Naruto:Ten Skill Bar

Gekkō Ishisaki hesitated as he stood before the residence of Moonlight Hayate, widely regarded as the most talented member of the Gekkō Clan currently in Konoha. Although Hayate was only a Special Jōnin, he was highly respected for his mastery of Konoha-style kenjutsu.

From inside the house, Hayate's voice called out, "Ishisaki? Are you looking for Uncle Masano?"

Hayate was sitting in the living room, eating breakfast. He glanced up when he noticed Ishisaki standing at the door.

"Yes," Ishisaki replied, bowing slightly. "I was hoping to ask Uncle Masano if he could teach me a simple genjutsu."

Hayate paused mid-bite. "Uncle Masano's on a mission today. What do you need a genjutsu for?"

Ishisaki hesitated but then explained, "I'm about to graduate and become a Genin. I realized I don't know any genjutsu, and I thought learning at least one might help me better understand and counter illusions in the future."

Hayate put his chopsticks down and regarded Ishisaki thoughtfully. He wasn't particularly close to Ishisaki, but he knew of him—his cousin, a boy who had lost his parents during the Nine-Tails Rebellion and had been raised by other family members.

Hayate vaguely remembered that Ishisaki's ninja talent wasn't particularly remarkable. "Come in," Hayate said after a moment.

Ishisaki quickly removed his shoes and stepped inside. He sat across from Hayate, who studied him more closely.

"You've had breakfast already?" Hayate asked casually.

"Yes," Ishisaki replied.

Hayate nodded, observing his younger cousin. Compared to the last time they had met, Ishisaki seemed more energetic and confident. His posture was straighter, his gaze steadier. He carried himself with a quiet determination that hadn't been there before.

"Not bad. You look like you've grown a lot," Hayate said, smiling faintly.

Ishisaki didn't feel particularly flattered. His appearance, always handsome, had garnered attention even before his newfound confidence. Now, with the system steadily enhancing him, he seemed to radiate an effortless charisma.

"Let me check your chakra," Hayate said suddenly, breaking Ishisaki's thoughts. "If you're about to graduate, your chakra reserves should at least meet Genin standards."

"Alright." Ishisaki closed his eyes and began releasing his chakra. The room filled with a subtle, yet palpable, breeze as his chakra flowed outward.

---

Hayate's eyes widened slightly. This chakra… it's far beyond what I expected. Ishisaki's reserves weren't just enough to graduate—they were on par with a mid-level Genin.

"Impressive," Hayate said, recovering quickly. "You've already surpassed most Genin in chakra reserves before graduating. I must have underestimated you."

Ishisaki smiled faintly, but inwardly, he felt validated. His system-enhanced chakra growth had already pushed him beyond what others expected, and he wasn't even close to his full potential.

---

"Do you want to specialize in genjutsu?" Hayate asked curiously.

Ishisaki shook his head. "Not really. I just want to learn a simple genjutsu to understand how it works. That way, I won't be completely helpless against illusionists in the future."

"That's a smart approach," Hayate said approvingly. "But unfortunately, I don't know any genjutsu myself."

Ishisaki sighed inwardly. It seemed finding a genjutsu teacher wouldn't be easy.

"However," Hayate continued, "I can get some basic genjutsu scrolls for you. They should have simple techniques you can practice on your own."

"Really? Thank you, Brother Hayate!" Ishisaki said, bowing deeply.

Hayate waved a hand dismissively. "It's nothing. By the way, do you know anything about swordsmanship?"

"Swordsmanship?" Ishisaki repeated, confused. "No, I've never learned."

"Are you interested?" Hayate asked, leaning forward slightly.

Ishisaki's interest piqued immediately. "Yes!"

"Good. After I finish breakfast, we'll head to the training ground. I'll teach you the basics of Konoha-style kenjutsu. If you show potential, I can teach you the more advanced techniques, like the Crescent Moon Dance."

---

Hayate quickly finished his meal, and the two of them made their way to one of Konoha's training grounds. Along the way, Hayate's acquaintances greeted him, exchanging casual banter.

"Hayate? It's rare to see you up and about so early," one man joked. "Who's the kid?"

"My cousin," Hayate replied, gesturing to Ishisaki. "I'm teaching him swordsmanship."

"Your cousin, huh?" The man looked Ishisaki up and down. "He's a sharp-looking kid. Bet he's got a line of girlfriends at the Academy!"

Ishisaki scratched the back of his head, smiling awkwardly. While his appearance did draw attention, he had avoided anything that might distract him from his goals.

"Alright, enough chatter," Hayate said, waving the man off. "Let's get started."

End of the Chapter.