Chapter 31: The Calm Before the Storm (1)
The addition of new stats only slightly changed a few things for Kai. The iryo-ninjutsu skills do have a yin and yang nature but the ninjutsu themselves do not have any reason to improve nature transformation because, as Tsunade stated, they did not actively mold their chakra in that manner but used a crutch. So, his Yin and Yang were barely higher than other natures.
BUT the skill he gained later was a game-changer when Tsunade gave everyone a slip of normal paper and asked them to exert their chakra on that paper. Unlike chakra paper which was too sensitive to the elements in chakra, the regular slip of paper barely showed any reaction at all and that was their task entirely. To make the paper go through a similar reaction as the chakra paper but for Kushina, it was a step harder. Tsunade wanted her to make the paper entirely damp by trying and focusing on water. Chakra being part physical and part spiritual would show a reaction to her focus but again, it would be hard since even Mikoto, who could Ninjutsu, barely made her paper the slightest bit toasty.
And given the fact he already had a water ninjutsu purchased and waiting to be trained, Kai chose to start with Water Nature Transformation, too.
[Water Nature Transformation (1/50): Convert chakra extended out of the body into the element of water. Increases the mastery of water stat by 0.4℅ at every level. Reduces chakra wastage by 0.06℅ at every level.
Next Level: Convert 5643/7000 chakra points into the element of water or 14 SP]
Just the basics were similar to a B-ranked Jutsu and there was still 6 more nature transformation left which meant another 300 SP!
Oh goody!
As such, away from prying eyes, Kai, Mikoto, Kushina, and Nono sat in Tsunade's bedroom and continued to pull a reaction out of the damn paper!
It's been 2 days already but Kai was close to the first level up. The moment he levels up, he would get another dose of knowledge and the grind would grow stronger!
But... again, they were in Tsunade's room and Kai was a boy with a man's healthy and imaginative mind. He couldn't help but look around as the girls had concentrated expressions and he lamented a lack of a proper friend. His connection with Minato gradually broke off due to him being busy with missions and Minato growing more and more closeted with his lust for seals. It wasn't love but full-on lust!
Besides, Kai had a reason to doubt that Minato may not share his interest in Tsunade's— Senju's Secret.
Looking at the slightly damp paper in his hands, Kai climbed down Tsunade's massive bed when Mikoto perked up and asked suspiciously, "Where are you going?"
"Throwing this in the dustbin," Kai smiled sincerely and met her suspicious gaze. Kushina paid them no heed since her task was much harder while Nono was making a good amount of progress, too.
"You remember what Sensei said, right? No rummaging through her stuff!" Mikoto glared at the boy as Kai blinked and looked around. Aside from the large bed and a dressing table to its side, there was one wardrobe and two drawers next to it. "Of course, I remember that," Kai muttered, "And why would you think I would do something like that?"
"Why are you inching closer to that drawer?" Mikoto raised her brows as Kai frowned, "It's your imagination."
"Kai-chan, don't do it," Mikoto warned with a threatening glare as Nono smirked and looked up. But instead of Kai in front of them, she looked towards the wardrobe discreetly as Kai inched ever so slowly towards the drawer.
"I'll tell Sensei!" Mikoto glowered.
"Tch, you're no fun," Kai just disappeared into thin air as Mikoto blinked and snapped her gaze in his direction as he was still sitting on the bed with the paper in his hands.
"Did you..." she inquired as Kai shrugged, "Of course, not. I was just waiting here."
Nono's smirk widened as Kai looked in her direction and winked. Oh, he wasn't the least bit worried she found him opening the doors to heaven and Kai realized maybe he didn't need to long for a guy friend. Nono had a built-in bro-code archive as she chuckled, "He was sitting there the entire time. Don't worry."
Mikoto still looked a little suspicious but nodded nonetheless, "Fine... and you should focus on training, Kai-chan... we're all stuck here because of you in the first place."
"Yes, yes, Mikoto-chan," Kai grinned as the girl pouted sourly and continued with the training.
"So?" More curious about her Sensei's and employer's wardrobe, Nono shifted closer to Kai and inquired in a hushed whisper.
"It was great," Kai grinned, "I'll create an illusion for you to see it."
