Clang!
Metal rang against metal, sparks flew.
The two figures crossed paths, then swiftly turned and rushed back at each other, their blades flashing as a steady stream of clanging impacts rang out.
Shita Genichi and Kakashi wielded their short swords, attacking each other with all their might.
Fast, precise, ruthless!
They had trained under the same teacher. Now it came down to their reaction speed and combat talent.
But the longer they fought, the more alarmed Kakashi became.
He... seemed to be at a disadvantage.
How had this guy improved so quickly?
Kakashi gritted his teeth. His strikes grew faster, their angles increasingly tricky.
Shita Genichi met his attacks calmly.
When it came to talent, he was no match for Kakashi in Kenjutsu.
But in terms of experience, he had the edge. That was why he managed to suppress Kakashi as they fought.
After dozens of exchanges, the two locked in combat suddenly broke apart.
Shita Genichi sheathed his sword, but kept his right hand on the hilt. "Kakashi, watch out!"
Kakashi's gaze sharpened. He knew Shita Genichi had spent most of his time training the Draw-Sword Strike, a particularly dangerous move.
"Bring it on!"
Kakashi spoke in a low voice, sparks of lightning dancing over his body.
Shita Genichi looked surprised, then smiled. "Lightning Release—to boost your speed?"
"I still can't channel Lightning Release into my blade," Kakashi replied.
"In that case, I'll have to go all out too."
Shita Genichi formed Hand Seals and used the Soldier Mantra.
The next moment, they both charged at each other, moving so fast they left afterimages.
"His speed increased..."
Kakashi was startled. He knew it had to be connected to the Hand Seals Shita Genichi had just formed, and grew even more wary.
In the blink of an eye, they clashed.
Clang! Their figures crossed.
Kakashi ran forward for a short distance before stopping. He stared at the broken blade in his hand.
Nearby, Shita Genichi looked at the nick in his short sword and sighed helplessly.
Time to get a new sword.
And he needed a Tachi and a Wakizashi.
The Draw-Sword Strike worked better with a Tachi.
"You win!"
Kakashi turned around.
Shita Genichi sheathed his sword and smiled. "We were only sparring. In a fight to the death, the outcome might be different."
That last strike had carried twenty-six years of power!
Kakashi shook his head. "If we'd been fighting to the death, I would've died from that strike."
"Your reaction was faster than mine."
His Lightning Release could only give him a basic boost in speed. He hadn't been able to develop it further, so it couldn't improve his reaction speed.
Shita Genichi's Soldier Mantra, on the other hand, enhanced him across the board.
Of course, Shita Genichi was also stronger, which was why he could cut through Kakashi's short sword in one strike.
But Kakashi's short sword wasn't the one Hatake Sakumo used.
After putting away their swords, the two sat down to discuss what they'd learned.
Eventually, Kakashi asked, "Genichi, that seal was the secret behind your speed boost, right?"
Shita Genichi nodded. "I call it the Soldier Mantra."
"What do you think? Not bad, right? It's just as effective as the boost from Lightning Release's nature transformation. If you want to learn it, I can teach you."
Kakashi shook his head. "I've studied it, but haven't made any progress. I'll pass. Lightning Release is good enough."
Shita Genichi nodded.
Everyone had different talents. Playing to your strengths was the right choice.
If he didn't have a cheat, he wouldn't have spent so much time studying Wind Release's nature transformation either.
The day's training soon came to an end.
That evening, Shita Genichi dragged Shizune to Konoha Hospital again, and Tsunade came along as well.
But he felt like Tsunade was a little different today.
She hadn't been drinking.
And she wasn't listless and full of despair anymore.
Could his words yesterday have helped?
After thinking it over, Shita Genichi put it out of his mind and continued his research in earnest, trying out various approaches.
"Perhaps the rejection caused by cell transplants could be addressed with medication."
Tsunade's voice came from behind him as he busied himself.
Shita Genichi turned around and smiled. "That would indeed be one way to solve it."
"But I don't have the resources or the knowledge to do that."
Tsunade wasn't convinced. "You're very talented. You could try developing a Kekkei Genkai yourself instead of relying on cell transplants."
"Remember, the greater the power, the harder it is to control—and the more dangerous it becomes."
The experiments involving Hashirama Cells had cost Konoha dearly. Tsunade knew that all too well.
Especially the Senju Clan...
If not for those experiments, perhaps the Land of Whirlpools wouldn't have been destroyed.
Shita Genichi readily took her advice. "I've considered developing one myself."
"But cell transplants aren't only for acquiring Kekkei Genkai. They can also be used to treat diseases."
"For example, problems with blood production or immunity can be addressed with bone marrow transplants, restoring the body's ability to produce blood and fight infection."
"Even people who aren't blood relatives have a chance of being compatible. We'd need a huge database to find matches."
Tsunade considered this. "That would indeed be a massive undertaking. But if we wanted to do it, it wouldn't be impossible."
Shita Genichi's eyes lit up.
Their discussion continued.
As they delved deeper into the subject, Tsunade found herself getting involved as well.
Compared to this greatest medical ninja in Konoha, Shita Genichi was practically an elementary school student.
He began eagerly absorbing the wealth of knowledge Tsunade had to offer.
And no, don't get the wrong idea. He wasn't talking about those two spheres.
Before they knew it, it was eleven.
Shita Genichi had no choice but to call it a night and head home, reluctant to leave.
The next day.
Shita Genichi went to Kakashi's house and found that Kakashi had already left on a mission.
"Genichi, here are the Ninjutsu you asked for."
Hatake Sakumo took out a scroll.
"Thank you, Sensei!"
Shita Genichi smiled as he accepted it.
Hatake Sakumo said, "Besides the reward from the village, this also includes what we obtained from that Ice Release ninja. But the collection isn't complete."
Shita Genichi opened the scroll and quickly scanned its contents.
Water Severing Wave. It was an A-rank Ninjutsu, clearly the reward for capturing the Ice Release ninja.
Next came Water Release: Thousand Flying Water Needles of Death, Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique, Ice Release: Demonic Mirror Ice Crystals, Ice Release: Ice Armor, and Ice Release: Ice Senbon.
There were quite a few Ninjutsu, but not one of them was complete.
"This was an unexpected bonus anyway. They'll be useful for research."
Shita Genichi didn't mind. He put the scroll away and said, "Sensei, I'd like to learn a Wind Release Ninjutsu."
Hatake Sakumo said, "To counter techniques like the Hidden Mist Technique?"
"No problem. I'll teach you this C-rank technique first: Wind Style: Breakthrough."
"You've already gained a basic grasp of Wind Release's nature transformation, so it shouldn't be difficult."
C-rank Ninjutsu were considered Chunin-level techniques.
Anyone who could use Wind Release's nature transformation—even if they could only cut leaves—had enough skill to master it.
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough wasn't about the cutting power of the wind. It blew people away, so it didn't require much control over nature transformation.
After receiving the Ninjutsu, Shita Genichi went out to train.
There was still a long time before his next chance to draw on his future self, so he couldn't just wait around to use the future to train.
He needed to master Water Severing Wave as soon as possible.
Before you continue