Moonlight Ruyun took the Chakra Paper from his uncle.
Following his uncle's instructions, he held the paper between his index and middle fingers and fed chakra into it.
The paper trembled slightly, then began changing before his eyes.
It split down the middle into two halves, then started burning.
"Wind and fire?"
His uncle sat cross-legged on the courtyard steps and pondered for a moment. "In theory, those are the most compatible attributes."
"Uncle, do you have any ninjutsu I could learn?"
Unfortunately, Chakra Paper couldn't detect Yin-Yang Release.
As for the other five elemental attributes, he wasn't particularly concerned. He could gradually develop all of them through training later anyway.
Right now, he just wanted to learn a ninjutsu to keep up his sleeve.
He would catch his opponent off guard with the tremendous strength he had never revealed, combined with ninjutsu.
How are you going to block that, Minato Namikaze?!
"Let me think... there is one. The Great Fireball Technique. It's a C-rank Fire Release ninjutsu."
"Uh..."
So it's you, the mercy technique!
"Anything else?"
His uncle shrugged. "I specialize in Earth Release ninjutsu."
Two seconds later, Moonlight Ruyun had talked himself into it.
So what if it's the mercy technique? Having something is better than nothing. I'll learn it first.
"Uncle, I want to learn the Great Fireball Technique."
Gekko Naoto rose and left the little courtyard, motioning for him to follow. "There isn't enough room here. If I break anything, Mina will nag me again."
Since the clan grounds were out of the way, finding a suitable training spot was easy.
They arrived beside a small stream in the forest.
"Take a few steps back and watch closely."
His uncle formed hand seals, his hands moving so fast they nearly left afterimages.
Moonlight Ruyun stared intently at his uncle's movements.
Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"
With an imposing shout, his uncle's chest swelled.
The next instant, an orange-red fireball roughly three meters across erupted from his mouth. The heat around its edges visibly warped the air.
Boom!
With a muffled boom, the enormous fireball slammed into the stream, pressing a deep, spherical depression into the water.
The water rapidly evaporated with a fierce hiss.
White mist rose, enveloping the two figures, one tall and one small.
Steam washed over Moonlight Ruyun's face. Feeling the scorching sting on his skin, he swallowed as he watched the water bubble and churn.
Wait, with power like that... how did it end up being called the mercy technique?
Does that make any sense?
"All right, your turn."
"Huh? Me?"
He pointed at himself in disbelief.
Wasn't he supposed to be teaching me ninjutsu?
What the hell did he mean, it was my turn after one demonstration of the hand seals?
Was this how everyone in the shinobi world taught ninjutsu?
The next day.
"The shinobi world is just too bizarre."
"No, wait. Maybe my world-shaking talent kicked in?"
Moonlight Ruyun stood at the Ninja Academy gates.
After his uncle's "thorough" instruction, he had successfully performed the Great Fireball Technique.
Though his fireball might have been just a teensy, tiny bit small.
"How come you have time to walk me to school today?"
He looked curiously at his uncle beside him.
His uncle was about to speak when he spotted two people nearby and instinctively straightened.
Moonlight Ruyun followed his uncle's gaze.
A woman wearing a green Jonin vest came into view. She had delicate features, and her long blond hair was tied into a ponytail that hung down her back, bouncing gently with each step.
She held the hand of a brown-haired boy who wore a goofy grin.
Tsunade?
She wasn't wearing the iconic green coat she would wear decades later, nor did she have a diamond mark on her forehead.
Still, he recognized the legendary kunoichi at once. After all, her size was already impossible to overlook.
Even with everything wrapped tightly in a Jonin vest...
As everyone knew, a person needed a discerning eye.
As for Nawaki, well, he was unremarkable.
"Good morning, Lady Tsunade."
Gekko Naoto took the initiative to greet her.
Tsunade nodded casually. "Oh, Naoto. We'll head out once everyone's here."
"Yes, ma'am." Gekko Naoto was a little stiff.
Although he was considerably older than Tsunade, seniority meant nothing before Princess Tsunade, granddaughter of the First Hokage and student of the Third Hokage.
As a member of a small shinobi clan, he knew very well what a colossal force the Senju Clan was.
