41-45

Chapter 41: Hyūga and Yamanaka 

Hyūga, Main Family Estate  

Early morning.  

Inside a simple yet elegant tatami room, the Hyūga clan’s elder and the head of the family, Hyūga Hiashi, sat facing each other in discussion.  

"It’s been four days since the disappearance, and there’s still no trace of the culprit?"  

Hiashi frowned as he pressed the question.  

For a clan possessing the Byakugan, the fact that their gate guards had vanished without a single clue about the perpetrator was nothing short of humiliating.  

This was a blow to the Hyūga’s reputation.  

Hyūga Kei, his expression grim, had wrinkles at the corners of his eyes that fanned out like folded paper.  

"The ones who placed the Caged Bird Seal on the Hyūga brothers confirmed it—their seals were triggered, though the exact timing is unclear."  

"There were no signs of a struggle at the scene, no bodies, weapons, or bloodstains. They had no known enemies either. And of all times, it happened during the hottest part of the day, in a secluded area of the compound where there were no witnesses."  

Hiashi rubbed his chin in frustration.  

The killer was proving difficult to catch.  

The Hyūga clan was large, and their estate was one of the most expansive in Konoha. Naturally, it wasn’t located in the bustling heart of the village. People often said the Uchiha lived in the outskirts, but the Hyūga were only slightly better off.  

"At least it wasn’t a member of the main family who disappeared."  

Kei offered some consolation. "Don’t worry, Clan Head. I’ve already reinforced security around the main family’s quarters to ensure nothing like this happens to them."  

"Hn."  

Hiashi nodded in approval.  

"If we still can’t find the culprit, we’ll have to notify the ANBU."  

He had made up his mind.  

The Hyūga’s pride was important, but two lives had been lost—both from the branch family.  

Dead men were a small matter, but the tension between the branch and main families was not. This couldn’t be allowed to spark something worse.  

"Last night, I already sent someone to inform them."  

Kei’s face darkened further.  

Hiashi didn’t even need to ask—he could guess the outcome wasn’t favorable.  

"The ANBU said that unless there’s a mass disappearance or a missing shinobi with a registered Konoha ID, it’s outside their jurisdiction."  

"The Hyūga brothers were private family shinobi. They never attended the Academy and had no official registration, so they’re classified as civilians."  

Hiashi didn’t need to hear the rest.  

If this was treated as a civilian disappearance, they’d have to involve the Uchiha Police Force.  

For the Hyūga—who had always been at odds with the Uchiha—to go begging for their help would be an unbearable loss of face.  

"The ANBU are being this uncooperative?"  

Hiashi sensed something amiss.  

Strict protocol was one thing, but given the Hyūga’s standing, the ANBU should’ve at least offered some flexibility. Why were they being so rigid?  

Kei shook his head.  

"The ANBU are critically understaffed right now. According to our messenger, their headquarters only had two people present—one of them a Shadow Clone. Everyone else is out on missions."  

"It’s not that they’re refusing to help. They genuinely don’t have the manpower."  

As for why they were stretched so thin, Hiashi and Kei exchanged a glance. Some things went without saying.  

"Given the current climate, we can’t afford to get entangled with the Uchiha. Compensate the branch family and drop the matter."  

"Understood."  

Konoha Commercial District  

At the end of a street still veiled in morning mist, a copper wind chime swayed gently beneath the eaves.  

Dew dripped from the honeysuckle vines hanging over the entrance of Yamanaka Flowers, staining the wooden sign with uneven patches of moisture.  

Hikari looked up.  

On the left side of the sign was the distinctive emblem of the Yamanaka clan.  

She was on her way to Konoha Hospital to visit Kazami Koshī. As the one responsible for his injuries, it was only polite to bring a gift.  

But nutritional supplements were expensive.  

Fruit baskets and snacks weren’t cheap either.  

A bouquet of flowers?  

Affordable and thoughtful.  

More importantly, she knew the shop’s young heiress—maybe she could even get a discount.  

Sigh…  

All this mental effort just to save a few coins.  

Damn you, Gai.  

"Your hair’s a mess. Fix it."  

"Ugh, I know, Mom! I’m gonna be late for school!"  

Hikari pushed open the door.  

Inside, a dignified woman with her hair elegantly pinned up was fussing over her classmate, Yamanaka Ino. The resemblance between them was striking, especially in the shape of their faces.  

