Hiruzen Sarutobi's Little Tricks

Chiba Shun was somewhat wary. Hiruzen Sarutobi had not written something like this in the ninjutsu scrolls, clearly intending to set a trap for Kumogakure.

There was a problem with this Illusion Technique. What about the others?

Setting that thought aside, Chiba Shun tested it several times on a few Genin and gradually mastered this B-rank Illusion Technique.

He then began experimenting with the second Illusion Technique.

However, having learned his lesson from being tricked by the first Illusion Technique, Chiba Shun carefully analyzed its principles first.

The mechanism of this Illusion Technique differed from the first one.

It could make its victim hallucinate, feeling as if they were bound and unable to move.

Because of that misconception, the victim appeared to be struggling, but was actually awkwardly fighting against themselves in complete futility. In the end, they could only watch helplessly as their enemy attacked and killed them.

After analyzing it, Chiba Shun tested it on several Genin.

This Illusion Technique had a higher success rate than the previous one, but Chiba Shun knew there was one thing left unstated: if the victim's soul strength exceeded the caster's, it would be easy for them to break free from the Illusion Technique.

Chiba Shun's lips twitched. There was no need to think about it; Hiruzen Sarutobi had probably deliberately omitted that detail.

After forcibly controlling every Genin with this Illusion Technique once, Chiba Shun rubbed his head and said to Yuichi Nishida, "Senior, can I come back in a few days? I've overexerted my mental energy today."

Yuichi Nishida nodded. "Sure."

After resting for several days, Chiba Shun returned to the prison and began testing the third B-rank Illusion Technique.

This Illusion Technique was the most unusual. It directly controlled the victim's actions.

Its principle was to prevent the victim's soul from issuing commands to their own body, while allowing the caster to issue commands directly to that body.

The victim's view did not change. They could only watch helplessly as their body escaped their control and instead followed the enemy's commands.

For example, slaughtering their own companions.

However, this Illusion Technique had the same flaw as the second one. It only worked on people whose soul power was lower than the caster's.

And it had to be far lower, after all. This was an Illusion Technique that directly controlled enemies into killing one another.

The final B-rank Illusion Technique was the worst of all. Chiba Shun tried many times, yet failed every single one.

In the end, Chiba Shun came to a conclusion: they might have been duped by Konoha. There was likely something wrong with the training method written in the Illusion Technique.

Since the Third Raikage could not use Illusion Techniques, he had failed to notice it.

Chiba Shun could not help but laugh several times. "I actually fell for Hiruzen Sarutobi's scheme!"

Yuichi Nishida, standing beside him, had no idea what he meant. "What happened?"

Chiba Shun gave a brief explanation, leaving Yuichi Nishida clicking his tongue in amazement.

Chiba Shun said, "I need to report this to Lord Raikage. I won't train anymore today."

Yuichi Nishida nodded. "Come straight here whenever you need to train next time."

Chiba Shun thanked him.

A moment later, Chiba Shun appeared in the Raikage's office.

After hearing Chiba Shun's account, the Third Raikage felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi had deceived him.

He first smashed his desk, then sent someone to the mission office to cancel that B-rank Illusion Technique.

Seeing this, Chiba Shun was considering how to tactfully mention that he had wasted money on a B-rank Illusion Technique.

Unexpectedly, the Third Raikage suddenly said, "Take a look at that A-rank Illusion Technique too. See if there's anything wrong with it."

Chiba Shun blinked and instantly felt that Hiruzen Sarutobi was not so detestable after all.

Naturally, Chiba Shun would not say that he had intended to exchange for that A-rank Illusion Technique anyway.

He merely waited quietly.

The Third Raikage naturally did not need to visit the mission office. He directly took out the scroll Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him last time.

Chiba Shun carefully read through the A-rank Illusion Technique, then said to the Third Raikage, "The principles behind this Illusion Technique are more complex than those B-rank ones. I can't understand it completely right now. I'll need to test it."

The Third Raikage waved a hand, signaling for Chiba Shun to copy down the Illusion Technique and take it away.

After quickly transcribing it, Chiba Shun left the Raikage's office.

The first thing he did after leaving was head to the mission office and exchange his S-rank Mission for cash!

Afraid that the Third Raikage would change his mind, Chiba Shun immediately withdrew the one million ryo in cash.

Perfect timing. He had spent all his money while training those B-rank and C-rank Illusion Techniques.

Chiba Shun had originally been considering whether to take on a few missions or continue borrowing money from Aoki Yuyi, but it seemed that would no longer be necessary.

Patting his ninja tool pouch, Chiba Shun felt that his future was bright.

Still, he had to learn the A-rank Illusion Technique.

A-rank Illusion Technique: Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death. It made the victim believe they had been restrained by Wood Release, after which the caster emerged from a tree and killed them.

Compared to B-rank Illusion Techniques, which either controlled people or deceived their perception of reality, this A-rank Illusion Technique could both control and kill. It was a powerful killing Illusion Technique!

Furthermore, once the Illusion Technique succeeded, Chiba Shun, as the caster, could see the scene witnessed by the victim.

