The Useless Konoha Jonin

Boom!

One punch cracked the ground of the Training Ground.

He hadn't even used Cherry Blossom Impact to strengthen it.

The blow blasted Shinku Yuhi out of the ground, leaving him stunned.

He had already felt Kazan's fists. Taking a direct hit was no better than enduring a devastating Ninjutsu attack.

"To think you've honed your fists to this degree. Incredible."

All of this happened at once.

Shinku Yuhi's thoughts raced.

He had been a Jonin for years, completed countless missions, and lived through the Second Shinobi World War. He had experience to spare.

His fingers flashed through signs, casting another Genjutsu in a heartbeat and denying Kazan any chance to follow up.

"Ninja Techniques: Three-Petaled Cherry Blossom!"

In an instant, countless cherry blossoms seemed to drift across Kazan's vision.

They had appeared out of nowhere.

But...

Buzz.

Without hesitation, Chakra surged through him, shattering Shinku Yuhi's Genjutsu in one burst.

Too fast!

He had broken the Genjutsu far too quickly.

That effortless burst of Chakra, that brute-force way of breaking Genjutsu, was practically the bane of ninjas like Shinku Yuhi.

And worse...

Three-Petaled Cherry Blossom was meant to disrupt an enemy and create an opening for a sneak attack. But before Shinku Yuhi could strike, Kazan stamped hard on the ground and charged.

Shave!

Kazan shot forward in a blur, crossing the distance as though only a single step separated them.

By the time Shinku Yuhi reacted, Kazan's fist was already filling his vision. The punch came without restraint, leaving him almost no room to dodge.

Poof!

Smoke burst out again. Shinku Yuhi turned into a wooden log, which Kazan's fist smashed apart.

Kazan didn't stop. A realization flashed through his mind, and he spun around.

Sure enough, Shinku Yuhi had appeared behind him again, already preparing another technique.

"Genjutsu: Falling Cherry Blossom Mirage Technique!"

Kazan reacted instantly, instinctively surging his Chakra to break the Genjutsu.

But then—

It wasn't Genjutsu at all. It was Ninjutsu.

A gale burst from Shinku Yuhi's mouth and sent Kazan flying. He smashed through a nearby rock, scattering dust and debris.

"Let me teach you one more thing, Kazan. In a ninja fight, intelligence accounts for half the outcome, maybe more."

"As a Taijutsu specialist, you're at an innate disadvantage there. You have to learn to think and probe during a fight."

Shinku Yuhi explained patiently.

Kazan knew that, of course.

In the world of the Hokage, "Jiraiya with intel" was practically a god-tier concept.

Intelligence mattered enormously in a ninja fight!

If you didn't know your enemy's techniques, it was like playing Yu-Gi-Oh! without knowing your opponent's deck, only to get so frustrated by their traps that you smashed your mouse.

"You talk too much. I'd do that without you telling me."

Shave!

Kazan burst from the smoke. An attack like that wasn't enough to break through his Tekkai defense.

Moving at top speed, he crossed dozens of meters in a breath and reached Shinku Yuhi in one rush, his fist hurtling toward him.

Shinku Yuhi was ready. He dodged with the Body Flicker Technique.

But in the next instant...

Shave!

Shinku Yuhi's vision blurred, and Kazan was right in front of him again.

That painfully heavy fist had come along too.

Bang!

A Genjutsu master of Konoha was sent flying dozens of meters by a Genin.

Shinku Yuhi's blocking arms went numb. If he hadn't concentrated Chakra to defend himself,

that punch might have broken this Jonin's bones.

What surprised him most, though, was Kazan's instinct. He had seen through the direction of his Body Flicker Technique immediately.

"How did you do that?"

"Observation Haki!"

It hadn't fully awakened yet, but it was close.

Training against Shinku Yuhi and dealing with his unpredictable Genjutsu attacks had brought Kazan's Observation Haki to the brink of breaking through. His five senses had become frighteningly sharp.

"It's a technique that heightens the five senses to their limits."

At its peak, it could even grant a brief glimpse of the future.

"Another technique you developed?"

"Pretty good, right?"

Pretty good didn't begin to cover it. His talent was astounding.

It was as if he had sacrificed every scrap of talent for Ninjutsu to bring his Taijutsu talent to its absolute peak.

Shave, Tekkai, Fist Bone, Cherry Blossom Impact, Undersea Drop, and the rest—

They already surpassed most Ninjutsu in power. Now he was developing a technique that would let him anticipate his enemies' moves.

Given time, Kazan might even trade blows head-on with the Third Raikage on a battlefield.

Shinku Yuhi saw the potential to reach Kage Level in Kazan!

"Let's keep going, old man!"

Kazan found his clothes bothersome and tore them off, exposing the crossed scars on his chest before charging again.

"How old was he when he started going into the Forest of Death to fight those beasts!?"

Those scars were horrifying.

There was a reason Kazan could punch Hyuga members and kick Uchiha members around.

Which of those Ninja Academy kids had ever fought for their lives like Kazan?

Shinku Yuhi's mind was racing with thoughts, but Kazan was simply absorbed in his own world, chasing the sensation of Observation Haki—something he could feel but couldn't quite grasp.

After who knew how long, Shinku Yuhi called a halt.

"What's wrong?"

"That's enough for now. You shouldn't rush this. Developing a technique takes time. Rest and reflect on what you felt just now."

Shinku Yuhi spoke earnestly, looking every bit like he had Kazan's best interests at heart.

In truth, he had almost no Chakra left. If they kept going, he would have to fight Kazan hand to hand.

At that point, Kazan would probably beat him black and blue.

He was a Konoha Jonin, a Genjutsu master of the village. How could he let some little brat beat him?

He'd be a laughingstock if word got out!

Above all, Kurenai could never find out.

That was a father's last shred of pride!

"I think actual combat helps me more." Kazan clenched his fists, still eager to continue.

"No. You're still young. Remember, impatience is a ninja's greatest enemy. We'll stop here and continue this afternoon."

Before Kazan could reply, Shinku Yuhi used the fastest Body Flicker Technique of his life and left the Training Ground.

"Tch. What a useless Konoha Jonin."

Kazan still wanted more, but there was nothing he could do. Shinku Yuhi barely had a drop of Chakra left.

Kazan could only create another Shadow Clone, close his eyes, and let it attack him as he worked to grasp Observation Haki.

Meanwhile...

After leaving the Training Ground, Shinku Yuhi slipped straight home. Drenched in sweat, he drank water like his life depended on it.

His wife was curious.

He looked just as he had on so many nights when she'd asked to go again and he'd made the excuse that he had a mission tomorrow.

He was completely spent!

"What happened?"

"Nothing. That Kazan kid is stubborn. I knocked him down dozens of times, and he still wouldn't give up. I had to keep my strength in check so I wouldn't hurt him. It took a lot out of me."

"Don't worry about me. I'll be fine after a little rest."

Shinku Yuhi was a man determined to stay strong all his life.

"I see..."

His wife didn't suspect a thing. Sasuke and Naruto hadn't even been born yet. Who could have imagined a Konoha Genin could be that fierce?