Konoha's main gate.
"It's a shame I can't go with you. Be careful on the road, all right?" Kushina said worriedly.
Taking the sealing scroll Kushina had carefully prepared and filled with Explosive Tags, soldier pills, Kunai, and Shuriken, Genichi smiled confidently and said:
"Don't worry. I'm the strongest."
Seeing Kushina Uzumaki looking at him with concern and fussing over him, Genichi couldn't help reaching out to pat her head again.
Over the years, Kushina had gradually emerged from the shadow of the Land of Whirlpools' destruction. Her personality had become optimistic, cheerful, and positive, and she had grown from a little girl into a graceful young woman. She had long, beautiful red hair, a hair clip in the bun on her left side, and a bracer on her left wrist.
Every farewell had to come to an end.
"About time. Let's go!" Genichi called to Mikoto and Hana, having successfully obtained his graduation certificate and permission to leave the village.
Konoha was certainly prosperous, but after spending twelve years in this world, he was bound to get tired of staying in one place. Filled with the curiosity and excitement of exploring a beautiful otherworld, as if he had only just arrived, Genichi officially stepped outside the village for the first time.
With the war underway, the three of them couldn't find a mission heading their way to escort them, nor could they hire a carriage. They had no choice but to travel the most primitive way. Fortunately, the Ninja World was full of beautiful scenery, with lush mountains and clear waters and a uniquely pristine charm, so the journey wasn't boring.
As they traveled toward the Land of Rain, the sun sank gradually, and the sky burned like fire. A breeze stirred, sending fallen leaves dancing through the air. At night, silvery moonlight spilled over the ground, and the mournful chirring of crickets echoed everywhere. The fragrance of the night filled the air, weaving a soft, dreamlike web.
Admiring the beautiful scenery before him, Genichi turned his gaze to the two girls beside him, both blossoming into lovely young women, each with her own distinct charm.
He couldn't help exclaiming, "A blessing for this wonderful world!"
Mikoto Uchiha was naturally beautiful, with snow-white skin and delicate features, like a lotus rising from the water. Her two-tomoe Sharingan was deep and alluring, adding a unique charm to her purity.
Over the past few years, Mikoto Uchiha had made remarkable progress in strength by following Genichi and her grandfather, Kaku's advice and frequently studying genjutsu. She was gentle toward others, yet strong-willed.
Hyuga Hana's white eyes were like autumn waters, and her finely drawn brows lent her an elegant, gentle air.
Genichi, however, could tell that as she gradually emerged from the shadows, her dark side was becoming increasingly apparent.
Thanks to Genichi's connections, she often got to study under Tsunade. Combined with the chakra control she had developed through years of Gentle Fist training and point strikes, as well as the Byakugan's powers of penetration and perception, Hana had found a chance to escape her restraints. Her hopes for the future ignited an unimaginable passion and drive in her.
The pressure of the Caged Bird, her longing for freedom, the best teacher, just the right amount of talent, and a Byakugan like a cheat code—everything had fallen into place. Naturally, Hana had made astonishing progress.
At last, they arrived at Konoha's front lines, at the Konoha command center.
Orochimaru, dressed in a practical shinobi combat uniform, came around from behind his desk and handed over a map. "The fighting is still at a stalemate, and I haven't found a chance to return to the village, so I had to bring you here. I left that gift in the laboratory marked on the map."
As he spoke, Orochimaru couldn't help licking his upper lip. "Heh, I'm looking forward to seeing what you can do. By the way, it's near the Land of Earth, and Iwagakure scouting squads pass through from time to time. Kill them and pluck out the Rock Ninja's eyes."
At this point in time, Orochimaru hadn't yet become obsessed with immortality, recklessly pursuing it by any means after Nawaki's death taught him how fragile life was, as in the original story. But he had already developed the habit of setting up laboratories everywhere, studying forbidden techniques, and modifying his body.
"Then I'll take my leave," Genichi said, departing with excitement in his heart.
How many Kekkei Genkai were there in the Ninja World?
No one had ever counted. If you asked Genichi, his answer would be twenty.
More precisely, that number excluded special Kekkei Genkai tied to the body or eyes, which were obviously connected to Yin Release or Yang Release, such as those of the Senju, Uzumaki, Kaguya, Hyuga, and Uchiha.
Combining the five basic natures two at a time, with each combination having two possible expressions, meant there could ultimately be twenty Kekkei Genkai.
After mastering the nature transformations of Wind and Lightning chakra, Genichi had kept trying to combine them into a Kekkei Genkai, but he still hadn't found the knack.
Transforming chakra into Wind and Lightning natures was like bringing the opposite poles of magnets together. He could force them together with brute strength, but they wouldn't truly connect. The moment he let go, they returned to their original state.
Genichi had tried all sorts of methods: wrapping one nature around the other, running them in parallel, rotating them, merging them, drawing them together...
After failing many times, Genichi realized he was on the wrong path. At best, it would lead to composite techniques like Earth Dragon Flame Flow or Lightning Water Dragon Bullet.
His attempts to work it out on his own had failed. It seemed he would have to study someone else's work first.
And that was why, today, the Magnet Release shinobi Genichi had asked Teacher Orochimaru to find had finally arrived.
Before you continue