious rhythm, and the frequency of alternating between his legs was faster, but more calm.
“Breakthrough?” Ye Yueai’s mouth opened with a rough smile, “This kid really didn’t disappoint me!”
He could clearly sense that the chakra that was originally just flowing in Shun’s body was now gathering and exploding towards his legs in a more efficient way. This was not only an improvement in physical fitness, but also a realization of the body’s use of strength.
Kirabi’s eyes widened and his sunglasses almost slipped off: “Wow! Shun seems to have become faster? Is it an illusion, bastard, idiot!” Although he couldn’t see the reason, Shun’s sudden increase in speed was real.
“It’s not an illusion, Bi.” Yeyue Ai said in a deep voice, “He succeeded. This kid is born to be a ninja who controls lightning. His body is actively adapting to faster speeds and stronger bursts.”
Upon hearing this, Kirabi clenched his fists and his eyes became more determined: “Humph! One day, I will have a good fight with him and let him know how powerful I, Kirabi, am, yo!”
In the training ground, Shun slowly stopped walking, his chest heaving violently, but his face was filled with uncontrollable joy.
[Mark of the Ordinary Physical Body: Running as Fast as Thunder (Obtained)][Trigger condition: In an environment where Lightning Chakra is active, continue running at the maximum speed until your body instinctively breaks through the limit.][Effect: The explosive power of the legs is permanently increased by 10%, and the speed of the conduction of lightning chakra to the legs is slightly increased. ]Done!
He instantly felt the new power surging in his legs. The light and explosive feeling made him want to run dozens of laps immediately. Although it was only a mortal mark, this 10% increase in explosive power was undoubtedly a huge gain for him who was good at speed. More importantly, the attribute of “slightly increasing the speed of the conduction of lightning chakra in the legs” was not very effective at present, but it had great potential.
He took a deep breath and suppressed his excitement. His eyes involuntarily turned to another more tempting goal in his mind – the Thunder Release Medical Ninja Mark. However, when he thought of the piles of “Basic Medical Theory of Thunder Release”, “Detailed Explanation of Chakra Meridians and Thunder Attribute Resonance”, “Outline of Advanced Thunder Release Treatment Technique”… he instantly felt a headache.
The threshold for becoming a Lightning Release Medical Ninja is really too high. Not only does it require precise chakra control, but it also requires a deep understanding of the nature and changes of Lightning Release, and it also requires learning a vast amount of Lightning Release-specific medical knowledge. This road is a long and arduous journey.
After finishing his morning exercise, Shun declined Kirabi’s invitation to “have a thrilling RAP duel” and set out on the journey home alone.
The streets of Kumogakure Village were bathed in the morning light, and more and more people were walking on the streets. The air was filled with the mixed aroma of baked bread and Kumogakure’s specialty, Thundercloud Miso Soup.
Shun was in a good mood and his steps were much lighter than usual.
However, just as he turned a familiar street corner and saw his own gate in the distance, a subtle but not negligible chakra fluctuation suddenly attacked him from behind!
“Sizzle——”
A light blue lightning flashed in the air and condensed into a fist-sized, rapidly rotating lightning ball, which, with a sharp sound of breaking through the air, went straight to Shun’s back!
It was as if Shun had eyes on his back. He didn’t even look back. He just lightly tapped the ground with the tip of his left foot, and his body moved about an inch to the left like a willow leaf blown by the wind.
The lightning ball just brushed past the corner of his clothes, and with a “bang”, it hit the training dummy in the distance, exploding into a ball of tiny electric arcs.
“Tsk, Samui, your Lightning Release: Thunder Ball is still so wild, the concentration and release of chakra are too rough, and the timing of the sneak attack is wrong.” Shun turned around and looked leisurely at the little blonde girl – Yeyue Samui, who poked her head out from the corner with a look of annoyance and confusion.
Samui was wearing a light blue short coat today, which made her fair skin look even more delicate. She puffed her cheeks, her deep blue eyes full of confusion: “Impossible! I clearly calculated your position and speed, how could you dodge? You didn’t even turn your head!”
She was very confident in her lightning ball. Although it was only a basic lightning escape technique, its instantaneous speed and power far exceeded those of her peers. However, it repeatedly failed in front of Shun.
Shun smiled slightly, walked in front of her, stretched out his hand and rubbed her soft golden hair habitually: “Because your chakra fluctuations are too obvious, like fireflies in the dark night. Moreover, the energy of the lightning ball is not restrained enough, and it dissipates too much during the flight, and the power is also discounted.”
“Hmm…” Samui twisted his head uncomfortably as his head was being rubbed, but he did not avoid it. Instead, he subconsciously rubbed Shun’s palm and muttered softly, “Then, then how can I improve it…”
“Well, I’ll teach you later. Details determine success or failure, especially in a ninjutsu like Lightning Release that pursues extreme speed and destructive power.” Shun withdrew his hand and said in a relaxed tone.
Samui curled her lips, but she felt a little sweet in her heart. Although Shun always liked to “teach” her a lesson, she knew that Shun was really guiding her with all his heart.
When they got home, Shun simply said, “I’m going to take a shower. I’m all sweaty.”
“Hmph, it stinks!” Samui wrinkled his nose and expressed disgust, but his eyes followed Shun’s back.
Soon the sound of water splashing could be heard in the bathroom.
When Shun came out wrapped in a bath towel and wiping his wet hair, Samui was sitting at the low table in the living room, poking the table with his fingers out of boredom.
“Shun, you wash so slowly.” She complained, but her tone unconsciously carried a hint of anticipation.
Shun picked up a dry towel, sat down on the sofa, and said with a smile: “Why, can’t wait to learn Thunder Escape?”
“No, no!” Samui blushed, stiffened her neck and retorted, her eyes were a little vague, “I just… I just feel bored!”
“Really?” Shun groped in his ninja tool bag and took out two crystal clear candies that looked like miniature thunderclouds. “Here, new flavor of thundercloud candy. Do you want to try it?”
Samui’s eyes lit up and he swallowed subconsciously. Thundercloud Candy is a specialty of the Hidden Cloud Village. It is made from special thunder attribute herbs and honey. It not only has a unique taste, but can also weakly nourish the thunder attribute chakra in the body.
But she thought of the way Shun had just “taught her a lesson” and snorted in a reserved manner, “Who cares! Only children like sweet things!”
“Oh? You really don’t want it?” He made a gesture to put the candy away.
“Wait!” Samui was anxious, holding down Shun’s hand, his cheeks getting redder, “I…I just said that kids like it, I didn’t say I don’t like it…Give me one!”
Shun looked at her cute appearance of saying one thing and thinking another, and couldn’t help but chuckle, and handed her one of the thundercloud candies.
Samui took the candy, carefully peeled off the candy wrapper, and put the candy that was flashing with a faint electric light into her mouth. A strange taste of sour and sweet with a hint of numbness exploded on the tip of her tongue, making her squint her eyes comfortably.
“Let’s go. After you finish eating the candy, I will tell you in detail the chakra compression technique of the thunder ball.” Shun looked at her satisfied expression and felt more and more comfortable.
“Yeah!” Samui responded indistinctly, holding a candy in his mouth, and followed Shun briskly to the small training ground in the yard. In the sunlight, the two figures, one big and one small, seemed particularly harmonious and close.
Chapter 19 I Have a Brother (Old Version)
The mornings in the Hidden Cloud Village always bring a unique sense of moisture and freshness. A thin mist shrouds the dense forest outside the village like a veil, and the sun struggles to penetrate the layers of treetops, casting mottled spots of light.
The figures of Yueguang Shun and Yeyue Samui quickly crossed and collided in the open space in the forest. The punches and kicks made a dull “bang bang” sound, accompanied by the two people’s slightly rapid breathing. Although Samui was young, his movements were already very good, his little face was tense, and he completed every basic physical action meticulously.
“Huh…” He did a backflip to distance himself and landed steadily. He wiped the sweat from his forehead, but his eyes were a little vague. The improvement in physical skills was visible to the naked eye, but if he wanted to get powerful marks like [Lightning Escape Master] or [Swordsmanship Master] faster, hard training alone was not enough.
“Lightning rod… katana…” He calculated in his mind. A cheap lightning rod costs several hundred taels each. If you want to consume enough to brush the mark, you will have to spend thousands or even tens of thousands of taels. And a good katana is even more expensive. Not to mention the higher-level lightning ninjutsu scrolls that may be needed in the future.
Money, it’s still a matter of money.
“Samui, let’s stop here today. I have something to go out for.” Shun said to Samui who was still punching seriously.
“Okay, goodbye, Brother Shun!” Samui nodded obediently, her little face flushed.
Shun simply washed himself, changed into clean clothes, and headed for the streets of Kumogakure Village. He already had a preliminary plan in mind. As the “future star” of the Iwagakure Village stationed in Kumogakure, he was now a formal employee, so it should be reasonable to ask for some activity funds, right? After all, he was now concentrating on “lurking” and had no source of income. He couldn’t expect a child to work and earn money by himself.
After passing through several streets that were still somewhat quiet in the morning, he arrived at an inconspicuous two-story building. This was the intelligence library of the Hidden Cloud Village, and in fact, it was also one of the important contact points of the Hidden Cloud Village in the Hidden Cloud Village. The person in charge was his superior, Ishida.
Pushing open the slightly old wooden door, a faint scent of ink and moldy paper hit me. The light in the library was a little dim, and the rows of tall bookshelves were filled with various scrolls and books. Behind the counter, a middle-aged man wearing small round glasses and looking a little gentle was lowering his head to sort something.
“Uncle Ishida.” Shun said.
Ishida looked up when he heard the voice, and when he saw it was Shun, a hint of barely perceptible surprise flashed across his eyes, but he quickly regained his composure: “Oh, it’s Shun. How come you have time to come here today? The Ninja School hasn’t started classes yet.” His tone was no different from that of an ordinary bookstore owner.
Shun walked to the counter, looked around, and confirmed that no one was around before lowering his voice: “Uncle Ishida, I’m here this time to apply for some event funds.”
“Activity funds?” Ishida raised his eyebrows, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes behind his glasses. He put down the scroll in his hand, folded his hands on the counter, and leaned forward slightly: “Tell me, what do you need funds for?”
“You know, I’m still young and don’t have much income in the village. But in order to better integrate into Kumogakure and understand every aspect of them, sometimes I need to buy some things or manage some relationships, which all cost money.” Shun had a “businesslike” expression on his face, “I can’t let the important tasks in the future be affected by the funding problem, right?”
Ishida stared at Shun for a few seconds, then suddenly laughed softly, “You’re quite clever, boy. That’s right, undercover work does require investment. The Third Raikage has paid a lot of attention to you, and the village also has high hopes for you.” He pondered for a moment, “How about this, from now on, I will allocate 5,000 taels from the secret fund to you every month for your daily activities. But you have to spend this money wisely.”
Five thousand taels! Shun was delighted. This was definitely a huge sum of money for a ninja apprentice. The reward for a D-level mission was usually between five thousand and fifty thousand taels, and it was shared by a small team. With this money, the initial investment in purchasing a lightning rod was basically enough.
“Thank you, Uncle Ishida!” Shun responded immediately, with just the right amount of gratitude on his face.
“Don’t be so quick to thank me.” Ishida waved his hand, his expression becoming serious. “If you take the village’s money, you must naturally bear the corresponding responsibilities. Recently, the village has a new instruction for you.”
“Please give me your instructions, I will do my best to complete them!” Shun immediately straightened his back.
Ishida nodded with satisfaction: “You have good talent. You must continue to perform well in the Ninja School and try your best to attract the attention of the top leaders of Kumogakure. The village hopes that when you graduate, you will be able to choose a high-ranking figure in Kumogakure as your instructor. This is crucial to our future plans.”
Become a disciple of the top leaders of Yunyin? Shun’s heart moved slightly. This is a good direction. If he can catch up with Yeyue Ai, or even get in touch with the future Fourth Raikage, there will be too many benefits.
“I understand! I will try my best!” Shun nodded heavily.
“Very good.” Ishida showed a hint of approval on his face. “If you can successfully become a disciple of the upper echelons of Kumogakure and make great contributions to the village in the future, the Iwagakure Village will not treat you unfairly. In the future, you will even have the opportunity to learn the secret Explosion Ninjutsu of our village.”
Explosion? Shun’s eyes lit up. This is a powerful bloodline limit, Deidara’s art is explosion. This pie is big and round, but he likes it.
“Uncle Ishida,” Shun scratched his head, looking a little embarrassed, “Actually, I came here today with a small idea that I want to discuss with you.”
“Oh? Tell me about it.” Ishida seemed to be in a good mood.
“It’s like this,” Shun organized his words, “I have a brother named ‘Tulong Zuan’, who has a lot of novel and interesting adventure stories in his mind. As you know, the rap album of Lord Kirabi has been selling very well in the village recently, and I think there should be a market for wonderful adventure stories. My brother is not good at writing, but he can provide complete ideas and story outlines. I want to ask, can our book pavilion cooperate with him, find someone to write, and publish these stories? If it works, we can share the profits…”
Ishida’s eyes flashed when he heard this. He looked at Shun. This kid has a really quick mind. He used all available resources and even thought of content creation. Kirabi’s rap did drive a wave of cultural consumption. If the story is really exciting, it may not be a failure. More importantly, this kid is the focus of Iwagakure Village’s training and has great potential. Appropriate investment and wooing are necessary.
“‘Earth Dragon Drill’?” Ishida repeated the name playfully. “Co-publishing, providing a creative outline… this is a novel model.” He tapped his fingers lightly on the counter. “How about this, if the story really has potential, Shuge can be responsible for finding someone to polish and publish it. As for the profit sharing, if the sales are average, your ‘brother’ can get 10% of the net profit; if it becomes a bestseller, he can get 40%. How do you think?”
40%! Shun was relieved. This share ratio was quite good, after all, he only contributed creative ideas. If he randomly took out a few of the classic adventure stories he had read in his previous life and made some changes, the chances of them becoming popular in this relatively scarce ninja world would be quite high.
“Thank you so much, Uncle Ishida! I’ll ask my ‘brother’ to sort out the story outline as soon as possible when I get back!” Shun was delighted and thanked him quickly. It seems that the name of “Earth Dragon Drill” will be carried forward in the future. He has already thought of the name of the first story he is going to copy, which is called “Legend of the Thunder Brave”, telling the story of a young boy who uses lightning to escape and adventure in another world. It is simply tailor-made for this world.
“Well, I’ll wait for his good news.” Ishida nodded, agreeing to the matter.
Coming out of the Intelligence Library, Shun felt his steps were much lighter. With the five thousand taels of funding in hand, he also solved an important source of income for the future. He did not go home directly, but turned a corner and walked towards a shop in the village called “Xizhi Ninja Tools”.
The shop owner is Xi, one of the future Fourth Raikage’s guards, but now he is just an ordinary ninja tool shop owner.
“Boss, show me the lightning rod.” He went straight to the point.
Xi looked up from the pile of ninja tools and saw that it was a half-grown child. He did not neglect it: “There are several types of lightning rods. The cheapest one is three hundred taels each. It is made of special metal and can guide weak lightning in a small range. It is mainly used for beginners of lightning escape. There is also this enhanced type, one thousand taels each, which can withstand stronger lightning escape and even play a role in assisting interference in battle. The more advanced ones… I guess you won’t be able to use them.”
Shun’s goal is very clear, that is to get the mark, and cost performance is the first priority. “Boss, the kind that costs three hundred taels each, give me fifteen.”
“Fifteen?” Xi looked at him with some surprise, but still swiftly took out a small box from under the counter, counted out fifteen thin metal needles and handed them to Shun, “Chenghui, four thousand five hundred taels.”
Shun paid the money without hesitation, and spent most of the 5,000 taels he had just received, leaving only 500 taels. However, looking at the heavy lightning rod in his hand, he felt that the money was worth it.
When he returned home, Yeyue Ai was instructing another member of the clan in physical training in the yard. Shun waited until they finished, then stepped forward and said respectfully, “Brother Ai, I want to learn swordsmanship from you.”
Yeyue Ai’s sharp eyes looked at Shun with a hint of scrutiny: “Oh? You kid, you have good talents in physical skills and lightning escape, why do you want to learn swordsmanship? You can’t chew too much.”
“Brother Ai, I want to develop myself more comprehensively. The Kumogakure swordsmanship is well-known in the ninja world. If I can learn even a few moves, it will definitely be of great benefit to my future growth.” Shun said sincerely. He knew that although Yeyue Ai looked rough, he was thoughtful and willing to help potential juniors.
Yeyue Ai stared at Shun for a while, then suddenly grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: “Haha, you are really ambitious! Well, since you want to learn, I will teach you the Yunliu Sword Technique of our Yeyue clan! However, let me be frank, the practice of Yunliu Sword Technique is more boring and difficult than physical skills and lightning escape. If you give up halfway, I will not forgive you!”
“Please rest assured, Brother Ai, I will practice hard!” Shun was overjoyed and promised immediately. Yunliu Swordsmanship, this is an unexpected surprise! There is another smooth road on the road to brushing the mark.
That night, Shun was so excited that he could hardly sleep. He lit the oil lamp, spread out a piece of paper and pen, and began to recall the classic adventure stories of his previous life. Combining the characteristics of this world, he began to conceive the creative outline of “Legend of the Thunder Warrior”.
“The protagonist, um, is called Adam, a lightning wizard from another world who traveled to this ninja continent…” He muttered as he wrote down the key words on a piece of paper.
Just as he was immersed in his creative thoughts, a cold reminder sound suddenly rang in his mind:
[The host is detected to be preparing for swordplay, the mark “Swordplay Apprentice” is activated, and the current progress is 1/100. Learning or using any swordplay moves can increase the progress. ]Shun was stunned for a moment, then smiled knowingly.
Everything was moving steadily in the direction he had planned.
Chapter 20: The Thriving Cloud Hidden Village (Old Version)
The afternoon is a regular physical training class, while the morning course is the “History of the Development of the Hidden Cloud Village” that makes every child in the Hidden Cloud Village excited. To be precise, it is the most dazzling chapter in it – the inheritance of “The Will of Thunder” and the immortal achievements of the third Raikage.
“Everyone cheer up!” Teacher Toshiro Fu stood on the podium, his voice as loud as a bell, his eyes sweeping across the young but energetic faces, “What we are going to learn today is the pride of the Hidden Cloud Village, a monument that all of us ninjas should remember in our hearts – the Third Raikage!”
He paused, his tone full of reverence: “Please turn to page 37 of the textbook “Will of Thunder”. This chapter is not only the focus of the final exam, but also the root of our Kumogakure ninja spirit!”
Yue Guang Shun opened the book as he was told and placed the thick “Will of Thunder” upright on the desk. It was neither too high nor too low, just enough to block the occasional glance from teacher Todai Fuu, and also to block the almost burning gaze from his deskmate Atsuyi.
To Shun, these eulogistic texts were far less attractive than the book “Basic Ninjutsu Mathematics and Array Deduction” under his desk. He had his own learning pace, and the basic theories of the ninja school were already well-known to him. He needed to use his time more efficiently to lay a solid mathematical foundation for future contact with more complex ninjutsu and sealing techniques.
Teacher Toshiro Kaze didn’t know about Shun’s little trick, or rather, even if he knew, he would selectively turn a blind eye to the student who was at the top of the class in terms of both theoretical performance and practical potential, just like Teacher Eiichiro treated Hanekawa in the example. After all, grades are the hard truth.
“The Third Raikage, Yeyue Ai, is the most powerful Raikage in the history of our Hidden Cloud Village, bar none!” Teacher Toshiro Fu’s voice was full of power, as if he wanted to reproduce that magnificent history before everyone’s eyes, “He fought alone against 10,000 Rock Ninjas for three days and three nights, buying precious time for the strategic transfer of our large forces! Who can match this courage and strength?”
There were gasps in the classroom, and many students’ eyes were already burning with admiration.
Especially Atzii, he clenched his fists at this moment, his cheeks flushed slightly because of excitement, and his mouth made an unconscious “hissing” sound, as if he was also in that thrilling battle.
“Also! The Third Raikage fought fiercely with the runaway Eight-tailed Gyu-ki many times, and finally sealed it perfectly with his incomparably strong physique and Lightning Release Ninjutsu! This determination and responsibility to protect the village is something that every one of us Kumogakure Ninja must learn!” Toshiro Fuu continued to narrate, and every word struck the students’ hearts.
Ma Buyi nudged Atsyi with his elbow and whispered, “Atsyi, calm down. Your saliva is about to flow out.”
Atsuyi finally woke up from his dream and wiped the corners of his mouth carelessly, but the enthusiasm in his eyes did not diminish at all. He looked at the podium, as if he saw not Teacher Toshiro Fuu, but the legendary Third Raikage.
Shunze was below, using a charcoal pencil carefully sharpened with a knife to quickly calculate a geometric model problem on the draft paper about the optimal solution for chakra flow distribution. For him, the strength of the Third Raikage was certainly admirable, but it was more of a display of results. He was more interested in how to reach that level step by step through precise calculations and hard practice.
“The strongest spear developed by the Third Raikage, ‘Hell Thrust: One-Pointed Hand’, is powerful enough to penetrate all defenses! His strongest shield, ‘Lightning Body Armor’, gives him an almost indestructible body!” Teacher Toshiro Fu’s voice became more and more excited, “Kids, remember, this is the will of our Hidden Cloud Village, and it is the cornerstone of the Kingdom of Lightning standing tall in the ninja world!”
“Too…too handsome!” Atziyi finally couldn’t help but growl, with little stars twinkling in his eyes.
After one class, Shun had completed two-thirds of the arithmetic problems he planned, and Atsuyi seemed to be injected with infinite energy, and his whole body was in a state of excitement.
As soon as the bell rang, Atsuyi stood up from his seat almost like a catapult, rushed to Shun’s desk in a few steps, and slammed his hands on the table with a “snap”. His knuckles turned white because of the force.
“Moonlight Shun!” He stared at Shun, his eyes burning as if they were about to spit fire, “I, Atsu, challenge you once again!”
Shun looked up from his math problems and looked at him calmly, without even moving his eyebrows. This was not the first time Atsuyi had challenged him. Ever since Shun had beaten him by a narrow margin in the last class sparring match, this guy had been brooding over it.
“Oh?” Shun responded lightly, motioning for him to continue.
“After listening to the deeds of the Third Raikage, I feel full of strength!” Atsuyi puffed out his chest and announced loudly, “Two days later! Physical training class in the afternoon! Run around the village a hundred times! I will definitely surpass you! Let you see the true strength of the Kumogakure ninja who inherited the will of thunder!”
The students around looked over. Darui lazily leaned back in his chair, a smile on his face as if he was watching a good show. Kirabi crossed his arms and said “Yo” with interest, as if he was quite interested in this challenge. The two Yukitos just quietly packed their textbooks, as if they were used to this kind of childish challenge.
Shun closed his math book, nodded, and said crisply, “Okay.”
One word, without any extra emotion or contempt.
Seeing that he agreed so readily, Atzii was stunned for a moment, and then he became even more motivated: “You wait! I will definitely not lose again this time!” After saying that, he snorted, returned to his seat in a heroic and high-spirited manner, and began to rub his hands together, as if he had already seen the scene of his own victory.
Shun just shook his head slightly and continued to lower his head to organize his things. For him, this challenge was just a small episode in his daily practice, which was a good opportunity to test the results of his recent physical training.
The lunch break passed quickly, and the afternoon sun was a bit hot, indicating that a sweat-inducing physical test was about to begin.
The second-year students of the Cloud Class have already gathered on the training track outside the Hidden Cloud Village. This track surrounds the mountains and forests on the edge of the village, and the road conditions are complicated. It is much more difficult than a flat playground.
Teacher Toshirofu stood at the starting line, holding the starting whistle in his hand: “Are you all ready? Go around the village 100 times. I don’t ask you to complete all of them, but you must do your best! Do you understand?”
“Understood!” the students responded in unison, with a hint of nervousness and anticipation in their voices.
“Ready—Go!”
A whistle sounded sharply, and dozens of figures rushed out like arrows.
With her petite figure and excellent explosive power, the second Yumu took the lead at the start, and her purple short hair drew a beautiful arc in the wind. She was serious in theoretical classes and never vague in physical training, but her endurance has always been her shortcoming.
Following closely behind was Kirabi, who took a unique, rhythmic pace. Although he seemed to be slow, he always managed to maintain an excellent position. Before long, he easily surpassed the two wooden men who were beginning to breathe a little and took the lead. His wheat-colored skin shone in the sun, and he hummed a tuneless little song of his own from time to time.
Yue Guang Shun did not rush at the start, he followed the first echelon at his own pace, neither hurried nor slow. His breathing was long and steady, his arms swung slightly, and each step was precisely placed at the point that saved the most energy.
Darui looked like he had not woken up yet, his eyes were a little sleepy and his movements seemed a little lazy, but he always kept up with the team and followed steadily near Kirabi and Shun, forming a three-person leading group.
Atsuyi tried his best from the beginning, keeping in mind the challenge to Shun, and tried to establish an advantage from the beginning. His face was red, he was breathing heavily, and at one point he rushed to the side and back of Kirabi.
Yeyue Samui was running with some difficulty, with beads of sweat oozing out of her fair face. She gritted her teeth and tried to keep up with the pace of the main group, but gradually she was left behind. Ma Buyi next to her seemed to be more at ease and encouraged her from time to time.
After twenty laps, the gap between the teams had widened significantly.
Kirabi was still riding away, but his expression was no longer as relaxed as at the beginning, and there was sweat on his forehead. He could feel the breathing of two people behind him.
One is Darui’s seemingly lazy yet extremely resilient rhythm, and the other is Yueguang Shun’s breathing that is so steady that it is somewhat scary.
“This guy…” Kirabi glanced at Shun who was following closely beside him from the corner of his eye, and muttered to himself, “When did he become so fast at running? Tsk, so boring, no rhyme at all!”
Shun had a blank expression on his face and looked straight ahead. His physical fitness had always been his strong point. Coupled with the targeted endurance training and initial attempts at chakra-assisted running (although still very rudimentary) during this period, he had endurance far beyond that of his peers.
After fifty laps, the team was already thin.
The two Yukitos had already fallen to the second echelon and were holding on with perseverance. Atsuyi had also been left behind by the first echelon. He was sweating profusely, his steps were heavy, and every breath was painful. He watched the figures of Shun, Kirabi, and Darui getting farther and farther away from him, and his heart was filled with resentment.
“Damn it… Damn it!” Atsuyi gritted his teeth. The tall figure of the Third Raikage flashed through his mind. He also remembered his heroic words during the break. A spirit of unwillingness to admit defeat surged up in him again. He roared, forcibly squeezing out the little strength left in his body, trying to speed up again.
However, reality is cruel. He only sped up a little bit for a short time, and soon slowed down again. He saw Yue Guang Shun’s calm back, passing by not far in front of him again, completing a loop.
At that moment, Atsyi felt his heart sink.
After eighty laps, only a few people were still on the track.
The leaders were still Shun, Kirabi, and Darui. The distance between them never exceeded five meters, forming a delicate balance.
Kirabi’s breathing was already heavy, and his eyes behind his iconic sunglasses became sharper. He could feel that the pressure from Moonlight Shun was increasing. This guy was like a tireless machine, with a consistent rhythm.
“Idiot! Bastard! Is this guy’s physical strength a monster? Wow!” Kirabi cursed in his heart, but his pace unconsciously increased a bit.
Darui still looked lazy, but the sweat on his forehead and his slightly heaving chest showed that he was not as relaxed as he seemed. He glanced at the two competitors beside him and thought to himself, “They are two troublesome guys. Obviously, running is a very troublesome thing.”
Shun’s forehead was also covered with beads of sweat. Although he was still trying to keep his breathing steady, his frequency was much faster than before. He could feel the soreness in his muscles and the burning in his lungs, but he enjoyed the feeling of constantly challenging his limits. Every time he surpassed himself yesterday, he was one step closer to his goal.
Ninety laps!
Kirabi suddenly exerted force, his leg muscles bulged, and his speed increased sharply, trying to shake off the two people behind him.
“Are you finally going to be serious?” Darui’s eyes narrowed and he also sped up, still maintaining a leisurely pace, yet not falling behind at all.
A gleam of light flashed in Shun’s eyes. He did not immediately follow Kirabi’s burst, but slightly adjusted his breathing, and then steadily increased his speed in a more impactful manner. Each of his steps contained amazing power, as if he was stepping on a flat track instead of a rugged mountain road.
“This guy… can actually speed up!” Kirabi was shocked. He thought that his sudden outburst could disrupt Shun’s rhythm, but he didn’t expect that the other party could deal with it so calmly.
Last five laps!
The competition between the three entered a fierce stage. Their figures quickly shuttled through the forest path, bringing up clouds of dust and fallen leaves. The students watching the game and Teacher Tu Daifeng held their breath.
Atsyi had already stopped, propping his hands on his knees, breathing heavily. He looked at the three cheetah-like figures in the distance, his eyes were complicated, with disappointment and unwillingness, but more of it was an indescribable shock.
“Gekko Shun… He… He can actually run to this extent with Killer Bee and Darui…” Atsuyi muttered to himself, the pride in his heart was shattered, and replaced by a strong desire to catch up.
The bell for the final lap rang.
Kirabi burst out with astonishing speed again and let out an incomprehensible roar, as if to encourage himself.
Darui also put away his laziness, his eyes became focused and sharp, and he bit Kirabi tightly.
Shun took a deep breath and slowly channeled the remaining chakra in his body into his legs. His speed increased to a higher level at the last moment!
“What?!” Kirabi and Darui both felt a strong sense of oppression from Shun.
Before the finish line.
Three figures crossed the finish line almost at the same time, and the strong wind blew up the finish line flag.
Teacher Toshirofu pressed the stopwatch in his hand and a smile of approval appeared on his face.
“Hoo…Hoo…Hoo…” Kirabi put his hands on his hips, breathing heavily. He looked at Shun and Darui who were also adjusting their breathing, grinned, revealing his white teeth: “Hey, Shun, you’re good! Next time, I won’t let you have it so easy, yo!”
Darui wiped the sweat from his forehead, showing a rare trace of fatigue: “It’s really… exhausting. Shun, your endurance has improved too fast.”
Shun just nodded without saying much, but his eyes flickered with a desire for a stronger realm.
Atsuyi watched this scene from afar, clenching his fists tightly. He knew that the gap between him and Shun was even greater than he had imagined. However, the spirit of the Third Raikage was inspiring him, and today’s failure would only serve as a motivation for him to work harder tomorrow!
Chapter 21 By Mu Ren and Ai (Old Version)
“First place, Moonlight Shun!”
Tu Daifeng’s loud voice echoed in the playground, with a hint of imperceptible praise, “Shun’s progress is obvious to all. From being unknown when he first entered school to standing out now, this perseverance and sweat is worth learning for every one of us!”
At the edge of the playground, Kirabi, who had just crossed the finish line, supported his knees with his hands, sweat beads on his wheat-colored skin. He was panting slightly, and his brows were tightly knitted under his sunglasses. “Damn… I actually… lost…” He muttered in a low voice, his tone full of unwillingness. This was the first time he was surpassed in a physical fitness event, and it was the usually inconspicuous Moonlight Shun.
Darui, who was not far away, also looked exhausted. He wiped the sweat off his face and looked at Shun’s back. Instead, there was no frustration in his eyes. Instead, there was a glimmer of excitement. “Tsk, I’m still a step behind. But this guy… is getting more and more interesting!” For Darui, a strong opponent can inspire his fighting spirit.
“How could Big Brother Bi lose to that guy!” Atziyi jumped aside, his face full of disbelief, as if Shun’s victory was something that could not be tolerated by heaven.
Ma Buyi was relatively calm. She pushed up her glasses and carefully looked at the Gekkou Shun who was sweating profusely but still had a straight back. She thought to herself, “Shun-kun’s chakra seems to be more condensed than before, and his endurance… is really amazing.”
“Shun, you’re amazing!” A clear voice rang out, and Yeyue Samui trotted to Shun’s side with excitement and pride on his face, not hiding his joy, “I knew you could do it!”
Shun gave his sister a slightly tired but relieved smile and nodded gently. In order to surpass Kirabi and Darui in the final sprint, he almost squeezed out the last bit of his physical strength. At this moment, he only felt soreness in all his limbs, but the satisfaction in his heart was indescribable.
“The two talent items ‘Lightning Affinity’ and ‘Tenacious Will’, combined with the almost self-torturing training over the past month, have finally shown results.” Shun thought silently in his heart, “In order to light up all the marks of the ‘Eight Weapons’ as soon as possible, this little effort is worth it.”
Of course, he also knew that this was only in terms of pure physical running. In terms of actual combat, he was far from being a match for Kirabi and Darui.
The physical training class was declared over and the students dispersed in twos and threes.
“Samui, you go home first. I have some things to take care of.” Shun said to his sister.
Samui nodded obediently: “Well, then you should come back early too.”
After saying goodbye to Samui, Shun did not go home directly, but turned to the north of the village and walked towards the edge of the Thundering Forest next to the fourth training ground.
The Hidden Cloud Village is located in the mountains, and thunder and lightning are frequent, hence the name Thunder Forest. Thunder and lightning are relatively sparse in the outer areas of the forest, but in the deep areas, there are lightning and thunder all year round. This is the place where some special lightning ninjutsu in the village are practiced, and it is also rarely visited because of its danger.
Shun’s target was a rushing river at the edge of the forest. He needed a relatively open place where he could induce weak electric charges to practice and become familiar with his newly made “lightning rod” so as to accumulate proficiency for a lightning-related weapon mark among the “eight weapons”.
About a quarter of an hour later, they arrived at their destination. It was a wide river bank, with fast-flowing water hitting the rocks on the shore, making a “gurgling” sound. The air was filled with the moist scent of grass and trees, and occasionally a few dull thunders could be heard from deep in the forest.
Shun took out a strange short stick about half a meter long from his ninja tool bag. It was black in color and had a few conductive metal plates inlaid on the top. This was the “lightning rod” he had made according to the rough guidance of the “eight weapons” map in his mind and combined with existing materials.
“I hope this will have some effect. The conditions for unlocking the mark of ‘Thunder Blade’ are too harsh. One must actively guide and withstand a certain amount of lightning power.” Shun muttered to himself and began to try to slowly inject chakra into the lightning rod.
He pointed the lightning rod toward the sky and carefully manipulated his chakra, trying to induce the weak electric charges floating in the air.
“Sizzle…sizzle…”
Tiny sparks began to flash at the tip of the lightning rod, along with a slight popping sound.
“Panel prompt: ‘Thunder Blade’ mark charging progress +0.1%.”
“There’s hope!” Shun was delighted. Although the progress was slow, it proved that this method was feasible.
He continued to practice attentively, guiding the weak current to gather and flow on the lightning rod again and again. Sweat flowed down his forehead, but he was unaware of it.
I don’t know how long it was, but when Shun tried to guide it again, perhaps because the chakra output fluctuated slightly, the arc at the top of the lightning rod suddenly grew larger, and a light blue electric snake about the thickness of a finger shot out with a “snap” and hit the river surface below squarely!
“boom!”
There was a muffled sound, water splashed everywhere, and a few large fish that had unfortunately passed by floated up with their white bellies turned up, with a slight burnt smell on their bodies.
“Uh… the power seems a bit out of control.” Shun looked at the stunned fish in amazement, then smiled bitterly. This lightning rod seemed to be a little more “powerful” than he expected.
“Meow?!”
At this moment, a slightly suspicious cat cry came from the bushes not far upstream on the river bank, followed by a cold female voice: “Who’s there?!”
Shun looked in the direction of the sound and saw a girl dressed in Kumogakure ninja clothes, with long flaxen hair casually scattered, and a pretty face but a slightly cold expression walking out from behind the bushes. She was about thirteen or fourteen years old, holding a snow-white cat in her arms, which was warily arching its back and growling at Shun.
The girl saw Shun, the strange-shaped lightning rod at his feet, and the dead fish floating on the water, and frowned slightly: “Did you do it?”
“Sorry, I was practicing ninja tools here and accidentally disturbed you.” Shun explained a little embarrassedly. He saw a simple fishing net bag at the girl’s feet, which was empty. It was obviously used to catch fish.
The girl looked at him for a few seconds, her gaze lingering on the lightning rod in his hand for a moment, her tone still cold: “Use lightning to fry fish? Your method is quite novel.” Her cat also seemed to be very interested in the fish with their bellies turned upside down, and it poked its head out and meowed.
“I…” Shun was about to say something else.
The girl suddenly said, “Can you do this thing again?”
“Ah?” He was stunned for a moment.
The girl pointed to the river and said, “My Matatabi seems to want to try the grilled fish. Since you have disturbed our fishing, it would not be too much to help me catch a few more as compensation.” The “Matatabi” she was referring to was naturally the cat in her arms.
Shun looked at her matter-of-fact expression, which was also a little bit unwilling to give up, and the cat’s eager eyes, and couldn’t help but smile. This girl looked cold, but she was unexpectedly a cat lover, and seemed to have a special liking for grilled fish.
“No problem.” Shun agreed readily. He adjusted the angle of the lightning rod and guided the chakra again. This time he controlled it more carefully, and a fine electric net accurately covered a small area of water.
“Sizzle—”
The water surface churned, and seven or eight fat river fish were electrocuted and fainted, and floated to the surface.
A trace of surprise flashed in the girl’s eyes, as if she didn’t expect Shun to be able to control lightning so accurately. She put down the cat in her arms and nimbly fished up the fish. The snow-white cat “Youlu” excitedly circled around the pile of fish.
“Good technique.” The girl praised him rarely, then looked up at Shun: “My name is Yukito Nii. There are so many fish, the two of us… no, the two cats can’t finish them all. Master Ai is preparing a picnic in front, do you want to join us?”
“Lord Ai?” Shun’s heart moved. The only person in the Hidden Cloud Village who could be called “Lord Ai” was probably the future Fourth Raikage.
“Yes, Lord Ai. He is pretty good at grilling fish.” As You Mu Ren said this, he had already skewered the fish deftly with a straw rope and motioned for Shun to follow.
Shun thought about it for a moment, then nodded in agreement. It was not a bad thing for him to have the opportunity to meet the future Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
The two of them and the cat walked upstream along the river bank for a few minutes, and indeed saw a bonfire on a relatively flat clearing in the forest. A tall and burly young man with wheat-colored skin and short white hair similar to Kirabi was facing away from them, skillfully preparing some food.
“Master Ai! Look what I brought back!” The wooden man raised the fish skewers in his hand like he was presenting a treasure.
The young man turned around, revealing a face with sharp edges and a calm expression. It was the young Yeyue Ai. He saw Shun behind the wooden man and the string of fish in her hand that was obviously electrocuted, and a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes.
“You Mu Ren, who is this?” Ai’s gaze lingered on Shun for a moment, and he asked in a calm tone.
“His name is Moonlight Shun, and he’s from the ninja preparatory class. He helped me ‘blow up’ these fish using that strange lightning rod.” Yu Mu Ren pointed at the lightning rod in Shun’s hand and explained briefly.
“Lightning rod to fry fish?” Hearing this, Ai’s mouth curled up with interest. He walked in front of Shun and looked at the black short stick carefully. “It’s quite interesting. Little guy, did you make this thing yourself?”
Shun felt the faint sense of oppression coming from the other party, and answered neither humbly nor arrogantly: “Yes, Lord Ai, it’s still in the trial stage.”
Ai nodded, without asking any more questions, took the fish from Youmu Ren, and began to gut it neatly, preparing to grill it. Youmu Ren was feeding Youlu small dried fish with great interest, and would occasionally glance at Shun, his blue eyes full of curiosity.
Soon, the fish was placed on the campfire, the fat dripping made a sizzling sound, and a rich aroma filled the air.
The three of them sat around the campfire, and the atmosphere was quite harmonious. Although Ai didn’t talk much, he would occasionally give Yu Mu Ren some tips on grilling fish, and Yu Mu Ren would occasionally ask Shun various questions:
“Hey, Moonlight Shun, is your lightning rod specifically used for frying fish?”
“Are you also a Lightning Release Ninja?”
“You won the competition with physical training. Did you use any secrets?”
Shun dealt with the wooden man’s rapid-fire questions while observing these two important figures of the future of the Hidden Cloud Village, with a lot of thoughts in his mind. This unexpected encounter might bring some different variables to his peaceful life of training.
Chapter 22 Genius Writer Tulongzuan (Old Version)
“Shun, another string?”
Yeyue Ai handed over a string of sizzling, plump river fish sprinkled with secret spices. In the reflection of the campfire, his rough bronze face lost some of the majesty of the son of the Raikage, and gained some of the heroism of the mountains.
The two Yumu held their own portions of grilled fish and ate them in small bites. Their blue cat eyes sparkled in the firelight. They looked at Yueguang Shun curiously: “Shun, what do you usually do in the village? In addition to training, do you have any special hobbies?”
Shun took the grilled fish handed to him by Ai, which smelled fragrant and was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. It was obvious that Ai had some experience in grilling. He smiled and replied to You Mu Ren: “In addition to training, I will read a book or walk around the village to experience the customs and culture of the Hidden Cloud Village.”
“Reading? What kind of books are you reading?” Yukito came closer as if he had discovered a new world. “Are they the scrolls that record powerful ninjutsu? Or are they ancient books about the history of the Land of Lightning?”
“A little bit of everything,” Shun said vaguely. He couldn’t say that he was researching how to bring entertainment products from another world over here. “I also occasionally read some miscellaneous gossip and interesting things.” He added silently in his mind: For example, the early reviews of “Intimate Paradise” or something like that.
Ai listened from the side, occasionally interjecting, mostly about interesting stories about the Hidden Cloud Village or some embarrassing things he did when he was young, which made Yumuren chuckle. Shun also made a few remarks at the right time, and the atmosphere was very harmonious.
It can be seen that Ai is very caring towards Yukito, the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, and it is not just a matter of superiors and subordinates or tools. Yukito is also quite dependent on and close to Ai, just like treating his own big brother.
Shun secretly thought that it would be beneficial for him to have a good relationship with the future Raikage and important Jinchūriki. Maybe this friendship would come in handy at some critical moment in the future.
The picnic full of fireworks gradually came to an end in a relaxed and happy atmosphere. The three of them extinguished the bonfire completely, packed up the remnants, and prepared to return to the village.
“Brother Ai, I’m You Mu Ren, thank you for your hospitality. Today’s grilled fish is delicious.” Shun thanked him sincerely.
“Haha, it’s no big deal!” Ai waved his hand cheerfully, “We’ll get together again if we have the chance.”
Yukito also nodded vigorously: “Yeah! Shun, next time I’ll bring you my treasured cat snacks to try!”
Shun: “…” I understand, but it’s not necessary.
After saying goodbye to the two, Shun walked alone on the mountain path back to Yeyue’s home. The night had completely enveloped the sky, with a few sparse stars dotting it, and the moonlight poured down like mercury, coating the rugged mountain road with a layer of hazy silver.
The streets of Kumogakure at night are very different from those of Konoha. Most of the buildings here are built on the mountain, towering into the clouds, full of power and rugged style. The light of the street lamps is cold white, reflecting the stone pavement. Occasionally, a patrolling Kumogakure ninja team quickly passes by, their steps are steady and powerful, with a unique vigilance.
As Shun walked, he summoned his “Mark Panel” in his mind.
[E-level physical skills mark: eight weapons (not activated)][Activation conditions: Master eight different types of weapons and reach basic application level. ][Current progress: 70% (kunai, shuriken, katana, kama, armor, spear, bow and arrow, huh? Wait, when did I practice bow and arrow and spear? Oh, I picked them up when I was sparring with Xi last time, and they actually count.)]As the progress bar moved forward steadily, Shun felt a little satisfied. The system did not seem to classify detonating talismans and smoke bombs as consumables as “weapons”, but as “ninja tools”. It seemed that this “eight weapons” mark was more inclined towards cold weapons.
“As long as I master one more weapon, I can activate this mark.” Shun thought to himself that maybe he could consider a short axe or a war hammer. This type of heavy striking weapon seems to be quite popular in the Hidden Cloud Village.
While thinking, the familiar outline of the Yeyue family’s mansion appeared in front of him.
“I’m back.”
I pushed open the gate and walked into the hallway to change my shoes. From the brightly lit living room came the sound of the TV and a few crisp, babyish complaints.
“Brother Shun! Why did you come back just now?” A small figure ran out from the living room. It was the young version of Yeyue Samui. She was wearing a cute pajamas, with messy short blond hair. She was obviously getting ready for bed, but was attracted by the returning Shun.
Samui put his hands on his hips like a little adult, his deep blue eyes filled with questions like “Did you go out to play again?”
Shun felt amused when he saw her cute angry look. He rubbed her head and said, “I met Brother Ai outside the village. He saw that I have good aptitude, so he treated me to a grilled fish meal.” He made up an excuse casually. He couldn’t say that he went to build relationships with the future Raikage and the Two-Tails Jinchuriki.
“Brother Ai?” Samui tilted his little head, obviously having some impression of the owner of this title.
“Did Ai invite you to eat grilled fish?” A steady female voice came from the living room. Ye Yuexi, with long smooth golden hair, poked her head out from behind the sofa with a curious look on her face. “I guess it was my father who mentioned you to Ai and said that you are a junior worth cultivating.”
Shun’s mind moved. Xi Liu’s guess was reasonable. He was now staying at the Yeyue family. It made sense that the elder of the Yeyue family, the future Third Raikage, would pay attention to him and introduce him to his son.
“Maybe.” Shun smiled noncommittally.
At this time, Yeyue Ai also came in from outside. He arrived home a step later than Shun. Seeing Shun talking with Samui and Xiliu at the entrance, he asked, “Shun, you’re back? How was the conversation just now?”
“Brother Ai.” Shun greeted him.
When Samui saw Ai, his eyes lit up and he immediately complained: “Brother Ai, Brother Shun said you treated him to grilled fish! I want to eat it too!”
Ai laughed and patted Samui’s head: “Next time, I will definitely take you with me next time.” Then he looked at Shun and his expression became more serious: “Shun, come to the study with me, I have something to talk to you about.”
I immediately understood what he meant and knew that the real show was about to begin.
He followed Ai to the study. The Yeyue family’s study was decorated quite simply. In addition to a whole wall of bookcases, there was a large desk and several chairs for entertaining guests.
Ai motioned for Shun to sit down, and he sat down in the main seat. He got straight to the point and said, “Shun, your talent for Lightning Release is indeed amazing. With time, you will definitely achieve extraordinary things. However…” He changed the subject and said, “I have observed your previous attacks. Although your Lightning Release has concentrated power and strong destructive power, it seems to consume a huge amount of chakra. Once you get into a protracted battle, or your chakra is insufficient, your close combat ability will become an obvious shortcoming.”
Shun heard this and thought to himself, “As expected of the future Fourth Raikage, he has a sharp eye.” He admitted frankly, “Brother Ai is right. My lightning escape nature transformation is not pure enough, and my chakra control is far from being able to do whatever I want, so consumption is indeed a big problem. Therefore, I was thinking of asking Brother Ai for advice, hoping to learn some swordsmanship to make up for this deficiency.”
Ai showed a smile of approval on his face: “Oh? You want to learn swordsmanship? There are many swordsmanship schools in the Hidden Cloud Village, but the one inherited by our Yeyue clan is the ‘Cloud Flow Swordsmanship’, which emphasizes the use of lightning chakra to enhance the body’s speed and strength, combined with sword skills, to pursue the ultimate burst and one-hit kill. This road is not easy to walk.”
“I understand.” Shun’s eyes were firm, “but I am willing to try.” Lightning escape consumes a lot of energy, so swordsmanship can be used to make up for it. Moreover, learning Yunliu swordsmanship may trigger new marks, killing two birds with one stone.
“Very good!” Ai slammed the table with a dull “bang” sound, shaking the teacups on the table. “It’s good to have this awareness! We, the ninjas of Kumogakure, are never afraid of challenges! Since you have this intention, I will start teaching you the basics of Kumogakure swordsmanship tonight!”
“Ah? Tonight?” He was stunned for a moment. He didn’t expect Ai to be so decisive. He thought he would have to wait until tomorrow at least.
“It’s better to do it now than to wait for a day!” Ai stood up, his tall figure full of oppression, “Let’s go to the dojo! First, let me let you feel what the real Yunliu is!”
The Yeyue family’s dojo is spacious and bright. The floor is paved with hard ironwood and is covered with scratches of varying depths, which is obviously the evidence of years of hard training.
Ai casually took two wooden swords from the weapon rack and threw one to Shun: “Cloud Flow Sword Technique, starting move – ‘Oboro Moon Slash’, watch out!”
Before he finished his words, Ai’s figure flashed like a ghost, and the wooden sword in his hand left an afterimage that was almost impossible to capture with the naked eye. With a sharp sound of breaking wind, it chopped straight into Shun’s face!
His pupils suddenly shrank and he subconsciously blocked with his sword.
“clang!”
There was a crisp sound, and a huge force came from the wooden sword, which made his palm numb. He slid backwards several meters uncontrollably before he could barely steady himself.
“Good reaction.” Ai put away his sword and stood up, commenting calmly, “But the speed and strength are far behind. The core of Yunliu swordsmanship is to integrate lightning chakra into every detail of the sword skills, so as to burst out speed and strength far beyond ordinary people. You should start with the most basic sword swinging, blocking, and footwork.”
For the next two hours, Shun repeated the boring basic movements over and over again under Ai’s strict guidance. His clothes were soaked with sweat, and his arms were so sore that he could hardly lift them, but his eyes became brighter and brighter.
Just when he felt that he was about to reach his limit, a pleasant reminder tone suddenly came from his mind.
[E-level swordsmanship mark: swordsmanship apprentice (not activated)][Activation conditions: Yunliu swordsmanship reaches entry level.][Current progress: 5%]“It’s finally triggered!” Shun was delighted, and his fatigue seemed to have eased a little.
After the training, Shun dragged his tired body back to the room and took a hot shower. Although his body was extremely sleepy, his spirit was extremely excited. He did not lie down to sleep immediately, but took out paper and pen from his bag.
The moonlight outside the window is bright and the night is quiet.
Shun sat at his desk, took a deep breath, and began to sketch a new story on paper. He gave this story a loud and fitting name for the Hidden Cloud Village—The Legend of the Lightning Hero.
The protagonist of the story is naturally a young man with the talent of lightning escape. In a fantasy ninja world, he fights monsters and levels up, makes friends, and finally becomes a brave man who saves the world. As for the plot, it is naturally based on those popular and passionate works in the past, and then localized and adapted according to the background of this world.
“Well, the protagonist’s name is ‘Shun’… No, that’s too obvious. Let’s call him ‘Raiga’. It sounds like he has the feeling of lightning escape.”
“The heroine… can be a medical ninja who is good at water escape and has a gentle and considerate personality…”
“The villain boss is set to be an ambitious person who wants to collect the power of all the tailed beasts and control the world…”
Shun became more and more absorbed in writing, and the countless novels, comics, and animation plots he had read in his previous life emerged in his mind like a spring, providing him with a constant source of inspiration. He skillfully combined these fragments of inspiration to construct a grand and delicate world view and outline.
This writing continued until the sky was just beginning to brighten.
Two days later, in the backyard of a bookstore called “Moxiangju” on the commercial street of Yunyin Village.
Shun handed the thick stack of manuscript paper filled with handwriting to the bookstore owner Ishida. Ishida was a middle-aged man who looked to be about 40 years old. He wore a pair of thin-framed glasses and had a faint scent of ink on him, which made him look gentle and elegant. He was a well-known publisher in Kumogakure Village. He had a unique vision and discovered many potential new authors.
“Mr. Ishida, this is a manuscript that a friend of mine asked me to pass on to you. It is the idea and outline of a new novel he has conceived.” Shun said.
“Oh? Really?” Ishida took the manuscript and asked casually, “Who is your friend…?”
Shun said calmly, “His name is ‘Tulong Zuan’, this is his pen name.” There is no other way, he can’t use his real name, that would be too embarrassing. This pen name highlights a simple and unpretentious, full of power, which is in line with the aesthetics of the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Tulongzuan?” Ishida repeated and nodded. “It’s a unique pen name. Let me take a look at it first.”
He picked up the manuscript and began to read carefully. At first, his expression was calm, but as he read deeper, his eyebrows raised higher and higher, his eyes became brighter and brighter, and his breathing even became a little rapid.
When he turned to the last page and read the entire outline, he slapped his thigh and stood up excitedly, with an expression of disbelief in his eyes behind his glasses.
“Genius! Absolute genius!” Ishida’s voice trembled slightly with excitement. “Shun-kun, your friend ‘Doryu Zuan’ is simply a rare genius novelist! This setting, this plot, is unheard of and unseen! It’s so wonderful! Especially the growth process of the protagonist ‘Raiga’, and those companions with different personalities, and the conspiracy of the final boss… It’s perfect!”
Ishida held the manuscript as if it were a rare treasure, pacing back and forth in the room, and kept praising it: “A big hit! This book will definitely be a big hit! It may even create a new genre of novels! ‘Earth Dragon Drill’… This name will soon be resounding throughout the Land of Lightning, no, the entire ninja world!”
Shun looked at Ishida’s fanatical look, the corners of his mouth twitched slightly, and he thought to himself: “Is it so exaggerated? It’s just some classic routines stitched together… But the effect seems to be quite good.”
It seems that the legend of the “genius writer Doryū Zuan” will begin today in this small bookstore in the Hidden Cloud Village.
Chapter 23 He Attacked, He Fell (Old Version)
The early morning light penetrated the lingering mist unique to the Hidden Cloud Village and sprinkled mottled light on the fourth training ground.
Yue Guangshun held a wooden sword in his hand, and moved around in the open field, practicing the Yunliu sword technique. His movements were like flowing clouds and water, sometimes as fast as lightning, with the sword light making a slight sound of breaking wind; sometimes as steady as a mountain, and every block and counterattack was extremely accurate. Sweat soaked the broken hair on his forehead, but his eyes were focused, as if the whole world was left with the sword in his hand and the moves in his mind.
After an hour of hard training, he put away his sword and stood up, slowly exhaling. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and prepared to pack up and go to the ninja school.
“Blink!” A slightly shouty voice came from the entrance of the training ground.
He looked in the direction of the voice and saw Atsyi walking towards him with big strides, a look of unwillingness to admit defeat on his face, as if he had rehearsed countless victories. He was wearing a brand new training suit today and looked very energetic.
“Don’t forget the practical class this afternoon!” Atsuyi walked up to Shun and said with his chin raised, his tone full of determination, “I was careless last time, I won’t give you another chance this time!”
Shun looked at him calmly and nodded: “Yeah, I remember.”
His calm demeanor made Atsyi feel like he had punched cotton, and he was a little disappointed. He had expected to see Shun’s nervous or at least serious expression, but in the end, the other party was still calm and indifferent.
“Hmph, that’s good! Just wait and see this afternoon!” Atsyi said something cruel, turned around and strode away, his back revealing a determination of “I will win this time”.
The corners of Shun’s mouth twitched slightly. Without saying anything more, he put the wooden sword into the scabbard behind him and walked towards the ninja school.
The morning cultural class was “The Will of Thunder”. In the classroom, Teacher Tu Daifeng stood on the podium and spoke in a loud voice about the core of the will passed down from generation to generation in the Land of Thunder.
“Classmates, who can tell me what the most important thing about the Will of Thunder of our Hidden Cloud Village is?” Tu Daifeng swept his eyes across the young faces.
Many students raised their hands with excited expressions.
“It’s speed and strength!” a tall boy shouted first.
“It’s the determination to protect the village!” another girl added.
Toshiro nodded, his eyes fell on Shun who was concentrating on calculating something in the corner. “Tsuki Shun, tell me what you think.”
Shun raised his head from the arithmetic problems in front of him, his eyes clear, and after a little thought, he answered: “I think that the will of thunder is not only about pursuing the ultimate speed and strength, but more importantly, it is about making accurate judgments like lightning in the ever-changing battle situation, making a decisive force to win with one strike, and sacrificing oneself for the sake of companions and the village.”
His voice was not loud, but his words were clear, and the content was far beyond the comprehension of his peers. The classroom was silent for a moment, and even Tu Daifeng showed an approving look: “Well said, Shun. Lightning is swift, but it requires precision. You must remember that will is the source of strength and the beacon that guides the direction.”
Shun nodded slightly, lowered his head again, and the charcoal pencil in his hand continued to rustle on the rough paper. Those complex numbers and symbols seemed more attractive to him than the grand concept of “Will of Thunder”. Under his pen, the difficult problems in the exercise book were quickly solved, leaving clear steps for solving the problems. The morning passed quietly, and when the lunch bell rang, his arithmetic exercise book was filled with new chapters with dense answers.
In the afternoon, the long-awaited practical class finally arrived.
The students of the Ninja Preparatory Class gathered in the open space of the fourth training ground, rubbing their hands in anticipation, and the air was filled with excitement and tension. Children of this age are at their most energetic and brave.
Toshiro Fu stood in front of the team with a serious expression: “Today’s practical class will mainly test your basic physical skills and ninja tool throwing skills. Remember, the purpose of sparring is to improve yourself. If you find your shortcomings, stop when you have achieved them. Pay attention to safety!”
“Yes!” the students answered in unison.
“So, who wants to come up and demonstrate to everyone first?” Tu Daifeng said.
“Here I go! I want to challenge Darui!” A loud voice sounded, and Kirabi jumped out impatiently. He was wearing sunglasses, making inharmonious rap gestures with his hands, and looked fearless.
Darui yawned lazily and walked out of the team slowly. His sleepy appearance was in stark contrast to the strength he was about to show.
“Hey, Darui, cheer up! I’m going to defeat you with my strongest physical skills!” Kirabi is still full of energy.
The two stood opposite each other, forming a sign of opposition.
After stamping, Kirabi let out a low roar and rushed towards Darui like a little cheetah, his fist hitting the opponent’s face with the sound of wind.
Darui seemed to just casually raise his hand and slightly turn his body to avoid Kirabi’s attack. Then, he quickly formed seals with both hands and shouted, “Storm Release: Encouragement Lock!”
A tiny but extremely penetrating laser instantly shot out from his fingertips. Kirabi only felt a flash before his eyes, and a powerful impact came from his abdomen.
“Puff!” Kirabi screamed strangely and flew backwards like a kite with a broken string. He rolled on the ground for several times before stopping, and his sunglasses were tilted to one side.
“The winner is Darui.” Tu Daifeng announced the result calmly, as if he had already expected it.
There were quiet exclamations from all around. Darui’s Storm Release, even if it was just the most basic application, was enough to make these preparatory class students far behind.
“Damn it! It was too fast, I couldn’t see clearly!” Kirabi got up from the ground and patted the dust off his body. Although he lost, he didn’t look too frustrated. Instead, he gave Darui a thumbs up and said, “You are worthy of being Darui. Next time I will definitely see through your moves!”
Darui just shrugged, yawned again, and walked slowly back to the team.
“Who else wants to spar?” Tu Daifeng asked.
“Teacher, I! I want to challenge Gekko Shun!” Atsuyi immediately raised his hand high, his voice was a few points louder than Killer Bee. He strode to the center of the venue, staring at Shun with burning eyes.
Everyone’s eyes were focused on Shun. Shun had paralyzed Atsuyi with his Lightning Release last time, and this time Atsuyi made a comeback, obviously well prepared. A good show was about to begin, and everyone’s gossip was burning.
Shun calmly walked out of the line and came to the opposite side of Atsuyi.
“Moonlight Shun!” Atsuyi stared at Shun with sharp eyes, “Last time I didn’t know your Lightning Release was so strange. This time, I will definitely not stare into your eyes again! If you have the ability, use other tricks to defeat me!” He deliberately looked away and stared at Shun’s feet.
Shun didn’t say anything, but silently made the seal of opposition.
The moment the sparring began, Atsyi immediately jumped back, creating distance, while quickly forming seals with both hands!
“Earth escape: Earth flow spear!”
As he shouted, the ground in front of him shook violently, and dozens of sharp earth spikes whizzed out from the ground, like rows of spears ready to be fired, stabbing rapidly towards the position where Shun was standing! The earth spikes broke through the ground, bringing up clouds of dust.
This move was so powerful and had a wide attack range that the students watching the fight subconsciously took a few steps back.
“Oh! This guy Atzii has really mastered the earth escape technique!” Kirabi shouted at the side.
Ma Buyi also opened his eyes wide and looked at the field nervously.
Facing the incoming earth spears, Shun’s expression remained unchanged. He stepped forward, and floated to the side and back like a fallen leaf, narrowly avoiding the sharp edges of the earth spears. The earth spears penetrated deeply into the ground, leaving hideous holes.
“Humph! You’re so quick to dodge!” Seeing that his attack missed, Atsuyi was not discouraged. He stomped his feet on the ground and urged his chakra again. More earth flow spears stabbed at Shun from different angles, trying to block his movement. He remembered the lesson and never made any eye contact with Shun. He only judged Shun’s position based on his movements and sounds.
However, while Atsu was concentrating on suppressing Shun with his earth escape technique, he did not notice that, while Shun was dodging, several specially made shurikens had silently slipped out of his sleeves and shot at several inconspicuous ground protrusions and short tree branches at the edge of the training ground at an extremely tricky angle. The tails of these shurikens were connected to almost invisible special steel wires.
Seeing that Shun just kept dodging and didn’t use Lightning Release like last time, Atsuyi couldn’t help but think, “Sure enough, if I don’t look into his eyes, his Lightning Release will be useless! I’m sure I’ll win this time!”
He shouted loudly, preparing to launch a more violent attack. As soon as he exerted force on his feet and prepared to charge forward—
“Um?”
Suddenly, Atzii felt a slight resistance at his ankle, and then the resistance suddenly became stronger!
“What?!”
He subconsciously looked down and saw that several thin silver threads had been wrapped around his ankles and calves at some point. The other ends of these threads were connected to the shurikens that had been shot out earlier and were firmly fixed around him.
Because he rushed forward too fast, his feet were suddenly tripped by the steel wire!
“Plop!”
Atziyi had no time to react, and he lost his balance and fell forward uncontrollably, landing flat on his face. He attacked fiercely, but ended up falling.
Before Atzii could struggle to get up, a swift figure appeared beside him like a ghost, and a cold touch touched the back of his neck.
It is Shun’s training kunai.
“You…” Atsui raised his dusty face, shocked and angry. He couldn’t understand why he lost even though he had clearly defended against Shun’s lightning escape. And he lost so inexplicably!
“You, you…you are cheating! What kind of trick is that? It’s not Lightning Release at all!” Atsuyi was so angry that his face turned red. He felt like a fool. His carefully prepared defense strategy was completely useless. Instead, he was defeated by the opponent in an unheard-of way.
“Just a wire and a shuriken.” Shun put away his kunai, his voice still calm, as if he had just done something insignificant.
“The winner is Yueguang Shun.” Toshiro Fu’s voice sounded at the right time, announcing the result of the game.
The students around were stunned.
“Wow! Shun is so powerful! Is that a hidden weapon technique?” Kirabi’s eyes widened, and he got closer to take a closer look at the fine steel wires, with a look of surprise on his face, “Could it be that Shun has become a disciple of a hidden weapon master?”
Darui’s originally lazy eyes also slightly focused. He noticed the timing and angle of the instant throwing of the shuriken, as well as the precise control of the steel wire. This was not simple luck, but required extremely strong calculations and skills.
Ma Buyi’s face was full of curiosity. She felt that Shun’s fighting style was always so novel and unexpected.
Atsuyi got up from the ground and patted the dust off his body vigorously, still indignant: “You guys, you don’t play by the rules at all! If you have the guts, fight me with ninjutsu!”
