Chapter 236: Clairvoyance and Clairaudience?

Master of Perception(Sensory)!

This was a tag Shūichi had been working on for a long time, and today, it was finally complete.

He had succeeded in creating an S-rank sensory ninjutsu.

While Thermal Vision qualified as a sensory technique, it wasn't at the S-rank level.

The improved Listening Technique that Shūichi had refined before certainly reached S-rank, but it wasn't entirely his own invention.

Previously, he had considered combining the Listening Technique with Malice Detection to create a new sensory ninjutsu. However, despite his increasing spiritual strength, mental fortitude, and deeper understanding of chakra, he had yet to achieve that.

Surprisingly, it was his recent attempts to master Electromagnetic Release that sparked an epiphany, leading to a breakthrough.

He activated the tag.

The effects took hold immediately. His sensory abilities and mental fortitude were enhanced.

Shūichi felt the difference clearly—his previously fatigued mind was instantly invigorated, leaving him feeling refreshed and sharp.

Even the newly developed sensory ninjutsu, which was only partially complete, now seemed far easier to execute.

"Alright, let's test it out!"

Shūichi immediately activated the improved Listening Technique. His chakra formed an electric and magnetic field that radiated outward, centering on him.

With this, he could sense the magnetic and electric fields generated by human bodies, allowing him to perceive their thoughts.

Though he couldn't yet decode the information carried by the bioelectric signals transmitted through nerves, he could sense malice through the mental fluctuations, or brainwaves, of others.

If he fully mastered Electromagnetic Release, using this technique would become even easier.

Shūichi was confident that he could eventually analyze the electrical signals in a target's nervous system, achieving a level of perception akin to mind-reading.

Additionally, this technique had potential applications for clairaudience, where sound waves could be converted into electrical signals and transmitted over long distances using electromagnetic waves.

As his perception expanded, information continuously flowed back to him. The blurry outlines of Konoha Village, individual shinobi, and even ordinary civilians began to appear clearly in his sensory field.

Chakra perception + physical perception + malice perception!

Compared to before, Shūichi noticed a remarkable increase in the precision of his sensory capabilities.

He could now discern the approximate shape, movement speed, and distance of targets with clarity, rivaling the abilities of the Mind's Eye of the Kagura.

"Not bad."

"The best part is, I no longer need to rely on the Nine-Tails Chakra Mode for malice perception."

Shūichi nodded in satisfaction, though he felt a slight regret.

He hadn't detected any White Zetsu in Konoha, as he had hoped to capture more of them for future use.

The improved Listening Technique was living up to its name, and Shūichi eagerly anticipated the day he could hear people's thoughts directly.

Aside from the Star Curse Mark and the Listening Technique, he had also resolved several minor issues during those precious ten minutes of heightened focus.

Rising from his desk, Shūichi stepped out into the courtyard.

With a thought, his body began to float.

Earth Release: Light-Weight Rock Technique!

Earth Release: Ultra-Light-Weight Rock Technique!

Reapplying the jutsu, he became as light as air, ascending even faster.

After gliding through the air for a while, Shūichi deactivated the technique and landed.

"The Light-Weight Rock Technique is great for carrying others. It's low-cost."

"But the speed in the air doesn't compare to what I can achieve with the Scorch Release Chakra Mode."

In Scorch Release Chakra Mode, Shūichi could reach supersonic speeds.

Although it wasn't as fast as the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, the Scorch Release Mode allowed for aerial maneuverability, an advantage the Lightning Release lacked.

Stretching and watching the snowflakes drift down from the sky, Shūichi decided it was time for some relaxation.

He vanished from the courtyard, reappearing moments later at the experimental base in the Daimyō's residence.

"Lord Shūichi!"

Pakura, who was engrossed in paperwork, looked up. Her expression remained neutral, but her eyes revealed a hint of joy. She asked curiously, "Weren't you planning to come tomorrow?"

Shūichi smiled. "I gave myself a day off. Let's go explore the Daimyō's residence and visit the hot springs!"

"Huh?"

Pakura was momentarily stunned, then nodded and stood up.

Shūichi reached out, wrapping an arm around Pakura's slender, taut waist. In an instant, they disappeared from the office, reappearing in an empty alleyway within the Daimyō's bustling town.

Stepping out of the alley, they were greeted by lively streets filled with people, even in the snowfall.

Holding Pakura's hand, Shūichi led her through the streets, sampling various snacks. Gradually, Pakura's reserved smile spread from her eyes to her face.

After eating their fill, the two arrived at a hot spring inn with private baths for couples.

Separating for the soak would defeat the purpose, wouldn't it?

In the bath, Pakura resembled a graceful mermaid, while Shūichi felt rejuvenated, as if all his fatigue from the past year had melted away.

Splash!

Shūichi caught the "mermaid," skillfully capturing her delicate waist.

With precision and finesse, he played a symphony of touch that could rival the most stirring melodies...

One hour later.

An invigorated Shūichi helped the thoroughly relaxed, jelly-legged Pakura out of the hot spring.

