In Hii Kōri's habits, rainy days and reading were always the best match.
In his previous life, when running his shop, if a heavy rain came, he'd lazily flip the sign to 'Closed' and curl up in his recliner with a book and some drink to while away the entire day.
This was his favorite pastime outside of research.
Unfortunately, once he arrived in the Land of Wind, he could rarely experience that leisurely atmosphere.
The Land of Rain had rain almost every day, and with his Divided Thinking ability, he'd gladly sit reading every day. But such a life would be far too decadent, and circumstances didn't permit it anyway.
Neither the previous war, nor his current solo search for the Spirit Transformation Technique user, were conditions allowing leisurely days.
In fact, in the nearly two weeks since withdrawing from the front lines, this was the first time Hii Kōri had encountered such heavy rain. Thus, he interrupted his travel and searching to quietly read in this cave properly flipping through the booklet recording the 'Nara Secret Technique' that Chiyo had given him.
After all, operating alone, he couldn't carry much experimental equipment. Subjects like this, requiring little assistance, were perfect for killing time.
Since obtained through interrogation and memory extraction, the booklet was full of fragmented, incoherent passages.
The only saving grace was that in occasional readings while traveling, he hadn't yet encountered contradictions. Though fragmented, a coherent thread of thought was discernible.
However, piecing this together into a usable 'secret technique' would certainly take considerable time.
To this, Hii Kōri was quite intrigued.
Shadows are where the soul resides.
At first glance, this statement is rather subtle. In his previous life, such claims were numerous blood is the soul's currency, the heart is the soul's dwelling, and so on.
After the wheel was invented, some claimed the world was a wheel. After books were invented, some claimed the world was a book. After computers were invented, some claimed the world was a computer somewhat 'trend-chasing,' like that 'Miwa' classmate.
But unlike claims arising from vampire literature's popularity, or boring chatter of lovelorn youths, the notion that shadows harbor something indeed has points worth discussing.
As an extension of darkness humanity's oldest, most fundamental fear shadows naturally inspire infinite imagination.
In jujutsu circles, it's commonly believed that dark places are suitable for cursed energy accumulation.
Quite a few cursed spirits and anomalies, before being understood, manifested as shadows. And in other mystical systems, literature, and fantasy works, shadows are almost never absent.
Of course, in jujutsu circles, the technique most associated with shadows is the Zen'in clan's hereditary technique: the Ten Shadows Technique.
Summoning corresponding shikigami through hand shadows, storing things in shadows this technique had once made Hii Kōri quite envious, mainly for the latter effect.
But now, with storage scrolls as substitutes, he didn't mind.
However, though both utilize shadows, the Nara clan's Shadow Imitation Technique and the Ten Shadows Technique differ quite obviously.
From a modern scientific perspective, shadows are dark regions formed when light is blocked by opaque objects. Areas hit by light are depressed due to light pressure and material hardness, making shadow areas 'protrude' in thickness.
Yet shadows themselves aren't matter but an optical effect, thus traditionally considered thickness-less 'phenomena.'
As an extension of Yin Release, the Shadow Imitation Technique is the art of imparting such 'phenomena' one's own or others' shadows with 'substance' and manipulating them.
Creatively speaking, the Nara clan's ancestors were quite imaginative and pioneering. But that said, mere manipulation shadows held little significance for Hii Kōri, who already possessed Spirit Thread Nerves.
After all, the Nara's shadow technique was created based on their own constitution as a clan secret. It naturally wouldn't consider universality or development beyond their capabilities. But Hii Kōri's Yin Release adaptability and output rate far exceeded the Nara clan's, so he intended to try something new.
Namely, referring to the Ten Shadows Technique's logic, transforming shadows into conscious 'beasts.' Not summoning shikigami, but something in between type that could be either manually manipulated or left to move freely.
Hii Kōri had also reflected whether his obsession with 'autonomization' was too strong due to always being overwhelmed. But this wasn't a decisive flaw, so he didn't plan to change.
Rather, it was precisely this obsession that allowed him to advance by leaps and bounds in many 'first-time' areas.
Honestly, while this technique's application logic built upon the Ten Shadows and Shadow Imitation Techniques, its source of inspiration was actually 'Rashōmon'—
Akutagawa Ryūnosuke's ability from Bungo Stray Dogs: transforming clothing into a shape-shifting black beast capable of cutting through anything, including space.
