Chapter 153: Master-Level Tenketsu Techniques!

After returning home, Kyohiko finally had time to integrate and study the newly acquired memories. Two techniques had improved. Both Tenketsu tecnique and Yin Healing Wound Destruction had already been at high levels before. Especially the former. It had previously been at the master level, and now, after another upgrade, it had reached the grandmaster level. Countless techniques and memories related to tenketsu manipulation flooded his mind. Perfect Tenketsu control. The biggest difference compared to the master level was— Enhanced perception! At close range, he could now sense the flow of chakra within his opponent’s body. Additionally, his offensive and sealing applications of tenketsus had become more refined and effortless. His precision was flawless, and he had unlocked new ways to utilize tenketsus—such as varying his chakra techniques to target muscles or internal organs. This was bordering on the realm of the Gentle Fist. But that wasn’t even the most significant part. "Sensing chakra flow." Kyohiko didn’t possess the Byakugan, so in terms of pure tenketsu techniques, he still couldn’t surpass the Hyūga clan. But if he could combine it with his sensory abilities... After a moment of contemplation, he formed a hand seal and created a shadow clone. He then activated a jutsu and manipulated his chakra, allowing the clone to observe the flow and fluctuations of his own chakra. A few seconds later, the clone dispersed. A look of satisfaction crossed Kyohiko’s face. It worked! When using jutsu or manipulating chakra, he could now perceive its movement and trajectory. Of course, this required close proximity for clear detection. Wait a second— Kyohiko suddenly realized— This ability was essentially an extension of the body perception used in medical ninjutsu, just more advanced and precise. But... What if he combined it with other methods? He needed to test further. Kyohiko created another shadow clone and repeated the experiment. This time, however— He wrapped chakra threads around his own body. As he activated a jutsu... The clone’s eyes lit up— Even clearer! Kyohiko began considering its applications. This wasn’t just a tool for "tenketsu assistance"—it had far more potential. It might not compare to the Byakugan, but it could sharpen his perception significantly. With enough experience, he might even be able to identify the type of jutsu an opponent was preparing the moment they began channeling chakra. A superior insight technique! As for the master-level Yin Healing Wound Destruction, compared to grandmaster-level tenketsu techniques, it seemed far less groundbreaking. It mainly deepened his understanding of internal organs, muscles, and medical ninjutsu. Now, when using Yin Healing Wound Destruction, he could almost instantly activate recovery the moment he was injured—as long as his reaction and comprehension were fast enough, it wasn’t far off from instantaneous healing. However... Against attacks beyond his comprehension, this technique wasn’t as reliable. Kyohiko thought for a moment, then leaped out the window. In the courtyard below, Sarutobi Asuma was being relentlessly pummeled by a sandbag, yet he gritted his teeth and refused to cry out, enduring his daily grueling training. Kyohiko observed him for a while. Then, with a flick of his finger, he sent out chakra threads, attaching them to Asuma’s body. "What are you doing?" Asuma suddenly stopped, but before he could react, the sandbag slammed into him, nearly knocking him flat. He scrambled to his feet, glaring. "Is this part of the training?" "No, just testing something with your help." Kyohiko paused, then asked, "You can sense chakra threads at this level?" "Of course! I’m not an idiot!" Asuma snapped. Kyohiko nodded. Then, he reduced his chakra output, making the threads even finer. "What about now?" "Still can." Kyohiko frowned slightly. "Alright, carry on." If even Asuma could detect them, then this method wasn’t stealthy enough. In combat, the opponent could easily sever the threads, and maintaining them would require constant focus—making it impractical as a standard tactic. "Wait..." "I have Wood Release—something no one else can use!" Kyohiko’s eyes gleamed. Wood Release came in many forms. Ordinary trees were just one variation—grass and flowers also fell under its domain, and in most environments, grass was inconspicuous. He formed a single hand seal. In an