บท 167: 167
Haruto Takeda woke up early, his room still bathed in the soft glow of dawn. As his eyes adjusted to the light, the first thing he did was absorb the experiences from the shadow clone he had created the night before to practice poisons. A flood of knowledge washed over him—the clone had made minor but significant adjustments in poison mixtures, refined the potency of certain compounds, and even experimented with chakra infusion techniques to enhance the effects. Haruto processed the progress calmly, but deep down, he wasn't satisfied. He had another idea that he felt was even more ambitious: combining fūinjutsu with his growing knowledge of poisons to create seals that could store, enhance, or deploy toxins strategically during battle.
There was real potential there, and Haruto's mind buzzed with the possibilities. After a quick stretch, he summoned another shadow clone, giving it instructions to continue the poison research before heading to the hospital for additional medical training.
He, on the other hand, had a different task ahead—sparring with Daichi and Shisui. Shisui had been able to join them today since his Uchiha clan training had been rescheduled, and Haruto knew it would make for an intense session.
The trio arrived at the training grounds just as the first rays of sunlight warmed the earth. Without much talk, they immediately fell into their sparring routine—a series of 2v1 matches, with each of them rotating to take on the solo role.
Haruto faced both Daichi and Shisui first. Daichi, who had a natural water affinity, unleashed a relentless barrage of water-based ninjutsu—jets of water shot forward in quick succession, creating walls, waves, and sudden thrusts of liquid force. His attacks were fast and unyielding, keeping Haruto on his toes. Meanwhile, Shisui, ever the opportunist, hung back, waiting for Haruto's focus to split before darting in with precise, quick strikes.
Haruto could feel the strain almost immediately. Shisui's Sharingan gave him an edge, allowing him to read Haruto's movements, while Daichi's powerful ninjutsu forced Haruto to constantly be on the defensive. Despite the pressure, Haruto refrained from using his chakra scalpel or the more advanced thunder scalpel—both techniques that could have turned the tide in his favor. He wanted to push himself without relying on them, to see just how far his natural combat instincts and abilities could take him.
His chakra sensitivity, however, was a key asset. It allowed him to sense the ebb and flow of chakra through Daichi's water attacks and track Shisui's subtle movements even when he tried to hide in Daichi's distractions. The pressure mounted, but Haruto managed to dodge or block most of their attacks, even landing a few hits of his own. Still, the sheer intensity of fighting both Daichi and Shisui at once kept him mostly on the defensive.
When it was Shisui's turn to take on both Haruto and Daichi, it became clear just how closely matched they all were. Shisui was slightly better—his Sharingan gave him the ability to predict their movements, and his speed and precision were a notch above, but Haruto and Daichi were closing in on him in their own ways. Daichi's water ninjutsu had grown more fluid, his control over the element tighter than it had ever been, while Haruto's combat instincts and chakra control allowed him to react almost in sync with Shisui's movements, even without relying on his signature techniques.
Though Shisui still had the upper hand, it was obvious that his dominance wasn't guaranteed. Both Haruto and Daichi were on the verge of catching up, each in their own unique way. Haruto could see that it was only a matter of time before the balance shifted.
By the time it was Daichi's turn to fight solo, Haruto and Shisui adjusted their strategy. Daichi's reliance on water ninjutsu was powerful at a distance, but in close combat, he struggled to keep both of them at bay. Shisui, with his lightning-fast movements, pressured Daichi into focusing more on defense, while Haruto used his chakra sensitivity to exploit Daichi's brief moments of vulnerability. Together, they managed to push Daichi into a corner, eventually overwhelming him.
After hours of sparring, the trio collapsed onto the grass, breathing heavily but satisfied with their progress. Shisui, though still the strongest of the group, wiped sweat from his brow and grinned. "You two are really closing in. I won't be able to hold back much longer."
Daichi, still catching his breath, lay back on the grass with a wide grin. "Soon enough, Shisui. You won't be on top forever."
Haruto nodded in quiet agreement, feeling the truth in Shisui's words. They were close—just a few more steps, and the gap between them would close entirely.
Once they had rested, they headed to a nearby shop for a well-deserved big breakfast, devouring bowls of rice, miso soup, fish, and pickles. As they ate, they recounted the morning's sparring session, laughing at some of the more chaotic moments and discussing ways to improve. For Haruto, these moments of reflection were almost as important as the training itself. It was in these light-hearted discussions that he could think about new strategies and ways to refine his techniques.
Once they finished eating, Haruto and Daichi made their way to Kushina Uzumaki's place for fūinjutsu training. Haruto had been looking forward to this part of the day. Kushina's energy and enthusiasm always made their sessions intense and rewarding. Daichi, of course, tagged along for the food and laughs, but even he had picked up a few fūinjutsu basics over time.
When they arrived at Kushina's, she was standing outside, arms crossed and foot tapping impatiently. Her bright red hair glistened in the afternoon sun. "Late again?" she teased, though there was a warm smile behind her stern words.
Haruto bowed slightly in apology, while Daichi just grinned. "You know we're never late for food, Kushina!"
Kushina laughed, gesturing for them to come inside. "Come on, we've got work to do."
The training began in earnest, with Kushina diving into more complex sealing techniques. Haruto was completely focused, listening to every detail as she explained how to balance chakra in different seals. They were in the middle of refining a particularly tricky storage seal when a familiar figure entered the room.
Minato Namikaze appeared in a flash, his golden hair catching the light as he smiled warmly at Kushina. Her face lit up instantly, and without hesitation, she ran toward him, throwing her arms around his neck and giving him a quick kiss on the lips, completely ignoring Haruto and Daichi's presence.
Daichi snickered, watching the scene with barely contained amusement, while Haruto observed silently, intrigued by the dynamic between the two legendary shinobi.