"Hehe," Nono giggled softly, both of them huddled together and continued to discuss the holy number while Kushina and Mikoto stopped their training and looked at the duo. They were incensed, no doubt. From Kai and Nono! He was their friend first and then Nono came but the minx's hold of their Kai-chan displeased them greatly and Kushina finally decided to interject, "Hmph, I'm sleeping with him!"
Her words froze everyone's expression. With a short smirk then, Kushina refused to elaborate and began her training again.
---
"Hoho! How does my team look, hmm, Tsunade?" Jiraiya inquired with a grin in Training Ground 11. He tried to get Training Ground 69 but failed...
"Eh," Tsunade shrugged as she saw Noha and Hiro sparring while Minato was cross-legged on the ground, scribbling seals and trying to form them again with chakra itself. The boy wasn't too talented in this regard but he had the appropriate drive and creativity for it.
Compared to this team, hers was just too far beyond at the time. It wasn't just their talent, Tsunade worked the three to their bones while the fourth, one and only boy, was happy to even suffer a hundred times the usual amount if it meant another level of progress for the day. Honestly, it was that craziness of his slowly affecting the team but Tsunade knew how to keep things balanced.
Jiraiya instantly rolled his eyes at her reaction and inquired, "So? Are finally going on a date~"
"Date with castration, maybe." He winced at her words as she continued, "I'm here to ask if you have any methods of training Yang Nature Transformation?"
"Hoh? Did someone from your team get that affinity?"
"No," Tsunade sighed, "It's for me. I got an idea from Orochi's research and want to raise my mastery in Yang Transformation," she was honest for the most part.
"Another jutsu, huh... let's see. My summons has some form of training for all the nature transformation but they wouldn't want it known to others. But I think I can get a few hints!" Jiraiya beamed and looked at Tsunade before wagging his brows.
Groaning in exasperation, she questioned, "Fine, what is it?"
"Heh, a—"
Before Jiraiya could place his price, Minato chimed, "Sensei, are you talking about Nature Transformation? I completed your assignment on it."
Minato grinned and stood up while jogging towards Jiraiya.
"You're teaching him nature transformation?" Tsunade raised her brows.
"Nah, I just gave him some homework to think for himself and cleared the theory part. You know, hand seals being a crutch and all. Besides, if I want to send him there for training and keep him away from war... better to be a good Sensei now."
Tsunade blinked owlishly as Minato bowed towards Tsunade slightly and spoke up, "The best way to practice nature transformation, as you asked of me, would be a repetition of the reactions caused by the most sensitive chakra paper to the least sensitive item."
Jiraiya nodded, "Yes, yes, good work, Minato-kun. I'm a little busy with—"
"What about Yin and Yang? Chakra paper and normal paper can be colored black and white but what about higher practices?" She had an amused expression, not really expecting an answer but Jiraiya felt a little ominous as he saw Minato's blue eyes light up.
"Yin is shaping of spirituality and yang is giving form to the said spirituality in its most basic sense. I think the best way to train yin nature is with the state of the chakra itself. If the spiritual aspect of chakra can be isolated or fully converged for the time being... possibly. As for yang, it is a bit more complicated since every ninjutsu utilizes a portion of yang application by giving nature-attributed-chakra a form so, my take on it would be through Shape Transformation of Chakra."
Jiraiya's eyes were dim now. His student was too smart but also too dumb as he didn't even know that he cockblocked his master!
Yet, Tsunade's eyes glowed, "Or approaching Yang Nature Transformation in the same way as Shape Transformation and giving chakra a substance like making yin more elusive!"
Minato was surprised before he beamed, "That's better!"
---
"Who... opened my wardrobe?" Tsunade questioned the moment she entered as Nono's and Kai's peaceful expressions paled just a tiny bit and their cheeks stung slightly but Nono wouldn't rat him out.
"It was Kushina," Kai spoke up as Kushina's eyes widened.
"I saw her indeed," Nono nodded with her pupil-less green eyes showing utter sincerity. Yet, with a dark expression, Tsunade spoke chillingly, "Kai, why did you touch my crotchless black panties?"
