Unlocking New Ninjutsu

Clap, clap, clap, clap.

A series of handclaps rang out, slow and low, yet possessing a piercing resonance.

It was like a high-ranking noble applauding after witnessing a magnificent play.

"Not bad."

The voice caused Kishida Jun, lying in a pool of blood, to struggle as he tilted his head to look.

"White Ghost Messenger."

The person who had arrived—or rather, the figure currently sitting cross-legged in mid-air—wore a plain white hunting robe and matching plain white trousers.

Beneath his tall white hat, his unusually delicate features held a faint, enigmatic smile, and his crimson eyes fell upon Kishida Jun, reflecting a dying figure.

"Are you... here to take my soul?"

The severely wounded Kishida Jun felt no fear. Ever since he had learned of the existence of "souls" and the "Underworld," death had lost the terror of the "unknown." Or perhaps, the prospect of seeing Ryoko again even filled him with a sense of anticipation.

"We of the Underworld are sticklers for rules. However—"

Floating down to the side of the blood-soaked Kishida Jun, Akihi Yu, currently playing the role of the White Ghost Messenger, glanced to the side.

The corpse of Santaro lay nearby; he had managed to defeat three "Wind Style" clones of the same rank using only D-rank Water Style, and what's more—

His Water Style had broken through!

In a great mood, Akihi Yu maintained his White Ghost Messenger persona and hooked a finger.

The ceramic jar at Santaro's waist floated over through the air.

"I am a kind-hearted person; I cannot bear to see those who serve me suffer."

He opened the jar and poured the ointment inside, drenching Kishida Jun's head and face.

Of course, this "Purple Cloud Ointment" had no actual healing properties, but Akihi Yu's medical ninjutsu was more than capable of treating these external wounds.

"Cough, cough."

"Don't waste your effort, Lord White Ghost Messenger."

The external wounds healed under the ointment—or rather, under the influence of the "medical ninjutsu."

But the blood Kishida Jun had lost and the chakra he had overdrawn had brought him to the point of total exhaustion.

"Little brat, are you trying to provoke me?"

However, the White Ghost Messenger saw through Kishida Jun's petty trick with a single glance.

"I said you wouldn't die today, and no one can make you die!"

He reached out and beckoned again, and the stone necklace around Santaro's neck flew over as well.

He pinched the stone between his index and middle fingers as if holding a chess piece.

"Go."

As the White Ghost Messenger gave the soft command, a gray aura flew out from the stone and merged into the half-dead body of Kishida Jun.

The next second, The boy who had been on the verge of closing his eyes suddenly sat bolt upright from the ground.

"This is?!"

Touching his own body, Kishida Jun felt his entire being brimming with power.

He felt he could easily kill his former self!

"I have given you the demonic power within this Sessho-seki to replenish your withered body."

This, of course, was a lie.

But under a different guise, Akihi Yu had indeed bestowed upon Kishida Jun the mana of a Chunin, as well as three C-rank Water Style ninjutsu: Thousand Needles of Rain and Dew, Water Clone, and Water Prison Technique.

Mana is, in essence, the product of spiritual energy mixed equally with physical energy.

Conversely, replenishing mana can bring a person back to full health instantly.

A certain unkillable Jinchuriki could serve as a living testament to this.

"Well? Have you gained new abilities?"

Facing the smiling White Ghost Messenger, Kishida Jun, whose mind was flooded with information about his "new abilities," bowed respectfully.

"Yes."

"I have caused you trouble, Lord White Ghost Messenger."

"There is no need for that."

Waving a hand, the White Ghost Messenger spoke with a flat expression.

"You collect the Sessho-seki for me, and I use the imprisoned souls to fulfill my quota. It is merely a transaction."

"No, I believe that with your methods, Lord White Ghost Messenger, selecting a new 'subordinate' would be effortless."

Facing the boy who remained bowed in respect, the White Ghost Messenger let out a scoff.

"Quite sensible,"

Dada dada dada~~

Just then, the sound of helicopter rotors could be heard from outside the mist.

At the same time, the thin mist surrounding them rippled continuously, as if it would dissipate at any moment.

"Sir, is it the authorities?"

Looking up, there was no sign of the White Ghost Messenger anywhere.

At such close range, they hadn't even noticed that Master was indeed 'elusive'.

Collecting himself, he picked up the umbrella he cherished more than his own life. Glancing at the three disappearing 'Kamaitachi' corpses on the ground, Kishida Jun lightly stepped, and his entire body leaped out, like a fish entering the sea, disappearing into the ocean without a sound, not even a ripple.

"Damn it, can't a person get any rest?!"

Jumping out of the helicopter, Iori Ichika was furious.

What the hell, don't these supernatural beings ever sleep?

"Officer!"

Fuji Seiko, who had arrived at the scene first, saluted and gestured.

"Please come this way."

"A supernatural battle occurred here--"

Why were they so sure it was a supernatural battle? The human-shaped indentations on the shipping containers were proof!

"At the same time, we also found three supernatural items at the scene."

Waving her hand, personnel in hazmat suits carefully brought over three sterile plastic bags.

Inside were a wooden stick, a sickle, and a ceramic pot.

At first glance, these items looked like antique handicrafts, but their presence in this messy dock was highly suspicious, and furthermore:

"Please look at these huge indentations, and these slashes."

