36-40

At the Daimyō's mansion, in an expansive training ground, Shūichi Hoshita and his team came face-to-face with the six ninja recruited by the Land of Fire's Daimyō.

All six were men.

Two of them were older, appearing to be in their forties.

The other four were slightly younger but still seemed older than Minato Namikaze, likely in their mid-twenties or older.

They had fierce expressions!

Where did he find these rogue ninjas?

Shūichi silently mocked.

A young man dressed in a black robe on the opposite side sneered, "Has Konoha run out of people? They sent a bunch of kids to assess us?"

He was being incredibly arrogant!

A middle-aged man with a goatee beside him chuckled, "Don't underestimate these kids. They're from a major ninja village. If you underestimate them on the battlefield, you'll end up dead."

Although his words suggested caution, Shūichi could see the contempt, malice, and excitement in the man's eyes.

What's wrong with being a kid? Did kids steal your milk?

Kurama Sanyō couldn't help but clench his fists in anger. "These two guys are really pissing me off!"

Minato Namikaze calmed him, "Sanyō, take it easy."

At that moment, another young man from the opposing group spoke, "So, how are we going to start this assessment?"

"We have six people. If we all go at once, it might be too much of a bully move."

The black-robed youth shouted, "Hey, boss, if we accidentally kill them, Konoha won't come after us, will they?"

His words made the other four turn to look at their leader.

The man called "boss" was a middle-aged man with scars on both sides of his face.

He had a stern expression and mostly kept his eyes on Minato Namikaze.

Hearing his subordinate's question, he responded coolly, "If you don't want to die, I suggest you don't do something that stupid."

Arrogance is one thing, but don't be foolish!

At this moment, the Daimyō's attendant announced in a loud voice, "Namikaze-sensei, Ken'ichi-sensei, the exchange will be conducted in two phases."

"First, individual matches. Both sides will each send out four people for one-on-one matches."

"Second, a team battle—four against four."

"Do either of you have any objections?"

Minato responded, "None."

Ken'ichi also replied, "None."

The attendant nodded, "Very well, let's begin!"

"The Daimyō has declared that for each victory, the winner will receive a reward of 100,000 ryō."

"And each victory earns one point. The team with the most points at the end will be awarded a special treasure by the Daimyō—a Kusanagi sword from ancient times. It can cut through iron like butter and has excellent chakra conductivity."

Hearing this, Ken'ichi's stern face finally showed a hint of seriousness.

Money is important, but a good weapon is essential for survival.

And even with money, it might not be possible to buy a Kusanagi sword, especially one that can conduct chakra.

With this in mind, Ken'ichi cast a cold glance at his five subordinates and said, "Take this seriously. Don't get careless, or I won't hesitate to make you pay."

The five underlings, including the black-robed youth, immediately tensed up and dropped their playful attitudes.

"Boss, let me go first!"

The black-robed youth volunteered.

Ken'ichi nodded slightly.

On the other side, seeing the black-robed youth step forward, Minato Namikaze looked towards Uchiha Shisui.

But Shūichi Hoshita raised his hand and said, "Sensei, let me take the first match!"

Minato didn't refuse and nodded, "Alright, Shūichi, you go first. Don't worry too much about winning or losing."

"Understood!"

Shūichi nodded and stepped forward, pulling out a kunai, holding a senbon in his mouth, and drawing his Totsuka Blade with his right hand.

"A kid who specializes in close combat, huh?"

The black-robed youth eyed Shūichi, "But then again, at his age, even if he's a genius, how much chakra could he possibly have for ninjutsu?"

Before the battle even began, the black-robed youth had already pigeonholed Shūichi.

It was because Shūichi's stance was too well-prepared.

Minato Namikaze and the other two weren't surprised by Shūichi Hoshita's actions—this was his style. What he revealed was always meant to mislead the enemy.

While it was true that Shūichi was skilled in close combat, to someone like Uchiha Shisui, unless one possessed ultra-fast reflexes, Shūichi's taijutsu and use of ninja tools would be considered subpar.

However, in reality, those ultra-fast reflexes were Shūichi's innate talent—something that couldn't be overlooked.

"He's just a kid who doesn't know how to hide his abilities!"

The black-robed youth inwardly mocked Shūichi, but he also decided to go all out, aiming to give this kid a real shock.

Of course, he was also motivated by the 100,000 ryō reward!

"Hey, kid, don't cry later!"

With a loud shout, the black-robed youth charged forward, his hands emerging from his wide sleeves, flinging several shuriken at Shūichi.

Shūichi easily deflected them with a simple motion, not even moving an inch.