Shun just looked at him without arguing. To him, the most efficient way to resolve the battle was the best way.
At this moment, a barely perceptible light flashed in Shun’s mind, and a line of words that only he could see appeared:
[The effect of the “Son of the Earth” mark has been improved. 】
[Earth escape talent increases by 30% on the original basis, the current earth escape talent is 30%. 】
Shun was slightly startled, then understood. It seems that defeating Atsuyi who was good at earth escape with non-lightning escape techniques and making clever use of the element of “ground” (connecting to the ground fixtures through steel wires) can also be considered to have created a certain resonance with “earth”.
A barely perceptible smile quietly blossomed at the corner of Shun’s mouth. It seems that trying more different fighting methods is not a bad thing.
Chapter 24 If you don’t become strong, you will become a toy of the strong (old version)
“Damn it… Gekkou Shun! Next time, I will never lose to you again!”
Atsuyi was panting heavily, with veins bulging slightly on his sweaty forehead, and he stared at the figure in the field with unwilling eyes. He clenched his fists, his nails almost digging into his palms, but in the end, he turned around and rushed out of the ninja preparatory class training ground with a heart full of resentment and confusion.
The various looks from his companions who were watching the fight all around him pierced him like fine needles, making his cheeks feel hot, as if every step he took was on a red-hot iron plate.
Yue Guang Shun stood there, exhaled lightly, looked at Atsuyi’s somewhat embarrassed back, an imperceptible arc appeared at the corner of his mouth, and then he returned to his calm.
He knew that Atzii was very dissatisfied.
In this sparring, he still did not use a single bit of lightning chakra, and used pure physical skills and basic ninja tools to suppress his opponent once again. Before Atsuyi could fully perform the few new lightning ninjutsu he had learned, he was interrupted by his unexpected kunai and steel wire, and finally knocked down by a clever joint technique.
He could feel that Atsei’s talent for Lightning Release was indeed good and he was improving rapidly, but his combat experience and grasp of timing were still far behind. If he had used Lightning Release from the beginning, he would probably have been able to end the battle within three moves, but that would have been too much of a blow to Atsei and would have exposed his own trump card.
“Shun-kun, your ninja tool skills are really… amazing!” Mabui’s clear voice was filled with a hint of amazement, and her bright eyes were shining with admiration. “Those kunai and shurikens are like alive in your hands!”
“Yo! I say, the skills of this guy Shun are definitely not achieved by ordinary practice. There must be some extraordinary secret technique behind him. Yeah! Man!” Kirabi crossed his arms across his chest, shook his head, and expressed his opinions in his unique tone, causing several students around him to laugh.
Darui stroked his chin, his eyes sharply scanning Shun, then glanced at the direction where Atsuyi left, and whispered: “That guy, he didn’t use Lightning Release… He was able to force Atsuyi to that point with just physical skills and ninja tools. Gekko Shun is really a guy who is becoming more and more difficult to predict. We must be vigilant.”
Yue Guang Shun turned a deaf ear to the discussions around him, and just nodded politely to his companions before turning around and leaving the training ground. He had more important things to do.
***
Yeyue family.
Atzi pushed open the door of his house suddenly. The heavy wooden door hit the wall with a loud bang, which startled his mother who was sorting scrolls in the living room and made her hands tremble.
“Aziyi? What’s wrong with you? Why do you look so bad?” the mother asked worriedly.
“Nothing!” Atzi replied in a muffled voice, without even looking at his mother, and rushed straight into his room. Then there was another loud bang, and the door was slammed shut.
He threw himself on the bed, covered his head with the quilt, and his chest rose and fell violently. The scene of the battle just now kept replaying in his mind. Yue Guang Shun’s seemingly ordinary but always perfectly resolved his offensive movements, as well as his calm eyes, made him feel deeply powerless.
“Why… why is it happening again!” He pounded the bed with his fists, his voice whimpering from under the quilt, “I’ve been practicing Lightning Release so hard… Damn it! Damn Moonlight Shun!”
He couldn’t understand why his lightning escape technique, which he was so proud of, was like a child’s toy in front of the other party and was easily tossed away. This feeling of failure was stronger than any other time before.
Meanwhile, in the Raikage’s office.
The Third Raikage Yeyue A (Ai’s father) was sitting behind a large desk, holding in his hand a detailed report on the practical lessons of the Ninja Preparatory Class that had just been submitted by the Anbu.
The report was very brief, recording the sparring process between Gekko Shun and Atsuyi.
“Hehe…” The Third Raikage put down the report and uttered a deep laugh, with a hint of appreciation on his rough face, “This Moonlight Shun is quite interesting.”
He twisted his signature beard, his eyes deep, “Although he has a natural talent for lightning escape, he deliberately didn’t use it twice in his sparring with Atsui. Instead, he relied on basic physical skills and ninja tool techniques to win. His combat intelligence and control over the situation are far beyond his peers. What’s even more rare is his mentality. He is not arrogant, but also knows how to leave room for his opponent. He even subtly motivates Atsui in this way… Well, not bad, he is a good seedling.”
The Third Raikage knew the character of his grandson Atsuyi very well. He was proud, competitive, but also easily discouraged. Although Gekkou Shun’s actions would make Atsuyi feel temporarily frustrated, they would undoubtedly inspire his inner determination to never give up.
“It’s time for Atsuyi to get some real stimulation. The bloodline of the Yeyue family can’t be defeated by such a setback.” The Third Raikage muttered to himself, his eyes full of expectations for the younger generation, “If you don’t become stronger, you can only become a toy in the hands of the strong. Shun’s existence is a pressure and a motivation for Atsuyi.”
He picked up another scroll on the table, which was an investigation into Moonlight Shun’s background. The more he read it, the more admiration in his eyes became.
The Hidden Cloud Village Medical Department.
This was not the first time that Moonlight Shun had come here. Ever since he began to systematically study medical ninjutsu, and especially developed a strong interest in the application of lightning chakra in the medical field, the medical department’s data room had become the place where he spent most of his spare time.
“Shun-kun, are you here to look up information about Lightning Release Activated Cells again?” A medical ninja in a white coat and glasses saw him and greeted him gently.
“Yes, senior. I still have some questions about the papers you mentioned last time about lightning release stimulating neuronal regeneration.” Shun responded politely.
“Haha, kid, you really love to study.” Another female medical ninja who was sorting medicinal herbs also interrupted with a smile, “Our medical department is almost like your second home. But having such a young mind and talent like you, specializing in lightning-style medical theory, your future is limitless!”
“Thank you for the compliments, sisters.” Shun scratched his head a little embarrassedly.
In the past few days, he frequently went in and out of the medical department and borrowed a large number of profound books on the combination of lightning escape and human physiology. His concentration and understanding ability made many medical ninjas secretly amazed. It was rare for a preparatory ninja who had not yet officially graduated to show such enthusiasm and understanding for such a complex medical theory.
He also felt that his potential in medical ninjutsu might not be inferior to his combat talent. And the Lightning Release Medical Theory seemed to be tailor-made for him, making him feel at home.
He walked through several corridors filled with bottles, jars and precision instruments and came to the door of Pharmacist Kabuto’s office.
Knocked gently on the door.
“Come in.” A slightly hoarse but steady voice came from inside the door.
Shun pushed the door open and was about to speak, “Senior Dou, I…” But he paused.
In the office, in addition to Kabuto Yakushi who was sitting behind the desk organizing medical records, there was another figure he didn’t expect – Ye Yue Ai, the future Fourth Raikage, who was standing against the wall with his arms crossed in front of his chest, looking at him sharply.
“Ai…Lord Ai.” Shun was slightly startled and quickly bowed respectfully. He didn’t expect to meet this high-ranking member of the Cloud Hidden Village who was known for his hot temper and strong strength.
Yakushi Kabuto pushed up the round glasses on his nose, his eyes behind the lenses were calm, as if he was used to the appearance of Ai and the arrival of Shun: “Shun-kun is here, Lord Ai just happened to want to see you for something.”
“Looking for me?” Shun was a little confused.
Yeyue Ai stood up, his bronze skin glowing with health under the soft light in the room, and his signature yellow short hair looked energetic. He looked Shun up and down, and said with a tone of unquestionable majesty: “Boy, I heard from Dou that you have been very active in the medical department recently. You are very interested in the application of lightning escape in medical treatment. Have you read all the relevant ancient books?”
Shun’s heart trembled, but he still answered calmly: “Yes, Lord Ai. I am very fascinated by the application of lightning chakra in repairing cells and activating body functions. I hope to make some achievements in this area.”
“Oh?” Yeyue Ai raised an eyebrow, and there seemed to be a hint of consideration in her tone. “It’s good to have ambition, but medical ninjutsu, especially lightning-style medical treatment, can’t be learned just by reading books. Knowledge gained from books is shallow, and you have to practice it yourself to truly understand it.”
He paused, his eyes becoming sharper. “It just so happens that Kabuto and I will be performing a cell regeneration and repair surgery guided by Lightning Chakra. The patient’s condition is quite special. If you are really interested, come along and observe and learn. This is a rare opportunity, and how much you can learn depends on your own ability.”
When he heard this, he was immediately delighted and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
This is like giving someone a pillow when they feel sleepy!
What a precious opportunity it is to watch the lightning-style medical surgery performed by two of the top masters of Kumogakure, Yeyue Ai and Yaoshi Dou! Not only can you witness the most cutting-edge lightning-style medical technology with your own eyes, but you can also take this opportunity to show your learning ability and understanding of lightning-style in front of Master Ai, which is undoubtedly the best way to get closer to the future Raikage.
“Really?!” Shun tried hard to suppress his inner excitement and tried to make his voice sound calmer. “Thank you very much, Master Ai, for giving me this precious opportunity! I will definitely observe carefully, study hard, and never let you down!”
Yakushi Kabuto smiled and added, “Lord Ai is also eager to see talents. Shun-kun is indeed talented in lightning escape and medical ninjutsu. More opportunities to practice will be of great benefit to him.”
Yeyue Ai snorted, agreeing with Dou’s words, and then turned and walked out: “Then don’t dawdle, follow me.”
“Yes!” Shun responded quickly and followed quickly.
He knew that behind this door might be another important turning point in his ninja career. If he didn’t become stronger, he would become a toy of the strong. Now, he was taking the initiative to become a strong man, trying to seize every opportunity to make himself stronger.
Chapter 25: Lightning Tempering and Eel Trial (Old Version)
“Shun-kun.”
Yakushi Kabuto pushed open a heavy door that shone with a cold metallic light, and his steady voice echoed in the slightly empty corridor, “Lord Raikage is already waiting inside. Remember what I told you before, stay absolutely silent during the operation and observe carefully.”
“I understand, Kabuto-senpai.”
Yue Guang Shun took a deep breath, suppressed the indescribable nervousness and expectation in his heart, and nodded. He knew that this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for him.
The operating room was more spacious than Shun had imagined, filled with the cold texture of metal and the smell of disinfectant mixed with a faint ionization. On the operating table in the center, a jonin in a standard Kumogakure hospital gown closed his eyes and looked pale, obviously under anesthesia. Next to the operating table, a burly figure stood like an iron tower. It was the fourth Raikage, Yagetsu Ai. He was not wearing the iconic Raikage cape at the moment, only a close-fitting black combat uniform and specially made insulated medical gloves. His eyes were as sharp as an eagle, staring intently at the injured.
“Let’s get started.”
Yeyueai’s voice was low and penetrating, without any emotion.
Shun held his breath and concentrated, standing at the position designated by Dou, his eyes fixed on Ai’s hands.
Even though he was mentally prepared, when Ai’s scalpel, which was condensed with light blue lightning chakra, accurately cut open the skin and muscle tissue on the victim’s chest, the subtle hissing sound of the electric current and the strange smell of burnt protein and metal ions colliding in the air suddenly made Shun’s stomach churn. Unlike Tsunade’s palm magic that contained exquisiteness in its grand opening and closing, lightning medical treatment seemed more… violent and direct.
Lightning flashed on Ai’s fingertips, and the fine arcs were like spirits with life, accurately avoiding important organs and nerves, stimulating damaged cell tissues. Shun could clearly sense that pure lightning chakra was injected into the injured person’s body with an extremely high frequency and intensity, not only cutting and separating, but also activating and repairing the cells at the same time. This was a skill that perfectly combined destruction and creation, and Shun was fascinated and secretly astonished.
Time passed minute by minute, and after about two hours, the operation was almost over.
Fine beads of sweat oozed from Yeyue Ai’s forehead, but his hands holding the knife remained as steady as a rock. As the last ray of lightning chakra was skillfully guided to sew up the wound, he breathed a sigh of relief.
“Kou, I’ll leave the follow-up care to you.”
Ai took off the gloves that were stained with a slight odor, and turned his eyes to Shun who had remained silent from beginning to end, “Boy, how do you feel?”
“The skills of Raikage-sama… are incredible and breathtaking.” Shun said sincerely, trying to digest everything he had just seen. “Lightning Chakra can not only be used for extreme destruction, but also bring such exquisite vitality. I have learned a lot.”
“Humph, you’re a bit like some of the guys in Konoha in terms of your smooth talk.” Ai grinned, as if he had thought of something, but there was not much reprimand in his tone. “However, you didn’t change your expression throughout the whole process, so your mental quality is pretty good. At least you didn’t vomit on the spot and dirty my operating room.”
At this time, the door of the operating room was gently pushed open, and a figure came in. It was the Raikage’s right-hand man, Xi. He was obviously relieved to see the end of the operation, with a questioning look in his eyes.
Ai nodded to him slightly: “He’s fine now. We’ll talk about the information extraction after he recovers a little.”
Xi nodded, looked at Ai and Dou with gratitude, then quietly retreated and closed the door.
Shun’s heart moved slightly. It seemed that the injury of this senior ninja was indeed related to the spy case that the village was investigating.
“Lord Raikage, Senior Kabuto,” Shun bowed and saluted, his tone sincere, “I want to learn the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu!”
Hearing this, Ai raised an eyebrow and looked at Pharmacist Dou.
Kabuto pushed up his round glasses, his eyes behind the lenses looking deep: “Shun-kun, lightning-style medical ninjutsu is not something that can be learned overnight. How well do you understand the changes in the nature of lightning-style chakra? How much relevant medical knowledge do you have?”
“I have memorized the theories about lightning chakra stimulating cell activation, accelerating nerve conduction, and the effects of different intensities of electric current on human tissue. As for the change in properties…” Shun stretched out his right hand, and a thin blue arc danced at his fingertips. “I already have some experience in basic form changes and power control.”
“Oh?” Dou’s eyes flashed with surprise, and then he took out a small notebook and a pen from his arms, “Then I will ask you a few questions.”
For the next half an hour, Kabuto asked questions about various details of lightning-style medical theory and the complex pathways of chakra conduction in the human body. Shun responded calmly, relying on the bioelectric knowledge he had accumulated before the time travel and the diligent study of medical materials in Kumogakure during this period. He answered most of the questions clearly and logically, and even though he missed a few details, he quickly responded to them with Kabuto’s prompts.
“Not bad.” Kabuto closed his notebook with a hint of approval on his face, “The theoretical foundation is more solid than I expected. In this case, let’s start with the most basic chakra precision control.”
He took Shun out of the operating room and came to a slightly smaller research room next door. In the middle of the room was a huge transparent water tank, in which several huge electric eels were leisurely swinging their tails.
“These are the Thunder Eels, a specialty of Kumogakure,” Kabuto introduced, pointing to the water tank. “They can release bioelectric currents of considerable strength. Your first task is to use your own Lightning Chakra to stimulate their discharges, and try to control the intensity and direction of the currents they release. Remember, our goal is to control them, not to stun or electrocute them.”
Shun’s eyes lit up. This was much more interesting than simple theoretical learning.
“I understand, Kabuto-senpai!”
Under Kabuto’s guidance, Shun stretched out his hands and carefully placed his fingers, which were covered with lightning chakra, towards the special sensing area of the water tank. He could feel that the inner wall of the water tank seemed to have a special material that could block most of the current while allowing him to clearly sense the electric eel’s bioelectric field.
He concentrated his mind, mobilized the lightning chakra in his body, and tried to simulate a weak stimulation signal.
“Sizzle…”
An electric eel in the tank suddenly arched its body and a clear arc of electricity flashed in the water.
He was delighted at the moment, but then he seemed to see a few lines of light blue text flash before his eyes.
[Superior Spiritual Mark: Lightning Escape Physician (Primary)][Trigger condition: Master three core lightning escape medical mark skills. ][Current progress: Lightning Chakra induction and stimulation (1/3), progress 5%]As expected! Shun was excited. As long as he had this progress bar, he would be confident that he could master any difficult skill!
“Control the frequency, Shun-kun,” Kabuto reminded from the side, “Don’t output too much chakra at once. Learn to guide it instead of forcing it.”
“yes!”
Shun calmed down and tried again. He found that it was much more difficult than he thought to accurately control the chakra to stimulate the electric eel and guide it to discharge. If the chakra output was a little bit too much, the electric eel would discharge randomly as if it was frightened; if the output was too little, it would not be able to stimulate effectively.
Time passed quietly as I was practicing with concentration, and soon it was time for lunch break.
“Huh…” Shun retracted his numb arm and wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although the total amount of chakra consumed was not much, this highly concentrated and delicate operation consumed a lot of mental energy.
Dou handed over a lunch box: “Take a rest first, more haste makes waste.”
“Thank you, Senior Dou.” Shun took the bento and was about to open it.
“Ah! I’m so tired! These guys are so excited that they want to compete with me!”
The office door was violently pushed open with a bang, and Ye Yueai’s signature loud voice came from far away, and the voice came before the person arrived. He walked in while rubbing his thick arms and cursing, with fatigue and a little unhappy on his face after training.
“Lord Raikage.” Kabuto adjusted his glasses helplessly, “This is the medical department, please keep your voice down.”
Ai sat down on the sofa next to him carelessly, and the sofa groaned under the weight. He immediately saw the unopened lunch box in Shun’s hand.
“Oh? Boy, you haven’t eaten yet?” Ai’s eyes stayed on the lunch box for two seconds, then looked at Shun, and then stretched out his hand, “It just so happens that this Raikage is also hungry, so you can give me this as a filial piety!”
Shun was slightly startled, but then he reacted and handed over the lunch box in his hand without any hesitation: “Lord Raikage, please enjoy.”
Ai took it without hesitation and opened the lunch box. The rich aroma of barbecue immediately filled the air. He picked up the chopsticks and started eating without hesitation, saying vaguely, “Well, it tastes good… Dou, where did you order this lunch box?”
The corner of Pharmacist Dou’s mouth twitched. That was the nutritious meal he specially prepared for Shun.
Shun looked at Ai wolfing down the food, but he didn’t feel unhappy at all. Instead, he felt that this Lord Raikage had an inexplicable… sense of familiarity?
Ai finished eating most of it in a few mouthfuls, then raised his head, his eyes fell on the electric eel and Shun in the water tank, and asked, “Oh? Dou, have you started teaching this kid lightning medical treatment?”
“Yes, Lord Raikage,” Kabuto explained, “Shun-kun has a decent theoretical foundation. Let’s start by practicing the precise control of chakra.”
“Hmm…” Ai stroked his chin, his eyes shining with a hint of brilliance despite his fatigue. He put down his chopsticks, burped, and then patted Shun on the shoulder with an expression that said, “Boy, I see you’ve been training really hard. How about this, if you have any questions this afternoon, feel free to ask this Raikage, and I’ll personally teach you a thing or two!”
As he spoke, he lay down on the back of the sofa, put his hands behind his head, closed his eyes, and looked like he was ready to take a nap.
A hint of helplessness flashed across Yakushi Kabuto’s eyes behind his glasses. Lord Raikage didn’t want to give him any advice at all. It was obvious that he was just looking for an excuse to take a break.
Shun looked at the Raikage who seemed to have fallen asleep, and then looked at the calm Kabuto, thinking to himself: This Raikage-sama is really… not particular about small matters. However, it seems that it is also a good opportunity to get “personal guidance” from the Raikage?
Chapter 26 Ai’s Private Training (Old Version)
“Dou, go do your thing first. I’ll take care of Shun.”
In the office of Kabuto Yakushi, the fourth Raikage, Yotsuki Ai, sat in the main seat with his arms and legs folded. That was the seat that originally belonged to Kabuto, but now he took it for granted. As he spoke, he waved his big hand like a palm leaf fan impatiently.
Pharmacist Kabuto pushed up his round-framed glasses. Behind the lenses, he looked at his overly energetic boss with a look of understanding and helplessness. “Son Yondaime-sama, please don’t take him to the arena or the entertainment district to cause trouble. Shun has just started learning the Lightning Release Medical Mark. It’s time for him to concentrate on learning.”
“Don’t worry, I know my limits.”
Ai grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, and that smile always conveyed a sense of “you know what I mean”.
Of course he knew his limits, and his limits were to get rid of Dou, the troublemaker, first.
Yakushi Kabuto sighed in his heart, knowing that once Raikage-sama made a decision, even ten thunder bulls could not change it. He glanced at the slightly reserved Moonlight Shun next to him and reminded him, “Shun, Raikage-sama is teaching you the lightning-style medical technique. This is a rare opportunity. You must study hard. But remember, safety comes first. If you feel uncomfortable, let us know immediately.”
“Yes, Kabuto-senpai.”
Moonlight Shun bowed slightly and responded. He naturally understood that Senior Kabuto was hinting to him that the “guidance” of Lord Raikage would probably go beyond the normal scope.
“Also,” Yakushi Kabuto turned to Ai and said with a slightly heavier tone, “Sir, the Cloud Hidden Entertainment Street has been crowded with people recently, and there are some rumors of unrest. If you want to relax there, please be careful.”
“I know, I know, stop nagging!” Ai waved his hands impatiently, as if to shoo away a fly.
Pharmacist Dou shook his head helplessly, picked up a stack of documents on the table, turned around and left the office. Before leaving, he looked at Shun meaningfully, and that look seemed to say “May you be lucky.”
The office door closed with a click, blocking out the noise from the outside world.
Ai immediately jumped up from his chair and stretched his muscles, making crackling sounds. Under his iconic Raikage jacket, his muscles were as hard as rock.
“Shun, come here, show me your Lightning Escape Medical Mark. Let me see how far you’ve come.” Ai’s tone carried a hint of unquestionable command.
“Yes, Lord Raikage.”
Shun took a deep breath, stretched out his right hand, and began to gather chakra in his palm. Unlike the soft green light of ordinary medical ninjutsu, the chakra in Shun’s palm carried strands of light blue arcs, making a slight “sizzling” sound. A vague, prototype of a mark made of lightning loomed in his palm.
Ai moved closer, his thick fingers almost poking Shun’s palm, and examined the mark with sharp eyes: “Hmm, it’s interesting. The chakra concentration is not stable enough, and the stimulation of the lightning attribute is not controlled pure enough. If it is injected into the injured person like this, it may not cure the disease, but let people experience the pleasure of electrotherapy first.”
Shun felt a thin layer of sweat on his forehead when he heard that. The Raikage’s comment was very insightful.
“The key to lightning therapy is control. You need to tame the violent power of thunder into a gentle electric current, which can stimulate cell activity and accelerate healing without damaging normal tissues.” Ai said as he extended his index finger, and a small ball of more condensed and dazzling lightning condensed at the fingertips. “Watch it, like this, the lightning is restrained, leaving only pure stimulation of life activity.”
Shun watched intently, trying to memorize Ai’s demonstration.
For the next hour, Ai was indeed “instructing” Shun. He would occasionally point out Shun’s flaws in chakra control, and occasionally demonstrate the subtle manipulation of lightning chakra himself.
Under Ai’s high-pressure “guidance”, Shun felt that his understanding of the Thunder Escape Medical Mark had deepened. The mark on his palm seemed to be a little clearer, and the progress bar quietly moved forward a little.
However, Shun could clearly feel that Ai’s patience was being consumed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
For the Raikage, who was famous in the ninja world for his fighting enthusiasm, it was even more uncomfortable for him to just sit here quietly and give pure teaching guidance than to let him go head-on to fight the tailed beast.
Ai began to pace in the office, his muscular arms folded across his chest, his eyes occasionally glancing out the window in the direction of the training ground, his toes tapping unconsciously, like a wild beast about to break free from a cage.
Finally, Ai stopped and slapped his thigh. “Shun, let’s go to another place! It’s so suffocating in the office. This kind of trivial practice can’t stimulate your potential at all!”
Shun’s heart trembled, and he thought to himself, “Here it comes.”
Before he could respond, Ai had already grabbed his arm with such force that Shun felt his bones groan.
“Lord Raikage, where are we going?” Shun tried his best to keep his voice calm.
“Of course it’s the training ground!” Ai laughed. “No matter how much theory you talk about, it’s all empty talk. Actual combat is the only standard for testing the truth! I will personally practice with you and guarantee that you will improve rapidly!”
Shun was half-dragged and half-pulled out of the office by Ai and headed straight for the largest training ground in the Hidden Cloud Village.
Along the way, many Kumogakure ninjas looked indifferent when they saw the Raikage passing by like a whirlwind and Shun stumbling behind him. Some even whispered:
“Look, Lord Raikage has caught another ‘sparring partner’.”
“Is it the kid from Moonlight’s family? So pitiful. I hope he can hold on a little longer.”
The administrator of the training ground was an experienced old ninja. Upon seeing Ai Xing rushing over with Shun, he quickly cleared an area of the ground, then tactfully retreated to a distance, and together with other onlookers, prepared to enjoy the “good show” of Lord Raikage “instructing” the newcomers.
“Shun, are you ready?” Ai flexed his wrists, his cervical vertebrae made a “cracking” sound, his eyes full of desire to fight, “Use all your skills and attack me! Let me see your ability!”
Shun gave a bitter smile. Facing the Fourth Raikage, he had no “ability” to speak of. But now that things had come to this, he could only bite the bullet. He took a deep breath and assumed the starting position of the Moonlight Style Sword Technique. Although he had no sword in his hand, his sharpness was still there. At the same time, he secretly activated the Lightning Chakra to cover his body surface, ready to perform the Instant Body Technique to dodge at any time.
“Too slow!”
Ai’s figure disappeared in an instant like a ghost, and the next moment, the fierce fist wind had already blown in front of Shun!
His pupils shrank suddenly and he leaned back almost instinctively, exerting force with his feet and his body bounced backwards like a fully drawn bowstring.
Ai’s fist hit the ground where Shun had just stood, stirring up a cloud of dust and leaving a shallow pit on the hard ground.
“The reaction is okay, but the speed and strength are far from enough!” Ai’s voice came from the smoke and dust, with a hint of teasing.
Just as Shun stabilized his body, Ai’s attack came one after another. The extremely fast punches and kicks enveloped him like a storm, and he could only rely on the exquisite footwork of the Moonlight Sword Art and his keen sense of danger to dodge awkwardly.
The so-called “sparring partner” is simply a one-sided “beating” in the face of an absolute gap in strength.
Shun was beaten so hard that he had no power to fight back, and soon he had several bruises on his body. But he gritted his teeth, and every time he dodged and blocked, he tried his best to mobilize the chakra in his body, trying to find a chance to breathe from Ai’s attack, or even to predict Ai’s next move.
He tried to apply some of the principles of Lightning Release Medical Mark that he had just understood to the burst of Lightning Release Chakra and the improvement of his body’s reaction speed. Although the effect was minimal, it was better than sitting and waiting to die.
Ai was so excited that he activated the Lightning Chakra mode. His whole body was covered with crackling blue electricity, and his speed and strength were increased to a terrifying level.
Shun was a moment too slow after all, and was hit on the shoulder by Ai’s knife. He flew backwards and fell heavily to the ground. His throat felt sweet and he almost coughed up blood.
“Tsk, too weak, too weak!” Ai shook his head, feeling a little unsatisfied. “We can’t go on like this, Shun, you have to be tougher!”
Shun struggled to get up and wiped the dust from the corners of his mouth, but his eyes remained calm. He knew that the Raikage didn’t even use 10% of his strength to attack with this level.
“Come again!” Shun shouted in a low voice and took the initiative to attack.
He knew that he couldn’t hurt Ai. All he could do was to hold on as long as possible under Ai’s fierce attack and try to fight back as much as possible.
In Ai’s opinion, his attacks seemed ridiculously immature and full of flaws.
But Ai frowned slightly while suppressing Shun.
Although this kid’s defense and counterattack were not powerful enough, their angles were always tricky and they were very resilient, like a piece of taffy that you couldn’t get rid of no matter how hard you tried. In order to suppress Shun more “efficiently”, Ai had to subconsciously adjust the combination of his lightning escape moves and the output of his chakra.
“Huh?”
Just as he tried his best to dodge Ai’s straight punch by leaning sideways and hit Ai’s ribs with his elbow (which was easily blocked by Ai of course), an idea suddenly flashed through Ai’s mind.
“This kid’s dodge… If my Lightning Body can be combined with this small deflection… No, it should be that the main explosion point can be changed instantly when the Lightning Chakra flows on the surface of the body…”
Ai’s movements suddenly stopped, he stood still, his eyes slightly closed, and the lightning on his body began to flicker at a strange frequency.
Seeing this, Shun gasped and did not take the opportunity to attack. He could feel that Ai’s condition at the moment was a little special.
The Kumogakure ninjas who were watching around also fell silent. They could feel the increasingly powerful lightning chakra fluctuations in the center of the training ground.
A few seconds later, Ai suddenly opened his eyes, and an astonishing light burst out of his eyes!
“I see! Hahahaha! So that’s how it is!”
Ai howled to the sky, his voice shaking the whole area. His lightning chakra suddenly surged, forming more condensed and explosive lightning arcs that wrapped around his body.
“Watch out, Shun! This move is called ‘Thunderbolt Horizontal Chiyo Dance’!”
Before he finished speaking, Ai’s figure turned into a blur of lightning, moving at high speed in the training ground. Every turn was smooth and violent, as if he had perfectly combined the agility and power of lightning! His speed was even faster than before!
A bottleneck in the combination of Lightning Release techniques that had troubled him for a long time was miraculously figured out by him during the “playful” sparring with Shun!
Although this kid was weak, his instinctive reaction to survive in desperate situations when he was passively defending and desperately counterattacking was like a mirror, reflecting some subtle sluggishness in his own moves, giving him unexpected inspiration!
Shun watched Ai wantonly venting his power after the breakthrough, his face still expressionless, just silently circulating chakra to repair his injuries. His mission as a “sparring sandbag” and “inspiration catalyst” seemed to have been overfulfilled.
After a while, Ai finally stopped, exuding a refreshing breath. He walked in front of Shun and slapped Shun on the shoulder with such force that Shun staggered.
“Hahahaha! Shun, you are really my lucky star! Come on, I’m in a good mood today, I’ll take you to eat barbecue! The best one in Yunyin Entertainment Street, it’s my treat!”
Ai was in a very good mood at the moment, and the look he gave Shun became much more intimate, even with a bit of the chivalrous spirit of “good brothers, loyalty”.
Shun was pulled by Ai’s arm around his shoulders and walked out of the training ground. He thought helplessly: It seems that today’s “private training” is far from over. However, the progress of the Lightning Release Medical Mark seems to have increased a little bit, so this “beating” is not completely in vain. As for the barbecue… I hope the Raikage’s taste is not too strong.
Chapter 27 Drunk Ai (Old Version)
“It feels so good! It feels so good!”
Ai slapped the wooden table in the barbecue restaurant, making the cups and plates creak, and with a flushed face, he poured a large cup of beer into his throat, sighing with extreme satisfaction. The rich aroma of beer mixed with the burnt aroma of barbecue instantly filled the small private room.
Moonlight Shun sat opposite him, feeling a little dizzy from the aroma of wine and meat mixed with the strong smell of sweat from Ai’s body, but more than that, he was happy for Ai. The future Raikage candidate was like an ordinary man who had unloaded all his burdens, celebrating his breakthrough in the Lightning Chakra Mode.
“Shun, what are you standing there for? Drink! Don’t go home until you’re drunk!” A hand as big as an ebony fan fell heavily on Shun’s shoulder, almost slapping him into the tatami. He grabbed a huge wine jug and filled the empty cup in front of Shun himself, with the foam almost overflowing the cup.
Shun smiled bitterly and picked up the wine glass. His alcohol tolerance was average, and facing Ai’s huge capacity, he would probably pass out after three cups. But the atmosphere was lively at the moment, and he couldn’t spoil Ai’s fun.
“Brother Ai, congratulations!” Shun gritted his teeth and drank the wine in the glass. The spicy wine burned down his throat, causing him to cough a few times and his face flushed.
“Good boy! Very straightforward!” Seeing this, Ai was even happier. He filled himself another large cup and gulped it down again.
Shun watched Ai drink cup after cup as if it were water, and secretly groaned in his heart. If this continued, he might really be carried back. Just as he was about to find an excuse to shirk, a mechanical reminder sound suddenly rang in his mind.
[Ordinary spiritual mark: Drunkard, has been triggered. ][Trigger condition: Drink with a heavy drinker from the Hidden Cloud Village (at least a jonin level) and accept three rounds of toasts from him. ][Effect: Drinking capacity is temporarily increased by 100% on the original basis, and lasts until the end of this drinking session.][Note: This mark cannot be upgraded and is a consumable spiritual comfort.]Shun was slightly startled. This sudden “drunkard” mark was like timely help! He could feel that the drunkenness that had surged into his head before seemed to be suppressed by an invisible force, and his body’s tolerance for alcohol was indeed greatly enhanced. Although it was still not as good as Ai’s bottomless drinking capacity, at least he could hold on for a while longer.
“Come on, Shun, continue!” Ai obviously didn’t notice Shun’s abnormality and raised the wine jug again.
“Brother Ai, drink slowly, this wine has a strong aftereffect.” Shun calmed down, picked up the wine glass, and drank it all again. This time, although his throat was still spicy, the dizzy feeling was much less.
“Haha, I, Yeyue Ai, never worry about the aftereffects of drinking!” Ai laughed and pointed at the barbecue on the table, “Eat meat! Drinking alone is bad for your health, you need to eat more meat!”
The two of them toasted each other, and the oil from the barbecue sizzled. Ai was in high spirits, talking about his experience in practicing the Lightning Chakra mode, the interesting things he experienced when he was young, and his vision for the future of the Hidden Cloud Village. Shun listened quietly at the side, occasionally agreeing with a few words, and with the blessing of the “drinking enthusiast” mark, he was able to keep up with Ai’s pace.
Before he knew it, the empty wine bottles on the table had piled up into a small mountain. Ai’s face had already turned as red as a cooked crab, his eyes were beginning to blur, and his tongue had grown larger when he spoke.
“Shun…hiccup…I’m telling you, you have a future!” Ai grabbed Shun’s neck with such force that Shun almost couldn’t breathe. The strong smell of alcohol rushed into his nose. “From now on…from now on, you will follow me! If anyone dares to bully you, I…I will be the first one to say no!”
“Thank you, Brother Ai… ahem… please let go first…” Shun’s face turned red from being strangled, and he didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. This drunk Ai was a hundred times more passionate than when he was sober, and also… a hundred times heavier.
“No! We are… brothers!” Ai burped loudly and patted Shun’s back hard, shaking his internal organs so much that they seemed to shift. “From now on… when Kirabi is not around, you will… you will drink with me!”
Shun’s mind was moved. Killer Bee? It turned out that Ai’s drinking buddy was the perfect future Jinchūriki. It seemed that his “drinking enthusiast” mark had accidentally filled the vacancy left by Killer Bee.
“Brother Ai, you’ve had enough to drink, we should go back.” Shun saw that Ai was already quite drunk, and hurriedly advised him. If he continued to drink, he was really afraid that Ai would tear down the barbecue restaurant.
“Where…where are you going?” Ai shook his huge head and looked at Shun with confused eyes. “I…I haven’t drunk enough!”
“You still have to deal with village affairs tomorrow, so you can’t drink anymore.” Shun said patiently, trying to break free from Ai’s “bear hug”.
“Business…hiccup…no rush!” Ai waved his hands, but still had no intention of letting go of Shun, “Let’s go to my…my house and continue drinking!”
Shun was helpless, it seemed that he couldn’t get away easily today. He struggled to help Ai, who almost put all her weight on him, to stand up, paid the bill, and the two walked out of the barbecue restaurant arm in arm.
The night in the Hidden Cloud Village was a bit chilly, and the moonlight poured down like mercury. Ai hummed a tuneless song all the way, staggering, relying entirely on Shun to support him.
“Brother Ai, which way is your home?” Shun asked. He knew that Ai was a member of the Yeyue clan, but he didn’t know which house he lived in.
“Home?” Ai paused, his eyes seemed to be clear for a moment, and then he was covered by drunkenness again, “I… I don’t have a fixed home… hiccup… wherever I go, that’s home!”
Shun was slightly surprised when he heard this. He originally thought that a core member of the clan like Ai must have his own mansion, but he didn’t expect him to say such a thing. Could it be that Ai’s position in the Yeyue clan is not as stable as it seems? Or is this just drunken talk? Shun is more inclined to the latter, but he also secretly noted this point. As one of the founding families of the Hidden Cloud Village, the Yeyue family must have a very complicated internal relationship.
“Shun boy, what…what do you want to do in the future?” Ai asked suddenly, his voice a little unclear.
Shun supported him, thought seriously, and then said word by word: “I want to be like you, no, I want to surpass you, the strongest lightning ninja in Kumogakure!”
This is almost the “standard answer” of all Kumogakure ninjas who are determined to master Lightning Release, but when it comes from Shun’s mouth, it carries an unquestionable firmness.
When Ai heard this, a gleam of light flashed in his originally blurred eyes. He stopped and turned around. Although his body was still shaking, his eyes were fixed on Shun, as if he wanted to see through his heart.
After a moment, Ai suddenly broke into a big grin, and patted Shun’s shoulder heavily with his big hand like a palm leaf fan again: “Good boy! You have great ambition! You are worthy of being my…hiccup…brother that Yeyue Ai has chosen!”
Shun staggered when he was slapped, but he also laughed. It meant a lot to him to get such direct recognition from Ai.
The two walked slowly, finally arriving in front of a rather imposing mansion. They instantly recognized this place as the main residence of the Yeyue clan. It seemed that Ai’s “no fixed residence” might just mean that he acted unruly, rather than that he really had no fixed residence.
“We’re here!” Ai pointed at the door and said drunkenly, “Shun, come in… and have a few more drinks with me! I still have… and a collection of fine wines!”
Shun glanced at the sky, it was already late. And Ai was so drunk, if he continued drinking, something might happen. He shook his head and said, “No, Brother Ai, it’s too late, I should go back. You should also go to bed early.”
Ai seemed a little dissatisfied and wanted to say something else, but the strong drunkenness surged up again. He yawned, swayed his body, mumbled a few words incoherently, and was helped in by several Yeyue people who had been waiting at the door.
He breathed a sigh of relief, nodded to the tribesmen, then turned and left.
When he returned to his home, a faint fragrance hit his face. Young Samui was sitting in the living room, seemingly waiting for him.
“Brother Shun, you’re back.” Samui raised her head, her golden hair looked particularly smooth under the light, and there was a barely perceptible worry on her face, “Brother Ai…did he…do anything to embarrass you?”
Shun smiled, sat down opposite Samui, and recounted what happened tonight, including how he triggered the “drunkard” mark and Ai’s various heroic behaviors after getting drunk.
Samui listened quietly, with a complicated expression. When she heard Ai call Shun “brother” and invite him to drink together in the future, a hint of surprise flashed in her blue eyes, and there was also an indescribable sense of loss, as if a part of her most beloved brother was “robbed” by this foreign boy. But at the same time, she felt a sense of inexplicable…admiration for Shun’s recognition by Ai.
“Brother Ai…he usually drinks with cousin Kirabi.” Samui whispered, with a subtle emotion in his tone that he himself had not noticed, “I didn’t expect that Brother Shun could drink so much that even Brother Ai…”
Shun touched his nose, thinking that it was not because of his ability to drink, but because of the “drinker” mark. However, being so close to the future Raikage was undoubtedly a great thing for him.
As the night deepened, the Hidden Cloud Village fell into silence. However, the relationship between Yue Guang Shun and Ye Yue Ai, which had been rapidly strengthened by a round of drinking, was like a stone thrown into a lake, quietly causing ripples.
Chapter 28: Making Friends with Literature, Earth Dragon Drill (Old Version)
The sky over the Hidden Cloud Village was still half-hidden by thunderclouds, with occasional fine arcs of electricity jumping between the clouds, foreshadowing the eternal theme of this land.
Yue Guang Shun still carried out his morning exercise plan without fail. He ran a few laps around the specific route outside the village, feeling the cool air in the morning and the gradually rising heat in his body, and then he practiced the basic swordsmanship in a methodical manner. Sweating profusely was his daily compulsory course.
On the way back to his residence, he habitually took a detour and passed by the Yunyin Information Book Pavilion. This place is not so much a bookstore as it is a hub for information distribution and cultural exchange. Of course, it also sells some books published in the village.
“Shun, why are you here so early today?” The owner of the bookstore, a middle-aged man with a goatee and a shrewd look, Ishii, was yawning and tidying up the counter. He and Shun were quite familiar with each other, after all, Shun was a frequent visitor here and was quite interested in all kinds of gossip and strange things.
“Morning, Uncle Ishii.” Shun nodded, glanced across the bookshelf, and asked casually, “Are there any new things or new books recently?”
Ishii seemed to have remembered something when he heard this and smiled. “Nothing new, but Ishida has finally finished the book ‘Legend of the Thunder Brave’ that you asked me to find out about before. He found a ghostwriter in the village who is good at writing. I heard that the first volume is almost finished and will probably be printed next week. I’ll leave a copy for you then.”
“Legend of the Thunder Brave”!
Shun’s eyebrows slightly raised. This novel, which he had conceived the outline of and authorized Ishida to run, was finally going to be published. Although he hired someone to write it, the core ideas and the direction of the story came from him after all. He was looking forward to seeing how well this ghostwriter could present his ideas.
“Then I’ll have to trouble Uncle Ishii.” Shun thanked him and felt more excited about the upcoming “work”.
After bidding farewell to Ishii, Shun returned to his temporary residence. After a simple shower, he did not rest immediately, but instead picked up the bamboo sword he practiced with again and continued to hone his sword skills in the small courtyard.
He was immersed in the slashing and thrusting, but his mind could not help but echo the plots of “Legend of the Thunder Warrior” and Uncle Ishii’s words “It will be printed next week”. Perhaps it was the anticipation of the “work” that triggered some kind of wonderful opportunity. Just as he finished practicing a set of sword moves, sheathed his sword and stood with a long breath, a weak but extremely clear warm current quietly emerged from the depths of his sea of consciousness between his eyebrows.
This warm current was like the drizzle in early spring, moistening everything and silently blending into his spiritual essence.
Then, an indifferent voice without any emotion sounded in his mind:
[The mortal-level spiritual imprint “Writer” has been triggered and solidified. ][Effect: All actions related to “writing”, “authoring”, and “concepting stories” will be more efficient by 10%. ]He was stunned for a moment, then he understood.
“Writer’s mark…” He whispered to himself, with a faint smile on his face. “A 10% increase in efficiency is better than nothing. At least it will be faster for me to come up with new ideas or record my thoughts in the future.”
Shun had already accepted the existence of this “golden finger”. After all, it was always a good thing to have a little more help in this dangerous ninja world.
The afterglow of morning exercise and the slight excitement brought by the new mark had not yet completely dissipated, and he packed up and headed towards Yeyue Ai’s mansion. Today was the day he officially started learning the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu.
Ai’s mansion was as rugged and powerful as ever. In the yard, several huge rocks that were charred black by the thunder-release ninjutsu silently told of the owner’s power.
“Boy, you’re finally here.” Ai Zheng was shirtless, wiping the sweat off his forehead with a rough towel. His bronze skin was muscular and full of explosive power. He glanced at Shun, with a hint of dissatisfaction in his tone: “I didn’t see you come to the training ground for two days on the weekend. I thought you were treating this place as an inn, coming and going as you please?”
Shun heard this and thought to himself that this senior was indeed a battle maniac. He was a little unhappy that he hadn’t accompanied him to “stretch his muscles” for two days. He bowed respectfully and said, “Senior Ai, you misunderstood. I spent the past two weekends at home carefully studying the basic theories of medical ninjutsu and the essence of the nature changes of lightning chakra. It was precisely in order to better follow you to learn today that I dare not slack off at all.”
“Oh?” Ai raised his thick eyebrows, seeming a little surprised by this explanation, but his dissatisfaction was reduced a little. “You are thoughtful. Medical ninjutsu, especially lightning-style medical treatment, cannot be mastered by brute force alone. Theoretical foundation is indeed important.”
He paused, threw the towel aside, and said in a deep voice: “Follow me. What I want to teach you today is the use of the Lightning Chakra Scalpel. Remember, this is not the Chakra Scalpel used by ordinary medical ninjas, but a modified one by our Yeyue clan that combines the characteristics of Lightning Chakra. The power, accuracy and control requirements of Chakra are far superior to the former!”
His eyes lit up and he quickly followed.
The two came to a special training room. The interior was simply furnished, with several half-meter square special gel blocks placed in the center. These gel blocks were light yellow and translucent, and there seemed to be a weak electric current flowing inside, emitting a strange energy fluctuation.
“This is a specially made conductive gel, specifically used to practice the cutting accuracy and depth control of the lightning chakra scalpel.” Ai pointed at the gel block and explained, “Its toughness and reaction to lightning chakra simulate the state of human tissue when it is affected by lightning energy.”
After saying that, Ai stretched out his right index and middle fingers, pointing them like swords.
“Watch this!”
Swish——!
A condensed light blue electric light instantly formed at his fingertips, turning into a lightning knife less than three inches long and as thin as a cicada’s wing. Ai moved his wrist slightly, and the lightning chakra scalpel slashed across the conductive gel block. There was no loud sound, only a subtle “sizzling” sound like a hot knife cutting butter.
A smooth cut appeared on the gel block, about an inch deep, with neat edges and no extra burnt or torn marks. A faint smell of ozone filled the air.
“The lightning chakra scalpel is all about the ‘drilling’ force. It should be like a dragon drilling into the ground, precise, stable, and penetrating. At the same time, it should also take into account the active stimulation during cutting.” Ai put away the lightning from his fingertips and looked at Shun. “This thing can not only be used to cut lesions, but also activate cells and accelerate wound healing through precise lightning chakra stimulation. It can even be used as a sharp means of attack at a critical moment. You kid, try the condensed form first.”
Shun took a deep breath and nodded. He could feel that the “earth dragon drill” that Senior Ai mentioned was not referring to earth escape ninjutsu, but a kind of artistic conception, a metaphor for the precise use of power to the extreme.
He imitated Ai, stretched out his fingers, and began to mobilize the lightning chakra in his body.
At first, things didn’t go smoothly.
The lightning on his fingertips was either too diffuse to form a stable and sharp “knife”, or too condensed, so it was extremely rigid and difficult to control its subtle changes. Several times, he tried to cut the gel block, but the result was either the gel surface was burned black, or an ugly gap was cut crookedly, which was far from Ai Na’s demonstration of lifting heavy objects with ease and hanging horns like an antelope.
“The chakra output is not stable enough! The form changes are not subtle enough!” Ai pointed out Shun’s shortcomings without hesitation. “Lightning escape is inherently violent. To constrain this force to such a subtle form and perform high-precision operations, one needs to have a perfect control over chakra and a strong mental concentration!”
Shun did not speak, but silently felt the reason for each failure, adjusting the chakra output mode and the way of guiding mental power. Fine beads of sweat oozed from his forehead, but his eyes became more focused.
He thought he was good at controlling chakra. After all, his daily sword training and practice of changing the nature of lightning escape techniques were constantly strengthening his foundation. However, this delicate operation that required compressing lightning escape chakra to the extreme and maintaining its high activity was indeed a new challenge.
Time passes slowly with each attempt.
The “sizzling” sound in the training room was intertwined with Ai’s occasional reminders.
An unknown amount of time had passed, but when Shun once again gathered his lightning chakra at his fingertips, the light blue electric light finally stabilized, forming a lightning blade that, although slightly illusory, had already begun to take the shape of a “knife”.
He carefully controlled the “thunder blade” and gently slashed it towards a new piece of conductive gel.
laugh–
Although it was not perfect, a clearly visible cut appeared on the gel block. The depth was shallow and the edges were slightly rough, but compared to the initial mess, it was a world of difference.
“Well, it’s starting to look good.” Ai finally showed a hint of approval on his calm face. “It’s faster than I expected. It seems like you have a pretty good talent for chakra control.”
Hearing this, Shun felt a little relieved, but he was more yearning for this exquisite skill. Just getting started was so difficult, so one could imagine how much effort it would take to reach the level of Senior Ai, who was able to send and receive freely.
Ai looked at Shun’s focused and serious look and nodded secretly in his heart. This kid, his talent in lightning escape is beyond doubt, and his swordsmanship is also quite good. Now he is in the initial stage of medical ninjutsu, although he is a little green, but his enthusiasm for learning and his understanding are not bad.
“He is a well-rounded talent, which is rare.” Ai commented in his mind, “His swordsmanship is sharp, his lightning escape technique is powerful, and if he is equipped with superb lightning escape medical ninjutsu, his survivability and support capabilities on the battlefield will be greatly improved in the future. However…his medical talent, at present, seems to have insufficient impact, and has not yet impressed me enough to immediately decide to formally accept him as my personal disciple.”
He has always been strict with his students. He admires Shun’s versatility, but in a certain field, especially the medical field he hopes to see, Shun has not yet shown the kind of “shocking degree” that would be enough to make him applaud.
However, there is still a long way to go. Ai is not in a hurry.
“Let’s stop here for today.” Ai waved his hand. “Concentrating the lightning chakra scalpel is only the first step. The next step is to practice accuracy, depth, and force feedback when cutting different ’tissues’. These all require slow work and cannot be rushed. When you go back, practice more fine control of chakra. Next time you come, I want to see your progress.”
“Yes, Senior Ai!” Shun responded respectfully, feeling the slight numbness remaining on his fingertips and the massive consumption of chakra in his body, but his heart was filled with desire for new knowledge and expectations for the future.
He must master this lightning chakra surgical knife that is like the “Earth Dragon Drill”!
Chapter 29 Oops, so heavy? (Old version)
In Yeyue Ai’s private training ground, the dull air seemed to become a little anxious because of the continuous lightning chakra.
Yueguang Shun’s forehead was covered with fine beads of sweat, and a few strands of black hair soaked with sweat stuck to his cheeks, but his eyes were extremely focused. His hands were covered with light blue lightning chakra, and he walked carefully on a specially made hard wooden stake.
This is already the second hour of practicing Lightning Release Chakra Scalpel.
Ai stood aside with his arms folded, like a silent iron tower, observing Shun’s every move with sharp eyes. He did not give any instructions, because for a genius of Shun’s level, too much interference might disrupt his rhythm.
“Just a little bit more…” Shun muttered to himself.
He could feel that the progress bar of the ordinary ninja tool mark representing the “eight weapons” was almost full. From kunai, shuriken, and senbon, to special short blades, kama, steel wire, and even some unconventional throwing props, he was familiar with and mastered their throwing and close combat skills with great efficiency under Ai’s “friendly sponsorship”.
Just now, the proficiency of the last weapon – a boomerang-shaped ninja tool unique to Kumogakure, finally reached the minimum requirement for completing the mark with the assistance of the precise control of the Lightning Release Chakra Scalpel.
A slight tremor, almost perceptible only by Shun himself, came from the depths of his soul.
His mind moved, and the scene in front of him blurred for a moment, and then a few lines of light golden text appeared in his mind like a brand:
[Ordinary Ninja Tool Mark: Eight Weapons (Completed)][Can be merged with the “Entry to Physical Skills” mark to be promoted to the superior physical mark “Weapon Master”. Do you want to merge? ]“Fusion!” Shun confirmed in his mind without hesitation.
[Fusion begins…][Fusion successful! Congratulations on obtaining the superior physical mark: Weapon Master! ][Effect 1: Your basic arm strength is permanently increased by 30%. ][Effect 2: When throwing or using a weapon with the right hand for precise strikes, the “Aiming Assist” effect is obtained. ][Note: For a true weapon master, both hands are deadly extensions.]A warm current surged from his limbs like a trickling stream, and finally gathered in his arms. He could clearly feel that his arm muscles seemed to become more condensed and full of explosive power in an instant.
He subconsciously clenched his fists, feeling the added sense of power.
“Hmm?” Ai raised his eyebrows slightly. He keenly noticed that there seemed to be a subtle but definite change in Shun’s aura, as if the dust on the surface of a piece of unpolished jade had been wiped off, revealing a deeper luster.
Shun was completely unaware of Ai’s observation, as his attention was completely drawn to the new effect of “aiming assistance”. He raised his right hand covered with the lightning chakra scalpel and tried to aim it at a fallen leaf at the edge of the training ground in the distance.
Just as the chakra blade was slightly raised and about to point to the target, in his right eye’s field of vision, an invisible golden dotted frame suddenly appeared on the edge of the outline of the fallen leaf, and there seemed to be a faint guiding line extending from his finger to the center of the fallen leaf.
“This…” Shun was startled and subconsciously moved his gaze away from the fallen leaves and glanced at Ai beside him.
Almost at the same time, the outline of Ai’s burly body was framed by a faint golden dotted frame. There was even a tiny red dot that kept flashing at a certain position on his bronze chest, as if indicating the “best attack point.”
“Why are you looking at me?” Ai’s deep voice suddenly sounded, with a hint of dissatisfaction, “You should concentrate when practicing! Do you want to try that thing on me?”
He shuddered for a moment and quickly looked away, his heart in turmoil.
Oh no, it’s so heavy? This aiming aid is too outrageous! Even a strong man like Boss Ai can directly lock on the “vital point”? Although it is just a visual aid, the psychological impact it brings is not small.
“Ahem,” Shun coughed dryly to hide his inner surprise, and said respectfully: “Sorry, Master Ai, I just had some insights for a moment and was distracted.”
Ai looked at him deeply, and that look seemed to be able to see through people’s hearts. This kid, just now gave him the feeling of a sharp blade that was suddenly sharpened. Although he was still immature, the sharpness could not be faked. Especially his proficiency in controlling the lightning chakra scalpel, it was a leap forward.
“In just one hour, your understanding and use of the Lightning Chakra Scalpel has improved by at least 30%.” Ai said slowly, with a hint of subtle surprise in his tone, “Your talent is more comprehensive than I thought. It seems that I have to re-evaluate my training plan for you.”
This kid not only has amazing talent in lightning escape, but also has a terrifying understanding of weapons and physical skills. The thought of accepting him as a disciple became stronger and stronger in his heart. However… the timing seemed to be a little off. He needed to observe him for a while, and also needed to let this kid calm down.
Hearing this, Shun thought to himself that he could not hide it from Ai, but he said modestly: “It is all thanks to Master Ai’s good teaching.”
“Stop flattering me.” Ai snorted, but the corners of his mouth rose up barely perceptibly. “Today’s performance is not bad. As a reward, the next training session will double the amount!”
Shun: “…” He just knew it.
After saying goodbye to Ai, Shun dragged his slightly tired but extremely excited body towards home. With his arm strength increased by 30% and aiming assistance, his overall strength has reached a new level. If the Third Raikage knew about this, he would be very happy, right? Perhaps, it is time to put a new Lightning Release Ninjutsu on the agenda.
At the same time, at the entrance of the intelligence library in the Hidden Cloud Village, the usually deserted atmosphere seemed particularly different today.
A huge and colorful poster was posted in the most conspicuous place outside the library. The background of the picture was a collapsed city and twisted alien monsters. In the center, a blonde woman with exaggerated curves, wearing a tattered tight combat uniform, holding a giant chainsaw sword with lightning, was stepping on the head of a monster in a very impactful posture. Her eyes were sharp and charming, and there was a hint of cruel smile at the corner of her mouth. Behind her, there were several male and female characters of the same style, all of them were lightly dressed, and various chains, metal decorations and traces of unknown liquids made the whole picture full of some indescribable… uh, wildness and unruliness.
At the top of the poster, the title of the book was written in scarlet explosive font – “The Legend of the Lightning Hero”!
Below it was a line of small words: “A painstaking work by the new talent ‘Lightning Boy’ of Kumogakure! 18+! Minor ninjas please watch it with the company of a Kage-level expert!”
Kirabi, the rap king of the Hidden Cloud Village, was wearing his signature sunglasses, with his hands in his trouser pockets, his head tilted, and he was staring at the poster with an “oh no” expression on his face.
“Hey, this style of painting is quite interesting, check it out!” Kirabi muttered to himself rhythmically, “Lightning Hero? It sounds very exciting and cool, yeah!”
He was just passing by, looking for new music or poetry to inject new vitality into his rap career. Recently, he felt that his inspiration was a bit exhausted. He kept singing the same old songs, such as “The Majesty of Eight-Tails”, “Brotherly Friendship”, and “The Pride of Cloud Village”. His fans were almost tired of listening to them, and even he felt a little awkward.
This poster was like a bolt of thunder that struck him from the top of his head!
“Heavy taste! It’s really too heavy! But… I like it!” Kirabi’s sunglasses reflected the dazzling lightning on the poster, and he felt that his long-dormant creative cells were screaming wildly.
He walked into the bookstore without hesitation and waved his hand: “Boss, give me a copy of this “Legend of the Thunder Warrior”! I want a signed version. Do you have one? No, that’s fine too. Hurry up, I’m in a hurry. Inspiration is about to overflow, foolyafool!”
The owner of the bookstore was a gentle old man wearing reading glasses. Seeing Kirabi’s impatient look, he calmly pulled out a brand new copy of “Legend of the Thunder Hero” from under the counter and handed it to him: “Lord Kirabi, this is the last copy. It was just put on the shelves today and it’s selling extremely well.”
“Oh? It seems that there are many people who know the book!” Kirabi took the book and felt the freshness of ink. He couldn’t wait to open the first page. After reading only a few lines, the expression on his face gradually changed from initial excitement to dullness, then shock, and finally to a complex expression of “WTF” and “I’ve learned something”.
The world setting in the book is so novel and the plot development is even more imaginative. All kinds of unheard-of fighting methods, strange enemies, and the protagonist’s “restricted” growth path all make Kirabi amazed.
“So… rap can be done this way?” Kirabi muttered to himself, with a strange light flashing in his eyes, “Bloody, violent, a little bit of eroticism, plus nonsensical passion… This is simply a brand new style tailor-made for me!”
He seemed to see a whole new avenue of rap unfolding before his eyes, with countless “strange” lyrics and “powerful” flows emerging in his mind like a spring.
“Great! So exciting! I’ll stay up all night to finish reading this book, and then write something that surpasses all my previous works… “Heavy Taste Rap Chapter One”! Yeah!” Kirabi clenched his fists, feeling that he had found a new goal in life.
When Shun returned home, it was already dark.
As soon as he opened the door, a small figure suddenly appeared in front of him with a slight electric sound.
“Brother Shun, Brother Shun! Look, look!” The young Samui raised his little face with a proud look on his face, and a few faint blue arcs of electricity danced on his small palms. “I have learned ‘Lightning Release: Electric Walk’! Although I can’t run far yet, I can run very fast!”
As she spoke, she tried to jog a few steps quickly on the spot, with sparks of electricity under her feet, like a proud kitten showing off her new paws.
“Oh? Our Samui is really amazing!” Shun smiled and touched her short golden hair, feeling the unique softness and warmth. After his arm strength increased, he found that he could control the strength more accurately, and he didn’t have to worry about hurting her accidentally.
“Hehe!” Samui squinted his eyes comfortably and rubbed Shun’s palm affectionately, “Brother Shun, you must have worked hard in training today! Mom said that you will soon become a more powerful ninja than brother Ai!”
“It’s still early.” Shun smiled and took Samui’s little hand and walked into the house.
Under the light, the shadows of the brother and sister were stretched out very long, warm and peaceful. New power, new inspiration, new expectations, all fermented quietly this night. The Third Raikage, who was far away in the Raikage’s office, seemed to have learned about some of the things that happened today at the Ai training ground through some channels, and a gratified smile appeared on the corner of his mouth.
“Aina boy, you finally know how to cultivate a real rough diamond. The kid from the Moonlight family, you still have a long way to go in the future…”
Chapter 30: Yu Muren, what are you doing (old version)
Atsuyi got up early in the morning. The sky was just beginning to turn pale, and the streets of the Hidden Cloud Village were still shrouded in a hazy silence. He deliberately applied more hairspray and combed his unruly yellow hair so that each strand was clearly visible. He thought he looked very handsome.
Today is the first day of the second year of the Ninja Preparatory Class! He has to go with Yukito… huh? Where is Yukito?
Atsyi walked around his small yard and looked at Yu Muren’s house next door. It was quiet and there didn’t seem to be anyone there. Didn’t this girl usually have to be urged by him before she would leave? Why did she change her nature today?
An inexplicable feeling of loss came over me.
At this moment, from the direction of Samui’s house not far away, there were faint shouts of “Hey hey hey”, occasionally mixed with the sounds of fists and feet breaking through the air and crisp collisions.
“At this time, Samui is also doing morning exercises?” Atsyi muttered, but a bad feeling arose in his heart. He walked towards that direction as if possessed by a ghost.
After passing a few neatly trimmed bushes, the Samui family’s training ground came into view. In the dim light of the morning sun, three figures were moving around, with beads of sweat glistening on their young faces.
Yue Guang Shun was patiently instructing the two wooden men on the details of a physical movement, while Samui was silently doing basic strength training on the side, looking up from time to time with a barely perceptible concentration in his eyes.
“Shun, this power technique is still a little bit awkward.” Yu Mu Ren panted slightly, a few strands of golden hair were soaked with sweat and stuck to her smooth forehead, and her cheeks were flushed with a healthy blush due to exercise. She was trying a side kick followed by a spinning elbow strike, but she always felt that the power was not concentrated enough.
He took a step forward, gently held her arm, and adjusted her posture: “Pay attention to the core strength of your waist and abdomen, press your body down when elbowing, and imagine that the power is instantly transmitted out.” As he spoke, he demonstrated a slow and decomposed movement. The movements were standard and powerful.
Yu Muren watched and listened attentively, then nodded and tried again. This time, although it was still a little awkward, it was obviously much smoother than before.
“Yes, that’s the feeling. You can master it after practicing a few times.” Shun encouraged gently.
Samui also stopped what he was doing, walked over and said, “Shun’s explanation of physical skills is really insightful. There are many details that I didn’t notice before, but after his guidance, they suddenly became clear to me.”
“Shun-kun is really amazing!” Yukito praised sincerely, with little stars of admiration twinkling in his eyes as he looked at Shun.
Atziyi stood not far away, watching the scene in front of him, and felt a tightness in his chest. The inexplicable sourness mixed with anxiety rushed through his chest. What was that look in Yumu Ren’s eyes? She had never looked at him so brightly before! And Samyi, such a cold guy, actually complimented others?
Damn it! It’s just a physical skill! I can do that too!
“Ahem!” Atsyi coughed twice and walked over quickly, trying to attract everyone’s attention. “I say, you’re working so hard so early in the morning? Yumu Ren, let’s go. We’re going to be late for school!”
He deliberately straightened his chest and struck a pose that he thought was the most imposing.
Yu Mu Ren was a little surprised to see Atziyi: “Atziyi? Why are you here?”
“I…” Atziyi was speechless for a moment. He couldn’t say that he came to see her on purpose, that would be too embarrassing. “I was just passing by! I came to see what you guys were doing!”
Shun and Samui looked at each other and saw a hint of understanding in each other’s eyes.
