Yin Release Spiritual Power, Genjutsu Training

After lunch, Tōka was enjoying the pleasant afternoon break.

BANG!

"Tōka, let's go train together!" A green blur kicked open the hospital room door and rushed straight to the bedside.

"Kai, I'm recovering from my injuries!" Tōka lifted his arm. Although the wounds had healed, they were still wrapped in bandages.

"Youth knows no rest!"

"If you run five hundred laps around the village with us, your injuries will be healed!"

Kai roared, his eyes blazing, fists clenched.

Tōka gave him a deadpan look before slowly closing his eyes again.

"Kai is certainly full of energy!" A sweet voice chimed in. Kurenai and Rin entered, hand in hand, carrying fruit.

After their previous cooperative battle, Kurenai had a new understanding of Kai.

Kai had gained another friend, someone who recognized him.

Rin and Kurenai had a good relationship privately. When they heard Tōka was hospitalized, Rin came along with Kurenai.

As for Obito, who was constantly fidgeting and wiping his Ninja Headband, he naturally followed Rin.

However, the last figure, hesitantly trailing behind...

Tōka hadn't expected this guy to show up.

"Asuma, come in!" Kurenai called out with a grin.

"Oh, coming," Asuma walked into the hospital room with a conflicted expression.

It seemed Kurenai and Asuma had made up.

And...

Asuma walked to the bedside and said in a voice like a mosquito's buzz, "Thanks for the other day's fight."

"But next time, it'll be me saving you!"

Tōka tilted his head, thinking that Asuma must be referring to the fight with the female ninja. What a tsundere.

"Even brats grow up!"

Tōka sighed.

Although the others didn't understand what "brats" meant, they knew he was talking about Asuma.

Instantly, the awkward Asuma's face flushed red, then turned dark, flickering like a rainbow.

"You bastard, I'll teach you a lesson!" Asuma rolled up his sleeves, but everyone stopped him.

"Asuma, don't shout in the hospital. Tōka is still recovering!" Kurenai chided.

Hearing Kurenai's voice, Asuma immediately calmed down, looking sheepish and unsure how to explain.

"This is for you. I hope you get well soon." Rin was as kind as ever, holding out a flower to Tōka.

"It smells wonderful and it's beautiful," Tōka accepted it, praising it from his heart.

"This is fruit from everyone," Kurenai handed over the basket she was holding to Tōka.

"Thank you," Tōka nodded slightly, surprised that so many people had come to visit him.

"Let me peel an apple for you," Kurenai said, picking up a red apple.

Apples symbolized peace and safety.

Everyone hoped Tōka would be discharged soon.

"To be honest, I actually have something I need your help with," Tōka tilted his head, smiling at Kurenai.

Asuma immediately became vigilant, like a cat whose fur was standing on end.

His eyes were fixed on Tōka, afraid the boy would say something outrageous.

"What is it? As long as I can do it," Kurenai declared bravely, patting her chest, which made Asuma's eyes burn with envy.

A flicker of joy flashed in Tōka's eyes. It seemed approaching Kurenai was much easier.

He calmed his racing heart and looked at Kurenai with a solemn expression.

"I want to learn Genjutsu."

Kurenai Yuhi's father, Yuhi Shinroh, was a Jonin of Konoha.

Apart from the Sharingan of the Uchiha clan and the Kekkei Genkai of the Kurama clan, Yuhi Shinroh's Genjutsu was second to none in Konoha.

This was why Tōka had approached Kurenai.

Learning Genjutsu required precise control of Chakra, something Tōka was confident in.

The fact that he could unleash the same power of ninjutsu using only one-third of his Chakra was proof enough.

Secondly, mastering Genjutsu also required Yin Release Chakra.

Yin Release represents the power of the spirit, and Yin Release techniques can create form from nothingness.

Possessing Kekkei Mora: All-Killing Ash Bones, Tōka wasn't worried at all about lacking Yin Release-attribute Chakra.

Three days later, Tōka secretly left the hospital.

His physical injuries had largely healed. Except for the deeper wound at his waist, which was still bandaged, his arms and thighs were completely fine.

His pale yellow skin exuded an aura of health and strength.

Tōka had already arranged with Kurenai to meet at her home after his discharge.

Kurenai's ninjutsu was decent, her taijutsu average, and her genjutsu very strong.

For a beginner like Tōka, Kurenai was more than capable as his teacher.

