Chapter 15 — Snap Your Fingers, Summon Anything
Ryusuke visibly relaxed a bit as he began to answer Senju Momoka's previous question.
"Teacher, the weapon I currently use is primarily a large sword. My fighting style leans toward direct, frontal combat.
The difficulty I've been struggling with is how to naturally and seamlessly integrate genjutsu during intense taijutsu clashes, creating openings for lethal attacks."
"Switching between taijutsu, genjutsu, and ninjutsu feels somewhat clumsy, making it hard to do so without leaving a trace."
Especially since Demon Possession was his ultimate survival technique, the challenge was how to perfectly fuse genjutsu and ninjutsu while in the first-level armored state, where his speed and strength were greatly enhanced. This was an urgent problem he needed to solve.
Momoka listened carefully. A flicker of surprise crossed her cold expression. The intel hadn't revealed that Ryusuke was skilled with swordsmanship.
"Seems this kid has quite a few secrets of his own… but the stronger he becomes, the more he can help Tsunade," she thought.
Momoka looked at Ryusuke, her tone carrying a trace of mystery.
"There is indeed a difficulty when combining weapons, genjutsu, and ninjutsu.
But someone has already solved this problem."
"Oh? Who?" Ryusuke asked instinctively.
Momoka stood and walked toward an old-fashioned bookshelf on one side of the room.
Her fingertips brushed over a few scrolls before she finally took down one whose edges were slightly worn.
She handed the scroll to Ryusuke.
"Your problem—the integration of ninjutsu with weapons and taijutsu—originates from the constraints of hand seals.
Hand seals are a universal method for guiding and controlling chakra. Yet for top-tier practitioners, they can also become a source of vulnerability and delay.
Thus came the development of optimized hand seals, and even 'hand-seal-free' ninjutsu."
Ryusuke received the scroll respectfully with both hands, a sense of awe swelling in his chest. He knew this was no ordinary scroll.
Momoka continued: "Even the First Hokage needed hand seals in his youth.
But later, with unparalleled affinity and control over chakra, he gradually transcended the limitations of hand seals and developed many hand-seal-free ninjutsu.
Only then could he fight with complete fluidity—techniques manifesting at the speed of thought, without the hindrance of signs."
Wow… so that's how 'snap your fingers, summon anything' evolved, Ryusuke thought, a surge of excitement flooding him.
Previously, Demon Possession was powerful, but the load and risk were equally immense. It leaned heavily on taijutsu and armored defense.
If he could follow the path of the First Hokage, instantly releasing genjutsu or other ninjutsu through his "Incursio" or great sword, the effect would be breathtaking.
Point the sword, unleash ninjutsu—this was a perfectly tailored evolution path for him.
Seeing the gleam of comprehension in Ryusuke's eyes, Momoka slightly nodded, knowing he had grasped its significance.
"Exactly. This scroll records the First Hokage's early insights and concepts on chakra transformation and hand-seal-free techniques.
It is not a concrete jutsu, but rather a guide to the 'Way.'
How much you can comprehend depends on your own aptitude.
But remember, haste makes waste; foundations are always fundamental."
"Yes! Teacher! I understand!" Ryusuke said, gripping the scroll tightly.
The value of this scroll surpassed any forbidden jutsu. It pointed toward a path to higher levels of mastery.
For the rest of the day, Ryusuke immersed himself in the vast and profound contents of the scroll.
Hashirama's descriptions were not step-by-step training methods, but rather insights and conceptual frameworks.
Comprehension required extremely high perception and chakra control—skills Ryusuke possessed in abundance, thanks to his transmigrated experience.
He read with rapt attention, frowning in deep thought at times, and at others, nodding as if having a sudden understanding.
Unnoticed, the sun had nearly set; a day of training came to a temporary halt.
Although mentally exhausted, Ryusuke's heart was alight with excitement, for he had glimpsed methods to simplify the Flying Thunder God Technique within Hashirama's conceptual path.
At that moment, there was a knock at the courtyard door.
Tsunade appeared, holding a neatly packaged bag of what looked like exquisite tea leaves.
"Grandma Momoka, I brought some newly arrived tea leaves for you."
Momoka glanced at her, a faint, wry smile playing on her lips.
"Oh? Did the sun rise from the west today? Our little Tsunade actually remembered to bring a gift for this old woman?
"You never treated me so politely when you came to ask for help before."
Tsunade's face flushed red. She spoke in a coquettish, slightly complaining tone: "Grandma Momoka! I… I was just too busy and forgot before."
She sneakily glanced at Ryusuke and saw him smiling at her, making her even more embarrassed.
These past few days had been socially mortifying enough—Tsunade now felt like this place was her permanent refuge.
Momoka looked at Tsunade's bashful expression and stopped teasing her.
She accepted the tea leaves, her tone softening: "Alright, I know you care."
"Let's end here for today, Ryusuke. Go home and digest what you've learned."
Ryusuke and Tsunade bowed and took their leave.
Once outside the courtyard, Ryusuke extended his chakra sensing, carefully scanning the surroundings.
The morning's follower was gone, leaving only the ordinary lives of the residents around them.
He exhaled a long breath: "Seems the teacher's reputation is indeed useful. Danzo will lay low for now."
Tsunade, hearing this, lifted her chin proudly: "Of course.
"With Grandma Momoka stepping in, that old man has to think twice."
"Thanks again to our Konoha princess," Ryusuke said, looking at Tsunade with warmth in his eyes.
A smile curved Tsunade's lips as they walked side by side along the darkening street. The sunset stretched their shadows long—long enough to feel like a lifetime.
They chatted casually.
Ryusuke spoke of the shock and inspiration he'd gained from the First Hokage's scroll.
Tsunade joked about strange cases she'd encountered in the hospital and a certain lazy white-haired teammate.
The atmosphere was light and warm. Before they knew it, they arrived near the ancestral home of the Senju clan.
Under a tree outside Tsunade's home, they stopped.
The subtle, teasingly intimate air from earlier at Momoka's house seemed to return in this moment.
Tsunade lowered her head slightly, fingers unconsciously twirling a strand of her golden hair. The remaining sunlight traced the elegant lines of her profile.
Less of her usual boldness remained, replaced by a gentle grace.
Seeing this rare shy side of her, Ryusuke's heart stirred. He softly said, "Thank you for today."
Tsunade looked up, her amber eyes bright even in the twilight: "Thank me for what?"
"For bringing me to meet Teacher Momoka, and for trusting me so much," Ryusuke replied gently.
Tsunade's cheeks flushed again, and she struggled to maintain her composure.
"Hmph, don't get all sentimental. I just… don't want my trusted teammate to be schemed against by those gutter rats, that's all."
Ryusuke smiled, not calling out her veiled words.
He stepped closer, catching the faint fragrance of her hair.