Kyoka Suigetsu

Kyoka Suigetsu, the strongest illusion-type Zanpakuto.

Its ability—complete control over the opponent's five senses. Appearance, form, weight, touch, even smell could all be toyed with at will.

Most terrifying of all, once someone had seen Kyoka Suigetsu's Shikai even once, Naruto would forever be able to toy with their five senses.

But Kyoka Suigetsu was not invincible.

He found it difficult to control experts whose Chakra and Reiatsu vastly surpassed his own, and manipulating the five senses consumed an enormous amount of power.

Before he gained sufficient strength, Naruto could not use Kyoka Suigetsu for extended periods.

But controlling the five senses of freshmen like Sasuke was effortless.

This was Naruto's initial understanding of Kyoka Suigetsu.

He could choose to keep Kyoka Suigetsu hidden forever.

But considering Konoha's surveillance of him and the image he had been cultivating in Third's mind, he still decided to reveal his "Kekkei Genkai." It would benefit his future plans.

Inside Konoha's training grounds.

Naruto held Kyoka Suigetsu and began his daily Zanjutsu training.

Today's battle with Sasuke gave him a deeper understanding of Kyoka Suigetsu.

Its ability really was absurd.

But it was not invincible.

At least at this stage, Naruto's Chakra and Reiatsu were still not strong enough. He could not rely too heavily on Kyoka Suigetsu and still needed to develop his Zanjutsu, Kido, and ninjutsu.

"Genjutsu seems pretty good." Recalling the details of today's battle, Naruto chuckled softly.

During the earlier battle, Sasuke had fainted from the agonizing pain after being stabbed by Naruto. As a result, Naruto naturally became the top genius of his year.

The Uchiha genius with the Sharingan had been defeated by Naruto. This shocking news quickly spread throughout the Ninja Academy and even alarmed Konoha's upper ranks.

"A disappearing blade, a mysterious Kekkei Genkai." After learning the details, Third looked stunned. There was surprise in his expression, but even more wariness.

He did not doubt Naruto's Will of Fire, but this mysterious Kekkei Genkai would undoubtedly give Danzo an opening to make trouble.

"Hiruzen, have you heard? Naruto awakened an extraordinary Kekkei Genkai. Hand him over to Root, and I'll train him properly." Danzo arrived late as usual, his eyes filled with greed.

For ninja villages, Kekkei Genkai were the foundation of a village's military strength.

Every rare Kekkei Genkai could display terrifying power on the battlefield.

Konoha had Wood Release, the Sharingan, the Byakugan, and the Kurama clan's Genjutsu.

Other ninja villages had Shikotsumyaku, Ice Release, and more.

To ninja villages, Kekkei Genkai were indispensable, yet impossible to demand.

Every ninja who awakened a rare Kekkei Genkai was a precious resource.

Most Kekkei Genkai were inherited, but mutations were not impossible.

Naruto's parents had never displayed a Kekkei Genkai resembling Kyoka Suigetsu, so his Kekkei Genkai was likely a mutation. It held tremendous research value for Root.

If Naruto joined Root, what awaited him would surely be brainwashing and breeding.

Danzo would definitely stop at nothing to "mass-produce" this kind of Kekkei Genkai and keep it under his control.

As far as Third was concerned, Naruto was currently growing according to his plans. He had made new friends at the Ninja Academy and would form bonds as well.

These were all factors that would bind him to Konoha.

Awakening a Kekkei Genkai was actually a good thing.

When Naruto married and had children in the future, his children would inherit the Kekkei Genkai, and Konoha could gain another clan affiliated with Third.

Third had already planned out Naruto's entire life.

Naturally, he would not simply hand Naruto over.

He suddenly remembered the day Naruto had nervously asked him, "Grandpa Third, if someone from Konoha awakened a strange ability, would he still belong to Konoha?"

At the time, he had answered with a smile, "You mean a Kekkei Genkai, right? To a ninja, the power he possesses is merely a tool for carrying out his beliefs. As long as he inherits the Will of Fire, no matter how many strange abilities he awakens, he will always be part of Konoha."

After hearing those words, Third had clearly felt Naruto seem to relax.

Back then, he had thought Naruto had discovered the Nine-Tails within him.

But now it seemed—

Perhaps he had already awakened his Kekkei Genkai at that time.

This child, even after awakening a Kekkei Genkai, had not dared to reveal it because he was afraid of leaving Konoha?

Third chuckled inwardly, having roughly formed a guess.

But he still needed to verify that guess himself.

"I've already tailored a series of growth plans for Naruto. Everything is currently under control." With his hands clasped behind his back, he looked toward the slowly setting sun, his tone full of sentiment.

"Minato gave himself to Konoha. Now, the gift he left behind, Naruto, has also begun to shine. He will be Konoha's hope."

"Don't forget—" Third turned around, only to find the office completely empty.

"Where am I?" Sasuke slowly woke up. A white ceiling met his eyes, while the scent of hospital disinfectant filled his nose.

"Sasuke, you're awake." His mother's gentle, concerned voice sounded beside him.

"Mother." Sasuke tried to sit up, but a sharp pain shot through his abdomen.

"Don't move around. Your injury hasn't healed yet." Mikoto hurriedly stopped Sasuke, helping him lie back down and tucking the blanket over him. She complained, "Naruto really has no sense of restraint."

"Did I lose?" Sasuke lay on the hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

He had not expected that even after awakening the Sharingan, he would lose so badly.

He did not even know how he had been defeated.

His memory stopped at those words: "The sky is actually colorless. It didn't deceive you. Your own eyes deceived you."

Mikoto was still muttering complaints nearby. "Naruto usually looks so mature and dependable. Why did he strike so heavily in this spar?"

"No, Mother. Naruto was telling me not to rely too much on my eyes." Sasuke suddenly interrupted Mikoto's complaints. A look of realization bloomed across his face as he pointed at his eyes.

Kyoka Suigetsu.

A water-style Kekkei Genkai that used reflections from mist and flowing water to disrupt an enemy's vision, creating illusions.

So this counted as Water Release, right?

That night, Third left Naruto's house.

Just now, he had learned the details of Naruto's Kekkei Genkai and personally experienced it.

It was a decent Kekkei Genkai, but its effects were inseparably tied to Chakra.

It could be said to be tailor-made for Naruto.

However, it also had a fatal flaw. Merely disrupting vision was far too limited.

"From what I can see so far, the Kekkei Genkai still has potential. It will depend on Naruto's future development."

"A Kekkei Genkai that has only just awakened can already disrupt vision. Later on, it may be able to disrupt other senses as well. Overall, its potential is fairly good."

"It seems Naruto has the potential to become a Genjutsu-type ninja," Third murmured.

What Third did not know was that Naruto had concealed Kyoka Suigetsu's true ability.

This was a terrifying Zanpakuto capable of controlling all five senses.