instant, blades of grass sprouted across the ground. Chakra spread, using the grass as a medium, becoming Kyohiko’s "third eye." Wood Release: Grassland Barrier! Immediately, through the grass around Asuma, he could clearly sense the flow of Asuma’s chakra. He took a few steps back. Even at a distance of over a dozen paces, Kyohiko could still perceive Asuma’s chakra state. But beyond twenty paces, the connection faded. "Twenty steps." "What if I expand the grass’s range?" Kyohiko activated the technique again. The grass spread further, covering the entire courtyard—and soon, his perception reconnected. Success! Young Asuma wasn’t stupid—just stubborn and prone to overthinking. He quickly noticed the grass spreading beneath his feet. He jumped out of the sandbag training area. "What are you doing?" "An experiment." Asuma stared at the grass, then smirked. "Testing Wood Release for landscaping? Heh, maybe after the wars end, you’ve got a future in gardening." "Landscaping’s already taken. I’d rather go into real estate—way more profitable." Kyohiko chuckled, then added, "But right now, its main purpose isn’t gardening." "Then what is it?" Asuma stomped on the grass. "Sensing?" "Exactly. As for its use..." Kyohiko’s gaze sharpened—then, in an instant, he vanished. Asuma’s instincts flared. He barely sensed the shift in the air behind him, but before his mind could fully process it, his body reflexively moved. But— His trained reflexes were still no match for Kyohiko’s speed. Thud-thud-thud! A barrage of finger strikes rained down on Asuma’s body, fast as a storm. At first, the attacks seemed light. But when Kyohiko stopped— Asuma felt his chakra growing sluggish, his limbs numb. "What the—?" "This is..." "Tenketsu strikes?!" Asuma’s eyes widened in disbelief. Kyohiko asked, "How does it feel?" "How? It’s incredible!" Asuma was exhilarated. "Before this, only the Hyūga clan had tenketsu techniques this powerful!" "Actually, anyone can learn tenketsu techniques—they just require more preparation and skill without the Byakugan." Kyohiko explained. After a brief pause, Asuma’s face lit up with realization. "So that’s why you expanded the grass with Wood Release! It enhances your perception, right?" "Something like that." Kyohiko nodded. Asuma might not have liked Kyohiko much, but he couldn’t deny how impressive that tenketsu technique was. It left him in awe. However. He also clearly understood that, given his current abilities, achieving such a feat was impossible. Asuma said enviously, "That’s amazing!" "Aside from your chakra being sealed, did you notice anything else?" Kyohiko asked. His own physique was too strong, so their experiences might differ. Asuma pondered for a long moment. "Other effects? My muscles feel sore. At first, there was a sensation of being unable to move, but it faded after a few seconds, returning to normal." Unable to move... Kyohiko had indeed targeted his limbs with that technique. From this perspective... The Hyūga clan’s Gentle Fist and tenketsu techniques were far more profound than he had imagined. The knowledge Neji had shared didn’t touch upon the core principles of the Hyūga’s methods. Truly a clan with centuries of heritage! Kyohiko sighed inwardly. After a pause, he said, "I’d like to test it again. Would you mind helping?" "Fine. Consider it repayment for your training," Asuma grumbled, then assumed a stance. Kyohiko tried once more. This time... He focused more on attacking muscles and limbs, channeling chakra. In the blink of an eye, Kyohiko struck over a dozen tenketsus. "Ahh!" Asuma couldn’t suppress a scream of pain. Kyohiko immediately stopped. Asuma took several moments to recover, sweat dripping uncontrollably from his forehead. It hurt! He barely managed to stay standing. "Are you alright?" Kyohiko frowned. Asuma shook his head. "Feels like my muscles were torn—but not quite. I lost mobility temporarily. If you’d used a bit more chakra, my limbs might’ve been crippled." "Sorry." Kyohiko carefully analyzed the effects. Indeed, some muscle fibers had been severed by the chakra—microscopic damage, but enough to impair movement. The Hyūga’s Eight Trigrams Palms likely operated on a similar principle. "It’s nothing." Asuma gritted his teeth and stood up, glancing at the sandbag with a sigh. Looks like training’s out of the question today. "How about one more test?" "???" Asuma was stunned. I’m already like this, and you still want me to help? His