"Welcome."  

The woman greeted her warmly, her eyes flickering only briefly with surprise at Hikari’s eyeless cloth wrap. Her poise was a stark contrast to Ino’s restless energy.  

"K-Hikari?! What are you doing here?"  

Ino hadn’t expected to see her this early. She’d spent all night agonizing over yesterday’s proposal.  

Clan secret techniques were absolutely off-limits.  

But the foundations of Yin Release? That wasn’t classified.  

The Yamanaka had no strict rules against sharing such basic knowledge. In fact, some clansmen had even taught it to close friends before. It wasn’t like this was some irreplaceable secret—you could probably dig it up elsewhere if you tried.  

Which made Ino’s dilemma even worse.  

She really liked Sasuke. If Hikari could help set up a match between them, it’d be a huge boost to her chances.  

But sharing Yin Release knowledge wasn’t something she could decide alone. She’d have to discuss it with her family first.  

"Ino, is this your classmate?"  

"Good morning, ma’am. I’m Hikari, a friend of Ino’s."  

Friend?! Since when?!  

Ino barely held back a scoff, but with Yamanaka Riya present, she couldn’t exactly say that out loud.  

Riya glanced at Hikari’s empty hands.  

"Did you two… plan to walk to school together?"  

"No, I’m here to buy flowers."  

"For who?"  

Ino’s guard shot up instantly.  

Don’t tell me it’s for Sasuke?!  

"For Kazami-sensei."  

Hikari had no interest in teasing Ino. Her main goal was still securing Wind Release training.  

Of course, she wasn’t about to pass up Ino’s Yin Release either.  

One of her "Academy Hikari" missions was to milk the school’s resources dry. Handling Ino and the others via Shadow Clone was the perfect solution.  

She had too much on her plate to waste time on childish school games.  

The Uchiha massacre was looming.  

With only five years until the original story’s timeline began, she couldn’t afford to squander her growth period on something as trivial as classroom life.  

Ino let out a relieved breath.  

"Auntie, what kind of flowers would be good for a patient? Any recommendations?"  

"Hmm… How about lilies?"  

After a moment’s thought, Riya plucked a single white lily and handed it over.  

"Could you pick the cheapest one, please? Thanks."  

Hikari’s bluntness made Riya chuckle behind her hand.  

"Since you’re Ino’s friend, consider this one a gift."  

"Thank you very much."  

Hikari clasped her hands together without hesitation—this was exactly why she’d come.  

Watching Hikari walk away with a free flower, Ino couldn’t help feeling cheated again.  

First, she tried to weasel Yin Release knowledge out of her. Now she was scamming free flowers?!  

This girl was unbelievably greedy.  

"Goodbye, Auntie."  

"Take care."  

Riya watched the small, blind girl disappear down the street, then turned back to Ino, who was sulking. She sighed.  

Kids these days…  

A six-year-old who could defeat a jōnin? A friend like that was priceless.  

The moment she heard the name "Hikari", she’d recognized her. The adopted daughter of Might Gai, the Hokage’s protégé. The girl who’d humiliated an instructor on her first day and crushed an Uchiha prodigy in combat drills.  

Unmatched talent. Solid connections. Unshakable loyalty.  

Her future was blindingly bright.  

"You should get along well with Hikari, understand?"  

"Yeah, yeah~"  

Ino waved dismissively, her already messy hair bouncing as she dashed out the door.  

Riya could only sigh again as she watched her daughter’s hair unravel within seconds.  

Some things never changed.  

(◕‿◕) 

Chapter 42: Wind and Water  

Konoha Hospital.  

Morning light seeped through the frosted windows, casting a hazy blue-gray glow in the sterile air thick with the scent of disinfectant.  

Kazama Etsu lay flat on the hospital bed, his dark green eyes fixed on the familiar ceiling—like stagnant water overgrown with moss.  

He had spent a long time in this hospital before.  

Perhaps even this very room.  

Back then, he had been carried back from the Kumogakure battlefield, his limbs shattered like a puppet torn apart by a careless child, broken beyond easy repair.  

Akiko… Rinzou… Sensei…  

Time had blurred their faces, leaving only fragments—charred flesh haunting his midnight dreams.  

