April 01: Morning.
Daichi walked along the main street with his hands in his pockets. The morning sun's warm rays fell on his face as the village slowly came to life around him. Even though his eyes kept taking everything around him, his mind was far away on an entirely different matter.
'So I saved the old man during the Third War… made him owe a life-debt… and then used that debt just to nudge him toward the orphanage.'
The memory of what his grandfather said came to his mind.
The Moromu mountain battle. Danzo's attempt to have Kensei erased. A masked man appearing out of nowhere, killing everyone in an instant, then healing a dying stranger "because he wanted to." The debt. The favor and the quiet instruction to adopt a child from Aiko's orphanage.
He could still hear Kensei's voice from two nights ago. The matter-of-fact way he'd said, "He wanted me to adopt someone. That was the repayment."
Daichi's gaze drifted up to the clear morning sky. A small, humorless smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. 'Now I have absolute proof. Looks like at some point in the future, I'll go back to the past and save him. Then maybe a second time travel to the time after the nine tails attack?... Or do I lurk in history and wait?... Hmm… So many questions.'
He exhaled through his nose.
'Dragon Veins… and Mana. If there's anything in this world that can twist space and time without instantly shredding reality, it's something in those directions… If I can bind a stable teleportation matrix to a pseudo-dimensional coordinate using Dragon veins chakra or my Mana energy as a buffer layer… then in theory I can extend it along the time axis instead of just space… But I need to do a lot of research. I'll need to understand my current teleportation jutsu to the max level before I tackle the time travel problem.'
Daichi stopped at a corner to let a civilian cart roll past, his gaze drifting up toward the distant cliffs with the Hokage faces. He began mentally forming the formula of a new space time jutsu. 'I'll need anchor points in time, maybe living chakra signatures as coordinates, then something for the dimensional layer separation… Hmm… Is it possible to use a modified Flying Thunder God array with temporal distortion… It's been proven in the movie, but I need something more precise… Hm. So many unknown variables.'
He rubbed the back of his neck. Daichi was so lost in thought that he only realized where his feet had taken him when he looked up and saw that he was near the base of the Hokage Tower.
"...Haa." Daichi let out a soft sigh. "One impossible problem at a time," he muttered. 'Time travel can wait. Right now I have too many things on my to-do list that includes waking up a Sannin at the top, getting the Tiger summon as like the fourth thing and then somewhere in the middle, finding a suitable sealing trap to deal with an immortal unkillable manipulator.'
Daichi had a small smile and shook his head. Just as he neared the entrance he saw several people coming out, chattering loudly. The Gamer ninja quickly found four very familiar faces.
Shikamaru yawned as he walked, hands behind his head. Ino chattered beside him, while Chōji munched on something from a small bag. Asuma strode ahead, looking vaguely amused.
Shikamaru noticed Daichi first. "Yo," he said lazily, lifting a couple of fingers in greeting.
"Morning," Daichi replied, walking over.
"Good morning, Daichi," Ino greeted with a big smile. "It feels like I haven't seen you in months." She had a big grin on her face.
"It's been a little over a week Ino." Daichi replied with a deadpan expression. "I see you guys got a mission."
Ino's shoulder slumped hearing that. "Yeah. But it's not what I was expecting."
"It's a D Rank mission." Choji replied. "Are you on your way to see the Hokage?"
"Yeah," Daichi nodded. "Got some paperwork to drop off."
Asuma tilted his head. "Paperwork, huh? Must be important if the old man wants it directly."
Daichi just smiled. "Something like that." His gaze flicked to Shikamaru.
"First D-rank mission huh? How you feeling?" he asked.
"Its so much work," Shikamaru muttered. "They said something about helping stack lumber for some old lady's yard. Either way it's manual labor."
Asuma sighed at Shikamaru's unenthusiastic attitude. "It's still a mission. Every mission is important for building teamwork and discipline."
The young ninja held back the urge to groan at that.
"So are we gonna see you later?" Ino asked hopefully.
"Sorry Ino. Got a lot on my plate right now. But I'll find you guys when I have some free time." Daichi shook his head with an apologetic smile.
Ino understood that he might be busy and nodded with a small smile. "Another time then."
"Alright everyone, let's get moving. We don't want to be late on our first mission do we?"
"Bye Daichi." Asuma quickly had the three Genins on the move.
Just as the Jonin reached Daichi's side, his face turned slightly serious. "How is she?" He asked with a low voice.
Daichi stopped and glanced at the man. He knew who Asuma was asking about.
"Those of us in the know don't show it, but we're all anxious." The Jonin spoke as he looked at his students who slowly got farther and farther away.
