Chapter 9 Complete! (Please continue reading!)

Time flies, and before anyone realized it, the 41st year of Konoha was drawing to a close.

In a small grove, Genichi Kusashita looked at the tiny blue chakra sphere in his hand, a smile of immense satisfaction spreading across his face. "Finally... it’s done!"

From March until now, December, he had painstakingly perfected the Rasengan.

The reason it took so long wasn’t because Genichi lacked talent or comprehension—far from it—but because he was severely short on chakra.

Without the shortcut of Shadow Clone Technique and unable to dedicate all his time solely to training the Rasengan, progress was slow.

Though he had the chakra reserves of a teenager, it was still quite limited, and each training session couldn’t be sustained for long.

Thus, it took nearly ten months in total to complete.

Compared to Naruto, it was a staggering gulf in progress.

But in the end, he had accomplished it.

"I wonder if Yondai sister has finished the Rasengan yet. If not, hehe..." Genichi’s smile twisted into something almost perverse, and he quickly composed himself before slamming the Rasengan into the tree trunk in front of him.

Wood chips flew everywhere!

The Rasengan spun at high speed, boring a large hole into the tree like a drill. With a powerful twist from Genichi, the entire trunk he was holding was pierced through, and the Rasengan shot out.

"Impressive!" Genichi thought to himself.

But as he felt his body weaken, a trace of helplessness crept in.

His chakra was just too scarce.

With a Rasengan barely the size of a quail’s egg, he could only manage to unleash it twice before collapsing.

"It seems that what limits the vast majority of ninja isn’t the availability of jutsu, but chakra itself!" Genichi mused silently. "I must find a way to increase my chakra reserves, or else my reputation as a genius will be undeserved."

"Besides, no matter how many techniques I learn, without chakra to fuel them, they’re useless."

The first person Genichi thought of for increasing chakra was Orochimaru.

Next, the tailed beasts.

"I definitely can’t be a Jinchuriki. With my current chakra levels, I’d never be able to suppress the beast."

"Orochimaru, huh..."

Cell transplantation, body modification, even Reanimation Jutsu.

Genichi frowned slightly, feeling the complexity of the situation.

Fortunately, he still had plenty of time and wasn’t in a rush.

After packing up, Genichi turned and headed home.

The next day.

Just upon arriving at school, Genichi heard some news from Shizune.

Kakashi had applied for early graduation!

Good grief!

Graduating after less than a year at the academy.

But indeed, the ninja academy had little left to teach Kakashi.

His Body Replacement Technique was flawless, his taijutsu and shuriken throwing impeccable, he had mastered Earth Release transformations, and even possessed the family-inherited Hatake sword skills.

For Kakashi, staying at the academy was simply boring.

It didn’t suit his personality.

Genichi could see that, though Kakashi appeared cold and aloof on the surface—almost the polar opposite of the passionate Might Guy—inside, he had a fierce drive.

He refused to waste time at school and chose early graduation.

"Genichi, are you going to graduate early too? You’re not weaker than Kakashi at all," Shizune’s voice interrupted Genichi’s thoughts.

Genichi shook his head. "I won’t be graduating that quickly."

He was afraid of dying!

He would hang on for as long as possible—one year if he could.

Unless absolutely necessary, early graduation was not a good thing.

Time passed quickly until the holiday break.

But on that day, Genichi Kusashita, Shizune, Might Guy, Rin Nohara, and even Uchiha Obito all gathered at the school gate.

Because today was Kakashi’s graduation exam.

After waiting about half an hour, Kakashi emerged.

For a moment, everyone’s eyes fixed on the ninja forehead protector Kakashi wore.

Rin’s heart finally settled back into her chest.

"Congratulations, Kakashi. From today onward, you’re a true ninja," Genichi smiled, offering his congratulations.

The others echoed the sentiment.

Kakashi said, "If you want, Genichi, I’m sure you could pass the exam too."

"Both of you are famous geniuses at the academy; no problem at all," Yuhi Kurenai added.

"By the way, Genichi, are you going to graduate early?"

Genichi shook his head, looking at Kakashi. "Kakashi, how about a sparring match? I just developed a new jutsu myself!"

Develop a jutsu himself?

Kakashi and the others were surprised.

Uchiha Obito sneered.

What a joke. Is jutsu really so easy to create?

Could it be that he just tweaked the Body Replacement Technique or shuriken throwing and called it a new jutsu?

Obito wasn’t the only skeptic—Asuma Sarutobi shared the doubt.

It wasn’t that they looked down on Genichi, but with their deep family backgrounds, they understood how difficult it was to create a genuinely new jutsu.

However, Shizune, Kakashi, and Might Guy believed completely.

Might Guy even shouted, "Then let’s have a passionate, youthful duel! Genichi, I’m rooting for you!"

Shizune raised her small fist. "Genichi, good luck!"

Soon, the group arrived at the school training ground.

Might Guy volunteered as referee. "Begin!"

With a swing of his arm, Genichi Kusashita and Kakashi clashed fiercely.

After a dozen exchanges, relying on practical experience, Genichi caught a flaw in Kakashi’s defense and threw him flying. Then, raising his right hand, chakra gathered in his palm as a small Rasengan rapidly formed.

At that moment, Shizune and the others all widened their eyes.

"Awesome!"

"Such powerful chakra!"

"That really is a new jutsu!"

Exclamations spilled from their lips.

Kakashi, still on the ground, was stunned by the Rasengan.

"Such strong chakra… if it connected, it would definitely…"

"Kakashi, watch out!"

Genichi charged forward.

What no one noticed was that outside the training ground, Hiruzen Sarutobi, Hatake Sakumo, and several ninja academy teachers watched silently.

When the Rasengan appeared, their expressions turned to astonishment.

After a moment, Hatake Sakumo smiled. "This boy truly has extraordinary talent!"

He had heard his son speak of Genichi Kusashita and had met him several times—he had always sensed there was something special about the boy, and now it was confirmed.

"A basic jutsu, but at least Rank A!"

It was teacher Nodame who spoke.

Hiruzen Sarutobi nodded slightly. "Pure shape transformation, highly concentrated chakra—extremely difficult."

"Sakumo, be prepared in case of any accidents."

Hatake Sakumo nodded but chuckled, "However, I believe in this boy and in Kakashi."

Just then, a tremendous roar erupted from the training ground, and dust obscured everyone’s view.

Ryusei Futaki, unable to contain himself, used the Body Flicker Technique to reach the field, waving his hand to disperse the dust.

There stood Genichi Kusashita, slightly panting, with a pit before him filled with splintered wood.

Substitution Jutsu!

Ryusei sighed in relief.

Not far off, Kakashi, having narrowly avoided the attack, swallowed hard.

Luckily, he had dodged.

"Incredible… absolutely incredible!" Uchiha Obito was dumbfounded.