Back at the experimental base, Pakura fell into a deep sleep, while Shūichi returned to his desk to tackle paperwork.

His primary task was reviewing the roster of recruits for the ninja training program.

Pakura had divided them into two groups. One consisted of the children of ministers and nobles. Their profiles were detailed, clearly marking them as less favored descendants, both male and female.

"Hmm?"

Shūichi suddenly noticed someone unusual.

Minagi!

A descendant of the Daimyō?

"Only six years old, the youngest daughter of the Daimyō..."

Shūichi made a note of her name.

There were a total of twenty-seven names on this list—a relatively small number.

The other list was much larger, with over a hundred names, mainly consisting of descendants from the samurai class.

These individuals had already undergone an initial selection process, meaning their talents might not be extraordinary, but they were at least capable of refining chakra and qualifying as genin.

After some thought, Shūichi decided not to conduct further screenings.

This wasn't the time to pursue an elitist approach.

After all, the Land of Fire was wealthy, and the Daimyō had plenty of resources—this small expense wouldn't make a dent.

After quickly reviewing the lists, Shūichi thought to himself, "The base construction is nearly complete. It seems we can begin operations after the New Year."

He had a growing sense that a new era was about to unfold through his efforts.

---

In the afternoon, Pakura woke up looking radiant, her refreshed appearance making her irresistibly captivating.

However, Shūichi restrained himself and brought her back to Konoha.

Like the previous year, Pakura would spend the New Year in Konoha.

---

In the following days, aside from using the Ultra-Heavy Rock Technique for basic physical training, Shūichi essentially took a break, spending his time with Nonō Yakushi and the others.

Before he knew it, the New Year had arrived.

---

Year 49 of Konoha, January 20

Experimental Base

Hayate Gekkō lay nervously on the operating table.

This time, the surgery wasn't being performed by Shūichi himself but by Asuka, Shizune, and Rin Nohara, who wore a mask indicating her affiliation with the ANBU.

Tsunade stood nearby with her arms crossed, observing, while Shūichi offered a reassuring smile.

"Don't worry. Shizune and the others are highly skilled. It's just a lung transplant, and besides, Tsunade and I are here to supervise."

Hayate quickly replied, "Of course, I trust Asuka and Shizune!"

"Alright, let's begin the anesthesia."

Asuka administered the anesthetic, and Hayate's eyelids soon drooped before he fell into a deep sleep.

After confirming Hayate's condition, Asuka nodded at Shizune and Rin.

"Shizune, Rin, let's begin!"

Both nodded in unison. Shizune then used her Chakra Scalpel to open Hayate's chest cavity.

They removed both lungs and transplanted the cultivated replacements. The three worked seamlessly, their movements precise and fluid, with no errors.

They had already practiced this procedure countless times on White Zetsu subjects.

Moreover, Hayate's condition was unique. With three respiratory systems, removing his lungs didn't impair his breathing, eliminating the need for a temporary system and simplifying the procedure.

The reason for Hayate's lung replacement was to address the root cause of his Kekkei Genkai Disease. Even though the affected lungs were removed, the disease's progression could not be guaranteed to halt, nor could the possibility of it spreading to other organs be ignored.

Hence, they transplanted special lungs cultivated from a combination of White Zetsu, Asuka's, and Hayate's cells.

Whether this method would completely resolve the issue wasn't the priority.

What mattered was the scalability of this treatment approach.

This breakthrough hinted at a future where Konoha's injured shinobi—those who had lost limbs or suffered debilitating injuries—could fully recover and resume their careers, potentially becoming even stronger than before.

---

Half an hour later, the surgery concluded.

Barely a minute after the operation, Hayate regained consciousness, surprising Asuka.

"Last time, it took him five minutes to wake up," she remarked.

Shūichi smiled. "It seems his metabolism has significantly improved."

Tsunade added, "Even though the transplant weakened some of its power, this is still what you'd call a 'complete Sage Body.' It's only natural."

At that moment, Hayate took a deep breath—a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time.

Although he had adapted to not breathing through his nose and mouth due to his previous physical modifications, he had spent over a decade relying on them for respiration.

Not only that, but Hayate also felt an overwhelming surge of energy. His body was stronger than ever, and he felt like he could go three days and nights without rest.

"Lord Shūichi, Lady Tsunade, I feel like my Transparent Escape Technique has been enhanced," he said excitedly.

"Then give it a try," Shūichi encouraged with a smile.

Hayate nodded, raised one hand, and vanished entirely.

Asuka immediately activated her perception jutsu, concentrating deeply before exclaiming in astonishment, "It's true! Even his chakra is hidden!"

This meant that not even chakra sensing could detect Hayate while he used the Transparent Escape Technique.

Shūichi also activated the Listening Technique but couldn't sense Hayate's chakra. However, the technique wasn't perfect—it couldn't escape his dual-layered magnetic and electric field perception.

The Transparent Escape didn't actually make Hayate's body disappear, so physical methods like Gaara's sand could still detect him.

When Hayate deactivated the technique and reappeared, he was elated.

