Chapter Fifty-Five: Training in Ice Release!

The world of Naruto was also one where people matured mentally at an early age.

The innocence of youth was also the secretion of hormones. This biological activity was at its strongest during adolescence, an instinct beyond human control.

Rin Nohara quickly averted her gaze and warned herself not to let her imagination run wild, to think more about Kakashi...

A cold wind blew.

Rin Nohara shivered instinctively.

Then, a warm coat was draped over her shoulders.

"!"

Rin Nohara looked over reflexively and found that Young Master Ryo's expression was unchanged, though his eyes held a hint of gentle concern.

"Rin, it's getting cold. Don't catch a chill."

"Mm... mm..."

Rin Nohara immediately looked away and lowered her head.

Warmth seeped from the coat. A distinctly masculine scent wrapped around her, making her blush and feel lightheaded.

Having never experienced anything like this before, the young girl felt somewhat at a loss.

Naturally, Akira Sarutobi understood her girlish mannerisms and thoughts perfectly well.

In the original story, Rin Nohara had thrown herself onto Kakashi's Chidori. Perhaps it had not been entirely unrelated to her heartbreak after receiving no response for so long. In the end, she chose to end her own life while "incidentally" eliminating the threat of the Three-Tails within her.

If Rin Nohara had not liked Kakashi back then, perhaps the three of them would have suffered far less.

Whether for the sake of winning Rin Nohara over or ensuring her survival, making preparations in advance was necessary.

"An outstanding Medical Ninja will be able to help me greatly in the future..."

Akira Sarutobi thought.

When they returned to Rin Nohara's residence, she handed back the coat and swiftly shut the door.

At this rate, she would probably spend the entire night overthinking things.

After putting his coat back on, Akira Sarutobi quickly returned to the Sarutobi Clan compound.

Back in the courtyard, Akira Sarutobi gazed up at the stars and remained awake for a long time.

Ino Yamanaka entered the courtyard. She had originally intended to report on the progress of Rin Nohara's analysis, but seeing her young master staring thoughtfully into the sky, she softly asked, "Young Master, is something troubling you?"

Without waiting for Akira Sarutobi to respond, she gently added, "No matter what you do, Young Master, I will support you with all my strength."

"Mm."

Akira Sarutobi raised his arm and clasped his childhood friend's slender hand, making up his mind.

Judge both actions and intentions.

Konoha should not continue to decay like this.

It was not only Hatake Sakumo's doomed fate that needed changing. Konoha itself, and even the entire shinobi world, needed a change of heavens.

Over the following days.

Rin Nohara frequently came to analyze the corpse. During the research process, her Medical Ninjutsu gradually improved, and she mastered more medical knowledge.

Her unusual behavior naturally aroused the curiosity of her companion, Obito.

"Rin~."

Early one morning, Obito went to Rin Nohara's house to play with her.

However, Rin Nohara looked hurried as she picked up bags of all sizes and headed outside. Her research had reached a critical final stage, and she could not afford any delay.

So she looked at Obito and gently said, "Obito~, I have something important to do. You should train hard too and strive to catch up with Kakashi soon."

After giving him a few instructions, Rin Nohara quickly left.

Watching his goddess's departing figure, Obito felt a little dejected. "Rin has seemed really busy lately..."

Not thinking too deeply about it, Obito merely assumed Rin would settle down after some time.

He scratched his head and encouraged himself. "Obito, you have to work hard! You're a talented person even Young Master Ryo praised~! Hehe..."

The morning sun slowly rose.

By the time the streets were bustling with people, Rin Nohara's week of research had finally come to an end.

Inside the secret room, Rin Nohara let out a breath of relief and smiled at Akira Sarutobi beside her. "Young Master Ryo, I've fulfilled your request~."

She explained the circulation method and detailed composition principles of Ice Release Chakra, filling in the final piece of the puzzle.

Extracting intelligence from corpses to obtain jutsu was something every Ninja Village did.

Rin Nohara had proven her talent.

"Rin, thanks for your hard work." Akira Sarutobi thanked her solemnly.

Looking up at the resolute masculine face before her, Rin Nohara's little face reddened, and she immediately lowered her head. "I-it's nothing... Young Master Ryo, it's simply my duty..."

As a Ninja Academy student and a future ninja, Rin Nohara had an obligation to help the village. That was one reason.

The second was that, through their time together, Rin Nohara had gradually come to understand what the real social world of ninja was like.

It was an experience completely different from the interpersonal relationships she had known at the academy, and she found it very novel.

Though she was only a child, she had become involved in adult missions.

This also made Rin Nohara realize that perhaps she had been somewhat childish in the past.

She needed to graduate as soon as possible and shed her identity as a student.

The world of ninja was vast. Only by graduating first could she help more people and contribute more to the village. That was what she had realized over the past week.