“We’re asking about Shuntaijutsu,” Yubokuto explained, with a hint of excitement in his tone, “Shun teaches very well!”
“Physical skills?” Atsuyi sneered and glanced at Shun with undisguised provocation in his eyes. “What’s the point of learning such soft things? Watch me!”
As he spoke, he took a deep breath, clenched his fists, and shouted “Ha!” at a half-person-high training wooden stake next to him, punching it hard.
The wooden stake shook, and Atsyi’s fist felt a burning pain. He resisted the urge to grin and looked at the wooden man triumphantly: “How is it? This is power!”
Yumujin blinked and said nothing. Samui’s mouth twitched slightly and he turned his head away.
Shun commented seriously, “The strength is good, but the power is too concentrated in the arms, the lower body is unstable, and the flaw is too big. The real Taijutsu emphasizes the coordination of the whole body’s strength and the use of skills, not just brute force.”
Atsei’s face turned red, as if he had been slapped in public. He wanted to refute, but found that Shun’s words made sense. His move, except for being louder and more powerful, really had no skill to speak of. It was completely different from the exquisiteness of Shun’s instruction to the wooden man just now.
Awkward, really embarrassing!
At this moment, a lazy but steady voice came from not far away: “Oh? It’s so lively so early in the morning.”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Darui with his hands in his trouser pockets, walking towards them at a leisurely pace. He still looked like he was still half asleep, but his eyes were unusually clear.
“Darui? Are you going to school too?” Samui asked.
Darui nodded and turned his gaze to Shun, “Shun, I heard from the teacher that you might be able to help guide some basic courses this semester?”
Shun responded: “Yes, there is such an arrangement.”
“Very good.” Darui’s lips curled up slightly, “I plan to apply for early graduation after this semester. Before graduation, I want to have another formal competition with you to test the results of my training during this period.”
His tone was calm, but it was filled with unquestionable determination.
Shun’s eyes also became sharp: “I’m happy to accompany you.”
Atziyi was confused. What was this about assisting in guidance? What was this about graduating early? When did these two guys become so close and even have a fight? He felt like he had missed a lot.
The atmosphere was a little solemn for a moment.
Yumujin looked at Shun, then at Darui, and whispered to Samui, “Are they going to fight again? Can Shun-kun win?”
Samui pondered and said, “It’s hard to say. Darui is very talented, and he has been making rapid progress recently. However, Shun is no pushover either.” She paused and added, “Besides, Shun has made a fortune recently and is in a very good mood. Maybe he’s in an even better state.”
“Unexpected fortune?” Yu Mu Ren and Atsi looked at Samui curiously at the same time.
Samui glanced at Shun, and seeing that he had no intention of objecting, he briefly explained. It turned out that since Shun began to assist Ai in the training of the Lightning Chakra Mode, because Shun’s control of Lightning Chakra was precise and his recovery ability was strong, he could withstand Ai’s Lightning Chakra stimulation to the maximum extent, and the sparring effect was surprisingly good. Lord Ai was very pleased, and a few days ago, he waved his hand and directly rewarded Shun with 600,000 taels!
“Six… six hundred thousand taels?!” Atsyi’s eyes widened. He had worked so hard to write “Legend of the Thunder Warrior”, and the first payment was only a few tens of thousands of taels. Six hundred thousand taels was simply an astronomical figure for him!
Shun touched his nose, a little embarrassed: “Lord Ai is too generous.”
He really didn’t expect there would be so much. He didn’t save this unexpected money, but bought gifts immediately.
He selected a set of fine tea sets and some rare ingredients for the Yeyue family to thank them for their care during this period.
The gift for Ai was a small piece of highly purified “Lightning Release Amplification Metal”. This metal was extremely expensive, and a small piece cost him nearly 200,000 taels. Its characteristics were that it could amplify the power of Lightning Release Ninjutsu by a small amount, and make Lightning Release Chakra more stable when covering the body surface. For Ai, who was practicing the Lightning Release Chakra mode, it was undoubtedly a timely help.
As expected, when Ai received this gift, he was stunned for a moment, then burst into deafening laughter, patted Shun on the shoulder and praised him for being “sensible” and “having vision”. In his joy, he directly introduced Shun to the Third Raikage.
The Third Raikage was already impressed by Shun, a young man who repeatedly brought surprises to the village. With Ai’s strong recommendation and Shun’s generous gift (Shun also prepared a carefully selected ancient book for the Third Raikage), he favored him even more. After learning that Shun had a high talent for lightning escape, the Third Raikage personally taught him an advanced lightning escape ninjutsu – “Lightning Escape: Lightning Pillar”.
This technique is extremely powerful. It can highly compress the lightning chakra and release it instantly, forming a lightning beam with amazing destructive power. It is one of the three generations of Raikage’s favorite ninjutsu. With his strong chakra control and understanding, Shun mastered the essentials in just a few days.
“So, Shun-kun is even more powerful now!” Samui concluded, with a hint of pride in his tone.
Yu Muren’s eyes lit up when he heard this: “Wow! Lightning Pillar! It sounds amazing!”
Atsuyi was completely depressed. He originally wanted to get back some ground in physical training, but it turned out that not only did he teach physical training very well, he also mastered the powerful lightning escape technique, and even had more financial resources than him. Why is the gap between people so big?
After listening to this, Darui simply nodded and said, “It seems that this competition before graduation will be very interesting.”
“Okay, okay, it’s getting late, we should go to school to register.” Shun interrupted everyone’s discussion at the right time and said with a smile, “New semester, new beginning.”
After everyone calmed down, they headed towards the ninja preparatory class.
The streets of the Hidden Cloud Village gradually became lively, and the sun also dispelled the morning mist. Yukito walked beside Shun, chattering about the details of the “Lightning Pillar”, and occasionally secretly glanced at the ninja cats lazily basking in the sun on the street, wondering when he could sign a psychic contract with the cat lady.
Samui and Darui walked side by side, discussing some experiences in cultivation.
Atsei followed at the back with his head down, like a defeated rooster. He stole a glance at Shun, who was walking in front, chatting and laughing with Yumu Ren, and squeezed his still aching fist.
No! He secretly made up his mind that he must work hard this semester, and one day, he would win over Moonlight Shun! At least… at least he couldn’t let Yukito always look at others with that kind of admiring eyes!
Thinking of this, Atsuyi’s steps seemed to be more determined. The life of the second-year ninja preparatory class seemed to be more “exciting” than he had imagined.
Chapter 31 Throwing Lightning Rods from Eight Hundred Miles Away (Old Version)
Ai was in a good mood, quite good.
The newly developed Lightning Release Ninjutsu, tested with Shun’s help, was three times more powerful and destructive than expected. This made him, a battle fanatic, feel as if he had drunk a bucket of iced sour plum soup on a hot summer day, refreshing from head to toes.
“Shun, well done! Come on, I’ll treat you today. Let’s go to the best restaurant in the village, ‘Fresh Fish Jump’, and let you taste the real taste of the sea!” The big hand like an Aipu fan slapped Shun’s shoulder heavily with such force that Shun felt his shoulder blades were groaning.
He bared his teeth, but put on a decent smile: “Thank you, Brother Ai.” But he was muttering in his heart, you almost flattened half of the training ground while testing the new technique, and I, as your sparring partner, am risking my life to work.
The two walked out of the dusty training ground side by side. The sun shone on Ai’s bronze skin, reflecting a healthy glow. It can be seen that he is really happy now, and even his walking posture is a little brisk, which is rare in the past.
The streets of Kumogakure were as busy as ever, with shops lining both sides and people coming and going. The air was filled with the unique salty and humid smell of the sea breeze and the aroma of various foods.
“Yo yo! Chek Nao! The pride of Kumogakure, the glory of rap! The weather is really good today, Brother Ai brought his little brother out to have some fun…”
A very penetrating and rhythmic rap suddenly came from the street corner ahead, accompanied by the dissatisfied complaints of some residents.
The smile on Ai’s face froze instantly, and the veins on his forehead twitched unconsciously.
The corner of his eye twitched slightly, and he silently lit a candle for a certain man in his heart. My dear, you stepped on the landmine precisely when the Raikage was in a good mood.
As expected, Ai shouted in a low voice: “Qirabi, you bastard are disturbing people again!” Before he finished speaking, he rushed out in a flash.
At the corner of the street, Kirabi, wearing sunglasses and carrying seven knives, was dancing and rapping enthusiastically, completely unaware of his eldest brother’s face which was gradually darkening.
“Yo! Big brother, can you sing a song too? Perfect rhyme, let you feel the heartbeat of the beat – wooo!”
Before Kirabi finished singing “Heartbeat” he was hit on the forehead by Ai’s powerful iron fist. He fell to the ground holding his head, and his sunglasses flew off.
“Asshole! I’ve told you so many times not to rap casually on the street, disturbing everyone’s rest and business!” Ai put his hands on his hips and scolded Kirabi who was squatting on the ground, with spit flying everywhere.
Upon seeing this, the surrounding residents gave him looks of “well done”, obviously having “admired” Kirabi’s rap art for a long time.
Shun silently picked up the sunglasses that had fallen to the side and handed them to Killer Bee, who was grinning and covering his head. The future perfect Jinchūriki looked quite pitiful at the moment.
“Who is this…” Kirabi took the sunglasses, rubbed his forehead, and looked at Shun curiously. He noticed that the boy had been following Ai, and Ai seemed to have a pretty good attitude towards him.
“Moonlight Shun, I just recruited… um, a kid with great potential.” Ai introduced, and then glared at Kirabi, “Don’t think I don’t know that you’ve been complained about because of your rap again! Come with me to ‘Fresh Fish Jump’, today’s meal is on you!”
Kirabi immediately revealed a “painful mask” and said with a pursed mouth: “Brother, I have already contributed my pocket money this month to the new rhyming dictionary, idiot, bastard!”
Ai snorted and ignored him, turning to Shun and said, “Come on, Shun, leave this kid alone, let’s eat ours.”
Shun smiled slightly and followed Ai towards the “Fresh Fish Jump”. Kirabi followed reluctantly with a bitter face, muttering something like “oppression” and “a soul without freestyle is incomplete”.
“Fresh fish jump” is indeed worthy of its reputation. Various marine fish are extremely fresh and the cooking methods are also ingenious. Ai ate with relish and felt more and more relaxed. Although Qilabi started to cry poor, he really ate without hesitation, after all, it was his big brother who paid for it.
After eating and drinking, Ai took out a bill from the Kumogakure Bank from his pocket and handed it to Shun: “Boy, this is your reward for assisting in this mission and your previous contributions. It’s a total of 600,000 taels. Take it.”
Six hundred thousand taels!
Shun took the bill and was delighted. When he was in Konoha, although he earned some royalties from “The Legend of the Thunder Brave”, most of it was invested in training and social interactions. This 600,000 taels was undoubtedly a huge sum of money for him.
“Thank you, Brother Ai.” Shun thanked him sincerely.
“It’s your duty. You deserve it.” Ai waved his hand, appearing quite heroic.
Shun secretly calculated that with the royalties from the subsequent publication of “The Legend of the Thunder Brave” in the Hidden Cloud Village, the funds for purchasing the Lightning Release Amplification Metal were basically gathered. The special metal that could significantly enhance the power of Lightning Release Ninjutsu was expensive, but it was crucial to his future strength improvement. Especially his “Eight Weapons” mark, which was only 2% away from full activation. Perhaps the weapon made of this Lightning Release Amplification Metal could become the final catalyst.
After dinner, Ai took Shun and the still unconvinced Kirabi back to the Yeyue clan’s base.
Shun took out the gift he had prepared long ago. The gift for young Samui was a set of exquisite Konoha specialty dolls. The little girl smiled into crescents after receiving them. She hugged the dolls and couldn’t let go. She thanked him in a baby voice: “Thank you, brother Shun!”
The gifts given to the Third Raikage were some rare medicinal herbs he had collected during his mission, as well as several bottles of Konoha’s special liquor. When Ai Daiwei handed them over, he mentioned that after the Third Raikage received the gifts, he showed a look of relief and a bit of a sense of not knowing whether to laugh or cry, probably because he felt that Shun was too good at dealing with things, and the gift he gave was too “real”.
After giving the gift, Ai looked at Shun, with a more testing look in his eyes: “Shun, you have an amazing talent for Lightning Release, and your swordsmanship is also good. My Yeyue family’s Cloud Flow Swordsmanship is an unparalleled sword technique that cooperates with the Lightning Release Chakra mode. One of the moves is ‘Cloud Flow·Flying Swallow’, which emphasizes extreme speed and unpredictable slashing. Are you interested in learning it?”
When Shun heard this, his eyes lit up: “I couldn’t ask for more!”
Ai nodded with satisfaction and brought Shun to the clan’s martial arts arena. Kirabi also followed curiously, wanting to see what was so special about this kid who was favored by his elder brother.
“Watch out, ‘Cloud Flow·Flying Swallow’!” Ai shouted in a deep voice, and the long sword in his hand was instantly covered with a layer of light blue lightning. His figure flashed, as if he turned into a flying swallow. The sword light was as swift as a silk thread, and it drew several exquisite arcs in the air, and finally left several deep cuts that could be seen to the bone on a huge rock not far away.
“The key to this move is the perfect combination of body movement and swordsmanship. Thunder escape is used to stimulate the body’s activity and reach a speed beyond the limit. The sword moves with the body and the intention is ahead of the sword.” Ai stood with the sword put away, breathing steadily, and explained slowly.
Shun listened attentively, remembering every move and every word of Ai’s explanation, and quickly deduced them in his mind. He had a gift of photographic memory, and with a solid foundation in swordsmanship, his control over chakra was becoming more and more sophisticated.
“You try it.” Ai gestured.
Shun took a deep breath and drew the ninja sword from his waist. He closed his eyes, recalling Ai’s actions and explanations just now, and the lightning chakra in his body began to flow slowly, simulating the explosive acceleration.
After a moment, Shun suddenly opened his eyes, and a gleam of light flashed in his eyes.
“Cloud Flow, Flying Swallow!”
His figure suddenly blurred, leaving behind a series of afterimages. The ninja sword in his hand was wrapped in lightning and turned into a silver lightning. He slashed continuously in the air at a speed that was almost impossible to capture with the naked eye!
Chi Chi Chi——
The sounds of blades breaking through the air rang out one after another. The speed of their trajectories and the tricky angles were surprisingly similar to what Ai had demonstrated just now!
When Shun put away his knife and stood still, he suddenly saw several more knife marks on the boulder that were almost the same as the ones left by Ai, but slightly shallower.
Ai’s pupils suddenly shrank and an expression of disbelief appeared on his face. Even Kirabi, who was always cynical, opened his mouth wide and his sunglasses slid to the tip of his nose.
“You’ve learned this already?!” Ai’s voice trembled slightly. He originally thought Shun would need to practice for several days to get a glimpse of the technique, but he didn’t expect that he could perform to this level just by watching a demonstration and listening to an explanation!
This kid’s talent is simply inhuman!
Even when he heard Shun quickly mastered many lightning-style ninjutsu in Konoha, he was surprised, but not as shocked as he was now. After all, the mastery of ninjutsu depends more on the nature and control of chakra, while swordsmanship, especially high-level swordsmanship such as the Cloud Style, requires more understanding and years of hard training.
Shun took a slight breath, feeling the lightning chakra surging in his body and the aftereffect of performing “Cloud Flow·Flying Swallow”, and his heart was filled with joy.
“Brother Ai, please point out my shortcomings.” Shun said humbly.
Ai’s mouth twitched. Instructions? What else is there to instruct? If he continues to instruct, he, as the master, will lose face! He took a deep breath, forced himself to suppress the turmoil in his heart, and said in a deep voice: “Not bad, it’s already in good shape. The rest is to further integrate proficiency and lightning chakra. You should practice more on your own.”
He felt that if he continued talking, he might not be able to help but ask this kid if he was the reincarnation of some old monster.
He nodded instantly, feeling it silently in his heart.
[“Eight Weapons” Mark Progress: 98%]The progress bar remained unchanged. It seemed that mastering new sword techniques could not directly promote the completion of the mark. The key still lay in the exclusive weapon made of the lightning-amplifying metal.
However, the power of “Cloud Flow·Flying Swallow” is unquestionable. Once combined with the Lightning Release Chakra mode, its power will inevitably be even more terrifying.
Shun tightened his grip on the ninja sword in his hand, and had more expectations for the future path of training. Throwing a lightning rod from 800 miles away didn’t sound so far-fetched. Of course, that was just an exaggerated metaphor, but the power that could be unleashed by the ultimate lightning escape combined with the ultimate speed was definitely worth his efforts.
Kirabi on the side looked at Shun, his eyes flashing with an inexplicable light, and he began to mutter again: “What an interesting guy, yo! I wonder how good his rap skills are, idiot, bastard!”
When Ai heard this, the blue veins on his forehead began to jump happily again.
It seems that the daily life of the Yeyue family is still so “peaceful” and “full of vitality”.
Chapter 32 I have something to announce (old version)
Returning to the Yeyue Mansion from the remote training ground in Yunlei Gorge, Yue Guangshun looked up at the sky out of habit. The afternoon sun was still blazing, but on the distant skyline, several thick cumulus clouds were slowly gathering, with faint lightning rolling in them.
“It’s a good time to try that.” Shun’s mind moved.
He returned to the guest room courtyard assigned to him. This used to be the standard guest room of the Yeyue family, but since he moved in and the continuous income from “Legend of the Thunder Warrior” made his status in the Yeyue family rise, this place almost became his exclusive territory. In the courtyard, the wooden stake he used for training still stood quietly.
Shun didn’t rush into the house. He habitually placed his right hand on the ninja tool bag on his waist and gently picked up a standard kunai. At the moment when the kunai was in his hand, he clearly felt a subtle difference in his right eye.
The aiming assist effect of the “Weapon Master” mark is activated!
Shun cast his gaze towards the thickest cumulus cloud in the distant sky. In an instant, the right half of his vision suddenly changed, as if the whole world was pulled several times closer, while his left eye still maintained normal vision. This strange sense of separation was a little uncomfortable at first, but Shun quickly adjusted himself with his strong mental strength and the super-speed learning and adaptability brought by the “writer” mark.
The thunderclouds in the distance rolled, every arc of electricity moved, and the subtle structural changes of the clouds were all clearly visible in his right eye. He could even see the distorted halo at the edge of the thunderclouds caused by the friction of the high-speed airflow.
“This effect is simply a physical plug-in.” Shun secretly admired in his heart. He tried to turn his head slightly to estimate the straight-line distance between himself and the thundercloud.
According to the map and daily perception, the thundercloud is at least three or four hundred meters away from here. At this distance, even if the eyesight of an ordinary ninja is good, he can only see the general outline.
“Further away?” Shun narrowed his right eye, trying to see further. When his sight passed the thundercloud and looked towards the more distant horizon, the “magnification” effect of his right eye began to weaken significantly, the scenery gradually became blurred, and the details were seriously lost.
“It seems that the effective distance is indeed similar to the last time we tested the street lights. The limit of clear observation is about 400 meters. Beyond this distance, the auxiliary effect is almost nothing.” Shun silently noted the data.
The aiming assistance of this “Weapon Master” is more practical than expected. It is not limited to throwing ninja tools. As long as the right hand holds any object that can be determined as a “weapon” by the system, it can be triggered. This means that whether it is reconnaissance, aiming of long-range ninjutsu, or simply observation, it is extremely convenient. The only limitation is that it must be the right hand, and there is a distance limit.
“Shun-nii-nii!”
A clear and somewhat triumphant shout sounded from behind him, interrupting Shun’s thoughts.
He put away his kunai, and the special vision of his right eye disappeared. When he turned around, he saw Yeyue Samui running towards him like a happy little bird, with short golden hair shining in the sun, and a trace of sweat on his fair face after exercise, which made him look more energetic.
“Look! Look!” Samui ran in front of Shun and stood there as if offering a treasure. His face flushed slightly due to excitement and the rapid consumption of chakra. “Lightning Release: Electric Shock! I have mastered it completely!”
Before she finished her words, a small golden lightning flashed around her body like a spirit snake. The next moment, Samui appeared three steps away from Shun’s left. Although her movements were still a little awkward, it was a world of difference compared to the initial stumbling.
“Oh? That’s great, Samui.” Shun showed an approving smile on his face, and habitually stretched out his finger and flicked her smooth forehead lightly. “You have mastered it so quickly. It seems that my guidance is still very effective.”
This time, Samui didn’t complain or dodge like before, but just puffed out his cheeks slightly, wrinkled his nose slightly, and his eyes were shining with joy. It was obvious that he had changed from a slight resistance to Shun’s intimate behavior at the beginning to being accustomed to it and even enjoying it secretly. “Huh, that’s also because of my good talent!”
She was harsh in her words, but her slightly raised chin and those bright eyes that were expecting praise revealed her true thoughts.
“Yes, yes, our Samui is a genius.” Shun smiled and rubbed her head, which elicited a symbolic “protest” from the little girl.
The two laughed and joked for a while, and Samui pestered Shun to teach him a few little tricks on the changes in the nature of Lightning Chakra. Then he skipped away contentedly, and it seemed that he couldn’t wait to show off his achievements to his brother Yeyueai.
After watching Samui leave, the smile on Shun’s face gradually faded and he turned and walked into his room.
The room was simply furnished with a bed, a desk, and a bookshelf. On the desk, manuscripts were neatly stacked, and next to it were several published samples of “Legend of the Thunder Warrior”. The Thunder Warrior on the cover was holding a lightning spear, looking majestic. Since the “Writer” mark was upgraded, his writing speed has increased by leaps and bounds, and the manuscripts he has now are enough to support the monthly serialization for more than half a year.
He had just sat down at his desk, preparing to organize his thoughts on today’s training, when there was a gentle knock on the door.
“Shun, you’re back.” Ye Yueai’s voice came from outside the door. He pushed the door open and walked in with his usual seriousness on his face, but there was a hint of imperceptible expectation in the depths of his eyes.
“Brother Ai.” Shun stood up. Yeyue Ai’s attitude towards him was no longer that of a clan elder to a younger generation. As Shun’s value became higher and higher, especially the huge prestige and wealth brought by “Legend of the Lightning Hero”, and Shun’s own strength steadily improved, Ai’s attitude towards him became more equal, and even a little dependent.
“I went to see the Third Raikage today. How was it?” Yeyue Ai asked directly without beating around the bush. He knew very well what it would mean for the Yeyue family, which was increasingly in need of fresh blood and higher prestige, if Shun could become the direct disciple of the Third Raikage. This was not only Shun’s personal glory, but also an important opportunity for the entire Yeyue family to improve their status in the Hidden Cloud Village.
Upon hearing this, Shun showed an unfathomable smile on his face, and imitated the classic lines from some movies and TV series in his previous life, and said slowly: “Brother Ai, some things are meaningless if they are revealed. However, please rest assured that everything is developing in a good direction.”
His deliberately mysterious look made Ye Yueai raise his eyebrows slightly, and then he smiled helplessly: “You kid, you are still keeping me in suspense.” However, from Shun’s expression and tone, he had already got the answer he wanted – it was almost certain.
“That’s great!” Yeyue Ai’s tone was filled with genuine joy, “If you can really become Master Raikage’s disciple, the reputation of our Yeyue family will surely rise to a higher level!”
Shun nodded to show his understanding. He knew the burden on Yeyue Ai’s shoulders, and also understood the importance of a strong backer to a ninja clan.
“Oh, right,” Yeyue Ai seemed to have remembered something and said, “When I was sorting out the family’s lightning-style ninjutsu recently, I found a very powerful technique that is just right for your current stage. I’ll teach you tomorrow?”
Shun hesitated for a moment and said, “Brother Ai, I’m afraid that’s not possible. I have an appointment with the Raikage tomorrow. I need to consult him in person about some training experience of the Lightning Release Chakra Armor.”
This was of course the truth. The Third Raikage thought highly of him and had promised to personally teach him the Lightning Release Chakra Mode tomorrow.
“Oh? Master Raikage personally taught me?” Ye Yue’ai’s eyes lit up. This was undoubtedly another strong proof that he had successfully become his apprentice. He nodded repeatedly: “That’s business, business is important! Then the day after tomorrow, I will teach you a new lightning escape the day after tomorrow.”
“Thank you, Brother Ai.” Shun said gratefully. Although Yeyue Ai had his own plans, his help to him was real.
“We’re family, no need to be polite.” Ye Yueai waved her hand and left in a very good mood.
Shun sat down again, looking out the window at the setting sun, a smile on his face. Tomorrow would be a crucial day. And the aiming assistance of “Weapon Master” might come in handy in some unexpected way at some point in the future.
As for Samui’s childish declaration today, “I have something to announce”, it was quite interesting when I thought about it now. Perhaps, when I really become the disciple of the Third Raikage, I should find an opportunity to formally “announce something”.
He picked up the pen and began to record today’s thoughts and tomorrow’s plans on the manuscript paper. The tip of the pen made a rustling sound and his thoughts flowed like a spring.
Chapter 33 I didn’t let you have enough fun (old version)
The roar of thunder and the dull sound of flesh colliding finally subsided at dusk. In the huge open-air training ground of the Hidden Cloud Village, Yue Guang Shun felt as if all the bones in his body were disassembled and reassembled, and every muscle was screaming in protest. He collapsed on the slightly charred land in a “big” shape, gasping for breath, and didn’t even want to move a finger.
“Hahaha! What a joy! It really feels good!”
In stark contrast to Shun’s exhaustion, Ye Yue Ai, the future Fourth Raikage, was full of energy at the moment. There were even arcs of lightning chakra lingering around him, making a crackling sound. His white hair was soaked with sweat and stuck to his forehead. His bronze skin shone with a healthy luster, and his sharp eyes were surprisingly bright.
Shun complained silently in his mind: “You are the one who is happy, but I am here to experience the ‘Premium Sandbag’ one-day tour, which comes with a full body massage (Tekken version).”
Ai walked to Shun’s side with big strides, stretched out his big hand like a palm leaf fan, and lifted Shun up from the ground, patting his shoulder with such force that Shun almost fell back down. “Boy, you did well today! You’re much more durable than the last few times! Come on, I’ll treat you, let’s go have barbecue and celebrate!”
Shun rubbed his shoulders with a grin and said helplessly: “Brother Ai, you are getting stronger and stronger. Sooner or later, you will break my body.”
“Stop talking nonsense! It’s your honor to accompany me to stretch my muscles!” Ai hooked his arm around Shun’s neck and walked out of the training ground with a big laugh. “Today, I’ll let you eat as much as you want and make up for the energy you’ve consumed!”
The two walked side by side (Shun was half dragged, half pulled) out of the training ground, crossed several relatively quiet streets, and came to the most prosperous entertainment district in the Hidden Cloud Village. Unlike the casinos in Konoha, the streets here were lined with various pubs, dance halls, and some… well, entertainment venues exclusively for adults. The lights began to light up one after another, and the air was filled with the aroma of food, alcohol, and a faint scent of powder.
Just as Shun was trying to keep up with Ai’s almost flying pace, a familiar figure staggered out of the door of a particularly fancy pub in front of him. The man wore sunglasses, had a signature hairstyle, and hummed an untuned rap: “Yo yo! The moonlight tonight is really good, there are so many beauties, inspiration is flowing like a spring, check it out!”
There were two women in cool clothes and bright makeup leaning against him, who were giggling and beating his chest.
Shun’s eyelids twitched suddenly.
Oh no! It’s Brother Kirabi! And looking at his behavior, Brother Ai might burst into a funeral song on the spot!
He almost subconsciously wanted to dodge to the side, but Ai’s arms were like an iron clamp, preventing him from moving.
Sure enough, Ai’s footsteps suddenly stopped, the smile on his face froze instantly, veins on his forehead popped out, and the lightning chakra that had just subsided in his body surged uncontrollably again, making a threatening “sizzling” sound.
“Qi! La! Bi!” Ai’s voice seemed to be squeezed out from between his teeth, and every word was filled with ice chips.
Kirabi over there heard this roar that was so familiar to him that he shuddered all over and almost slipped off his sunglasses. He turned his head stiffly and saw Ai’s face as black as the bottom of a pot, and he sobered up instantly.
“Yo… Yo… Brother, it’s a misunderstanding. This is definitely a necessary process for obtaining inspiration, yeah!” Kirabi said while trying to push away the two women around him, forcing a smile on his face that was uglier than crying.
“You big-headed ghost!” Ai roared, and his figure shot out like a cannonball.
There was a loud bang, accompanied by Kirabi’s iconic scream “Ohnoooooo——”, and he flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, drawing a beautiful parabola in the air, and then slammed heavily into the sign of the store opposite, stirring up a cloud of dust and sawdust. The two women screamed and fled in all directions.
Shun watched all this silently and thought to himself: “Brother Kirabi, you are risking your life to obtain materials, which is really admirable… What the hell!” He was no longer surprised by such scenes.
Ai moved his wrists, making a “clicking” sound, and spat with remaining anger: “You bastard! You’re not doing your job all day long!” He glanced at Kirabi, who was stuck in the sign with only two legs flapping outside, snorted, and dragged Shun again, striding towards the barbecue Q restaurant at the end of the street where they often went.
The barbecue restaurant was steaming hot and the aroma of meat filled the air. Ai was obviously a regular here. The proprietress greeted him warmly as soon as she saw him and quickly arranged a private room by the window for them.
“Madam, give me three servings of each of your best meats! Also, two large jugs of iced beer!” Ai Hao slammed the table angrily.
Shun was shocked when he saw Ai spending money like water. I’m afraid that most of this big brother’s salary was contributed to the catering business of the Hidden Cloud Village and… repair costs.
Soon, plates of bright red, attractively textured barbecued meat were served in a stream. Ai rolled up his sleeves and grilled the meat himself, his technique surprisingly being quite skillful. The meat slices made a sizzling sound on the hot grill, the fat was roasted out and dripped onto the charcoal fire, sparking a small cluster of flames and making the aroma even more intense.
“Come on, boy, eat more!” Ai put a large piece of roasted beef that was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside into Shun’s bowl.
Shun was not polite either. After a day of sparring with Ai, he was already starving. The two of them devoured the first round of barbecue in no time.
After three rounds of wine and five kinds of meat, Ai felt more and more relaxed. He suddenly took out a thick envelope from his pocket and slapped it on the table.
“Here, this is for you.” Ai raised his chin slightly with a hint of barely perceptible pride.
He was stunned for a moment, looking at the bulging envelope: “Brother Ai, what is this?”
“For you.” Ai took a big gulp of beer and said vaguely, “Today’s sparring partner… well, it’s considered the bet win, I’ll give you half!”
He immediately picked up the envelope and weighed it. It felt heavy. When he opened it, he saw a thick stack of brand new large-denomination banknotes inside. A rough count revealed that there were probably at least 600,000 taels!
“This… is so much?” Shun was shocked. He knew Ai was a big spender, but he never thought Ai would take the initiative to give him money, and such a huge sum. This was not a small amount, enough for an ordinary ninja family to live on for several years. He knew that this so-called “win from the bet” was probably an excuse from Ai. This money was probably a special bonus from the village to Ai, or perhaps a reward from the Third Raikage for his recent improvement in strength.
“What? You think it’s not enough?” Ai raised his eyebrows, pretending to be displeased.
“No, no, no, it’s too much, Brother Ai, I can’t…” Shun waved his hands quickly. Although he acted as a “sandbag”, Ai never held back in guiding him in the practice of Thunder Escape. This friendship was far beyond the measure of money.
“Take it! Just take it if I tell you to!” Ai said without question, “You are the second ‘outsider’ to get so much money from me.”
“Outsider?” Shun was curious, “Who is the first one?”
Ai curled his lips, revealing a look of disgust and helplessness on his face: “Who else could it be? That bastard Kirabi! Every time I beat him half to death, he would come back and cry and say that he had no money to treat his injuries, no money to buy new sunglasses and rhyming dictionaries… Humph!”
Shun couldn’t help but laugh when he heard this. So that’s how it is. Brother Kirabi is the originator of “薅羊毛”. However, Brother Ai can put himself on the same level as Kirabi, which shows that in his heart, his weight is indeed different.
“Then I won’t be polite, Brother Ai.” Shun put away the money, and a warm current surged in his heart. He knew that this was a recognition of him by Ai.
The host and the guest enjoyed the barbecue very much, and they left the barbecue restaurant contentedly until the moon was at its zenith. Ai walked Shun home with his arm around his shoulder, and he hummed a tuneless song and staggered back to the residence of the Yeyue clan.
When he got home, Shun looked at the thick stack of money on the table and began to think. He couldn’t take this money for nothing.
The next morning, Shun went out with the money in his pocket. He first went to the shopping street and carefully selected many gifts for the young Samui: the latest ninja dolls, a large bag of colorful candies, and some beautiful and durable small clothes. Then, he went to a high-end restaurant and ordered some of the high-end beef that Brother Ai liked most and the special liquor produced by Kumogakure. After thinking about it, he went to a bookstore and picked out a few rare medical ninjutsu books and medicinal materials illustrations for the pharmacist Kabuto – Kabuto’s obsession with these things is no less than Brother Ai’s desire to fight.
After sending out the gifts one by one, seeing Samui’s happy smile when he held the dolls and snacks, and the surprise in Dou’s eyes when he received the books, he instantly felt that the money was worth it. As for the gift for Brother Ai, he had asked the restaurant to deliver it directly to Yeyue Mansion.
In the evening, Shun returned home and little Samui was sitting on the porch waiting for him, holding a new ninja doll.
“Brother Shun, you’re back!” When Samui saw him, he immediately ran over happily and raised the doll in his hand like offering a treasure, “Look, this is the ‘Thunder Pill’ you gave me, it glows!”
Shun smiled and patted her head: “I’m glad you like it. Come, Brother Shun will show you a more powerful ‘Lightning’.”
After saying that, he walked to the center of the courtyard, took a deep breath, and quickly formed seals with his hands.
“Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!”
With a low shout, a huge amount of chakra, far exceeding that in his usual practice, burst out from his body. A thick, dazzling column of lightning suddenly shot up from his palm and pierced the sky! The lightning column was extremely solid, emitting a heart-pounding pressure, illuminating the entire courtyard as bright as day, and the air was filled with the burning smell of ionization.
Samui’s mouth opened into an “O” shape, her beautiful blue eyes widened, and she didn’t even notice the “Lightning Pill” in her hand falling to the ground with a thud. Her face turned pale, and she stammered, “Shun, Shun brother… this, this is… when did you learn… such a powerful lightning escape technique?”
This “Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar” is the new technique that Shun secretly comprehended after his “exchange” with Ai yesterday, combining Ai’s fighting style and his own understanding of Lightning Release. It is a superior Lightning Release ninjutsu, and its power is far greater than any Lightning Release he had mastered before.
The lightning flash dissipated instantly, he scratched his head somewhat complacently, and chuckled: “Nothing much, I just thought about it casually last night, and it seems to have worked.”
Samui looked at Shun’s relaxed expression, and recalled the terrifying lightning column that almost pierced the sky. Her little head was filled with big question marks and endless shock. She felt that her cognition was refreshed again. This guy… Is this guy still human? This level of ninjutsu, can be done by just thinking about it?
Shun looked at Samui’s dull look and laughed in his heart: Little girl, this time I should let you enjoy the surprise, right? However, I’m afraid that Brother Ai didn’t enjoy himself on the training ground yesterday. After all, the strength of my “sandbag” is still not good enough.
He didn’t know that the only thought in Samui’s mind at the moment was: Shun, this guy, didn’t let me be surprised for a little longer! He’s always so fast, can’t I admire him properly?
Chapter 34 The Bad Brother Who Plays with Your Feelings (Old Version)
late at night.
The Hidden Cloud Village, the secret room of the Elders.
Elder Leiyun suddenly sat up from his simple bed, with beads of cold sweat oozing from his forehead.
He dreamed of that scene again – the Third Raikage’s majestic face without anger, and his cold and firm refusal: “Shun, you can’t take him away. He is the future of the village, not a test subject for your ‘Black Butterfly Project’.”
“Old man…” Elder Lei Yun cursed in a low voice. The anger and unwillingness in his chest still burned his nerves even after he woke up from the dream. He rubbed his temples, trying to dispel the depression.
His extreme desire for power and his obsession with the “Black Butterfly Project” that could surpass all bloodline limits have long been ingrained in his bones.
He put on a robe and walked towards the depths of the secret room with heavy but firm steps.
The heavy stone door slowly opened with the sound of a mechanism, and a cold air mixed with the smell of herbs and a slight smell of blood blew in.
In the center of the secret room, in a huge transparent culture tank, a boy about seven or eight years old was immersed in a light green nutrient solution. The boy’s eyes were closed, and his skin was strangely pale, but his chest was rising and falling steadily. Several thin catheters were connected to various parts of his body, monitoring his vital signs.
“A new experimental subject… ‘Blood-Splitting Child’…” Elder Lei Yun’s eyes flashed with enthusiasm. This child possessed an extremely rare bloodline. Once strongly stimulated or dying, his blood would boil and burst out with several times the usual strength. Although the price was huge, with the transformation of the “Black Butterfly Project”, perhaps the perfect weapon he had always dreamed of could be born.
“As long as the plan succeeds, not to mention Shun, even the Third Raikage will have to re-examine my value!” Elder Leiyun grinned ferociously, and the previous depression seemed to have dissipated a lot.
Just then, a burst of hurried footsteps came from outside the passage.
“Elder Leiyun! Lord Raikage has an urgent order!” An Anbu ninja knelt on one knee and presented a sealed scroll with both hands.
Elder Lei Yun frowned and took the scroll. When he saw the contents, the smugness on his face froze instantly and then turned to ashen.
“Asshole!!”
A roar echoed in the secret room, and the scroll in Elder Leiyun’s hand was instantly torn into pieces by his violent lightning chakra!
The content on the scroll was very simple: first, the Council of Elders must make full compensation for the destruction of the training ground; second, Yueguang Shun, from now on, officially becomes Yeyue Ai’s direct disciple.
“Yeyue Ai… Third Raikage… You are blocking my path!” Elder Lei Yun was so angry that he was shaking all over, his eyes were bloodshot. The good seedling he had worked so hard to pick was assigned to his young and inexperienced disciple by the Third Raikage with just a few words! This was not just a simple loss of an experimental subject, but also a ruthless trampling on his authority and another heavy blow to the “Black Butterfly Project”.
He punched the stone wall next to him hard, and the hard rock was covered with spider-web-like cracks.
The young man in the culture tank seemed to be disturbed and frowned slightly.
The news that Ai accepted a disciple spread like wildfire to the top leaders of the Hidden Cloud Village overnight.
“Have you heard? Ai, that guy, actually accepted a disciple, and it’s that Yue Guang Shun!”
“Gekko Shun? Is he the kid who had such a huge fight with Ai in the training ground?”
“That’s right! It is said that the Raikage-sama personally gave the order, and Elder Leiyun’s face turned green!”
Various discussions quietly sounded in every corner of Yunyin.
In Yeyue Ai’s home, Kirabi sat cross-legged on the ground, looking at his sworn brother’s decadent look with a hangover, and couldn’t help but speak in his unique rap tone: “Yo yo, big brother, don’t be sad, accept an apprentice, challenges appear, this is a good thing, your strength can become stronger, yeah!”
Ai rubbed his aching forehead and glared at Kirabi unhappily: “Stop talking nonsense, that kid… is a bit weird.”
“Weird? I think it’s because you have unlimited potential and you are under great pressure. Check it out!” Kirabi winked, “It’s just right. Someone is spurring you on. Otherwise, you will just drink all day long except for the missions, and your muscles will become loose!”
Ai snorted and did not refute. Although Kirabi’s words were unpleasant to hear, they did wake him up. The appearance of Yue Guang Shun was like a whip, which made his long-dormant competitive spirit burn again.
At the same time, on the other side of the Hidden Cloud Village, young Atsuhi was sitting in the corner of the training ground with a dazed look in his eyes.
“Shun…actually became Master Ai’s disciple…” He muttered to himself, clenching his small fists tightly, his nails almost digging into his flesh. He had always regarded Ai as his idol and dreamed of getting Ai’s guidance one day, but now, this opportunity was taken away by Shun who suddenly appeared. A huge sense of loss and frustration overwhelmed him.
“Aziyi.” A gentle voice sounded above his head.
Atsuyi looked up and saw the experienced jonin of the village, Toshiro Fuu.
“Toshirofu… Teacher.” Atsuyi’s voice was a little hoarse.
Tu Daifeng sat down next to him and patted his shoulder: “It feels bad to be overtaken by someone else, right? But this is also an opportunity.”
“Opportunity?” Atzi looked at him in confusion.
“That’s right.” Tu Daifeng’s eyes were encouraging. “The fact that Yue Guang Shun was favored by Ai shows that he has some strengths. If you want to catch up with him, or even surpass him, you need to work harder. From today on, I will give you special training, how about that?”
A gleam of light rekindled in Atsuyi’s eyes, and he suddenly raised his head: “Really? Teacher Toshirofu!”
“Of course.” Tu Daifeng smiled and nodded, “As a man, you can’t give up easily.”
The next morning.
Yeyue Ai was awakened by the aroma of food.
He held his head, which was still aching, and felt dry mouth.
As a Lightning Release Ninja, his body is extremely strong, but he drank too much last night when he was competing with Kira in drinking. He was too lazy to use chakra to sober up, so the hangover feeling was naturally uncomfortable.
Ai looked down and found himself still wearing yesterday’s clothes. He fell asleep on the sofa in the living room.
He shook his head and prepared to go to the kitchen to get some water.
The tempting aroma became stronger and stronger, as if it came from the dining table.
Ai’s body paused slightly, and a hint of vigilance flashed in his eyes.
He pushed open the partition, looked into the restaurant, and then saw Yue Guang Shun.
“Good morning, Ai…Teacher.”
Yue Guang Shun was placing exquisite breakfasts on the dining table. When he saw Ai, he changed his address slightly unnaturally, with a perfectly shy smile on his face.
Ai glanced at the steaming miso soup, grilled fish, tamagoyaki and a few round rice balls on the table, with a small gift box next to it, and obvious confusion appeared on her face.
“This is… Thunder Beast Jerky Rice Ball.”
Shun pointed to one of the rice balls and said a little embarrassedly, “I heard that Teacher Ai likes it. Although it cost me a lot of my savings, it should taste good.”
“What’s going on?”
Ai walked to the table, picked up a piece of grilled fish and stuffed it into his mouth, and asked vaguely, “What is this kid up to?”
“I want to thank Mr. Ai for accepting me as his disciple yesterday.”
Shun explained, his eyes looking quite sincere, “This is a little gift from me, not a token of respect. The little box contains special pills that can refresh your mind and have some effect on hangovers.”
Ai paused for a moment as he chewed. This kid… is quite capable. A strange, slightly warm feeling flashed through his heart.
He was right yesterday. This kid was not only incredibly talented, but also much more thoughtful than his peers.
“Do you have enough money?”
Ai San finished the grilled fish in a few bites, then reached out to take a rice ball and asked casually.
“Well, it’s enough for now.”
Shun nodded and continued, “But, teacher, you don’t have to spend any more money.”
“I didn’t say I was going to give you money.”
Ai raised his lips in a playful arc, and the fire of fighting rekindled in his eyes, “I mean, after dinner, we’ll go to the training ground! We didn’t have enough fun yesterday, so let’s continue today!”
Give me back your little touch!
Shun complained in his heart, but he still kept a respectful smile on his face: “Teacher Ai, I’m very sorry. I have to go to the Ninja School for class today. The basic theory class is also very important and I can’t miss it.”
“Go to school?” Ai froze, looking at Shun in disbelief, “You told me you were going to school?”
What a joke! He was the future Fourth Raikage of Kumogakure and the strongest sparring partner, but he wanted to attend a theoretical class that was just like playing house?
“Yes, teacher.” Shun bowed slightly, “Study is the most important thing. We can talk about training after school. Please eat your breakfast while it’s hot. I’ll take my leave now.”
After saying that, Shun didn’t wait for Ai to speak again, he picked up his schoolbag, bowed politely, turned around and left quickly.
Ai stood there in a daze, still holding half a rice ball in his hand. Looking at the figure that disappeared instantly, he felt like he had been fooled.
This kid, first used food and gifts to soften him, making him feel a little touched and expectant, but then turned around and used the lame excuse of “going to school” to leave him here!
He is simply… a bad brother (kid) who plays with his feelings!
Chapter 35 Look, you are infatuated again (old version)
The morning sun shone through the unique layers of rocks in the Hidden Cloud Village, and sprinkled on the training ground. Sweat soaked the strands of hair on Yueguang Shun’s forehead. He panted lightly and looked at Samui, whose face was also flushed.
“Brother Shun, your straight punch seems to be a little faster today!” Samui wiped the sweat from his face. His short golden hair was a little messy due to the intense exercise, and a few strands of hair stood up disobediently.
Shun smiled, walked forward, and naturally stretched out his hand to help her put those naughty strands of hair behind her ears. “You have improved, Samui, your reaction speed is getting faster and faster.” His fingertips accidentally touched the girl’s warm earlobe, and Samui’s cheeks turned slightly red, but she did not dodge, but rubbed it dependently.
“Hehe, that’s also because I have Brother Shun to practice with me!” Samui smiled widely, his eyes curved into crescents.
The two walked side by side towards the direction of the Ninja Preparatory Class. Today was the first day of the second grade, and it was also the day when the results of the final theory exam of the last semester were announced.
“Shun, wait a minute!” A powerful voice came from behind.
The two turned around and saw Atsei, a man with short fiery red hair and a rather sturdy build, catching up with them quickly, followed by Darui, who always looked a little lazy.
“Shun, I made an appointment for the final challenge of last semester!” Atsuyi said excitedly as soon as he came up, his eyes full of fighting spirit, “Today is the practical class, let’s have a good fight!”
Shun nodded and replied calmly, “Okay.”
“And me.” Darui added slowly, half-squinting his eyes out of habit. Although his tone was calm, the seriousness in his eyes could not be ignored. “Before graduation, I hope to have a fair fight with you, Shun. This final exam is a good opportunity.”
“I’m at your service any time.” Shun still had that calm expression.
Samui looked on with a little pride and a little worry. Shun-ge is always so popular, and there is an endless stream of challengers.
“Hmph, Shun, don’t think you’re great just because you’ve made some progress in theory. A ninja ultimately depends on actual combat!” Seeing that Shun agreed so readily, Atsuyi felt that the other party was looking down on him and couldn’t help but emphasize again.
Shun raised his eyebrows but didn’t respond. He was used to this kind of “provocation” a long time ago.
The group arrived in front of the Ninja Preparatory Class building. A number of students had already gathered in the square, discussing something in groups of three or four. The air was filled with the unique hustle and bustle of the start of school and a subtle tension.
“Everyone, be quiet!” Teacher Tu Daifeng’s voice came from the entrance of the teaching building. He was holding a stack of report cards, and his expression was as helpless as ever towards these energetic kids.
The students immediately quieted down and all looked at Tu Daifeng.
“Before the opening ceremony and the speech from Lord Raikage, I will first announce the results of the final theory class exam last semester.” Toshiro Fuu cleared his throat and began to read out the rankings.
“…10th place, Xi.”
“…Fifth place, Yukito.”
“… Third place, Karui.”
When the first few were read out, the atmosphere became obviously tense. Atsyi straightened his back with a hint of anticipation on his face. Darui also opened his eyes wide, which was rare. Mabuyi stood in the crowd with a calm expression, but if you look closely, you can see that her fingertips are also slightly curled. She has always been confident in her theoretical results.
“The second place…” Tu Daifeng paused, glanced at the list in his hand, and then glanced meaningfully at the students below. Finally, his eyes paused on Ma Buyi for a moment, and then he slowly said: “Ma Buyi.”
“Wow——”
There was a small commotion among the crowd. Ma Buyi was a recognized top student, but she was not the first? Who would be the first?
Ma Buyi was also stunned, with surprise written all over her delicate face. She subconsciously looked at Darui, could it be him?
Atziyi’s eyes widened even more. If Mabuyi was second, then wouldn’t he be… He swallowed nervously.
Tu Daifeng took in everyone’s reactions, and the corners of his mouth curled up in an imperceptible arc, and then announced in a slightly strange tone: “The first place in this theoretical exam is – Moonlight Shun!”
This name is like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing a thousand waves.
The entire square first fell into an eerie silence, and then louder discussions broke out.
“What? Moonlight Shun?!”
“That’s impossible! Doesn’t he often get distracted in class?”
“I saw him several times looking at some strange scrolls…”
“Did you cheat?” A subtle questioning voice sounded.
“Brother Shun is so awesome!” Samui was the first to cheer. She excitedly grabbed Shun’s arm and shook it hard. Her little face flushed with excitement and her eyes were full of pride.
Shun himself was also a little surprised. Although he had studied hard, he didn’t expect to get first place directly. At this moment, he felt something in his mind shatter with a slight “ding” sound, and then a cool feeling surged through his body, and his thinking seemed to become sharper and clearer in an instant.
[The mortal-level spiritual mark “Study Master” has been activated. Effect: Theoretical knowledge comprehension is permanently increased by 10%. ]This line of information comes to mind.
A flash of understanding flashed across Shun’s eyes. So that’s it, it’s the effect of the spiritual mark. This is a pleasant surprise.
“Teacher! Are you sure you didn’t make a mistake?” Atzi was the first to jump out. He pointed at Shun and shouted unconvincedly, “How could he be first! I am…” He was halfway through his words when he suddenly realized that his ranking had not been announced yet, and he was stuck.
Darui was also incredulous. He took a deep look at Shun, who had a calm expression, and frowned slightly. This result was indeed beyond his expectations.
Ma Buyi was extremely shocked. She looked at Shun and then at Teacher Tu Daifeng, as if trying to find a hint of a joke on the teacher’s face, but Tu Daifeng’s expression was serious and certain.
“Quiet!” Tu Daifeng frowned, “The results have been checked repeatedly and there is no problem. Yueguang Shun, full marks.” He deliberately emphasized the word “full marks”.
“Full…full marks?” Atziyi was completely dumbfounded.
Even Kirabi, who had been laughing and had no hope for the theoretical test, now widened his eyes and leaned over to Yu Muren’s ear and asked in his unique rap tone: “Hey, Yu Muren, this kid, did he cheat or eat something? He got full marks in the theoretical test. It’s incredible, check it out!”
Yukito rolled her eyes at him and ignored him, but her eyes were full of inquiry when she looked at Shun.
Tu Daifeng looked at the students below who were in an uproar, especially Atsei who looked as if his candy had been taken away. He shook his head helplessly and thought to himself, “Look, you’re going crazy again, kid.”
He paused, and continued, “As for Atsuyi, your theoretical score this time… well, it’s improved. You’re now ranked 15th.”
Aziyi was struck by lightning, and his whole body drooped. Fifteenth place? He was only fifteenth? Doesn’t this mean that he is not even qualified to challenge Shun in terms of theoretical scores?
Just then, a steady and powerful sound of footsteps was heard.
“It seems I came at the right time.”
The Third Raikage Ai, accompanied by two guards, strode over. He was tall and strong, and his presence was so imposing that just by standing there, the temperature of the entire square seemed to rise a few degrees.
“Lord Raikage!” The students saluted respectfully.
The Third Raikage’s eyes were like lightning, sweeping through the crowd, and finally fell on Toshiro Fuu and Shun, with a hint of inquiry: “Just now I heard you were discussing the results? Shun, the first in theory?” His voice was loud and with a hint of surprise. Obviously, this result also surprised him a little.
“Yes, Lord Raikage,” Toshirofu replied respectfully.
The Third Raikage looked at Shun deeply, nodded, and said in a deep voice without saying anything more: “Okay, that’s enough of the irrelevant stuff. Now, the opening ceremony officially begins! First, I’ll give my usual opening speech!”
The students were immediately cheered up, but quickly collapsed again.
Lord Raikage’s opening speech at the school is one of the “traditional features” of the Hidden Cloud Village—it’s lengthy.
As expected, the Third Raikage talked about the history of the founding of the Hidden Cloud Village and the responsibilities and honor of ninjas, from the heroic deeds of the predecessors to the earnest expectations for the new generation, interspersed with countless personal memories of “Back then I…”
Shun stood in the crowd, seemingly listening attentively, but actually silently feeling the changes brought about by the “study master” mark. He found that he understood some of the historical events and ninjutsu theories mentioned in the Raikage’s speech faster and more thoroughly, as if the previously unclear knowledge points were suddenly clear at this moment.
Samui secretly glanced at Shun beside her, and seeing his focused expression, she couldn’t help but straighten her back and listen carefully, even though she was confused by the profound principles.
Atsuyi scratched his head and stamped his feet, obviously impatient. Darui still looked lazy, but from time to time he would open his eyes and a gleam of light would flash, as if he was thinking about something. Kirabi… Kirabi had already started to hum his own rap quietly, and Tudaifeng next to him warned him with his eyes several times.
A full three hours later.
“…So, I hope that you can inherit the will of Kumogakure and become the pride of the village! My speech is over!” The Third Raikage finally ended his long speech with a lingering feeling.
The students breathed a sigh of relief as if they had been pardoned.
“Next, it’s the practical class test you’ve been waiting for!” Teacher Tu Daifeng stepped forward at the right time and announced loudly.
As soon as the words fell——
“Shun! I want to challenge you first!” Atsuyi was like a chicken with blood, and instantly revived with full blood. He rushed out first, pointing at Shun and shouting loudly. He had to get back the face he lost in theory in actual combat!
“Hey! Shun, you have pretty good strength. Let me meet you too! Let me show you my perfect rap and eight-sword style!” Kirabi also squeezed over, carrying his disproportionate practice dagger. While rapping, he also did not forget to strike a few poses that he thought were very cool.
“Although it’s a bit inappropriate,” Darui slowly pushed aside the people blocking his way and walked out. He looked at Shun with a calm but firm tone, “but I also want to fight with you right now.”
Suddenly, three aggressive challengers stood in front of Shun.
Samui clenched his fists nervously.
Ma Buyi watched from the side, with a strange look in her eyes. This moonlight moment really always attracts attention.
Tu Daifeng looked at these three little brats with more profound backgrounds vying to challenge Shun, and he felt overwhelmed. He rubbed his temples with a headache and looked at Yueguang Shun who had a calm face: “Shun, you see… How about you decide the order of the challenge?”
Yue Guang Shun glanced around at the three people, the corners of his mouth slightly raised, revealing a confident smile: “No need to be so troublesome.”
He paused, his eyes swept over Atsei, Kirabi, and Darui in turn, and he slowly said: “You three can come together.”
Chapter 36: Under the Lightning, All is Prologue (Old Version)
Tushiro Fuu took a deep breath and tried to keep his voice steady: “Ninja preparatory class, the final practical test begins now! There are voluntary challengers, or the examiner will designate a battle team!”
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a small commotion among the crowd watching the game at the edge of the playground. Most of the eyes, intentionally or unintentionally, drifted to the indifferent black-haired boy in the center of the field – Yueguang Shun.
“Shun! I want to challenge you!” A loud voice sounded, with the unique momentum of a young man. Kirabi carried a short sword for practice, grinning, his iconic sunglasses sparkling in the sun, and his hip-hop style movements made him look particularly confident.
Beside him, Atsei crossed his arms, his skin was slightly darker, and his expression was a little solemn, but he also spoke immediately: “And me! Shun, I want to experience your strength for myself!”
On the other side of the team, the relatively taciturn Darui also took a step forward, his eyes as sharp as an eagle: “Count me in.”
Wow——
Not only the students in the preparatory class, but also some of the leading jonin and Kumogakure high-ranking officials outside the venue showed surprised expressions. Three young men who were considered the best in the preparatory class actually nominated to challenge Gekko Shun at the same time?
“Oh my, this kid is very popular now.” Ye Yueai touched his chin, looking at the scene with interest, with a playful smile on the corner of his mouth.
The Third Raikage Ai looked at Shun with a sharp gaze, as if he wanted to learn something from this young Genin. Shun’s recent progress was indeed a little unbelievable to him.
A trace of cold sweat oozed from Toshirofu’s forehead. None of these three guys were easy to deal with, especially Killer Bee, who was said to be a future candidate for the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. Atsu and Darui were also descendants of elite jonin, with extraordinary potential.
He looked at Shun with a questioning look: “Moonlight Shun, what do you mean?”
Shun’s expression remained calm, as if being challenged by three people at the same time was a normal thing. He glanced at Kirabi, Atsuyi and Darui, and said calmly: “Okay. But, come one by one, I don’t want to waste too much time. Let’s start with you, Kirabi.”
“Wow! That’s cool!” Kirabi stuck his practice dagger into the ground and struck a pose that he thought was very cool. “Then I’ll let you see how powerful I am, you idiot, you bastard!”
Moonlight Shun was calm and even felt like laughing. Was he trying to slow down my sword-drawing speed by talking trash like that?
“Well, the first match, Gekko Shun versus Killer Bee, begins!” Tu Daifeng announced decisively.
Upon hearing this, Kirabi immediately stopped playing around, his eyes focused, and he exerted force on his feet, pouncing on Shun like a cheetah, the dagger in his hand drew a sharp arc, going straight for Shun’s throat. He was confident that his speed was unmatched among his peers.
However, he was fast, and Shun was even faster!
Just as Kirabi was about to move, Shun’s wrist twitched slightly.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Two subtle sounds of breaking through the air rang out almost simultaneously, so fast that they could hardly be captured by the naked eye.
“Huh?” Kirabi suddenly felt a sense of alarm and subconsciously tried to turn his body.
“Puff!”
A cold stinging sensation came from his right arm, followed by a burning pain. He looked down and saw two long bloody marks on his arm, with blood oozing out.
And he was still three steps away from Shun.
“I…how could that be?” The confidence on Kirabi’s face froze in an instant, and his sunglasses almost slipped off. He didn’t even see how Shun made the move.
Shun stood there, as if he had not moved at all. His fingers had become empty at some point, with only a faint arc of electricity remaining at his fingertips, which quickly dissipated.
[Ding! The mortal spiritual mark “Son of Flame” has been triggered! ][Effect: Fire escape talent permanently increases by 10%. ][Note: Young man, do you feel the fire surging in your body? Go and burn! ]Oh? His Fire Style talent has improved? Shun’s eyebrows slightly raised. This is a pleasant surprise. It seems that the previous battles and insights have finally led to qualitative changes, condensing into a new spiritual imprint.
“What a fast lightning needle! The force is also controlled just right, just scratched, no serious damage.” Ye Yueai outside the field exclaimed with a gleam in his eyes. He could see clearly that the two thin needles condensed by lightning chakra were not only incredibly fast, but also at very tricky angles.
The Third Raikage also nodded slightly, thinking to himself: This kid’s lightning control has improved again. Moreover, his calmness and decisiveness in battle far surpassed his peers.
“The winner is Moonlight Shun!” Todaifu swallowed his saliva and announced loudly. He felt his heart pounding. One move! Just one move to defeat Kirabi, who was known for his speed and physical skills!
“Damn it! I haven’t yet…” Kirabi covered his arm, his face full of unwillingness and frustration.
“Kirabi!” Mabui ran over and took out bandages and ointment from the ninja tool bag. He looked at him worriedly, “Are you okay? Shun-kun… is too strong. There is a huge gap between us and him.”
Kirabi gritted his teeth, looked at Shun’s calm back, and for the first time felt the emotion called “frustration”.
Atsu’s expression became extremely solemn. He took a deep breath and stepped forward: “It’s my turn. Shun, I won’t be as careless as Killer Bee.” He had learned a lesson from the previous battle. Shun’s projectiles were too fast, and he couldn’t give him a chance to attack. He had to fight quickly and use his earth escape advantage to suppress him.
“The second match, Gekkou Shun vs. Atsuyi, begins!”
“Earth Escape: Earth Flow Wall!” Atziyi quickly formed seals with his hands and shouted in a low voice.
He did not choose to raise a defensive wall directly, but with the activation of the ninjutsu, he stomped his feet hard and rushed towards Shun like a cannonball, while his hands formed seals again, preparing for the follow-up pursuit ninjutsu. He planned to combine the impact of the earth escape technique with close combat techniques to catch Shun off guard.
“You want to use a quick attack to counter my projectiles?” Shun’s mouth curled up in an almost invisible arc, “Naive.”
Just when Atsuyi was about to get close, Shun’s figure did not retreat but advanced, and quickly formed a seal with one hand – Yin!
“Superior Lightning Release: Lightning Pillar!”
A blinding flash of lightning suddenly burst out from Shun’s palm. Without any warning, a thick blue lightning column slammed towards Atzii who was rushing towards him with lightning speed.
“What?!” Atsuyi’s pupils shrank sharply. He had never expected that Shun would choose to fight head-on, and with such a powerful lightning ninjutsu! This was simply not a level that a preparatory class student could master!
At the critical moment, Atsuyi forcibly interrupted the attack ninjutsu that he had prepared, and put his palms together: “Earth Style: Hardening Technique!”
He tried to strengthen his body defense to the maximum extent before the lightning column hit him. The khaki chakra quickly covered his body.
boom–!
The lightning column collided violently with Atsii’s hastily formed earth escape defense.
A sharp explosion sounded throughout the playground, and the powerful electric current instantly penetrated the not-so-strong soil defense.
“Aaaaah!” Atzii groaned in pain as he was hit head-on by the lightning column. He flew backwards and fell heavily on the ground a few meters away. His whole body twitched and his hair stood on end, emitting smoke.
Although the Earth Style: Hardening Technique managed to protect his vitals at the last moment and prevented him from losing his combat effectiveness on the spot, it also consumed a large amount of his chakra and paralyzed his entire body, making him unable to move at all for a short period of time.
He instantly withdrew his hand, and the remaining electric arc in the palm of his hand crackled.
The entire playground was dead silent.
If the instant killing of Killer Bee could be attributed to surprise and Killer Bee’s carelessness, then the head-on defeat of Atsuyi who was giving his all, and the use of such an astonishingly powerful Lightning Release, could only indicate one thing – the absolute gap in strength!
“This… is this also the strength of Shun-kun?” Ma Buyi covered his mouth, his eyes full of disbelief.
Darui’s body, which had been tense all the time, couldn’t help but tremble slightly at this moment. He could feel the power of the lightning column from such a distance, and the terrifying energy contained in it. He asked himself, if it were him, he would probably not be able to stop it.
“This kid…” The Third Raikage’s eyes became sharp. “He deliberately didn’t use the lightning rod to attack Atsuyi right away. Did he calculate that Atsuyi would choose to attack quickly, and then use the more powerful lightning escape to win with one blow? This combat IQ…”
Yeyue Ai chuckled at the side: “Old man, you see it, right? This kid is not only growing fast in strength, but his brain is also getting better and better. He saw through all of Atziyi’s little tricks.”
Tu Daifeng felt his throat was a little dry, and he announced with difficulty: “The winner… The winner is Yueguang Shun!”
He looked at the calm and composed boy in the field, and only one thought flashed through his mind: Monster! This kid is not in human form at all! Is this kind of strength really something a preparatory class student can possess? I’m afraid that many official Genin can’t compare to him!
Yueguang Shun let out a breath and turned his gaze to the last person – Darui.
Next, it’s time to clear the area.
Chapter 37 You, the one with thick eyebrows and big eyes, have also betrayed me (old version)
The corners of Yue Guang Shun’s mouth curled up in an almost imperceptible arc.
The activation of the ordinary spiritual mark “Blade of Storm” was smoother than he expected. The 10% improvement in Storm Escape and swordsmanship talent was already a dimensionality reduction strike for the ninja preparatory class at this moment.
Although Atsei is known as a “hot-blooded man”, his foundation is surprisingly solid, especially his earth escape talent, which is outstanding among his peers. If it weren’t for his deliberate planning and the subtle increase brought by the “Blade of Storm”, I’m afraid it would have taken a lot of effort.
