As the sun climbed higher, casting long shadows across the rugged path, Ishiki continued his journey toward Naki. Yet, his mind was not entirely focused on the destination.
The memory of his recent, clumsy encounter with the lone ninja was a stark, unsettling reminder of his current limitations.
I couldn't even defeat a single ninja, he thought, a cold knot tightening in his stomach.
What if an entire platoon, or a small army, were to target my village?
The chilling realization spurred a fierce determination within him.
He needed strength, and he needed it fast.
His new, innate power, though still nascent, felt like the answer, the tool he needed to quickly bridge the gap between his potential and his current reality.
His detour to meet Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha suddenly felt less like a chance encounter and more like a crucial training opportunity.
Fortunately, the place where he had fought the ninja was not far from their pre-arranged meeting spot. He pushed his pace, arriving with a sense of urgency.
He found the two legendary figures locked in a familiar, yet always awe-inspiring, spar. Hashirama, the gentle-faced giant, and Madara, the fierce Uchiha, moved with a devastating grace that was a testament to their unmatched power.
A subtle, calculating smile touched Ishiki's lips.
This was the perfect moment.
He focused his chakra, channeling his newfound knowledge, and shouted, "Shadow Clone Jutsu!"
With a soft poof, a perfect duplicate of himself appeared beside him.
Together, the two Ishikis leapt into the fray, a simultaneous attack aimed at the surprised veterans.
It was a bold, reckless move, designed purely for shock and a test of his new ability.
Hashirama and Madara, despite their engrossment in their own duel, instantly sensed the new threats.
Madara met Ishiki's airborne kick with a powerful, retaliatory sweep of his leg, while Hashirama simply pushed the shadow clone back .
Both Ishikis were sent flying backward, landing hard on the dusty ground.
With another soft poof, the shadow clone dissolved into a wisp of smoke, its brief existence over.
Hashirama immediately came over, offering a hand to help Ishiki up.
There was genuine admiration in his eyes.
"You really are a genius," he chuckled, pulling Ishiki to his feet.
You learned shadow clone jutsu in a single day.
"Not just the Shadow Clone Jutsu," Ishiki replied, a confident smirk replacing the smile.
He quickly demonstrated the foundational techniques, a perfect execution of the Body Replacement Technique and the Transformation Technique.
The two legends were clearly impressed, yet Madara, ever the rival, scoffed.
"Don't be so proud," he said, folding his arms across his chest.
"Those are the easiest techniques. I learned all of them in a single sitting, unlike you who took a full day."
Hashirama quickly stepped in, placing a reassuring hand on Ishiki's shoulder.
Madara, don't belittle Ishiki.
He truly learned fast.
There are so many experienced Shinobi who struggle to master even one of these in a week.
Seeing his chance, Ishiki seized the opportunity to needle the Uchiha.
"Sounds like someone's jealous of my talent," he joked, his eyes sparkling with mischief.
Madara's annoyance was palpable.
He narrowed his eyes.
"Perhaps you just got a new tool that helped you," he challenged, skeptical of such rapid mastery.
Ishiki simply smiled, reaching into his pouch and pulling out the object he had been eager to test on them: a futuristic-looking headpiece.
"You're right," he admitted, holding up the strange contraption.
It's the 'Genius Helmet.'
This helmet helps you to comprehend and master anything quicker, including jutsu.
Their interest was instantly piqued. Both Hashirama and Madara took turns examining the device, their curiosity outweighing their skepticism.
"How exactly do you use it?" Hashirama asked, turning the helmet over in his hands.
"Think about a jutsu you want to learn, or how to improve one you already know," Ishiki instructed.
The helmet accelerates your mental processing and comprehension.
Hashirama put the helmet on. He stood still for a moment, a look of deep concentration on his face.
Then, he began to move, performing a series of hand signs that were subtly different from any he had used before.
He slammed his hand onto the ground, and instead of a simple earthen barrier, a living, wooden clone burst forth from the earth.
It was a perfect replica, and unlike the Shadow Clone, it was a true wood construct.
He tore the helmet off, his eyes wide with a combination of shock and elation.
"It's truly genius!" Hashirama exclaimed, turning to Ishiki.
I have always been thinking about how to combine my basic jutsus with my Kekkei Genkai to create a viable clone, and the moment I put this on, the exact theory and methodology crystallized in my mind! He turned to Ishiki, his voice filled with sincere excitement.
This is a truly important and useful tool, Ishiki.
Madara, observing the astonishing result, simply nodded his head in agreement. He took the helmet next, his focus directed toward improving his already prodigious Fire Style jutsu.
He stood silently for a long moment, the helmet humming softly, before beginning to practice.
The resulting fireball that erupted from his mouth was noticeably denser, hotter, and more tightly controlled than his previous efforts.
Thus, they spent the better part of the day: Hashirama experimenting with new combinations of Wood Release, Madara refining his elemental power, and Ishiki observing, offering pointers, and continuing to practice the basics.
It was an unprecedented training session, combining legendary power with futuristic technology.
As evening approached and the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting long, orange shadows, they decided to call it a day, preparing to return to their respective homes.
Suddenly, both Hashirama and Madara became utterly still, their casual demeanor vanishing. Their posture shifted to one of instant, lethal alertness.
"Stay here," Madara commanded, his voice low and serious. We sensed something.
The two most powerful ninja in the land vanished into the surrounding woods, their movements silent and swift. They returned a few tense minutes later, their faces grim.
"It's a group of ninjas," Hashirama reported, his voice tinged with concern.
About fifteen of them. They are moving fast, and they are heading straight toward your village, Ishiki.
They reek of a murderous aura, Madara added
A cold dread settled over Ishiki, but there was also a terrible clarity.
He immediately understood.
The single ninja he had captured and let go must have returned to his clan, and they were now coming for revenge.
This was the precise scenario he had been fearing.