Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

Chapter 215 Flowing Clouds and Flying Snow, Six Styles of Wind Release

Upon hearing this, Fugaku Uchiha nodded and did not ask any further questions.

"Shinichi-kun."

The two walked a few more steps side by side, and then he suddenly spoke up: "In this defense, our defense zones are adjacent. If a battle breaks out, we will need to look out for each other."

These words sounded rather abrupt. Clearly, given Fugaku Uchiha's status and temperament, he was not accustomed to making such remarks.

Upon hearing this, Shinichi glanced at him and nodded, saying, "Of course. As members of Konoha, Clan Chief Fugaku, it is only our duty to guard the left flank together, support each other, and jointly defend against external enemies."

His words were tactful and natural, easily easing the slight embarrassment in Uchiha Fugaku's heart.

Upon hearing this, Fugaku Uchiha felt a little relieved, even though he already knew that the young man in front of him had an excellent reputation in the village and was known for being gentle and easy to get along with.

He even privately inquired with some of the younger members of the clan who had been in contact with Shinichi, and the feedback he received was basically things like "not pretentious," "surprisingly easy to talk to," and "very steady and reassuring."

But hearing about it is just hearing about it; it was only when he experienced it firsthand that he truly understood the natural feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.

"Then I'll have to trouble you, Shinichi-kun."

"Clan Chief Fugaku is too kind," Shinichi said with a slight smile. "As a senior, you are very experienced. It is I who need to learn more from you."

"Shinichi-kun, you're too kind."

Fugaku Uchiha nodded, then remained silent. Neither of them spoke, and only the sound of footsteps and the distant sound of the ocean waves mingled together.

After walking a few more steps, Fugaku spoke again, but this time his question was somewhat unexpected: "Shinichi-kun, have you ever considered serving as a Jonin instructor after the war?"

Ok?

Instructing Jonin?

Shinichi's heart stirred slightly.

Could this guy be plotting to get me to mentor Uchiha Itachi?

Itachi Uchiha should be almost a year old now. By the time this war ends, the child will be about four or five years old, which is the age when he will begin his ninja training and lay his foundation.

If that's the case, then the Uchiha clan leader's thoughts are indeed profound.

"To serve as an instructor for Jonin?"

Shinichi hesitated for a moment, then replied, "I have indeed considered it, but ultimately we will have to follow the village's arrangements. Why did Chief Fugaku suddenly ask about this?"

"It's nothing, just a casual question." Fugaku Uchiha nodded calmly without saying anything more.

In fact, he did have this intention in his heart.

According to the accurate strategic projection report before the war, the war would likely last three to four years.

When the war ended, his son, Uchiha Itachi, was just four or five years old.

The young man before us is not only exceptionally strong and incredibly talented, but he also created a completely new system of "Fire Release Ninjutsu" from scratch, and his reputation as a skilled teacher has spread among many people.

From the perspectives of strength, potential, and teaching ability, he is an excellent candidate to guide Itachi's training.

Moreover, in Uchiha Fugaku's view, Higashino Shinichi's future was limitless.

When the Third Hokage retires in the future, he will undoubtedly be one of the strongest contenders for the Hokage position, perhaps even the strongest.

The relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village's leadership has always been delicate and awkward over the years.

Now, Obito Uchiha has become Minato Namikaze's student, and his wife Mikoto Uchiha is also very close to Kushina Uzumaki.

Minato Namikaze and Shinichi Higashino were both direct descendants of the Hokage lineage.

If Itachi could also become Shinichi's student, that would be a double guarantee, ensuring that either Minato Namikaze or Shinichi Higashino would become Hokage in the future.

The Uchiha clan's situation in the village would be much better, and it's not impossible that an Uchiha Hokage would emerge in the future.

It can be said to kill two birds with one stone.

However, Fugaku Uchiha also knew that this matter could not be rushed. After all, his relationship with Shinichi was still shallow, and being too rash would easily backfire. He needed to plan carefully and wait for a more suitable opportunity.

