Seeing the lifelike transparent Water Blade in Tōru’s hand, Shisui Uchiha was utterly amazed.
He felt that this was even more astonishing than seeing all of Grandma Cat’s cats barking like dogs.
[How in the world did he do this?] That was the only question occupying his mind.
The Uchiha’s Sharingan certainly possessed the ability to copy ninjutsu, but it wasn’t as simple as learning something the instant one saw it.
Take Kakashi, for example.
He was known as the Copy Ninja and had copied nearly a thousand ninjutsu.
But the prerequisite for learning those techniques was that he possessed all five basic nature transformations and had personally created a technique like the Chidori.
He therefore understood the principles behind all five elemental natures.
Only with that foundation could he exploit the Sharingan’s basic copying ability to a level surpassing that of most Uchiha.
But Tōru…
Not only had he not used the Sharingan just now, he didn’t even understand the basic principles behind the ninjutsu.
He had merely watched Itachi perform it once.
Just once.
Yet he had not only learned a B-rank Water Release ninjutsu, he had performed it even better than Itachi.
And he hadn’t even formed hand seals!
Hadn’t Shisui noticed that there were actual characters engraved beneath the Water Blade?
[Could it be that his affinity for Water Nature is simply too high?] Shisui’s mind, sharpened by years of experience as a Jōnin, raced.
[No…
That can’t be the whole explanation.
That could account for his high level of completion and the fact that he can draw water directly from the waterfall.] [But to guide chakra and perform the technique without hand seals, he would have to have practiced this technique thousands upon thousands of times, becoming completely familiar with the way chakra circulates through his chakra pathways and the exact route it follows.
But that’s obviously impossible.] [Wait.
Chakra…
circulation route?] Those words reminded Shisui of something familiar.
Suddenly, a bold hypothesis formed in his mind.
It was so outrageous that even a Mangekyō Sharingan wielder like Shisui found it difficult to believe.
[Let’s think carefully…] His mind replayed the scene of Itachi repeatedly practicing the technique.
Throughout the entire process, Tōru had stood perfectly still, staring intently at Itachi as though he were trying to see straight through his body.
That reminded Shisui of something that had happened more than two years ago.
He had taken Itachi to participate in a Jōnin training exercise.
During the exercise, they had encountered members of Root who had suddenly appeared, and a battle had broken out.
Itachi had only just awakened his Sharingan at the time.
He wasn’t yet accustomed to its enhanced dynamic vision, and he had twisted his ankle during the battle.
Shisui had no choice but to carry him home.
That evening, Tōru had opened the door for them.
Shisui remembered how Tōru had stared at Itachi’s injured ankle in exactly the same way.
Then Tōru had raised his head and looked directly at Shisui with those hollow, crystal-clear eyes, as deep and bottomless as an abyss.
It felt exactly like being watched by a Hyūga shinobi’s Byakugan on the battlefield during the Third Shinobi World War.
That was why Shisui had joked with Itachi at the time.
And just like now, the words had slipped out before he could stop them.
“I suspect Tōru actually has the Byakugan.” This time, however, he wasn’t joking.
Itachi blinked helplessly at the statement and didn’t respond.
Shisui realized he’d said something foolish and awkwardly patted his own head, dispelling the strange intuition.
“Tōru, give it a try.” Itachi spoke to Tōru, who still had the Water Blade condensed around his fingers.
“See if you can use this Water Blade to cut something.” When it came to Tōru constantly surprising his family, Itachi had long since grown accustomed to it.
He couldn’t even be bothered to investigate every strange thing Tōru did anymore.
Instead, he was more concerned about Tōru’s personality.
Perhaps that extraordinary talent was the price he had paid for becoming so withdrawn.
“Okay.” Tōru held the Water Blade out to his side.
He looked around before settling his gaze on a large boulder protruding from the pool beneath the waterfall.
Years of water washing over it had made the stone exceptionally smooth.
