Mizuki gasped for breath. That last move had consumed a third of his chakra.
The mutated Substitution Jutsu required enormous amounts of energy, but its effects were astonishing — it let enemies be killed by their own kunai while completely defenseless. Life and death reversed in an instant.
"I can swap positions with any object in a single moment, whether it's living or dead."
The Substitution Jutsu, one of the Three Basic Techniques, produces white smoke to block the enemy's vision, replacing the user's body with a wooden log while they escape and hide.
It's a distraction technique that makes opponents believe their attack succeeded. Essentially, it's just a simple trick of misdirection.
But the mutated version was practically a replica of the Rinnegan's dōjutsu ability, Amenotejikara — a space-time ninjutsu!
"Good lord, it jumped straight from the most basic E-Rank jutsu to S-Rank."
The chakra consumption was terrifying. With his current reserves, he could only use it three times in a short period.
But Mizuki still had to say: it was absolutely worth it!
"I've figured out the mutation effects of the Transformation and Substitution techniques. Only the Clone Technique is left to study."
He walked to the base of the tree and looked at the corpse, his brow furrowing. The body, whose throat had been pierced by a kunai, showed no signs of bleeding.
"Could it be a puppet? No, the sound of the kunai entering flesh was unmistakable. This is definitely a real body."
Moving closer to examine it, he quickly reached a conclusion. This ANBU member had been dead for at least three hours. There was another fatal wound on his back.
Dead for three hours, yet still able to move... Mizuki narrowed his eyes.
"It's not Edo Tensei, so it must be the Dead Soul Technique... Kabuto Yakushi!"
The Dead Soul Technique was Kabuto's specialty — temporarily manipulating corpses. He had once used it to deceive even Kakashi.
Mizuki became alert. With the Dead Soul Technique, the controller couldn't be far from the corpse. He was nearby.
Hidden killing intent filled the air.
Nehan Shōja no Jutsu ▻ Temple of Nirvana Technique
After a soft call, feathers descended from the sky. But this genjutsu that could make people fall into deep sleep had no effect on Mizuki whatsoever.
Genjutsu works by disrupting the flow of chakra within an opponent's body, manipulating their five senses to create illusions. The stronger one's chakra control, the higher their resistance to genjutsu.
During the Chunin Exams, Sakura remained unaffected by the Temple of Nirvana Technique thanks to her excellent chakra control.
Mizuki's chakra control was nearly perfect. Kabuto, casting genjutsu from the shadows, couldn't manipulate his chakra at all — let alone control his five senses.
"Hmph, found you!"
Kabuto's voice exposed his position. Mizuki immediately threw three kunai toward his hiding spot.
A black shadow leaped out, deflecting the kunai with ting ting ting sounds before charging at Mizuki.
Footsteps echoed in the distance. Seeing someone else approach, the shadow turned and fled at tremendous speed, vanishing into the forest.
Mizuki breathed a sigh of relief. Judging from the figure, it was likely Kabuto. At his current strength, facing him head-on would mean a beating.
"Mizuki, what happened here? Is Sasuke at home?" The newcomer was Iruka.
He'd been searching outside the village, but turned back after villagers reported seeing Sasuke heading toward the Uchiha compound.
Mizuki said, "I'll explain everything to the Hokage. Sasuke is at home. There was a battle — he hid."
Iruka quickly brought Sasuke out. Shortly after, ANBU arrived to investigate and remove the body.
❊❊❊❊❊
Near dawn, the Hokage's office was brightly lit.
Iruka, Mizuki, Sasuke, and several ANBU members were present. Hiruzen had rushed over from home, his expression grave.
His research results had come in — he was displeased.
"Mizuki, tell me what happened tonight."
Mizuki recounted everything he witnessed after arriving at the Uchiha compound, omitting nothing.
"The Dead Soul Technique?" Hiruzen frowned, glancing at a nearby ANBU investigator.
The ANBU nodded, "Time of death exceeds four hours, with the heart continuing to beat afterward. It was definitely controlled by the Dead Soul Technique."
Hiruzen took several puffs from his pipe, eyes thoughtful.
"Orochimaru's spy must be an excellent medical ninja to master the Dead Soul Technique. ANBU should investigate from that angle, identify the target, and make an arrest."
His gaze turned to Sasuke.
"The Scroll of Seals was fake — a prank by Naruto. I'll deal with him. As for Sasuke, he was incited by others but turned back, causing no harm to the village. This matter ends here. It's late. Everyone, dismissed!"
Just as Mizuki expected, Hiruzen gave Sasuke no punishment whatsoever.
Before Itachi left, he had threatened Danzo that if anything happened to Sasuke, he would reveal Konoha's secrets to other nations. As long as Sasuke didn't commit a truly damaging error, Konoha would never touch him.
By the time everyone dispersed, day had broken.
On the way home, Mizuki walked slowly. Even though it was already the next day, there was still a beautiful woman in bed at home. He was a little afraid.
Behind him, Sasuke followed at a distance.
Just as Mizuki reached home and was about to head upstairs, Sasuke quickly approached, "Hey!"
Mizuki turned his head and glanced at him, "What is it?"
Sasuke, "That jutsu that swaps positions with the enemy — teach it to me. I'll pay you one million ryō."
