Chapter 230: A New Dōjutsu
"Still worried about that Kekkei Genkai Genichi assigned you?"
In the study, Chigetsu appeared behind Sarutobi Shinnosuke, gently smoothing her husband's furrowed brow.
Shinnosuke relaxed his brow and smiled. "Not exactly."
"It's about Steel Release. Genichi's supplement on Steel Release."
"A genius is truly on another level," Shinnosuke sighed with emotion.
Chigetsu glanced at the scroll and laughed. "Genichi isn't a genius, he's a monster."
"What kind of genius is that freakish?"
Shinnosuke couldn't help but chuckle, then nodded repeatedly.
"Full-body steel transformation... elementalization?"
Chigetsu said, "Similar to Kirigakure's Hydrification Technique?"
Shinnosuke nodded. "Yes."
"Currently, I can only manage to turn my bones and the surface of my skin to steel."
Chigetsu mused, "Iwagakure's Earth Style: Hardening just seems to be skin-level, too."
"And that Kakuzu who tried to assassinate the Sandaime, his Earth Style hardening was the same. From a tactical standpoint, turning the skin to stone or steel is sufficient."
Shinnosuke nodded, then shook his head. "That's true for a normal fight, but against an enemy like Madara Uchiha, it's nowhere near enough."
Chigetsu was silent for a moment, then smiled. "In that case, do your best! I believe in you!"
Shinnosuke smiled back. "With Genichi's guidance, I'm confident I can do it."
"But speaking of that other task from Genichi, I still have no progress."
"Do you have any good suggestions?"
Chigetsu sat down beside her husband. "Shinnosuke, what do you think is the key point to this Kekkei Genkai Genichi wants?"
Shinnosuke looked puzzled. "Isn't it Fire Style?"
Chigetsu shook her head. "I think it's Yang Release. Or rather, the physical body... the eyes."
"Although the effect is Fire Style, and Fire Style is definitely the dominant part, it's fundamentally a visual sensory ninjutsu, right?"
Shinnosuke nodded.
Chigetsu said, "Shinnosuke, you have experience with Steel Release. When two natures are combined, one is usually dominant. For this Kekkei Genkai, Fire Style seems dominant, but isn't it actually just serving the eyes, serving the Yang Release?"
Shinnosuke mulled over his wife's words, and his eyes lit up. "That makes sense."
"I need to be guided by Fire Style, but the foundation should be Yang Release, and in a very specific part of the body."
"I have to say, this kind of specific, localized Kekkei Genkai is really different from normal ones."
Chigetsu nodded, then smiled. "Shinnosuke, I have something to tell you."
Shinnosuke was puzzled. "What is it?"
Chigetsu said, "I'm pregnant."
"Huh?"
Shinnosuke blanked for a second, then shot to his feet. "You're pregnant!?"
"When?"
"Really?"
"I'm going to be a father!?"
...
At Fugaku Uchiha's house.
Itachi Uchiha, after playing with his little brother for a while, went to his father. "Father, may I ask you a few questions?"
Fugaku, who was feeding his fish, turned. "About ninjutsu?"
Itachi nodded. "Father, what does it feel like when the Sharingan awakens?"
Fugaku was taken aback. He hadn't expected this question. "Regarding the Sharingan, Itachi, you don't need to be anxious. When the time comes, you will know naturally."
Itachi said, "It's because of the task from Genichi-sama. I wanted to know what the awakening is like."
Fugaku mused for a moment, then said, "The awakening of the Sharingan comes from a special chakra within our clan's brains. When the time is right, it emerges and acts on the optic nerves, thus awakening the Sharingan."
Itachi looked thoughtful, then bowed. "Thank you, Father. I will get back to my work."
Fugaku looked like he wanted to say more, but in the end, just nodded.
...
At Kurenai Yūhi's house. Kurenai, staring at the scroll, pinched the bridge of her nose and sighed. "Training for a Kekkei Genkai is so hard..."
She looked out the window. If only it were like before.
