Becoming a Disciple!

Shita Genichi ultimately failed to get the Yin Seal from Tsunade.

The timing was wrong.

No matter how thick-skinned he was, it wouldn't help.

However, after talking with Tsunade, Shita Genichi wasn't in such a hurry anymore.

Because what Tsunade had said wasn't wrong.

The more impatient you were, the more likely you were to make mistakes.

With the Overdraft Panel at his disposal, if he developed cautiously for a few years, the situation would be completely different.

The next day, after breakfast, Shita Genichi headed out to Hatake Sakumo's house.

He couldn't afford to be too impatient, but he still had to keep pushing himself. Above all, he couldn't let a single day go by without training.

Kenjutsu would be one of his main focuses going forward.

His talent for kenjutsu was just a little worse than his talent for Water Release, but far better than his talent for Yang Release.

As for Sealing Jutsu—

It was such a broad and complex field that Shita Genichi couldn't say for sure how talented he was in it.

But since he'd mastered the Evil Sealing Method and the Fire Sealing Method without trouble, and was making good progress with the Four-Symbols Seal, his talent probably wasn't bad.

Still, talent only determined what he should prioritize.

If he could learn something, Shita Genichi felt he should learn it whenever he had the time.

In this crazy world of Naruto, having too many skills was never a bad thing.

When he arrived at Hatake Sakumo's house, Shita Genichi found that Kakashi wasn't home.

Hatake Sakumo didn't rush to instruct Shita Genichi. Instead, he sat down in the tea room.

Shita Genichi hurried to make and serve tea, making himself right at home.

Hatake Sakumo watched with an amused smile and didn't stop him. Once Shita Genichi had finished bustling about, he said with a smile, "You performed exceptionally well on this mission. Yesterday, the Third ordered that you may choose one ninjutsu from the village's Scroll of Seals. You can pick anything you like, except for forbidden techniques that you aren't allowed to learn."

Shita Genichi hadn't expected such an enormous surprise as soon as he arrived. It was completely beyond his expectations.

He could choose any ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals.

Shita Genichi's heart pounded a few times despite himself.

Flying Thunder God, Multi Shadow Clone Technique, Dead Demon Consuming Seal...

Konoha had deep reserves, thanks in large part to the Second, Senju Tobirama.

The Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen, was known as the Professor of Ninjutsu, but the Second, Senju Tobirama, was a master of forbidden techniques.

Any forbidden technique in Konoha whose creator was unknown could be assumed to have been developed by Senju Tobirama.

If he hadn't developed it, he'd refined it.

Although Namikaze Minato and Orochimaru had used Flying Thunder God and Impure World Reincarnation more skillfully than Senju Tobirama, Senju Tobirama was still the one who owned the rights.

Namikaze Minato and Orochimaru had merely taken them to greater heights.

Then there were the Shadow Clone and Multi Shadow Clone techniques.

Shita Genichi had heard that the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique he'd mastered was also developed by Senju Tobirama.

He thought that sounded just like Senju Tobirama. After all, the technique looked like it had been made to counter the Uchiha.

Shita Genichi also thought Senju Tobirama had developed the Spirit Transformation Technique.

During the Fourth Shinobi World War, Uchiha Madara had pinned the man to the ground, yet when Uchiha Sasuke was about to be killed with a single slash, he'd still used a secret technique to restrain Sasuke's soul and delay his death.

Otherwise, Uchiha Sasuke wouldn't have survived long enough for Yakushi Kabuto to save him.

In short, the Scroll of Seals contained an incredible number of valuable techniques.

So many that they could leave anyone dazzled.

Countless thoughts flashed through Shita Genichi's mind, but he asked, "Teacher, am I the only one who gets to choose a ninjutsu?"

"Langyi can choose one too," Hatake Sakumo replied, "but he can only pick a B-rank ninjutsu."

For the Uchiha Clan, a B-rank ninjutsu was hardly worth mentioning.

Shita Genichi nodded, already thinking about which ninjutsu he should choose.

