[Hiruzen Sarutobi's Training Notes (I)]

Late at night.

[Requirements not met. Unable to craft.]

Liu Yun sat cross-legged on his bed, holding the Shinigami Mask and staring into space.

It had already been a month.

During that time, he had devoted almost all his attention to studying the Reaper Death Seal.

To that end, he had borrowed the Scroll of Seals from Hiruzen Sarutobi again and copied down its densely packed knowledge of Sealing Jutsu.

He read it during Will of Fire classes and while carrying out missions.

He even dreamed about the technique.

There was only one reason: the allure of a piece of Purple Equipment was simply too great.

Yet although the technique's hand seals were easy to memorize, its underlying principles were incredibly difficult. Saying it was like reading an incomprehensible heavenly script was no exaggeration.

As it turned out, being pushed to the brink did not mean a person could do anything.

At least when it came to Sealing Jutsu, not understanding really meant not understanding.

After pondering for a moment, Liu Yun resolved to learn from this painful experience. He could not keep going like this.

He had to find a piece of equipment that could improve his aptitude for Sealing Jutsu.

Otherwise, who knew how long it would take just to fully grasp the principles behind the Reaper Death Seal?

How could that possibly do?

"Equipment that improves aptitude for Sealing Jutsu... looks like I'll have to find a way through Mito and Kushina."

An idea began to take shape in his mind.

Moonlight spilled through the window into the room, while the chirping of insects drifted in from outside.

Liu Yun came back to his senses, put away the Shinigami Mask, and took out the scroll Hiruzen Sarutobi had given him.

This might have been the easiest equipment material he had ever obtained.

He had not even known this equipment material existed. Hiruzen Sarutobi had offered it himself after seeing Liu Yun's fiercely burning Will of Fire.

[New equipment material detected.]

[Hiruzen Sarutobi's Training Notes (I)]

[Estimated quality: blue]

[Crafting cost: 60,000 ryō per attempt]

[Special requirement: personally gifted by Hiruzen Sarutobi]

[Requirement met. Begin crafting?]

"No."

He opened the scroll. Rather than rushing to craft the equipment, he took out a blank scroll and began transcribing it.

He also browsed its contents along the way.

There were no complete ninjutsu inside. Most of the contents broke down the principles behind certain ninjutsu and explored approaches to Fusion Ninjutsu.

Liu Yun quietly compiled a few questions. If Hiruzen Sarutobi brought up its contents and he could not answer a single question... that would leave a poor impression.

After all, he was someone who preached the Will of Fire.

After an unknown amount of time, Liu Yun rubbed his wrist and nodded in satisfaction at the copy he had made.

Now he could safely turn the original into equipment.

"Begin crafting!"

A moment later.

[Hiruzen Sarutobi's Training Notes (I)]

[Quality: blue]

[Trait one: Five Transformations Power]

[Effect: greatly improves aptitude for the five nature transformations and greatly increases the power of Five Basic Nature Transformations.]

[Trait two: Fusion Ninjutsu]

[Effect: greatly improves aptitude for Fusion Ninjutsu.]

[Note: a gift to an inheritor of the Will of Fire.]

"These effects..."

Liu Yun's eyes lit up. As expected of something from Hiruzen Sarutobi.

The two traits perfectly replicated Hiruzen Sarutobi's own talents.

People born with all five basic chakra natures were exceedingly rare. Hiruzen Sarutobi, hailed as the "Professor of Ninjutsu," was one of them and had mastered over a thousand ninjutsu.

That was more impressive than the Copy Ninja Kakashi.

Not only that, Hiruzen Sarutobi's talent for Fusion Ninjutsu was even greater.

His strongest trump card, Five Release: Great Combo Technique, had displayed astonishing power when he used it in his reanimated state during the Fourth Shinobi World War.

"Equip!"

A scroll-shaped icon appeared in his equipment slots.

He shuddered as though an electric current had passed through him, and an icy cool sensation spread through his brain.

The next second, Liu Yun opened the scroll he had just copied.

The previously unremarkable explanations now looked different to him, becoming chains of deductions with rigorous logic and clear reasoning.

Before he knew it, he had become immersed in the scroll's contents. His understanding of the principles behind Five Basic Nature Transformations deepened, and he even gained quite a few ideas about combining them.

"So that's how it works..."

The more Liu Yun read, the more astonished he became.

As far as he had understood, Wind Release Ninjutsu and Fire Release Ninjutsu were naturally suited to being used together.

As for the principle behind it... as the saying went, wind fanned the flames.

Deeper principles? What were those?

But now, for the first time, he understood the most fundamental structure of ninjutsu.

In the scroll, Hiruzen Sarutobi used two basic C-rank techniques, one Wind Release and one Fire Release, to explain it.

Like building a house, he demonstrated each layer, from laying the foundations to putting on the roof.

The structures of Wind Release Ninjutsu and Fire Release Ninjutsu were the most compatible. They could interlock to the greatest possible extent, combining into an entirely new structure that was more complex and more complete.

"No, this isn't just combining them anymore. It's true fusion..."

Liu Yun frowned in thought.

Ordinary shinobi struggled to perform Fusion Ninjutsu. They usually relied on a simple understanding to combine ninjutsu and boost some of their power.

Fusion was different. It was a genuine transformation, forming a new ninjutsu structure and producing an entirely new, higher-level technique.

"Everyone understands ninjutsu differently, so the Fusion Ninjutsu they construct will differ too..."

Liu Yun immediately thought of the Great Fireball Technique he had mastered.

As his strength increased, the technique had become useless to him.

Yet now, with only a little thought, he came up with several ways to fuse other techniques with the Great Fireball Technique.

A long time later.

The sky gradually brightened.

Liu Yun's eyes were still bright as he closed the scroll and slowly exhaled a stale breath.

He had read the entire scroll from beginning to end.

"Is this what it feels like to be a true genius?!"

Konoha Orphanage.

Dawn had barely broken.

A little girl rubbed her eyes, quietly packed her schoolbag, and left the room.

After quickly washing up, the girl stopped at the orphanage entrance.

"Director Keiko, what are you doing here?" she asked in surprise.

The director, Keiko Yakushi, glanced at the frail girl and sighed. "Nonō, thank you for all your hard work."

Yakushi Nonō shook her head with a smile. "It's no trouble. I'm happy I can earn money to buy food for everyone."

Seeing the smile on Nonō's face, Keiko Yakushi felt as though her heart had been squeezed.

If there had been any other way, she would never have agreed to let such a young child work for money.

But... her income alone was not enough to keep the orphanage running.

Noticing the director's expression, Nonō began to suspect something was wrong. After a moment's hesitation, she asked, "Director, do we still not have any money?"

Keiko Yakushi remained silent for a long time before slowly nodding.

For some unknown reason, the village had stopped issuing the quarterly funds it normally allocated to the orphanage.

She had tried to ask Lord Hokage why, but masked ANBU shinobi had turned her away.

Yakushi Nonō froze.

The two figures, one grown and one small, looked at each other in silence.

A moment later.

Yakushi Nonō raised her head and gently took the director's hand.

"Director, it's all right. I can find another job. I'm sure I can earn more money."