"Minato, you've fallen behind me again this time."

Shinichi thought to himself, but showed no sign of it on his face.

Since he clearly set his goal of "competing for the Hokage position" more than half a year ago, in just a few months, he has quietly surpassed Minato in terms of battle achievements, network of connections, and the weight he holds in the eyes of the higher-ups.

Now even Uchiha Fugaku, the key figure in the original timeline who later went all in to support Minato's ascension to the Hokage position, has begun to turn his attention to himself and is intentionally diversifying his investments.

What Shinichi needs to do is maintain and expand this advantage.

One day later, at dawn.

Shinichi led his troops to the designated defense zone, Shirasa Bay.

The total strength of the troops on the southeastern front of Konoha is approximately 10,000.

Of these, about 6,000 people were stationed at the main base and the surrounding core area, while the remaining 4,000 were commanded by four battalion commanders who were responsible for the long coastal defense.

At this time, only two hundred elite soldiers followed Zhenyi to the main position at Baisha Bay.

The other 800 people were divided into groups of three to five and scattered along the coastline on both sides of Baisha Bay to carry out reconnaissance and guard duties.

This is the core idea of ​​the flexible defense system: abandon the rigid thinking of guarding every inch of the coastline, use forward reconnaissance posts as eyes and ears, and mobile forces as fists.

The primary task of these squads was not to engage in direct combat with the landing enemy, but to quickly issue warnings and delay the enemy after discovering their presence, and to transmit intelligence in real time. At the same time, they used harassment, traps, and small-scale raids to delay the enemy's advance inland as much as possible, thus buying precious time for the main force to assemble in the rear.

Upon receiving the warning, Shinichi or the captain of the adjacent defense zone will quickly assemble mobile forces to gain a local advantage and carry out precise operations.

A quasi-strike.

If the number of enemy troops landing far exceeds expectations, and the forces under the four captains on the left and right flanks are insufficient to withstand them head-on, then the tactics will shift to the next stage—luring the enemy deep into our territory.

By organizing a retreat and harassment, the enemy is drawn into the predetermined battlefield depth, their supply lines are lengthened, their forces are dispersed, and then, in coordination with other defense zones or headquarters, a partial encirclement is formed to launch a flanking attack and strangle the advancing enemy.

The entire defense system is like a flexible mesh structure. It may seem loose, but it is actually interconnected. It can react quickly when it is impacted and use space to buy time, so as to seek a counterattack under conditions that are favorable to itself.

Baisha Bay is a typical arc-shaped bay with rugged rock walls extending on both sides and a wide, silvery-white sandy beach in the middle. The terrain is generally flat, with gradually rising hills and woodlands not far behind, which is conducive to ambushes and outflanking maneuvers.

After Shinichi arrived with two hundred men, he casually glanced at the beach and the sea.

He then formed a hand seal.

Bang!Bang!Bang!

A series of wisps of white smoke exploded, and a dozen shadow clones identical to him appeared beside him.

The next moment, something happened that stunned all his subordinates.

These dozen or so shadow clones slowly lifted off the ground and floated into the air, as if supported by invisible steps. They flew towards the depths of the vast sea in different directions at a leisurely pace.

The captain can actually fly?

Is this an application of Wind Release chakra? Or some kind of special secret technique?

Captain, aren't you known for your Fire Release techniques?

A series of questions swept through everyone's minds, but Zhen Yi did not give them much time to wonder. His gaze had already turned away from the sea and swept over every inch of beach, reef, and undulating hills and woodlands around Baisha Bay.

With the help of the "Insightful Insight" entry, the entire bay's terrain, trees, reefs, and so on were as if broken down into countless clear data streams, instantly imprinted into his mind, and rapidly combined and deduced.

"Reconnaissance squad! You will split into three groups and advance to these three high points to establish observation posts..."