Daichi gave the man a reassuring smile. "Don't worry. The treatment is working. She'll wake up soon. Stronger than ever."
The bearded Jonin sighed in relief and nodded. "Well done Daichi. You truly do take after your teacher." With those words he smiled and walked after his student.
Daichi smirked and calmly made his way to the Hokage's office.
—-
The guards at the Hokage's office recognized him and let him pass with a nod. "The Hokage is expecting you. You can go right in."
Daichi nodded and knocked on the door.
"Enter." Hiruzen's voice called.
The familiar scent of ink and paper greeted him as he pushed the door open. The morning sunlight streamed through the large window, illuminating the room.
Hiruzen was seated behind his desk, a pile of documents to one side, his hat resting nearby. The old Hokage looked up as Daichi entered.
"Good morning, Daichi," Hiruzen greeted, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Right on time."
"Good morning, Lord Hokage," Daichi replied with a bow.
He reached into his back pouch and pulled out a tightly sealed scroll and placed it on the desk. "This is it," he said. "The documentation for the three techniques."
Hiruzen's expression turned serious. He picked up the scroll carefully. "The Wind Style Rasengan, Fire Style Rasengan, and the Fire Style Hell Guard Hydra."
"Yes." Daichi nodded. "Each section includes the jutsu's structure, training progression, nature transformation requirements, minimum chakra thresholds, and recorded backlash effects," he said. "I also outlined recommended physical conditioning and control exercises to mitigate the risks."
Hiruzen's gaze sharpened. "I see." He unsealed the scroll and began to skim through the first sections of the papers that appeared. Daichi watched his eyes move, pausing on the diagrams and chakra flowcharts.
Hiruzen's brows rose slightly as he read. "These requirements…" he murmured.
He turned a page, eyes flicking over sections.
"Need high chakra reserves," he read aloud, "proficiency in high-level nature transformation in Wind and Fire, advanced Rasengan control… and a recommended baseline of enhanced physical durability or special regeneration for repeated use." He glanced at Daichi.
"These restrictions…" Hiruzen murmured. "You've created an assessment filter. Anyone without a strong body, large chakra reserves and adequate control would cripple themselves if they tried to learn these by force."
"That's the point. It took a lot of effort for me to create these. If it wasn't for the shadow clone jutsu and my chakra control, I'd be a cripple right now." Daichi said. "If someone with average reserves and a normal body tries to create these, they'll rupture their chakra network before they're done. And without proper chakra nature mastery, the rasengan variants will either implode or destroy their own hand."
"I see." Hiruzen hummed, looking back down at the notes. "Based on these notes, the number of people in the entire village who could learn these two Rasengan variations could be counted on one hand."
His eyes continued going over the details and soon lingered on the Fire Style Hell Guard Hydra section, eyes narrowing slightly at the chakra cost and the recommended safety protocols.
"Multiple autonomous fire constructs bound to a central chakra matrix," he murmured. "Defensive and offensive applications… This alone… most Jonin would choke on the chakra cost."
"It's not meant to be a casual technique," Daichi said. "All three of them are… specialized tools. I made sure to record what happens if you push past safe limits, too."
Hiruzen gave a small, appreciative nod. "Good," he said. "Your caution does you credit. Very well. These will be added to the Forbidden Scroll under restricted access." He reached into his desk and pulled out another scroll.
"As we discussed," Hiruzen said, sliding it across the desk, "this is a catalog of all jutsu currently recorded in the Forbidden Scroll. Names, rank, and a brief descriptive tag. No instructions. I'll authorize you to learn two—or, depending on your choice, possibly three—jutsu from the Forbidden Scroll. Take your time and choose carefully."
Daichi took and unrolled it. Lines and lines of names greeted him. Some he recognized, some he didn't. 'Shadow Clone Technique… already learned. Multiple Shadow Clone… redundant for me.'
Daichi's eyes ran down the list.
Sealing techniques. Forbidden medical methods. A few dangerous shadow clone variant jutsu. Some terrifyingly self-sacrificial forbidden jutsu that made him mentally cross them out the moment he saw the words "user's life is consumed" in the description.
'No, thanks. I like breathing.' He quickly read and skipped over anything that explicitly stated "requires the user's soul," "irreversible," or "leads to certain death." 'I might be able to modify the jutsu and make it less lethal but these aren't more useful than the ones I already know.'
He ignored the jutsu tied to very specific clan requirements he either didn't have or already had comparable tools for. And then his gaze stopped on the one he'd been looking for.
