Time, like the Senju clan, disappeared little by little.
Several months passed unnoticed with classes starting and ending. Looking back, it felt like a dream.
Xia Mu underwent several more Ninjutsu developments in a special laboratory state. However, the research on Water Release: Spiraling Torrential Blast had hit a bottleneck and hadn't made much progress.
Fortunately, he wasn't solely focused on this one project.
Occasionally, to change his mood, he would research other techniques.
For example, after mastering Water Nature Transformation, he developed some simple and practical techniques.
Water Release: Telescope Technique: Utilizes Chakra to condense moisture in the air, forming convex and concave lenses, creating a telescope out of thin air. It can see up to two kilometers away.
This technique was of great help to Xia Mu.
Xia Mu had always had a weakness in reconnaissance. He didn't have Shino's insects, nor the Byakugan for assistance. Even after learning Chakra sensing, the range he could detect was very limited.
With the assistance of this Telescope Technique, he could easily survey the situation within two kilometers.
Water Release: Magnifying Glass Technique: Utilizes Chakra to condense moisture in the air, forming a large convex lens, converging sunlight to cause burns or even explosions.
This technique appeared in the anime original, but that villain wasn't water nature, it seemed to be ice nature.
Oh right, the Telescope Technique also seemed to be used by that villain.
It must be said that although the original characters didn't show impressive strength, their techniques were truly imaginative and could be fully referenced.
Furthermore, the most noteworthy point is that Xia Mu perfected the Six Styles.
Previously, he used Transformation Technique: Paper Drawing as Six Styles: Paper Drawing, and Body Flicker Technique as Six Styles: Shave. The other four styles had made no progress.
Later, Shino suddenly gave Xia Mu a pile of scrolls one day, saying they were some low-level Ninjutsu, and asked Xia Mu to research them. Once Xia Mu developed results, he had to share them.
Shino, truly, I could cry!
Xia Mu felt that the most correct thing he had done was to become good friends with Shino.
Then, Xia Mu naturally accepted Shino's kindness with tears in his eyes, took the Ninjutsu scrolls, and began more research.
The Ninjutsu scrolls Shino gave were basically Water Release, Lightning Release, and Earth Release, mainly considering Xia Mu's Chakra nature, making it much simpler for Xia Mu to learn. For example, Earth Release: Inner Decapitation Technique, Earth Release: Hardening Technique, Water Release: Water Formation Wall, Water Release: Water Bullet Technique, Lightning Release: Ground Running, etc., and also Genjutsu: Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique, and even Medical Ninjutsu.
Xia Mu didn't have much impression of the Ninjutsu ranks. Many Ninjutsu in the original work didn't have strict distinctions.
But these Ninjutsu were very commonly used in the original work and were not low-level Ninjutsu at all. The lowest were C-rank. Shino was speaking nonsense with his eyes wide open, and he was truly generous.
Besides gratitude, what else could Xia Mu do?
He could only work hard to research and share the best research results with this good friend.
Fortunately, Xia Mu could imagine the status of these Ninjutsu within the Aburame Clan. After all, the Aburame Clan mainly focused on Insect Manipulation Technique and basically wouldn't cultivate these Ninjutsu. However, it was normal for them to collect some while on missions. Even if they gathered dust at home, they couldn't be discarded. At worst, they could be sold when times were tough.
Moreover, not everyone in the clan was an insect manipulation genius. Some disciples could also learn these Ninjutsu.
And as the son of the clan head, Shino bringing out these unpopular Ninjutsu replicas would naturally not be opposed by the clan members, especially since Shino might have even consulted his father, Shibi Aburame.
Then there was no problem.
But Xia Mu couldn't just take the kindness for granted. He had to repay it.
Thus, after several months of research, the Six Styles were finally perfected.
Iron Skin: Based on Earth Release: Hardening Technique, with the help of Chakra, it allows the body to absorb the properties of iron Kunai, causing parts of the body to become iron-like.
Finger Gun: Uses the Iron Skin technique to make the fingers iron-like, using finger strength for rapid attacks.
Moon Walk: Condenses moisture under the feet with Chakra, allowing the soles of the feet to gain leverage, achieving the goal of running in the air.
Wind Release: Gale Palm: Condenses a large amount of moisture with Chakra, then kicks out a crescent-shaped Chakra with foot strength, compressing the moisture to form a crescent-shaped slash.
Xia Mu wasn't unwilling to research other techniques and insisted on developing the Six Styles. In reality, the Six Styles had already formed a system, integrating attack, defense, and evasion. There was a blueprint he could directly copy, so why bother thinking of other techniques?
Now, this Chakra version of the Six Styles, while perhaps not as exaggerated as the Pirate version, was still very practical.
Take Iron Skin, for example. It's truly practical in the Ninja World with its high attack and low defense, at least preventing death from being stabbed by a Kunai. And Moon Walk, for instance, truly allows Ninjas to achieve temporary flight.
Regardless of how others saw it, for the Aburame Clan, who struggled with Taijutsu, it was definitely a pleasant surprise.
One day, Xia Mu took Tenten to Shino's house as guests.
Originally, Xia Mu wanted to invite Shino to his house so he could teach Shino the Six Styles. But Shino invited them instead, and his reason was quite compelling.
He said that they had been eating at Xia Mu's and Tenten's houses before, and it was his family's turn.
Xia Mu didn't object. He also wanted to meet Shibi Aburame. He didn't have any particular goal, mainly just to express gratitude.
After all, Shino had given Xia Mu so many Ninjutsu scrolls for free, and Shibi Aburame not only didn't object but even helped keep it a secret. This was also a great kindness.
They might not care, but Xia Mu couldn't treat it lightly.
So, Xia Mu and Tenten brought a box of cured meat to the Aburame Clan's compound and were warmly welcomed by Shibi Aburame.
"Hahaha! You must be Xia Mu and Tenten. Shino often mentions you to me. Especially Xia Mu, Shino has known him since the first day of school, and their relationship has always been very good. As a father, I'm truly grateful to you. Shino has always been bad at communicating with others. It's great that he has you as friends!"
As Shibi Aburame spoke, moisture welled up under his sunglasses.
A surge of fatherly love almost drowned Xia Mu and Tenten, showing no sign of being bad at communication.
Xia Mu quickly said: "Uncle Shibi, you're too kind. Tenten and I are the ones who should be grateful. We've received too much help from Shino, and we don't know how to repay it."
Tenten also spoke up: "Yes, Uncle Shibi, Shino has helped us so much. It's our greatest honor to be friends with Shino!"
"No, no, no, it should be me thanking you..."
"No, no, no, it should be us thanking you..."
The three of them were pulling back and forth at the entrance, while Shino stood silently to the side.
Fortunately, he spoke up in time to interrupt, then led Xia Mu and Tenten into the house and put away the box of cured meat.
This was cured meat personally made by Xia Mu. Shino had eaten it several times and liked it very much. Now, he naturally had to store it properly so he could eat it at home later.