Danzo, You Bastard

After a dreamless night, Gengetsu got up early the next day. After washing up, he began practicing hand seals and did not stop until his hands cramped. After breakfast, he continued studying with Kushina. This time, he learned not only about ninjutsu, but also a great deal of common knowledge about the Shinobi World.

After lunch, Gengetsu trained on his own. He first practiced hand seals until his hands cramped again, then practiced extracting Chakra, repeating the cycle until dinner.

This was where the advantages of the Uzumaki Clan's physique showed themselves. His recovery speed was incredibly fast, giving him more time to practice hand seals.

By the third day, another item had been added to his training regimen—physical conditioning, the most basic method of increasing one's Chakra capacity.

On the fifth day, Kushina officially began teaching him ninjutsu: the famed Three Body Technique.

On the tenth day, Gengetsu began practicing water walking on the water jar in the courtyard and tree climbing on the trees in the yard.

On the night of the eleventh day, Kushina and Minato announced at the same time that they would be leaving on a mission tomorrow. That meant Gengetsu would be home alone for at least the next three days.

"Gengetsu, Kushina told me you've already mastered the Three Body Technique. Congratulations. This is my gift to you!"

Before dinner, Minato took out a kunai. Only after Gengetsu accepted it did he realize that this kunai was far from ordinary. It bore a unique formula.

A specially made Flying Thunder God Kunai!

Seeing Gengetsu notice the formula on the kunai, Minato smiled and explained, "This is a custom kunai I made after recently mastering a new ninjutsu. It's a little heavy, but as long as it's within my sensing range, I can move to your side at any time!"

Gengetsu hurriedly thanked him. This was practically a lifesaving talisman.

"Well, I have a gift for you too!"

Kushina said with a smile, "But Gengetsu, guess what gift your big sister prepared for you. If you guess right, I'll give you an extra ninjutsu as a reward!"

Gengetsu's eyes lit up. He had been wondering how to ask about learning ninjutsu beyond the Three Body Technique. He quickly asked, "Can I choose the ninjutsu myself?"

"Looks like Gengetsu is pretty confident. Sure!"

Kushina agreed generously.

Gengetsu pondered for a moment before saying, "The gift is that I can officially enter the Ninja Academy to study, right?"

Kushina gave him a thumbs-up and laughed. "You really guessed it, Gengetsu. Tell me, what ninjutsu do you want to learn?"

"Water Release!"

Gengetsu made his choice quickly. He had already thought it through. Compared with intangible, elusive Wind Release, Water Release should be much easier to comprehend.

Kushina's expression fell. She had thought Gengetsu would choose Sealing Technique or Adamantine Sealing Chains, but he had chosen Water Release instead. Though she had an affinity for Water Release, she had never actually learned any Water Release ninjutsu.

After all, her fists were enough. What did she need ninjutsu for?

And if her fists were not enough, Adamantine Sealing Chains would solve the problem. As for ninjutsu and hand seals, they were too troublesome!

So Kushina could only look to Minato. Minato naturally knew Water Release. His affinity was Water!

"Water Release is certainly fine, but Gengetsu, I'm curious why you chose it. In terms of offensive power, Wind Release is stronger than Water Release and more adaptable as well."

Minato asked curiously.

Gengetsu blinked. "Brother Minato, I just think that when training in Chakra Nature Transformation, starting with Water Release should be easier!"

"Chakra Nature Transformation?"

Minato looked startled, then glanced at his wife. Her teaching had progressed this fast?

But Kushina was equally surprised. "Gengetsu, you..."

"I think Chakra Nature Transformation should take priority over ninjutsu. If I master Chakra Nature Transformation, learning any ninjutsu should become easier!"

Gengetsu laid out his own theory.

"Oh... that makes a lot of sense, but won't Chakra Nature Transformation be too difficult for you right now?"

As a first-time teacher, Kushina did not want to dampen Gengetsu's enthusiasm.

"We can give it a try!"

Minato suddenly spoke up. Looking at Gengetsu, he said, "Gengetsu, I'm glad you already have the mindset of a great ninja!"

