True Waterfall

Yichen's original intention was to hope that Ishinose Kiyoshi could learn something from this and then forge his own path.

Take, for example, Kajiyamari, one of the Team One disciples of Yichen. Kajiyamari is currently only Jonin and has not yet become Elite Jonin, but there is still a great chance for him.

Actually, Kawakita and Tomoko, who were in the same class as Kajiyamari, were both exceptions; their progress was entirely accidental. Only Kajiyamari's progress was normal. At that age, being among the top Jonin was already considered genius.

As Jonin developed her own Ninjutsu, Kajiyamari's advancement was inseparable from the development of Ninjutsu, which required time to mature.

In terms of talent, Ishinose Kiyoshi was actually inferior to Kajiyamari. Yichen originally hoped that Ishinose Kiyoshi could follow the same path as Kajiyamari, even though Ishinose Kiyoshi had not yet shown any talent in developing Ninjutsu.

Yichen felt that Ishinose Kiyoshi intelligent. He had clearly told him not to be greedy, but Shi Zejingqing still chose to do it. Yichen decided to ask him what he was thinking.

However, Ishinose Kiyoshi seemed to know what Yichen was thinking and spoke first, "Teacher Yichen, I may have found my path, but the feeling is still very vague."

Sensing Yichen's questioning gaze, Ishinose Kiyoshi explained, "Every time I practice Water Release, I feel completely immersed in it. I think this must be the feeling of being in harmony with myself that Master was talking about."

"Although I don't know what the end of this path is yet, my teacher said that Chakra is amazing and can help us learn and remember all kinds of knowledge. I believe that as long as I study and practice Water Release Ninjutsu more, this feeling will become clearer and clearer."

Yichen raised an eyebrow. "Oh, not bad. If what Ishinose Kiyoshi said is true, then doing this will definitely be fine. His future Jonin, or even Elite Jonin, is promising."

After thinking for a moment, Yichen took out all the B-rank Water Style Jutsu he could privately teach, as well as the other C-rank Water Style Jutsu he hadn't given to Ishinose Kiyoshi, and handed them all to him. "These are all the B-rank Water Style Jutsu and C-rank Water Style Jutsu your teacher can give you. Since you find them useful, I'll give them to you. However, if you want to learn Ninjutsu again in the future, you'll need to accumulate contribution points yourself and exchange them at the Contribution Office."

Ishinose Kiyoshi accepted it with a look of delight. He was currently in dire need of new Water Release Ninjutsu. Although B-rank Water Style Jutsu was beyond his Chakra reserves, he could still learn it first.

After learning about the cultivation progress of Uzumaki Riori and Ishinose Kiyoshi, Yichen then looked at Han's three disciples.

As for Atsumi Akino, since she is researching Space-Time Ninjutsu, the Hokage Yichen, knows very well how far she is progressing, so there's no need to ask.

"Senior Han, how is your Boil Release training with Toda Yui going?" Yichen first gave some pointers on the training of Han's three disciples, and then asked about the Boil Release Kekkei Genkai.

Han chuckled and said, "Although I haven't mastered Boil Release yet, with Kokuō's cooperation, I can already Boil Release some of its power."

"Oh?" Yichen raised an eyebrow, surprised that things were progressing so smoothly.

Han then looked at his female disciple Toda Yui, and said, "Yui's progress is even faster than mine. She is a ninja with both water and fire attributes, which is very compatible with Boil Release. Kokuō also likes her very much."

"Yui can now directly withstand Boil Release Chakra. After a little more practice, she'll be considered to have completed her training once she can generate Boil Release Chakra independently."

Yichen looked at Toda Yui, then at Han, and said, "How enviable! I suffered a lot when I was developing the Porcelain Release. Kokuō truly wonderful!"

Yichen truly meant these words; he desperately wanted to find the Seven-Tails as soon as possible.

However, Konoha has not yet returned the Seven-Tails (due to the unstable situation, Konoha is naturally unwilling to return the Seven-Tails). Otherwise, Yichen would have gone to Takigakure long ago.

Flying using Porcelain Release is slower than using Light-Weight Rock Technique, but it's still much faster than traveling on the ground.

After Yichen understood and gave guidance on everyone's training progress, the group arrived at the island designated by the Land of Lightning as agreed. A Cloud Ninja squad was already waiting for Yichen there.

Seeing this, Yichen lowered the height and invited the group onto the platform created by the Porcelain Release.

"Gentlemen, were you ordered by Raikage to lead us to the True Waterfall?" Yichen asked.

The captain, led by the Cloud ninja, nodded and said, "Greetings, Tsuchikage. Yes, we're here to guide the Tsuchikage."

Yichen nodded: "You show me the way, and I'll take you flying."

The squad leader was somewhat envious of Yichen's flying ability. While pointing Yichen in the right direction, he said, "Tsuchikage, may I ask which one of you is the Jinchuriki? I need to confirm some things."

Yichen pointed at Han and said, "This is Han, the Five-Tails Jinchuriki of our village."

The Cloud Ninja squad glanced at Han and, seeing that Han was in good spirits, breathed a sigh of relief. He knew a bit about Jinchuriki. If Han was in the same state as Gaara when he first appeared in the original story, then he would have to persuade Yichen not to let Han go to his death, no matter what.

