Kakashi: Step One
ANBU training was divided into two phases.
The first phase was for ordinary ANBU members. Like the escort squads, its focus was teamwork and coordination.
For example:
Chakra Net TechniqueBinding Barrier FormationsCombined ninjutsu coordination
The first and second items were things Tenten could grasp with ease.
As for the third—although she had mastered Earth Release nature transformation, her overall talent in ninjutsu was fairly average. She only planned to learn a handful of defensive techniques.
Her true focus lay elsewhere: space–time ninjutsu and fūinjutsu.
Because of that, her coordination with the rest of the group felt… slightly out of place.
"So what about the second phase? What's that about?"
Tenten asked as she followed along.
Yagyū Souma smiled faintly.
"The first phase is mainly about teamwork. Don't underestimate yourself—your talent may seem ordinary to you, but among most people, you're already considered a genius."
Tenten opened her mouth, then closed it again, unable to argue.
That was true.
Compared to Souma, everyone else looked like dead last.
But compared to the vast majority of people… she had probably surpassed more than ninety percent of her peers.
After a few seconds of silence, Tenten nodded.
"I understand. Then… about the second phase—hehe—could you help arrange that for me?"
"I can," Souma replied. "But you're not suitable for ANBU. I'll only help you sign up for the training. I won't help you formally join ANBU."
"Good!"
Tenten nodded hard. That alone already made her more than satisfied.
Souma smiled slightly.
He knew what Tenten was thinking, and he didn't oppose it. Wanting to become stronger—reasonably, earnestly—was a good thing.
If someone had no ambition at all, how were they any different from a salted fish?
"I'll go look for Kakashi-sensei first."
"He's nearby," Tenten added. "Recently, Kakashi-sensei's been around the research institute a lot. You shouldn't have trouble finding him."
"Alright."
Souma extended his perception across the area.
No Kakashi.
He expanded it further.
Still nothing.
In the end, he gave up.
Rather than going through all that trouble—
It was easier to just summon.
"Buzz, buzz?"
"Where's Kakashi-sensei? The one who's been training Sage chakra in the forest recently."
"Buzz!"
At first, the Insect King didn't react—but the moment "training Sage chakra" was mentioned, it immediately remembered. It began exchanging information through insect calls.
After listening, Souma nearly lost his composure.
At the beginning, Kakashi really had been training in the Forest of Death. The natural energy there was abundant, making cultivation easier.
But—
Every single day, a swarm of insects surrounded him.
Each one stared like a starving wolf, eyes full of desire, occasionally crawling up to rub against him.
Other than Souma and the Aburame clan, no one could endure that.
So Kakashi ran.
Souma couldn't help laughing.
"You guys shouldn't go that far. Every Sage practitioner who passes through gets robbed by you—who's going to dare come here in the future?"
"Buzz!"
The Insect King nodded obediently.
It wouldn't be long now.
Once the toads from Mount Myōboku arrived, this situation would be resolved completely.
The Insect King retreated.
Tenten also found an excuse to leave.
"I still have weapons to forge, so I won't go with you to see Kakashi-sensei. If he has any suggestions about the ninja tool, let me know later."
"Mm."
Souma found Kakashi in the forest near the Hokage Rock.
"This is the thing?"
Kakashi held the ninja tool—something that looked like a puppet component—turning it over repeatedly, curiosity flashing in his eye.
"How far have you gotten?"
"I can use three tomoe."
As he spoke, Souma demonstrated.
He closed his right eye, simulated neural signals with chakra, then guided chakra along the outer structure into the eye.
Soon, the eyeball floated inside the device. Three tomoe appeared through the window at the center of the sphere.
They began to rotate.
A moment later—
Kakashi froze.
He had fallen into a genjutsu.
Previously, Souma couldn't use genjutsu at all. But with the Sharingan, this step became effortless.
Kakashi snapped out of it quickly, shock flashing across his face.
This bizarre invention…
Souma had really made it work.
For a long moment, Kakashi said nothing. Then he looked up.
"You temporarily severed the right eye's neural connection, then used chakra threads and chakra wires to link it to the device?"
"Correct."
Kakashi showed clear admiration.
"A genius idea. Only you would think of something like this—and actually build it."
"It's still far from perfect," Souma replied. "The materials are an issue, for one. And I can't use the Mangekyō Sharingan yet."
That was the real reason he'd come.
Kakashi chuckled.
"That's normal. The way a regular Sharingan works and the way a Mangekyō works are completely different."
"You've figured it out already?"
Souma's eyes lit up.
"Not fully—but I can maintain the Mangekyō state."
Kakashi pushed his forehead protector up.
The tomoe in his eye spun rapidly.
