In the six years since he had transmigrated, this was the first time Nobuhiko had faced such danger.
According to the old Third Hokage, Danzo had not intended to kill him.
But falling into Danzo's hands really would be a fate worse than death.
Once he joined Root, he would be nothing but Danzo's dog. What fucking transmigrator could put up with that humiliation!
Still, last night's events had not been entirely without benefits. At least they had given Nobuhiko a preliminary understanding of his own strength.
His previous fights with Tsunade and Kushina had been far too much like child's play.
Both women would give him plenty of time to form hand seals, then watch him unleash his Ninjutsu.
On top of that, in the anime he had watched in his previous life, when one side formed hand seals, the other would do the same. Almost no one attacked while their opponent was forming seals.
Those two factors combined had given Nobuhiko a seriously mistaken impression of his own strength.
Although his previous fights had all ended in defeat, they had filled him with confidence in his future. He had already begun dreaming of punching Six Paths Madara and trampling Princess Kaguya underfoot.
Well, the Masked Person he had encountered last night had not even given him time to form seals. If he had not already simplified the seals for several Ninjutsu, he might already have become Danzo's most loyal dog.
That bucket of cold water had shattered Nobuhiko's dreams.
Based on his opponent's identity, Nobuhiko estimated that his actual strength was currently in the upper-middle range of Chunin.
Why did Nobuhiko dare make that assessment?
First, there was the Masked Man's identity-a Root ninja. Root ninja sent out on missions were at least Chunin, and elite Chunin at that. Ordinary Chunin did not meet Danzo's standards.
In other words, last night's Masked Man had either been an elite Chunin or a Special Jōnin. As for a Jōnin, Nobuhiko really did not think his current strength would allow him to turn the tables and kill one.
Nobuhiko thought he was more likely to have been a Special Jōnin.
He had lifted the Masked Man's mask and seen his real face: a middle-aged man who looked to be in his thirties or forties.
Nobuhiko did not think Danzo would want the sort of talent who was still a Chunin in his thirties or forties.
So the man he had turned the tables on and killed last night had probably been a Special Jōnin.
The fact that he had held out against that opponent for so long and successfully killed him was enough to show that he ranked among the better Chunin.
Through last night's battle, Nobuhiko had successfully adjusted his mindset.
This was a real world, not the anime world he had watched in his previous life.
If the enemies here noticed him forming hand seals, they would never wait until he finished before attacking as they did in the anime. They would come straight at him to kill him and interrupt his seals.
Nobuhiko really had not considered that before, but it was not too late to mend the fold after losing a sheep. He still had time to think about it now. There were seven or eight years left before the Third Shinobi World War-more than enough time.
Over those next seven or eight years, Nobuhiko's goal for himself was to try to simplify every Ninjutsu to no more than two seals. No seals would be even better.
Otherwise, when he went to the battlefield in the future, he might croak before he could even unleash a Ninjutsu. Nobuhiko could not bear to leave Tsunade and the others!
As for the Wind Body Flicker Technique he had developed himself, being able to flee some distance despite such a huge disparity in size and strength was already quite good. He just needed to keep improving it.
One thing did concern Nobuhiko, though. For the Third Hokage to sound so certain, he must have already sent someone to examine the Masked Man's memories.
It looked like he could not leave intact corpses after killing people in the future. Over the next few years, he would also have to learn a Ninjutsu that could thoroughly destroy a corpse's head.
There was no hurry, though. Learning it before he went to the battlefield would be enough.
"Little Brother Nobuhiko, why didn't you come see your big sister today?"
Nobuhiko looked up at her voice and saw Kushina walk in, pouting and looking a little unhappy.
"Sister Kushina, Lord Hokage called me to the Hokage's office this morning."
After thinking it over, Nobuhiko decided not to tell the truth for now.
"Huh? Why did that old Third Hokage call you to his office?"
"Maybe Lord Hokage was very pleased with my performance lately, so he called me to his office and rewarded me with a look at the Scroll of Seals and a chance to choose one of its Ninjutsu."
"That old Third Hokage called you to his office over something that trivial!"
Kushina was a little angry. Such a trivial matter had disrupted her training plans with Little Brother Nobuhiko!
???
"Is that a trivial matter, Sister Kushina?"
Nobuhiko felt as though his brain could not quite keep up.
"Here, see that room?"
Nobuhiko looked in the direction Kushina was pointing.
"When Grandma Mito was still around, the Scroll of Seals just sat in that room gathering dust. I couldn't even be bothered to touch it."
"And now that old Third Hokage is treating it like some treasure to fool you with. Sigh!"
Watching Kushina's initial anger turn into dejection, Nobuhiko felt a pang.
"Sorry, Sister Kushina. It was my fault. I should have told you before going to see Lord Hokage."
"It has nothing to do with you. I just miss Grandma Mito a little!"
Kushina's eyes reddened slightly.
"Sister Kushina, how are things between you and Senior Kurama now?"
"Huh? Not bad, I guess. I loosened his seal a little, and we bicker a bit when we're bored."
Nobuhiko's question left Kushina a little confused. Couldn't Little Brother Nobuhiko see that she was sad? Why had he suddenly asked something like that?
"If Grandma Mito knew about this, she'd definitely be proud of you, Sister Kushina."
"Really?"
Kushina did not quite believe it.
"Of course, Sister Kushina. Would I lie to you?"
Nobuhiko blinked, feeling a little guilty.
"You're already showing signs of making peace with Senior Kurama. Grandma Mito would definitely be happy if she knew, so don't worry, Sister Kushina!"
"That's true. Kurama isn't as hostile toward me as he used to be."
Somewhat persuaded by Nobuhiko, Kushina accepted that explanation.
"Ahem, Kushina, that's not right. As your little brother, I have to criticize you a little!"
A bold idea suddenly occurred to Nobuhiko.
"Huh?"
For a moment, Kushina could not react. Why had Little Brother Nobuhiko started criticizing her? Did that make sense?
"Senior Kurama has lived in the Shinobi World for who knows how many years. To us, he's a venerable senior of great standing. Sister Kushina, how can you address him by name alone? You should add 'Senior' like I do to show respect!"
Nobuhiko winked at Kushina as he criticized him "sternly."
Kushina seemed to understand, and her consciousness entered the sealed space.
Looking at the amused look in Kurama's eyes before her, Kushina felt a little awkward.
She was clearly the one who had locked him inside the sealed space, yet Little Brother Nobuhiko now wanted her to call him Senior.
Kushina's little face flushed red from holding it in. Although she understood the reasoning, she simply could not get the words out.
In a fit of anger, she got angry for a moment.
Without saying a word, she left the sealed space.