"Kazama Etsu, don’t think talent alone excuses you from training! Your Wind Release is still far from mastery."  

"What’s the big deal? It’s not like Rinzou could ever beat me anyway."  

"Arrogance will be your downfall."  

His teacher’s scolding echoed in his ears, grating at the time.  

Until the day he faced Kumo’s elite on the battlefield. His teammates had sacrificed everything to create an opening—for him, the squad’s only Wind user, the natural counter to Lightning.  

But he—  

Kazama clenched his eyes shut. The memory surged again.  

Slow hand seals. Weak technique. The wind he took such pride in had failed to even graze the enemy’s skin under his comrades’ desperate gazes.  

The despair in his teacher’s and friends’ eyes was a nightmare he’d never escape.  

Knock, knock…  

Footsteps and nurses’ voices drifted from the hallway outside.  

"Kazama Etsu… This is the room."  

"Thank you."  

Click.  

The door opened.  

A silver-haired blind girl stepped inside, cradling an elegantly wrapped bouquet of lilies.  

Why is she here?  

It’s not even a day off…  

Kazama watched as Hikari closed the door and set the flowers on the bedside table, baffled.  

"What are you doing here?"  

"Visiting my teacher."  

"The truth."  

"I want to learn Wind Release nature transformation."  

Kazama stared at her, incredulous.  

This girl had hospitalized him pretending to be a novice, and now she had the nerve to ask him for training?  

Do I look that forgiving?  

"No."  

"Your Water Release is still unrefined. Don’t bite off more than you can chew—go practice that first."  

His refusal was blunt, leaving no room for negotiation.  

But Hikari smiled.  

She knew people.  

If he truly wanted nothing to do with her, he’d have stopped at "No." The criticism afterward? That was practically advice.  

Kazama’s not bad. Way better than Kakashi.  

"What’s wrong with my Water Release?"  

She asked sincerely.  

She genuinely didn’t know. Ever since assimilating the Three-Tails’ power, Water Release had become instinctual—effortless, even for techniques others struggled with.  

If that was flawed, she needed to understand why.  

But back in the elite class, the seemingly average Iruka Umino had taught her a harsh lesson. Her Reverse Eight Gates theory had been born from that humility.  

Now, she underestimated no one.  

Kazama studied her. No defensiveness, just earnest curiosity.  

Talented. Humble. Eager to learn.  

She’s already leagues ahead of what I was.  

If he’d trained like her back then… maybe they’d all still be alive.  

The past was a wound best left untouched.  

His eyes darkened, voice low—half reminiscing, half lecturing:  

"Nature transformation and shape transformation go hand in hand. Relying on just one will never make you strong. Your Water nature is passable, but your shape control is weak."  

Hikari raised her hand.  

A swirling current condensed above her palm, forming a translucent water sword.  

"Like this?"  

"Tch."  

Kazama scoffed.  

"Mimicking a solid blade with flowing water? That’s just lazy shape manipulation."  

Unfazed, Hikari waited. She’d finally found a teacher willing to guide her—she wouldn’t waste it.  

The academy textbooks had only glossed over these concepts. She craved real knowledge.  

"Ever wonder why so many jutsu take beast forms?"  

"Beasts?"  

Hikari mentally reviewed Water Release techniques. Suiton: Suiryūdan no Jutsu (Water Dragon Bullet). Suiton: Daikōdan no Jutsu (Great Shark Bullet).  

Complex forms, yet no obvious power boost. She had questioned their purpose.  

"You think it’s pointless extra work, don’t you?" Kazama’s gaze stayed on the ceiling—speaking to her, or maybe his younger self.  

"Beast shapes don’t amplify power. They enhance control.  

A technique that can’t hit its target is useless, no matter how strong.  

Agility. Endurance. Precision. Once locked on, a beast-form jutsu rarely misses."  

Splash—  

Water coiled in the air, stretching, sprouting limbs until a crude dragon writhed above Hikari’s palm.  

But its movements were stiff, lifeless.  

"Shape transformation isn’t just about appearance. The inner structure must be the beast—your chakra mimicking its essence. That’s true mastery."  

Kazama side-eyed her wobbly "water noodle" with four stubby legs and winced.  

Gritting his teeth, he forced his hands through a slow sequence of seals.  

A breeze stirred in the room—then a translucent snake of wind materialized.  

