Yuhi Kurenai stood up, picked up the Genjutsu Data Compendium, and flipped through it casually. Somewhat displeased, she said, "If you wanted to learn genjutsu, why didn't you just ask me? I'm a proper genjutsu Jonin. Books bought from roadside bookstores like this are all written by mediocre ninja looking to make money. True genjutsu masters would never write down their signature skills and sell them in books."
Qiushui gave her a strange look and said somewhat unconvinced, "No way, right? This cost me a thousand ryo. The bookstore owner said it was written by a very famous genjutsu master. Why don't you take a closer look before saying that?"
Yuhi Kurenai was about to retort when her eyes fell upon the first opened page, and the words caught in her throat.
In the author field, three words were written clearly: Yuhi Shinku.
The air fell silent for a second.
Without changing expression, Yuhi Kurenai closed the book, and her tone naturally took a turn. "Actually, this book is pretty good. For newcomers who have just started learning genjutsu, it really is helpful as an introductory read."
Qiushui said with a grin, "That's what I thought too. Lord Yuhi Shinku is one of Konoha's foremost genjutsu experts. Even someone like me who knows nothing about genjutsu gained quite a lot from reading his book."
"Of course." Yuhi Kurenai proudly lifted her chin. "Yuhi Shinku is my father, a famous Elite Jonin in the village. Even among those Uchiha Clan people who excelled at genjutsu, many admitted they were several levels beneath him."
Qiushui nodded. He did not deny what Yuhi Kurenai had said, because at that time, Fugaku Uchiha was the Uchiha Clan's only real talent. The others had either defected, had yet to be born, or were only five or six years old. Yuhi Shinku, meanwhile, was from the same generation as Sarutobi Hiruzen and had forced his way up to Elite Jonin through genjutsu alone. He truly could have crushed the genjutsu of those Uchiha Clan members at the time.
So that was why you later used genjutsu on Itachi Uchiha with such confidence?
He silently added in his heart, but his face remained perfectly calm.
Only after finishing did Yuhi Kurenai realize what she had said. Narrowing her eyes, she stared at him and asked, "Qiushui, did you deliberately avoid telling me the author's name first because you were waiting to laugh at me?"
"I didn't." Qiushui spread his hands with an innocent look. "Don't falsely accuse a good person."
Yuhi Kurenai rolled her eyes at him.
Why did Qiushui, who had seemed so honest before, feel like a completely different person after becoming a teacher?
Looking at the book in her hands, Yuhi Kurenai said seriously, "Qiushui, if you really want to learn ninjutsu, this book alone probably will not be very effective for a beginner with no foundation like you. I still have several introductory genjutsu materials my father specifically left for me. I'll go get them for you."
A flicker of interest flashed through Qiushui's eyes, but he quickly showed hesitation. "Those were things your father left to you. Wouldn't it be inappropriate for me to learn from them?"
"What's inappropriate about it?" Yuhi Kurenai waved a hand dismissively. "They're mine, so I can give them to whoever I want." She paused, then added with slight dissatisfaction, "Besides, you've let me mooch meals off you every day lately without refusing even once. Now that I can help you, I won't feel so embarrassed about coming over to eat later. Just treat it as meal money."
Hearing that, Qiushui stopped refusing and nodded in agreement.
On Saturday morning, the moment Qiushui opened his eyes, two familiar messages popped up before him.
[The high-quality talent Naruto Uzumaki bound to you trained diligently yesterday. You received 9 chakra feedback.] [The high-quality talent Hyuga Hinata bound to you trained diligently yesterday. You received 4 chakra feedback.]
Qiushui sat up from bed in high spirits. Over this period, Naruto and Hinata had contributed nearly two hundred points of chakra in total. Although each instance was not much, small amounts added up into a rather considerable accumulation.
After getting up, Qiushui headed to Training Ground 13.
Naruto and Hinata had already arrived and were waiting where they stood.
Qiushui walked over and greeted them. As usual, he first arranged for them to read and study while he occasionally called on one of them with questions. The final hour was reserved for a test paper.
"Naruto, Hinata, both of your theory grades have improved noticeably recently." After grading the tests, Qiushui gave them generous praise. "Especially Naruto. Your progress has been tremendous."
Although Naruto's score was still below the passing line, his average had stabilized at around forty points. Compared to the eight to fifteen points he had scored in every subject at the beginning, it was a complete transformation.
Hinata had also steadily risen from an initial average of sixty points in every subject to around seventy.
"It's because Teacher Qiushui teaches so well." Influenced by Hinata over this period, Naruto had also learned to be modest. He himself could hardly believe that his scores had improved so much in just half a month, and that he had even managed to use the Three Basic Techniques.
"Mhm, mhm." Hinata nodded seriously in agreement.
These days had been both fulfilling and happy for her.
After lunch, they continued with running, Tree Climbing, and ninja tool throwing practice.
Both of their physical abilities had improved noticeably from the beginning. The person most aware of this was Second Pillar. At first, he could easily lap them both, then he could only maintain a steady lead, and over the past few days, he had nearly been overtaken by them.
Both Hinata and Naruto had already mastered the techniques of Tree Climbing and could climb dozens of meters up a large tree in one go without falling.
Their Kunai throwing had also improved. Naruto could hit the target more than seven times out of ten, while Hinata was practically flawless every time.
Naruto had even successfully used the Three Basic Techniques. Though he could not yet be called proficient, he had already reached a passing standard.
"Naruto, come here. I'll teach you a ninjutsu."
Qiushui put down the scroll in his hand and beckoned to Naruto, who was practicing Kunai throwing.
Hearing the call, Naruto immediately put down his Kunai and ran over with a grin. "Teacher Qiushui, what ninjutsu is it?"
Qiushui did not answer directly. Instead, he turned and walked toward a nearby tree as thick as a bowl. He stopped before it, raised his right hand, and aimed his palm at the trunk.
The next instant, invisible chakra gathered in his palm, forming an almost tangible pressure before violently surging forward!
Boom.
An invisible shockwave tore through the air and slammed viciously into the trunk. The thick tree shook violently with a muffled cracking sound, then crashed to the ground. Its branches and leaves rustled loudly, kicking up a cloud of dust.
Qiushui then began teaching Naruto step by step how to learn this ninjutsu.
What disappointed Qiushui somewhat was that the gift critical-hit function had not activated at all.
Could it be because it was a reward given by the system, so it didn't count? Qiushui thought.
Before you continue