Huixiang

Back at their lodgings, their teacher, Hatake Sakumo, and Shizune were both still resting.

Yu Fenglan had to prepare the materials for tomorrow's lecture and discussion, while Yamashiro Aoba stayed nearby. Genma, meanwhile, went out into the spacious courtyard to test his Lightning Flicker.

First, he tried activating the nerve cells in his body to speed up his reaction time.

No sparks appeared on his skin in this state, but Genma could feel every hair on his body standing on end.

He glanced around the living room. His vision felt different from before, though the change wasn't obvious without a direct comparison.

So he immediately made a Shadow Clone.

After retreating some distance, Genma had the clone attack him.

At once, he clearly felt the tremendous difference his faster reactions made.

The increased efficiency of information transmission made the clone seem a beat slower, as if it were dropping frames. He even seemed to have gained a sense of motion vision.

"Let's try the Substitution Technique!"

Genma called to the clone.

The clone immediately used the Substitution Technique, switching places to appear on Genma's left.

Smack!

Before the clone could react, Genma had already turned and grabbed its arm.

This felt amazing!

Genma couldn't help thinking of the Fourth Raikage. No wonder he could go toe-to-toe with the Yellow Flash.

"But my Lightning Flicker still probably isn't as good as the Fourth Raikage's was at his peak."

Genma mused, then continued testing it.

This time, he used the Substitution Technique himself.

Smooth!

The "lag" he'd felt during the fight earlier that day was gone.

And even when he told the clone beforehand where he would appear, giving it time to prepare, Genma still managed to gain a slight advantage.

Next—

"Let's both use the Substitution Technique!"

Genma took his training a step further.

The two of them kept using the Substitution Technique to ambush each other, constantly changing places around the courtyard.

There was no actual fighting, just practice with this style of combat.

A pure battle of switching positions.

Using any object as a substitute, combining the switch with the Substitution Technique to mislead the opponent.

Genma finally stopped, still wanting more, when the clone ran out of chakra.

Three Setting Values. Worth every bit.

If he faced Hikō again, Genma felt like he could toy with him until he was dead.

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

Yamashiro Aoba's voice came from behind him.

Genma turned and saw his father, Yu Fenglan, standing at the living room entrance with Yamashiro Aoba.

"Sure was."

Genma nodded and walked over.

Yamashiro Aoba had taken off his sunglasses and looked utterly bewildered.

That was the Substitution Technique?

Was that what it was supposed to look like?

Had he been doing it wrong?

He could understand using a Shadow Clone as a substitute. What he couldn't understand was how he'd failed to notice Genma's movements at all.

There was nothing in the courtyard to block his view.

"I just got a little faster. I had an idea after today's fight, so I made a small breakthrough with Lightning Release," Genma explained.

"Lightning Release?"

"You used Lightning Release just now?"

Both Yu Fenglan and Yamashiro Aoba looked confused.

Genma nodded. "Yeah. I used Lightning Release chakra to activate the nerve cells in my body and speed up the transmission of nerve signals. I kept the Lightning Release chakra inside my body, so there weren't any obvious sparks."

Yamashiro Aoba was stunned. "That must be incredibly hard to pull off. Lightning Release is so difficult to control. You really are a monster!"

Yu Fenglan was delighted too, but with Yamashiro Aoba there, he couldn't openly brag about his son. Instead, he put on a stern father's expression and encouraged him. "You've made great progress, but don't get cocky. Keep working hard. You still have a long road ahead of you."

Genma dutifully nodded. "Yes, I'll keep working hard."

Keep working hard?

You're making this really hard for me!

Yamashiro Aoba sighed inwardly.

Having a genius for a teammate was a kind of pressure most people couldn't imagine.

"All right, that's enough for today. Get some good rest."

Yu Fenglan gave his summary for the day.

The night passed peacefully.

The next day, Yu Fenglan set out on his mission. Hatake Sakumo and Shizune accompanied him, while Genma and Yamashiro Aoba slept in.

To be cautious, Genma and Yamashiro Aoba had taken turns keeping watch the night before.

The next three days passed quietly, without a single incident.

In Kusagakure, the odds of anything going wrong were indeed very low.

On their last night in Kusagakure,

in the woods beside a wooden house far from the bustling district, a nightingale was preening its feathers. It watched until a red-haired woman was escorted back to the house by a man.

Once the man had left, the nightingale flapped into the air and transformed into a mosquito. It buzzed through the door of the now-closed house.

The lamplight inside the house was a hazy yellow. The woman's smile faded, and she sank down onto the bed, exhausted.

"With Sota here, everything will get better."

Huixiang murmured to herself, forcing herself to perk up. She got to her feet, intending to wash up, but then froze.

At some point, someone had appeared by the door.

"Y-you're... a Konoha Ninja?"

Huixiang sprang to her feet and saw the symbol on Genma's Forehead Protector.

He looked no older than a child, but she was still on edge.

Genma didn't answer. Instead, he asked, "You're a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, aren't you?"

Huixiang panicked and lowered her head slightly. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"I'm a medical ninja from this village."

You're going to deny it?

At least dye your hair first.

Not everyone with red hair belonged to the Uzumaki Clan, of course.

But Genma had been keeping an eye on Huixiang for two days. He was sure she had bite marks on her arm, even though he hadn't actually seen anyone bite her.

I've already checked your cards. Why are you still trying to bluff?

Looking at Huixiang's nervous face, Genma said, "It must be hard, trading your body for this kind of life."

"I treasure the life I have."

Compared to the war, things were already so, so much better.

Genma neither agreed nor disagreed. "Do you know Uzumaki Kushina?"

At the familiar name, Huixiang looked up, her gaze momentarily unfocused. She spoke without thinking. "Kushina... Is she all right?"

By the time she came to her senses, it was too late to deny it.

Genma smiled. "She's doing pretty well. She has a boyfriend who loves her very much."

He probably wasn't lying.

Being a Jinchuriki was painful.

But before Namikaze Minato, Uzumaki Kushina had Uzumaki Mito; after Uzumaki Mito died, she had Namikaze Minato.

Compared with Nagato and Huixiang here, Kushina really did seem to have had a better life.

Happiness really is all about comparison! Genma sighed inwardly.

Huixiang was glad to hear news of her childhood friend, but she didn't show it or seem interested in leaving. She only said, "Thank you for telling me."

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

I really wasn't cut out for persuading people with words.

Of course, Genma himself didn't think arguments like Konoha being better than Kusagakure would be very convincing, so he didn't try them.

"I'm sorry too."

Genma laid his cards on the table. "I know I'm disturbing your rest, but I have no choice."

"I came here to take you away by force. Naturally, it would be better if you came willingly."

Huixiang was stunned. "W-why?"

"Because Konoha ordered me to, or because of something I..."

Genma shook his head. "Neither."

"Simply because I want to."

"So, what will you decide?"

Huixiang stared at him, astonished. How could a child say something like that?

Even someone as gentle and mild-mannered as her couldn't help getting angry. "Y-you... Why would you do this? How can you?"