As Yuu had predicted, Summoning Technique's trait was indeed related to sensing.
It also had something similar to Clone Technique's trait: the ability to share senses with his summoned beasts.
That gave this trait a lot of room to be useful.
Although the 25-affection All-Spirit Perception only had a 500-meter radius, which was a little small,
as long as Yuu got several more summoned beasts and placed one every 500 meters, he could use them as extended eyes and ears, forming a large, interlocking field of vision and taking in everything within several kilometers.
Of course…
there was no need to capture ordinary ninja beasts just to fill the numbers.
According to Yuu's idea, his ultimate goal was to imitate Pain's Animal Path and build himself a "summoned beast army." Even if not every summoned beast had combat ability like Animal Path's, they at least needed to have some unique traits. They could not exist purely to provide vision.
And speaking of providing vision…
"Looks like I still need to get a couple of flying-type summoned beasts…"
Yuu pondered.
Although he could use the Transformation Technique to turn himself into a swift or a ninja hawk, that move was mainly for saving his life. Using it for daily reconnaissance felt a bit wasteful. So it would be best to get a summoned beast like Sasuke's hawk. If hawks were hard to find, the Uchiha clan's crows would also do.
The next time he returned to the village, he could ask Uchiha Fugaku or Shisui about it. With his current status, the Uchiha side should be very willing to help him with this.
Aside from All-Spirit Perception,
the second noteworthy thing was that Yuu received some private tutoring from Jiraiya and came into contact with a new A-rank ninjutsu:
Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
This technique had a fairly high appearance rate in the original story.
It was a ninjutsu developed by Sarutobi Hiruzen. Its principle combined the Shadow Clone Technique with ninja tool throwing, achieving shadow clones at the object level. Once mastered, a single kunai could be used like a dozen. It could be called an essential household-saving ninjutsu, capable of cutting down a considerable amount of ninja tool expenses.
The successors of the Third Hokage's line basically all knew this move.
So Yuu, who was also part of this lineage, received this honor as well.
According to Jiraiya, this was a ninjutsu he was teaching Yuu on Sarutobi Hiruzen's behalf, serving as another reward for his repeated achievements during this period, in addition to the Sword of the Thunder God.
"Watch carefully. This technique is much harder to master than ordinary Shadow Clone Technique. Back when I learned it from the old man, I spent a full month… cough, cough, a little over a week before I mastered it."
On the training ground,
Jiraiya grabbed a large handful of shuriken and demonstrated Shuriken Shadow Clone, while speaking proudly to Yuu.
Although he corrected himself quickly, Yuu still heard the initial "one month."
"…I see. Lord Jiraiya is amazing!"
Yuu cooperatively clapped hard and praised him repeatedly, putting on a look of admiration. Then he asked curiously, "Then how long did Minato-sensei take to master this technique?"
"Him? Cough, cough. Just a tiny bit faster than me."
Jiraiya pinched his fingers together to indicate "a tiny bit," but the guilt in his tone had already given him away.
In truth, "one week" was the record Orochimaru had created back then, and that record had been broken by Namikaze Minato several years ago in three days. By comparison, it made Jiraiya look like an idiot, so he really felt embarrassed to tell a junior the truth.
On the other side,
Yuu tactfully did not ask for the exact time. He merely glanced quietly at the galgame text box in his vision:
[Ding! Detected giftable item · Advanced limited skin fragment — Clone Technique: Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.]
"Good, good, good."
It seemed that any technique related to clones could be recognized as a skin for Clone Technique, even Shuriken Shadow Clone. In that case, it would be fairly simple for Yuu to learn this move. He just needed to get the scroll.
"Lord Jiraiya, the principle behind this technique really is exquisite. I still haven't fully understood it. Could you give me a scroll so I can compare it with what's written and study it carefully? If I run into problems, I can come ask you again, so I don't waste too much of your time."
"Hey, you're Minato's student. Why are you being so polite with me?"