At the moment he defeated Atsei, a clear message emerged in his mind:
[Ordinary spiritual mark: Storm Blade. ][Trigger condition: Defeat Atsuyi (childhood) who possesses the “Hot-blooded Soul” with overwhelming advantage. ][Effect: Storm escape talent increased by 10%, swordsmanship talent increased by 10%. Already equipped.]Although this mark is only of ordinary level, the dual bonus of “Storm Escape” and “Swordsmanship” is undoubtedly a great help to the Moonlight Clan who specialize in speed and sharp blades.
“Atzei.”
Shun stopped his attack and waved to Atsuyi, who was lying on the ground gasping for breath, with a “sincere” smile on his face.
“You, why are you here?” Atsyi had a wary look on his face, obviously scared of being beaten, but the unwillingness in his eyes was burning.
He now looks forward to Atsei becoming his stable “Imprint ATM”.
“…”
Atsuyi got up and dusted himself off. Although he had just been defeated by Shun in a way that he could not understand at all—that guy was clearly using Lightning Release, how could he suddenly come up with a slash faster than the wind?—the passion in his blood would not allow him to retreat.
He took a deep breath, took a defensive stance, and said in a muffled voice: “Come again! I haven’t lost yet!”
Yue Guang Shun secretly laughed in his heart, but his face showed an expression of “heroes respecting heroes” and he said seriously: “Your earth escape is very strong. If I hadn’t reacted quickly with that earth flow wall move just now, I would have been trapped by you.”
“Of course!”
Upon hearing this, Atsyi was slightly stunned, then he straightened his chest and said loudly: “Humph, you have good vision! Next time, next time I will definitely use a stronger earth escape technique to defeat you! Let you see what a real iron wall is!”
Perfect nesting!
The smile on Shun’s face deepened.
He had just defeated Atzii, and although the “Blade of Storm” had been triggered, it was clear that this mark still had room for upgrading. As long as Atzii continued to challenge him, he would continue to receive feedback, and this deal was a sure win.
“Good boy, this is the will of thunder of our Cloud Hidden Nation!”
In the spectator booth, the Third Raikage Yeyue Egg slapped his thigh fiercely, his eyes sparkling, and praised Broy beside him: “See, Shun is not only extremely powerful, but also very broad-minded! He is not arrogant when he wins, nor discouraged when he loses, and he can even inspire his companions. With such spirit, he will surely become a pillar of our Hidden Cloud Village in the future!”
Broy nodded repeatedly, but muttered to himself: Lord Raikage, do you have any misunderstanding about the “Will of Thunder”? That kid is obviously trying to make Atsuyi drink magic…
“Humph, just some tricks.” Ye Yue Ai (the future Fourth Raikage) curled his lips, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes, “But, being able to fool a simple-minded guy like Atsuyi is also a bit of a skill.”
Just then, a figure walked onto the stage slowly.
It’s Darui.
He still looked lazy, with his eyelids half drooping, as if he had no interest in anything. But as soon as he walked onto the field, the atmosphere of the entire playground froze.
“Shua——”
Darui pulled out a short sword that shone with cold light from the ninja tool bag on his waist. The blade was long and narrow, and there was a faint flash of lightning wrapped around it.
“It’s my turn.” His voice was calm, but it carried an unquestionable sense of oppression. “I heard that your swordsmanship is not bad. Let me see it.”
Yeyueai’s eyes lit up instantly: “Oh? Darui is going to get serious? This is going to be interesting!”
Kirabi yelled in his unique rap voice, “Hey, Shun is in trouble. Showing off your sword in front of Darui is like showing off your sword in front of Guan Gong. No, it’s just showing off your skills in front of an expert. Check it out!”
Samui clenched his fists nervously and whispered, “Brother Shun, come on…”
Ma Buyi adjusted his glasses, his eyes sharpened a little: “Yue Guang Shun… He always seems to bring surprises to people.”
Atsuyi also widened his eyes and looked at Shun in disbelief: “Hey, Shun, you… you don’t really want to compete with Darui with swords? He is the strongest swordsman in our class!”
Everyone’s eyes were focused on Shun.
Facing Darui’s sharp sword energy, Shun just smiled indifferently.
He stretched out his hand and touched his waist as well.
“bass–“
A wakizashi that was slightly longer than Darui’s short sword, with a thinner blade but gleaming with a faint blue luster, appeared in his hand.
It is one of the standard weapons of the Moonlight Clan, the “Tsukikage Wakizashi” which is famous for its lightness and swiftness.
“You use a knife, too.”
Darui raised his eyelids slightly, and a hint of barely perceptible surprise flashed across his seemingly lazy eyes, “And it’s a wakizashi.”
“I know a little bit.”
Shun smiled modestly, but was secretly calculating in his heart.
He was not completely confident in facing Darui, as the other party had a very high talent for swordsmanship, and even at a young age, he had already shown his prowess.
However, the 10% bonus to swordsmanship talent brought by “Blade of Storm”, combined with the Moonlight Clan’s extreme pursuit of speed and the flexible and changeable characteristics of Wakizashi, may not mean they are powerless.
What’s more, he has the advantage of physical strength.
“Be careful.”
Darui growled and said no more.
The chakra under his feet was slightly released, and his whole aura suddenly changed. The previous laziness disappeared without a trace, and was replaced by a sharpness like a blade out of its sheath!
“Lightning Release: Instant Slash!”
Before he finished his words, Darui’s figure had turned into a blurry flash of lightning. The dagger in his hand made a sharp sound of breaking through the air, and it struck Shun’s face like a black lightning!
Fast! Extremely fast!
As expected of the future Raikage bodyguard, this quick attack alone is enough to leave his peers far behind.
However, Shun’s reaction was faster!
The moment Darui moved, his body instinctively slid half a step to the left, barely avoiding the sharp blade.
At the same time, he shook his wrist, and the wakizashi drew a strange arc from bottom to top, like a poisonous snake spitting out its tongue, and slashed back at Darui’s wrist holding the knife.
“The one who starts later arrives first!” The Third Raikage’s pupils shrank.
Darui obviously didn’t expect Shun to react so quickly and switch between offense and defense so swiftly.
His eyes focused, but he continued his attack. He sank his wrist and pressed the dagger down, trying to block Shun’s wakizashi.
“clang–!”
The sound of metal clashing was crisp and sharp, and sparks flew everywhere!
The two blades collided with precision.
At the moment of contact, Darui’s expression suddenly changed!
A force far beyond his expectation came from the blade, causing his palm to go numb and his arm to feel sore.
That force was not just pure brute force, it also had a peculiar penetrating power, as if it could penetrate the blade and strike directly into his internal organs!
“Thump! Thump! Thump!”
Darui only felt an irresistible force pushing him forward. He staggered and was forced to retreat three steps before he could barely keep his balance!
He looked at Yue Guang Shun in disbelief. The other party still looked calm and composed, as if the earth-shattering blow just now was just a casual act.
“What a powerful force!” Darui was secretly surprised. “This guy is not only fast, but also so powerful!”
He originally thought that with his exquisite swordsmanship and the speed enhanced by Thunder Escape, he would be able to suppress the opponent, but he did not expect that he would suffer such a great loss in the first head-on confrontation.
Yue Guangshun stood there with a knife in his hand, but he understood everything in his heart.
This was the effect of the combination of the “Blade of Mist” and his own strength. The 10% of swordsmanship talent not only improved his skills, but also subtly optimized his power-generating skills, allowing every bit of power to act more effectively on the blade.
“Come again.”
Shun’s tone was calm, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was burning.
This Darui is a good whetstone!
Chapter 38 I am the successor to the Raikage (old version)
The crisp and rapid sound of metal clashing once again resounded throughout the playground of the Ninja Preparatory Class, sparks flew, and instantly attracted everyone’s attention.
The students watching held their breath unconsciously, their hearts seemed to be tightly grasped by an invisible hand. They had never thought that Darui, who was good at swordsmanship, would be suppressed so badly in the field he was best at.
Samui’s face flushed with excitement. He clenched his hands into fists, his knuckles turning white. He kept muttering, “Brother Shun, come on! Brother Shun, you will definitely win!”
Yeyue Ai crossed his arms over his chest, frowned slightly, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle. He could see clearly that Shun’s strength and speed were slightly beyond Darui’s. More importantly, the short wakizashi seemed to have life in Shun’s hand, agile and deadly.
The battle is still raging.
Just as Darui blocked Shun’s powerful slash, his body swayed slightly, and his footing was unstable, a cold light flashed in Yue Guang Shun’s eyes, not giving the opponent any chance to breathe. There was a slight flash of lightning under his feet, which was the basic footwork of Yeyue’s fluid flow technique, and his figure approached like a ghost.
The wakizashi in his hand drew a strange arc and went straight to Darui’s right wrist holding the knife!
Yunliu swordsmanship is known for its speed and ferocity, but the wakizashi in Shun’s hand adds a bit of variety, trickiness and ruthlessness.
“hateful!”
Darui cursed inwardly. He could clearly feel the cold sword energy coming from the opponent’s wakizashi, and the huge force that almost knocked his sword away. He knew very well that if this move succeeded, his sword would definitely fall out of his hand.
In a split second, Darui showed combat experience and decisiveness far beyond his peers. He suddenly loosened his right hand holding the katana, letting the katana be knocked away by Shun’s wakizashi!
“He abandoned the knife?”
There were exclamations one after another. To actively abandon the sword in a sword fight was undoubtedly to seek death!
However, just when Shun was slightly startled and thought that the outcome had been decided, Darui’s free right hand reached into the ninja tool bag like lightning, took out three special kunai that were flashing with lightning, and with a flick of his wrist, shot them in a V-shape towards Shun’s face and chest!
Lightning Release: Kunai Attack!
This move is unexpected, has a tricky angle, and contains lightning chakra. Once it hits, it will either cause death or injury.
“Instant!” Yeyue Samui screamed in shock, and his little face turned pale in an instant.
Even the Third Raikage, who was watching the match, narrowed his eyes slightly and thought to himself, “This kid is quite quick-witted.”
Facing this sudden and fatal counterattack, Moonlight Shun showed amazing reaction speed and fighting instinct. He leaned back suddenly, almost parallel to the ground, and the wakizashi was stretched out in front of him.
Three crisp collision sounds were heard in succession, and three lightning kunai were accurately blocked by the wakizashi, flying past his nose and lifting a few strands of black hair.
That was a close call!
Shun’s heart was also startled. Darui was indeed very experienced. He threw away his sword to lure the enemy and used the lightning kunai to counterattack, which almost got him into trouble.
But, chance!
Just as Shun leaned back to avoid the kunai and his body had not yet fully regained its balance, Darui’s eyes flashed fiercely, and with the other kunai tightly grasped in his left hand, he took advantage of the momentum of the forward rush and stabbed it fiercely at Shun’s exposed chest and abdomen!
This was a desperate fight for Darui! He wanted to deliver a fatal blow before Shun could adjust his posture!
However, he underestimated Shun’s control over his own body, and the explosive power that Yotsuki Fluid Technique gave him.
With a loud shout, he exerted force on his waist and abdomen instantly, and his body, which was originally leaning back, was twisted forcefully at an incredible angle. His left leg lashed out like a whip, carrying the powerful force of Yeyue Fluid Technique, and he was the first to arrive, kicking Darui’s left wrist holding the kunai!
“Crack!”
There was a teeth-grinding sound of bone cracking, Darui groaned in pain, and the kunai in his left hand fell off.
Without waiting for Darui to react, Shun’s attack came like a storm.
He stomped his right foot heavily on the ground, and his body shot out like a cannonball. The wakizashi clenched in his right hand drew a sad and cold light in the air, pointing directly at Darui’s throat.
But Shun did not really kill. At the moment when the wakizashi was about to touch Darui’s skin, his wrist suddenly sank, and the wakizashi changed from stabbing to slapping, hitting Darui hard on the chest!
A dull crash was heard, and Darui felt a surge of tremendous force, as if his chest was hit by a huge hammer. His internal organs seemed to shift out of place, and he couldn’t catch his breath, and his body flew backwards uncontrollably.
Shun took advantage of the situation and exerted force on his feet again, almost sliding close to the ground, and instantly caught up with Darui who was flying backwards. When Darui was about to land, Shun made a fist with his left hand, condensed the explosive power of Night Moon Fluid Technique, and threw a powerful and unmatched punch, hitting the same position on Darui’s chest accurately!
“puff!”
Darui was struck by lightning, spurting out a mouthful of blood, and his body fell heavily to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust.
Before he could struggle to get up, a cold light flashed, and Yueguang was already close to him, with the wakizashi in his hand pressing coldly on his neck artery.
The entire playground was suddenly silent.
Everyone was stunned by this quick and thrilling battle. From Darui throwing away his knife to counterattack, to instantly resolving the danger and then killing him with lightning speed, everything happened in a flash, so fast that it was dazzling.
“Gudong.” Someone swallowed, breaking the silence.
“Win…win?”
“Shun won! He defeated Darui!”
After a brief silence, thunderous cheers broke out!
“Master Shun is too strong!”
“What kind of taijutsu is that? It’s so powerful!”
“The Cloud Flow Sword Technique is simply a divine skill in his hands!”
The students were talking excitedly, looking at Shun with eyes full of admiration and awe. At this moment, the name of Gekko Shun became a well-deserved legend of the Kumogakure Ninja Preparatory Class.
Yeyue Samui jumped up excitedly, her face flushed, her eyes sparkling with pride: “Brother Shun is the best!”
Yeyue Ai raised an imperceptible arc at the corner of his mouth and nodded slowly: “Darui, it’s not unfair to lose. This kid’s strength, speed, reaction, and combat instinct are far beyond his peers.”
In the spectator booth, the Third Raikage smiled with satisfaction and praised, “Excellent swordsmanship! Excellent physical skills! What’s even more rare is the wisdom of fighting in the face of danger. The future of the Hidden Cloud Village will have successors!”
Yueguang Shun slowly retracted the wakizashi, glanced at Darui, whose face was pale, blood was oozing from the corner of his mouth, and whose eyes were full of unwillingness and confusion, and took the initiative to extend his hand: “Are you okay, Darui?”
Darui stared blankly at Shun’s outstretched hand, then looked at the excited crowd around him. This was the first time he was defeated in his most proud swordsmanship, and he was defeated so thoroughly. He silently held Shun’s hand, and was pulled up by him. He whispered, “I lost.” His voice was a little hoarse, with a hint of disbelief.
At this moment, a cold reminder sounded in Shun’s mind:
[Ding! It was detected that the host defeated the young Darui head-on in actual combat, demonstrating his outstanding swordsmanship talent and affinity with lightning. ][Congratulations to the host for obtaining the mortal spiritual mark: “Blade of Mist”! ][Effect of “Blade of Storm”: Storm escape talent increased by 20%, swordsmanship talent increased by 20%, and understanding of wind and thunder attribute changes deepened.]Shun’s heart moved. Sure enough, it came! The simultaneous improvement of Storm Escape and swordsmanship talents would undoubtedly be a huge boost to his future development. He could feel that his perception of wind and thunder seemed to be more acute, and his understanding of swordsmanship had also increased to an indescribable level of enlightenment.
The actual combat exam gradually came to an end after the peak duel between Shun and Darui. Although the subsequent competitions also had their merits, they seemed a bit dull after all.
After announcing that Shun had won first place in this practical exam, the Third Raikage left the playground first with a satisfied smile and walked towards the Raikage’s office.
The atmosphere in the Raikage’s office was as solemn as ever.
The Third Raikage had just sat down on the chair that symbolized the highest power in the Hidden Cloud Village when the door of his office was violently pushed open with a bang from outside.
“Raikage!” A slightly old but powerful voice sounded, and Elder Leiyun strode in with a gloomy face, followed by two Root ninjas with stern expressions.
The Third Raikage frowned slightly. He was used to Elder Leiyun’s behavior of barging in without notification. But at the moment, he was in a good mood and asked calmly, “Elder Leiyun, why are you so impatient?”
Elder Leiyun walked to the desk and slapped his hands heavily on the table, making a dull “dong” sound. He stared at the Third Raikage with scorching eyes: “Yukkou Shun, leave him to me! Train him with my ‘Black Butterfly Project’!”
He had apparently received the news that Shun had defeated Darui in the practical exam, which made him more determined to bring Shun under his control.
“That kid Yeyue Ai is simply incapable of fully tapping into Shun’s talent! Only through the most rigorous training of the ‘Black Butterfly Project’ can he be made into the sharpest spear and the strongest shield of the Hidden Cloud Village!” Elder Leiyun’s tone left no room for doubt.
The Third Raikage picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. His expression was calm and unperturbed. “I can see Shun’s talent very clearly. Although Ai is young, he has his own methods, and Shun is growing very fast under him.”
“Quick? That’s just a small fight!” Elder Leiyun sneered, “To be truly strong, one needs to be tempered in blood and fire! Womanly kindness will only destroy him! Leave him to me. In three years, no, only two years, I will make him a qualified killing weapon and sweep away all enemies!”
The Third Raikage put down his teacup, his eyes suddenly became sharp, and his tone became a little colder: “Thundercloud, what I want to cultivate is the future of the Hidden Cloud Village, a Kage-level pillar who can lead the village to become stronger, not a tool without emotions that only knows how to kill.”
“You are too soft-hearted! Your naive ideas will harm Kumogakure sooner or later!” Elder Leiyun said angrily, “Ninjas don’t need extra emotions! They will only become their weaknesses!”
“Emotions are also the source of strength.” The Third Raikage slowly stood up. His stature, which was a head taller than Elder Leiyun, brought a strong sense of oppression. “Shun is the bloodline of the Yeyue clan, and he is also the treasure of our Hidden Cloud Village. His path should be chosen by himself, instead of becoming a victim of a certain plan.”
“You are killing a genius! You are wasting the resources of the Hidden Cloud Village!” Elder Leiyun was so angry that his beard was shaking and veins bulged on his forehead.
The Third Raikage’s eyes were like lightning, his voice was as solemn as a mountain, and he said word by word: “I am the Raikage. I will protect Shun’s future. The Black Butterfly Project should be stopped here, and don’t try to target him anymore.”
“You…you will regret this! If Yunyin suffers losses because of this in the future, you will be a sinner!” Elder Leiyun pointed at the Third Raikage and roared in frustration.
“My decision cannot be questioned.” The Third Raikage’s tone was calm, but it carried an irresistible majesty.
“Hmph!” Elder Leiyun snorted heavily, knowing that it was useless to say anything more. He flicked his sleeves, turned around and left.
He slammed the office door shut with a loud bang, causing the dust on the roof to fall down.
The Third Raikage looked at the closed door with deep eyes. He knew that Elder Leiyun would not give up easily, but as long as he was in this position, he would do his best to protect the young shoots that represented the hope of the Hidden Cloud Village and let them thrive in their own way.
This child, Gekkou Shun, might really be the light that illuminates the future of Kumogakure. And as the Raikage, he must clear the obstacles in the way for this light.
Chapter 39 Ai: He is mine! (Old version)
“Asshole! How many times has this door panel happened?!”
The Third Raikage looked at the special alloy door that had been violently dismantled from the door frame and leaned against the wall alone, and the veins on his forehead twitched. This is the third time this month! The first time was that old guy Lei Yun, the second time was that kid Ai, and this time… Judging from the rough method, it’s probably Ai again!
“Lord Raikage.”
A dark figure appeared silently in the shadow of the office. It was Fuuji, the Anbu who was directly under the Raikage. He was wearing a plain white mask without any decoration.
“I will arrange for someone to come and repair it immediately.”
Feng Ji glanced at the door, his tone calm, obviously he was used to this kind of scene.
First someone came angrily, then the Raikage sighed helplessly, and finally a door or a table slammed shut.
“Wait a minute,” the Third Raikage rubbed his temple, and suddenly a plan came to his mind, “Let’s put this account on Elder Leiyun first. Then, go get Ai to me… No, bring him here! Tell him that if he dares to dawdle, I will cut his training resources for this month in half!”
“yes.”
Feng Jie’s figure merged into the shadows again and disappeared.
The Third Raikage snorted heavily, walked to the window, and looked at the Kumogakure ninjas sweating on the training ground below, but he was thinking about something else in his mind. The old man Leiyun actually wanted to reach out to Shun. He was getting more and more confused as he got older.
“Dad! You’d better have something really big happen, otherwise you will delay my training, and you know the consequences!”
But after a moment, Ai’s signature loud voice was heard outside the office, accompanied by heavy and hurried footsteps. The voice caught people’s attention before the person arrived.
The Third Raikage turned around and saw Ai rushing in like a black panther ready to pounce. His dark skin still glowed with health in the slightly dim light of the office.
“Hey, Dad, did you change the style of your door again?” Ai caught a glimpse of the miserable door and grinned, with a bit of gloating, “Who is the blind man who provokes you this time? Or is that old man Lei Yun looking for trouble again?”
“Stop talking nonsense!” The Third Raikage glared at him, “Isn’t this your fault?”
Ai touched his nose and smiled, which was considered as acquiescence. He was indeed a little angry because of a small matter just now. When he passed by his father’s office, he “unlocked” the door.
“Okay, let’s not talk about this.” The Third Raikage waved his hand, walked to his desk and sat down, his expression became serious, “I called you here because of that brat Shun.”
“Shun?” Hearing this, Ai’s originally nonchalant expression slightly restrained, and his thick eyebrows knitted, “What happened to that kid? Did he secretly practice more and hurt himself, or was he bullied by other kids?”
This kid, who usually looks careless, actually cares a lot about Shun. The Third Raikage thought to himself, but his face remained expressionless: “Today, Elder Leiyun came to me and said that he saw Shun’s talent and wanted to take him in as his last disciple and train him with emphasis.”
“What?! He dared—!”
Before the Third Raikage could finish his words, there was a loud “bang!” and Ai’s fist, which was as big as a casserole, smashed hard on the desk in front of him that was made of a special high-strength alloy.
The sturdy table top cracked with a sound, and spider-web-like cracks quickly spread. Finally, with a teeth-grinding sound of metal twisting, the entire table top collapsed in the middle and turned into a pile of twisted scrap metal.
The corner of the Third Raikage’s mouth twitched violently.
I just replaced my reinforced desk less than three months ago! There are lightning runes engraved on it that he personally drew to help me think!
He couldn’t help but show a painful expression on his face. He specially asked the best craftsman in the village to customize this table. It feels very good. If he changes to another one, he will have to get used to the subtle force feedback again.
“Don’t worry, I haven’t agreed to him yet.” The Third Raikage took a deep breath, fearing that this brat Ai would get excited and dismantle the remaining things in the office, so he hurriedly said.
“That would be better!” Ai’s chest rose and fell violently, his eyes seemed to be emitting lightning, “That old bastard Lei Yun, he can’t teach a decent disciple himself, so he wants to steal other people’s seedlings? He’s dreaming!”
“It seems that you care a lot about Shun.” The Third Raikage’s eyes flashed with a smile, but his tone was a bit inquiring, “In this case, why don’t you just accept him as your apprentice? With your strength, you are more than capable of teaching him.”
“Humph, that kid is still far from it!” Ai curled his lips, crossed his arms in front of his chest, and looked disapproving, “It’s not that easy to be my disciple!”
“Really?” The Third Raikage said slowly, “Elder Leiyun is very sincere. He said that if I agree, he is willing to give out the few volumes of Lightning Release Secret Techniques that he has treasured for many years in exchange… Moreover, your brother Killer Bee seems to be quite interested in Shun recently. He often drags him to do rap. I think Shun is quite happy with it. If you hesitate any longer, maybe he will be seduced by your brother to become a rapper, or he may be preempted by Elder Leiyun.”
“No!” Ai almost yelled, he slapped his thigh (luckily he didn’t slap the table because there was no table to slap), “Shun is mine! I was the first one to fall for that guy! No one else can dare to take advantage of him!”
This was the first time he had seen a kid with such amazing talent in Lightning Escape and who got along so well with him. How could he possibly give him up to that old bastard Leiyun, let alone let that unreliable guy Kirabi lead him astray!
“This won’t work, and that won’t work either. You can’t let an old man like me teach you in person, right?” The Third Raikage finally smiled with a triumphant smile, “I don’t have that much energy left.”
He pushed Ai forward to be Shun’s teacher. On the one hand, Shun’s talent was indeed worthy of being cultivated by the future Kage of the Hidden Cloud Village. On the other hand, he also wanted to find something for Ai to do to make him more stable, and more importantly, to tie Shun firmly to the chariot of the Raikage series.
“Damn you, old bastard Leiyun!” Ai cursed in a low voice, obviously still angry about Elder Leiyun’s coveting.
The Third Raikage looked at him leisurely, not urging him. He knew his son (disciple) too well, a typical person who was tough on the outside but soft on the inside, and was very protective of his shortcomings.
Ai paced a few steps in annoyance, then suddenly stopped, turned around and walked out.
“Ai?” The Third Raikage called out to him.
“Dad, go tell that old bastard Lei Yun right now!” Ai turned around, pointed at himself, and announced domineeringly, “Shun, from today on, is my, Yeyue Ai’s, direct disciple! Give him that idea away! If you dare to go after Shun again, I will tear down his elders’ mansion and use it as firewood!”
After saying that, he strode away without looking back, leaving the Third Raikage in the ruined office, at a loss whether to laugh or cry.
“Kaze Festival.” The Third Raikage shook his head helplessly.
“I’m here.” Feng Ji appeared again silently.
“Please charge the maintenance fee of this table and the door to Elder Leiyun! Use the best materials in the village to repair them. The more expensive the better!” added the Third Raikage.
As for Ai, that kid probably doesn’t have much spare money except for the energy to practice, so it’s useless to remember his name.
“Dad, the atmosphere in the office is so lively, are they having a celebration party? Wow!”
Before he finished speaking, a figure “whoosh” came in from the open window. It was Kirabi. He was wearing sunglasses and carrying his Samehada (although it was not his yet). He saw the tragic scene in the office and couldn’t help but whistled.
“Yo, brother, did you come here for weight training just now? The destructive power is so cool, yeah!” Kirabi made rap gestures and marveled.
“What are you doing here at this time?” The Third Raikage looked at him and his head hurt even more.
“Dad, I’m here to say goodbye, OK?” Kirabi put away his joking expression and became a little more serious. “My rap inspiration has been a bit dry recently. I need a spontaneous trip to find the lost beat, yo!”
“Are you going to look for that illusory ‘perfect rhyme’ of yours again?” The Third Raikage frowned even deeper.
“Perfect rhyme really exists, just like the strongest lightning escape, it needs to be felt with the heart. Dad, you don’t understand!” Kirabi insisted.
“The village has been in unrest lately.” The Third Raikage said in a deep voice.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I’m here with big brother, so nothing will happen! Besides, I’ll be back soon with a brand new freestyle!” Kirabi patted his chest.
“Oh, forget it, go ahead.” The Third Raikage sighed and waved his hand. With Killer Bee’s temper, it was impossible to stop him.
“Thanks, Dad! The coolest!” Killer Bee’s eyes lit up, and he suddenly remembered something. He took out a booklet with a fancy cover from his arms and threw it to the Third Raikage. “This is for you. It’s a treasure I discovered recently. It will definitely help you rekindle the flame of youth while reviewing documents! Yo!”
After saying that, he did a graceful backflip and jumped out of the window again, leaving only a series of “Yo Yo Chek Nao” tail sounds echoing in the air.
The Third Raikage subconsciously took the booklet, and saw a few large characters written in crooked fonts on the cover – “The Legend of the Lightning Hero: The Adventures of the Strongest Ninja and the Eight Tailed Beast Princesses”? !
He flipped through a few pages and saw that they were filled with exaggerated battle descriptions and… well, some blushing illustrations.
This rebellious son!
Am I, the Third Raikage, the kind of person who would watch something like this?!
The Third Raikage coughed lightly and silently stuffed the “Legend of the Lightning Hero” into his wide sleeves. Well, when it’s late at night, I can study it a little bit to understand the popular culture of young people nowadays.
Chapter 40 Reward You for Being My Disciple (Old Version)
“Phew, the exam is finally over! Shun, Samui, you two have really brought honor to our Yeyue clan this time! Come on, I’ll treat you to a seafood feast, the freshest kind!”
At the gate of the Ninja Preparatory School, the burly Yeyue Deguang, Samui’s father and the elder of the Yeyue clan, was full of undisguised pride. He waved his hand and spoke generously. His bronze skin shone with a healthy luster in the sunset, and his voice was as loud as a bell.
“A seafood feast!” Samui’s pale golden eyes lit up instantly, and his usually cold expression was tinged with a rare childish excitement. “I want to eat the biggest baked lobster!”
Yue Guang Shun also smiled slightly, and a big stone fell from his heart. In this practical test, he performed exceptionally well and even defeated Darui, who was famous for his fighting talent. This was certainly due to his hard training, but it was also inseparable from the daily care and guidance of the Samui family. A seafood dinner is indeed a good celebration.
The three of them had just taken a few steps and were about to go to the most famous seafood restaurant in the village, “Langhua Pavilion”, when a figure like an iron tower blocked their way. The man had dark skin, muscular body, and short white hair that stood up like steel needles. He was the future fourth generation Raikage of the Hidden Cloud Village and the young master of the current Yeyue clan – Yeyue Ai.
“Ai…Lord Ai!” When Yeyue Deguang saw the person coming, the smile on his face faded slightly and he quickly saluted respectfully.
“Yeah,” Ai just nodded casually, his eyes as sharp as a hawk, directly locked on Yueguang Shun behind Deguang, “Shun, right? Come with me.”
His voice was low and magnetic, with an unquestionable majesty.
“This…” Yeyue Deguang was stunned for a moment, but immediately realized that Lord Ai came to see Shun in person, so he must have something important to tell him, and it was probably a good thing. He said tactfully, “Shun, since Lord Ai is looking for you, you should go first. There is no rush to celebrate.”
“Huh?” Samui’s expectant face fell, he pouted somewhat dissatisfiedly, and muttered softly: “Brother Ai is the best at spoiling the fun…”
Shun looked at Samui helplessly, then at Ai, thinking to himself: This future Raikage is looking for me, could it be because of Darui? Although that kid is careless, he is Ai’s follower after all, is he too harsh?
“Let’s go.” Ai didn’t say any more nonsense, turned around and left, his steps steady and quick.
Shun quickly said goodbye to Yeyue Deguang and Samui, and trotted to catch up with Ai.
The two of them were silent along the way. Ai’s pace was very fast, and Shun had to concentrate all the time to barely keep up. The uneasiness in his heart about Darui was gradually replaced by curiosity about Ai’s purpose. He always felt that the aura of this big man was more domineering than the first generation Raikage described in the textbook. He was simply a walking lightning chakra source.
Soon, the two arrived at the main house of the Yeyue clan, a vast complex of buildings with a rough yet majestic style. Ai took Shun directly to an open space in the backyard of the main house.
“I watched your fight with Darui.” Ai stopped, turned around, crossed his arms, and looked at Shun with his eyes, “How did you feel?”
Here it comes! Shun was startled, but he replied calmly: “Darui is very strong, I just won by luck. Thanks to the usual guidance of Master Ai and Samui’s sparring.” At times like this, it’s always right to be humble.
“Hmph, don’t try that on me.” Ai’s mouth curled up into an arc, revealing a mouthful of white teeth. That smile looked a bit like a beast ready to hunt. “Winning is winning, and you fought well. Someone should teach that kid Darui a lesson, so that he won’t be lazy all day long.”
After hearing this, I felt relieved. It seemed that he was not here to seek revenge.
“Kid,” Ai suddenly stretched out his big hand like a palm leaf fan and patted Shun’s shoulder heavily. The force was so great that Shun felt his shoulder blade was about to break. “As a reward for defeating Darui and sounding the alarm for that kid–“
He paused, as if appreciating the slightly twisted expression on Shun’s face due to pain and confusion, then grinned and said in a tone that was almost declarative:
“Reward you for being my disciple.”
“ah?”
Shun felt as if his brain was struck directly by a bolt of lightning. Everything went blank in an instant, with only this monosyllabic exclamation remaining.
Become Ai’s disciple? The future Fourth Raikage? This… is this happiness coming too suddenly? He originally thought that it would be a great opportunity for him to occasionally receive Ai’s guidance, but he didn’t expect that Ai would actually directly ask to take him in as a disciple!
“What? Are you unhappy?” Ai raised his eyebrows, a dangerous light flashed in his eyes, and he felt as if electric arcs were faintly jumping around his body.
“Yes! Disciple is willing!” Shun almost shouted, fearing that if he was a second late, this big guy would go back on his word and reward him with a lightning massage.
“That’s about right.” Ai nodded with satisfaction, and the smile on his face became much more genuine. He withdrew his hand and casually pointed to a simple open-air stove and some processed ingredients nearby, “Since you have become my disciple, the first lesson is to learn how to cook. Here, grill that sea fish with Thunder Release.”
instant:”……”
Be a human being! I just agreed to be your disciple! Shouldn’t the first lesson teach the world-destroying lightning ninjutsu or the domineering and unparalleled physical skills? Why did it jump to the lightning grilled fish? This style is wrong!
Shun suddenly remembered some rumors about Mr. Ai’s ability to live was almost zero, and Samui’s occasional complaints that Brother Ai would only burn the ingredients or stew them into a pot of black, unknown objects…
He swallowed hard, looking at the cleaned sea fish waiting to be put into the pot, and a bad feeling arose in his heart.
“For a ninja, survival in the wild is the basic skill, and being able to cook is the key to ensuring combat effectiveness.” Ai said confidently, as if this was an extremely sacred inheritance ceremony.
What excuse do you want? You are just hungry! And you want to eat something fresh!
Shun was complaining madly in his mind, but he didn’t dare to show it on his face. He could only bite the bullet and reply, “Yes, teacher!”
He walked to the stove and picked up the sea fish, which weighed at least three pounds. The fish had been gutted and scaled, and was handled fairly cleanly, but the cut was a bit rough, and it was obvious that it was not a delicate job.
“Lightning Release grilled fish…” Shun muttered to himself. In his previous life, he was also a food lover, and he often cooked. He knew a little about Japanese and Chinese cuisine, so grilled fish was no problem. But “Lightning Release” grilled fish, this involved the precise control of chakra.
He took a deep breath and recalled the changes in the nature of the lightning ninjutsu he had mastered. To convert the explosive energy of lightning into uniform and continuous heat energy, and to ensure that the fish meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, this was much more difficult than simply releasing a lightning ninjutsu.
Shun first skillfully cut a few slits on both sides of the fish to make it easier for the fish to absorb flavor and evenly heat. Then, he took salt, pepper and some spices unique to the Hidden Cloud Village from the seasoning jar next to him and evenly applied them to the inside and outside of the fish. This series of actions was smooth and flowing, and Ai, who was standing by, raised his eyebrows slightly.
“Boy, you seem very skilled?” Ai was a little surprised.
“When I was in the orphanage, I often had to do things myself.” Shun explained casually without saying much.
Ai’s expression changed slightly when he heard this, but he didn’t ask any more questions. He just watched quietly.
Shun skewered the marinated fish with thick bamboo sticks and placed them on a simple grill. Then, he formed seals with his hands and shouted, “Lightning Release: Microcurrent Heating!”
A fine blue arc leaped out from his fingertips, without violent thunder, but like a gentle electric current, carefully covering the surface of the fish. He concentrated on controlling the output of chakra, and even beads of sweat oozed from his forehead.
As time passed, the fish meat gradually gave off an enticing aroma under the heating of the electric current, and the skin began to become golden and crispy.
Just when Shun felt that the fish was almost done and was about to stop, a few lines of light blue text suddenly appeared in front of his eyes without any warning:
[Mortal Spiritual Mark has been activated: Cooking Apprentice][Trigger condition: Under the guidance of others (or strong suggestion), try to make dishes containing chakra for the first time and show certain potential.][Effect: The deliciousness of the dishes you make (including Chakra dishes) will be permanently increased by 10%. Note: Ineffective for dark dishes.]Is there such a good thing?
Shun was slightly startled, and then he was delighted. This spiritual imprint came at the right time! A 10% increase in deliciousness may not sound like much, but for cooking, it may be a leap from “delicious” to “very delicious”.
He calmly withdrew his lightning chakra, took the grilled fish off the grill, and placed it on the stone slab beside him. The golden fish skin sizzled, and the rich fish aroma mixed with the smell of spices filled his nose.
“Teacher, it’s ready.” Shun handed the slate to Ai.
Ai leaned over and smelled it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: “It smells… really good.” He reached out and tore off a piece of fish, stuffed it into his mouth without hesitation and started chewing.
Shun looked at him nervously, afraid that the future Raikage would say “too tender, not chewy enough” or “not cooked enough, try it more” after eating.
“Hmm!” Ai chewed a few times and suddenly snorted with satisfaction, “It’s crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with just the right amount of saltiness, and the heat of the lightning escape is just right, without wasting the ingredients. Boy, you have a talent for this!”
After receiving the affirmation, he breathed a sigh of relief. It seems that the 10% bonus of “Cooking Apprentice” is very effective.
“Hey, you can’t just eat fish.” Ai finished half of the grilled fish in a few bites, smacking his lips with satisfaction, and then he seemed to remember something and patted Shun’s shoulder, “Just wait, I’ll let you taste my cooking skills!”
As he spoke, Ai strode towards the stove and rummaged through the pile of ingredients next to it. He soon found some processed animal meat and several root vegetables.
Shun watched Ai’s thick fingers pick up the kitchen knife and use it to handle the ingredients in a wide-open and close manner, as if chopping wood. The corners of his eyes twitched involuntarily a few times. He seriously doubted whether those potatoes and carrots could maintain their intact shape under Ai’s hands.
Sure enough, a moment later, a pile of meat chunks and diced vegetables of various shapes and sizes were thrown into a large iron pot by Ai Haomai, and water and some seasonings that looked very “strong” were added.
“Our Yunyin specialty stew is guaranteed to make you want to eat more!” Ai said proudly as he stirred the contents of the pot with a huge spoon.
Teacher, I hope you are happy. He prayed silently, hoping that the mark of “cooking apprentice” would not cause any psychological shadow after tasting the teacher’s “special stew”.
Soon, a complex smell mixed with the aroma of meat, the sweet aroma of vegetables, and some indescribable strong spice filled the air.
“Okay! Try it!” Ai served a large bowl of stew and handed it to Shun.
Shun looked at the stew in the bowl, which was slightly dark in color, had a thick soup, and the ingredients were stewed quite tender, so he mustered up the courage to take a bite.
Um?
Surprisingly, the taste was… not bad? Although the appearance was a bit wild and the seasoning was relatively rough, the meat was tender and tasty, and the vegetables also absorbed the essence of the soup. The overall taste was rich and had a unique flavor.
“How is it?” Ai looked at him expectantly.
“It’s very… very unique, teacher. It tastes very good too.” Shun said sincerely.
Ai laughed: “Of course! Let me tell you, what I am best at is stewing and grilling. They are simple, direct and full of energy!”
Shun nodded silently. It seemed that Lord Ai did have some experience in the two skills of “stewing” and “roasting”. As for the more delicate knife skills and seasoning…that was probably not on his talent tree.
However, being able to have such a strong man as his master was already a great fortune for him. As for cooking skills…it seemed that he would have to take more responsibility for the meals of the master and apprentice in the future.
Chapter 41: Disciples must not disobey their masters (old version)
The atmosphere of the dinner changed quietly from the moment Ye Yueai drank the first glass of liquor.
As a new disciple, Shun had a small appetite. Faced with Ai’s swift eating speed, he put down his chopsticks early and sat quietly aside.
In front of Ai was a huge ceramic wine pot with its mouth open. The strong, slightly spicy aroma of wine mixed with the burnt aroma of the barbecue on the table filled the entire restaurant without any hesitation. He drank one cup after another with heroic movements. As his Adam’s apple rolled, the amber wine disappeared without a trace.
“Master, please drink less.” Shun looked at the blush gradually appearing on Ai’s cheeks and the gleam in his eyes beginning to fade, and finally couldn’t help but speak up to persuade him.
“Hmm?” Ye Yueai put down his wine glass, and the bottom of the glass collided with the table with a dull sound. He glanced at Shun with a bit of drunkenness, and his voice was a bit rougher than usual, “Kid, are you teaching me how to do things?”
“Disciple dare not,” Shun lowered his head slightly, but his tone was neither humble nor arrogant, “But you still need to guide me in my practice later. If I get drunk, I’m afraid…”
“Burp… It’s okay!” Ai waved his hand and burped nonchalantly, the smell of alcohol becoming stronger. “This master… knows his limits. Just a few glasses of wine won’t affect… it won’t affect my ability to teach a little brat like you!”
As he spoke, he raised the glass again, tilted his head back and was about to drink another one.
Seeing that the wine in Ai’s cup was about to run out, he frowned slightly, his eyes focused, and suddenly stretched out his hand and grabbed the wine pot in front of Ai like lightning: “Master, drinking too much wine is harmful to your health.”
“presumptuous!”
Although Ai was already about 70% drunk, his reaction was not slow at all. He stretched out his big hand like a palm leaf fan, and instantly felt a huge force coming, his wrist went numb, and the heavy wine pot fell steadily back into Ai’s hand, and even because of the excessive movement, a few drops of wine splashed out.
“You little brat, you dare to snatch things from Master?” Ai narrowed his eyes and looked at Shun with a hint of joking. His iconic beard trembled slightly as he spoke. “Master, remember this. Disciple, you must never disobey Master! This is the rule, understand?”
As he leaned forward, the wide robe could no longer conceal his strong body. A strong masculine scent mixed with alcohol and sweat wafted towards him, causing Shun to hold his breath subconsciously.
Shun was speechless for a while, thinking: You are not following the rules, you are just bullying others with your strength! “Disciples should not disobey their masters”, this is simply a universal shield!
He was absent-minded for a moment, and was complaining in his heart when he suddenly felt his cheek tighten.
But Ai stretched out his rough big hand, pinched Shun’s cheek with two fingers, and rubbed it quite hard.
“Hey, little boy, your skin is quite tender,” Ai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, with a playful look in his eyes, “It’s even easier to pinch than Samui’s face when she was a child.”
How outrageous!
Shun was furious. He was a descendant of the Moonlight Clan and a future strong man, but he was being rubbed on the cheek like a child. This was a great humiliation! He stared at Ai, his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.
“Hahahaha!” Seeing his angry but silent look, Ai couldn’t help but burst into laughter, his chest rising and falling violently. “Interesting, really interesting! It’s much more fun to have you as my disciple than that kid Biqilabi!”
“Disciple is not the master’s plaything.” Shun squeezed out these words from between his teeth, trying to maintain his superficial calm.
“Nonsense, isn’t the disciple meant to entertain the master?” Ai continued smiling, took another big sip of wine, and patted Shun’s shoulder with such force that he almost staggered.
Shun took a deep breath and suppressed the depression in his heart. Forget it, a gentleman’s revenge is never too late. He will remember today’s account and will find a chance to “repay” this unreliable master with interest in the future. He has already started to think about it. Maybe he can start by controlling his master’s diet, for example, replace his chili sauce with sweet noodle sauce? Or secretly add water to his wine?
The seeds of “reverse PUA” quietly sprouted in Shun’s heart.
In this subtle atmosphere with a bit of authoritarian oppression, this “apprenticeship banquet” finally came to an end.
“Master, please take a rest first. I’ll go clean up the dishes.” Shun stood up and started to clean up the leftovers on the table with quick movements.
“Well, you have good sense.” Ai yawned with satisfaction, stood up unsteadily, walked to the sofa in the living room, sank heavily into it with his burly body, and sighed comfortably. He squinted his eyes, and felt more and more that it was an extremely correct decision to accept Shun as his disciple. At least he didn’t have to worry about housework in the future.
Shun walked into the kitchen with the dishes and chopsticks, and the sound of splashing water soon began to sound.
A few minutes later, he washed all the dishes, dried his hands, and returned to the living room.
As soon as I stepped into the living room, I was startled.
Ye Yue Ai was lying on the sofa with his arms and legs spread out, his eyes closed, his chest rising and falling rhythmically with his steady breathing, and his snoring was like thunder. Compared with the vigorous and heavy-drinking candidate for the Raikage before, he looked more like a sleeping lion at this moment, less domineering and more… naive?
“Master? Master Ai?” Shun hesitated for a few seconds and called out tentatively in a soft voice.
Ai seemed to be disturbed in his dream, frowned his rough brows in dissatisfaction, and muttered something incoherently. Suddenly, he stretched out his hand and grabbed Shun who was standing beside the sofa.
Shun was caught off guard, and was pulled by a huge force, falling directly into Ai’s broad and solid arms. Ai’s arms hugged him tightly like an iron hoop, and the strong smell of alcohol mixed with the unique smell of sweat on his body instantly enveloped Shun’s mouth and nose.
“Qi… Qilabi… stop messing around…” Ai rubbed his head against Shun’s neck unconsciously, his voice unclear, “Have a few more drinks with me… yo…”
Shun froze, his cheek pressed against Ai’s rough stubble, feeling the amazing body temperature and strong heartbeat coming from his chest. He was stunned for several seconds before he realized that Ai was drunk and thought he was his adopted brother Kirabi.
What the hell is this! I was almost “suffocated” by my master as a pillow!
He didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, and tried to break free from Ai’s arms carefully. Fortunately, Ai’s action was just unconscious. After a moment, he seemed to feel that something was wrong with the “Kirabi” in his arms, so he loosened his arms a little, smacked his lips, and fell asleep again, snoring again.
Shun finally escaped from his “bear hug” and breathed a long sigh of relief. The air was still filled with the strong scent of Ai.
“I knew it would be like this.” Shun looked at Ai, who was sleeping unconscious on the sofa, and shook his head helplessly. This master really made people worry about him.
However, it was nothing to waste a night. One should not rush into cultivation. Since Master Ai had already recognized him, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.
He looked around, found a clean, thin blanket from the bedroom, and gently covered Ai with it. After thinking for a while, he went to the kitchen and poured a cup of warm water, placed it within reach of Ai’s bedside table, and wrote a note under the cup:
“Master, if you are thirsty after waking up, there is water on the table. Go back to your room and rest early. I will come to ask you for advice tomorrow morning. – Shun.”
After doing all this, Shun quietly left Ai’s house and blended into the quiet night of the Hidden Cloud Village.
It was already late at night when we returned to Samui’s home where we were staying temporarily.
The lights in the living room were still on. Samui’s father, a middle-aged man who looked somewhat similar to Ai but had a calmer temperament, was pacing anxiously. As soon as he saw Shun come in, he immediately came over to greet him.
“Shun, you’re finally back!” Samui’s father’s tone was filled with an eagerness that was hard to conceal. “Brother Ai, what did he say? Did you accept him as a disciple?”
Shun smiled slightly and nodded: “Uncle, Master Ai has officially accepted me as his disciple.”
“What?!” Samui’s father was stunned at first, then his face burst into ecstasy. He excitedly grabbed Shun’s shoulders and shook them vigorously, “Great! Great! Hahahaha! I knew that Brother Ai has a keen eye for talent! Shun, you really didn’t let us down! The future of our Yeyue family… no, the future of our Yunyin, now has another layer of hope!”
His voice trembled with excitement, and tears even welled up in his eyes. For this old-school ninja who attached great importance to the family honor and the future of the village, it was undoubtedly a great joy for Shun to become Ai’s disciple.
“Brother Shun, you’re back!” A clear childish voice came from the door of the room next to him. Samui, who was about seven or eight years old and had two pigtails, came out rubbing her sleepy eyes. She was obviously awakened by her father’s laughter. “Dad, Brother Shun, what are you talking about? What happened to Uncle Ai?”
Shun looked at the curious little Samui, smiled gently, and said, “Samui, from today on, when you see Master Ai, you must call him Master Ai.”
Samui blinked her beautiful eyes and tilted her head, as if she understood the meaning of this sentence. After a few seconds, her eyes suddenly widened, her mouth opened into an “O” shape, her face full of disbelief and deep envy: “Wow! Brother Shun, you… you really worshipped Uncle Ai as your master? The super powerful Uncle Ai who can punch a big rock away?”
“Yeah.” Shun smiled and nodded.
“That’s amazing! Brother Shun, you’re awesome!” Samui jumped up excitedly, ran to Shun, pulled his sleeve, eyes twinkling with admiration, “I also want to be Uncle Ai’s apprentice! Brother Shun, can you talk to Uncle Ai about it?”
Shun looked at her innocent look and couldn’t help but touch her head with his hand, sighing half-jokingly: “Master… sometimes it can be quite a headache.”
“……?” Samui looked at him in confusion, not understanding why Brother Shun would still have a headache just because he could have such a powerful person as his master.
Shun just smiled and didn’t explain much. Some “sweet burdens” can only be understood by those who have experienced them personally.
The night deepens and everything becomes silent.
Yeyueai woke up with a splitting headache. He stared at the ceiling blankly, and after a long while, his chaotic thoughts gradually became clear.
“Hmm…my head hurts…” He rubbed his temple and sat up, only to find that he was covered with a thin blanket.
“Huh? This little brat…” Ai’s gaze fell on the blanket, and a barely perceptible strangeness flashed in his eyes.
He threw off the blanket, stood up shakily, and with a wave of his hand, a weak lightning chakra accurately hit the switch on the wall.
With a click, the living room suddenly became bright.
Ai’s eyes inadvertently swept across the coffee table, then paused slightly. He saw the cup of water there and the note pressed under the cup.
He walked over and picked up the note.
It was Shun’s handwriting which was slightly immature but neat.
Ai held the note, his burly figure casting a long shadow under the light. He looked at the words, then at the still warm water in the cup beside him, and a moment of trance appeared on his rough face.
After a long moment, he uttered an inaudible hum, the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch upwards, and then he quickly returned to his usual serious look.
“Hmph, this little brat… is still somewhat filial.”
He picked up the glass of water and drank the warm water in one gulp. The irritability caused by the hangover in his heart seemed to dissipate a lot with the glass of water.
Chapter 42 I, Moonlight Shun, am the God of Cooking* (Old Version)
“Asshole Ai! How dare you snatch the person I like!”
In the Elders’ Hall of the Hidden Cloud Village, late at night, a low roar of suppressed anger broke the silence. Elder Leiyun’s skinny face was distorted in the dim light, and his eyes were bloodshot, obviously he had not slept all night.
He tossed and turned, and as soon as he closed his eyes, he saw the scene where Yue Guang Shun, that boy, rejected him and turned around to become Ai’s disciple.
What a shame!
He, a dignified elder of Yunyin, holding a high position, was treated so badly by a young boy!
Elder Leiyun suddenly sat up from the tatami, put on an outer coat, and walked with heavy steps towards the depths of the Elders’ Courtyard.
In the deep research base, the cold metallic luster and the pungent smell of medicine intertwined. He pushed open a heavy alloy door, and inside were several huge nutrient tanks, in which were soaked several experimental subjects of various shapes, with tubes inserted into their bodies.
The progress of the “Black Butterfly Project” is his only hope at the moment.
“Elder Leiyun.” A researcher wearing goggles bowed.
“How is the latest ‘butterfly species’ adapting?” Elder Leiyun asked hoarsely, his eyes sweeping over an experimental subject with abnormally developed muscles and ominous purple skin.
“The degree of integration of Lightning Release Chakra of Experimental Subject No. 3 has reached 73 percent, but the nervous system has shown signs of partial necrosis. We are trying to adjust the injection frequency and intensity of Lightning Release Chakra.” The researcher reported cautiously.
Elder Leiyun frowned, “Too slow! Ai has already collected Moonlight Flash. I need more power!”
His sight fell on an independent culture chamber in the corner, inside which was sealed a tissue sample emitting faint lightning light – it was obtained from a special bloodline ninja, who had the ability to integrate lightning chakra into his own cells, greatly enhancing his body’s functions.
“How is my own Lightning Release Bloodline Transplantation preparation going?”
The researcher looked embarrassed: “Elder, I’m afraid your body…”
“No need to say more! Arrange it as soon as possible!” Elder Lei Yun interrupted rudely, with a crazy light flashing in his eyes. Since I can’t get the most perfect uncut jade, I will forge myself into the sharpest weapon! Yue Guang Shun, Ai, you wait for me!
The news that Ai Shou accepted Yue Guang Shun as his disciple spread among the Yunyin high-level officials overnight as if it had wings.
In the training ground on the west side of the village, Kirabi was giving a “rap education” to the dejected Darui.
“Yo yo! What’s a failure once, bro! A true ninja never backs down! Shun is a good guy, he worships Brother Ai as his master! Oh yeah! But this doesn’t mean you are weak, Darui, show your attitude! Use sweat to feed your talent, and you will be able to stand on your own in the future. So cool, foolyafool!”
Kirabi wore sunglasses and made various hip-hop gestures with his hands, with a full sense of rhythm.
The young Darui still looked lazy and unmotivated, but a trace of unwillingness ignited in the depths of his eyes. He nodded silently, turned and walked towards the wooden stake, the short knife in his hand brought a touch of cold light, and the intensity of training was increased a little more than usual.
“That’s right! Idiot, bastard!” Kirabi hummed a tuneless song with satisfaction.
The Third Raikage sat behind his desk with his burly figure, listening to his subordinates’ reports with a slightly raised brow.
“Oh? Ai Na boy, is he finally willing to accept you as a disciple? Or is he the Gekko Shun who defeated Darui and Atsuyi?”
The Third Raikage raised a meaningful smile at the corner of his mouth: “Interesting. What about Atsuyi? How is that kid doing lately?”
“Reporting to Lord Raikage, Master Atsu has been training extremely hard since his defeat to Gekkou Shun, but…” The subordinate hesitated.
“Just what?”
“But he always kept saying that he must get his place back and not let a kid from another village put pressure on him.”
“Hmph, you have the mentality of a child.” The Third Raikage snorted, and then a gleam of light flashed in his eyes, “However, there is progress only when there is competition. Pass on my order and let Atsuyi come over. From today on, I will personally give him special training!”
Soon, Atsuyi, with dazzling golden hair, stood in front of the Third Raikage, looking a little confused.
“Grandpa, you’re looking for me?”
“Aci, I heard that you lost to a guy named Gekko Shun, and he became the disciple of your uncle Ai?” The Third Raikage said in a flat tone.
Atsyi blushed and said with his neck stiff, “That was an accident! I will definitely win it back next time!”
“Very good.” The Third Raikage nodded, “But you know what? Ai is my son. According to seniority, it doesn’t seem too much for you to call Moonlight Shun your uncle, right?”
Atsyi was stunned. He counted on his fingers and his face fell. How could this be possible! He was obviously older than Yue Guang Shun!
“But!” The Third Raikage changed the subject, with a hint of joking, “If you can become stronger than him, seniority and the like will not be so important. From today on, I will personally train you and let you know what real Lightning Release is!”
Atsuyi’s eyes suddenly lit up, as if he saw hope: “Really? Grandpa! That’s great! I will definitely surpass that Moonlight Shun and make him call me Uncle-Master instead!”
The Third Raikage looked at his grandson’s renewed fighting spirit and smiled with satisfaction. The next generation of the Hidden Cloud Village must be so energetic! Fatherly love is like a mountain, and it’s time for Ai to feel the “love” from his nephew!
The next morning, at Ai’s doorstep.
Yue Guang Shun was holding a food box and knocked on the door gently.
He did not have the key to Ai’s house. Last night, Ai had just casually said, “Come over tomorrow morning,” and then hurried off to deal with some follow-up matters caused by accepting a disciple.
After waiting for a while, the door was opened with a creaky sound.
Ai’s tall figure appeared at the door. He was not wearing the combat uniform that showed off his muscular lines, but a loose dark blue cotton pajamas with a slightly open collar, revealing his strong chest. His chestnut hair was a little messy and a few strands were sticking up. It was obvious that he had just crawled out of the bed, and his face was still a little sleepy.
“Um… Shun, so early?” Ai yawned loudly, rubbed his eyes, and his voice was hoarse as if he had just woken up.
“Good morning, Mr. Ai.” Shun bowed slightly. “It’s getting late, almost noon. I brought you some breakfast.”
Shun came at the right time on purpose. He estimated that with Teacher Ai’s casual personality, he would probably sleep until he woke up naturally.
“Oh? Breakfast?” Ai’s eyes lit up and he stepped aside to let Shun in. “Come in.”
Walking into the house, I found that the furnishings of the Ai family were quite simple, or shabby. Apart from the necessary furniture, there were almost no extra decorations. However, there were a lot of weights and equipment for exercise piled up in the corners.
He placed the food box on the dining table, opened the lid, and a rich and delicious aroma instantly filled the air.
“Is this… seafood porridge?” Ai leaned in to smell it, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes. The white porridge was dotted with bright red shrimp, tender yellow scallops and emerald green chopped green onions, which made one’s mouth water just by looking at it.
“Yes, Teacher Ai. I made something casually, please try it and see if it suits your taste.” He immediately put the dishes in place.
Ai was not polite and took a spoon to scoop a big mouthful into his mouth. The porridge was at just the right temperature, the rice grains were cooked soft and smooth, and the freshness of various seafoods was perfectly integrated into it. The shrimps were chewy, the scallops were delicious, and a little shredded ginger was added to remove the fishy smell and enhance the flavor. The taste was rich and the taste was even more delicious.
“Hmm!” Ai narrowed his eyes in satisfaction, and even slowed down his chewing. “Shun, you’re really good! This porridge is much better than those chefs out there!”
In no time, he finished the big bowl of seafood porridge and drank up even the soup.
“Burp…” Ai burped comfortably and looked at Shun with a little more appreciation in his eyes: “I didn’t expect you have such a skill. How about I give you my meals from now on?”
Shun secretly laughed in his heart, this was naturally the effect of the “culinary apprentice” mark. He remained humble on the surface: “Teacher, you are too kind, it’s just some home cooking. As long as you like it, it’s fine.”
Humph, it’s just seafood porridge, I, Yue Guang Shun, am the god of cooking!
Ai was quite satisfied when he saw Shun cleaning up the dishes diligently. This disciple was not only talented, but also sensible and considerate. Not bad, really good.
After the meal, Ai’s expression became much more serious.
“Okay, Shun, from today on, I will officially start teaching you. First, let me see to what extent you can control the lightning chakra.”
Shun nodded after hearing that. He stretched out his right hand, palm facing up, and a wisp of light blue lightning chakra slowly emerged.
Under Ai’s gaze, the chakra began to jump on Shun’s fingertips as if it had life. Sometimes it turned into a fine arc, making a crackling sound; sometimes it condensed into a stable current with a soft glow; sometimes it suddenly increased, and the current intensity increased visibly, but it was always precisely controlled in Shun’s palm, without any leakage.
This is a technique of finely controlling chakra that he deduced by reversely utilizing the principle of “Lightning Chakra stimulating nerve reaction”. Although it is still very crude, his control over the intensity of electric current far exceeds that of his peers.
A hint of surprise flashed across Ai’s eyes. He had expected Shun’s chakra volume and explosive power, but he didn’t expect Shun to be able to control chakra so delicately. This kind of control was not inferior to some experienced jonin.
“Very good!” Ai nodded with satisfaction. “Your chakra control foundation is very solid, which lays a solid foundation for you to learn the subsequent lightning ninjutsu.”
He pondered for a moment and continued, “Lightning Release Ninjutsu is not just about destruction. Its powerful electric current can also be used to stimulate body activity and even perform medical treatment. Considering that you have used similar techniques before, today, I will first teach you a basic Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu – ‘Lightning Release – Activation Technique’.”
“This technique introduces weak but continuous lightning chakra into the injured person’s body, stimulating their cell activity and accelerating blood circulation, thereby achieving the effect of unblocking meridians, relieving fatigue, and assisting in injury recovery. The requirements for chakra control are extremely high. Watch me demonstrate it first.”
As Ai spoke, he stretched out his fingers, and a fine ray of lightning also condensed at his fingertips. However, unlike Shun’s slightly ostentatious arc, the lightning at Ai’s fingertips was as gentle as a stream of water, exuding a strange breath of life.
Chapter 43: Money Units, Atziyi (Old Version)
Yeyue Ai was holding a standard training short sword, the blade gleaming coldly under the light. Shun looked at the sword, then at Ai’s arm, which was thicker than his thigh, and the corner of his mouth twitched involuntarily. This posture did not seem like he was going to teach medical ninjutsu, but rather like he was going to perform an autopsy on the spot.
“Teacher, what are you doing…?” Shun spoke cautiously, fearing that if he said the wrong word, the other party would directly point the knife at him.
Ai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, looking somewhat heroic, or rather, rough. “Don’t be nervous, it’s just a small scene.” As he spoke, he motioned for Shun to stretch out his hand.
Shun took a deep breath, forget it, forget it, you can’t catch the wolf without sacrificing the child, no, it’s the back of his hand that can’t learn the Lightning Escape. He resigned himself to his fate and stretched out the back of his left hand.
“Relax, it might be a little exciting for the first time.” Ai’s voice was full of subtle teasing. Before he finished speaking, the short knife in his hand had already cleanly cut a three-inch long cut on the back of Shun’s hand.
“Hiss—” Shun gasped. This was completely different from the minor wounds that Tsunade had made with a fruit knife. This time, the skin and flesh rolled up, blood gushed out, and the pain was clear and sharp.
As expected of the future Raikage, he acted so swiftly and decisively. Shun complained in his heart, but tried to remain calm on his face.
“Look carefully, kid.” Ai growled in a low voice, and put his right hand together to form a knife. The light blue lightning chakra jumped and gathered at his fingertips like a fine electric snake, making a slight “sizzling” sound.
A violent breath with strange vitality rushed towards me.
Ai’s fingers covered the wound on the back of Shun’s hand, and those dense electric snakes seemed to have life and drilled into the wound.
Shun felt a tingling sensation at the wound, followed by a slight stinging pain, as if countless tiny needles were piercing him, but the stinging pain was soon replaced by a strange warm feeling. He could clearly feel that the cells at the wound were dividing and multiplying at an astonishing speed under the stimulation of the lightning chakra. With the naked eye, the rolled flesh began to wriggle, the bleeding gradually stopped, and the wound healed at an incredible speed.
In just ten seconds, the wound that was so deep that the bone could be seen was reduced to a shallow pink scar.
“How does it feel?” Ai withdrew his hand, dissipated the lightning at his fingertips, and asked.
“Numb, a little itchy, and a little…burnt?” Shun sniffed and answered honestly. Just now, he even smelled a slight smell of his skin being slightly burned.
“That’s normal. The principle of Thunder Style is to use lightning chakra to highly activate cells and accelerate their regeneration. But this kind of activation puts a huge load on cells.” Ai’s expression became serious. “Every time you use it, you are overdrawing the potential of your cells. The more you use it, the faster your body will age and your life span will be shortened accordingly.”
Shun’s heart trembled. He remembered Tsunade’s Yin Seal and Hundred Healings Technique, which also consumed cells in exchange for powerful regeneration ability. It seems that any powerful medical ninjutsu cannot escape this iron rule. Lightning Release Medical Treatment has brought this “stimulation” to the extreme.
“There are three basic principles for medical ninjas. You should have learned them in ninja school.” Ai’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle.
“Yes.” Shun nodded. “First, medical ninjas cannot easily participate in the front-line battles. They must ensure their own safety so that they can provide support to more companions. Second, as long as their companions are still alive, they must never give up on treatment. Third, in any case, medical ninjas must do their best to survive to the end, because the last medical ninja in the team is often the hope for a comeback.”
Shun was naturally familiar with these three principles, but when they were spoken by Ai, the future Raikage who was famous for his fighting ability, there was always a sense of… a subtle sense of disobedience.
