Chapter 26

Like Shisui, he was still lying in the hospital. The only thing Saitama could do was become stronger.

Early the next morning, after enjoying Granny Xiang's special delicious rice balls and fresh seaweed soup, Saitama began a new day of training.

He planned to visit Uchiha Fugaku in the afternoon and see what that troublesome mission was about.

Instead of heading straight to the training grounds in the morning, he decided to imitate the father-and-son pair Duy and Guy and run a few laps around the village to warm up.

He had only been lamenting yesterday that there had been no snow this year, but when he opened the door this morning, fine snowflakes were already drifting down silently, lightly covering Konoha's streets.

"Phew—phew—"

After only a few laps, Saitama's legs were already aching. Although he had not used chakra to assist himself, thinking of Duy and Guy's inhuman stamina still made him sigh inwardly. Those two really are monsters!

After warming up, Saitama entered the training grounds, where several people were already practicing. Nagisa, sporting heavy dark circles under his eyes, was chatting animatedly with his companions.

"Cough!" Saitama coughed lightly, and the group immediately scattered.

"Good morning!" "Good morning, Mr. Saitama!"

The youths all greeted Saitama.

"Morning, everyone." Saitama gave a slight nod. With his outstanding strength, he had become the acknowledged uncrowned leader of the guard unit.

"Nagisa, come here." Saitama casually called him out and led Nagisa deeper into the training grounds.

"Me again?" Nagisa pointed at himself with a wry smile, but still hurried after Saitama as his companions burst into laughter behind him.

"Today, we're practicing swordsmanship." Reaching the deeper end of the grounds, Saitama drew his sword and slashed through the air, producing a sharp whistle.

"Give me a break..." Nagisa stood across from him with a miserable expression and slowly drew his own blade.

"Crackle!" Blue lightning suddenly danced across Saitama's blade as he gave Nagisa a friendly smile.

"Wait!" Nagisa's eyes widened as he sensed something off. "I didn't offend you, did I? Are you trying to kill me?"

"Relax. We're simulating actual combat." Saitama adjusted the intensity of the current on his sword with a straight face. "An enemy won't go easy on you."

"Come on, let me see your progress." Saitama waved his left hand lightly, signaling Nagisa to attack.

Nagisa: "..."

Once he confirmed that Saitama was serious, Nagisa silently regretted not checking the almanac before leaving home today.

But the moment the battle began, he immediately put away his joking manner and resumed the Uchiha Clan's distinctive cold expression.

Taking a deep breath, Nagisa charged forward. His steps were steady, chakra surging around his body.

"Clang!" The instant Nagisa blocked, Saitama kicked him away.

"Take it seriously, or I won't hold back." The lightning on Saitama's blade intensified sharply, turning Nagisa's face pale.

"Understood." Nagisa's expression grew solemn as he held his sword upright before his chest.

His ear-length short hair stirred without wind as blue chakra gradually coiled around the blade.

Saitama narrowed his eyes and waited calmly for Nagisa's attack. He had come today specifically to test Nagisa's understanding of the scroll's contents.

Watching Nagisa continue gathering power, Saitama remained unhurried. After all, he had only handed the training scroll to him yesterday.

"Hah!" Nagisa forced out a low roar, every muscle in his body tightening. The chakra that had evenly coated his ninja sword began to churn violently, forming a rapidly spinning blue wheel of light at the blade's edge, as distinct as the gears of a precision machine.

"An interesting technique." Staring at that chakra wheel, Saitama could not help recalling Asuma's signature move from his past-life memories. "But the sharpness seems a little lacking?" He instinctively activated his Sharingan, every trace of chakra flowing across the blade reflected in his scarlet pupils.

"Watch out!" Fine beads of sweat appeared on Nagisa's forehead. Clearly, this technique placed no small burden on him.

"Come at me with everything you've got." Saitama still maintained a relaxed fighting stance.

This technique had already touched the threshold of Wind Release chakra nature transformation. Though it was still rough and its power far from complete, he had at least taken the most difficult first step. Wind Release was known for its extreme sharpness, something even the Lightning Release Saitama excelled at could not match. But Lightning Release far surpassed Wind Release in explosive power and speed. Each nature had its own strengths, yet Saitama's naturally aggressive nature made him favor the quicker-acting Lightning Release.

