After Sailing with the Pirate King, I Returned to Konoha - 217

Chapter 217: No Matter How You Think About It, It's Stussy's Fault

Did Naruto really not care about Dust Release? Of course, he cared. He truly envied that power to casually wave a hand and fire light beams.

Though he could also swallow Haoyu to use similar breath attacks, compared to Ōnoki's hand-crafted destruction beams, the coolness factor was still somewhat lacking. Coolness was the primary driving force.

Of course, he only said he wouldn't learn from Ōnoki. Never said he wouldn't research it himself.

Before seeing Ōnoki display Dust Release, he hadn't thought of fusing different attribute changes to create new kekkei genkai. He'd previously seen that boy who looked like a little girl display "Ice Release," but compared to Admiral Aokiji's ability to easily freeze mountains and seas, this Ice Release was truly too plain. It didn't interest him at all.

The next day, the group departed again. According to the intelligence Ōnoki provided, Rōshi, as the Four-Tails Jinchūriki, excelled at lava-spraying "Lava Release" techniques, thus most likely training in high-temperature areas like volcanic craters.

Based on Iwagakure Village's last eyewitness records, Rōshi last appeared at the Land of Earth's border. Unlike a certain lava ability user Naruto had dealt with, though both used lava attacks, Rōshi possessed a benevolent heart. He absolutely wouldn't disregard innocent residents' lives. Therefore, when training, he'd very likely avoid towns, opting for sparsely populated areas.

Combined with the need for volcanic high temperatures, the approximate possible range was determined. The eastern border of the Land of Earth, near Takigakure, happened to have several volcanoes. This was also where Naruto's group headed. Conveniently, they could also pick up that Seven-Tails Jinchūriki reportedly in Takigakure Village.

Upon arrival, the group found Karin transformed into a giant bird, leaving the rugged terrain near Iwagakure Village and flying all the way to the Land of Waterfalls. As dusk fell, they stopped rushing and began camping there.

Unlike Karin who'd flown all day, Sasuke and Killer Bee, with abundant stamina, had already begun sparring while waiting for dinner.

"Wait, why do I also have to train with you guys?"

The speaker was Two-Tails Jinchūriki Yugito Nii, who'd recently joined the team. As a qualified elite jōnin, even without using tailed beast power, she possessed quite impressive combat ability. But this seemed inadequate before Killer Bee and Sasuke, who'd already mastered Haki.

Bang! Bang!

Perhaps influenced by Naruto, or maybe his original personality was like this. Sasuke showed no mercy when facing females. Each punch and kick solidly hit Yugito's defenses. That penetrating body shock, reaching directly into the internal organs, made Yugito feel stifled.

But before she could adjust her breathing, Killer Bee's fierce swordsmanship attacked. Compared to the "Seven Sword Style" when they first met —flexible but lacking power —the current Killer Bee, wielding just dual swords with attack intensity raised several levels, posed a far greater threat.

The kunai rang out as blade met metal again and again. After barely blocking sword edges several times, the kunai was knocked away. This meant Yugito was the first eliminated in this three-person sparring.

She sat aside, watching Sasuke use Armament Haki to harden his palms, fighting back and forth with Killer Bee like ping-pong, while asking Naruto nearby researching kekkei genkai techniques again.

"So, why must I also join their training?"

This actually wasn't the first time. During those days in the Land of Earth, training had already begun. Not only joining training, Naruto specifically emphasized not allowing any tailed beast power use. Including the blue flames and claws Two-Tails Matatabi granted, this directly cut Yugito's combat power by more than half.

"It's precisely because you rely too much on tailed beast power."

In Naruto's palm, Wind, Lightning, and Fire, three types of chakra were fusing in different forms. This was his self-created Bloodline Selection, or rather, the Bloodline Selection currently being experimented with.

Unlike the Earth-attribute chakra in Ōnoki's Dust Release, Lightning-attribute chakra possessed "swift" and "penetrating" characteristics. Combined with Wind's inherent "cutting" attribute and Fire's "burning," the destructive power produced wasn't less than Dust Release. Simultaneously, the output speed was even faster than Dust Release.

The only drawback was that Naruto hadn't yet successfully researched it.

Boom!

Before the chakra in his hand exploded, Naruto clenched his palm first, strangling the explosion in its cradle. Even so, the escaping chakra similarly pierced nearby trees and earth, leaving only jet-black holes.

After doing this, Naruto dusted his palms, then turned to look at Yugito.

"What was I saying just now? Oh, right, you rely too much on tailed beast abilities."

Seeing Yugito about to say something, Naruto guessed her words first and interrupted.

"I know, you've been training to develop tailed beast power for a long time. Not using such power is indeed counterproductive. But I'm not saying you should completely abandon tailed beast power. Rather, besides tailed beast chakra, you must have self-preservation abilities."

Seeing Yugito still somewhat puzzled, Naruto simply paused kekkei genkai research, his mind stirring.

Instantly, seven or eight chains extended out, binding Yugito in place unable to move before she could react. Not only that, even Two-Tails' chakra was bound together. Even if Yugito wanted to enter beast transformation mode to break free, she couldn't.

"See? Just like me, I believe the Akatsuki organization definitely has restrictive measures targeting tailed-beast chakra. I've seen a shark-faced guy in Akatsuki. His sword can devour chakra. If you're entangled by him, then this training can at least give you escape ability in critical moments."

Hearing this, Yugito first nodded, then turned her head away, somewhat flushed.

"I understand the reasoning, but could you release me first before speaking? Also, why bind in this manner?"

Hearing this, Naruto immediately realized, only then seeing the chains were binding Yugito firmly in some unspeakable form. Though her figure wasn't as explosive as Tsunade's or Hancock's, it could still be called curvaceous. Being bound this way directly exposed originally hidden characteristics.

This was somewhat awkward. Naruto immediately dispersed the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

"Sorry, sorry, force of habit."

Speaking of which, this is all Stussy's fault. If not for her, I couldn't have learned such fancy techniques.

"So why would you habitually bind people this way?"

Compared to the powerless-to-complain Yugito, Killer Bee and Jiraiya who'd stopped sparring at some unknown time stood aside, staring blankly at this scene with two nosebleeds streaming down their faces.

"Good, so good, binding people is good, must learn binding..."

Instantly, countless inspirations filled the great author's mind. He hurriedly pulled out paper and pen, beginning to expand his work. Completely ignoring the disgusted gazes of the two women present.