~Soutarou POV~
Soutarou's eyes looked at the fallen trees and then back at Kosuke's sword and thought, 'So damn cool!'
'Or that's what I would say if this old man didn't work to the bone! While I normally work out with a resistance seal or a training seal… I never use the maximum capacity! This old man cranked it to max and used one of higher resistance levels I've ever seen! Well… What this old man just did… It's not simple at all… As for Chakra Flow… I think it shouldn't be too hard with my Senju Taijutsu and chakra coating… Wouldn't it be super easy if I did how Fujin first did it and how Nen from Hunter X Hunter would first cover the body then the weapon?'
'Seems feasible… Hell, I did it instinctually against Tetsuro… I imagine that it shouldn't be too hard to get it with just the weapon… Kind of like how I focus my chakra into one limb? Yeah that sounds about right.'
Soutarou continued to heave and pant as he was very much down for the count, still despite his annoyance at the difficulty he had to admit he knew this level of intensity and training would improve his strength significantly.
'Though there's one thing I'm very curious about… I'm doing so much training and whatnot, but at the end of the day… I haven't even turned seven! Isn't this bad for my development?'
Soutarou's expression darkened as he thought about being a short midget with muscles.
'I hope that doesn't happen. Oh well… Wait-... How am I supposed to get back home if I'm fried like this…?'
Soutarou glanced at Kosuke who had sent shadow clones around the battlefield to clean it up, before a shadow clone of Kosuke's suddenly picked up Soutarou and dumped him straight into Kakashi's arms and waved the group of ANBU off.
Once home Nono and Kabuto just grabbed him and tossed him straight into the bath already prepared bathtub with the secret tonic as usual. And Soutarou who was meditating, felt a subtle change in his chakra.
''Huh…? Did I just hit my chakra growth spurt…? Well… That's a bit interesting… Talk about weird timing… I guess I should just keep refining chakra… That nonsense about maintaining the balance of my Yin and Yang went down the drain the moment I wasn't able to achieve before my growth spurt…. And now my Senju bloodline is going to kick into high gear and my Yang chakra is about to explode. Ah whatever, I'm sure my yin can catch up eventually. Just look at Grandma or Gramps or even Tsunade… Yeah not too big a problem. Plus it's not like I'll specialize that much in genjutsu.'
As Soutarou lost himself in his thoughts and he considered certain possibilities, opportunities, and worries. He suddenly realized, 'Damn I'm still in the bath! I should be meditating, not pondering like a damn Greek philosopher!'
As Soutarou cursed himself and finally focused on refining chakra…
When Soutarou finally finished, had changed, and stepped out of the bathroom, Kabuto was sitting and waiting for him with his hands clasped together as if prayer. With his glasses glinting in the light as he was plotting something.
'Seriously? Villain Kabuto right here…'
Kabuto sighed and said, "What's with that dumb look?"
Soutarou shook his head, and thought, 'Nevermind he's still Kabuto Morita, not Yakushi.'
Kabuto looked seriously at Soutarou and said, "All good now?"
Soutarou shrugged and waved his hand dismissively and said, "Of course I'm fine… Is not like I commit genocide in one go. Plus we're shinobi if we don't kill then what's even our job? Catching dogs and cats? Weeding gardens? Movie making? Special effects? Cooking?"
Kabuto stared at Soutarou and said, "Shinobi already actually do those things."
Soutarou's brow twitched and he said, "You know damn well what I meant."
Kabuto smirked and said, "Of course… Killing is all that really happens at the top level."
Soutarou shook his head and said, "Forget top level just beyond chunin that's all that happens."
Kabuto nodded and said, "I suppose so. So… What's your plan… When are you graduating?"
Soutarou scratched his chin and said, "Not yet. If I graduate now I'll end up on the same team as Itachi Uchiha and that's not ideal."
Kabuto's eyes glinted and he asked quietly, "Is there a problem with the Uchiha Clan?"
Soutarou glanced down and said, "You should already know to a degree."
Kabuto glanced around and asked softly, "Does it have to do with the Uchiha Clan moving to the outer districts?"
Soutarou glanced over at Kabuto with an affirmative glance and said, "Partly. More so it's just the inherent bias that the higher ups have against the Uchiha and the Uchiha's desire for power at the higher end."
Kabuto pushed his glasses up and said, "Then… I'm guessing that combined with them being restrained to the Police Force, the negative comments from the Police Force's public reputation, and this block against them… It's exacerbating the issue? So the Uchiha clan is doomed to fall or rebel. You don't want to be teammates with him for that reason?"
Soutarou nodded and added, "That and if I were truly on a team with Itachi… My death could be used to further his sharingan and possibly even Naori's."
Kabuto's eyes widened and he said, "There's a level beyond Three Tomoe?"
Soutarou nodded and said, "Do you really think someone with a mere Three Tomoe could fight against the God of Shinobi? No, that's just not possible. Madara, Madara's brother Izuna, and I believe Kagami Uchiha all awakened what's called the Mangekyo Sharingan. It is the evolution of the Sharingan. Grandpa theorized that there's a level above the Mangekyo too. But no point in worrying about that… The most important thing is… To awaken the Mangekyo… You suffer immensely and that emotional breakdown triggers the release of a special Yin Chakra that stimulates the ocular power to evolve."
Kabuto's eyes widened further and he said, "Then you'd become a catalyst."
Soutarou nodded and said, "That's right. Hardliners like that old man Setsuna wouldn't let go of that chance."
Kabuto narrowed his eyes and questioned, "Then when would you graduate?"
