Research and sparring

Ryuto sat on the slope until the sun was nearly down, then brushed off his backside, stood up, and headed back to the cabin.

Over the next few days, Hashirama Senju really did stop coming to press him.

Life in camp was pretty peaceful. Ryuto did just three things each day: eat, sleep, and adjust to the ki inside him that was practically overflowing.

It felt like someone had suddenly swapped in a top-of-the-line engine, but left him with his old brakes and steering wheel. He had to get used to it all over again.

He tried a few jumps somewhere deserted and, good grief, nearly crashed headfirst into the treetops. There was so much ki that the slightest exertion felt like a rocket launch.

On the fourth afternoon, Ryuto was outside the cabin, trying to control his overflowing ki so it would stop glowing gold like a light bulb.

A figure stopped in front of him.

Ryuto looked up.

Tobirama Senju.

He still wore the same dark blue clan outfit, with white hair, red eyes, and an expressionless face. He held a clipboard.

"Need something?" Ryuto asked.

"Yes." Tobirama nodded. "I need to collect data on your energy system."

"How?"

"You'll cooperate with a few tests and release energy while I record the fluctuations." Tobirama was very direct. "It will be very helpful in analyzing the nature of your power."

Ryuto laughed.

"Why should I cooperate?"

"For research," Tobirama said.

"Research my ass." Ryuto stood up. "I'm not a lab rat. You want to study me? Fine. Show some sincerity."

Tobirama frowned.

"What kind of sincerity?"

"Fight me," Ryuto said. "You personally. Spar with me. Not a fight to the death, just a little practice. Afterward, if I'm in a good mood, maybe I'll let you run some tests."

Tobirama stared at him for a few seconds.

"You want to assess your strength by fighting me?"

"Yep," Ryuto admitted readily. "Hashirama gave me time to think. I need to know where I stand, right? What if I join you and turn out to be dead weight? How embarrassing would that be?"

"My elder brother wouldn't mind."

"I would," Ryuto said. "Just tell me whether you'll fight."

Tobirama fell silent.

He glanced at the clipboard in his hand, then at Ryuto.

"All right," Tobirama finally said. "But we stop short of injury. No killing moves."

"Deal."

They went to the training ground at the edge of camp.

The training ground was fairly large, with gravel covering the ground and wooden posts set around it. A few Senju clan members were practicing in the distance. When they saw Tobirama approach, they stopped and bowed.

"Clear out." Tobirama waved a hand.

They hurried away.

Only the two of them remained on the training ground.

Ryuto loosened his wrists.

"Start?"

"Start."

The moment the word left his mouth, Ryuto moved.

He didn't go all out, using only about thirty percent of his speed. Leaving an afterimage behind, he threw a punch at Tobirama's face.

He wanted to see how fast a ninja at Tobirama's level could react.

But Tobirama didn't dodge at all.

His hands flashed through a seal in front of his chest.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."

Whoosh-

A wall of water surged out of the ground from nowhere, blocking Ryuto's fist.

Ryuto's fist sank into the water wall. It felt like punching a wad of cotton, with most of his force dispersed.

Behind the water wall, Tobirama had already left his original position.

"Behind you." Tobirama's voice came from behind Ryuto.

Ryuto turned.

Tobirama stood five meters away, writing on his clipboard.

"Good speed, but a straight-line charge is too obvious," Tobirama said as he wrote. "Energy fluctuation type one, recorded. Continue."

Ryuto clicked his tongue.

"You take notes during fights?"

"Research requires it." Tobirama tucked the clipboard behind his waist. "Now we'll test your defense and energy output."

His hands formed seals again.

"Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet."

A water dragon burst from a water vat at the edge of the training ground and lunged at Ryuto, baring its fangs and claws.

Ryuto didn't dodge.

He wanted to test his current physical defenses.

He clenched both fists, and pale gold ki instantly covered his body.

The water dragon slammed into Ryuto's chest.

Boom!

Water exploded outward. Ryuto swayed but didn't retreat.

But Ryuto felt a small chunk of his ki drain away.