Strolling through the streets, Tōka walked with his hands behind his head, leisurely observing the shops lining the road.

Despite the fierce fighting on the border of the Land of Wind, the entire village was filled with a tense atmosphere.

However, Konoha was, after all, the foremost village among the Five Great Nations, and the residents' lives were not significantly impacted.

The shops on both sides of the street were still open, though the atmosphere was less lively.

Tōka walked into a Ninja Tool Shop; his only Kunai had been used up, and he needed to buy another.

"Little brother, here's the Kunai you wanted."

The shopkeeper, an uncle, handed him a sharp Kunai. He didn't look down on Tōka just because of his young age.

This was because Tōka was wearing the Ninja Headband that the Third Hokage had given him.

Ninjas were beings that most ordinary people looked up to.

Even if Tōka was only a Genin.

"Thanks." After paying, Tōka left directly, heading towards Kurenai's house.

It should be in this direction...

Tōka thought to himself.

A quarter of an hour later, Tōka appeared beside a secluded small house on the edge of a forest.

Kurenai's house wasn't large, but it had a unique charm.

Just as Tōka was about to reach out and knock, the wooden door of the small house creaked open from the inside.

"Uh... Tōka!" Kurenai looked at Tōka in surprise. Few people came to her house besides Asuma.

Immediately after, Kurenai understood.

Tōka was here to learn Genjutsu from her.

"Kurenai," Tōka nodded slightly, greeting her.

"What an impatient little kid, can't wait, huh?"

Kurenai had learned from the physician that Tōka wasn't supposed to be discharged for another week.

Although the wounds on his arms and thighs weren't deep, the one at his waist would take some time to heal.

Tōka shot Kurenai a deadpan glance, inwardly complaining, Aren't you just a kid in your teens too? And what's with that weird phrasing?

A cute little girl in her teens talking to a little boy not even seven years old...

"Alright, alright, let's go to the forest ahead to train!"

Seeing Tōka's expressionless silence, Kurenai helplessly shrugged.

"Follow me."

As she spoke, the two walked into the forest, one after the other.

Rustle, rustle...

In the forest, a gentle breeze swept across the ground.

Swaying branches rubbed against each other, producing the unique sounds of the forest.

"Genjutsu disrupts the opponent's mind and spirit, causing their five senses to perceive things abnormally, trapping them in a world of illusions."

Kurenai and Tōka stood facing each other, her expression serious as she explained the basic principles of Genjutsu.

Genjutsu, as a form of spiritual attack, was one of the three essential skills for a ninja.

Many ninjas could use Genjutsu, but most used it as a supplementary skill, with very few mastering it.

Among them, many lacked Yin Release Chakra, while others had insufficient precise control over their Chakra.

In short, learning Genjutsu was simple, but mastering it was difficult.

Tōka sought out Kurenai not just to learn the basics; he wanted mastery.

"I understand the principles, let's get to the main part!" Tōka urged, as he could recite the theory of Genjutsu backward.

"Hmph, look at you, so confident..." Kurenai's small face sank, and she chuckled wickedly, "Do you know that you've already fallen for my Genjutsu?"

"What?" Tōka's face, which had been expressionless, finally changed.

In Genjutsu? When did Kurenai make hand seals?

No, that's not right!

Some simple Genjutsu don't require hand seals.

Fox's Inner Heart Technique? Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique?

Looking at Kurenai's half-smile, a bead of cold sweat gradually appeared on Tōka's forehead.

"Hmph, little guy! My taijutsu might not be as good as yours, but when it comes to Genjutsu... heh heh!!" Kurenai didn't attack, just stood with her hands on her hips.

She wanted to know how long it would take Tōka to break free from the Genjutsu.

Tōka naturally knew how to break Genjutsu; the principle was simple: control the chaotic Chakra within his body and return it to its normal state.

Genjutsu was a mental attack that used Chakra as its foundation and the five senses as its means of attack.

To break it, one could rely on their own strength or the Chakra of a comrade.

Another method was self-stimulation, such as stabbing one's arm with a Kunai or biting one's lip.

All these methods relied on regaining control of the body's Chakra.

Either by forcibly stopping the flow of Chakra in the body or by using more chaotic power to disrupt the flow of Chakra.

"Release!" Tōka formed a hand seal and shouted.

As expected, the forest became illusory, rippling like water waves.

When all the illusory scenery dissipated, the scene returned to its true appearance.

"How is this possible!" Tōka's pupils contracted sharply, and he stared at his surroundings in astonishment.