expression darkened. After a long pause, Asuma clenched his jaw. "Fine, do it!" "Don’t worry. This time..." Kyohiko’s gaze sharpened as he swiftly pressed his fingers against the areas where Asuma’s muscles had been damaged earlier. Asuma braced himself for another wave of agony, expecting to collapse in a humiliating heap. But after a few seconds, what he felt wasn’t pain—but a soothing, gentle flow of chakra, like spring rain nourishing his muscles. A tingling warmth spread through his body. Asuma shuddered uncontrollably. A few more seconds passed. "How about now?" "Let me see..." He flexed his limbs, his face lighting up in disbelief. "It’s healed!" Asuma then rolled up his sleeve excitedly. "Look! The bruises from earlier—they’re all gone!" Then his expression froze. What am I saying? Asuma’s face went blank. Kyohiko nodded. "Good. You can resume training. I need to analyze this further." Grandmaster-level tenketsu techniques... If he had the Byakugan, he’d undoubtedly be one of the Hyūga’s top experts—perhaps even surpassing them in Gentle Fist. But without it, relying on sensory perception alone still fell short. More research was needed. --- In the conference room. Tsunade sat across from the three elders. The atmosphere was heavy with silence. "Elders, we need to reach a decision regarding Danzō. If we delay, it might not cause immediate problems, but in the long run, we could end up like the current Land of Water." Tsunade’s tone was grave. The intelligence from the Land of Water wasn’t just useful for the Hyūga—it also served as a warning to pressure these old men. After all. Danzō had been their comrade. In the past, they had often defended him, insisting that despite leaving Konoha, he still held the village’s best interests at heart. Their words were meant to persuade her to spare Danzō in the future. "Tsunade, the situation in the Land of Water is different from ours. The Fire Daimyo firmly supports us and would never make such decisions," Sarutobi Hiruzen said solemnly. Tsunade shook her head. "Sensei, you’re being naive. The Daimyo might not, but what about his son? Yoshi Enji is young and impulsive. If Danzō manipulates him, the next generation of Konoha will suffer!" She paused briefly. "Or are the elders suggesting we trust in the wisdom of future leaders?" "..." The three elders’ lips twitched. The phrase "wisdom of future leaders" should have been complimentary, yet it carried an unmistakable sarcasm. Hiruzen fell silent. He couldn’t guarantee it. Danzō’s methods and rhetoric were dangerously effective. Take Aburame Tatsuma, for example. Once an outstanding jonin, his mindset had become rigid after following Danzō, leading to significant losses for Konoha. If Enji were similarly influenced... The elders had no rebuttal. After a long silence, Utatane Koharu cleared her throat. "Tsunade, Enji is still the Daimyo’s son. If he aligns with Danzō and the Guardian Shinobi’s ideals, what can we do?" "Which is why we need a plan." Tsunade’s tone softened. She wasn’t here to argue but to formulate a strategy. A strategy to eliminate Danzō! "The Guardian Shinobi can remain—the Daimyo’s safety is paramount. But Danzō must be dealt with. As his former comrades, you may sympathize with him, but I haven’t forgotten why he left Konoha." "Then it’s settled." Hiruzen nodded. Koharu stared at him in shock. "Hiruzen, even you—?" "If the Land of Water truly descends into chaos, I will advise the Daimyo to abandon Danzō." Hiruzen stood. "No personal relationship outweighs the safety of the village or the nation. Danzō is no exception!" With that, he walked out. Tsunade nodded at the remaining two elders. "Honored elders, since we’ve reached an agreement, you may attend to your duties." "..." Koharu’s retort died in her throat. This woman... When angry, she called them "elders." Now that things were settled, she addressed them with respect. Suppressing her frustration, Koharu turned to leave. "One more thing." Tsunade suddenly remembered. "Until this matter is resolved, I expect discretion. Especially regarding the capital." "Rest assured. I still have some integrity." Koharu replied stiffly before storming off. Mitokado Homura sighed. He never wanted it to come to this. But. From the moment Danzō left Konoha and sought to divide their strength under the guise of the Guardian Shinobi, his path had diverged from the village’s. One of them had to fall. As Tsunade said—Danzō must die!