"Tap!" Nagisa suddenly stepped forward and charged. Without his eyes activated, his dynamic vision was far inferior to that of a Sharingan user.

"Clang!"

At the moment their blades met, lightning and wind clashed head-on in the training grounds for the first time. Blinding sparks burst from where the blades collided. Through his Sharingan, Saitama clearly saw that although lightning serpents writhed wildly, they could never break through the layer of chakra fluctuations constantly pushing forward in one direction along Nagisa's blade—like a precision grinder, crushing whatever touched it along with its chakra.

"Gear structure?"

"That's right. Based on the records in the scroll you gave me, this is the basic application for increasing chakra's sharpness." Nagisa's voice was breathless.

"Not bad." Saitama suddenly increased his chakra output, and his ninja sword immediately let out a high-voltage hum.

Nagisa's chakra circulation visibly slowed. Even with all his strength, he could not restore its previous smoothness.

"Clang!" Amid flying sparks, Nagisa's ninja sword was knocked from his hand, residual lightning flickering across its surface. The young ninja's face was filled with disbelief.

"To achieve this much in such a short time is worthy of praise." Saitama sheathed his sword and lightly patted his companion's shoulder.

Nagisa nodded silently. He knew full well that it had not been a mistake; his training simply was not refined enough yet.

Picking up his long sword, Nagisa stood before Saitama again. His gaze burned brightly, and his earlier hesitation had vanished without a trace.

"Stop getting in my way. I'm going to train alone. Go rest wherever you're supposed to." Saitama waved him off impatiently, as if shooing away an annoying mosquito.

"?" Nagisa immediately deflated, lowering his head as he hurried away without daring to make a sound.

"Practice hard!" Saitama called after Nagisa's retreating back.

"Got it!" Nagisa's response drifted back from afar, his footsteps gradually fading into the wind.

Saitama lightly stroked the blade and stood still in the training grounds. "Should I try that new technique today?" he muttered to himself.

Once he made up his mind, Saitama acted immediately.

"Chidori Stream should work." He pondered quietly. Although he could already cover his sword and body with electricity, that was merely an extended application of Lightning Release Chakra Mode, nowhere near as proficient as Sasuke.

In other words, Saitama still had to first gather the current within his body before gradually conducting it to other areas. What he wanted to achieve now was making Chidori Stream appear at any designated part of his body at will.

It sounded difficult, but with his previous accumulation of experience, Saitama quickly found the trick. Electricity suddenly crackled around his arm, and when he whipped out a side kick, dazzling lightning burst from his lower leg as well.

"Not bad." Saitama nodded in satisfaction. The result seemed even better than expected. Once he withdrew his chakra, the current instantly vanished, leaving his clothes completely undamaged.

Immersed in training, time flew by. Though his progress was rapid, noon approached in the blink of an eye. The snow had stopped and the clouds had parted, but the cold had not eased. Since going to the front lines, Saitama had often used Lightning Release chakra to stimulate his body, both to maintain peak condition and to catch enemies off guard in battle.

However, memories from his past life reminded him that a method that drained his cells' potential could never be a long-term solution. Thus, unless necessary, he no longer casually used this technique that harmed himself almost as much as it harmed his enemy.

Looking up at the sky, he saw that it was still early. Saitama turned toward the training targets and continued honing the Body Flicker Technique. Since receiving Shisui's true teachings, this supreme rushing technique had become his hidden trump card.

Perhaps this was innate talent? Saitama occasionally felt smug about it deep down, but he would never say it aloud. That would be far too out of character for him.

"Whoosh!" "Whoosh!" "Whoosh!"

His figure flashed rapidly between the targets, and Saitama had already left fatal marks at their centers. Every target had been struck, and the entire process took less than five seconds. He had easily surpassed the limit he had set for himself.

The morning slipped away quietly as he trained alone, and before he knew it, it was already noon.

Since he had decided to visit Captain Fugaku in the afternoon, he settled lunch at the guard unit's base.

He swallowed a huge bowl of braised beef and washed down ten giant rice balls with seaweed soup. Ignoring his colleagues' astonished looks, Saitama headed straight for Fugaku's office.

