Chapter 38

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To a child, the world is black and white.

To an adult, the mix of gray surpasses both black and white combined.

Morality?

It's merely a guideline to regulate the thoughts of ordinary people.

Look at those living in luxury, indulging in pleasures, the high and mighty nobles and daimyos. How many of them see ordinary people as their equals?

Even in the great ninja villages, even in Konoha, where the Will of Fire is often spoken, how many upheld morality on their path to rise?

Asking such a question would only make them laugh.

If possible, Gensou would love to live in a world where everyone is morally upright and saintly.

But the true nature of the world is as it is, and he could only go with the flow.

Is he supposed to start a revolution to change everything?

Too exhausting.

He had no interest in that.

Besides, compared to being bound by a piece of paper that governs everyone,

Gensou would rather be the master of that paper, not just a name within it.

Such is human nature.

Gensou openly admitted he was part of the mundane masses.

And hearing Gensou's self-aware yet indifferent words,

Naruto clenched his fists tightly.

"You..."

Lacking the experience to understand the true nature of society and humanity, Naruto was frustrated seeing Gensou's attitude of knowing his wrongs but not caring.

In the end, he resorted to what he did best, the only way he knew.

"Multi Shadow Clone Jutsu!"

Bang! Bang! Bang! The dense army of shadow clones appeared once again.

"Naruto, you idiot!"

This time, Jiraiya couldn't stand by and joined the fray, his long white hair flaring out: "Ninja Art: Needle Jizo!"

Numerous hair strands shot out like needles towards Gensou.

Gensou didn't move, merely opening his mouth slightly to release a highly corrosive vapor, which spread around him.

Sizzle, sizzle.

The needle-like hair strands dissolved mid-air before reaching Gensou.

"Everyone, attack!"

Naruto's clones, undeterred, charged into the vapor like a suicide squad.

Bang, bang, bang.

White smoke erupted continuously.

Seeing this, Gensou's mouth twitched.

Shadow clones transmit all sensations back to the original when they disperse.

Being corroded by vapor was not a pleasant experience.

Yet Naruto seemed unaffected, as if nothing had happened.

Gensou could only sigh at another cheat-like existence similar to Hashirama .

But he had no time for more sighing.

As Naruto's clone army continued charging in, the vapor couldn't keep up with their numbers.

"If I were at my peak, this wouldn't be so taxing."

Gensou shook his head, watching as one Naruto clone after another surged towards him, excitedly shouting:

"Got you!"

Learning from his previous experience, Naruto abandoned technique, opting for a brute-force approach, leaping at Gensou with outstretched arms and legs.

Gensou dismantled one clone after another.

But their numbers were overwhelming.

Before long, the smoke from the vanishing clones momentarily obscured his vision, allowing a clone to latch onto his left leg like a monkey.

"Haha!"

The other clones, eyes shining, charged in with renewed vigor.

Soon, Gensou found himself swarmed by Naruto clones hanging onto him like monkeys.

"Is this meaningful?"

Gensou asked calmly, ready to act.

A clone hanging from his shoulder looked up, laughing,

"Of course it is!"

Instantly, the smoke in front of Gensou began swirling like a vortex.

Gensou raised an eyebrow.

Jiraiya, noticing, was surprised, "Naruto, you..."

Shizune, excited, exclaimed, "It's that jutsu from that night!"

As soon as she finished,

the familiar voice of Naruto rang out from the swirling smoke in front of Gensou: "Rasengan!"

The spinning chakra ball dispersed the smoke.

In a flash, Gensou saw Naruto charging towards his chest with a blue chakra ball in his hands.

"The Fourth Hokage's jutsu, fully mastered?" Jiraiya muttered, watching.

"No, still lacking," Gensou smirked.

Boom! Dust flew, and a powerful explosion erupted in front of Gensou.

As Shizune hoped,

Jiraiya, knowing the true nature of the Rasengan, frowned when he didn't see Gensou's figure flying back. He quickly rushed over.

As expected, when the dust settled, Naruto's right hand, which had held the Rasengan, was embedded in the ground, with a small vortex-shaped pit around it.

Standing there, with no clones attached, Gensou looked down at Naruto, amused:

"Using an unfinished jutsu, I commend your bravery."

If the Rasengan were so easily broken, it wouldn't have such a formidable reputation.

Naruto had displayed it convincingly, but Gensou's keen eyes easily spotted the instability within Naruto's Rasengan.

A slight disruption, like earlier, caused it to spiral out of control and strike the ground.

"Still not working?" Naruto felt dejected.

"Watch closely," Gensou spoke again.

Instinctively, Naruto looked up and saw Gensou extend his palm, saying,

"Rasengan lesson begins, free of charge this time."

In Naruto's astonished gaze, a perfectly formed blue chakra ball appeared in Gensou's hand.

"Rasengan!"

With the same casualness as any other jutsu, Gensou held the Rasengan and pressed it towards Naruto's chest.

"How is this possible?"

Naruto stared blankly.

The turn of events was too surreal.

He couldn't fathom that the enemy in front of him also knew the Rasengan.

Pervy Sage said this jutsu belonged to the Fourth Hokage.

Could it be...

"Wait, why am I thinking that? They look nothing alike!"

Even in such a moment, Naruto's scattered thoughts diverged.

"Naruto!"

Jiraiya's shout snapped him back.

Naruto looked up, only to see the familiar blue spiraling light of the Rasengan filling his vision.

(End of Chapter)