After Shikasuke and Natsuki agreed on the terms, Shikasuke took the list of dicinal ingredients Natsuki had given him and left.
Between the Red Healing Potion and the Stamina Recovery Potion, Natsuki chose to research the forr first.
The forr required Hashirama cells or White Zetsu cells, while the latter required Tailed Beast chakra and Hero's Water.
In terms of difficulty, the forr was easier.
Hashirama cells were readily available. He only needed Konoha's approval.
Hero's Water was difficult to obtain.
Especially since Konoha and Takigakure were still allies, it would not be easy to simply steal it.
It was difficult to steal in the first place. Takigakure was the only minor Shinobi village, outside of the Five Great Shinobi Nations, that possessed a Tailed Beast and a Jinchuriki.
Tailed Beast chakra was also difficult to obtain.
The current Nine-Tails Jinchuriki, Uzumaki Mito, was in poor health. It would be best to wait until Kushina beca the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki.
Although Hashirama cells were precious, in the original story, Konoha had conducted two experints involving Hashirama cells.
One was led by Hiruzen and was legal and officially approved.
However, because too many of the Shinobi who volunteered died, it was eventually shut down.
The other was led by Danzo, with Orochimaru participating, and was conducted in secret.
Because they were far more unscrupulous, their Hashirama cell experint produced results, giving birth to a Wood Release Shinobi, Yamato.
At this stage, the second Hashirama cell experint certainly had not begun yet.
After all, Orochimaru had not turned evil and started collaborating with Danzo.
But the first Hashirama cell experint might have already ended, or it might still be ongoing.
"What a pity."
Natsuki was too young right now and did not have the qualifications to co into contact with the Hashirama cell experints.
But he could make preparations in advance.
That ant producing a flawed version of the Red Healing Potion without Hashirama cells.
Shikasuke returned ho.
He opened the prescription Natsuki had given him and looked it over.
The dicinal ingredients listed on it could be considered quite valuable.
In all of Konoha, only the Nara Clan could produce them.
Of course, Natsuki had also added four extra ingredients to confuse things.
"Father."
Shikaku walked in.
"How did you do on the final exam?"
Shikasuke smiled when he saw him.
"First place."
Shikaku replied.
"Well done."
Shikasuke nodded and added, "This winter break, I'm giving you a mission. Go find Natsuki and learn his Shadow Technique."
"Huh?"
Shikaku subconsciously looked up, his face full of surprise.
What did it an, go find Natsuki and learn the Shadow Technique?
Natsuki was a year younger than him.
And wasn't the Shadow Technique unique to the Nara Clan? Why would he need to learn it from Natsuki?
"Natsuki created two Shadow Techniques himself."
Shikasuke explained, "I have already reached a deal with him. He will teach you those two Shadow Techniques."
Natsuki was still too young, after all.
If adult Shinobi like Shikasuke learned from him, it would be too conspicuous. Or rather, it would be embarrassing.
After thinking it over, he decided that Shikaku should be the one to learn them.
He was only a year older than Natsuki, so he could pretend they were friends training together.
For a mont, Shikaku did not know what to say.
Natsuki, who was a year younger than him, could already create Shadow Techniques that even the Nara Clan valued?
This sounded like sothing out of a fantasy.
"Yes, Father."
Shikaku collected himself and imdiately replied.
The next day.
At Orochimaru's residence, besides Nawaki and Natsuki, there was now Shikaku.
Shikaku had a high IQ and knew his place very well, so he kept a low profile.
As long as he did not run into any problems, he would not disturb Natsuki. Instead, he silently trained alone in the corner.
Natsuki also proved one of his hypotheses.
His abilities could be taught to others.
This was actually normal.
After all, the abilities from the character templates had already been adapted to this world. In essence, they were Ninjutsu.
Natsuki received the initial paynt from Shikasuke.
There were enough dicinal ingredients to make ten portions of the Red Healing Potion, God's Blood.
