Hiashi left.
It felt as if he had come only to deliver that one sentence—
not a negotiation, not a discussion—
just to make sure the Hyūga clan's presence was felt.
But Yagyu Souma sensed something else.
The Hyūga clan…
was probably in chaos right now.
A rigid, tradition-bound clan suddenly faced with a boy who could overturn their foundations—
a boy who had just created a Soft Fist evolution superior to their own—
Of course the elders would be panicking.
Hiashi hadn't come out of leisure.
He had come because he was desperate.
Souma almost wanted to laugh.
These days, he really doesn't lack "cooperation opportunities."
Whether it was the Fire Temple or ninja tools, a mountain of work awaited him.
Like now—
To avoid wasting time talking with Hiashi, he had left a shadow clone at home to continue the research.
He wished he could split a day into two.
Returning inside, Souma glanced at his clone.
After thinking for a moment…
He picked up a book and began drafting yet another barrier design.
"??"
The clone looked at him.
Then at itself.
"Our thoughts aren't synchronized. If we work on the same thing, we'll just slow each other down. Separate tasks are better."
"…Fair."
The clone accepted the logic.
With their division of labor, progress sped up significantly.
By afternoon, the Fire Temple barrier redesign was complete.
With a rare moment of free time, Souma could finally sit down and read.
Right then, Asuma and Deilu "happened" to pass by again.
Neither dared knock—they looked afraid of interrupting him.
"Asuma-sensei, Master Deilu—I've finished the design. Would you like to take a look?"
"Oh, we're actually— wait. Finished? Already?"
Deilu had been ready to state his purpose, but Souma's words froze him.
The redesign was done?
So fast?
Deilu nearly burst with joy.
This entire trip, this whole visit—
their main goal had been the barrier.
Everything else was secondary.
And now the primary objective is already complete.
"Come in," Souma said, opening the door. "It's a bit messy. I haven't cleaned up the drafts."
Asuma followed, complicated emotions swirling in him.
If not for Souma's small frame and youthful features, he would never believe the boy was barely twelve.
He was simply too exceptional.
Inside, the floor was covered with sketches.
A shadow clone sat in the corner, still writing and drawing.
"Didn't you finish?" Deilu asked, confused.
"Oh, thanks to your earlier explanation, I thought of another improvement. The clone is handling that version."
"…?"
Deilu's face twisted in indescribable ways.
The Iron-Wall Seal had taken the Fire Temple countless years to refine—
and even then, the result was only "barely acceptable."
Souma studied it for a few days…
Then I redesigned it.
Then redesigned it again after being "inspired."
Who exactly was supposed to be the Fire Temple's abbot here?
Deilu exhaled a long sigh.
Asuma nudged him.
"Deilu, take a look at the finished one first."
Right—
sighing and self-doubt could wait.
Souma handed him the thick stack of pages.
"I'll go smoke," Asuma said apologetically, stepping outside.
Deilu carefully flipped through the pages, studying each line.
Whenever he didn't understand something, Souma explained it patiently.
"You truly are…"
The word "genius" reached his tongue—
but he swallowed it.
Souma had likely heard the term too many times already.
Instead, Deilu pressed his palms together and bowed deeply.
"Thank you, young master."
"No need," Souma smiled. "You gave me the Iron-Wall Seal; I improved it. Fair exchange. Neither side owes the other."
The Iron-Wall Seal was indeed exquisite.
It could identify a specific chakra signature with extreme precision.
And Souma had already thought of the perfect application—
Medical scanning.
If one recorded a patient's chakra signature, then scanned their entire body, the barrier would instantly reveal any abnormalities.
Paired with the Telescope Technique, which could capture chakra patterns—
It would be perfect.
Souma's clone was working on that version now.
"By the way," Souma asked, "how were your tests?"
"Exactly as you predicted!" Deilu grew animated. "Different locations affect meditation differently. Even within the Forest of Death, each position varies."
Souma wasn't surprised.
As expected.
The essence of the Sage Talent was a fusion of natural energy and chakra.
Only the details differed from Sage Mode.
He nodded thoughtfully.
"Master Deilu, once you return, have the monks experiment in different environments. Some with potential may awaken it more easily."
"Absolutely." Deilu nodded solemnly.
"Also… do any ancient demon-banishing techniques remain? Their principles should be similar."
"Most were lost."
Deilu shook his head.
The Fire Temple had once declined badly, and it wasn't until the Thousand-Hand Execution was created that they revived.
"A shame," Souma said quietly.
Then Deilu inhaled deeply and declared:
"Souma, although this was a transaction… Your contributions are invaluable. I am willing to teach you the Thousand-Hand Execution!"
"That won't be necessary," Souma said with a gentle shake of his head.
"What I value is this type of power and its knowledge. Meditation and the principles are enough."
But then he added:
"If you're willing, I would like your help securing permission to teach my improved versions to people I trust."
"Teach…?"
Deilu hesitated.
But Souma's request was reasonable.
"I won't teach it freely," Souma clarified. "Only to people I acknowledge. My comrades, my teachers… they should have the opportunity."
"…Very well. I'll bring the matter up once I return."
Deilu agreed.
Even if the temple allowed it, not everyone could learn the Sage Talent anyway.
After making the arrangements, Deilu explained the temple's structure and approval process.
It would take at least half a month.
Souma wasn't worried.
Even for him, mastering and refining the Sage Talent would take time.
Teaching it to others would take even longer—
perhaps half a year.
And that was him.
For others, it might take far longer.
Besides—
He himself wouldn't have time soon.
The actual meditation and natural energy adaptation would probably fall to a shadow clone.
Deilu collected the documents, while Souma gathered the discarded drafts.
They needed to be burned.
Conveniently, Asuma was still outside.
Flames roared as the papers turned to ash.
Deilu hurried off, excited beyond measure.
Asuma stood in the yard, smoking quietly as he watched the fire.
At last, he said softly:
"Kid… do you know the Will of Fire?"
"Hm?"
'Wherever the leaves dance, the fire burns…'
What do you think that means?"
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