Konoha Notes

Chapter 21 Adjustment and Aftertaste

The sandy ground of the third training field shimmered with heat under the afternoon sun, the air itself seeming to distort. Shuuji stood in the center of the field, his gaze sweeping over the two people in front of him.

Uchiha Itachi stood ramrod straight, clad in his dark blue clan uniform. Sweat streamed down his youthful yet taut face as his eyes were fixed intently on his opponent. His eight-year-old frame appeared particularly slender in the empty training ground.

Mitarashi Anko wore a faded black mesh t-shirt and shorts, her purple hair plastered to her forehead with sweat. Her hands were in her pockets, her posture casual, as she glanced at the alert Itachi.

"A practical test," Shuuji's voice cut through the scorching air. "To see how well we can coordinate. Rule: Stop when it's too late. Begin."

"Boo! Hah! Hah!"

Itachi moved first, leaving only a faint afterimage in his wake. His speed, which was considered ghostly among his peers, was still clearly discernible in Anko's eyes.

Three shuriken tore through the air with a piercing whistle, aiming precisely at the non-lethal joints of Anko's shoulder and knee.

A soft hum escaped from Hongdou's nostrils, and her body was suddenly released like a compressed spring! Her movements were swift and fluid, carrying the unique unpredictability of Orochimaru's taijutsu. With just a precise side step, the shuriken whistled past her clothes and dug deep into the sand behind her.

"Fire Release: Flame Bullet!" The moment she landed, Anko formed hand seals with lightning speed. Three condensed orange-red fireballs, like cannonballs, hurtled towards Itachi in a triangular formation.

Extremely fast, with a straight trajectory, carrying scorching heat and a muffled whooshing sound, it instantly blocked his escape route.

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly. His Sharingan had not yet been activated. Facing this swift frontal attack, he took quick steps and his body suddenly dodged to the right.

The fireball whistled past the outside of his left arm, the scorching air stinging his skin. The impact made him lose his balance, and he staggered backward.

"Hmph!" Taking advantage of his unsteady footing, Hongdou's right hand suddenly shot out from her sleeve like a venomous snake.

"Shadow Serpent Hands!" Two thick, grayish-brown venomous snakes, carrying a strong fishy smell, shot out like arrows from a bow, biting at the ankles of the weasel who had just dodged and landed, and had not yet regained his footing!

At the critical moment, Itachi's pupils turned crimson, and two jet-black tomoe spun rapidly in his blood-red eyes. The trajectory of the venomous snake's attack and the subtle tremors of his muscles suddenly became clear and slowed down in his field of vision.

He twisted his body forcefully, in an extremely awkward and almost unbalanced posture, narrowly avoiding the two venomous snakes that grazed the outside of his calves. The cold touch of their scales made his hair stand on end. Although he avoided them, he lost his balance and staggered backward.

Red Bean exerted force with her feet, her body rushing forward like a cannonball, intending to completely suppress the unbalanced Itachi.

In that split second, the tomoe in Itachi's eyes spun wildly. He didn't try to steady himself and take the hit head-on. Instead, he used the momentum of his staggering fall to lean backward as if his body had broken. Then, in the instant that Anko was rushing forward and his spirit was far from its peak due to days of decline, the Sharingan genjutsu was unleashed.

Anko's forward-leaning fist was only inches away from Itachi's ribs when the sharpness in her eyes suddenly froze, instantly replaced by a blank, terrifying sight! The cold petri dish, the stark white light, and those snake eyes that turned and left without a trace of regret—the terrifying image buried deep in her heart flashed by!
Although the illusion lasted only a moment before Hongdou forcibly broke free, her physical movements inevitably became slightly sluggish and disorganized under the mental impact.

She was actually affected by an eight-year-old child's illusion?!

It’s this moment!

"boom!"

With a soft thud, the "Itachi" struck by Anko's fist transformed into a piece of Substitute Wood, tumbling and flying away. Meanwhile, the real Itachi, taking advantage of the precious, tiny opening gained through genjutsu and the visual illusion created by the Substitute Technique, silently appeared in Anko's blind spot to the side and behind.

The cold metal blade tip rested steadily and gently against the back of Hongdou's clothing, without piercing her; it was merely a cold point of contact.

Time seemed to freeze.

Hongdou froze in place, her punching stance frozen. The cold touch on her back and the soft breathing of a child behind her were crystal clear.

"That's enough." Shuji's voice broke the silence.

Itachi immediately withdrew and retreated, the tomoe in his eyes disappearing. His face was flushed from the intense exertion, his chest rose and fell slightly, but his gaze remained calm. He silently wiped the sweat from his forehead, walked to the edge of the arena, picked up his water bottle, and took small sips.

Hongdou slowly turned around, her movements as stiff as a rusty puppet.

A wave of defeat washed over her like an icy tide. She lost… she actually lost to… Is this your reason for abandoning me, Orochimaru-sensei…?