Every scale on its head, every ripple of its body, was indistinguishable from a real serpent.  

"Hssss…"  

The wind-hiss blurred with the sound of an actual snake’s tongue.  

For a moment, Hikari couldn’t tell the difference.  

"Fūton: Fūhebi no Ugoki (Wind Release: Wind Serpent Movement)."  

Kazama held the final seal.  

The snake’s head cocked back, body coiling like a spring—  

"Fwoosh!"  

It struck—  

Too fast!  

Hikari’s Byakugan flared, but the serpent was already at her throat, fangs bared.  

She threw up a hand—  

"Sssk!"  

The wind-snake twisted mid-air, spiraling around her wrist before darting back to Kazama.  

Drip.  

Blood welled.  

A crimson line split her palm from thumb to pinky, neat as a razor’s cut.  

Kazama lowered his hands.  

"That," he said flatly, "is shape transformation."  

(◠‿◠) 

Chapter 43: Wind and Water (Part 2)  

The Art of the Wind Serpent  

Hikari stared at the winding crimson line on her palm.  

Undulating motion.  

A snake uses its head and tail as anchor points, contracting and expanding its body like an accordion’s folds.  

Even this serpentine movement had been perfectly replicated through shape transformation in ninjutsu.  

The Wind Serpent—a construct of condensed Wind Release chakra—left bizarre, lacerating wounds just by slithering across her skin.  

The most impressive part? The razor-sharp chakra was controlled with surgical precision.  

The cuts were superficial. Though the wounds looked gruesome, they’d heal completely by the next day without a trace of scarring.  

Agility. Density. Mastery.  

Watching the serpent still coiling effortlessly in the air, showing no signs of dispersion, Hikari finally grasped the depth behind shape transformation.  

Her arrogance as a transmigrator—someone who’d thought herself ahead of this world’s knowledge—evaporated instantly.  

This isn’t a manga. This is reality.  

And reality’s intricacies far surpassed anything the comics had ever depicted.  

Her Byakugan burned as it traced the microscopic scales on the serpent’s tail. Each flick sent countless blade-like currents grinding against one another, producing an eerie, metallic hiss.  

"Wind Release: Serpent’s Traverse—fast, lethal, and ideal for ambushes."  

Kazami Koshī formed a hand seal, and the wind serpent vanished into thin air.  

But to Hikari’s Byakugan, the chakra remained—camouflaged like a viper in tall grass.  

Any unsuspecting shinobi without a doujutsu would be dead before they sensed the strike.  

"Incredible," Hikari admitted, genuinely awed.  

The ANBU she’d faced in Kirigakure had nothing like this.  

Their jutsu timing was precise, but the techniques themselves felt rigid—like pre-programmed skills in a video game.  

When it came to elemental ninjutsu, illusionists and taijutsu specialists couldn’t compare to a true ninjutsu-type shinobi like Kazami.  

This single wind serpent was a flawless fusion of nature and shape transformation, embodying both the speed of wind and the stealth of a snake.  

Compared to the later "mecha-ninja" battles of the original story, it was these intricate, clever techniques that truly showcased the brilliance of the shinobi world.  

"For weaponized shapes—water cannons, blades—pair them with high-pressure Water Release. For bestial forms—fish, dragons—focus on fluidity."  

Kazami’s voice grew somber. "Had you used aquatic beasts in our fight, I wouldn’t have closed the gap so easily. Don’t… waste your talent."  

Hikari noted the shift in his tone but didn’t pry. Everyone had their demons. As long as she could learn from him, the rest was irrelevant.  

"I had my chakra tested the other day."  

"Wind and Water, I assume?"  

His tone suggested he already knew.  

"All five."  

The room froze.  

The wind serpent flickered, its chakra wavering.  

"So you aim to be broad, like the Third Hokage?"  

No more talk of specializing in Water Release.  

With all five natures at birth, limiting herself to one would be a crime.  

"I want both breadth and depth. And I’m not abandoning taijutsu either."  

Kazami stared at her, dumbfounded.  

"Do you have any idea how long it took me to master Wind Release to this level? No one can specialize and diversify!"  

"I can."  

With a smirk, she formed the Shadow Clone hand seal.  

BOOM!  

Smoke erupted as two clones appeared—one grinning at Kazami, the other already molding water into a serpentine shape.  

