Shisui Uchiha looked somewhat guilty. But still explained.
"The village is short on personnel everywhere right now. I received a transfer order. I'm truly sorry."
Hearing this, Zenji knew exactly what was going on. The ANBU had lost quite a few people recently. They could only recruit new personnel.
He turned to look at Genma Shiranui beside him, who also shrugged.
"I was transferred away too. But I'm teaming up with my old teammates again. We were originally the Fourth Hokage's guards."
"But before our training period ended, the Fourth Hokage sacrificed himself. We were subsequently split up. Now we're being gathered together again. Hmph."
Genma snorted softly.
He was a young man after all. Unable to hide his emotions.
"It's good that you're together. After all, you practiced the Flying Thunder Formation Technique together before."
Zenji spoke with a light chuckle.
Internally, however, he thought of Boogie Woogie. Combined with the Flying Thunder God Technique, it formed a simpler, streamlined version.
This technique didn't have such high requirements for Space-Time talent. Making it very suitable for the three of them.
"By the way, where's Noguchi?"
Genma looked around curiously but didn't see Soto Noguchi.
"No need to wait. He's not on the same path as us. He should have gone back to report by now."
Zenji's voice rang out beside him.
Genma was slightly taken aback. Then immediately formed a guess. After all, he had also served as a Hokage guard for less than a year.
He had some understanding of the ANBU and Root.
His dissatisfaction grew even stronger internally.
As the Fourth Hokage's guards, they originally had a bright future. But now they had plummeted—and were even being monitored.
Zenji saw through Genma's emotions at a glance. Such emotions were very normal for a teenager like him. In a few years, when he was a bit older, he probably wouldn't care anymore.
But right now, it was exactly an opportunity.
After chatting for a few more sentences, Shisui took his leave first. He still had to return to the clan to report this matter.
Genma also wanted to leave. But was stopped by Zenji.
A faint glow radiated from Zenji. Instantly enveloping the surroundings and forming a slight illusion.
From the outside, it looked as if the two were still chatting in this small grove.
In reality, Genma had already stopped talking. Looking around with a suspicious gaze.
"Such delicate chakra. What did you do?"
Those capable of cultivating the Flying Thunder God Technique had stronger perception than ordinary ninjas. So it wasn't surprising that he noticed this.
"Hold out your hand."
Zenji didn't answer. Merely raising his hand.
Genma didn't hesitate either. The interactions over the past year had built a basic level of trust between the two.
Genma raised his hand. Their palms clapped together.
SMACK.
In this instant, Genma's eyes widened. His vision blurred. The scenery behind Zenji completely changed.
That familiar feeling. An unprecedented ease. Much easier than any time he had executed the Flying Thunder Formation Technique.
"What... is this?"
Genma opened his mouth wide. The senbon in his mouth fell out.
Fortunately, he reacted in time and caught it with his other hand.
Zenji narrowed his eyes slightly. Looking at him with a faint smile.
"A technique I developed based on the Flying Thunder God Technique. Lower requirements for space-time talent. Simpler difficulty."
"It's called Phase Shift."
"What are its effects? Are the learning difficulty and requirements really lower?"
Genma was somewhat excited.
He was a young man after all. If it were over a decade later when the plot began, as a mature ninja, he would probably have already discovered Zenji's intentions.
"There are three main effects."
Zenji didn't keep him in suspense. Holding up three fingers.
"Swapping positions with an object or person touched by the hands. Bringing the hands together to form a circle, using this as spatial coordinates to swap positions within a short range."
"Finally, the Ring of Space mark. It's the same as the Flying Thunder God formula's mark—but a simplified, standardized mark. The learning difficulty is greatly reduced. The effect is much more mediocre. And there is a limit to the quantity."
After receiving this information, Genma pondered for a moment. He immediately formed a judgment.
"Overall, it's inferior to the Flying Thunder God Technique. In close-quarters combat and small-scale guerrilla warfare, it's about the same—perhaps even feeling slightly stronger. But it loses long-distance transfer and battlefield-level mobility."
"However, it's ultimately stronger than the Flying Thunder Formation Technique."
"Zenji. You truly are a genius."
Genma sighed in admiration.
His gaze then became somewhat fervent. But his teenage pride made him feel a bit awkward. Unable to speak up.
Zenji's mouth curled up slightly. He had been waiting for this exact moment.
"Genma, this secret technique wasn't solely created by me. A part of its foundation was borrowed from an unfinished, half-completed secret technique of my clan's ancestors. So I cannot directly teach it to you."
Hearing this, Genma immediately felt disappointed internally.
"However, I do have a compromise method. If you are willing."
Hearing Zenji's words, Genma's eyes lit up. He couldn't wait to say, "Really? What method?"
"Join us. Become my family. Just like Gojo Satoru."
Zenji spoke solemnly.
By now, even if Genma was slow on the uptake, he realized what was happening.
Zenji was recruiting him. Not just as a simple teammate—but on a political level.
His heart sank as he thought of the departed Shisui Uchiha.
Genma Shiranui was a civilian-faction ninja. Belonging to the most numerous type in Konoha: family-type civilian ninjas.
Both or one of his parents were very ordinary ninjas. Without any notable inheritance.
This could be seen from his experience teaming up with Might Guy during the Third Shinobi World War.
Therefore, he knew very well what an excellent secret technique represented.
After all, he mastered the Flying Thunder Formation Technique and knew exactly how powerful those excellent secret techniques were.
Unfortunately, executing the Flying Thunder Formation Technique required the three of them. Alone, the strength enhancement was limited.
"May I ask—what do you intend to do? Are you simply recruiting me, or do you have some other ideas?"
At this moment, Genma's mind became very sharp. Thinking of many things.
"Genma, I didn't think that much. But the current Konoha is different from before."
Zenji sighed.
"After Lord Fourth Hokage took office, he cultivated a new core group and used gentle methods to sideline the older generation's upper echelons."
"These methods were very gentle. And Lord Fourth Hokage had enough prestige. So it didn't cause any major impact."
"But now Lord Fourth Hokage has passed away. This is not just the death of a leader—but the transfer of power being stuck in the middle."
"The new generation gained a portion of power but lacks the corresponding positions. While the older generation lost a portion of power but still retains their corresponding positions."
"Future disputes are inevitable. If we—the new generation associated with Lord Fourth Hokage—don't unite, I'm afraid..."
Zenji didn't finish his sentence. Creating a feeling of concern.
"I only want to protect myself. Just like Lord Third Hokage's clan and the Ino-Shika-Cho during the Warring States period."
Genma seemed to be infected by this sincerity. Many things instantly came to mind.
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