Preemptively Teaching "Strength of a Hundred" (Seeking Monthly Votes www)

The water on the blade began to churn chaotically, like a shattered mirror, slicing the sunlight into blinding spots of light that scattered in all directions.

The bandits charging at the front felt a flash of white light before their eyes, and everything in their field of vision began to twist and distort.

Their companions' faces morphed into monstrous shapes, and the ground beneath their feet undulated like waves.

Qingyu had infused the water flow with Yin Release chakra, using the shimmering water as a medium to cast an area-of-effect genjutsu.

Anyone who caught sight of the sword's glow would fall into the illusion.

The bandits were instantly dazed; blades and axes slipped from their hands, and they stood frozen in place.

Qingyu darted out from the shimmering light, his blade flashing as two heads went flying.

The bandit leader, known as the "Bandit King," had just raised his great axe to strike, but Qingyu sidestepped the blow and backhanded his sword through the man's heart.

As the lightning-imbued blade pierced his chest, the formidable bandit leader's eyes widened, and he collapsed without even a chance to groan.

[Trait available for collection: Bandit King]

[E-rank Trait: Bandit King]

[Effect: Having slain a local bandit leader, your combat presence makes it easier to strike fear into enemies and recruit subordinates.]

With Qingyu having cut down the leader, the remaining bandits under the influence of the genjutsu fell one by one beneath his blade.

By the time the effects of the illusion faded, the few remaining bandits finally snapped out of it, only to be met with a field of corpses and the wide-eyed, lifeless faces of their comrades.

They no longer cared about any treasures; they tossed their weapons aside and scrambled toward the woods.

Yūhi Kurenai was already waiting there.

With a single hand seal, the bandit in the lead suddenly stumbled, the fear in his eyes replaced by a vacant stare.

Yūhi Kurenai finished off the incapacitated bandit with a shuriken.

On the other side, Sarutobi Asuma caught up to a fleeing bandit, driving a kunai into the man's back.

The battle ended, leaving the mountain road in silence.

Fukuda Jun poked his head out from behind the ox cart, still shaken. Once he confirmed that all the bandits were lying in pools of blood, he tremblingly pulled a handkerchief from his robe and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Many thanks, ninja lords, many thanks! If not for you, I fear this trip would have been..."

"It's fine."

Yūhi Shinku walked over from beside the ox cart, his gaze sweeping over the corpses to ensure no one had escaped before turning his attention to Qingyu.

"Qingyu deserves the most credit this time."

He looked at Qingyu, his face showing undisguised appreciation.

Before meeting him, Yūhi Shinku had truly assumed that Qingyu's combat style relied on using the Sharingan to copy others' techniques or bombarding enemies with the vast chakra reserves of the Senju clan.

He had not expected Qingyu to infuse Yin Release chakra into the water flow.

This required not only exceptional talent in both Yin Release and Water Release but also incredibly precise chakra control to keep the two nature transformations stable within a single ninja tool.

Such ingenuity and skill were things many chunin, let alone genin, might not be capable of.

As Yūhi Shinku was thinking this, he suddenly sensed an abnormal fluctuation of chakra in the air.

He did not turn around, having anticipated an enemy behind him.

He simply spun, casting a genjutsu simultaneously.

A bandit hiding in the shadows had crept up behind the group, forming hand seals to cast a genjutsu at Yūhi Shinku.

The moment the Yin Release chakra of the genjutsu touched Yūhi Shinku, it was as if it had struck an invisible mirror, violently rebounding back at the caster.

The hidden bandit let out a muffled grunt, fell backward, eyes rolling into his head as he foamed at the mouth and began to convulse on the ground.

He had been backlashed by his own genjutsu.

Yūhi Shinku finally turned around, glanced down at the unconscious bandit, and shook his head.

He said nothing, merely beckoning the children to continue their journey.

Many bandits were actually former low-level ninjas who had chosen to abandon their status, yet they still retained the ability to use chakra and ninjutsu.

[Trait available for collection: Genjutsu Reflection]

[D-rank Trait: Genjutsu Reflection]

[Effect: Increases resistance to genjutsu by 30%, with a small chance to reflect genjutsu back at the caster.]

Qingyu felt a surge of joy as he looked at the text appearing before him.

No wonder the original story rumored that Yūhi Shinku could reflect genjutsu; he truly had the skills to back it up.

Fukuda Jun drove the ox cart back onto the road, leaving the unburied corpses behind on the mountain path.

The wind swept through the treetops, dispersing the scent of blood, and everything returned to calm.

For Yūhi Shinku, this C-rank mission was merely a routine escort, but for Qingyu and his two classmates, it was their first true taste of real combat.

Sarutobi Asuma wiped the blood from his Kunai with a cloth, saying nothing, though his mind remained preoccupied with the Sword of the Thunder God.

The old man is biased; I must confront him when I return.

Several days passed, and Qingyu finally returned to Konoha.

After collecting his share of the reward, Qingyu headed home.

Tsunade sat with her legs crossed, and upon hearing the knock at the door, she instinctively glanced toward the entrance.

She wanted to see if Shizune had returned with the sake.

"Qingyu, you're back already."

Qingyu changed his shoes and walked into the living room, his gaze falling upon the leg Tsunade had crossed over the other.

The hem of her trousers had slid up to her calf, revealing a stretch of fair ankle, her foot swaying gently in the air.

"Sister Tsunade, have you washed your feet?"

Tsunade froze for a moment, then looked up, fixing Qingyu with a look that clearly asked if he had a death wish.

"I wash my feet every single day. What kind of look is that?"

She set her magazine aside and, as if to prove a point, wiggled her foot.

The arch of her foot was soft and fluid, her toes plump and rounded, though the dark red nail polish on them was somewhat chipped and faded, showing it hadn't been touched up in a while.

Tsunade looked down at herself and noticed the issue as well.

She rummaged through the pile of clutter by the sofa armrest, fished out a small bottle of dark red nail polish, and held it out toward Qingyu.

"Since you're here, help me paint them."

Qingyu looked at the bottle of polish, then at Tsunade, and remained standing where he was.

"Didn't you just act disgusted with me a moment ago? Hurry up; I have serious business to discuss with you once it dries."

Tsunade shook the bottle.

Qingyu sighed, took the polish, and crouched down beside the sofa.

Tsunade extended her leg quite naturally, resting her fleshy thigh on Qingyu's knee, her foot landing right by his hand.

Qingyu unscrewed the cap, dipped the small brush into the polish, and began to apply it to Tsunade's toenails.

His movements were unexpectedly steady, not a drop touching her skin—a testament to the steady hand he had cultivated through his long practice of medical ninjutsu and swordsmanship.

"So, Sister Tsunade, what is this serious business you mentioned?"

Qingyu asked as he painted.

Being close to Tsunade, Qingyu could always smell a faint, lingering fragrance.

Up close, Qingyu also noticed that Tsunade's skin was impeccable, completely free of any blemishes.

"Naturally, it's about the Strength of a Hundred. Since you've already started taking on missions ahead of schedule, I think it's time to see if you're ready to learn it."

Tsunade said.

As for Shizune, Tsunade felt she was still lacking; her natural talent couldn't compare to Qingyu's.

It would have to be a slow process for her.