Liver-Busting Genius

Half a month later—

Maruboshi Kosuke came to the mission department to turn in a mission. Lin Chuan's father, who had been thinking about him all along, took the opportunity during the handover to invite Maruboshi Kosuke to his home.

"Senior Kosuke, you completed another mission so smoothly. You're really amazing." Lin Chuan's father took the mission scroll and could not help sighing in admiration, flattering this experienced senior.

"Haha, it was nothing. It was just an ordinary Genin escort mission, nothing dangerous." Maruboshi Kosuke was an old acquaintance of Lin Chuan's father. He took the praise as a joke and did not pay it much mind. Back when they had done missions together, they often exchanged jokes like this.

"Senior Kosuke, are you free these next few days?" After the small talk, Lin Chuan's father immediately got to the point. Everyone was busy, so there was no need to waste time beating around the bush.

"I am. Why do you ask?" Maruboshi Kosuke accepted the remaining mission payment, curious about Lin Chuan's father's intentions.

"Oh, it's like this." Lin Chuan's father gathered his words and explained what he had planned over the past few days. "I often tell my boy about the missions we did when we were young. The kid really admires you, Senior Kosuke, so I wanted to invite you over for a visit and perhaps have you give that brat some pointers..."

"So that's what this was about!" Maruboshi Kosuke did not think too much of it, assuming an old friend simply wanted to catch up. His mission had just ended, and he had no plans to take another anytime soon, so he readily agreed. "The mission just ended, so I need to go home and rest. I'll visit in a day or two!"

"Alright. Senior Kosuke, remember to let me know when you come. I'll have my wife prepare some snacks to go with the drinks, and we can have a few cups," Lin Chuan's father said, thrilled that Maruboshi Kosuke had accepted the invitation.

They had successfully taken the first step. Whether Chuan could learn a simplified Water Release ninjutsu next would depend on the boy himself.

"Haha, sounds good. I'll be going, then." Carrying the rest of his mission payment, Maruboshi Kosuke bid Lin Chuan's father farewell and left the mission department cheerfully. Their drinking session was settled just like that.

Two days later, on a crisp, sunny weekend...

Maruboshi Kosuke carried a bottle of wine and a bag of fruit as he silently arrived before the wooden hut where Lin Chuan's family lived, then knocked on the front door.

"Senior Kosuke? You came so early?" Lin Chuan's mother had long been told that Maruboshi Kosuke would be visiting in the next few days. She had been watching for him all day and was delighted to see him arrive.

Seeing the fruit basket in his hands, she felt a little embarrassed. "You came all this way, Senior Kosuke. Why bring gifts too? The sun is blazing outside, so hurry in and have a seat. Chuan is practicing ninjutsu in the backyard..."

"Chuan can already learn ninjutsu?" Lin Chuan's mother took the fruit basket from Maruboshi Kosuke. He was now interested in the Chuan she had mentioned, since he had learned from chatting with Lin Chuan's father that the boy had only just started school.

For a child who had only just started school, being able to learn the Three Body Technique taught at the Ninja Academy was already impressive. Yet this child was practicing ninjutsu at such a young age. That was truly rare!

"That child is just copying his father and messing around. Who knows if he has actually learned any ninjutsu?" Lin Chuan's mother also knew what the father and son were trying to do. To help her son successfully take Maruboshi Kosuke as his teacher, she was putting on an act as well. Their whole family deserved acting awards. She led Maruboshi Kosuke toward the backyard as she spoke.

After bringing Maruboshi Kosuke to the backyard, she immediately served the tea she had prepared in advance and filled his cup to the brim. Only then did she stand. "Senior Kosuke, Chuan is by the pond. This is freshly brewed herbal tea. His father will not be off work for a while, so you can sit here for now. I'll go prepare dinner..."

"You don't need to go through so much trouble." Seeing how hospitable Lin Chuan's mother was, Maruboshi Kosuke could not help feeling touched. After all, he was alone in the world and merely an unremarkable Genin. This family was treating him far too kindly.

"A guest is a guest. Senior Kosuke, please eat and drink to your heart's content. His father has been talking about you for ages." Lin Chuan's mother exchanged a few more pleasantries with a smile before heading to the kitchen to prepare dinner.

After Lin Chuan's mother left, Maruboshi Kosuke no longer refused. He picked up the teacup, about to take a sip, when he saw Lin Chuan forming hand seals by the pond. The seals Lin Chuan formed were for the Water Dragon Bullet, and he was extremely familiar with that sequence.

Lin Chuan had already noticed Maruboshi Kosuke's arrival. In truth, after receiving notice from his adoptive father, he had spent the past two days preparing to use the Water Dragon Bullet, waiting until Maruboshi Kosuke came.

During his previous practice, he had not circulated any chakra. But now that Maruboshi Kosuke had appeared beneath the eaves, his empty hand-seal practice immediately became hand seals infused with chakra.

After completing all forty-four seals, his movements were slower and more precise than ever before, all to ensure he successfully released the Water Dragon Bullet in one try. He immediately shouted, "Water Release, Water Dragon Bullet..."

At his shout, the stagnant water in the pond instantly surged. A huge, ferocious dragon head emerged, its two orange-yellow eyes like a pair of great lanterns. Then the dragon's body, formed from water, slowly rose from the pond, along with four clawed limbs baring their talons.

Only after the dragon's head and body rose into the air did it open its fanged jaws and charge at a large tree nearby.

Rumble—

The dragon's jaws clamped down on the thick trunk. With a crack, fissures spread across the wood. The water of its entire body crashed through it, snapping the trunk cleanly in two as it surged toward the river in the distance.

Seeing the Water Dragon Bullet break a large tree, Maruboshi Kosuke held his teacup frozen in midair, forgetting to bring it to his lips. His mouth hung slightly open as he failed to recover for a long while. He muttered, "Water Dragon Bullet... It really was the Water Dragon Bullet..."

"How was this possible?" Maruboshi Kosuke still could not believe it. He was just a child. How could he use the B-rank ninjutsu Water Dragon Bullet? Had his eyes deceived him? Could this child be a genius?

The herbal tea in his hand suddenly lost all appeal. As he set it down, he used the Body Flicker Technique to appear beside Lin Chuan, who seemed to be exhausted.

The exhaustion was only an act. Lin Chuan still had a tiny bit of chakra left. If he did not look like he had used up a great deal, it would not suit someone his age, driven by the competitive urge to recklessly practice advanced ninjutsu.

"Child, how old are you?" Maruboshi Kosuke looked at Lin Chuan, who was kneeling on one knee and panting heavily.

"Who are you?" Lin Chuan pretended not to recognize Maruboshi Kosuke, but he still answered him. "Grandpa, I'm six..."

"What? Only six? Why are you using the Water Dragon Bullet? Don't you know it's a B-rank ninjutsu? Forcing yourself to practice it could be dangerous!" Upon hearing that he was six, Maruboshi Kosuke was completely stunned. This child's performance was simply astounding. Could he really be a genius?