"Defensive-form energy fluctuation, type two, recorded." At some point, Tobirama had taken out his clipboard again. He jotted down a couple of notes. "Physical defensive strength is above average, but sustained consumption is relatively high. Structural optimization recommended."

Ryuto withdrew his ki, somewhat speechless.

"You give live commentary too?"

"Objective analysis." Tobirama put the clipboard away. "Now we'll test your ranged attack. Use the move you used to blast that crater, at minimum power."

"That move is called the Kamehameha," Ryuto corrected him. "And even minimum power is hard to control. What if I blow something up?"

"I'll defend," Tobirama said. "Begin."

Ryuto had no choice but to cup his hands at his waist.

Golden ki began gathering.

He controlled the amount as best he could, using less than ten percent of his ki.

"Ka-me-ha-me-"

The Ki Blast roared out, a golden beam shooting straight toward Tobirama.

Tobirama didn't form any hand seals. He merely raised a hand.

"Water Release: Water Formation Wall."

Another water wall rose.

But this one was clearly much thicker, and there wasn't just one wall, but three layers stacked together.

The Ki Blast struck the first water wall.

Pfft!

The water wall was pierced.

The second layer.

Hiss-

It slowed a little, but still broke through.

The third layer.

The Ki Blast was finally stopped, exploding into a skyful of mist along with the water wall.

Tobirama stood behind the mist, his clipboard out again.

"Ranged energy attack, type three, recorded. High energy concentration and strong penetration, but average travel speed and a charge-up delay." He looked up at Ryuto. "Can you shorten the charging time?"

"With practice, probably," Ryuto said.

"Good. Noted." Tobirama finished writing. "Now we'll test your close-quarters combat combined with energy enhancement."

He stuck the clipboard into the ground, freeing both hands.

"Come."

Ryuto charged.

This time, he increased his speed by fifty percent, leaving several afterimages across the training ground as he attacked Tobirama from different directions.

Tobirama didn't use Water Release.

He used only Taijutsu and the Body Flicker Technique.

Ryuto punched at his chest. Tobirama turned sideways and chopped at Ryuto's wrist.

Ryuto rotated his wrist, covered his palm with ki, and met the blow head-on.

Bam!

They exchanged a blow, each retreating one step.

Ryuto pushed off the ground and surged forward again, sweeping a leg at Tobirama's lower body.

Tobirama jumped, flipped in midair, and kicked toward Ryuto's shoulder.

Ryuto raised his arm to block.

Thud!

He was knocked back another two steps.

They fought like this on the training ground for nearly ten minutes.

The longer Ryuto fought, the more alarmed he became.

Tobirama's Taijutsu wasn't as savage and overbearing as Madara's, but it was absurdly refined. Every move was just right, using neither a fraction too much force nor a fraction too little. Combined with the Body Flicker Technique, he was as slippery as an eel.

And his control of the fight's rhythm was far too good. Every time Ryuto tried to speed up and press the attack, Tobirama redirected him with deft force or used the Body Flicker Technique to create distance.

This was the combat intelligence of a top ninja.

Ten minutes later, they separated.

Ryuto was breathing a little hard and had used about twenty percent of his ki.

Tobirama's breathing was steady. His clothes had only picked up a little dust.

"That should do," Tobirama said. "The data collection is essentially complete."

He walked over, pulled out the clipboard, and started writing again.

Ryuto walked over.

"So? What level am I?"

Tobirama didn't even look up.

"In energy strength and basic physical attributes alone, you surpass an ordinary jonin. Your combat skills are crude, but your learning speed and adaptability are very strong. Overall assessment: at the threshold of near-Kage level, but lacking experience. In an actual fight, a true Kage-level opponent would crush you."

Hearing this, Ryuto actually felt relieved.

"Not bad. I'm not as hopeless as I thought."

"You thought you were that bad?" Tobirama finally glanced up at him.

"After fighting Madara, I did start questioning my life a little," Ryuto said honestly.

"My elder brother and Madara are exceptions," Tobirama said. "Throughout the Warring States, very few can compare to them."

