Because the mission was classified, Kakashi chose to take a detour on the way to the southwestern part of the Land of Fire.
According to the intelligence, Tsunade and Shizune were currently staying in Tanzaku Town, known throughout the Shinobi World as a "den of vice." What Tsunade was doing there went without saying.
Konoha's reputation for gambling, drinking, and debauchery had long since spread throughout the Shinobi World.
Tanzaku Town's Tanzaku Street was the Las Vegas of the Naruto world.
It was dotted with entertainment complexes, casinos, hot spring inns, and taverns—the "forbidden zone" for shinobi.
The Three Shinobi Taboos: abstain from sex, alcohol, and gambling.
Tanzaku Street wholeheartedly embraced those "Three Taboos," making it the Land of Fire's city of freedom. It had been listed as a "Cultural Heritage Site of the Land of Fire" and was one of the international cities the nation was working hard to develop.
Tsunade showing up there was only natural.
Kazuhiko was following behind Kakashi, running and leaping across the treetops as they hurried onward.
After saying goodbye to Might Guy, the two exchanged only the occasional brief words about their route. Otherwise, they didn't speak at all.
At this point, Kakashi only let his emotions show around Guy. He hadn't yet become the gentle mentor who looked lazy, carried Icha Icha Paradise around all day, and liked to show up late and slack off.
So even when Kazuhiko tried to start a conversation, Kakashi didn't respond.
In Kakashi's eyes, completing the Hokage's mission was what mattered most.
Before long, the sun sank and night fell.
Only then did the two stop to rest beside a secluded mountain stream.
After carefully checking the area for any potential dangers, Kakashi leaned against a tree trunk and closed his eyes to rest.
Kazuhiko found a large, flat rock, took out his tent, and set up camp on it for the night.
He'd brought a bodyguard this time and had a backup plan, so he felt at ease.
"Kakashi, I've set up a separate tent for you too. Make yourself at home."
Kakashi opened his eyes and gave a simple "Mm" before closing them again.
Seeing that he didn't feel like talking, Kazuhiko promptly decided to get some rest.
If he wanted to raise Kakashi's affection for him, Guy would have to be there too.
With Kakashi's withdrawn nature at the moment, being too eager would just be like pressing a warm face against a cold shoulder—he'd only make himself uncomfortable.
After eating some rations, Kazuhiko ducked into his tent, and his nerves instantly sprang to life.
"With all my talent!"
"With my astonishing perseverance!"
"With my boundless wisdom!"
"With my peerless aptitude!"
"Kamui Mangekyo, come to me!"
The cries in his heart burst forth. One by one, glowing entries appeared on the pages of Deep Blue, shining brilliantly amid flashes of blue, green, and purple.
Was it going to be another day of terrible luck?
Even with this ten-pull Jonin draw, Kazuhiko still hadn't seen a golden glow.
[Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (Green)—Converted into: Basic Wind Style Chakra Nature Transformation (Green)]
The Wind Release Ninjutsu entry had directly converted into the corresponding Chakra Nature Transformation!
Kazuhiko raised an eyebrow and immediately equipped the entries, attempting to fuse them.
[Equipped Entry: Basic Fire Style Chakra Nature Transformation (Green)]
[Equipped Entry: Basic Wind Style Chakra Nature Transformation (Green)]
Nothing happened.
"They can't be fused?"
Kekkei Genkai related to nature transformations could be developed after the fact by combining two types of Chakra Nature Transformation to create a new release.
For instance, the Third Kazekage's Magnet Release and Mizukage Mei Terumi's Lava Release and Boil Release had all been developed and mastered by their users.
So as soon as Kazuhiko got entries for both Wind and Fire Chakra Nature Transformations, he'd tried to fuse them, hoping to create a Scorch Release entry.
But reality was far less generous than the ideal.
Basic Chakra Nature Transformation entries clearly couldn't be fused to create a Kekkei Genkai.
Kazuhiko held out his hand, and a faint wisp of Wind Release Chakra immediately curled around his fingertip.
"Since I don't naturally have Wind Release Chakra, the Wind Release Ninjutsu entry converted directly, giving me the corresponding chakra nature first."
Of the Five Basic Nature Transformations, Kazuhiko had only been born with Fire Release.
Fire Release was also an innate chakra nature among Uchiha shinobi.
As for the Yin Release Chakra associated with the Sharingan, it lay hidden in their bloodline and usually didn't manifest directly.
An Uchiha had to awaken the Sharingan before gaining this chakra nature.
Kazuhiko suspected that because his previous self had been born with both Yin and Yang, the two types of chakra had counteracted each other. That was why his former self had remained a Genin for years and had been unable to awaken the Sharingan even on the brink of death.
[Earth Release: Earth Flow Bullet (Green)—Converted into: Basic Earth Style Chakra Nature Transformation (Green)]
He'd gotten Fire, Wind, and Earth. What would come next?
[Lightning Release: Lightning Clone (Blue)—Converted into: Perfect Lightning Nature Transformation (Blue)]
The blue entry made Kazuhiko's eyes light up.
But when he realized that Lightning Clone had been converted into its corresponding Chakra Nature Transformation, he felt a little crushed.
"Why did a blue entry have to convert? My Lightning Clone!"
The Lightning Clone could imitate its user's movements in battle. When it dispersed, it could also unleash a powerful electric current, paralyzing enemies or even causing explosive damage.
Compared to Water Clones and Shadow Clones, it was far more useful.
Phantom Body Flicker paired with Lightning Clone would make for an absolutely beautiful battle scene.
When enemies were surrounded by multiple Phantom Body Flickers, a Lightning Clone mixed in among them could turn into a human bomb. Just shout, "The art of ninjutsu is explosion!" and tell me—what shinobi could guard against that?
"What a massive loss..."
[Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique (Blue)—Converted into: Perfect Water Chakra Nature Transformation (Blue)]
"Water Dragon Bullet..."
Kazuhiko didn't feel bad about losing Water Dragon Bullet.
By his standards, that technique was a complete dud.
It wasn't fit to hold a candle to Lightning Clone.
Looking at the two Perfect Chakra Nature Transformation entries, Kazuhiko suddenly realized something.
"Could it be?"
He didn't have time to mourn the loss of Lightning Clone. He immediately equipped both entries.
[Equipped Entry: Perfect Lightning Nature Transformation (Blue)]
[Equipped Entry: Perfect Water Chakra Nature Transformation (Blue)]
The instant he successfully equipped them, Deep Blue gave him a familiar jolt—
[Entries of the same type equipped. Fusing...]
"The Kekkei Genkai produced by combining Lightning and Water is..."
Kazuhiko's breathing grew rapid.
"Am I about to gain my first Kekkei Genkai?"
For the Uchiha, the Sharingan was merely a dojutsu, not a Kekkei Genkai.
[Entry fusion successful—]
[Kekkei Genkai: Storm Release (Light Purple)]
[Description: A Kekkei Genkai produced by simultaneously combining Lightning Release Chakra and Water Release Chakra. It can create black lightning that can be freely guided. Combining the destructive power of Lightning Release with the fluidity of water allows the lightning to be controlled freely, like a stream, and to change direction and shape.]
Storm Release, one of Kumogakure's top-tier Kekkei Genkai.
Darui had become the Fifth Raikage thanks to Storm Release. Its power went without saying.
Was Lightning Clone really such an amazing technique?
Kazuhiko thought it was pretty average.
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