[You completed the instruction of "Body Flicker Technique" and "Ideology."] [Evaluation: Excellent!] [Rewards: 1. Earth Release: Earth Spear 2. Monster Strength Technique 3. Water Release: Water Severing Wave The host may choose two]
Choose two out of three?
Kyoichi's eyes lit up.
As expected.
Teaching ideology also came with rewards, and they were quite generous. All three techniques were powerful, with limitless potential. Any one of them would be formidable, and this time, he could choose two.
"This is so hard to choose!"
They were too difficult to pick between.
If he had to choose one not to learn...
"I choose one and three."
Kyoichi thought it over and finally made his decision.
After his Senju physique awakened, he received considerable bonuses to Water Release and Earth Release. He was also on the verge of being promoted to Jonin, and one of the requirements for becoming a Jonin was—
Mastering two or more nature transformations.
Kyoichi possessed the chakra natures of earth, water, and wind.
At present, he had only mastered Water Release.
Based on his guesses about the system's previous rewards, after learning Earth Spear, he would gain some knowledge of Earth Release nature transformation.
As for Water Severing Wave...
That technique was simply too powerful!
[Claim complete]
A stream of knowledge flowed into his mind.
It was the memories of the two techniques.
At the same time.
Kyoichi felt that he could use them quickly without any practice. After receiving the memories, he regretted his choice even less.
Earth Spear required no hand seals.
Water Severing Wave required few hand seals as well, and its power was equally tremendous!
As for Monster Strength Technique...
"Although it's a pity, if I spend more time waiting around for a chance, finding Tsunade shouldn't be too difficult. With my Senju bloodline, learning it shouldn't be a problem..."
Kyoichi thought to himself.
Just after he selected his rewards, another voice rang out.
[You completed the instruction of Uchiha Shisui's "Ideology." He regards you as his life mentor.] [Evaluation: Excellent] [Reward: Body Flicker Technique: Improved]
Huh?
Kyoichi froze when he heard the notification.
He had expected the previous rewards, but he had been completely unprepared for this one...
A life mentor?
It seemed he hadn't really taught him anything.
This was certainly an unexpected bonus.
Kyoichi walked a few steps, then stopped. He recalled the question Shisui had asked earlier.
Could this kid want to become a Genin on my team?
Kanda Kyoichi had never expected that his first "student" as a mentor would be Shisui.
He found it both amusing and helpless.
Still, that was fine.
Shisui could still be saved if he was properly taught. With his unique version of the Will of Fire, he definitely wouldn't become as naïve as he had been originally.
He headed home. Just as he turned a corner, a figure suddenly shot out with a whoosh.
"Teacher Kanda, let's have a contest of youth and passion! Whoever runs three hundred laps first wins, and the loser..."
"Might Guy, I have something to do. Next time, definitely."
Kyoichi's face darkened.
Damn it.
Training together normally was no big deal, but once he began competing with Guy in these "battles of youth," the challenges would never stop.
He didn't want to end up like Kakashi.
"It's a pity I can't find Kakashi..."
As Kyoichi leaned against the wall, he extended a finger. Chakra surged out, and he quickly sensed the situation around him.
A short while later.
He smiled and said, "If you're looking for Kakashi, just follow this street all the way. You'll find him near the river."
"Huh? Really? Thank you, Teacher Kanda! Gah... Kakashi, let's have a passionate battle!"
Guy shouted as he charged toward that location.
As expected of Konoha's Blue Beast.
Kyoichi breathed a sigh of relief.
Fortunately, Kakashi had returned to the village.
After luring Might Guy away, he walked a few steps, only to sense someone following behind him.
"Asuma?"
"Tea... Teacher... Sorry, I wasn't intentionally following you. No, I..."
"Is there something you want?"
Kyoichi hadn't expected Asuma to follow him, so he was somewhat surprised and confused.
Asuma scratched his head. Without his thick beard, his appearance was somewhat refined and handsome. At that moment, his expression looked a little bashful.