Natsuki did not rush to try making it.
His potion-making skill was still a little lacking.
Halfway through winter break, Kushina, who had gone to visit the Uzumaki Clan, returned to Konoha.
Just then, sothing happened that shocked the Shinobi World.
Hanzō of Agakure declared war on Iwagakure, Sunagakure, and Konoha simultaneously.
The reason was that the three major villages had been fighting in the Land of Rain for years, bringing unimaginable disaster and losses to the country.
As the military force of the Land of Rain, Agakure intended to completely drive the three major villages out of its territory.
Konoha eting room.
A Jonin eting was quickly held.
Danzo said with a livid expression, "Konoha must take the initiative and attack. We need to make Hanzō understand the gap in strength."
"There is no need to take the initiative."
Jiraiya said in a deep voice, "If we make proper preparations and wait for the enemy to exhaust themselves, we can minimize our losses."
"I disagree!"
Danzo objected. "Agakure and Hanzō are nothing but clowns. We must achieve a swift victory and demonstrate Konoha's prestige!"
"Although Agakure is a minor Shinobi village, Hanzō cannot be underestimated."
Jiraiya frowned as he spoke.
"Are you afraid of Hanzō?"
Danzo snorted coldly and asked in return.
"Enough. I did not call you here to argue."
Hiruzen stopped their dispute, looked at Utatane Koharu and the others, and asked, "What are your thoughts?"
"The Land of Rain is currently caught in a three-way lee. If Konoha joins rashly, it may provoke the other sides into surrounding us."
Tsunade imdiately said, "I agree with Jiraiya's idea."
Upon hearing this, Jiraiya imdiately gave her a wink and a grin.
But Tsunade ignored him.
"That is indeed highly possible."
Homura spoke up. "Konoha is the strongest, and because of that, we are the most likely to arouse the wariness of the other Shinobi villages."
The other advisor, Koharu, also nodded in agreent.
"Very well."
Hiruzen concluded, "Konoha will make preparations first and remain on standby."
"Just in case, we can send people to the border between the Land of Fire and the Land of Rain first."
Tsunade suggested.
"I can go!"
Danzo said imdiately.
With Tsunade and the others expressing their positions, taking the initiative to attack had beco impossible.
But he could turn the impossible into possible by causing trouble at the border and inciting war in advance.
The reason Danzo wanted war was that his Root could develop through war.
In war, the most important thing was intelligence warfare.
But relying solely on the Anbu would leave them severely undermanned, so Root would have to be added.
Then he would have plenty of opportunities.
"Sakumo will go."
Hiruzen glanced at him and said decisively.
He knew exactly what Danzo was thinking.
"Yes, Hokage-sama."
A young Shinobi with white hair stood up.
He was none other than the White Fang of the Leaf, Hatake Sakumo, Kakashi's father.
The next day, Natsuki also received the news that Hanzō of Agakure had declared war.
But for the ti being, it had nothing to do with him.
Given his age and status, Konoha would not send him to the battlefield unless things reached the most critical point.
Ti passed, and January arrived.
Just when Natsuki thought winter break was about to end like this, Orochimaru accepted a mission for them.
"The target of this mission is a group of rogue Shinobi wandering along the southeast coast of the Land of Fire."
Orochimaru introduced the mission. "According to our intelligence, their leader is a rogue Shinobi from Kirigakure, a Tokubetsu Jonin skilled in Water Release."
Natsuki could not help feeling energized when he heard this.
The third ability of the Kamado Tanjiro Template required him to defeat three Chunin and three Tokubetsu Jonin skilled in swordsmanship or Water Release, respectively.
After two sesters of effort, he had already completed two-thirds of the requirent. Only the last two Tokubetsu Jonin were left.
"Sensei, can we bring Kushina along?"
Natsuki rembered that Kushina had said earlier that she wanted to go on a mission, so he asked.
"I can bring her, but only if Tsunade agrees."
Orochimaru said softly.
(To be continued.)
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