Five days remained until the Genin Exam. The upperclassmen who were eligible to take it had already gone on break. Whether in the real world or the world of Naruto, students always got a short rest before their exams so they could get into the best possible shape.
Over the past ten days, Sato Hideaka had checked Orochimaru's scroll against books like Classifying Hand Seals, Nature and Hand Seals, and The Relationship Between Hand Seals and Ninjutsu. He had confirmed that the scroll's contents were genuine, and by comparing the two sources, he had even deduced the hand seals.
Using what he had learned about the relationship between chakra flow and hand seals, he had also verified several details about how chakra moved when using [Crystal Release: Crystal Flow Wall] and [Crystal Release: Two-Thorn Spear]. After testing them, he had managed to perform both jutsu.
The prototype for [Crystal Release: Crystal Flow Wall] was [Earth Release: Earth Wall]. It fused Earth and Lightning chakra natures, drawing out the hard crystals within the Earth nature. In terms of defense, Crystal Flow Wall was undoubtedly stronger than Earth Style: Earth Wall. Its only weakness might be that it couldn't defend against sound-based attacks.
As for [Crystal Release: Two-Thorn Spear], Sato Hideaka had modeled it after Aokiji's signature move from One Piece, one of the Navy's three admirals. By forming hand seals, he could condense the air into red crystals shaped like two-pronged spears, then launch them at his opponent. Their sharp points could easily pierce a person's internal organs.
Sato Hideaka was now in a secluded spot in Konoha's training grounds. Though he was only about five years old, he wore a solemn expression as he stared at a huge tree that would have taken five people to encircle. Treating it as an imaginary opponent, he loosely raised his right hand, and a red crystal sword appeared in his grasp.
He leaned forward, both hands held back, and dashed toward the tree. His right hand swung the bright red crystal sword twice, carving two deep gashes into the bark. A kunai appeared in his left hand. With a flick of his wrist, he threw it, and the Crystal Kunai sank deep into the tree's surface.
It still seemed like something was missing.
After practicing how to combine Taijutsu with his Crystal Release Kekkei Genkai, Sato Hideaka lay on the grass and gazed up at the clouds shifting across the sky, lost in thought. He had already developed Crystal Release and its jutsu, but their offensive applications didn't seem as flexible or varied as he'd imagined.
He recalled how Aokiji had used Two-Thorn Spear. First, he had used Taijutsu to suppress his opponent, then launched Two-Thorn Spear from the side. Anything touched by the spears would be frozen, leaving it unable to move.
Perhaps he could use a sword in one hand to keep his opponent at bay, while forming hand seals with the other and unleashing a jutsu. Crystal Release could already solidify non-chakra substances into crystals. Maybe he could leave Crystal Release chakra in Two-Thorn Spear, crystallizing whatever it touched and making the technique more complete.
That way, [Crystal Release: Two-Thorn Spear] would be both an offensive and a control-type jutsu. Once it touched someone, crystals would form across their body, hampering their movement and agility like the Coral Palm used by the Fourth Mizukage, Yagura.
Time continued to pass. With that idea in mind, Sato Hideaka got back to work on his signature technique, constantly refining his fighting style. He shifted from combining Lightning Release Chakra Mode with his Lava Release Kekkei Genkai to combining Crystal Release and Lava Release.
The main reason was that his body hadn't fully developed. Lightning Release Chakra Mode caused hidden injuries, a serious drawback. He couldn't count on running into Tsunade Senju every time, and he suspected that even the "Medical Saint" couldn't completely heal the damage if it accumulated over time.
Until he had perfected Lightning Release Chakra Mode, he probably wouldn't use Lightning Style Nature Transformation to activate his whole body for long periods unless the situation was critical.
Besides, if he combined Lava Release and Crystal Release effectively, he could link control, destructive power, and defense through his tactics. He might lose the thrill of instantly killing an opponent with Lightning Release Chakra Mode, but the combination would likely be just as strong, if not stronger.
"Hideaka, Hideaka. It's noon already. Let's go eat! I'm starving! I know a stall that sells really delicious wonton noodles. I'll take you there..."
A girl in a smock, with black curly hair and red eyes, bounced over to Sato Hideaka and spoke sweetly.
It was Yuhi Kurenai. Before the break, she and Sato Hideaka had agreed to train together. But Kurenai was a girl, and still very young; she didn't seem especially enthusiastic about training. After exercising for a little while, she had settled on the training ground's horizontal bar to rest.
Sato Hideaka, on the other hand, was very strict with himself and had trained properly all morning. He never forgot the danger he was in. The slightest slip could put him in an extremely perilous situation, so the desire to grow stronger constantly occupied his thoughts.
The two walked a short way along the bustling main street, packed with people. Suddenly, Kurenai took Sato Hideaka by the hand and led him through the crowd into a side street. It was much quieter there, and the street was clean.
In a corner of the street, an elderly woman sat behind a homemade wonton noodle cart, calling out to passersby. Whenever someone ordered a bowl, she carefully washed her hands, wrapped the wontons, and cooked them. She carried out every step with total focus and care.
"Hideaka, don't let the fact that she only has a cart fool you. This grandma makes the best wonton noodles around. Nobody else comes close!"
Kurenai lifted her chin and spoke with the air of an adult. She was clearly proud of finding such a delicious noodle stall and bringing Sato Hideaka along to enjoy it with her.
Suddenly, four strong young men came around the corner. The one leading them stepped up to the stall and shouted angrily, "Hey, old woman! Who said you could set up shop here?"
"I'm sorry, but I've always had my stall here!" The old woman hurriedly apologized, visibly frightened.
"Honestly! You're allowed to set up stalls along the street, but according to Konoha's rules, all this stuff has to be confiscated!"
"Please, no! I won't set up here again. Please don't take my things... I'm begging you!"
"Move it! Get out of the way, old woman. Don't interfere with us doing our jobs..."
Ignoring the old woman's protests and resistance, the four young men began confiscating the stall's rolling pin, dumpling wrappers, meat filling, cart, and everything else. People gathered around. They muttered and pointed, but no one dared step in to stop them.
Sato Hideaka took a closer look. The four young men were all dressed like shinobi, with Forehead Protectors bearing Konoha's symbol tied around their brows and short swords strapped to their backs. Shuriken and fan emblems were printed on their simple, close-fitting uniforms.
The Konoha Military Police Force—the Uchiha Clan!
He never would have guessed that the renowned Uchiha Clan, Konoha's legendary Military Police Force, also moonlighted as the village's street vendors' enforcers. The old woman was, admittedly, blocking the street with her stall, but it was only a side street with little traffic, and she wasn't really in anyone's way.
But these young members of the Police Force clearly seemed intent on making a grand show of doing their jobs. With a sense of high-minded impartiality, they had no intention of letting the old woman off. They had already seized most of her things, and looked determined to see the job through to the end!
Kurenai watched, her face flushed and her small fists clenched tight. She looked ready to charge in and play the hero at any moment...
But Kurenai was only seven. Even the adults standing around watching didn't dare intervene. Faced with a group of fierce-looking grown men, she couldn't find the courage to take a step forward.
Sato Hideaka let out a quiet sigh. He sympathized with the old woman, but didn't intend to step in. As an outsider with two Kekkei Genkai, he was already a sensitive figure. If he also offended the proud Uchiha Clan, the situation would be even harder to handle.