“Very good.” Ai nodded with satisfaction. “Remember, especially the third one. Come on, follow me to the medical department. No matter how well you learn the theory, it is better to practice it yourself.”
“Medical Department?” He was stunned for a moment. “Teacher, you don’t want me to take those wounded…”
“What else? Do you want me to use my hands to practice with you?” Ai raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a look that said “Are you stupid?” “Don’t worry, I’ll be watching over you, nothing serious will happen. The ninjas of Kumogakure are not that valuable, and they are happy to make some contribution to the advancement of lightning-style medical treatment.”
The corners of Shun’s mouth twitched again. It sounded as if the wounded were lambs to be slaughtered. However, since they were under each other’s roof and the teacher had spoken, what else could he, as an apprentice, say?
The medical department of the Hidden Cloud Village was quite large, and there were indeed quite a few wounded. Most of them were ninjas who were injured during missions or had muscle strains and bone damage due to overtraining.
When the wounded heard that the direct disciple of the Raikage would be conducting an experimental treatment with the “Lightning Release: Activation Technique” under the supervision of Ai, their expressions varied. Some were excited, some were nervous, but without exception, no one dared to refuse.
After a whole day of practice, Shun felt like he was about to collapse.
The nature of lightning chakra is extremely difficult to master, and it is even more difficult to apply it to the delicate medical field. If the chakra output is slightly larger, it may directly “burn” the cells of the injured person, causing secondary damage; if the output is small, it will not achieve the effect of activating cells.
He had at least “accidentally” aggravated the injuries of seven or eight wounded people today. Fortunately, Aidu was there to remedy the situation in time, so no medical accident occurred. Even so, the eyes of the Kumogakure ninjas who were “trained” by him changed from curiosity at first to fear later, and finally to keeping a distance from him.
“Huh… too difficult…” In the evening, Shun collapsed and sat on the bench in the medical department, not wanting to move even a finger. He now deeply understood why lightning-style medical ninjas were so rare in the entire ninja world. This thing was really not something that ordinary people could practice.
Ai was full of energy. Seeing Shun’s tired look, he patted Shun on the shoulder and said, “It’s always like this for the first time. You’ll get used to it. Lightning escape medical treatment is a way to win in danger. Okay, that’s all for today.”
He felt as if he had been pardoned. Just as he was about to say “Thank you, teacher”, he heard Ai change the subject: “It seems that you are very tired today. Let’s go to the training ground. I will help you loosen up your muscles!”
“Ah?” Shun’s face instantly fell. Loosen the muscles? Teacher, do you call unilateral beating loosen the muscles?
He wanted to refuse, but when he saw Ai’s excited and eager eyes, and her fist that was bigger than a casserole, he swallowed the words that were about to come out of his mouth.
“…Yes, teacher.” Shun replied weakly, tears streaming down his face. Isn’t this a bit too much of a burden for an apprentice?
The next day, Shun, with two faint dark circles under his eyes, forced himself to come to the Kumogakure Intelligence Library. This is one of the core institutions of the Kumogakure Village for collecting, organizing and distributing intelligence. In name, it is a library open to all Kumogakure ninjas, but in reality it is an important meeting place for spies and intelligence personnel.
Ishida, the library manager in public and the Iwagakure Village liaison in secret, immediately came up to him with a big smile on his face when he saw Shun. His enthusiasm was even more exaggerated than when Ai said he wanted to “stretch his muscles” yesterday.
“Brother Shun! Oh no, now I should respectfully address you as ‘Master Ai’s Disciple’!” Ishida rubbed his hands together, the fat on his face trembling with excitement, “You are truly the light of our Iwagakure!”
Shun’s lips curled up slightly. Uncle Ishida’s acting skills are still so exaggerated.
“Uncle Ishida, you are too polite.” Shun said calmly, “I wonder if you have any instructions for me today?”
“I’m not worthy of your order, but I have great news to tell you!” Ishida lowered his voice and approached Shun mysteriously, his eyes sparkling with excitement, “The village has already known about your apprenticeship to Ai! The Tsuchikage is very pleased and has approved a generous reward for you!”
“Oh? What’s the reward?” Shun’s mind moved. A reward that could be personally approved by the Tsuchikage of the Hidden Rock Village must be very important.
Ishida took a deep breath and spoke word by word: “It is… the method of fusing and refining the chakra properties of ‘Explosive Release’!”
“Explosion?!” Shun’s pupils suddenly shrank. This is a bloodline limit! Although it is only a method of refining, not a direct grant of bloodline, its high value is self-evident. The Hidden Rock Village has invested a lot of money! It seems that his move of becoming Ai’s apprentice is extremely important in their eyes.
“That’s right!” Ishida proudly puffed out his chest, “Lord Tsuchikage said that you are the most successful nail that we, Iwagakure, have driven into Kumogakure. Your future is limitless! This reward is a recognition and expectation of you!”
Shun was silent for a moment, digesting the news. Explosion Release… If he could master it, it would undoubtedly greatly enhance his strength and trump card.
“Thank you, Lord Tsuchikage, for your kindness, and thank you, Uncle Ishida, for your communication.” Shun said solemnly.
“Of course, of course!” Ishida smiled so hard that his teeth were showing, and then he took out a thick envelope from his pocket, “And this is the first issue fee for your book “Legend of the Thunder Brave”. The publishing house asked me to pass it on to your friend Mr. ‘Tulong Zuan’.”
Shun took the envelope, which was quite heavy in his hand. He opened it and saw a stack of brand new large-denomination banknotes inside.
“Here is 13 million ryo!” Ishida raised a finger and made a three. “Brother Shun, you are truly amazing! This amount of money is almost enough to buy an ‘Azii’ in our Kumogakure!”
“Atzei?” Shun was stunned when he heard this. What kind of unit of measurement is this? It sounds weird.
Seeing his confusion, Ishida quickly explained, “Oh, this is a nickname used by our Kumogakure high-level officials to refer to large sums of money. The specific amount is not fixed, but it generally refers to a huge sum of money above 10 million taels. It means ‘Ah, so much money, it’s really a headache.’ Over time, it became called ‘Aziyi’. Your royalties are definitely a standard ‘small Aziyi’!”
Shun’s eyes twitched when he heard this. My goodness, are the local tycoons of the Hidden Cloud Village so refined even when showing off their wealth? Thirteen million taels… He had previously carried out a mission to hunt down an S-rank rebel ninja, and narrowly escaped death, but the bounty was only a few million taels. Can you make so much money by writing a novel? The entertainment industry in this world is too lucrative.
“Mr. Tsuchiryu Zuan’s talent is truly amazing.” Ishida said with envy, “I wonder… does he have any new ideas for works in the near future? Our publishing house is eagerly waiting!”
“Well… I’ll go back and ask for you.” Shun packed the envelope and thought about the use of this huge sum of money. With this money, many things that he didn’t dare to think about before may be put on the agenda.
For example, buying some rare chakra metals, or trying to research more advanced sealing techniques… Money is an important aid in achieving goals in any world.
Chapter 44 Thundercat Spiritual Contract Scroll (Old Version)
Iwagakure Village, Tsuchikage Building, top floor office.
Different from the rough style of the Raikage Building in Kumogakure Village, the buildings here are more heavy and solemn, just like the hard rocks on this land. The first generation Tsuchikage Stone Buddha, at this moment, is standing in front of the huge French window with his hands behind his back, overlooking the entire Iwagakure Village. His figure is not tall, but it gives people an unshakable sense of oppression like a mountain.
The atmosphere in the office was somewhat stagnant.
Ishigawa, as the most trusted think tank of the first Tsuchikage, had just finished reporting a piece of encrypted intelligence. The content of the intelligence was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, which set off a huge wave in the heart of the first Tsuchikage.
“You mean, Yueguang Shun, the kid we sent to Kumogakure to carry out a long-term undercover mission, not only did he not get exposed, but… he became a disciple of Yeyue Ai?” The first generation Tsuchikage’s voice was low, but trembling with disbelief. He turned around slowly, his deep eyes flashing with doubt.
Who is Yeyue Ai? She is a strong contender for the future third generation of Raikage, a leader of the younger generation of the Hidden Cloud Village, and a strong man known for his lightning-style bodybuilding technique and terrifying speed! How could an unknown little spy from my family become the disciple of such a person?
Did I get the wrong script?
Shihe bowed and stood solemnly, and replied calmly: “Lord Tsuchikage, the information comes from a reliable source and has been verified by many parties. Not only has Gekkou Shun become Yeyue Ai’s disciple, he also seems to be highly valued by him.”
“Nonsense!” The First Tsuchikage slammed the stone table beside him, making a dull noise. “Who put him on the hidden list in the first place? Such a rough gem was treated like rubble and discarded. It’s a waste of talent!”
Shihe thought to himself, Shun had average talent, who could have expected him to have such an experience. But he said, “Lord Tsuchikage, please calm down. We were indeed negligent in this matter, and the relevant personnel will be severely punished. However, from another perspective, this may not be a bad thing.”
“Good news?” The first Tsuchikage frowned, his sharp eyes seemed to pierce through the stone river, “He is now a disciple of Ai, and is exposed to the ninjutsu and philosophy of Kumogakure. How can you guarantee his loyalty? If he is turned against us and turns against us, it will be a great trouble!”
“Lord Tsuchikage, you are worrying too much.” Ishikawa smiled slightly, looking confident. “All the undercover personnel sent abroad will have a special rock flow seal planted deep in their sea of consciousness before departure. Once there is any betrayal, the seal will be activated automatically, causing mental disorder at the least and death on the spot at the worst. Moonlight Shun is no exception.”
He certainly wouldn’t tell them that this mark wasn’t foolproof, but what was needed at the moment was to steady the Tsuchikage’s heart.
“Even so, this boy is out of our direct control.” The First Tsuchikage’s anger subsided a little, but his worries remained.
“So, we need to give him a ‘surprise’ that he can’t refuse, a ‘rein’ that can both demonstrate the village’s recognition of his ‘merits’ and bring him back into our sight.” Shi He said slowly, with a shrewd look in his eyes.
The first Tsuchikage hesitated for a moment, tapping his fingers lightly on the table: “You mean…”
“The Explosion Chakra Refining Method.” Ishikawa said word by word, “Before setting out, Gekkou Shun had expressed his desire for Explosion. This technique is a secret technique that extends the bloodline limit unique to our Iwagakure, and it is extremely powerful. Giving him this method, on the one hand, can greatly improve his strength, allowing him to gain a better foothold in Kumogakure and obtain more valuable intelligence; on the other hand, this technique is extremely difficult to practice, and the subsequent advancement and key materials are in our hands. If he wants to achieve something in the way of Explosion, he will have to rely on the village.”
The first Tsuchikage’s eyes lit up. This was indeed a brilliant move!
Explosion is the pride of the Iwagakure Village and a powerful force that intimidates other countries. Granting it to a “friend” in the enemy camp can not only enhance his ability to hide, but also serve as a bond to firmly control him. Learning the Explosion of Iwagakure is equivalent to being branded with the Iwagakure’s mark, which cannot be washed away.
“Okay! Just as you say!” The First Tsuchikage finally made the decision, “Immediately send the primary scroll of ‘Explosive Release Chakra Refining Method’ to Kumogakure in secret and hand it over to Gekkou Shun. Tell him that this is the village’s expectation of him, and hope he will not disappoint him!”
“Yes, Lord Tsuchikage!” Ishikawa accepted the order respectfully, but he was thinking in his heart, is this Moonlight Shun an opportunity for Iwagakure, or a variable for the future?
–
At the same time, in the Hidden Cloud Village, thousands of miles away, there was the Ninja Tool Commercial Street.
Different from the prosperity and diversity of Konoha, the Ninja Tool Street of Kumogakure is more rugged and pragmatic, and the air seems to be filled with a faint smell of lightning chakra and metallic gunpowder.
Yue Guang Shun, with the huge sum of royalties in his pocket – a full 15 million taels, was standing in front of a ninja tool shop that had an inconspicuous facade but exuded an ancient and professional atmosphere.
The shop’s sign is a huge black rock with three large characters carved in white strokes – “Cat’s Claw Blade”. Below the sign is a lifelike black cat with sharp claws and lively eyes, as if it will jump off the rock at any time.
“This is it.” Shun took a deep breath and pushed open the wooden door that made a slight creaking sound.
The light in the store was a little dim, and all kinds of strange-shaped metal products were hung on the walls. The air was filled with the unique iron smell of cooled metal, and a faint scent of… catnip?
An old but vigorous voice came from behind the counter: “What do you want to order, kid? Let me make it clear first, we don’t take credit or bargain.”
Following the sound, I saw an old lady with silver hair, wrinkles on her face, but unusually bright eyes sitting behind the counter, slowly wiping a peculiarly shaped kunai. Her nails were long and sharp, shining with a metallic luster, which made people think of the name of the store, “Cat’s Claw Blade”.
This person must be the owner of the “Cat Claw Ninja Tools” shop, the legendary blacksmith known as “Cat Lady”.
“Senior Mao Po, I am Gekko Shun, and I would like to customize a wakizashi.” Shun said respectfully.
The cat lady raised her eyelids and looked Shun up and down with her sharp eyes like cats. She said lazily, “Oh? Custom-made wakizashi? My stuff is not cheap, kid. Do you have that much money?”
“I am the new disciple of Master Yeyue Ai.” Shun revealed his identity without being servile or overbearing. He knew that in Yunyin Village, the name Yeyue Ai was a golden signboard.
Sure enough, when she heard the words “Yeyue Ai”, the cat lady paused while wiping her kunai and re-examined Shunlai: “Ai’s disciple? Humph, he knows how to pick people. Tell me, what kind of wakizashi do you want? Material? Characteristics?”
“I need a wakizashi that can maximize the efficiency of lightning chakra conduction, preferably using lightning amplification metal.” Shun stated his requirements, “One and a half feet long, with a slightly narrow blade, focusing on penetration and speed.”
Upon hearing this, Cat Po put down the kunai in her hand, fumbled under the counter for a while, and took out several ore samples that shone with different metallic lusters: “There are many types of lightning amplification metals, and the effects are also different. The best ones are extremely expensive.”
“Please use the best.” Shun said without hesitation, “Money is not a problem.”
He is now a small wealthy man with tens of millions of dollars in his hands, and he is very confident.
The cat lady grinned, revealing a set of well-maintained teeth. “You have guts! Ai has accepted an interesting disciple. He used top-grade thunder steel and forged it with secret methods to ensure that the conductivity of the lightning chakra is increased by at least 30%. The blade also has a weak lightning paralysis effect. The friendship price for this wakizashi is 11 million taels. Come back in two months to pick it up.”
Eleven million taels! Shun’s heart skipped a beat. With this price, he could buy a small town. But thinking of its powerful amplification effect and the reputation of “Miao Po’s products must be top-notch”, he gritted his teeth and nodded: “Okay, this is it!”
He readily paid the deposit, and the cat lady handed him a custom receipt made of special animal skin with a clear cat’s paw print on it.
“Boy, come and pick it up with this receipt in two months. If you lose it, I, an old woman, will not take responsibility.” The cat lady narrowed her eyes, like a cunning old cat.
“Junior understands.” Shun carefully put away the receipt, thanked again, and then left “Cat Claw Blade”.
Feeling satisfied, he returned to Ai’s residence in an instant with the customized documents in his pocket.
Yeyue Ai was sitting cross-legged in the middle of the living room, seemingly regulating his breathing with his eyes closed. Sensing Shun’s return, he slowly opened his eyes, his gaze as sharp as lightning.
“Are you back? Is everything done?” Ai’s voice was as steady and powerful as ever.
“Yes, Mr. Ai. It has been customized and you can pick it up in two months.” Shun replied respectfully.
“Very good.” Ai nodded, then took out a scroll with an ancient atmosphere from his arms and spread it out in front of Shun, “Since you are already my disciple, there are some things that you should be exposed to.”
When he looked closely, he saw dense tadpole-shaped characters written in bright red ink on the scroll, emitting a strange energy fluctuation. At the end of the scroll, there were already several names written in a flamboyant manner, the most conspicuous of which was “Yeyue Ai”.
“Is this… a psychic contract?” Shun’s mind moved and he blurted out.
“That’s right.” Ai glanced at him approvingly. “This is the Thundercat clan spiritual contract that has been passed down from generation to generation in my Yeyue clan. The Thundercat clan is a powerful spiritual beast that lives on the top of the thunderclouds. They are born with the ability to control lightning and are incredibly fast. Signing a contract with them will be of great benefit to your future practice and combat.”
A warm current suddenly surged in Shun’s heart. The contract of the summoning beast, especially this powerful clan contract, was so precious to a ninja, and Teacher Ai was willing to share it with him so easily.
“teacher……”
“No need to say more.” Ai waved his hand, “Bite your finger, write your name on it, and then use your chakra to activate it.”
Shun followed his instructions and cut his fingertips with a kunai, blood dripping onto the blank space on the scroll, and he quickly wrote the three words “Moonlight Shun”. Then, he mobilized the chakra in his body and slowly injected it into the scroll.
The words on the scroll suddenly lit up with blinding lightning, and a powerful suction force came over me. I instantly felt as if my spirit had established a mysterious connection with the scroll.
“Very good, the contract is done.” Ai nodded with satisfaction and began to make seals quickly with his hands.
“The art of spiritual communication!”
A puff of white smoke filled the air, and when it cleared, a giant cat, the size of an adult cheetah, covered in dark blue fur with tiny arcs of electricity jumping between its fur, appeared in the middle of the living room. Its amber pupils flashed with pride and unruliness, and there was a lightning-shaped golden mark on its forehead. Its limbs were strong and sturdy, and its sharp claws made a subtle “sizzling” sound on the wooden floor.
“Ai, what’s the matter that disturbs my peace again?” The giant cat spoke in human language, with a lazy and magnetic voice, but the look he gave Ai was full of intimacy.
“Rai Ya, let me introduce you. This is my new disciple and your new contractor, Moonlight Shun.” Ai pointed at Shun.
The thundercat named Raiya then turned its gaze to Shun. It walked around Shun with elegant cat steps, sniffed him with its nose, and there was scrutiny in its amber pupils.
“Hmph, another troublesome little brat.” Lei Ya swung his tail, and a flash of lightning flashed across the tip of his tail. “He looks so weak, Ai, your vision is getting worse and worse.”
Shun was speechless. This cat has quite a bad temper.
“Leiya, don’t be rude.” Ai said in a deep voice.
Lei Ya curled his lips, but still restrained his arrogance: “Alright, alright, since Ai has chosen you, I will reluctantly admit you. Boy, next time you run into trouble, tell me my name, maybe you can avoid a few beatings.”
Shun didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, this Thundercat really had a lot of personality. However, he could feel that although Leiya was harsh in his words, he had no ill will towards him.
“From today on, I will teach you how to use the art of spiritual communication and how to cooperate with Lei Ya in battle.” Ai looked at the man and the cat with a hint of smile in his eyes. “The Thundercats have a unique fighting style. You need to experience and learn it with your heart.”
“Yes, Teacher Ai!” Shun’s heart was full of anticipation.
The secret method of Explosion is about to be acquired, the handy Thunder Release amplification weapon has been customized, and now the powerful Thunder Cat summoning beast has been obtained. Although the road ahead is still full of unknowns and challenges, Shun feels that the cards in his hand are becoming more solid and powerful.
He is moving towards becoming a strong man at an astonishing speed.
Chapter 45: Alien Lightning Escaper Evaluation Guide (Old Version)
“Focus, kid!”
Ai’s rough voice echoed in the silent training room of the Hidden Cloud Medical Department, with a hint of impatience, but more of a unique expectation.
Yue Guang Shun took a deep breath. The air was filled with a faint smell of disinfectant and Ai’s lingering sweat. He closed his eyes and formed seals with his hands quickly and steadily:
Si-wei-shen-mao-yin!
Lightning escape: active technique!
Unlike those powerful offensive lightning techniques, this one was more like an invisible spring rain, silent and quiet. Light blue chakra light flowed from Shun’s fingertips, not a violent arc of electricity, but like a gentle stream, slowly covering the piece of fresh beast meat placed in front of him.
On the surface of the beast’s meat, those cells that had appeared slightly dull due to inactivity seemed to be injected with new vitality under the exquisite stimulation of the Lightning Chakra. They trembled slightly and their color seemed to become brighter.
“Hmm…” Ai touched his chin, a hint of surprise on his bronze face. This kid had been struggling for three days. He had no idea what to do in the first two days. His chakra was either too strong to burn the beast meat, or too weak to react. He once thought that this kid had no talent in lightning-style medical treatment, but he didn’t expect that on the third day, he suddenly got it.
“It’s done.” He withdrew his hand instantly, beads of sweat oozing from his forehead. The consumption of chakra in his body was not severe, but the high concentration of his mind made him a little tired.
At the moment when the ritual was completed, a cold mechanical prompt sounded quietly in his mind:
[Ordinary skill mark: Lightning escape: Active joint technique has been activated. ][Triggering conditions: Successfully performed independently and achieving the expected therapeutic effect. ][Effect: This skill is automatically upgraded to the proficient level. ]Shun thought to himself, “Sure enough.” This “plug-in” of his always seemed a little slow when he was learning a new skill, and he needed to find the threshold by himself. Once he crossed it, he could reach the level of proficiency in one step. This “slow start, easy mastery” model saved a lot of boring repetitive practice time.
“You kid, you’re such a freak!” Ai grinned, and patted Shun’s shoulder with his big hand like a palm leaf fan, making him stagger. “You were like a headless fly two days ago, but today you can suddenly control your chakra so finely. Wow, you’re better than those newcomers in the medical department who have been training for several months. It took me a whole day to learn this!”
There was obvious admiration in Ai’s tone. Although he himself only took one day, Shun’s performance in the past three days, especially the final “enlightenment”-like leap, still made him feel very novel.
“Thank you for your praise, Mr. Ai. You are a good guide.” Shun rubbed his numbed shoulders and smiled sweetly. He knew Ai’s temper and it was always right to stroke her in the right direction.
“Hmph, stop flattering me.” Ai waved his hand, but the smile on his face became even more intense. “Since you have already mastered the ‘Activation Technique’, you have also entered the realm of lightning-style medical treatment. This is for you.”
He took out a small metal badge engraved with fine lightning patterns from his arms and threw it to Shun.
[Obtained certification from the Yunyin Medical Department: the mark of the ordinary skill ‘Lightning Release: Active Joint Technique’. 】
Shun took the badge, it felt slightly cool to the touch, with a faint wave of lightning chakra flowing through it. This was considered official certification.
“Teacher Ai,” Shun put away the badge properly, with a hint of anticipation in his eyes, “Look, I have also learned this ‘Active Art’, and that…Things about the Thundercat Secret Realm…”
Hearing this, Ai’s smile suddenly faded a little, and he raised his eyebrows: “Thundercat Secret Realm? Boy, you just learned to walk, and you want to run away? ‘Active Art’ is just the basics of the basics of Thunder Escape Medical Treatment, and it is far from being really useful! What’s more, the Thundercat place is not something you can handle with your current mediocre skills.”
Shun sighed in his heart, it really wasn’t that easy. But he wasn’t too disappointed, after all, given Ai’s personality, it would be strange if he gave in so quickly.
“I understand, Teacher Ai.” Shun nodded and didn’t continue to pester him.
“Well, you are a teachable kid.” Ai nodded with satisfaction, then waved his hand with excitement in his eyes, “To celebrate your successful entry into the Lightning Escape Medical Technique, come on, kid, I will take you to the training ground to ‘stretch your muscles’, as a special training for you!”
The corners of Shun’s mouth twitched involuntarily. He knew that Ai’s way of “celebration” was always so unique and full of “surprises”. He could almost foresee how he would be “ravaged” in the next hour.
As expected, at the No. 3 training ground, Shun was used as a human sandbag by Ai and was “celebrated” by him. Although Shun had tried his best to use physical skills and instant body skills, he was still suppressed and had no power to fight back in the face of the absolute difference in strength and speed. Ai was in high spirits and said it was very exciting.
“Hu…Ha…” He collapsed to the ground instantly, his whole body aching. He was gasping for breath and felt like every muscle was screaming.
“Not bad, not bad. You’re much more durable than last time!” Ai wiped the sweat from his forehead, looking refreshed. “Since you’ve worked so hard, I’ve decided to give you two days off! Have a good rest, and don’t get too tired from training.”
“Thank you very much, Mr. Ai.” Shun thanked him weakly, but he was overjoyed in his heart. Two days of vacation! This is really a pleasant surprise.
Dragging his tired body back to the residence that Ai had arranged for him – a remote courtyard in the Ai family mansion, Shun first took a hot bath to relieve his body aches, and then fell into a deep sleep.
The first day of the holiday was sunny.
Shun did not stay in bed. After a simple wash and breakfast, he went straight to the information library in the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Shun, you’re finally here!” Uncle Ishida, the manager of the library, greeted Shun with a smile on his face as soon as he saw him. He also held a scroll in his hand. “This is the reward that the Raikage-sama from the Iwagakure Village gave to you. He said that he was thanking you for your outstanding performance in the last joint mission.”
“Oh?” Shun’s mind was moved. In the last joint mission, in addition to the remuneration for “Legend of the Thunder Brave”, the Hidden Rock Village actually gave him an additional reward? He took the scroll, and it felt heavy in his hand, with a hint of the heavy smell of earth and stone.
Unfolding the scroll, a line of powerful characters came into view: Explosive Release Chakra Refining Method.
Shun’s pupils suddenly shrank, and his breathing stopped for a moment. Explosion! This is the real bloodline limit, and old man Ohnoki is willing to give it to him? Although it is only a refinement method, not a finished ninjutsu, it is still amazing enough.
He couldn’t wait to read it carefully. The scroll detailed the nature of the explosive chakra, the steps to refine it, and the special requirements for the body. However, when he saw the last line of small words, the excitement on his face froze.
“Note: This method places a great strain on the body. It is recommended that practitioners be at least sixteen years old and their bones and meridians are fully developed before attempting to practice. Otherwise, it is very easy to cause meridian damage, chakra disorder, and even endanger life. It is estimated that it will take at least two years for the body to reach the minimum practice standard.”
Two years… Shun’s mouth twitched slightly. In other words, he would have to covet this powerful power for another two years before he could touch it. However, it was better to have it than not. He closed the scroll carefully and thanked Ishida solemnly: “Thank you, Uncle Ishida, and please convey my gratitude to Raikage-sama and the Iwagakure Village.”
“Sure, sure.” Ishida waved his hand with a smile, “You are a talented kid. The village and Raikage-sama are optimistic about you. If you make great contributions in the future, the rewards will be even greater.”
Shun smiled, then took out a new scroll from his arms and handed it to Ishida: “Uncle Ishida, this is my ‘friend’… um, that’s Mr. Tsuchiryu Zuan. He has a new inspiration recently. Please give him some advice.”
“Oh? Lord Tsuchiryu Zuan has a new work?” Ishida immediately became excited and took the scroll. Tsuchiryu Zuan’s “Legend of the Thunder Brave” is now the most popular book in the entire ninja world, bringing him huge reputation and profits.
He couldn’t wait to unfold the scroll, and saw a few large and flamboyant characters written on the cover: “Guide to Evaluating the Lightning Escapers of Alien Races”.
“Alien race… Lightning Release User… Evaluation Guide?” Ishida muttered, frowning slightly, and then his eyes burst into a brighter light than when he saw the Explosion Release Scroll before, “This… this… this is simply a groundbreaking and ingenious idea! Genius! Lord Tsuchiryuzu is truly a genius that never appears in the world!”
In the ninja world, although there are various summoned beasts, and even some Jinchūriki can partially transform into tailed beasts, the systematic combination of “alien races” and “ninja” professions, and the “evaluation” of the specific branch of “lightning escape user”, this angle and creativity are simply unheard of! What cat-eared girl lightning escape ninja, dog-man lightning escape scout, and even a slime-shaped lightning aggregate… countless amazing settings suddenly emerged in Ishida’s mind.
“Fire! This book will definitely be a hit! Even more popular than The Legend of the Lightning Hero!” Ishida danced with excitement, as if he had already seen mountains of gold and silver waving at him.
“So Uncle Ishida means that it can be published as soon as possible?” Seeing Ishida so excited, Shun had an idea in his mind.
“No, no, no,” Ishida took a deep breath, forced himself to calm down, and regained his businessman’s shrewdness, “Shun, listen to me. The Legend of the Lightning Brave is very popular right now, and it can be called a phenomenon. If we launch this “Guide to Evaluating Alien Lightning Releasers” now, it will certainly cause a sensation, but it will divert some of the continued popularity of the Legend of the Lightning Brave, causing internal competition, which is not conducive to maximizing profits.”
He paused, his eyes flashing with calculation: “My suggestion is to wait another two months. When the first wave of the climax of “Legend of the Thunder Warrior” has passed and the market has calmed down a bit, we will launch this “Evaluation Guide” with great force. It will surely set off the market again and create wave after wave of sales craze! Moreover, in these two months, we can also do a good job of preheating and publicity to raise the expectations!”
Shun couldn’t help but nod secretly when he heard this. Ishida was indeed a professional. His business sense and operational ideas were indeed much better than his “literary porter”.
“Just do as Uncle Ishida says.” Shun followed suit.
“Okay! That’s settled!” Ishida slapped his thigh excitedly, “Shun boy, your friend Tulongzuan is really the God of Wealth of our library!”
Shun laughed dryly twice, and silently paid his highest respects to Senior Tulongzuan who was now unknown.
After discussing with Ishida, Shun left the Intelligence Book Pavilion. As soon as he reached the door, he ran into a familiar little figure.
She was a little girl about five or six years old, with healthy chocolate-colored skin, neatly combed short hair, and simple but clean clothes. At the moment, she was holding a few thick books and walking into the library with some difficulty.
“Shun…Senior Shun?” The little girl was slightly startled when she saw Shun, and then called out in a low voice with some surprise and shyness.
“Ma Buyi?” Shunya recognized her. It was the little girl who had met him outside the medical department a few days ago and showed great interest in lightning-based medical treatment. He smiled gently, stopped and asked, “What a coincidence, you’re here to buy books too?”
“Yeah!” Ma Buyi nodded vigorously, her little face a little red because she was holding the book. “I… I want to find some basic books on lightning-style medical treatment, and learn life-saving ninjutsu like Senior Shun.” Although her voice was soft, her tone was extremely firm.
He understood immediately that his “performance” that day seemed to have really affected this little girl.
“Really? That’s amazing.” Shun encouraged, his eyes fell on the books in her arms that were obviously too difficult, and he couldn’t help but say: “However, to get started with lightning-style medical treatment, you need to lay a solid foundation in chakra control, especially the fine control of lightning-attribute chakra. These books in your arms seem a bit too profound. If you are a beginner, you may take a detour.”
Upon hearing this, Ma Buyi showed a trace of confusion and frustration on his face: “Is… is that so? I don’t know which ones to choose…”
“How about this,” Shun smiled and took the initiative to extend his hand, “I have just finished learning ‘Lightning Release: Active Technique’ and am quite familiar with the introductory theory and practice. If you don’t mind, I can help you pick out a few suitable books. If you have any questions in the future, you can also ask me.”
Ma Buyi’s eyes lit up instantly, as if two obsidians were lit up. She looked at Shun in disbelief, her voice trembling a little, “Really… is it really possible? Senior Shun?”
“Of course.” Shun nodded affirmatively, “We can help and learn from each other.”
“That’s great! Thank you! Senior Shun! Thank you so much!” Ma Buyi’s face turned red with excitement. She bowed deeply to Shun and the book in her arms almost fell out.
Seeing Ma Buyi’s eyes full of gratitude and admiration, Shun felt a warm feeling in his heart. It was a good feeling to be able to help a child who was full of hope for the future.
Chapter 46: Passionate Sister Yukito (Old Version)
The sky was just getting light, and the Hidden Cloud Village was still shrouded in a hazy morning mist. A slight sizzling sound could be heard from within Yue Guang Shun’s “new room”.
This so-called “new room” was actually right next to Yeyue Ai’s residence. It originally seemed to be a storage room, but was cleaned out by Ai in a drastic manner, and a simple bed, table and chairs were added to it, and it became Shun’s exclusive space.
At this moment, Shun was standing in front of a simple stove, with light blue lightning chakra lingering in his hands. Several cleaned fresh fish were being evenly roasted under his precise chakra control. The surface of the fish skin gradually showed an attractive golden color, and the wisps of burnt aroma mixed with the faint numbness unique to lightning chakra diffused in the morning air.
“Boy, where’s my breakfast? Let’s have the Thunder Style Grilled Fish today, shall we?” A slightly hoarse voice came from the door. Ye Yueai walked in carelessly, yawning, with his muscular upper body naked and wearing only a pair of loose ninja pants.
“Morning, Teacher Ai.” Shun turned around and smiled, placing the last grilled fish on a plate, “It’s just out of the oven, be careful of the heat.”
Ai walked to the table without hesitation and sat down. He picked up a grilled fish and took a big bite without fear of the heat. The fish meat was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. The slight stimulation of the lightning chakra just enhanced the freshness, and a satisfied look appeared on his rough face.
“Well, good. Your control of the heat is getting better and better.” Ai praised vaguely and solved one problem in no time.
Shun smiled and didn’t say anything, just quietly eating his portion. Since he started to be in charge of Ai’s meals, the future Raikage seemed to have changed his habit of getting up early.
“Here.” Ai finished the last bite, took out a bunch of keys from his trouser pocket and threw it to Shun.
“What is this?” Shun took the key, a little confused. There were two keys on the bunch, one looked quite heavy, and the other was smaller.
“My house, and your room.” Ai pointed at Shun, then pointed outside, “So that you don’t have to knock on the door when you go in and out in the future, or you won’t even have a place to stay when I’m not around.”
Shun’s heart warmed slightly. Is this considered…complete entry into the family? He could feel that although Ai didn’t say it, her care and trust for him were indeed increasing day by day.
“Thank you, Teacher Ai.” He put the key away immediately.
“Okay, don’t waste time.” Ai waved his hand and stood up. “After you’ve eaten and drunk enough, I’ll take you to an interesting place today to meet an old friend of mine.”
“Old friend?” Shun was a little curious. Ai didn’t seem to have many friends in the Hidden Cloud Village, and anyone who could be called “interesting” by him must not be an ordinary person.
“You’ll know when you get there. I promise I won’t let you down.” Ai kept the secret and went back next door to change clothes.
Shun shook his head helplessly. This teacher really liked to keep people in suspense sometimes. He quickly cleared the dishes and tidied up his appearance.
After a while, the two walked out of Ai’s residence one after the other.
The Hidden Cloud Village was built on a mountain range that towered into the clouds. Its architecture was rough and practical. The two of them walked through several streets, gradually moving away from the center of the village. The path became more and more remote, and the surrounding houses became sparse.
“Teacher Ai, where are we going? It feels like we’re almost out of the village.” Shun couldn’t help but ask.
“Almost there.” Ai answered without turning his head, his steps still steady.
After walking for a while, they came to a dense forest, with a trampled path vaguely visible in the forest. Ai walked in first, followed by Shun. The light in the forest was a little dim, but it was no problem for the two ninjas.
As they passed through the woods, the view suddenly opened up. An area covered by a special barrier appeared before them. Birds chirped and flowers bloomed in the barrier. An exquisite wooden cottage stood quietly in the center. Various flowers and plants were planted in front and behind the house. Several cats with different fur colors were lazily lying in the porch basking in the sun. It was a peaceful and tranquil scene.
“We’re here.” Ai pointed to the hut.
At this moment, the door of the wooden house creaked open and a figure rushed out like a whirlwind.
“Ah! You finally came to see me!” A clear, pleasant and energetic female voice sounded.
He looked at her intently and saw that she was a young woman, about 20 years old, tall and slender, with long flaxen hair casually draped, bright amber eyes, and a feline-like lazy and wild charm all over her body. It was the Two-Tails Jinchuriki, the two wooden figures.
“Hey, You Mu Ren, long time no see.” Ai grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
Yukito’s gaze stayed on Ai for less than a second, and he was immediately attracted by Shun behind him: “Huh? This is… Wow! What a cute little brother! Ai, where did you kidnap him from?”
Before she finished her words, she had already passed Ai like a gust of wind and came directly in front of Shun. She looked Shun up and down with her bright eyes, not hiding her curiosity and love.
Shun felt a little embarrassed by her gaze and bowed politely: “Hello, Sister Yukito, my name is Yueguang Shun, and I am Mr. Ai’s student.”
“Moonlight Shun? What a nice name!” Yu Muren’s eyes lit up, and he grabbed Shun’s wrist and said enthusiastically, “Come in, come in! It’s rare to have guests, and such a cute little guest!”
Ai’s mouth twitched slightly as he watched from the side. He felt like he had become an incidental victim.
Shun was half-pulled and half-dragged into the hut by the wooden man. The interior of the hut was also very unique, with cat-themed decorations everywhere, from paintings to ornaments, and even teacups were in the shape of cat paws.
“Little Shun, sit wherever you want. Don’t be polite! Treat this place as your own home!” You Mu Ren pressed Shun’s shoulders and made him sit on the soft sofa. Then he turned around to prepare refreshments, saying, “Ai is usually very boring. It’s rare for him to bring a friend here all year round, let alone a cute little guy like you.”
Ai followed behind, rubbing his forehead helplessly, and said to Shun with a wry smile: “That’s just her personality, you’ll get used to it.”
“No, no, Sister You Mu Ren is very enthusiastic.” Shun said quickly, but in his heart he felt that Sister You Mu Ren was indeed a little too enthusiastic. However, this kind of unguarded cheerfulness also made people feel very comfortable.
Soon, a wooden man came over with tea and some cute cat-paw biscuits, and piled them in front of Shun: “Come, come, try the biscuits I made. You can’t buy them in the village!”
She sat down next to Shun and looked at him with interest: “How old is Shun this year? Is he studying in the ninja preparatory class? How is Ai as a teacher? Has he bullied you?”
A series of questions came to me, and for a moment I didn’t know which one to answer first.
Ai cleared his throat and tried to attract attention: “Ahem, Yumu Ren, I am the guest, right?”
“Oh, I know, I know. Your tea is over there.” Yu Muren waved his hand nonchalantly and continued to look at Shun with great interest. “Little Shun, tell your sister quickly, how does Ai usually train you? His rough methods are too much for your small body to handle.”
Shun smiled and began to briefly talk about his experience in the preparatory class and Ai’s daily guidance. He cleverly avoided the hardship of the training and only picked some interesting things to talk about.
When Yukito heard that Shun had defeated Darui, who was also a genius, cleanly in the final practical battle of the preparatory class, his eyes lit up even brighter.
“Defeated Darui? I’ve seen that guy before, he’s really talented. You can beat him, which means you’re even better!” Yu Muren didn’t hesitate to praise him, and then he clapped his hands suddenly as if he had thought of something, “Oh, right! Xiao Shun, I see that you’re very agile and quick to react, are you interested in learning ‘Cat’s Physical Technique’ from me?”
“Cat’s physical skills?” Shun’s mind moved. The characteristic of the Two-tailed Matatabi is the cat, and the physical skills of his Jinchūriki must also be related to the agility and swiftness of the cat, which is undoubtedly a huge attraction to him.
“Yes!” Yukito said excitedly, leaning forward slightly, almost touching Shun’s face, “My cat’s taijutsu emphasizes agility, speed, and stealth! Combined with your lightning escape, the power will definitely be even stronger! How about it? Are you interested?”
Her amber eyes were full of anticipation, and that enthusiasm almost melted Shun.
“Cough! Cough cough!” Ai coughed heavily a few times, interrupting You Muren’s words.
His face looked a little unnatural, and his tone was also slightly stiff: “Yukito, Shun is still a child. The workload of the ninja preparatory class is already very heavy. How can he have the energy to learn so many things? Don’t you understand the principle of biting off more than you can chew?”
Shun immediately understood what Ai meant. This teacher Ai, probably because he saw how enthusiastic Sister Yu Muren was towards him, he was a little bit “protective”.
He laughed in his heart, but showed just the right amount of regret on his face, and said to You Mu Ren: “Sister You Mu Ren, thank you very much for your kindness. But Teacher Ai is right. My studies are really my priority right now, and I’ve only just begun to learn what Teacher Ai is teaching me.”
He paused, then added: “However, when I grow up a little bit and become stronger, I will definitely come to ask Sister Yukito to teach me the cat’s taijutsu!”
Yu Mu Ren was a little disappointed when he heard that, but he soon smiled again: “Well, that’s fine! A man should focus on his studies! Sister will wait for you to grow up! Don’t play tricks when the time comes!”
“Of course!” Shun nodded seriously.
Ai listened to Shun’s answer, his expression brightened, and the corners of his mouth lifted up in an almost invisible arc. This kid is quite perceptive.
Shun secretly glanced at Ai and thought to himself: Cat’s Taijutsu sounds so cool! I must learn it when I have the chance! However, Teacher Ai’s slightly jealous look is really… a bit cute in contrast.
The atmosphere in the hut became lively again. Yukito pulled Shun and began to talk about some interesting things about her relationship with Nibi Matatabi and her experience of “exploring” around the Hidden Cloud Village when she was young. Ai would occasionally interject a sentence or two, but most of the time she was quietly drinking tea, but her eyes would wander between Shun and Yukito from time to time.
The sun shone through the window lattice, casting mottled shadows on the wooden floor. The house was filled with laughter and joy. For Shun, this was undoubtedly a novel and pleasant visit. For Ai, although he felt a little “unhappy” when he saw his beloved disciple being loved by his old friend, deep in his heart, he might also feel a little bit of comfort.
Chapter 47: Ai, the Desperate Ai (Old Version)
“I say, Shun, do you dare to do something exciting?”
In the living room of the two Yumu people, the sun shines through the window lattice, casting mottled light and shadows on the floor. Ai crosses his legs, looking at Yueguang Shun across from him with a provocative look, while playing with a brand new deck of Kumogakure cards in his hand.
Shun put down the teacup in his hand. The hot steam from the tea misted his brows and made him look a little gentler. “Oh? What new tricks does Brother Ai have?”
“Huh, what do you mean by new tricks?” Ai raised his chin and said complacently, “This is the most popular form of entertainment in our Hidden Cloud Village – Hidden Cloud Cards! Today I will let you see what real card skills are!”
His expression seemed to have foreseen the scene where Shun would be killed by him without leaving a single piece of armor. Ai was secretly happy. In the previous training ground, although he could “suppress” Shun in terms of physical skills and strength, he always felt that the boy was slippery and could not really make him lose. Today, he wanted to get back at the field where he was best!
“How do you stimulate me?” Shun asked calmly, but his heart was slightly moved. He remembered his “Drunkard” mark, which seemed to bring unexpected good luck in non-monetary gambling. This Yunyin card sounded like a good opportunity to verify it.
“The loser will have to stick notes on his face!” Ai took out a stack of small white notes that he had prepared long ago and shook them proudly, “Until their faces are covered with them!”
Two wooden figures nearby came over with a plate of freshly cut fruit. They laughed when they heard what he said: “Ai, are you trying to compete with Shun to see who has thicker skin?”
Ai Lao blushed and said with his neck stiff, “What nonsense! This is a strategy. Do you understand strategy? It’s a psychological tactic!”
Shun looked at Ai’s confident expression, and a barely perceptible arc appeared at the corner of his mouth: “Okay, let’s give it a try.”
Youmu Ren put down the fruit plate and said excitedly, “Count me in! I haven’t played for a long time, so it’s a good opportunity to see if Ai’s card skills have deteriorated.”
“Come on, I’m in great form today, I’m going to kill you all!” Ai was full of energy, as if he had seen the goddess of victory waving at him.
The three of them sat around a low table, with a wooden man shuffling the cards expertly. The rules of Kumogakure card games were not complicated, somewhat similar to some poker games that Shun had played in his previous life, but the combination and scoring methods had a unique style of Kumogakure Village.
The first game begins.
Ai was highly focused, his eyes fixed on the cards, his fingers tapping lightly on the table, looking like he was planning a strategy. He carefully calculated each card, trying to read something from Shun and Yukito’s subtle expressions.
However, Shun’s expression remained indifferent, and it was impossible to tell whether he was happy or angry.
“Ha! I’m sure to win this time!” Ai threw out a set of cards and said with a smug smile, “Shun, get your first Medal of Honor ready!”
Shun took a look at the cards, then slowly showed his own cards.
Ai’s smile froze on his face instantly.
“Uh… How is this possible?” Ai rubbed his eyes, not believing what he saw. Shun’s cards were neither too big nor too small, just enough to overpower him a little bit.
“Thank you.” Shun picked up a note and handed it to Ai with a smile.
Yu Mu Ren covered his mouth and chuckled: “Ai, it seems that you are off to a bad start.”
“It was an accident, a complete accident!” Ai angrily took the note and stuck it on his forehead. “I will definitely win it back next time!”
In the second game, Ai was more cautious and considered every move carefully. However, the result was the same.
In the third round, Ai started to get a little anxious and played his cards a little faster. In the end, he still lost.
The fourth game… The fifth game…
As time passed, the number of pieces of paper on Ai’s forehead increased from one to three, and then to his cheeks, nose, chin… Soon, his originally handsome face was mostly covered by white pieces of paper, leaving only two eyes with “unbelievable” written all over them.
“Impossible! This is absolutely impossible!” Ai grabbed his hair, his tone full of frustration, “My cards are so good! Shun, are you cheating?!”
Shun spread his hands, looking innocent: “Brother Ai, you can eat whatever you want, but you can’t say anything you want. The cards were shuffled by the wooden man, and you were the first to grab them. I didn’t move anything.”
You Mu Ren also joined in, “Yeah, Ai, Shun has always been very well-behaved. I think you just have bad luck today.” As she spoke, she tried hard to hold back her laughter, her shoulders shrugged.
“Luck? Is this a matter of luck?” Ai pointed at the densely packed papers on his face and complained angrily, “I’ve been playing in the Yunyin poker field for so many years, and I’ve never lost so badly! Are you guys teaming up to trick me?”
“Brother Ai, you have to accept the consequences of your bet.” Shun picked up another note and reminded him kindly.
Ai looked at the white “death warrant” floating over, and his whole body wilted, like a defeated rooster, dejectedly covering the last bit of exposed skin.
“I don’t want to play anymore! I don’t want to play anymore!” Ai threw the cards in his hand onto the table, leaned back, and collapsed on the tatami. He stared at the ceiling with lifeless eyes and muttered, “There’s nothing to live for… I feel like I’ll never love again…”
The look of being teased made Youmuren laugh so hard that he fell backwards and almost cried.
Shun looked at Ai’s miserable state and laughed in his heart. The effect of this “drunkard” mark on non-monetary gambling was really immediate. It seems that in the future, when betting with others for entertainment, there is an additional capital for invincibility.
“Okay, okay, Ai, stop pretending to be dead. It’s time for lunch, and I made your favorite Thunder Release Grilled Fish.” You Mu Ren smiled and patted Ai’s arm.
When he heard “Thunder Release Grilled Fish”, Ai’s eyes finally regained some spirit. He struggled to get up from the ground, with a face full of papers, and said in a muffled voice: “You still have some conscience.”
The atmosphere of lunch was quite harmonious. Yu Muren’s cooking skills were indeed well-deserved, and several home-cooked dishes were cooked with good color, aroma and taste. Although Ai still had the mark of failure on his face, his mood also recovered a lot under the comfort of delicious food.
After the meal, Shun said goodbye to Yu Muren and Ai.
“Shun, come and play again when you have time.” Yu Muren said enthusiastically.
Ai Ze snorted and muttered, “Next time we play cards, I will definitely win back!” But his tone sounded a little lacking in confidence.
Shun smiled and waved goodbye to them.
The next morning, Shun went to the commercial street of the Hidden Cloud Village to purchase a batch of fitness equipment according to his previous plan. There were stone locks of different sizes, special weight-bearing vests, sturdy crossbars, etc., all of which were selected according to the auxiliary training tools recorded on the Explosive Release Chakra Refining Scroll.
When he returned to Ai’s house, Ai was still sleeping soundly. Shun moved the equipment to an unused room in Ai’s house quietly. Ai’s house was indeed the residence of the future Raikage, with a large area and several empty rooms, which was just convenient for him.
After arranging the equipment one by one, Shun took a deep breath, took out the scroll containing the “Burst Chakra Extraction Method”, and read it carefully again.
This method of refining is not only about changing the nature of chakra, but also emphasizes the body’s adaptability and carrying capacity to the violent energy of Explosion. Therefore, physical training in the early stage is crucial.
He quickly changed into a light training suit and walked into the yard.
He first did a set of heavy squats, feeling the tearing pain in his thigh muscles, followed by weighted pull-ups, using all his strength every time he pulled up. Then came the bench press, and every time he pushed up, his pectoralis major and arm muscles groaned under the heavy load.
Sweat quickly soaked his clothes and slid down his cheeks, but Shun didn’t care. He was highly focused and strictly followed the instructions on the scroll, controlling every effort and every breath.
Unlike ordinary physical training, the scroll specifically states that when performing these extreme physical exercises, one should try to guide one’s own chakra to the muscle groups that are under the greatest stress, use the chakra to feel muscle fatigue and damage, and after the exercise, use a specific rhythm to warm and repair the muscles.
After an hour of high-intensity exercise, Shun felt as if all the muscles in his body were about to explode and were extremely sore.
He sat cross-legged and began to guide the chakra in his body to flow to those exhausted muscles according to the chakra circulation method recorded in the scroll.
At first, the flow of chakra was a little sluggish, but as Shun persisted, a faint but strange feeling came from deep in the muscles, as if the dry land was moistened by rain.
At this moment, the familiar panel in his mind lit up slightly.
[It is detected that the host is undergoing special chakra refining practice…][Superior Skill Mark: “Explosive Chakra Refining Method” has been unlocked! ][Current progress: 0.1%]Shun was delighted. Although it was only 0.1% progress, it was undoubtedly a huge breakthrough! This meant that he had successfully entered the door and took the first step to mastering the Explosion Escape.
The mark of superior skills is rarer than most A-level ninjutsu, and its potential is self-evident.
Just as Shun was immersed in joy, Ai came out of the room yawning, sleepy-eyed. He immediately saw the extra fitness equipment in the yard, and Shun, who was sitting cross-legged on the ground, steaming all over.
“Hmm… you’re still busy early in the morning…” Ai rubbed his eyes and mumbled something incoherently. He saw Shun’s serious look and the heavy stone locks around him, curled his lips, didn’t ask any more questions, turned around and staggered back to his room to catch up on his sleep.
Ai seemed to have gotten used to Shun doing these things in his house, or rather, after yesterday’s disastrous defeat with playing cards, he had no interest in interfering with any of Shun’s actions.
Shun just smiled slightly and continued to immerse himself in his own practice.
The sun gradually rose higher, dyeing the yard golden.
Two months passed in a flash like this.
Time always passes quickly during the holidays. When the leaves are dyed with autumn colors, the opening day of the Kumogakure Ninja School also arrives quietly.
Chapter 48: Cutting off the graduation dream with one sword (old version)
“Yumuku-jin! Yumuku-jin! Here I come!”
Atsei’s iconic yellow hair fluttered in the morning breeze. He rushed to the gate of the two Yumu people’s house like a gust of wind and shouted with full energy.
Today is the first day of the second grade of Ninja School, and it is also the day when new and old students report together.
In order to enter the school gate with his beloved Yu Mu Ren and give her a “mature and reliable” impression, Atziyi got up half an hour earlier than usual and only took a few bites of breakfast.
For him, the first day of the second grade was of great significance. It meant that he had grown another year older, and his strength had (in his opinion) improved a lot, which might make Yukito look at him with new eyes.
“Squeak—”
The gate was opened, but the person who walked out was not the beautiful figure he had been thinking about day and night, but a middle-aged woman with sleepy eyes and yawning, the mother of the two wooden figures.
“It’s Atziyi, so early?” The woman rubbed her eyes, a little surprised.
“Good morning, auntie! Um… is Yumuren at home?” Atsyi asked with a sunny smile that he had practiced many times and a hint of barely perceptible nervousness.
The woman shook her head and said apologetically, “You Muren’s child left home at dawn.”
“Ah?” The smile on Atsyi’s face froze, and he raised his voice in surprise, “She went out? Usually she always goes out when it’s almost time…”
“She said she wanted to go to Samui’s house to ask Shun-kun some questions about lightning-based medical treatment.” The woman explained, her tone showing some satisfaction with her daughter’s diligence and eagerness to learn.
“The Samui family? Moonlight Shun?”
Atzii’s head buzzed as if it was hit by a hammer.
Of course he knew Gekko Shun, the classmate who always looked calm and composed, and who had recently become close to Samui and Yukito. Yukito had mentioned several times during the holidays that he was learning a new type of lightning escape technique from Shun.
Damn it! It’s Moonlight Shun again!
The little fire in Atsyi’s heart suddenly jumped up. He originally thought that he was already active enough by getting up early, but he didn’t expect that someone was more “active” than him and directly “intercepted” the opportunity he had been thinking about.
“Thank you, Auntie. I understand!”
Atsuyi tried to maintain his politeness, but his voice was a little tense. He turned around almost immediately, and with a burst of chakra under his feet, he ran towards the direction of Samui’s house. He wanted to see what the hell was in that Moonlight Shun that made Yukito so concerned!
Samui’s house was not far away, and Atsi gathered his strength and quickly rushed to the door.
The courtyard door was ajar, and one could faintly hear low conversations and a slight “hissing” sound of electricity coming from inside.
He took a deep breath, pushed open the gate and walked in.
In the courtyard, Yueguang Shun was sitting cross-legged on a bluestone. In front of him, two wooden figures were sitting upright, looking at Shun’s hands intently. Shun’s fingertips were jumping with fine light blue arcs. These arcs were not violent, but like docile elves, under the guidance of his fingers, they wandered on a wounded leaf, and the damage on the leaf was slowly healed at a speed visible to the naked eye.
Yeyue Samui was sitting on the side, also holding a notebook about the changes in the properties of Lightning Release Chakra in his hand. He looked up at Shun’s demonstration from time to time, as if thinking about something.
The sunlight shines through the gaps in the leaves and falls on the three people, creating a peaceful and harmonious picture.
“Yumu Ren…” When Atsuyi saw this scene, he subconsciously paused, and the inexplicable sour feeling in his heart became even stronger.
“Aciyi? Why are you here?” The two Yumu people turned their heads in surprise when they heard the voice, with a hint of surprise flashing in their clear eyes. Samui also nodded to him in a friendly manner.
“I… I’m here to find Yukito to report to school together.” Atsuyi scratched his head, feeling like an uninvited guest, especially when he saw Shun’s calm eyes.
“I’m sorry, Atsuyi. Shun was teaching me the key techniques of lightning-style medical treatment. I was so engrossed in learning that I forgot the time.” Yukito explained apologetically, and then added excitedly, “Shun’s lightning-style medical treatment is amazing! I have made a lot of progress in the past two months, all thanks to Shun’s guidance!”
The look in her eyes when she looked at Shun was filled with undisguised admiration and gratitude.
Atsu’s heart was stabbed again. Lightning escape medical treatment? What the hell is that? Shouldn’t ninjas pursue stronger offensive ninjutsu?
He was just about to say something to make his presence felt, such as how proficient he had become in practicing the family’s Fire Escape during this holiday, when a steady and slightly hoarse boy’s voice suddenly came from the gate of the courtyard.
“Moonlight Shun, do you dare to fight me?”
Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw a dark-skinned boy who was slightly taller than his peers standing at the door. It was none other than Darui, a talented ninja of their same level.
At this moment, Darui’s eyes were as sharp as an eagle, and he exuded a strong confidence that was not in line with his age. The two months of special training during the holiday had significantly improved his strength. He was absolutely sure that he could defeat Gekkou Shun today, and then submit an application for early graduation to the Hokage!
“Darui? Why are you here too?” Atzi asked in surprise.
Yumujin and Samui also showed curious expressions.
Shun still had that calm expression. He slowly stood up and looked at Darui calmly: “Oh? The last challenge before graduation?”
“That’s right!” Darui said firmly, “I haven’t slacked off in the past two months! Today, I’ll let you see my true strength! If I defeat you, I can graduate!”
His voice was full of desire for victory and vision for the future. Starting school at the age of five and graduating at the age of seven, this will be a new legend for the Hidden Cloud Village Ninja School!
“Graduation?” Atsuyi and Yukito exclaimed at the same time.
Although they knew that Darui was very strong, they did not expect that he already had the confidence and plan to graduate early.
“For me, there is no opponent in the Ninja School who can help me make further progress, except for you, Shun.” Darui raised his chin slightly and said coolly, as if he had already foreseen the glory after his victory.
Atsyi was furious at these words. It was too arrogant! But he had to admit that Darui did have the capital to be arrogant.
“Okay.” Shun smiled faintly and took out a brand new wakizashi from the ninja tool bag at his waist.
It was a short sword about one and a half feet long, with a narrow blade that shone with the cold luster of metal. The strange thing was that there seemed to be fine lines engraved on the blade, and under the sunlight, there was a faint flash of lightning, as if the real thunder was sealed in it.
“Is this… your newly customized sword?” Samui was quite knowledgeable about ninja tools and could tell at a glance that this wakizashi was extraordinary.
[Superior Ninja Tool Mark: Thunder Blade][Trigger condition: Successfully customize and possess a lightning-amplified metal sword that suits you. ][Effect: Lightning Chakra conduction is increased by 25%, and lightning paralysis effect is added when slashing (the intensity depends on the user’s control of lightning), and there is a weak resonance increase for lightning ninjutsu. ]Information about this “Thunder Blade” flashed through Shun’s mind. This was a treasure that he had asked the best swordsmith in the Hidden Cloud Village to make, using up most of his savings from part-time jobs and missions during the holidays. It was a perfect match for his Lightning Release.
“I guess so.” Shun casually swung his knife, and the blade drew a silver arc in the air, making a slight “buzzing” sound. “Is it right here?”
“Of course!” Darui couldn’t wait to get ready, quickly forming seals with both hands, “Let me show you the results of my two months of hard training! Lightning Style: Black Spot Difference!”
He let out a low roar and pressed his hands slammed to the ground. In an instant, several pitch-black leopard-shaped lightning bolts shot out from his palms, roaring, and pounced on Moonlight Shun at an astonishing speed!
This move, “Black Spot Difference”, is Darui’s favorite ninjutsu. After two months of practice, it is not only faster, but also 30% more powerful than before! He is confident that Shun will never be able to dodge it as easily as before!
Atsu and Yukito held their breath involuntarily, staring at the field without blinking. Samui also put down his notebook for a while, looking solemn.
However, facing the aggressive black thunder leopard, there was still no panic on Shun’s face.
He didn’t even move.
Just when the black thunder leopard was about to pounce on him, it moved instantly.
His movements were not fast, and could even be described as somewhat freehand. He took a half step backward with his left foot, lowered his body, and the Thunder Blade in his hand moved upward, drawing a seemingly slow but extremely precise arc.
There were no earth-shattering noises, nor dazzling light effects.
There was only a sound so slight that it was almost imperceptible – “Zi La!”
In an instant, a terrifying lightning chakra that was far beyond Darui’s imagination and even beyond the understanding of everyone present suddenly burst out from Shun’s body through the “Thunder Blade”!
That was not ordinary lightning, but pure lightning energy that was condensed to the extreme and full of destructive power! It was as if the sleeping Thunder God had awakened and opened his majestic eyes!
The several black thunder leopards that Darui was so proud of were like paper the moment they came into contact with the powerful lightning that erupted from the “Thunder Blade”. They couldn’t even make a scream before they were crushed and annihilated like dry weeds and rotten wood!
But that’s not all!
The violent lightning from the “Thunder Blade” continued to have unabated force, and it hit Darui, who had not yet recovered from the shock, in an unmatched manner!
Darui only felt a huge force that seemed to shatter his internal organs, mixed with a terrifying electric current that instantly paralyzed his entire body, coming from the opponent’s knife. He was like being hit head-on by a mad thunder bull, his feet instantly left the ground, a small mouthful of blood spurted out of his mouth, and he flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, and with a “bang” he hit the stone wall of the courtyard seven or eight meters away, and then slid to the ground.
His right arm, which was holding the family’s secret dagger, was hanging limply and trembling constantly. One could even see fine electric sparks jumping on the surface of his skin. His entire arm had lost consciousness. Severe pain and numbness intertwined together, making his forehead sweat.
One move!
Just one move!
It can’t even be considered a real fight, it’s just an instant block and counterattack!
After two months of absence, Darui came to challenge with full confidence, vowing to avenge his previous defeat and graduate early, but just like that… he was defeated?
“How… How is it possible?!” Atzi’s eyes almost popped out of his head. He rubbed his eyes and could hardly believe what he saw. That was Darui! One of the recognized geniuses of their class!
Yukito also covered her mouth with her hands, her beautiful eyes filled with shock. She knew Shun was very strong, especially in the lightning escape medical treatment, but she didn’t expect Shun’s strength in combat to reach such an incredible level!
Samui’s expression was the most complicated. She was shocked at first, and then a hint of enlightenment flashed in her eyes, as if she had figured something out, and there was a hint of awe in her eyes when she looked at Shun.
He sheathed his sword and walked slowly to Darui who was slumped in the corner. He leaned forward slightly and said calmly, “Are you okay? You look badly injured. My lightning escape should have injured your meridians. Let me help you deal with it.”
As he spoke, he stretched out his right hand, and the familiar light blue medical lightning chakra lit up in his palm again, but this time, the chakra light seemed to be more condensed than when he was treating the leaves before, and it carried a strange rhythm.
Darui stared at Shun in a daze, then looked at his unconscious right arm, and recalled the terrifying and irresistible lightning power just now, and the lightning chakra full of vitality in Shun’s palm at this moment. His eyes were filled with confusion, unwillingness, and a hint of incredible frustration.
“Graduation…my graduation dream…” he muttered to himself, his voice hoarse.
Two months of hard training, the expectations of the family elders, and one’s own plans for the future… all seemed so ridiculous and fragile in the face of that earth-shattering blow just now.
“Don’t move, it might feel a little numb.” Shun’s gentle voice brought Darui back from his trance.
The light blue lightning chakra gently covered Darui’s injured arm. The sizzling sound of the electric current did not bring any pain, but instead was like countless pairs of gentle hands, dredging his damaged and numb meridians. Streams of warm current seeped in, and the pain and numbness were quickly subsiding.
[Superior Physique Mark: Natural Thunder Body][Triggering conditions: Successfully fuse the superior spiritual mark ‘Thunder Physician’ and the ordinary physical mark ‘Running like Thunder’ (or a physical mark of the same effect). ][Effect: Lightning talent permanently increased by 100%, lightning resistance permanently increased by 50%, the power of Lightning Ninjutsu slightly increased, and Lightning Chakra recovery speed slightly increased. ][Note: A new fusion path has been activated – ‘Lightning Release Sealless Therapy’. Required conditions: superior physical mark ‘Natural Lightning Body’, superior mental mark ‘Lightning Release Intermediate Physician’, and jonin-level Lightning Release Chakra control.]In Shun’s mind, the information about “Born Thunder Body” emerged clearly. During the two-month vacation, his biggest gain was not the “Thunder Blade” or the further development of the “Thunder Physician” mark, but the “Born Thunder Body” formed by the fusion of “Thunder Physician” and another accidentally acquired physical mark “Running Like Thunder”!
It was this mark that made his Lightning Talent and Lightning Resistance undergo a qualitative leap, and the explosive power and control of his Lightning Chakra were far beyond what they were before. In that attack just now, he didn’t even use a real killing move, but only used the basic explosive power of Lightning given by his “Natural Lightning Body” and the amplification of his “Thunder Blade”.