Hatake Sakumo added, "Genichi, you can first think carefully about what kind of ninjutsu you need, then make your choice."

"You don't necessarily have to choose a high-ranking forbidden technique. What suits you best is what matters."

Shita Genichi nodded. "Yes, Teacher!"

After that, Hatake Sakumo said, "Genichi, you have a real talent for kenjutsu. Would you be willing to become my disciple?"

Shita Genichi was overjoyed. He quickly stood up and bowed. "Teacher!"

Although he'd called Hatake Sakumo "Teacher" before, it had meant something different.

Back then, Sakumo had only been his team leader.

He'd offered kenjutsu instruction because he'd taken a liking to him.

But becoming his disciple was something else entirely.

For Shita Genichi, this was even more wonderful than getting to choose a ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals.

He could only choose one ninjutsu from the Scroll of Seals.

But becoming Hatake Sakumo's disciple meant inheriting the full range of his skills and knowledge.

How much he could learn depended entirely on his own talent and effort.

After the simple ceremony, Shita Genichi began his training.

But now that their relationship had changed, Hatake Sakumo was much stricter with him.

When the morning's training ended, Shita Genichi stood there catching his breath. Hatake Sakumo, however, looked solemn as he said, "Genichi, if you want to make a name for yourself in the Ninja World with kenjutsu, you have to learn to incorporate changes in chakra nature into it."

"Your Water Release is excellent, but it isn't suited for that."

"Or perhaps you simply haven't found a suitable way to incorporate it yet. Even I can't advise you on that."

Hatake Sakumo had mastered five chakra nature transformations: Lightning, Fire, Earth, Wind, and Water.

But when it came to Water Release, he could no longer guide Shita Genichi.

As for kenjutsu, Hatake Sakumo used both Lightning Release and Wind Release transformations. That was where his title of White Fang of Konoha came from.

"Although you don't need to think about which nature transformation to use just yet, Genichi, one day you'll have to take that step. Otherwise, you'll find it difficult to stand on your own with kenjutsu."

Hatake Sakumo said.

It wasn't just Shita Genichi who wasn't ready to worry about nature transformations. His son Kakashi wasn't ready either.

His basic kenjutsu still needed work, so there was no rush.

But he still needed a direction.

For example, Kakashi had already started training in Lightning Release on his own, with Earth Release as his secondary nature.

Listening to Hatake Sakumo, Shita Genichi nodded repeatedly.

Kenjutsu performed with chakra was entirely different from kenjutsu performed without it.

The White Fang Short Blade had been unstoppable in Hatake Sakumo's hands, but it had broken in Kakashi's.

That was the difference.

There was no denying that Hatake Sakumo's death had hit Kakashi hard. He'd eventually given up on kenjutsu entirely.

Even so, the foundation he'd built in his youth had let him wield the Kubikiribōchō just as well as the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist.

Of course, Chidori and Lightning Blade were impressive too.

But if Hatake Sakumo hadn't died, and Kakashi had been able to keep learning from his father, what would he have accomplished in the future?

Shita Genichi was eager to find out.

But what he was even more eager to see was his own future.

His future self!

Still, the future was built on the present.

If he wanted to combine kenjutsu with a nature transformation, which one should he choose?

Shita Genichi pondered the question.

But then he realized that there was no need to overthink it.

Lightning Release and Wind Release were the best choices.

And he'd already mastered the Wind Release nature transformation, even if only at a basic level.

"Talent can fall short, but time can make up the difference!"

Shita Genichi clenched his teeth.

He hadn't been born with an affinity for Wind or Lightning, but that didn't mean he couldn't train in those nature transformations.

It would just be harder.

But with the Overdraft Panel at his disposal, what did he have to fear?

Besides training on his own, there were other ways to master them quickly.

For example, becoming a Jinchūriki or something.

He'd put becoming a Jinchūriki aside for now.

"Wind Release is sharp and fierce, perfectly suited to kenjutsu."

"As for Lightning Release, I'll think about it later..."

Shita Genichi made up his mind.