He had seen Fugaku enter that office early in the morning, so he was presumably still inside.

After failing to find him in the guard unit's office area, Saitama turned toward the nearby security force headquarters. The two office buildings faced each other from only a short distance away.

Taking out the security force badge he had never used, he walked under the gazes of his clansmen to Fugaku's door.

"Knock, knock!" After knocking, the youth stood quietly and waited to be called in.

He had already confirmed that Fugaku was on duty, so he definitely would not come up empty-handed this time.

"Come in!" Uchiha Fugaku's voice remained steady—perhaps that was common among middle-aged men? Though this clan head was only in his early thirties.

"Creak—"

"Bang!"

He opened and closed the door in one smooth motion.

"Hm? It's Saitama." Fugaku looked somewhat surprised, not expecting the youth to come to the security force.

"What is it?" The clan head seemed to have completely forgotten the mission he had assigned earlier.

Setting aside the family business report on his desk, Fugaku looked up at the person before him. The security force's daily affairs had long been handed over to his deputy; only important documents required his review.

"About that mission, Captain." Saitama had no choice but to remind him.

"Oh! Right." Fugaku leaned back in his chair.

"You're ready already?" His gaze swept over the seven-year-old child—though calling him a youth would not be an exaggeration, considering how much larger he was than children his age.

"Yes. Could you tell me the details of the mission?" Saitama nodded attentively.

"Simply put, you'll be escorting an important person back to the capital. But because of the target's sensitive identity, the risks along the way cannot be underestimated."

Fugaku carefully chose his words.

"Is that all?" Saitama did not believe a mission troubling the clan head could be so simple.

"Several jonin may target the person during the mission. Other than that, there's nothing particularly special." Fugaku's tone was casual, as though he were discussing some trivial matter.

"If that's the case..." Saitama stroked his chin. This mission was indeed troublesome.

"The mission is still some time away. The target is currently still in Konoha Village and seems to be waiting until after the New Year to leave. You still have time to prepare. You can also drink up Sen's treasured liquor while you're at it." The corners of Fugaku's mouth lifted slightly in teasing amusement.

"You'll be handling this mission alone! Can you manage it?" He emphasized the question again. Saitama's talent was exceptional, but talent did not equal actual combat ability.

"Just let me know when the time comes." Saitama waved a hand and turned to leave.

"That kid!" Watching Saitama push open the door and leave, Fugaku helplessly rubbed the back of his head.

"Don't disappoint me, Saitama!" His expression grew somewhat grave. He had not originally wanted to assign this mission to Saitama, but among the people he trusted, Saitama was the only one who met the requirements.

The New Year arrived as scheduled. Though the flames of war had not yet died out, they could not dampen the people's festive spirits. Every household was decorated with lanterns and colored ornaments, and the atmosphere was lively.

The first day of the New Year was the day Sen held his wedding. Early that morning, Saitama changed into the new clothes Granny Xiang had prepared for him. He still wore the Uchiha Clan's iconic high-collared top, but Granny had replaced his lower garments with fleece-lined casual pants on account of the cold weather.

"Granny, I'm attending a coworker's wedding today. I might not be back all day, so take care of yourself at home."

After getting ready, Saitama informed Granny Xiang of his plans.

"I know, didn't you tell me yesterday? Why are you more nagging than this old woman?" Uchiha Kaori sat on a small stool in the courtyard. She seemed to have already eaten breakfast and was leisurely digesting her meal.

"I'm off then, Granny!"

Since it was Sen's wedding, Saitama intended to arrive early and see whether he could help out or simply join in the excitement.

He traveled light and did not bring any weapons. Carrying weapons to a wedding was inappropriate after all.

"Hey! Saitama." After he had walked only a few hundred meters, a familiar shout came from behind him.

"Oh, Nagisa." Without even turning around, Saitama knew who it was. After years together, they had long grown familiar with each other's movements.

He crossed his hands behind his head and stopped to wait for Nagisa to catch up.

"You're up early, Saitama!" Nagisa came over with his usual dark circles, grinning broadly.

"I wanted to get there early. Aren't you the same?" Saitama shrugged.

"I didn't even eat breakfast. I had just gotten up when I saw you pass by my house, so I followed you right out." Nagisa pointed at the residence by the roadside.