Chapter 86: Slander, Absolute Slander!

After skimming through the ninjutsu on the scroll, Shūichi immediately created shadow clones to train in the chakra nature transformations of Lightning Release, Water Release, and Earth Release.

In reality, he was already on the verge of mastering these three chakra nature transformations.

This was thanks to his earlier use of the "Flash of Insight" to study the Listening Technique, a complex jutsu left behind by the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju, which involved these nature transformations.

From talismans/seals to actual nature transformations, this was what he was currently working on.

As he put away the scroll, a pleasant aroma filled the air. He turned to see, as expected, it was Asuka.

After storing the scroll, the two sat across from each other on the tatami mat. Shūichi took Asuka's left hand in his right, and their chakras instantly linked together.

In that moment, their minds became one.

In the mental world, Shūichi was also holding Asuka's hand as they sat across from each other. "Asuka, Kagura's Mind Eye—as the name suggests—is the eye of the mind. Let's try to uncover it through our spirit, through our minds."

Asuka asked, "How do we uncover it?"

"Desire!"

Shūichi replied.

Asuka was startled, then her cheeks flushed red.

Shūichi's face darkened. What nonsense was she thinking? He was being serious!

"Asuka, please put those thoughts aside. We're doing something important right now."

Shūichi sternly reprimanded her.

"Yes, Shūichi-kun!"

Asuka sat up straight, still blushing.

Shūichi continued, "Desire refers to what you yearn for deep inside."

"For example, what is it that you want to pursue? Use this drive, this desire, to awaken the hidden power within your body."

Asuka thought about it carefully, then shyly whispered, "But I'm already very content. I have Nonō-nee, I have you, Shūichi…"

Shūichi couldn't help but rub his forehead. After thinking for a moment, he said, "But don't you want to keep up with me, Asuka?"

Asuka froze.

Shūichi resorted to flattery, "I hope that in the future, we can be on the same team, and I want you to be there to protect me."

"But if you're not strong enough, you'll only be a burden."

Asuka bit her lip upon hearing this. "I… I can do it!"

"Shūichi, I will always be by your side, protecting you!"

After saying this, Asuka lowered her eyes.

Shūichi then felt a violent fluctuation in Asuka's spirit, sending ripples across their mental world as if a stone had been thrown into a calm lake.

As time passed, sweat began to form on Asuka's forehead.

Their mental link started to become unstable, and Shūichi sensed the deep-seated fear and longing within Asuka.

This fear stemmed from her childhood of wandering and hardship, from her days as a medical tool in Kusagakure. It was a fear of being unwanted, of being abandoned, of losing everything she now had.

Feeling all this, Shūichi was filled with guilt. He shouldn't have used fear as a motivation. He immediately reached out and gently embraced Asuka, speaking softly, "Don't worry, the Director and I will never abandon you."

"But I want to always stay by your side, Shūichi."

Asuka returned his embrace, opening her eyes with a look of unprecedented determination. The weakness and timidity were gone.

Suddenly, Shūichi sensed a surge of power from within Asuka—a powerful force.

"What is this...?"

Shūichi was stunned. Then he saw a golden light emanate from Asuka's back, accompanied by the sound of chains dragging, as golden chains shot out.

Adamantine Sealing Chains!

Shūichi was both shocked and slightly bewildered.

He had been aiming for Kagura's Mind Eye, but instead, Adamantine Sealing Chains appeared.

Was this an example of an unexpected success?

"Shūichi, I did it!"

Asuka cried tears of joy.

"You did it?"

Shūichi asked excitedly, "Did Kagura's Mind Eye awaken too?"

"Yes!"

Asuka nodded emphatically, then shyly released Shūichi's hand and said, "I followed your advice, using my spirit and mind to drive it."

"What you said was right too—Kagura's Mind Eye is the eye of the mind, a chakra-condensed eye of the mind that, being free and unrestricted, can detect a vast range."

"But this sealing technique appeared on its own."

Shūichi smiled and said, "This technique is called Adamantine Sealing Chains. It not only seals but also has strong offensive power. You'll need to practice it often."

"Right, You'll practice it in the mental world first and won't reveal it easily outside."

Asuka nodded, "Yes, I'll listen to you, Shūichi."

"Then let's start now!"

Shūichi stood up, "I'll be your opponent. Use Adamantine Sealing Chains to attack me."

Asuka nodded and stood up.

In the next moment, the two figures, one big and one small, began to spar within the mental world, helping Asuka gradually get accustomed to using the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Their practice continued until ten o'clock at night.

After finishing their training, Shūichi washed up, said goodnight to Asuka, and returned to his room.

Lying in bed, he focused his attention on the Tag Tree.

