Chapter 195: S-Rank Technique, Dark Spiral Annihilation Sphere!
"The Fire Temple?" Keisuke raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise. "Clan Head, among these three techniques, is one of them that red chakra fist jutsu the ninja monks used?"
"Red chakra fist?" Shikano thought for a moment, recalling the scene of the monk beating down the rogue ninja. "I'm not sure about that. Perhaps the one called 'Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill' has some information. In any case, Chūkaku only gave me a rough overview of their effects; he didn't explain them in detail."
Great Master Chūkaku, the current abbot of the Fire Temple. Keisuke had always thought of him as a free spirit, though perhaps a bit petty. "Did he say anything else about these techniques?"
"No," Shikano said simply, making no mention of the resources and effort the clan had expended to obtain these scrolls. "I believe I told you before, the Fire Temple is not secretive about sharing its abilities."
Keisuke nodded. "Clan Head, let me take a look at these."
Shikano was more than happy to oblige. While Keisuke was occupied with the scrolls, he immediately ran over to schmooze with Kokuō.
'A, B, and C-rank, one of each. If you told me Master Chūkaku didn't do this on purpose, I wouldn't believe you,' Keisuke thought, pretending to read while actually browsing his panel. 'Still, these three Sage Arts are quite strong!'
He looked at the highest-ranking one first.
[A-Rank Technique: Welcoming Approach: Thousand-Hand Kill]
[Description: A secret tradition of the ninja temples. Wield the power of a Buddha with a human body.]
[Effect: Through the fine manipulation of natural energy in the atmosphere, the user gives form to a Thousand-Hand Bodhisattva and uses its chakra fists to attack the enemy at super-high speed with devastating power.]
[Evaluation: The first time I saw it... the countless, densely packed arms of the Thousand-Hand Guanyin Bodhisattva...]
'The Fire Temple's Mini-Gundam, more or less.' Once upon a time, he had been very interested in this technique. But now that he had his own "Black Samurai," his interest had waned considerably. Unlike his other Sage Arts, this one required a much deeper and more detailed control of natural energy. But even so, it wasn't a true Sage Art in the strictest sense; it didn't involve the creation of sage chakra, only the use of one's own chakra to manipulate natural energy. This method was highly dependent on the user's chakra control and familiarity with natural energy.
Still, if he could incorporate its method of resonating with atmospheric natural energy into his own Black Samurai, its power would surely skyrocket. 'Shadow Gundam is one thing... but a Sage Shadow Gundam is the real deal!'
He moved on to the B-rank technique, "Adamantine Fist." Unlike the first, this was more of a "Sage Art Taijutsu."
[B-Rank Technique: Adamantine Fist]
[Description: A secret tradition of the ninja temples. The pinnacle of the Steel Fist style. Nature itself is the greatest source of martial arts!]
[Effect: Draws natural energy from the atmosphere and combines it with one's own chakra to create sage chakra, which is then concentrated in the fist to produce incredible destructive power.]
[Evaluation: I have the Adamantine Fist, and he has the Iron Head.]
'The technique is good, but why didn't it come with the details on how to create sage chakra?' He was speechless. To use a Sage Taijutsu, you first needed sage chakra. It was like being given a martial arts form without the internal energy cultivation method. How could he possibly practice this? 'And this 'Adamantine Fist' is just a basic punch with sage chakra added! I don't even know what to say...'
He turned his attention to the final C-rank technique, and a feeling of immense satisfaction washed over him. 'This... this is what I really wanted!'
[C-Rank Technique: Sage Clan Breathing Method]
[Description: A tradition passed down for a thousand years in the Fire Temple. A simple use of natural energy to strengthen the body.]
[Effect: Through a special breathing method, the user draws in a minuscule amount of natural energy from the atmosphere, guiding it into the body to slightly supplement and enhance their own physical energy.]
[Evaluation: This is what immortal cultivation is all about.]
'This is the direct upgrade to the Sage Clan Guidance Technique!' he realized, thoroughly pleased. 'First, you perceive natural energy. Then, you guide it into your body. And finally, you use it to enhance your own physical energy... The Fire Temple really does have a systematic method for practicing Sage Art!'
He had already mastered the first technique down to his bones; switching to this new one would be effortless. He cautiously drew in a faint wisp of natural energy and circulated it through his body according to the new method before exhaling it back into nature. 'Still just a beginner...' He felt no immediate change. 'Oh well. Just like with the last one, I'll just let it run on auto-pilot.'
He reviewed the three techniques. The Fire Temple was generous, but not that generous. They had given him the techniques to use natural energy, but they had withheld the most basic step—the D-rank technique to perceive it in the first place. Of course, it was also possible they had assumed the ninja from Shikano's side could already do that...