[The effect of the ordinary-level ninja tool mark ‘Blade of Storm’ (Shun’s initial wind attribute wakizashi comes with a mark) has been improved. 】
[Effect: Wind escape talent and swordsmanship talent are increased by 10% on the original basis. (Originally 20%, now a total increase of 30%)]At the same time, another message popped up. It seemed that the excellent performance of the “Thunder Blade” just now stimulated the old mark related to swordsmanship.
After a moment, Shun withdrew his hand. Darui tried to move his right arm and was surprised to find that, except for a little soreness, the perception and strength of his arm had been almost restored! This healing effect was simply shocking!
He silently picked up the dagger that had fallen aside, stood up from the ground, looked at Shun with a complicated expression, opened his mouth, and wanted to say something, but in the end it just turned into a low sigh.
“I… won’t graduate.” Darui’s voice was a little dry, “I will continue to go to the Ninja School.”
He took a deep look at Yueguang Shun. His eyes were no longer filled with the flame of challenge, but were instead filled with inquiry and a hint of stubbornness that refused to admit defeat: “Yueguang Shun, I will definitely find out what’s going on with you…!”
After saying that, he didn’t look at anyone again. He turned around silently and walked out of the Samui family’s courtyard step by step. His back looked a bit desolate, but also had a hint of calmness that was not there before.
In the courtyard, Atsyi was already dumbfounded, his mouth wide open enough to fit an egg. He looked at Darui’s lonely back as he left, and then at Yue Guang Shun who was calm and composed as if he had just done something insignificant, and felt his mind go blank.
This world…isn’t it a little too crazy?
“Okay, it’s almost time.” Shun looked at the sky, smiled and said to Yukito and Atsuyi who were still a little confused: “Let’s go to school together to register?”
Yu Mu Ren nodded vigorously, and in addition to the original admiration, there was a bit more surprise in his eyes when he looked at Shun.
Atzi nodded mechanically. He felt like he had suffered a series of heavy blows before the first day of school even started.
Moonlight Shun… How many secrets does this guy have hidden?
Chapter 49: Come on, Darui (Old Version)
“Really? It’s so noisy so early in the morning.”
The five people led by Yue Guangshun walked slowly towards the ninja preparatory class in the slightly salty and humid morning breeze of the Hidden Cloud Village. The one who complained was Atsuyi. He rubbed his sleepy eyes and looked at the crowds of people surging on both sides of the street. Most of them were students wearing standard school uniforms.
“It’s the first day of school after all. We’re in the second year, and we’re seniors now.” The two Yukito put their hands behind their backs and said briskly, with their golden eyes flashing with anticipation for the new semester. She looked at the first-year students who were obviously much younger with interest, with a hint of a smile on her lips.
“Senior?” Atziyi seemed to be reminded of something. He immediately perked up and straightened his chest. “That’s right! When those first-year brats see us, they have to respectfully call us ‘Senior Atziyi’! Hahaha!”
Yeyue Samui glanced at him and said lightly: “If you can put half of your energy into training into studying, it might be more convincing.” She stood tall and straight, her short flaxen hair shone with a soft luster in the morning light, and her tone was calm but with unquestionable majesty.
Atziyi was choked, curled his lips in dismay, and muttered softly: “I know, I know, Sister Samyi is always so strict…”
Darui was still in his lazy state, with his hands in his trouser pockets and half-closed eyes, as if he could fall asleep at any time. He seemed indifferent to the content of his companions’ conversation, and only yawned occasionally to show that he was still awake.
Moonlight Shun walked in the front, listening to the laughter of his companions behind him, with a faint smile on his face. However, his mind had already drifted to a more distant place – the advanced planning of the “Shun Mark System”.
Since successfully integrating the first elite-level mark “Thunder Body”, his understanding of the system has deepened. The next goal is the master-level mark “Thunder Unmarked Treatment”. The effect of this mark is amazing. Not only can it greatly increase the power of Thunder Ninjutsu, but more importantly, the two characteristics of “unmarked” and “treatment” mean instant healing, and it uses Thunder Chakra to stimulate cell activity for treatment, which is far more effective than conventional medical ninjutsu.
However, the conditions for integrating the “Thunder Release Seal Therapy” are also extremely harsh, requiring three prerequisite elite-level marks: “Thunder Release Jonin”, “Strong Body” and “Instant Thunder Flash”.
“‘Lightning Release Jonin’, as the name suggests, requires one to improve the understanding and application of Lightning Release to the Jonin level, and to master at least three A-level Lightning Release Ninjutsu and be able to integrate them. At present, my control over Lightning Release is still lacking, and I need more actual combat and more advanced Lightning Release Secret Art scrolls…” Shun silently calculated in his mind. The Hidden Cloud Village is famous for its Lightning Release, and resources in this area should not be difficult to obtain, but it requires time and merit.
“‘Strong and fit’, the requirements of this mark are more than one level higher than the previous ‘energetic’. It requires the physical fitness to reach the level of an elite jonin, especially the cell activity and chakra carrying capacity. The lightning body-building technique must be practiced persistently. Perhaps you can also find some secret medicine or special training methods to strengthen your body.”
“As for ‘Instant Lightning Flash’…” Shun frowned slightly. This seems to be a composite mark, not just for speed, but also for the perfect combination of Lightning Chakra and Instant Body Technique, forming an explosive high-speed movement technique, and maintaining the offensiveness of Lightning during the movement. The conditions for obtaining this mark are the most vague, and the system prompts “understand the true meaning of thunder at the extreme speed, and successfully perform an instant attack containing the essence of Lightning”.
“It seems that none of these three elite marks are easy to deal with.” Shun sighed secretly, but the fire of challenge burned in his eyes. The more difficult it is, the greater the reward after success.
Just as they were about to reach the gate of the Ninja School, a loud and obviously provocative voice came from the front.
“stop!”
The five people looked in the direction of the sound and saw a short, dark-skinned boy with short white hair standing in the middle of the road. He was wearing a brand new first-year school uniform, with his arms folded across his chest, his chin raised high, and his eyes as sharp as an eagle, staring at Yue Guang Shun.
“Oh? Isn’t this Karui?” Atsuyi recognized the man and said with a hint of disdain, “During the village test last year, this kid relied on his large amount of chakra and good physical skills to act arrogantly. Why, do you want to cause trouble again today?”
Karui ignored Atsuyi. His eyes were fixed on Gekko Shun. He said loudly, “Are you Gekko Shun? The guy who was touted as the ‘strongest in Kumogakure’ by the second graders?”
His voice was so loud that it attracted the attention of many students around him. Many first-year students and sophomores cast curious glances at him.
“The strongest?” Shun heard the words and raised a playful arc at the corner of his mouth, “I have never acknowledged this title.”
“Hmph! Stop pretending here!” Karui snorted coldly, took a step forward, and said aggressively, “I, Karui, am the strongest of this generation, no, the entire new generation of Kumogakure! Today I will defeat you and take back the title of ‘Kumegakure’s Strongest Freshman’ that should belong to me!”
“Huh?” Atsui couldn’t help but sneer as if he had heard a big joke. “Karui, are you confused after sleeping? Shun is the head of the second grade. How dare you, a first-year kid who just entered school, challenge him?”
There was also a burst of low discussions around.
“It’s Karui from the first grade. I heard that he did very well in the entrance exam.”
“But the one he challenged was Senior Gekko Shun, right? He is the undisputed number one in the second grade!”
“Now we’re going to have something interesting to watch. I wonder if Senior Shun will accept the challenge.”
Karui turned a deaf ear to the discussions around him and stared at Shun stubbornly: “Do you dare to accept my challenge? Or are you afraid of losing to a freshman like me and ruining your false reputation?”
“What an energetic kid.” Yu Muren shook his head and commented softly.
Samui frowned slightly, feeling somewhat dissatisfied with Karui’s rude provocation, but she knew Shun knew his limits, so she did not speak.
Yue Guang Shun was still calm and composed. He didn’t even look at Karui. He just glanced at Darui beside him and said calmly, “Go ahead, Darui.”
After a pause, he added, “Make it quick and decisive, don’t delay reporting.”
“……?”
Darui lazily opened one eye, seeming a little surprised by the order, but then returned to his unmotivated look, only making a soft “hmm” sound as a response. He slowly walked out of the team and stood in front of Karui.
“What do you mean?!” Karui was furious when he saw that Moonlight Shun actually sent out a listless guy beside him to fight. “Do you look down on me? Moonlight Shun! I’m challenging you!”
“You’re too noisy.” Darui’s voice was not loud, but it carried a unique sense of fatigue. He slowly raised his right hand and grasped the hilt of the knife at his waist. It was an ordinary standard short knife, but in his hand, it seemed to have life.
“You’re looking for death!” Karui roared, and his chakra instantly exploded. Electric arcs flickered faintly on his dark skin, and he was obviously also a lightning ninja. He stomped on the ground and rushed towards Darui like a cannonball, clenching his right fist, with a sharp gust of wind, and went straight to Darui’s face.
“What a fast speed!”
“As expected of Karui, this punch is so powerful!”
The freshmen around exclaimed.
However, facing Karui’s powerful blow, Darui just tilted his head slightly.
“Clang!”
There was a crisp sound of metal being unsheathed, so fast that it was almost impossible to catch.
Then, a flash of cold light, faster than Karui’s, flashed by.
Karui’s body suddenly froze as he charged forward. He felt a chill on his neck, as if being held by the fangs of a poisonous snake. He subconsciously lowered his head and saw a short knife blade flashing with a cold light, resting steadily in front of his throat, just a hair’s breadth away from his skin. The sharp aura emanating from the blade made all the hair on his body stand up.
Darui still had that lazy expression, and his hand holding the knife was as steady as a rock, as if he was just doing something insignificant.
“How… How is this possible?” Beads of cold sweat oozed from Karui’s forehead, his eyes filled with unbelievable horror. He didn’t even see how the other party drew his sword, the speed was so fast that it was beyond his cognition.
“You…you…” Atsuyi was also stunned. He knew that Darui was very strong, after all, he was able to fight with Shun for several rounds, but he didn’t expect that he was so strong that he could defeat the aggressive Karui with just one move.
“It’s over.” Darui said lightly, casually made a sword flower, and put the dagger back into the sheath. His movements were smooth and flowing, as if he had practiced it thousands of times.
Karui’s legs went limp and he almost fell to the ground. His face was pale and his lips were trembling, but he couldn’t say a word. The strength and speed he was so proud of were so vulnerable in front of the opponent.
Yueguang Shun did not watch the short “battle” from beginning to end, as if everything was within his expectations. He walked past the distraught Karui and walked straight into the school gate.
Samui and Yumujin followed closely behind with a faint smile on their faces.
Atsyi was stunned for a moment, and hurriedly followed, but there was a hint of complexity in his eyes when he looked at Darui. He originally thought that the gap between him and Darui was not too big, but now it seems…
“Darui looks lazy at ordinary times, but I didn’t expect that he can be so efficient and decisive when he takes action.” Yu Mu Ren whispered to Samui.
Samui nodded. “Darui’s talent is not bad, but he is a little lazy. However, it is just right to let him take action.”
Several people walked into the teaching building and came to the second grade classroom.
As soon as Shun stepped into the classroom, he immediately caused a small commotion.
“Ah! It’s Shun-kun!”
“Good morning, Shun-kun! After a holiday, you seem to have become more handsome!”
“Shun-kun is looking at me! Ahhhh, I’m so happy!”
Several female students immediately gathered around him, chattering and greeting Shun, their eyes flashing with undisguised admiration and worship. Shun’s strength, handsome appearance, and calm temperament made him extremely popular among the girls of the same grade.
“Everyone, please keep quiet. Class is about to start.” Samui stood up at the right time, unnoticeably standing between Shun and those overly enthusiastic female students. Although his tone was gentle, it carried a hint of irresistibility.
The female students were somewhat unwilling to see this, but they also knew that Samui and Shun had a close relationship, so they had to disperse somewhat angrily.
Atsu looked at Shun who was like the moon in the sky, and then looked at Samui who took the initiative to maintain order for him. The resentment and jealousy in his heart grew like wild weeds. He clenched his fists tightly, his teeth clattered, and his heart was filled with resentment: “Damn Moonlight Shun! Why do you take all the limelight!”
Yue Guang Shun keenly noticed the resentful look in Atsyi’s eyes. He glanced at him calmly, but his heart moved slightly.
“Azuyi is a hot-tempered, impulsive guy, and seems to have earth-attribute chakra as the main element… If I can find a way to stimulate him and make him challenge me constantly, or use him as my ‘imaginary enemy’ during training, I can use him to brush some earth-style marks.”
Several thoughts flashed through Shun’s mind. In his mark system, many defensive and auxiliary marks were related to earth escape. For example, the elite mark “Mobility Like a Mountain” required the mastery of advanced earth escape defense ninjutsu and a strong earth escape chakra affinity.
“Aziyi may be a good ‘experience baby’.” A meaningful smile appeared on Shun’s lips, and there was a bit more “expectation” in his eyes when he looked at Aziyi.
Chapter 50: The Strongest Lightning Paralysis Kiss (Old Version)
Today is the registration day for the Ninja Preparatory Class. Although there are no formal classes, the opening ceremony is inevitable.
Gekko Shun once again experienced the “patience” of the Third Raikage.
Compared with the previous lecture at the entrance of the village, the Third Raikage went all out in this opening speech for the preparatory class. He talked about the glorious history of the Hidden Cloud Village, the experience of being a ninja, and the deeds of the predecessors to the expectations of the younger generations. He spoke eloquently for a full three hours.
At first, thanks to the great reputation and thunderous voice of the Raikage, the group of future young ninjas of the Hidden Cloud Village sat attentively in the audience and tried their best to appear to be listening attentively.
But after an hour, most people’s eyes began to wander; after two hours, some people began to yawn secretly, and their heads moved noisily like chicks pecking at rice; when the three hours were just over, looking around, except for a few people who were really energetic or strong-willed, the rest had dull eyes and vision, as if their souls had gone home from school early.
Moonlight Shun had only one thought at the moment – if only he could wear Kirabi’s sunglasses and headphones, at least he could pretend to be listening to rap instead of being subjected to a long mental “roasting” here. He even suspected that this extra-long speech itself was a hidden test to screen willpower.
After the ceremony, the process of paying fees, receiving teaching materials and ninja forehead protectors is completed. The brand new silver-white forehead protectors, engraved with the lightning symbol of the Hidden Cloud Village, feel cool and textured.
“Shun-kun, Samui, Atsuyi, Darui!” The two wooden men came running over full of energy. She shook the wallet in her hand, “It’s me who called the group today. How about we go to the Thunder God BBQ restaurant for lunch at noon? It’s my treat!” As the recognized organizer of the small group, she can always liven up the atmosphere at the right time.
“Okay, okay! Shun-kun will come too!” Yeyue Samui’s eyes lit up, and she immediately looked at Yueguang Shun, with a barely perceptible intimacy in her tone. She had specially combed her short light golden hair neatly today, making her look even prettier.
“Barbecue? I’m hungry!” Atsuhi touched his stomach and shouted. He basically ignored the Raikage’s speech just now, and his mind was filled with the aroma of barbecue.
Darui yawned lazily and nodded: “Okay, just in time to replenish my energy.”
“Hey, barbecue, count me in, yeah! Treat my brain that has been listening to ‘lullaby’ for three hours, stupid bastard!” A figure wearing sunglasses and carrying a small notebook suddenly came over. It was Kirabi. He had also joined this small circle without knowing when.
Yue Guang Shun smiled and said, “Then I’d better obey your command, Yu Mu Ren.”
The group of six people walked towards the most famous “Thunder God BBQ Restaurant” in the Hidden Cloud Village. It was said that this restaurant was opened by a retired jonin and was famous for its secret sauce and fresh ingredients.
After sitting down, Atzi rushed to hand the menu to the waiter: “Boss, give me three servings of your top-notch Thunder Beast Set Meal! If it’s not enough, I’ll order more! As promised, today’s meal is on my table!” He patted his chest, looking like a wealthy man, as if he wanted to show off in front of Samui and Yumu Ren.
You Mu Ren laughed and punched him: “I told you it’s my treat! Don’t steal the limelight.”
During the dinner, Kirabi tried to liven up the atmosphere with his poor rap: “The barbecue is sizzling, and I feel so relaxed. Let’s all come together and forget all our worries, bakayarou, konoyarou!” As a result, except for Yueguang Shun who clapped politely and Darui who rolled his eyes imperceptibly, the others all had an expression of “what are you talking about” on their faces.
“Shun,” Darui asked vaguely while picking at the sizzling pork belly on the grill, “How come your…your strength seems to have become a lot stronger? The last graduation assessment, and the competition a few days ago, it felt more and more outrageous each time.” He was still worried about Shun’s extraordinary strength, even though they were all of the same age.
Yue Guangshun picked up a piece of perfectly roasted beef, dipped it in the sauce, and slowly answered, “Probably… a natural talent, plus hard work day and night.” He smiled and made up a story. It can’t be said that there is some “strongest sign-in system” in his mind that gives him special treatment every day, right? This kind of secret, of course, can’t be easily revealed to others.
Samui sat next to Shun and naturally picked up a piece of roasted beef tongue for him, saying softly, “Shun-kun has always worked very hard.” Her words caused Atsuyi on the opposite side to roll his eyes violently, and he muttered something like “girls are extroverted” and “elbows are turned outward”. His voice was not loud, but it was clearly audible.
You Mu Ren was laughing secretly on the side, watching the interaction of these people and found it quite interesting.
After a good meal and a few drinks, it was already afternoon. Everyone dispersed and agreed to meet again tomorrow when the preparatory class officially started. Gekkou Shun said goodbye to Samui, Yukito and the others, and planned to go home to continue studying the preliminary training method of the Lightning Chakra Mode he had just obtained. It was one of the rewards he received for completing the “sign-in” at the opening ceremony.
Not long after he walked away, a figure jumped out from behind the low wall of a training ground at the corner of the street and blocked his way – it was Atsyi, with an expression of unwillingness and stubbornness on his face.
“Yue Guang Shun, let’s fight again!” Atsuyi said in a deep voice, with fighting spirit burning in his eyes.
“Hmm?” Yue Guangshun stopped and raised his eyebrows. “Aciyi, you are really persistent. But why should I fight with you? Today is not a practical training class. I am not obligated to accept your challenge, right?” His tone was flat, with a barely perceptible teasing.
“Stop talking nonsense! I just don’t accept it!” Atsuyi was obviously irritated by Shun’s indifferent attitude, “The last time you defeated me, it was only because you relied on your Lightning Style to restrain my Water Style! This time, I’m going to use my newly learned Earth Style to fight you!”
“Oh? Earth escape?” Yue Guangshun’s heart was slightly moved, but his face remained calm. “Even so, it seems that I don’t have any reason to fight.”
“You…you are looking down on me!” Atsyi’s cheeks turned red with anger.
“How about this,” Yue Guang Shun’s eyes rolled, a plan came to mind, and a faint arc appeared at the corner of his mouth. “Since you want to fight so much, it’s not impossible. But there has to be some prize to make it interesting, right? If you lose, show me your family scroll of earth escape ninjutsu. I heard that the earth escape ninjutsu recorded in that scroll is quite valuable outside, isn’t it?” He deliberately provoked, with a bit of “sinister” meaning in his tone.
Shun had heard of the scroll of earth-style ninjutsu a long time ago. It was said that it recorded three very practical earth-style ninjutsu. For him who wanted to develop in a balanced way, it was quite attractive.
“You… you actually wanted to take my scroll!” Atziyi was really enraged, veins popped out on his forehead, and he gritted his teeth and said, “Okay! Let’s bet! If you lose, you have to call me big brother when you see me next time!”
“Okay.” Yue Guang Shun agreed without hesitation.
Seeing that he agreed so readily, Atsyi shouted angrily, said no more, and quickly formed seals with both hands: “Earth Escape: Earth Ling Tuanzi!”
He slapped the ground fiercely, chakra surged, and the land in front of him rose rapidly. A basin-sized piece of soil covered with spikes mixed with thick chakra spun and whistled towards Yue Guang Shun’s chest! This move, both in speed and power, was stronger than the ordinary Tuling Tuanzi. It was obvious that he had worked hard on it.
Yue Guangshun did not dodge or evade. Facing the incoming earth bomb, he simply raised his right hand, put his index finger and middle finger together, and the light blue lightning instantly condensed and compressed at his fingertips, making a slight “crackling” sound.
He let out a low shout, and the lightning from his fingertips suddenly shot out, like an extremely condensed blue line, which arrived first and pierced into the core of the high-speed rotating earth bomb with incredible precision!
With a muffled sound, the hard earth bomb exploded in mid-air, splattering gravel and mud and stirring up a cloud of dust. The tiny lightning rod was still powerful, almost brushing past Atsyi’s slightly open mouth due to shock, leaving a tiny but deep charred hole on the wooden stakes in the training ground behind him, with wisps of green smoke and weak arcs still dancing around the edge of the hole.
Atsuyi only felt a burning numbness flash across his cheek. If he had been halfway off, he would have been more than just disfigured. He broke out in a cold sweat and subconsciously touched his lips and cheeks, where he still felt a trace of pain and numbness from being burned by the lightning chakra. He could even smell a faint burnt smell in the air.
He stood there, speechless for a long time. The resentment and anger in his heart were like a basin of ice water poured over his head, and were instantly extinguished.
“Do you want to… continue?” Yue Guangshun walked slowly to him, her face still with a calm expression, as if the thrilling blow just now was just a casual move.
“…” Atsyi gritted his teeth, his face turned pale and blue, and finally he took out a slightly old scroll from his arms and handed it over reluctantly: “Here… here you go!”
Yue Guang Shun took it and unfolded it with a smile. The scroll recorded three earth-style ninjutsu in ancient fonts: Earth-style ninjutsu: Earth-diving, Earth-style ninjutsu: Earth-flowing wall, and the Earth-style ninjutsu: Earth-burrowing ball that Atsuyi had just performed. With the extraordinary memory and comprehension given by the system, he only took a quick glance and memorized all the seals and chakra operation tips in his mind.
After a moment, he rewound the scroll and returned it to Atzii.
“Thank you.” Moonlight Shun smiled and said sincerely, “Speaking of which, Atsuyi, your earth escape talent is quite good, and your earth escape technique is much better than others in the class. Are you interested in training together in the future? It would be great if we could learn from each other, point out each other’s shortcomings, and make progress together, isn’t it?”
“Ah?” Atsei was slightly surprised because the scroll was recovered, and he was stunned when he heard Shun’s words. He raised his head and looked at the sincere smile on Yueguang Shun’s face. There was no mockery or complacency in that smile, but a kind of expectation. He thought of the opponent’s previous attack, which could have easily seriously injured him, but he only accurately controlled the strength and direction at the last moment and only gave a warning.
For a moment, the resentment, jealousy and resentment in Atsyi’s heart melted away like spring snow. Instead, there was a complex, indescribable emotion, and perhaps… a little bit of admiration from the bottom of his heart? This person was not only powerful, but also seemed to have a broad mind…
At this moment, a clear system prompt sounded without warning in Yue Guang Shun’s mind:
[Ding! The mortal-level spiritual imprint ‘Master of Mouth-to-mouth Escape’ has been successfully activated! ][Triggering conditions: Successfully persuade the plot-related character ‘Aziyi’ through words and actions, causing his initial negative perception of the host (including but not limited to jealousy, dissatisfaction, hostility) to undergo a significant positive change, and generate a preliminary sense of identity.][Mark effect: Passive skill. The host’s verbal persuasiveness is permanently increased by 10% on the original basis, making it easier to gain the trust, understanding and recognition of others, and easier to resolve potential hostility. Note: This effect is weakened for those who are determined or have a deep prejudice against the host. ]Yue Guang Shun was slightly startled, and then he was overwhelmed with joy. It turned out that the right amount of “evil-heartedness” plus “sincerity” at the critical moment could actually bring such an unexpected gain? It seemed that he had comprehended a new layer of mystery about the way of survival in the Hidden Cloud Village.
He looked at Atzii who was still a little dazed, and the smile on his face grew even wider.
Chapter 51: People cannot, or at least should not, play the lute to a cow (old version)
On the flat ground outside the Ai family mansion, the noise of morning exercises had long since dissipated, leaving only a few scattered Kumogakure ninjas who were still practicing.
Yue Guang Shun was performing a set of basic boxing techniques in an orderly manner, and sweat soaked the hair on his forehead.
Not far away, a dark-skinned, already muscular young man crossed his arms. It was Atsei. He looked at Shun’s movements and frowned slightly.
Can this kind of soft boxing style really improve your strength?
“Shun, you’re wasting your time.”
Atsei finally couldn’t help himself and spoke.
“Oh? Atsei, what advice do you have?”
Shun paused and looked at him with just the right amount of confusion on his face.
“Hmph, if you want to become stronger, you should undergo real ninja training!”
Atsuyi raised his chin with a sense of superiority that belonged to the son of the Raikage, “Instead of doing useless work like this.”
“Real ninja training?”
Shun blinked, “So how do you usually train, Atsuyi? I’m curious.”
He thought Shun had invited him to “train together” in order to learn from him or to engage in high-intensity sparring.
“Of course I’m doing more advanced training,” Atsyi said with a little pride, but then he realized, “You don’t want me to teach you, do you?”
Shun smiled as if he was a little embarrassed: “How dare I bother you to teach me. It’s just that it’s a bit boring for me to train alone. If you don’t mind, can you train next to me? I can observe and maybe get some inspiration. Of course, if you think I will disturb you, forget it.”
When Atsuyi heard this, a gleam appeared in his eyes.
A sparring partner? No, this guy wants to steal my skills! However, it would be good to let him see my training, so that he can know the difference! Besides, with someone watching, I will be more motivated to train.
“Humph, since you really want to see it, I’ll let you open your eyes.”
Atsei cleared his throat and walked over to a rock half a man’s height.
His mind moved instantly, but his face still showed that serious and studious look.
This was the moment he had been waiting for. The training method for changing the nature of earth escape chakra was finally delivered to his door.
Atsuyi took a deep breath, growled, and slammed his fist covered with ochre-colored chakra on the rock!
The rocks cracked and gravel flew everywhere.
“The first step is ‘Rock Crushing’,” Atsuyi dusted off his hands and glanced at Shun. Seeing that Shun was indeed showing an expression of surprise (pretended) and admiration (also pretended), he felt even more relieved. “Precisely inject chakra into the target to make it collapse from the inside out. This requires a very high level of chakra burst and control.”
“That’s amazing!” Shun exclaimed in surprise, “I heard that this kind of chakra nature change training can only be practiced by elite Chunins, right?”
“Of course! This genius is the future candidate for Raikage!”
Atsuyi felt flattered by Shun’s perfect compliment and felt full of strength.
This kid is quite sensible.
Shun saw that the time was almost right, so he continued to ask, “What about after ‘Rock Crushing’? Is there anything more difficult?”
“Of course!” Atsyi walked to a piece of soft land nearby, put his hands together, and said in a low voice: “Earth Escape·Hardening Technique!”
Visibly, the ground beneath his feet quickly became hard and its color became much darker, as if it had turned from mud into rock.
“The second step is ‘hardening’,” Atsuyi stepped on the hard ground, making a bang bang sound, “Not only should it be able to destroy, but also to create. Evenly blend the earth attribute chakra into the earth, change its density and structure, and make it as solid as a rock. This is the basis for defense and changing terrain.”
He paused and added: “As for the third step, it is to integrate these two nature changes into ninjutsu, so as to double the power of earth escape ninjutsu and even create new ninjutsu. However, that requires higher control of chakra, and I am still exploring it now.”
Shun nodded repeatedly, looking like he had learned a lot. “It turns out that the practice of earth escape is so profound! Atsei, you are so generous to tell me such valuable experience.”
“No big deal!” Atsyi waved his hand with a heroic look, “If you have any questions in the future, feel free to ask me! As long as I know something, I can teach you a thing or two.”
It feels great to “teach, educate and answer questions” in front of others, especially when the other person is listening attentively with an admiring look on his face.
“Thank you so much!” Shun showed a grateful smile on his face, “To show my gratitude, how about I treat you to a meal after the training?”
“Well… forget it today,” Atsei hesitated for a moment, then shook his head, “I have to go back early, my father is still waiting for me to report the results of today’s training.”
“Is that so? Okay then, let’s make an appointment next time.”
He watched Atsyi leave with a hint of pride.
He wiped the sweat off his forehead and prepared to go back and digest what he had “learned” today.
Atsuyi returned to the Raikage’s office in a happy mood.
The Third Raikage was reviewing documents. When he saw him come in, he looked up and asked, “How was your training today?”
“Father, it went very smoothly!” Atsuyi said in high spirits, “Also, that kid, Gekkou Shun, came specially today to observe my earth escape nature change training!”
“Oh? Shun?” The Third Raikage put down the pen in his hand and showed a hint of interest. “What did he say?”
“He admired me very much and said that he learned a lot from my training.” Atziyi recounted the “teaching” process in the afternoon with a little pride. Of course, in his words, Shun had completely become a studious junior who was humble and eager to learn.
The Third Raikage stroked the steel-like beard on his chin.
Gekkou Shun was a very conscious kid, and he knew how to take the initiative to learn from his excellent companions. As for asking about the changes in the nature of earth escape chakra, it was harmless. After all, he was only six years old, how could he have any bad intentions? If he really wanted to learn, would I, the Raikage, keep it to myself?
What’s important is that Atzii seems to be more motivated to train.
“Well, not bad,” the Third Raikage nodded and praised, “Shun is a companion worth making friends with. You two should learn from each other and make progress together. This is the hope for the future of Kumogakure.”
“Yes! Father!” Atzii answered loudly.
Not long after, the door of the Raikage’s office was slammed open again.
“Brother! Hey! Ai is here too! Check it out! Teacher Tulong Zuan has published a new book!”
A vibrant voice was accompanied by a figure wearing a forehead protector, sunglasses, and a small speaker on his shoulder. It was Kirabi. In his hand, he was holding a small cat with a faint lightning color. It was obvious that he had just returned from the Thundercat psychic.
The Third Raikage was about to say something when he noticed that Yeyue Ai beside him suddenly had a gloomy expression. Ai had just been annoyed by Kirabi’s impromptu rap and now seeing him coming again, veins popped in his forehead.
“Hey…Brother Ai, you look good today…hahaha…”
Killer Bee felt the familiar pressure that was enough to freeze the air, and cold sweat instantly broke out on his back. The “Guide to Evaluating Alien Lightning Release Users” in his hand almost fell to the ground.
He laughed dryly and winked at the Third Raikage: “Well, brother, I suddenly remembered that I have something urgent to do, so I’ll leave first! I’ll show you the book next time! Yeah!”
Before he could finish his words, Kirabi had already disappeared at the door in a flash, as fast as the wind.
The Third Raikage shook his head helplessly, picked up another book on the table, “The Adventures of Earth Dragon Diamond”, and thought to himself: This kid is still so afraid of Ai. However, Earth Dragon Diamond’s new book… I have to look for it later.
Kirabi ran a long distance in one breath, and only when he was sure that Ai had not caught up with him did he lean against the wall and gasp for breath.
“Phew… I’m scared to death… Brother Ai’s iron fist is too strong to be provoked…”
He patted his chest, found a secluded rooftop to sit down, and couldn’t wait to open Tulongzuan’s new book – “Guide to Evaluating Lightning Escapers of Alien Races”.
“Wow! Mr. Tsuchiryu Zuan’s imagination is still so wild! Lightning Elves, Thunder Beast Girls, and this… Lightning Naga?! So cool!”
Kirabi watched with great interest, and exclaimed in admiration from time to time.
He suddenly thought of something.
Alien races… beautiful snakes and the like, among those slippery creatures in Ryuchi Cave, it seems that some of them can really transform into human form. The old toads in Myōboku Mountain and the slug sages in the Wet Bone Forest, can they transform into something as powerful as in the book?
And the tailed beasts! The two-tailed Matatabi is a cat, and the eight-tailed Gyuki is a combination of a cow and an octopus… If only they could…
“Stop! Stop!”
Kirabi shook his head violently, throwing away the increasingly outrageous fantasies in his mind.
He touched his chin and thought of the rap he had carefully composed. Every time he wanted to perform in front of Brother Ai and his elder brother, he always felt that the atmosphere was not right.
Kirabi sighed and muttered to himself: “I can’t rap, at least I shouldn’t play the lute to a cow… Well, wise words, I am really a talented rapper, wow!”
Chapter 52: Is it enough to be beaten only once? (Old version)
The night was as dark as ink, and the towering cliffs of Kumogakure cast huge shadows under the moonlight. Darui’s father, Kumogakure Jonin Raizo, walked heavily out of the brightly lit elders’ meeting room next to the Raikage Building. The metal door slowly closed behind him, isolating the still oppressive atmosphere in the room.
I was scolded by those old guys again.
Raizo took a deep breath of the slightly cool night air, trying to dispel the depression in his chest. In order to give priority to rescuing an adopted son who was not part of the Kumogakure organization but had fought alongside the team for several days, the recovery of the mission items was delayed by half a day. In the eyes of the elders, this was an unforgivable dereliction of duty.
“Raizo, what is the first rule of the Ninja Code? Mission! As a Jonin, have you forgotten?” an elder asked with a glare and a beard.
“Can you afford to let the village’s important information fall into the hands of the enemy because of an outsider?” another person said in a more severe tone.
Raizo walked silently on his way home, the stone road under his feet glowing coldly in the moonlight. The most important thing for a ninja is to complete the mission and the interests of the village. This is the creed that he has been instilled with since he was a child, and it is a principle engraved in his bones.
But he couldn’t do it. Watching his companions fall into danger while he prioritized the mission, the guilt would eat away at him for the rest of his life. The lives of his companions were always more important than the cold mission scrolls. This was the understanding he gained from countless experiences on the brink of life and death, and it was his code of conduct as “Wrath of Thunder” Lei Zang.
Whatever, he could scold her. Anyway, the mission was successfully completed, and the adopted son was safe and sound. He had a clear conscience, and that was enough.
“I’m back, Darui.”
Lei Zang pushed open the door, his voice carrying a barely perceptible trace of fatigue. Normally at this time, his youngest son Darui would be practicing lightning-style transformation in the yard, and the air would be filled with a faint smell of ions.
But today, the house was quiet, without the subtle crackling sounds that he would hear when he practiced Lightning Chakra in the past.
Lei Zang frowned slightly, and a bad premonition came to his mind.
He walked quickly into the living room and saw Darui sitting alone at the low table by the window. His small figure was stretched out in the moonlight, with his head drooping. Even his dark skin, which he was so proud of, seemed to have lost its luster, and he exuded a strong sense of depression.
This kid… Could it be that he lost to that brat Shun again in school?
Lei Zang understood. Shun was indeed an anomaly, especially in terms of the explosive power of Lightning Release, even he had heard of it.
“Darui, what’s wrong? You look listless.” Raizo sat down opposite him and tried to make his voice sound relaxed.
“Father…” Darui raised his head sullenly, his black eyes losing their former brilliance, “Today… I sparred with Shun again.”
“Oh? What’s the result?” Lei Zang pretended not to know.
“I lost.” Darui’s voice lowered, “Shun… His Lightning Release was too strong, that kind of explosive power… I couldn’t react at all. Obviously, I have more chakra than him, and I have practiced the nature changes of Lightning Release for a longer time, but as soon as we fought, I…” He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails almost dug into his palms.
Lei Zang listened quietly without interrupting. He knew that his son had always been a leader among his peers, especially in his talent for lightning escape, and this failure was a big blow to him.
“Father, I’m thinking…” Darui hesitated for a moment, and finally said, “What I learned in the Ninja Preparatory Class seems to be of no use to me. Can I… apply for early graduation?”
Raizo’s heart was slightly moved. He actually didn’t want Darui to graduate so early. The road of being a ninja was too cruel. He hoped that his son could grow up in a relatively safe environment for a few more years and become more mature mentally.
“Graduate early?” Raizo raised an eyebrow and asked calmly, “Are you going to escape just because you lost a game? This is not like the Darui I know.”
“I’m not running away!” Darui immediately retorted, his voice a little excited, “I just think… that school is a waste of time!”
“Oh? Shun, that kid? His Lightning Escape is indeed quite good.” Lei Zang changed the subject, showing a hint of approval on his face, “He can make a little genius like you feel difficult, which shows that he is indeed extraordinary. Wouldn’t such an opponent inspire you to become stronger?”
Darui was stunned when he heard this, his father’s words seemed to make some sense.
“Besides,” Raizo continued, his tone guiding, “Didn’t you and Shun agree to graduate together and join Raikage-sama’s guard team together in the future? A man’s agreement cannot be easily reneged on.”
“But…” Darui was still a little unwilling.
“I have an idea.” A barely perceptible smile flashed across Raizo’s eyes. “Don’t you think Shun’s lightning burst is powerful? Then why don’t you just go and train with him? We can learn from each other and make progress together. Also, you can take this opportunity to study his fighting style and find a way to restrain him.”
He paused, then added: “That’s great. Let him not graduate so soon and stay in school longer. It will be good for both of you.”
Raizo’s evaluation of Shun was actually quite good. He was a determined child with great potential. It would be better for Darui to have more contact with him and sharpen each other’s teeth than for one person to practice alone. More importantly, it would naturally delay Darui’s graduation.
Darui’s eyes slowly lit up as he listened to his father’s advice. Training with Shun? That’s a good idea! Not only can we understand our opponent, but we can also help each other.
“Will he… agree?” Darui asked uncertainly.
“I will.” Raizo said with certainty, “I can see that Shun is a kid worth making friends with. Go ahead and find him tomorrow.”
Darui nodded heavily, the haze in his heart was swept away, and his fighting spirit was rekindled.
At the same time, the lights were on in the simple hut next to Yeyue Ai’s exclusive training ground.
Yue Guangshun was wearing an apron and busy in the simple kitchen. A dish of fragrant braised pork had just been served from the pot, still steaming, and next to it was a plate of stir-fried seasonal vegetables and a large bowl of miso soup.
Ever since the image of “culinary apprentice” appeared in his mind, his cooking skills have improved by leaps and bounds. Although most of them are home-cooked dishes, the taste makes Ai rave about it.
“Boy, what delicious food did you make today?”
The rough sound of the door opening was accompanied by familiar footsteps, and Ye Yueai’s tall figure appeared at the kitchen door. He sniffed the fragrance in the air hard and a satisfied smile appeared on his face.
“Brother Ai, you’re back.” Shun brought the last soup to the table, “Today I made braised pork and your favorite pickled radish.”
“Well, boy, your cooking skills are becoming more and more to my taste!” Ai sat down without any hesitation, picked up the chopsticks, picked up a large piece of shiny braised pork and stuffed it into his mouth, praising vaguely.
Shun smiled, silently thanking the magical mark in his heart. Cooking for Ai every day not only brought more systematic guidance, but also the experience bar of the mark was growing steadily, and it seemed that it was not far from upgrading.
“By the way, kid,” Ai swallowed the food in his mouth and suddenly said, “The day after tomorrow, ask for leave from me and I will take you to a nice place.”
“A good place? Where?” Shun asked curiously. Although Brother Ai often taught him how to practice, he rarely took him to a “place” on purpose, and he even asked for leave.
“You’ll know when you get there.” Ai waved his hand mysteriously, obviously not intending to reveal it now.
Seeing this, Shun stopped asking questions. After dinner, it was time for daily practice.
“Brother Ai, when can I learn the Lightning Armor?” Shun asked expectantly while moving his wrist. The Lightning Armor is one of the signature secret techniques of the Hidden Cloud Village. The domineering posture covered in lightning makes his blood boil just thinking about it.
Upon hearing this, Ai stopped wiping the special kunai and looked Shun up and down with sharp eyes.
“Boy, stand still and don’t move. Let me see how much you have grown.”
Shun muttered to himself, “Here we go again,” but still stood up straight.
Ai stretched out his large hand like a palm-leaf fan and pinched Shun’s shoulders, arms, waist, abdomen, thighs and other parts one by one. The force was neither light nor heavy, but it seemed to be able to penetrate the skin and flesh and sense the subtle changes in the bones and muscles.
After a moment, Ai retracted his hand and said thoughtfully, “Well… your skeleton is stronger and your muscles are stronger, but your lightning chakra pathways are still not condensed enough and your reactions are still a little off. If you force yourself to learn the lightning armor now, your body will collapse first.”
“Then… how long will it take?” Shun was a little disappointed. He thought that after this period of hard training, it was almost done.
“Lightning Armor is not that easy to practice.” Ai’s expression became serious. “It requires extremely high physical fitness, chakra control, and reaction speed. Before your body is fully adapted to the flow of high-intensity Lightning Armor chakra, practicing rashly will only damage your foundation.”
He thought for a moment and said, “How about this, before you formally learn the Lightning Release Armor, first focus on training your Lightning Release Chakra control and reaction speed.”
“How to train?” Shun immediately became excited.
Ai grinned with a slightly “malicious” smile, took out a few specially made shurikens from the ninja tool bag, and a flash of lightning appeared at his fingertips, and arcs of electricity wrapped around the sharp edges of the shurikens.
“It’s very simple.” Ai Yang raised the electrified shuriken in his hand, “From now on, you will run at full speed in the training ground, and I will use this to ‘greet’ you. Remember, you are not allowed to use any defensive ninjutsu, you can only rely on speed and reaction to dodge. When you can remain unscathed for ten minutes under the interference of my shuriken, you will be considered to have passed the preliminary examination.”
Shun looked at the shuriken flashing with dangerous electric light and couldn’t help swallowing his saliva. This training method was really “Big Brother Ai” style.
“Are you ready, boy?” Ai asked.
“Come on!” Shun took a deep breath and his eyes became focused.
Before he finished his words, Shun’s figure turned into a shadow and moved at high speed on the empty training ground.
“Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!”
Three shurikens flashing with electric light formed a V-shape to block his way forward at an astonishing speed.
His pupils shrank, and he exerted force on his feet, twisting his body at an incredible angle, narrowly avoiding two of them, but the last one still flew past his left arm.
“Sizzle!”
A tingling sensation instantly spread from his left arm, causing him to pause. Although it was only a scratch, the numbness caused by the electric current could not be underestimated.
“What? You can’t handle it after being beaten once?” Ai’s voice came from not far away with a hint of teasing, “Where’s the courage you showed to challenge me back then, little brat? If you can’t even handle this level of interference, forget about getting the Lightning Escape Armor!”
“Damn it!” Shun gritted his teeth and shook his numb arms. The unyielding spirit in his eyes became even stronger. “Come again! Brother Ai, if I don’t use up all the shurikens in your hand today, I won’t be named Yueguang!”
He sped up again, and his figure turned into a blurry shadow in the moonlight.
Ai nodded with satisfaction upon seeing this, and the electrified shuriken in his hand whizzed out again. The training ground was suddenly filled with lightning and shadows, and the air was occasionally filled with subtle explosions of electricity and muffled groans as Shun tried his best to dodge.
After a night of “special care”, although Shun was almost exhausted and had several charred marks from electric shocks on his body, he felt that his subtle control over the lightning chakra and his body’s reaction speed had improved significantly.
A new day, Ninja prep class.
After entering the second year, the difficulty of the course increased significantly. Today’s course is teaching the Shadow Clone Technique, which is the most practical of the three body techniques.
The middle-aged teacher on the podium was patiently explaining: “The Shadow Clone Technique is to evenly distribute your own chakra to create physical clones with real attack capabilities. It is different from the illusion of ordinary clone techniques. The shadow clone is physical. Remember, each clone will consume your chakra, and after the clone is released, the fatigue it experienced and the experience gained will be fed back to the original body.”
Evenly distribute chakra… have entity… experience feedback…
Shun listened carefully and quickly understood the principle of shadow clones in his mind.
The even distribution of chakra, which was difficult for others to understand, seemed very easy to Shun, who had already honed his lightning chakra control. While other students were still trying to sense and divide the chakra, Shun had already quickly formed seals with both hands according to the seals taught by the teacher.
With a slight sound, a shadow clone that looked exactly like him appeared beside him and even winked at him mischievously.
“Success!” Shun was delighted.
When the teacher at the podium saw this scene, a hint of surprise flashed in his eyes, and then he nodded with satisfaction.
This seemingly basic ninjutsu is an indispensable part of many ninja’s combat system. The fact that he could master it so quickly shows his talent. And for Shun, this is just another small step on his way to becoming stronger.
Chapter 53: Master, I need to change my shoe covers (old version)
“Okay, that’s all for today’s basic chakra theory. Remember to arrive early to warm up for the practical class this afternoon.”
The Yunyin instructor on the podium closed the thick scroll, glanced at the group of energetic kids below, and announced the end of the morning class.
“Oh! I’m finally free!”
“In the afternoon practical class, I’m going to defeat Ayong!”
“Hurry up, go eat some meatballs!”
The classroom was like a boiling frying pan, instantly noisy, and the children rushed to the door like birds out of a cage.
Yeyue Samui did not move. There was a hint of expectation on her fair face. Her watery blue eyes looked straight at Yueguang Shun who was slowly packing his ninja tool bag by the window.
Just as she was about to call out “Brother Shun”, a slightly sturdy figure squeezed over and stood between her and Shun.
“Hey, Shun!”
It was Atzii, his wheat-colored skin glowed with a healthy luster in the sun, but his expression was a little unnatural at the moment, and his eyes were slightly evasive.
Samui’s delicate eyebrows slightly frowned, and he muttered softly: “Aziyi, what do you want to do again? Brother Shun is very busy.”
In her impression, Atsuyi had caused trouble for Shun many times in the past, although Shun had resolved the troubles easily every time, or even “taught” him a lesson in return.
“I… I’m not here to fight!” Atsuyi seemed a little embarrassed by Samui’s look, and said with his neck stiff, “I’m here… I’m here to train with Shun!”
Samui opened his mouth in surprise, and could hardly believe his ears. Atsuyi, who had always regarded Shun as a competitor and even felt a little unconvinced, actually took the initiative to ask to train together? Did the sun rise from the west?
“He’s right, Samui.”
Moonlight Shun had stood beside the two of them without them noticing. With a gentle smile on his face, he stretched out his hand and rubbed Samui’s soft blond hair out of habit. “Let’s go to the training ground.”
“Oh…Okay, Shun-nii-nii.”
Samui nodded obediently. Although she was full of doubts, she always supported Shun’s decision unconditionally. She glanced at Atsuyi next to her and found that he was secretly watching Shun and her intimate actions, and there seemed to be a trace of imperceptible sadness in his eyes.
Shun naturally noticed the subtle changes in Atsei’s mood, and thought to himself: It seems that this kid has really come to his senses, and knows that it is better to work together than to fight alone… No, it is to improve together. Well, earth escape talent is worse than nothing, a little bit adds up to a lot.
The three of them walked out of the classroom side by side, and before they reached the entrance of the college, another figure came towards them.
“instant.”
The person who came was Darui. His dark skin made him look particularly calm, and his eyes were sharp and focused. At this moment, he was looking at Shun intently.
“Darui? What’s up?” Shun was slightly surprised. Although Darui was the same age as him, he was introverted and didn’t talk much. He was one of the recognized geniuses in the clan and the nephew of Master Ai. His strength should not be underestimated.
“I want to… train with you.” Darui took a deep breath and said in a firm tone, as if he had made an important decision.
“Oh?” Shun raised his eyebrows. This was a pleasant surprise. Darui’s talent was quite good, especially his lightning escape and swordsmanship. This was a “high-quality resource package”.
“Of course, it will be more lively with more people.” Shun agreed readily.
Samui watched curiously from the side. She could feel that Brother Shun seemed particularly popular today. Even Darui, who usually kept to himself, came closer to him.
Soon, the four of them arrived at the familiar open space outside the Ai family’s mansion. Although the facilities here were not as complete as the professional training grounds in the village, it was spacious and quiet, enough for them to toss around.
“Samui, continue to practice the changes in the form of Lightning Chakra, and try to be able to condense lightning shuriken stably.” Shun pointed to a row of wooden stakes in the corner of the open space.
“Yes, Brother Shun!” Samui smiled sweetly, ran to the side, and his little hands quickly condensed into crackling blue arcs of electricity.
“Aziyi, you have a good foundation in earth escape techniques. Let’s practice the defensive strength and formation speed of the Earth Flow Wall today.” Shun turned to Aziyi again.
Atzii grumbled “hmm” and walked to another open space. He formed seals with his hands and let out a low shout. A half-person-high earth wall rose from the ground, though the edges were still a little rough.
Shun nodded with satisfaction, and finally looked at Darui: “Darui, let’s practice the Cloud Flow Sword Technique.”
“That’s exactly what I meant!” Darui’s eyes flashed with excitement. He had long wanted to compete with Shun in swordsmanship. He drew the short sword from his back, and the blade shone coldly in the sunlight.
Shunya took off his ninja sword, and the scabbard made a clear sound when it touched lightly.
“Clang! Clang! Clang!”
On the open ground, two figures moved suddenly and suddenly, swords flashed and shadows appeared, and the sound of metal clashing was endless.
Darui’s swordsmanship was full of openness and ferocity, with the unique swiftness of a lightning ninja, and every strike was powerful and heavy. Shun’s swordsmanship was more agile and elegant, like flowing water, and he could always avoid Darui’s attacks at seemingly impossible angles and counterattack cleverly.
After dozens of rounds, Darui’s forehead was covered with sweat and his breathing was a little rapid. In contrast, Shun was still calm and composed, as if he was just doing warm-up exercises.
“Your swordsmanship… is very strong.” Darui took a step back, distanced himself, and said sincerely. He could feel that Shun did not use his full strength, but even so, he could not gain any advantage.
“You’re not bad, but the way you use your strength can be more refined.” Shun smiled, and then changed the subject, “Practicing like this will still make progress a little slow. Why don’t we change the place and make it more difficult?”
“Increase the difficulty?” Darui was stunned.
Shun pointed to a small waterfall rushing down from the mountain wall not far away and said, “Let’s go there and practice under the waterfall. This way, we can not only practice swordsmanship, but also exercise our control over lightning chakra. It will help us keep our body balanced and our moves accurate under the impact of the water flow. It will be good for both of us.”
Darui looked in the direction of Shun’s finger and saw that although the waterfall was small, the water flowed rapidly, hitting the rocks below and splashing water mist all over the sky. Practicing swordsmanship in that environment, and having to distract himself to control chakra to resist the water flow?
This… this is an unheard-of training method!
Darui was shocked at first, but then a strong desire to fight and excitement burst out in his eyes: “Okay! Let’s do it!” He was eager to become stronger, and he was willing to try any method that could improve his strength!
The two quickly moved to the bottom of the waterfall. The cold water fell from the sky and hit them hard. The rocks under their feet were extremely slippery and they could fall if they were not careful.
“Be careful!” Shun warned and took the lead in launching an attack.
Amid the splashing water, the knife light shone again.
Darui barely blocked Shun’s attack, stumbled, and was almost knocked down by the water. He hurriedly gathered chakra to his feet to stabilize his body, but as soon as his attention was distracted, Shun’s second knife was already following him.
As expected, Darui was hit on the shoulder by a knife and fell into the water, choking on water several times.
“Come again!” He climbed out of the water in a panic, wiped the water droplets off his face, but his eyes became more determined.
Once, twice, three times…
Darui was knocked down again and again, and got up again and again. The splashing water blurred his vision, the deafening sound of water disturbed his hearing, and the strong water flow hit his body, but he always gritted his teeth and persisted, trying to adapt to this harsh training environment. He could clearly feel that every strike of Shun contained a precise grasp of strength and timing, as well as meticulous control of chakra.
Is this Shun’s true strength? It turns out that the gap between them is even greater than he imagined!
The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the sky red and gave the training ground a warm golden hue.
Yeyue Ai dragged a slightly tired body and came back from training outside the village with a strong smell of sweat. As soon as she walked to the door of her house, she was attracted by the lively training scene on the open space.
Samui was surrounded by steady lightning, which occasionally condensed into shape, and it was obvious that he had made great progress. The earth wall built by Atsui was also becoming thicker and stronger.
What attracted his attention most were the two intertwined figures under the waterfall.
Ai recognized them immediately; they were Shun and his nephew Darui.
Seeing Shun still agile in the turbulent water, using exquisite sword moves to steadily suppress Darui, the corners of Ai’s mouth couldn’t help but rise slightly.
You did a great job, little brat! You are worthy of being my disciple, Yeyue Ai!
Darui is a talented kid, but he is still a little bit behind Shun. Ai was secretly proud that his disciple’s swordsmanship could surpass that of his own children who were good at swordsmanship. This feeling was quite comfortable. Moreover, Shun used the Yunliu swordsmanship, which was from the same source as his own, which made him feel secretly proud.
This kid always has some unexpected ideas in his training methods. Practicing swordsmanship under the waterfall while honing chakra control is a good idea.
“Hu… No more fighting, no more fighting!” Shun was keenly aware of Ai’s arrival. He spun lightly to avoid Darui’s powerful knife, jumped out of the waterfall, and shook his wet hair. “I’m starving, Master, it’s time to cook!”
Darui also stopped. Although he was soaked and had some scratches on his face, his eyes were unusually bright, full of desire for power and admiration for Shun. He knew that today’s training had benefited him a lot.
“Ai…Uncle Ai.” Darui saw Ai and bowed respectfully.
“Well, that’s good. You’ve all made progress.” Ai nodded majestically, but he couldn’t hide the smile in his eyes.
Shun and Ai walked into the house one after another.
“Master, have you forgotten something?” Shun frowned as he stepped into the living room, then pointed to several clear footprints with muddy marks on the floor and said.
Ai looked down and realized that he was so absorbed in training that he forgot to change his shoe covers at the door when he came back, and brought the dirt from outside directly in. Suddenly, there were several more “sceneries” on the brand new wooden floor.
“Uh… I forgot for a moment.” Ai scratched his head in embarrassment, then glared and said confidently, “I forgot, it’s no big deal! Shun, since you have nothing to do anyway, go and mop the floor!”
“Huh? Why?” Shun protested dissatisfiedly, “It was obviously you who made it dirty, Master!”
“Just because I’m your master!” Ai grabbed Shun’s neck and rubbed his head with his big hands like a palm leaf fan. “You were so proud outside just now, I’ll punish you with labor reform! Hurry up, or you won’t have dinner!”
“Wow! My hairstyle! Master, you are cheating!” Shun struggled and screamed exaggeratedly.
“Hahaha! You little brat, do you dare to talk back?” Ai’s hearty laughter echoed in the room, full of warmth and vitality.
Samui, Atsi and Darui were peeking out of the door. Seeing this scene, they couldn’t help but laugh. The fatigue from the training just now seemed to have dissipated a lot in this relaxed play.
Chapter 54: The Three Heroes of Cloud Hidden Village Gathered (Old Version)
The memorial tower in the Hidden Cloud Village is like a silent giant sword piercing the sky. The tower is engraved with fine lightning patterns, which makes it more solemn under the cloudy sky. This is the resting place of heroes and the place where the living can express their grief.
Moonlight Shun quietly followed behind Yeyue Ai, holding a bunch of white hyacinths in his hand. Ai’s steps were steady, but Shun could feel the calm aura emanating from him, which was different from the past. Today was the anniversary of the death of Ai’s father, the former Raikage who had shocked the ninja world with his iron fist and thunder.
“Father, I’ve brought Shun to see you.” Ai gently placed another bunch of hyacinths in front of the cold stone tablet, his voice low and with a barely perceptible hoarseness. There were not many inscriptions on the stone tablet, only a powerful word “Yong”.
Shun followed Ai’s example, put down the bouquet, and then bowed silently. He could understand Ai’s feelings at the moment. The pain of losing a loved one could not be easily erased by time. He just accompanied her quietly without saying much. This was the greatest respect he could give at the moment.
Ai stared at the stone tablet for a long time before he slowly spoke: “Shun, my father always said that the destiny of a ninja is to fight and protect. He practiced this all his life and finally sacrificed his life for it. You must also remember that with great power comes great responsibility.”
“Yes, Mr. Ai, I remember it.” Shun nodded seriously. He could feel the weight of Ai’s words and the will that was passed down.
At this moment, a strange rhythmic sound came from far away, breaking the tranquility in front of the memorial tower.
“Yo yo! Who is expressing his grief in front of the tower? Is he missing his past heroic deeds? Check it out! Sadness can’t solve the problem, why not freestyle to boost your strength! Yeah!”
Shun was slightly startled and looked in the direction of the sound. He saw a dark-skinned young man wearing sunglasses, a strange hairstyle, and brightly colored clothes, snapping his fingers and walking towards him with unruly steps. He was carrying an exaggerated Samehada on his shoulder (although Shun didn’t know what it was at the moment), and he kept saying “Yo! Yo!”.
This… Shun’s mouth twitched slightly. In such a solemn occasion, this way of appearance was too… unique. But his good upbringing made him just keep a polite silence, but a hint of novelty could not be concealed in his eyes.
Ai was obviously used to this visitor. He turned around, and the heaviness on his face faded a lot, replaced by an expression mixed with helplessness and familiarity: “Kirabi, can’t you be serious? This is the Memorial Tower.”
“Hey! Brother Ai! What is serious? Can you eat it? Can it make my rap more explosive?” Kirabi grinned, revealing two rows of white teeth, the sunlight was a little dazzling, “Who is this guy?” He looked at Shun curiously, looking him up and down.
“This is my apprentice, Moonlight Shun.” Ai introduced, “Shun, this is Killer Bee, my… um, a very important partner.”
“Oh! So you are Brother Ai’s disciple, no wonder you look so imposing! Hello, Brother Shun! I am Killer Bee, the number one rap ninja in Kumogakure, the light of the future Jinchūriki! Feel my beat and swing with me! Idiot! Bastard!” Killer Bee said, and then improvised a short piece, and finally made a strange gesture.
Shun suppressed his smile and bowed slightly: “Hello, Senior Kirabi.” He felt that this senior’s personality was… really unpredictable, but it didn’t seem bad.
Ai held his forehead and sighed: “Don’t pay attention to his nonsense. By the way, Kirabi, have you heard any rumors about the Elders Council in the Anbu recently?”
When mentioning the Council of Elders, Ai’s eyes became noticeably sharper.
Kirabi put away his hip-hop look, and his eyes became serious under his sunglasses: “Elders? Elder Leiyun and his men have indeed made some small moves recently, and seem to be integrating some secret forces in the village. Brother Ai, you have to be careful too, they are not as obedient as they seem.”
“Humph, a bunch of old guys who only know how to do small things behind the scenes.” Ai snorted coldly, obviously disdainful of the elders. “They’d better not target the wrong people.”
Shun listened silently, and understood. It seems that the internal situation of the Hidden Cloud Village is not monolithic. There seems to be a lot of tension between the elders and the Raikage. Senior Kirabi is actually a member of the Anbu, which surprised him a little.
“Hey! What are you guys whispering about here again?” A rough voice came, with a hint of drunkenness.
The three looked over and saw a middle-aged man with a burly figure, muscular body and bold beard walking towards them. He was wearing the Raikage God robe and was the current Third Raikage. The faint smell of alcohol wafting from him made Shun subconsciously hold his breath.
“Old man, why are you here?” Ai raised his eyebrows.
“Why can’t I come? Come to see my old friend, and by the way, see if you little brats are slacking off!” The Third Raikage said carelessly, his eyes swept over Killer Bee, and the corner of his mouth curled, “Hey, isn’t this our great rap ninja? Whose ears are you going to pollute with your noise today?”
“Ha! Uncle Raikage, my rap is art, it is the cry of the soul! An old antique like you who doesn’t know how to appreciate it won’t understand! Yeah!” Kirabi retorted unyieldingly and started swaying again.
“Say it again, kid!” The Third Raikage pretended to hit him.
“I’m telling the truth! Dad, you just don’t know how to appreciate it, lelelele!” Kirabi dodged nimbly and made a face.
Shun looked at this funny couple from the sidelines and felt helpless again. Is this really the village’s top leader and future important fighting force?
Ai watched the two people bickering, a smile flashed in his eyes, and then he seemed to think of something and said to Kirabi: “Kirabi, since it’s rare for us to get together today, why don’t you treat us to a meal at the Thor BBQ restaurant? To celebrate our meeting as the ‘Future Star of Yunyin’?” He deliberately emphasized the words “Future Star” and patted Shun on the shoulder.
Upon hearing this, Killer Bee immediately stopped fighting with the Third Raikage and looked at Ai warily: “Brother Ai, what are you planning to do? Let me tell you, I’m really short of money lately!”
“Look at what you said. Do I look like someone who would take advantage of you?” Ai said righteously, “I just want to get together and keep in touch. Besides, Shun also needs to replenish his nutrition. His recent training in changing the nature of earth escape chakra is very tiring.”
Shun thought to himself: Teacher Ai, you are really good at making excuses… He is indeed practicing earth escape, but is there any necessary connection between this and Senior Kirabi’s invitation?
The Third Raikage also joined in the fun and said, “Yeah, Bi, it’s rare that Ai takes the initiative to ask, so just be generous! I haven’t eaten Thunder God barbecue for a long time.”
“You guys…” Kirabi looked at the two guys, one big and one small, who were “extorting” him and sighed helplessly, “Okay, okay, I’m afraid of you! But let me make a deal, this is just one meal! I’m counting on my pocket money for next month!” He patted the wallet at his waist with a painful expression.
“I knew you were the nicest guy!” Ai laughed and put his arm around Kirabi’s shoulder.
“Then let’s go to Xi’s ninja tool shop first,” Ai turned to Shun, “I remember you said that the practice of lightning escape requires some special auxiliary materials. Let’s go see if there are any suitable ones.”
“Okay, Teacher Ai.” Shun responded.
So, Shun and Ai went ahead and walked towards the commercial street in the center of the village.
Xi’s Ninja Tool Shop is quite famous in the Hidden Cloud Village. The owner, Xi, is a middle-aged man who looks gentle and elegant. He always wears a pair of thin-framed glasses, giving people the feeling of a scholar.
“Hey, it’s Lord Ai and Shun, what brings you here today?” Xi greeted them with a smile when he saw them coming in. His eyes stayed on Shun for a moment, and a hint of approval flashed in his eyes.
“Uncle Xi, let’s pick out some auxiliary materials for Shun to practice Lightning Release.” Ai said straight to the point.
Xi nodded and led them to a row of special shelves: “The materials for practicing Lightning Release are indeed quite special, and the material and conductivity are very high. What stage is Shun at now?”
“I have already mastered the art of changing chakra properties, and I need something that can enhance the power and control of my lightning escape technique.” Shun Ai replied.
Xi pondered for a moment and took out a few items: “This ‘Lightning Stone’ can help gather and amplify the Lightning Chakra. This pair of ‘Insulated Gloves’ is made of special monster leather and can protect your hands during initial practice. And this ‘Thunder Pill’ is a consumable item. After crushing it, it can enhance your perception of lightning for a short period of time…”
Shun listened carefully to Xi’s introduction, his eyes full of interest in these novel props.
Ai picked out a few items that looked the most practical, and then said to Xi proudly, “We want all of these. Uncle Xi, put them on Kirabi’s account.”
Hearing this, a smile flashed across Xi’s eyes behind the lenses, but he didn’t point it out. He just nodded and said, “Okay, Lord Ai. That kid Kirabi really deserves some pay.” He obviously also knew about the “deep friendship” between these young geniuses.
Shun was stunned. Teacher Ai, you are so skilled at this! You used Kirabi senior’s money and you still said it so confidently.
A moment later, at the Thor BBQ restaurant, smoke filled the air and the aroma of meat filled the air.