With one sentence, he settled the matter of Gengetsu learning Water Release. After dinner, in the backyard where Minato and Kushina trained in ninjutsu, Minato taught Gengetsu his first Water Release ninjutsu while Kushina watched from the side.

Dragon—Ox—Rabbit!

The hand seals for Water Release: Water Disruption were not complicated, but knowing the seals did not mean one could perfectly release Chakra. It also involved one's control over Chakra.

His first attempt at performing ninjutsu with hand seals failed without question!

After closing his eyes and thinking for a moment, Gengetsu made the hand seals for a second attempt.

Dragon—Ox—Rabbit!

Chakra gathered in his throat, then transformed into water along with the hand seals, forming intense pressure.

Gengetsu opened his mouth. Pfft—a thin stream of water shot out just over a yard.

Uh... how embarrassing!

Kushina could not help bursting into laughter, then comforted him. "Hey, for your first time training, that's already pretty good. Keep it up!"

"Gengetsu, control the sustained, steady output of your Chakra. Don't rush to release it..."

Minato instructed him with a smile.

After a moment, Gengetsu formed the seals again.

Dragon—Ox—Rabbit!

Gengetsu opened his mouth, and a stream of water as thick as an arm sprayed out, shooting more than four yards away.

He had succeeded!

Still, Water Release at that level was a long way from being useful in actual combat. But Gengetsu did not care. What he needed right now was not combat power, but to verify his hypothesis and experience the process of Water Release Chakra taking shape.

And clearly, hand seals really did aid Chakra Nature Transformation.

But today's training ended there.

The next day, Kushina and Minato both left Konoha to carry out their mission.

That morning, Gengetsu practiced hand seals and extracted Chakra. After lunch, he thought over the experiment he wanted to conduct today, then immediately headed out and found a river in a secluded forest within the village.

"This will do!"

After looking around, Gengetsu was very satisfied with the surroundings. He immediately sat cross-legged by the riverbank and formed hand seals with both hands.

Dragon—Ox—Rabbit!

He formed the seals very slowly, because his goal was not to successfully perform ninjutsu, but to sense the process of his own Chakra transforming into Water Release.

"Uzumaki Gengetsu, Lord Danzo wishes to see you!"

A voice suddenly came from behind him.

Gengetsu's hands stiffened, and cold sweat broke out across his forehead.

So Danzo really has his eyes on me!

Gengetsu took a deep breath and secretly formed hand seals. Then he stood up, turned around, and fixed his gaze on the newcomers.

Two masked ninja. They were clearly Root Ninja.

"Sorry, I don't know who you are, and I don't know who Danzo is. I won't go with you!"

Gengetsu chose to refuse. To him right now, Danzo was far too sinister and terrifying. Going with them would not necessarily cost him his life, but he would probably lose his freedom afterward.

"Kid, that's not your choice!"

One of the Root Ninja snorted coldly, then vanished from where he stood.

So fast...

Gengetsu's pupils contracted. In the blink of an eye, that Root Ninja appeared before him and reached down with one hand.

"Got you!"

Beneath the mask, the Root Ninja smiled, but then froze. His hand had not missed, yet Gengetsu's body suddenly turned into a mass of water and splashed to the ground.

"Water Replacement... I was careless!"

"He escaped through the water!"

"Quick, after him!"

The two Root Ninja raced across the river's surface, pursuing downstream. They had already seen Uzumaki Gengetsu speeding downriver with the current.

But before long, Gengetsu emerged from the river, rushed ashore, and immediately formed hand seals, creating three Clones that fled rapidly in different directions.

I should have learned Shadow Clone. Ordinary Clones are too easily seen through!

Gritting his teeth as he rushed home, Gengetsu kept forming hand seals and using the Clone Technique, continuously creating Clones to lure the enemy away.

Danzo, you bastard, openly trying to snatch people!

As he cursed inwardly, he suddenly stopped.

Will that old pot king come directly to my house to seize me?

His face darkened. After thinking it over, Gengetsu felt that home was not safe at all.

Go to the Hokage Tower?

I made a slight adjustment to the Flying Thunder God setting in this chapter, but it should not affect the reading experience!