Hii Kōri was quite impressed by this not just Rashōmon's versatility, but also that manga's Inverse Ten Gang relationship setting where 'Akutagawa Ryūnosuke admired Dazai Osamu.'
As mentioned previously, probably due to a confrontational mentality, he greatly disliked the Decadent School writers' works.
Even if pathological, twisted, one must still hold one's head high; even if gums bleed from clenching, one must grit teeth and press forward. Society, others' circumstances, and social trends he cared nothing for them. He had no inclination to strike at anything, no time for reflection.
But reading those books now might yield new insights.
While trying to infuse pure Yin Release chakra into shadows and annotating his notes, Hii Kōri thought thus, as another thread of his consciousness locked onto three figures approaching this cave from afar.
No chakra, life energy is also weak... war orphans, then...
Using water as a medium, Hii Kōri's perception could be considerably expanded. Even without closing his eyes and focusing entirely on Mind's Eye of the Kagura, he could discern this much.
Thinking of war orphans' tragic circumstances, Hii Kōri initially considered sending these three children directly from this world to be too harsh for them. But recalling his own experiences upon first arriving in this world, and Sasori waiting back in Suna for family to return, his raised hand lowered.
Forget it. Let it be...
"Come in, brats. If I wanted to kill you, you wouldn't even have the chance to notice me."
Sighing inwardly, Hii Kōri greeted thus.
"Um...are you a ninja too?"
After a long actually not long, time in Hii Kōri's view about the time to read five pages of notes in silence, Yahiki pursed his lips, worked up the courage to brew for a long time, and asked.
"Mm."
Still immersed in the Nara Shadow Imitation Technique notes, Hii Kōri merely responded with a low hum. But that said, he had actually been observing these three children all along through their 'shadows.'
Fully reverse-engineering the complete Nara Shadow Imitation Technique from that 'manual' in under two weeks was undoubtedly a fantasy. But he wasn't trying to directly learn it anyway, which didn't prevent him from absorbing some concepts for 'secondary creation.'
Filtering out the more negative components of Yin Release chakra as purer negative force cursed energy then injecting pure Yin Release chakra into shadows, nurturing connected yet relatively independent 'consciousness,' and achieving limited shadow materialization.
This was the result of Hii Kōri's current research.
For now, unable to manipulate as freely as the Shadow Imitation Technique, but sufficient as a sensory extension. However, the hazy 'consciousness' bred in shadows, though inclined to inertia due to pure Yin Release chakra, would occasionally stretch unconsciously, causing Hii Kōri's shadow to agitate.
Through shadows, Hii Kōri could clearly see the three children huddled together, and among them, the orange-haired child mustered up the courage to address him.
'Red hair... quiet demeanor quite similar to Sasori.'
"Grrr~"
But just as Yahiko was about to speak further, his stomach embarrassingly growled.
Having not eaten properly in a long time, plus chilled from the rain, all three were starving. Not just Yahiko Nagato and Konan in the corner also awkwardly clutched their stomachs, trying not to let sound escape.
Thus interrupted, Yahiko's accumulated momentum was completely drained.
The Legend of Courage in the Land of Rain: Gloriously concluded!
Though Hii Kōri was younger than many ninjas Yahiko had seen, he felt a strong sense of strangeness from him. As if surrounded by mountains of corpses and seas of blood, making speech difficult.
"Eat."
Hii Kōri looked up, glanced at the cramped Yahiko, then at Nagato and Konan huddled together. He clicked his tongue tediously, tossed his notes back into the scroll, taking out several compressed rations and a water flask, tossing them at Yahiko's feet.
"Can't guarantee the taste, and dry as hell, but at least it's decent at filling stomachs."
"...Thank you."
Completely unexpected this reaction from Hii Kōri, Yahiko momentarily stunned, then bowed deeply before picking up the food and water at his feet, trotting back to share with Nagato and Konan.
"Though, maybe he's a good person."
The three children gnawed on the ultra-compressed biscuits like three hamsters, somehow eating that bland dry food with the momentum of a full banquet.
No longer in the mood for reading, Hii Kōri propped his chin on his hand, quietly observing the,m, thinking that if Chiyo hadn't found him and brought him to Sunagakure, his first few years in this world might have been like theirs.
Oh, there was some difference. He could find a blacksmith shop in another town to apprentice at.
Red-haired people should smith this was an ancestral tradition.
Yanagita Kunio, the founder of Japanese folklore studies, proposed a highly important concept in Japanese folklore about fifty or sixty years ago the 'Mountain People.'