At a large table, the Third Raikage was holding up a wine glass, his face flushed as he competed with Kira in drinking. The two of them took turns drinking, and from time to time they laughed loudly and teased each other.
“Old man, you can’t take it anymore! You’re blushing after just a few drinks? Do you want me to rap for you to wake you up?” Kirabi took a big gulp of wine, looking very proud.
“Bullshit! I’m drunk! You haven’t even grown all your hair yet, and you dare to compete with me in drinking?” The Third Raikage responded unyieldingly.
Ai Ze was slowly grilling the meat on the side, and from time to time he would put a piece of meat into Shun’s bowl: “Shun, eat more, you are still growing. Don’t be like them, one is a drunkard, the other is a chatterbox.”
“Hey! Brother Ai, who are you calling a chatterbox?” Kirabi protested immediately.
“I’m talking to you. You’re so noisy and affecting my appetite.” Ai retorted without even raising his head.
“You bastard! Even barbecue can’t stop your mouth!”
Shun looked at the lively and warm scene in front of him, and a smile unconsciously appeared on the corner of his mouth. Although the way these seniors got along with each other was a little “unique”, the deep friendship between them was real.
The Third Raikage took a big sip of wine, then turned his gaze to Shun with some approval: “Shun, I heard that you have made rapid progress recently. Although Ai is sometimes not very good at teaching his disciples, he is still quite capable. Work hard, the future of the Hidden Cloud Village depends on young people like you.”
“Yes, Lord Raikage, I will try my best.” Shun put down his chopsticks and answered solemnly. He could feel the sincerity and expectation in the words of this bold Raikage.
Hearing this, Ai raised the corners of his mouth slightly, picked up a piece of sizzling pork belly, put it in his mouth, and said vaguely: “Of course, don’t you see whose disciple you are.”
“Yo yo! Brother Ai starts bragging again! He’s so thick-skinned, thicker than my sunglasses! Yeah!” Kirabi immediately found a new point of attack.
“It’s better than some guy who just pollutes the world with noise.”
“What did you say!”
In the barbecue restaurant, laughter and fierce quarrels intertwined, drifting in the rich aroma of meat. Shun looked at the three future pillars of the Hidden Cloud Village, and a warm current surged in his heart. Perhaps, this is the unique bond of the Hidden Cloud Village. And he will become a part of this bond, and protect this thundering land with them.
His gaze involuntarily turned to Ai again. This guide who was both a teacher and a friend, although he sometimes did some “childish” things that made him laugh and cry, it was this unconcealed true nature that made him feel close and trustworthy.
As for the training of earth escape… Shun touched his chin and felt that his chakra seemed to be more active. Well, I can practice more when I go back tonight.
Chapter 55 A Noisy Barbecue (Old Version)
The commercial street of the Hidden Cloud Village was brightly lit. After a day’s hard work, the ninjas were happy to find a moment of peace and indulgence here. Four figures walked slowly on the road to the barbecue restaurant. The air was not yet filled with the aroma of barbecue, but it was already filled with another “gunpowder smell”.
“Dad, can’t you look at the road when you walk? I almost bumped into Shun again!” Ye Yueai yelled in dissatisfaction. He was tall and strong, and his voice was as loud as thunder.
The Third Raikage, who was walking in front, paused when he heard this, and a trace of displeasure appeared on his rough face: “You little brat, you are the one who walks so rashly, and you blame me?” He lowered his head to look at Moonlight Shun, who was much shorter than him and was walking beside him, and said in a slightly slower tone, “Shun, are you okay?”
“It’s okay, Lord Raikage.” Yueguang Shun shook his head. He was used to the daily quarrels between this father and son (although Ai was an adopted son), which were as harmonious as background noise.
“Yo, Dad, A, your daily bickering is really boring. There’s nothing new about it. How about a freestyle battle?” Kirabi, wearing sunglasses, made hip-hop gestures with his hands, and shook his head. His unique tone was particularly eye-catching on the streets at night.
“Shut up, Bi!” Ai and the Third Raikage shouted in unison.
Shun couldn’t help laughing when he saw this. This way of getting along seemed to be a kind of…special inheritance of the upper echelons of Yunyin?
“By the way, Shun,” Ai seemed to have remembered something, and put his arm around Shun’s shoulders and said casually, “You can order whatever you want from the barbecue later. Today’s meal… well, it’s more like a treat!”
“Hey! A! You guy, you’re trying to be a good person with my money again? Bastard! Idiot!” Kirabi jumped up immediately and his sunglasses almost slipped off.
Ai snorted complacently, “You’re my younger brother, so I’m saving my money to buy good things for Shun.”
“You guys go to the barbecue restaurant and find a private room first. I’ll take Shun to a place and we’ll be there soon.” Ai didn’t say anything and pulled Shun around a corner, heading towards another slightly quieter street.
The Third Raikage looked at their backs, frowned slightly, and said to Killer Bee, “Keep an eye on Ai, don’t let him use your salary to buy some messy things again.”
“Dad, do you think I can keep an eye on him?” Kirabi said helplessly, “My wallet is no longer my wallet, yo!”
Ailan followed Shun around several turns, and soon, a shop with a strong smell of medicinal herbs and special energy appeared in front of him. On the plaque, the four characters “Yeyue Secret Tonic” were written in a flamboyant style, and next to it was a lifelike relief of a thunder beast.
“Brother Ai, what are we doing here?” Shun looked at the store curiously. Each commercial street in the Hidden Cloud Village has its own characteristics. The area of the Yeyue Clan is famous for selling high-end supplements, especially the horns of thunder beasts, which are precious treasures that are hard to come by at a fortune.
“I’ll buy you something nice.” Ai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, “Keep fit and build a foundation for the future.”
Shun understood. It seemed that Brother Ai wanted to prepare a lightning bath for him. In the ninja world, there was indeed a method called lightning bath to assist in physical training. Especially for lightning ninjas, it could greatly enhance the body’s tolerance and affinity for lightning chakra.
Ai started to choose things in the store like a pro. He picked things like “Hundred-year-old Thunder Grass”, “Thousand-year-old Lightning-struck Wood Heart”, and “Air-dried Thunder Beast Inner Pill”. Finally, he pointed to a piece of ferocious beast horn on the counter that was flashing with pale blue electric light, and said to the boss in a heroic manner, “Boss, this, this, that, and a piece of the best thunder beast horn. Pack them up for me!”
The boss was a shrewd middle-aged man. When he saw what Ai ordered, his eyes narrowed with a smile: “Master Ai has a good eye. These are all the treasures of our store. But this thunder beast horn…”
“Bi will pay the money.” Ai interrupted directly, his tone leaving no room for doubt.
Shun’s eyes twitched slightly as he watched from the side. This operation…why does it look so familiar? Brother Kirabi’s wallet is really a bottomless pit.
When the boss heard this, his smile became even brighter, and he packed all the herbs neatly. Ai took the heavy bag of herbs, paid with the amount Kirabi had reserved in the store, and left with Shun.
The two returned to the main street and soon found the booming barbecue restaurant.
“Lord Ai, Lord Shun.” The waiter at the door of the barbecue restaurant obviously knew them and greeted them attentively, “Lord Raikage and Lord Bi are already in the ‘Thunder’ box.”
Ai nodded and pushed open the wooden door of the box. Inside the box, the Third Raikage sat in the main seat with a majestic look, while Killer Bee was fiddling with the charcoal on the grill with some boredom.
“Hey, you’re finally here. I was about to roast the meat too hard, you idiots, bastards!” Kirabi started complaining as soon as he saw them.
“Shun, sit here with me.” Ai pressed Shun into the seat next to him, facing the Third Raikage.
“Lord Raikage, I’m your senior.” Although Shun was young, he was very polite.
“Well,” the Third Raikage nodded, his eyes fell on Shun, with a bit of scrutiny and expectation, “Shun, how is your training recently? Do you have any new insights into the ‘Will of Thunder’?”
Shun sat up straight and was about to answer when Ai next to him interrupted impatiently: “Dad, why are you talking about willpower during a meal? It’s such a bummer! Order first, order!”
The Third Raikage glared at Ai, obviously very unhappy with his interruption, but he didn’t continue the previous topic. His disciples (including his adopted son) were more troublesome than the others.
“Shun, just order whatever you want to eat. Don’t be polite. Today you are spending more money than your seniors!” Ai pushed the menu in front of Shun and said generously.
“Then… I want the thunder beef, the most expensive kind, five plates!” Shun was not polite. Since someone was treating him, and using Senior Kirabi’s money, he would not be soft-hearted. The thunder beef, a specialty of the Hidden Cloud Village, was said to be raised with secret methods and contained a weak thunder and lightning force, which was very beneficial to the body. Naturally, the price was also very expensive.
“Puff—cough cough!” Kirabi spat out a mouthful of tea, pointed at Shun, then at Ai, “You, you guys…are worthy of being master and apprentice! My wallet is crying, yo!”
“You little brat, you’re not shy at all.” The Third Raikage looked at Shun, his lips curled up in an imperceptible arc, and then he frowned and warned, “Shun, don’t learn Ai’s bad habit of spending money lavishly!”
“Got it, Lord Raikage.” Shun nodded obediently, but was thinking in his heart that with Brother Ai as a “cash machine”, it would be hard not to be extravagant.
Soon, plates of tender beef and various side dishes were served. The meat slices on the grill sizzled and gave off an alluring aroma.
The Third Raikage was not fussy about details. He grabbed a piece of sizzling thunder beef with his huge palm. He was not afraid of the heat and started chewing it in big mouthfuls. The gravy dripped through his fingers.
Ai Ze was quick-eyed and quick-handed, and he used the chopsticks like a phantom, picking up the perfectly roasted slices of meat and putting them into his and Shun’s bowls.
“Hey! A! I grilled that! Can’t you do it yourself?!” Kirabi screamed angrily. As soon as he stretched out his chopsticks, the piece of meat he had his eyes on was grabbed by Aijie.
“You’re baking too slowly, let me help you.” Ai said confidently.
“Asshole! Are you helping me? You are robbing me!”
“Is there any difference?”
The Third Raikage couldn’t stand it anymore and slammed the table: “Don’t talk while eating and don’t talk while sleeping! What are you arguing about! Hey, just use the chopsticks properly and don’t reach into other people’s ovens to grab food!” As he said that, he grabbed another piece of meat with his hands.
“Dad, you just grab it with your hands!” Ai immediately retorted.
“I’m… bold!” the Third Raikage argued.
Shun silently ate the thunder beef in the bowl. It was tender and fresh, with a faint electric current stimulating the taste buds. It was indeed a rare delicacy. He looked at the three lively people in front of him and felt that eating this barbecue was more laborious than any practice.
“By the way, Bee,” the Third Raikage seemed to remember something and turned to Killer Bee, “When do you plan to leave for your field trip this time? Don’t stay in the village all the time, your inspiration will dry up.”
Kirabi put down his chopsticks after hearing this, and his expression became serious for once: “Well, it’s almost done, and I’ve already made some progress. This time I want to go to a farther place to experience different customs and cultures, yo.”
“That’s good.” The Third Raikage nodded.
The noisy barbecue party finally ended after Kirabi’s wallet was greatly reduced.
After bidding farewell to the Third Raikage and Killer Bee who was reluctant to leave (mainly to his wallet), Shun followed Ai back to Ai’s home. This is a typical Cloud Village-style mansion, rough and practical.
“You go to the yard and practice the chakra property changes first. I’ll go and process the herbs.” Ai threw the heavy bag of herbs into the kitchen and rolled up his sleeves.
Shun nodded and walked to the center of the yard. He took out a fist-sized rock from his ninja tool bag, which he had prepared during the day. He was going to practice the “crushing” of the earth escape chakra nature change. According to records, after mastering it, hard rocks can be easily crushed into gravel.
He took a deep breath, recalled the essentials of earth escape training, and slowly injected chakra into the rock in his hand. He could feel the chakra seeping in, trying to change the internal structure of the rock.
“Hah!” Shun shouted softly and activated his chakra.
However, the rock in his hand only vibrated slightly, and a few tiny cracks appeared on the surface, but it was still far from being shattered.
“No way…” Shun frowned, but was not discouraged. The change of chakra properties is not something that can be achieved overnight, especially earth escape, which requires patience and precise control of strength.
He tried several more times, and the results were similar. Either the rock did not move at all, or it cracked into several cracks. The best time was when only a small piece broke off.
Time passed by unknowingly and the sky gradually darkened.
“Shun, come here, the medicine soup is ready.” Ai’s voice came from the kitchen.
Shun exhaled a breath of foul air, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked into the kitchen. An indescribable strong smell of medicine hit him in the face, making him wrinkle his nose. He saw Ai Zheng holding a huge ceramic bowl, which was filled with half a bowl of dark brown viscous liquid, which was still steaming and exuding a strange smell.
“Brother Ai, are you sure this thing is drinkable?” Shun looked at the bowl of medicinal soup that was comparable to poison and showed a painful expression.
“Stop talking nonsense, good medicine tastes bitter.” Ai said impatiently, “I bought this with precious herbs with my own money. I spent a lot of money, not a single bite can be wasted!”
Shun took the ceramic bowl resignedly, pinched his nose as if ready to die, raised his head and drank the dark brown medicine in one breath. The taste was spicy, bitter, with a hint of earth and a faint smell of burning, which was a disaster for the taste buds.
“Ugh…” Shun tried hard to suppress the urge to vomit and his face turned green.
“Come with me.” Ai seemed accustomed to his reaction and turned and walked towards the bathroom.
Shun followed Ai to the bathroom door, and a humid and hot steam came with a stronger smell of medicine and a faint sense of electric arc jumping. The huge wooden barrel in the bathroom was already filled with dark liquid medicine, and some herbal residues were floating on the water surface, and occasionally there were tiny electric sparks flashing.
“Take off your clothes and go in for a soak.” Ai crossed his arms, leaned against the door frame, and said in an unquestionable tone, “Soak for at least an hour. It will be good for your physical growth and will also lay the foundation for learning the Lightning Release Armor in the future.”
“Brother Ai,” Shun looked at the bucket of strangely colored medicinal bath with faint electric current flashing, and asked with difficulty, “Aren’t you…going out?”
“Why are you shy? I don’t know how much weight you have on your body?” Ai sneered, then frowned again, “Don’t dawdle, hurry up. I’ll be waiting outside, call me if anything goes wrong.”
After saying that, Ai turned around and closed the bathroom door, leaving Shun alone to face the bucket of “horrible” thunder bath medicine soup.
Chapter 56: Runaway Two-Tail (Old Version)
Yue Guang took off his training clothes, took a deep breath, and stepped into the thunder bath barrel specially made by the Ai family. This was not the first time he had this special “bath”. The liquid in the barrel was not ordinary hot water, but a specially prepared medicinal liquid that flashed with fine arcs, which was specially used to temper the strong bodies of the Yeyue clan.
A tiny electric current passed through the skin, bringing a tingling sensation. Shun clenched his teeth and silently circulated his chakra, guiding the variant energy of the explosive chakra to flow through his body, stimulating every inch of muscle and bone. This was one of the basic practices used to strengthen the body in the explosive chakra refining method.
He could clearly feel that every surge of electricity was like beating and tempering his body. Although the process was a little painful, the effect was significant.
After a while, when the stinging sensation was gradually replaced by a warm and comfortable feeling, a line of detailed text prompts quietly emerged in Shun’s mind.
[C-level mark: strong and healthy, progress increased by 3%]It really works! Shun was delighted. Although this lightning bath is not as fierce as the direct blast chakra impact, it is longer-lasting and gentler, and has a significant effect on improving the “strong body” mark. It seems that Brother Ai has really put a lot of thought into this aspect.
After finishing the thunder bath, Shun changed into dry clothes and walked out of the bathroom. In the living room, Ye Yue Ai was leaning on the sofa, holding a military deployment map of the Hidden Cloud Village in his hand, his brows slightly furrowed, as if thinking about something.
“Shun, come here.” Ai put down the blueprint and waved at him.
“Yes, Brother Ai.” Shun walked to the sofa.
Ai picked up a clean towel nearby, naturally covered Shun’s wet hair with it, and began to wipe him. “How do you feel? Are you used to today’s thunder bath?” His movements were not gentle, but they were full of unmistakable concern.
“Yeah, my body feels full of strength, and my lightning chakra is running more smoothly.” Shun answered truthfully, feeling the power coming from above his head, and the reassuring aura from Ai that was like a summer thunderstorm. He paused, and said a little embarrassedly: “Brother Ai, the money I spent on buying these lightning bath herbs and training resources recently…”
Ai paused while wiping his hair, then grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth: “Why, are you worried that I have no money? Don’t worry, your brother Ai has no other skills, but it’s no problem for him to go to the arena to make some money.” He patted Shun’s shoulder, “Starting tomorrow, after the afternoon physical training, you will go with me to the arena east of the village. You can also watch more, which will be good for your actual combat ability.”
“Arena?” Shun’s eyes lit up. The arena of the Hidden Cloud Village was not only a place for ninjas to exchange ideas, but also a place for many ninjas to earn extra money and even become famous.
“That’s right. It’s about time for you to see a real battle.” Ai said with a smile, “It’s settled. We’ll go for two hours every afternoon.”
Shun pondered for a moment, then suddenly remembered something and looked up at Ai: “Brother Ai, July 15th…is it coming soon?”
Ai was stunned when he heard this, then he reacted and a surprised smile appeared on his face: “Oh? You still remember my birthday?” According to the custom of the Hidden Cloud Village, people who have their birthday on July 15th will eat a special thunderfish rice, praying that they will be as swift and strong as the thunderfish in the coming year.
“Of course I remember.” He smiled instantly, “Brother Ai, how about I accompany you to play in the arena for a while longer on the 15th? Just think of it as… an advance celebration for you.” He knew that Ai liked the hustle and bustle, and also liked the exhilaration of sweating in the arena.
Ai looked at Shun’s sincere eyes, and his heart was warmed. This boy is really becoming more and more “filial”. He laughed and rubbed Shun’s hair hard: “Good boy, you are thoughtful! That’s it!” Ai felt particularly comfortable to be remembered by his younger brother.
The next morning, after finishing his regular chakra control training, Shun went to the commercial street in the village alone. He wanted to pick out a suitable birthday gift for Ai.
After much thought, he felt that Brother Ai’s usual fighting style was vigorous and aggressive, which put a huge strain on his body. Moreover, as the future Raikage, he had never stopped studying Lightning Release Ninjutsu.
“What should I give as a gift?” Shun was a little worried and paced among the dazzling array of goods.
“Shun? What are you doing here?” A clear female voice came from the side.
I turned around and saw that it was Samui. She was wearing a light blue short coat today, which made her look particularly playful and cute.
“Good morning, Samui.” Shun greeted, “I want to choose a birthday present for Brother Ai, but I don’t have any idea.”
“Brother Ai’s birthday?” Samui tilted his head, and then his eyes lit up. “Let me give you some advice! I know there is a store that sells very good wristbands, which are made of special chakra metal. They can effectively relieve the impact of the arm, and they also have a slight amplification effect on lightning chakra!”
“Oh? Is there such a thing?” Shun immediately became interested.
Under Samui’s guidance, Shun came to an inconspicuous ninja tool shop. With Samui’s recommendation and Shun’s careful selection, he finally chose a pair of special wrist guards with black background and gold patterns, which were heavy and had excellent texture. In addition, he also saw a scroll that recorded the experience of three B-level lightning ninjutsu. Although the price was not cheap, he gritted his teeth and bought it.
“Thank you, Samui, you’ve been a great help.” Shun said to Samui gratefully.
“Hehe, it’s no big deal.” Samui waved his hand with a bright smile.
Shun thought for a moment, took out a small bag of candy wrapped in oil paper from his arms, and handed it to Samui: “This is for you. It’s the thunder cloud candy I bought last time I went to town. It’s sweet but not greasy, and very delicious.”
Samui took the candy with surprise, opened it carefully, picked up a cloud-shaped candy and put it in her mouth, her eyes narrowed with happiness immediately: “Wow! It’s really delicious! Thank you, Shun!” The little girl’s face was filled with pure happiness, and Shun couldn’t help but smile. He also vaguely felt that Samui’s father, the elder of the Yeyue clan, seemed to be quite caring for him, and perhaps this kindness was also passed on.
Time flies, and three months passed quietly in the day-to-day hard practice.
At the training ground in the back mountain of the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The two figures crossed each other quickly, and the sound of bamboo swords clashing could be heard. Gekkou Shun and Darui were engaged in a fierce swordsmanship sparring.
After three months of training, Darui’s Yunliu swordsmanship has reached a high level, his moves are sharp and swift, and he has a bit of the style of a master. However, his opponent is Yueguang Shun.
Shun was agile and steady in his steps. The bamboo sword in his hand seemed ordinary, but he could always block or counterattack at tricky angles at critical moments. Every time he swung his sword, it contained an indescribable precision and power.
“Hah!” Darui shouted softly, and suddenly chopped down with a move called “Black Spot” with great force.
Shun did not retreat but advanced instead. With a flick of his wrist, the bamboo sword hummed softly, and he struck first at the weak spot of Darui’s wrist.
Darui felt his wrist go numb, and the bamboo sword almost slipped out of his hand, and his offensive collapsed immediately. He stumbled back two steps, looking at Shun helplessly: “Shun, you… have become stronger again! Your swordsmanship feels much sharper than three months ago!”
Shun put away his bamboo sword and smiled: “You are not bad, Darui. Your ‘Black Spot Difference’ is already very powerful.”
What he didn’t say was that not long ago, his swordsmanship mark finally had a breakthrough.
[C-rank mark: Swordsmanship elite][Trigger conditions: Master the basics of Yunliu swordsmanship and comprehend the true meaning of swordsmanship in actual combat.][Effect: The power of swordplay moves increases by 40%, and the ability to see flaws in enemy moves increases.][Note: Continue to hone your skills to advance to higher-level sword marks.]It was the improvement brought by this mark that made him more and more adept in swordplay duels. At the same time, in these three months, his progress in the “Strong and Healthy Body” mark also improved significantly, and his physical fitness far exceeded that of his peers. And the “Earth Escape Apprentice” mark was successfully obtained because of his unremitting practice of those basic earth escape ninjutsu, making him more adept at controlling earth attribute chakra.
Atsuhi was stunned. Although he was also working hard to practice earth escape and had some success, the gap between him and the two perverts Shun and Darui seemed to be getting bigger and bigger. Darui’s previous goal was to defeat Shun and graduate, but now his goal has quietly become to strive to graduate with Shun, and he will be satisfied.
After the training, Ai found Shun.
“Shun, come with me to Yu Muren’s house tomorrow.” Ai said with a hint of seriousness in his expression.
“Yumukuto?” He was stunned for a moment. He had heard of the two Yumukuto, the two-tailed Jinchuriki of the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Well, she’s been trying to channel the Two-Tails’ chakra recently, and something went wrong. I’ll go take a look, you can come with me, just watch from the side, don’t mess around.” Ai warned. He knew better than anyone the dangers of Jinchūriki training.
“I understand, Brother Ai.” Shun nodded.
The next day, at daybreak, Shun set out with Ai to Yukito’s residence on the outskirts of the Hidden Cloud Village.
The two walked on a secluded mountain path. The morning mist had not yet completely dissipated, bringing a slight chill.
Suddenly, Ai stopped, his expression suddenly changed, and he looked sharply at an independent courtyard not far ahead: “This chakra… is the Two-Tails! Oh no, it’s out of control!”
Shunya felt it instantly, a huge and strange chakra suddenly erupted, sweeping over like a tsunami, and the air was filled with a palpitating and violent aura. The chakra had a strong burning sensation, which was completely different from the lightning and explosion chakras he was familiar with, and was full of destruction and ominousness.
“I’ll go help!” Ai shouted in a low voice, and lightning flashed all over his body, instantly transforming into a blue electric light that shot out, and he shouted hurriedly to Shun, “Shun, stay where you are, don’t come closer!”
Shun stood there, his mind was shaken. He could sense the solemnity and anxiety in Brother Ai’s tone. He looked intently, and saw a stream of dark blue, almost black, strange chakra rising into the sky from the direction of the courtyard, vaguely forming the outline of a giant cat, with two tails burning with dark blue flames dancing wildly in the air, making a deafening roar.
The courtyard wall had long been torn apart by the violent chakra, and in the center of the rampant chakra, a petite figure was struggling in pain. She was covered in a layer of blue-black tailed beast coat, with two solid chakra tails extending from behind her, her eyes were red, and she let out a roar that was not human – it was the half-tailed beast Nibiru Yukito!
Not far from Yukito, a young man wearing sunglasses, with dark complexion and several long swords on his back was struggling to resist the impact of the runaway tailed beast’s chakra. He kept shouting meaningless rap words in an attempt to appease Yukito. It was Killer Bee, the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki. Ai had already rushed into the battle circle, with golden lightning chakra bursting out, trying to suppress the runaway Two-Tails together with Killer Bee.
Shun held his breath. This was the first time he felt the terrifying power of the tailed beast at such a close distance. The strange breath that almost froze his soul made him clench his fists involuntarily. He knew that he was too weak at the moment, and rushing forward would only cause trouble. All he could do was trust Brother Ai and Senior Killer Bee.
But his eyes were fixed on the half-tailed beast Yugito and the huge monster called “Two-tailed Matatabi” that was wreaking havoc in her body. Is this… the fate of a Jinchūriki?
木叶：对不起，我是卧底
第57章 都是孤单惹的祸（旧版）
露露打字机
同人 |
动漫
设置
瀑布
从本章开始听
残存的幽蓝色查克拉如同潮水般缓缓退去，空气中那股令人窒息的狂暴气息也随之渐渐平复。巍峨山壁上，被二尾蛮力犁出的巨大沟壑触目惊心，碎石簌簌滚落，提醒着方才的惊险。
夜月艾魁梧的身影如山岳般挡在最前方，他古铜色的肌肤上尚有点点刮痕，呼吸略显粗重，但眼神依旧锐利如鹰。奇拉比则小心翼翼地搀扶着二位由木人，她金色的长发有些散乱，脸色苍白，显然刚才的尾兽化对她消耗巨大。
月光瞬站在不远处，神色平静地看着这一切，仿佛刚才那几乎要吞噬一切的妖猫怒火只是场绚烂的烟火。
“呼……”由木人深吸一口气，勉强压下体内的查克拉翻腾，她偏过头，看向一旁好整以暇的月光瞬，秀美的脸庞上带着一丝不易掩饰的歉意与些许不甘，“瞬，刚才……场面有些失控，让你受惊了，非常抱歉。”
“无妨，由木人小姐。”瞬微微颔首，语气温和，“只是有些好奇，以你的实力，为何会突然无法控制二尾的力量？”他这话问得直接，却又带着恰到好处的关切，让人难以生厌。
由木人闻言，神色黯淡了几分，苦笑道：“我只是……想试试看，能不能借用一下又旅的力量。毕竟，作为人柱力，如果不能有效运用尾兽之力，那和普通的上忍又有什么区别？”她语气中透着一股属于精英忍者的骄傲，以及身为“兵器”的无奈。
“又旅？”艾沉稳的声音插了进来，他走到由木人身边，拍了拍她的肩膀以示安慰，随后看向瞬，解释道：“又旅，便是封印在由木人体内的二尾的名字。它是初代雷影大人当年收服的强大通灵兽之一，拥有堪比人类的智慧，但也因此……桀骜不驯。”
奇拉比在一旁补充，他习惯性地想来段即兴说唱，但看到由木人虚弱的样子，还是忍住了，只是用相对正常的语调说道：“没错哟，这家伙脾气臭得很，跟由木人的关系一直很紧张，笨蛋混蛋！”
“二尾…又旅？”瞬摸了摸下巴，湛蓝的眸子里闪过一丝思索的光芒，他故作恍然地问道，“就是传说中那只全身燃烧着蓝色火焰，拥有两条尾巴的巨大猫妖？那‘人柱力’这个称呼，又具体是什么意思呢？”
瞬的这个问题，让艾和奇拉比都微微一怔。他们才想起，瞬虽然展现出惊人的天赋和实力，但毕竟年纪尚轻，对于“人柱力”这种村子里的最高机密，或许并不完全了解。
艾沉吟片刻，决定还是向他解释清楚，毕竟瞬已经目睹了由木人尾兽化的场面，隐瞒已无意义，而且以瞬的智慧，或许能提供一些不同的思路。
“简单来说，人柱力就是将尾兽封印在体内，作为‘容器’的忍者。”艾的语气带着一丝不易察觉的沉重，“他们是村子威慑他国的终极兵器，但也因此，生活受到诸多限制，并被严密监控，以防尾兽暴走。”
由木人接过话头，语气复杂地补充道：“而且，因为体内封印着恐怖的怪物，人柱力往往被村民畏惧、疏远……就像定时炸弹一样。”她自嘲地笑了笑，笑容中带着挥之不去的孤独。
瞬静静地听着，眼神中没有同情，也没有怜悯，只有一种纯粹的探究。他沉默片刻，忽然开口：“我有个不成熟的想法，不知当讲不当讲。”
“但说无妨，瞬。”艾对这个屡屡给他带来惊喜的年轻人抱有相当的期待。
“既然二尾又旅拥有不逊于人类的智慧，”瞬的声音不大，却清晰地传入三人耳中，“那它被封印在由木人小姐体内这么多年，会不会……感到孤单？”
“孤单？”
这个词让艾、奇拉比和由木人同时愣住了。
他们考虑过尾兽的憎恨、狂暴、破坏欲，却从未从“孤单”这个角度去思考过它们。在忍者世界，尾兽更多被视为纯粹的力量集合体，而非拥有复杂情感的生命。
由木人最先反应过来，她像是听到了什么天方夜谭，随即苦笑一声：“瞬，你这个想法……太异想天开了。又旅对我，或者说对所有将它封印的人类，都只有刻骨的憎恨与毁灭欲，怎么可能会感到孤单？”
“不试试怎么知道呢？”瞬不以为意地笑了笑，“如果它真的只是纯粹的憎恨，那刚才由木人小姐尝试借用力量时，它应该会更彻底地反抗，甚至直接吞噬你的意识，而不是仅仅失控暴走那么简单。”
艾闻言，眉头微蹙，陷入沉思。瞬的分析不无道理。尾兽的力量深不可测，如果真心要毁灭人柱力，成功的几率其实并不低。
奇拉比则指出了实际问题：“就算它会孤单，笨蛋混蛋，又能怎样？我们不可能把它放出来开派对，哟！封印是绝对不能松动的，这是底线！”
“我当然不是说要把它放出来。”瞬摆了摆手，眼神变得更加明亮，“由木人小姐，你平时和又旅交流，是在那个所谓的‘封印空间’里，对吗？”
“嗯。”由木人点头，“那是一个意识空间，只有我和它能进入。”
“那个空间，可以传递实物进去吗？”瞬追问。
由木人摇了摇头：“不行，只能是意识和查克拉的交互。”
“这就够了！”瞬打了个响指，脸上露出智珠在握的笑容，“查克拉是可以模拟出很多东西的，不是吗？比如声音、影像……既然它孤单，那我们就给它找点乐子。”
“乐子？”由木人瞪大了眼睛，觉得瞬的思路越来越天马行空了。
“没错，投其所好。”瞬循循善诱，“想想看，如果一个人被关在一个小黑屋里几十年，没有任何娱乐，突然有人给他听听小曲儿，看看画儿，他会不会欣喜若狂？”
艾的眼神也亮了起来：“你的意思是……尝试改善由木人和二尾的关系，通过在封印空间里，用查克拉模拟出一些它可能感兴趣的东西？”
“正是此意！”瞬点头道，“比大叔，您的说唱不是独步忍界吗？节奏感那么强，又旅说不定会喜欢这种充满力量感的音乐呢？”他揶揄地看了一眼奇拉比。
奇拉比一听，顿时来了兴致，习惯性地摆了个pose：“哦耶！本大爷的说唱，天下无双！连尾兽听了都会摇摆，哟！”但他随即又垮下脸，“可……那毕竟是二尾啊，它会喜欢我的Freestyle吗？感觉会被它喷火烧掉，笨蛋混蛋！”
由木人也有些迟疑：“又旅的性格……非常暴躁，它会安静听音乐吗？”
“所以才要‘吊胃口’啊。”瞬露出一抹狡黠的笑容，“由木人小姐，你可以先尝试在封印空间用查克拉模拟出一段比大叔的说唱片段。一开始，它肯定会抗拒，甚至暴怒。但你不要理它，就隔三差五地‘放’一小段。记住，一定要在最精彩或者它刚有点兴趣的时候停下来。久而久之，因为长期的孤单和无聊，它总会忍不住去听的。”
“就像……逗猫一样？”由木人若有所思。
“可以这么理解。”瞬笑道，“当它习惯了这种‘娱乐’，并开始产生期待时，你们之间的关系或许就能找到一个突破口。”
艾在一旁听着，越发觉得瞬的这个提议虽然大胆，却并非毫无道理。历代人柱力与尾兽的关系都势同水火，如果能找到一种和平共处，甚至互相协作的方式，对于村子和人柱力本身，都将是巨大的福音。
“由木人，瞬的提议，我觉得可以一试。”艾沉声说道，带着一丝鼓励。
由木人深吸一口气，看向瞬的目光中充满了复杂的情绪，有惊讶，有怀疑，但更多的是一丝被点燃的期待。作为人柱力，她比任何人都渴望摆脱这种孤独和被当做兵器的命运。
“好！”她眼神坚定起来，“我试试！为了云隐，也为了……我自己！”
说罢，由木人不再犹豫，她盘膝坐下，闭上双眼，调整呼吸，将意识缓缓沉入那片充斥着怨念与狂暴查克拉的封印空间。
甫一进入，熟悉的阴暗潮湿感便扑面而来。巨大的铁栏构成的牢笼深处，一双燃烧着幽蓝色火焰的巨大兽瞳猛然睁开，充满了暴戾与不耐。
“吼——！又是你这烦人的小丫头！滚出去！别来打扰本大爷清净！”如同闷雷般的咆哮在由木人的意识中炸响，二尾又旅那庞大的猫型虚影猛地扑向象征封印的铁栏，激起查克拉涟漪阵阵。
Yukito endured the malice and pressure that almost tore her soul apart, and followed Shun’s instructions, trying to recall Kirabi’s usual weird and rhythmic rap melodies. She concentrated her mind, mobilized the chakra in her body, and began to clumsily simulate the intermittent, untuned beats and some vague “lyrics” that imitated Kirabi’s tone in front of Yata’s cage.
“Huh? What the hell is this? Noise! It’s simply noise pollution!” Youlu was stunned for a moment, then became even more furious. He slapped the railings frantically with his huge claws, making a deafening metal friction sound. “Stupid human, how dare you use such filthy things to blaspheme my ears! Shut up! Shut up right now!”
Yumujin gritted her teeth, unmoved, and stubbornly continued to “play” the untuneable “rap” with her chakra. She remembered Shun’s instructions and only simulated a short section, about half a minute, and then stopped decisively, and quickly exited the sealed space.
Outside, Yu Muren suddenly opened her eyes, beads of sweat oozing from her forehead, her face still pale, but her eyes held a hint of disbelief…weirdness and a slight confusion.
“It…” She took a breath and said uncertainly, “It was very angry at first, but when I came out, it seemed… it didn’t roar anymore. It just… stared at the musical notes simulated by the chakra fiercely?”
Kirabi came closer and asked curiously, “How is it? Is it impressed by my charm, huh?”
Yumuren shook his head, then nodded, with a very strange expression: “I don’t know… but Shun, what you said about ‘loneliness’, maybe… there is some truth to it. It cursed for a while, and when it found that I ignored it, and didn’t try to suppress or extract its power as usual, it seemed… stunned.”
Endless years, boundless loneliness. For Youlu, who was imprisoned for eternity, it had not come into contact with any “new” things for a long time, except for anger and the desire to destroy. Although the strange “noise” was extremely unpleasant, it seemed to break the eternal silence.
Ai looked at Yu Muren’s expression and his heart moved. He knew that this was only the first step and the road ahead was still long and difficult. But at least, they seemed to have found a tiny gap in the tightly closed door.
Yue Guangshun smiled slightly, hiding his merits and fame. He knew that for an “old house monster” like Youlu who had lived for who knows how many years, any new things, against the backdrop of long loneliness, could become a “really fragrant” existence.
“Take your time, Miss Yumujin,” he encouraged her gently. “This is a slow process, so don’t rush it. Next time, you can try changing a short section, or interrupt the song suddenly when it’s being most ‘engaged’.”
Yu Muren looked at Shun’s eyes that seemed to be able to see through everything, and for the first time, he felt a faint but real hope of improving his relationship with Yu Lu.
Perhaps, this road can really be taken.
It’s all caused by loneliness, so use companionship and novelty to resolve it.
Chapter 58 Please, You’re Too Weak (Old Version)
As night fell, Yueguang Shun was the only one left on the training ground.
He let out a long breath, feeling the aftereffects of the surging chakra in his body, and the subsequent soreness in his muscles. This afternoon’s practice of chakra refining was very effective, but the progress bar was still stubbornly stuck at 70%.
“Huh…” He sat down cross-legged and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
The more difficult it is to refine the explosive chakra in the later stages, the simple accumulation of quantity seems to be unable to bring about a qualitative leap. He closed his eyes and looked inward at his body. The pale yellow chakra flowed through his meridians, but he always felt that it lacked the final condensation and explosive power.
“It seems that it is time to try to stimulate specific meridians with Explosion Chakra.” Shun thought to himself. This is a high-level technique recorded in the Explosion Chakra Refining Method. By precisely controlling the Explosion Chakra to impact the meridians in specific parts of the body, the purpose of breaking and then rebuilding, and tempering the purity of the chakra, is achieved. The risk is not small, but the benefits are equally tempting.
However, this plan has to be postponed for a while.
Not tomorrow.
He opened his eyes instantly, and a faint smile appeared on the corner of his mouth. Tomorrow is July 15th, Brother Ai’s birthday. He came to Yunyin Village, and thanks to Brother Ai for taking care of him, this first birthday cannot be perfunctory.
What gift should I give?
He instantly shut down his thoughts about cultivation, and while moving his stiff neck and shoulders, he began to ponder. Brother Ai’s personality is such that he likes nothing more than fighting, strength, and perhaps… winning money?
Thinking of this, Shun couldn’t help but laugh. He remembered clearly that when Brother Ai came back from the underground casino, he would be in high spirits if he won money, and he would be pleasing to everyone; if he lost money, his face would be like the dark clouds outside the Raikage Building, ready to strike with a few thunderbolts at any time.
As I was thinking, a steady and powerful sound of footsteps came closer and closer.
Shun knew who it was without even turning around.
“Hey, Shun, you’re still training? You’re really working hard.” Ai’s voice was a little hoarse from training, and there was a hint of fatigue that was barely noticeable. He walked to Shun’s side and sat down casually, still carrying the unique smell of dust and sweat from the training ground.
“Brother Ai, you seem a bit… lazy in training today?” Shun turned his head and looked at him with a mischievous smile.
“Huh?!” Ai glared with his eyes as big as copper bells, like a cat whose tail was stepped on. “Boy, what did you say? I’m lazy? Did I build these muscles in vain?” As he said that, he deliberately bulged his rock-hard biceps.
“I mean, compared to me, you seemed to have finished a little earlier.” Shun raised his eyebrows unwillingly.
“Hey, you’re itching for trouble, aren’t you?” Ai grinned, and his big hand like a palm-leaf fan came towards Shun’s head, as if he was going to give him a “love fist”.
Shun had anticipated this and ducked swiftly to avoid Ai’s “sneak attack”, but he shouted exaggeratedly: “Oh, Brother Ai, spare me! I was wrong, I was wrong, isn’t that enough!”
Seeing his funny look, Ai lost all strength in his hand, and just patted him on the shoulder symbolically, snorting, “You’re smart. What, do you know how powerful I am?”
“Of course, Brother Ai is invincible and unrivaled in the world!” Shun was very good at climbing up the ladder, and his tone was so sincere that it seemed to come from the bottom of his heart. “To express my apology and admiration, tomorrow I will accompany Brother Ai to the arena for a day. How about it? I will pay for all the expenses!”
“Hmm?” Hearing this, Ai paused and looked at Shun suspiciously. “Why are you so attentive today? What tricks are you trying to play?”
Shun, this kid, usually quarreled with him, and occasionally he would be “filial”, mostly when he got into trouble or asked him for something. Today he was so “generous”, which was really abnormal.
“How could that be possible!” Shun said innocently, “I just saw that you’ve been training hard lately, Brother Ai, so I wanted you to relax. Besides, missing one day of training is not a big deal for a genius like you, Brother Ai, right?”
Ai was somewhat pleased by his flattery, but the doubts in his heart were not completely eliminated. He stroked his chin and said thoughtfully: “The arena… sounds good. But, you kid, don’t expect me to show mercy. If you practice with me, you will cry.”
“No problem! I couldn’t ask for more!” Shun readily agreed, but he was very happy in his heart. He knew that Brother Ai would like this.
“You kid…” Ai looked at Shun’s “well-behaved” appearance and always felt that something was wrong, but the temptation of the arena was indeed great, so he finally nodded, “Okay, then tomorrow. But if you dare to play tricks on me, humph…” He raised his fist, and the threat was self-evident.
Shun secretly laughed in his heart. Brother Ai’s arrogant character was really easy to understand. However, he had a “grateful” expression on his face: “Thank you, Brother Ai, for your help!”
“Alright, alright, stop it.” Ai waved his hand impatiently. “I’m going back first. I’m so tired.” He stood up and stretched his body, his joints making a crackling sound.
“Brother Ai, take care.” Shun also stood up.
When Ai’s figure disappeared at the exit of the training ground, the smile on Shun’s face slowly faded. He glanced at the sky, estimated the time, and decided to end the extra training tonight in advance.
“Just tell Brother Ai that the afternoon training was too tiring and I really don’t have the energy to train in the evening.” Shun muttered, and even he felt that this reason was a bit untenable. Brother Ai would probably laugh at him and say “Come on, you are too weak”, but it doesn’t matter, as long as the goal is achieved.
He quickly packed up and left the training ground, but instead of going directly home, he turned into the most prosperous commercial street in the Hidden Cloud Village.
The commercial street at night is brightly lit and bustling with people, making it even more lively than during the day. Shun shuttled through the crowd, looking around the shops on both sides. The gift for Brother Ai must be practical and in line with his preferences. Brother Ai would definitely not be interested in ordinary clothes and accessories.
“Shun-kun?” A clear and soft female voice came from behind him.
Shun turned around and saw a dark-skinned girl with simple clothes and neatly combed short hair standing not far away. It was Ma Buyi. She was holding a few books in her hands and looked like she had just come out of a library or bookstore.
“Ma Buyi, what a coincidence.” He instantly showed a friendly smile.
Ma Buyi walked up to him and asked curiously, “Shun-kun, shouldn’t you be training? I heard from Atsuyi and the others that you’ve been training twice as hard recently to prepare for something.” When she mentioned Atsuyi, she seemed to think of something, and a barely noticeable blush appeared on her cheeks. Shun knew that Ma Buyi and Atsuyi had come to him for advice on the theory of lightning escape.
“Oh, let’s finish a little early today.” Shun’s heart moved. Maybe Ma Buyi could give some suggestions on Brother Ai’s gift. She is thoughtful and observant. “It’s just right. I want to ask you for a favor. Give me some advice.”
“Huh?” Ma Buyi was a little surprised, then her eyes lit up, “Shun-kun, do you need my help with something? Please tell me, I’ll do it if I can!” She seemed quite excited to be able to help Shun.
“It’s like this,” Shun pointed at the shops around him and said with a hint of distress, “Tomorrow is the birthday of a very important brother of mine. I want to give him a gift, but I really don’t know what to choose.”
It turned out to be a gift selection. Ma Buyi didn’t know why, but a trace of imperceptible disappointment flashed through her heart, but it was soon replaced by the enthusiasm of helping others. She asked seriously: “That big brother…what does he like? Or, is he missing anything?”
“Things I like…” Shun touched his chin, “Fight and become stronger. As for what I lack…” He subconsciously imagined the impoverished (self-proclaimed) look of Ai after he lost money, and he almost blurted out “lack of money”.
Seeing him pondering, Ma Buyi suggested, “If you are a ninja who likes fighting, perhaps some high-quality ninja tools or tools to assist in training would be more appropriate?”
“That makes sense!” Shun’s eyes lit up. Ma Buyi’s words had enlightened him. He took Ma Buyi into a rather large ninja tool shop.
The store has a wide variety of weapons and armor, as well as all kinds of auxiliary props.
“Brother Ai usually uses fists, kicks and lightning ninjutsu more often. As for weapons… he doesn’t seem to use specific weapons very often.” Shun analyzed as he watched, “As for assisting in training…”
His eyes fell on a pair of rugged and heavy specially made weight-bearing wristbands. The wristbands were made of a special alloy and had fine runes engraved on the surface. They seemed to be able to adjust the weight and had a slight guiding effect on the flow of chakra.
“How about this one?” Shun asked Ma Buyi, pointing at the pair of wristbands.
Ma Buyi took a closer look and nodded, “This pair of weighted wrist guards is made of high-quality materials and exquisite craftsmanship. The runes on it seem to have the effect of stabilizing chakra. For physical and close combat ninjas, they are very practical training props.”
“Okay, this is it!” Shun immediately decided. Then, he saw the high-grade whetstone placed on the side, which can not only sharpen regular ninja swords, but also has a miraculous effect on some weapons made of special materials. Although Brother Ai doesn’t use swords often, it’s always a good idea to have one.
“Add this.” Shun took down the whetstone again.
After choosing two gifts, Shun was ready to pay the bill. Suddenly, he remembered something and turned to look at Ma Buyi who was quietly waiting at the side. She was concentrating on the gift Shun had chosen, with a hint of approval in her eyes.
“Ma Buyi, thank you so much today. You saved me a lot of effort.” Shun said sincerely.
“No, nothing. I’m glad I could help Shun-kun.” Ma Buyi lowered his head slightly, his cheeks feeling a little hot again.
Shun smiled, and his eyes swept through the store, finally stopping at the bookshelf area. He remembered that Ma Buyi was very interested in the theory of lightning escape, and had asked him many questions before. He walked to the bookshelf, carefully selected, and took down a theoretical book called “Detailed Explanation of the Changes in the Nature of Advanced Lightning Chakra”. This book is easy to understand and has many unique insights, which is exactly what Ma Buyi needs most at the moment.
“This is for you, as a small thank you gift.” Shun handed the book to Ma Buyi.
“Ah? No no no, Shun-kun, how can I accept your gift!” Ma Buyi waved her hands repeatedly, a little flustered, “I just made a small suggestion…”
“Here, this book should be very helpful to you.” Shun stuffed the book into her arms without hesitation, “You helped me and Atsushi a lot before, so this is my little token of my appreciation.”
Ma Buyi held the book that still smelled of ink, feeling the texture of the cover, and an indescribable joy and shyness surged in her heart. She raised her head and saw Shun’s gentle smile, her cheeks became even redder, and her voice was as thin as a mosquito: “Then… Thank you Shun-kun.”
“You’re welcome.” Shun paid the bill, picked up the wrapped gift, said goodbye to Ma Buyi, and walked towards home in a happy mood.
The night breeze was particularly refreshing, and he was already looking forward to Brother Ai’s expression when he received the gift tomorrow.
Chapter 59: Ai’s Birthday Party (Old Version)
The morning air in the Hidden Cloud Village was a bit refreshing after thunder. The sunlight shone through the gaps in the tall rocks beside the training ground, scattering mottled light on the two figures.
“Brother Shun, please try again! I feel like I’m getting the hang of ‘Thunderbolt Return’!” The young Yeyue Samui puffed up her pink cheeks, beads of sweat dripped down her forehead, and her bright eyes looked expectantly at the boy in front of her. On her small palm, the light blue lightning chakra was flickering unsteadily.
Yue Guang Shun gently shook his head, put away the lightning that had just dissipated around him, and gently rubbed Samui’s soft golden hair with his hand: “Let’s stop here today, Samui. I still have some things to prepare.”
“Ah? What’s the matter? Is it more important than practicing with me?” Samui curled her lips reluctantly, and the lightning on her hand dimmed. She subconsciously pulled the corner of Shun’s clothes, with a hint of unnoticeable dependence.
“Yes, it’s a very important thing.” Shun smiled and didn’t explain much. He could sense a helpless gaze not far away. It was Samui’s father, an elder of the Yeyue clan, who was leaning against a rock, pretending to admire the scenery, but in fact his eyes had never left this side.
“Humph, he’s going to fool around with Ai again.” The elder muttered in his heart, but his face still maintained the mysterious demeanor of an elder, but the unconscious twitching of the corners of his mouth revealed his true thoughts. His own juicy little cabbage was about to be taken away by the unromantic apprentice of “Thunder Bull”, it was really… Alas!
Shun nodded slightly in the direction of the elder as a greeting, and then said to Samui, “Continue tomorrow. You are making rapid progress.”
Samui was slightly happier after receiving the compliment and released her hand: “It’s a deal then, no more excuses tomorrow!”
“Yeah.” Shun responded and turned to leave the training ground.
He did not go home directly, but went to the ninja tool shop in the village first. He had remembered Brother Ai’s birthday for a long time. As Brother Ai’s only disciple, this kind of thought was necessary.
It took quite some thought to choose the gift. Brother Ai was very strong, and ordinary ninja tools were of little use to him. Shun finally chose a pair of specially made weighted wrist guards, which were several times heavier than the common styles on the market, and the internal structure was carefully designed to evenly disperse the pressure without affecting the flexibility during combat. In addition, he also bought a high-quality whetstone. Brother Ai was used to using a hand knife, so the sharpness was very important.
Holding the carefully wrapped gift, Shun walked briskly towards Ai’s home.
“Boom boom boom.”
There was a knock on the door, and soon, the door was yanked open. Yeyue Ai’s iconic bronzed figure appeared at the door. He was only wearing a simple black vest and shorts, with clear muscle lines and full of explosive power.
“Shun? Why are you here at this time? Is the training over?” Ai was a little surprised to see Shun, and then laughed heartily.
“Brother Ai, happy birthday!” Shun handed over the two gift boxes in his hand with a sincere smile on his face.
Ai Mingxian was stunned for a moment, then a hint of surprise and warmth flashed in his eyes. He laughed and took the gift: “You kid, you’re great! You actually remember my birthday!” He opened one of the larger gift boxes on the spot without hesitation.
“Weighted wristband? Specially made one?” Ai took the heavy wristband in his hand and weighed it, a gleam in his eyes, “Good stuff! Just what I want!” He immediately put the wristband on his thick wrist, moved it for a while, felt the perfect weight, and nodded with satisfaction.
Then, he opened another smaller gift box and saw the fine-textured whetstone. His smile widened: “This is not bad either. You are thoughtful!”
“As long as Brother Ai likes it.” Shun felt relieved. Seeing Ai’s satisfied look, he also felt happy.
“Come in, don’t stand at the door.” Ai stepped aside to let Shun in, and casually placed the gift on the table beside him. “Speaking of which, according to the custom of the Hidden Cloud Village, one must eat thunderfish rice on his birthday. You came at the right time, I was just about to have a bite myself.”
“Brother Ai, let me cook it today.” Shun walked into the kitchen and tied an apron expertly. “I can also cook thunderfish rice.”
Ai raised his eyebrows and looked at Shun’s busy back with some surprise: “Oh? You can do this? I’d like to try your cooking skills.” He didn’t hesitate and sat down at the dining table, watching with interest as Shun methodically processed the ingredients in the kitchen.
Thunderfish is a fish that is unique to the Hidden Cloud Village. It has delicious meat and is rich in thunder-attribute chakra. It is said that if you eat thunderfish rice on your birthday, you will be as energetic as the thunderfish and strong every year. This is similar to the longevity noodles in Shun’s memory of his previous life.
Soon, the unique fragrance of mullet rice wafted from the kitchen, mixed with the sweetness of rice and the complex aroma of various seasonings, which aroused Ai’s appetite.
When two large bowls of steaming mullet rice, garnished with green onions and golden egg shreds, were served, Ai couldn’t wait to pick up the chopsticks.
“Hmm! It tastes good, Shun! I didn’t expect you to have this skill!” Ai ate with big mouthfuls and praised vaguely.
Shunya picked up the chopsticks and ate the thunder fish rice he made in small bites, feeling quite satisfied.
“Speaking of which, Shun,” Ai swallowed a mouthful of rice and suddenly asked, “When is your birthday? I can prepare something for you.”
Shun’s hand holding the chopsticks paused slightly, his eyes dimmed for a moment, then he shook his head and said softly: “I… don’t know. I don’t remember when my birthday is.” He was an orphan adopted by the village, and he had almost no memory of the past.
Hearing this, Ai slowed down his chewing. He looked at Shun’s slightly dejected expression, and his heart moved. His usually rough face now showed a rare seriousness and tenderness. He put down his chopsticks and slapped Shun’s shoulder with his big hand like a palm leaf fan, but the strength was well controlled.
“Hey! What’s so difficult about this!” Ai grinned, revealing two rows of neat white teeth. “Since you don’t know, then from today on, today! That is my birthday, and it will also be your birthday! From now on, we, the master and the apprentice, will celebrate our birthdays on the same day, how about that?”
Shun suddenly raised his head and looked at Ai in surprise, his eyes full of disbelief.
“It’s settled!” Ai said without question. Then he seemed to remember something, turned around and took out a simple wooden box from the bedroom.
The wooden box was opened, and inside lay a pair of dark blue metal wrist guards. The surface of the wrist guards was engraved with complex lightning patterns, and there was a faint glow of chakra flowing. A familiar and powerful aura emanated from them.
“This,” Ai picked up one of the wristbands and handed it to Shun, his tone solemn, “is the Lightning Release wristband left by my father, the Third Raikage. It can amplify the power of Lightning Release, and it also contains a trace of his chakra. Today, Brother Ai gives it to you as a birthday present!”
Shun’s breathing suddenly stagnated. He looked at the lightning wristband in front of him, and a storm surged in his heart. The relic of the Third Raikage! This is too valuable! Moreover, he knew that this wristband meant a lot to Brother Ai. At the same time, a trace of worry came to his mind. Would it be too conspicuous to wear this and cause unnecessary suspicion and trouble? After all, he didn’t want to reveal too much about his current identity.
Ai seemed to see through Shun’s hesitation. He stuffed the wristband into Shun’s hand and said in a deep voice, “Take it! This is a token of my love. Besides, I believe that you will be able to carry forward the Lightning Escape in the future and will not bring disgrace to my father’s name!”
A warm touch came from the palm of his hand, and the pure lightning chakra on the wristband seemed to resonate with the chakra in Shun’s body. He could feel the tremendous power contained in it, and a hint of… the will of the Third Raikage.
Shun took a deep breath, suppressed all the thoughts in his mind, and nodded solemnly: “Thank you, Brother Ai! I will definitely treasure this gift and will never let you down!”
He no longer hesitated and put the pair of lightning wristbands on his wrists. A warm current instantly surged through his body, and the lightning chakra in his body seemed to be activated, becoming more active and condensed. He could clearly feel that his control over lightning seemed to have improved a bit.
“Haha! Good! That’s more like it!” Ai laughed with satisfaction and patted Shun on the shoulder. “Let’s go! After we’ve eaten, let’s go to the arena! Today is my birthday, so I’m sure I’ll have good luck! You can be my lucky charm and come with me to place a bet!”
Shun couldn’t help but smile when he heard this. Brother Ai’s impetuous temper was really…
The arena of the Hidden Cloud Village is always bustling with people, shouts of various ninjutsu duels and excited shouts of gamblers.
Ai was indeed in high spirits. He picked up Shun and let him sit in his arms, like a mascot. He squeezed to the betting table, waved his hand, and placed a lot of bets.
“Watch out, Shun! Today we’re going to rely on you as our lucky charm to win a fortune!” Ai winked at Shun in his arms.
Shun was somewhat helpless, but he let Ai hold him. Perhaps it was because he had eaten too much rayfish rice, or perhaps it was because the noisy environment of the arena had a strange hypnotic effect. Listening to the hustle and bustle around him and feeling the steady strength and warmth from Brother Ai’s arms, Shun’s eyelids gradually became heavy, and he fell asleep unknowingly.
I don’t know how long it took, but when Shun opened his eyes again, he found himself lying on a soft bed. The sun was still shining brightly outside the window, but it was tilted to the west, and it was obviously afternoon.
“Is this… Brother Ai’s home?” Shun sat up dazedly and rubbed his eyes. He remembered that he seemed to have fallen asleep in the arena.
“Are you awake? My little lucky charm!” Ai’s cheerful voice came from the living room.
When Shun walked out of the bedroom, he saw Ai Zheng placing a cake with a few candles on it on the dining table. Although the cake was simple in style, it was clearly carefully prepared.
“Brother Ai, this…”
“Hehe, it’s a birthday, so it has to have a cake.” Ai scratched his head and smiled a little embarrassedly, “Although we don’t have this custom in the Hidden Cloud Village, I think it’s quite interesting. Come on, let’s make a wish together as master and disciple and blow out the candles!”
Ai lit the candles, and the dim candlelight danced in the room, reflecting the smiles on their faces.
Shun looked at Ai, who was smiling brightly in front of him, and the flickering candlelight, and a warm current slowly flowed in his heart. He had never thought that he would have a day to celebrate his birthday like this. This sudden “birthday” and this heavy care made his eyes slightly warm.
“Make a wish, Shun.” Ai said softly.
The two closed their eyes together, clasped their hands together, and silently made a wish in their hearts.
Then they smiled at each other, took a deep breath together, and blew out the flickering candle.
The room was filled with the sweet aroma of cake and an atmosphere called “warmth”.
Chapter 60: Rebuilding a New Kumogakure (Old Version)
“Xiao Shun, what’s your birthday wish?”
Ai handed the largest piece of Thunder Cloud Pastry in his hand to Shun, and asked casually, with a tone of expectation that he himself did not realize. Thunder Cloud Pastry is a specialty of the Hidden Cloud Village, made with thunder beast milk and cloud top pollen. It has a dense texture and a slight numbing electric power. It is Shun’s favorite snack.
“Well…”
Yue Guang Shun took the Lei Yun Su, rolled his eyes slyly, and asked, “Brother Ai, birthday wishes won’t come true if you say them out loud, right?”
“Why are there so many rules?”
Ai grinned, revealing a mouthful of white teeth, looking particularly heroic, “I don’t believe these nonsense. Tell me quickly, are you trying to secretly hide a few more copies of “Intimate Paradise” so that I can find you?”
“How is that possible!”
Shun’s cheeks flushed slightly when he heard this, and he quickly waved his hands, but his tone was a little hesitant, “I’ll tell you, Brother Ai, you are not allowed to be angry, let alone beat me.”
“Why should I be angry?”
Ai was slightly startled, and his sharp eyes like a hawk stared at Shun with a bit of scrutiny, “Boy, did you make a wish to blow up the Hidden Cloud Village?”
“I don’t have the guts!”
Shun’s neck shrank, then he straightened his back and said solemnly: “My wish is that Brother Ai can become the Fourth Raikage!”
“Raikage?”
Ai paused while chewing the Thundercloud Pastry, frowned slightly, and was silent for a few seconds before asking in a deep voice, “Why? Don’t you want to be the Raikage? You have always said ‘I want to be a Raikage who surpasses the Third Hokage’ since you were a child.”
“I’m still young.”
Shun grinned, revealing a row of neat teeth, his eyes sparkling with longing for the future, “Brother Ai, you will be the Fourth Raikage first, stabilize the situation, and accumulate prestige. Then, when I grow up, I will take over the responsibility from you and become the Fifth Raikage! Together, we brothers will surely build a brand new, more powerful Kumogakure and ‘rebuild a new Kumogakure’!”
“You brat, you’re so arrogant!”
Ai couldn’t help but stretch out his big hand like a palm leaf fan, rubbed Shun’s head gently, and scolded with a smile: “What do you think of the Raikage? It’s a family heirloom, can you pass it on to anyone you want?”
“Of course I know the complexity of the Raikage election.”
Shun pushed Ai’s hand away and analyzed with a serious expression: “But Brother Ai, your advantages are too obvious. You are the direct disciple of the Third Raikage and his adopted son. You have been chosen as the next leader of the Night Moon Clan. Your lightning talent is unrivaled in the Hidden Cloud Village and you are known as the ‘second Third Raikage’. Once the Ninja World War breaks out, you will definitely make great achievements. By then, who can compete with you?”
“What do you know?”
Ai glanced at him, with a hint of disapproval in his tone, “There are quite a few old guys in the village eyeing that position, including the old man Tu Dai and the elders of several other large clans. Which one of them is easy to deal with?”
“They are no match for you.”
Shun’s tone was firm.
He knew who Ai was referring to. They were simply the older generation who held high positions by virtue of their seniority and family influence, or the young ninjas who were emerging but had a shallow foundation.
But in Shun’s opinion, these people are indeed not comparable to Ai.
In terms of strength, Ai’s Lightning Release has reached perfection and he may reach the threshold of Lightning Release Armor at any time; in terms of reputation, his status as the adopted son of the Third Raikage, plus the full support of the Yeyue Clan, is enough to give him a huge influence in the village; in terms of potential, Ai is still young and his future achievements are limitless.
As for the elders, although they were influential, their strength had long passed their peak and their thinking tended to be conservative. The other young ninjas were either not strong enough or lacked sufficient political skills.
“Brother Ai, although the village is now ruled by the Third Hokage, everyone knows that he is old. This Ninja World War is a crisis as well as an opportunity for Kumogakure. Only a strong leader can lead Kumogakure to new glory.” Shun continued, “And you are that person.”
“You little brat…”
Ai was slightly moved by Shun’s words, but his face remained calm, with only an arc unconsciously raised at the corner of his mouth, “You speak so logically, as if you are already the Raikage’s advisor.”
Shun thought to himself, “I am going to be the fifth Raikage, how can I be without this little analytical ability?”
He even wanted to recite a poem: “Who is the leader among the hidden heroes of the cloud? Only my brother Ai and Yue Guang Shun!”
Unfortunately, if I say this now, Brother Ai will probably think I’m crazy, and he will inevitably give me a beating of the “Iron Fist of Love”.
“I am not very interested in the position of Raikage.”
Ai shook his head, changed the subject, and looked at Shun seriously, “However, Brother Ai does support you to become the Raikage. But your current strength is still far from enough! You must work harder.”
Shun nodded vigorously and didn’t dwell on this topic any further.
He understood that although Brother Ai said he was not interested, his words still left some ripples in his heart.
Moreover, as he analyzed, once the Third Ninja World War breaks out, with Brother Ai’s character and strength, he will definitely lead the way and accumulate achievements that others cannot match. By then, I’m afraid it will not be up to him. The Hidden Cloud Village needs a young, strong, and courageous leader. The voice of the people and the recommendation of the village’s top leaders will push him to that position.
“Don’t dawdle after you finish eating.” Ai swallowed the last bite of Thunder Cloud Pastry and stood up. “I will teach you how to practice the Thunder Escape Armor this afternoon.”
“real?!”
Shun jumped up in surprise, his eyes shining.
Lightning Release Armor! That’s an S-level Lightning Release Technique, one of the Third Raikage’s signature skills! Brother Ai actually wants to teach me personally?
Although Shun knew that Brother Ai had high expectations of him, he did not expect to be exposed to this level of technique so soon.
“Of course it’s true.”
Ai looked at Shun’s excitement and felt relieved. Although this kid sometimes likes to play tricks, his passion and talent in cultivation are indeed beyond reproach. Perhaps, I should really train him well and let him grow up as soon as possible.
“Come with me.”
Ai strode towards the training ground outside the village.