Jiraiya looked at Yuu's "thirsty for knowledge" appearance and was very satisfied. He immediately waved his hand and tossed a scroll over.
"Take it, kid! This is one of the Third old man's proud works. Train properly, don't pass it on casually, and don't disgrace it!"
"Thank you!"
Yuu caught the scroll and thanked him.
After that, he exchanged a few more words with Jiraiya before turning back to his tent. Then he quickly spread out the scroll, ground ink, picked up a brush, and began copying the contents of Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.
Yuu was already very familiar with this job.
Although, theoretically speaking, any ninjutsu scroll that ended up in his hands basically counted as being given to him, and no one could really say anything if it were damaged or lost. But since a "copy" could also be recognized, it was still better to keep the original. Who knew when it might be useful?
Once the final line was copied,
Yuu summoned the galgame system in his consciousness and gifted this freshly made "skin" to Clone Technique.
[Clone Technique: Wow! A new skin! And it's even a limited one! Little Yuu, you're amazing! (✧◡✧)]
[Clone Technique: Look, look! This is the Shuriken Shadow Clone skin little Yuu prepared for me! Doesn't it look super cool? Hehe, now I also have three outfits I can change between. I'm not worse than Big Sister at all!]
["Clone Technique" proudly spins in front of you. Countless faintly starry shuriken shadows appear across her long black coat, looking agile and dangerous, with an indescribable charm.]
In terms of ninjutsu rank, the A-rank Shuriken Shadow Clone was naturally one level higher than the B-rank Shadow Clone. When converted into a skin, the same logic applied.
Among the skins Yuu had obtained so far, only the S-rank Water Severing Wave was clearly one level above it. Mystical Palm Technique was on the same level, while Flying Thunder God was not yet in his hands and did not count.
Because of this, Clone Technique acted especially excited.
And that excitement was soon noticed by a certain Fire Release technique that did not wish to be named:
[Great Fireball Technique: Hmph, what's there to show off about? Isn't it just a new outfit? So flashy. When it comes to power, Fire Release is still the best. My Great Dragon Fire skin is the greatest! And Great Fire Wall too, both offense and defense in one!]
[Clone Technique: (sticks out tongue, makes a face) Bleh bleh bleh~ sour grapes! If you're so capable, have little Yuu buy you another one too! Fireball-ball, you're just jealous that I have more skins and prettier ones!]
[Great Fireball Technique: Who-who's jealous?! I'm just stating facts! Little Phoenix, you judge! Isn't my Great Dragon Fire more practical? A dragon is the sign of an emperor!]
[Phoenix Sage Fire Technique: …]
[Monster Strength: Hey, hey! Can you guys with skins be quiet for a bit? Arguing all the time is so annoying! I don't even have a skin yet. Did I say anything?]
[Substitution Technique: Stare—]
Seeing the last two pop out, Yuu inexplicably felt a little guilty.
Monster Strength was still fine.
After all, this technique had joined the "harem group" relatively recently, and it was already a fairly advanced technique in itself. Whether or not it wore a skin did not matter much.
But Substitution Technique was one of the oldest members of the wooing list. It had been there since the galgame system first activated. Now, among the three sisters, Transformation Technique and Clone Technique had piles of skins, while the most frequently used Substitution Technique did not have a single one.
Thinking about it carefully, that was indeed a little hard to justify.
"Cough, cough…"
Yuu coughed lightly and comforted them. "Little Substitution, don't be anxious. After a while, I'll think of a way to get you a skin too.
"And Monster Strength, your skins are harder to find, but I'll keep an eye out as much as possible."
[Transparent Escape: What about mine? What about mine? Is there one for me?]
"…Why does a ninjutsu that likes getting nekid need a skin?"
Yuu's mouth twitched, and he was speechless for a moment.
To be fair, he really could not think of what kind of skin would pair with Transparent Escape.
For Monster Strength, at least Tsunade and Sakura's Cherry Blossom Impact should be giftable as a skin.
As for Substitution Technique, the best skin should be Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique.
