After arranging everything, Dongfang Mao felt some of the pressure lift.
Back at his residence in Desolate Village, he finally had some free time to study the ninjutsu he had just acquired.
He took out the Konoha classic, the Great Fireball Technique, opened the scroll, and carefully studied it. Once he'd committed every step to memory, he began to practice.
With his mental strength, Dongfang Mao could clearly sense the flow of Chakra inside him and control it precisely, as easily as moving his own limbs. It was something every Genin and Chunin could only dream of.
As Dongfang Mao formed the standard Hand Seals, the Chakra inside him began to flow swiftly along the proper paths. At the same time, a scorching sensation welled up in his chest.
This is pretty easy, isn't it?
The thought crossed Dongfang Mao's mind, and he unconsciously sped up his Hand Seals.
With his memory and control over his body, there was no chance he'd botch them.
Soon, he finished the full sequence of seals.
The scorching feeling inside him surged upward again, reaching his throat.
Oh no!
Only then did he remember that he was inside a room, but it was too late. The itching, swelling sensation in his throat made his cheeks puff out at once.
The next moment!
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!
Boom!
A fireball as thick as a water tank erupted from his mouth, and the blazing wave instantly sucked all the air out of the room.
The wooden window frames warped and burst in the heat. Brick fragments and splinters scattered like a downpour as the scorching flames rolled out with the smoke.
"Big Brother!"
Yasuke was just leading a group of new recruits to the dining hall when he saw smoke billowing from Dongfang Mao's house and flames shooting into the sky. He froze for a moment, then immediately rushed over with the others.
But before he could reach the house, Dongfang Mao kicked open the wooden door, which was already on the verge of collapse, and walked out of the blazing inferno.
Looking at the house behind him, which was now completely uninhabitable, Dongfang Mao pursed his lips and brushed a burning splinter off his shoulder.
"Big Brother, what are you doing?"
Seeing that Dongfang Mao was unharmed, Yasuke finally relaxed. He stepped closer and asked, puzzled.
"I was practicing a ninjutsu and couldn't control it."
Dongfang Mao sighed helplessly, then looked at Yasuke.
"By the way, how's your progress with Chakra?"
Yasuke scratched his head.
"You know how it is, Big Brother. I've been so busy these past few days that I've barely had a moment to myself, so I haven't had time to study it properly. But..."
As he spoke, Yasuke raised his palm. A pale yellow glow appeared on it.
"I memorized all those hand signs. I can sense Chakra, too, and I can just about control it."
Dongfang Mao's eyes lit up. He grinned and chided him.
"Well, look at you, Yasuke. You're even joking with me now."
Yasuke might not be as gifted as Dongfang Mao, but he'd managed to grasp and use it in just a few days, despite having so little time. His talent was definitely greater than that of a large number of shinobi.
"You have an innate Earth nature to your Chakra. This is an Earth Release technique. Remember to practice when you have some free time."
Dongfang Mao pulled out two Earth Release technique manuals and handed them to Yasuke, then added,
"Also, when you get a chance, take that Chakra extraction technique to the brothers from the village and have them try it out. If a lot of them have talent..."
Dongfang Mao's lips curved slightly.
"I'll have you lead the shinobi troops."
Including the wounded soldiers, there were more than a hundred people who'd followed him from the Mount Yoshino stronghold. They were his foundation.
They were the basis of his position and power, and they obeyed him without question. Naturally, Dongfang Mao had to find a way to make them stronger.
Yasuke's breath caught. He'd lead a troop of shinobi?
"Thank you, Big Brother!"
The sudden, unexpected joy left Yasuke at a loss. He could only drop to one knee, his voice trembling with excitement.
Hearing their conversation, the new recruits behind him were also stunned. They hadn't realized that Yasuke, who trained them, and Dongfang Mao were legendary shinobi.
The crowd began to stir, their expressions shifting from shock to even more fervent adoration.
Dongfang Mao was a little taken aback by their reaction. He hadn't expected his accidental loss of control over the ninjutsu to have the unexpected benefit of bolstering his authority in their eyes once more.
But then he thought about it and realized it made sense. With the abilities shinobi possessed, they might as well be gods to these refugees.
"Get up. Take them to eat, then go back and practice. If you don't meet my standards, don't expect me to keep my promise."
"Don't worry, Big Brother. I'll practice hard!"
Yasuke sprang to his feet and promised excitedly.
After Yasuke led the others away, Dongfang Mao was about to find another place to stay when he noticed Luzhen standing motionless in front of the burned-down house. He must have come over after hearing the commotion. He stared silently at the scorch marks, his brow furrowed.
"What's wrong, Luzhen?"
Dongfang Mao found it strange.
"Lord Mao, I grew up in Konoha, so I know the Great Fireball Technique very well. But yours seemed different from the usual one. It looked like it contained more than just Fire-natured Chakra. It seemed to have..."
"Yang Power?"
Dongfang Mao instantly guessed what he meant and raised an eyebrow.
Luzhen was taken aback, then looked at Dongfang Mao in disbelief.
"Lord Mao, are you saying you combined Fire nature with Yang Power?"
Dongfang Mao nodded, then shook his head.
"I don't think you could call it a combination. It seems I just stumbled into making the Great Fireball Technique take on some of Yang Power's properties."
But Luzhen spoke excitedly.
"No, Lord Mao. This is what happens before two natures combine. In other words, you might be about to become a shinobi with a Kekkei Genkai!"
Kekkei Genkai?
Dongfang Mao found it hard to stay calm.
"If Lady Tsunade learns that you managed to try combining two natures in just a few days—and one of them was Yang Power—she'll probably be overjoyed!"
Luzhen looked at Dongfang Mao enviously. A Kekkei Genkai! Aside from the oddballs in Kirigakure, who in the entire Ninja World wouldn't want one?
Dongfang Mao nodded. He could almost picture Tsunade, upon hearing the news, dragging him into those two towering, terrifyingly sturdy structures and giving him a thorough beating.
"Don't tell anyone about this yet. I'll tell her myself. Go get some rest."
Dongfang Mao waved a hand.
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