After clarifying the initial direction of his kenjutsu training, Shita Genichi began considering which ninjutsu to choose from the Scroll of Seals.
Multi Shadow Clone Technique?
No need.
With his meager chakra, the Shadow Clone Technique was enough.
Flying Raijin?
He was a little tempted.
But this technique also required a vast amount of chakra.
Dead Demon Consuming Seal?
A sealing jutsu that took both people down? No, thanks.
Or maybe Water Severing Wave, an A-rank ninjutsu?
Shita Genichi felt it would be a bit of a waste.
Or maybe a Sensory Ninjutsu?
He could sense his surroundings, fight at close range, attack from a distance with ninjutsu, and use Genjutsu... A jack of all trades?
For a while, Shita Genichi couldn't make up his mind.
"Maybe I should consider it from two angles."
"First, what ninjutsu I need right now."
"Second, what I'll need in the future..."
Shita Genichi gathered his thoughts.
The first day after the mission passed quickly, filled with training and contemplation.
The next day.
Shita Genichi followed Hatake Sakumo to the Hokage Building and met the Third, Sarutobi Hiruzen.
It wasn't his first time meeting him.
Sarutobi Hiruzen placed great importance on ideological education and often visited the academy to teach the Will of Fire.
After meeting Sarutobi Hiruzen, an Anbu Ninja led Shita Genichi to an empty room next door. A scroll labeled Scroll of Seals was already sitting on the table.
"This is the table of contents for the Scroll of Seals. Choose a ninjutsu from it first. After that, Lord Hokage will personally copy the corresponding technique from the Scroll of Seals and give it to you."
The Anbu Ninja explained.
Shita Genichi felt a little disappointed. So it wasn't the actual Scroll of Seals, just the table of contents.
But when he thought about it, it made sense.
After the Anbu Ninja left, Shita Genichi opened the scroll.
The first technique was the Multi Shadow Clone Technique, accompanied by an introduction.
Shita Genichi skimmed through it and saw many familiar ninjutsu, as well as plenty he had never heard of.
Konoha really was wealthy.
"If only I could copy the whole thing..."
Shita Genichi couldn't help getting greedy.
To be honest, he also loved training and studying ninjutsu.
Shita Genichi felt that from now on, he and Snake Auntie could be kindred spirits, striving for immortality so they could learn more ninjutsu.
The Scroll of Seals contained a great many techniques—not just S-rank and A-rank ones, but techniques of other ranks as well.
However, Shita Genichi's attention was mainly on the S-rank and A-rank techniques.
After all, this was a rare opportunity.
Of course, the ranks didn't indicate how powerful a technique was, but how difficult it was to learn.
The higher the rank, the harder it was to master.
For example, even Sarutobi Hiruzen, the Professor of Ninjutsu, hadn't managed to learn the S-rank techniques.
After Senju Tobirama, only Namikaze Minato had mastered one completely.
So if he chose a high-difficulty technique, there was a chance Shita Genichi might not be able to learn it.
There was a risk involved.
He might end up wasting this one opportunity.
If he only considered his current and future needs, then for the future, he should choose the Flying Raijin Technique.
But for now...
Shita Genichi's gaze fell on another S-rank technique.
The Yin Seal!
Yes, this sealing jutsu was also listed in the Scroll of Seals.
According to the introduction, it came from Uzumaki Mito, and therefore from the Uzumaki Clan. Moreover, it didn't say that only women could learn it.
After pondering for three seconds, Shita Genichi made his decision.
"Senior, I've made my choice!"
The Anbu Ninja who had left earlier reappeared at the sound of his voice.
Shita Genichi pointed at the scroll. "This one!"
The Anbu Ninja glanced at it, paused in surprise, then nodded. "Understood. Please wait!"
With that, he left, taking the table of contents for the Scroll of Seals with him.
Next door, in the Hokage Office.
When Sarutobi Hiruzen saw that Shita Genichi had chosen the Yin Seal, he couldn't help feeling surprised.
It was completely unexpected.
But he immediately understood Shita Genichi's intention.
Chakra!
It was true that a lack of chakra was a major weakness at his age.
Especially for someone like Shita Genichi, who was skilled in Water Release.
Sarutobi Hiruzen had no intention of interfering. He went to fetch the scroll of the Yin Seal himself.
Yes, saying he would make a copy was just a formality.
Some techniques didn't need to be copied at all.
A moment later.
Shita Genichi left the Hokage Building with the scroll of the Yin Seal.
As for Hatake Sakumo, he had already left.
After taking the scroll home, Shita Genichi didn't open it to study right away. Instead, he headed straight for his training ground.
He needed to learn as many kenjutsu techniques as he could from Hatake Sakumo. There weren't many days left before he would once again borrow against his future.
As for the Yin Seal, there was no rush. He could study it when he got home that evening.
The key was the next ten years.
The future was built on the present.
Every time Shita Genichi borrowed against his future, he did so based on where he stood in the present.
The days of tedious training flew by.
Before he knew it, March 18, Year 43 of Konoha had arrived.
That day, Shita Genichi went to train with Hatake Sakumo in the morning as usual.
Kakashi had been there for the past few days too. With an extra sparring partner, Shita Genichi's progress was even greater.
But he had to admit that with Kakashi as a point of comparison, he had seen what a true kenjutsu prodigy looked like.
Kakashi was one.
He wasn't.
But with his cheat, he was.
After a morning of training, as they lay on the ground resting, Shita Genichi asked, "Kakashi, have you started training in Lightning Release nature transformation?"
Kakashi was lying nearby. He replied, "Yeah. I've got the basics down."
"What do you think about me developing my own Lightning Release technique?"
Shita Genichi raised an eyebrow, then smiled. "Of course you can."
"Whether you succeed in developing a ninjutsu or not, you should learn a lot from the process."
Although the Rasengan wasn't suitable for him, the process of learning it had taught him a lot and improved his control over chakra and his understanding of shape transformation.
"Besides, I believe you can do it, Kakashi."
Shita Genichi was brimming with confidence.
Kakashi smiled. "Thanks!"
He hadn't been very confident himself. But since Shita Genichi had created the Rasengan, he wanted to develop a Lightning Release technique of his own, too.
He hadn't expected Shita Genichi to have so much faith in him.
In that case...
"I'll give it a try!"
Kakashi made up his mind.
His strength had mostly returned. Shita Genichi rolled to his feet and grinned. "Kakashi, don't slack off. Before long, you might not be able to beat me anymore!"
Kakashi also got up and replied coolly, "I'll be waiting."
Shita Genichi waved. "I'm off!"
With that, he used the Body Flicker Technique and left.
Watching Shita Genichi disappear, Kakashi furrowed his brow slightly. "That guy's improving so fast. I guess I need to work even harder."
Shita Genichi's performance over the past couple of days had given him a slight sense of crisis.
And Shita Genichi trained like a maniac, just like that guy Guy.
"This afternoon... I'll keep practicing kenjutsu."
"I'll work on Lightning Release nature transformation tonight."
As Kakashi headed home, he soon used the Body Flicker Technique as well.
Walking at a leisurely pace seemed like a waste of time.
He'd hurry home, eat, rest for a bit, then get back to training!
He couldn't let that guy Genichi catch up...
Before you continue