Ryun looked at Kakashi in surprise, never expecting him to make such a request.
"A powerful Jōnin like you also needs to use this kind of skill?"
Although the one-handed hand seal technique was very practical, in reality, there were many times when it wasn't that useful.
For example, Kakashi's most commonly used finishing move was Chidori, and the method to release Chidori was to form hand seals from a distance, then thrust with one hand. With all the noise Chidori made, everyone hundreds of meters away could see and hear it; the concealing effect of one-handed hand seals was completely useless.
Compared to Chidori, the other ninjutsu Kakashi knew, even his titles like "Copy Ninja" or "Master of a Thousand Techniques," were all smoke screens to confuse the enemy.
Therefore, Ryun hadn't expected Kakashi to be so interested in this skill.
"Ah, what I want to learn isn't that, but the method you and Sakura use to multitask and continuously release ninjutsu."
Ryun then realized that Kakashi was interested in the essence hidden beneath one-handed hand seals.
The method of continuously condensing ninjutsu supported by the Heart-Mind Mirror, however, wasn't so easy to learn.
Ryun pondered for a moment and decided to make Kakashi realize the difficulty, saying, "I can teach you, but this technique is extremely difficult to learn. Sakura and I just happen to have this kind of talent."
As Ryun spoke, he extended both hands.
His two hands demonstrated the twelve most commonly used hand seals, one in forward order and the other in reverse, leaving Kakashi dumbfounded.
"Only if you can reach this level might you be able to learn this technique."
"Besides, my price isn't cheap either, Kakashi. You should think it over carefully before coming back."
Kakashi nodded, but Ryun felt he hadn't given up. He estimated that Kakashi would probably go back and practice one-handed hand seals. What had gotten into Kakashi? Did he feel rusty because he couldn't even suppress three freshly graduated ninjas?
Ryun was half right.
Kakashi had indeed been stimulated, but it was because of the successive hits from the Inferno Viewing Jutsu, which brought back painful memories, even making his Sharingan ache faintly.
He felt this was a warning from his comrades, and thus the idea of wanting to improve his strength emerged.
The other half of the reason was wanting to test Ryun's depth.
Ryun was getting too close to Naruto and Sasuke. In the past, he could ignore it.
But now that he had become the Jōnin instructor for Sasuke and Naruto, he naturally had to take responsibility.
Moreover, this was a responsibility he should have shouldered long ago; Naruto's childhood could have been much richer.
Afterwards, the two chatted briefly and returned to the campfire.
Sasuke and Naruto looked at Ryun with shining eyes, clearly not having sat still obediently. They must have seen the strength Ryun had just displayed.
Naruto probably just thought it was amazing, but Sasuke was full of yearning for one-handed hand seals.
If he learned this move, he could form hand seals for Fire Release with one hand while using his clan's throwing techniques with the other. His combat power would surely increase significantly.
Unfortunately, they were the losers in this bet.
Ryun crooked his finger at them. Their faces flushed red, but they steeled themselves and called him "Big Brother."
Then, satisfied, Ryun left. In the afternoon, Kakashi would be taking Sakura and the others on their first D-rank mission. Ryun had no interest in watching them catch cats or find dogs; he might as well go home and train himself.
As he walked, Ryun also considered whether it was appropriate to have just revealed so much of his strength.
He hadn't exposed his strength on a whim, but to lay the groundwork for his rise during the Chunin Exams, and also to quickly gain Tsunade's trust after her return.
It was fine when he was facing Tenten and the others; girls in love easily believed Ryun's words.
But when facing someone as intelligent as Tsunade, getting by with sweet talk wouldn't be so easy.
If possible, Ryun didn't want to enter a state of mutual suspicion with Tsunade.
After all, Tsunade wasn't getting any younger. It would be better for her health if she bore Ryun's child sooner rather than later.
Otherwise, Ryun would have to visit her daily with sake, wait for her to make a mistake while drunk, and then risk getting punched away by her afterwards to brand a heart-shaped True Spirit Seal on her too.
Of course, the above was all a joke.
Ryun actually already had some ideas on how to pursue Tsunade.
