Chapter 53

Title: Loose Ends

...

It took a while for Konoha to regain a sense of normalcy since the Invasion and currently, Tsunade was dealing with the aftermath of the invasion.

This aftermath in particular was... Sunagakure.

In the meantime, all other Genin Candidates were asked to remain in the village to prevent unnecessary misunderstandings.

As for Shun, as soon as he was done with Naruto and Sasuke, he left a clone behind to resume Training for both Karin and Sai.

For Karin, he made her focus on both plants and human biology. This wasn't normal biology but his own version of it. His knowledge, spanning from his earlier days.

For Sai, he made her focus on differentiation of colors as well as imagination.

Sai was portrayed to be an auxiliary Nin throughout the entire anime and was mildly shown to be adept in kenjutsu. Other than that, he didn't have any other ability in his repertoire.

And to Shun, this ability of his was similar to that of Rill Boismortier from Black Clover.

Their chakra and mana had the ability of giving life to paintings. If Bill could become a captain class magic knight, Shun didn't see any reason why Said couldn't achieve Kage level fighting ability.

And with that in mind, he arranged their training.

However, all that had nothing to do with the original Shun as he was currently in a bit of a pickle...

"You don't need to look at me that resentfully, Orochimaru. We had an agreement. It was your carelessness that led to you losing an arm." Shun tried to explain once again, for the umpteenth time.

Orochimaru however, didn't seem to care but continued looking at him. "I was assured of my victory. The technique...the Reanimation Jutsu, it was improved. Why?! Why did I still lose? Why was Hiruzen that strong!?"

As he spoke, his sinister aura pervaded the entire room, making Kabuto who was standing by the side sweat and pale a little.

"How should I know? Wasn't he your Sensei? Plus, I think you already know the answer to that question." Shun said nonchalantly and took a sip from the cup of tea presented to him.

"..." Orochimaru stared at Shun for a good while before snorting. "The will of fire? How incongruous. If you know a half of what I know about that village, then-"

"Does it matter?" Shun interrupted.

"It doesn't matter whether you believe it, what matters is that he does. The enraged Jounins back in Konoha do, the future generation of Konoha will too." Shun continued.

"Yes, they're all two faced liars. Say this in the light and do that in the dark. The Hypocrisy. That's the Shinobi way. You know it too. In this world, the weak are trampled on by the strong."

"It's that simple my friend."

Orochimaru had a grim expression as he heard Shun words. As a Shinobi, and a seasoned one at that, he understood what Shun was saying, but still, he hated it.

The strong were meant to rule the weak. That is a fact. But for the strong to use manipulative gestures and words just to maintain their stay on top...

That's what he found appalling.

Thinking up to this point, Orochimaru sighed and muttered. "Immortality is the only way out of this..."

"Hm." Shun nodded noncommittally. "And your current predicament isn't all that bad in a way."

"What do you mean?" Orochimaru squinted his eyes at him and asked in mild anger.

It was already a thing of shame for him who prided himself with mastering every known Jutsu to be maimed, and made unable to use them.

But now, Shun was telling him it wasn't bad? If this wasn't bad, then what was?

"Think about it. Why do you need Hand Signs?" Shun asked.

"To mold chakra and perform various Jutsu. I believe anyone would be aware of that, Shun-dono." Kabuto interjected, his tone dissatisfied at what he presumed to be Shun's attempt at insulting his master.

"Exactly. But then, you can comfortably stand on water without hand signs, right?" Shun asked.

Standing up from his chair, he walked towards a basin of water at the side and said.

"In the academy or early Genin days, you're asked to make a Ram seal to concentrate chakra before climbing a tree or wall or water, right? But then, as you became stronger...did you still need to perform that seal?"

Shun asked but without receiving an answer, he dipped his hand inside the basin only to bring out a ball of water, perfectly being held in his hand without dispersing.

It was as though there was an invisible object holding it in.

"I believe it has to do with Mastery of one's chakra control." Kabuto provided a perfect answer once again, much to Shun's delight.

"Perfect answer, Kabuto-kun. Now, that beggars the question... Why do you need hand signs, when all you need is mastery?" Shun asked.

Immediately, the water in his hand turned into a dragon and shot towards Kabuto who dodged it and frowned at Shun.

"What's the meaning of this?"

"Can't you see? I performed a Suiton: Suiryūdan(Water Dragon Bullet), but I didn't use hand signs. Why do you think that is, Orochimaru?"

"I believe... Mastery over your Chakra control." Orochimaru answered with a thoughtful expression.

"Good answer. You see, I have met people who can perfectly use one-handed seals to perform Jutsus. In the lands around Iwagakure, there's a small village where their Anbu are thought to use their eye movements to control their chakra. Ingenious, by the way, by intriguing...wouldn't you say?"

"Surely you jest, Shun-dono. One can't possibly perform seals with the eye." Kabuto said with his usual fake smile to which Shun smiled back.

"Ah, the perfect description of Frog at the Bottom of A Well. You haven't seen half this world we reside in, how can you doubt what I say without proof? I just showed you a technique... without hand signs and yet, you doubt..." Shun shook his head disapprovingly.

"Think about it, Orochimaru. This might be the world opening up another door for you. Every hand sign moves your chakra in certain directions within your chakra pathways."