Suddenly, the black-robed youth changed direction, throwing shuriken from the side. As Shūichi blocked the shuriken, the youth quickly moved into his blind spot, lunging straight at him.

At that moment, two sharp swords emerged from the youth's wide sleeves.

Shūichi sidestepped and fell to the ground, narrowly dodging the two swords that whizzed past his ears.

Thud! Thud!

Supporting himself with one hand, Shūichi kicked at the black-robed youth's wrists. Although he didn't disarm the youth, the kick made him wince in pain and forced him to stagger backward.

Flipping back onto his feet, Shūichi charged at the youth with blinding speed, his arms moving like a blur as the gleam of his blade surrounded the youth.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

The sound of clashing metal echoed, sparks flying in all directions.

"Too slow!"

"Too slow!"

Shūichi's movements grew faster with each strike, his taunts never ceasing.

"This kid's speed…"

The black-robed youth's eyes widened in shock, sweat forming on his brow.

"I can't keep going like this…"

Sensing that the situation was becoming dangerous, the youth shook his sleeves, releasing two plumes of black smoke that enveloped both him and Shūichi.

Poison gas!

"Kid, die!"

The youth laughed maniacally, as two chains shot out from his sleeves, wrapping around Shūichi.

The youth had already broken the antidote capsule hidden in his mouth, so he had no fear of the poison.

Seeing Shūichi holding his breath, his hands bound by the chains, the black-robed youth slowly approached.

Outside, Kurama Sanyō was alarmed. "Shūichi!"

Minato Namikaze placed a hand on Sanyō's shoulder. "Stay calm. Don't forget that Shūichi is a medical ninja."

Within the black poisonous fog, the black-robed youth suddenly froze. The Shūichi he had chained up had suddenly transformed into a rabbit, easily slipping out of the chains.

But how did he perform a transformation jutsu with his hands bound?

Before the youth could react, the rabbit kicked off the ground, soaring into the air and dispelling the transformation to return to human form.

Mid-air, Shūichi, with a senbon in his mouth, swallowed an antidote pill, took a deep breath, puffed out his cheeks, and exhaled.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!

On the ground, the black-robed youth simultaneously finished his hand seals and unleashed a dragon-shaped flame into the sky.

Boom!

The flames exploded, the heatwave scattering the poison gas.

But then, the black-robed youth couldn't help but exclaim in shock, "How is this possible?"

He saw several fireballs raining down from the sky.

Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The black-robed youth scrambled to dodge the incoming flames.

As Shūichi landed on the ground, the senbon in his mouth suddenly shot out, hitting the youth who had just dodged a fireball, striking his neck with pinpoint accuracy.

Clutching his neck, the black-robed youth looked at Shūichi and quickly shouted, "I surrender!"

Shūichi extended his hand. "The antidote!"

Although he had only inhaled a small amount of poison and had already taken an antidote pill with no obvious signs of poisoning, he still decided to get the antidote, just in case.

Reluctantly, the black-robed youth pulled out a small box and handed it to Shūichi.

Shūichi opened the box and saw two pills inside. He immediately took one and tossed it to the black-robed youth.

The youth's expression soured, but he had no choice but to swallow the pill.

Seeing that the black-robed youth was unharmed, Shūichi nodded in satisfaction.

Shūichi Hoshita's victory in the first round was a great start, earning him 100,000 ryō.

However, to everyone's shock, the black-robed youth was executed by Ken'ichi as soon as he returned.

"He..."

Kurama Sanyō was too stunned to speak.

Minato Namikaze, with a serious expression, reminded them, "Shisui, Sanyō, be careful from now on."

With the opposing jōnin showing such ruthlessness, the remaining opponents would certainly fight desperately.

Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō nodded in unison. "Understood!"

At that moment, the bearded middle-aged man stepped forward.

Minato immediately instructed, "Shisui, you take this one."

"Yes, Sensei!"

Uchiha Shisui moved out swiftly, leaning forward as his pace quickened, charging directly at the bearded man.

Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!

The bearded man launched shuriken as a probing attack, but Shisui effortlessly blocked and dodged them, not even activating his Sharingan.

Shisui then engaged the bearded man in close combat, with their kunai clashing repeatedly, sparks flying.

The two figures leaped and darted around the vast battlefield at high speed, their movements closely followed by Shūichi and the others.

Even without using his Sharingan or drawing the short sword on his back, Shisui fought the bearded man to a standstill.

Suddenly, after a seamless retreat, the bearded man swiftly formed hand seals and stomped the ground with force.

The ground cracked open from where the bearded man stood, rapidly spreading in all directions, with two fissures trapping Shisui in the center.

