I, a distinguished Konoha Jonin...

"Don't ever do that again, understand, Kazan?"

Shinku Yuhi's expression was stern.

"You really don't need to worry about me on that front, old man."

What Shinku Yuhi had said applied to ordinary ninja.

Was Kazan an ordinary ninja?

Of course not!

He had trained his entire body, including his internal organs, to be as indestructible as iron. A mere burst of chakra couldn't hurt him.

Leaving aside a monster like Hashirama Senju, even Tobirama Senju could unleash his chakra like that without suffering any harm. Naturally, Kazan would be fine.

"How could I not worry?!" Shinku Yuhi wasn't about to let him do whatever he pleased.

Kazan could only explain, "I have a technique specifically for training my body, including every single organ."

"Nonsense. I've never even heard of a technique like that."

Seeing that he still didn't believe him, Kazan could only tell him to punch him.

Shinku Yuhi actually did.

Clang!

What the hell was that metallic sound?

Shinku Yuhi's eyes went wide.

He was starting to believe him. The fist he'd struck Kazan with hurt so much that he'd nearly cried out.

"What technique is this?" He hid his reddened fist behind his back.

As expected of a Jonin, he'd hidden his hand so deftly that even Kazan almost missed it.

"Tekkai!"

"Tekkai..." Shinku Yuhi murmured, then asked, "Can we learn this technique too?"

"Probably? But your body is too weak."

I'm too weak?

Hahahahaha! I'm a distinguished Jonin, Konoha's genjutsu master! How could my body be weak?

"Kazan, you're underestimating me. Don't let the fact that I'm a genjutsu specialist fool you. I've never neglected my taijutsu. Among the ninja of my generation, my taijutsu ranks in the top ten at the very least."

Shinku Yuhi really wasn't lying.

Close combat was a genjutsu specialist's greatest fear. Over the years, he had focused primarily on genjutsu while training in taijutsu on the side, and he was skilled with a blade.

Except...

"Dad, Kazan isn't lying to you."

Remembering the sight of Kazan using the Back Mountain as a punching bag, Kurenai Yuhi tugged at her father's sleeve.

Heh, this little girl has already been completely blinded by love.

A mere Genin couldn't possibly be stronger than me, even if he specialized in taijutsu.

Love really does make people blind.

What could a little brat possibly do to me?

Absolutely ridiculous!

Looks like I need to remind my precious daughter what I'm capable of. I'm a distinguished Konoha Jonin, after all.

"Come on, Kazan. Use your full strength and test whether I'm qualified to train in your technique!"

"Maybe we shouldn't?"

"What do you mean, we shouldn't? Just hit me with everything you've got! I'm a distinguished Konoha Jonin. What could—"

Boom!

Kazan sent Shinku Yuhi flying into the house with a single punch.

"Dad!"

"Darling!"

Kurenai Yuhi and her mother jolted in fright and hurried over to check whether Shinku Yuhi was still breathing.

"Oh, Dad! Why did you insist on having Kazan hit you?!"

"He really wasn't lying! These days, Kazan uses the mountain behind the Hokage Building as a punching bag..."

Holy shit! Why didn't you say so sooner?!

That punch had nearly sent him off to meet his grandmother.

To give Kazan a better sense of his "strength," he hadn't even used chakra to defend himself.

That punch had dealt pure, unmitigated damage!

But all in all...

He believed him.

Kazan really could brute-force his way out of genjutsu by unleashing his chakra directly, without damaging his body.

That punch had more than a little of Princess Tsunade of the Sannin about it!

"In that case, Kazan, your training is going to get more demanding. Let's continue!"

"That's fine, but are you sure you're okay?"

"Why wouldn't I be? What harm could a punch like yours possibly do to me? Back in the day, I fought the Third Raikage, and I'm still alive and well!"

"But you're bleeding from the corner of your mouth."

Kazan mercilessly exposed Shinku Yuhi's bluff.

"..."

That night.

Kazan didn't stay at Kurenai Yuhi's house, because he still had to go back and look after Hakimi.

Kurenai was a little disappointed. She'd wanted to go up to the rooftop with Kazan and watch the stars.

The next day.

Kazan woke up in the simple wooden cabin he'd built on the Back Mountain.

The first thing he did was create shadow clones and assign them their training.

"First, breakfast. Then I'll go train with Shinku Yuhi."

"Let's go, Hakimi!"

Kazan jumped onto the tiger's back. Hakimi let out a roar and charged straight toward the Forest of Death.

This time, it had learned its lesson. Instead of taking the pedestrian paths, it darted through the woods.

"What a racket!"

That roar jolted Hiruzen Sarutobi awake after he'd spent the entire night in his office.

With his window smashed by that lunatic Kazan, he'd had cold wind blowing over him all night.

At this rate, these old bones of his would meet their end at the hands of that bastard Kazan!

Rubbing his heavy head, he began issuing orders. "The daimyo has sent word. He's already on his way. Send a squad to escort him safely to Konoha."

"Yes, sir!"

The Anbu Ninja immediately sprang into action.

The Shinobi World was already troubled enough. At a time like this, nothing could be allowed to happen to the Land of Fire's daimyo.

"Oh, right. Where's the person who'll repair the window? Still not here?"

To demonstrate that he loved his people like his own children, Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't disturbed the village's craftsmen the previous night.

Elsewhere.

With his stomach full, Kazan went to see Shinku Yuhi again.

This time, they weren't at his house, but at a Training Ground.

"Kazan, your chakra burst is enough to handle most of the genjutsu you'll encounter in the Chunin Ninja Exams."

Kazan's way of breaking genjutsu was practically cheating.

Apart from high-level secret techniques and forbidden techniques, very few genjutsu could still threaten him.

"However, being able to break free is one thing. Genjutsu has never been powerful solely because it subdues an enemy. It can also create openings, letting you seize the chance to kill your opponent with a single strike. Battles between ninja are dangerous!"

"Kazan, starting today, our training will be actual combat. You'll have to try to break my genjutsu while dealing with my attacks. Understood?"

"Understood. Bring it on, old man!"

Having a Jonin as a sparring partner was something no amount of money could buy.

"Here I come, Kazan!"

The moment he finished speaking, Shinku Yuhi charged in with his blade.

He didn't hold back much, having realized that Kazan's combat ability was at least on par with a Chunin's, while his body was as strong as a monster's.

Facing the fierce slash, Kazan planted himself in a horse stance and shouted, "Tekkai!"

Clang!

Shinku Yuhi's blade struck him with the ringing sound of metal clashing against metal.

However.

"Too slow. Your technique still has a serious flaw. Being unable to move while defending is a fatal weakness."

Shinku Yuhi continued teaching as he attacked.

As he spoke, he had already finished forming hand seals. "Ninja technique: Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death!"

Whoosh!

Several vines burst up from beneath Kazan's feet, binding his entire body.

Is this the technique Kurenai used against Uchiha Itachi in the original story?

Kazan's exceptional senses alerted him to the danger the instant the vines appeared.

Hum!

Chakra erupted from his body like a volcano once again, shattering Shinku Yuhi's genjutsu in a single second.

Then Kazan spun around, his right fist tearing through the air, and blew apart Shinku Yuhi as he lunged in with his blade!

He really did blow him apart, but there was no flesh or blood.

Poof!

"Shadow Clone Technique? Did he set it up while I was caught in the genjutsu?"

This was a Jonin's combat prowess: an unpredictable fighting style, a wide array of tricks, and superb battle instincts.

But!

It was as though a flash of insight struck the back of Kazan's head.

Without the slightest hesitation, he turned and slammed his fist into the ground beneath his feet!