Its shape, however, reminded Tōru of Muzan Kibutsuji’s appearance at the moment of his death, when his body had resembled that of a gigantic infant.
Rather than destroy the few trees around them, it would be better to use this stone as a target.
Tōru gently stepped onto the surface of the water.
Not even the slightest ripple appeared beneath his feet.
It was as though he himself were part of the water.
He raised the two fingers of his right hand, angling the Water Blade diagonally across his chest.
Then he reversed his grip and performed an utterly ordinary horizontal slash.
There was no preparatory movement or buildup of force.
Yet chakra was already flowing through the pathways in his arm toward his fingertips.
“Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash!” The transparent Water Blade was propelled forward by a sudden surge of waves.
It looked like a beautiful glass sculpture throwing itself into a suicidal attack against a massive stone.
It appeared certain to shatter into pieces.
Reality, however, was completely different.
The transparent Water Blade sliced through the boulder as effortlessly as a hot knife through butter.
And that wasn’t all.
As the blade traveled through the stone, the water along its edge continued circulating at tremendous speed like a conveyor belt.
The constantly shifting flow allowed the Water Blade to cut into the stone even as it performed the initial slash.
Tōru immediately understood what this meant.
If someone dared to clash with this Water Blade using a thin-bladed ninja sword, they would have to be prepared for their weapon to be destroyed outright.
Just as expected, less than half a second later, the boulder—which was more than two meters wide—was sliced cleanly in half.
A broad, razor-thin wave of water surged from the path of the blade and shot into the distance.
It continued flying for another five meters before losing its momentum and falling into the pool, merging with the cold water.
“It looks like every one of Tōru’s Forms produces something similar to a ninjutsu in addition to the physical sword strike.” Shisui had seen it clearly.
The wave generated by Tōru’s slash had been extremely sharp.
Its power was probably not much weaker than the Water Blade itself.
Its destructive force was likely comparable to a C-rank ninjutsu.
It resembled a miniature version of Water Release: Water Severing Wave.
“Itachi, you said before that Tōru’s Water Breathing has eleven Forms?” “That’s right.” Itachi nodded.
“Then that means Tōru has essentially created…
eleven offensive Water Release techniques all by himself?” Shisui still couldn’t stop thinking about the Water Dragon Bullet he’d witnessed the last time.
And that was only one of the eleven.
“Something like that.” Itachi smiled.
There was even a hint of pride on his face.
But that pride quickly gave way to contemplation.
“It looks like bringing him here really was the right decision.” Shisui’s expression grew increasingly excited.
Itachi had already demonstrated the physical version of Water Breathing for him.
But only Tōru could use the ninjutsu version—the version combined with chakra.
“Tōru, do you have much chakra left?” Shisui called out loudly.
“I barely used any.” Tōru walked across the water and returned to shore.
The Water Blade on his fingertips immediately dispersed.
“Maybe it’s because we’re beside the water.” “That’s how Water Release works.
Whether you can take advantage of favorable terrain has a huge impact on a Water Release user.” Shisui suddenly changed the subject.
“Since the weapon problem has been solved, it’s time for us to fulfill our agreement.” His expression became serious as he looked at Tōru.
“Tōru, now give it everything you’ve got and fight me.
Let me see exactly what you’re capable of.
“Afterward, I’ll lend this place to you for as long as you want.” “Here?” Tōru looked around, seemingly reluctant to damage the beautiful scenery.
The scene of him using Constant Flux to tear up the ground several months ago was still fresh in his mind.
Yet Shisui had specifically demanded that he use his full strength.
More than four months had passed since their last fight.
During that time, Tōru’s body had been continuously strengthened by his Breathing Style.
He had no clear idea of how powerful his full strength had become.
But one thing was certain.
If they actually fought here, destroying this entire mountain gorge wouldn’t be difficult.
“Of course not here.
You’re planning to live here for a while, aren’t you?” Shisui smiled.
“Besides, if we fight near the shrine, the commotion will easily attract the attention of the clan members.