In the next moment, sharp stone pillars erupted from the ground, converging on Shisui's position.

However, Shisui, well-versed in hand seals, quickly recognized that the bearded man was using an Earth Release jutsu and leaped into the air just in time.

But then, the bearded man clasped his hands together, causing the sharp stone pillars to grow even taller.

This left Shisui with no place to land!

As he began to fall, Shisui completed his own hand seals.

Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!

Boom!

The fireball shattered several of the sharp stone pillars into pieces.

As Shisui landed, he activated his Sharingan, and the short sword on his back was drawn.

But the bearded man wasn't finished. He formed more hand seals, shouting, "It's not over yet!"

On top of the existing stone pillars, smaller, sharper spikes emerged, lunging toward Shisui.

Shisui's Sharingan whirled as he moved at high speed, slicing through the stone spikes with his short sword.

At that moment, it looked as though he was dancing on the edge of a blade.

Even Shūichi, who was watching, couldn't help but feel a bit anxious for Shisui.

The bearded man turned out to be an expert in Earth Release ninjutsu, his skill at least on par with a high-level chūnin, possibly even a special jōnin.

Soon, Shisui broke free from the area of the fissures and stone pillars.

Even with the Sharingan, he wasn't unscathed—he had a few cuts on his body, blood trickling from them.

Once out of the Earth Release jutsu's range, Shisui sheathed his sword and quickly formed hand seals.

Body Flicker Technique!

Shisui's figure instantly split into two, then began to move at high speed around the battlefield, creating more and more afterimages.

Shūichi watched in shock—this was the first time he had seen Shisui use this technique.

Could this be the origin of his title "Shisui of the Body Flicker"? Had he already developed this technique so soon?

However, Kurama Sanyō, standing nearby, exclaimed in surprise, "Shadow Clone—no, it's a genjutsu!"

Minato Namikaze confirmed, "Yes, it's indeed a genjutsu. A very advanced one at that, creating genjutsu clones. What a genius idea."

Genjutsu clones?

Even Kurama Sanyō, who came from a clan known for genjutsu, couldn't fully grasp it at first.

"Illusions created by genjutsu shouldn't have physical forms, should they?" Shūichi Hoshita pondered before asking, "Sensei, do those clones have chakra signatures?"

Minato nodded. "That's correct."

Among the three of them, only Minato had sensory abilities, so he could detect that the illusions, which Kurama Sanyō thought were mere phantoms, actually had chakra.

These clones were different from ordinary illusions and not like typical clone techniques.

On the stone pillars, the bearded middle-aged man was also observing Shisui Uchiha's clones. He quickly tested them by throwing shuriken.

The shuriken passed through Shisui's body without causing any harm, simply going through them, yet the clones didn't dissipate.

"They're not Shadow Clones... It's a genjutsu, isn't it? Typical of the Uchiha clan," the man muttered with a sneer.

At this moment, the clones of Shisui began to move within the range of the Earth Release jutsu.

The bearded man clasped his hands together again and smirked. "Even if I can't tell which is the real one... I'll just attack them all!"

The stone pillars reactivated, striking through each Shisui, but every attack missed.

Cold sweat dripped from the bearded man's forehead. "How is this possible?"

"Are they all illusions?"

"Where is his real body hiding?"

"Am I still trapped in his genjutsu? Is he just trying to exhaust my chakra?"

Despite attacking every Shisui, none of the strikes had any effect.

By then, three Shisui clones had closed in on the bearded man, slashing down with their blades.

The bearded man released his hands, blocking with his kunai.

Clang!

The attack had substance.

The bearded man was in disbelief. "How is this possible?"

Another Shisui clone's short sword came down, and he raised his other hand to block it. Clang! Again, the attack was real.

The third Shisui clone's blade was now at the bearded man's neck, the cold touch sending shivers down his spine, but he still shouted, "Impossible!"

"They're all illusions!"

"Ha! I won't surrender!"

Shisui looked at the bearded man and said, "If that's the case..."

Slash!

Shisui's blade cut through.

The bearded man dropped his kunai, clutching his neck as blood poured out. "It... it's real?"

Kurama Sanyō was equally stunned by what he saw. "How... how did he do that?"

"Could Shisui be manipulating the five senses to make genjutsu attacks real?"

Even Minato couldn't answer that question. Despite his own abilities, he hadn't fully understood Shisui's Body Flicker Technique.

Genjutsu combined with clones and the Body Flicker?

Minato wasn't entirely sure.

