The incomplete version couldn't be thrown like a long-range spell, and its power felt barely half of the sage-enhanced variant. Even so, that rough "Spiral Sphere" was enough to frighten two hearts at once—and, by rights, it belonged with S-rank forbidden moves.
Then a spark flared in Kaede's mind: during the 2.5-second window of his Body-Art dual cultivation, he could become untouchable. If he combined that invulnerability with a clean three-body rhythm, he could shape a Wind "Spiral Shuriken" without shredding himself. Do it fast; do it once.
Everyone thought he was done and would climb ashore.
"Switching to private mode," Kaede said.
First he stabilized the Great Ball Spiral Sphere and bled a steady wind nature into it. The orb darkened toward green. Too big—if this blew, he'd paste himself across the lakeside. He started venting chakra in controlled sheets until only a fist-sized core remained. The instant he layered full wind transformation, the little star screamed—an ice-needle whine that made onlookers clap hands over their ears.
Ennosuke's jaw hit the floor. "That's my little brother? Am I dreaming?"
Biwako stiffened; the violence inside the orb was unmistakable.
The moment Kaede's Body-Art dual state clicked on, the Wind Spiral Shuriken finished forming. In the neutral beat that followed, prickling pain stabbed his forearm—he nearly lost it. He tightened, and the shuriken locked: once fully stable, it no longer ate the caster— but without that brief cloak of invulnerability, those three seconds of backlash would break most people. How had Naruto eaten that pain raw? Uzumaki were monsters.
Kaede threw up a shelter with Earth Flow, cradled the snarling "mini nuke," pulse hammering, terrified he'd drop it.
He spotted a thick forest behind him and snapped his arm forward.
The world howled. Trees sheared, earth vitrified, a smooth-walled crater the size of a volcanic caldera sat where the woods had been.
His hand trembled; black threads of smoke curled from pinprick burns. Biwako vaulted to him and pressed glowing palms to the injury. The itch faded; the skin knit.
"Sensei—teach me that," Kaede whispered, eyes blazing.
Biwako searched his face. "That jutsu—was it yours?"
"You know my situation," he murmured. "It's a Fourth Hokage art that the Seventh perfected. I backed into it by accident. The composite technique I want will hit harder than this. Honestly… the Giant Shark Bullet–Wave Cannon I'm working toward should be neck-and-neck with the Spiral Shuriken."
The mention of "later generations" made Biwako's brow crease. She lowered her voice. "Then from now on, say it was yours. Don't expose who you truly are."
She waved off the guards who'd rushed over, and Kaede walked back to the pavilion. Most of the audience still hadn't recovered.
He faced the three princesses—so alike they could have been reflections—and winced at yesterday's mix-up. "I mistook you, yesterday. My apologies, Princess."
The Fourth opened her mouth, but the Third stepped in, deadpan. "I'm the Third. This is the Fourth."
The Second drew a sword and offered it out. "Thank you for saving Rudi-dono. This was meant for you—please take it." Rudi bowed his thanks as well; Kaede returned the greeting.
Kaede turned to the Fourth. "Yesterday I thought you were the Second. We met and I brought no gift; please accept this blade as my apology."
A flush touched the Fourth's cheeks—gifted a sword like a sister-in-law, in front of everyone—yet she received it properly. She was not yet an in-law of the Sarutobi, but having come as Ennosuke's partner yesterday, etiquette allowed it.
Biwako clapped lightly. "Kids, play here. I'll cook. Stay for lunch—I'll make Konoha specialties." The house staff drifted after her toward the front.
Behind them, the whispers finally broke loose: an S-rank technique, born from Kaede's hands, unsealed and—at the end—shaped with raw wind.
"What did you call that just now? Is it your own work? No seals, no fixed element—and then you wove in nature transformation… how did you turn wind nature that fast?" they asked, all at once.
Kaede only smiled, flexing a fully healed hand. "With practice."
(End of Chapter)
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