Although Tsunade had kept insisting, Akaba needed to return and intensify his training. Yet the moment he got home,
What even *is* training?
It was only half a day at the Manga Con, but he'd spent three or four days straight getting ready for it.
Now that's exactly what he *should* be doing—lying down for a nap!
Time passed... and it wasn't until noon the next day that—
"Akaba, wake up! Elder Fukasaku is coming today."
Akaba was sleeping soundly when the door was pounded loudly.
No choice but to get up now.
"Elder Fukasaku? What the heck could he possibly want here?"
He opened the door listlessly. Standing outside were Sakuma Saiki and the little girl.
"Looks like he wants to check up on you—and he brought some clan supplies and rewards too."
Sakuma Saiki smiled.
"Hmph, that old man showing up? Nothing good will come from it. There's always an angle behind uninvited kindness—who knows what Elder Fukasaku really wants."
Akaba rubbed his messy hair.
"You shouldn't say things like that."
Sakuma Saiki chuckled awkwardly.
Even though she secretly agreed, saying it out loud just felt disrespectful.
"There's no one else around anyway. Little Kyoyuki won't tell anyone, right?"
Akaba grinned.
"Right, right. But that old gentleman might arrive soon—I already sensed him."
The little girl nodded.
Her family had long gotten used to her sensing ability, though they always reminded her not to show it in front of strangers.
"He arrives quickly. Let me change clothes and freshen up a bit."
Akaba shut the door, quickly washed up and changed.
When Elder Fukasaku arrived, Akaba just happened to be walking downstairs, meeting him face-to-face.
The head elder of the Sakuma clan was none other than the eldest clan member, Sakuma Chingen.
"Elder Chingen, may I ask why you're here today?"
Without ceremony, Akaba sat down directly.
His chakra reserves were still recovering from yesterday's intense usage—that's why he hurt a bit. Otherwise, he wouldn't have slept so long.
"The illusionary ninjutsu you used at the Manga Con—it was a variation of Narakami no Jutsu, wasn't it?"
Sakuma Chingen asked solemnly.
"Ah, yeah, that's right."
Akaba nodded. The clan had studied this technique before, but eventually abandoned it because people considered it useless.
Sakuma Chingen was one of the eldest members of the Sakuma clan—his knowledge was all he had left of real value.
"Figured as much!"
For a moment, Sakuma Chingen staggered, then inhaled deeply, letting out a sigh filled with admiration. "Akaba, truly you are an unprecedented genius in our Sakuma clan."
"It's just a rough, immature modification of genjutsu—doesn't count for much."
Akaba didn't think much of it.
Such a slight transformation could only reach the level of dreamlike anime or video games.
To achieve true reality within illusions would require a long period of hard work.
"It's already incredibly impressive!"
Elder Chingen insisted.
Unlike ordinary ninjutsu, genjutsu required more difficult control and understanding of spiritual power.
Through all these years, many geniuses within the Sakuma clan had spent their entire lives trying to reform genjutsu without success.
Kneeling in formal seiza posture, Elder Chingen leaned forward respectfully, saying, "I'd like to ask you—to teach us this genjutsu."
"Elder Chingen! Akaba!"
Sakuma Saiki was momentarily shocked. The posture Elder Chingen displayed practically resembled begging on bended knee.
"Fair enough, we're from the same family anyway."
Akaba yawned and stretched lazily. At least he wasn't here demanding, "Hand over your jutsu for the sake of the clan."
Just this attitude alone satisfied him.
"Oh right, you're participating in the Chunin Exams. We brought these as gifts for you."
Sakuma Chingen said while taking out a sealing scroll.
Akaba felt slightly surprised.
Sealing scrolls were valuable; they were generally only used to store precious items.
What had Sakuma Chingen brought?
He became extremely curious and instinctively leaned forward.
Though Sakuma Chingen was very old and formed hand seals slowly, he performed them carefully to release the seal on the scroll.
The object shouldn't be too big, otherwise he would have gone to an open area.
Akaba speculated inwardly.
"It's done!"
As soon as the words left his mouth, he completed the final hand seal.
Boom!
The scroll suddenly pulsed with intense chakra energy, and immediately afterward two objects appeared atop it.
Akaba's eyes widened.
One was a strangely shaped brush-like pen, and the other was a specially designed sketchpad.
These two things were the precious items that Sakuma Chingen valued so highly?
"So that's—"
Akaba picked up the metal brush-pen and examined it closely. As soon as he lifted it, he immediately sensed its unique material—it was a chakra weapon!
"Precisely, a chakra weapon crafted from special materials."
Sakuma Chingen nodded.
Chakra weapons could channel chakra and produce effects of nature transformation through it.
Akaba picked up the sketchpad and tried infusing it with his own chakra.
A layer of chakra film emerged on the pad's surface—seeming like earth-style nature transformation.
Next, he gave the brush a proper test.
Instantly ink automatically appeared on the brush tip, and when he flicked it outward, numerous [Water Bullets] formed.
"Hey Akaba, how could you use such a dangerous technique indoors!"
Sakuma Saiki's expression changed.
In the next second, Akaba used the sketchpad to block each incoming [Water Bullet].
He hadn't infused much chakra, so the power behind the [Water Bullets] was pretty limited.
However judging from the effect, the sketchpad's defense capability was quite impressive. While these indeed made good weapons and armor, such ineffective techniques weren't worth this kind of investment.
By doing this, Sakuma Chingen clearly intended to make an investment—and win Akaba's favor. During their time together, Akaba had asked almost nothing from the clan.
"Thanks, Elder Chingen."
Akaba put away the brush and sketchpad. He now officially owned chakra-based weapons.
"N-no problem."
Sakuma Chingen paused, replying blankly.
Was that Water Nature Transformation?
He secretly felt shocked—the boy already mastered Earth and Water natures in addition to genjutsu? That kind of talent was downright scary!
"He must acknowledge our clan!"
Sakuma Chingen thought firmly.
Rather than asking about the Water Nature Transformation, he pondered briefly before saying: "We probably can't help much with your jutsu cultivation. If you need anything else, just let us know."
"As a matter of fact, when I go to the Land of Wind, I'll need a caravan. Originally I was planning to hire people from Izumi Yamano's workshop."
Akaba stated.
"Hah! You really don't think much of our clan, do you? This is nothing for us to handle!"
Sakuma Chingen laughed heartily.
"In that case, I'll leave him in your care."
Akaba gave a slight bow.
"Hmm, not at all."
Sakuma Chingen waved his hand dismissively, though his eyes betrayed his delight.
The more they interacted, the deeper the bond with the clan grew.
"It's nothing. I'll take my leave first."
Sakuma Chingen stood up and unsteadily made his way outside.
"Please walk safely."
Akaba stood as well, walking with him for a short distance. Then he watched him leave before returning inside.
He glanced at the chakra drawing tools on the table and couldn't help but fall into thought.
These two items must have been custom ordered beforehand, so they probably had little to do with his modified [genjutsu] techniques.
Regardless of whether there was a comic convention or not, the Sakuma clan would have sent them anyway, increasing his chances of surviving the Chunin Exams.
It was hard to imagine that the Sakuma clan would later decline to such a state.
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