Chapter 80: Maruboshi Kosuke: Nidaime-sama, I Have Sinned!

"Weren’t we just exchanging ideas?" Kyohiko immediately helped him up. Maruboshi Kosuke shook his head and sighed. "Your way of thinking is truly unique. Someone like me, an old man, has long lost the ability to innovate. Sigh!" "You don’t have to say that..." This turn of events left Kyohiko completely baffled. He had only made a conjecture, but it turned out to be feasible—though the result was slightly different. According to Kosuke, the Water Dragon Bullet technique Kyohiko had modified wasn’t exactly the same as the Water Vortex Javelin, but it was similar, albeit less powerful. To put it bluntly, it was more like an improved version of the Water Dragon Bullet. Even so, this level of ninjutsu was still quite challenging for Kyohiko. At the very least, he still couldn’t perfectly combine the "compression" and "rotation" transformations with the Water Dragon Bullet technique. After explaining, Kosuke sighed. "I’m not sure which technique Nidaime-sama based the Water Vortex Javelin on, but it’s much stronger and more powerful than this one, and it doesn’t require hand seals." "Nidaime-sama was truly a genius!" Kyohiko marveled. Water Release without hand seals. Senju Tobirama’s research in Water Release was unparalleled in the entire shinobi world. If one wanted to achieve anything in Water Release, his research and notes were indispensable. However, the Water Vortex Javelin was a technique from the past. If Kyohiko wanted to create a Water Release technique without hand seals now, the best choice wasn’t the Water Vortex Javelin but the Rasengan infused with Water Release nature transformation. As Kyohiko pondered his future path, Kosuke found himself in a dilemma. He had come here mainly at the request of Sarutobi Hiruzen and Jiraiya to teach Kyohiko the Water Dragon Bullet technique and its intricacies. But Kyohiko had already mastered it on his own, reaching an exceptionally high level. Not only that, Kyohiko’s understanding of the Water Dragon Bullet was unconventional, putting him ahead of Kosuke. It seemed there was nothing left for Kosuke to teach in Water Release. Kosuke sighed and then looked at Kyohiko. "You’ve taught me a technique, so let me teach you one in return. I heard you’re skilled in swordsmanship?" "Yes, I’ve trained with Kakashi." Kyohiko nodded. "Attack me with your sword!" Kosuke said with a kind smile. Kyohiko paused for a moment. "Really?" "Yes, go all out. Show me your full swordsmanship skills. I’ll be fine." Kosuke was confident. Training with Kakashi? It wasn’t that he looked down on Kakashi, but at this point, Kakashi’s swordsmanship and overall strength were indeed inferior to his. "Although I’m just a lowly genin, I did train and go on missions with Sakumo back in the day. Don’t underestimate me." "Understood. Please be careful." Kyohiko nodded. Then, he drew his sword and Body Flickered forward, covering more than a dozen steps in an instant, appearing beside Kosuke. In the next moment— Clang! Kosuke drew his blade just in time to block the strike. But— In the next second, Kyohiko formed a one-handed seal, and two clones split off from his body, attacking from the left and right with crescent-shaped slashes. What? Kosuke was startled and quickly retreated, swinging his blade to block. Clang! Clang! The sound of clashing blades rang out. Kyohiko drew another sword, one blade glowing faintly with water chakra, the other crackling with lightning. I can’t block this! Kosuke didn’t dare take it lightly and immediately Body Flickered back, his blade following the motion of his arm. Before Kyohiko could react, he saw a flurry of willow branches dancing before his eyes. Damn! He immediately closed his eyes, dispelled the genjutsu, and Body Flickered away. However— Kosuke didn’t pursue him. His back was drenched in cold sweat. What a guy! This kid plays dirty! He said he learned from Kakashi, but he’s using one-handed seals, techniques resembling the Crescent Moon Dance, and even dual-wielding with two different chakra natures... If it weren’t for the Willow Dance, I would’ve been done for! He coughed lightly to mask his embarrassment. "Your swordsmanship is impressive. Did you really learn it from Kakashi?" "I’ve also read some of Nidaime-sama’s books." Kyohiko replied. Kosuke fell silent. Books... Most of the books Kyohiko had were basic, containing no complete techniques. Yet, just by reading and combining what he learned from swordsmanship and experience, he had reached this level. Is this kid a monster? He took a deep breath. "Are you interested in the technique I just used?" "Action-triggered genjutsu is indeed fascinating." Kyohiko had seen this technique in anime in his past life. Back then, he thought that as long