Gisei figured that Steel Release was likely a Kekkei Genkai formed by combining Earth and Lightning natures, while Explosion Release was a mix of Earth and Fire.
After thinking for a moment, Gisei turned to Fujiki. "Fujiki, can you turn the ground into steel?"
Fujiki shook his head. "I can't. The chakra mixture required for Steel Release is extremely difficult to control. Even turning my own body into steel is hard enough."
Gisei scratched his head and looked at Taka. "And your Explosion Release... you just infuse chakra into a weapon and throw it?"
Taka nodded. "Actually, Explosion Release is technically more suitable for taijutsu (hand-to-hand combat), but my taijutsu isn't very good, so I use this method instead."
Explosion Release is suitable for taijutsu?
Gisei was speechless. Steel Release is the one suitable for taijutsu, you idiot. Explosion Release is obviously better for long-range attacks.
Remembering the scenes from the story where Deidara flew through the sky dropping bombs, Gisei took a deep breath to calm himself.
He pulled out a shuriken, infused it with chakra, and threw it. The moment it landed, the shuriken exploded.
Taka was stunned. "You can use Explosion Release too?"
"That," Gisei said with a blank face, "is just a Fire Release nature transformation."
What was the point of capturing these two? They're useless.
At this thought, Gisei's gaze became dangerous.
Fujiki and Taka immediately tensed up. This young-looking guy wasn't getting tired of them already, was he?
Gisei frowned, lost in thought. Steel Release and Explosion Release shouldn't be this weak. These two don't look like total idiots, so why is their development of the Kekkei Genkai so poor?
I'd better experience it for myself.
Gisei took control of Fujiki, sealed his consciousness, and began to manipulate his body using the butterfly parasites inside him.
First, he tried to harden Fujiki's entire body. It succeeded easily.
Frowning, Gisei controlled Fujiki to place his hand on the ground and attempted to harden the earth itself.
Almost immediately, the ground took on the cold, grey color of steel, spreading outwards for more than twenty meters before stopping.
Taka, watching from the side, looked like his eyeballs were about to pop out of his skull.
What is going on? He's being controlled, yet his strength didn't decrease—it increased?
After releasing Fujiki from his control, Gisei roughly understood where the problem lay.
Kekkei Genkai might seem powerful, but they are demanding to use. The more powerful the ability, the higher the requirement for precise chakra control.
Fujiki probably didn't have his fundamentals down; otherwise, his Steel Release would be much stronger.
Gisei then walked over to Taka. Taka gave a wry smile; he knew this guy wanted to control him to test the Explosion Release next.
He didn't resist. He had nothing left to lose anyway.
Gisei controlled Taka to punch the ground. Boom! A large crater appeared instantly.
Using Water Release to wet the dirt, Gisei controlled Taka to start molding a small figure out of the mud. Once the small figure was shaped, he infused it with chakra.
Gisei made the clay figure roll, jump, and run for more than ten meters before commanding it to self-destruct.
A ball of fire lit up, followed by a blast of hot wind.
Gisei sighed and released Taka from his control.
Fujiki and Taka stood together, their expressions grim.
Seeing their own Kekkei Genkai display power far beyond their own limits while in the hands of someone else... it was humiliating. How could they bear it? Not only that, but they were worried this guy would be dissatisfied with their incompetence and decide to just use them as permanent puppets.
Gisei did actually consider that for a moment, but after careful thought, he gave up on the idea.
First, the butterfly parasites needed time to grow. Second, these two might actually become stronger under his guidance.
"You saw it yourselves. Your abilities displayed greater power in my hands than in yours. If you don't want to be turned into mindless puppets, then work hard to become stronger."
The two looked at each other and nodded in silence.
"Words are useless," Gisei said coldly. "I'll give you one year. If you can't satisfy me by then, you know the consequences."
After speaking, Gisei took control of them again and implanted three butterfly larvae into each of them.
It would take at least half a year for the parasites to improve their chakra control, and two years to fully mature.
Right now, he could feed chakra into the larvae. As long as Fujiki and Taka worked hard, their strength would see a massive improvement in six months. Even if they slacked off, they would reach Kage level within two years naturally.
As for their lifespan... Heh.
Fujiki looked to be in his thirties. Taka was younger, maybe twenty-five or twenty-six.
When the butterfly parasites matured, Fujiki would live for another ten years at most. Taka might get a few years more than that.
After releasing the restraints, Gisei explained the situation directly.
When they heard they only had a little over ten years to live, their faces turned pale.
However, neither of them argued. Being able to live for ten more years was better than dying right now.
Gisei pointed at Fujiki. "For your Steel Release, try adding Water Release to form something like liquid metal. If you succeed, I have a way to extend your life."
He then pointed at Taka. "Your Explosion Release needs more power. In a few days, I'll help you find some special clay. Try to change the form of the clay and infuse it with chakra for remote control. Same deal as him—if you pull it off, I will grant any request you have."
Leaving the two at the training ground, Gisei returned to the village and assigned a few ninja butterflies to take care of their daily needs.
Afterward, he left the Butterfly Valley.
...
Stone Village, Tsuchikage's Office.
Onoki listened to the Anbu's report and sat in his chair without saying a word.
A Storm Release ninja from the Cloud Village kidnapped their Steel Release user, Fujiki?
The moment he heard the news, Onoki smelled a conspiracy.
But before he could figure it out, another Anbu came in to report that Taka, the Explosion Release user, had also been captured.
After Onoki finished listening, his eyes widened with rage. He grabbed the teacup from his desk and smashed it onto the floor.
"Cloud Village! Immediately convene a meeting of the higher-ups! This matter must have a resolution!"
Half an hour later, in the Stone Village meeting room, Onoki informed the village elders of the situation.
"Storm Release is a Kekkei Genkai unique to the Cloud Village. Does this mean Cloud Village is behind everything?"
"Tsuchikage, is the Anbu's information accurate?"
Onoki's face was grim. "When the Storm Release ninja captured Fujiki, someone in Fujiki's team was lucky enough to survive. The information came directly from him."
"Then what are we waiting for?"
"Attacking us with a Tailed Beast for no reason, and now unscrupulously capturing our Kekkei Genkai ninjas—neither of these insults can be tolerated!"
"Let's go to war, Lord Tsuchikage!"
"That's right, let's go to war!"
The Stone Village elders were filled with righteous indignation, clamoring to start a war immediately.
Onoki slammed his hand on the table. "Calm down! I want to go to war too, but we have no hard evidence. Cloud Village will never admit to it!"
"Tsuchikage, regardless of whether Cloud Village admits it or not, we must give the villagers an explanation."
"Although the Tailed Beast Bomb didn't land inside the village, panic has already spread."
"The current death toll is already in the hundreds, and counting the injured, the number is even higher!"
"We must take action!"
The discussion gradually evolved into a war council. Onoki closed his eyes in pain.
He knew that the outbreak of war could no longer be stopped.