After returning home from Konoha Hospital, Gekko Hayate had barely appeared in the backyard before Gekko Ryofu and the others surrounded him like a hero, peppering him with questions.
"Hayate, did you really awaken a Kekkei Genkai?"
"What kind of Kekkei Genkai is it? The Sharingan?"
"Idiot, the Sharingan is the Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha Clan!"
"Maybe it's even more powerful than the Sharingan!"
Heh.
Hanfu stood in the corridor, sneering like a great philosopher standing on the shoulders of giants, seeing through the future.
To a certain extent, Gekko Hayate's Kekkei Genkai was indeed extremely powerful. It was an "heaven-defying" Kekkei Genkai that could erase his presence and turn his entire body invisible: Tōton!
It was the perfect technique for sneaking around and peeking into the women's bathhouse during the day!
Unfortunately, Tōton wasn't very useful in a head-on fight. Otherwise, in the Original Work, Gekko Hayate wouldn't have been unable to escape when he fought Baki, a Jonin from Sunagakure.
Still, even if this Kekkei Genkai was only good for sneaking around, if used well...
Hanfu narrowed his eyes, unable to stop himself from thinking of that "Scroll of Sealing" in the Hokage Building. His heart instantly burned with excitement.
Faced with his enthusiastic brothers, Gekko Hayate bashfully scratched his head and kept chuckling.
"Hayate, you're still young, but you're becoming more and more dependable!"
"Soon, everyone might have to rely on you. You'd better keep working hard!"
At that, Gekko Hayate nodded like a chicken pecking rice. "Yeah, I know. I'll definitely work hard!"
"All right, enough discussion. Everyone, get back to training!"
Gekko Hoshino sternly cut off their conversation, then turned to Gekko Hayate. "Hayate, I'll take you home first. Your father still doesn't know about your Kekkei Genkai."
"Okay!" Gekko Hayate nodded excitedly. Judging by his expression, he was clearly looking forward to seeing how his father would react when he learned that he'd awakened a Kekkei Genkai.
Hanfu watched coldly and shook his head to himself. He was still just a child, after all!
Unlike Hanfu, with or without a cheat, he was always the same. What was that called? A strong mind! The kind of composure that let him keep his expression and heartbeat steady even as Mount Tai collapsed in front of him!
Hanfu sat upright in the corridor for a while, but soon couldn't sit still. He scampered down to the training area, found one of the older boys, and started leading him into teaching him the last of the Three Body Technique's ninjutsu: Substitution Technique.
But this time, something unexpected happened.
Collection Failed!
Looking at the older boy's impatient face, Hanfu's heart sank. He quietly went to a corner to review what he'd learned.
Using the same guided approach, Hanfu had successfully collected from Gekko Ryofu three times in a row, but he'd failed to collect from this older boy.
If the problem wasn't with Hanfu, then it had to be with the other person.
When he'd guided the two older boys, Hanfu had sensed that Gekko Ryofu was calm and patient. Even though Hanfu had bothered him again and again, Ryofu hadn't shown any resistance. But with the older boy from before, his impatient expression alone made it clear that he was opposed to Hanfu's request. He probably felt that Hanfu's "questions" were interrupting his training!
That meant...
Hanfu stroked his chin thoughtfully. The Collection Target's will and attitude had a huge impact on the Collection Technique's success rate!
If the target was on guard against Hanfu, he could try a hundred times and probably wouldn't succeed once. On the other hand, if the target was friendly toward him, the success rate would be higher!
Hanfu remembered the first time he'd collected from Gekko Ryofu. He hadn't even spoken to him, yet he'd succeeded on the very first try and obtained the Chakra Refinement Technique.
Hanfu stroked his chin and thought, I need to sum up what I've learned about collecting first!
Hanfu narrowed his eyes and quickly compiled his experiences, arriving at three key points:
First, if the Collection Target was far stronger than him, the success rate would be very low.
Second, if the Collection Target was extremely resistant to him, the success rate would be very low. Conversely, the more favorably the target regarded him, the higher the success rate!
Third, by guiding the target, he could collect the specific ninjutsu he wanted from them!
After committing all three lessons to memory, Hanfu knew roughly how he should proceed from now on!
He looked around at the eight clan members training in the backyard. Aside from Gekko Ryofu and the older boy who didn't seem very keen on getting close to him, he still had six Collection Targets.
Hanfu narrowed his eyes, picked out the friendliest-looking one of the remaining six, and bravely stepped forward.
"Hey, big brother, you're so handsome!" Hanfu ran up to his target and praised him against his conscience. "You're the most handsome person I've ever seen in my whole life!"
"Huh?"
Gekko Yuki looked bewildered. "Little Hanfu, are... are you okay?"
"You're amazing, big brother!" Hanfu kept praising him. "You're the most amazing person I've ever met!"
Wait, hadn't I already said that?
Hanfu blinked twice in confusion. Whatever. I'll keep praising him!
"You're incredible, big brother! You're the most incredible person I've ever met!"
"..."
Gekko Yuki gave him an odd, amused look. "So, is there something you want me to help you with?"
Hanfu smiled primly. I knew no one in this world could withstand my praise!
And if someone can, I'll just praise him a couple more times!
"I want to learn the Substitution Technique. Could you teach me, big brother?" Hanfu carefully watched his expression. He only had one Collection Technique attempt left today, so he couldn't afford to waste it.
"Sure, but you only have five minutes," Gekko Yuki said with a smile. "By the way, haven't you always been looking for Ryofu? Why ask me this time?"
"You're more handsome than he is!" Hanfu said shyly.
"Haha, little Hanfu, you're so cute!"
Gekko Yuki laughed and led Hanfu over to a corner. He began forming Hand Seals as he taught him. "These are the Hand Seals for the Substitution Technique. You also need to make your Chakra flow when you perform them. One more thing: you need to prepare a substitute in advance. It can be a piece of wood or a stone. Understand?"
Gekko Yuki explained everything in great detail, and Hanfu listened attentively. Then...
Collection!
The green glow in Hanfu's mind churned violently, then a pale blue Light Spot burst out.
Success!
Hanfu wrapped his consciousness around the Light Spot, unable to stop a smile from spreading across his face.
He'd gotten the Substitution Technique too!
That meant he'd mastered all of the Three Body Technique!
"Thanks, big brother. I've got it all memorized," Hanfu said with a smile.
Gekko Yuki smiled. "You're so clever, little Hanfu. If there's anything you don't understand in the future, feel free to come ask me anytime."
Hanfu nodded. "Thanks, big brother."
Hanfu realized there were plenty of good people in the Gekko Clan!
As for the older boy he'd failed to collect from...
Hanfu glanced at him and gave a smug little snort. You may ignore me today, but tomorrow you'll be out of my league!
Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Never bully a poor young man!
What else was there?
Ah, he'd read too few face-slapping novels in his Previous Life. Now that he needed a good line, he couldn't think of one to describe how he felt.
How frustrating.
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