The next day, in the afternoon.
The northern slope outside the Konoha camp.
Several figures stood still, gazing into the distance under the light drizzle overhead, seemingly waiting for someone.
Several people were also sitting on the boulder behind the figures, chatting idly among themselves.
"Big brother, please teach me Lightning Release! I promise I won't tell anyone!" Nawaki stood up, massaging Shin'un's shoulders, and said with a fawning expression.
"Tsk~" Shin'un sat on the boulder, feeling the massage from Nawaki, smacked his lips, and replied, "I dare not teach you Lightning Release. Have you mastered Earth Release and Water Release yet?"
" The Lord Hokage and your sister are hoping that you will awaken Wood Release in the future."
Hearing Shin'un's words, Nawaki felt a little embarrassed and raised his hand to touch his hair.
"I practice Tenten, but I'm still far from mastering it. Awakening Wood Release... that's too far away for me."
Listening to Nawaki's words, Shin'un inexplicably missed the way Nawaki had been when he was silent and withdrawn three months ago after suffering a blow.
Who would have thought that after Nawaki returned to normal, it became even more talkative than before?
Nawaki squatted down next to Shin'un, then changed the subject and said:
"Look, I've learned Earth Release and Water Release, but that doesn't stop me from learning Lightning Release. I'm still young, I can practice slowly later."
"Come on," Shin'un glanced sideways at Nawaki behind him. "You can't even finish what's in your bowl, and you want more?"
At this moment, Yūichi, who was sitting next to the two, Teuchi their conversation, straightened up, and asked Nawaki with a puzzled look.
"No, ever since you recovered three months ago, you've been pestering Shin'un to teach you Lightning Release. Is Shin'un's Lightning Release really that good?"
"Of course!" Nawaki immediately replied, "Unlike Earth Release and Water Release, which lack offensive power, Lightning Release is much better; one hit from Ninjutsu is guaranteed to kill!"
"Then you can learn Fire Style from me too." Hearing Nawaki's words, Yūichi immediately puffed out his chest, raised his eyebrows, and pointed to himself. "Just as powerful."
"You—" Nawaki looked Yūichi up and down. "You think you can beat Big Brother?"
"Besides, can your Fire Style, which emits black smoke, even kill someone?"
Upon hearing what Nawaki said, Yūichi immediately became anxious.
"Well... whether we can defeat Shin'un is another matter."
"Why can't my Fire Style kill anyone?"
"If we weren't in the Land of Rain, where the sky and earth are completely covered in water, my Fire Style would definitely be just as powerful as Shin'un's Lightning Release..."
In the end, even Yūichi's own tone became somewhat unsteady, as if he himself didn't believe what he was saying.
Speechless, he could only drag Shiina Kō, who was sitting next to Shin'un, down with him.
" Shiina Kō, tell me, Nawaki said your Water Release technique isn't powerful enough!"
Shiina Kō had been quietly gazing into the distance, was suddenly pulled into the conversation and looked directly at Nawaki.
Seeing Shiina Kō looking at him, Nawaki immediately said:...
" Sister Kō, don't listen to him. I only said my own Water Release isn't good, I didn't say others' isn't."
Hearing Nawaki's words, Shiina Kō smiled, glanced at Yūichi was gritting his teeth on the other side, and asked Nawaki:
" Earth Release is a technique that allows one to create stone spears, control the ground, and dive underground)."
" Water Release can create giant waves, and even ninjas with low Chakra can use water blades in combat."
"All five types of escape techniques have their own offensive methods, so why do you suddenly want to learn Lightning Release, and specifically request Shin'un's Lightning Release?"
"Hahaha~" Nawaki laughed sheepishly, then continued:
"Indeed, all five types of escape techniques have numerous offensive methods, but I have another reason for wanting to learn my elder brother's Lightning Release."
When Nawaki mentioned that he had another reason for wanting to learn Lightning Release, Shin'un, Shiina Kō, Yūichi all looked at him curiously, wanting to know what the reason was.
"Actually, it's very simple; there's only one reason."
" Shin'un's Lightning Release... so cool!"
"Huh?" Upon hearing this reason, Shin'un and the others raised their eyebrows, indicating their incomprehension.
Seeing the expressions on the faces of the people in front of him, Nawaki immediately raised his arms, gesticulating wildly and talking excitedly about Shin'un's Lightning Release.
"I witnessed Brother Shin'un's fighting prowess during a previous mission."
"Electric currents swirled around him, a thick, menacing Lightning Spear rested on his right arm, and from his left hand emerged a dozen lifelike Lightning Snake that coiled around him."
"That Lightning Spear, one shot, one hole; that Lightning Snake, one sweep, a vast area; the electric current swirling around it can also amplify speed and paralyze enemies."
"Where can I find such a cool and powerful Ninjutsu?"
"..."
After a brief silence upon hearing this, the group sitting in front of Nawaki Yūichi the first to react.
Yūichi leaned close to Shin'un and whispered:
"Now that Nawaki mention it, I think it makes a lot of sense. How about... you teach me later?"
Shin'un immediately frowned and refused outright.
"I've discovered that you and Nawaki really get along; you're both impulsive and unpredictable."
" Nawaki is, after all, a genius born with all five elements, so of course he can have the idea of cultivating Lightning Release."
"You have lightning attribute? Why not practice Fire Style instead of the thankless task of Lightning Release?"
Shin'un's words clarified Yūichi's situation, and he blinked and said:
"Yes."
Rolling his Byakugan, Shin'un looked at Nawaki again.
"You don't have any missions?"
" The Jonin Nara led the team here to hand over the two thousand ninjas who will be arriving soon."
We are here to welcome our teacher.
What are you doing here?
Upon hearing Shin'un's words, Nawaki smiled and ran behind Shin'un to massage his shoulders.
"What are you saying? I'm just here to keep you company."
"Now that I've acknowledged you as my elder brother, your affairs are my affairs, and your teacher is my teacher too."
Upon hearing this, Shin'un blinked, turned away, and said nothing more.
Nawaki was absolutely right. According to the original story, if Shin'un hadn't appeared as the butterfly that changed Orochimaru's fate, Nawaki would have been Orochimaru's first disciple.
"Alright, sit down and wait patiently."
Feeling the Nawaki still massaging him from behind, Shin'un moved his shoulders and patted the boulder beneath him, signaling him to sit down and wait patiently.
"Alright." Nawaki immediately smiled, plopped down next to Shin'un, and quietly gazed into the distance, waiting for Orochimaru and Orochimaru two thousand ninjas he would bring to support them.
After a short while, Shin'un, with his keen senses, was the first to notice the movement; the boulder beneath him seemed to be trembling slightly.
Shin'un placed his palm on the boulder, carefully sensing the movement, and found his answer.
"The teacher is here."
Upon hearing Shin'un's words, Shiina Kō and the others beside him immediately stood up and looked into the distance.
Before long, a huge, dark mass of people, almost covering the entire mountainside, appeared on the horizon and ran towards them.
Upon closer inspection, many of the ninjas were wearing green vests from Konoha, and the leader was Orochimaru.