Bells Secured

Su Bai felt the power surging through his body as the newly acquired Mao Spiritual Arts Academy Basic Flash Step stirred restlessly within him.

This was the most commonly used method of movement among Bleach, using one's own spiritual pressure to move through space at high speed.

It allowed one to close the distance with an opponent in an instant or quickly pull away to evade attacks.

Its demands on speed were nothing short of extreme.

Su Bai focused his mind and held his breath as chakra surged beneath his feet.

The next second, his figure vanished from where he stood, turning into a blurry afterimage so fast it made the eye swim.

Each step carried him several meters, as though he were teleporting.

Had he not deliberately slowed down, others likely would not have been able to catch even a glimpse of him.

Su Bai darted through the forest, nimbly weaving around trees and branches.

The wind howled past his ears, a testament to his incredible speed.

Most astonishingly, even at such high speed, his footsteps made not the slightest sound.

That was the essence of Flash Step—using inner power to cancel out every vibration at the point of contact, moving silently and leaving no trace behind.

In just a few breaths, Su Bai had circled the forest and returned to his original spot.

Aside from his slightly disheveled hair, he looked completely composed, his breathing steady, as though such high-speed movement were effortless to him.

This skill would undoubtedly provide another layer of security in his future battles.

Not only could it let him quickly close in on enemies, but it could also allow him to swiftly retreat from danger.

Moreover, Flash Step's rapid movement could create multiple afterimages and disrupt an enemy's judgment.

Such a mysterious and wondrous ability was truly astonishing.

Feeling the new power surging within him, Su Bai stretched lazily in satisfaction.

As his strength rose, he felt completely renewed, brimming with fighting spirit.

Now that he had absorbed nearly all the nourishment, it was time to join the battle and show what he could do.

At that thought, the corners of his lips lifted slightly, and his eyes gleamed with determination.

Su Bai arrived at the battlefield and gave Sasuke, who was locked in fierce combat, a meaningful look.

Thanks to the boost from the Sharingan, Sasuke's perception had grown ever sharper.

He immediately understood Su Bai's intentions and began gathering chakra, preparing to unleash the final killing blow.

His hands flew through a series of seals, then he brought them to his mouth and thrust them forward.

With an angry roar, an enormous fireball shot forth, hurtling toward the center of the battlefield.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

The scorching fireball warped the air wherever it passed.

Seeing this, Naruto hurriedly sent two clones rushing forward, ordering them to grab one of the Kakashis and keep him from escaping.

The two Kakashis at the center of the battlefield had nowhere to run and were swallowed by the flames.

Sasuke's sudden attack caught Kakashi completely off guard.

Though he used the Substitution Technique to evade the fatal blow, his clone was held fast by Naruto's clones and could not escape disaster.

The clone dissolved into a puff of white smoke amid the blazing flames and vanished without a trace.

Seeing the enemy let down his guard, Su Bai knew the opportunity he had been waiting for had arrived!

He pushed off with both feet and used the Flash Step he had just learned, his figure abruptly vanishing from the spot.

The next second, he appeared behind Kakashi!

Looking at the completely defenseless Kakashi before him, Su Bai's lips curved upward.

He reached out in a blur, lightning-fast and unerringly grabbing the bells at Kakashi's waist!

"Jingle, jingle..." The crisp, pleasant ringing suddenly sounded, announcing the end of the battle.

Naruto and Sasuke both stopped attacking as well.

The victor had been decided!

Naruto and Sakura cheered wildly, charging forward in a single bound and throwing themselves at Su Bai and Sasuke, knocking both boys to the ground.

"Yeah! We won! This is awesome, believe it!"

Naruto shouted excitedly, so thrilled that tears streamed down his face.

"That's wonderful, Sasuke-kun, Su Bai-kun! We couldn't have done it without you!"

Sakura was overjoyed as well. She tightly hugged the two boys, grinning from ear to ear.

Even Su Bai, who was usually calm and proud, could no longer keep it together.

He revealed a rare smile. "Yeah, I had a lot of fun playing with you kids today."

Su Bai let the two noisy troublemakers hug him, jumping and bouncing around with them as he joined in their celebration.

To be able to fight alongside these people and grow together... perhaps this was what companions meant.

Kakashi slumped to the ground, panting heavily as he helplessly watched the children celebrating in delight.

He was filled with emotion. He had never expected these students to have already become so strong that they could leave him in such a sorry state.

Kakashi's gaze swept over the battlefield.

