Chapter 44: Konoha Ninjas—It’s Time to Roll Up Our Sleeves!

Words : 1220 Updated : Sep 22nd, 2025

Chapter 44 of "I, Konoha's Sage of Life" starts with thrilling twists: The Next Day, Outside the Yuhi Residence. "Kyoichi-sensei? What brings you here?" Yuhi Kurenai was visibly surprised. It... Continue the story!

The Next Day, Outside the Yuhi Residence. "Kyoichi-sensei? What brings you here?" Yuhi Kurenai was visibly surprised. It was almost unthinkable for Kanda Kyoichi to visit her of his own accord. She glanced at his outfit and couldn't help but wonder... Was he here to invite her for morning training? "Is Shinku-senpai home?" "Yes, he is. Father, Sensei is here to see you!" Kurenai paused for a moment, unsure of the situation. He’s here to see my father? Though confused, she wasted no time and called out. Yuhi Shinku wasn’t on any missions, so when he heard Kyoichi had come, he was somewhat surprised. However, he quickly appeared in the courtyard. "Please, come in, Kyoichi-sensei." "Shinku-senpai, the reason I’m visiting today is to seek your guidance on genjutsu." "Oh? You’re interested in genjutsu as well?" Yuhi Shinku raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. In Konoha, aside from the Uchiha Clan, very few pursued in-depth studies of genjutsu. Most ninja considered it sufficient to merely know how to dispel illusions or master a few basic techniques. It was rare for someone to show such dedication and actively seek advice. "I’ve been having some thoughts lately." "Sensei always claims he’s not great at genjutsu, but his techniques are incredible! He even has a sword technique that creates illusions," Kurenai interjected, eager to defend Kyoichi’s humility. Illusionary Sword Technique? Shinku was startled. Back in the day, the Second Hokage had also experimented with combining swordsmanship and genjutsu. However, his research had seemingly ended without much success—or at least, the public wasn’t aware of any results. Could it be that Kyoichi’s technique was based on those foundations? After his initial surprise, Shinku’s expression turned serious. "I do have some genjutsu scrolls..." "No need for that. I think there’s been a misunderstanding, Shinku-senpai. I’m not here for scrolls. I’d like you to help me test the effects of my genjutsu and provide feedback. As one of Konoha’s genjutsu experts, you were the first person who came to mind." Kyoichi clarified the situation. Shinku had likely assumed Kyoichi was here to request materials, but in truth, Kyoichi had already developed a preliminary framework for integrating genjutsu into his swordsmanship. What he needed now was feedback to refine his technique. "My apologies. Please, let’s begin." "Thank you!" Kyoichi adjusted his posture slightly, then drew his sword in one swift motion. For an instant, there was a brilliant flash of light. Shinku instinctively raised his hand to shield his eyes, but the blinding light left his vision momentarily impaired. As the sound of the blade returning to its sheath echoed, Shinku lowered his hand, blinking a few times before realization dawned. "You’re using the blade to reflect light, amplifying it with chakra to create a flash that disorients opponents. But... this isn’t genjutsu!" Genjutsu could be dispelled relatively quickly. However... This blinding flash couldn’t be countered unless one avoided direct eye contact in that fleeting moment. It wasn’t a conventional illusion technique. "That’s correct. My iaido slash is fast enough to capitalize on the momentary blindness. But if the speed isn’t sufficient, I was thinking of incorporating genjutsu as a supplementary effect." "Incorporating genjutsu could work depending on the situation. For instance, if I were wearing glasses or caught the flash from my peripheral vision, the effect might diminish." Shinku offered several suggestions. As expected of a genjutsu master, each piece of advice was highly practical. Kyoichi then demonstrated a simplified version of his "Willow" technique—this time integrating guiding genjutsu through the blade’s motion. Shinku watched intently, then commented, "Your movements could be further streamlined. The genjutsu doesn’t necessarily need to be channeled through the blade—it could be triggered by a hand gesture or even executed before drawing the sword. Sometimes, casting an illusion first and following up with the sword strike yields better results." Sёarch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Though not a swordsman, Shinku’s insights into combining genjutsu with combat were invaluable. Kyoichi absorbed everything he said, gaining a wealth of knowledge. Meanwhile, Kurenai stood to the side, utterly engrossed. Kyoichi’s approach to genjutsu was completely different from what she had learned growing up. It opened her eyes to a whole new perspective—who would’ve thought illusions could be used this way? "By the way, since I’m here today, Kurenai, let me confirm: are you certain you want to study medical ninjutsu?" "Yes! I’ve discussed it thoroughly with my father, and he fully supports my decision." Kurenai’s voice was firm, without a hint of hesitation. Learning medical ninjutsu required significant effort, but the benefits to her team would be immense. She wasn’t going to let this opportunity pass her by. "Alright. I have a few books here for you. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask me." Kyoichi handed her several medical texts. The contents were already familiar to him, thanks to the "Basic Medical Ninjutsu" knowledge granted by the system. Teaching Kurenai wouldn’t be a problem. As she glanced at the authors of the books, Kurenai’s eyes widened in astonishment. "These... these are written by Lady Tsunade!" "Thank you so much, Sensei!" "This... is incredible!" Shinku was even more shocked. These were original manuscripts, complete with annotations in Tsunade’s handwriting. He knew for a fact that the Kanda family had no prior ties to Tsunade. For Kyoichi to possess these books, he must have established contact with her recently. Unbelievable! Shinku couldn’t help but feel pleased. While it wasn’t the same as receiving direct instruction from Tsunade, having access to these books was an unparalleled privilege. Kyoichi truly was an extraordinary teacher. --- After bidding farewell to the Yuhis, Kyoichi left to continue his training. Even with his Senju-like constitution, he wasn’t a Sage, so maintaining his physical fitness required consistent effort. As he ran through the village, he couldn’t help but notice the changes. Under his influence, Konoha had become a hive of activity. Previously, only a handful of ninja—like Might Duy and his son, or Kakashi—trained diligently in the mornings. But now... Even Asuma, Shisui, and lesser-known ninja like Genma Shiranui and Ebisu were out running, their heavy breaths filling the air as they pushed themselves to the limit. Each one seemed determined to outdo the other. Especially when Kyoichi passed by—everyone gave it their all, as if unwilling to show weakness. And this wasn’t just a one-off occurrence. Every day, Kyoichi witnessed the same scene. Konoha had entered the age of the ninja grind! Kyoichi couldn’t help but feel a sense of accomplishment. Without him, would such a competitive atmosphere even exist? After some time, Kyoichi found himself passing a tavern. Inside, he spotted Orochimaru and Jiraiya sitting together. He was about to pretend he hadn’t seen them when Jiraiya pushed aside the curtain and called out: "Hey, kid from the Kanda family, come have a drink with us!" Jiraiya raised his sake cup, grinning. Kyoichi sighed, helpless. "Apologies, Lord Jiraiya, Lord Orochimaru, but I don’t drink." "No problem. If not for the drink, then come for the food. Today was supposed to be a reunion of the Sannin, but Tsunade isn’t here... You’ll have to fill in for her." Orochimaru smirked faintly. With the invitation worded like that, Kyoichi had no choice but to sit down.

Chapter 44: Konoha Ninjas—It’s Time to Roll Up Our Sleeves!

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