Soutarou shrugged and said, "I'm the supposed genius so I have to graduate within three years… I plan to drag it out as long as I can to buy time to build strength. I'd suggest you do the same… But it's honestly better for you to focus on experimenting and improving your Medical Ninjutsu to the point you can keep healing as long as you have chakra."
Kabuto nodded and said, "You want me to graduate then?"
Soutarou sighed and said, "Unfortunately… Yes. There's no point in you staying in the academy. I'll have a risk sent to the old monkey to have you transferred into the hospital instead of a genin squad. You should join one after I become a genin. Our goal after that would be to join ANBU and to start building up a follower base."
Kabuto's eyes glinted and he asked, "Are you trying for Hokage?"
Soutarou shook his head and said, "No. Hokage is more complicated than you think. I'm aiming more to get onto the Konoha council first. We'll need political power for our future plans."
Kabuto raised an eyebrow and asked, "Which are?"
Soutarou simply and bluntly said, "The reformation of the Senju Clan in a sense. And a method to rid Konoha of the cancer named Danzo."
Kabuto's eyes widened again and he nodded grimly and agreed before commenting, "What about…"
Soutarou glanced over and shook his head and said, "Be mindful. We're not doing what you just suggested. Only Danzo needs to go. Ideally the elders would need to step down as well. The corruption must be rooted and tossed out. Once that's done we'll focus on building for later."
Kabuto nodded and said, "I'm assuming that's for when Tsunade comes back?"
Soutarou smiled and said nothing else as he began walking towards his room after getting up without responding, leaving a pondering Kabuto who glanced at Soutarou's back and got up himself before stopping Soutarou and saying, "Did you even eat anything? Eat first then sleep."
Soutarou rolled his eyes and sarcastically said, "Yes mom."
The pair bickered as Kabuto got out food for Soutarou and forced him to eat, before Soutarou called it a night and slumped onto his bed, falling asleep like a log within moments. Kabuto on the other hand took out a small notepad and jotted something down before his eyes glinted and he looked towards Soutarou's room and finally called it a night…
~Soutarou POV, late the next day~
Once again finding himself at the training ground with the so-called hidden chinese master and scammer of a swordsman, Kosuke Maruboshi.
'I swear this damn bastard is trying to kill me!'
'My old resistance seal was only for about 300 pounds… This old fart made this one to be for 1000 pounds! Damn you! What did I do to you? I swear once that old man gets 'Edo Tensei'ed by Orochimaru I'm sending after you to beat your ass!'
'Grandpa and Grandma… Whatever generation trauma you left on this poor old man… I don't know what you did… But now he's trying fucking collect this damn debt! What happened to me scamming this old man?!?! Dammit all!'
Soutarou screamed in his mind over and over again as his muscles, arms, legs, back, and own mind screamed in aching pain, as he once again collapsed with Kosuke staring down at him saying, "Well done. Basic horizontal slashes, basic vertical slashes, and now diagonal slashes… All complete. From now on that'll be your warm up along with five laps around all of Konoha with your resistance seal. Once you get used to that we'll switch to 2000 pounds of resistance and increase as necessary."
Soutarou rasped out, "If… That's the damn… Warm up… Then what's the damn exercise? Killing me?"
Kosuke scratched his chin and chuckled softly, "Haha… Not too far off. Live sword combat drills. We'll start with dummy swords for the first day tomorrow. The day after that straight into real swords. After a week chakra flow. After a month natured chakra flow."
Soutarou made a pleading expression only for Kosuke to smack him on the head with a ladle that he pulled from his back and Soutarou said, "Hey old man… Why do you even carry those cooking utensils?"
Kosuke thought for a moment and said, "To cook obviously. If you do well in learning Chakra Flow in a moment. I'll cook you dinner and trust me that's a reward."
Soutarou muttered, "Arrogant much?"
Kosuke shook his head and said, "Five minutes are up. Get up, it's time to learn chakra flow boy."
Soutarou heaved and shakily got up before he watched Kosuke once again door a sword from his back and then the old man said, "The first part of Chakra Flow is chakra control. Honestly you've far surpassed the criteria for this, not to mention that you already do or rather use Chakra Flow to a degree-"
Soutarou interjected and said, "You mean the Senju Taijutsu?"
Kosuke nodded and continued, "That's right. Just extend your chakra coating and try it."
Soutarou nodded while internally he thought, 'Old fart… I woke up early this morning and already tested this out now watch in awe as I get it right in one go!'
Soutarou instead of using his Chakra Coating just covered his Sword, which wasn't Aonami, but instead a normal metal sword, causing a small blue hue to light along the blade's edge. Kosuke nodded and said, "As expected even after forcing you to your limits you still found time to experiment with chakra coating after I showed you chakra flow."
Soutarou deadpanned and said, "You couldn't even act surprised?"
Kosuke shrugged and said, "If it were someone else I'd be pleasantly surprised. But the standard you set means if you didn't get it on the first time I'd be disappointed. Still you didn't disappoint and I have to admit your chakra control of chakra coating or now I suppose chakra flow is very stable. Looks like Lady Tsunade taught you well."
Kosuke continued, "Very well I'll show you natured chakra flow. Let's see your talent."
***Author's Note: I accidentally set the timer for upload for tomorrow… Sorry yall Webnovel changed the time zone system again and I got confused… On a side note I saw DevilHex finally posted again... All praise Naruto: Wind Calamity! Anyways hope you're enjoying my ff. Have a great weekend y'all!***