Special Training

"Alright, alright... here, eat up!" Akaseki said, using Big Red Bite on the Little Tanuki Beast in front of him.

A look of satisfaction immediately appeared on the Little Tanuki Beast's face. It let out a burp, then scurried over to another mask.

This mask, like the previous one, had a white base with red patterns, but it was shaped like a tiger or a leopard.

Just the same...

The mask, which had been sealed to the wall and impossible to remove, naturally detached and fell onto the beast's back after it chirped at it a few times.

"By the way, you can't just eat plain rice all the time, right? I have here..." Akaseki had just taken out the Summoning Contract Scroll that Jiraiya had given him.

However, the Little Tanuki Beast, now burdened with a second mask, seemed exhausted from the effort. It lay down, and before Akaseki could finish his sentence, it had already fallen into a deep sleep.

Akaseki: ...

Just then, Ranwu walked in with two grilled fish. Seeing the Little Tanuki Beast lying in a new spot with an extra mask on its back, she couldn't help but marvel, "Huh? It woke up again?"

"Yeah, it wakes up to eat, then goes right back to sleep," Akaseki said helplessly.

"But there's another mask now... there has to be a limit to this," Ranwu analyzed confidently, then handed the two grilled fish to Akaseki.

Akaseki took the fish and pulled a Military Ration Pill from his pouch. One pill and two grilled fish—that was dinner.

"Eat up, once we're full, we're training," Ranwu urged.

"We had a deal, you have to spar with me in Taijutsu afterward," Akaseki pouted.

"I know... you want to do it just as much as I do, don't act like I'm begging you!" Ranwu complained.

As a ninja, Akaseki could eat quite quickly; in a few swift bites, the two fish were gone.

Then, Akaseki and Ranwu began the task they had agreed upon earlier...

The two sat cross-legged on the ground, facing each other, both looking somewhat tense.

"I never thought I'd be doing something like this with someone from the Uchiha Clan."

"I never thought I'd be taking this step with... the granddaughter of the Second Hokage, whom I admire most."

"Alright, let's begin..."

Sharingan, activate! False Surroundings Technique!

Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique!

Both of them formed hand seals simultaneously...

That's right, this was what they had agreed to do: practice Genjutsu together after dinner.

Ranwu's greatest strength was undoubtedly Water Style, especially her nature transformation. In terms of Chakra attributes, she possessed a high-end "3+2" configuration: Water, Earth, Wind, Yin, and Yang.

This was more comprehensive than Akaseki's "3+1" configuration of Fire, Lightning, Earth, and Yin.

Moreover, Ranwu still had significant room for growth and would likely become an all-around ninja with all seven attributes, just like her grandfather.

Therefore, after hitting a bottleneck with her Water Style, Ranwu began delving into other techniques, especially the many "secret techniques" left behind by her grandfather.

The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was an A-rank, short-to-mid-range disruptive Genjutsu.

For an A-rank difficulty technique, its effective range was short, and its function was singular—it merely stripped away the target's vision without dealing direct damage...

Yet, in the hands of Tobirama Senju, who had "developed countless secret techniques," it became one of his most satisfying moves. The Bringer-of-Darkness Technique certainly had its merits—its ability to deprive one of sight was truly potent!

Even the Sharingan could be blocked by it, and it didn't just seal vision; it sealed ocular powers as well...

Ranwu had been studying the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique recently. As an A-rank Genjutsu, it was far too difficult for her, and she had made little progress.

That was until she had the chance to "spar" with Akaseki these past few days.

Akaseki's task was to activate his Sharingan and use Genjutsu on Ranwu, while Ranwu would counter with the theoretically similar Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.

In this way, Akaseki's Sharingan was constantly at risk of being "sealed," making it harder for him to maintain his Genjutsu. For Ranwu, she was constantly under the influence of the Sharingan's Genjutsu, preventing her half-baked Bringer-of-Darkness Technique from taking immediate effect...

Their Yin-attribute Chakra intertwined, constantly eroding the other, both trying to be the first to successfully infiltrate the other's mind!

This process provided excellent training for both of their Genjutsu skills.

Of course, since Ranwu was the one who sought Akaseki out, Akaseki had set a condition—I'll help you practice Genjutsu, but you have to spend a few nights afterward... practicing Taijutsu with me!

It was true that Ranwu needed the practice more...

Her Bringer-of-Darkness Technique wasn't even at the entry level yet; she couldn't use it in actual combat at all.

By comparison, Akaseki's C-rank and B-rank Genjutsu were at least combat-ready, and with the boost from his Sharingan, they were quite effective.

Of course, this also showed that the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was indeed powerful. Even without mastering it, as long as she let the opponent take their time, she could still hold her own in a Genjutsu duel against Akaseki. In fact, Akaseki always felt...

"Whew... alright, let's stop for a second, I need a breather." Akaseki signaled to Ranwu and deactivated his Sharingan.

"Giving up so soon?" Ranwu frowned slightly.

Akaseki couldn't help but retort, "This Bringer-of-Darkness Technique is way too effective at countering the Sharingan!"

It wasn't just a Genjutsu duel; it specifically targeted the Sharingan with sealing power...

"Grandfather said the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was a powerful Genjutsu developed to disrupt melee enemies, and it just so happens to be a perfect match for your Sharingan," Ranwu said as if it were obvious.

Akaseki: ...

Akaseki immediately wore an expression of deep agreement and sudden realization.

"But are you sure the difficulty isn't too high for you to be learning this right now?" Akaseki asked in return.

This was an A-rank Genjutsu, after all...

Even Akaseki couldn't copy it!

"No, Jiraiya-sensei knows about it too," Ranwu said with certainty.

Learning this was Ranwu's own decision, though she had discussed it with Jiraiya-sensei beforehand.

Akaseki could understand why Jiraiya-sensei would approve—no matter how difficult this Bringer-of-Darkness Technique was, it was at least safer than Strength of a Hundred!

Ranwu loved practicing these high-difficulty techniques, and sometimes she was even a bit too reckless.

Jiraiya taught according to his students' aptitudes and didn't interfere too much with Ranwu's "ambition," only instructing her to tell him before she started learning anything—there was no need for Jiraiya to teach her at all, as who knew how many secret techniques and forbidden techniques were already in Ranwu's home...

As for his guidance of Akaseki, Jiraiya also followed the natural flow, only explaining certain doubts and general combat techniques to him. After all, Akaseki was a member of the Uchiha Clan who had already awakened the Sharingan, and Jiraiya didn't believe he could teach Akaseki better than the Uchiha Clan could.

In comparison, Minato received more direct guidance and was currently practicing "sensory perception"—Jiraiya had discovered that not only was he excellent in Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, Genjutsu, and every other aspect, but he also possessed a talent for being a sensory ninja!

Although they remained on the island, the training of the three did not fall behind.

Not only were Akaseki and Ranwu conducting special training with each other near the Mask Storage Hall, but by the seaside, Minato was currently placing a finger on the sand, sensing how many crab holes were in the vicinity...