She suddenly raised her head, her face drained of color, her lips pressed together until they were deathly pale. Finally, all her emotions turned into a punch that slammed hard into the training stake next to her!

"boom!"

A deep fist mark was clearly visible on the hard surface of the wooden stake.

Shuji glanced at Itachi, who was silently drinking water, and then at Anko, who was standing frozen in place, without rushing to speak. He walked to a corner of the arena, picked up the cloth bag he had brought, and slowly opened it.

Inside were not ninja tools, but several rice balls carefully wrapped in bright green leaves, and a small bamboo tube of clear tea.

"Take a break." Shuuji's voice broke the suffocating silence, carrying a calm, everyday quality. He took out two rice balls, handed one to Itachi who had just put down the water bottle, and took the other, walked over to Anko, and without looking at her, simply handed her the rice ball.

Hongdou's body trembled violently, but she didn't move; her shoulders were as stiff as a stone.

"I steamed the rice before leaving home. I made it myself, with chicken filling and teriyaki flavor. It's pretty good." Xiu Si's voice was low, as if he were chatting casually. "After the game, I need to eat something."

Hongdou abruptly turned her head, her suppressed frustration and embarrassment almost bursting forth: "I don't..." Before she could finish speaking, a rich, savory aroma of rice and juicy chicken, mixed with the enticing scent of sweet and salty sauce, wafted into her nostrils. That warm, substantial food fragrance was completely different from the sour smell of instant noodles and expired meatballs in her room; like a soft feather, it unexpectedly brushed against her extremely tense nerves.

The rest of the words stuck in my throat.

Xiuji didn't try to persuade her further, but simply pushed the rice ball forward a little more, stopping it steadily beside her. Then he sat down against the wooden post, opened another rice ball, took a bite, unscrewed the bamboo tube, poured a cup of tea, and placed it on the ground beside him. His movements were as natural as if he were resting in his own backyard.

The weasel ate the rice ball in small bites, the savory aroma of chicken making him chew faster as he quietly replenished his energy.

Looking at Xiu Si's calm profile, then at the tempting aroma of the rice ball beside her, and then at the fist marks on the wooden stake, Hong Dou's turbulent emotions were somewhat diluted by the warm scent of the rice ball and the other party's indifferent, almost dismissive attitude, leaving only a deeper, more helpless weariness and confusion.

She was silent for a few seconds, and finally, with a hint of self-abandonment, she grabbed the rice ball and took a big bite in a fit of anger! The salty and sweet sauce and tender chicken burst in her mouth, and the satisfaction brought by the meat unexpectedly suppressed some of her turbulent emotions, but the shame of being seen as mentally weak still weighed heavily on her heart.

The three of them ate their rice balls, the only sounds on the training ground being the chewing and swallowing, and the soft rustling of the wind blowing through the sand. Shuji made no comment on the previous battle, simply eating quietly, occasionally sipping his tea, as if the fierce clash and explosive embarrassment had never happened. After finishing his rice ball, Shuji tidied up the oil paper, stood up, and brushed the sand off his trousers. He walked to the center of the field, his gaze sweeping over Itachi, who had recovered considerably, before settling on Anko, who had silently finished her rice ball, her eyes still dark and complex.

"You've recovered?" Xiu Si's voice was calm, with a hint of inquiry. "Now, the two of you, come at me together and try." He stood there casually, his hands hanging naturally at his sides, without forming any hand seals or assuming any defensive stance, as if he were simply inviting someone to a normal practice session.

Anko abruptly raised her head, a flicker of surprise in her eyes, quickly replaced by a rekindled surge of intense emotion—a mixture of resentment, probing, and a burning desire to prove something. She glanced at Itachi beside her, then at the overly calm captain in the center of the arena.

Itachi's gaze sharpened instantly. Although his Sharingan wasn't activated, his focus returned. He looked at Anko, and their eyes met briefly. Without a word, a subtle, temporary understanding born from their shared goal was instantly established.

"Alright!" Hongdou shouted in a low voice, choosing not to launch a direct attack, but instead instantly forming hand seals, "Ninja Art: Snake Gaze Curse Binding!"

Several grayish-brown energy snakes made of chakra shot out like living creatures. They did not attack Shuji's body, but instead swirled and coiled as if they were alive, instantly blocking most of Shuji's dodge space to the left, right and behind!
At the same time, her hand seals changed again: "Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique!" A condensed orange-red line of fire, like a scorching spear, pierced straight towards Shuji's front with a piercing shriek.

Snake Shadow Blockade, Fire Line Piercing – a standard ninjutsu suppression combination.

The moment the fire burst forth, Itachi's figure vanished as if merging into the shadows.

Instead of immediately following Anko's ninjutsu attack, he used his speed and the perception granted by his Sharingan to instantly circle around to Shuji's side and rear, placing him in a blind spot. With a flurry of movements, several shuriken, tracing treacherous arcs, silently shot towards Shuji's knees, ankles, and other support points. The timing was impeccable, precisely at the very moment the fire was about to strike Shuji, and the snake shadows contracted to close in!

