Chapter 43: Temporary Teammate, Kosuke Maruxing

Tetsuya couldn't contain his excitement. He had heard of this legendary artifact.

[Budu Yusoul: The sword of the legendary Thunder God. Extremely sharp with various characteristics.]

[Feature 1: As the legendary Thunder God, your lightning attribute ninjutsu power is greatly improved!]

[Feature 2: The size is variable. After the host activates Susanoo, the Thunder God's sword transforms into a matching weapon.]

At his command, a long sword appeared on Tetsuya's lap, adorned with an ornate scabbard.

"Shh!"

Tetsuya drew the Budu Yusoul, a weapon rooted in traditional Japanese design, where the distinction between swords and blades blurred.

The blade gleamed with a cold light, and with a casual swing, it sliced through the coffee table in front of him like tofu. The sharpness took Tetsuya by surprise.

He then infused the sword with lightning chakra. Immediately, the entire blade crackled with electricity, giving it a terrifying aura.

After some experiments, Tetsuya was thoroughly satisfied with the Budu Yusoul. Especially considering that in the future, his Susanoo would not be lacking a weapon. If Itachi's Susanoo could be so fancy, his couldn't fall short.

The only downside was that Tetsuya hadn't specifically trained in swordsmanship, nor had he paid attention to it while reading the Scroll of Seals. He decided he would ask the Third Hokage about it tomorrow.

With a plan in mind, Tetsuya put away the Budu Yusoul and continued studying the Flying Thunder God technique. It wasn't until early morning that he finally stretched, washed up, and went to bed.

...

Early the next morning, Tetsuya set out. The neighbors smiled and greeted him warmly when they saw the ninja forehead protector on his arm. They had watched him grow up and were fond of the sensible child.

Tetsuya responded with a smile, his handsome face making several young girls blush.

At the Hokage building, Hiruzen Sarutobi and another old man were waiting. Tetsuya recognized the man from the anime: Kosuke Maruxing.

"Tetsuya, come here," the Third Hokage called with a smile. "This is Kosuke Maruxing. He will form a temporary team with you for your missions."

"After all, those D-rank missions are of no use to you."

Tetsuya nodded and greeted politely, "Hello, Maruxing-senpai."

Kosuke smiled warmly, instantly liking Tetsuya.

The Hokage then addressed Tetsuya's request. "I want to learn swordsmanship for a while. Can you provide me with some scrolls, old man?"

The Third Hokage looked at the ornate long sword on Tetsuya's waist and smiled. "That's quite a coincidence. Kosuke was once taught some ninjutsu and swordsmanship by the Second Hokage. You can ask him if you have any questions."

Tetsuya remembered that Kosuke Maruxing did have a combination of ninjutsu and swordsmanship known as Hazy Moon Night.

Kosuke nodded. "Of course, Tetsuya. If you want to learn, I'll teach you everything I know."

"Then I'll trouble you, Maruxing-senpai."

After leaving the Hokage's office, the two headed to the mission hall.

"Senpai, which mission should we take?" Tetsuya asked, seeking advice.

Kosuke smiled. "The Third Hokage said you're not lacking in strength, only experience. Escort missions are time-consuming and tedious, so we won't take those."

Tetsuya agreed. Escort missions often took at least five or six days, which wasn't worth it.

Kosuke continued, "That leaves assassination missions and intelligence-gathering missions. It depends on your preference."

Tetsuya found intelligence missions boring and tedious, often requiring long periods of hiding. He preferred action.

"Let's choose the assassination mission."

Kosuke nodded, not surprised by Tetsuya's choice. They selected a mission to eliminate bandits in Niutou Mountain, a few hundred kilometers from Konoha. At their speed, they would only need to stay overnight before returning.

With the mission selected, the two parted ways temporarily. Tetsuya, having some free time, went to check on Hinata and Ino.

Like Team 7, they were starting with the most basic D-rank missions to build team cohesion. Seeing Tetsuya, Ino excitedly put down her work and ran over to complain about their missions and her teammates, Shikamaru and Chōji.

Tetsuya smiled apologetically at Shikamaru and Chōji and created a Shadow Clone to help them. He then took Ino aside to rest and listen to her grievances.

Ino vented about Asuma's and Shikamaru's unreliability and her worries about their team dynamics. She also shared an unexpected piece of news: Asuma was not yet dating Kurenai; he was merely a suitor, and Kurenai was still considering her feelings.

This was a slight deviation from what Tetsuya remembered from the original story.

After spending some time with Ino, Tetsuya went to find Hinata. As he approached, he saw Hinata's team chasing a cat.

Kiba noticed him first. "Tetsuya, help us catch that cat!"

Tetsuya extended his hand. "Wind Style: Gale Palm!"

A small tornado emerged from his palm, pinning the running cat against the wall.

"Finally caught it," Kiba said, retrieving the cat. "Thanks, Tetsuya. We would have been chasing it for a while without your help."

Akamaru barked in agreement.

Hinata ran to Tetsuya's side, her eyes shining with surprise and gratitude. "Tetsuya~"

Tetsuya smiled, reaching out to ruffle her hair. "Good job, Hinata."

He realized he loved this gesture, whether it was with Hinata or Ino. Their small heads always made him feel affectionate.

At that moment, Kurenai Yuhi, their sensei, appeared. She had been following her students from a distance. Seeing Tetsuya's precise chakra control impressed her. Not only was he handsome, but he was also powerful.

With the cat mission complete, Tetsuya and Kosuke regrouped, ready to embark on their assassination mission. The day had been productive, and Tetsuya looked forward to the challenges ahead, confident in his growing skills and newfound allies.