Ever since Kyuushin synthesized Ice Release, his ice-attribute chakra has been continuously modifying his physique and genes, but it has taken a bit longer than he expected.
He had previously predicted it would take over a month, but now, nearly a month later, this modification has not only not stopped but has become even more intense.
However, as long as he doesn't overuse Ice Release chakra, it doesn't affect his normal training and combat.
Kyuushin explained the entire synthesis process to Grandma Mito in detail. After listening, Grandma Mito sighed:
"Indeed, there's a reason why almost no one in history has been able to synthesize a kekkei genkai. According to the three conditions you mentioned, achieving even one of them would make someone an outstanding talent, let alone all three."
Kyuushin nodded, but then he said, "However, now that we have specific conditions, it's not impossible to cultivate in this direction. I wonder if Nawaki has the conditions."
Grandma Mito was startled and then said, "You mean..."
"Wood Release, of course," Kyuushin said with a smile. "As Hashirama's grandson, wouldn't it be natural for Nawaki to awaken Wood Release?"
"Then why didn't you synthesize Wood Release first?" Grandma Mito asked with some curiosity.
"Grandma, have you forgotten? I haven't learned Earth Release nature transformation yet," Kyuushin said helplessly, but then added,
"Moreover, Wood Release is too significant. I wouldn't dare to synthesize it first. In comparison, Ice Release doesn't matter. Maybe one of my ancestors married someone from the Yuki Clan, you never know."
Grandma Mito nodded with a hint of amusement:
"The Senju and Uzumaki haven't always intermarried throughout history, but it's good that you're cautious. Still, you don't need to be so afraid; Grandma is here, after all."
"With Grandma's words, I can now confidently synthesize other kekkei genkai."
Kyuushin smiled, then continued, "Grandma, I synthesized Ice Release also because it's quite similar to Wood Release; both have a physical form. This way, I can directly use many of Hashirama's Wood Release techniques without having to painstakingly create my own.[2][6]
Grandma, do you have any of Hashirama's Wood Release secret techniques scrolls?"
"So that was your plan, you little rascal." Grandma Mito wasn't angry; instead, she fumbled around on herself and finally pulled out a key, handing it to Kyuushin and saying,
"This is the key to Tobirama's study. Hashirama's secret techniques are all kept there, along with some of Tobirama's research notes and such. Except for some more dangerous ones, everything is there. Just take it."
"Thank you, Grandma." Kyuushin happily accepted it. A complete set of Wood Release secret techniques, and Senju Tobirama's research notes—what an incredibly precious collection! He hadn't expected Grandma Mito to just hand it over to him.
He felt an urge to immediately rush over and look, but he restrained himself. He still had other things to do.
After carefully putting the key away, he said to Grandma Mito,
"Grandma, I said I'd bring Nagato back quickly when he came out earlier. Now I have to make a trip back over there."
"Then go. Remember to come back early to rest. You just returned from the front lines today, don't overexert yourself," Grandma Mito cautioned.
Kyuushin quickly nodded. It was impossible for him to overexert himself with his physique, but such words were purely Grandma's concern for him, and he naturally accepted them.
He quickly left the house and ran towards the Uzumaki compound. This time, to avoid being surrounded by people again, he chose to run directly across the rooftops, landing directly in the compound's courtyard.
Only his grandfather, Uzumaki Masaaki, and Yahiko were in the courtyard. After he landed, Yahiko saw that he was alone and immediately asked, "Where's Nagato?"
"Nagato will probably be staying with me for a while. That place belongs to an elder of our Uzumaki Clan too, so don't worry. I came back specifically to tell you about this, so you wouldn't worry. You can come visit him in a couple of days."
Seeing Yahiko's slight anxiety, Kyuushin immediately explained it to him.
Yahiko trusted Kyuushin quite a bit, and seeing him say this, he felt relieved.
Kyuushin naturally didn't blame him. Yahiko had been wandering the longest among the three of them, so it was normal for him to feel insecure upon arriving in an unfamiliar environment.
"Alright, then I'll go tomorrow. I'm a bit tired today," Yahiko said, yawning.
"Yes, Nagato has also gone to sleep over there. You should go rest quickly too," Kyuushin said.
Yahiko nodded and then left.
"Yahiko is indeed a good child. I advised him to go straight to rest, but he insisted on waiting for Nagato to return. Konan fell asleep waiting, but only he persisted."
Masaaki stroked his beard and said.
"Yes, the three of them have relied on each other. I also considered this, which is why I rushed back specifically."
Kyuushin explained, but then he asked,
"Grandpa, our branch of the family, did our ancestors ever intermarry with the Yuki Clan of the Land of Water?"
"Hmm? Probably not, at least not in the last two or three generations. But why do you ask?" Masaaki was a bit confused.
