"You should be the strategist-type ninja, right?"
Rasa suddenly asked. At first he hadn't paid much attention, but after thinking it over later, he sensed something off—especially in the Raikage's son's attitude toward this person, and the easy, intimate way this person interacted with him.
This man's identity was definitely not simple. He wasn't just "interesting."
The Raikage's son was no ordinary figure. He wouldn't casually befriend someone average, much less be this close to them.
"Yes."
Tamura Zairo looked over. That strong sense of malice toward Kumogakure was still there—if anything, it had grown stronger after entering the entertainment complex.
Was it wariness toward Kumogakure? Or jealousy?
"With your eyesight and intelligence, how much information can you deduce about us?"
Rasa wanted to probe his wisdom. If this person was truly exceptional, he might become a high-level strategist in Kumogakure in the future—and potentially Rasa's opponent.
"I've indeed figured out quite a bit. But what benefit do I get from telling you?"
Tamura Zairo's mind stirred. Perhaps he could use this chance to obtain that.
"What benefit do you want?"
Pakura spoke up, also curious.
"Recently I've been practicing chakra threads to train my chakra control. But since I don't have a proper training method, the efficiency is very low."
As he spoke, Tamura Zairo extended a thin chakra thread from his fingertip.
He didn't have a formal chakra-thread training method. Kumogakure didn't really have one either, so he'd been fumbling through scraps of written records and relying on sheer repetition—essentially grinding it out.
It was a clumsy method with no technique involved, and the efficiency was terrible.
Before, it had just been for chakra control, so technique didn't matter much. But now, with chakra threads combined with explosive tags forming a viable combat method, it was worth properly planning.
Since these three had taken the initiative to talk, this was a good opportunity to try.
"Just chakra-thread training techniques?"
Rasa was slightly surprised.
If it were puppet techniques, he definitely couldn't pass those on—and he didn't know them anyway. But chakra-thread training methods were another matter.
He wasn't skilled in them, but Karura was. They were essentially chakra-control exercises, and many in Sunagakure used them for training. They weren't secret techniques.
Moreover, he was interested in this person. A strategist valued by the Raikage's son couldn't be simple, regardless of age.
If this person really could see something from them, that in itself would be worth learning from—at least it would highlight what to watch out for in the future.
"If I asked for secret techniques, you obviously wouldn't give them,"
Tamura Zairo shrugged, showing that he knew where the line was.
Chakra-thread training was similar in nature to tree-climbing or water-walking—just a higher-level version. It wasn't a ninjutsu or a secret art.
If he really wanted, he could put out a bounty and obtain it. There was no need; this was just a spur-of-the-moment idea.
"If what you say is reasonable and sufficiently deep, we can give you chakra-thread training methods,"
The three exchanged glances, and Rasa made the final call.
Tamura Zairo smiled, looked the three over, and began:
"Then I'll start with Miss Karura.
"You practice Sand Manipulation, don't you? Your footsteps are noticeably heavier than Miss Pakura's. I suspect you carry a large amount of sand on your body—probably adhered to your skin as a defensive layer.
"When you entered the water earlier, your chest, even wrapped in a bathrobe, didn't sway at all. The same was true when you were walking and eating earlier.
"Also, during the hotpot meal, all three of us were sweating to some degree, but you didn't sweat at all. That's abnormal.
"Even now, soaking in the hot spring, our faces are slightly flushed—that's from blood vessel dilation and increased blood flow. But your cheeks are still pale.
"Furthermore, from the speed of your movements while picking up food and your posture while walking, sitting, and lying down, your taijutsu is probably average. Your gaze isn't sharp or deep, and you don't instinctively look people in the eyes—so you likely haven't trained in genjutsu.
"However, with Sand Manipulation, close combat against you would be extremely disadvantageous—unless one has an explosive taijutsu-type technique that exceeds your reaction limit.
"Piercing-type Lightning Release techniques could also work. And gravity-based Earth Release techniques would greatly suppress your Sand Manipulation.
"As for your personality: I see kindness, gentleness, consideration, and approachability. Beyond that, I also see firmness. Combined, that's softness on the outside, strength on the inside.
"You'll definitely be a good mother and a good wife in the future."
He had read about Sand Manipulation. It was a secret technique developed by the Second Kazekage from research on Shukaku—not a bloodline limit. Its destructive power was weaker than Magnet Release.
Karura would later use this technique to refine sand and attach it to Gaara's body for protection, so her profile could be inferred from Gaara's future abilities.
Listening to him, Karura subconsciously looked down at her chest wrapped in the bathrobe and even pressed it lightly—it really was unusually firm.
She did constantly keep sand adhered to her skin as defense. It had become a habit; she didn't even disperse it while sleeping.
What shocked her more, however, was his analysis of her abilities and how to counter them. In such a short time, he had seen this much?
Tamura Zairo then turned his gaze to Pakura.
"Although your skin quality is excellent, from your muscle lines and habitual posture, it's clear your taijutsu training isn't weak—you've put in serious effort.
"But it's not your strongest point. That's due to the natural disadvantage of a female frame. This suggests you trained taijutsu to compensate for your primary offensive methods, to guard against close-range threats.
"I can tell you're not very comfortable soaking in hot springs. When you entered the pool, there was a faint chakra reaction—not purely basic chakra. I sensed both Wind and Fire attributes.
"You should possess a bloodline limit formed by the fusion of these two elements. Based on what I know of Sunagakure, that would be Scorch Release.
"Using ordinary Water Release against this bloodline limit wouldn't be enough—unless it's on a massive scale. Combining it with sealing techniques would be far more effective.
"You likely haven't trained in genjutsu either. You're a standard ninjutsu-focused ninja, with taijutsu as support.
"Personality-wise, you appear cold on the outside but warm on the inside—though that warmth is probably only shown to those close to you…"
His theoretical grades at the Ninja Academy had been excellent. Combined with his knowledge of the Naruto world, he could analyze quite a lot.
Pakura's expression turned serious. She hadn't expected that in such a short time, he would see so much—even correctly deducing her bloodline limit and proposing counters.
"Finally, you—Rasa."
Tamura Zairo looked at him last.
This "golden miner" was an important figure—one of the wealthiest characters in the Naruto world, second only to Konan in the future.
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