A Backer, Genjutsu Expert

Although Sakura's Chakra Control was only Blue Rank and could not compare to a Kekkei Genkai that became combat-ready the moment it awakened, in Ryusuke's eyes, Sakura's Chakra Control was absolutely no inferior to a Red Rank Kekkei Genkai.

This talent had completely transformed Ryusuke's aptitude for ninjutsu, turning him from an ordinary person into a genius.

He had already mastered every ninjutsu his parents had left behind before his third year at the academy.

He had also mastered the Rasengan, which needed to be practiced in secret, as well as the Spiral Water Dragon Roll combined with Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique, back in his sixth year.

Before even graduating, he had relied on this talent to master several ninjutsu, including more than two Rank B and Rank A techniques.

All of it was thanks to Chakra Control and the Shadow Clone Technique.

He had both talent and diligence; he simply did not have more ninjutsu scrolls.

Otherwise, he would have mastered even more ninjutsu by now.

As Ryusuke checked whether his colored contact lenses had shifted, Yuhi Kurenai smiled again. "Your performance has made me very satisfied. It's still early, so I'll take you on some missions, then treat you to barbecue."

After saying that, Yuhi Kurenai transformed from an elder into a big sister, taking Hinata's fragrant shoulder in her arm as she walked alongside Ryusuke and the other two.

Along the way, Yuhi Kurenai could not help asking curiously, "Ryusuke, how did you develop that Signless Water Release technique?"

"Just inspiration. In the ninja diary my father left behind, I discovered that when ninjas run up walls and across roofs, they gather chakra in their feet. After trying it myself, I found that I could perfectly control the flow of chakra."

"Perhaps because of that, none of the ninja scrolls my parents left behind gave me any trouble."

"After I started school, I saw pictures of tornadoes in a book. That spinning wind gave me a bold idea... Could I gather chakra in my palm, make it tangible and spin it, then gather wind or water to form a tornado or water tornado?"

"After trying it, I found that gathering chakra was not difficult. But fusing rotating chakra with a current of water failed countless times. I only succeeded a few months ago."

"...Is this a genius's inspiration?"

After hearing Ryusuke's words, Yuhi Kurenai and Aburame Shino—even Hinata, who greatly admired Ryusuke—could not help clicking their tongues in amazement.

The principle Ryusuke described sounded very simple. Their minds were telling them, I get it. I've already learned it.

But their hands retorted, No, you haven't!

Only a gifted freak like Ryusuke could figure out such a Signless Ninjutsu on his own.

However, after hearing how Ryusuke gathered chakra, Yuhi Kurenai suddenly had a flash of inspiration. She thought of a Signless Ninjutsu that was nearly becoming a legend and asked, "Ryusuke, do you know the Rasengan?"

At that, Ryusuke smiled inwardly. Just as planned.

He had found someone to vouch for him!

So Ryusuke looked at Yuhi Kurenai with apparent confusion. "Rasengan?"

"The Rasengan is a Rank A ninjutsu developed by the Fourth Hokage. It is also a Signless Ninjutsu."

As Yuhi Kurenai recalled what the technique looked like, she described it. "That technique condenses a ball of chakra energy in the palm and spins it at high speed. It is very similar to your technique of condensing and rotating chakra."

"A chakra energy ball?"

Ryusuke pretended to ponder, then raised his palm. A blue chakra vortex immediately surged into existence above it.

The vortex grew larger and larger, but instead of condensing into a sphere, it became a miniature blue tornado.

Then, the blue tornado was suddenly compressed into a ball. After spinning at high speed for several seconds, it abruptly exploded, turning into a gust that sent everyone's clothes fluttering.

Though he had "failed," Ryusuke wore a delighted expression. "Teacher Kurenai, this method seems workable."

"Don't experiment recklessly. Be careful."

Yuhi Kurenai patted Ryusuke's shoulder and promised confidently, "Teacher knows a disciple of the Fourth Hokage. I'll help you ask about the principles behind the Rasengan."

"There's no need, Teacher Kurenai."

Ryusuke said confidently, "As long as I know it is a rapidly spinning energy ball, I will definitely master it."

At that moment, Ryusuke seemed to be glowing.

As they looked at the immensely proud Ryusuke, Aburame Shino and Hinata once again felt just how vast the gap between them and Ryusuke truly was.

Yuhi Kurenai, meanwhile, was stunned by Ryusuke's presence.

She had to admit that this boy, who was only twelve this year yet nearly as tall as she was, had charmed her.

No wonder Kakashi had been so popular at school when he was young.

That kind of aura was simply too lethal to girls.

Yuhi Kurenai did not dampen Ryusuke's confidence. Instead, she smiled and reminded him, "Then be careful while practicing. It would be best to use Shadow Clones to assist you."

"I understand, Teacher Kurenai."

Ryusuke nodded obediently. That respectful appearance of his made Yuhi Kurenai's favorable impression rise even further.

To Yuhi Kurenai, Ryusuke was now her most treasured student.

She believed he would also become the student she was most proud of in the future!

On the way to the Hokage Building, Ryusuke summoned the Virtual Panel that only he could see and examined the Blue Light Cluster that had dropped from Yuhi Kurenai in his Space Backpack.

The next second, the Blue Light Cluster's information appeared.

Genjutsu Expert (Blue)

The moment he saw those words, Ryusuke's eyes lit up.

With Sakura as an example, there was no need to guess that this Genjutsu Expert was also a kind of talent.

If even a talent like Chakra Control could drop, it was not strange for a genjutsu talent to drop as well.

Among Jonin Instructors, Yuhi Kurenai was not as strong as Elite Jonin Kakashi Hatake, Sarutobi Asuma, or Might Guy. But compared to other Jonin Instructors, Yuhi Kurenai was absolutely outstanding.

Within Konoha, she was also a renowned Genjutsu Expert.

Her performance in the original story had been so poor because all her opponents had been overpowered cheaters.

Uchiha Itachi was a genjutsu master second only to Uchiha Shisui, while Kurama Yakumo was the chosen child who appeared only once every few generations in the Kurama Clan—the Sosuke Aizen of the Naruto world.

Before them, it was perfectly normal for Yuhi Kurenai, who only specialized in genjutsu, to be defeated instantly.

But as an ordinary person without a Kekkei Genkai, Yuhi Kurenai had already reached the absolute limit of what she could achieve.

Genjutsu Expert was the best description of her talent.

Once he fused with this Light Cluster, Ryusuke would become a genjutsu genius even without the Sharingan.

A talent capable of such a complete transformation...

Without a doubt, Genjutsu Expert was like Sakura's Chakra Control—a top-tier talent among Blue Rank abilities, perhaps even no weaker than certain Kekkei Genkai.

Thus, Ryusuke fused with it without hesitation.

As the Light Cluster turned into a beam of light and entered Ryusuke's body.

Just like when he fused with the Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan, there was no change to either Ryusuke's appearance or his insides.

Only when he learned genjutsu would Ryusuke discover the changes within himself.