However, that technique was relatively advanced. Even Mitarashi Anko, who had been Orochimaru's student, did not know it. In the original story, it seemed only Sasuke, Orochimaru's dear "father," had mastered this skill. So if Yuu wanted to obtain it, he would probably have to spend more effort.
Additionally, the "assemble-the-good-girl" plan for Neural Activation Technique also depended on Orochimaru. In theory, completing that technique would be even harder than learning Orochimaru-Style Substitution Technique.
So,
before Orochimaru defected from Konoha, Yuu still had to visit him from time to time, raise affection, and squeeze Orochimaru dry for every possible benefit he could get.
[Clone Technique: Hehe, I'm going to show Big Sister my new outfit~]
[…]
As the galgame system quieted down,
Yuu carefully put away the copied original scroll, preparing to return it to Jiraiya the next day.
Seeing that it was still early outside, he thought for a moment, stood up, and walked toward a row of houses deep in the camp.
This was the "frontline laboratory" temporarily set up by Orochimaru. It was usually covered by a special barrier restriction. Aside from a very small number of medical ninja and Root members, everyone else, including Jiraiya, was forbidden from entering casually.
Yuu was one of the few people with permission to enter.
At this moment,
Yuu knocked on the door. After seeing the technique mark representing the restriction disappear, he lifted the heavy curtain. He immediately smelled a cold, gloomy scent mixed with formalin rushing toward him.
Under the dim yellow light, Orochimaru was bent over a microscope. His golden snake eyes stared intently at the slide on the stage, and his pale, slender fingers occasionally adjusted the focus. Beside him was a row of test tubes and petri dishes filled with dark red liquid. Inside them were clearly slowly proliferating cell tissues.
"Lord Orochimaru."
Yuu spoke softly.
"Oh, Yuu."
Orochimaru did not lift his head. His hoarse voice carried a trace of barely detectable pleasure.
"You came at just the right time. Come look at this."
Yuu moved close to the microscope and looked through the other end. In his field of vision was a cluster of stained cells. Some of the cells showed strange granular structures, giving off a faint metallic sheen under a specific stain.
"This is… Rasa's cell sample?"
"Correct."
The corner of Orochimaru's mouth curved. He picked up a notebook beside him.
"Thanks to your help, we obtained quite a few blood samples from Rasa… Magnet Release kekkei genkai truly is a fascinating power. It combines chakra with metallic minerals and grants them magnetism and life-like qualities…
"If we can analyze its secrets, even if we cannot reproduce it, it will bring tremendous benefits to Konoha's ninja tool manufacturing industry…"
"…"
Yuu did not respond.
During this period, he and Orochimaru had indeed obtained a lot of samples from Rasa. Blood alone totaled over 1,200 cc, not to mention skin and flesh samples from various areas, organ slices, and more. Because Rasa's injuries were serious and required frequent dressing changes and examinations, no one noticed their little movements.
Mm… Rasa himself might have noticed somewhat.
After all, he could definitely feel the condition of his own body.
However, Rasa was now a prisoner and had no evidence, so he could only sulk on his own.
After quite some time,
Orochimaru finally finished recording the data. Then he picked up another test tube from the row and gently shook it in front of the light while observing it.
"By the way, the cleanup around Mount Kikyo has ended. Have you seen the villagers Maruboshi Kosuke and the others brought back?"
"…Not yet, but I heard about it."
Yuu replied. "Apparently around forty villagers were brought back, including six or seven orphans who lost both parents… According to custom, most of them will be brought back to Konoha and placed by the village, or adopted by families in need, right?"
"Correct."
Orochimaru nodded, then seemed to say casually, "I went over to take a look two days ago. Among them, there is a brat with the same hair color as you. He's quite clever and has the potential to become a ninja. His eyesight seems to be a bit poor, though.
"Take him to the medical team later and find a way to get him a pair of glasses."
"?"
Yuu's heart stirred.
Was he talking about… Yakushi Kabuto?
~~~
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