Control

A massive, thick tree stood before them.

Its trunk was covered in countless shuriken marks.

A boy carrying a Ninja Blade was panting as he stared at the tree.

"How is that possible?! Shiyu actually climbed all the way to the top so easily?" Nao raised his head in frustration and saw Shiyu standing at the top of the tree, practicing other ninjutsu.

"Miss Kurenai, Kakashi Nao, you two will have to work harder. Shiyu already passed the chakra control test. He can not only climb trees, but has even learned to walk on water." Hizashi looked at Shiyu and nodded in satisfaction.

"No way! I can't let this guy keep surpassing me!" Kakashi Nao had his own pride. He climbed the tree again, but in his haste, his chakra control became uneven, and he fell back to the ground once more.

Hinata Kurenai, too, was thinking, Come on! I have to surpass myself. I can't become a burden to the team! I need to work hard and become a powerful ninja. Only then can I help the person I love!

That was why Kurenai worked even harder than usual, gaining greater control over her chakra.

Meanwhile, Shiyu stood alone at the top of the tree, studying the ninjutsu he had recently copied.

"Sharingan Kakashi copied over a thousand kinds of ninjutsu, but chakra reserves are a major problem. For me, though, that's no problem at all," Shiyu thought.

After all, his exceptionally pure Otsutsuki bloodline gave him enormous chakra reserves. Though Shiyu had only recently become a Genin, his chakra levels already surpassed those of an ordinary Kage Level ninja.

"D-rank Body Flicker Technique, you're really useful!" Shiyu said excitedly. Then he suddenly disappeared, reappearing in another spot.

"If an ordinary ninja used this technique against me, they'd be as good as dead!" Shiyu realized that after copying the Body Flicker Technique, his chakra use and control made the technique nearly a rank more effective.

It was just like using destructive Fire Release techniques. In Shiyu's hands, they often had far more terrifying power than they did in anyone else's.

After practicing for who knew how long, Shiyu had completely mastered the D-rank Body Flicker Technique. He then went through the ninjutsu he had copied recently, familiarizing himself with each one.

"Lastly, I can work on my Hand Seal speed," Shiyu said. He knew that in the Shinobi World, there were ninjas like Yuki Haku who could form Hand Seals with one hand, as well as prodigies like Uchiha Itachi, who could form six seals in a second.

"Rat, Ox, Tiger, Hare, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, Boar."

Shiyu practiced for a long time, until beads of sweat as large as beans covered his head.

"Everyone, that's enough. We need to get moving again," Hizashi Hyuga called to the group. Shiyu nodded.

"Today went well. You've all worked hard," Shiyu said to his five Shadow Clones.

Shiyu knew the trick to training with Shadow Clones. When a Shadow Clone was dispelled, everything it had learned that day, along with its experience and fatigue, returned to the original in an instant.

"Pop!" Shiyu dispelled his Shadow Clones. The Hand Seal practice and a day's worth of insight instantly returned to him.

"I got a lot out of that, but I'm a little tired too." Shiyu leaped lightly back to Hizashi's side.

Kakashi Nao and Hinata Kurenai gathered with them again.

"Good work. But don't push yourselves so hard from now on. We need to conserve our strength for the mission ahead," Hizashi told the three of them.

"Understood!" the three replied.

"Who would've thought these kids would become so reliable? Sorry, I misjudged you earlier," Mr. Noguchi said, feeling a little embarrassed.

"As long as we can complete the mission," Shiyu replied, holding no grudge against Mr. Noguchi.

Over the next few days, Hizashi led the group onward, and they encountered no intense battles. Shiyu continued training with Shadow Clones.

By the time they were close to their destination, Shiyu could form three Hand Seals in a second. Don't underestimate that speed: it was already faster than most ninjas in the Shinobi World. He might even have been on par with the adult Kakashi Hatake of the future, whose Hand Seal speed could rank among the top five in the Shinobi World.

After walking for a while longer, they could clearly see that there were more people around, and less vegetation. They had reached the end of their journey: the Artisan Village.

"Thank you, everyone! At last! We've finally made it to the village!" Mr. Noguchi said excitedly. After settling everyone in, he headed into the village.

"Shiyu, do you sense anything?" Hizashi asked.

"Something feels off," Shiyu replied honestly. The Artisan Village didn't feel inhabited at all. There were only a few scattered travelers, all looking anxious and wary.

"Something does seem off. Everyone appears to be carrying weapons," Kakashi Nao observed, immediately noticing what was strange about them.

"That's true. Everyone, be careful. Mr. Noguchi, could there be danger?" Hinata Kurenai asked.

While everyone was full of questions, Mr. Noguchi reappeared.

Noguchi came out grinning from ear to ear, which seemed rather strange.

"Wonderful! We've finished analyzing the meteorite's composition! Your mission is complete! Congratulations!" Before Mr. Noguchi had even reached them, everyone could tell something was wrong.

Suddenly, Noguchi sprang into action, hurling several shuriken at Kakashi Nao and Kurenai, who were closest to him.

"Look out!!!" Shiyu used the Body Flicker Technique, instantly appearing behind Kakashi Nao and Kurenai and shoving them out of the way.

The disguised "Mr. Noguchi" was stunned when his attack missed.

"Body Flicker Technique!? A little Konoha brat is actually this strong? Haha! This is interesting!" the fake Mr. Noguchi said with a sneer. Then, with a poof, he transformed back into his true appearance.

"You are!" Hizashi Hyuga immediately took a fighting stance.

"Hmph! Don't you recognize an old acquaintance?" The ninja had transformed into a Kumogakure rogue ninja.

"Be careful! There are a lot of people around us!" Hizashi Hyuga's Byakugan revealed countless ninjas nearby.

"Why are you people so determined to hound us?" Kakashi Nao demanded.

"Hmph! Our goals conflict with your mission, so we'll just have to get rid of you!" The Kumogakure rogue ninja grinned savagely. "This time, we won't let you get away!"