Huixiang

Returning to their lodging, Hatake Sakumo and Shizune were still resting.

Yu Fenglan was busy preparing the lecture notes for tomorrow's exchange, Yamashiro Aoba stood guard to the side, and Genma decided to practice his Lightning Flicker in the spacious courtyard.

He first attempted to stimulate the nerve cells within his body to accelerate his neural response speed.

In this state, no electrical sparks appeared on the surface of his skin, but Genma could feel every hair on his body standing on end.

Genma swept his gaze across the living room, sensing that his vision was different from before, though without a strong point of comparison, it wasn't immediately obvious.

He immediately created a Shadow Clone.

After retreating a short distance, Genma ordered the Shadow Clone to attack him.

In that instant, he clearly felt the massive change brought about by the accelerated neural response speed.

The increased efficiency of information transmission made the Shadow Clone feel a beat slower, as if it were dropping frames, and he seemed to have gained a form of dynamic vision.

"Try the Substitution Technique!"

Genma commanded the Shadow Clone.

The Shadow Clone immediately performed the Substitution Technique, shifting its position to the left of the original body.

Snap!

Before the Shadow Clone could even react, Genma had already stepped to the side and grabbed its arm.

This feeling was incredible!

Genma couldn't help but think of the Raikage; it was no wonder he could compete with the Yellow Flash.

However, my current Lightning Flicker should still be inferior to the peak of the Raikage.

Genma mused to himself before continuing his practice.

This time, it was his turn to perform the Substitution Technique.

Smooth!

There was no longer that sense of "lag" he had experienced during the battle earlier that day.

Furthermore, even when he told the Shadow Clone the direction he would appear in beforehand, allowing it to prepare, Genma was still able to maintain a slight upper hand.

Next.

"Let's use the Substitution Technique together!"

Genma pushed his training further.

He and the Shadow Clone continuously used the Substitution Technique to ambush one another, constantly shifting positions throughout the courtyard.

There was no actual combat, just pure training in this specific fighting style.

A pure, displacement-based combat mode.

Using any object as a substitute, combining position swapping with substitution to confuse the opponent.

Only when the Shadow Clone's chakra was completely exhausted did Genma stop, still feeling unsatisfied.

Those 3 Setting Value points were well worth it.

If he faced Hikō again, Genma felt he could toy with him to death!

"Genma, was that... the Substitution Technique you just used?"

Yamashiro Aoba's voice drifted over.

Genma turned around to see Yu Fenglan and Yamashiro Aoba standing at the entrance of the living room.

"Indeed, it was."

Genma nodded and walked over.

Yamashiro Aoba, having taken off his sunglasses, wore a look of utter confusion.

That was the Substitution Technique?

Is that what the Substitution Technique is supposed to look like?

Did I learn it wrong?

Why is your Substitution Technique so fast?

He could understand using a Shadow Clone as a substitute, but what he couldn't grasp was that he hadn't caught the trajectory of the original body at all.

There wasn't a single obstruction in the courtyard to block his line of sight.

"I'm just a bit faster; I had some ideas after today's battle, so I made a small breakthrough in my Lightning Release."

Genma explained.

"Lightning Release?"

"You used Lightning Release just now?"

Yu Fenglan and Yamashiro Aoba both looked puzzled.

Genma nodded: "Yes, I used Lightning Release chakra to stimulate the nerve cells in my body to accelerate the speed of neural signal transmission. Because I kept the Lightning Release chakra contained within my body, there was no visible electricity."

Yamashiro Aoba was deeply shocked: "It must be incredibly difficult to reach this level. Lightning Release is notoriously hard to control. You guy, you're a real monster!"

Yu Fenglan was also immensely pleased, but with Yamashiro Aoba present, he found it inappropriate to boast. He adopted the posture of a stern father and forced himself to say: "Although you've made great progress, don't be arrogant. Keep working hard; the road ahead is still very long."

Genma nodded in cooperation: "Yes, I will continue to work hard."

Continue to work hard?

That makes things very difficult for me!

Yamashiro Aoba sighed inwardly.

Being a teammate to a genius brings pressure that others simply cannot imagine.

"Alright, let's stop here for today. Get some good rest."

Yu Fenglan delivered his concluding remarks for the day.

The night passed without incident.

The next day, Yu Fenglan began his mission, with Hatake Sakumo and Shizune responsible for following along, while Genma and Yamashiro Aoba caught up on sleep.

Out of caution, Genma and Yamashiro Aoba took charge of the night watch.

The following three days passed very uneventfully, and no accidents occurred.

In Kusagakure, the possibility of any accidents was indeed very small.

On the final night in Kusagakure.

In a forest beside a wooden cabin far from the bustling areas, a nightingale was preening its feathers until a red-haired woman was escorted back to the cabin by a man.

Watching the man depart, the nightingale flapped its wings and took flight, transforming into a mosquito in mid-air, vibrating its wings as it flew into the now-closed cabin.

Inside the cabin, the light was dim and yellow. The smile on the woman's face faded, and she sat on the bed, exhausted.

"With Sota here, everything will be fine."

Huixiang muttered to herself, forcing herself to perk up as she stood to wash, but her body suddenly stiffened.

Because, at some point, there was an extra person standing by the door.

"You, you are... a Konoha ninja?"

Huixiang stood up abruptly, spotting the symbol on Genma's forehead protector.

Even though this person looked like nothing more than a child, she remained tense.

Genma did not answer, instead asking in return: "You are a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, aren't you?"

Huixiang felt a jolt of panic and lowered her head slightly: "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I am the medical ninja of this village."

Not admitting it?

You could at least dye your hair color first.

Although not everyone with red hair belongs to the Uzumaki Clan.

But Genma had been watching Huixiang for two days and was certain she had bite marks on her arms, even if he hadn't seen her being bitten with his own eyes.

I've already checked your credentials, yet you still try to quibble.

Looking at the anxious Huixiang, Genma said: "Trading your life for this kind of existence must be very hard, right?"

Huixiang replied: "I cherish this life very much."

Compared to the war, things are already very, very good now.

Genma was noncommittal: "Do you know Uzumaki Kushina?"

Hearing the familiar name, Huixiang looked up, her gaze drifting as she spoke subconsciously: "Kushina... is she doing well?"

By the time she regained her senses, it was too late for Huixiang to make excuses.

Genma smiled: "She's doing quite well, and she has a boyfriend who loves her very much."

He shouldn't be lying.

Becoming a jinchuriki is painful.

However, before Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina had Uzumaki Mito; after Uzumaki Mito passed away, she had Namikaze Minato.

Compared to Nagato and the Huixiang before him, she did indeed seem to have it better.

"Sure enough, happiness is all about comparison!"

Genma sighed to himself.

Hearing news of her childhood companion made Huixiang happy, but she didn't show it, nor did she have any intention of leaving. She simply said: "Thank you for telling me this."

"Is there anything else you need? If not, I need to rest. I am very sorry."

I am truly not suited for persuading people with words.

Of course, Genma himself felt that reasons like "Konoha is better than Kusagakure" weren't persuasive enough, so he didn't bother using them.

"I am also very sorry."

Genma laid his cards on the table: "I hate to disturb your rest, but I have no other choice."

"I've come to take you away by force this time, though it would be best if you came willingly."

Huixiang was stunned: "W-why?"

"Is it because of an order from Konoha, or because of me..."

Genma shook his head: "Neither."

"It's simply because I want to."

"So, what is your decision?"

Huixiang was dumbfounded upon hearing this; how could a child say such a thing?

Even with her gentle and soft-hearted nature, she couldn't help but grow furious: "You... why would you do this? How could you be like this?"