Naruto: Starting with Creating a Genius Persona

"Hey kid!"

The Ape Demon King did not continue the pursuit. Instead, he stood still, arms crossed, his golden eyes scrutinizing Shinichi, who was still panting, a dozen meters away.

"Now, you can use ninjutsu."

These words startled Shinichi slightly. In the past month of hellish special training, both sides had abandoned all fancy techniques and only used the purest physical skills, strength and ability to withstand blows to clash.

The Monkey King once stated that only by first making the body remember the essence of power can one talk about anything else.

In this unreserved sparring session, it truly felt the extraordinary physique of the boy before it.

That astonishing strength, resilience, and endurance are simply unlike those of ordinary humans.

If Hiruzen Sarutobi hadn't explicitly told him beforehand that the child was a commoner orphan, the Monkey King would have even suspected that he might possess some unknown bloodline limit, or have some connection with the Senju clan, known for their powerful physique.

"Didn't you want to create your own ninjutsu?" Seeing Shinichi's expression, the Monkey King explained, "I really don't have much to guide you on the specific training of ninjutsu. Your human hand seals and ninjutsu are not the way of our race."

It paused, then continued, "However, combining existing powers and rapidly integrating them in actual combat, even transforming them from separate taijutsu and ninjutsu into a unified whole as natural as breathing... this process might be forced out in battle."

Its meaning is clear: in the upcoming sparring session, Shinichi can freely use the ninjutsu he has mastered.

The goal is no longer simply to endure or dodge, but to try to truly connect the release, restraint, and cover of ninjutsu with the movement, entry, and timing of bursts of taijutsu under the immense pressure brought by the Monkey King, to find that feeling of integration, and to lay the most primitive practical foundation for the possible concept of "ninjutsu taijutsu" in the future.

"Come on," the Monkey King's voice was deep and full of absolute confidence, "charge at me with the determination to kill me. Don't worry about hurting me; in the ninja world today, nothing can wound me."

……

after a while.

The training ground was even more chaotic than before, with charred fire-escape traces and new craters everywhere, indicating that the battle had entered a new phase.

With an incredibly sharp energy hum, the azure chakra sphere—the Rasengan—was seized by Shinichi in a fleeting moment and fiercely attacked the Monkey King.

The Ape Demon King reacted extremely quickly, raising his right palm at the critical moment to block the high-speed rotating energy ball containing terrifying penetrating power. The ball contained not only sharp penetrating power, but also a solid and heavy force.

Under the impact of this force, even the mighty, mountain-like Ape Demon King could not maintain his balance and slid backward, his feet sinking deep into the ground and carving out two furrows, until he finally stopped retreating seven or eight meters away.

Smoke and dust rose slightly.

The Monkey King raised his eyes and looked at the black-haired boy who was panting heavily not far away, clearly exhausted. Then his gaze fell down and he stared at his right palm that had caught the Rasengan.

On the palm, a large piece of the tough fur that was usually impervious to swords and knives was torn off, and the tough skin underneath was broken, with a trickle of bright red blood slowly seeping out.

It stared at the crimson stain and fell silent.

"Senior Ape Demon King, are you... alright?" Shinichi asked, trying to catch his breath.

In the battle just now, he had done almost everything he could, using a variety of ninjutsu in combination to create gaps, in order to finally get this opportunity for a close-range attack, forcing the Monkey King to take a full-force Rasengan from him.

Although the Monkey King's body enjoys the reputation of being "indestructible", it is not an absolutely indestructible entity in the literal sense. In the original future, its palm was cut by the Kusanagi sword controlled by Orochimaru.

Speaking of indestructibility, we must mention another unique talent of the ape demon clan—shape transformation.

They can completely weaponize their bodies according to the needs of the battle, freely transforming into a form called the "Vajra Ruyi Staff".

Once transformed into this unique weapon form, their hardness and strength will undergo a qualitative leap.

Not only can it withstand a direct confrontation with a divine weapon like the Kusanagi Sword without sustaining any damage, but it can also send a berserk Nine-Tailed Fox flying out of Konoha with a single blow.

Even during the Fourth Shinobi World War, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, used this form to shatter the Ten-Tails' dense Wood Release attacks and successfully save Naruto Uzumaki.

Perhaps, only when in this "Invincible Staff" form can the Monkey King truly be worthy of the title "Indestructible".

In contrast to its conventional ape-like form, "steel-boned" might be a more apt description.

In this form, it is able to ignore the bombardment of most conventional ninjutsu and taijutsu, and its defensive power is terrifying.

However, when faced with powerful ninjutsu attacks or divine weapons like the Kusanagi sword, this powerful body can still be broken or injured.

"Very good..." The Ape Demon King's deep voice broke the silence. It shook its hand, splattering blood on the ground: "Not bad."

Perhaps feeling embarrassed that his earlier assertion that "it was impossible for him to get hurt" had been broken, he was a little ashamed and his tone was somewhat awkward.

"Let's end this training here for now," said the Ape Demon King.

Before Shinichi could respond, its massive body vanished instantly in a cloud of thick white smoke with a "bang."

In the center of the training ground, only a more chaotic ground, fallen trees, and... where the Ape Demon King had just stood, some dark red bloodstains that had not yet completely dried on the dust and gravel stood out conspicuously.

Seeing this, Shinichi's gaze lingered briefly on the bloodstains on the ground, his eyes flickering slightly.

But he didn't do anything. Instead, just like after every intense sparring session in the past, he exhaled a long, tired, and hot breath.

Then, without saying a word, they began to tidy up the messy site, gathering the broken pieces of wood and roughly filling in the most conspicuous potholes. Everything looked no different from usual.

One month later, in the southern border of the Land of Iron, in Forge Town.

This border town, adjacent to the Land of Fire, is famous for its mining and forging industries, and the air is perpetually filled with a faint smell of metal and charcoal.

At this moment, an izakaya (Japanese pub) called "Sakurami-tei" in the city is bustling with activity.

The heated curtains hung low, but they couldn't block out the rising heat and noise inside the room.

Clinking earthenware cups and goblets, people dressed in various costumes or travel attire sat around low tables, mostly ronin, merchants, and local artisans, the air filled with the salty aroma of sake, grilled fish, and soy sauce.

People talk about recent ore prices, what the border patrols have seen, or which workshop has received another large order.

Rough laughter and boasting filled the air, creating a noisy scene.

Just then, the tavern's thick wooden door creaked open, letting in a blast of cold air from outside.

A tall figure stood against the light in the doorway. After a brief silence, a clear voice, brimming with undisguised eagerness and confidence, cut through the noise inside and reached everyone's ears clearly:

"Gentlemen, may I ask you a question?"

"Who's the best fighter in this blacksmith town?"