"Going on a mission with Senior Tenzō is the best. Who'd have thought we'd have such a comfy cabin in the middle of the mountains!"
"For real!"
Tenten and Tsukikage Kaza wandered through the newly built two-story log house, faces full of wonder.
Chiba looked satisfied too.
It really lived up to the name 'Three-Room, Two-Hall Technique'. Aside from the interior still being unfinished, it looked almost exactly like an ordinary wooden house.
Tenzō stood off to the side, silent.
To be honest, when he was first asked to build a house, he'd wanted to refuse.
As a shinobi, he had his pride and principles. Using Wood Release to build a house felt like an insult to the First Hokage's jutsu.
But…
Having a house out in the wild like this was just too tempting!
He forced down a smile—then remembered he was wearing a mask. Even if he laughed, no one would see.
As long as he didn't make a sound, he'd be fine.
"Senior Tenzō, I have a small question."
"Oh? What question?"
Tenzō turned his head, studying the boy curiously.
Yagyū Chiba.
The prodigy currently setting all of Konoha abuzz—anyone of higher rank had at least heard his name and deeds.
Tenzō was no exception.
And this kid's question…
Would it be something tricky ?
What if he couldn't answer it?!
Tenzō's mind went to war with itself.
"Your Wood Release seems a little different from the First Hokage's, doesn't it?"
"You've got a sharp eye. You're right. My Wood Release can only create wood that isn't particularly sturdy. The First Hokage's, however, was said to be able to block blades—and even absorb an enemy's chakra."
As Tenzō spoke of the First Hokage, his tone was filled with reverence.
Most Konoha shinobi admired the First, yearning for that golden age when Konoha had stood unrivaled in the ninja world.
Tenzō was no exception.
"There are differences even among Wood Releases."
"…"
Lies don't hurt people. The truth cuts deep.
Tenzō found that answer surprisingly difficult to say.
Chiba continued, "Forgive me, I didn't mean to belittle you. I was just wondering—if you increased chakra output, could a quantitative change lead to a qualitative one?"
"Uh… that…"
Tenzō froze.
He didn't think the boy meant any offense—but he hadn't expected that question.
Chakra output, huh?
It was true—the First Hokage had an immense amount of chakra, and supposedly a unique body that could regenerate endlessly, almost immortal.
Maybe the weakness of his own Wood Release really was tied to chakra capacity.
"I'm curious about that too—but it doesn't sound easy to pull off."
"It's simple," Chiba said lightly. "Not long ago I derived a barrier technique from the Earth Prison Hall. If we reverse its absorption function into transformation, we can concentrate chakra instead."
He explained it matter-of-factly.
He'd actually completed that barrier technique before leaving the village, and had already submitted it to the Third Hokage and Kitayama Xu to explore potential applications.
Applying it to Wood Release followed the same principle—perhaps even simpler.
"Really?"
Simple?!
Tenzō's eyes went wide. He didn't even know how to respond.
"Yeah. Right now I can extract chakra from four people at once. If we expand the formula ports, doubling it to eight shouldn't be an issue. It's not a huge number, though."
Chiba kept rambling.
Tenzō suddenly grabbed his hand, eyes shining. "No! Eight is already amazing! Please—you have to help me!"
Chiba didn't really grasp the value of Wood Release.
With the Uzumaki Clan gone—those with the Adamantine Sealing Chains no longer around—Tenzō's fear of the Nine-Tails had practically made him bald.
If Chiba could create a technique to concentrate chakra…
The thought alone made his cheeks twitch with excitement.
"So, you're willing to collaborate with me on the research?"
"Of course! Once Kakashi-senpai wakes up, let's test it right away!"
Tenzō's voice was firm.
Chiba clapped his hands. "If it works, that'd be great."
Kakashi, this time, had only collapsed from exhaustion—and had eaten a soldier pill before passing out.
So when he woke, he didn't have a headache, just some lingering fatigue.
Then—
"Kakashi-senpai, you must be starving! Quick, have a soldier pill to recover your chakra!"
Tenzō held out a specially made recovery pill.
Kakashi lowered his head, then looked up , his single eye full of confusion.