“We need somewhere absolutely no one can discover if we’re going to conduct this spar properly.” What Tōru could do couldn’t be discovered by the clan.
And it couldn’t be discovered by Konoha either.
Although Shisui trusted the Third Hokage, an old friend of his grandfather’s, deeply, there were several Hokage Advisors with whom he could never truly be open.
“Shisui, are we leaving the village?” Itachi was somewhat concerned.
They were already outside the village barrier.
If they went even farther, beyond the patrol teams’ range, they would effectively be leaving the village without permission.
He had already promised his father that he would find an opportunity to join ANBU.
He absolutely couldn’t make such a mistake right now.
Otherwise, all his efforts might be wasted.
“I have an even better idea.” Shisui stored the Second Hokage’s scroll away and walked toward the small cabin beside the waterfall.
“Come inside first.” Tōru and Itachi followed him in, both completely bewildered.
The inside of the cabin was just as simple as the outside.
There was only a low table and several straw mats.
Fishing equipment and cooking utensils sat in the corner, though they looked as if they hadn’t been used in a very long time.
“You two, sit over there and face me.” Shisui sat down first, then pointed toward his Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
“Look at me.
Don’t resist.
Understand?” Tōru and Itachi nodded simultaneously.
Shisui noticed their complete and unquestioning trust in him and smiled with satisfaction.
Before his smile had even faded, his eyes changed.
The three individual tomoe gradually twisted and merged into the shape of a shuriken.
The four points of the shuriken were slightly distorted.
“Kotoamatsukami.” With a quiet murmur, Tōru and Itachi came to their senses.
They were still sitting exactly where they had been.
Shisui was smiling at them as though nothing had happened.
“Shisui?” A trace of suspicion appeared in Itachi’s expression.
“Earlier, you…” [You used your Mangekyō dōjutsu on Tōru and me?] He looked around.
Then he examined the chakra inside his head using the method he normally used to dispel genjutsu.
He detected nothing unusual.
But in the next instant, everything around them changed.
Apart from the three of them and the table in front of them, the entire environment suddenly transformed.
The dark-brown wooden cabin melted into a pool of distorted yellow paint.
The same thing happened beneath their feet.
Above their heads as well.
In other words, apart from the three of them and the table, everything around them had…
melted away.
“Don’t worry.
This is simply one application of my dōjutsu.” Shisui stood up.
“Your spiritual bodies are currently inside my genjutsu space.
“Everything here is under my control.
“For example, we can go sightseeing in the Land of Wind…” He lightly clapped his hands.
The melted “paint” began recombining.
Within seconds, the three of them had arrived on a barren hill covered in yellow sand.
A dry, violent wind swept across the landscape, carrying sand with it.
It scraped across Tōru’s skin like sandpaper.
The murky, yellowish wind forced him to narrow his eyes, and he could even feel tiny grains of sand inside his mouth.
More importantly, the efficiency of the Water Breathing he was currently maintaining dropped dramatically because of the change in environment.
[Is this really a genjutsu?] Before he could react, Tōru was suddenly enveloped in bone-chilling cold.
The endless yellow sand transformed into vast fields of white snow.
The dark sky stretched endlessly in every direction.
Yet the efficiency of Water Breathing suddenly increased.
“You can also visit the Land of Snow and experience an avalanche firsthand.” The moment Shisui finished speaking, a terrifying roar came from above Tōru and Itachi.
They raised their heads.
Through the dense clouds of flying snow, they saw the summit behind them.
A massive white torrent was rushing down the mountainside toward them.
Before either of them could react, the avalanche swallowed them whole.
The next moment, they surfaced from salty water.
They were soaked from head to toe, staring out over an endless ocean.
A vast island lay nearby, resembling a blue whale suspended upon the water.
“We can also take a boat around the outskirts of the Land of Water.” Shisui’s voice rang out again.
The three of them suddenly found themselves standing atop the Hokage Rock in Konoha.
