While training with Hinata was one thing, there were other types of training I had to do, and these are not something I can do in front of others.
Water, Healing, and Lightning—these are the three elements my Shikigami has given me access to. At first, I was going to master Max Elephant's water, but not anymore. I wanted to master that earlier only because I lacked any particular water jutsu. But now that I have Zabuza's skills, I no longer need to hurry and master Max Elephant.
What I'm more interested in now is learning Round Deer's healing powers because I've realized there are times when I can't summon Round Deer outright, mainly when there are people from Konoha around. Keeping my Ten Shadows a secret is essential.
When it comes to my own healing or healing a teammate, mastering Round Deer's reverse curse energy is the most important thing for me right now.
So, the next day, I created a shadow clone and sent it with Hinata to train, while I moved around the forest to find some small animals. I intentionally harmed them and then tried to channel Round Deer's reverse curse technique through my body.
I also realized that it's technically possible for me to learn the reverse curse technique on my own. After all, my chakra, due to the system, also acts like a curse energy.
But that's similar to saying I'm capable of learning the Flying Thunder God technique. Technically, I am. I pretty much have everything required to learn the technique, like every other shinobi out there, right?
Nope, both techniques are hard. Even someone like Gojo Fucking Satoru couldn't grasp reverse healing until he was at death's door.
There's a reason why only two people have been able to learn the Flying Thunder God technique so far.
Sigh...
I shook my head and focused back on my training. Drawing Round Deer's powers was way easier than actually performing the reverse curse technique.
I already did it when I healed Kurenai, but it was unstable and took too much concentration for me to pull off. I was only able to do it because I knew Zabuza wouldn't be returning to attack us.
I looked at the small bird I had hurt—just a little wound so it wouldn't die immediately—and then focused on channelling Round Deer's reverse curse technique to heal the bird.
"Sorry, little guy. I promise I won't let you die and will even give you something good to eat after this. Just endure a little, okay?" I felt a little bad. Killing an enemy makes sense, killing for consumption makes sense, but this felt wrong.
---
I trained until I was almost ready to drop dead. I still had chakra—drawing Round Deer's power didn't take much—but I was tired as hell.
Ready to head back, I was about to move when I realized someone was standing not far from me.
My instincts immediately kicked in. Though the figure didn't move, the fact that I hadn't noticed him meant he was a ninja. I might have horrible sensing abilities, but that doesn't mean I can't sense a civilian standing around me.
Another thing in my head was that I needed to do something about my senses. This is an area where I'm really bad and worse, I don't have any particular way to fix this issue.
"Who's there?" I asked, taking a slightly defensive posture.
For a second, no response came, but then I saw someone walking out from the shadows, revealing a beautiful face in front of me.
This was a very beautiful girl, almost the same age as me. If this were anywhere but the Land of Waves, I might have let my guard down. But knowing there's a legendary trap out there, making a fool out of every cultured man, I knew better.
Aka, there was a high possibility this girl was Haku, aka not a girl.
"Sorry, I didn't mean to disturb you, Shinobi-san. I just... I just saw you healing that bird and found it fascinating," said the girl who I didn't think was a girl at all.
"I see. Well, sorry if I scared you. I was just training," I replied, quickly thinking about what I would do if this was indeed Haku and he attacked me. Though there shouldn't be any reason for him to attack me out of the blue—it's not like I killed Zabuza, at least I don't think he knows that—but still, I need to be ready just in case.
"Nah, it's okay. I was just taking a stroll here." The girl shook her head and replied. Her beautiful face never showed a smile during our conversation.
"I'm Shika Nara, a shinobi of the Leaf. What about you?" I introduced myself, hoping to learn something about her—or "him."
"I am Haku. I was gathering herbs here," replied the girl who was not a girl in the first place.
Okay, now it's official—he's a "he," and this person is Haku.
"Herbs? You're also a healer? Funny, I was just learning healing right now," I said with a smile, making small talk with him.
"Oh, that's great." He replied, still not very interested in the conversation.
Seeing this, I could only sigh. I honestly didn't want to come into contact with him or have anything to do with him, but now that he was here, I just couldn't help myself.
He was one of the characters I liked in Naruto, quite a lot, actually. That's why I didn't want to kill him, even at the cost of missing out on the Ice Release if the kill list really could give me a bloodline power.
"Say, Shinobi-san, why are you working so hard? Do you have a reason to work like this?" he suddenly asked, making me remember what he asked Naruto in the anime.
Maybe the only difference here is that right now, the look in his eyes was also dead inside.
