Spiral Radiant Flame Blade!
As Shiro Gen seized control of Flame chakra, threads of black fire coiled around the flame-forged sword, turning in a tight spiral.
WHOOOSH! WHOOOSH! WHOOOSH!
He had, of course, referenced Wind Release - Rasenshuriken.
The Rasengan was exquisitely practical, the apex of chakra shape transformation.
Wind Release - Rasenshuriken went further by fusing wind nature into that apex.
With [Fire Release Dominion (Purple)] alone, Shiro Gen could have reproduced a fire-style Rasenshuriken by combining Fire chakra with the Rasengan.
There was no need.
The Phantom-Blaze Radiant Blade hit just as hard, was easier to control, and suited him better.
But once Amaterasu-Imperator had fused [Fire Release Dominion (Purple)] with [Yin Release Dominion (Purple)] into [Flame Release Dominion (Purple)], everything changed.
Flame Release bore both fire and Yin attributes, far more controllable than fire alone, and freely reshaped itself.
That precision let him perform high-difficulty operations.
Like the Spiral Radiant Flame Blade.
Under his command, black flame split into countless micro blades, each a sliver of Flame Release, whirling at extreme speed and winding around the sword.
He swung.
The great blade formed from that storm of micro flame-blades shot out.
As it flew, it swelled.
In under a tenth of a second, it expanded into a ten-meter arc of Flame Release.
It flew faster than sound, crossed three hundred meters, and struck dead on.
BOOOOM!
A thunderous blast ripped the sky.
The flame blade ballooned as if exploding, black fire surging upward.
It looked like a roiling pillar, but within churned those innumerable micro blades, keen enough to shred everything nearby.
The monstrous heat set all around alight in an instant.
Trees, air, even the soil.
Flame Release was no ordinary fire. It was an unquenchable blaze like Amaterasu - so long as chakra remained, it would ignite all things and never die, its temperature far beyond common flame.
"The power of this move already rivals a missile."
"It still falls short of a Tailed Beast Bomb, but not by much."
"After expansion, the kill radius is thirty meters."
"On the way, its cutting power remains vicious."
"Once it blooms, destruction and area both spike, and the splash of Flame Release spreads burning everywhere."
"Unquenchable flame is not something ordinary shinobi can resist."
His thoughts were crisp, his verdict clear.
Flame Release had been developed enough.
Next to genjutsu research, he could begin medical ninjutsu - in other words, Yang Release.
"With the clan's pull, the basics of medical ninjutsu are easy to obtain."
"But the pinnacle remains with Tsunade."
"Beyond advanced techniques, she holds the Yin Seal, Senju heritage, and even the contract for the Shikkotsu Forest."
He knew exactly what that meant.
"Sage Arts..."
...
...
"Red, I want to learn medical ninjutsu."
"The best teacher is Lady Tsunade."
"For that, I want to ask Shizune."
It was not a request so much as a notice.
Yuuhi Kurenai had long since been tamed into gentle obedience and would never oppose him. She would support any choice he made.
"Shiro Gen, you have my support."
She even felt he was considering her feelings.
He did care, in his way. Otherwise he would have skipped the notice and gone straight to Shizune.
"Good girl. I need to reward you properly."
"Mmm..."
With a roguish smile, he gave the promised reward.
Then he went to Shizune and spoke plainly.
"Shizune, I wish to study medical ninjutsu under Lady Tsunade."
"Will you ask her for me?"
He added a warm smile.
Ah.
What a smile.
To Shizune, it was magical. Her heart nearly stopped.
She had long harbored a quiet love, so refusal was impossible. Secret delight bloomed in her chest.
If Lady Tsunade accepted, Shiro Gen would train by her side.
Morning and night together, and with time, affection would grow.
Hehehe... hehehe...
"Leave it to me, Shiro Gen."
"I will deliver your request to Lady Tsunade."
"Thank you."
His smile grew even brighter.
That alone made Shizune want to sprint home and plead Shiro Gen's case at once.
"No need to thank me."
"I will do my utmost."
"Mm. Whether it works or not, barbecue this weekend is on me. Just the two of us."
That finished her.
"Deal."
Resolve flickered in Shizune's eyes.
Even if it was hard, she would make it happen.
For this, she would climb the mountain and walk through fire.
"Good. It's a deal."
Seeing her look, Shiro Gen knew he had read her correctly.
A young girl's crush was all too easy to use.
Given her bond with Tsunade, a heartfelt plea would very likely get him accepted.
Once he showed his talent, Tsunade would teach him more.
RIIIING! RIIIING!
The bell sounded.
He returned to his seat and unrolled a scroll.
It contained medical techniques.
Healing Technique, Hemostasis Technique, Mitotic Regeneration.
For him, these basics posed no difficulty at all.
Before the day ended, he had learned them all.
A new entry appeared in his status.
[Yang Release - Initiation (White)]