Chiba Shun was somewhat wary. Hiruzen Sarutobi had not written something like this in the ninjutsu scrolls, clearly intending to trick 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.
Then he began testing the second Illusion Technique.
However, having been burned by the first Illusion Technique, Chiba Shun first carefully analyzed the principles behind this one.
This Illusion Technique operated differently from the first.
It could make its victim hallucinate, feeling as though they were restrained and unable to move.
Because of that misconception, the victim appeared to be struggling, but was actually awkwardly fighting against themselves to no avail. 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 it failed to mention: if the victim's soul was stronger than the caster's, they could easily break free from the Illusion Technique.
Chiba Shun's lips twitched. Without even thinking, he knew Hiruzen Sarutobi had probably deliberately left that out.
After forcibly controlling all the Genin with this Illusion Technique, Chiba Shun rubbed his head and said to Yuichi Nishida, "Senior, can I come back in a few days? I've overused my spiritual energy today."
Yuichi Nishida nodded and said, "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 movements.
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 scene the victim saw would not change. They could only watch helplessly as their body slipped beyond their control and instead acted according to their enemy's demands.
For instance, 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 much lower, since this was an Illusion Technique that directly controlled enemies and made them kill one another.
The last B-rank Illusion Technique was the most outrageous. Chiba Shun tried it many times, yet could not succeed even once.
In the end, Chiba Shun reached a conclusion: Konoha might have tricked them. The training method written in the Illusion Technique might be flawed.
Since the Third Raikage did not know Illusion Techniques, he had failed to notice.
Chiba Shun could not help laughing several times. "I actually fell for Hiruzen Sarutobi's scheme!"
Yuichi Nishida, standing nearby, was baffled. "What happened?"
Chiba Shun gave him a brief explanation, leaving Yuichi Nishida clicking his tongue in astonishment.
Chiba Shun said, "I need to tell Lord Raikage about this. I won't train anymore today."
Yuichi Nishida nodded. "You can come straight here next time you need to train."
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 bring up the money he had wasted 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, instantly feeling that Hiruzen Sarutobi was not quite so detestable after all.
Naturally, Chiba Shun would not say that he had already intended to exchange for that A-rank Illusion Technique.
He simply 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 complicated than those B-rank Illusion Techniques. I can't make sense of it right away. I need to test it."
The Third Raikage waved his hand, signaling for Chiba Shun to copy down the Illusion Technique and take it with him.
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 the Third Raikage would reconsider, Chiba Shun immediately withdrew the one million ryo in cash.
Perfect. He had spent all his money previously while training in those B-rank and C-rank Illusion Techniques.
Chiba Shun had originally been considering whether to take on a few missions or borrow more money from Aoki Yuyi, but now it seemed unnecessary.
Patting his ninja tool pouch, Chiba Shun felt his future was bright.
Still, he had to learn the A-rank Illusion Technique.
A-rank Illusion Technique: Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, an Illusion Technique that made its victim believe they had been restrained by Wood Release. Then the caster emerged from a tree and killed them.
Unlike 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 offensive Illusion Technique!
Moreover, once this Illusion Technique succeeded, Chiba Shun, as its caster, could see the scene that the victim saw.
Looking at it from another angle, Chiba Shun could obtain a great deal of intelligence through the illusion space!
It truly deserved to be called an A-rank Illusion Technique. Its effects were incredibly powerful!
Then another thought occurred to him. Were the Yamanaka Clan's secret techniques based on this same principle, probing shinobi souls?
Of course, with Chiba Shun's current skill in Illusion Techniques—or rather, Yin Release—there was no way he could 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 needed to drastically alter the environment without allowing the victim to notice.
Otherwise, the opponent only needed to disrupt their own chakra to break the Illusion Technique directly.
And in order to construct an illusion space that would not arouse the victim's suspicion, the consumption of spiritual energy would be enormous.