Specifically, atop the stone face of the Second Hokage, Tobirama Senju.
The sun raced across the sky at an absurd speed.
One moment it was noon in Konoha.
The next, night had fallen.
The bright moon seemed to be pulled closer and closer by some tremendous force until it loomed directly over the three of them…
Only then did Tōru and Itachi finally understand what Shisui had meant.
[Everything here is under my control.] “I’ve finished showing off.” Shisui smugly sat back down.
With a wave of his hand, the previously empty table became covered with Itachi’s favorite Sanshoku Dango.
A Nine-Tailed Fox suddenly appeared, more than a meter tall, holding a teapot and pouring tea for the three of them.
“Well?
Isn’t this amazing?” “You…” Itachi looked at the Nine-Tails holding a teacup out to him and couldn’t help laughing helplessly.
“Don’t tell me you actually used that technique just for something like this.” Shisui’s technique was called Kotoamatsukami.
According to Shisui himself, the technique could control a person’s mind and make them believe virtually anything, turning them into a puppet of the genjutsu.
If Shisui implanted the thought “You are already dead” into someone’s mind, that person would actually die after the genjutsu ended.
As for how the technique worked, Itachi had now witnessed it firsthand.
Shisui directly pulled a person’s spiritual body into his genjutsu space.
Once inside, the victim could only allow Shisui to manipulate the environment around them, with virtually no means of resisting.
Note: This section is inspired by Kotoamatsukami: Light from the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm games.
It does not alter Shisui’s overall power level and merely adds detail to the mechanics of his genjutsu.
“But I remember you saying that using this technique would leave your ocular power unable to recover for several years.” “Don’t worry, Itachi.
I only pulled you into the genjutsu space.
It didn’t place much strain on my eyes.
I’ll recover after resting for a few days.” Shisui cheerfully took a sip of tea.
“I only truly use that power when I want to alter the beliefs of an outside spiritual body—or directly destroy it.” Only then did Itachi relax.
“So, what do you think?
Tōru and I can fight here without any worries.” Shisui turned his gaze toward Tōru, who was staring intently at the Nine-Tails.
“Even if we fight to the death, it’s only an illusion here.
As long as I don’t make it real, none of it will have any actual effect on him.
“When the genjutsu ends, everything will be like a dream.” “Fight to the death?” The relief Itachi had just felt immediately vanished.
He stared seriously at Shisui.
“There’s no need for that.” Even if this was an illusory space, Tōru was still very young.
If he actually experienced the sensation of death or the pain of severe injury, there was no guarantee it wouldn’t leave a psychological impact.
“We agreed that he could fight without holding anything back.
How can we go back on our word now?” Shisui casually waved his hand.
The scenery before them changed once again.
The table appeared before two enormous statues standing opposite each other.
A waterfall larger than the Naka River plunged between them.
This was the Valley of the End.
The battlefield where Uchiha Madara and Hashirama Senju had fought their final battle.
“Besides, when you were Tōru’s age, you’d already seen what war and death looked like.
You experienced the terror of standing on the brink of death yourself.
“You should understand better than anyone how dangerous this world is.
“Tōru may be extremely strong, but his heart is too gentle.
“If we leave him here alone without knowing exactly what kind of trouble he can handle, can you really rest easy?
“Besides, I think giving him a sense of danger will actually be good for him.
“At the very least, he’ll understand just how much of a threat an ordinary Jōnin can pose to him.” “…” Itachi couldn’t even be bothered to argue about the phrase “ordinary Jōnin” anymore.
He lowered his head and fell silent for a moment.
Eventually, he looked at his younger brother.
“Tōru, if you’re afraid…” “Then let’s do it.” Tōru stood up.
A stream of water surged from his fingertips and gradually formed a half-meter-long blade.
He gazed at the brilliant white moon overhead and quietly spoke words that only he himself could understand.
“I want to know what kind of dangers they’ll face after they appear in this world, too.”
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS sagamaster789 Liked It?