Shisui's Life Mentor

[You have completed the teaching 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]

Three choose two?

Kyoichi's eyes lit up.

As expected.

Teaching ideology also came with rewards, and generous ones at that. These three techniques were all powerful, with limitless potential. Any one of them was formidable, and this time he could pick two.

"So hard to choose!"

Too difficult.

If he had to leave one out...

"I choose one and three."

Kyoichi thought it over and finally made his decision.

Now that his Senju physique had awakened, both Water and Earth Release received decent boosts. He was also approaching the time to be promoted to Jonin, and one of the requirements for Jonin was—

Mastering two or more nature transformations.

Kyoichi had three chakra natures: Earth, Water, and Wind.

So far, he had only mastered Water Release.

Based on his guesses from the system's previous rewards, learning Earth Spear would grant him partial knowledge of Earth Release nature transformation.

As for Water Severing Wave...

That technique was far too powerful!

[Reward claimed]

A surge of knowledge poured into his mind.

These were the memories of two techniques.

At the same time.

Kyoichi felt he could use them immediately without practice, and after receiving the memories, he had no regrets about his choice.

Earth Spear required no hand seals.

Water Severing Wave needed few seals and was equally devastating!

As for Monster Strength Technique.

"Though it's a pity, if I spend more time staking out a spot, finding Tsunade won't be too hard. With my Senju bloodline, learning it shouldn't be a big problem..." Kyoichi mused inwardly.

No sooner had he finished selecting his rewards than another voice rang out.

[Completed teaching Uchiha Shisui's 'Ideology'. He regards you as a life mentor.]

[Evaluation: Good]

[Reward: Body Flicker Technique: Improved]

Huh?

Kyoichi was stunned by the notification.

He had anticipated the previous rewards, but this one caught him off guard...

Life mentor?

He didn't feel like he had taught much.

This was an unexpected bonus.

Kyoichi took a few steps, then stopped, recalling the question Shisui had asked earlier.

"Could this kid be trying to become a Genin on my team?"

Kanda Kyoichi never expected that his first "student" as a mentor would be Shisui.

He found it both amusing and exasperating.

Well.

Shisui could still be saved with proper teaching. With his unique Will of Fire, he would definitely not end up as naive as before.

He headed home. Just as he turned a corner, a figure shot out with a "whoosh."

"Teacher Kanda, let's have a youthful and passionate contest! Whoever runs three hundred laps first wins, and the loser..."

"Kai, I have things to do. Next time, for sure."

Kyoichi's face went dark.

Damn it.

Training together normally was fine, but once he started this kind of "youth battle" with him, it meant nonstop challenges afterward.

He didn't want to end up like Kakashi.

"Too bad I can't find Kakashi..."

Kyoichi leaned against the wall, probing with his fingers as chakra surged out, quickly sensing the surroundings.

After a moment.

He smiled and said, "If you're looking for Kakashi, just keep going down this street. You'll find him near the river."

"Huh? Really? Thanks, Teacher Kanda! Ooh... Kakashi, let's have a fiery battle!"

Kai shouted as he charged off in that direction.

As expected of the Blue Beast of Konoha.

Kyoichi breathed a sigh of relief.

Good thing Kakashi was back in the village.

Having diverted Might Guy, he took a few steps, only to sense someone tailing him.

"Asuma?"

"Tea, Teacher... sorry, I didn't mean to follow you. No, I..."

"Do you have a problem?"

Kyoichi hadn't expected Asuma to tail him, and he was a bit surprised and puzzled.

Asuma scratched his head. Without his beard, his features were somewhat handsome and refined, and his expression now carried a hint of shyness.

"Come on, let's go to my place for a bit."

Kyoichi nodded.

He could tell that Asuma seemed full of doubts and had followed him wanting to ask something.

Even though Asuma was still a student now, many of his thoughts were already taking root. Otherwise, he wouldn't have ended up only becoming a Chunin at age twelve—

Keep in mind, this was a war period. Obito, Rin, and others who graduated in the same batch as him had already advanced at eleven.

Asuma's talent wasn't bad.

That he lagged behind those two clearly had a reason.

Kyoichi didn't know the specifics and could only guess based on later circumstances. Since his strength and talent were fine, the problem had to be with this guy's thinking.

Asuma followed behind, walking along and looking around, vaguely feeling a sense of familiarity.

After thinking for a long time, it dawned on him. "This area used to be..."

"The Senju clan's assigned estate."

Kyoichi nodded.

His home had once been part of the Senju clan's territory, but by the late First Hokage period, intermarriage had gradually caused the Senju clan's land to disappear.

By the time of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, the Senju clan had basically vanished.

His house had been allocated during the Second Hokage's era.

"Teacher is still a Senju..."

"Not really. My grandmother was."

Kyoichi smiled. He secretly dismissed the Shadow Clone training in the yard, then opened the door and went inside, pulling out a seat to signal Asuma to sit and talk.

Asuma was a bit nervous.

But.

After drinking a few sips of water, he gradually relaxed, looked around, and said, "Teacher, I want to... ask a personal question. Who do you think our shinobi's 'King' piece is?"

"King?"

Just as I thought.

Kyoichi wasn't surprised.

He didn't know whether to say the Third Hokage's education was good or bad.

If it was good...

Asuma hadn't listened to him, even rebelling in the middle to become one of the Twelve Guardian Ninja.

If it was bad, he had started thinking early on.

Kyoichi pondered for a moment, then finally smiled and said, "I don't think who the King is matters. In a thousand people's hearts, there are a thousand different Kings. What matters is protecting it."

"Among a thousand people, there are a thousand different Kings."

"Protect?"

Asuma savored the words, finding them profound.

But.

On closer thought, it felt like Kyoichi hadn't said anything at all—of course you had to protect the King with your life, because if the King died, you lost.

"Let me give you an example. Senior White Fang saved his comrades back then, only to be reviled by many in the village and eventually take his own life. What do you think the King in his heart was?"

"Lord White Fang?"

Asuma wanted to answer, but couldn't put it into words.

He thought for a long time.

Finally...

"Comrades?"

"Yes. In Senior White Fang's heart, the life or death of his comrades outweighed the mission. What he protected was his comrades. Whatever is important in your heart—that's what it is!"

"I see..."

Asuma seemed lost in thought.

Though it still sounded like Kyoichi hadn't said much, for some reason, he felt as if he understood, yet not completely.

After pondering for a while, he snapped back to reality and quickly bowed: "Thank you for your guidance!"

"If there's nothing else, would you like something to eat?"

"No, my mother is probably waiting for me at home. Thank you very much. I'll take my leave!"

"Huff~ huff~"

"Kakashi, one hundred laps to go! Youth and passion don't allow giving up!"

Might Guy shouted loudly as he ran.

Beside him, Kakashi kept close pace.

He wore a mask, making his expression unreadable, but his eyes betrayed a hint of killing intent.

"Guy, who told you I was here?"

That spot earlier was so hidden.

If not for someone pointing the way, with Guy's perception, there was no way he could have found him.

"Beat me and I'll tell you!"

"Hmph!"

Kakashi's eyes sharpened, and his speed increased a notch.

Thanks to 'Liunian Luohua' for the Rewards.