He believed the recorded 'Mountain People' weren't yokai as commonly perceived, but another human race: ancient indigenous inhabitants of Japan dwelling deep in mountains and forests, whose civilization gradually declined, historically pushed to extinction by dominant ethnic groups.
Yanagita divided Mountain People history into five eras: from the mythological period to the relocation of the capital to Yamashiro, the Era of National Deities; Heian to Kamakura, the Era of Demons; Kamakura to Edo, the Era of Mountain Deities; Edo to Meiji, the Era of Monkeys; and post-Meiji, the Modern Era.
The Mountain People, originally an indigenous race hostile to the Yamato people, gradually retreated into the mountains, disappearing. The Japanese initially called their chiefs 'Aragami,' 'Evil Deities,' later became demons and monsters, and eventually were reduced to lower than baboons.
This concept was built upon the nation's mythological evolution.
Izumo Province had long been renowned for ironworking. Three major forces once existed there:
The Izumoomi clan in the east, the Kizuki clan in the western region origin of theee Izumo mythology and the Susa clan, originating from Susa.
Japan's most famous monster, the Aragami the description of Yamata no Orochi includes blood seeping from its abdomen precisely the imagery of red iron sand.
Susano'o slaying Yamata no Orochi in some mythological versions, Ōkuninushi does the slaying. But mainstream legends hold Ōkuninushi as Susano'o's descendant; their symbolism is fundamentally identical, essentially both representing the Susa clan's erosion of original serpent-faith tribes.
Susano'o discovering the 'Kusanagi Sword' from Orochi's tail likely suggests absorbing some people, thereby obtaining iron sand and smelting technology.
Later, however, the Izumo region was absorbed by the Yamato people. Consequently, in subsequent myths, Susano'o became Amaterasu's exiled younger brother.
The myth of Ōkuninushi yielding the realm essentially resembled Susano'o slaying Orochi both products of one people absorbing another and culturally transforming them.
This was a terrifying food chain.
Primitive faith mountain deities 'Serpent Deities' similar to Mountain People: nations and cultures vanished into history.
Then Susano'o, Ōkuninushi—the Susa clan.
Finally, the Amatsukami—Yamato people—succeed all.
Serpent deity, mountain deity faiths; demon races; various mountain monsters... This was also the process of Mountain People legends and faith being gradually demonized.
The folkloric 'Red-Haired Oni,' and the notion that oni were born as serpent deity offspring, also stemmed from Izumo's long-standing ironworking renown iron sand being red.
Though tengu, incidentally, were instead accepted as mountain faith survivals but that's another story.
In summary, Yanagita Kunio for a time believed the Japanese had driven Mountain People nearly to extinction mortal enemies, you might say.
But after several years' research, his view of Mountain People vs. the lowland people's opposition gradually softened. Though insisting Mountain People legends weren't monsters but actual humans, he largely acknowledged their extinction.
Yanagita attributed Mountain People extinction to various causes: conquest, absorption, extermination but most commonly, gradual assimilation into lowland populations, their unique cultural environment disappears, eventually assimilating with the Japanese.
Hii Kōri's folklore studies weren't in depth, but in his previous life, he had benefited from this karma.
Precisely because he too had blazing red hair in his previous life, he learned various Shugendō and geomancy trivia from genuine, pure Mountain People who survived as 'Yamabushi'—mountain ascetics—practicing one branch of Shugendō.
Later, they'd even occasionally send ores from different regions.
Awakening in this world as a child from a red-haired blacksmith family, with a foster father, older brother, and nephew all red-haired—this fact made it hard for Hii Kōri not to feel nostalgic for this karma, and thus extend some compassion to this small group containing one red-haired child.
"Red-haired kid. Come here."
Nagato, thus addressed, startled apparently hadn't expected this. He looked down at his nearly finished ration, glanced at his companions, then took a deep breath and walked over with the momentum of one resigned to death.
A few steps in, he could no longer sustain that momentum, reverting to cowardice and demeanor.
"U-um..."
'Mm... still some difference...'
Ignoring Nagato's stammering, Hii Kōri merely reached out and ruffled his hair, sighing with a somewhat complex tone.
Due to the campfire, he'd slightly misjudged this child's hair color.
Sensing the three children's restless gazes, Hii Kōri gently patted Nagato's shoulder, explaining slightly: "My nephew also has red hair. His shade is brighter, though. Yours is actually more similar to mine."
"Were either of your parents from the Uzumaki Clan?"