He put the thought aside and looked at the final scroll, which was just general research. It was mostly fluff, except for a vague mention that "one can extend their life and achieve immortality by using natural energy." For a normal ninja, it would open the door to a new world. For him, it was all things he already knew.
"Clan Head," he called out. "Besides this, did you have anything else for me?"
"Anything else?" Shikano turned, his ecstatic smile vanishing instantly. "Let me think... Right, I forgot to mention. Chūkaku said one more thing. He said if you have any questions while studying these, you can go to the Fire Temple and ask."
'He wants me to go to the Fire Temple?' Keisuke thought of his earlier suspicion. 'Is he really that petty—no, is he deliberately holding back? Is he trying to test if I'm one of the so-called 'sages'?'
"Anyway," Shikano continued, "there's one more thing. The Chakra Crystals you had the clan looking for. We have news."
"You found another one?" Keisuke asked, surprised.
"Not exactly," Shikano shook his head. "We've only located two. The first was bought by the Tsuchigumo clan here in the Land of Fire. The second, according to intel from the black market, was likely bought by the Daimyo of the Land of Snow. For now, those are the only two with known whereabouts."
The Tsuchigumo clan? The Land of Snow? Keisuke filed the names away.
"Then, Clan Head, there's just one last thing," Keisuke said, taking three scrolls from his pouch and handing them to Shikano. "As you know, I have a bit of a talent for ninjutsu research."
Shikano's attention was completely torn away from Kokuō. "More new jutsu you've developed?"
"They're all B-rank, and quite difficult," Keisuke said. He pointed to a nearby tree and fired three black pellets. "The first is the Shadow Piercing Bullet. The second, the Shadow Binding Bullet. And the third, the Shadow Imitation Bullet."
He had been planning to share these with the clan for a while now. It was time to trigger another S-rank family mission.
"Seal-less... long-range..." Shikano watched the demonstration, nearly twisting his beard off. "Keisuke, the surprises you give are bigger every time!" In his eyes, the value of these three small black bullets was no less than the previous techniques he had shared. Just the "instant-cast" part alone was enough to make him fall in love with them. He suddenly felt they looked familiar, and then remembered—the Hozuki clan of Kirigakure, and their Water Gun Technique.
'It seems,' Shikano thought, looking at the scrolls in his hand, 'the Nara clan is preparing to welcome a new clan head...' He cleared his throat. "Just as before, this will be an S-rank family mission: [Shadow Bullets]."
The moment he spoke, a notification popped up.
[S-Rank Ninja Commissioned Mission has been detected!]
[S-Rank Mission: Shadow Bullets]
[Mission Content: Develop a seal-less, instant-cast, long-range ninjutsu for the Nara clan.]
[Mission Reward: One S-Rank Shinobi Secret Scroll]
And just as before, the mission was immediately marked as complete.
[You have submitted the B-Rank technique scrolls!]
[S-Rank Mission [Shadow Bullets] has been completed!]
[You have obtained one S-Rank [Shinobi Secret Scroll]!]
"Keisuke, this is a matter of great importance. I must leave for a moment," Shikano said, his痴漢 (痴汉) demeanor gone, replaced by the gravitas of a clan head. "I will convene a clan meeting shortly... Prepare yourself."
"Huh?" Keisuke frowned. "A clan meeting?" But before he could ask, his great-uncle had flown away. Faced with a choice between his personal dream and his family's development, Shikano had chosen the latter.
"I know I've said this many times, but I must repeat it," Kokuō said, watching the black dot disappear into the sky. "Your clan's leader is very, very strange."
"This time, I completely agree with you," Keisuke said. He walked over, patted the Five-Tails' giant horn, and opened his new S-rank scroll. 'Five-Tails, Kokuō, grant me good luck!'
[Opening...]
[Contents of this S-Rank Shinobi Secret Scroll: Technique]
[S-Rank Technique: Dark Spiral Annihilation Sphere]
[Description: An ultimate composite art created based on the [Rasengan], [Shadow Rasengan], [Tailed Beast Bomb], and [Spiraling Shadow Killing Cannon]. No hand seals required, instant cast.]
[Effect: Reverses the Yin-Yang chakra ratio of the [Tailed Beast Bomb]. Uses Yin Release to create an imaginary mass that can be fired at supersonic speed, and Yang Release to stabilize its form. The technique's structure is extremely compressed while retaining its full destructive power, and can be further amplified by investing more chakra.]
[Evaluation: Let the world know pain!]
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