Steel and Iron

A few days later.

After returning to Konoha, Team 11 continued to carry out simple D-Rank Missions.

The group's performance remained steady, but Kamizuki Izumo could clearly sense that the white-haired boy seemed more silent than usual.

His pure white eyes seemed to be veiled by an impenetrable shadow.

During a break in a mission to clear trash from a river, Kamizuki Izumo called Ning Xue aside.

"I examined the corpses of those mountain bandits. They were pierced through the skull; that's not something you learn after just a few months of training. Tell me, why hide it?"

(He hadn't seen the Ice Needle and assumed the kills were made with iron.)

Ning Xue felt a slight tightening in his chest, realizing he had used an Ice Needle in the heat of the moment, though it seemed Kamizuki Izumo didn't yet know it was Ice Release.

"Yes, Teacher. I've been practicing with needles since I was young. I only hid it because I didn't want to draw attention to myself."

Ning Xue replied calmly, his face showing no signs of nervousness.

Kamizuki Izumo looked thoughtful.

Indeed, if his talent had been exposed too early, he might have been sent to the Anbu for training long ago.

In that case, was he actually benefiting from this kid hiding his strength?

Thinking of this, Kamizuki Izumo offered Ning Xue some praise.

"Having the decisiveness to use a lethal move to protect your comrades is rare."

Ning Xue remained silent, waiting for what would come next.

"Your talent is excellent, and I hope you won't let it go to waste."

"I've also looked at your ninja graduation file; your scores were all kept in the middle range. You're quite good at hiding, aren't you?"

Kamizuki Izumo continued, though he was thinking to himself.

Since you have this talent, as your teacher, I should pass on some real skills to you. I hope you won't waste them in the future.

"I also checked your ninja registration form. You have Water-attribute chakra."

"I specialize in Water Release, and there is a technique that might suit you."

"It doesn't require a massive amount of chakra, but it demands extremely high precision in chakra shape transformation and control."

He began to form hand seals, moving slowly so that Ning Xue could see every step clearly.

As he completed the final seal, Kamizuki Izumo exhaled, not a surging torrent of water, but a large mass of viscous, gelatinous liquid that quickly covered a small patch of ground in front of him.

"Take the iron weights off your legs, place them on it, and see if you can pull them out."

"Alright."

Ning Xue agreed, not caring how Kamizuki Izumo knew about them.

He unfastened the iron weights from his legs and placed them onto the sticky, gelatinous liquid.

The moment the weights touched it, they were firmly adhered to the surface.

He tried to pull them away with force, but the weights didn't budge, as if they had fused with the ground.

"This is..." A flash of surprise crossed Ning Xue's eyes. This wasn't ordinary Water Release; it was more like flowing glue.

"Water Release: Water Syrup Capture."

Kamizuki Izumo explained, "It involves converting chakra into this highly adhesive syrup, which is very effective for restricting an enemy's movements."

"The core of it is not to seek lethality, but purely control."

He dispersed the ninjutsu, and the ground quickly returned to its original state.

Ning Xue then tied his iron weights back onto his legs.

"The key to this technique lies in the chakra's shape transformation; you must make it maintain its fluidity while possessing super-strong adhesiveness."

"Well? Do you want to learn it?"

Ning Xue looked at the patch of land that had just been covered in slime, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.

This technique was good.

It was indeed very suitable for him.

If he used this technique in conjunction with his Ice Release... double the control?

Thinking of this, he bowed to Kamizuki Izumo.

"I do. Please guide me, Teacher."

Kamizuki Izumo nodded with a gratified smile.

"Good. From today on, outside of our missions, I will begin guiding you in the cultivation of this technique. Remember, you must imagine the stickiness of this technique; I will personally instruct you on the chakra shape transformation required."

"Yes!" Ning Xue replied.

"Good."

Kamizuki Izumo clapped his hands together and smiled.

"Now, let's get to work. Oh, right, call those two boys over as well."

"Understood, Sensei." After Ning Xue replied, he continued with their assigned mission.

Kamizuki Izumo was a man of his word.

After completing a mission, he brought the three of them to Training Ground 3.

"Hmm, starting today, I will be conducting specialized training for you all."

"Huh?"

The two exclaimed in surprise.

Kamizuki Izumo looked at the three standing before him with a serious expression.

"Although you have passed the basic requirements, you still need to develop your own unique characteristics and strengths."

"To train you, I have specifically invited a helper."

He clapped his hands and shouted toward the woods.

"Kotetsu, stop hiding. It's your turn to come out."

"Haha, I'm coming, I'm coming!" Hagane Kotetsu walked out from behind a tree with a laugh.

"Yo, brats! Long time no see."

Hagane Kotetsu remained as boisterous as ever, patting Kamizuki Izumo on the shoulder.

"Izumo says you need special training? Leave it to me!"

He sized up the three of them.

"Hmm... you. The boy from the Hyuga clan, you follow Izumo and learn Water Release."

"As for you two."

He looked at Sugiyama Tetsu and Nakamura Daisuke.

"You'll be coming with me."

"I heard you like close-quarters combat, right? Being hot-blooded alone isn't enough," Hagane Kotetsu said, pointing at Sugiyama Tetsu.

"And you, your footwork looks too unsteady. Train with me, and I guarantee your stance will be as solid as a rock."

Upon hearing this, Sugiyama Tetsu instantly turned red in the face and shouted with excitement.

"Yes! Hagane Kotetsu-sensei!"

"As for you, Nakamura Daisuke..." Hagane Kotetsu looked at Nakamura, who was shrinking back slightly.

"Your chakra nature is Earth, right?"

"Come, I'll teach you a few defensive techniques. Even though I don't use Earth Release, I can still teach you without any issues."

When Nakamura Daisuke heard the word "defensive," his eyes lit up. He wouldn't have to be on the front lines? That was great!

"Please... please teach me, Hagane Kotetsu-sensei."

He had assumed he would be training in taijutsu just like Sugiyama Tetsu, which he couldn't stand, but if it was this...

And so, it began.

Team 11's special training had commenced.