With Chiba Shun's current strength, he could only make two or three failed attempts per day, and each attempt fell far short of completing the Illusion Technique.
Yet that was not what made Chiba Shun despair the most. What truly devastated him was that, after training the A-rank Illusion Technique for a month, he finally confirmed that he seemed unable to 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 not high enough!
That was right. After a month of repeated attempts, Chiba Shun finally confirmed one thing: Yin Release apparently had levels as well.
Although he did not know how Yin Release levels were classified, his own Yin Release level was definitely insufficient!
Chiba Shun was deeply upset. With his Jonin-level strength, B-rank Illusion Techniques did not do much to improve his power.
Only A-rank Illusion Techniques could increase his combat ability.
But now he could not learn an A-rank Illusion Technique!
That meant all the time and resources he had spent on Illusion Techniques had gone down the drain!
Chiba Shun went to the Raikage's office and told the Third Raikage the results of his research.
The Third Raikage frowned in thought before saying, "So the Illusion Technique itself isn't the problem. It's just that the requirements for the practitioner are rather high?"
Chiba Shun nodded weakly. "Yes. This was probably deliberate on Hiruzen Sarutobi's part too!"
Then, with a hint of hope, Chiba Shun asked, "Lord Raikage, does the village have any method for training Yin Release?"
The Third Raikage immediately shook his head. "Naturally, the village doesn't. We should have exchanged for a method of training Yin Release from Konoha last time!"
After a pause, he asked again, "Based on your experience, what level of Yin Release would be needed to learn this Illusion Technique? Or rather, how many people in the village do you think might have that 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 high enough."
The Third Raikage waved his hand at once. How could he possibly train Yin Release?
He suddenly looked at Chiba Shun and said, "Do you have a way to get more ninjutsu from Konoha? This time, we can include a Yin Release training method!"
Chiba Shun's spirits immediately rose. He really had to think this through carefully. It concerned whether his investment in Illusion Technique training had been wasted.
This would probably be difficult for anyone else to figure out, but Chiba Shun felt there was still an opportunity.
It would likely be difficult to start with Hiruzen Sarutobi, but perhaps he could find a way through Danzo.
Danzo was quite generous, after all!
After thinking for a while, Chiba Shun said to the Third Raikage, "Lord Raikage, I have an idea..."
Chiba Shun carefully explained his plan.
After hearing Chiba Shun's plan, the Third Raikage once again looked at him strangely.
Sure enough, the idea of grooming Chiba Shun into Yozuki A's right-hand man had been the right one!
He would become Kumogakure's Danzo in the future!
Although Chiba Shun had come up with a method, it was not something that could be carried out immediately. For now, all he could do was use Illusion Techniques more often and slowly improve 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 train that more as well.
One day, Chiba Shun was training at the Ninja Academy as usual when a little girl ran up to him with quick little steps and said, "Teacher Shun, I want to train with you."
As she spoke, she took out twelve Explosive Tags!
Chiba Shun froze. The visitor was none other than Yugito.
When Chiba Shun first met Yugito, he had not even become a Jonin yet. He had once considered taking Yugito as his disciple in order to raise his standing in the village.
But now, he had thoroughly entered the upper echelons' field of vision. Taking Yugito as his disciple no longer held any meaning.
Therefore, after meeting Yugito once at her home, Chiba Shun had never sought another opportunity to approach her.
He had not expected Yugito to come to him on her own initiative.
Yugito had remembered Chiba Shun because the village had been discussing him so much recently.
At the time, Chiba Shun had been seeking people everywhere for guidance on ninjutsu, bringing a dozen Explosive Tags every time.
The matter had caused quite a stir throughout the village and become a topic of conversation among the middle and upper circles.
However, Chiba Shun had left the village afterward, so Yugito had been unable to find him.
This time, she had finally spotted Chiba Shun at the Ninja Academy. So she came straight to him, intending to become his disciple.
Before you continue