"Here are the 150,000 ryo we agreed on. I'll also give you an additional 50,000 ryo..."

Akira Sarutobi picked up a stack of money.

Before Rin Nohara could refuse, Akira Sarutobi continued.

"The additional 50,000 ryo is my support for you... Everyone appreciates talent, Rin... In the future, you will surely become an exceptional Medical Ninja, no less capable than Princess Tsunade..."

Akira Sarutobi's praise, high evaluation, and earnest advice allowed Rin Nohara to feel the sincerity and expectation in his words.

She pressed her lips together and ultimately did not refuse. Instead, she solemnly accepted the additional support. "Young Master Ryo~, please rest assured. I will continue to work tirelessly~."

Feeling the weight of responsibility on her shoulders, Rin Nohara nodded goodbye.

She had expended too much energy and would get some proper rest after returning home.

When she reached the door, Rin Nohara ran headfirst into the barrier.

Lost in thought, she had actually forgotten that the door required a jutsu formula to open.

Bang!

"Ah~."

Rin Nohara let out a startled cry like a small animal.

Just before she fell, a strong arm caught her.

"Rin... are you all right?"

"Ugh~."

Rin Nohara slowly raised her head.

She saw Akira Sarutobi's handsome, resolute face, and Akira Sarutobi... also saw the trembling eyes of the young girl.

Her flushed pretty face revealed her reaction.

Her watery eyes, nearly melting away, foretold... a maiden in love.

Rin Nohara hurriedly stood up, bowed in frantic thanks, then quickly turned and ran away.

Watching her departing figure, Ino Yamanaka smiled with her eyes. "Young Master really is amazing..."

—He had her wrapped around his finger in just a few moves.

"..."

Once Rin Nohara's back vanished from sight, Akira Sarutobi's gaze slowly turned cold.

He returned to the secret room, not even sparing the corpse on the table a glance, and looked directly at the analysis scroll written by Rin Nohara.

The information on the Ice Release: Bloodline Limit had been fully absorbed and analyzed by his mind. Finally... Akira Sarutobi nodded. "So... that's how it is..."

Training in Ice Release!

It was nighttime in a valley behind Konoha, lush with the vitality of spring.

Akira Sarutobi sat cross-legged atop a rock, remaining there for an entire day.

Two Anbu silently waited in the shadows, their expressions growing increasingly impatient.

Both were veterans of Anbu Squad Six.

During the Second Shinobi World War, the Anbu Squad Six Leader and the Squad Leader had died in battle, while more than half of the ordinary members had been killed or wounded. The unit's very existence had nearly become unsustainable.

When the two received orders and heard that someone had been appointed to the position of Squad Leader, they had initially been delighted.

After all, to survivors like them, Anbu Squad Six was more than just an organizational designation. It symbolized precious past experiences, memories, and glory.

But after arriving to report in and waiting an entire day, their thoughts began to change.

The Lord Hokage's eldest son, this young master, had sat here motionless for an entire day.

Even training should not look like this, right?

Just as the two silently complained and wondered whether Young Master Ryo, this "new official," was deliberately making things difficult for them...

A subtle change quietly occurred.

White specks of light suddenly began drifting through the sky.

With a ninja's superior Dynamic Vision, they could recognize the nature of those white specks at a glance.

"Snow?"

The two Anbu froze slightly.

More and more snowflakes appeared in the sky.

More precisely, a strange snowy scene had formed within several meters around Akira Sarutobi.

It was clearly the lush season of spring, yet snow and ice were falling so unnaturally!

Soon.

Frost spread outward. Centered on Akira Sarutobi's cross-legged body, cold air diffused through the area. Snow began appearing on the surface of the rock, followed by the grass and low shrubs...

Only then did the two well-traveled Anbu blurt out in shock, "Ice Release?!"

Ice Release: Bloodline Limit was the bloodline of Kirigakure's Snow Clan.

There were also ninja in the distant Land of Snow who could use Ice Release, but that was caused by the natural environment.

Seeing the strange snow scene around Akira Sarutobi, an impossible possibility immediately surfaced in the two Anbu's minds.

"Young Master Ryo... possesses the Ice Release: Bloodline Limit?!"

Their guess was not wrong.

Akira Sarutobi had spent the past few days sitting motionlessly here to train in the Ice Release: Bloodline Limit.

According to the information analyzed by Rin Nohara, he had attempted to fuse the wind and water attributes through a special method. After three days and three nights of sleepless training—

He relied on Shadow Clones in the early stages and comprehension in the later stages, ultimately succeeding in condensing Ice Release Chakra.

It sounded simple, but talent, method, perseverance, and insight were all indispensable.

In all of Konoha, Akira Sarutobi believed that only he could accomplish this.