The Ruins of Heaven Village
Issui learned from his third eye that the second stage, "Flame," had three secret techniques: first, Flame Mastery (passive, no activation required). It automatically granted a fire-attribute constitution, increased his ability to comprehend flames, made him immune to 50% of Fire Style damage, reduced the Chakra required for fire-attribute Ninjutsu by 50%, and enhanced their effects by 50%.
Second, Flame Body (active, requiring the Hand Seals Tiger-Dragon-Tiger-Rat-Ox, completed within one second; duration: five minutes; cooldown: one minute). It transformed his flesh into a body made of flames, granted immunity to physical and Fire Style damage and 20% immunity to damage from other attributes, and enhanced Fire Style by 100%.
Third, Flame Demon Descent (secret technique). It summoned a giant made of flames and was activated through mental power. The stronger the mental power, the stronger the flame giant. The energy needed to sustain the flames came from nature. The summoned flame giant would convert all organic matter within a half-meter radius of itself into its own energy. In other words, it was invincible within that half-meter radius: any person or object that entered it would become a source of energy for the flames.
The flame giant had three secret skills: (1) Flame Demon Purgatory Slash summoned a gigantic flaming blade to slash at the enemy. It locked onto the enemy when activated and could not be avoided; (2) Flame Demon Bloodthirsty Kill summoned a fire dragon made of flames to attack the enemy. The enemy's spilled blood became nourishment for the fire dragon, and the more blood they shed, the stronger it became; (3) Magma Hell turned the ground within a hundred meters of the user into magma with a temperature exceeding 2,000 degrees Celsius.
Those were the abilities of the second stage, far stronger than the first. Unfortunately, Issui could not yet use the third secret technique, Flame Demon Descent, without reservations. Once he used it, he would be unable to use any Ninjutsu or secret techniques for an entire day. Moreover, those three monstrous secret skills required an enormous amount of Chakra. Although the flame giant did not use Chakra, its secret skills did. With his current reserves, he could not use the third skill at all, and even the first and second skills required two-thirds of his own Chakra. The third was specifically intended for vast battlefields; Issui would probably have to reach Kage Level Chakra before he could use it.
The first two secret techniques were not particularly outstanding, but the third and its three great secret skills were enough to rival the Uchiha Mangekyo's secret techniques. Issui finally had something to rely on. The second stage was already this monstrous, so he could imagine what the five stages after it would be like. The thought was frightening. Still, it was not time to be proud. In front of truly powerful people, these things were merely somewhat threatening; a ninja could not win by relying on them alone. "Yo, kid, look what I found! A roe deer. Its meat tastes really good, so you're in for a treat. I've got a little salt on me, too. What a wonderful night!" Jiraiya had finally returned. Unexpectedly, he had found a roe deer, an animal rarely seen in the forest. Issui had eaten roe deer meat a few times in his previous life, and it tasted very good.
"Mm, next, I want to go back and take a look at the ruins of Heaven Village and put up a tombstone for the villagers. They all died at Kirigakure's hands to protect me alone. There were grandpas and grandmas over seventy, uncles and aunts in the prime of their lives, older brothers and sisters full of youthful energy, and younger brothers and sisters even... even younger than me. They hadn't done anything wrong, but... but..." As Issui spoke, he choked up and began to cry. Yes, without them, he might not have survived at all. Among them had been his grandpa, his only family in this life.
"Mm, the dead are gone, and the living must live better lives. It's good to go and see them. All the more reason to put an end to this world of ninja hatred," Jiraiya said, comforting him.
"Mm, now I understand why I came to this world. It must have been to create a better world for ninjas. Everyone is working hard for this world's prosperity, and I'll do my best too," Issui said confidently.
"Yo, haha, smells wonderful! Quick, here you go, kid. The finest Toad Sage barbecue is ready. Consider my debt repaid, haha..." Jiraiya said with a sly laugh.
"What? I'll eat it, I'll eat every last bite, you bastard sage..." Issui joined in, eating and fighting over the meat. This was the "result" he had gotten in exchange for his hard-earned money...
The night passed without a word, the wind rustling...
When Issui woke the next morning, he found the Pervy Sage still asleep. What a lazy bum. Oh well, keep sleeping. I'm leaving. It's almost New Year, isn't it? If I go back any later, I won't make it in time. Today is November 21, Konoha Year 56. There are only nine days until New Year.
"Pervy Sage, I'm leaving. I'm sure we'll meet again. Don't steal my money next time. You don't have a girlfriend to look after, but I do, and I absolutely can't do without money," Issui said to the still-sleeping Jiraiya.
He set out, his destination the ruins of Heaven Village.
By the time Issui reached Heaven Village, no living thing remained there. White bones covered the ground, and the clothes had decayed beyond recognition. It was no longer possible to tell the men from the women, the old from the young. Issui had no choice but to dig a huge grave and place all the bones inside. Then he erected a huge stone monument, inscribed: "Grave of the Villagers of Heaven Village-Erected by Issui Kanna." He bowed three times before it. "Rest in peace. I'll carry on Heaven Village's legacy. May you all have a peaceful journey. Grandpa of this life, go in peace. Although I never met you, I'll strengthen the Bloodline of Heaven and revive the Heaven Clan. I'll kill that bastard Zabuza with my own hands, too."
Next, he would search for the Heaven Clan's secrets...
Issui came to the former ancestral hall of the Heaven Clan. It had already been searched several times, but fortunately, no one had damaged the floor. According to Issui's memories, the floor was actually a summoning array. Once damaged, it could never be used again, and all the secrets would be lost to history.