Shun hurriedly followed, feeling as excited as if he had a rabbit in his arms.
Soon, the two came to an empty training ground, surrounded by towering rock walls and sparse trees, and the ground was covered with traces of various training sessions.
“The essence of the Lightning Armor is to condense the Lightning Chakra to a high degree and cover the entire body. Through the stimulation of lightning, the body’s activity is increased to the limit, thereby gaining extraordinary speed and strength. At the same time, the armor itself also has a strong defensive power.”
Ai stood in the center of the venue and began to explain in detail, “This technique requires extremely high precision in chakra control. Every inch of skin and every cell needs to be evenly covered and activated by lightning chakra. Secondly, it also requires extremely high physical strength. Otherwise, before you can hurt the enemy, you will be torn apart by the powerful force of lightning.”
Shun nodded repeatedly after hearing this, keeping every word firmly in mind.
Ai growled and waved his arms.
Dazzling blue lightning suddenly burst out from his body, as if thousands of tiny lightning snakes were slithering and circling around him. The lightning quickly condensed, forming a majestic lightning coat that completely enveloped his burly body. His hair stood upside down, flashing with lightning, and his eyes were gleaming with brilliance, like the god of thunder descending to the earth.
A suffocating aura emanated from Ai, and the air on the training ground seemed to freeze.
“This is the Lightning Release Armor.” Ai’s voice seemed a little dull amid the crackling of lightning, but it was full of power. “You already understand the theory. Now, try to mobilize the Lightning Release Chakra and try to cover your arm.”
Shun took a deep breath and tried to calm his agitated mood. He closed his eyes and followed Ai’s instructions, carefully mobilizing the lightning chakra in his body and guiding it to converge on his right arm.
A faint arc of electricity jumped on his arm, making a slight “crackling” sound.
However, these arcs appeared to be extremely unstable, appearing and disappearing from time to time, and their coverage was limited to a small area of the forearm, not to mention forming armor.
Shun gritted his teeth and increased the output of chakra.
“Sizzle…Bang!”
With a slight pop, the arc on his arm instantly went out of control and turned into an electric current that ran through his entire body, making him feel numb and his hair slightly sticking up.
“Pfft…” Ai almost couldn’t help laughing when he saw Shun’s funny look, but he still said with a straight face, “Your control is too poor, and your chakra output is not stable. Don’t rush for success, start with the most basic chakra coverage.”
Shun was a little depressed, but more of a person who refused to admit defeat.
He shook his numb arms and tried again.
Shun spent the entire afternoon struggling with the lightning chakra on his arm. The effect was only better than nothing. At most, he could gather some unstable arcs on his arm, which was still a long way from forming armor.
[S-level mark: Lightning Escape Armor. ][Triggering conditions: Initially master the activation of lightning chakra covering specific parts of the body. ]【Current progress: 0%. 】
Shun let out a long breath as he looked at the new mark that appeared in his mind.
Although the progress was zero, at least the mark was triggered, which showed that the direction of his efforts was right. An S-level mark, this was his highest level mark at the moment!
“Okay, that’s all for today.” Ai’s voice came, “This is your first time, and it’s pretty good to be able to do this. Don’t be discouraged, this technique can’t be mastered in a day or two.”
He patted Shun’s shoulder and said, “Come with me. I have prepared a lightning bath for you. It will relieve the numbness in your body and will also help you adapt to the lightning chakra.”
“Thunder bath?” His eyes lit up.
Ai brought Shun back to the tribe. Next to a special bath, the tribe members had already prepared hot water with a special herbal scent. Ai also threw a few pieces of minerals that were flashing with faint lightning into it.
“Go in and soak for an hour. It’s good for your health.” Ai ordered.
“Thank you, Brother Ai!” Shun said gratefully.
Lying in the warm medicinal bath, feeling the weak but continuous lightning power in the water stimulating my body, I instantly felt that the fatigue and numbness brought by the afternoon training were quickly subsiding, and were replaced by a comfortable warm current.
An hour later, Shun walked out of the bathtub refreshed and returned to his room.
He sat cross-legged on the bed, but instead of resting immediately, he thought of another thing – the refinement of explosive chakra.
The practice of bloodline limit must not be neglected either.
He took a deep breath, and according to the “vigorous” method recorded on the scroll, began to try to mobilize the fire and earth attribute chakras at the same time, trying to fuse them in his body.
“Hmm!”
Almost instantly, an indescribable tingling sensation came from the surface of the skin, and then he felt as if the meridians in his body were forcibly stretched by something, causing waves of swelling and pain.
Beads of sweat the size of beans oozed from Shun’s forehead, but he clenched his teeth, endured the discomfort, and continued to activate his chakra.
He could clearly feel that the two types of chakra were colliding and repelling each other violently in his body, like two ferocious beasts trying to tear his body apart.
“No… it’s too much of a stretch…”
After a few minutes, Shun had to stop, his face pale and his body soaked with sweat.
“The extraction of Explosion Chakra is much more dangerous than I thought.” Shun panted heavily, still feeling frightened. This method is simply playing with fire.
He silently looked at his slightly red skin, felt the meridians in his body that were still aching, and began to sort out his next training plan.
“The training of the Lightning Escape Armor must be persistent. This is the key to improving hard power.”
“For the Explosion Chakra Refining Method, we have to find a way to proceed step by step. We can’t just do it recklessly. Maybe we can start by fusing a small amount of chakra.”
“There is also the master-level mark ‘Lightning Release Unmarked Treatment’. The triggering condition of this mark is to master the Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu and the Lightning Release Teleportation Ninjutsu. You can ask Brother Ai for Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu, or go to the village medical department to see if there are any related scrolls. As for the Lightning Release Teleportation Ninjutsu… maybe you can find inspiration from the Third-generation Master’s Instant Body Technique, or create your own Lightning Release Teleportation.”
There was a determination gleam in Shun’s eyes. Although the road ahead was full of challenges, he was fearless.
Recreating a new Yunyin is not only the responsibility of Brother Ai, but also the goal of Yueguang Shun!
Chapter 61 Darui’s Brother’s Surgery (Old Version)
Yunyin Medical Department, Special Operation Room No. 3. The shadowless lamp illuminated the entire room brightly, the cold metal operating table reflected the glaring light, and the air was filled with a strong smell of disinfectant and a faint smell of burning.
On the operating table, there was a sturdy man, but at this moment, his face was as pale as paper, his lips were chapped, and his breathing was weak. He was Darui’s brother, Karui’s father, and a well-known jonin in the Hidden Cloud Village. A few days ago, when he was performing a high-risk reconnaissance mission at the border of the Land of Earth, he unfortunately encountered Huang Tu, a core member of the Hidden Rock Village’s explosive chakra. After a tragic encounter, although he escaped by chance, half of his body was eroded by the all-pervasive explosive chakra.
“Shun, prepare to reconnect the chakra circulation and use the ‘Activation Technique’ to stabilize the chakra nodes in his left arm. I’m going to start peeling off the surface necrotic tissue.”
Ye Yueai’s deep and powerful voice rang out in the silent operating room, without any emotional fluctuations, but full of unquestionable authority. His bronze skin glowed with a healthy oily sheen under the light, and his eyes were as sharp as an eagle, staring at the hideous wound in the chest and abdomen of the injured person, which looked like it had been plowed by explosives. Strands of black chakra were like maggots on the tarsal bones, constantly devouring healthy flesh and blood tissue, emitting a palpitating breath of destruction.
“Yes, Master Ai!”
Yue Guang Shun stood on Ai’s left hand side, his expression focused and calm. He took a deep breath, quickly formed seals with both hands, and light blue lightning chakra leaped out from his fingertips, making a subtle “sizzling” sound. The next moment, this pure lightning chakra turned into countless fine arcs, carefully probing into the meridians of Darui’s left arm that was ravaged by the explosion chakra.
This is not a high-level ninjutsu, but the basis of the lightning-style medical ninjutsu, which is used to clear, activate and stabilize the flow of chakra. But in Shun’s hands, this basic ninjutsu showed a precision and delicacy far beyond that of ordinary people. The arc of electricity was like a docile fish, cleverly avoiding the violent blast chakra residue, accurately stimulating the sluggish chakra nodes one by one, trying to rebuild a fragile line of defense.
Seeing this, Ai nodded slightly, approving Shun’s preliminary operation. He stretched out his right hand, and in his palm, more condensed and violent lightning chakra began to gather, gradually forming a chakra short knife as thin as a cicada’s wing, flashing with terrifying lightning.
S-level Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu – Lightning Release Chakra Scalpel!
“Dou, maintain the inhibitor concentration for another three minutes and pay attention to vital signs.” Ai’s voice did not pause at all.
“Understood, Master Ai!” The pharmacist Kabuto, who was standing by, responded immediately. He looked solemn, and his hands kept mixing various medicines, and slowly injected them into Brother Darui’s body through the infusion tube. As the backbone of the Cloud Hidden Village Medical Department, Kabuto knew the danger of this operation. The explosive chakra is extremely corrosive. Once it gets out of control, it will cause a secondary explosion, and the patient will definitely die.
The lightning chakra scalpel in Ai’s hand moved. Without any hesitation, the blade precisely cut into the junction of necrotic tissue and healthy flesh and blood. The burning smell instantly became stronger. It was the smell of tissue that was instantly carbonized by the lightning chakra. Ai’s movements were fast, accurate, and ruthless. Every cut was just right, which could not only remove the contaminated tissue to the greatest extent, but also preserve the healthy cells to the greatest extent.
“Instantly, prepare the ‘cell regeneration technique’, and focus on repairing the damaged nerve bundles and blood vessel walls.” Ai operated quickly while issuing new instructions.
Shun immediately changed his hand seals, and even more massive and pure lightning chakra flowed out of his body. This time, the chakra was no longer a fine arc of electricity, but a soft but vibrant blue halo that covered the wound that Ai had just cleaned.
A-level Lightning Release Medical Ninjutsu – Lightning Release Cell Regeneration Technique!
This lightning chakra, which contained a huge amount of vitality, moistened the dry land like spring rain. Under Shun’s precise control, they turned into billions of tiny lightning particles, stimulating the damaged cells to divide and regenerate at an astonishing speed. The broken capillaries began to reconnect, and the damaged nerve endings also emitted a faint chakra glow.
Time passed by minute by minute, and the atmosphere in the operating room was extremely tense. Fine beads of sweat oozed out of Ai’s forehead, but his hand holding the knife was still as steady as a rock. Shun’s face was also a little pale. The long-term high-intensity output and fine control of lightning chakra were also a huge burden for him.
Finally, when the last trace of necrotic tissue containing explosive chakra was accurately removed by Ai, and the last wound was repaired by Shun’s “Cell Regeneration Technique”, Ai breathed a sigh of relief.
“Okay.” He said in a deep voice, dispersing the Lightning Chakra scalpel in his hand.
Shunya slowly withdrew his chakra, feeling a wave of fatigue coming like a tide. He glanced at his hands, and his palms were slightly hot because of the long period of condensing chakra.
[Superior Mark: Lightning Physician (Proficiency 87%)][Superior Mark: Lightning Escape Apprentice (Proficiency 95%)]In his mind, the information of his own mark emerged clearly. The acquisition of these two marks indicated that he had reached a fairly good level in the field of lightning-style medical ninjutsu. Especially the “Lightning-style Physician” mark, its triggering condition is to master at least three A-level or above lightning-style medical ninjutsu and reach the “proficient” level, and assist in completing ten S-level difficult surgeries. The “Lightning-style Apprentice” focuses more on the comprehensive mastery of theoretical knowledge and basic lightning-style ninjutsu.
“It seems that the only thing I need to achieve the mark of ‘Lightning Release Expert’ is the accumulation of key proficiency and the experience of independently performing an S-level surgery.” Shun silently calculated in his heart. The rating of the Marking System has always been more stringent and accurate than the rating of ninjas within the ninja village. For example, in the Marking System, the A-level “Lightning Release Cell Regeneration Technique” must reach the “Mastery” level to be considered truly mastered, not just able to perform it. This extreme pursuit of proficiency is also the driving force that keeps Shun spurring himself to progress.
Yakushi Kabuto also breathed a sigh of relief at this moment. He stepped forward and carefully checked the vital signs of brother Darui, with a relieved smile on his face: “That’s great, Master Ai, Shun-kun, the patient’s vital signs have stabilized, and the erosion of the explosive chakra has been completely cleared. From now on, just rest well and he will recover.”
He turned to Shun, his eyes full of undisguised admiration: “Shun-kun, your use of the Lightning Release: Cell Regeneration Technique is becoming more and more perfect. The precise chakra control and subtle adjustments to the cell activity just now are probably no less than those experienced special jonin in the village! And you are so young!”
Shun was about to say something humble when he heard Ai snort and interrupted him, “Hmph, you’re still far from it! A true Lightning Release Medical Ninja must not only save lives, but also know how to combine medical ninjutsu with combat on the battlefield. His level is far from what I require.”
Although Ai spoke harshly, there was a subtle flash of approval in his eyes when he looked at Shun. He always held Shun to the standard of a future Raikage, so naturally he would not give praise easily.
“Yes, Master Ai, I will continue to work hard.” Shun responded respectfully. He was already accustomed to Ai’s strict teaching style.
Yakushi Kabuto smiled gently and said nothing more. He knew that Ai had high hopes for Shun, and this strictness was also a kind of spur.
After they finished packing, they walked out of the operating room.
Outside the operating room, a little boy, about seven or eight years old, with short light blond hair and dark skin, was pacing back and forth anxiously. When he saw Ai and Shun coming out, he immediately rushed over, his young face full of worry: “Ai… Lord Ai! How is my brother?”
This child was Darui in his childhood.
Ai looked at him, his usually stern expression softening a little: “Don’t worry, Darui. The operation was successful, your brother is out of danger and will wake up in a few days.”
“Really? That’s great!” Darui was stunned at first, then his eyes turned red with excitement. He bowed deeply, “Thank you, Master Ai! And… and this one…” He looked at Shun, sizing up the boy who looked only a few years older than him with some uncertainty, his eyes full of surprise and a hint of confusion, “This young man… uh, this master, you are so amazing too!”
Just now, through the observation window, he vaguely saw Shun performing Lightning Release Ninjutsu during the operation. His skillful posture did not look like that of a child at all.
Seeing this, Pharmacist Kabuto smiled and explained, “Darui, this is Moonlight Shun, Lord Ai’s chief assistant. Shun played a crucial role in the operation just now.”
Darui opened his mouth slightly in disbelief when he heard this. Chief assistant? So young? He had always thought that only a powerful ninja like Master Ai could stand in front of the operating table.
Ai waved his hand, interrupting the conversation: “Alright, there’s nothing for you to do here, go and rest. Shun, you should also go back and adjust yourself, you’ve consumed a lot of energy.”
“Yes.” Shun responded.
Ai took Shun out of the medical department. Walking on the streets of Kumogakure Village at night, the cold moonlight sprinkled down, giving the towering buildings a layer of silver.
“I’ll pick you up at the opening ceremony of the Ninja Preparatory Class tomorrow.” Ai suddenly said.
Shun paused and looked at Ai with a little doubt: “Lord Ai, are you going in person?” Normally, for such a matter, he could just send a subordinate.
Ai raised the corner of his mouth with an imperceptible arc, and his tone was a little teasing: “Well, the opening speech of the Raikage is always long. I think you don’t want to listen to it from beginning to end, right?”
Shun understood immediately after hearing this, and a knowing smile appeared on his face: “I understand, I understand very well. Then I’ll trouble you, Lord Ai.”
The two smiled at each other, and a tacit understanding flowed between them. For the energetic Raikage who could talk for hours, both the future Fourth Raikage, Yotsuki Ai, and his highly regarded disciple, Tsuki Shun, had the same “respectful distance” mentality.
Chapter 62: Nozomi of the Hidden Cloud Village (Old Version)
As the sun rose, its pale golden light shone through the cracks between the towering rocks unique to the Hidden Cloud Village, and fell on a secluded training ground in the village.
Yue Guangshun was shirtless, and beads of sweat were dripping down his wheat-colored skin like rain. He closed his eyes tightly, formed seals with his hands quickly, and the chakra in his body suddenly became agitated.
“Explosive Release: Earthshattering Core!”
With a low shout, he condensed a highly compressed chakra ball that flashed a dangerous red light in his palm and pressed it hard to the ground!
“boom–!”
There was a dull explosion, and the ground cracked into hideous holes. Black smoke mixed with earth and rock debris spread all around.
Shun slowly exhaled a breath of turbid air, feeling the flow of the explosive chakra in his body. After this period of hard training, the progress bar of his C-level entry “Explosive Chakra Refining Method” has reached 70%. This bloodline limit that combines the nature changes of earth escape and lightning escape is indeed amazingly powerful, but the consumption is also huge.
After a short breath, he began to circulate his lightning chakra. Strands of blue arcs appeared and jumped on his body, gradually forming a faint lightning coat.
“Lightning Release Armor… is still not refined enough.” Shun frowned slightly. The difficulty of practicing this A-level item is much higher than that of Explosion Release. The current progress has barely reached 20%. There is still a long way to go before forming an armor with strong defense and speed increase.
Just as he was about to continue, a hurried sound of footsteps approached from afar.
He quickly gathered his chakra, turned around, and was slightly surprised to see who was coming.
This little guy, who usually seems a bit lazy and casual, now has a slightly dark face filled with worries that are not commensurate with his age and a lingering haze.
“Shun,” Darui’s voice was a little hoarse, and it was obvious that he was worried. “Are you…free?”
Shun nodded and motioned for him to sit down on the stone bench next to him. “What’s wrong, Darui? You don’t look well.”
Darui sighed and rubbed his hands on his knees nervously, “It’s about Kirabi-sama… and my brother.”
Shun’s mind moved. Darui’s brother was also a jonin from the Hidden Cloud Village, and he was quite powerful.
“What happened to Kirabi-sama?” Shun asked, “Didn’t he just return from a perfectly completed S-rank mission? As for your brother… is he injured?”
“Yeah,” Darui nodded sullenly, “My brother was seriously injured in this mission and is still in the medical department. There are some rumors in the village…in the village, saying that it was because Kirabi-sama was too ‘free and easy’ during the mission and gave poor command, which led to unnecessary casualties among the team members.”
Shun frowned slightly. Killer Bee’s style of doing things was indeed quite controversial within the Hidden Cloud Village. His unique way of rapping and unconventional fighting style made some law-abiding ninjas quite dissatisfied.
“S-level missions are usually highly confidential. How could the mission process and specific evaluation spread so quickly in the village?” Shun pointed out the doubts sharply, “The spread of such negative evaluations may be deliberately guided by someone behind the scenes.”
A trace of confusion flashed across Darui’s eyes, and then was replaced by deeper worries: “I don’t know… But everyone says so. Sir Kirabi is so strong, and he can almost always exceed the task, why do people always hold on to his style? My brother also admires Sir Kirabi, but he is like this now… I, I am a little confused.”
Looking at Darui’s helpless eyes, Shun hesitated for a moment, and said in a gentle tone with a hint of unquestionable strength: “Darui, you have to trust your own judgment. Sir Kirabi’s strength and loyalty to the village are beyond doubt.”
He paused, and continued, “Lord Ai once taught us that ‘wherever the lightning strikes, it is our land’. This sentence is not only a powerful declaration of the Hidden Cloud Village, but also represents a belief and responsibility. Lord Kirabi may act unruly, but every success of his mission is practicing this sentence and opening up glory for the Hidden Cloud Village. As for those rumors…”
Shun’s eyes became deep. “The key to this matter does not lie in those groundless discussions, but in the attitude of the Third Raikage. As long as Raikage still trusts Killer Bee, these noises are nothing to be afraid of. I believe that Raikage will make a wise decision.”
Listening to Shun’s clear analysis and affirmation, Darui’s tense nerves gradually relaxed, and the confusion in his eyes also dissipated a lot. He nodded vigorously: “Yes! Shun, thank you. Hearing what you said, I feel much better.”
“We are companions, aren’t we?” Shun patted his shoulder and smiled.
After sending Darui away, Shun’s smile gradually faded. He looked towards the Raikage Building, deep in thought. Killer Bee’s experience made him feel a little uneasy. This future perfect Jinchūriki, an important strategic deterrent of the Hidden Cloud Village, must not be treated unfairly because of these unfounded accusations. Perhaps, he should do something, at least convey his views to some people who can influence the decision-makers.
At the same time, in another part of the Hidden Cloud Village, inside the settlement of the Xi clan.
This is a group of exquisite courtyards built against the mountain. Compared with the overall rough and bold architectural style of Yunyin Village, it appears particularly elegant and quiet.
In a spacious and bright training dojo, a young man wearing moon-white training clothes and with calm eyes was sitting cross-legged with his eyes closed in meditation. He was Xi, a genius of the Xi clan praised by the clan leader as “rarely seen in a century”.
In front of him stood a girl about sixteen or seventeen years old, with a beautiful face and a heroic and arrogant look. She was Saki, the cousin of Nozomi, and also the leader of the younger generation of the Nozomi clan.
“Xi, tomorrow is the day for the new batch of students to enroll in the Ninja Preparatory Class.” Xi’s voice was crisp, but it carried a hint of sharpness that could not be mistaken. “You must take back the title of ‘No. 1 in the preparatory class’ from Gekko Shun! That is the glory that should be passed down from generation to generation in our Xi clan!”
Xi slowly opened his eyes, his gaze was calm and peaceful, like a deep pool. He did not immediately respond to his cousin’s passionate words, but said calmly: “Cousin, have you ever fought with that Moonlight Shun?”
Hearing this, Xisaki’s cheeks slightly turned red, and then she snorted, “That was last year! I… I was just careless for a moment, and unfortunately I lost to him! If not for that, how could he have held that position?”
She recalled that she had confidently challenged Moonlight Shun last year, but was defeated by him in a way that she could not understand at the time, and she still felt a little upset. It was not only a personal honor, but also a matter of the reputation of the Xi clan.
“I have also heard of this person named Yueguang Shun.” Xi’s voice remained steady. “It is said that he is not only proficient in Lightning Release, but also has mastered the rare Bloodline Limit of Explosion Release. His strength is indeed not to be underestimated. It was no accident that my cousin was defeated by him that year.”
“You!” Xisaki was a little annoyed, but when she saw Xi’s eyes that seemed to see through everything, she swallowed her words back. She knew that although her cousin was young, his mind was far superior to that of an ordinary person, and he was too calm to be a traditional Kumogakure ninja.
“So, are you going to give up?” Xisaki’s tone was a little provocative.
Xi shook her head slightly: “The first of the Xi clan should naturally be protected by the Xi clan. However, in a ninja duel, intelligence comes first. I will not act rashly before I fully understand the opponent’s strength and trump cards.”
“Hmph, intelligence! You Perception-type people are troublesome!” Xisaki paced a few steps impatiently, and suddenly her eyes lit up, “In that case, after school starts tomorrow, I will personally challenge that Gekko Shun! I will try my best to force out his true strength and collect intelligence for you!”
For the honor of her family and to make up for her own regrets in the past, Xisaki seems to be determined at this moment.
Xi’s mouth curled up slightly, and he calmly analyzed: “Cousin, your courage is commendable. But Yue Guang Shun is not an ordinary fighter. If he has no intention of fighting, or only uses ordinary means to deal with it, you may not be able to find out the depth of his strength.”
He paused for a moment, a glimmer of wisdom flashed in his deep eyes: “How about this. Tomorrow, in the name of the Xi clan, you formally submit a letter of challenge to Yue Guang Shun. If he avoids the fight, his reputation will be ruined; if he accepts the challenge, he will definitely show some real skills. In this way, we can gather the intelligence we need to the greatest extent possible.”
Hearing this, Xisaki was stunned at first, then she clapped her hands and praised: “What a good idea! You are worthy of me, Xi! Let’s do it! I will let the entire preparatory class, no, the entire Hidden Cloud Village know that the genius of our Xi clan will challenge that Gekkou Shun openly and take back the glory that belongs to us!”
Seeing the fighting spirit rekindled in her cousin’s eyes, Xi nodded slightly and looked out the window with a calm gaze, as if she had already seen the upcoming showdown.
Moonlight Shun… He was actually looking forward to it.
Chapter 63 There Must Be Something Wrong with This (Old Version)
“Yumujin, I’m telling you, I’m not bragging this time!”
As soon as Yue Guang Shun stepped into the threshold of the preparatory class, Aziyi’s unique loud voice came into his ears. Even though there were several people between them, it was so clear that it seemed to explode right next to his ears.
“Oh? Is there another earth-shattering event?”
A slightly lazy but steady voice sounded, it was Darui. He leaned against the wall, his arms folded across his chest, looking like he was used to Atzii’s yelling.
Yue Guang Shun walked to his seat calmly. Ye Yue Samui beside him had already wiped the table clean for him. When he saw him sit down, he nodded slightly.
“Shun, Atsuyi is bragging again.” Samui said softly, with a hint of disapproval in his tone.
“Let him blow, it will make the classroom more lively.” Shun smiled faintly and looked towards the center of the classroom, where Atsyi was gesturing to Yu Mu Ren and Ma Buyi, who looked curious, with saliva flying all over his body.
“Let me tell you, this year’s new Xi is an absolute monster!” Atzii raised his voice to make sure most people in the classroom could hear him. “My brother said that his perception ability is amazing! Our Xi family is known for its perception, and he is the best among them! Darui, let me tell you, this time your title of ‘the strongest newcomer’ is going to change hands!”
Darui didn’t even bother to raise his eyelids: “Really? You said the same thing about that guy last year… oh, his name was Tarudo? In the end, he was still knocked down by Shun in one move.”
“What is Tarudo? He’s not even worthy of carrying Xi’s shoes!” Atsuyi’s neck stiffened and his face turned red. “The elders in the clan all said that Xi is a rare genius in our Xi clan in a hundred years. His perception range and accuracy are beyond the reach of even some experienced jonin! Moreover, his calm mind is not something that a hot-blooded person like me can compare to!”
His last sentence sounded somewhat self-aware, causing Ma Buyi beside him to burst out laughing.
“Is he really that amazing?” Ma Buyi blinked his big eyes and looked at Atsyi curiously, “Doesn’t that mean he showed talent at a very young age?”
“Of course!” Atsuyi said with a proud expression, “I bet that within three months, the entire Hidden Cloud Village will know the name Xi!”
Hope…
The moonlight moved slightly in his heart.
He was certainly familiar with this name. In the original work, the Xi clan played a vital role in the intelligence gathering of the Hidden Cloud Village with their excellent perception ability. And this generation of Xi, with his extraordinary perception talent and calm and decisive character, shined in the subsequent Ninja World War and became the indispensable right-hand man of the Fourth Raikage Ai, and could even sense the Reincarnated from a distance.
His calmness and composure are in stark contrast to the rough and hot-blooded style that is common in the Hidden Cloud Village. Instead, he is more like some of Konoha’s think tank ninjas.
It seems that Atzii’s bragging this time is not entirely groundless.
“But then again, where is he? How come we can’t see such a great genius?” Yu Muren looked around and asked with a little confusion.
“Well…” Atsui scratched his head and chuckled, “Geniuses are always a bit eccentric. Maybe he’s still getting familiar with the environment.”
Just then, a figure appeared at the classroom door.
He was a boy of the same age as Shun, wearing the uniform of the Kumogakure Ninja Preparatory Class, but his temperament was out of tune with the surroundings. He had a delicate face, a calm expression, and a pair of deep and calm eyes, as if the surrounding noise had nothing to do with him. He just stood there quietly, and naturally attracted everyone’s attention.
“Speak of the devil!” Atzi’s eyes lit up, and just as he was about to step forward to talk to him, he saw the young man walking straight towards Yue Guang Shun.
“Excuse me, are you Gekko Shun-senpai?” The young man walked to Shun’s desk, bowed slightly, and spoke in a calm and polite tone, which was somewhat different from the image of the “monster genius” described by Atsuyi.
Atsuyi opened his mouth, but the words he wanted to say got stuck in his throat, and a hint of barely perceptible jealousy flashed across his eyes. Why is it this guy again? Why do all these geniuses like to get close to Shun?
“It’s me.” Shun responded calmly, sizing up the boy in front of him. It was indeed him, Xi. This politeness and calmness really made him stand out among the generally carefree peers of the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Great.” Xi seemed to be relieved. He took out a beautifully crafted scroll from his arms and handed it over with both hands. “My elder sister has heard of Senior Shun’s name for a long time, and she specially ordered me to hand in this challenge letter. My elder sister said that she really wants to experience Senior Shun’s strength in person, and she also hopes that I can learn from him.”
“Your sister?” Shun took the scroll but did not open it immediately. Instead, he looked at Xi with interest. “Among the younger generation of the Xi clan, there are not many female perception ninjas.”
“My sister Xizi is currently working in the Intelligence Department.” Xizi answered calmly, with a hint of respect for her sister in her eyes, “She believes that only by fighting with truly strong people can one hone oneself better.”
“Interesting.” Shun’s lips curled up slightly, “Tell your sister for me that I accept this challenge. As for the time and place, let her decide.”
“Thank you, Senior Shun!” Xi bowed again, with a faint smile on his face, “My sister will definitely be very happy. Well, I won’t bother you seniors anymore, and see you at the opening ceremony.”
After saying that, he turned around and quietly found a seat by the window and sat down, as if the action that had just attracted the attention of the whole class had nothing to do with him.
“Is this guy…really from the Xi tribe?” Darui spoke up, with a hint of surprise in his tone, “I thought the Xi tribe members were the same as Atsyi.”
“Hey! Darui, what do you mean!” Atsyi immediately shouted in dissatisfaction.
“Nothing,” Darui glanced at him, “I just think he’s much calmer and more polite than you.”
Samui also nodded and said softly: “Indeed, this junior brother Xi gives people a very comfortable feeling.” She has always had a good impression of such polite juniors.
Shun smiled and said nothing more. Xi’s sister must also be a powerful sensory ninja. There are indeed hidden talents in the Hidden Cloud Village.
After a brief commotion, the instructor of the preparatory class came in, began to call the roll and emphasized the discipline of the opening ceremony. Soon, under the guidance of the teacher, the freshmen of the preparatory class lined up and marched towards the square in the center of the village.
The square was already crowded with people, including senior ninja students, some ninjas who stayed in the village, and some villagers who heard the news. On the high platform, the burly figure of the Third Raikage Ai (here it should be the Third Raikage, his son is also called Ai, the Fourth Raikage, according to the setting, it is the Third Raikage who is giving a speech) was standing on it, like a towering mountain.
“quiet!”
With a loud announcement, the noise in the square gradually subsided.
The Third Raikage’s eyes were like lightning, scanning the entire place, and finally fell on the formation of the freshmen in the preparatory class. He spoke in a powerful voice: “Children, welcome to the Cloud Hidden Ninja Preparatory Class! From today on, you will shoulder the responsibility of protecting the village and inheriting the will of thunder…”
Familiar opening remarks, familiar “Will of Thunder” theory. Moonlight Shun stood in the team, already thinking about what excuse he would use to escape later.
At this moment, there was a small commotion at the edge of the crowd. A taller, more oppressive figure pushed through the crowd and walked straight towards the preparatory class.
The Third Raikage raised his eyebrows slightly, looked at the person who came, and the corners of his mouth seemed to twitch, but he still forced himself not to interrupt his speech, but his speaking speed seemed to speed up a bit.
“Shun!” A deep and powerful voice sounded in Shun’s ears.
Shun was delighted and turned around to see Ye Yueai. He was wearing a simple combat uniform and had a hint of impatience on his face, which showed that he was not interested in the lengthy opening speech.
“Brother Ai!” Shun responded in a low voice.
“Let’s go. We’ve heard the old man’s nagging for so many years that our ears are callused.” Ai pulled Shun’s arm unceremoniously and dragged him out of the team amid the envy and jealousy of the surrounding students and the complex gazes of the instructor who dared not speak out.
“Father, where is it…” Shun asked in a low voice while being pulled away.
“Him? What can he do?” Ai sneered, “It’s like this every year, he’s used to it. Instead of wasting time here, why don’t you come with me to deal with some real business.”
The two of them quickly left the square, leaving the Third Raikage’s passionate “Will of Thunder” far behind.
“Brother Ai, you came at the right time.” He breathed a sigh of relief and felt the air became a lot fresher.
“Stop talking nonsense.” Ai glanced at him, but there was no blame in his tone. “Tell me, I saw you were absent-minded in the team just now. What were you thinking about?”
Shun paused, his expression slightly serious: “Brother Ai, I recently heard some rumors about Uncle Kirabi. It is said that his reputation in the village does not seem to be very good, and even a little…unbearable to hear.”
Ai’s footsteps suddenly stopped and his face darkened. The originally relaxed atmosphere instantly became solemn.
“Reputation? Compared to that kid, except for his eccentric personality and bad rap, his strength and loyalty to the village have never wavered in the slightest.” Ai’s voice was filled with suppressed anger. “What are those bastards talking about?”
Shun briefly recounted some of the rumors he had heard sporadically, which were nothing more than some negative remarks embellished around Killer Bee’s identity as the Jinchūriki and his eccentric behavior.
“Humph, there must be something fishy going on here!” Ai snorted coldly, a cold light flashing in his eyes. “Although that kid is careless, he would never attract malicious slander of this scale. It would be strange if there is no one behind this kind of organized and purposeful smearing!”
“Brother Ai suspects it is…”
“Who else could it be?” Ai’s eyes became sharp. “Except for those stubborn old men in the elder council who keep staring at the Jinchūriki all day, who else could be so idle and so calculating?”
The elders of the Hidden Cloud Village have always been both dependent on and wary of the power of the Jinchūriki, and they have been quite critical of the “not obedient” Jinchūriki like Killer Bee.
“I will ask the old man about this matter myself.” Ai said in a deep voice, with unquestionable determination in his tone, “No matter who is behind this, if you dare to touch my brother, Yeyue Ai, you must be prepared to bear my wrath!”
Shun nodded, feeling relieved. With Ai’s intervention, Kirabi’s situation would at least not get worse. However, the undercurrent within the Hidden Cloud Village did not seem as calm as it appeared on the surface.
Chapter 64 You Stupid Cat (Old Version)
In the dark sealed space, the huge blue demon cat, Two-tailed Matatabi, was lying there bored. Its consciousness sensed the sounds of the outside world through the chakra of the two Jinchūriki Yukito. In the past, this space was an eternal prison for it, but recently, there seemed to be some different “noises”.
“Yo yo, checkitout! I’m Kirabi, and my rap makes sense! Two-tailed cat, stop losing your temper and listen to me sing a verse, it’s so joyful!”
The slightly off-tune but passionate “humming” of the wooden man came intermittently. A hint of helplessness flashed across the huge cat pupils of the Yataru, but it was more of a habit. At first, it rejected this noisy “noise”, thinking it was simply an insult to its dignity as a tailed beast. But it couldn’t resist the unremitting “mental pollution” of the wooden man, and over time, it actually felt that this off-tune rap… was quite addictive.
“Kirabi that guy has been sent by Lord Raikage to do an Anbu mission again. Really, he said he would teach me a new story today.” Yumu Ren’s muttering voice came through the chakra link.
Just then, there was a knock on the door.
Yu Mu Ren was cheered up and said to You Lu in the sealed space: “Big Blue Cat, that’s all for today. Someone is coming. I’ll go open the door!” As she spoke, she shifted her attention away from the sealed space.
“Meow! (Hey! I haven’t heard enough! This fragment is too painful!)” Yalu shook his non-existent tail in dissatisfaction, and his consciousness emitted a roar in the sealed space that only the wooden man could vaguely perceive.
“It’s Brother Ai and Shun!” Yu Mu Ren opened the door and saw the two people standing outside. A bright smile appeared on his face, “Come in, come in!”
Yeyue Ai walked in carelessly, followed by a somewhat helpless Yueguang Shun. Ai glanced inside the room: “Is that guy not here?”
“Well, Killer Bee is out on a mission,” Yukito explained, “Ever since he became the captain of the ANBU, he’s been getting busier and busier.”
“That kid is always busy.” Ai curled his lips, then looked at Shun and grinned, “Shun, how did you feel about the opening ceremony today? Was the old principal’s speech first-rate in hypnosis?”
The corners of Shun’s mouth twitched: “Brother Ai, if you hadn’t shown up in time, I might have really fallen asleep in the auditorium.” He was indeed “rescued” from the tedious opening ceremony of the Ninja School by Ai today.
“Of course, I calculated the time accurately!” Ai patted his chest proudly.
“Come to think of it,” Yumu Ren said to Ai and Shun happily as if he remembered something, “My relationship with Youlu is very good now! It is no longer as resistant to me as before, and sometimes it even interacts with me!”
Hearing this, Ai’s eyes flashed with curiosity: “Oh? Really? That guy is famous for his violent temper.”
“Of course it’s true!” Yu Muren deliberately cleared his throat to prove it, and said in a teasing tone: “Right, my little kitty?”
As soon as she finished speaking, a powerful blue chakra suddenly surged out from the wooden man, forming two chakra tails burning with blue flames behind her, swaying from side to side in dissatisfaction.
“Meow! (Who is the kitten?! You are the kitten! Your whole family are kittens!)” The angry thought came again.
“Look, look!” You Mu Ren pointed at the tail behind him and smiled at Ai He Shun. He was not frightened by this momentum at all. “I said it was a kitten, and it was unhappy. It’s protesting against me!”
Ai and Shun looked at each other in bewilderment. Ai knew the horror of the tailed beasts, and although Shun had a wealth of theoretical knowledge, it was his first time to feel the direct emotional expression of the tailed beasts’ chakra at such close range. This was not the legendary demon cat that brought disaster, but a… somewhat arrogant big cat.
“Interesting, interesting.” Ai stroked his chin, a belligerent light flashing in his eyes, “Since Killer Bee is not here, let’s try something else! How about a Kumogakure wrestling match between Bokuto, Shun, and others?”
Kumogakure wrestling is a traditional three-person strength-based entertainment event in Kumogakure Village. Usually two people compete against each other, while one person waits for a bye. It tests pure arm strength and skills.
“Okay!” You Muren agreed readily. She hadn’t competed with Brother Ai for a long time.
“Huh?” Suddenly, Yu Muren showed a surprised expression and said uncertainly: “Wait… it’s playing again… it seems like it wants to play too?”
After these words were spoken, Ai and Shun were stunned.
“The tailed beasts… also want to wrestle?” Ai’s expression became strange. This was really unheard of.
Shun looked thoughtfully at the two swaying chakra tails behind Yukito. The tailed beasts were intelligent and it was normal for them to feel lonely and bored after being sealed for a long time. Killer Bee’s rap opened a window for it to communicate with the outside world, and now it seemed to want to go a step further.
“It said it can control the strength of my arm through chakra to participate.” Feeling the thoughts transmitted by Youlu, Youmu Ren said excitedly, “How about it, Brother Ai, do you dare to compete with the two of us?”
“Ha! What is there to be afraid of?” Ai became more eager to fight when he heard it, “But, Shun, for a three-person wrestling match, you be our referee and… advisor?” He knew that although Shun was young, he had a quick mind and keen observation skills.
Shun nodded and smiled, “Glad to help. The rules are simple. Two players place their elbows on the table, clench their fists, and use their other hand to hold the edge of the table or place it behind their back. The goal is to press the opponent’s wrist to the table. We use a best-of-three system, the loser is eliminated, and the winner continues to accept the next challenger. Since there are ‘two people’ on Mu Ren Sister’s side, I will act as a ‘mascot’ next to you, Brother Ai. Maybe I can bring you good luck.”
“Good boy, you can talk!” Ai laughed and was very satisfied with Shun’s proposal.
A low table was moved to the center of the living room, with Mu Ren and Ai sitting opposite each other, each with their right elbows on the table, tightly holding each other’s hands. Shun moved a small stool and sat next to Ai.
“Are you ready?” Shun asked.
“Come on!” Ai shouted in a low voice, and the muscles in his arm swelled instantly.
“Come on!” Yu Muren also shouted, with excitement flashing in his eyes. She could clearly feel a huge but slightly awkward force pouring into her right arm from the sealed space.
“start!”
As soon as he finished speaking, Ai exerted his strength and tried to suppress it in one fell swoop. However, the wooden man’s arm did not move at all, and even had a tendency to push back!
“Oh?” Ai’s eyes flashed and he increased his strength.
The stalemate and terrifying silence lasted less than three seconds.
“Ah!” You Muren suddenly screamed, and her arm was suddenly driven by a huge force and slammed hard on the table!
“Brother Ai wins!” Shun announced immediately.
“Damn it! Youlu! What the hell are you doing? You suddenly lost your strength!” You Mu Ren rubbed his numb wrist and complained angrily to the air (actually it was Youlu in the sealed space).
“Meow! (This is my first time controlling myself, and I didn’t control the strength well!)” Youlu’s unconvinced voice sounded in Youmu Ren’s mind.
“Come again!” Yu Muren was unwilling to be outdone.
The situation was the same in the second round. At the beginning, the power of the wooden man (or the Youlu) was so strong that Aidu frowned slightly. But often at the critical moment, the power would suddenly get out of control, either too strong to cause the wooden man to lose his balance, or suddenly “power off” like just now.
“Bang!” Another muffled sound.
“Brother Ai still wins!”
“Ahhh! Matata! You stupid Neko! You failed at the critical moment! Did you do it on purpose?” Yukito finally couldn’t help but explode, pointing at the two chakra tails behind him that had already wilted a little.
“Meow… (I… I tried my best…)” Youlu’s voice sounded a little aggrieved.
Ai laughed as he watched from the side: “Yumu Ren, it seems your ‘new partner’ isn’t very helpful!”
Shun was moved when he saw this scene. He could feel that Yuta was not deliberately making trouble, but was really unfamiliar with the delicate control of power. The power of the tailed beasts was destructive, and it was indeed difficult for them to play this kind of game that required delicate control. But Yuta was willing to try, and showed a similar “grievance” emotion after failure, which in itself was a huge improvement. It was no longer a simple collection of chakra, but a life with independent consciousness and emotions.
[Ding! It is detected that the host has a deep interaction with the intelligent life (Niwei Matatabi), which promotes its mental expression. The “Master of Mouth-to-mouth” mark gains experience and the effect is upgraded! ][‘Master of Mouth-Teasing’ (revised): Your words are more persuasive, and it is easier to guide the emotions and decisions of others (including non-human intelligent life). Passive effect: Persuasiveness is permanently increased by 30%. When used actively, it can consume chakra to greatly improve the persuasive effect. ]Shun’s eyes lit up. This upgrade not only improved the passive effect, but also added the function of active use, which would undoubtedly be a huge help for him to deal with more people and even tailed beasts in the future.
“Alright, alright, no more playing! I’m so pissed off!” Yukito waved her hand, dispelling the tailed beast’s chakra mode, and the two blue tails dissipated. Although she complained, there was not much real anger between her brows, but a hint of a helpless smile.
Ai also put away the idea of playing around, looked at Shun, and said, “It’s getting late, Shun, it’s almost time for us to go back.”
“Yeah.” Shun nodded, stood up and said goodbye to Yukito: “Sister Yukito, I’m sorry to bother you today.”
“It’s okay, it’s okay. You’re welcome to come and play anytime!” Yu Mu Ren smiled and sent them to the door.
After leaving Yu Muren’s house and walking on the way back to the base, the setting sun stretched their shadows very long.
Shun was silent for a moment, and suddenly said to Ai: “Brother Ai, I want to learn the lightning escape technique of body-switching.”
Hearing this, Ai stopped and looked at Shun in surprise: “Oh? Why do you suddenly want to learn this? Ordinary instant body skills should not be difficult for you to master.”
Shun said seriously: “Ordinary body-switching technique is just the basics. I feel that if the Lightning Release Chakra can be integrated into the body-switching technique, not only the speed will be greatly improved, but the power will also be stronger. Moreover, I have some ideas that may require more advanced speed-based ninjutsu as a basis to be realized.” He thought of his marks that needed to be fused. Faster speed means stronger survivability and tactical options.
Ai looked at Shun with appreciation and nodded, “Not bad, you have an idea. Lightning Release Instant Body is indeed one of the characteristics of our Kumogakure. It can greatly enhance speed and reaction. Since you want to learn it, I will teach you.”
He paused and began to explain, “The lightning-style body-flickering technique is also divided into different levels. The most basic one, which we call ‘Ordinary Lightning Body-flickering’, simply uses lightning-style chakra to stimulate the body and increase the speed. It does not require high chakra control, but the improvement is limited. It can probably make you 30% to 50% faster than ordinary body-flickering. Going up further, there is ‘Lightning Body-flickering’, which requires more sophisticated control of lightning-style chakra, and can turn the body into a blurry flash of lightning. The speed can be increased by more than double, and it has the paralyzing effect of lightning when moving. This is a skill that can only be mastered by elite jonin.”
Ai’s expression became serious. “Above the Lightning Body Instant, there is the ‘Lightning Chakra Mode’ which develops the nature of Lightning Release to the extreme. This is the state my father and I are using now. It is not just a body instant, but a huge increase in all-round attack and defense speed. As for the ‘God-level Space-Time Lightning Release’ that is said to be comparable to the Flying Thunder God Technique, it is not a realm that can be achieved simply by practicing. It requires extremely high talent and understanding of the principles of space and time. Currently, there are not many people in the entire ninja world who can touch that threshold.”
Shun was fascinated by what he heard, his eyes full of anticipation. The mortal level, the lightning level, the lightning chakra mode, and even the god-level space-time lightning mode… a clear path was presented to him.
“Then, Brother Ai,” Shun’s eyes were firm, “let’s start with the ordinary-level Thunder Instant Body!”
“Good boy, you have great ambition!” Ai smiled cheerfully and patted Shun on the shoulder. “Come with me, let’s find a suitable training ground. I’ll let you get started today!”
In the setting sun, two figures, one big and one small, strode towards the training ground.
Chapter 65 Yanyin version of explosive escape (old version)
Night quietly enveloped the Hidden Cloud Village, and the noise on the training ground gradually subsided.
After a day of hard training, Gekkou Shun returned to his temporary residence in the Hidden Cloud Village. After unremitting efforts, he finally mastered the instant body-flickering lightning escape technique. He was fascinated by the feeling of attaching lightning escape chakra precisely to his legs and bursting out at speed in an instant.
[Ordinary Ninjutsu Seal: Instant Lightning Release has been activated! ][Trigger conditions: Successfully and skillfully perform this ninjutsu. ][Effect: The effect of this ninjutsu is permanently solidified in the body, and the basic movement speed is slightly increased. ]Sure enough, the most basic instant body lightning escape technique only brought a slight improvement. Shun had expected this, and his real goal was to merge the marks.
He instantly calmed his slightly rapid breathing, and with a thought, the virtual panel in front of him unfolded – the imprint system.
His eyes first fell on the synthesis formula of “Instant Lightning Flash”.
[Superior Mark: Instant Lightning Flash][Triggering conditions: formed by the fusion of the common-level mark ‘Instant Lightning Escape’, the apprentice-level mark ‘Swordsmanship Apprentice’ and the apprentice-level mark ‘Earth Escape Apprentice’. ][Effect: Leg explosiveness increases by 80% and attack speed using ninja tools or weapons increases by 40%.]“Fusion!” Shun confirmed without hesitation.
The three low-level marks turned into streams of light, converging and spinning in his consciousness, and finally condensed into a brand new mark emitting a faint blue glow.
It is worthy of being a superior mark!
With a sudden thought, Shun pulled out a standard short sword from the ninja tool bag, exerted force with his wrist, and slashed forward swiftly.
laugh–!
There was a slight tearing sound in the air, and the trajectory of the dagger was so fast that it was almost impossible to capture.
“What a fast knife speed!”
He instantly put away the dagger, exerted a little force with his legs, and shot out like an arrow, leaving a faint afterimage in the small room, and then stopped steadily.
“My leg strength has improved significantly.” Shun nodded secretly, quite satisfied. He now felt that his body was much lighter, and his running speed in normal state was already comparable to the limit of his previous full-strength instant body lightning escape.
If he could perform the Instant Lightning Escape on top of this, how fast would his speed be? Shun was filled with anticipation.
This is not only an improvement in speed, but also a huge guarantee of survivability.
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Shun once again focused his attention on the seal system. Next, he looked forward to a seal that he was looking forward to the most – “Lightning Release Seal Therapy”.
[Master-level Mark: Lightning Release Seal Therapy][Triggering conditions: formed by the fusion of the jonin-level mark ‘Lightning Release jonin’, the rare-level mark ‘Strong and Healthy’, and the superior-level mark ‘Instant Lightning Flash’. ][Effect: The body’s self-healing ability is greatly improved by 200% on the original basis, and the lightning chakra seal healing ability is mastered, which can effectively treat oneself and others. ][Note: By integrating the S-level Earth Escape Master Seal and the S-level Lightning Escape Master Seal, it can be advanced to a legendary combination seal – Rock Escape version of Explosion Escape! ]Shun’s pupils suddenly shrank and his breathing stagnated.
Master-level mark! And the effect is so amazing!
Without any hesitation, he took out a kunai and lightly scratched his left arm. A thin blood mark immediately appeared, and bright red blood oozed out.
Shun silently calculated the time.
One breath, two breaths, three breaths…
After just five breaths, the clear wound disappeared without a trace, and the skin was as smooth as before, as if it had never been injured.
“Too strong!” Shun couldn’t help but exclaim. This self-healing speed is almost equivalent to having an extra life in a fierce battle! Moreover, this also gives him the ability to perform lightning medical ninjutsu without seals, which means that he can heal himself or his companions anytime and anywhere in battle like Tsunade, without complicated hand seals.
What made him even more excited was the last note – Iwagakure version of Explosive Release!
That was one of the signature bloodline limits of the Third Tsuchikage Ohnoki, and it possessed unparalleled destructive power. Although the Explosion Release of the Iwagakure version and the Explosion Release of the Bloodline Limit might be different in nature, since the system classified it as a legendary combination mark, its power should not be underestimated.
“S-level marks of the Grandmaster of Earth Escape and the Grandmaster of Lightning Escape…” Shun muttered to himself, his eyes gleaming with thought, “It seems that it is time to plan who to brush the high-level talent marks.”
As for the mark of the Lightning Escape Master, perhaps we can find a way from the future Fourth Raikage Ai or Killer Bee. As for the Earth Escape Master… There doesn’t seem to be a particularly famous Earth Escape Master in the Hidden Cloud Village.
“Fire escape talent… Although Atsuyi is good, his potential is limited. Perhaps, the two Yuboku-samas would be a better choice? She is a perfect Jinchūriki, and her control over fire is absolutely top-notch.”
“There is also Storm Release. Darui seems to have both lightning and water attribute chakra. If he can develop Storm Release: Frustration Lock in the future, he will be a good target to swipe.”
Shun’s mind was rapidly calculating, names and corresponding ninjutsu flashed through his mind, and his future training path became clearer and clearer.
The next day, the morning light was dim.
In the classroom of the Ninja Preparatory Class, Shun yawned barely perceptible.
On the podium, Teacher Toshiro Fu was explaining the basic force-generating techniques of the Kumogakure fluid technique with great enthusiasm. Most of the students listened attentively, after all, this was related to their future practical ability.
Shun pulled out an old scroll from his bosom. He had obtained it through some special channels. It was said to be a part of the experience notes left by the Fourth Raikage Ai when he was practicing the Lightning Chakra mode in his early years. Although it was incomplete, Shun benefited a lot from the idea that Lightning Chakra can stimulate body cells and enhance activity and explosive power. It was of great reference value for him to perfect the “Lightning Chakra Seal Therapy” and possible future Lightning Chakra armor practice.
Tu Daifeng glanced at Shun and saw the scroll in Shun’s hand that was obviously irrelevant to the class content. The corner of his eye twitched slightly, but he finally chose to ignore it and continued his lecture.
He had long given up the idea of strict discipline for this student who could come up with new tricks from time to time. On the one hand, Shun’s strength was improving at an astonishing speed. On the other hand, the last time he was on patrol, he was ambushed by several Iwagakure Anbu and was slightly injured. It was Shun who used his unskilled but amazing Thunder Release Muji Therapy to treat his wound and prevented the injury from getting worse. Since then, he has turned a blind eye to Shun’s “unprofessional” behavior.
After all, no one should be offended except a medical ninja with great potential, even if he is only a preparatory student now.
At the same time, in the Raikage’s office.
Bang–!
With a loud bang, the heavy wooden door was kicked open by brute force, and it fell inward with broken wood chips and hit the ground heavily, making a dull whine.
Inside the office, the Third Raikage, who was reviewing documents, was so frightened by the sudden noise that his pen almost flew out. He raised his head, and the muscles on his wrinkled face twitched.
“Which blind bastard… Ai?” Seeing that the person coming was his future successor, Yeyue Ai, the anger in the Third Raikage’s tone suddenly dissipated, and turned into deep helplessness, “Ai, can’t you just use the door properly? This is the third one this month! The village’s funds are also limited!”
Yeyue Ai, with his muscular body, strode to the desk with big strides, and placed his hands on the table with a “snap”. His burly body, with a strong sense of oppression, glared at the Third Raikage: “Old man! What happened to Killer Bee? Do you care about the rumors about him in the village? He is the Eight-Tails Jinchuriki and an important fighting force in the village!”
The Third Raikage rubbed his temples, which were a little swollen due to lack of sleep, and sighed deeply: “Ai, calm down. I already know about Killer Bee’s affairs, and I have sent the Anbu to investigate the source of those rumors.”
“Investigate? How long will the investigation end?” Ai’s voice became a little higher. “Those bastards are almost calling Bi the scourge of the village! If he continues like this, how will he be able to gain a foothold in the village in the future?”
“I know, I know.” The Third Raikage’s tone was a little tired and helpless, “But you also know that it’s not so easy to stop the gossip. Besides, some of the rumors are not groundless. Killer Bee… does act a little out of line sometimes.”
“That’s his personality! It’s to relieve the pressure of being a Jinchūriki!” Ai slammed the table so hard that the documents on it jumped up, “As the Raikage, you have the responsibility to protect the village’s hero!”
The Third Raikage looked at the disciple in front of him who was like an angry lion, with a complex emotion flashing in his eyes. In the end, he just waved his hand and said, “Okay, I will deal with this matter as soon as possible and give you an explanation. You should go back first and don’t cause trouble for me here.”
Ai snorted heavily, but seeing the Third Raikage’s firm attitude, he knew that it would be useless to continue making a fuss, so he could only glare at him fiercely, turned around and strode away, leaving behind a crumbling door frame and the Third Raikage with a helpless look on his face.
Chapter 66 Finale (Old Version)
“Father, are you really going to let this matter of Bi’s reputation go?”
In the Raikage’s office, Ai’s burly figure almost blocked most of the sunlight outside the window, and his tone was filled with uncontrollable anger. His bronze skin seemed to have darkened a little because of his excitement.
The Third Raikage sat upright in a large armchair. Facing his son’s questioning, his expression remained unchanged. He just slowly put down the brush in his hand and said in a deep voice: “Ai, be patient. Sit down and talk.” He pointed to the sofa opposite.
Ai took a deep breath and finally sat down as he was told, but his clenched fists showed his inner unrest: “Bi is still a child, don’t you know how much harm those rumors will cause to him?”
“Of course I know.” The Third Raikage’s eyes were deep, as if he could see through everything. “But some things cannot be solved by suppression. There are always some voices in the village that need an outlet to vent, and the Elders’ Council… also needs some ‘explanation’.”
“It’s the elders again!” Ai’s brows knitted even tighter. “What do they want? Is the future of the Hidden Cloud Village going to be bound by these outdated rules and human relationships?”
“Power needs checks and balances, Ai.” The Third Raikage spoke calmly, but with unquestionable majesty, “This is the cornerstone of the stable operation of the village. Do you think I don’t know who is behind those rumors? But if I force it, it will only intensify the conflict, and the situation will be even more unfavorable.”
Ai was silent. He understood the truth in his father’s words, but he still felt powerless. Killer Bee was his most beloved brother, and he was also recognized by the village as the perfect candidate for the next generation of Jinchūriki. However, this specialness also made him bear too much criticism that he should not have.
The Third Raikage saw that Ai’s emotions had eased a little, and changed the subject: “Let’s not talk about this. What do you think about the future of the Hidden Cloud Village and the selection of the next Raikage?”
Ai was stunned for a moment, then shook his head and said, “Father, you are in your prime, it’s too early to talk about this now. Besides, I have no interest in that position…”
“Oh?” The Third Raikage raised his lips in an imperceptible arc, “If you are really not interested, why do you care so much about Bi’s affairs? Ai, you say you don’t care, but in your heart you care more about the safety and honor of Kumogakure than anyone else.”
He paused and continued, “Darui’s father is loyal but lacks courage. He is a good ninja, but facing those old guys in the Elders Council, I’m afraid he won’t be able to stand up straight.”
Ai’s eyes moved slightly. Darui’s father was indeed a well-respected jonin, but his personality was too gentle and he lacked the domineering and skill that a Raikage should have.
“You are different.” The Third Raikage stared at Ai, “You are also quite important in front of the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning. This is something that many people cannot compare to. The financial allocation of the village cannot be separated from the support of the Daimyo’s Mansion.”
Ai’s heart trembled. His father was hinting to him that he had the potential and external conditions to become the Raikage. He thought of Shun, the gifted disciple. If he could become the Raikage, he might be able to support a broader sky for Shun, for Hi, and for more companions. As soon as this thought came up, it entangled his heart like a vine.
“Father…”
“Don’t rush to answer.” The Third Raikage waved his hand. “Recently, the Anbu sent news that there are some unusual movements in the Iwagakure Village. They have purchased strategic materials far exceeding the normal quantity. Although it cannot be determined yet, this may be a sign of the coming war.”
“War?” Ai’s face suddenly became serious. Every war in the ninja world meant the loss of countless lives and the turmoil of the village.
“That’s right.” The Third Raikage’s eyes became sharp. “So, I hope you can be prepared. Shuna is a very talented kid, but he lacks the experience of actual combat. A flower in a greenhouse cannot withstand the wind and rain. I plan to let you take him out to experience a real battlefield. It is crucial for his future growth.”
Hearing this, Ai felt nervous. Of course, he hoped that Shun could grow up quickly, but he knew the cruelty of the battlefield better than anyone else. But as his father said, a truly strong person must go through the test of blood and fire.
“I understand, father.” Ai replied in a deep voice, “I will arrange everything.”
The Third Raikage nodded with satisfaction: “Very good. Go ahead. There are some things that you should take responsibility for.”
The bell for the end of get out of class at the Ninja School rang melodiously, dispelling the dullness in the classroom.
Gekkou Shun carefully packed his textbooks and ninja tool bag, put them on his back, and prepared to go to the third training ground. Today, he promised Xi’s sister that he would have a sparring match with her.
“Shun, wait for us!” Ma Buyi’s crisp voice came from behind. She, Darui, who looked lazy, and Atsi, who was always full of energy, quickly followed.
“Are you guys going to watch the fight too?” Shun asked calmly, as if what they were about to face was not a challenge but an ordinary practice.
“Of course!” Atsyi clenched his fists and said excitedly, “Xi’s sister is the best of the younger generation of their clan. I heard that her perception ability is very good!”
Darui yawned and lazily agreed, “Well, it’s good to take a look. It’s just a pastime after dinner.”
Ma Buyi reminded carefully: “Shun, the perception and illusion of the Xi clan should not be underestimated, you have to be careful.”
Shun nodded slightly: “I know.”
The group soon arrived at the third training ground. At the edge of the training ground, there were already several figures waiting there.
The leader was a girl who looked somewhat similar to Nozomi, but more heroic. She was wearing a tight-fitting combat uniform commonly seen in Kumogakure, with her arms folded across her chest, her eyes full of confidence and fighting spirit. She was Nozomi’s sister, Aokigahara Yuki.
Beside her, young Xi was standing quietly. His heterochromatic pupils were staring at the approaching Yueguang Shun without blinking, and his little face had a calmness that was inconsistent with his age.
“Are you Moonlight Shun?” Aokigahara Yuki saw Shun approaching and took the initiative to speak, her voice clear and with a hint of arrogance, “I heard from Xi that you have been very popular recently, do you dare to compete with me?”
Shun’s eyes were as calm as water: “Okay.”
Atsuyi cheered from the side, “Come on, Sister Xue! Come on, Shun!”
Darui found a tree to lean against, ready to watch the show. Mabuyi stood not far behind Shun, looking a little worried.
Aokihara Yuki raised the corner of her mouth and walked to the center of the field first: “Let’s get started! Let me see what you are capable of!”
Before she finished speaking, she quickly formed seals with her hands.
“Illusion: Blurry Forest!”
An invisible wave spread out with her as the center, trying to drag Shun into the illusion.
However, Shun just stood there quietly, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him. As soon as Aokigahara Yuki’s illusion chakra touched Shun’s body, it disappeared without a trace.
“What?” Aokihara Yuki was shocked. Her illusion had no effect on Shun?
The moment she was distracted, she moved instantly.
His figure was as fast as a ghost, and his hands that were forming seals turned into a shadow, so fast that people could hardly see the specific seals!
“So fast!” Xi’s pupils suddenly shrank as he watched from the side. He thought that his hand-sealing speed was already top-notch among his peers, but compared with Shun, the difference was like heaven and earth!
“Lightning Style: Thunder Ball Technique!”
With a low shout, a highly condensed azure ball of lightning instantly took shape in his palm, emitting a “sizzling” sound of electricity and a heart-pounding aura of destruction.
Without any hesitation, the lightning ball flew out of his hand like a blue lightning, heading straight for Aokihara Snow!
Aokihara Yuki felt the terrifying energy contained in the lightning ball, and her face changed drastically. She wanted to dodge, but the lightning ball was too fast, and the timing was perfect, just when her old strength was exhausted and her new strength had not yet been generated.
She could only barely muster up her chakra to set up a defense in front of her.
The thunder ball collided with the defense, making a dull thud.
Aokihara Yuki’s defense was as fragile as paper in front of the thunder ball and was torn apart in an instant. The violent force of thunder and lightning continued to hit her chest fiercely.
“Uhh—”
Aokihara Yuki screamed, and her body flew backwards like a kite with a broken string, falling heavily to the ground, stirring up a cloud of dust. She struggled to get up, but felt a sharp pain in her chest, her whole body was paralyzed, and she couldn’t muster any strength.
A wisp of green smoke came out from her charred clothes.
The whole audience was silent.
Atsui opened his mouth so wide that a fist could almost fit in.
Darui was no longer lazy, his eyes were full of astonishment.
Ma Buyi covered her mouth, her beautiful eyes full of disbelief.
Shun slowly put down his hand, his expression still calm, as if he had just done something insignificant.
“Sister!” Xi exclaimed and hurried to Aokihara Yuki to check her injuries.
Aokihara Yuki coughed out a few mouthfuls of burnt black smoke, her eyes were dazed and her face was filled with incredible dejection.
“I… I was actually… hit by a lightning escape… ” she muttered to herself, her voice hoarse. As a member of the Xi clan, they have studied various escape techniques, especially good at sensing and breaking them. Lightning escape should be a type they can effectively deal with. But her perception, which she was proud of, was useless in front of Shun, whose lightning escape was even more domineering, leaving her no chance to react.
This crushing defeat was a devastating blow to her.
Xi supported her sister, raised her head, and looked at Yueguang Shun with complicated eyes.
At this moment, there was only deep shock and solemnity in his heart.
This Yue Guang Shun, his attainments in lightning escape, his speed in forming hand seals… he’s simply a monster!
The lightning escape just now was so powerful and fast that even he, a bystander, felt a palpitation in his heart.
He seemed to have been hit by the lightning, and his whole body was cold.