Shūichi Hoshita's knowledge couldn't compare to Minato's, but based on Minato's explanation and Shisui's performance, he also felt that the Body Flicker Technique had a significant connection to genjutsu.

But regardless, Shisui had secured the second round.

After returning, Shūichi immediately began treating his wounds.

Next, it was Kurama Sanyō's turn.

His opponent was a young man with a katana at his waist, more like a samurai than a ninja.

Compared to Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui, Kurama Sanyō is a pure genjutsu-type ninja.

Thus, his combat style is different from the other two. Before his opponent could even reach him, he had already formed hand seals and cast a genjutsu.

Genjutsu - Mirage!

This is a visual genjutsu that deceives the enemy's eyes, making everything they see shrouded in a false illusion.

However, the young swordsman clearly had ample combat experience. After his first strike missed, he didn't wait for Kurama Sanyō's follow-up attack; instead, he decisively closed his eyes.

Clang!

Relying on his hearing, the young swordsman perfectly blocked Kurama Sanyō's surprise attack from behind.

Kurama Sanyō's attack failed, and he immediately retreated, avoiding close combat.

The young swordsman also acted decisively, stabbing his sword into the ground and forming hand seals to dispel the genjutsu.

But Kurama Sanyō didn't remain idle during his retreat. Two shuriken were already flying towards the young swordsman, forcing him to dodge them and move further away from his sword, even after dispelling the genjutsu.

At this moment, Kurama Sanyō completed his second genjutsu.

Hoshita Shūichi couldn't recognize this technique, likely a unique genjutsu of the Kurama clan.

Judging by the young swordsman's reaction, this technique clearly affected him on all fronts.

Unlike the previous "Mirage," a visual genjutsu, this one influenced all five senses simultaneously.

The young swordsman ran around erratically, muttering to himself and attacking non-existent enemies.

After the technique ended, Kurama Sanyō was gasping for air and popped a pill into his mouth. He didn't rush to attack but waited silently for the right moment.

Suddenly, the young swordsman stopped his frantic movements and locked his gaze on Kurama Sanyō with deadly precision.

Hoshita Shūichi felt a twinge of unease: "He's been pretending to be under the genjutsu!"

At this moment, Minato Namikaze spoke up, "We concede this match."

That last technique was Kurama Sanyō's most powerful genjutsu. But since his opponent had seen through it and even used it to their advantage, there was no point in continuing the fight.

It was fortunate that Kurama Sanyō had limited chakra. Otherwise, if he had attacked immediately after using the genjutsu, the young swordsman might have struck him down with a single blow.

Kurama Sanyō returned with his head lowered in guilt. "Sorry, I dragged everyone down."

Hoshita Shūichi, having just finished healing Uchiha Shisui, smiled and said, "It's not that you dragged us down, Sanyō. Your opponent was simply stronger."

Uchiha Shisui nodded in agreement.

Minato Namikaze patted Kurama Sanyō on the shoulder and said kindly, "Shūichi is right. It's just that the opponents are different."

"Besides, we're still ahead by one match. Now it's time to watch your sensei."

With that, Minato Namikaze stepped forward.

On the opposite side, Hoshita Shūichi and his two teammates watched as the enemy's Jōnin, Ken'ichi, stepped up.

Jōnin vs. Jōnin!

Hoshita Shūichi kept his eyes fixed on the fight, full of anticipation.

He had already witnessed Minato Namikaze's Flying Thunder God Technique, but he hadn't yet seen his other signature jutsu and didn't know if it had been developed yet.

Suddenly, the two opponents moved simultaneously, so fast that only their afterimages could be seen.

"So fast!"

Hoshita Shūichi gasped in amazement.

Without the [Ninja Tools Expert] tag that enhanced his reflexes, he would have found it nearly impossible to keep up with their movements.

Next to him, Uchiha Shisui had also activated his Sharingan; otherwise, he too would have struggled to follow the swift movements of Minato Namikaze and his opponent.

Kurama Sanyō exclaimed, "They're too fast! I can't keep up at all!"

Hoshita Shūichi and Uchiha Shisui, however, kept their eyes on the battle.

Cling!

Clang!

The sound of clashing metal wasn't frequent, but Hoshita Shūichi could tell that Minato Namikaze had the upper hand.

Suddenly, Ken'ichi retreated a significant distance and quickly formed hand seals to complete a jutsu.

Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet!

Hoshita Shūichi looked up as a stream of water formed into a massive water dragon that shot into the sky, then dived down to crash towards Minato Namikaze.

In response, Minato Namikaze threw a kunai straight at Ken'ichi.

This was clearly an unexpected attack, but since Ken'ichi had already completed his jutsu, he easily dodged the kunai.