Although Han's condition is still far from that of Perfect Jinchuriki, he can still try entering the True Waterfall.

"Han, in the True Waterfall, you will confront your true self, your dark side. Think it through. If you fail, you may be completely replaced by your dark side."

"At that point, you might become a killing machine that only knows how to kill. Are you ready?"

Han was initially flustered and hesitant, but in the end, he looked at Yichen, who was calmly looking at him, and then at the three disciples surrounding him, and said firmly, "I am ready."

Yichen smiled upon hearing this. He understood the Cloud ninja's intention: if a Jinchuriki lacked confidence in himself, then there was no point in going to the True Waterfall; he wouldn't succeed.

Only ninjas who dare to confront the darkness within themselves can possibly defeat it.

Sure enough, after hearing Han's answer, the Cloud Ninja squad breathed a sigh of relief and then Yichen said, "Tsuchikage, I'm done asking."

Yichen nodded, and neither of them spoke. Only Uzumaki Riori had been curiously observing the four Cloud ninja the whole way. She had never seen ninjas dressed entirely in black before and was very curious.

It wasn't until Yichen and his group finally reached their destination Turtle Island, that Uzumaki Riori's attention shifted away from the Cloud ninja.

Looking down at the enormous island, Yichen knew that it was actually a living giant tortoise.

However, Yichen couldn't help but frown, because in Yichen 'Mind's Eye perception, this Turtle Island itself did not have any life.

No wonder it was used to isolate the auras of the Nine-Tails and Eight-Tails during the Fourth Shinobi War in the original work; this Giant Turtle is quite something.

The group entered Turtle Island.

Turtle Island is also home to many animals that live harmoniously on the Turtle Island, making it look even more like a real Turtle Island.

Upon arriving at Turtle Island, Uzumaki Riori immediately snapped out of her sadness and despair and became cheerful. She ran around everywhere and quickly became friends with the small animals.

The Cloud Ninja squad looked at Uzumaki Riori with a hint of regret; she was the best candidate for Jinchuriki.

She's carefree; neither the True Waterfall nor the dark side of her heart can affect her in the slightest.

Before long, the group arrived at a waterfall. Yichen patted Han on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry, no matter what happens, the village will always be there for you. You're never fighting alone."

Han nodded firmly, and then, under the watchful eyes of everyone except Uzumaki Riori, stepped into the True Waterfall.

To Yichen and the others, Han was simply standing in the waterfall as if nothing was wrong, but to Han, in that instant, an exact replica of himself appeared before him.

Looking at his own dark side, Han subconsciously asked, "Who are you?"

The shadow interrupted Han abruptly, and he said with a harsh, disapproving tone, "You piece of trash, why would you believe that brainwashing stuff that Yichen did? They all just see you as a weapon."

"Have you forgotten how Iwagakure has treated you all these years? They used you as a weapon, yet they rejected you, isolated you, made you live alone in a corner far from the village, and even sent Anbu to monitor you."

"And once war breaks out, they can't wait to send you to the front lines, ignoring your suffering, and make you fight enemies you can't possibly defeat."

"This Yichen is the most despicable. He's been lying to you the whole time. He just wants to use you, to exploit the Tailed Beast within you. Look, isn't your so-called disciple using your relationship with Kokuō to learn Boil Release?"

"Don't hesitate, listen to me, release Kokuō, let's kill Yichen together, and take revenge on the Iwagakure."

While the shadows continued their incessant chatter, Han himself kept his head down and listened.

After the other person finished speaking, Han Cai said quietly, "I'm sorry!"

The shadow paused, realizing things weren't going as he'd imagined. Shouldn't you be just as angry as I am? Even if you weren't affected by me, shouldn't you be yelling and challenging me to a duel?

Han continued, "I'm sorry for making you suffer so much."

"That won't happen again. We're no longer alone. We have companions. Tajima and Yichen are our companions."

"Moreover, we have disciples, whether Yui, Junshan, or Lishan, they all trust and admire us immensely."

"We recently returned to the village and no longer see those people who looked at us with prejudice. In fact, quite a few people now regard us as heroes."

The shadow roared, "They're all lying to you!"

Han smiled faintly, "And you, are you lying to me too?"

"What?" The shadow suddenly seemed startled.

Han's smile grew even brighter, "I can tell you're quite satisfied with your life now."

"No, you're talking nonsense! I hate Iwa ninja, and I want revenge!" the shadow shouted, but he was surprised to find that his voice no longer had that dark feeling.

The shadow stared blankly at Han.

Han slowly stepped forward, then hugged the shadow tightly, saying, "Have you forgotten what we were thinking when we chose to become Jinchuriki?"

The shadow paused, then a distant voice suddenly echoed in his mind.

"I volunteer to become Jinchuriki. I am a hero of the village. Even if people don't understand me and reject me, I will not regret it. I am willing to bear the darkness for the village."

A smile slowly spread across the shadowy, stunned face, and then he began to fade away.

"Congratulations, Han!" At the last moment, the shadow uttered only four words.

Han then said softly, "Congratulations to you too, Han!"