Looking at it from another angle, Chiba Shun could obtain a great deal of intelligence through the Illusion Technique space!

As expected of an A-rank Illusion Technique. Its effects were truly powerful!

Then another thought occurred to him. Were the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques based on this same principle, probing a shinobi's soul?

Of course, with Chiba Shun's current level of Illusion Techniques—or rather, Yin Release—he could not possibly analyze the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques.

After spending several days carefully studying it, Chiba Shun concluded that this Illusion Technique was probably genuine. Hiruzen Sarutobi had not tampered with it.

However, it was also extremely difficult to train. Chiba Shun had to drastically alter the environment without allowing the victim to notice.

Otherwise, the opponent only needed to disrupt their own Chakra to break free immediately.

And constructing an Illusion Technique space that would not arouse the victim's suspicions consumed an enormous amount of mental energy.

With Chiba Shun's current strength, he could only make two or three failed attempts a day. Even then, each attempt fell far short of completing the Illusion Technique.

Yet that was not what made Chiba Shun despair the most. What truly made him despair was that, after practicing the A-rank Illusion Technique for a month, he finally confirmed that he seemingly could not master Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death for the time being.

Chiba Shun had already grasped the essentials of this Illusion Technique, but he felt that his Yin Release level was insufficient!

That was right. After a month of repeated attempts, Chiba Shun finally confirmed one thing: Yin Release probably had levels as well.

Although he did not know how Yin Release levels were classified, his own Yin Release level was definitely not high enough!

Chiba Shun was deeply upset. At his Jonin level, B-rank Illusion Techniques did not help improve his strength much.

Only A-rank Illusion Techniques could raise his combat power.

But now, he could not learn A-rank Illusion Techniques!

In other words, all the time and resources he had invested in Illusion Techniques had gone down the drain!

Chiba Shun went to the Raikage's office and reported his research findings to the Third Raikage.

The Third Raikage frowned in thought and said, "So the Illusion Technique itself is not the problem. The requirements for the practitioner are simply rather high?"

Chiba Shun nodded listlessly. "Yes. This was probably deliberate on Hiruzen Sarutobi's part too!"

Then Chiba Shun asked with a trace of hope, "Lord Raikage, does the village have a method for cultivating Yin Release?"

The Third Raikage shook his head directly. "Naturally, the village does not. We should have exchanged for a method of cultivating Yin Release from Konoha last time!"

After a pause, he asked again, "Based on your experience, what level of Yin Release would be necessary to learn this Illusion Technique? Or rather, how many people in the village do you think have this talent?"

Chiba Shun thought for a moment. "I can't say for sure, but I estimate that it would definitely be difficult for someone at the Jonin level to achieve it."

"Elite Jonin might be able to try. Hmm, Lord Raikage, you could try as well. Your Yin Release level is definitely sufficient."

The Third Raikage waved him off at once. How could he possibly cultivate Yin Release?

He suddenly looked at Chiba Shun. "Do you have a way to obtain more ninjutsu from Konoha? This time, we can include a Yin Release cultivation method as well!"

Chiba Shun's spirits lifted at once. This was indeed something worth considering carefully. It concerned whether his investment in Illusion Technique training had been wasted.

It would probably be difficult for someone else to solve this problem, but Chiba Shun felt there was still an opportunity.

It would likely be difficult to start with Hiruzen Sarutobi, but Danzo might offer a possible avenue.

Danzo was quite generous, after all!

After thinking for a while, Chiba Shun said to the Third Raikage, "Lord Raikage, I have a plan..."

Chiba Shun explained his idea in detail.

After hearing Chiba Shun's plan, the Third Raikage once again gave him an odd look.

Sure enough, the idea of grooming Chiba Shun into A's right-hand man was the correct one!

He would be Kumogakure's Danzo in the future!

Although Chiba Shun had come up with a plan, it could not be put into action anytime soon. For now, all he could do was use Illusion Techniques more often and slowly raise his Yin Release through this clumsy method.

Besides Illusion Techniques, the Chakra Sensing he had mastered was also related to Yin Release, so he could practice that more as well.

That day, Chiba Shun was training at the Ninja Academy as usual when a little girl came running up to him and said, "Teacher Shun, I want to train with you."

As she spoke, she took out twelve Explosive Tags!

Chiba Shun froze for a moment. The visitor was none other than Yugito.

When Chiba Shun had first met Yugito, he had not even been a Jonin. He had considered taking her as his disciple to raise his standing in the village.

But now, he had thoroughly entered the upper echelon's field of vision. Taking Yugito as his disciple no longer held any meaning.

So, after meeting her once at her home, Chiba Shun had never again sought an opportunity to approach her.

He had not expected Yugito to come to him of her own accord.

Yugito had remembered Chiba Shun because the village had been discussing him so much lately.

At the time, Chiba Shun had gone everywhere seeking advice on ninjutsu, bringing a dozen Explosive Tags every time.

The matter had caused quite a stir in the village and become a topic of conversation among the middle and upper circles.

But after that, Chiba Shun had left the village, and Yugito had been unable to find him.

This time, she had finally seen Chiba Shun at the Ninja Academy, so she came straight to him, intending to become his disciple.