Sakura was still squealing excitedly, hugging the boys as they celebrated their victory.

Sakura still needs more training...

When his gaze shifted to Naruto, Kakashi frowned slightly.

The chakra Naruto had erupted with earlier clearly carried traces of the Nine-Tails' presence.

It seemed necessary to report this matter to the Hokage.

When he looked at Sasuke, however, Kakashi's eyes held greater approval.

A one-tomoe Sharingan awakened at such a young age—he truly was an elite of the Uchiha Clan.

His future achievements would surely be limitless.

Finally, Kakashi's gaze fell on Su Bai.

He recalled everything Su Bai had demonstrated in battle: superb swordsmanship, skilled hand-to-hand combat, incredible movement techniques, sharp insight... any one of those qualities could be considered the hallmark of a top-tier ninja.

What was even more precious was Su Bai's ability to calmly analyze a battle, identify the crucial point, and lead his teammates in coordinated combat.

He had never seen such an outstanding ninja. The potential Su Bai displayed had even exceeded his imagination.

There was no doubt that this boy would achieve great things in the future. Perhaps he would even surpass his teacher and become another legendary figure renowned throughout the ninja world after Jiraiya and Orochimaru.

"Su Bai, one day, you will become a ninja who surpasses me," Kakashi said with heartfelt admiration.

With that thought, Kakashi's eyes softened even further.

He quietly watched the children's playful figures, a gratified smile appearing on his lips.

These were his students... Though they were mischievous, noisy, and unruly, every one of them was an exceptional talent.

As a teacher, what could be more gratifying than witnessing one's students grow with one's own eyes?

Sunlight spilled down over the laughing Team 7.

Today's battle would surely become an unforgettable memory in everyone's hearts.

Beneath the endless blue sky, their path as ninja had only just begun.

As night deepened, Su Bai pushed open the door to his home and entered the familiar space.

His home stood in the central area of the Moonlight Clan Lands. It was not luxurious, but it radiated warmth and peace.

Soft lighting glowed in the entryway, illuminating the wooden floor by the door.

Su Bai took off his shoes and changed into comfortable slippers.

The living room was not large, but it was elegantly arranged.

Several ink-wash paintings hung on the beige walls, their pale strokes depicting landscapes of mountains and rivers.

Green cushions lay atop the tatami mats. A tea set sat on the low table nearby, along with hydrangeas—his mother's favorite flowers—in a vase.

Su Bai's parents had both tragically died during a mission, passing away in the prime of their lives.

From that moment on, Gale became Su Bai's only family.

Even so, whenever he returned home, Su Bai could still feel his parents' presence.

In his father's study, all kinds of scrolls and books were neatly arranged on the shelves—his father's lifelong collection.

On the notebook spread across the desk was his father's bold, vigorous handwriting.

When Su Bai was young, he loved lying beside his father's desk and listening to him recount those thrilling missions.

His mother's room always carried a faint fragrance of incense, the scent of the lilies she loved most.

Her jewelry box sat atop the dressing table. Inside was a simple wooden hairpin, a token of love his father had given her.

Although his parents were gone, their voices and smiles remained vividly etched in Su Bai's mind.

They had given Su Bai the strength to keep moving forward and inspired him to become the pride of his clan, a hero who protected the village.

Su Bai entered his room and sat cross-legged beside the low table near his bed.

On the table rested his beloved soul-cutting blade, Ryujin Jakka, along with a notebook recording his cultivation insights.

He brought up the mysterious Bleach Template System and examined it carefully.

[Host]: Su Bai

[Fused Character]: Genryusai Shigekuni Yamamoto

[Soul-Cutting Blade]: Ryujin Jakka

[Current Fusion Rate]: 3% (5000/100000)

[Shikai]: None

[Bankai]: None

[Hand-to-Hand Combat]: Mao Spiritual Arts Academy Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat

[Kido]: None

[Footwork]: Mao Spiritual Arts Academy Basic Flash Step

[Swordsmanship]: Mao Spiritual Arts Academy Basic Swordsmanship

Looking at this string of data, Su Bai fell into thought.

He now possessed the soul-cutting blade Ryujin Jakka, though all his abilities were still at a basic level.

His fusion rate had risen from 2% to 3%, allowing him not only to gain new skills.

Su Bai could also feel his own strength improving along with it.

"After the fusion rate increased, it feels like my Flash Step, swordsmanship, and hand-to-hand combat have all become stronger than before."

Su Bai murmured to himself, a hint of surprise in his voice.