After Yayoi explained everything, Rin even sponsored him a considerable sum of money.
This made Yayoi marvel at the discovery that a rich woman was right by his side.
Rin was quite the sly one, keeping her wealth hidden.
Still, Yayoi accepted having a walking wallet with him without a shred of guilt.
After all, he was putting in plenty of effort himself.
Besides, Rin's strength was improving rapidly.
Once she activated her Byakugan, she could actually go toe-to-toe with him in his normal state.
Yayoi seriously felt as if the times had left him behind.
But then he thought it over and decided this was a good thing.
He wondered if he could have Rin transferred to the squad he shared with Yan. That would give him another layer of protection.
What's more, the Hyuga Clan's exceptional chakra control had given Yayoi a bold idea.
To satisfy his curiosity, he left the laboratory for the first time in a long while.
Konoha Great Forest
Konoha had the richest forest resources, and the woods were full of countless riches and resources.
Any seasoned hunter who came here would surely make a fortune.
Even Ninja with a little hunting experience could catch plenty of game, and plenty of fishing enthusiasts came by every day to fish.
Though they always came back empty-handed.
Yayoi had once enjoyed catching animals here to take back for experiments. It was also an excellent place to test his idea.
"Rin, try this sword."
Yayoi handed Rin Prototype No. 1, the Alchemical Weapon he had crafted for Yan.
He had inscribed it with Dragon Script for the Wind Element, infused it with Mercury, and activated it with Dragon Blood to fix its effect. It had then become a special sword.
Chakra could be regarded as a universal energy that could be spent on Word Spirits.
And what kind of reaction would Prototype No. 1, fixed with Yayoi's Dragon Blood, produce once chakra was infused into it?
There was no doubt that even an ordinary Ninja could activate it with their own chakra.
Enchanted with the Wind Element, the sword would possess unparalleled speed and cutting power.
With the Wind Element bolstering it, its light blade felt almost weightless.
Of course, it still had plenty of room for improvement. Otherwise, Yayoi wouldn't have called it a prototype.
The completeness of the Dragon Script, the quality of the materials, and the smith's skill all determined the quality of an Alchemical Weapon.
While studying the Dragon Script for the Wind King Eye, Yayoi had discovered something as he analyzed the Mirror Eye.
The three sets of Dragon Script models were not entirely independent; they were interconnected.
They meshed with one another, and some parts of the Dragon Script were even inscribed within the other two sets.
Only by fully deciphering a Word Spirit could one inscribe the Dragon Script that guided and controlled its elements as completely as possible.
"The Hyuga Clan's defining trait is its exceptional chakra control and precision."
Yayoi explained the purpose of his experiment to Rin.
"When I observed the Hyuga Clan's Soft Fist, I noticed that you can easily coat your hands in chakra to strike Acupoints and block an enemy's chakra.
"That's a little like the Senju's monstrous strength, but the Hyuga have the Byakugan, which makes them even better."
Rin sat obediently on the grass, watching Yayoi across from her as he earnestly explained the Hyuga Clan's techniques. She stroked the sword he had handed her and listened attentively.
"So, that gave me a bold idea."
"That is, to apply your chakra control to a sword."
The more Yayoi thought about it, the more feasible his idea seemed.
"Chakra can change its form. The Hyuga, with their exceptional control, can absolutely shape it into a sharp blade.
"Unlike the Hyuga's Acupoint Strike, a sword is far more powerful, making up for the Soft Fist's lack of offensive power.
"And when you have a sword, you can shape chakra around it and extend it. That would greatly expand your range of attack."
"Give it a try. What do you think?"
"Okay."
Rin picked up Prototype No. 1 and poured her chakra into it.
"First, try extending your chakra through the sword in your hand."
Following Yayoi's instructions, Rin extended her chakra from both hands into the sword.
Her chakra flowed into the sword as if it were part of her body, without any resistance.
Rin felt as if her perception had extended along with it. Under her control, the chakra began to change its shape.
The Hyuga Clan had an innate advantage in chakra control, and for a gifted Hyuga like Rin, changing its shape came easily.
Blue chakra flowed slowly along the blade, then spilled past its tip. Constrained by Rin, the blue chakra gradually formed a beam of light.
"Try moving the sword in your hand as you would with the Soft Fist."
When he saw the blue beam form, Yayoi knew the experiment had succeeded. He continued,
At Yayoi's instruction, Rin devoted herself completely to the Soft Fist she had practiced for so long.
The sword, glowing azure, seemed to leap as Rin danced with it.
It moved with the motions of the Soft Fist, but unlike those gentle punches, Rin's swordplay abandoned its former suppleness and became ferociously sharp.
Like a lion baring its claws, she had changed completely. Her blade's cutting edge was so sharp that even Yayoi found it unsettling.
"A sword dance, a style of swordsmanship like a dance."
Yayoi activated his Mirror Eye and quietly observed Rin's movements.
With her precise control, Rin extended the blade far beyond its original length. As she practiced the Soft Fist, its familiar moves became a series of lethal sword strikes.
"Remember how that felt. Try using the Heaven-Returning technique."
Yayoi paused to consider, then spoke.
Heaven-Returning was another signature technique of the Hyuga.
By releasing chakra from the entire body and spinning at high speed, the user created an all-around defense.
But what if it weren't gentle fists anymore, but sharp swords?
What would happen to Heaven-Returning?
Yayoi was curious about that.
As for whether Rin could use Heaven-Returning, Yayoi would confidently answer yes.
Rin was far more talented, and she also had an uncle from the Main Family. Even if the restrictions barred the Main Family from teaching the Branch Family, surely he could still give her hints.
Heaven-Returning was practically a bloodline technique of the Hyuga Clan. It was simple enough.
With the guidance she received in her daily training, Rin had easily grasped the secret of Heaven-Returning.
At Yayoi's next instruction, Rin released chakra from the Acupoints throughout her body.
A blue sphere appeared at once, enveloping the area.
But unlike other people's Heaven-Returning, Rin's was different, with a sword in her hand.
The blue sphere on the outside was actually made up of densely packed blades.
As Rin unleashed Heaven-Returning, her extended chakra sword erupted with astonishing force.
The flowing wind even restrained and tugged at Yayoi.
The Wind Element stirred up by Rin's Heaven-Returning drew him in and held him fast.
If someone tried to break through Rin's defense now, or couldn't escape the Wind Element's pull, they would likely be minced by a thousand cuts.
But perhaps because this was her first time using it,
Rin's new Heaven-Returning Sword Dance seemed a little unfinished.
It looked powerful on the outside, but its substance fell short. Yayoi could tell it was all show. Rin had only just tried it for the first time and would need plenty of practice.
"Wind King Eye."
Activating his Mirror Eye, Yayoi transcribed the Dragon Script. The invisible Wind Element gathered, swiftly taking shape into sharp gusts like blades.
Under Yayoi's control, they slammed into Rin as she performed the Heaven-Returning Sword Dance.
The two razor-sharp forces of wind collided, and Rin clearly felt the change around her.
She gritted her teeth, and the chakra surging over her body grew stronger.
More and more chakra blades filled the Heaven-Returning Sword Dance, growing sharper by the moment.
But with only one sword in her hand, Rin's movements were still far from perfect.
Even though Prototype No. 1 bolstered her with the Wind Element, it still couldn't make up for the limitations of wielding a single sword.
And she was still unfamiliar with shaping chakra into blades, having only just tried it for the first time.
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