Teng Seishi pointed to the ground, indicating giant pits large enough for her to bathe in, and the smooth, long cuts on the surrounding metal containers.

"According to our analysis, the wooden stick and the sickle were responsible for these destructive marks."

"And, we found a large amount of blood at the scene."

"The blood has been collected and sent for analysis."

"Well done,"

Iori Ichika patted her shoulder, very satisfied.

"It's a waste of your talents to be just a police inspector. I will report your achievements to my superiors."

"It's my duty,"

The mature female officer shook her head slightly. She was a diligent police officer, and these matters were simply part of her job description: although in this world, fewer and fewer people were able to do their jobs properly.

"Seal off the scene, don't miss a single detail!"

Although the supernatural beings who fought were no longer present, Iori Ichika still directed the police to completely seal off the dock.

As for the reason, a fabricated one would suffice. However, this kind of 'mist-shrouded' situation...

It had appeared when recruiting Tanimura Wataru, and when the Earthquake Catfish first appeared!

Rain Woman, No, that person might be--

A supernatural being!

"The blood analysis report is out,"

When Iori Ichika returned to the Metropolitan Police Department, she was immediately summoned to the Director's office.

Besides Director Takeya, several section chiefs were present, as well as two American consultants, a man and a woman, with blonde hair and blue eyes.

Placing the report in his hand, Director Takeya's gaze fell on Iori Ichika.

"The subject is human."

"Experts have discovered a phenomenon similar to 'demonic power' in the blood."

The government had Tanimura Wataru's blood and the Shiba Inu he left behind, and had already achieved some results in their research: of course, now they also had Amame Ei, codenamed 'Miko', and the Earthquake Catfish beside her.

What?

Experimenting on that 'Divine Child'?

Weren't they afraid of the Inari God striking them down with lightning!

No, that deity's domain didn't include lightning, but causing all the plants in the Island Nation to wither...

"Before the report was even out, you were certain the target was a superhuman?"

"Ichika, explain your reasoning."

"Yes."

The slovenly female section chief straightened the collar of her leather jacket.

"The target is accompanied by dense fog every time they appear. If the target did this in the previous two incidents to block their opponent's line of sight, then today's battle..."

It took place in a corner of the dim docklands where both sides' vision was already impaired; casting dense fog would have been redundant.

"And yet, the opponent still deployed the fog. There is only one purpose."

Security cameras!

In this day and age, cameras are becoming increasingly ubiquitous. Walking through streets and alleys, one might be under surveillance without even knowing it.

Add to that the fact that everyone carries a smartphone, and it has become a global consensus to film any situation and post it to social media.

"Therefore, the target codenamed 'Rain Woman' must be very familiar with the structure of modern society."

Iori Ichika left one thing unsaid: during the Tanimura Wataru incident, America had intervened aggressively. If not for that fog, Tanimura Wataru would have been shredded into pulp by machine gun fire long ago. Furthermore, even the 'Rain Woman' lurking in the shadows seemed highly wary of attack helicopters, judging by the traces of activity she left behind.

"The opponent is human!"

"Although we don't know how the target became 'Rain Woman,' their behavioral patterns are extremely cautious and prudent. Combined with their supernatural powers, it is very difficult for us to track them."

Don't be fooled by the fact that we obtained the target's blood—DNA matching requires a reference. Are we supposed to screen the ten million people in Tokyo with just a single blood sample?

Besides, it is still up for debate whether the target is even a 'person' from Tokyo!

"Hmm."

"Does anyone else have anything to add?"

Hearing Director Takeya's inquiry, the blonde-haired, blue-eyed male consultant spoke first.

"Mr. Takeya,"

"I hear you seized three 'supernatural items' tonight."

"My country's Oak Ridge National Laboratory possesses the world's top materials science researchers and is willing to make a contribution to the cause of the supernatural."

?!

Damn American bastards—

Director Takeya's face twitched. We just got a little something, and they want to plunder it already?

"Sir,"

Iori Ichika spoke lazily with her hands in her pockets.

"These supernatural items were left behind by supernatural entities from our country."

"If they are shipped to your country, under the radiance of 'Freedom'—or perhaps 'The Lord'—will they suddenly lose their original miraculous properties?"

???

The people in the office were stunned, then quickly realized the implication.

That's right.

That 'Yahweh' claims, 'You shall have no other gods before me.' Although America claims to be inclusive, who knows if these supernatural items will fail once they leave their homeland?

Who would dare take that responsibility?

"Then we only want two."

"Sir, will you take responsibility for the consequences?"

The Island Nation and America began bickering again, but it could not dampen Akihi Yu's pleasant mood in the slightest.

"Earth and Water style ninjutsu have both been upgraded to C-rank."

"And even better—"

It also unlocked the Summoning Jutsu!

In the World of Fire, the Summoning Jutsu is a C-rank ninjutsu.

However, to summon a 'summoned beast,' one usually needs to find one first, or sign a contract with a clan of summoned beasts through a contract scroll.

In this world, there are neither wild summoned beasts nor any 'Sacred Lands.'

"So then—"

The Crow perched on the rooftop stroked its chin with its wing in a human-like gesture.

"What should I raise?"