"T-This is… the Shadow Clone Jutsu?!"  

Realization struck him.  

Using clones to accelerate training by sharing knowledge and sensations.  

It was genius.  

With five clones, each mastering a different chakra nature, true versatility was possible.  

But that wasn’t all.  

Ninjutsu development was dangerous—every failed experiment risked injury or death.  

Shadow clones eliminated that risk entirely.  

They were the ultimate training accelerator.  

"But your chakra reserves—"  

"—are already handled."  

With the Eight Gates unlocked, her chakra was virtually limitless. And once she perfected Reverse Eight Gates and absorbed a Tailed Beast, her vitality would be inexhaustible.  

The Shadow Clone Jutsu and Eight Gates—the two pillars of her plan—were now hers.  

All that remained was execution.  

"I’ll trade you the Shadow Clone method for Wind Release’s nature transformation training. Deal?"  

"You revealed the clone trick upfront. Aren’t you afraid I’ll back out?" Kazami’s emerald eyes darkened.  

"Your shape transformation lessons were invaluable."  

She meant it.  

Despite their history, he’d advised her to hone Water Release—a suggestion born of goodwill, even if misguided.  

The clone method was broken, but not everyone could use it. Naruto brute-forced the exhaustion with his monstrous stamina and willpower.  

Hikari, with her body control, could suppress fatigue and even disable pain receptors if needed.  

But Kazami?  

With his frail physique and weary demeanor, he’d collapse after a handful of clones.  

The dream of infinite training speed would remain just that—a dream.  

Kazami studied her, sensing her sincerity.  

More than that, he wanted to see what a true all-rounder could achieve.  

But her drive baffled him.  

"Your resolve is unshakable. Why?"  

Hikari paused.  

Even she wasn’t entirely sure why she chased strength so relentlessly.  

She could’ve lived comfortably in some quiet town with her jonin-level power. Yet she’d chosen Konoha—a nest of danger.  

It wasn’t until she’d mastered the Eight Gates that she understood.  

That overwhelming safety—the kind only absolute power could bring.  

"I survived a catastrophe once," she said softly, gazing out the window. "My mind… never settled after. Growing stronger is the only thing that makes me feel safe."  

Kazami followed her gaze.  

Konoha seemed peaceful. But tragedy could strike anyone, anytime.  

For peace of mind, huh?  

A reason he couldn’t argue with.  

With a final hand seal, the hidden wind serpent dissolved into the air, its hissing fade echoing like a farewell.  

(＾◡＾) 

Chapter 44: Shape Transformation—Snake  

"Water Release’s nature transformation is about flow and pressure—figure that out yourself; I don’t specialize in it. Wind Release’s nature isn’t cutting, but tearing."  

Kazama Etsu propped himself up on his hospital bed pillow, watching as two Hikaris sat on the couch—one practicing Water shape manipulation, the other Wind nature transformation. Division of labor, clear as day.  

He’d agreed to teach her after hearing her reason for wanting strength:  

To protect herself when disaster strikes. To never feel powerless again.  

Had she been in his place years ago, she’d have fought to the last breath—no regrets, no what-ifs.  

"For shape transformation, there’s no shortcut. No ‘teaching,’ either." Kazama finally revealed the method. "Observe. Mimic. Until your illusion becomes reality."  

"The ‘Observation Method’?" Hikari nodded. The name was self-explanatory.  

"Pick an object. Study it—outside to inside. Memorize every detail. Replicate it with chakra until even the gods wouldn’t spot the difference. Then you’ve mastered one shape."  

"Just… one?"  

Kazama smirked at her dismay.  

Thinking of becoming the first all-rounder shinobi? Even ignoring nature transformation, the sheer variety of shapes would drown her.  

Common beast forms: Snake, bird, fish, tiger. 

Weapon forms: Whip, needle, blade, cannon. 

Natural phenomena: Like the Great Waterfall Technique.  

Talent meant nothing here. This was grunt work—years of observation, trial, error.  

"Too much effort? Just skip it." His tone turned sardonic. "Use pre-made jutsu. Forty hand seals per technique, slow as mud—but hey, no thinking required. Shame to waste your talent for sealless Water Release, though."  

Hikari didn’t rise to the bait.  

She’d broken his bones. If he wanted to snipe while teaching, so be it.  