Issui picked up a metal vessel, took some water from a small stream, then bit his index finger and dripped a full 100 milliliters of blood into the vessel of clear water. After mixing the blood and water evenly, he splashed it onto the floor of the ancestral hall.
"Eye of Heaven-white, secret technique, Blood-Calling Summoning Technique!!"
A wooden chest gradually emerged from the floor. Issui opened it and found three very large scrolls, labeled "Secret," "Beast," and "Forbidden," respectively.
He opened the Secret Scroll and found some remarkably powerful Heaven secret techniques inside, along with a detailed account of the Eye of Heaven. But the account stopped at the third stage. Apparently, no one in Heaven's history had progressed beyond it. The scroll also recorded secret techniques for evolving other Kekkei Genkai. After reading it carefully, Issui used Fire Style to burn it. His body had automatically acquired a fire-attribute nature after evolving to the second stage.
When Issui opened the Beast Scroll, he found that it was a ninja beast contract. The ninja beasts were actually winged dragons-dragons with wings? Anything connected to dragons was extraordinary. He might as well sign it. How could he pass up something this good? So Issui wrote his name on it. There was not a single person signed before him; apparently, he was the first.
He opened the Forbidden Scroll. It was full of forbidden techniques, some of which even required the user to offer up their soul. These were all forbidden techniques used when one was fighting for one's life, and they were unbelievably powerful. Techniques involving time and space were commonplace here, and one could even open up another space. Inhuman, inhuman! Issui memorized all the forbidden techniques, then burned the scroll too. He could not leave it for anyone else.
Only the contract scroll remained. Issui quickly ran to a clearing. A ninja beast! This is so exciting! A flying dragon, no less! I've got muscle of my own now. I was going to sign a contract with the toads, but there's no need anymore.
"Boar-Dog-Bird-Monkey-Ram-Summoning Technique!!!" "Poof..."
A red dragon over ten meters long appeared, with two wings that blotted out the sky and flames constantly pouring from its mouth. Wow, it really was a superpowered fighter.
"Who? Who summoned Laxus? Come out!!!" The fire dragon let out an earth-shaking roar.
"I did. Issui Kanna, owner of the Eye of Heaven." Issui immediately flashed in front of the fire dragon and spoke proudly.
"You? Haha, brat, why don't you let me roast and eat you? You, summoning the great me? That's hilarious. Bring out the adults in your family, or I won't go easy on you," the fire dragon said with a laugh, his voice rumbling like thunder.
"Tch, Eye of Heaven-Flame!!!" Issui had no choice but to reveal his Kekkei Genkai.
"What? You've already reached the second stage? Not bad, kid. But Lord Demon God died many years ago. Even if his descendant awakens the bloodline, it's no use. Unless you can defeat Laxus, I won't be your ninja beast."
"Tch, you're just a little fire dragon. My second stage completely counters you. Tiger-Dragon-Tiger-Rat-Ox-Flame Body. Ox-Monkey-Rabbit-Rat-Boar-Bird-Ox-Horse-Bird-Rat-Tiger-Dog-Tiger-Snake-Ox-Ram-Snake-Boar-Ram-Rat-Ren-Monkey-Bird-Dragon-Bird-Ox-Horse-Ram-Tiger-Snake-Rat-Monkey-Rabbit-Boar-Dragon-Ram-Rat-Ox-Monkey-Bird-Ren-Rat-Boar-Bird, Water Release-Water Dragon Bullet Technique!!!" Issui decided to teach the fire dragon a lesson.
A water dragon formed from Chakra coiled around the fire dragon and tore at his body. Unfortunately, it was not a real dragon, after all. Under the fire dragon's attacks, it collapsed into water, while the fire dragon did not have a single mark on him. His hide was too thick.
"Ah, you little brat, how dare you attack the great Laxus! I'm going to eat you!" the fire dragon roared. He spat a mouthful of flames, reducing all the surrounding trees to ash.
But when the flames reached Issui, there was not a sound from him. Had he been burned to ash in an instant? Of course not. Issui's flesh had become a Flame Body. As stated before, Flame Body transformed his flesh into a body made of flames, granted immunity to physical and Fire Style damage and 20% immunity to damage from other attributes, and enhanced Fire Style by 100%. Thus, the fire dragon's attack was completely ineffective. Issui's ability completely countered the fire dragon, and it was fortunate that a fire dragon had appeared. If it had been another kind of dragon, Issui would probably have had a hard time dealing with him.
"What the heck!? Oh, I remember now. Isn't that Flame Body? I'm speechless. I didn't expect you to have mastered it already. Forget it, I'm done fighting. I agree to be your ninja beast. But don't get too cocky. If someone other than me comes out next time you summon, you'll be in trouble, haha. Besides me, there are lots of other attribute dragons and physical dragons. But kid, you're really good, mastering Flame Body so quickly. We of the Flying Dragon Clan have always lived in the underground abyss and have never come to the surface. The surface environment is wonderful. Don't send me back yet. I want to enjoy the sights and catch some food, too." Laxus had no choice but to agree to be Issui's ninja beast. In truth, none of them had ever come to the surface, and they longed to see what was there. He had heard that the food on the surface was sweet and delicious. He had only been testing the brat's abilities just now. But opening the Eye of Heaven depended entirely on the soul, and this kid's soul energy was immense. He had already opened the second stage, much like Lord Demon God had back then. He might even be the next Demon God.