Ninjutsu suppression, sneak attack from a blind spot! The teamwork was absolutely brilliant!

Faced with this sudden double attack, Shuji's expression remained completely calm. Just as the fire was about to reach his body, his hands instantly formed a hand seal!
"Water Escape·Water Formation Wall!"

A thick, solid wall of water instantly rose from the ground, blocking their path!
"laugh--!"

The Dragonfire Technique struck the water wall, unleashing a massive cloud of billowing white mist! The water wall rippled violently, yet stubbornly blocked this piercing fire technique!
Almost at the same moment the water wall rose, Shuji's body, like a weightless willow catkin, took a small half-step to the side under the cover of the water vapor. The movement was so small that Itachi's shuriken, which were aimed at the support point, just grazed past his feet and embedded themselves deeply in the sand.

At the same time, he casually waved his right hand, which was hanging at his side, to the side and behind him.

"Wind Release: Wind Reversal!"

A flexible yet powerful swirling airflow instantly formed beside him.

The energy snakes controlled by Red Bean, which attempted to coil around the area from the side and rear, crashed into the airflow. As if caught in an invisible vortex, their trajectories were forcibly twisted and torn apart, and they dissipated after emitting a hissing wail.

"Ninja Art: Hidden Shadow Serpent Hands!" This time, eight thick, solid venomous snakes, accompanied by a strong fishy smell, attacked Shuji from different angles as he emerged from the water vapor.

Xiu Si remained expressionless. Facing the venomous snake that lunged at him from the ground, he leaned back slightly, completed several hand seals, and simultaneously lifted his foot, seemingly taking a casual step downwards!
"Earth Release·Rock Pillar!"

Two sharp stalagmites burst forth from the ground in an instant, like precise traps, pinning two venomous snakes close to the sand.

The snake writhed violently and hissed in pain.

Just as Shuji was dealing with the poisonous snake, Itachi's attack came again!
Taking advantage of the moment when Shuji was restrained by the venomous snake, he closed in again like a leech, his Sharingan locking onto Shuji's movements. The kunai in his hand gleamed with a chilling light as he thrust it straight at the gap in Shuji's ribs exposed by his backward lean.

As if he had eyes in the back of his head, Shuji twisted his body at an incredible angle just as the kunai was about to hit him. The kunai's blade grazed his ribs, only cutting through the air.

He spun around and faced Itachi, who was hot on his heels, and instantly formed hand seals again!
"Wind Release: Wind Cut Technique!"

Several invisible yet extremely sharp wind blades, like transparent scythes, slashed towards Itachi's limb joints with a piercing sound.

Alarm bells rang in Itachi's mind, and his Sharingan activated instantly.

The several wind blades suddenly became clearer and slowed down in Gouyu's vision. He could only lean back as far as he could and cross his hands with kunai to block them.

"Qiang! Qiang!"

Two crisp sounds! The force of the impact made Itachi's arms go numb, and he staggered back several steps before regaining his balance, leaving clear slash marks on his kunai!
Hongdou seized the momentary opening, a ruthless glint in her eyes, and rapidly changed the hand seals.

"Fire Release: Serpent Fang Barrage!" This time, she condensed and compressed her chakra, continuously spitting out more than a dozen fist-sized, condensed orange-red fireballs shaped like snake fangs.

These fireballs weren't a blanket bombardment; instead, they seemed to possess a tracking ability, carrying scorching air currents and sharp whistling sounds, shooting from extremely tricky angles at every vital point on Xiu Si's body like venomous snakes biting! Their speed, accuracy, and lethality far surpassed the previous fireballs!

Despite the barrage of unpredictable and dangerous fireballs, Xiu Si remained calm. His hand seals moved even faster.

"Tu Dun·Tu Liubi!"

A thick earthen wall rose from the ground, protecting him completely behind it.

"Bang bang bang!"

The fireball struck the earthen wall, bursting into flames before finally dissipating into wisps of smoke.

Red Bean was breathing heavily, fine beads of sweat forming on her forehead. Continuously using ninjutsu was still too much of a burden for her.

"Stop." Shuuji's voice rang out calmly.

The earthen wall collapsed with the sound. Shuji dusted off non-existent dust from his sleeves, his breathing as steady as ever, as if the series of ninjutsu attacks and intense offense and defense just now were merely a stretch.

"I have a general idea." Xiu Si's gaze swept over the two who were slightly out of breath. "For the next few days, we will continue to gather here and practice tactical coordination."

“Of course, this kind of training is physically demanding,” Shuuji said, raising his index finger. “As the captain, I will take responsibility…”

Having already experienced this, the weasel sipped its water calmly, waiting for what was to come.

"Let's go recharge later, it's on me," Shuuji said with a smile, his gaze sweeping over Anko and Itachi. "You've used up so much energy... how about some meat?"

(End of this chapter)