Ripples

"That is how it happened. The enemy's corpse is in the woods to the northeast of the village."

Inside the Hokage Building, Genichi recounted the events truthfully from his own perspective.

"Kushina is fine, too. She just needs a night's sleep," Tsunade said after checking on the unconscious Kushina.

"Genichi, you did well this time. You reacted quickly, kept your cool in a crisis, and protected your comrade well from the enemy ninja." The Third Hokage, relieved that it was only a scare, did not skimp on his praise:

"I have already heard your teacher praise you many times. They all say you are an excellent successor to the Will of Fire, with grades and strength among the best. This time, I will first record a successful B-rank mission in your file.

It is too late today, so go back and rest first. Think carefully about what kind of reward you want. Oh, right, according to the confidentiality regulations, you must not tell anyone about tonight's events, understand?"

"Understood. Then I will take my leave, Lord Hokage," Genichi replied.

For Genichi, today's events had come to an end, but for some, things were only just beginning.

Still in the Hokage Building.

Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the documents submitted by the Anbu and realized, belatedly, that after he had withdrawn the Anbu from Kushina's side, Danzō had also withdrawn the Root ninja.

Strike first to gain the advantage; if someone in the Hokage Building made a mistake, that person certainly would not be the Hokage.

"What exactly are you trying to do? You kept saying that the Root ninja would protect Kushina well, and this is how you protect her? If Genichi hadn't discovered it by accident, Kushina would have been taken to the Cloud Village," Sarutobi Hiruzen roared angrily at Danzō.

At this moment, Shimura Danzō had also pieced together the full picture. It wasn't just me who withdrew the ninja, so why is it all my fault?

Danzō had grievances he couldn't voice. He had indeed made harsh threats when he left the Hokage's office a while ago, and it seemed he would have to take the blame whether he liked it or not.

But rather than defending his own mistakes, it was better to take the initiative and create an opportunity.

"In any case, the incident has already occurred. This shows that studying at the Ninja Academy is not safe; all intelligence has been leaked. Send the jinchūriki to Root, and I guarantee that no one will be able to reach into the darkest corners of Konoha."

Danzō brushed aside the issue and further pushed his own demands.

"Impossible. Since Root lacks the capability, you will not interfere in Kushina's affairs from now on," Sarutobi Hiruzen made his decision directly.

"Hmm, very well. But I want to ask you for one person," Danzō had long since stopped counting on being able to interfere with the jinchūriki.

"Who do you want?" The kidnapping incident was over, and no losses had been incurred, so Sarutobi Hiruzen was not as angry as he had appeared.

"Chiba Genichi. Hiruzen, you know that when Root was established, it was mainly responsible for external affairs, specifically to handle things that were inconvenient to place in the open. Root ninja generally lack individual strength, and some intelligence is difficult to collect."

"You want to send a genius like Genichi to other countries to steal intelligence?" Hiruzen looked at his old friend as if seeing him for the first time: "This matter need not be discussed further. You only need to do your own job well. Remember, I am the Hokage!"

"You will definitely regret this, Hiruzen." You are only one step ahead of me, Danzō thought as he slammed the door and left.

Danzō only felt that all the setbacks today were because he was not the Hokage.

The next day, Ninja Academy.

Just as she entered the classroom, Kushina trotted over to Genichi, opened her arms, and the two hugged tightly.

"Thank you, Genichi. I thought I would never see everyone again," little Kushina's eyes shimmered with tears.

Watching the two hug for no apparent reason, Mikoto Uchiha felt strange in her heart, but she couldn't say why.

"Are you alright now, Kushina?" Genichi comforted her.

"I'm fine, Genichi. Can you come to my house after school? Grandma Mito wants to see you," Kushina asked hurriedly as her emotions calmed down.

"Since Lady Mito has invited me, I will certainly accept," Genichi smiled and patted Kushina's head.

"Chiba Genichi, Lord Hokage has sent word. Go to the Hokage's office now," Teacher Kimura, who had just entered, announced.