But in the next moment, to Ken'ichi's shock, Minato Namikaze vanished from where he had been standing.

Where did he go?

Ken'ichi quickly scanned his surroundings, but before he could react, he felt a cold sensation on his neck. Minato Namikaze's voice echoed, "You've lost!"

His body froze in place, and Ken'ichi slowly turned his head, cold sweat dripping from his forehead. "Such incredible speed… May I ask your name?"

"Minato Namikaze!"

"I'm honored to have faced you!"

Ken'ichi admitted defeat. He didn't even want to participate in the final group battle, instead choosing to leave immediately with his team and the fallen, not even bothering to say goodbye to the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.

He wasn't a fool; though Minato Namikaze and his team hadn't killed anyone, they also didn't show any respect to the Daimyō.

If he didn't know his place, he might not leave here alive.

Watching Ken'ichi and his men depart, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire's expression darkened slightly.

He then covered half of his face with a fan, his eyes locking onto Minato Namikaze and the other three, before giving orders to a nearby attendant, "Request their information from Konoha, especially on those three children."

Although the Daimyō wasn't a ninja, he could tell that Minato Namikaze was the strongest among them.

However, it was clear that Minato Namikaze could not be swayed.

But those three children might be a different story.

The attendant nodded in agreement, and the Daimyō continued, "Make sure they are well taken care of."

With that, the Daimyō was carried away.

Half an hour later, after bathing, Hoshita Shūichi and the others were treated to a grand banquet.

There was not only an abundance of delicious food but also music from a band and graceful dancers performing.

Unfortunately, the entertainment was lost on the four of them.

Hoshita Shūichi and his team focused solely on the food, devouring everything in sight.

After the empty dishes and cups were cleared away, and the band and dancers had left, the Daimyō's attendant arrived, bearing their previous rewards.

Aside from Kurama Sanyō, each of the remaining three received 100,000 ryō.

Of course, the most important reward was the legendary Kusanagi Sword promised by the Daimyō!

Minato Namikaze reached out to accept it, thanking the attendant before drawing the sword from its sheath.

Zing!

The sword hummed as it was drawn.

Hoshita Shūichi and the others observed that it was a single-edged, straight sword, approximately 80 centimeters long.

The blade was silver-white, reflecting light like a mirror, but the upper part of the blade was pitch black, absorbing all light, forming a stark contrast.

The Daimyō's attendant spoke, "This Kusanagi Sword is called the Yagakigami Sword. It is said to possess the power to control the earth, though no one has ever been able to unleash its full potential."

Minato Namikaze nodded slightly and then infused the sword with chakra.

Buzz! Buzz!

The Yagakigami Sword vibrated gently as a faint green glow appeared along the blade, its sharpness instantly increasing, sending chills down the spines of Hoshita Shūichi and the others.

However, Minato Namikaze didn't sense any unique power within the sword; it seemed to be just an ordinary chakra blade.

Sheathing the sword, Minato Namikaze said to the attendant, "Please convey our thanks to the Daimyō-sama."

"And also, we've completed this mission…"

Before Minato Namikaze could finish, the attendant quickly interrupted, "There's no need for you to rush back to Konoha, Jōnin Minato. The Daimyō has ordered that you stay here until the originally scheduled time to return."

Minato Namikaze could only nod helplessly, "In that case, we'll rely on your hospitality!"

After the attendant left, Minato Namikaze looked at Hoshita Shūichi and the other two, holding the Yagakigami Sword in his hand.

Uchiha Shisui was the first to speak up, "Sensei Minato, I'm more suited to a short sword."

Minato Namikaze then turned his gaze to Hoshita Shūichi.

Hoshita Shūichi shrugged and said, "Sensei Minato, my Tostuka is also a chakra blade."

"Besides, the credit for this mission goes mostly to you, Minato Sensei."

Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō both nodded in agreement.

Minato Namikaze smiled wryly.

Having such considerate subordinates can be a bit of a dilemma!

Since he didn't use swords or blades himself, he thought for a moment and said, "In that case, I'll hold onto it for now."

Then, Minato Namikaze changed the subject, "We should have some downtime in the coming days. Starting tomorrow, we'll resume our previous training."

"Yes, Minato Sensei!"

...

Back at their quarters, Hoshita Shūichi took out the scroll that Minato Namikaze had given him earlier and spread it open.

Konoha-style Kenjutsu came into view.

It started with the most basic sword techniques, complete with diagrams and detailed explanations.

Hoshita Shūichi focused intently, committing each move to his memory palace.

Soon, his eyes fell on the final technique.

