The Kurama Clan's genjutsu could rival the Uchiha Clan's, which showed that it had its own unique strengths.
Houka walked through Kurama Murakumo's illusion, startled but not panicked.
I can see a pool of blood, a dead tree, and a blood-red moon. That means my vision is being manipulated. I can't feel pain, so my sense of touch is being manipulated too. The smell of blood means my sense of smell is being manipulated as well!
But I can hear Kurama Murakumo's voice, while I can't hear anything in the illusion. That means my hearing is still intact!
Of his five senses, his sight, smell, and touch were being manipulated. If someone tried to kill Houka now, their chances of success would be very high.
Houka closed his eyes and focused all his awareness on his ears, quietly listening for any movement around him.
Whoosh...
Inhale...
A faint breathing sound came from his left. Houka instinctively tilted his head in that direction, but in the next instant, the sound had vanished.
Kurama Murakumo's horse-like face darkened. He had nearly let that brat find his position. Was he getting rusty after spending so long away from war?
Kurama Murakumo had always had a stiff attitude toward the Uchiha Clan, along with a sense of helplessness. In his view, the two clans were evenly matched in genjutsu, but if Kekkei Genkai were factored in, the Kurama Clan would definitely surpass the Uchiha. Unfortunately, it had become harder and harder for members of the Kurama Clan to awaken their Kekkei Genkai. Meanwhile, the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan had grown like plants in spring, generation after generation. With one side rising and the other declining, the Kurama Clan naturally couldn't compete with the Uchiha. It had gradually fallen from a prestigious clan into a small one.
Kurama Murakumo looked at Houka, a faint killing intent flashing in his eyes. In the end, he snorted and waved his hand, dispelling the genjutsu.
"How was that, brat?" Kurama Murakumo sneered. "That's the genjutsu my Kurama Clan uses to manipulate the five senses. You want to learn it, don't you? Hahaha! But I won't teach you!"
"..."
Horse-face uncle, you sure think highly of yourself!
Houka rubbed his face. The sudden return of his sight, smell, and touch left him feeling a little uncomfortable.
By the time he recovered, Kurama Murakumo was almost out of sight down the corridor. Houka hurried after him.
In the backyard, Kurama Murakumo stood with his hands behind his back, gazing up at the sky at a forty-five-degree angle. He gave a long, boastful speech about the Kurama Clan's glorious achievements before reluctantly teaching Houka the basics of genjutsu.
"Ultimately, genjutsu is a form of mental attack. So as long as your will is strong enough, you can resist ordinary genjutsu. But genjutsu comes in many levels. Even a taijutsu ninja with an exceptionally strong will would struggle against my Kurama Clan's genjutsu that manipulates the five senses..."
Houka silently groaned. He'd figured it out: Kurama Murakumo was a narcissist. Any chance he got, he'd boast to Houka. Houka figured his ears would be ringing with it before long!
It wasn't until the sun had set that Kurama Murakumo waved Houka off. "That's enough for today. I won't keep you for dinner. Go on."
Houka's ears had had enough. At those words, he immediately ran out of the Kurama Family's home.
He hadn't gone far before someone blocked his path.
The man had flowing blond hair and sky-blue eyes, and he wore a warm smile. It was Minato Namikaze.
"Houka, are you free tonight? I'd like to discuss the name of the Rasengan with you. I thought about it for several nights after I got home, and I think 'Rasengan' is too crude and simple. What if we put 'Super Awesome Whirlwind Thunderclap Mighty Big Ball' in front of it?"
Houka's eye twitched. "Super Awesome Whirlwind Thunderclap Mighty Big Ball Rasengan?"
"You think it sounds impressive too, don't you?" Minato Namikaze's eyes lit up!
I'm impressed by your face!
What kind of people are these?!
Go. Just go!
I don't know you!
"Minato, you'd better keep quiet!"
A crisp, slightly haughty voice came from behind Minato Namikaze.
Beneath the moonlight, a red-haired girl stepped out. She had fair skin and lovely features, but her gaze was rather sharp.
"Red Hot Habanero," Houka blurted out instinctively. Then he saw Minato Namikaze shoot him a look that said he was a dead man.
Sure enough, the red-haired girl behind him—Red Hot Habanero herself, Kushina—had already lost her temper. Her hair writhed like the tentacles of an octopus as she clenched her fists and strode toward Houka, glaring fiercely at him. "Brat, what did you just say?!"
"I didn't say anything!" Houka played dumb, pouting and rolling around like a spoiled child, but he still couldn't escape the Red Hot Habanero's torment. His handsome black hair was tousled into a bird's nest.
Minato Namikaze watched the whole thing. He even offered suggestions along the way, siding with his future wife. What a pair of shameless lovebirds!
Houka felt so wronged. If this had happened in his previous life, it would've been at the top of the trending topics, with a headline already written: Shocking! Seven-Year-Old Gets Bullied by an Older Couple; Handsome Hair Turned into a Bird's Nest!
In the end, Minato Namikaze treated Houka to a big meal and formally introduced the two of them.
Kushina still hadn't cooled off. She glared at Houka as if to say that if he were just two years older, she'd beat him until he couldn't take care of himself.
Since Might Duy was busy with a snow-clearing mission and couldn't supervise him, Houka was naturally taken along with them.
"Houka, I've finished the third stage of the Rasengan!"
As Minato Namikaze spoke, the water-filled balloon in his hand burst. Water splashed all over Kushina beside him. With her fiery temper flaring up, she didn't care whether he was her boyfriend—she'd beat him into submission first!
Houka panicked and hurriedly said, "Don't hit him in the face!"
Thwack!
Kushina punched Minato Namikaze in the face.
Houka cried out, "His hair is so beautiful! Whatever you do, don't mess it up!"
"Ah!!" Minato Namikaze's hair was tousled into a bird's nest.
Houka said, "It's so cold out. Whatever you do, don't pour water on him!"
"Water Release: Water Wave!" Kushina drenched Minato Namikaze.
Houka sighed. "Now that he's wet, don't let him catch a draft or he'll get sick."
"Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!"
Tears welled in Minato Namikaze's eyes.
Houka marveled that there were fewer and fewer kind-hearted ninja like him. Too bad he'd run into someone as unreasonable as Kushina. What could he do? He was having a great time!
Only after she'd finished and calmed down did Kushina realize what had just happened. She planted her hands on her hips and glared fiercely at Houka. "Brat, you're so annoying!"
Houka said indignantly, "Kushina, you're so fierce! The more I tried to stop you, the harder you hit him."
Wasn't that true?
He'd been trying to stop her the whole time, and she hadn't listened. How was that his fault?
Thwack!
Houka got beaten up.
In the end, Kushina left in a huff.
"Um, Houka, don't take it to heart. Kushina's actually very kind." Minato Namikaze straightened his clothes and quickly regained his dashing appearance.
Houka said, "I'm definitely not going to date a girl that savage when I grow up."
Minato Namikaze scratched his head and laughed awkwardly.
After that, the two of them discussed the Rasengan. In truth, it was mostly Minato Namikaze explaining things, since he was already ahead in his Rasengan training.
"Well, I'll be going now. See you, Houka."
"Bye!" Houka waved, feeling very grateful. Minato Namikaze had clearly come over to help him with the Rasengan. What a good guy! (To be continued)
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