She could just go and ask Genichi for help.
But now... she didn't dare to go anymore.
And...
Kurenai thought of Tsunade and the others, and bit her lip.
When she first found out, she was utterly shocked.
Gradually, that turned to admiration.
And then, to retreat.
"Kurenai!"
Suddenly, a familiar voice called from outside.
Kurenai hurried to the window. "Anko?"
Anko Mitarashi was waving frantically from below. "How about we go get some dango?"
Kurenai hesitated, then nodded. "Please wait a moment."
She quickly put the scroll away and went downstairs.
Walking down the street, Anko saw Kurenai's troubled expression and asked, "Still training that Kekkei Genkai?"
Kurenai nodded. "Yeah. It's extremely difficult."
Anko pouted. "You guys are all the same... all of you want to master a Kekkei Genkai. If it were that easy, there wouldn't be so few of them in the world, right?"
Kurenai couldn't help but smile. "That's true, but it's a rare opportunity. No one wants to miss it."
"Anko, when you become a Jōnin, you'll feel the same way."
Anko stretched. "I'm not going to make myself miserable over training every day!"
"Anyway, since you've hit a wall, why not just go ask Genichi?"
Kurenai hesitated. "Well... Genichi is also very busy."
Anko's eyes darted around, and she giggled. "He doesn't seem that busy lately. I saw him with Hokage-sama!"
"Plus, I heard a huge piece of gossip. Wanna hear it?"
Kurenai was curious. "What gossip?"
Anko looked left and right, then whispered conspiratorially, "I heard... Hokage-sama is pregnant!"
Kurenai's eyes widened. "R... really?"
Anko nodded vigorously.
Kurenai was a bit stunned.
Genichi is going to have a child!
But... it's not mine.
She felt a small pang of sadness.
Anko smiled to herself, then slyly pulled Kurenai's arm. "Kurenai, let's go to Genichi's family's dango shop first, and then we'll go to his house to ask him for help!"
The distracted Kurenai nodded subconsciously, then quickly realized. "Wait... is that... a good idea?"
Anko laughed. "What's not good about it?"
"We're just going to ask about ninjutsu. Hokage-sama wouldn't stop us, right?"
After they finished their dango, Kurenai was half-dragged, half-persuaded by Anko to Genichi's house. But by this time, Genichi had already left with Naruto.
Luckily, his Shadow Clone was still there, so Kurenai could still ask for help.
Tsunade was there, naturally, but she didn't mind.
She knew what Kurenai was feeling, but she wasn't bothered by it anymore.
I'm the main one!
...
On the other side, Genichi had taken Naruto and bought a pile of water balloons.
"Uncle Genichi, what are the balloons for?"
"I'm too old for childish stuff like this!" Naruto said.
Genichi smiled. "This is for your training."
Naruto nodded quickly. "Then what kind of ninjutsu is it?"
"Is it a super-strong one?"
Genichi nodded. "Of course. It's the strongest ninjutsu in the world!"
Is the Rasengan really the strongest?
No.
But... also yes.
It's just an A-rank, no-hand-seal jutsu, but you can shove anything into it.
Genichi had originally planned to teach Naruto the Sexy Jutsu.
But he decided against it. It was beneath him.
He'd just guide him slowly and let Naruto develop it himself.
He'd just enjoy the show when Kushina inevitably beat the crap out of him for it.
He found a quiet place, and the lesson began.
Although Naruto was young, since he'd already mastered water-walking and tree-climbing, Genichi figured it would be fine.
Besides, this training method, which Jiraiya had come up with in the original timeline, was in itself an excellent way to train chakra control.
Back when Genichi was learning the Rasengan, he had also used this method to greatly improve his own chakra control.
Secondly, Genichi knew this kid.
He was hyperactive, which wasn't a bad thing, but training required a calm heart. Rasengan training would also forge Naruto's willpower.
And so, from that day on, Naruto began his days of popping water balloons and rubber balls.
At noon, Genichi brought Naruto back to his house for lunch.
