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"Chapter 40 is out on my Patreon*
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To Rokuro, right now, even a Chūnin was a powerhouse.
Let alone an Anbu.
He immediately bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Lord Kuro!"
Kuro gave a curt nod and beckoned with a gloved hand. "I'm short on time. Attack me with everything you have."
Rokuro nodded.
He didn't hold back. He coiled his muscles and threw his heaviest Level 3 Taijutsu punch directly at the Anbu's chest.
BAM!
His fist connected solidly with Kuro's flak jacket. The result? Rokuro was blasted backward by the sheer kinetic recoil, stumbling several steps before catching his balance.
Kuro, on the other hand, hadn't moved a single millimeter.
Rokuro cradled his hand, blowing on his bruised knuckles. Damn, that hurt. It felt like he had just punched a solid block of steel.
Kuro looked at the boy, his voice laced with genuine satisfaction. "Excellent. To possess this level of physical power before the age of five... once he learns how to mold Chakra, he will immediately possess the combat strength of a Genin. It's highly likely he will officially reach Genin rank before turning six. That's a pace that eclipses even Itachi Uchiha."
Kuro turned to Okamoto. "You have performed a great merit, Okamoto."
Okamoto beamed, bowing deeply. "Thank you for your praise, Lord Kuro!"
"You earned it. No need for formalities."
After exchanging a few more words with the instructor, Kuro looked back at Rokuro. "He passes the evaluation. You may begin instructing him in Chakra Molding and the basic Clone, Substitution, and Transformation Jutsu."
Okamoto blinked in surprise. "Wait, Lord Kuro... you aren't taking him back to Headquarters immediately?"
Kuro shook his head. "Under Lord Danzo's command, I am the foremost expert in Taijutsu. However, I have a critical, long-term mission to execute right now. I won't be able to return to take him under my wing until that mission is complete—likely in about two months. Until then, you will supervise his basic Ninjutsu training here."
Okamoto quickly grabbed Rokuro's shoulder. "Rokuro! Hurry up and thank Lord Kuro! You're going to study under him personally! Your future is secured!"
Rokuro's eyes widened. A personal mentor in Root? He immediately bowed deeply. "Thank you, Master Kuro!"
Master?
Kuro paused, then shook his head. "Within the Anbu, we do not have 'Masters' and 'Apprentices.' Address me as Captain Kuro. If you manage to fully inherit my Taijutsu style in the future, you will inherit the codename 'Kuro' as well."
"Understood, Captain Kuro," Rokuro said firmly. "I will not let you down."
"Good. Good," Kuro said, a hint of a smile bleeding into his voice. He reached into his pouch, pulled out a scroll, and tossed it to Rokuro. "Take this. Consider it a welcoming gift. If you can master what's inside before I return, I will officially acknowledge you as my disciple."
Rokuro's eyes sparkled.
If he became the direct disciple of Danzo's top Taijutsu expert, he would have a massive umbrella protecting him. His risk of being casually discarded or experimented on would plummet.
This was incredible news.
He clutched the scroll tightly. "Don't worry, Master Kuro! I will definitely succeed!"
Kuro chuckled softly but didn't correct the title again. He turned back to Okamoto. "It's settled. Tomorrow, draw a blood sample from him and send it to Headquarters. Lord Danzo wishes to analyze it to see if his stamina is the result of a dormant Kekkei Genkai."
"Yes, my Lord!" Okamoto affirmed.
Kuro gave Rokuro one last look. "I'm leaving. Train hard."
With that, Kuro flickered.
Whoosh.
He leaped more than a dozen meters into the air and vanished into the treeline in a single, fluid motion.
Rokuro stared at the spot where the Anbu had just been standing, his eyes wide.
That speed... it's absurd. To cross that distance in an instant without hand signs—he truly was Danzo's best Taijutsu specialist.
Seeing Rokuro staring blankly, Okamoto patted his back. "You hit the jackpot, kid. Lord Kuro is a big shot who has completed dozens of A-Rank and S-Rank missions. His strength is top-tier. In all of Root, there are maybe five people who can match him in a straight fight."
Oh!
He really is a big deal.
Rokuro nodded to himself. I definitely need to cling to this guy's coattails.
"Don't worry, I'll train hard to make Captain Kuro proud," Rokuro said, turning to Okamoto with a bright smile. "But Lord Okamoto... can you teach me the Chakra Molding technique now?"
Okamoto nodded and pulled a small scroll from his vest. "Since Headquarters gave the green light, of course you can learn it. This scroll contains the molding method and the three basic Jutsu. Take it back to your room and memorize it immediately. One hour after you open it, the ink will auto-ignite and the contents will be destroyed."
Rokuro gaped.
Holy crap.
It's just the basic Academy Three Jutsu! You can buy these in a bookstore in the village! Do you really need self-destructing ink for this?!
Grbling internally about Root's insane paranoia, Rokuro snatched the scroll. "Thanks, Lord Okamoto! You won't see me for a few days!" He turned and sprinted back toward his cabin.
Okamoto smiled, watching his golden goose run off.
With Kuro's personal backing, Rokuro's chances of becoming a Jōnin had skyrocketed. Which meant Okamoto's ticket back to Konoha was practically guaranteed. From now on, Rokuro could do whatever he wanted; Okamoto would give him full VIP treatment.
Inside the private training room.
Rokuro slammed the door shut, unrolled the scroll, and began reading furiously.
The scroll detailed the specific meditation required for Chakra Molding, followed by the hand signs for the Clone Jutsu (Bunshin), Substitution Jutsu (Kawarimi), and Transformation Jutsu (Henge).
He quickly memorized the four techniques. He couldn't practice the Jutsu yet, of course—he didn't have any Chakra to power them.
He had to mold it first.
He sat cross-legged on the floor, closed his eyes, and formed the Ram seal, focusing inward as the scroll instructed.
Three seconds later...
He felt a warm, subtle energy ignite within his core and begin to flow through his pathways.
Ding!
[Skill Unlocked: Chakra Molding (Level 1)]
[Progress: 0 / 1,000 EXP]
Hearing the notification, Rokuro checked his stockpile. Over the past month and a half, he had accumulated 8,700 EXP.
Without hesitation, he began dumping points into the new skill.
[Chakra Molding Level 1 ➔ Level 2 (Cost: 1,000 EXP)]
[Chakra Molding Level 2 ➔ Level 3 (Cost: 2,000 EXP)]
He stopped at Level 3. He needed to save the remaining 5,700 EXP to level up the actual Jutsu once he learned them; it would be a waste to dump it all into the passive molding skill right now.
With the skill at Level 3, Rokuro resumed his meditation.
The difference was night and day. The trickle of warm energy instantly turned into a rushing river. He could feel his physical and spiritual energies combining at a rapid pace, filling his Chakra reserves. He was thrilled.
An hour later...
Rokuro opened his eyes, his brow furrowed in deep annoyance.
After just one hour of molding, he hit a wall. His reserves were completely full.
Are you kidding me?
Is this all the Chakra my body can hold right now?!
If his capacity was this small, the number of Jutsu he could cast in a fight would be pitiful. Forget spamming Rasengans like Naruto; if he learned an A-Rank Jutsu later, casting it once or twice would probably drain him completely dry.
The thought left a very sour taste in his mouth.