"The barrier squad is responsible for these two passes behind the beachhead..."

"7

"The communications team is responsible for ensuring smooth communication between all squads, and conducting a routine check every two hours."

"A moment later, Shinichi quickly issued several orders."

"yes!"

Those who followed Shinichi here were mostly the old guard of Shinichi's squad, who were already used to his efficient and concise command style.

The moment the order was given, everyone's expressions turned solemn, and they responded in unison. They then quickly dispersed and began to perform their duties, like intricate gears at work.

Shinichi, as the captain, remained standing in place, casting his light towards the distant sea.

As dawn broke, the sea breeze, carrying a damp and salty scent, blew in our faces, and the waves crashed rhythmically against the rocks and sand on the shore.

As Shinichi looked at the ebb and flow of the tide and the crashing waves, he was suddenly moved.

He then slowly walked to the edge of the beach, facing the vast sea, his feet slightly apart, and began to slowly step forward and move his palms.

His movements were completely different from his usual ferocious, aggressive fighting style.

At this moment, he raised his hands, drew arcs, and turned around. Every movement was exceptionally slow, as if pushing mountains or parting clouds. The trajectory was round and continuous, and the path and momentum were cyclical, as if he were being guided by some invisible, flowing force.

Just as he was gaining momentum, the sea breeze blowing from the coast seemed to be drawn by some invisible force. The originally turbulent and disordered air currents began to converge and turn, surging and flowing towards where he was.

However, once these winds reached within half a meter of Zhenyi's body, they were like a soft cloud, suddenly becoming gentle and slow, no longer carrying any sharpness.

In an instant, countless fine and continuous streams of air silently swirled, rotated, and flowed around him, seemingly alive and following some mysterious rhythm.

Wind is formless and shapeless, yet it flows ceaselessly.

It can be gentle or firm, slow or fast.

Deflection, displacement, guidance, resolution...

Shinichi's gestures slowed down, becoming almost static, as if his mind was completely immersed in the flow surrounding him.

But at the very moment of a breath exchange, his actions suddenly changed!

It was as if a calm lake surface had suddenly been churned up with towering waves, and the gently flowing air currents had exploded with a roar.

With each opening and closing of his palms, countless wind blades hissed as they advanced, cut, and swept across, transforming into a chaotic and howling hurricane centered on him!

Its powerful and fierce momentum contrasted sharply with the tranquil and harmonious atmosphere just moments before.

The fine sand on the beach was swirled up layer by layer, forming turbid and churning eddies in the air. The nearby waves were forced back by the violent wind pressure, bursting into white mist that scattered and splashed in the morning light.

But this frenzy only lasted for a few seconds.

The storm suddenly stopped.

All the fierce and intense energy receded like the tide, transforming once more into a light and ethereal breeze.

He effortlessly shifts between strength and gentleness in his every move, sometimes as light and graceful as willow catkins brushing against your face, and sometimes as passionate and unrestrained as a hurricane passing by.

Softness and hardness, stillness and movement, restraint and release... all these seemingly opposing states flow and transform in his every move, becoming a seamless whole, with no boundaries between them.

Just then, a huge wave, stirred up by the wind pressure disturbance, suddenly surged toward where Shinichi was!

Zhenyi neither dodged nor avoided, and didn't even open his eyes.

He simply circled his arms slightly, and the countless flowing currents around him suddenly solidified, then transformed into layers upon layers of endless rotating vortexes, rippling out like a rolling sea of ​​clouds.

Flowing clouds!

The giant wave crashed into this sea of ​​wind and clouds, as if it had been trapped in an invisible, flexible barrier, and was dispersed, guided, and dissolved by countless flowing vortices.

The immense force was gently released in all directions, eventually transforming into countless fine streams of water that coiled around Zhenyi's body like serpents, obediently following his will like tamed beasts.

Shinichi's eyes remained slightly closed, but his palms flipped slightly.

