Hearing Hozuki Mangetsu agree, Terumi Mei was delighted. "Chojuro, being taken on as a disciple by a genius of the Hozuki Clan is a great honor. What are you waiting for? Greet your teacher!"
Chojuro hurriedly said, "Thank you, Master Mangetsu!"
Hozuki Mangetsu thought for a moment. "The Hozuki Clan's specialties are the Hydrification Technique and wielding the Seven Ninja Blades. You probably won't be able to learn the Hydrification Technique, so all I can teach you is how to use Ninja Blades. But you're not strong enough to wield one yet. You'll have to start with the basics. Starting tomorrow, train with Suigetsu. I'll guide you both for a while."
"Thank you, Master Mangetsu!"
Chojuro was overjoyed. He had admired the Seven Ninja Swordsmen since childhood, and receiving guidance from Hozuki Mangetsu was cause for celebration.
A smile touched Hozuki Mangetsu's lips. This boy would become the Sixth Mizukage one day. Now that he was his disciple, he could help the Hozuki Clan build up some political capital for the future.
Having gotten what she wanted, Terumi Mei left with her people.
Hozuki Mangetsu didn't linger either. He immediately headed for the Hozuki Clan shrine.
He was eager to increase his strength.
The Hozuki Clan was a powerful clan in Kirigakure, and many gifted people had emerged from it over the generations. But by now, it had fallen into decline.
The desolate shrine made that plain.
Hozuki Mangetsu pushed open the shrine's doors and slowly walked inside.
The memorial tablets of the Hozuki Clan's forebears stood within. The most important belonged to the Second Mizukage, Gengetsu Hozuki.
The War-Crazed Tyrant, whose Steaming Danger Tyranny had unleashed endless explosions.
Many of his legends and exploits were still told in Kirigakure.
But the Second Hokage had been a kekkei genkai user, and the village had long since preserved his Oil Transformation Technique. The Hozuki brothers, who hadn't inherited the bloodline, certainly couldn't use it. Still, Hozuki Mangetsu was more interested in his Yin Release ninjutsu and the Giant Clam.
It was a devastating weapon that could cast Illusionary Techniques over a wide area.
Hozuki Mangetsu had some experience with Yin Release ninjutsu, but he was only proficient, not an expert. With the Giant Clam's help, he could surely take his skills to the next level.
To use the Summoning Technique on the battlefield, a ninja had to form a blood pact with an animal and pay a certain price.
Looking at the Naruto story as a whole, the strongest summon beasts were naturally the Tailed Beasts. Next came the creatures from the Three Great Sage Regions: toads, snakes, and slugs. The rest were other animals.
The Second Hokage's Giant Clam had little offensive power, but it was quite good at defense and support.
For Hozuki Mangetsu, who had no summon beast, it could also be a lifesaving tool.
"Sorry, mustached sir!"
Hozuki Mangetsu said helplessly, "Some things can't be brought with us when we're born, and can't be taken with us when we die. You're such a humorous old man, so I'm sure you can understand the feelings of a younger member of your clan. Staying alive comes first. Please don't hold it against me!"
As he spoke, he undid the Hozuki Clan's Sealing Jutsu and entered the tomb.
A wall of water stood inside. The secrets of the Hozuki Clan were sealed behind it. Without Hozuki blood and the method for undoing the seal, no one could get inside.
Opening the Second Mizukage's coffin, Hōzuki Suigetsu found three scrolls: one describing an Oil Transformation Technique superior to the Hydrification Technique, and the other two containing Yin Release ninjutsu and the Giant Clam's contract.
The Giant Clam lived deep beneath the sea in the Land of Water. It had exceptional vitality and defensive power, and could also create dense fog on a massive scale.
Hozuki Mangetsu memorized some of the Yin Release techniques, then opened the contract and wrote his name at the end.
As for the Oil Transformation Technique, he only glanced at it before putting it back.
The Oil Transformation Technique required a bloodline. Using it would mean changing his body, and at present only Orochimaru had that ability.
But...
A smile crept across Hozuki Mangetsu's lips. If he had the means to change his body, he wouldn't give a bloodline like the Oil Transformation Technique a second look.
After leaving the Hozuki Clan shrine, Hozuki Mangetsu returned home.
"Brother, this sword is amazing!"
The little boy Suigetsu said happily, holding the Kusanagi Sword.
He had already gotten the hang of using it.
Hozuki Mangetsu smiled.
Anything that Sasuke and Orochimaru had their eyes on was bound to be good.
But now the sword belonged to Suigetsu. He had stolen the spotlight from the Second Hokage.
"Suigetsu!"
Hozuki Mangetsu suddenly remembered something. "Until you've fully mastered this sword's properties, don't let anyone see what it can do."
Kirigakure was different from other ninja villages. Here, might made right, and the village tacitly accepted people killing others to take their treasures.
The Kusanagi Sword was extremely valuable. If Suigetsu wasn't strong enough, someone would surely take it from him.
"Got it!"
Suigetsu said nonchalantly, "I'm going to lead the Seven Ninja Swordsmen one day. Why would I let anyone steal my Ninja Blade? Brother, why are you so naggy today?"
He suddenly drew the Kusanagi Sword and gave a low shout. A stream of pale blue Chakra appeared along the blade.
Chakra flow!
Hozuki Mangetsu was a little surprised. He hadn't expected Suigetsu to master Chakra flow at such a young age. It was truly incredible.
Everyone in the Hozuki Clan really was a genius.
Hozuki Mangetsu suddenly remembered the scene in the original story where Asuma taught Naruto about nature transformation.
Without a word, he took Suigetsu's Kusanagi Sword. A powerful stream of pale blue Chakra flowed along the blade.
"That's amazing!"
Suigetsu gazed at his brother in admiration.
"This is Chakra Nature Transformation!"
Hozuki Mangetsu explained, "Right now, you only have wind and water nature Chakra. Wind nature has the greatest offensive power. Infusing it into a Ninja Blade will have a powerful effect."
"Nature transformation!"
Suigetsu murmured the words a few times.
"That's right. Wind nature transformation feels like making something sharper and sharper the more you grind it."
Hozuki Mangetsu repeated the explanation from the story.
In truth, he wasn't a very good teacher.
"Sharper and sharper!"
Suigetsu's little face turned serious. He murmured to himself.
Hozuki Mangetsu handed him the Kusanagi Sword and let him work it out for himself.
Even Naruto, with his poor aptitude, had managed to understand it. Surely Suigetsu, who was much smarter than him, could do it too?
If Suigetsu mastered wind nature transformation and applied it to his weapons, it could raise a ninja's abilities to a whole new level.
The next day, Chojuro arrived too. As promised, Hozuki Mangetsu personally guided the two of them in their training.
Chojuro and Suigetsu were both gifted ninjas with a knack for learning. In only a few days, they had made great progress.
Hozuki Mangetsu held nothing back in teaching them how to wield Ninja Blades, passing on everything he knew.
After all, they were both among the most promising members of the younger generation.
The two were close in age. Chojuro was slightly stronger than Suigetsu, but not by much.
With Hozuki Mangetsu's encouragement, the two soon became good friends.
Before you continue