"If not, then from now on, let's just say we did, because I've awakened Ice Release," Kyuushin said.
"What?" Masaaki was stunned. He suspected there was something wrong with his ears, that he was hallucinating.
"Say that again?!"
"I said, I've awakened the Ice Release kekkei genkai," Kyuushin repeated helplessly.
"No... that's impossible. Our Uzumaki Clan has no relation to the Yuki Clan. Why would you suddenly awaken it?"
Kyuushin was a bit helpless, but Masaaki was his grandfather after all, so he decided to reveal a bit more. He said directly,
"I know there's no relation, but if anyone asks, please don't deny it. Otherwise, the Ice Release on me won't be explainable."
"Oh, oh!" Masaaki only reacted then, but he was still very curious: "Then how did you get this Ice Release?"
"Don't be surprised. Later, various kekkei genkai might appear on me. For now, I just need you to cover for me slightly, so no one actually asks this question."
Masaaki's mind was a bit muddled. What did he mean by various kekkei genkai appearing later? Could kekkei genkai just suddenly appear?
But seeing Kyuushin so serious, he still agreed. However, when he tried to ask more, Kyuushin shook his head and said,
"Don't ask too much. You'll understand what's going on later. Grandma Mito also knows about this."
Sure enough, as soon as that sentence came out, Masaaki immediately stopped asking. Since Grandma Mito was involved, it must be something beneficial to Kyuushin. As for his curiosity, old people don't have as much energy to pursue such questions.
Seeing Masaaki agree, Kyuushin didn't plan to stay there long. After all, while his body wasn't tired, his mind was still a bit weary.
Masaaki didn't try to keep him, so Kyuushin walked out the gate. After two round trips, it was already evening. Although the sun hadn't set yet, there were far fewer villagers on the streets.
Seeing this, Kyuushin didn't leap across the rooftops as he had on the way there. With everything settled, he decided to walk back step by step, arriving home just in time for dinner.
However, after walking for less than ten minutes, he ran into an acquaintance. Kyuushin immediately smiled.
"Oh, isn't this Shikaku? How come even you, the lazy one, are training?"
The person he ran into was Nara Shikaku, but the current Shikaku wasn't as lazy as he had seen him before. Instead, he was drenched in sweat, clearly having just finished training.
"Yo..." Shikaku looked listless, barely raising his hand to greet him, then directly sat down by the roadside.
Kyuushin immediately became interested and wasn't in a hurry to go back, sitting down by the roadside with Shikaku.
After Shikaku's breathing evened out, he looked at Kyuushin and said, "I haven't congratulated you yet. The war was won, and you even got a great nickname. You've become famous throughout the shinobi world."
Kyuushin's face immediately fell upon hearing this. What he wanted was to secretly develop, but after this incident in the Land of Rain, that wish was probably going to fall through.
"Thanks, thanks. But wasn't this all within your predictions? How about I give you a nickname too? How about 'Riddler'? What do you think?"
This time it was Shikaku's face that fell: "What 'Riddler'? That's too ugly! Besides, you know I couldn't say much in that situation, right?"
"Hahahaha, just kidding, just kidding." Kyuushin patted Shikaku's shoulder.
"But you're really exaggerated, aren't you? I heard you not only injured Hanzo but also wiped out hundreds of Rain shinobi with a single ninjutsu, directly securing the victory in this war?"
"Who told you all this?" Kyuushin's expression was a bit strange. Although Shikaku's words were slightly exaggerated, they were pretty much the truth.
"Cough, cough. My father is an advisor to the Third Hokage. He told me this after he came back. But don't worry, I definitely won't spread such confidential information."
Shikaku explained, and Kyuushin nodded. The Nara Clan members were all very intelligent, so it wasn't surprising that Shikaku's father held that position.
However, Shikaku continued, "Speaking of which, my misery is also your fault. Who told you to be so ruthless? So after my dad told me this information, he insisted I participate in special training, saying things like 'someone younger than you is already so powerful, what reason do you have to be lazy?' And it's not just me; Inoichi and Choza are also going through the same thing."
"Hahahaha." But after hearing Shikaku say this, Kyuushin immediately burst out laughing.
And he said with schadenfreude, "How about I ask Nawaki and Minato to join you guys? Your own training isn't very effective; you need to add actual combat. I can even train with you."
"Forget it, I know what you're up to." Shikaku saw through Kyuushin's wicked idea at a glance and immediately refused him, but Minato and Nawaki's strength was indeed close to theirs, making actual combat training suitable.
Having rested enough, Shikaku stood up, patted his backside, and said, "We're at the Second Training Ground. If Minato and Nawaki are free, they can come join us."
"Alright, I understand."
Watching the sky darken, Kyuushin also stood up. "I'm off. See you next time."
"See you next time."