as he didn’t look, he could avoid the genjutsu. In reality, many actions in combat were sudden, and the moment he saw Kosuke’s arm move, he had already fallen under the genjutsu. The subsequent movements only deepened its effects. Even if he could dispel the genjutsu, it would be hard to avoid the follow-up strike. Unless his dispelling and reaction speed were fast enough! Senju Tobirama’s swordsmanship philosophy revolved around creating opportunities and finishing with speed. Techniques like the Flying Thunder God Slash, Crescent Moon Dance, and Willow Dance all followed this principle. "As you guessed, the essence of this technique is action-triggered genjutsu..." Kosuke explained the core principles and key points of the technique. Kyohiko listened attentively. After the explanation, he roughly understood how to perform action-triggered genjutsu. Difficult! But with some practice, he should be able to master it. Kyohiko began to ponder. Kosuke secretly breathed a sigh of relief. Mission accomplished! --- That evening, in the Hokage’s office. "How’s the kid?" "Too strong. I almost couldn’t handle him!" Kosuke was deeply ashamed. Sarutobi Hiruzen laughed heartily. In truth, he had seen part of the situation through his telescope technique, though he missed the earlier parts. But he was certain it had given Kosuke a scare. Of course— If Kosuke went all out, using all his abilities, he could still defeat Kyohiko. The Third Hokage had no doubt about that. But Kosuke sighed. "In a few years, I might not be his match anymore. A junior like him is truly humbling! No wonder Jiraiya didn’t teach him Water Release and asked you to send me instead." "Water Release?" Hiruzen was momentarily confused. "What Water Release? As far as I know, the kid only knew Water Wall and Wild Water Wave before, right?" "Yes, but he’s been self-studying the Water Dragon Bullet recently and has already reached a high level. I even learned something from him..." Kosuke recounted what had happened. Hiruzen’s pipe trembled. The Water Dragon Bullet was, after all, a B-rank technique, and the simplified hand seals version was extremely difficult. How could Kyohiko make it look so easy? He was stunned for a moment. Then, he looked at Kosuke. "So..." "I taught him the Willow Dance. Once he masters it, I’ll have nothing left to teach him." Kosuke said, sighing. "Jiraiya must be under a lot of pressure, right?" "Probably." Hiruzen thought for a moment. Back when he taught Orochimaru, it was somewhat similar. If Orochimaru was the template... "Kosuke." "Yes?" "I think you should check on Kyohiko again tomorrow. I have a feeling he’ll master the Willow Dance by then—maybe even tonight." "What?! That’s impossible! It took me years to master that technique!" Kosuke was dumbfounded. Hiruzen exhaled. "It’s very likely." "Then, is Jiraiya available?" "Not at the moment." Hiruzen smiled. "What a tough job!" Kosuke sighed and bid farewell to Hiruzen. Hiruzen took out a scroll from his drawer. A unique constitution. Kurokawa. "Sigh! I hope history doesn’t repeat itself!" This kind of research should have been Orochimaru’s task, but given Orochimaru’s actions, Hiruzen couldn’t entrust Kurokawa to him anymore. He had no choice but to assign it to Jiraiya. --- The next day, at the same riverside. Kyohiko continued practicing the Water Dragon Bullet. He had already grasped the basics of the Willow Dance, but like Naruto, he had taken a shortcut— He hadn’t achieved action-triggered genjutsu. So— Based on his knowledge of simplifying hand seals for Water Wall and Water Dragon Bullet, along with Kosuke’s explanation and Senju Tobirama’s genjutsu notes, Kyohiko had managed to reverse-engineer the Willow Dance’s hand seals and adapt it for one-handed seals. For now, he couldn’t think of how to improve further. So— He decided to focus on practicing the Water Dragon Bullet. This technique... He felt it was on the verge of a breakthrough. As he trained, a group of people ran by, greeting him as they passed. It was Might Gai and the others. However— Kyohiko turned his head and noticed a familiar yet unfamiliar figure in the crowd. Someone was running with his head down. Wasn’t that Asuma? Judging by his interactions with Might Gai and Genma, Kyohiko understood the situation. He wanted to greet him, but Asuma had already run off. Well, never mind. Back in the village, everyone was training hard, cherishing every moment to improve themselves. Kyohiko was no exception, and neither were Gai and Kakashi. As he trained— "Kyohiko!" Uzumaki Kushina waved from a distance. Beside her, Namikaze Minato was awkwardly trying to make conversation with Uzumaki Yuki, but she seemed uninterested, her gaze fixed on Kyohiko. Her eyes sparkled, and a new light seemed to shine on her