Naoki and Daisuke stood dumbfounded, stunned by the scene before them.
Naoki felt his face burning with shame. Just earlier, he had Shigeo spend an entire afternoon practicing hand seals… but what he had just witnessed—Doton: Doryūheki (Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall) and that technique called Senpū Ranbu (Thousand Wind Chaotic Blades)—had been completed almost simultaneously. Did someone like Shigeo even need training?
He was clearly a master among masters!
"Benefactor, benefactor, where are you from? Please, come to my home tonight, I must thank you properly!"
"No, no, benefactor, come to my home instead! I'll slaughter a sheep for you—my roasted lamb is the best in the whole town! You must eat plenty!"
"I think we should just give him money. Even if we handed over all our savings, it still wouldn't be enough to express our gratitude to benefactor…"
The townsfolk knelt on the ground, refusing to rise, already plotting a dozen ways to show their thanks.
For a moment, Shigeo found himself in a difficult spot, unable to refuse their kindness.
That evening, after disposing of the pirates' corpses and setting up patrols at the town entrance, the people began their celebration. The festivities lasted an entire day before they finally allowed Shigeo, Naoki, and Daisuke to return home.
Back at the house, the two stood awkwardly, staring at Shigeo. After a long silence, Naoki scratched his head and finally spoke.
"I never thought your ninjutsu was this advanced… When I asked Shizune about you before, she only said you could refine chakra—she never mentioned that you could actually use ninjutsu!"
"She doesn't know about my ninjutsu," Shigeo replied calmly.
"Haha, I see, I see…" The two laughed nervously. As soon as Shigeo entered, they hurried to prepare him slippers. Daisuke even rushed into the kitchen, washed fruit, and served it to him with care.
Looking at their stiff manners, Shigeo said:
"You don't need to be so formal. Just treat me the same as before."
"That won't do! After seeing your ninjutsu, we realize we're nothing compared to you. Ten of us together couldn't match you. We're not fit to be your teachers at all… We were far too arrogant—how embarrassing!" Naoki blushed deeply, bowing his head in apology.
Daisuke also looked ashamed, and after a long pause, he said:
"If not for you today, we wouldn't even know how we died…"
"It's fine. This is what I should be doing. Since I'm living here, it's only right that I help the people and clear away evil."
After Shigeo spoke, silence fell once again. He drank some water, then excused himself without pressing them further, and returned to his room to rest.
From that day on, the two no longer forced Shigeo to study or attend lessons. He could come and go as he pleased. Not only that, his reputation in town grew rapidly—people would give him gifts just for walking down the street.
And so, Shigeo spent three months in Half-Moon Town. Still, there was no word from Tsunade or Shizune.
In that time, he developed seven new ninjutsu and even trained two townsfolk into becoming chakra users. Within the system, the cloned Kyūbi reached 100%, and the successful clone cells had entered their growth phase.
Because no new mirror targets had appeared, the system had not upgraded, but its basic stats had shifted dramatically. His chakra capacity had risen from 500% to 1000%.
That was ten times the normal maximum for an ordinary shinobi, and that was without absorbing natural energy. If he entered Sage Mode, his chakra reserves would reach tens of thousands of times a normal shinobi's maximum.
Only two months remained before he had to return to Konoha. Staying in Half-Moon Town any longer wasn't an option. No matter how many ninjutsu he developed, he needed to continue strengthening himself. Otherwise, when he returned, he would still be no match for Danzō—a troublesome prospect indeed.
Finally, unable to wait any longer, Shigeo bid farewell to the townspeople. Naoki and Daisuke didn't want him to leave, especially since they had promised Tsunade to take good care of him. But realizing that even all their combined strength wasn't worth a child like him, what right did they have to force him to stay?
Keeping him here would only waste his potential. They were just wandering shinobi who had trained for over twenty years with little progress, pretending it was "retirement." But a genius like Shigeo—if he didn't venture out into the world, it would truly be a waste of his gifts.
Shigeo left two talismans with Naoki and Daisuke.
"My teachers, if Tsunade-sama or Shizune-neesan come looking for me, give them these. Once they burn the talisman, I'll return to meet them immediately."
Having mastered all of Minato's ninjutsu and abilities, Shigeo naturally understood Uzushiogakure's sealing techniques. Crafting a simple charm like this wasn't difficult, and it made for convenient communication.
"Alright, if they come to Half-Moon Town, we'll give this to them," Naoki replied, accepting the talismans. The whole town came out to see Shigeo off. Filled with gratitude, he bid them farewell and departed.
Once outside, he used space-time transfer and quickly arrived at Qitian Port. What greeted him was only ruins. Upon inquiry, he learned that three months ago, a battle between three versus three masters had taken place there. Since then, the Land of Iron had closed the harbor. Now, standing with the Land of Fire, their efforts had greatly strengthened Konoha over the past three months.
Shigeo stared out at the sea, his gaze deep. In the distance, an old woman sat at the broken pier, selling something.
"Toys, toys! Come buy toys! Sweetflag dolls—just pull the string and you can control them…"
At those words, Shigeo's heart clenched. Disturbing images surfaced in his mind.
He walked slowly toward the port. The sea breeze carried fallen leaves and dust across his feet. His black-and-navy robes fluttered sharply in the wind.
His steps were steady but cautious. Though it was broad daylight and his sight failed him, his Mirror System allowed him to sense everything around him.
Ahead sat the old woman. To the left, hidden behind a stone, crouched a shinobi—about fifteen or sixteen years old. To the right, a man carrying a yoke stood, his chakra overwhelming. Though they all pretended to mind their own business, Shigeo could feel it—they were all focused on him.
Who were they? Who sent them? In Shigeo's mind, only two names surfaced: Orochimaru and Danzō.
Because only they would stoop to using such threats—like that cursed sweetflag doll—to try to force him into obedience.
Shigeo's steps slowed as he listened intently to the old woman's call…
(End of Chapter)
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