The countless streams of water that surrounded him and were controlled by him with the force of "flowing clouds" suddenly froze, and then, with the action of pushing out his palm, they crashed back!

Snowflakes!

The wind swirls around, using its force against it!

The power of the waves, which had just been neutralized and guided by "Flowing Clouds," was now being swept up and reshaped by Shinichi's Wind Release, transforming into a towering water tornado that swept back against the sea breeze, crashing back into the ocean with a force far more powerful and concentrated than when it came!

boom!!!

A huge crater was blasted open in the sea, and the misty spray spread like snow, refracting into tiny rainbows in the morning light.

Only then did Shinichi slowly open his eyes.

His eyes shimmered with a clear light, as if a storm was brewing within them, before quickly returning to a deep, serene stillness.

Learn from Heaven and Earth, and follow the Way of Nature.

Shinichi once said something like this in his previous life. Although this saying doesn't exist in this world, many ninjutsu techniques in the ninja world were created by geniuses throughout history who drew inspiration from the natural world.

At this moment, standing between the sea and the sky, listening to the wind and watching the waves, he was immersed in it all. In his dialogue with the sea breeze and the waves, he touched the true meaning of the wind's balance of strength and gentleness, and its ceaseless flow.

From this point on, Shinichi's six-style Wind Release ninjutsu techniques were basically complete:

The [Dream Bullet] focuses on explosive impact.

The [Storm Blade] focuses on ultimate cutting power.

The [Swift Step] emphasizes agility and responsiveness.

Achieving levitation and hovering in mid-air [Dancing in the Sky]

And what I just realized...

The defensive technique [Flowing Clouds] focuses on mitigating and guiding attacks.

[Flying Snow] uses leverage and counterattacks to turn the tide of battle.

The six styles complement each other, combining strength and gentleness, and can be changed at will.

The sea breeze remains the same, the sound of the waves remains the same.

Only the figure standing quietly on the beach, along with the subtle, lively breeze that had not yet completely dissipated in the surrounding air, testified to the brief resonance between man and nature that had just occurred.

"I really am a genius."

Shinichi sighed inwardly and smiled slightly.

That night, at the Konoha Southeast Front Headquarters.

Koharu, the general, received a secret message from Shinichi.

"The Hidden Mist Village has formed a secret military alliance with the Hidden Sand Village, and the two sides will launch a pincer attack on the Land of Fire from the east and west within a week."

After reading the document, Xiaochun's eyes suddenly narrowed, and she immediately handed the secret document to someone next to her.

Nara Shikaku was transferred here to serve as the Chief of Staff due to the temporary end of the war in the Northeast.

Nara Shikaku took the document, quickly scanned the text, and immediately frowned. He was about to speak.

However, before he could speak, Koharu Utatane's voice rang out: "Shikaku, immediately draft an urgent report and send it back to Konoha for the Hokage to decide."

No, so decisive?

My elder?

Nara Shikaku felt a pang of helplessness, even though this intelligence came from Shinichi Higashino, and even though his strategic predictions had been made many times before—

verification.

However, the news that "the Hidden Mist Village and the Hidden Sand Village have secretly formed an alliance" is a major piece of news that affects the entire course of the war.

Logically, shouldn't we first verify the findings through other channels? Or at least discuss the possibilities briefly?

Just skip it like that?

He muttered a helpless complaint in his heart, but showed no sign of it on his face, because he knew that the trust that the Konoha leadership and even many people in the village had placed in Shinichi Higashino had long reached an unconditional level.

"Yes, I'll take care of it right away," Nara Shikaku replied, getting up and leaving the command post.

As I walked, my thoughts drifted away.

Shinichi Higashino... is probably already the most powerful successor to the future Hokage position.

Being young is a huge disadvantage.

However, when his talent, achievements, and prestige far exceeded the scope that "age" could define, his disadvantages began to turn into advantages.

People will think, he's so young, yet he's already achieved this much.