Maybe the death of Zabuza hit him harder than I thought. Maybe I can do something about this depression of his—a little talk no jutsu might work. Let's see.
xxx
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1000+ Stones for the second bonus chapter on Sunday bonus chapter
"Thank you Very Much for All Your Support"
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I knew that Haku would be depressed after Zabuza's death, but this was something else entirely. The boy was giving off suicidal vibes, which was honestly scary. It's terrifying how some people become so dependent on others that they can't find the will to live after those people are gone.
Loving someone or depending on someone is fine, but not to the degree where, without them, there's no will to live.
Sigh...
"I train hard to protect what I want to protect. In my case, that would be my friends and the people I know," I replied with a smile, trying to see what kind of reaction I could get from him.
Hearing this, Haku's eyes finally showed a little reaction. It wasn't much, but it showed that Haku was still the same Haku I remembered from the anime.
He seemed to react to his previous beliefs, the ones he displayed in the anime.
"That is…"
He paused for a moment before finally saying, "I see. Do you think that getting strong will allow you to protect them?" Haku asked. He was definitely about to say something else but changed his mind at the last moment.
When I heard this, I paused, thinking about how to respond to this boy. Finally, I said, "Hmm, I'm not sure, honestly. Power alone isn't always enough to save what you desire to protect. I've lost enough in the past to know that much.
But I honestly believe that one can only get stronger if they have something or someone to protect.
That desire to protect is what makes some people strong—or at least keeps them on the path of power without losing themselves." I cleverly sneaked in some of his own words while talking to him.
The reaction I was expecting came—a slight widening of the eyes and an astonished expression.
Haku's face went through a multitude of emotions before he finally looked at me with just one question on his lips.
"But… but what if you still fail, even after getting stronger? What if you still fail to save your loved ones?" Haku asked with a solemn expression. Perhaps this question wasn't just out of curiosity but was also him asking what he was supposed to do now—where he went wrong and what he should do now that he's lost the person he wanted to get stronger for in the first place.
"Hmm… well, honestly, I'll give my best to protect my loved ones. But just like anyone else, I'm no god. As I said before, power alone isn't enough to achieve everything. Power is just a means to an end.
But as you asked… if I really can't save them, then I can only move on. Because here's the beautiful thing about bonds—they go both ways.
If they're gone, and if they really felt the same way about you, then the only thing they would want is for you to be happy. Maybe they don't always say it, but if you think they're important to you, then most likely, you're important to them as well.
After they're gone, the best way to honor them is to be happy and do what they would have wanted you to do.
At least that's my way of ensuring that their time with me was worth more than anything." I concluded, hoping my words would lift his spirits a little. Haku blinked, as if he didn't fully understand.
"So…" Haku wanted to ask something, but then he stopped mid-sentence.
"Huh?" I prompted when he didn't say anything further.
"Hmm, nothing. Sorry to waste your time, Shinobi-kun. I was just curious. I should be going now… thank you." Haku suddenly jolted and then calmly replied before moving on.
I was left confused by what had just happened. But I could only sigh—there was no point in stopping him. Now that Zabuza was gone, I was sure he wouldn't attack, and thus, I technically had nothing to do with him anymore.
I can only hope that he lives his life well from now on. Because maybe, in the entire shinobi world, I remember from the anime, this guy might be among the few who truly deserved a good ending.
Sigh...
After that, I just went back to Tazuna's house. It was getting late anyway, and I'd accomplished what I wanted to for the day. My healing ability using Round Deer's reverse curse technique had improved to the point that I could even apply as an apprentice medic-nin based on this one ability alone.
And while I was playing healer, my shadow clones were playing ninja and learning assassination—Zabuza style.
It was a productive day after all, but I have a bad feeling. And right now, there's only one person I can think of who could make me feel uneasy.
Gato!
While he himself is nothing special, he has money. What's stopping him from hiring another ninja, another Jonin?
Now, Jonin rogue ninjas are not easy to come by, but there's no shortage of troublemakers in this world.
'Hmm… I should be ready for anything.'
I really don't understand why Team 7 in the anime didn't use the time they had to set up enough traps. If they suspected that Zabuza was alive, then why waste all that time? They had time and plenty of opportunities under their control, and what did they do? Wait there for Zabuza and Haku like idiots.
Yeah, they got some training done, but can a few days of training really compare to a well-placed trap?
Just pure idiocy.
xxx
Here is the goal for this Week.
500+ stones for the first bonus chapter on Monday
1000+ Stones for the second bonus chapter on Sunday bonus chapter
"Thank you Very Much for All Your Support"
If you want to read up to 20+ Chapters in advance, check my Patre on
Patreon.com/Kamidemond
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