Heart Perfection

Kanna was somewhat conflicted regarding his father's question. It was true that he was the sole survivor, but that didn't necessarily mean he understood the situation in its entirety. Of the hundred or so people present at the time, several dozen had fled the moment they saw Zabuza slaughtering everyone in his path. Kanna had only witnessed a portion of the deaths; the rest remained a mystery to him.

Come to think of it, if Zabuza hadn't been a master of swordsmanship—someone who always aimed for vital points to kill with a single strike—the scene would have been far bloodier. Kanna doubted he could have stomached it. For instance, if Zabuza had used wide-range Fire Release or Earth Release ninjutsu instead, the mere thought of that carnage made Kanna shudder with fear.

How old was Zabuza at that time? It was the year 4 of the Konohagakure era, making him only nine years old. A nine-year-old child capable of slaughtering over a hundred people—even if it were an extreme outlier, Kanna found it impossible to comprehend. What exactly was going on inside that guy's head?

Were there people in Kirigakure at the time who could rival Zabuza? Yes. Take those who would become famous later: Kisame Hoshigaki and Mei Terumi. The former was 12, and the latter was 11 (according to records, Kisame died in the year 6 of the Konohagakure era at age 32, and Mei Terumi appeared in the year 6, at which time she was 31). In terms of ability, they were even stronger than Zabuza, and in terms of qualifications, they were leagues ahead. Yet, neither of them was like him—completely devoid of humanity, a living beast.

Without further delay, Kanna gave a brief account of what had happened on the day of the exam.

"Is that so?" Kanna Tokiomi fell silent for a moment before sighing. "Though he is a bit brutal, I must admit, he is an extraordinary fellow."

Extraordinary? Kanna was speechless at his father's assessment. As for Zabuza, even though the man had stabbed him, holding a grudge would be too petty. His skills were inferior, and Kanna had nothing to say to that. Conversely, he actually admired Zabuza's audacity. At the very least, the man had dared to rebel against the Fourth Mizukage's tyranny, launched a daring assassination attempt on the Mizukage, and even managed to escape after failing! He had also taken the Kubikiribōchō, one of the Seven Ninja Swords of the Mist, and survived for quite some time while being hunted by the Kirigakure Anbu, only finally falling at the hands of Kakashi.

Zabuza was a man of fierce, cruel nature, possessing a unique, haughty pride. To him, ordinary ninja weren't even worth remembering. In some respects, he was quite a man of character.

However, Kanna felt a bit annoyed now. Not for any other reason, but because after learning the details about Zabuza, Kanna Tokiomi had actually worn an expression that screamed, "If one is to have a son, he should be like Sun Zhongmou," with a hint of disappointment so deep it was practically overflowing from his eyes.

To this, Kanna felt he was catching strays while lying down. This has absolutely nothing to do with me, okay? How long have I even been here? How do you expect me to go up against Zabuza?

Thinking of this, he subconsciously touched his chest, where the "Highland" that could grant him infinite power resided.

Lost in thought, Kanna Tokiomi spoke up: "You are a ninja now. How do you intend to walk your path in the future?"

Kanna was stunned. What did that mean? Was he trying to pull strings for him? He had no such intention. According to his own plan, he should be biding his time, solidifying his foundation, learning from scratch, slowly increasing his chakra, and analyzing ninjutsu.

With the Highland and that system, he could obtain a steady stream of ninjutsu. He would understand what he could, analyze what he could, and if all else failed, transplant them into the Highland to use. The bottleneck for his growth lay only in his own comprehension, his chakra reserves, and the tempering of real combat. While following the standard path of starting with E-rank missions like an ordinary ninja had its benefits, Kanna felt the cost outweighed the gains.

With a broad, smooth road ahead, why would Kanna abandon the roots to pursue the trivial? Could he really not achieve anything by training at home? Don't make him laugh. How long did it take for Obito to go from a Genin to someone capable of fighting the Fourth Hokage? He had only practiced with White Zetsu every day. Although there was the guidance of Madara, Kanna didn't feel he was any worse.

"I want to stay home," Kanna replied.

Upon hearing this, Kanna Tokiomi's first reaction was disbelief, followed by a sudden surge of anger.

Stay home? What did that mean? Avoiding battle? Refusing to fulfill his responsibilities and duties? Afraid to face the enemy?

Swish! Kanna Tokiomi suddenly raised his hand, making a move to strike.

Seeing the situation turn sour, Kanna knew that with his current skills, he couldn't dodge it, nor should he. In this world, if a superior or an elder wanted to discipline or strike you, you could not evade it!

"Father!" Kanna went all out. He simply closed his eyes and shouted, "I am no longer a child! I am a ninja of Kirigakure! I know what I want! I have the courage to bear everything! To face everything! I want to stay home until you, Father, Mother, and everyone else recognize my strength!"

Whoosh! The palm stopped right in front of Kanna's face. He opened his eyes to see his father's face filled with a mix of shock and uncertainty. Slowly, the expression faded, returning to calm. His father pulled his hand back, resting it on his knee again, his chest held straight.

A long silence followed. During this time, Morishita Mai even opened the door to peek in twice, then retreated silently, not daring to say a word.

After a long while, Kanna suddenly heard his father say in a leisurely tone: "Standing in the center, body on the earth, sword severing ghosts and gods, all laws unable to touch... You really have changed."

Tokiomi's words were like a thunderous blow, causing Kanna to wake up with a start. He finally understood the true meaning of the samurai painting in the entryway.

To hold a sword and strike downward—what it cuts is the human heart! It cuts through delusions! It cuts through all demons, monsters, and ghosts!

As a ninja, who hasn't had their heart "cut" by a sword? Without cutting the heart, how can one attain true freedom? How can one reach true enlightenment?

What was the Sage of Six Paths' strongest artifact? It wasn't the Shakujo, nor was it the Sword of the Sage, but the Sword of Nunoboko, known as the Sword of Heart's Desires!

And what did Naruto use to defeat Uchiha Obito, who had achieved the Six Paths and wielded the Sword of Heart's Desires? Nothing else but one word: Heart!

What did Kaguya Otsutsuki rely on to be immortal? What did she rely on to create a dream world? It was still the power of the heart.

In this world, the strongest power is not anything else, but the heart itself.

Kanna silently closed his eyes. Having grasped this, he felt his mental state elevate infinitely, as if someone who had suffered from insomnia for days had finally enjoyed a good, deep sleep. His spirit and heart began to reach a state of wholeness.

With this realization, breaking through the Genin-level chakra limit was only a matter of time.