Minato, ever the calm and composed shinobi, returned the hug, though a slight blush crept up his face. "It's been over a month since I saw you!" Kushina said, still clinging to him with a grin.
Turning to the two boys, Minato greeted them with a friendly smile. "Hello," he said. "I don't believe we've met."
Kushina grinned and pointed at Haruto. "This is Haruto. He's been training with me in fūinjutsu, and he's been making some great progress."
Minato raised an eyebrow in interest, glancing at Haruto with genuine curiosity. "Really? That's impressive. Fūinjutsu isn't easy."
The four of them sat down together, and the conversation quickly turned to fūinjutsu theory. Minato, despite his incredible reputation, was humble and patient as he explained advanced concepts with surprising clarity. He talked about how to maximize efficiency in seals, how chakra flow could be optimized to make even the most complex seals more stable. Haruto soaked it all in, his mind racing as he connected the dots between what he had already learned and what Minato was now teaching him.
Meanwhile, Daichi, uninterested in the intricacies of fūinjutsu, eventually dozed off on the couch, much to Kushina's amusement.
As the afternoon turned to evening, Minato invited both Haruto and Daichi to stay for dinner. Haruto hesitated for a moment, not wanting to impose, but Daichi immediately accepted the invitation. "Of course we'll stay! We wouldn't miss it for the world," he said with a wide grin.
Dinner was surprisingly relaxed and intimate. Kushina, with her fiery personality, kept the conversation lively with jokes and teasing, while Minato balanced her out with his calm and gentle demeanor. Despite their differences, the affection between them was clear. They shared stories about their missions, their adventures, and the occasional mishap.
At one point during dinner, Minato turned to Haruto, curiosity clear in his eyes. "So, Haruto, what got you interested in fūinjutsu?"
Haruto paused, thinking carefully. "I've always been drawn to the way chakra works at a deeper level. Fūinjutsu felt like a way to manipulate energy and power in ways that other jutsu couldn't. It's a different kind of precision."
Minato nodded, his expression thoughtful. "That's a great way to approach it. Fūinjutsu is all about precision, like you said. It's one of those arts where power comes from the smallest details, the tiniest adjustments. With the right seal, you can control almost anything—chakra, elements, even time and space."
Kushina grinned at Haruto, leaning over slightly. "And he's got a knack for it. Sometimes I think he learns faster than I did at his age."
Haruto blushed at the praise but managed a smile. "I still have a lot to learn, but I'm excited to push further. The more I dive into it, the more I realize just how limitless fūinjutsu can be."
Daichi, who had woken up at the mention of dinner, shoved a piece of food into his mouth and chimed in. "Yeah, and when he's not messing with seals, he's either fighting or reading those medical scrolls. I swear, he's always got something going on."
Kushina laughed. "A well-rounded shinobi! You could learn a thing or two from him, Daichi."
Daichi rolled his eyes but smiled. "I'll stick with what I'm good at—water jutsu and eating."
The group laughed, the conversation flowing easily as the evening wore on. Minato continued sharing his insights into fūinjutsu, telling stories of how he had used seals in real combat situations. His ability to blend advanced sealing techniques with strategic thinking left Haruto in awe. The man's humble nature only added to his respect.
"So, Haruto," Minato said, leaning forward slightly as he finished a bite of food. "What's your next step with fūinjutsu? What are you working on?"
Haruto paused, considering his words carefully. "I've been thinking about ways to combine my medical ninjutsu with fūinjutsu, to create seals that can enhance the body or even release healing chakra over time. But more recently, I've been experimenting with poisons. If I can store toxins in seals or use them in combat situations, it could give me a new edge."
Minato raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Combining medical ninjutsu and fūinjutsu is rare. It's a complicated balance, especially with poisons, but if you pull it off, it could be incredibly effective."
Kushina nodded in agreement. "He's right. It's dangerous, but that's what makes it powerful. Just make sure you test it thoroughly before using it in real combat."
Haruto appreciated their guidance, knowing they had walked similar paths and faced the same complexities of chakra and seals. There was something deeply reassuring about talking with both Minato and Kushina—they made the complex seem approachable and were always ready to offer advice without overshadowing his own growth.
By the end of the night, the atmosphere had grown even warmer, almost familial. Minato and Kushina's home was filled with laughter and conversation, and for Haruto, the entire experience was a reminder of how human even the most legendary shinobi were.
Kushina leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms with a satisfied grin. "Alright, Daichi, you still alive over there?" she joked, noting how much he had eaten.
Daichi, barely keeping his eyes open, gave her a lazy thumbs-up. "Barely."
Haruto, despite feeling tired from the long day of training and learning, couldn't help but smile. He'd gained more than just knowledge today. He had experienced something rare in the shinobi world—connection. With all the weight of missions, training, and duty, it was easy to forget how important relationships were. Tonight had reminded him of that.
As they prepared to leave, Minato stood by the door and gave Haruto a reassuring smile. "You're on the right track. Keep working at it, and you'll unlock things you never thought possible. Don't hesitate to come by if you need advice or help with anything. We're all part of the same village after all."
Haruto nodded, feeling a renewed sense of purpose. "Thank you, Minato-sensei."
As they headed out into the cool night air, Daichi stifled a yawn, stretching his arms above his head. "Man, that was great. Food, training, and fūinjutsu. Doesn't get much better than that."
Haruto smiled, looking back at the door as it closed behind them. "Yeah, it doesn't."
For the first time in a while, Haruto felt an overwhelming sense of belonging. He was growing as a shinobi, yes, but moments like these—where people came together, shared wisdom, and connected—were what truly shaped him.
And with his mind now buzzing with new ideas, he was more eager than ever to push his limits and explore the depths of fūinjutsu and the path that lay ahead.
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