CHAPTER 79

Early Morning.

"Fenghuo, you're here!"

Yuhi Kurenai beamed as she welcomed Fenghuo into the house. She turned toward the bedroom and called out cheerfully, "Dad, Fenghuo's here!"

"Got it. Please, have a seat," Yuhi Shinku replied as he stepped out of the room, smiling. "Don't expect me to serve the tea, though."

"Oh!" Kurenai blinked and rushed off to find a cup.

"Uncle Shinku." Fenghuo greeted him with a polite smile. "Thank you for taking care of me."

Yuhi Shinku studied him with his piercing red eyes and chuckled in amazement. "I still can't believe it. You became a Chūnin at only seven years old, awakened the two-tomoe Sharingan, and your taijutsu is already excellent. On top of that, you developed your own original jutsu—a chakra-compressed sphere technique. What was it called again? Rasengan?"

"Yes, Uncle Shinku," Fenghuo replied modestly. "It was mostly guesswork."

"Don't sell yourself short," Shinku said with admiration. "Even though Rasengan is classified as an A-rank jutsu, its potential is limitless. With elemental chakra, it could evolve into S-rank variations. The Fourth Hokage himself is deeply interested in this jutsu."

He chuckled. "But don't worry—since you developed it, Hokage-sama has no intention of making it public without your permission."

Is that… intellectual property protection? Fenghuo mused silently. What else can I even say?

"Fenghuo, here's your water!" Kurenai bounded over with a glass, her bright eyes gleaming.

"Thanks."

"Hey, Kurenai, where's mine?" Shinku asked with mock jealousy, eyes narrowing in dramatic flair.

"Get it yourself, Dad," she replied confidently.

Shinku sighed. "What kind of unfilial daughter have I raised…? All right, time for school. You'll be late."

"Yes, yes!" Kurenai called as she hurried out the door.

Once she was gone, Shinku got to the point.

"Fenghuo, Hokage-sama has appointed me to be your personal jōnin instructor. You understand what that means—how much faith he has in your future. Don't let him down."

"I won't!" Fenghuo responded seriously. "Konoha is my home. No matter who threatens this village, I'll never forgive them!"

Shinku nodded approvingly and shifted topics. "You've studied genjutsu theory under the Kurama Clan patriarch, right? Now, I'll begin practical instruction. When the time is right, I'll also teach you Uchiha-style genjutsu."

Fenghuo's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Of course. I wouldn't joke about this."

And Shinku wasn't wrong. Since the Warring States Period, the Senju and Uchiha Clans had fought and studied each other's techniques—loving, hating, and copying in equal measure. After Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha founded Konoha, that exchange intensified. Many of the jutsu and knowledge were passed down through generations. Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, inherited much of it—which is why he earned the nickname "The Professor."

Shinku's house was too small for real training, so he took Fenghuo to a nearby forest clearing.

"What genjutsu have you learned so far?" Shinku asked, arms crossed. "Show me."

Fenghuo nodded. "Understood, Uncle Shinku—please forgive the offense."

He launched into a rapid series of hand signs, displaying his genjutsu repertoire:

Narakumi no Jutsu (Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique)

Kokohi no Jutsu (False Surroundings Technique)

Kanashibari no Jutsu (Temporary Paralysis Technique)

Shinranshin no Jutsu (Mind Body Disturbance Technique)

Kasumi Jūsha no Jutsu (Mist Servant Technique)

Magen: Narabi no Ou (Illusion Technique: King's Line-Up)

His seals were fast and precise—but none of them worked.

"All ineffective…" Fenghuo frowned.

Shinku laughed softly. "They're more than enough against ordinary shinobi. I see now why Hokage-sama values you. Taijutsu, ninjutsu, genjutsu, and the Sharingan—you really are a genius."

Maybe… I should marry my daughter off to him?

No! Bad thoughts!

Shinku cleared his mind and began serious instruction, helping Fenghuo build a stronger genjutsu foundation.

A few days later, he introduced a more advanced technique.

"The next one is Magen: Jubaku Satsu—Tree Binding Death."

A B-rank genjutsu, it creates the illusion of tree roots binding the enemy. Yuhi Kurenai once used it against Uchiha Itachi in the original series, though the outcome wasn't in her favor. Still, it remained a potent genjutsu if undetected.

Fenghuo experienced that firsthand—he was completely immobilized. He tried to break the illusion with willpower, hand seals, and even his Sharingan. Only after great effort did he finally dispel it.

If Shinku had intended to kill him, he would have had time to do so a hundred times over.

Now obsessed with learning it himself, Fenghuo trained relentlessly after receiving the seal formula.

"Careful, Fenghuo," Shinku warned with a smile. "Pushing too hard can backfire. Sometimes, it's good to relax."

Fenghuo blinked. "Relax?"

Shinku grinned. "Come over for dinner this weekend. Kurenai keeps whispering your name at home."

Fenghuo blushed and wanted to decline—but was instantly vetoed.

"…Alright."

Back home, one of Fenghuo's shadow clones was still buried in a sealing scroll written by none other than Minato Namikaze and Kushina Uzumaki. Understanding the complex fūinjutsu not only required deciphering meanings, but also copying the stroke order of intricate characters.

Even after two weeks of study and regular visits to Minato and Kushina to ask questions, he still hadn't mastered even one-tenth of the sealing script.

Sealing arts… really are a long road.

Still, Fenghuo wasn't discouraged. With time and practice, he believed it would all bear fruit.

Now that genjutsu was part of his daily training, time for taijutsu had become scarce—so when he trained, he pushed even harder.

Meanwhile, Maito Dai continued testing his secret taijutsu technique: "Bio Lotus." His latest experiments had destroyed half a forest, leading to widespread complaints. Even the Third Hokage had to step in and give him a stern lecture.

"Why did it still fail?" Maito Dai grumbled.

Fenghuo rubbed his chin. "Maybe we should let Kai try it?"

"Kai?" Dai blinked.

"Yes, he's young, his body is adaptable, and he's already practicing the Eight Gates. With your guidance, he might succeed where others can't."

Dai's eyes sparkled. "That's it!"

He paced excitedly. "I'm a fool. It took me 20 years to master the Eight Gates. How could I develop a new taijutsu style on top of that? But Kai is different! So much potential, so much youth!"

BOOM!

Suddenly, a gust of wind exploded behind Dai as he struck a passionate pose.

Fenghuo sweat-dropped. We were just brainstorming. Why did it suddenly become a youth sermon…?

He's hopeless!

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