Clarifying Things

Hatake Sakumo rose from underground. "Genma, when you don't have any more mid- to long-range attack options, you should've used genjutsu just now. You had the time and space to do it."

As his body gradually recovered, Genma moved his limbs and readily agreed. "Yes, sensei. I'll remember that."

Hatake Sakumo smiled. "You still lack combat experience, but you're much more proficient than before at using your abilities."

"To be honest, sensei, you were already going all out just now."

It was the truth. Before Genma had learned Lightning Flicker, Hatake Sakumo could still rely on his own speed and reflexes to deal with the spatial displacement of the Substitution Technique.

But after Genma learned Lightning Flicker, Hatake Sakumo had clearly felt that his student's reflexes were astonishingly fast—faster than his own.

At that point, even if his Lightning Release was faster than Genma's, it wouldn't matter.

No matter how fast he was, he couldn't beat instantaneous displacement through space and time.

So Hatake Sakumo realized that even he wouldn't be able to hit his student under ordinary circumstances.

That left him with no choice but to target the distance limit of Genma's spatial displacement.

But that had still failed, so he'd set a trap. That was what finally worked.

Hatake Sakumo had to admit that this student, who was still a Genin, had put more pressure on him than two Jonin!

Watching from the sidelines, Shizune and Yamashiro Aoba both let out long breaths. Only then did they realize their palms and backs were slick with sweat.

The battle had been so spectacular that even watching it had left them on edge.

"With strength like that, he's already at Jonin level, isn't he?"

Yamashiro Aoba exclaimed.

Shizune was visibly excited. "That was incredible!"

"Do you still have any stamina left?"

Hatake Sakumo asked.

After sheathing his sword, Genma chuckled. "No problem."

Hatake Sakumo marveled inwardly, then said, "Next, you'll spar with Shizune and Aoba."

The special training continued.

And it went on every day.

Genma also had a full-force spar with his teacher, Hatake Sakumo, every day, building up valuable combat experience and further exploring the applications of Substitution Technique 1.0 and Transformation Technique 1.0.

He gained a great deal from it.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

On his one rare day off, Genma went to Tsunade's home with some questions.

After getting his questions answered, Genma asked, "Hey, where's Big Sister Huixiang?"

"She went to see Kushina," Tsunade replied.

Genma nodded, then asked, "She hasn't run into any trouble, has she?"

Tsunade glanced up at him. "What kind of trouble are you talking about?"

Genma was at a loss for words.

Some things really weren't information he should know.

Tsunade snorted. "You don't need to worry about so much. You're just a little Genin brat."

Genma protested, "I'm a Genin, sure, but can you stop calling me a brat?"

Tsunade smiled teasingly. "Are you saying you're not a brat?"

You're a brat who hasn't even grown hair in all the right places yet!

Genma understood what her expression meant. He almost ground his teeth to dust, muttered to himself, then said, "By the way, there's a reason you never go to the hospital, isn't there?"

Tsunade frowned. Her playful mood vanished, and she feigned nonchalance. "Stop sticking your nose where it doesn't belong. If you've got nothing else to say, get out."

Genma shook his head. "Lady Tsunade, you're a medical ninja too. You should know that when you're sick, you need treatment, not avoidance."

Tsunade fixed Genma with an unfriendly stare.

Genma met her gaze without flinching.

A moment later, Tsunade's shoulders slumped, her strength draining away in an instant. She sighed. "This isn't something you can solve."

Genma sighed. "When it comes to healing, I've probably already surpassed you, Lady Tsunade."

"If even I can't solve it, then it's just as I suspected."

"It's a psychological problem!"

"So..."

Genma matched the answer to the question. "Is it hemophobia?"

Tsunade looked up at Genma but said nothing.

"Looks like I guessed right," Genma said.

Then he smiled. "Don't worry. I can definitely cure you!"

Tsunade gazed blankly at Genma's bright, confident smile, then turned her head away. "Don't make such big claims. You're just a little Genin brat."

She put away her vulnerable side and became one of the Sannin again. Looking at Genma, she said, "Focus on preparing for your Chunin Exam. I'll figure out how to handle this myself."

Genma stood up. "Let's make a bet, Lady Tsunade!"