Flying Thunder God Technique – space-time ninjutsu. Teleportation to pre-placed formula. Created by Second Hokage, later refined by Fourth Hokage. Extremely high difficulty.
His heartbeat ticked up a fraction. 'There you are.'
He looked up. "I'd like access to the Flying Thunder God," Daichi said.
Hiruzen studied him. "You realize," the Hokage said slowly, "that technique is one of the village's most valuable strategic assets. Very few people have been allowed to even look at its core formula."
"Yes," Daichi said.
"It single-handedly changed the course of battles," Hiruzen continued. "It allows a single shinobi to be anywhere at any moment. Rescue, assassination, logistics, battlefield control… It's not a jutsu we hand out lightly."
"I figured," Daichi nodded in understanding.
"If you choose this, I can only authorize you to learn one more jutsu from the list. Moreover you need a certain affinity with space time ninjutsu to use it effectively… If you can't learn it, it'll be a waste of opportunity. So are you absolutely certain about this choice?" Hiruzen asked the boy seriously. 'Is it possible that he's wary from Dragon's sudden appearance. Having the teleportation jutsu under your belt would certainly increase one's odds of survival. So it's not that surprising he would choose that.'
"I understand the risks, Lord Hokage, but I've made up my mind," he said. Daichi nodded without hesitation. 'Even if that was my only pick, it would still be worth it. If I can learn it openly, I can use it and even build branch techniques on top of it without raising any suspicion. And Dragon already used the teleportation jutsu in front of everyone. Now, no one will bat an eye if I do something similar in the future.'
He returned his attention to the scroll. 'Besides… between Orochimaru's labs and the Root vault, I already have copies and information on more than half the jutsu that would interest me here. It's not a loss at all.'
"Very well. The Flying Thunder God it is." The Hokage gestured at the scroll. "And your second choice?"
Daichi looked back down, scanning. His gaze moved down the list, skipping past more "sealed for good reason" techniques.
Then his eyes halted. He looked at the name and details of something. No rank was listed near it. Instead, there was only a descriptive note.
"Incomplete concept?" he murmured. Two words caught his eye.
'Kekkai Tota?'
Daichi quickly looked at the description.
Unnamed Kekkai Tota Concept – incomplete. Triple-nature fusion. Inspired by combat with Second Tsuchikage. Framework preserved. Execution method incomplete. Creator: Takami Senju - deceased.
Daichi's eyes narrowed. 'A triple-nature jutsu… Kekkei Tota… A new jutsu concept created after fighting Particle style huh?'
Immediately Daichi lifted a finger and tapped the line. "I want access to this one too," he said.
Hiruzen leaned forward to see which line he indicated. "That?" the old man said, surprised. "You're interested in that jutsu?"
"Yes. But this says it's incomplete," Daichi said. "Concept only. Is that really the case?"
"That's correct," Hiruzen replied. "I know you're brilliant Daichi but even for you, it may not be possible to finish it. It's just theory, partial formulae, and a lot of discarded prototypes. The truth is… A lot of us have looked into it, myself included but… We're not even sure if it's possible to complete that technique. Combining three elemental natures into a single stable release."
Hiruzen's eyes grew a little distant. The face of a long white bearded man came to his mind.
"The man who came up with that framework was from the Senju clan," Hiruzen said. "He fought in both the First and Second Great Wars. During the First great war, he faced the Second Tsuchikage—Mū—and his Dust Release. And in the Second World war, he fought Onoki, the current Tsuchikage. After barely surviving both those battles, he became… obsessed with the idea of creating a ninjutsu that could become a match or even a counter."
Daichi listened quietly.
"Takami Senju. He was brilliant," Hiruzen continued. "A natural at Nature Transformation theory. After he was injured in the Second War, he couldn't fight on the front lines anymore. So he spent his remaining life researching that concept. But sadly, he died before he could see it through."
"So that's how it is.. If you don't mind Lord Hokage, I'd like to take a crack at it." Daichi spoke with confidence but the Hokage had a serious expression.
"Daichi. Takami devoted the last seventeen years of his life to that theory. He was brilliant and stubborn but in the end… he was unsuccessful."
'Seventeen years on one idea?' Daichi thought with wonder and surprise. 'That's either madness or obsessive genius. Or maybe both.'
Hiruzen gave a small, wistful sigh. "All that remains are his notes and incomplete theories. We preserved them in the Forbidden Scroll because of the achievements he made to the village and because we didn't want anyone to waste their time or possibly even injuring themselves trying to create some ultimate jutsu. And for all we know, the concept in there could fundamentally be flawed."
As Hiruzen spoke, a familiar blue interface flashed in front of Daichi's eyes.