The rest was just waiting until a while later, before the Chunin Exams, to use the simulator to test things out properly, and then completely win over this most voluptuous woman in the ninja world.
Soon, Ryun arrived home.
But unexpectedly, Anko was sitting at the dining table, with cold dumplings in front of her, looking listless.
Ryun said with surprise, "What on earth happened to make our esteemed Lady Nojuro Anko lose her appetite for dumplings? Did I accidentally cause a fatality?"
Anko, already in a bad mood from waiting for Ryun all night and morning, was instantly amused by his comment. She rolled her eyes at him and said, "I'm not that careless—you've also said we should wait a few years before talking about that kind of thing."
Anko switched from defense to offense, smiling sweetly. "Now it's my turn to ask you. Where did our great author Nojuro go last night, out the whole night?"
"Confess! Who did you stay with? Tenten's place or Sakura's place? It couldn't be Ino's or the Hyūga's, right!"
Anko's face was full of surprise. Ryun said smugly, "It was Sister Kurenai's place."
"No way!"
Anko's eyes sparkled. Ryun rolled his eyes and said, "I'm lying!"
"Oh, I thought you'd actually bagged Kurenai."
Seeing Anko's disappointed expression, Ryun became curious. "Are you that supportive of me getting together with Sister Kurenai?"
"Kurenai went through so much trouble because of us. I have to repay her somehow, don't I?"
"You're repaying your good friend this way?"
"Yeah!"
Anko said matter-of-factly, "If I'm repaying her, of course I have to give her the best."
"And you are the best!"
Anko spoke such words without a blush or a racing heart, her bold demeanor exactly the Anko Ryun knew.
But this boldness became another kind of fatal attraction, making Ryun approach her step by step.
"Wait, what are you doing!"
The boldness on Anko's face vanished, replaced by shyness, because she had already guessed what was about to happen.
"Weren't you curious about where I stayed last night?"
Anko nodded subconsciously.
Ryun directly picked Anko up and headed for the bathroom, saying, "Yesterday I accompanied Sakura during training; I didn't actually do anything."
"Oh, it was just training!"
Anko's gaze wandered; she dared not look at Ryun.
"Yeah, yesterday I did nothing. Today will be different."
"Today, I'll be staying in your bed. Are you ready, Anko-san?"
"... Mm."
Anko's reply was as faint as a mosquito's buzz, a far cry from her usual bold and uninhibited self.
But soon enough, her uninhibited voice echoed throughout the entire Nojuro residence.
Even Uzuki Yūgao, standing guard reconnaissance next door, blushed.
Just a few months ago, how had Ryun changed so much, and with a ninja like Mitarashi Anko? Uzuki Yūgao couldn't understand it, yet one thought lingered in her mind.
If she had responded to Ryun back then, would it be her by his side now?
In the following month, Ryun lived a peaceful life.
When Tenten and the others came, Ryun would listen to their interesting stories from missions, or hear them complain that their sensei wouldn't let them take higher-ranked missions. Occasionally, he would train with them.
But more often than not, they had lost their desire to train and would just lazily stay by Ryun's side, drawing enthusiasm and motivation from him to carry on.
The rooms Ryun had arranged for them to stay in remained unused.
However, led by Anko, the girls gradually developed the habit of taking baths at Ryun's place.
Then, the scenery at Ryun's home changed to girls walking around in bathrobes with bare feet. Ryun even began to suspect,
They were purposely parading back and forth in front of him.
Sometimes, Ryun was curious about what exactly Anko had told them.
And also, how had Anko so naturally integrated herself among them, without them questioning her strange status as their 'Sister Anko'?
Finally, today, all the girls were rarely gathered at Ryun's place.
Taking advantage of the girls going for a bath, Ryun asked Anko, who was still busily eating, his question.
Anko looked at Ryun with a strange expression and said, "I never told you?"
"It's actually very simple!"
"I told them that both Kurenai and I are your older sisters. In the future, whoever wants to become your wife has to get past me and Kurenai first!"
"So? Pretty smart, right?"
Smart my ass!
Ryun was just about to say, 'You'll have a headache over this later!'
But then, the sound of thumping footsteps and Sakura's wail came from outside the door.
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