face. Huh? Minato followed her gaze. Well, well! An idea formed in his mind. "Uzumaki-senpai, Minato-senpai..." "Hey, don’t call us senpai. It makes us sound old. We’re only a few years older than you, and you’re already a jonin like Minato. Since we’re both Jiraiya-sensei’s students, just call us by our names." Uzumaki Kushina smiled. Before Kyohiko could respond, Minato said, "Kyohiko, we have a favor to ask." "What is it?" Kyohiko looked at him, puzzled. "Could you show Uzumaki Yuki around the village? Kushina and I have some urgent business with the Hokage." Minato explained. Kyohiko paused and glanced at Uzumaki Kushina. At that moment, Uzumaki Kushina looked confused, about to speak, but Minato pulled her along. She was stunned but quickly nodded. "Yeah, yeah!" "Well, it’s not a problem, but I might have to wait for a senior..." Kyohiko guessed that Maruboshi Kosuke had been sent by Jiraiya to teach him Water Release techniques. Unfortunately, Kyohiko had already mastered them, and Kosuke had ended up teaching him the Willow Dance. Today, Kosuke might come to check on his progress. "It’s fine. I’m in no hurry." Uzumaki Yuki said. Minato nodded firmly. "Right, take your time. You two can chat, and Kushina and I will head to the Hokage’s office. If we’re free later, we’ll come find you." "Yeah, yeah." Kushina caught on and nodded repeatedly before running off. Kyohiko was left feeling awkward. Now it was his turn to force a smile. "How’s life in Konoha? Settling in?" "Well..." Uzumaki Yuki thought for a moment. "I’m not sure. I don’t go out much." Then, she shared her experiences since arriving in Konoha. It was simple—eat, sleep, and give Kushina the cold shoulder. Kyohiko listened quietly. It was strange. She didn’t want to interact with Kushina, her own clan member, but was willing to talk to him, a stranger... Was it because of their previous encounter? Still, it was a good thing. "Your current state is that you don’t know how to live in Konoha or what identity to take. You don’t dislike it here, but you’re afraid others might have ulterior motives, so you feel less at ease than in the Land of Grass. At least there, you knew what they wanted." Kyohiko analyzed. Uzumaki Yuki was silent for a while, resting her chin on her hand as she looked at Kyohiko, then nodded. "I just thought about it, and you might be right." "Do you want to hear my advice?" "Yes." Uzumaki Yuki nodded. Kyohiko sat cross-legged, speaking seriously. "Don’t overthink it. If you want to be a shinobi, go to the Academy. If not, live as a civilian and settle down in Konoha." "I’ll be a civilian for now. War... it’s too exhausting." Uzumaki Yuki said. "If you don’t like Kushina, why not move out and live independently?" Kyohiko suggested. Uzumaki Yuki thought for a moment. "Then I’ll need to earn some money first." "Right." Kyohiko nodded. Just as he was about to speak, he heard a faint rustling and turned to the trees on his right. "Senior, is that you?" "Ahem, I didn’t mean to interrupt." Kosuke stepped out, looking embarrassed. "It’s fine." Kyohiko smiled. Uzumaki Yuki stood up, brushing off the dust. "Thanks for the advice. I’ll go look around the village and see if there’s any work." "I’ll send a shadow clone with you." Kyohiko created a shadow clone. He wasn’t sure about the dynamics between Tsunade and the Third Hokage, but Danzo had definitely taken a hit. With Danzo lurking around, it was too dangerous for her to wander alone. After seeing her off, Kyohiko turned to Kosuke. "Senior, I haven’t fully mastered your technique yet. For now, I’ve only managed to perform it with one-handed seals." Then, he demonstrated. One-handed seal— Draw the sword! With a slash, the genjutsu activated as he swung the blade, and countless sword illusions appeared before Kosuke’s eyes. Kosuke was stunned for a moment. The Willow Dance? Then, he understood. Kyohiko couldn’t perform it without hand seals, so he had adapted it to use one-handed seals combined with his movements. It was a clever workaround. No wonder he said he "hadn’t mastered it." But— Back in the day, it had taken Kosuke years of painstaking effort to master it. And Nidaime-sama had even praised him for it! Still— If he were to nitpick, there were flaws. "Aside from requiring hand seals, it’s essentially the Willow Dance, but it lacks the element of surprise, which reduces its effectiveness." "Right, so I’m thinking of integrating it into other techniques." Kyohiko said, forming another one-handed seal. Then, he created a shadow clone. In the next moment, he formed the seal and swung his blade. Before Kosuke’s eyes, multiple sword illusions appeared, all converging toward him with the motion. He dispelled the genjutsu. Only one figure remained, along with two afterimages. "Combining