Genjutsu Training

Before long, Kazan returned to Kurenai Yuhi's doorstep with her.

Kurenai was still wondering whether to invite him in for dinner when her father's voice came from behind them.

"You're here."

"Yeah. Sorry for the trouble, old man!"

"..."

Old man? Do I look that old?

Forget it. This kid even calls Lord Hokage an old geezer. I got off easy!

"Dad, you two..." Kurenai's wine-red eyes darted between her father and Kazan.

"Until the Chunin Ninja Exams begin, I'll be teaching Kazan about Genjutsu."

He wouldn't be training Kazan to use Genjutsu, only to understand it.

For a Ninja like Kazan, Genjutsu was his greatest enemy.

He didn't need to know how to use it, but he had to know how to break it.

Hiruzen Sarutobi wasn't an expert in that field. Shinku Yuhi was, so Hiruzen had personally assigned him to teach Kazan.

"Come in. It'll be more convenient if you stay at my house for the next few days."

My dear daughter, this is as far as your father can help you.

"Sure. I've been staying on Back Mountain lately anyway. I've barely gone home."

Kazan strode inside, oblivious to the thumbs-up Kurenai gave her father behind him.

Nicely done, Jonin Shinku Yuhi!

"Let me make this clear first. You still have to get to the Ninja Academy on time, and you can't disturb Kazan's training."

"I know."

Kurenai didn't care about the details. Remembering how much Kazan could eat, she hurried to the kitchen to help.

"Mom, let me help!"

At dinner,

Kurenai had warned her mother that Kazan had a huge appetite, and her mother had prepared plenty of food.

As it turned out,

they had still underestimated how much he could eat.

Two increases in his Garp Template's integration had brought Kazan's body to an astonishing level.

His daily training also burned through enormous amounts of energy, and his appetite had grown to match.

Seeing the entire Yuhi family staring at him in shock, Kazan scratched his head.

"Give me a minute."

Shave!

With a silent cry, he used Shave and crashed straight through the roof of Kurenai's house.

"Damn it. How did I forget again? Shave can't turn."

Shave granted extraordinary speed, but it had a drawback: it moved in a straight line.

At least, Kazan could only move in a straight line with it for now.

A skilled user could combine Geppo and Shave to stay fast while gaining maneuverability. That was how Lucci of CP9 worked around Shave's weakness.

Kazan had no plans to develop offshoot techniques from the Six Powers.

As the great Pirate teacher Kaido once said, Haki was the power that stood above all else!

Shave was the exception, though. He needed to overcome its weakness.

Kurenai's family stared blankly at the ceiling. Kazan came back and poked his head through the hole he had made.

"I'll fix it myself when I get back. Don't worry, I've got experience with this!"

He really does have plenty of experience, Kurenai muttered under her breath.

Shinku Yuhi, meanwhile, wasn't focused on the broken roof. Kazan had moved so fast that Shinku hadn't even been able to follow him.

No wonder the Third Hokage specifically picked him for the Chunin Ninja Exams...

"Dad, what did you say?"

"Nothing. Let's eat."

Then he froze. The table was bare. There weren't even a few drops of soy sauce left.

Do I really have enough savings to feed him?

He gave his daughter a long, mournful look.

This sacrifice is way too damn big!

As it turned out, he was worrying for nothing.

A short while later, a violent tremor shook their backyard.

Boom!

With a dull thud, the carcass of a huge beast appeared in the yard. Kazan had even thoughtfully prepared the meat, so it was ready to roast.

"I'll take care of my own food."

I couldn't ask for a better son-in-law!

Shinku Yuhi was deeply moved. His wallet was safe.

"But... what is that thing?!"

Beyond the wall, a massive tiger stared at the family. Its tail, thicker than Shinku's arm, swayed back and forth.

"Oh, you mean Hakimi!"

"I haven't spent much time with him lately. When he saw me this time, he insisted on coming along."

I've seen people keep pets, but never one this big!

As Shinku thought that, the tiger seemed to hear Kazan call him. Hakimi raised a paw and started to come inside.

Shinku hurried over.

"Wait! Don't come in! I grew those potted plants myself!"

Hakimi knew nothing about potted plants. He only knew that this hateful two-legged creature was keeping him from his master. With a roar, he raised a paw to strike.

"Stop!"

Kazan shot him a cold look, sharper than a blade.

Hakimi's paw froze in midair. He gave a wounded whimper and sat back down.

"Sorry, old man. I'll get him settled and come back in a bit."

With that apology, Kazan leaped onto the tiger's back.

He gave Hakimi a pat, and the tiger tore down the street at full speed.

The sight scared the life out of everyone on the street and drew the attention of the Uchiha Military Police Force.

Once they learned that the tiger was Kazan's pet, the Uchiha went straight to the Hokage Building to complain.

After all, everyone knew by now that Kazan was Hiruzen Sarutobi's Fourth Disciple.

As Hokage, Hiruzen had to deal with this!

Hiruzen Sarutobi finally sent the Uchiha away, cursing Kazan in his head for being such a headache.

Is he out of his mind?!

Who keeps a pet that big, then rides it through the village?

"Bring Kazan here."

According to the Uchiha's tally, Kazan's pet had damaged several houses and smashed too many market stalls to count. One unlucky fellow had even been knocked unconscious when Hakimi barreled into him as though he were a speed bump.

His name was apparently Obito Uchiha.

Before long...

After settling Hakimi, Kazan punched through Hiruzen Sarutobi's newly replaced window and jumped inside.

"KAZAN, YOU BASTARD!"

Hiruzen Sarutobi's voice shot up several notes.

"Go fix every house you damaged! Right now! Do you hear me?!"

"Got it, got it. I'm going."

Kazan had expected this and agreed without fuss.

He turned to leave, but the sight of the intact window on the other side of the room made his fist itch. He swung and smashed that one too.

"Got to let some fresh air in, old geezer."

Fresh air, my ass! It's nighttime, and I still have work to do. Are you trying to freeze me to death?

Hiruzen Sarutobi was so furious his insides ached, but Kazan gave him no chance to respond. One Geppo later, he vanished into the night.

After a long silence, Hiruzen Sarutobi's furious voice rang out from the Hokage Building.

"KAZAN!"