Chakra Paper

Saturday.

A day off.

Early in the morning, Hyuga Sho arrived on the street.

This was the first time he had left the Hyuga Clan estate by himself.

On Konoha's busiest central street, the crowd surged like a tide.

[Doka Degree: 10.5%]

Hyuga Sho glanced at the number. It was the Doka Degree he had gained after practicing the D-Rank taijutsu Leaf Whirlwind last night.

A moment later.

Morino Ibiki, dressed the same as yesterday, approached.

"You came..."

Morino Ibiki's expression was solemn.

He had chosen to meet here, according to himself, to shake off some so-called "followers."

"I'll get straight to the point. A few years ago, the Second Shinobi World War ended. But we all know that the war merely died down temporarily. It could flare up again at any time and trigger another great war..."

A Shinobi World War was a terrifying conflict that swept nearly all shinobi, ninja villages, and nations across the entire Shinobi World into it.

It was similar to the world wars of Hyuga Sho's previous life.

Every time, countless civilians, shinobi, samurai, ronin... died in the war.

Even the Five Kage, who stood at the pinnacle of the Shinobi World, could perish.

"You must have a sense of crisis!"

Morino Ibiki stretched out a hand and clenched his fist.

"From what I've observed... someone with your sense of justice is well suited to be my companion."

It was because Hyuga Sho had stood up for Uchiha Obito.

After several rounds of secret observation and assessment, Morino Ibiki had finally chosen Hyuga Sho as his partner for this operation.

"Why not look for Kakashi and the others?" Hyuga Sho asked.

"Kakashi is too arrogant..."

Ibiki shook his head.

"The others either lack your sense of justice or are simply too weak. Of course... another important reason is that you possess the Hyuga Clan's Byakugan, which makes you very suitable for working with me on this job."

Konoha had many divisions.

For example, the Reconnaissance Team had many Hyuga Clan Branch Family shinobi serving within it.

The Hyuga Clan's Byakugan could see far, see through things, and fight.

They were practically all-purpose teammates.

Unfortunately, Morino Ibiki did not know that Hyuga Sho's "Byakugan"... had a slight problem.

"I can only see about five hundred meters, and I can't see through chakra pathways."

Hyuga Sho bluntly revealed the flaw in his Byakugan.

Since it was not much of a secret within the Hyuga Clan, everyone would learn of it sooner or later.

Rather than puff himself up like Uchiha Obito, it was better to be honest.

"..."

Morino Ibiki's mouth twitched.

His gaze seemed to say, Are you kidding me? You're amazing!

"It'll barely do..."

Morino Ibiki muttered.

"Anyway, I won't make you help for nothing."

Since he was asking someone for help, Morino Ibiki knew he had to offer something in return.

"If you agree to be my partner, I'll give you this."

Morino Ibiki pulled out a... sheet of paper from his pocket.

The paper was square, roughly the size of a handkerchief.

It looked utterly ordinary, even somewhat... rustic.

"What is this?"

Hyuga Sho thought about it and decided Ibiki probably would not try to fool him with a useless sheet of paper.

"Chakra Paper."

Morino Ibiki answered meaningfully.

"Yesterday, I saw you secretly learn Shiranui Genma's Leaf Whirlwind. Of course, I don't care about that. All I know is that you're a very unusual 'Hyuga.'"

Normally.

Hyuga Clan shinobi only focused on learning the Gentle Fist.

They disdained the Rigid Fist style.

Hyuga Sho was different.

Rigid Fist or Gentle Fist, as long as it could defeat the enemy, it was fine.

Both forms of taijutsu were merely handy tools.

Too bad this world had no assault rifles.

Otherwise, Hyuga Sho would definitely carry a machine gun onto the battlefield.

Morino Ibiki believed that this was what made Hyuga Sho special.

He would not be bound by conventions or rules.

He was completely different from those inflexible members of his clan.

"This paper can test your Chakra Nature. Even if you become a Genin, or even a Chunin, it would be difficult for you to have enough money to buy one..."

A single sheet of Chakra Paper was worth a fortune.

"I took [stole] it from my dad." Brat Morino Ibiki added.

"!"

Hyuga Sho's eyes lit up.

This thing truly was important to him.

No, it should be said that it was important to nearly every shinobi.

The Three Body Techniques taught at the Ninja Academy and the Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist both made use of "blue Null Attribute Chakra."

To spit out fireballs like Uchiha Obito.

To unleash lightning and spew water like other shinobi...

One needed the corresponding Chakra Nature.

The Ninja Academy textbooks said... that what determined a person's Chakra Nature was the "heart."

The Five Basic Attributes of Chakra were water, fire, lightning, earth, and wind.

The Uchiha Clan, to which Uchiha Obito belonged, was naturally born with the Fire Attribute.

Some people were gifted enough to possess two attributes at once.

Other geniuses possessed three attributes, or even four or five!

"Knowing your Chakra Nature in advance can help you avoid detours and save countless hours."

Seeing that Hyuga Sho was interested, Morino Ibiki immediately explained.

"Fine."

Hyuga Sho nodded.

"I can play detective with you, but only when I have time. You know, us Branch Family Members are busy."

A Branch Family Member's duties included protecting the Main Family, running errands, supporting themselves, and training.

"And I won't help you without limits."

"Mm, help me this once first."

Morino Ibiki nodded.

The two happily established a cooperative relationship.

Taking the Chakra Paper.

Following the other man's instructions, Hyuga Sho placed his right palm on it and released Chakra.

A moment later...

There was no reaction.

Hyuga Sho stared at the completely unchanged paper, wondering whether that thick-browed, big-eyed Morino Ibiki was trying to trick him.

"That can't be..."

A baffled Ibiki took the Chakra Paper and infused it with his own Chakra.

In an instant.

The paper burst into flames.

This showed that Morino Ibiki possessed the Fire Attribute.

"You..."

Watching the Chakra Paper burn directly into ash, Morino Ibiki was completely dumbfounded.

The next moment, he grabbed Hyuga Sho by the shoulders and said encouragingly, "It's okay. A genius with no attributes at all can still become an outstanding shinobi. Keep it up! Believe in your dreams!"

Hyuga Sho: "..."