Chương 45: Whispers of the Past and the Future

I froze for a brief moment. Talking about Root was tricky. I couldn't exactly say what was genuinely on my mind, but if I acted too much like a regular kid and claimed I was merely being stubborn, Daiken would see right through me and start asking questions I couldn't answer. I stayed silent, hoping he'd speak first. Unfortunately, Daiken's intense stare eventually forced some words out of me.

"I've always had a sense of people's intentions," I finally muttered.

"It's not clairvoyance or anything. I just get a vague feeling about what's really in their hearts." Daiken raised his eyebrows, visibly surprised but still skeptical.

"I felt he was insincere," I continued cautiously.

"What he said made sense, but I knew deep down that he was hiding something... important." Daiken had a surprised look which turn thoughtful fast, appearing somewhat impressed by my instincts. Ironically, I had just done to him exactly what the Root operative did to me. I told the truth without telling everything. I had genuinely sensed the Root shinobi's intentions, but of course, I also knew exactly what they did to their recruits. Daiken sighed deeply, speaking in a tired voice.

"Root isn't easy to deal with. As long as you're certain you don't want to join them, I'll make sure they won't bother you too much." He paused briefly, then lowered his voice.

"But in the worst-case scenario. If they try to approach or recruit you by force, don't fight. Just find a way to send me a message, by any means." He didn't say precisely what he'd do if that happened, but his tone made it clear someone would suffer if Root crossed that line. Daiken then leaned back, relaxing slightly in his seat.

"Your performance during your first year was truly impressive. You have the potential to reach incredible levels, provided you don't slack off. Frankly, it's both impressive and unusual for a kid your age to keep such an intense training schedule without getting bored or distracted." His eyes narrowed slightly, making me almost shrink under his suspicious gaze.

"I don't really have money or anyone to play with," I mumbled awkwardly.

"Most kids annoy me, and honestly, training is fun... in its own weird way." A brief flicker of sadness crossed Daiken's eyes before his expression returned to default stone-face #3. After a pause, he smiled slightly and said, "Alright, you've earned it with your deserved rank. Tell me, then. What is it you want to reach the next level?" I hesitated again, carefully solidifying my decision before replying decisively, "I want to learn fuinjutsu." Daiken's eyes widened in surprise.

"Fuinjutsu? Where did you even learn about that?"

"I read about it in the library," I explained.

"It seems incredibly useful and could give me a lot of options before, during, and even after battle. However, there weren't any manuals or instructional materials available in the library sections I had access to." Daiken nodded approvingly, though doubt quickly entered his voice.

"Fuinjutsu is very dangerous. No seven-year-old should be learning it. It's also incredibly tedious, difficult to master, and expensive." Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

"I know," I said calmly.

"That's precisely why I'm requesting formal instruction and support from the Academy, including proper training materials." Daiken smirked slightly.

"Why should we invest so heavily in a seven-year-old student?"

"Because of what you said just moments ago, my potential," I answered confidently.

"And because you know I'll be careful with it." Daiken shot back immediately, a dry note in his voice.

"I recall hearing about a couple of incidents at your orphanage and in the forest that might contradict your statement." I laughed nervously, tension clear in my voice.

"Youth makes mistakes." Daiken looked puzzled.

"You're still young." I nodded quickly.

"True, but I've already learned from my mistakes." My sheepish laughter faded awkwardly. Daiken sighed again, finally relenting.

"Fine. We'll arrange for someone to teach you, and the necessary materials. But," he leaned forward seriously, "from now on, tell no one you're learning it. Don't share even basic details with anyone. Fuinjutsu is classified, highly secretive, and extremely sensitive on the battlefield."

"I understand completely," I assured him earnestly.

"I'll follow your instructions carefully." After an awkward moment of silence Daiken's expression shifted into something I'd never seen before, hesitation. It vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by firm determination. Daiken reached into a desk drawer with a deliberate, careful motion that immediately made me nervous. His hand emerged holding a sealed scroll, carefully bound with black string and marked with a faded lightning emblem. He held it for a moment, then gently placed it on the desk between us.

"This isn't part of your academy reward," he stated clearly. I blinked, slightly confused.

"Then what is it?"

"A test. A private one," he explained quietly, folding his arms as he leaned back, observing me intently.

"The jutsu inside this scroll isn't taught at the Academy. It's restricted knowledge. Do not share it with anyone, no matter what. I'm trusting you with this." My eyes immediately fell to the scroll. It wasn't flashy or elaborate, but something about the chakra embedded in its seal made my skin prickle uneasily.

"It's called Lightning Release: Pulse Chain," Daiken continued.

"A mid-range binding technique. You form a chain of concentrated lightning chakra and direct it at a target. With precise control, you can restrain, drag, or even immobilize one or more opponents simultaneously."

"Sounds powerful," I said carefully, desperately trying to hide the excited screams of "Yes! Yes! Yes!" echoing inside my head.

"It is," he said bluntly.

"Which is precisely why I expect you to fail at learning it. For some time at least" I looked up sharply, narrowing my eyes.

"So... a motivational scroll, basically?" Daiken didn't exactly smile, but something very faint shifted at the corner of his mouth.

"That scroll belonged to someone I served with during the Third War. He was one of the best lightning users I've ever known. He died in battle. I've kept that technique since then, believing someone might eventually earn the right to master it. Nobody has, until now, potentially. Lightning users are rare enough in Konoha, and among them, finding someone truly talented and dedicated enough to master this jutsu is nearly impossible."

I stared down at the scroll again, suddenly feeling its weight as far heavier than mere paper and ink.

"It's extremely chakra intensive," Daiken added firmly, voice dropping into the serious, no-nonsense tone reserved for grave matters.

"The control required surpasses even Flicker Step. If your chakra ratio is even slightly off, you'll either shock yourself unconscious or lose control of the chain mid-use, potentially harming allies. Either scenario is fatal in combat."

"Sounds like a party," I muttered sarcastically, attempting to disguise my excitement.

"You asked for more than average," he countered evenly.

"This is the price. Master it, and you'll have a technique very few shinobi your age, or even older, can counter. Fail, and you'll burn out." I reached out and carefully picked up the scroll. It pulsed faintly in my hand, almost as if recognizing its new owner, or perhaps its new victim. Daiken smiled genuinely then, adding quietly, "Good luck, kid." He ushered me toward the door, already turning back to the intimidating stack of paperwork that dominated his desk.