Lightning Release Stimulation Method

Sure enough, the moment Chiba Shun finished speaking, Advisor Yukio roared, "Shut up!"

"Chiba Shun, what right do you have to talk about the village's strategy?!"

"And how long has it been since the Second Shinobi World War? The village is at its weakest right now. If we lose the war, can you bear that responsibility?!"

Chiba Shun fell silent.

However, the Third Raikage waved a hand. He was also dissatisfied with Chiba Shun's recklessness, but Chiba Shun had been working for him all along, so he still needed to pull him through this.

He said, "You're advising us to form an alliance with Konoha while also suggesting we start a war. What exactly is your purpose?"

The Third Raikage appeared to be questioning Chiba Shun, but he was actually giving him a chance to speak.

Hearing this, Chiba Shun immediately said, "Lord Raikage, sending troops into the Land of Fire does not necessarily mean starting a war."

"If the other three nations of Earth, Wind, and Water also follow through and make progress, giving us a chance to destroy or severely damage Konoha, then we attack."

"If they do not follow through, or if Konoha stops them, then we directly form an alliance with Konoha."

"After all, Hiruzen Sarutobi said that the higher-ups from both sides needed to meet and discuss the details of the alliance."

"We can arrange to discuss the alliance at the Land of Fire's border."

"This subordinate believes that if the other three major Shinobi Villages move against Konoha as well, the alliance agreement between our two sides will be more favorable to us!"

At this, not only did the Third Raikage look at Chiba Shun differently, but even Advisor Yukio, who had always disliked him, changed his view of him this time.

The higher-ups exchanged looks, then discussed the matter carefully. In the end, the Third Raikage made the final decision. "Fine!"

"First, notify the other three major Shinobi Villages, then secretly gather our forces."

"Once something happens to White Fang, deploy troops toward Konoha. At the same time, send Hiruzen Sarutobi a letter. I want to sign an alliance treaty with him at the Land of Fire's border!"

Afterward, the higher-ups discussed the terms of negotiation with Hiruzen Sarutobi. Chiba Shun no longer needed to participate and was asked to leave the Raikage's office.

Feeling dejected, Chiba Shun returned to his residence at the Ninja Academy and was surprised to find that Sakai Yushi had already returned.

He had even moved in with him, though Chiba Shun had no idea what he had told Aoki Yuyi.

Chiba Shun sized up Sakai Yushi and saw that his temperament had changed noticeably.

It seemed he had gained quite a lot in the Land of Iron.

When Sakai Yushi saw Chiba Shun return, he was overjoyed and hurried forward to check on him.

As he looked him over, he said, "I only found out after returning from the Land of Iron that you actually went to Konoha!"

"I thought you wouldn't make it back!"

"What was Konoha like? Was it full of danger everywhere?"

"I heard Konoha has Hokage Rock, and you can see it from anywhere in the village. Is that true?"

"Did you meet the talented young generation in Konoha? Did you fight any of them?"

"Did you get to see Konoha's swordsmanship experts? Is anyone there researching Multi-Sword Style like we are?"

Sakai Yushi rattled off a whole stream of questions, then suddenly stopped. His eyes locked onto the sword Chiba Shun carried on his back.

He tremblingly reached out and touched the sword, then asked expectantly, "Could this be a chakra-conducting sword?"

Chiba Shun said nothing. He merely nodded, then took the sword from his back and placed it in Sakai Yushi's hands.

Sakai Yushi carefully held the long sword and examined it from beginning to end for a long time.

Finally, he asked, "This sword must be worth at least three hundred thousand ryo, right? Your income for half a year is only three hundred thousand ryo!"

"You've struck it rich? You have spare money to buy something this good?"

Chiba Shun poured himself a cup of water, took a sip, and said, "I didn't buy it."

"I helped Lord Raikage's son, Yozuki A, kill a Kirigakure jonin. This was the spoils of war."

"Yozuki A doesn't use swords, so he gave this sword to me as mission compensation."

Sakai Yushi clicked his tongue in amazement. "The Raikage's son, huh? He sure is generous."

After saying that, he looked it over several more times before reluctantly returning the long sword to Chiba Shun.

Chiba Shun smiled. "Do you like it?"

Sakai Yushi nodded vigorously.

Chiba Shun smiled. "If you like it... save up and buy one yourself."

With that, he put the long sword away.

Sakai Yushi gritted his teeth. For a moment, he had thought Chiba Shun was really going to give him the sword.

Then Chiba Shun said, "Right, how was your trip to the Land of Iron? Did you gain much?"

At that, Sakai Yushi chuckled. "My swordsmanship improved a lot. I can now use four long swords proficiently."

"And my use of a single sword has undergone a qualitative change as well."

As he spoke, he drew one of his swords and gave it a light swing.

An invisible blade aura shot straight out the door, carving a distinct mark into the ground.

Chiba Shun had seen this style of combat in the original story from Konoha shinobi Hayama Shirakumo.

This was blade aura. Hayama Shirakumo also called it Vacuum Sword.

Chiba Shun cried out in shock, "Blade aura!"

"You... you've become a jonin?"

Chiba Shun had once analyzed this with Sakai Yushi. Being able to use blade aura basically meant one's chakra level had reached jonin level.