Besides, shape transformation didn’t seem hard.  

With the Byakugan’s Perspective vision and her chakra control, the "Observation Method" was practically tailor-made for her.  

"Sensei, demonstrate your jutsu again?"  

"Which one?"  

"Wind Serpent Movement."  

Kazama sighed. "That ‘simple’ technique took me months. Buy a live snake, dissect it—"  

"I understand. But I’d like to try now."  

Stubborn brat.  

Fine. Let her fail. Some lessons had to be learned the hard way.  

His hands flashed—three seals, down from thirty-six. A master’s refinement.  

Wind gathered.  

The transparent serpent materialized, slicing air into harmonic ripples as it slithered.  

Hikari’s Byakugan veins bulged.  

Too fast for sharingan to copy.  

Splash.  

A clumsy "water rope" writhed in her palm.  

Kazama hid a smirk.  

Not bad for a first attempt. Most novices took days to even get the outline right. He’d been no exception.  

But the true challenge lay inside.  

Living creatures’ internals were near-impossible to observe fully. Even dissection left gaps. That was the wall he’d hit for two months.  

Talent wouldn’t help her here. This required—  

Hiss.  

A sound.  

Familiar.  

Kazama’s head snapped up.  

"Impossible."  

The words slipped out as he stared.  

Hikari’s water serpent coiled around her arm, scales glistening like liquid crystal.  

Not a drop wet her sleeve.  

Muscles flexed. Fangs flickered.  

A perfect replica—inside and out.  

"How?!"  

His worldview cracked.  

(◠‿◠) 

Chapter 45: Nature Transformation – Wind  

"Suiton: Kiri!"  

Hikari dispelled her Shadow Clone Technique.  

Closing her eyes, she sorted through the memories flooding back to her.  

In mere moments, she had already grasped the method for Shape Transformation—Snake.  

She raised her hand.  

Her heart pulsed subtly.  

Deep blue chakra morphed into flowing water.  

No hand seals needed.  

Water-natured chakra spread from the chakra points in her palm, swiftly twisting into the form of a serpent.  

This time, it moved far more fluidly and rapidly than when her clone had attempted it—as if she had practiced this transformation countless times before.  

"Wait… you—you mastered it just like that?!"  

"Yeah."  

Hikari suppressed a smirk as she watched the utterly defeated expression on Kazama Koshī’s face.  

The true challenge of Shape Transformation lay in its intricate internal structure—something nearly impossible to discern with the naked eye.  

But the Byakugan’s penetrating vision changed everything.  

With it, she didn’t just observe the snake’s anatomy—she analyzed it from every angle, in 360 degrees of detail.  

Coupled with the Byakugan’s long-range sight, every minute movement of the wind serpent was magnified to perfection.  

Add in her precise chakra control, and no Shape Transformation, no matter how complex, could remain beyond her grasp for long.  

The Byakugan’s synergy with chakra was unmatched.  

Nature Transformation might still be tricky, but Shape Transformation? For a Byakugan user, it was as effortless as breathing.  

Kazama Koshī fell silent.  

Suddenly, he felt like all his years of training had been wasted on a dog’s life.  

(Author’s note: Updates aren’t easy—remember to share on 101 Reading Network!)  

He remembered the grueling effort he’d poured into mastering serpentine Shape Transformation—how he’d slept with slippery snakes just to study their movements—and here was Hikari, toying with Water Release like it was child’s play.  

His already fractured ribs ached even more dully.  

"Y-You… you’ve trained this before, haven’t you?!"  

Seeing Kazama on the verge of crumbling, Hikari almost felt bad.  

Sure, she made it look easy.  

But the gap between an ordinary shinobi and a kekkei genkai wielder was vast. Just one glance at the network of scars lining Kazama’s chakra pathways told her how much he’d suffered to reach this level.  

If she didn’t reassure him soon, he might refuse to teach her Wind Release altogether!  

"My family used to raise snakes. I had a… head start."  

"Oh—that explains it."  

Hikari’s diplomatic reply soothed Kazama’s wounded pride a little.  

True or not, at least it made him feel slightly better.  

"Kazama-sensei, I don’t think the serpent form suits Water Release well."  

"Wind Release’s strength lies in its offense—the smaller and faster the snake, the better it harnesses wind’s cutting power."  