"Come on. Come sit at my place."
Kyoichi nodded.
He could tell that Asuma was full of questions and had followed him because he wanted to ask about something.
Although Asuma was still a student, many ideas had already begun to take root in his mind. Otherwise, he wouldn't have only become a Chunin at the age of twelve later on—
It had to be known that this was a period of war. Obito and Rin, who had graduated in the same batch as him, had been promoted to Chunin at eleven.
Asuma's talent was not poor.
Clearly, there was a reason he lagged behind those two.
Kyoichi didn't know the specifics and could only make guesses based on what happened later. Since there was no problem with his strength or talent, the problem evidently lay with this fellow's mindset.
Asuma followed behind him. Along the way, he looked around and faintly felt that the surroundings were familiar.
After thinking for a long while, he suddenly realized and said, "This place used to be..."
"The residences allocated to the Senju Clan."
Kyoichi nodded.
His home had once stood within the Senju Clan's territory, but after the First Hokage's later years, intermarriage gradually became common, and the clan's territory slowly disappeared.
By the time of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, the Senju Clan had basically vanished.
His home had been allocated during the Second Hokage's era.
"Teacher, you're still part of the Senju Clan..."
"Not exactly. My grandmother was."
Kyoichi smiled. He secretly dispelled the Shadow Clone training in the courtyard, then opened the door and went inside. He pulled out a seat and gestured for Asuma to sit down and talk.
Asuma was somewhat stiff.
However.
After drinking a few sips of water, he gradually relaxed. He looked around and said, "Teacher, I want to... ask you a personal question. Who do you think is the 'King' on the chessboard of us shinobi?"
"The King?"
As expected.
Kyoichi wasn't surprised.
He didn't know whether to say that the Third Hokage's education had been good or bad.
If it was good...
Asuma hadn't listened to him. In fact, he had become rebellious in the middle of his life and joined the Twelve Guardian Ninja.
If it was bad, he had begun thinking about these things at a very young age.
Kyoichi fell silent for a moment before finally smiling and saying, "I don't think who the King is matters. There are a thousand different Kings in a thousand people's hearts. What matters is what you protect."
"There are a thousand different Kings in a thousand people's hearts."
"What you protect?"
Asuma mulled over the words repeatedly, feeling that they held profound meaning.
But.
When he thought about it carefully, it also felt as though Kyoichi hadn't actually said anything. Of course the King had to be protected with one's life. If the King died, one lost.
"Let me give you an example. Back then, White Fang sacrificed his reputation to save his comrades, and was eventually cursed by many people in the village before taking his own life. What do you think the King in his heart was?"
"Lord White Fang?"
Asuma wanted to answer, but he couldn't find the words for a moment.
He thought for a long time.
Finally...
"His comrades?"
"That's right. In White Fang's heart, the lives of his comrades were more important than the mission. What he protected was his comrades. Whatever matters most to you is your King!"
"So that's how it is..."
Asuma fell into thought.
Although it sounded as though Kyoichi still hadn't said much, for some reason, Asuma felt that he seemed to understand—yet not completely understand.
After pondering for a long while, he came back to himself and hurriedly bowed. "Thank you for your guidance!"
"If you have no other questions, would you like something to eat?"
"No, thank you. My mother may be waiting for me at home. Thank you very much; I'll take my leave first!"
"Haah... haah..."
"Kakashi, there are still one hundred laps left! Youth and passion don't allow us to give up!"
Might Guy shouted loudly as he ran.
Beside him, Kakashi kept close behind.
His face was hidden behind a mask, so his expression couldn't be seen, but his eyes revealed a hint of murderous intent.
"Guy, who told you I was here?"
The previous location had been so well hidden.
Without someone giving him directions, there was no way Guy's sensing ability could have found him.
"Defeat me, and I'll tell you!"
"Hmph!"
Kakashi's eyes sharpened, and he increased his speed again.
Thank you to 'Liunian Luohua' for the tip.
Before you continue