"Natural energy is something you will inevitably come into contact with and master in the future. It allows you to surpass the limits of a shinobi. However, it's still too early for you right now, so there's no need to rush.
This technique will help you understand the nature and dangers of natural energy. Meanwhile, the Armor Mode will enhance your control over chakra and your body.
These will all influence your future training. There's no need to be impatient or concern yourself with anything else. What I mean by proficiency is a state that comes naturally over time.
Also, get ready—we'll be leaving the village for a mission soon."
At the end of his explanation, Kagetsu reminded Itachi.
"We're heading to the frontlines?"
Itachi's mood suddenly sank. He realized he would soon be back on the battlefield.
"You can stay by Lady Tsunade's side and learn from her."
Kagetsu ruffled his hair.
Itachi sensitively raised his head and met Kagetsu's gaze. From his expression and eyes, Itachi could tell that Kagetsu had noticed his drop in mood—and understood the reason.
Staying beside Lady Tsunade, a medical ninja, clearly meant he would be kept away from direct combat, or at least have fewer encounters with enemy shinobi in battle.
"Has a new mission already arrived?"
Shisui also seemed momentarily dazed. The time spent relaxing after returning to the village had allowed him to unwind, both physically and mentally. Hearing that they had to return to the brutal battlefield again made him feel a bit sentimental.
"We've had enough time to rest. There's something off about Iwagakure's recent movements. Orochimaru-sensei has already requested reinforcements from the village again."
"The Hokage wouldn't just leave our strength unused." Kagetsu wasn't surprised at all. In fact, he was more surprised that the Third Hokage had allowed him and Shisui to rest in the village for so long.
...
After leaving the village, Kagetsu led the team swiftly toward the frontlines.
Most of those following behind him had young, inexperienced faces. They were fresh graduates from the Ninja Academy—the only reinforcements the village could spare.
Aside from Kagetsu, Kakashi, and Shisui, who were Jonin, the rest of the team consisted of about a dozen Chunin. Among them was the Third Hokage's son, Sarutobi Asuma.
Most of the Chunin in the reinforcements were from the Sarutobi clan.
Along the way, they encountered Mist and Rock ninja operating within the Land of Fire's borders.
During these battles, Kagetsu, Shisui, and the other leading ninja deliberately held back from taking action immediately.
Instead, they let the newly graduated Genin experience real combat, helping them grow as quickly as possible.
After all, these small squads of enemy ninja were still manageable. It was a chance for the Genin, who had never experienced real battle, to get a taste of it.
Otherwise, once they reached the frontlines—where the battlefield was nothing short of a meat grinder—these inexperienced Genin, unprepared both mentally and physically, would suffer devastating losses.
By the time Kagetsu arrived at the frontlines with the reinforcements, the Genin in the team had already participated in multiple battles, rapidly growing stronger.
"You're finally back!"
Tsunade stood with one hand on her hip, looking displeased as she saw Kagetsu appear.
"Where's Sensei?"
Kagetsu had no interest in dealing with a woman full of complaints against him—especially when that woman had fists as hard as steel.
"In the tent at the frontlines," Tsunade replied.
She also noticed Sarutobi Asuma and the reinforcements who had come with him and Kagetsu. Seeing their uniformly young and inexperienced faces, her expression darkened, and her mood worsened.
For a moment, even as Asuma and the others greeted her, she felt uninterested in responding.
Once these Genin stepped onto the battlefield, only a handful of them might make it back to the village alive.
"This is my new disciple from the village, Uchiha Itachi! During this time, I'm leaving him in your hands!" Kagetsu lightly pushed Uchiha Itachi forward, speaking quickly, and then vanished in an instant.
Itachi, pushed in front of Tsunade, looked confusedly at Tsunade, whose expression had turned even darker. He instinctively turned his head, awkwardly smiled, and then immediately followed behind Shisui and Anko, who had vanished in an instant. His heart tensed.
"Do you think I'm here to babysit?"
Tsunade clenched her fists angrily, but when she saw Itachi's young face and the nervous expressions of Asuma and the others, she sighed.
"Uchiha Itachi, huh? Come with me. As for you brats, go report to Orochimaru!" Tsunade grabbed Itachi by the back of his collar and waved her hand at Asuma and the others, dismissing them.
She knew about the deal between Orochimaru, Kagetsu, and the Uchiha clan. Though she wasn't fond of the Uchihas, she wasn't as extreme as the older generation of the Senju clan in her view of them.
It's just babysitting, right?
She could just leave it to Shizune!
She wasn't interested in taking care of an Uchiha child!
At this moment, Orochimaru had already met with Kagetsu and Shisui. He was particularly interested in Shisui's eyes.
After all, he hadn't found the spiritual tool yet, but Kagetsu had managed to restore Shisui's eyesight. Orochimaru was still curious about the method Kagetsu used.
He had reviewed Kagetsu's research data multiple times, and in his understanding, the project still had a lot of challenges to overcome before it could be considered successful.
Then, suddenly, Shisui regained his eyesight.
But soon, when Orochimaru's gaze fell on Kagetsu, he suddenly let out a surprised sound. His eyes swept back and forth over Kagetsu, as if something unusual was happening with Kagetsu that he didn't quite understand.
"Kagetsu, did you tamper with your soul?" Orochimaru suddenly asked.
Shisui and Anko, who were in the tent, both immediately turned their attention to Kagetsu.
Tampered with the soul?
Can the soul even be altered?
"Is this sensei's ability?" Kagetsu curiously responded, not denying Orochimaru's question. From his tone, even the slightly carefree Anko could sense some level of acknowledgment.
"Your soul feels different to me," Orochimaru frowned for a moment, but quickly relaxed again.
The Kagetsu he knew wasn't a reckless or arrogant person. Especially considering Kagetsu's deep understanding and mastery over the soul, it was far beyond his own.
Since Kagetsu had chosen to tamper with his soul, it was clear that Kagetsu believed it was necessary.
His abilities made him extremely sensitive to changes in the soul, especially for those he was familiar with. In his perception, Kagetsu's soul felt much heavier!
Or rather, its quality surpassed that of an ordinary ninja!
Kagetsu's soul strength had always been somewhat surprising to Orochimaru, but this time, the feeling he had was that Kagetsu's soul had a tangible difference in quality compared to what he had felt before.
"I increased the quality of my soul a bit," Kagetsu honestly replied. "Because when I returned to the village, I picked a semi-finished forbidden technique related to the soul from the Scroll of Seals. I want to improve it."
"The Scroll of Seals?" Orochimaru raised his eyebrows.
The forbidden techniques in the Scroll of Seals were still very enticing and piqued the curiosity of people like him, who had the urge to study them.
****
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