At his desk, Kishimoto sat in silence.
On the screen, the Black-Robed Man moved with blinding speed, yet it was nothing like Kakashi's Sharingan-sharp precision.
Kakashi's speed was fast and meticulous.
The Black-Robed Man attacked with blades and defended with Kunai, looking like a dual-wielding swordsman but in truth fighting wide-open—attack as defense—because his raw power was overwhelming!
So much so that Kakashi couldn't dodge in time; he could only brace himself and block, because the enemy was simply too fast!
"Damn! That's really the Old Thief, Masahiko? No way! Absolutely not!"
"Buddy, it's totally possible!"
"Don't underestimate the Old Thief; every time he shows up he's got a new trick—feels like pure hacks."
"The Old Thief is unfathomable!"
Though his power had just shattered everyone's expectations, one thing every viewer was convinced of—
The Black-Robed Man was none other than Yagyu Masahiko.
Apart from this guy, no one else who'd appeared so far was this bizarre.
However—
The next instant—
As the two crossed paths, the Black-Robed Man's palm aimed at Kakashi's back.
Then—
From his five fingers, finger-bones eerily shot out, streaking toward Kakashi's spine.
At this point, Shikotsumyaku had yet to debut in the manga, so ordinary viewers were merely curious and surprised.
Yet none of them questioned Yagyu Masahiko's identity as a "Konoha ninja" because of Shikotsumyaku.
Many even felt thrilled— "Bones again! The Old Thief really was hiding something!"
"Is this the Shikotsumyaku Kakashi mentioned?"
That was the common thought.
Only Kishimoto—
The first time he saw this segment, he felt no thrill, only sheer shock.
Although his manga hadn't reached Kimimaro's debut, drafts and character profiles of Kimimaro were already finished.
He hadn't yet linked the setting to "Byakugan" or "Ōtsutsuki," but the Bloodline Limit of Shikotsumyaku had long been written.
In his design, Shikotsumyaku was a Bloodline Limit of the Land of Water.
The Land of Fire originally didn't have it.
The so-called "Yagyu Clan" was only added to the profiles after the character Yagyu Masahiko became wildly popular.
What terrified Kishimoto was: Was it that his profiles had influenced the "anime" plot—or was it that—
There really was a Yagyu Clan.
A clan truly tied to Shikotsumyaku, sharing an ancestor with the Kaguya Clan long ago?
Then what about the yagyu?
From Masahiko's performance, Konoha's "yagyu" were ordinary civilians.
Could the clan really have migrated south from the Land of Iron?
If so, everything was too much of a coincidence.
Kishimoto brooded in silence.
His feelings tangled, he weighed things for a long while, finally pulling out the profiles he'd made earlier.
For every main character he kept brief bios, recording settings, personalities and so on.
Most matched what appeared in the "anime."
Only the character Yagyu Masahiko had existed first; only later did he write a profile for him.
Was it really just coincidence?
Inside Konoha Hospital.
Masahiko finished watching the entire episode.
[Popularity Rating: S]
[Comprehensive Evaluation ————]
You sparked heated discussion this episode, gained huge attention and popularity; your pay reward has increased.
[Reward 1: Basic Actor Training – Genjutsu Volume]
[Reward 2: Low-Grade Skill Upgrade Card]
[Access unlocked; "Ability Training" module loaded successfully!]
Two rewards.
Masahiko was slightly surprised.
Though the card wasn't high-tier, it could still be traded for "personalized projection," and even a Low-Grade Skill Upgrade Card carried immense value.
Suppressing his excitement, he called up the interface and scanned through several sub-C-rank skills already at perfect mastery.
[Transformation Jutsu (Perfect), Substitution Jutsu (Perfect), Great Fireball Technique (Perfect), Water Clone (Perfect), Water Wave (Perfect)]
After long consideration he chose to upgrade Great Fireball.
He'd researched Water Release extensively.
Water Clone and Water Wave already had "Limit Break" concepts in mind; the rest was just testing and development.
Wasting a card on them was pointless.
By contrast, though he'd read plenty on Fire Release, he'd studied it less.
Improving it would cost considerable time.
Conversely, boosting Fire Release would benefit later learning and research of other Fire Ninjutsu.
Moreover—
It would further distance him from the Black-Robed Man, unlike Water Release which he still had to hide.
Without further hesitation, Masahiko closed his eyes and entered the Ninjutsu training space.
The next instant [Low-Grade Skill Upgrade Card used.]
[Great Fireball Technique level increased!]
That wondrous sensation surged again.
After the card was used, Masahiko entered a bizarre state.
Perhaps because the jutsu module had upgraded—
This time felt different from when he'd improved Body Flicker.
A sea of knowledge and jutsu collided and recombined in his mind, finally forming a branching tree before his eyes.
At the base were evolutions of Great Fireball; wherever his gaze landed—
First, a version fused with Haze Clone: a huge rolling fireball filled with thick smoke, the haze carrying scorching heat.
But it was gray.
Masahiko lacked the Haze Clone ability; he only knew its form from the anime, so fusion was impossible.
Second, further compressing Chakra to condense the flame and raise its temperature into a "High-Temp Fireball."
From the image it blazed white, flames seeming capable of incinerating everything.
That was feasible.
Masahiko pondered a moment, then looked further down.
Splitting, adhesion—like Phoenix Sage Fire.
Finally, his gaze locked on one branch.
"Fireball Great Detonation."
As he stared—
A massive fireball evolved before him.
Flames spewed out, tumbling through the air.
Just as it reached its peak, the Chakra inside violently shifted, eruptions booming as the Great Fireball chaotically exploded and expanded.
Upgradeable!
"You're the one!"
Masahiko chose at once.
Immediately, knowledge was dug from every corner, recombining in his mind and merging with Great Fireball.
Before long, perfect inspiration coalesced.
Masahiko formed hand seals.
Based on Great Fireball, the formula changed slightly, one extra seal added.
Flames burst from his mouth.
At their apex—
Boom!
Under fierce detonation, fire blasted outward, chaotic expansion covering the entire area.
He sensed and refined it.
Moments later he tried to fine-tune further.
This time—
Boom boom boom!
Small explosions erupted within the flames.
The coverage shrank, becoming more controlled and sustained.
After that he kept trying to fold in other techniques.
For example, following the principle of "High-Temp Fireball," compressing the sphere further, then using seals to detonate it.
Even—
Master one, master all.
After fully grasping Fireball Great Detonation, Masahiko also pushed "Shadow Clone" to Limit Break, aiming toward "Clone Great Detonation."