Leaf-Style Dance of the Crescent Moon!

Hoshita Shūichi was all too familiar with this move. It would one day become the signature technique of Hayate Gekkō, who famously used it to strike down Sunagakure Jōnin Baki, only to be countered and killed by Baki's Wind Release prowess.

Clearly, the most critical aspect of the Konoha-style Kenjutsu described in this scroll was this ultimate technique.

It involved the user and two shadow clones attacking simultaneously.

The description seemed simple, but the detailed explanation that followed was highly complex.

It wasn't the execution of the technique that was complicated, but the timing, speed, angle of the attacks, and the coordination between the shadow clones and the user—these were all crucial details.

Hoshita Shūichi was completely engrossed in studying it.

The next day.

Hoshita Shūichi officially began his focused training in Konoha-style Kenjutsu. During his breaks, he continued experimenting on various small animals to improve his medical ninjutsu skills.

Before this mission, he had learned a new medical ninjutsu from Nono Yakushi.

B-Rank Technique: Delicate Illness Extraction Technique!

This technique allows the user to remove toxins and transplant organs within the body.

...

The days of training were far from dull for Hoshita Shūichi because he could feel his progress every single day.

It wasn't just his Konoha-style Kenjutsu and medical ninjutsu improving, but also his chakra reserves, strength, and attack speed.

Even Minato Namikaze and Uchiha Shisui could clearly sense the increase in his strength and attack speed.

On top of that, the Daimyō of the Land of Fire was providing them with excellent food and drink every day, and they didn't have to spend a single ryō.

Time flew by, and seven days quickly passed.

On the night before they were scheduled to leave the Daimyō's residence, Hoshita Shūichi was suddenly summoned by the Daimyō of the Land of Fire.

This surprised everyone.

Minato Namikaze smiled and said, "Since the Daimyō has summoned you, Shūichi, you should go."

Hoshita Shūichi nodded and followed the attendant.

He had already guessed the reason behind the Daimyō's summons. Out of the four of them, he was the most likely to be recruited due to his background.

After all, Minato Namikaze was already a Jōnin with deep ties to Konoha.

Uchiha Shisui came from the prestigious Uchiha clan, and Kurama Sanyō's origins were also notable—the once-famous Kurama clan.

Only Hoshita Shūichi had lost his parents early and grew up in an orphanage, making him seem like an easy target for recruitment and brainwashing.

And sure enough.

When Hoshita Shūichi met the Daimyō of the Land of Fire, he was showered with praise.

A lesser kid might have been completely flattered by this.

Moreover, the Daimyō didn't immediately try to recruit him. Instead, after praising Hoshita Shūichi, he started talking about the current system in the ninja world—how each village was guided by the Daimyō, how the Hokage was appointed by the Daimyō, and how the Daimyō was the real power behind everything!

Hoshita Shūichi nodded obediently, but internally he was thinking, "Joining you is worse than joining Danzo..."

After a lengthy lecture, the Daimyō, satisfied with Hoshita Shūichi's compliant nods, finally left.

The attendant who remained then extended an olive branch, "Hoshita Shūichi, would you be willing to become the Daimyō's personal guardian ninja?"

Without hesitation, Hoshita Shūichi nodded, "Of course!"

"The Daimyō can directly order the Third Hokage to transfer me to the Daimyō's residence."

The attendant was taken aback and then clarified, "What I mean is, would you be willing to leave Konoha and become the Daimyō's personal guardian ninja?"

Hoshita Shūichi shook his head and asked, "With my current strength, could I defend against a Jōnin like Ken'ichi?"

The attendant shook his head.

Hoshita Shūichi continued, "Then even if I became the Daimyō's personal guardian ninja, I wouldn't be able to protect him."

The attendant frowned, "But you have exceptional talent; you're a genius of Konoha!"

Hoshita Shūichi asked again, "Can the Daimyō provide me with ninjutsu?"

The attendant shook his head.

Hoshita Shūichi then asked, "Does the Daimyō have a Jōnin like Minato Sensei who can guide me in my training?"

The attendant shook his head again.

Hoshita Shūichi spread his hands, "In that case, what use would it be for me to join the Daimyō now?"

"I wouldn't be able to fulfill the role of protecting the Daimyō!"

The attendant nodded, acknowledging the logic.

Before he could ask what to do next, Hoshita Shūichi continued, "Therefore, the Daimyō should fully support my development in Konoha, allowing me to grow into a Jōnin who can stand on his own. Only then will I be able to serve the Daimyō effectively."

"And at that time, as a Jōnin, I could help train even more ninjas for the Daimyō."

