Gento smiled and explained:
"Classifying this ninjutsu as B-rank is mainly because it consumes less chakra and is easier to master."
"Besides that, there are two other ninjutsu…"
"A-rank Ninjutsu: Flash Release: Flame Fang."
He drew a kunai from his waist and infused it with chakra.
In an instant, a layer of crimson lightning appeared across the surface of the kunai.
Gento casually swung it.
Shhk!
The air let out a sharp tearing sound.
"Th-this…"
Tekka swallowed hard.
"If that hits someone…"
Gento added:
"If it strikes the target, it will also trigger a secondary explosion."
He casually threw the kunai toward a rock.
The moment the kunai pierced the rock, the crimson lightning suddenly exploded.
Boom!
The rock shattered into pieces, rubble scattering everywhere.
The surrounding crowd erupted into shocked cries once again.
More and more people rushed over after hearing the commotion.
People from every corner of the Training Ground sprinted over, and even the windows of the indoor training area became packed with heads.
Gento swept his gaze across the surroundings and took a deep breath.
What came next was the true highlight.
"The final one, S-rank Ninjutsu: Flash Release: Crimson Dragon."
His hands rapidly formed seals as a massive amount of chakra poured out.
Crimson lightning burst from his body, gathering, expanding, and transforming above his head.
The lightning grew brighter and brighter, so dazzling that everyone could barely keep their eyes open.
"ROAR!"
A dragon's roar shook the heavens!
A gigantic red thunder dragon burst from the light and spiraled through the sky.
Its entire body burned with crimson lightning. Its scales were distinct, its eyes blazed like torches, and its winding body stretched dozens of meters long.
Every movement scattered countless arcs of electricity, blasting small craters into the ground.
The thunder dragon circled through the sky three times before diving downward toward an empty area in the distance.
RUMBLE!!!
The world itself seemed to change color.
A violent explosion erupted.
Flames and lightning intertwined into a massive mushroom cloud.
The shockwave forced the surrounding spectators several steps backward.
Everyone was left speechless by such world-destroying power.
After the smoke and dust cleared, the empty field had already turned into a gigantic crater dozens of meters wide.
The entire place fell silent.
A long while later, the crowd exploded with excitement!
"The Clan Head is too strong!"
"So this is the Kekkei Genkai custom-made specifically for us Uchiha?!"
"I'm definitely going to learn it!"
"Me too!"
"Long live the Clan Head!"
The cheers echoed throughout the entire Training Ground.
Gento looked at his excited clansmen, a satisfied smile appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Just then, a figure stepped out from the crowd.
It was Fugaku.
He walked up to Gento, his eyes filled with emotion and admiration.
Gento then took out the scroll containing the Flash Release cultivation method from his robe and handed it to Fugaku.
"Fugaku, I'll leave this scroll in your care."
"Starting today, the Flash Release Kekkei Genkai will officially be incorporated into the Uchiha clan's inheritance system."
"I, Gento Uchiha, don't believe in hoarding things for myself."
"Any clansman who has mastered both Fire Release and Lightning Release can apply to learn it!"
Fugaku accepted the scroll with an excited expression.
He knew what this meant.
Aside from the Sharingan, the Uchiha now possessed another Kekkei Genkai that could be learned through later training!
The crowd erupted into thunderous cheers once more.
"Long live the Clan Head!"
"Long live the Uchiha!"
"I want to learn it! I'm signing up right now!"
The cheers continued endlessly.
Gento looked at his emotional clansmen, a satisfied smile appearing on his lips.
...
Time flew by, and half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
During these two weeks, Hidden Gento Village had been incredibly lively.
News of the Flash Release Kekkei Genkai spread to every corner.
All clansmen who met the requirements rushed to sign up to learn it.
However, this Kekkei Genkai required a ninja to possess an extremely deep understanding of both Lightning-Attribute Chakra and Fire-Attribute Chakra.
So despite Gento making the Flash Release scroll publicly available, no one had managed to learn it so far.
Still, Gento believed that the Uchiha clan had never lacked geniuses.
As time passed, someone would eventually succeed in mastering it.
And today was an even more important day.
Gento's noble title conferment ceremony was officially being held.
In the early morning, sunlight bathed the brand-new palace by the shores of Cerulean Harbor.
The palace covered an enormous area.
Although the construction schedule had been tight and only the main structure had been completed, it was already grand and magnificent enough.
Passing through the main gate revealed a long corridor. On both sides of the corridor were exquisite dry landscape gardens, with white sand spread across the ground and carefully arranged stone formations.
The main hall faced the sea. By sliding open the lattice doors, one could see the endless ocean stretching into the horizon.
Gento could bring his women here at any time to admire the cerulean tides.
Several side halls stood on both sides of the main hall.
Although the interior decorations had not been fully completed yet, they were already more than sufficient for holding the ceremony.
