Stacking Buffs

"Hmph~ hmph~"

Tsunade was in a great mood today. She was even starting to look forward to seeing Akiyama Shun's expression when he discovered she was his team leader.

That little brat will probably be thrilled to see me, right~

Thinking this, Tsunade headed to the meeting place Sarutobi Hiruzen had told her about.

Akiyama Shun was already waiting there, standing on a large rock.

"Brat, you're up early."

Tsunade came over beside Akiyama Shun and looked up at him.

Hearing Tsunade's voice, Akiyama Shun turned around, his eyes full of confusion.

"Lady Tsunade? You're awake this early? Usually, you'd still be hungover at this hour."

Tsunade's expression shifted slightly at his words. But since today was their first meeting as teacher and student, she twitched her brow and forced herself to keep a straight face.

"I didn't drink last night so I could get up early today."

"Wow~ Lady Tsunade, you're amazing!"

Akiyama Shun spoke in a deadpan voice, clapping along as if to encourage her.

Tsunade was clearly quite pleased with his encouragement. A smile spread across her face at his words.

The next second, Akiyama Shun put his hand on Tsunade's head.

"Then why don't you go play by yourself for a while, Lady Tsunade? Today's my first day as a Genin, and I have to meet my team leader. I'm busy. I'll play with you once I'm done."

With that, he ignored Tsunade and began scanning the area, as though looking for his team leader.

"...?"

The smile on Tsunade's face completely vanished.

"Why won't you play with me? No, wait! What do you mean, you'll play with me? Do you think I'm the kind of person who has nothing better to do every day? Is it possible that I'm your team leader?"

"But I'm still too young to drink, and I'm better at gambling than you are."

Again with that look. Akiyama Shun's eyes reminded Tsunade of the first time she'd sent him to help out at the hospital. He'd looked at her with that same doubtful expression. She couldn't take it anymore.

With a somewhat unhinged smile on her face, Tsunade prepared to teach Akiyama Shun a lesson. But just as she clenched her fist and was about to strike—

Akiyama Shun had already jumped down from the rock and bowed.

"Good morning, Teacher Tsunade!"

At those words, Tsunade instantly calmed down. Seeing the brat act so respectfully toward her even gave her a strange sense of satisfaction.

At that moment, Tsunade wasn't the only one feeling good. Akiyama Shun was pleased too.

Perfect!

With Tsunade, one of the Sannin, as his team leader, he was set!

"By the way, brat, you haven't tested your chakra nature yet, have you? Take this."

As she spoke, Tsunade handed Akiyama Shun a piece of Chakra Paper. He took it and began releasing chakra.

As Akiyama Shun released his chakra, the Chakra Paper changed to display his natures.

"Oh, all five chakra natures."

Tsunade nodded as she looked at the results. She wasn't surprised at all. Given Akiyama Shun's performance so far, five chakra natures weren't surprising.

Looking at his chakra natures, Akiyama Shun smiled.

He hadn't equipped any ninja just now, which meant these chakra natures belonged to him naturally.

The boost from Akiyama Shun's five chakra natures was far greater than anyone else's!

For example, if he later drew [A (Fourth Raikage)], he would gain Lightning Release Chakra Mode. But if he didn't have a lightning nature of his own, he wouldn't be able to use Lightning Release Chakra Mode after unequipping [A (Fourth Raikage)]. He wouldn't even be able to learn it.

But since Akiyama Shun already had a lightning nature, things were completely different!

After learning Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he could use it while equipped with other ninja, maximizing his combat strength!

All special modes that worked as buffs could be stacked this way.

For example, if he drew [Uzumaki Naruto (Nine-Tails Chakra)], he could use Nine-Tails Chakra and stack it with Lightning Release Chakra Mode!

And if he also learned other special modes that didn't require a Kekkei Genkai, such as Sage Mode...

Heh heh heh!

"By the way, I've heard you're very talented as a ninja, but I've never actually seen it for myself. Since I'm your teacher now, I need to get a good understanding of your current level so I can teach you better."

Tsunade's voice interrupted Akiyama Shun's daydreams about the future.

"Combat ability isn't something you can explain with words. Let's see it in a real fight. You don't need to think about anything else right now. Attack me with everything you have, as if you were trying to kill me."

As soon as Tsunade finished speaking, a huge, round boulder dropped from the sky and crashed down toward her!

Earth Release: Rock Fall!

This was Akiyama Shun's first time using this scroll technique. He hadn't needed it against the Ninja Academy students, but fighting Tsunade was different. He'd use every offensive technique he had!

As for whether this would hurt Tsunade, Akiyama Shun hadn't even considered it. He knew exactly how strong he was.

Tsunade was startled when she saw the boulder, but she quickly reacted and punched the rock above her.

The boulder, which was as tall as a person, was no different from a balloon to Tsunade.

"Bang!" The rock shattered at her fist's impact, its fragments flying in every direction.

Rock Fall's first appearance ended like that. It hadn't even dealt any damage, but Akiyama Shun had expected as much.

"Brat, don't you know to warn your teacher before attacking?"

After smashing Rock Fall with one punch, Tsunade's expression didn't change as she swiftly entered battle mode.

"Didn't Teacher Tsunade tell me to attack as if I were trying to kill you? If I'm going to kill someone, how could I warn them in advance?"

Akiyama Shun's answer made Tsunade laugh. She didn't argue, and even nodded in approval.

"Good, brat. That's the right attitude for a fight!"

Equip [Gekko Hayate]!

The moment he equipped the card, Akiyama Shun also used a scroll to summon the White Fang Blade.

Dance of the Crescent Moon!

Three Shadow Clones appeared, attacking Tsunade simultaneously from different angles!

Tsunade raised an eyebrow, surprised. She hadn't expected Akiyama Shun to have already mastered this sword technique so well. As long as—

No!

That wasn't right!

Tsunade had been carefully watching the attack, but now her brow furrowed. She'd suddenly noticed a problem.

Something was off about this Dance of the Crescent Moon!

Akiyama Shun's Dance of the Crescent Moon was much faster and more ferocious than usual!

That explosive burst of speed felt more like White Fang Sword Technique than Konoha Style Swordsmanship.

This was a combination of Konoha Style Swordsmanship and White Fang Sword Technique!