While they were in the mental world, there had been some movement in the Tag Tree. Now, upon closer inspection, he realized that a new Tag had indeed been triggered.

What could it be?

Previously, the tags for Sealing Master and Sensory Master had already appeared.

Tag: Poseidon

Condition to Obtain: How can you call yourself Poseidon without at least ten fish in your pond? Make sure your small pond has ten mermaids first. (Shizune, Tsunade, Yakushi Nonō, Tenka, Uzumaki Asuka)

Effect: Increases physical strength by 100%, recovery rate by 100%, and stamina by 100%.

Upon seeing this new Tag, Shūichi's face darkened instantly, followed by an angry blush.

Slander!

This is absolute slander!

He, Shūichi, is still a child. How could he be Poseidon?

It's natural to appreciate beauty; what's wrong with admiring beautiful women?

Shizune and Yakushi Nonō are understandable, but what about Tsunade, Tenka, and Asuka?

"I'm just a kid appreciating some beauty, what's wrong with that?"

Shūichi silently gritted his teeth, feeling deeply slandered by the Tag Tree.

Yet, he couldn't help but focus on the Tag.

No, specifically on the effects section.

Increasing physical strength by 100%, recovery rate by 100%, and stamina by 100%.

This temptation was hard to resist.

But…

Shūichi couldn't help but mutter to himself, "Isn't ten a bit too much… Where am I supposed to find ten mermaids?"

Pervert!

This is way too perverted!

Images of various figures flashed through Shūichi's mind, and before he knew it, he fell asleep.

That night, Shūichi had a dream in which he was surrounded by ten mermaids in a large swimming pool, all playing around him.

Suddenly, one of the mermaids leaped out of the water, transforming into an enraged Tsunade who punched him, sending him flying.

Shūichi jolted awake, only to realize it was already 5 a.m.

Recalling the dream, he quickly lifted his blanket.

Thankfully, it wasn't wet. Development was normal.

After getting up and washing, Shūichi headed out for morning training with Asuka. On the way, they also brought breakfast to share with Yakushi Nonō at Konoha Hospital.

Before heading to the Root, Shūichi left some shadow clones at home to continue training.

However, there were no missions at the Root today, so after signing in, Shūichi went to Orochimaru's lab to study under him.

In the days that followed, Shūichi sometimes carried out missions alone for the Root, sometimes under Orochimaru's direct supervision, or occasionally alongside other Root ninja.

The rest of his time was divided between assisting Orochimaru in the lab and continuing his own training.

Before he knew it, two months had passed.

In a room at the lab, Shūichi was organizing experiment data when suddenly, the memories from one of his shadow clones returned.

After reviewing them, he smiled, "Finally, it's mastered!"

The Clone Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Fire Release Clone, Lightning Release Clone, and Earth Release Clone—these five clone techniques met the criteria to unlock the Clone Expert Tag.

Shūichi immediately activated it.

Mental power increased by 100%, allowing effortless use of clone techniques without hand seals.

"Huh?"

Shūichi noticed something unusual—this time it was his mental power that increased, which differed from the increase in Mental Will/Spiritual Power he gained from Sensory Expert.

He was confident the Tag Tree wouldn't make a mistake.

"Willpower is generally a state of mind—like having a strong will…"

Shūichi mused, "In the context of ninjutsu, it seems that mental power and willpower could indeed be considered two different forces."

"Mental power could be seen as spiritual strength, akin to physical strength—one yin, one yang."

"And willpower, extending from the spirit and mind… In the original series, Uchiha Obito was nearly torn apart mentally by the Ten-Tails and lost his sanity. In the end, he overcame it through his feelings for Rin, Kakashi, and the others. That must be willpower."

"Willpower might also relate to resistance against genjutsu."

Shūichi gradually understood.

"The increase in mental power from Clone Expert should significantly aid my training in the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, right?"

"And the enhancement in mental will…"

Shūichi decided to test it out.

Previously, he was very restrained in using shadow clones for training, usually sticking to one or two, at most three.

Otherwise, it wouldn't have taken him so long to master the remaining nature transformations.

If he could go all out like Naruto, it would only take a day or two.

After all, with hundreds of shadow clones training simultaneously, the efficiency would be several hundred times greater!

"I don't have that much chakra, nor do I need to go that far."

With that thought, Shūichi willed five shadow clones into existence.

Then, the five clones left the lab and went to a nearby grove to train.

Shūichi ate a soldier pill and resumed organizing the experiment data.

With Clone Expert in hand, next up was Substitution Expert.

But who knows if there are Clone Master and Substitution Master tags, and how to unlock them?

Would they be as difficult to obtain as Transformation Master?

Shūichi still hadn't unlocked Transformation Master to this day.

(End of Chapter)

T/N: Hmm, should I change the Tag name? Suggest some cool ones!

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