Chapter 484: Ebisu: "I'm Here!"
A few days later.
From a dark corner, Konohamaru Sarutobi crawled out in a miserable, dust-covered state.
"I did it… I finally did it!"
Konohamaru looked up at the sky and shouted with overwhelming emotion and excitement.
He had finally succeeded!
Relying on the advanced scientific ninja tool, the Thunder Smoke, he had finally mastered Asuma Sarutobi's Ash Pile Burning. On top of that, he modified it and developed a new Fire Release technique—Ash Chicken Burning.
A technique that belonged solely to him, Konohamaru.
It produced a thick cloud of smoke mixed with sparks that wouldn't explode, crackling like popping candy inside.
"I need to go find Naruto-nii and Kakashi-sensei. I'll continue my training next."
After letting out a skyward shout, Konohamaru sat down to rest for a while, then stood up again, determined to keep working hard.
After all, he had only completed the first stage.
The key step—condensing Sage Chakra—hadn't even begun yet.
Just as Konohamaru was about to set off, he ran into Ebisu, who had been frantically searching for him all these days since he went missing.
"Konohamaru-sama! Where have you been?! Why are you so filthy? Come back with me and wash up. Don't keep training with those guys…"
Ebisu pulled out a handkerchief from somewhere and started wiping Konohamaru's face.
"No, Ebisu-sensei. I must continue training Sage Mode. Grandpa is already dead, Uncle Asuma is already dead. If I don't grow stronger, the next one might be you, Ebisu-sensei!"
Konohamaru shook his head, his expression firm and resolute.
"..."
I'm going to die too?
Ebisu froze mid-motion.
No, what kind of conclusion is that?!
Why would I be the next one?!
Why not Uzumaki Naruto?!
Wait a second.
The first two Konohamaru-sama mentioned were Third Hokage-sama and Asuma.
Both were people close to him.
In other words, Konohamaru-sama wants to protect the people close to him.
And the reason the next one is me, not Uzumaki Naruto, is because I hold a higher position in Konohamaru-sama's heart than Uzumaki Naruto!
I win!
"Waaahhh, Konohamaru-sama! I will never betray your trust in me! In that case, I won't stop your training, but I must supervise you the entire time!"
"I trust Kakashi, but Uzumaki Naruto doesn't even fully understand things himself. He might teach you something wrong. I must stop it in time!"
Ebisu wiped away his tears and clenched his fists.
"Uh… alright then."
Konohamaru had no choice but to agree.
After thinking about it, since Naruto-nii's mission was to promote Sage Mode training across the entire shinobi world anyway, it wouldn't matter if Ebisu found out. It was bound to happen sooner or later.
So the two of them once again went to find Hatake Kakashi and Uzumaki Naruto.
The two were still at their usual spot outside the village.
However, compared to a few days ago, they had now set up a tent by the river. Anyone who didn't know better would think they were camping—but in reality, they were guarding the area.
"Naruto-nii! Kakashi-sensei! I've succeeded!"
Konohamaru ran over excitedly.
"Really?"
Hatake Kakashi looked a bit surprised.
So Konohamaru really was a genius, he actually managed to develop it?
"Konohamaru, since you've succeeded, I can relax now."
"But I still need to explain, I wasn't trying to delay your training when I stopped you before. Actually, I had thought of another method. You just ran off too quickly, and I didn't get the chance to tell you."
Hatake Kakashi took out a ninja tool from behind him.
"This ninja tool was one of the inspirations behind my Purple Electricity technique. It's a special tool from the shop [Niuzihou Bottle-kun]."
"You just need to adjust the safety current, and it can be used directly. If you learn the Third Hokage's Shadow Clone Shuriken technique and apply it to this, you can achieve the same effect as my Purple Electricity."
Hatake Kakashi shook the object in his hand and sighed, "However, it's useless now."
"No."
Konohamaru shook his head.
"Kakashi-sensei, Naruto-nii's mission is to promote Sage Mode training across the entire shinobi world so everyone can gain self-defense power. Even if I don't need it, others might."
"That's true… but not everyone can learn the Shadow Clone Shuriken technique."
Hatake Kakashi thought about it and agreed, then put the tool away again.
"Alright, Kakashi-sensei, Naruto-nii, let me show you the new jutsu I developed!"
Konohamaru cracked his knuckles, full of anticipation.
"Alright!"
Uzumaki Naruto crouched on a rock, watching with excitement.
Hatake Kakashi and Ebisu stood on either side.
Konohamaru prepared to demonstrate.
Ebisu suddenly sensed something was wrong and rushed forward to stop him, his face full of panic.
"Konohamaru-sama, what are you trying to do?!"
"Demonstrating Sage Mode! Oh right, Ebisu-sensei, you don't know the shortcut to Sage Mode yet, do you? Let me explain…"
Konohamaru explained Naruto's Sage Mode shortcut method to Ebisu, along with his reasoning.
"What?! Such a thing is actually acceptable?!"
Ebisu was stunned.
Was he really not under a genjutsu?!
The lofty Sage Mode… actually has such a straightforward shortcut?!
Isn't this like a divine immortal suddenly turning into something ridiculous like an oho wooden bead?!
"Wait, Konohamaru-sama! How can you personally test such a dangerous thing?! You are the only bloodline left of Third Hokage-sama!"
Even after snapping back to reality, Ebisu still tried to stop him.
"Ah? No, Ebisu-sensei, I am—"
"Stop talking! Let me do it! As the loyal retainer entrusted by Third Hokage-sama I must live up to his expectations. I will devote my life to you, young master!"
Ebisu looked up at a 45-degree angle toward the sky, full of heroic self-sacrifice.
"Are you sure about this?"
Konohamaru wanted to say that he was only using a Shadow Clone for the demonstration, and even in actual practice it would be a clone.
But seeing Ebisu's sincere determination, he couldn't bring himself to refuse.
Besides, even though using a Shadow Clone wouldn't harm the main body, it would still share the memories—that was part of the fundamental logic behind the Sage Mode shortcut.
"I will go through fire and water for you, Konohamaru-sama."
Ebisu nodded firmly.
"Alright then, I'll leave it to you."
Since Ebisu insisted so strongly, Konohamaru didn't say anything more.
After all, he had already completed the development, and he had tested it with a Shadow Clone before coming here. There shouldn't be any problem.
It probably wouldn't cause any harm to Ebisu-sensei either.
So the two of them stood apart, getting ready.
"Ebisu-sensei, here I come, Fire Release: Ash Chicken Burning!"
Konohamaru aimed at Ebisu and exhaled a thick cloud of smoke.
The smoke crackled with sparks. The moment it made contact with Ebisu, it instantly clung to him—and burned away the outer layer of his clothing completely.
(End of this chapter)