At the moment, the palace inside and out was decorated with lanterns and colorful ornaments, while servants busily moved about.
Outside the gates stood countless guests who had come to witness the ceremony.
There were local nobles from the Land of Hot Water, envoys from neighboring small nations, and representatives sent by the major ninja villages.
At the Hour of the Snake¹, the ceremony officially began.
The Feudal Lord of the Land of Hot Water, Yuto Adachi, personally came to preside over it.
He wore a magnificent purple-and-gold kimono, a tall ceremonial crown upon his head, his expression solemn.
A large group of attendants followed behind him, carrying various ceremonial items.
Inside the main hall, Gento sat at the seat of honor, dressed in black formal robes embroidered with golden Uchiha fan emblems.
Yuto stepped forward, unfolded the imperial decree in his hands, and loudly proclaimed:
"Hereby, Gento Uchiha, a man of both virtue and talent, whose merits and achievements are outstanding. Since joining the Land of Hot Water, he has protected the nation and safeguarded the people, his contributions immeasurable. Therefore, he is specially granted the title of 'Guardian Duke,' bestowed the territory of Cerulean Harbor, with hereditary succession for all generations, to eternally guard this land!"
Gento rose and bowed.
Yuto personally handed him the seal and commission document representing his noble title.
Right then, he officially became one of the highest-ranking nobles of the Land of Hot Water, second only to the Feudal Lord himself.
The guests present all bowed in respect.
After the conferment ceremony ended, Gento did not dismiss everyone.
He stood up, swept his gaze across the crowd, and declared loudly:
"Today, besides the conferment ceremony, there is another joyous occasion to announce."
Everyone looked at one another.
Gento smiled faintly.
"Today, I will also be holding my wedding ceremony!"
The moment those words fell, the entire hall erupted in uproar.
But very quickly, the crowd responded with enthusiastic applause and congratulations.
The wedding was held inside the main hall.
Gento wore a black montsuki haori and hakama, with the Uchiha fan embroidered across his chest.
The four brides entered one after another.
The first was Kushina Uzumaki.
She wore a pure white shiromuku, white from head to toe.
A white tsunokakushi covered her hair bun.
Her fiery red long hair showed beneath the white veil, making her already beautiful face appear even more enchanting.
Although her abdomen had begun to swell a bit, it did not diminish her beauty in the slightest; rather, it added a touch of gentle maternal warmth.
Following closely behind was Kurenai Yuhi.
She too wore a shiromuku, but her black long hair had been tied up, revealing her slender neck.
Faint pink patterns were embroidered into her white bridal robe, subtly appearing and disappearing as she walked.
Her face, which usually carried a lazy smile, was now filled with solemnity and shyness, though the happiness shining in her eyes could not be concealed.
The third was Pakura.
Her shiromuku was embroidered with blazing flame patterns.
A faint smile rested upon her heroic-looking face.
As a ninja born in the Land of Wind, being able to wear this traditional kimono carried a special meaning for her.
The last was Anko Mitarashi.
Her shiromuku was comparatively simple, yet it could not hide her increasingly mature figure.
For once, she was not eating dango.
Her hands were properly folded before her, yet she still could not resist secretly winking at Gento, a mischievous smile tugging at her lips.
The four brides stood side by side.
Pure white elegance, fiery beauty, heroism and playfulness coexisting together, each possessing their own charm. Their beauty was so overwhelming that no one could look away.
The ceremony proceeded according to traditional customs.
Three-times-three exchange of sake cups.
Exchanging vows and pledging eternal unity.
Gento drank the ceremonial sake with each of the four brides in turn. Every exchanged glance was a silent promise.
Kushina's eyes shimmered with tears. It was the emotion of finally finding a place to belong.
Kurenai lowered her head a little, her cheeks colored red, yet she could not hide the smile at the corners of her lips.
Pakura looked at Gento's lecherous grin, knowing exactly what he was thinking, and could not help rolling her eyes.
Anko, meanwhile, still wore that same playful expression.
The guests present all applauded and offered their congratulations.
...
After an entire day of busyness, all affairs were completed.
Night fell.
The palace remained illuminated, while the guests gradually departed.
The servants cleaned up the remains of the banquet.
Gento was escorted into the newly decorated bridal chamber.
Festive paper cuttings were pasted throughout the room, and a faint fragrance of incense lingered everywhere.
Gento had only sat down for a short while when a gentle knock came from outside the door.
"My lord."
It was the head maid responsible for attending him.
Gento responded, and the door was pushed open.
The head maid lowered her head and respectfully asked:
"My lord, tonight… which madam would you like to attend to you?"
Leaning against the headboard, Gento thought for a moment before a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"Other than the pregnant Kushina, the rest of them…"
"I want them all!"
….
¹ In the Chinese zodiac hour system, the hour of the Snake corresponds to 9-11 A.M.
...
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