Moments later, the three tomoe fused into a shuriken-like pattern.
Mangekyō Sharingan.
Souma's perception stayed locked on him.
At the instant the Mangekyō formed, Kakashi's brain generated an intense surge of mental energy, which then poured into the eyeball.
Dōjutsu power.
Souma finally understood where his problem lay.
He had injected enough chakra and simulated neural signals, but he hadn't infused sufficient mental energy to form true dōjutsu power.
"I get it!"
"You do?"
Kakashi looked surprised. "I've only reached this step myself—I still don't know how to actually use it."
"Wait a second. Let me try."
Souma closed his eyes.
Then—
He simulated signals and "saw" the world through the Sharingan.
Next came neural signals, chakra, and mental energy—one after another, all injected.
Inside the device, the three tomoe spun and transformed into a four-pointed shuriken pattern.
Genjutsu Eye—Kotoamatsukami.
Souma could vaguely sense the terrifying power within the eye.
This eye couldn't permanently control someone—but even short-term control or hypnosis was already frightening enough.
After a moment's thought, Souma laughed softly.
Danzō really was…
Sitting on a mountain of treasure, yet only knowing how to use it rigidly. A disgrace to the name of shinobi.
Using this eye purely for control was easy to detect.
The better approach was hypnosis—guiding, cultivating a secondary personality over time.
Then, with the Sharingan, one could awaken that personality and have it cooperate internally.
Wasn't that far superior to crude domination?
Souma withdrew the mental energy. The eye slowly returned to its normal state, reverting to three tomoe.
Kakashi stood there in deep thought.
From the moment the demonstration began, one question had been looping in his mind—
Could he do this?
Probably not.
"Kakashi-sensei, why don't you try?" Souma suggested.
"If it works, you could implant your eye into the device and only use it when needed. It'd greatly reduce the daily burden on your body."
"..."
Kakashi hesitated for a long time.
In the end, he took it, tried—
Then returned it after only a few seconds.
"I think… the way things are now is fine."
"Ah—couldn't do it?"
Souma frowned. "Yeah, simulating dōjutsu power is pretty hard. Even I had a headache figuring it out."
He fell into thought.
Beside him, Kakashi's mask twitched slightly—but he said nothing.
What he wanted to say was that it had nothing to do with dōjutsu power.
He couldn't even pass the first step.
He couldn't simulate neural signals at all.
He had thought that watching the process with the Sharingan would let him copy it.
But reality struck immediately.
That level of chakra control…
It was absurdly difficult.
"Don't worry," Souma said suddenly. "I've got another one that suits you better."
He sat down, pulled out a notebook, and handed it over.
Modified Yin Seal.
Kakashi only read halfway before realizing how valuable this technique was.
Chakra storage.
To others, it might not seem like much.
But to him—
Extra stored chakra meant more time using the Sharingan at critical moments.
And this seal could also work together with absorption barriers and chakra tools.
"This technique…"
Kakashi hesitated, then said honestly, "I really want it. But I don't think I have anything of equal value to trade."
"It's fine," Souma smiled.
"You helped me create the Breathing Activation Technique before—I never properly thanked you. Let this count as repayment. Of course, it's only with Lady Tsunade's approval."
Kakashi nodded. Naturally—
The Yin Seal originated with Tsunade. He would definitely need her consent.
He couldn't help sighing.
Souma really was…
If one technique didn't fit, there was always another that did.
Like a walking treasure vault.
Then it hit him.
This technique's original purpose wasn't ordinary chakra storage—
It was Sage chakra, wasn't it?
Kakashi's eyes widened.
That meant—
Sage Mode duration could be extended by more than double.
And more than that—
The Yin Seal could store other chakra types too.
For example…
Tailed beast chakra.
The applications were endless.
Kakashi felt genuine admiration for Souma's creativity.
"Oh, right," Kakashi added. "That ANBU member—Kimimaro—you released him. He agreed to help you?"
"Yes."
Souma summarized the situation, omitting certain details about Kabuto and Otogakure.
Kakashi's expression grew serious.
"You really intend to rescue Orochimaru?"
"Yes—but not now."
Souma narrowed his eyes.
"Orochimaru once joined Akatsuki. He has intelligence we need. But I can't guarantee control over him yet."
"You have a way to control him?"
"This eye belonged to Danzō," Souma replied.
"I read ROOT's records—it came from Uchiha Shisui. Its ability is called Kotoamatsukami. It can briefly control others."
He explained his idea.
At first, Kakashi could follow along.
Then his head started spinning.
Mental energy.
Contamination.
Split personalities.
This "ninjutsu"…
Why did it suddenly sound like something he couldn't understand anymore?!
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