Kushina, meanwhile, didn't go looking for her son. With Genichi, there was nothing to worry about.
Plus, it had been a long time since she'd had a meal alone with her husband.
And... she had a surprise.
So, when Minato Namikaze got home for lunch and they'd said their hellos, they both blurted out at the same time: "Kushina/Minato, I have a surprise...!"
They couldn't help but laugh, and then said in unison, "You go first."
"Hahaha..."
Kushina laughed heartily, ladle in hand.
Minato scratched his head. "No, you go first."
Kushina nodded, then smiled. "I'm pregnant!"
Minato's eyes immediately darted to her stomach, overjoyed. "I'm going to be a father again!"
Kushina smiled and nodded, then asked, "So what's your surprise?"
Minato smiled. "The Fourth Hokage-sama has decided to have me succeed her as the Fifth Hokage."
Kushina's eyes widened. "Really!?"
"But Tsunade-sama... there's no reason for her to step down so soon, is there?"
Minato scratched his head. "That's the thing... Tsunade-sama, just like you, Kushina... is also pregnant."
Kushina's eyes went even wider. "Tsunade-sama is pregnant!?"
"Is it... is it his?"
Minato shrugged. "Who else?"
"Yaaaaa!"
"Minato, you're going to be Hokage! You're achieving our dream!"
Suddenly, Kushina shrieked and leaped onto Minato.
Minato quickly and carefully caught her.
...
Ever since Tsunade got pregnant, Genichi reduced his main body's training time and spent more time with her.
A pregnant woman's emotions can be volatile, especially an "advanced maternal age" one like Tsunade.
Still, he had achieved a new milestone: The Man of the Hokage!
So, if you're bold enough, even the Hokage can take maternity leave!
Furthermore, Genichi took another trip to the Uchiha clan and invited Namiichi's mother, Uchiha Misen, to his home.
This was Tsunade's first child, and neither Ina nor Shizune had any experience.
So, he had invited Misen to provide guidance, which also served to integrate her into the family ahead of time and fulfill his promise from long ago.
In addition, Genichi's mom also moved in, leaving the dango shop entirely in her husband's hands.
Genichi's dad had wanted to come too, but was shot down by his mom.
And just like that, the house became much livelier.
It's just that Genichi couldn't be as "unrestrained" as before.
And Tsunade, though she had wanted to stay in her own home for the pregnancy to maintain the Hokage's dignity...
...for the sake of her child, she moved into Genichi's place completely, enjoying the feeling of being the center of the universe.
Time flew, and a month passed in the blink of an eye.
On this day, Itachi Uchiha paid a rare visit.
Genichi had gone out for a walk with Tsunade, but his Shadow Clone remained at home, researching Yin-Yang Release.
The clone led Itachi into the study and smiled. "Is there something you're stuck on?"
"Yang Release or Yin Release?"
Itachi, who had been scanning the scroll-filled room, brought his gaze back. "Genichi-sama... I've completed that Kekkei Genkai."
Hm?
Genichi instinctively raised an eyebrow. "Completed?"
He was very surprised.
It's only been how long?
Less than a year.
Itachi, looking like a little adult, nodded with a serious face. "Yes, Genichi-sama."
As he spoke, his eyes began to change.
Genichi's gaze sharpened, and his Mirror Eye activated.
Itachi's pupils were now a golden color, and even the whites of his eyes were stained with a web of flame-like red lines.
If it were nighttime, they would definitely be glittering.
Genichi (the clone) stood up, examining the eyes closely. He smiled, "Excellent. What are the effects?"
Itachi said, "The effects are similar to what you hypothesized, Genichi-sama. At night, I can easily distinguish different objects by their temperature."
"Furthermore, I can discern the strength of chakra."
"I've tested it. Everyone's chakra intensity is different, so the heat they radiate is also different."
Genichi was pleasantly surprised. "So this perception can be used during the day as well."
Itachi nodded. "The heat radiated by chakra is even more striking than the normal heat from the sun."