"My lungs feel perfect, and both my chakra and Transparent Escape have improved tremendously!"

Tsunade cautioned, "It's too early to draw conclusions."

"Shizune, take him for a full set of tests. Hayate, unless you're on a mission, you must report to Konoha Hospital every three days for a checkup."

"Yes, I understand!" Hayate responded immediately.

Meanwhile, Shūichi was deep in thought, recalling the unique properties of Wood Release.

Wood Release clones were nearly indistinguishable even to the Sharingan...

And then there's White Zetsu, who excels even more in this area.

Not to mention Konan's Paper Ninjutsu. While it doesn't involve chakra nature transformation, infusing chakra into paper tools clearly grants them some properties similar to Wood Release.

Paper Ninjutsu's camouflage capabilities are unmatched—even Sage Mode Naruto required the black rods created by Nagato's Yin-Yang Release to track her.

So, it's no surprise that Hashirama's cells would also influence the Transparent Escape Technique.

The question is whether more abilities can be developed from this.

After some thought, Shūichi gave Hayate Gekkō a piece of advice:

"If it doesn't harm your body, try to further develop your Transparent Escape Technique."

"Don't let your Kekkei Genkai limit your thinking."

"Though inherited from your predecessors, their abilities shouldn't constrain your potential."

Hayate nodded enthusiastically, full of determination.

"I'll do my best!"

Patting Hayate on the shoulder, Shūichi smiled.

"You're only thirteen years old. There's no rush—take your time to explore and innovate."

Standing nearby, Tsunade couldn't help but smirk and mutter under her breath,

"This guy talks like he's an old sage himself."

But as she glanced at Shūichi, now standing at an impressive 1.8 meters tall and with even more striking features, she thought to herself,

"I wonder what he's been eating to grow this quickly."

---

After Shizune escorted Hayate out, Tsunade waved casually and turned to leave.

"I'll get back to work. Call me if you need anything."

Shūichi stayed behind to help Asuka and Rin clean up the surgical instruments before leaving the operating room.

Rin returned to the Root base, while Shūichi accompanied Asuka to a section of the Hokage Building designated for storing ancient texts.

This area housed a vast collection of jutsu, including numerous incomplete forbidden techniques.

Shūichi came here to absorb knowledge and solidify his foundation.

He also planned to review the techniques from the duplicate of the Sealing Scroll his teacher, Minato Namikaze, had given him.

Whether it was learning through analogy or innovating entirely new jutsu, both outcomes were possible.

---

Time passed quickly, and January was over in the blink of an eye.

---

Year 49 of Konoha, February 6

Shūichi temporarily paused his training and research, personally traveling to a newly constructed base near the Daimyō's estate in the Land of Fire.

On the surface, it appeared to be an ordinary village, albeit with a tall surrounding wall.

At the entrance, a sign bore the name personally inscribed by the Daimyō:

Tensai Village!

"Tensai," meaning "genius," clearly reflected the Daimyō's high hopes for this place.

Led by Pakura, Shūichi entered the village and found it far from desolate.

Pakura explained softly,

"This was a last-minute decision by the Daimyō. He relocated some civilians to populate the area."

Shūichi immediately understood.

This was clearly modeled after Konoha.

He chuckled and asked, "I'm guessing these people aren't ordinary?"

Pakura nodded.

"Some are from samurai families, mainly the parents of the students. Others are retainers of ministers and nobles."

Shūichi smiled. "No need to bother with them."

The two walked through a street and arrived at the village's central area—the ninja training grounds.

This place was an almost exact replica of Konoha's Ninja Academy.

At the academy gate, twelve figures were already standing in formation.

Among them were Asuma Sarutobi and Kazuma.

"The future Twelve Guardian Ninja?"

Shūichi speculated to himself as Pakura spoke beside him,

"Asuma and the others were personally selected by the Daimyō. He hopes you can train them to become jōnin."

Shūichi chuckled.

"Becoming a jōnin isn't something that can be achieved through training alone."

Pakura, however, looked seriously at the twelve figures ahead.

"They all have the potential to become jōnin."

"Oh?"

Shūichi raised an eyebrow. He trusted Pakura's judgment.

As for whether these twelve were indeed the Guardian Ninja from the original storyline, he wasn't sure.

The only ones he recognized were Asuma and Kazuma.

Scanning the group, Shūichi said calmly,

"Introduce yourselves."

From left to right, starting with Asuma, then Kazuma.

The third person, a young man about seventeen or eighteen, bowed and said,

"Lord Shūichi, I am Kita, skilled in Lightning Release. I heard you defeated the Fourth Raikage using Lightning Release, so I joined when the Daimyō recruited us, hoping to learn from you."

The next three introduced themselves in turn.

"Lord Shūichi, I'm Saitō..."

"I'm Minami Goh..."

"I'm Higashi Mao. Like these other three, I specialize in Lightning Release and came here because we all admire you!"

Four Lightning Release users from the same place—what a sight.

Shūichi wasn't too surprised, though. The shinobi world had many independent clans, like the Fūma Clan.

---

(End of Chapter)

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