After asking that question, Ōnoki didn't wait for Kurotsuchi to reply before bursting into excited self-talk.
"I can't believe a beauty trap actually worked on that guy! I never expected that!!!"
"Who would've thought that thick-browed, serious-looking kid would fall for that! Hahaha!"
"But listen, since you used a beauty trap to lure him in, you'd better keep him hooked..."
"If Iwagakure could really get a son-in-law like him, that wouldn't be bad at all. That boy's strength is undeniable… ( ˝ᗢ̈˝ )"
Kurotsuchi's face turned from dark to red, and she said shyly,
"Grandpa, what are you even talking about? What beauty trap? That was just a gift Shinju gave me."
Ōnoki froze. "Gave it to you… casually?! (꒪⌓꒪)"
He had heard all about Shinju — known throughout the ninja world as a miserly magpie who clung to his wealth!
That painting was rare, worth at least a few million ryo, and he just handed it to his granddaughter without hesitation? Didn't that clearly show how much he valued her? (´∇ﾉ｀*)ノ
Seeing her grandfather's expression getting more and more suspicious, Kurotsuchi quickly raised her hand to stop him.
"Grandpa, don't overthink it! Let's go test out this 'flying chicken' first! (||๐_๐)"
"Alright, I'll go call the others!"
After watching her grandfather fly out of the house, Kurotsuchi recalled what he'd just said and couldn't help smiling to herself.
If Shinju acted like this... didn't that mean he'd already met the family?
And her family even approved! (◍˃̶ᗜ˂̶◍)
...
Some time later.
Ōnoki, together with Kurotsuchi and several of Iwagakure's high-ranking officials, arrived on a mountain outside the village.
Hovering in midair with his hands behind his back, Ōnoki said solemnly,
"I gathered everyone here today to test a transport device my granddaughter obtained from Konohagakure — the 'Flying Chicken.'"
As soon as he said that, the higher-ups below immediately started flattering him.
"The 'Flying Chicken'?! I heard even in Konoha, this thing is extremely rare!"
"Kurotsuchi really pulled off something impressive!"
"Let's test it right away! I can't wait!"
Under the eager gazes of the assembled officials, Ōnoki took out the blueprint Kurotsuchi had handed him earlier.
Following Shinju's instructions, he injected chakra into it...
Normally, activating a painting type ninjutsu required a specific formula and wasn't easy to use.
But the one Shinju had given Kurotsuchi had been simplified — it only needed chakra input to activate, though much of its original complexity had been stripped away.
Once chakra flowed into the special paper, there was a sudden boom!
A massive steel bird of black and white appeared on the mountaintop!
The onlooking Iwagakure officials widened their eyes in amazement. (´◊ω◊｀)
"As expected of something created by Shinju — such exquisite craftsmanship!"
"Indeed! I may not like that guy's attitude, but his mastery of ninjutsu art is undeniable!"
However, when they looked into the cockpit, they all froze.
"Uh…"
One of the officials spoke up, "How do we even make this thing move? All these buttons and levers... it's way too complicated!"
Ōnoki frowned, clearly at a loss, and turned toward Kurotsuchi.
But Kurotsuchi was even less sure than him. Then she had an idea.
"Why don't we call Shinju over and have him teach us directly? ❛‿˂̵✧"
Ōnoki thought for a moment, then shook his head.
"First, something like this involves a village's secret ninjutsu — he'd never tell us easily. And second, having so many of Iwagakure's leaders beg a kid for help... that would be too humiliating for us."
Kurotsuchi knew her grandfather would never swallow his pride like that, so she suggested,
"Then how about you all leave first? I'll talk to Shinju personally, just as myself."
"If he agrees to teach, great — and if not, it won't make Iwagakure look bad."
Ōnoki found that idea reasonable and led the others to hide nearby...
...
A few minutes later, Kurotsuchi brought Shinju up the mountain.
As soon as Shinju arrived, he sensed the unusual chakra signatures lurking around.
Then he looked up at the pseudo-paint airplane on the peak and asked,
"Why did you call me here?"
Kurotsuchi pointed toward the cockpit, her expression slightly aggrieved.
"You gave me this thing, but you never told me how to operate it. T_T"
Shinju looked up at the cockpit filled with buttons and mechanisms and immediately understood.
So these people didn't know how to fly it, huh? And they wanted him to teach them in person.
As for the ones hiding... they were probably too embarrassed to show their faces, trying to secretly learn from the sidelines?
Thinking that, Shinju said calmly, "Operating it isn't something you can learn overnight…"
"But, I have another solution."
Kurotsuchi immediately asked, "What solution? Can you just transfer the piloting knowledge straight into my head?! (•̀⌄•́)"
Shinju rubbed his chin. "That's possible, but I've got an even simpler fix — just rewrite the plane's control system. ୧⍢⃝୨"
Kurotsuchi hesitated. "Wouldn't that be really hard to do?"
Without answering, Shinju tossed a Flying Thunder God kunai to the ground.
The next moment, his body vanished!
Kurotsuchi: (‧_‧?)
While she was still confused about where he went, Shinju reappeared — dragging along Sai, who was wearing his usual cropped top.
"This is the artist behind the paintings," Shinju introduced. "He can directly modify the cockpit layout."
Sai had been peacefully sketching landscapes in Konoha when Shinju suddenly teleported him to Iwagakure.
Before Sai could even ask what was happening, Shinju swiftly pulled a sheet from his scroll, drew a strange new control panel full of simple buttons, and handed it to Sai.
"The base plane design I gave you before — you still have it, right? Change the control panel to match this one."
Sai opened his mouth, wanting to ask, "I—"
Shinju raised a hand. "No need to ask. Just do as I say. You'll get your reward once it's done."
...
About ten minutes later, the improved steel pseudo-paint appeared.
Shinju infused chakra and shouted, "Ninja Art: Steel Paint!"
Immediately, another aircraft materialized on the mountaintop!
He gestured for Kurotsuchi to check it out.
Kurotsuchi looked puzzled but quickly climbed aboard. When she saw the cockpit, she froze.
(꒪⌓꒪)
"T-This… this is…"
The new control panel had only six buttons — forward, backward, left, right, up, and down.
Shinju and Sai followed her in, with Shinju grinning proudly.
"Well? Simple enough now, right?｡◕‿◕｡"
Even a fool could handle this — it was easier than pulling off a combo in King of Fighters.
Kurotsuchi's eyes lit up with excitement. "Can I try it now?"
Shinju nodded. "Sure. I'll sit in the back in case anything goes wrong."
Moments later, atop a mountain outside Iwagakure, a steel bird took flight!
----------------
Pls Drop some Power Stones
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