"Tenzō, you…?"
"Uh, just eat it first."
"…"
Kakashi did.
He knew the man before him wasn't an impostor, but the real Tenzō—which only made it more confusing.
Offering a soldier pill as if it were food—it made no sense at all.
After swallowing it, Tenzō quickly explained Chiba's idea.
Kakashi thought for a long time.
"It's feasible."
"Then we should—"
"Do it after we return to the village. What about the four ninja tools?"
Kakashi pointed downstairs, face serious.
Those four great ninja tools were incredibly valuable. The Artisan Ninja Village would never let them go—but once they were back in Konoha, the village could negotiate from a stronger position.
This experiment could wait.
"Cough… you're right."
"Oh, by the way—where's that samurai?"
"Downstairs, sparring with Chiba."
Tenzō pointed below.
Kakashi freshened up, got dressed, and stepped outside. After a quick compliment about the house, which left Tenzō speechless, he went downstairs.
Chiba was sparring with Yuichi.
"I'm done."
"Huh? You're quitting already?"
Chiba looked disappointed.
Yuichi looked even more frustrated. After a pause, he muttered, "You're too damn smart. If we keep sparring, you'll end up learning all my sword techniques."
"It's not that bad."
Tenten piped up from the side, things worse.
No matter what they said, Yuichi refused to continue.
He'd already wanted to stop earlier, but the two little girls had egged him on—and when he took a closer look, he realized this kid had practically stolen his entire style.
He glanced at Kakashi and sighed. "As expected of the Copy Ninja's student. Even that ability's inherited, huh."
"???"
Kakashi's single eye blinked in bafflement.
I rely on the Sharingan and insight. He's pure genius. How is that the same thing?!
"Mr. Yuichi, your grasp of timing and swordsmanship is far beyond me. But in both technique and muscle coordination, there's still room for optimization."
"???"
Yuichi stared at Chiba like he was a monster.
You're not just stealing my moves—you're teaching me now?!
"Tenten, throw them at me."
"Okay!"
Tenten flicked her fingers, sending a bunch of wired branches flying toward Chiba.
He stood still, unmoving.
Then, in the instant they reached him—
He leaned forward, hand on his hilt—and drew.
The motion was seamless, fluid, as natural as breathing.
Steel flashed, wood splintered, dust scattered.
When the blade slid back into its sheath, not a single leaf clung to Chiba's body.
"Did you use some secret technique to boost your strength? No—wait. You enhanced your power and used every bit of it perfectly. The draw angle, the timing—it's… how did you do that?!"
Yuichi gaped, dumbstruck.
He'd never seen Lord Mifune's Iaido, but he imagined it would look exactly like this.
Kakashi, Tenzō, and the others were stunned as well.
The ANBU trained in swordsmanship too—they could tell how good a strike was.
And to describe this one, there was only a single phrase—
"Perfect. Flawless."
"So there really are geniuses like this in the world…"
Yuichi's expression was bitter.
He'd spent his entire life studying the sword, yet this boy had watched him for a single day and produced something beyond his reach. The blow to his pride was immeasurable.
"I'm nothing special. Back in the days of the First and second Hokage, and all the great Kage who fought for dominance—that was an era overflowing with geniuses."
"…"
Yuichi didn't know what to say.
He'd heard the legends of the Five Great Villages' glorious past. The First and second Hokage were both extraordinary men of intellect and talent—but he was certain that even among them, Chiba would have stood at the top.
After that, Chiba carefully broke down the principles of Iaido.
Yuichi didn't want to listen—yet the content was too valuable to ignore.
They exchanged insights, and soon Yuichi dropped his reserve as well.
Their talk ranged from swordsmanship to bushidō. The five of them—excluding the ANBU—chatted cheerfully, with even Tsukikage Kaza asking several questions that Yuichi patiently answered.
But all good things must end.
By dusk, Yuichi declined the ANBU's offer of escort and set off northward, blade at his side.
A samurai who had once cut his way out of the Land of Iron—now walking alone to return there once more.
He came alone. He left alone.
A stubborn, steadfast warrior.
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