it with the Shadow Clone Technique..." Kosuke understood Kyohiko’s idea. Using the genjutsu to merge the Willow Dance with the Crescent Moon Dance. At its core, it was still the Willow Dance, but its application and effects were entirely different. He fell silent again. The Third Hokage had been right, but not entirely. In just one day, Kyohiko had not only learned the Willow Dance but also innovated it, creating a new variation. Young people... Their minds are so sharp! Yesterday, he had intended to teach some finer details, but now it seemed unnecessary. With Kyohiko’s abilities, it was better to let him learn at his own pace. Kosuke’s insights were practically outdated. Kosuke sighed. "No wonder you became a jonin at eight..." "You’re mistaken, senior." Kyohiko sheathed his blade. Kosuke was slightly taken aback, then smiled. "How so?" "Becoming a jonin isn’t solely about strength. Someone as strong as you is still a genin, right? I also know another person who’s been a genin for over twenty years but is incredibly powerful." Kyohiko said. Kosuke knew Kyohiko was referring to the recently renowned genin— Might Dai. He had spent over a decade researching the Eight Gates. If it weren’t for Might Gai using it during the Chunin Exams, the village might never have known about him. But— What Kosuke was more concerned about was... "In your eyes, what makes a jonin?" "A jonin not only needs strength but also the ability to unite teammates and make sound judgments during missions..." Kyohiko shared his understanding of what it meant to be a jonin. Kosuke stood frozen. It had taken him over a decade, even two, and countless sacrifices to understand this. Yet, Kyohiko, at just eight years old, already grasped it—and with even greater clarity. It was unbelievable that such a prodigy existed! He couldn’t help but recall Jiraiya’s assessment— A Hokage’s mindset. It wasn’t an exaggeration at all! "Senior, can I ask you a question? Why are you still a genin?" "Let me tell you a story. I have a friend..." Kosuke began recounting his "friend’s" past. Kyohiko didn’t expose him. After listening, Kyohiko said, "In my opinion, your friend is quite cowardly." Kosuke raised an eyebrow. "Why?" "Even though he’s always on the frontlines, taking on the most difficult and dangerous missions, that’s just reckless bravery. If he became a jonin, he could teach the next generation, passing down his experience, skills, and insights. At the very least, he could write them down as warnings for future generations." Kyohiko met Kosuke’s gaze steadily. "Or is it that your friend fears damaging his reputation by revealing his past? Or perhaps...you’re afraid of making another mistake?" "How dare you!" Kosuke roared, face flushing with indignation. But the anger quickly drained away. Because deep down, he sensed the painful truth in Kyohiko’s words. Wouldn’t becoming a jonin allow him to accomplish more? And yes... He was afraid. "I believe when Nidaime-sama taught your friend those techniques, he hoped he would turn shame into courage and pass on that legacy. This cycle of inheritance, this enduring will—that’s at the heart of the Will of Fire." Kyohiko’s voice carried quiet conviction. "If your friend truly views remaining a genin as punishment, then he’s merely using it as an excuse to hide from responsibility." Kosuke didn’t respond. As he stared at Kyohiko’s earnest expression, his vision blurred momentarily— For an instant, he could have sworn he saw Nidaime-sama standing before him. "Senior?" "Ah? Oh, I...I need to think about this. Need to think..." Kosuke stumbled away like a man in trance, moving toward a familiar destination— The Memorial Stone. After what felt like an eternity, he stood before the engraved name "Senju Tobirama," the Second Hokage’s stone face gazing down from the mountain above. "Nidaime-sama...that boy...it was like seeing you again, reprimanding me just as you used to. And I think...he might be right." "Legacy. Protection." "All these years...I never truly understood your will." He collapsed to his knees, hot tears carving paths through the dust on his face. "I wasn’t punishing myself—I was just comforting myself, being cowardly, running away!" The cruelest lies are the ones we tell ourselves. Each word from Kyohiko had struck like a blade, severing the delusions Kosuke had clung to for decades. Now laid bare, he saw how he’d misinterpreted Tobirama’s teachings—mistaking self-flagellation for atonement, when what his mentor truly wanted was for him to grow. Sobs wracked his frame as decades of pent-up regret came pouring out. Eventually, footsteps approached from behind. "There’s no need for guilt. Without your past experiences, you wouldn’t be who you are today—just as without war, I wouldn’t be who I am now."