[Quest Created: Incomplete Legacy] [Time Limit: None.]
'Of course,' Daichi thought dryly. 'You just can't resist, can you, system?'
[Description: You have discovered the conceptual remains of a Kekkei Tōta technique devised by a Senju veteran. He spent seventeen years attempting to complete it but failed.]
[Objective: Construct and complete the triple-nature jutsu from the notes.]
[Optional Objectives]
[– Optimize chakra cost to within acceptable high-rank limits.
– Ensure the jutsu does not cause permanent damage to the user on proper execution.]
.
[Reward: ]
[135000 Exp.
– Title: "Heir of Unfinished Dreams"
– Unique Skill or Perk related to three-nature fusion. (Reward depends on the final jutsu form.)]
.
[Failure]
[None… You can abandon this quest at any time.]
[Accept Quest?] [Y/N]
Daichi's lips twitched. 'Like I'm going to say no.'
He mentally selected [Y]. The window dissolved.
Hiruzen looked at the boy and sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I can see that my words aren't getting through to you. Kensei, Tsunade… It's like you also inherited their stubbornness. Are you sure about this?"
"I've made my choice, Lord Hokage. These two are what I want." Daichi replied with a small smile. "If it turns out to be impossible, I'll at least learn from his mistakes," Daichi replied. "And if it's possible… then having a Kekkei Tota on our side isn't exactly a bad thing, is it?"
Hiruzen stared at him for a moment longer and then chuckled quietly. "…You really are troublesome," he murmured fondly. For a moment, Hiruzen saw a face overlay Daichi's—Takami Senju. 'The Senju clan was filled with those always pushing to reach beyond what's considered 'reasonable.'
"If anyone in this generation can do something with it…" Hiruzen murmured, then smiled faintly. "Very well. Wait here." He rose, picked up the catalogue scroll, and vanished in a swirl of leaves.
Daichi was left alone in the office. He turned to the window, hands sliding into his pockets. Hiruzen returned about ten minutes later, carrying two scrolls—one small and tightly sealed, the other thicker, older, bound with multiple bands.
He set them on the desk.
"This one," Hiruzen said, tapping the thinner scroll, "contains the instructions and formulae for the Flying Thunder God. The original framework is Lord Tobirama's; there are also annotations from Minato's refinements. Treat it with the seriousness it deserves."
Daichi nodded, eyes lingering on the small yellow scroll.
"And this," Hiruzen continued, resting his hand on the thicker scroll, "is everything we have on the incomplete Kekkei tōta technique. Notes, failed attempts, possible training methods, theoretical diagrams. Some of the references are… old, so be prepared to translate his thinking. Treat these with care, they're irreplaceable."
Daichi smiled faintly. "Thank you Lord Hokage. I'll be careful."
The boy reached out and placed a hand on each scroll, feeling the faint chakra weave. Quickly he stored them away safely.
"I don't have to tell you to be careful with the Teleportation jutsu," Hiruzen added. "Misplacing the formula seal or botching the space-time coordinates will do more than just injure you."
"You don't have to worry," Daichi said. "I'll take my time with it."
Hiruzen nodded, then leaned back slightly. "If you encounter any problems, speak to Genma or Kakashi. Both of them have learned this jutsu."
Daichi nodded. "I will."
A comfortable silence appeared in the room for a few moments before the Hokage spoke again. "Before you go bury yourself in those," he said, "Tell me, how is Tsunade's body responding to your treatment? Shizune sends me her daily reports, but still, I'd like to hear your assessment."
Daichi's expression softened slightly. "Better than I hoped," he said. "My serum has integrated fully with her body. The cellular remodeling reached all targeted tissues. Her chakra pathways are stabilizing. No signs of rejection."
"And her… mind?" Hiruzen asked.
"She's still in a coma," Daichi said. "But the pain feedback loop is gone. Her astral form is no longer trapped. At this point, her brain and nervous system are just… resting. Once her body hits a certain recovery threshold, she'll wake up on her own."
He paused, then added, "It won't be long now."
Hiruzen let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. "Good. That's good."
Before either of them could say more, there was a knock at the door.
"Lord Hokage," came the muffled voice of the assistant from outside, "Kakashi Hatake and Team Seven have arrived for their mission assignment."
Hiruzen's eyes warmed faintly. "Ah yes. Send them in," he replied with a smile.
—----------------
Author's Note:-
Next chapter:- Welcome back Tsunade 01.
If you like my story and want to read ahead, then check out my P.a.T.R.E.0.N page. I've uploaded up to 30 additional chapters there.
Patre on.com/MonkWithAPen (No space)