He put the clipboard away.

"The sparring is over. Time to keep your promise. Cooperate with my follow-up data analysis."

"Fine." Ryuto nodded. "But I have a condition."

"Another condition?"

"Tell me how many factions there actually are in the Warring States right now, and what their situations are," Ryuto said. "Hashirama asked me to consider joining the Senju. I need to know what I'd be getting into, right?"

Tobirama stared at him for a few seconds.

"You want to make your own judgment based on intelligence?"

"Exactly," Ryuto said. "Picking a side completely blind would be idiotic."

Tobirama was silent for a while.

"Fine," he said. "But intelligence in exchange for cooperation with research. Do you agree?"

"I agree."

"Good." Tobirama turned toward camp. "Follow me."

Ryuto followed.

They entered Tobirama's tent.

The tent was filled with scrolls, instruments, and strange bottles and jars. It looked like a laboratory.

Tobirama took a large scroll from a shelf and spread it across the table.

"The main factions in the Warring States currently fall into three tiers."

He pointed at the map on the scroll.

"First tier: the Senju and the Uchiha. These two are the strongest, with the largest territories, the most ninja, and the most high-end combat power. Right now, they're locked in a bitter struggle."

"Second tier: major clans such as the Hyūga, Uzumaki, Kaguya, and Hagoromo. They aren't weak, but they can't compare to the Senju and Uchiha. They generally survive between the larger powers or choose a side."

"Third tier: the other small and medium clans, and groups of wandering ninja. There are many of them, but they don't amount to much. They're often absorbed by the major clans or used as cannon fodder."

Ryuto looked at the map.

Each faction's territory was marked in a different color, their borders interlocking like teeth. It looked like an overturned paint palette.

"What's the Hyuga Clan's stance?" Ryuto asked. "I heard they have someone named Hyūga Tenshu who seems very interested in me."

"The Hyuga Clan is conservative and wary of any unconventional power," Tobirama said. "Hyūga Tenshu is a branch family elder. His attitude largely represents that of the main family. They already have their eyes on you."

"What about the Uzumaki?" Ryuto asked. "They're allies of the Senju, right?"

"We're linked by marriage, so they're practically family," Tobirama said. "But the Uzumaki Clan specializes in Sealing Jutsu, has strong vitality, and is fiercely independent. They won't simply do everything the Senju says."

Ryuto nodded.

"Then on the Uchiha side, besides Madara and Izuna, who else is hard to deal with?"

"There are several elders among the Uchiha leadership. They're strong, but their thinking is outdated. Among the younger generation, Izuna is the best. Below him, there are a few who haven't awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan but have good potential." Tobirama was very objective. "But Madara is the true core of the Uchiha. He alone is worth half the clan."

Ryuto looked at the map, rapidly processing the information.

What a mess. Such a mess.

"That ninja village Hashirama mentioned-do you think it could work?" he suddenly asked.

Tobirama paused.

"My older brother's ideal is beautiful," he said slowly. "But the reality is, just getting the Senju and Uchiha to stop fighting is as hard as reaching the heavens. Never mind bringing all the clans together."

"Then why don't you talk him out of it?"

"I've tried. It didn't work." Tobirama put away the scroll. "Once he sets his mind on something, not even ten Tailed Beasts could drag him back. All I can do is help clear the obstacles and make his path a little smoother."

He looked at Ryuto.

"Your power is very unusual. If used well, it might become the key to breaking the balance. That's also one of the reasons my brother wants to recruit you."

Ryuto said nothing.

By the time he left the tent, it was dark.

Campfires had been lit around the camp. Some Senju clan members were roasting meat, and the aroma drifted over.

Ryuto returned to his wooden cabin and shut the door.

He sat on the bed, replaying his spar with Tobirama and all that information in his mind.

Near-Kage Level.

Still a long way to go.

But at least he knew where he stood now.

And he knew just how vast this era of warring states really was.

He lay down, both hands behind his head.

Join, or not?

This choice seemed to be getting more and more complicated.