### Chapter 3: Can Cutting Yourself Be Called Harvesting Leeks?
Kyouko's eyes lit up, and he suddenly felt a sense of clarity.
Having a Jonin's help at a critical moment meant he could very likely save his own life!
"Then let's hurry up."
Kyouko returned to the room and, under the puzzled gaze of the Missing-nin Kyouko, fetched a blank scroll and a pen.
"What are you doing? Studying hard now to see if you can get a 'straight-A student' version of the future?"
The Missing-nin Kyouko asked.
"No, that would be too much trouble. I only got one ninjutsu from you. Even with one-on-one teaching, I couldn't learn many other techniques. But if I record them, I can study them indefinitely."
Kyouko said solemnly.
This way, whenever a future self appeared, he would record the ninjutsu they knew.
Over time, he would inevitably amass a huge library of ninjutsu.
If he didn't do this, how could he maximize his gains?
Cutting others is called harvesting leeks.
Can cutting yourself be called harvesting leeks?
It's like taking an exam where everyone is cheating, but you're just copying the answers from your own mind.
"..."
A trace of surprise appeared on the Missing-nin Kyouko's weathered face.
Was his past self this devilish?
After thinking about it, the Missing-nin Kyouko wrote them down anyway.
After all, it was himself; helping out wouldn't hurt.
After the Missing-nin Kyouko dictated another ninjutsu, he suddenly froze.
"What's wrong?"
Kyouko thought the Missing-nin Kyouko needed more time to remember.
"Someone is coming."
Even as a spirit, he possessed the keen senses of a Jonin.
Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to live peacefully until middle age in the Ninja World before dying.
Hearing this, Kyouko put down the scroll he was recording on and cleared the traces from the table.
"Kyouko!"
Sure enough, a moment later, someone called out for Kyouko from outside the door.
Kyouko went to open the door and saw a beautiful woman.
Her crimson pupils looked like a pair of rubies.
It was Kurenai Yuhi.
"Kurenai."
Kyouko spoke.
Kurenai Yuhi was his teammate, along with Genma Shiranui.
The three of them belonged to the same squad.
"These are the food pills you asked me to buy."
Kurenai Yuhi handed a small bag to Kyouko.
"Sorry to trouble you, Kurenai."
Kyouko accepted the bag.
"How are your other preparations going?"
Kurenai Yuhi asked.
In a few days, they would execute a classified mission with the members of Team Minato.
It was so classified that they didn't even know the content of the mission yet, only that they were going to Kannabi Bridge.
Was it to gather intelligence there, or to launch an attack?
They would only find out from the leading Jonin on the day of departure.
"Just about done."
Kyouko nodded.
He didn't have much to bring.
Taking the Missing-nin Kyouko's cremation urn would be enough; at the critical moment, he would rely on his future self to save his life.
"I really hope the war stops soon."
The teenage Kurenai Yuhi, dressed in capable ninja attire, had a look of worry on her brow.
This ceaseless war was like a dark cloud hanging over everyone's hearts.
Being a ninja was already a high-risk profession, and war only added insult to injury.
"It won't last much longer."
Kyouko said.
The essence of any war is collective violence, using force and weapons to achieve political, economic, or social goals.
The Great Ninja War was no exception; it was just that after recovering from the wounds of the Second Great Ninja War, the nations felt confident again.
Only this time, every nation would be a loser.
Konoha would lose a large number of ninja, fighting until even young children had to take the battlefield.
Kumogakure would lose their pride, the Third Raikage.
Kirigakure's Three-Tails would die along with Rin Nohara.
Iwagakure and Sunagakure would also be depleted of ninja, with no successors in sight.
If the Five Great Nations were in such a state, the plight of the smaller nations was even more miserable, the most typical example being the Rain Country, which had been infiltrated like a sieve.
"How long is 'not much longer'?"
Kurenai Yuhi continued to ask.
"Just these few years. Once there's no one left to fight, won't the war stop?"
Although it was a bit of a grim joke, that was the reality.
"Then wouldn't all our comrades be dead?"
Kurenai Yuhi felt Kyouko's words were too terrifying.
"I think we should worry about ourselves."
Kyouko shook his head.
"Lord Minato will be there too, so it should be fine, right?"
At this moment, Kurenai Yuhi, like everyone else, overly trusted Minato Namikaze's reputation, believing success was guaranteed.
"Anyone can die in war. Don't be careless, Kurenai."
Kyouko reminded her.
Didn't you see Sasuke get his "Six Tomoe Rinnegan" stabbed out by a kunai? In the Ninja World, no one dares say they won't die.
"Alright."
Kurenai Yuhi nodded.
"I'll go now."
With that, Kurenai Yuhi left.
Kyouko quietly watched Kurenai Yuhi's retreating figure.
The Missing-nin Kyouko's spirit had been watching the conversation between Kyouko and Kurenai Yuhi the whole time.
Inside the cremation urn, he had no senses and couldn't perceive anything happening outside.
But floating out, he was just like a soul.
"How is your genjutsu level?"
Kyouko turned and asked.
He realized that the Missing-nin Kyouko only gave him ninjutsu.
"It sucks."
The Missing-nin Kyouko said.
"Makes sense."
Kyouko thought about it carefully. Unless a "Kurama Kyouko" or "Uchiha Kyouko" appeared in the future.
Otherwise, his genjutsu level probably wouldn't be very high.
This damn world interprets bloodline theory in every aspect!
"Let's continue."
After Kurenai Yuhi left, Kyouko took out the paper and pen again, asking the Missing-nin Kyouko to teach him ninjutsu.
After all, this was the only way. Without strength, he couldn't earn merits, and without merits, he couldn't obtain new ninjutsu.
Konoha had long set a dead loop for ordinary ninja.
...
For the next few days, Kyouko practiced ninjutsu at home.
Through testing, he found that his speed in practicing Wind Release and Lightning Release ninjutsu had indeed increased significantly. His comprehension was worlds apart from before.
Is this the feeling of stacking?
Loved it!
At this moment in the courtyard, Kyouko formed the Dog and Dragon hand seals, then clasped his hands together with a fierce clap.
He gathered Wind Release chakra in his palm and then compressed the air pressure.
Whoosh!
A semi-transparent gale flew from Kyouko's palm, striking a wooden stake and leaving a deep mark.
"Phew..."
Kyouko started panting again.
It couldn't be helped. Even for the Missing-nin Kyouko, his chakra volume was frankly not even one "Kakashi unit."
If an Elite Jonin like Kakashi's chakra volume was used as the standard, the Missing-nin Kyouko, who had only recently attained the strength of an ordinary Jonin, certainly couldn't compare.
And the current Kyouko was just a Genin.
Even though his chakra volume had increased somewhat due to the fusion, he still felt a bit drained.
"Ninja battles are chakra battles."
Kyouko rubbed his chin.
Before fulfilling the Missing-nin Kyouko's second dying wish, he had to be meticulous with his chakra usage.
The next day.
While still training, Kyouko was called out by Minato Namikaze. When he arrived, he found Obito, Kakashi, Rin Nohara, and others were all there.