"After all, raising a ninja requires not just money, but various ninjutsu resources!"

The attendant nodded solemnly, "You make a very good point. I will report this to the Daimyō immediately. Please wait here."

With that, the attendant hurriedly left.

In the Daimyō's chambers, after hearing the attendant's report, the Daimyō smiled, "As expected of a genius, he's absolutely right."

"Let's fully support this Hoshita Shūichi!"

The attendant hesitated for a moment and then said, "Daimyo-sama, this Hoshita Shūichi is very clever. It's hard to predict what might happen in the future. What if he betrays you?"

The Daimyō replied calmly, "So what?"

"What I'm spending is just a bit of money."

"Can 30 million ryō buy a Jōnin who is completely loyal to me?"

"Can 100 million ryō buy a Jōnin who is completely loyal to me?"

"Even if he betrays me in the future, it would just be a loss of 30 million or 100 million ryō, which is nothing compared to what we give to Konoha!"

The attendant quickly responded, "Daimyo-sama is wise!"

The Daimyō chuckled and said, "However, we shouldn't stop recruiting ninjas from outside."

"Also, this kid's suggestion is excellent."

"From now on, inform Konoha regularly to send young ninjas to the Daimyō's residence."

"Preferably geniuses!"

The attendant quickly bowed, "Yes, Daimyo-sama!"

In Minato Namikaze's room, a stack of large denomination money bills lay on the table.

Hoshita Shūichi had brought them back.

Minato glanced at the money, then looked at Hoshita Shūichi. "The Daimyō wants to recruit you?"

Shūichi nodded and then recounted the entire process.

Minato listened, wide-eyed and astonished. After some thought, he finally said, "A double agent?"

Shūichi stroked his chin, deep in thought. "That could actually work."

He hadn't originally considered becoming a double agent.

He was just trying to scam the Daimyō for some investment, planning to grab some resources from Hiruzen Sarutobi when he returned to Konoha.

It was a way to exploit the underlying power struggle between Konoha and the Daimyō for his own benefit.

Minato, who wasn't lacking in political awareness and was trained in the Hokage's mindset, considered the situation. If the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, were in his place, he probably wouldn't let this opportunity slip by, likely assigning Shūichi as a double agent.

Minato thought it over and said, "Keep this money for yourself, but don't tell anyone else. When we get back to Konoha, I'll personally explain the situation to the Third Hokage."

"Understood."

Shūichi nodded and put the money away, but he didn't leave. Instead, he pulled out a scroll, opened it, and smiled. "Minato Sensei, I designed a technique here. Since it involves the brain, I haven't dared to try it yet."

"A technique?"

Minato was surprised, then took the scroll and examined it carefully.

The technique wasn't complex, in fact, it was quite simple for him, but the concept was remarkably clever.

Looking up at Shūichi, Minato's surprise deepened. "I didn't expect you to be skilled in curse seals and sealing techniques as well."

Shūichi "bashfully" responded, "I learned while making explosive tags."

"I've developed a unique memory technique that I call the Memory Palace."

Shūichi explained to Minato, "Due to my training with Shadow Clones, I had the idea to create this technique."

Minato nodded. "So, you're trying to have the memories brought back by the Shadow Clones directly enter your Memory Palace through this technique, avoiding any mental shock or confusion."

"You're aiming to accumulate training experience through your Shadow Clones?"

Shūichi nodded.

Minato immediately cautioned, "Remember, the memories brought back by the Shadow Clones are just one aspect. You also need to be wary of the accumulated fatigue."

"A person's capacity to endure is limited."

Shūichi quickly assured, "Don't worry, Minato Sensei, I'll be careful."

Minato, trusting in Shūichi's steady nature, didn't press further. Instead, he continued asking about the details of the Memory Palace while reexamining the technique on the scroll.

"It's impressive, Shūichi, that you're using the entire village of Konoha as the container for your memories. That's a brilliant idea."

"Incorporating genjutsu could make it even better."

"Yes, and it should be based on chakra, supplemented with sealing techniques, almost like constructing a library."

"Even though the technique itself is simple, the fact that you could devise something like this just from studying explosive tags shows you have exceptional talent in sealing techniques."

…

Minato Namikaze wrote and revised, making adjustments as he went along.

What had originally been a simple technique designed by Shūichi rapidly became more complex, changing right before his eyes.

After about two hours, Minato set down his brush and smiled, "There, this should do it."

"With your chakra capacity, Shūichi, you shouldn't have any trouble using it."

"Of course, to maintain the seal, you'll need to continuously channel chakra, which will be a drain on your reserves."

