After Shigure and the others submitted their mission report, they were granted ti to rest.
Normally, a completed C-rank mission would earn a day off. But this one was anything but ordinary.
After all, they had gone up against Momochi Zabuza, a rogue ninja with Jonin-level strength.
Strictly speaking, this should have been ranked as an A-rank mission.
Still, whatever ca next would be up to Kakashi. Shigure had no interest in getting involved in the bureaucratic aftermath.
Inside the Hokage's Office
The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, scanned the report Kakashi had submitted.
Though surprised by its contents, his expression revealed a hint of satisfaction—as if this was exactly what he had expected.
"Lord Third," Kakashi said, "how did you know Shigure was hiding his strength?"
"'Hiding' may not be the right word," Hiruzen replied with a knowing smile. "Knowing that kid's personality, I wouldn't be surprised if he just breezed through the Academy exams without ever taking them seriously."
Kakashi nodded in agreent. Shigure wasn't like other kids his age. The Academy was never a challenge for soone like him.
"If he truly wanted to keep a low profile," Kakashi said, "he wouldn't have stepped forward like he did this ti."
"Exactly," Hiruzen said. "That's why I arranged for Zabuza to appear on this mission—to act as a whetstone and draw out Shigure's true strength."
"You… planned for Zabuza to fight him?"
Hiruzen nodded calmly. "Of course. I wanted to see just how far Shigure could go."
"But what if Shigure hadn't been strong enough?" Kakashi asked. "What if he couldn't handle Zabuza?"
The old Hokage chuckled. "Then that's why you were there, isn't it? I never expected Shigure to defeat Zabuza. I simply wanted to push him to reveal more of his abilities."
He paused, then added, "Though I admit, I didn't expect this much."
"To think… he even possesses Transparent Escape—the sa ability as Gekkō Hayate."
That alone was shocking, but combined with Shigure's deadly swordsmanship, his skill in silent killing, and now the mastery of Zabuza's own assassination techniques—the synergy of those three is extraordinary.
"His strength has clearly surpassed that of a typical Genin," Hiruzen continued. "In fact, I doubt he gains anything from being in the sa squad as Naruto and Sasuke."
But then the Hokage shook his head. "No. That's exactly why he should stay in Team 7."
"At this age, when talent is so exceptional, stability becos more important than raw power. Besides, you know very well the identities of Naruto and Sasuke. Even with you watching over them, I worry. But with Shigure there, I feel more at ease."
He can help protect the Nine-Tails Jinchūriki.
If that was the goal, then keeping Shigure listed as a Genin made sense. Not for missions—but for balance and protection.
"Very well," Hiruzen said. "You're dismissed. The mission rank has been elevated to A-rank. The rewards will be processed shortly."
Kakashi gave a short nod and left.
After he departed, Hiruzen's expression turned sharp.
"So… Danzo really was targeting you last ti. But he didn't expect you to be so powerful."
"Three elite Chunin lost their lives."
With Kakashi now watching over him, Danzo wouldn't dare make another move. Shigure was safe—for now.
Placing Shigure in Team 7 served multiple purposes. Not only could he help protect Naruto, but perhaps Naruto's personality could influence Shigure as well.
Two birds with one stone.
If everything went well, Konoha would soon boast three remarkable young prodigies:
The Nine-Tails Jinchūriki, Naruto.
The Uchiha genius, Sasuke.
And now, the demon blade, Shigure.
Under proper guidance, they wouldn't just beco powerful—they would beco monsters.
Hiruzen looked down at Shigure's dossier.
"Practicing chakra control and accidentally developing the Rasengan?" he muttered. "Is his talent really that terrifying?"
He wasn't entirely convinced. But then he rembered how Shigure had instantly grasped Zabuza's silent killing technique mid-fight.
With talent like that, maybe creating a Rasengan wasn't such a stretch after all.
anwhile, outside Konoha…
While the others returned to rest, Shigure had slipped away to a quiet, rocky outcrop just beyond the village.
He had no ti for rest.
Here, where no one could disturb him, he sat cross-legged on a weathered stone pillar, eyes closed in deep focus.
"Great Sage, the conditions for fusion have been t. Let's begin."
[Great Sage: Chakra control, Ninjutsu proficiency, and physical strength have all reached required thresholds. Initiating calculation.]
"Do it."
[Calculation complete. Based on bloodline fusion protocols, the host must now master a specific ntal technique: the ability to control two bloodline limits simultaneously.]
This technique was referred to as Multitasking.
[Mastery of Multitasking will not only allow fusion of two Kekkei Genkai, but also enable the host to divide ntal focus—performing two actions at once.]
That last part caught Shigure by surprise.
So rging Boiling Release and Ice Release wasn't just about chakra compatibility—it required mastering dual cognitive focus.
But even if the fusion failed, mastering this skill alone would be a massive asset in combat and ninjutsu.
"Alright, let's begin. Ti to learn how to do two things at once."
...
...
...
[Great Sage: Calculation in progress.]
[Estimated completion ti: 40 hours.]
Forty hours?!
Almost two full days?
"That long?" Shigure muttered.
[Great Sage: The host can accelerate calculation by training in dual nature transformation.]
"Oh? Then let's do it!"
Dual nature transformation—the fundantal technique used during the developnt of a Kekkei Genkai.
Shigure had learned it when awakening his bloodline limits, but it hadn't seen much use since. It was typically only needed when rging two elental chakra types to form a combined Release.
Still, if it could speed up the Great Sage's fusion process now, then it was more useful than he had thought.
Without hesitation, Shigure extended both hands. One ignited with Fire Release chakra, the other surged with Wind Release.
He remained seated cross-legged atop the stone pillar, focusing his mind as he began practicing dual nature transformation in earnest.
At the sa ti, he made adjustnts to his passive skill bar.
Slots 1 through 3 remained unchanged:
Chakra Refinent
Basic Genjutsu Resistance
Advanced Taijutsu
But slots 4 and 5 were now filled with his two bloodline limit techniques:
Boiling Release – Heat Breath Blade
Ice Release – Freezing Mont
These weren't just combat techniques. They were critical tools to push the boundaries of their respective elental Releases—designed to evolve and refine the power of Boiling Release and Ice Release themselves.
For slots 6 and 7, Shigure selected a specialized passive focus:
Dual Nature Transformation – Wind
Dual Nature Transformation – Fire
With the passive skill bar optimized, Shigure activated the tenfold amplification effect of his system. Instantly, he could feel the explosive growth in his chakra nature control. Wind and fire surged through him, dancing in balance across his hands.
Even with Fire and Wind being his weaker elental affinities, the rapid improvent brought on by the boost was astonishing.
While Boiling Release and Ice Release were already formidable on their own, strengthening his base elents—especially Fire and Wind—could open entirely new doors. Fire and Wind together could even form composite-style techniques, offering him another layer of strategic flexibility.
"Fire and Wind... combining them might create sothing new as well," Shigure murmured. "This is a good chance to reinforce everything before the fusion completes."
He closed his eyes and focused.
Ti was ticking—but with the Great Sage's guidance, and a solid foundation of elental mastery, Shigure was paving the way toward sothing even greater.
...
TN:
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