He even squatted down and picked up a handful of dirt, confirming if it was real.

"How was it? My Genjutsu isn't bad, is it?" Kurenai proudly puffed out her chest.

Tōka had already confirmed that the previous Genjutsu was Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique.

He suspected he had fallen under its effect the moment he first saw Kurenai.

Following Kurenai into the forest was actually just walking in circles around the house.

Therefore, although the two of them appeared to be in the same location, there were subtle differences.

The footprints on the ground were the best proof!

"It's just that I don't understand, when did you make the hand seals?" Tōka asked.

"Hehe, low-level ninjutsu like this doesn't require hand seals; just one action is enough," Kurenai explained with a smile, raising a fair and tender finger.

Immediately after, Kurenai's expression turned serious as she looked at Tōka.

"What I'm about to say next is very important."

"Since you want to learn Genjutsu from me, you must take it seriously."

"Yes!" Tōka's expression tightened, knowing that what followed should be Kurenai's Genjutsu insights, passed down from Senior Shinku.

Combined with Kurenai's own understanding, it was being taught to him.

This was a treasure that couldn't be bought with gold!

"Although Genjutsu attacks through the five senses, it's actually one main attack and four assists."

"The main attack is sight, and the four assists are hearing, touch, taste, and smell."

"However, I divide them into three levels," Kurenai said, wagging her index finger as she stated her view.

"Three levels..." Tōka nodded slightly. "Sight is the first level, hearing and smell are the second level, and touch and taste are the third level."

"Is that right?" Tōka echoed Kurenai's words.

Hearing this, Kurenai's eyes lit up.

Tōka's intelligence was truly high. It had taken his father three days to explain it to her, and she had only grasped a little.

"That's right. Do you know why it's divided this way?" Kurenai asked again.

"Why?" Tōka frowned. If he had to explain the principle, he really couldn't.

He just felt that sight was the sense humans used the most, followed by hearing and smell, which had the ability to attack from a distance.

Lastly, touch and taste required close contact.

"It's roughly about the ease of the attack method; one action represents a visual attack," Kurenai said, beckoning Tōka with her finger.

Immediately, the surrounding scene changed once again.

It was Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique again...

"Secondly, hearing and smell are also relatively easy to attack," Kurenai waved her small hand, and the Genjutsu was dispelled.

"As for the last two, touch and taste..."

"Tactile sensation is fine. There isn't too much, nor too little, physical contact during combat."

"However, for Genjutsu-type ninjas, it's best to minimize unnecessary physical contact."

"As for taste, it's basically useless in combat, only usable for setting traps."

Tōka stood in place, a thoughtful expression on his face. Kurenai, seeing this, quietly walked away.

He pondered for perhaps a minute, perhaps an hour, perhaps a day...

Time flies like a white steed passing a crack in the wall.

The sky seemed to be draped in a mysterious black veil, and the wind in the woods whistled by.

When the moon reached its zenith, Tōka's contemplative gaze sharpened, gradually focusing.

With a soft creak, Kurenai pushed open the door.

This was the eighth time she had pushed the door open. Seeing Tōka awake, Kurenai's face lit up with joy.

"How is it? Have you thought of anything?"

"Mm, a few insights."

Tōka nodded slightly, gaining a deeper understanding of the three arts.

Taijutsu relies on day after day, year after year, of arduous practice, rain or shine.

Ninjutsu, on the other hand, is a combination of theory and practice, with repeated experimentation.

Genjutsu requires the power of the mind, belonging to the purest form of mental attack.

Those who master Genjutsu must be very intelligent and emotionally rich...

"It's very late today, come in and rest." Kurenai looked at the bright moon and suddenly spoke.

Tōka froze for a moment, then fidgeted like a noodle.

"Um... this..."

"What's wrong? Are you tired?"

Kurenai looked at Tōka strangely. He stood unsteadily, as if soft.

And why was his face so red, like an apple!

"Sister Kurenai, although you're very cute, but..."

"What on earth is wrong with you? Does your wound hurt?" Kurenai asked worriedly, secretly wondering if she should send Tōka back to the hospital.

But because of the next sentence...

"We're still young, this kind of thing..."

"It's not allowed!"

Kurenai's turning motion stiffened, and her expression immediately darkened, like a sky covered in clouds.

Thwack!

She flicked her curled index finger.

A red mark instantly appeared on Tōka's forehead.

... (To be continued)