"But Water Release’s nature is pressure. If we replace the water snake with a massive python, its crushing coils could amplify Water’s inherent force—wouldn’t that work better?"  

Seeing Kazama’s expression soften slightly, Hikari elaborated on her idea.  

As she spoke, she restructured the water serpent’s body, thickening it until it rivaled the girth of a grown man’s thigh.  

Coiling the enormous water python around her arm, she activated its constriction.  

The fusion of Water’s nature transformation and the python’s muscular structure created terrifying force—even Hikari’s iron-like bones screamed under the pressure.  

It worked.  

Releasing the python, she rolled up her sleeve to inspect her arm.  

A spiral of deep bruises marred her pale skin, the flesh slightly indented.  

A grin spread across her face.  

And this was without full power. If she went all out, even steel would be crushed into scrap.  

"Just test it yourself. Don’t ask me."  

Kazama’s face was wooden. What else could he say?  

Damn it.  

He’d just watched Hikari go from zero understanding of Shape Transformation to developing her own jutsu—and nailing it on the first try.  

A genius-level concept—merging a python’s crushing force with Water’s pressure—and she’d pulled it off effortlessly, with devastating results.  

What was left for him to do?  

Name the damn thing for her?!  

"Kazama-sensei, what should we call this jutsu?"  

"Figure it out yourself."  

Kazama’s glare could’ve melted stone. "Once you’ve got a name, I’ll teach you Wind Nature Transformation."  

Hikari wracked her brain but came up empty.  

She was terrible at naming things—nothing like a prodigy such as Namikaze Minato.  

Just listen to his jutsu names:  

"Spiral Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three!"  

Now that was a legendary name!  

But Hikari? Her creativity was nowhere near that level. After agonizing for ages, she sighed in defeat.  

The gap between her and Minato wasn’t just wide—it was unfathomable.  

Even among geniuses, there are hierarchies.  

Kazama had no idea why she suddenly looked so dejected, but he didn’t care anymore.  

Right now, he had one goal:  

Teach her Wind Release. Then make this monster LEAVE before she shatters my will to live.  

"Wind Nature Transformation isn’t about sharpness—it’s about tearing. I’ve said this before."**  

"Tearing?"  

"Exactly. Sharpness is just the surface. The core is ripping. A single strand of Wind chakra must generate two opposing forces."**  

After a lengthy explanation, Hikari still looked lost—so Kazama plucked a petal from the lilies on his nightstand.  

Holding it between his fingers, he split it cleanly—not by cutting, but by pulling it apart in opposite directions.  

The demonstration clicked instantly.  

So that’s why.  

She’d never understood why "wind" equated to "sharpness"—pressurized water made more sense as a blade.  

But the truth was different:  

Wind didn’t cut—it tore. By generating opposing currents, it forced objects apart at the seams.  

No wonder her experiments at the Academy had gone nowhere—she’d been approaching it all wrong.  

Seeing her comprehension, Kazama accelerated the lesson.  

At this point, he knew how absurd Hikari’s talent was. His teaching style adapted—swift, direct, no fluff.  

"Wind’s tearing comes from duality—its dispersive nature. But Wind can also condense."**  

"Compress Wind chakra enough, and you create air cannons. Scatter or gather it at will—flexibility and lethality combined. Without a doubt, Wind is the** strongest nature transformation."  

Hikari nodded—though she mentally edited out that last bit of bias.  

(Strongest? Debatable.)  

But Wind’s versatility—its ability to shift between precision and overwhelming force—already had her spellbound.  

Her extreme body modifications had boosted her taijutsu’s power at the cost of speed—not raw movement, but agility.  

Her sheer weight made her attacks unstoppable—but also predictable. Once committed, she couldn’t easily redirect momentum.  

The Eight Gates had helped mitigate this flaw, but Wind Release might eliminate it entirely.  

And there was another issue:  

When chakra saturated a shinobi’s muscles, their body gained blunt-force resistance—like a reinforced tire.  

Most strikes lost 70% of their impact against it.  

But Wind’s tearing properties?  

They’d let her bypass that defense—shredding armor to strike the flesh beneath.  

A single punch—blunt force plus Wind’s ripping effect.  

Who could withstand that?  

"Let’s start. Now."  

Hikari licked her lips, eyes blazing with hunger.