Upon arriving at the Hokage Building, an Anbu ninja led Genichi directly into the Hokage's office.

"Genichi, how did you rest last night?" the Third Hokage asked with a kind smile: "Have you thought about what reward you want? If you aren't sure, you can tell me, and let this old man help you consider it."

Looking at the Hokage, who was around forty and already showing signs of age, Genichi said sincerely: "How could you be old, Lord Hokage? You are currently in your prime. Also, last night, I used my own self-created ninjutsu against the enemy--the Rasengan.

It is roughly an A-rank ninjutsu without hand seals. This is its training method. I am willing to hand it over to the village to make my own contribution." Genichi took out the scroll he hadn't used yesterday and added:

"Moreover, the Rasengan currently only contains the aspect of chakra shape transformation. If chakra nature transformation is added later, its power might rival an S-rank forbidden jutsu."

"Good, good, good." Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the ninja student before him who sought no reward and was dedicated to contribution. His heart was filled with comfort, feeling that the Will of Fire had successors, and for a moment, he was too happy to speak.

"The village will not treat any ninja who contributes to it unfairly. The more you give, the more the village will reward you," the Third Hokage said solemnly after catching his breath:

"Think carefully about what reward you really want."

Pretending to think for a while, Genichi then said: "Lord Third, I have tested my chakra attributes, and they are Wind and Lightning. I have already practiced one [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough]. Now, I would like a Lightning Release ninjutsu, preferably one that can improve physical fitness and speed."

"Hmm, in principle, a ninja of your age should focus on one type of attribute ninjutsu. After all, mastering two attribute transformations is already one of the requirements for the Jōnin exam," Sarutobi Hiruzen said:

"But it doesn't matter. The cultivation of a genius should be unconventional. The most famous Lightning Release of the type you mentioned is the signature technique of the Third Raikage, a secret technique that uses Lightning Release for body tempering, known as the 'Lightning Release Armor'.

By concentrating Lightning Release chakra throughout the body, the entire body is covered in chakra and lightning, also known as the 'Lightning Release Chakra Mode'. Although it is only B-rank in difficulty, its defense is tight. Our village does not have this secret technique recorded."

Sarutobi Hiruzen shook his head as he spoke: "But it doesn't matter. My teacher, Senju Tobirama, also known as the Second Hokage, was naturally quick-witted and possessed all seven attributes. He was undoubtedly the number one ninjutsu research master in the ninja world.

Years ago, he obtained a 'Sword of the Thunder God' that was adept at conducting lightning-attribute chakra, and for a time, he was constantly researching lightning-attribute cultivation.

I remember it being called [Lightning Release: From Entry to Burial]. Go ahead, Genhu is already waiting for you at the door. In addition to that, you can choose two B-rank or lower Wind Release or Lightning Release ninjutsu."

Arriving at a secret room, Genichi walked to the bookshelf for Wind Release ninjutsu. Thinking carefully, [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough] was a short-to-medium-range entanglement-type ninjutsu. He tried to select ninjutsu with different positioning and functions that could complement each other.

It wouldn't do to spend all this time training only to find out I'd learned Small Fireball, Big Fireball, and Super Big Fireball.

After hesitating for a long time, Genichi chose a B-rank [Wind Release: Wind Cutter Technique]; the wind blades formed by this jutsu could perform precise long-range cutting, compensating for the lack of range in [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough]. He also chose a B-rank [Wind Release: Vacuum Blade], which could condense a wind sword onto his ninja tools, solving the issues of melee lethality and insufficient quality of his gear.

As for Lightning Release? It didn't matter; he wasn't in urgent need of it at this stage. He could just study Chidori slowly, and besides, he still had the training experience of the master of forbidden jutsu—Senju Tobirama—to refer to.

He casually took [Lightning Release: From Entry to Burial] from the hands of Genhu.

"I need to remind you that ninjutsu exchanged here cannot be leaked to others without permission."

Genichi nodded and prepared to leave.