Shūichi looked at the technique, now vastly more intricate than before, and scratched his head. He sighed, "Minato Sensei, I think it's going to take me some time to fully grasp this."

Minato chuckled, "Sorry, I got a bit carried away."

"But don't worry, if you run into any issues, feel free to ask me anytime."

"Yes, it's getting late, and we've got a long journey tomorrow. Let's save this for when we get back to Konoha."

Shūichi nodded, gathered his things, and bid farewell to Minato before heading back to his room.

Lying on his bed, Shūichi's attention shifted to his Tag Tree in his mind.

Just now, two new tag had been triggered.

Tag: Sealing Expert

Condition to Obtain: Complete the training of the secret technique [Memory Palace], perfected by Minato Namikaze.

Effect: Increases talent in sealing techniques and curse seals by 100%, and boosts memory by 100%.

The requirement didn't seem too difficult, and the Tag's effects weren't bad either.

As for memory, though Shūichi prided himself on having an excellent memory, he wasn't quite at the level of photographic recall—so the Memory Palace technique was essential.

Doubling his memory might just push him to that level.

This would obviously enhance his ability to perceive, learn, and perform at his peak during actual combat.

"Having a talent for sealing techniques means I should take them seriously. After all, they're an incredibly versatile skill."

However, Shūichi remained clear-headed.

At this stage, sealing techniques weren't a top priority.

His focus was still on swordsmanship and medical ninjutsu—these were the skills he relied on for survival and establishing himself.

Next, he examined the second Tag.

Tag: Pioneer 

Condition to Obtain: Develop at least five A-rank or higher ninja techniques, including but not limited to ninjutsu, sealing techniques, genjutsu, taijutsu, etc. If others assist, the user must play a key, innovative role in the development.

Effect: Once per year, the user gains "A Flash of Insight" for 10 minutes. During this period, comprehension and creativity are maxed out.

Shūichi sat up abruptly.

Two maxed-out stats—an irresistible temptation.

But developing five A-rank or higher techniques—be they ninjutsu, sealing techniques, genjutsu—was no small feat.

The Chidori is A-rank difficulty, and so is the Rasengan.

"Tsk, this won't be easy!"

"Even if Minato-sensei hasn't developed the Rasengan yet, it won't be simple to replicate and claim credit for it."

"And then there's Kakashi's Chidori… first, I'd have to master the Lightning Release chakra nature transformation..."

"Hmm, the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken could also count."

Shūichi pondered, "A key, innovative role… I wonder if coming up with the idea and having someone else assist in the development would count?"

Looks like this will require some trial and error.

Shūichi lay back down and slowly drifted off to sleep.

The next day, the group left the Daimyō's residence and returned to Konoha around noon.

In the Hokage's office, Hiruzen Sarutobi listened to Minato Namikaze's report, including the comments Shūichi had made on the way to the Daimyō's mansion.

Of course, the most important part was the Daimyō's attempt to recruit Shūichi and how Shūichi responded.

After the report, Minato said, "Shūichi is incredibly smart, with an exceptionally keen sense of political awareness. He recognized the divide between the village and the Daimyō's office as soon as he heard the mission details."

Hiruzen nodded in agreement. This was evident from Shūichi's words and actions.

Not only that, but he's also a staunch supporter of the Hokage.

Hiruzen was quite pleased with this and smiled, "Shūichi handled it very well. It's rare to see someone so young respond so flexibly."

"As for the money, let Shūichi keep it. Now, about making him a double agent… Minato, what do you think?"

Shūichi was, after all, under Minato's command, so as Hokage, Hiruzen felt it was necessary to consider Minato's opinion.

Moreover, Hiruzen was keen on grooming Minato as well.

It was becoming clear that Tsunade had little interest in succeeding as the Fourth Hokage, and Jiraiya, ever the wanderer, was lost in his own destiny, not having returned since the Second Shinobi World War. Rumor had it he was training some disciples in the Land of Rain.

Orochimaru had originally been a promising candidate, but he had changed too much since the war...

All these factors forced Hiruzen to reconsider his options.

Minato, anticipating Hiruzen's inquiry, had already formed a plan. He responded, "I believe Shūichi is well-suited for this task."

"He's very disciplined, has a strong will, and firmly upholds the Will of Fire, dedicated to protecting Konoha and the Hokage. Despite his young age, his mind is mature, and I don't foresee any risk of betrayal while serving as a double agent."

Hiruzen nodded and then said, "In that case, you'll be the one to relay this mission to Shūichi. You'll also be his point of contact."

Minato immediately accepted the order, "Yes, Lord Third!"