Kekkei Genkai

The next morning, Hanfu was woken up again by the commotion. The culprits were still the clansmen training in the backyard first thing in the morning.

Remembering his experiment, Hanfu hurriedly scrambled off the tatami, wiped the sleep from his eyes, and rushed outside.

The morning sun had just risen, and its pale, reddish light shone across the whole world like a streak of white rainbow.

In the backyard, the eight clansmen from yesterday were wielding blades and sparring in pairs. The shrill clang of metal on metal rang out furiously.

Hanfu looked around and immediately spotted the stout, honest-looking Gekko Ryofu. He dashed over in a flash.

As soon as Hanfu entered the training area, the eight fighters stopped at once, afraid they might hit the reckless little brat.

"Big Brother Ryofu, please teach me the Clone Technique!"

Hanfu ran right up to Gekko Ryofu without a hint of self-awareness, his eyes shining as he stared at him like a rabbit in an experimental cage.

"Hanfu!"

Gekko Hoshino stood in the corridor, looking sternly at Hanfu. "No causing trouble!"

Hanfu glanced at Cheap Dad and made full use of his age advantage, wheedling shamelessly. "Just five minutes!"

Gekko Ryofu gave Gekko Hoshino a wry smile, then nodded. "All right."

Gekko Hoshino shook his head. "Everyone else, keep training!"

"Yes!"

Hanfu pulled Gekko Ryofu by the hand over to a corner, his eyes sparkling as he stared at him. "Come on, come on, hurry up!"

Faced with Hanfu's gaze, Gekko Ryofu couldn't help feeling that something was off. But at Hanfu's urging, he could only set aside that strange feeling and start forming Hand Seals. "Watch closely. These are the seals for the Clone Technique! You also need to make your Chakra flow in sync with the seals. Got it?"

Gekko Ryofu demonstrated slowly. With a puff, white smoke billowed from his feet, and the next instant, an identical "Gekko Ryofu" appeared beside him.

Hanfu watched once, then immediately used the Collection Technique!

Green light surged in his mind, and the next instant, a pale blue orb emerged.

Collection successful!

Hanfu was overjoyed and hurriedly wrapped his consciousness around the newly formed pale blue orb.

This was... the Clone Technique!

His theory had been right!

Hanfu was overjoyed!

As long as he guided things properly, he could collect any ninjutsu!

Sage Mode, Flying Thunder God, Rasengan—even the Kekkei Genkai Sharingan and Byakugan could be guided in a similar way. Hanfu was practically drooling.

"Um, Hanfu?"

Gekko Ryofu looked at Hanfu, who had suddenly developed a goofy grin, and grew flustered. "Are you all right?"

"Huh? Oh, I'm fine, I'm fine."

Hanfu came back to his senses and hurriedly put on a serious expression. "Big Brother Ryofu, that's enough. I've already learned the Clone Technique."

"Huh? Really?"

Gekko Ryofu didn't believe him.

The Clone Technique was indeed simple, but it was still somewhat difficult for a student who had only completed his first year at the Ninja Academy. And Hanfu's talent was notoriously... well, you know.

Still, Hanfu might have claimed he'd learned it just to get people's attention.

Gekko Ryofu was certain he'd seen through Hanfu and gave him a mysterious smile!

Hanfu smiled back at him, thinking, I've already successfully collected three "skills" from him: the Chakra Refinement Technique, the Transformation Technique, and the Clone Technique!

That means there's nothing left to collect from Gekko Ryofu.

Hanfu shifted his gaze to the other seven: Who should I go for next?

Hanfu wanted to use up the two remaining attempts with the Collection Technique today while he was on a roll. But seeing Cheap Dad's stern face, he decided it would be better to wait until after breakfast.

One thing did bother Hanfu a little, though: why hadn't he seen Gekko Hayate today?

Hanfu went back inside and looked around, only to find that his mother, Keiko, was gone too. What was he supposed to do about breakfast?

He was still a child! If he skipped breakfast, he wouldn't grow any taller!