Shun said to the quiet snake sage who seemed to be absorbing all Shun had to say.

Seeing his attention on himself, Shun continued.

"What if you can consciously, or even program yourself to subconsciously move your chakra with nothing but a thought? The time wasted and pressure you feel while performing your hand signs fast so as not to be seen through would reduce to an abysmal....zero."

".... That is an interesting hypothesis." Orochimaru said and licked his lips.

However, Shun shook his head and said, "It isn't a hypothesis my friend, but a fact. I can do it, many others out there can do it. You too, subconsciously do it when you reduce an initial 19 hand signs Jutsu to 7 or 10."

"When you reach that level, you'll find that your precious immortality was ever so close..." As Shun said that, his body gradually glitched as space fractured and he was gone.

"...This kid...he reminds me of that guy...what do you think is their relationship, Kabuto?" Orochimaru stared at the spot Shun disappeared from and asked his trusty assistant.

"Similar techniques, Orochimaru-sama, but I doubt they are related in any form."

"Hmm... I think so too."

....

"So...What do you both think? Who's your enemy?" Shun asked the two boys sitted opposite him as he calmly took a sip from the tea cup in his hand.

Just recently, he had re-awakened, if that was a word, his inner enjoyment of Tea.

The last time he enjoyed it was during his time mentoring Tomoe...

'Sigh, how time flies...' he thought.

Naruto and Sasuke looked at each other before nodding heavily and turning to Shun.

"We've decided..."

"Okay, I'm listening." Shun said and adjusted himself, ready to counter whoever these children brought up as their enemies.

Right now, they don't need motivation to be strong. If they did, that would mean Shun's efforts had been wasted for so long.

"I will continue my quest... I'll find Itachi when I get stronger and defeat him and hear his own part of the story. Only then will I make a choice." Sasuke said much to Shun's surprise.

"Oh? And you, Naruto?" He asked.

"Same with Sasuke. I'll just get stronger, and when I meet that masked man, I'll just have to defeat him. Tou-san is dead, but Kaa-san is still alive. When you told us about what happened, I went and spent the night in mom's room."

"In my anger, I complained and cried myself to sleep, but then, when morning came, I realized that I have my mother. When I defeat him, I'll make sure to bring him to Kaa-san. She'll be the one to decide what to do with him, afterall, he took her husband away from her. She must be the most hurt amongst all of us." Naruto reasoned.

As he spoke, despite the sadness that he was feeling, he still managed to find a way to smile so brightly that Sasuke even had to look away with a scoff.

And listening to the two answers, Shun smiled happily and nodded. "You both didn't let me down. I had already prepared a short training regimen for the two of you if you answered me with a target for your hatred."

"Whaaat!?" Naruto cried out and Sasuke seemed to have moved back a little despite being seated.

'Weird'

"Anyways, with this, I am glad."

"Is that all?" Sasuke asked skeptically and Shun nodded

"You've both decided to be strong. That alone is enough, and since young, I made sure your systems instilled in you discipline. In this world, the easier the choices you make, the harder the path. Had you chosen anger and hate, then it would've been a grueling experience..."

Shun said as he looked at the two who shivered under his stare.

"You better choose to be disciplined and not motivated by anger and hate. Motivation brings you nowhere, it's just a feeling to get started, but not to get you going." Shun continued.

"Discipline however, will get you to places. If you lost a loved one, keep going. If there's no one with you, keep going. It's a waste of time to think about the past."

"It's already happened. Don't think of the future also, it's yet to be written. Focus on the now. On what you can achieve in the present. Your daily exercises have inculcated that in you, so I have no doubt you'll keep it up."

"Now remember, you two, after now, we won't be seeing each other for some time, but when we do meet, I hope you two won't disappoint me." Shun said

Naruto and Sasuke exchanged glances, absorbing Shun's words that resonated with both wisdom and a sense of responsibility.

Naruto felt a surge of determination coursing through him, a renewed commitment to the path of becoming Hokage. He clenched his fists, silently vowing to rise above the challenges.

Sasuke, though usually reserved, found himself acknowledging the truth in Shun's words. His gaze hardened, reflecting a steely resolve.

As Shun concluded his words, Naruto and Sasuke shared a silent understanding, their expressions transitioning from uncertainty to a quiet determination.

"Aiit. You two go about your own business. I'll be leaving the village as soon as I meet the Hokage." Shun said.

"You're meeting Tsunade-baa-san?" Naruto asked and Shun nodded with an amused expression.

"You better not call her that, she's a woman, and women have a thing when it comes to their appearance." Shun said.

Naruto crossed his hands and said. "Tell me about it! That old hag wanted to kill me the first time we met, humph."

"She probably found your stupidity too appalling to withstand." Sasuke said in jest and Naruto turned to him with anger.

"What did you say you bastard!?"

"I won't repeat myself you idiot," Sasuke said calmly despite Naruto's anger.

They continued their spat which Shun smilingly watched.

Minutes later, he interrupted and said. "That should be enough you two. If you continue like this, I don't know what your mother's would think." Shun said.

He had shown them the scene of Kushina and Mikoto on the day prior to Naruto's birth, so it was a given they had seen and heard when Kushina said that they two should be best friends.

"Humph!" X2

They both snorted and looked the other way.

"Alright, you take care now. Don't come see me off." After saying that, he disappeared again.

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