"Let's see who can cure your hemophobia first."

"If you lose, stop calling me a brat."

Tsunade's lips curled into a smile, but she suppressed it a moment later. "Fine."

"But if you lose, you can forget about what you owe me."

What a greedy demand!

Genma's mouth twitched, but he gritted his teeth and agreed. "Fine. Let's seal it with a pinky promise."

He held out his little finger.

Tsunade curled her lip. "Typical brat. So childish!"

Even as she said it, she linked pinkies with Genma.

They let go, and Genma turned to leave.

Watching him walk away, Tsunade gritted her teeth. "This time, I absolutely can't let him win."

But fear welled up inside her. A psychological barrier wasn't something she could simply overcome on her own.

After leaving Tsunade's home, Genma went to find Kakashi.

In the forest, at a training ground.

When Genma arrived, he happened to see Kakashi fighting Uchiha Obito.

"Minato-senpai!"

Genma stepped forward to greet him.

Namikaze Minato smiled in reply. "Genma, did you come to see Kakashi?"

Genma smiled. "I came to see how his training was going."

Then he greeted Nohara Rin as well. "Rin, how have you been lately?"

Nohara Rin smiled back. "We've been training hard lately. You must be too, right? Kakashi mentioned it before. Are you taking the day off today?"

Genma nodded. "Yeah."

After that, the three of them watched Kakashi and Uchiha Obito fight in silence.

It had to be said that when it came to Taijutsu, Uchiha Obito was only a little weaker than Kakashi.

Of course, Kakashi would've been stronger if he'd had his sword.

Even so, after a while, Uchiha Obito was visibly on the back foot.

Uchiha Obito barely used the Three Body Technique, while Kakashi was already quite proficient with it.

In the end, Uchiha Obito, without his Sharingan, was easily fooled by Kakashi's Substitution Technique and lost the fight.

"Kakashi wins!"

Namikaze Minato announced.

Uchiha Obito was crestfallen. Even when he saw Genma, he could only manage a listless greeting.

But after seeing the way Nohara Rin looked up to Kakashi, he immediately rallied and shouted, "Once I awaken my Sharingan, your little tricks won't fool me anymore, Kakashi!"

Kakashi delivered a blunt jab without changing expression. "Having the Sharingan doesn't mean sand can't get in your eyes."

Uchiha Obito's face flushed red. "Kakashi..."

Genma was thoroughly enjoying the show.

He had to admit, Kakashi really could be sharp-tongued, especially when it came to Uchiha Obito. His verbal attacks were on another level.

Nohara Rin stepped in to break them up again. Namikaze Minato also looked somewhat helpless as he said, "Obito, Substitution Technique and ordinary Clone Technique can be identified through experience, even without the Sharingan."

"You need to pay more attention and observe your opponents."

He couldn't tell Obito not to rely on the Sharingan.

The Sharingan's abilities really were overpowered. Awakening it could bring about a complete transformation in strength.

If you had an ability, of course you should use it.

But at this stage, he also hoped Uchiha Obito would master more combat techniques instead of being so impulsive.

After glaring at Kakashi, Uchiha Obito replied, "I understand, Minato-sensei."

Kakashi couldn't be bothered to respond to Uchiha Obito. He turned to Genma and asked, "Didn't you say you were going to study Sealing Technique with Lady Tsunade?"

"I already went," Genma replied.

Namikaze Minato looked surprised. "You've already started studying Sealing Technique, Genma?"

Genma replied helplessly, "Yeah, but I don't have much talent for it, so my progress has been slow."

Uchiha Obito asked curiously, "Genma, shouldn't you be preparing for the Chunin Exam?"

"You probably won't need Sealing Technique during the exam, will you?"

Kakashi immediately shot back, "He doesn't need to prepare, unlike certain people who can't even make it to training on time."

"If you're late to the exam, you can forget about becoming a Chunin!"

Uchiha Obito was instantly furious. "I wasn't late on purpose!"

Nohara Rin chided him. "Kakashi..."

Kakashi turned his head away and said nothing.

Namikaze Minato gave an awkward smile and was about to speak when Uzumaki Kushina's voice rang out. "Since you're taking a break, let's grab something to eat first!"