What about five or ten years from now?

For exceptionally talented individuals, youth can sometimes be their most striking asset.

Nara Shikaku shook his head, suppressing these thoughts.

Half an hour later, the secret report had been delivered to the Hokage Building in Konoha.

After reading the letter, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, immediately ordered someone to summon Danzo Shimura.

Danzo rushed over, took the secret report, and glanced at it: "Just notify Jiraiya and the others directly."

"good!"

Southwest Front Command.

Jiraiya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru passed the secret document around among themselves.

Jiraiya was the first to look up, his expression solemn. "What I mean is, immediately order all lines to enter maximum combat readiness. What do you all think?"

Tsunade stood with her arms crossed and nodded.

"I have no objection."

Orochimaru chuckled softly, "Since it's Shinichi-kun's judgment... then let's do as he says."

After saying that, he didn't say anything more and turned to leave the command post first.

Know before you fight, plan before you act.

Wouldn't you call this winning a battle from a thousand miles away?

Orochimaru walked along the quiet path in the camp, a complex emotion passing through his mind.

"It seems that Shinichi's chances of becoming Hokage are getting bigger and bigger."

He lost his parents at a young age, and during those long years, his teachers were not only mentors who taught him ninjutsu and guided him on his path, but also, in an unspoken way, took on the role of his father.

Therefore, when his teacher placed high hopes on him, hoping that he could become a qualified successor to the Hokage, Orochimaru also complied with that expectation and tried his best to play the role of a perfect successor. However, after the Second Shinobi World War, something in his heart quietly changed.

He witnessed too much fragility and impermanence of life, and gradually lost his thirst for the power and responsibility symbolized by the position of "Hokage".

Instead, there is a desire to explore all the mysteries and ultimate truths of the world.

But no longer do they crave it, and they return to not craving it anymore.

But when you witness firsthand that the goal you've strived for in the first half of your life is likely to be achieved by another, younger, more dazzling, and equally highly regarded student...

Orochimaru felt a strange, inexplicable feeling rising within him.

A moment later, he exhaled softly, turned around, and disappeared into the deeper night outside the command post.

Four days later, at dawn.

At the horizon where the sea meets the sky, a sliver of dawn has just appeared, the heavy darkness of night has not yet completely faded, and the sea is shrouded in a hazy mist.

On the sea outside White Sand Bay, a series of dark figures were rapidly approaching, treading on the waves. Chakra burst forth beneath their feet, causing the water to ripple and create waves. They were members of the Kaguya clan.

Kaguya Umemaro, leading the way, her burly body like a raging beast, was the first to slam heavily onto the beach.

His rugged gaze swept casually around.

The mudflats were deserted, with only the morning breeze gently carrying the fine sand.

"Hahahahaha!"

Kaguya Umemaro immediately burst into a loud, maniacal laugh that shook the coastline.

"I knew those idiots in Konoha couldn't possibly have predicted I'd land here! That brat Yagura, who's barely grown his hair, told me to be careful—what did he know?! He's just a self-important fool!"

Upon hearing this, the Kaguya clan members who landed behind him also joined in the laughter, their voices rough and arrogant, echoing in the empty bay.

"The clan leader is right! Those cowards from Konoha are probably still dreaming in bed!"

"What kind of bullshit defense is this? We can't even see a ghost!"

"Charge with me!"

Umemaro waved his hand, his face a mixture of contempt and excitement: "If we encounter anyone on the road, whether they're ninja or civilians, kill them all! Let Konoha remember the terror of our Kaguya clan!"

Having said that, he strode forward, charging ahead towards the inland, followed closely by a group of Kaguya clansmen howling and brimming with murderous intent, like ferocious beasts unleashed from their cages.

However, just as Umemaro stepped into a sandy area in front of the beach!

Rumble! ...

A series of deafening explosions suddenly erupted into the sky, and the intense flames instantly tore through the darkness of dawn!

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