That Damn Planner Was a Good Person

"Watch closely. The simplified hand seals for this ninjutsu are..."

"I've learned it." Before Maruboshi Kosuke could demonstrate again, Lin Chuan had already memorized the six hand seals from earlier. If he wanted to maintain the image of a genius, a good memory was essential.

When Maruboshi Kosuke formed the seals earlier, Lin Chuan had kept his eyes fixed on Kosuke's hands. He had not even paid attention to the Water Dragon Bullet striking him, focusing entirely on memorizing the order of the seals.

It could not be helped. He was not truly a genius. If he wanted to instantly memorize the hand seal sequence for a ninjutsu, he had to cast aside every distraction and devote himself fully to remembering it.

Fortunately, the Simplified Water Dragon Bullet only required six seals. After forcefully committing them to memory, he went to the edge of the pond and slowly began forming them.

Once he successfully completed all six seals, he mobilized the chakra within him according to the method for the forty-four-seal Water Dragon Bullet. The water in the pond instantly boiled and churned. But just as the Water Dragon Bullet raised its head, it went limp again and crashed down, sending up a huge splash.

"Damn it, not enough chakra." Lin Chuan had been too excited and forgotten that he did not have enough chakra to cast the Water Dragon Bullet again. In the end, the ninjutsu failed.

"Don't rush. You already succeeded; you just didn't have enough chakra." The moment Maruboshi Kosuke saw the dragon's head rise from the pond, his heart surged with excitement. But when it fell, he could not help letting out a soft breath.

Only then did he remember that Lin Chuan had already used the Water Dragon Bullet once. With insufficient chakra, he naturally could not use it a second time. Still, the dragon's head had risen from the water, proving beyond doubt that the child had learned the Simplified Water Dragon Bullet.

"Whew, he really is a genius. He learned it after seeing it just once." Maruboshi Kosuke smiled in gratification, overjoyed to have such an outstanding disciple.

Precisely because his disciple was too gifted, he began to feel afraid. He feared that he would not be able to teach such an exceptional child well. After all, he was only a Genin, still far behind those renowned Jonin. He feared holding the child back, and feared that having a Genin teacher would bring the child unfavorable rumors.

However, Lin Chuan paid no attention to Maruboshi Kosuke's complicated thoughts. With his chakra depleted, he could only stop forming seals and take out a notebook to write down the sequence of the six seals. If he did not write them down now, he would forget them soon enough. That was the lot of an ordinary ninja talent—good memory was no match for bad handwriting.

As for learning the Simplified Water Dragon Bullet in one try, there was nothing strange about it. Before meeting Maruboshi Kosuke, he had already used the Water Dragon Bullet more than ten times. He was very familiar with the way its chakra was mobilized, and with the even more simplified hand seals, it was simply like adding wings to a tiger.

"Grandpa Kosuke, what about Water Formation Wall? Does Water Formation Wall have a simplified version too?" After recording the hand seal sequence for the Simplified Water Dragon Bullet, Lin Chuan widened his eyes at Maruboshi Kosuke, waiting for him to keep feeding him ninjutsu.

"Yes, Water Formation Wall has a simplified version too. It only has two seals: Tiger and Snake." Maruboshi Kosuke demonstrated it again. A pillar-shaped wall of water instantly rose from the pond. After it fell, he looked at Lin Chuan and smiled. "Did you remember it, little Chuan...?"

"I remembered it, Grandpa Kosuke." Lin Chuan looked at the simplified Water Formation Wall hand seal sequence in his notebook. Spotting his cheap father making faces under the eaves, he put away the notebook and smiled at Maruboshi Kosuke. "Grandpa Kosuke, my dad is back..."

"Is that so?" Maruboshi Kosuke turned toward the eaves, where a middle-aged man stood waving at them with a smile. He immediately called to Lin Chuan. "Let's go, little Chuan. We'll try it another day..."

"Okay." Lin Chuan had no intention of trying it. He did not have a single drop of chakra left, only a final bit reserved to save his life. He did not dare waste it recklessly. Once his chakra recovered tomorrow, he would try the simplified Water Formation Wall seals.

After he learned the simplified hand seal methods for Water Dragon Bullet and Water Formation Wall, his Grind Panel changed as well. It really was miraculous!

[Ninjutsu]

[Water Release Ninjutsu]

[C-rank Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Clone (Genin: 104/1000)]

[C-rank Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Shock Wave (Genin: 102/1000)]

[B-rank Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Formation Wall (Beginner: 2/10) (Two seals)]

[B-rank Ninjutsu: Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet (Usable: 12/100) (Six seals)]

Since the Grind Panel could record the simplified Water Dragon Bullet and Water Formation Wall, it meant he could now use both Water Release techniques. Having the Grind Panel was great. Switching from the complex versions to the simplified versions was so smooth. He absolutely loved the Grind Panel. That damn planner was such a good person!

"Senior Kosuke, how was this brat? He didn't disturb your tea, did he?" Lin Chuan's father casually glanced at Lin Chuan. Seeing him blink lightly, he knew it had worked out—better than he could have hoped. The smile on his face grew even wider.

"No, no. Little Chuan is very good." Maruboshi Kosuke was very satisfied with Lin Chuan's performance, and very satisfied with this disciple. Now, he was instead worried that his disciple was too outstanding and that one day he would have nothing left to teach him.

"Haha, come on, come on! The child's mother has prepared the food. Let's have a drink first." Lin Chuan's father no longer cared about what had happened earlier. As long as things worked out, that was enough. He hurriedly pulled Maruboshi Kosuke toward the kitchen for dinner.

Lin Chuan followed close behind them and, upon reaching the kitchen, took the initiative to serve them rice. Pouring the alcohol was their business.

Once Lin Chuan's father got drunk, he began pouring out all his grievances to Maruboshi Kosuke. Lin Chuan was too sensible and did not want them to worry, but he was also too smart. His father could no longer teach him ninjutsu. He was only an ordinary Chunin and could not find a good teacher.

That was why he had invited Maruboshi Kosuke over—to see whether he could take Lin Chuan in and guide his training.

Faced with Lin Chuan's father's tearful complaints, Maruboshi Kosuke felt rather helpless as well. At first, he had been delighted upon seeing Lin Chuan. He had not expected to encounter a genius disciple talented in Water Release.

But after teaching Lin Chuan two ninjutsu, he discovered that having a disciple who was too gifted was not necessarily a good thing. He had only shown off two moves, and that kid Lin Chuan had learned them. What would happen later? Sooner or later, he would have nothing left to teach.

He only knew a handful of ninjutsu. Once he taught them all, he would have no more ninjutsu to teach Lin Chuan. He did not know whether Lin Chuan would still recognize him as his teacher then.

Maruboshi Kosuke did not yet know that his status was far more important than a few ninjutsu. With his fellow disciple relationship with that old fool Sarutobi, Lin Chuan could be considered a ninja of the Hokage's faction. Through the Hokage faction's network, he could more or less get involved.

When he met Jiraiya in the future, he could even call him senior brother. Naruto and Sasuke would have to call him martial uncle. He would get the benefits, substance, and face all at once.

Before Naruto and Sasuke grew powerful, he could beat them until they called him Dad. He could bully them both all the way until they became Chunin. Just thinking about it felt amazing!