"There—" Kai's breath hitched. Where the hell was that kind of treasure?! Yet... he realized his fatal mistake as Tsunade's amber pupils bore into his pitch-black orbs and she smiled, revealing her biting canines.
"Didn't find them, huh?" Tsunade cracked a brutal pop from her knuckles while Kai frowned and spoke seriously, "Sensei, may I say something."
"It would be rude of me not to let YOU speak your final words," Tsunade's hand whipped out and caught the real Kai sneaking out while the one on the mattress disappeared, much to the other girls chagrin as he was becoming more and more 'dangerous.'
"I... regret nothing," Kai remarked calmly, accepting his fate. He could struggle... he COULD... but that would just increase his sentence.
"Spoken like a true man," Tsunade admired, "A dead man. Even Jiraiya would piss his panties in your situation."
"I'm just... better," Kai shrugged.
---
"You HAD to do it, didn't you, Kai-chan," Mikoto smirked and poked his bruised cheek as he hissed. Unlike them, Nono currently couldn't leave the Senju Compound and couldn't enjoy the deliciousness of Ichiraku Ramen.
"Serves him right!" Kushina slurped the bowl clean and scoffed.
"You know... I'm beginning to understand the reason behind your stinking farts," Kai scowled, "You eat too much ramen!"
Blushing beet red and enranged, Kushina glowered, "Girls don't fart!"
"Um... they do," Teuchi spoke from the side while preparing more ramen as Kushina shot the youth a deadly glare as he replied with a sheepish smile.
"Still, I think Sensei went easy on her favorite student," Mikoto giggled and poked his cheek again, making him suck in a breath of cold air as Tsunade forbade him from using the Mystical Palm Technique to heal.
"Well... you guys should enjoy as much ramen as you can by the end of the month. My supply is being suspended for an indefinite time as there's quite the unrest outside of the village, rumors of war and stuff." Teuchi placed the bowl in front of Kushina, "So, I'm planning to work under Administrative Canteen till the situation becomes normal."
"Damn it!" Kushina sulked.
"I'm sorry to hear that, Teuchi-san."
"No worries, my darling is already working at the canteen and says that while we cannot cook our favorite stuff, the pay is good enough to keep up with the rising prices."
Kai smiled, "Well, hopefully, the war will end quickly if it even occurs in the first place. Your stall still kept the same prices so you're kind of a saint in the market."
"Hehe, the youngest chunin praising me, eh? Oh, by the way, I don't see that Tsume girl? Hasn't she returned?"
"Oh, she became a genin and has her own missions. Said that she wanted to be the second youngest chunin so she barely rests nowadays," Kai shrugged as he recalled Tsume and her Iron Hound Ninken.
"Ah, that must be exhausting," Teuchi shook his head.
The group soon concluded their meal and returned to their respective compounds, silently accompanying a sleeping Mito for an hour, Kai found Kushina entering his room before him and plopping down on her bed in short sobs as Kai's lips twitched.
"I have to train, Kushina-chan..." Kai grumbled. One day of postponing his grind was enough but Kushina had started to enter his room daily now. Not that he really minded but... it was still somewhat distracting to see her curled up on his bed crying like a pitiful girl while he trains without respite... it just gave a wrong sense of things...
"Then train..." Kushina choked between her sobs, "But I won't let you leave me like Grandma is leaving us..."
'I mean... we're all bound to die someday unless Orochimaru finds some immortality jutsu in his quest for learning it all,' Kai shrugged and spoke calmly, "And why the hell would I leave my own home? Just sleep..."
"And you'll be in bed on time?" Kushina inquired with tears still spilling out as Kai pouted, "Yeah... I'll be there. Before that, you better brush your teeth and bathe. You stink!"
"Shut it..." Kushina hissed and rushed into the bathroom.
Meanwhile, Kai took out the paper and started the grind. On the other hand, Kushina, despite saying she would sleep, also took out a stack of papers and distracted herself with training. Both of them just enjoyed each other's silent company until she did fall asleep and Kai climbed up the bed, letting himself be used as a pillow for the girl while still holding one hand out and turning the water wet.
Hey, it's just practice for the future. He would want to turn many things wet with just a touch later on!
***
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