Meeting Kurama

On the border of the Land of Fire, Yamei's figure appeared in an instant.

If one looked closely, they would see a Flying Thunder God Mark inscribed on a rock by the coast, bearing the characters "Ancestor Riding Face!"

Speeding on the road back to Konoha, Yamei left Flying Thunder God Marks in various locations while also organizing the status panel information after his recent gains:

[Name]: Hyakawa Yamei

[Attributes]: Wind, Fire, Lightning, Water, Earth, Yin, Yang.

[Genjutsu]: Mist Veil Moon

[Taijutsu]: Art of a Hundred Refinements

[Sword Style]: Hundred Rivers Sword Style

[Secret Techniques]: Empathic Mark; Shadow

[Bloodline]: Hyakawa Bloodline

[Sealing Jutsu]: Myriad Gods Seal

[Kekkei Genkai]: Mangekyo, Byakugan, Scorch Release, Ice Style, [Ninjutsu]: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, Rasengan, Flying Thunder God Technique… (Too lazy to write down all the ninjutsu, they're sufficient for casual use anyway.)

Yamei reached out into the air, and an ice shard rapidly condensed, which he grasped in his right hand. After a brief assessment, he nodded in satisfaction:

"The sturdiness is good, and the temperature is very low. It's far more powerful than ordinary ninjutsu."

With a thought, a ball of orange-red light appeared in Yamei's left hand.

It didn't look particularly dangerous, yet it contained terrifying heat.

He casually inserted the ice shard into the sphere, and it instantly melted into steam and dissipated.

"Not bad," Yamei grinned, his smile lingering.

He could already imagine alternating Scorch Release and Ice Style to coat his blade, the extreme sensations of cold and heat being pure enjoyment!

Leisurely, Yamei returned to Konoha in three days.

The very next day after his return, Sasuke showed up, his eyes filled with stubbornness: "Yamei, please fight me!"

Yamei looked at Sasuke with a strange expression.

Did this guy really think that just because he awakened his Sharingan and his strength had increased somewhat, he could fight him?

"Are you sure?"

"I'm sure."

A flicker of hatred flashed in Sasuke's eyes: "I will kill that man!"

"As someone he admired, I want to know the exact gap between us! Please, Yamei, fight me with all your might!"

"You don't want to recognize the gap; you're blinded by your hatred for him! You even want to erase all traces of his existence!"

Yamei stared at him indifferently, and a terrifying chakra fluctuation erupted from his body, pressing down like a mountain!

Instantly, Sasuke felt his entire body stiffen, and cold sweat dripped incessantly!

I'm going to die! I'm going to die!

I can't withstand one of his attacks!

His body screamed a frantic warning at that moment! His face paled slightly from sheer terror.

"I originally thought you were a genius," Yamei said, looking at Sasuke with pity. "I didn't expect you to be just a pathetic worm blinded by hatred."

Sasuke, who had been horrified by Yamei's power, suddenly looked furious. He stared intently at Yamei and said, "What right do you have to judge me! You don't understand anything!"

"Heh, I admit I don't understand, but I know one thing: the best way to eliminate fear is to face it!"

As he spoke, Yamei dispersed his chakra pressure and gazed into Sasuke's trembling eyes. "Don't make me look down on you!"

"Face him..."

Sasuke's body trembled violently at the words. His previously scattered gaze slowly regained focus, finally filling with determination. "Can you make me stronger?"

Yamei shook his head. "I can't make you stronger. Only you can make yourself stronger."

"You've activated your Sharingan now, right?"

"I have."

Sasuke nodded, and as his pupils shifted, they transformed into a pair of single-tomoe Sharingan.

Yamei's mouth twitched slightly. Although he had expected it, seeing it still felt somewhat abstract.

"Next, I will teach you some genjutsu and sword techniques, as well as how to coordinate taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and sword techniques in combat!"

"Whether you can become strong depends solely on your own resolve and perseverance; I cannot influence that."

"I understand!" Sasuke nodded.

The next day, the usual five regulars appeared at the training grounds.

After assigning tasks to Hinata and Ino, Yamei took Sasuke and Naruto to another training field.

Bang!

In an instant, a shadow clone appeared beside him and looked at Sasuke. "I'll test your strength first."

"Next, I'll suppress my strength. Your goal now is to last three minutes under me!"

"I can definitely last!" Sasuke said firmly.

"That's not necessarily true." Yamei's shadow clone chuckled and took Sasuke aside.

"Huh? Yamei, what about me!" Naruto exclaimed, pointing at himself.

"You? Continue practicing walking on water and climbing trees." Yamei shot him a look.

Although he had already taught Naruto the Rasengan and a Wind Style ninjutsu.

This guy, influenced by the Nine-Tails, still lacked control over his chakra.

"Okay..." Naruto drooped his head.

Seeing this, Yamei chuckled, his gaze seeming to penetrate the seal on Naruto's body and see the Nine-Tails lying in the sealed space.

The Nine-Tails, which had been lying there bored, suddenly moved its eyes and looked at Yamei, feeling a bit surprised.

"This guy... he's gotten stronger again! How can such a talented ninja exist!"

The Nine-Tails could observe the outside world through Naruto, so it naturally sensed Yamei's presence.

"Little fox, are you looking at me?"

Suddenly, a teasing voice sounded in the Nine-Tails' ear.

"Brat!! How did you get in here!"

The Nine-Tails looked at Yamei, who was standing in front of him, in horror.

"I just came in like this."

Yamei shrugged, glanced around, and shook his head. "Your living environment really needs improvement. I'll see if I can get Naruto to change it for you later?"

"Hmph! Am I the kind of being who needs your pity?" The Nine-Tails snorted proudly.

"This old man? Little fox, don't use words like that in front of me from now on..." Yamei's eyes shifted, and his Mangekyo Sharingan appeared.

"How... how is this possible... How do you have these eyes!" The Nine-Tails was horrified, but then became suspicious.

"No... it's not just the Sharingan... strange... why is there the aura of the Byakugan..."

"Alright, I know you've been wronged here, but don't affect Naruto's chakra. I quite like this little guy." Yamei waved his hand, and then his figure disappeared from the sealed space.

He opened his eyes again and looked at the hardworking Naruto with a smile.

These two years with him, Naruto had changed a lot...

At least now, he didn't put becoming Hokage on his lips every day...

He then looked at Sasuke, who was being beaten on the other side...

His Taijutsu was quite good, and he even incorporated Lightning Style or Fire Style ninjutsu in between, making him look somewhat decent.

Seeing that the two boys' training was on the right track, Yamei returned to Hinata and Ino to personally guide their training.

What's so interesting about two boys? Aren't my Hinata and Ino more appealing?

As Yamei returned to his normal life, time quickly passed, and it was finally time for the annual graduation season.