Rumor had it that the Senju Clan had declined too, with many members abandoning their surname and voluntarily integrating into the village. Even so, they were far beyond anything a small shinobi clan could compare with.
Realization dawned on Moonlight Ruyun. So the mission his uncle had mentioned was with Tsunade.
He quietly breathed a sigh of relief, feeling a little more reassured.
Mainly, that "promise between men" had felt far too much like tempting fate...
The Great Fireball Technique was the first ninjutsu his uncle had taught him. He didn't want it to be the last.
Tsunade's gaze naturally shifted to him.
"Is this the genius nephew you mentioned?"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade. Ruyun is my elder brother's son. He's already at Genin level in his third year."
Moonlight Ruyun's mouth twitched.
Nawaki looked at him curiously. Genin level in his third year? Why had he never heard of him before?
"My name's Nawaki. I'm a sixth-year student."
"Hello, senior. I'm Moonlight Ruyun, third year. I look forward to learning from you."
He reached out and shook Nawaki's hand, taking quite a liking to this cheerful, slightly goofy-looking boy.
He even felt a little regret for him.
The boy's pedigree was absurdly impeccable: grandson of the First Hokage, younger brother of Princess Tsunade, student of Orochimaru, and grandstudent of the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi.
If he had grown up without incident, the choice of Fourth Hokage might have been considerably less certain.
Unfortunately, in the original storyline, the Second Shinobi World War broke out, and a single Explosive Tag claimed Senju Nawaki's life on the battlefield...
That directly caused drastic changes in Tsunade's and Orochimaru's personalities, indirectly shaping Konoha's future for decades.
Tsunade paused. She hadn't paid any attention to the part about his Genin-level strength.
"Wait, your name is Ruyun? Moonlight Ruyun?"
He nodded slightly. "That's me, Lady Tsunade."
Interest flickered in Tsunade's eyes, and she released Nawaki's hand.
She rested her slender, fair fingers against her chin, studying his face closely with her bright brown eyes.
"Not bad. So you're the little brat Kushina's been talking about!"
"Uh..."
He was at a loss for words.
Gekko Naoto was utterly confused.
Who was Kushina?
Had his nephew quietly started dating a girl from the Senju Clan?
This was... wonderful!
There was hope for the Hayate Clan's rise!
His uncle's suddenly blazing gaze gave Moonlight Ruyun goosebumps.
Tsunade stepped closer and bent down to meet his eyes.
"Kushina's been praising you nonstop these past two days. I'm getting sick of hearing it."
A waft of fragrance reached him, and he instinctively took a deep breath.
It was rich and fragrant, seemingly a blend of several floral scents.
Tsunade narrowed her eyes. Why had he suddenly reminded her a little of that irritating Jiraiya?
Could it be...
"Lady Tsunade, residual scent traces during missions are one of the major risk factors for exposure.
Ninja Code, Article 160: while carrying out missions, shinobi must follow the basic principle of 'leaving no trace that can be tracked.'
The use of perfume, incense, or any other strongly scented skin care products is prohibited. Violators will be suspended from missions. If a violation results in mission failure or casualties among comrades, Hokage's Direct Department will conduct an investigation."
As she looked at the perfectly serious Moonlight Ruyun,
Tsunade couldn't help laughing, her suspicions instantly melting away.
She ruffled his hair without the slightest restraint. "What an unadorable little brat!"
Gekko Naoto hurriedly apologized. "I'm terribly sorry, Lady Tsunade. He doesn't understand..."
Tsunade waved away the rest of his explanation. "Naoto, you've got a fine nephew. We're going in. See you later."
She took Nawaki's hand again and walked through the Ninja Academy gates.
Nawaki tugged awkwardly at his hand and whispered, "Sis, he just called me senior. I've got to act like one."
Tsunade: "..."
The two disappeared into the Ninja Academy.
Gekko Naoto patted his nephew's shoulder and asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Did Lady Tsunade scare you?"
Moonlight Ruyun instinctively shook his head.
Just a few seconds earlier, the instant Tsunade touched him.
[New equipment material detected] [Hashirama Senju's Necklace] [Estimated quality: blue] [Crafting cost: 60,000 ryo per attempt] [Special condition: personally gifted by Tsunade] [Condition not met. Unable to craft equipment]
???
Before you continue