Last night, he'd hidden inside the house and seen everything outside. When he saw that ANBU member killed by his own kunai, he glimpsed the future — the image of Itachi's death. He desperately wanted to learn this jutsu.
Sasuke's chin was slightly raised, his expression saying "one million for one jutsu — you're making a huge profit."
Mizuki's eye twitched.
Good lord, you call this attitude asking someone for a favor? Anyone else would have beaten you up and still been considered merciful.
Although he felt somewhat displeased, no matter how unhappy he was, he couldn't pass up the system's rewards. Last night's display of strength had one purpose: to take Sasuke as a disciple and exploit the system's benefits.
"I can teach you, but I don't want money. You need to call me Master, kneel and kowtow, and I'll teach you for free."
"What, kowtow?" Fire flashed in Sasuke's eyes, "Is the money too little? If one million ryō isn't enough, then three million ryō."
Mizuki smiled, "This isn't about money. If you want to learn ninjutsu, you must do as I say. Otherwise, there's nothing to discuss. Advanced ninjutsu isn't something you can learn just because you want to."
Watching Mizuki's retreating figure going upstairs, Sasuke clenched his fists, his eyes full of struggle.
"Advanced ninjutsu, advanced ninjutsu... If I learn it, I won't be completely powerless when facing that man, right?"
He was already getting ahead of himself before even learning it.
❊❊❊❊❊
When he returned home, Tsubaki had already gotten up and was preparing breakfast.
Mizuki secretly breathed a long sigh of relief. He'd managed to get through the night.
After Tsubaki left, he caught up on sleep. In the afternoon, he went out to scout for new disciples.
Each disciple had three teaching reward opportunities per month. He needed to recruit more disciples — the more disciples, the more reward opportunities, and the faster his strength would increase.
Walking down the street, as he passed the bathhouse, he saw Naruto being thrown out of the women's bath, along with a little brat, Konohamaru.
"Hey, Naruto, what are you doing?"
Seeing Mizuki, Naruto said awkwardly, "Master, I... I wasn't doing anything."
Konohamaru said, "Big Brother Naruto is teaching me the Sexy Jutsu. Once I learn it, I can defeat Grandpa. Say, you're Big Brother Naruto's master, so your Sexy Jutsu must be even better than his. Will you teach me?"
Mizuki: "..."
I don't know it, I didn't teach it, don't talk nonsense.
Mizuki turned and left quickly.
He could take anyone as a disciple — just not Konohamaru. At least not before Hiruzen's death.
Walking on, he arrived near the Uchiha compound and saw Sasuke in the distance, sitting by the lake, staring blankly at the water.
The boy sensed someone's presence and turned his head. When he saw Mizuki, struggle flashed in his eyes. But quickly, it vanished, replaced by determination.
Coming before him, Sasuke said, "I must learn that ninjutsu. I accept your conditions."
He kowtowed to Mizuki, then called out.
"Master!"
For the sake of becoming stronger, he was done being prideful.
Mizuki was overjoyed. Finally, another disciple. He could continue exploiting the system's benefits.
"Get up. Since you've taken me as your master, I'll teach you ninjutsu. The technique I used last night is an advanced form of the Substitution Jutsu: Body Swap. It's a space-time ninjutsu, S-Rank."
Hearing "S-Rank", Sasuke's excitement surged.
Mizuki continued, "This technique is extremely difficult. It requires very high chakra control. You can't learn it immediately — you need to build your foundation first. Today, I'll teach you tree climbing and water walking."
He brought Sasuke to the woods and demonstrated tree climbing.
"Gather the right amount of chakra at the soles of your feet to create adhesion. This keeps you fixed to the tree without falling and lets you walk freely. Practicing tree climbing improves your chakra control. When you can climb to the treetop in one go, your control will have improved dramatically."
After finishing the tree climbing lesson, the system's voice rang out.
[ Ding! ]
[ You have taught your disciple Sasuke Uchiha the Tree Climbing Practice, triggering a 1× Return! ]
[ Congratulations, you have obtained the Tree Climbing Practice! ]
〖 Tree Climbing Practice: A training method to improve chakra control by focusing chakra to the feet to climb a tree without hands. Too little chakra causes falling; too much pushes the user away and fractures the tree. The concept is similar to magnetics. 〗
Mizuki exploded.
Damn system, a 1× Return, and you still give it out?
With a dark expression, he brought Sasuke to the lakeside and demonstrated the water walking method.
[ Ding! ]
[ You have taught your disciple Sasuke Uchiha the Water Surface Walking Practice, triggering a 10,000× Return! ]
"Huh?" Mizuki's spirits lifted.
With 10,000×, it can't possibly be bad, right?
[ Congratulations, you have obtained the Air Walking Practice (Sky Walk Technique)! ]
〖 Air Walking Practice: Step on air, ascending step by step. 〗
Mizuki's eyes widened.
Is this... the rhythm of ascending to heaven?
❊❊❊❊❊
T/N: Comment, give me Power Stones, like and favorite, it all supports me and makes me go foward with this. Appreciate my other stories as well, I guarantee the good work!
If you want to enjoy a large catalog of good novels with excellent translations: MrBlackWing
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)