"Ishikawa, what jutsu did you just use?" Five minutes later, Nohara Rin asked the moment she saw Ishikawa waking up again.
Hearing this, Ishikawa's face darkened, frustration flashing in his eyes. "Don't even mention it. I originally planned to possess your body and take a look over there, but I didn't expect my pathetic spirit to collapse from just a touch. Totally useless!"
After briefly explaining, Ishikawa gave up on the idea of going to the Third Ninja War time-space for now.
With a soul that fragile—one that collapses at the slightest contact—how could he be sure it'd be safe to travel? And who knows how long his chakra would last? He wasn't lacking in ninjutsu training right now, and the trip was purely to satisfy curiosity. Staying hidden was clearly the smarter move.
"Is that so? Then let's start practicing the Mystical Palm Jutsu." Seeing that Ishikawa wasn't in the mood to talk further, Rin didn't press him despite her curiosity and smoothly changed the subject.
They had already wasted more than ten minutes—time was short. Besides, she'd eventually find out about the technique anyway, so there was no rush.
"Right. Here's the carp you asked for." Ishikawa immediately perked up and placed the fish on the table, temporarily setting aside his spiritualization training to focus on learning the Healing Jutsu.
This was a life-saving ninjutsu. He had to master it.
"You've already grasped the theory and chakra control basics. The first step now is transforming your chakra into a healing chakra using hand seals. Watch closely—this is the Mystical Palm Jutsu's hand sign sequence..." Rin explained seriously as she slowly formed seals with both hands.
Ishikawa didn't dare slack off. He immediately focused on Rin's fingers, watching as her hands glowed with soft green healing chakra.
Under Ishikawa's attentive gaze, Rin placed her hands on the half-dead carp. Within just three seconds, the weak fish sprang back to life!
But its second chance didn't last long. Before it could even enjoy its revived state, Rin's kunai struck again, leaving it on the brink of death once more.
"This is the Mystical Palm Jutsu. It channels healing chakra to rapidly regenerate tissue and repair wounds. Your turn, Ishikawa." Rin nodded as she looked at the poor carp once again struggling to survive.
"Miss Rin, I didn't expect you to have this side to you." Ishikawa, still processing the efficient and brutal 'fish-poking' method, couldn't help but be impressed.
What a clean kill—completely opposite her sweet and gentle image. As expected of a battle-hardened ninja! Way better than those overly dramatic types...
"Do you know me that well?" Rin rolled her eyes at him for once, then formed hand seals again. "I'll summon a shadow clone to guide your training. I still need to study Tsunade-sama's Strange Strength Technique."
"No problem." Ishikawa wasn't bothered in the slightest. He immediately stepped forward and began mimicking the hand signs as best as he could.
"Mystical Palm Jutsu..." As Ishikawa completed the seals and spoke, he felt chakra flow through his body, pooling into his hands as a soft green glow began to form. Just as he was about to place his hands on the carp, the glow flickered, then scattered completely.
"You think A-rank healing techniques are easy? But to be able to convert chakra into healing chakra on your first try—that's already impressive." Rin smiled gently, turning toward the door handle.
Her shadow clone, which had just split off, stepped forward and began coaching Ishikawa in detail.
"So that's the trick? Got it! Let's try again!" Ishikawa's eyes lit up with understanding. Fueled by excitement, he restarted the hand seals with renewed determination.
"Mystical Palm Jutsu..." Once more, green energy formed at his fingertips. This time, it was a little more stable, deeper in hue, slightly more focused.
But only just a little...
Puff!! The moment he placed his hands on the carp, the healing chakra once again fizzled out.
"Hold on. Let me recharge my chakra." Unbothered, Ishikawa spun around and firmly grabbed the door handle.
Just as Nohara Rin had said, if it were that easy to master, it wouldn't be classified as an A-rank ninjutsu!
Previously, he had succeeded in learning the Spiritual Transformation Technique in a single attempt, but that was due to his soul. Ishikawa didn't consider it true talent—just a hidden perk from being a transmigrator!
'Wait a second...Spiritual Transformation Technique... fish?' Just as he reached out to touch the door handle, Ishikawa's eyes swept over the half-dead carp. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration lit up in his mind.
His fragile spirit may not survive even a single touch in battle, making it useless for possessing strong-willed enemies, but what if he used it on animals with weaker souls?
Like the carp in front of him… or birds… or other wild animals!
The moment the thought clicked, the dazed look on Ishikawa's electrocuted face vanished. His eyes glinted blue with excitement, and his heartbeat quickened.
In the ninja world, no battle or mission can be separated from intelligence gathering. For those without kekkei genkai or family-exclusive techniques, honing skills in intel and tracking is crucial for survival.
That's how Kakashi's summon, Pakkun, became so valuable!
But what if… Ishikawa could directly possess animals and control them for reconnaissance? Wouldn't that be completely overpowered?
And best of all, completely untraceable.
---
Five minutes later—
"Miss Lin, let's continue." Having finished recovering, Ishikawa formed hand seals once more to use the Mystical Palm Technique. He deliberately held off on testing his carp-possession theory for now.
There was a reason. Techniques related to intelligence gathering were top-tier secrets. Once exposed, they lost much of their value.
So even though he trusted Nohara Rin, Ishikawa wasn't planning to share this. If he hadn't been preparing to possess her body earlier, he wouldn't have practiced the Spiritual Transformation Technique in front of her either.
Time flowed quietly as Ishikawa focused on training. His progress in the Mystical Palm Technique remained limited, but he wasn't discouraged. He expected it would take two to three months of effort anyway.
As the session wrapped up, he asked Nohara Rin to heal the carp, under the excuse that he needed it alive for practice tomorrow. Of course, he also had her restore his chakra in the process.
"Finally, time to begin the real experiment!" Once Nohara Rin's figure faded from sight, Ishikawa rushed to the basin, eyes glowing as he stared at the weakened carp.
If this idea worked, his personal safety level would rise by several levels.
Without hesitation, he began forming hand seals. "Spiritual Transformation Technique..."
The familiar white-blue glow rose as his upper body spirit detached and dived directly into the carp in the basin.
With a faint thud, Ishikawa's real body went limp, his eyes empty like a puppet without strings.
Meanwhile, his fragile spirit drilled into the carp's sea of consciousness. While Ishikawa's spirit was too weak to withstand Nohara Rin's casual touch, it was monstrously powerful in comparison to the carp's minuscule soul. His presence blasted the carp's soul into oblivion and took over instantly.
In that moment, a whole new underwater world came into view.
'This is the carp's perspective... it worked!' Surfacing slightly and looking back at his unconscious human body, Ishikawa felt a rush of joy swell in his chest.
He had done it.
Finally, a trump card that wasn't just a minor side skill...