Hanfu stormed over to interrogate Gekko Hoshino. "Dad, where did Mom go? I'm starving~"

"Hayate wasn't feeling well when he came over this morning, so your mother took him to the hospital. As for breakfast, she's already made rice balls. They're in the pot in the kitchen. Go eat them while they're still warm."

Gekko Hoshino explained.

"Rice balls again..."

Why did he say "again"?

Hanfu's face fell. The rice balls had seaweed and sesame in them, but eating the same thing at every meal was getting old.

Hanfu trudged into the kitchen and lifted the lid of the pot. Inside were two rice balls giving off a faint warmth. He sighed and accepted his fate, taking them out to eat.

At the same time, he couldn't help thinking of Hayate Little Brother. Had that guy overdone it in training yesterday and wrecked his body?

But Gekko Hayate really had been portrayed as a sickly person in the Original Work, coughing three times for every sentence he spoke. Could it be that his body had been worn down by too much training when he was young?

Come to think of it, Gekko Hayate seemed to have a Kekkei Genkai... right?

Remembering his Collection Technique, Hanfu perked up. He swallowed the rice balls in a few bites, then dashed to the backyard to ask Cheap Dad.

"Dad, does our Gekko Clan have a Kekkei Genkai?" Hanfu asked, looking up.

Gekko Hoshino glanced at Hanfu in surprise. "Where did you hear about Kekkei Genkai?"

"Just answer me first," Hanfu called.

Gekko Hoshino shook his head. "I'm afraid the Gekko Clan doesn't have a Kekkei Genkai."

If they did, the Gekko Clan would have long since stood alongside the Nara Clan and Akimichi Clan, perhaps even surpassed them, and become a great clan like the Hyuga and Uchiha!

Sadly, it was only wishful thinking!

Gekko Hoshino's expression grew a little downcast.

Hanfu frowned. Had he remembered wrong? Did Gekko Hayate not have a Kekkei Genkai?

No, the Gekko Clan not having a Kekkei Genkai didn't mean Gekko Hayate couldn't have one!

What if Hayate Little Brother had a genetic mutation in the womb?

As Hanfu's imagination ran wild, Keiko's excited voice suddenly came from the entryway. "Hoshino, Hoshino, it's wonderful! Hayate was found to have a Kekkei Genkai!!"

Gekko Hoshino shuddered and abruptly lowered his head, staring at Hanfu in disbelief.

Hanfu looked up, his big, innocent eyes glistening as he tried to get by on cuteness. But inwardly, he grumbled at himself: I acted too hastily! If I'd waited two more minutes, this whole mess could have been avoided.

"Hanfu, you... you haven't awakened a Kekkei Genkai too, have you?" Gekko Hoshino asked quietly.

Hanfu hurriedly shook his head. "No, no. I haven't."

Gekko Hoshino didn't believe him.

By now, Gekko Ryofu and the others had also heard Keiko's voice and gathered around in astonishment.

"Hayate has a Kekkei Genkai?"

"Really?"

"Incredible!"

"This is a huge deal!!"

"What are you all making such a racket about?!"

Gekko Hoshino raised his head sternly and scolded them. "Did I tell you to stop? Keep training!"

"Yes!"

The eight men quickly straightened up, bowed respectfully, then returned to the grass to continue sparring.

Only then did Gekko Hoshino hurry back inside.

Hanfu followed close behind.

"Keiko, did they really find a Kekkei Genkai in Hayate?" Gekko Hoshino asked seriously. Keiko had just changed her shoes in the entryway.

Keiko nodded excitedly. "It's true. The hospital director himself examined him!"

"That's wonderful!"

Gekko Hoshino clenched both fists excitedly and said, "Keiko, let's go to the hospital right away. I want Hanfu to get checked too."

"Huh?"

Keiko froze.

Hanfu, meanwhile, was completely bewildered. The next instant, his face turned pale with shock. I'm not going! I'm innocent! I don't have a genetic mutation, and I'm not getting checked!