Sakai Yushi said, "Hehe, not officially yet. I plan to rest for a few days, then apply for a mission to be promoted to jonin."

There was no jonin exam for promotion. One could only be appointed by the higher-ups.

Under normal circumstances, a shinobi needed to complete a special mission before officially advancing.

Chiba Shun felt somewhat discouraged. Everyone was improving, and they were improving even faster than him.

After a pause, he said, "I gained a lot from this trip to Konoha. Lord Raikage gave me an S-rank Mission Record."

"And one chance to exchange for an A-rank Jutsu for free."

"I plan to give that slot to you. You can exchange it for the Lightning Release Chakra Stimulation Method, also known as the Lightning Release Body Flicker Technique."

"I looked into it. This Ninjutsu is A-rank and provides great assistance to taijutsu shinobi."

"Yozuki A is skilled in this Ninjutsu. During this battle, he used it and killed a Kirigakure jonin the instant he made his move."

Sakai Yushi seemed not to hear the rest of Chiba Shun's words. He was completely stunned by the words S-rank Mission.

His eyes lit up as he pressed, "Really? An S-rank Mission Record?"

"Even now, I only have a few A-rank Mission Records, and those were all from following the squad leader on missions. I've never even come into contact with an S-rank Mission."

"Does going to Konoha really pay that well?"

After pausing, he suddenly thought of something and asked, "I heard you led the team to Konoha by yourself. You didn't complete this S-rank Mission independently, did you?"

Completing it independently meant enjoying all the mission rewards alone. Sakai Yushi, like Chiba Shun, had known poverty too well. How could he not be excited?

Chiba Shun nodded. "Yes, but twenty-four children went together, and only two came back. I have to show some consideration too."

Sakai Yushi swallowed before finally asking, "An S-rank Mission... how much was the reward again?"

Chiba Shun smiled. "An A-rank Mission pays from one hundred fifty thousand to one million ryo. An S-rank Mission pays more than one million ryo."

Sakai Yushi's eyes shone. "We're rich, we're rich! We're really rich this time! We won't ever be short of money again."

Chiba Shun said, "We won't be short of money for now, but you're about to cultivate the Lightning Release Stimulation Method. I haven't learned this Ninjutsu, but I know it will definitely consume a huge amount of money."

Only then did Sakai Yushi remember that Chiba Shun had said he could exchange for an A-rank Jutsu for free.

He thought for a moment and said, "My Four-Sword Style Swordsmanship is already complete, and I'm researching Five-Sword Style. I have a feeling that if I successfully develop Five-Sword Style, it should count as A-rank swordsmanship!"

"You should keep this opportunity. You don't have an A-rank Jutsu yet."

Chiba Shun smiled. "There aren't any A-rank Jutsu in the village that suit me, so this opportunity is useless to me."

"Besides, how do you know I don't have an A-rank Jutsu?"

Sakai Yushi froze, then said, "Other than the village, where else could you get one? Don't tell me Konoha would give you a Ninjutsu?"

Chiba Shun said, "You guessed right. Konoha really did give me one!"

"The details are confidential, so don't ask. Get some rest. Tomorrow, we'll go to the Raikage Building to exchange for the Ninjutsu."

Sakai Yushi nodded. He felt that he would not be able to sleep tonight. He was looking forward to tomorrow's A-rank Jutsu.

The next day, the two arrived together at the mission office in the Raikage Building.

They were received by a female chunin. After confirming Chiba Shun's identity, she checked his mission records.

Then Chiba Shun was surprised to learn that he not only had an S-rank Mission Record, but also an A-rank Mission Record.

After asking about it, he learned that Yozuki A had temporarily added him to his team. For killing that jonin, the village had given Chiba Shun an A-rank Mission Record.

However, he had only assisted, so there was no reward.

Still, Chiba Shun was very excited. He had thought that the long sword was already all the reward Yozuki A had given him. This mission record was a completely unexpected bonus.

Mission records were extremely useful. Exchanging for Ninjutsu from the village required a certain mission count, and advancement also required corresponding mission records.

Putting those thoughts aside, Chiba Shun directly collected the reward for the S-rank Mission.

The female chunin said the higher-ups had personally assessed it and awarded Chiba Shun one million ryo.

Although it was the lowest-tier reward for an S-rank Mission, both Chiba Shun and Sakai Yushi were very satisfied.

The money belonged to him alone. When he accepted the one million ryo in cash from the female chunin, both he and Sakai Yushi were dazed.

The female chunin was not at all surprised by Chiba Shun's reaction. She had seen this sort of thing plenty of times. Since she was not busy at the moment, she quietly waited for Chiba Shun and Sakai Yushi to come back to their senses.

After quite a while, Chiba Shun finally remembered that he could still learn an A-rank Jutsu.

He then stated clearly which A-rank Jutsu he wanted: the Lightning Release Body Flicker Technique.

And he gave the opportunity to learn that Ninjutsu to Sakai Yushi.

This did not violate any rules. Sakai Yushi quickly obtained the cultivation method for the Lightning Release Body Flicker Technique.

However, after memorizing the entire cultivation method, an Elite Jonin from the mission office placed a seal in Sakai Yushi's mind.

Even if Chiba Shun wanted to learn it in the future, he would have no way of learning it from Sakai Yushi.