"And... Genichi-sama, this is a Shadow Clone, isn't it?"
Genichi smiled and nodded. "Correct."
"It can even distinguish between a real body and a Shadow Clone?"
"That's something even the Byakugan and Sharingan can't do easily."
What is a Shadow Clone?
A physical clone.
This means that to the Byakugan's x-ray vision, a Shadow Clone looks identical to the real body.
It has bones, it has organs.
And the Sharingan perceives chakra.
Only someone like Madara, who had mastered the Sharingan to perfection and was intimately familiar with Hashirama, could use it to distinguish a Wood Clone.
Even a being as powerful as Kaguya Ōtsutsuki couldn't tell a Shadow Clone from the real body.
"As for why it can distinguish Shadow Clones, I don't yet fully understand the reason."
A troubled look appeared on Itachi's face.
Genichi said, "Is that so?"
"Then let me take a look."
Activating "Mirror," Genichi's eyes immediately changed, his pupils turning golden, the whites filling with the same fiery lines.
He looked at Itachi. In his new field of vision, Itachi was a blazing red, extremely bright.
It wasn't the body's natural heat, but the heat formed by his radiating chakra.
And, the outline formed by this heat had two distinct layers: a lighter one on the inside, and a deeper one on the outside.
Itachi, however, was staring wide-eyed.
Genichi-sama... knows this dōjutsu too!
No, that's not right!
Could it be... copying!
Genichi-sama's Mirror Eye can even copy a Kekkei Genkai!?
A storm of shock raged in Itachi's heart.
Genichi said, "Itachi, make a Shadow Clone."
"Uh, yes..."
Itachi snapped out of his shock, nodded, and formed the seals to create a clone.
Genichi looked at the clone, and immediately saw the difference.
The clone's heat signature did not have those same two distinct layers.
"I see."
Genichi understood.
Itachi quickly asked, "Genichi-sama, did you discover something?"
Genichi nodded. "If I'm not mistaken, that inner layer of radiation from the real body... is the 'Light of the Soul'."
"That is something a Shadow Clone does not possess."
Itachi was stunned. "The soul...?"
Genichi smiled and nodded. "There should be no mistake."
"A Shadow Clone is a physical clone. The chakra carries spiritual consciousness, so it has its own thoughts."
"However, a Shadow Clone does not possess a soul. Or rather, when you make a Shadow Clone, your soul does not split in two."
Splitting the soul?
Even Genichi wouldn't dare to mess with that.
His "Primordial Spirit Clones" were, in essence, just spiritual consciousness clones, not fundamentally different from a Shadow Clone. They weren't a true split of his soul.
He'd never expected this Kekkei Genkai to have such a wondrous use... to be able to perceive the Light of the Soul.
"Congratulations, Itachi."
Genichi deactivated the new dōjutsu. "From now on, Konoha and the shinobi world have a new dōjutsu."
"Have you thought of a name for it?"
Itachi shook his head obediently. "Not yet. Do you have any suggestions, Genichi-sama?"
Genichi mused for a moment, then smiled. "Let's call it... Fiery-Eyes Golden-Gaze. How about that?"
Even if the dōjutsu doesn't quite live up to the name...
...Genichi felt it was a good fit.
Itachi blinked. Genichi-sama's naming sense... is this special?
But, thinking about what his eyes looked like when he used it... it was descriptive. It just sounded a little... weird.
Itachi complained internally, but he nodded.
You're the boss. You decide.
And so, the new dōjutsu's name was set.
Fiery-Eyes Golden-Gaze!
A fusion of Fire Style + Yang Release, a sensory/insight-type Kekkei Genkai.
Current abilities: Night vision, perception of the 'Light of the Soul', and distinguishing between real bodies and Shadow Clones.
It had no offensive power. It was a purely sensory/insight dōjutsu.
But, it had to be said, the ability to distinguish Shadow Clones alone was enough to make this dōjutsu shine.
(End of Chapter)
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