After the team disbanded and returned home, Hoshita Shūichi immediately checked the new entry triggered on the Skill Tree.
Entry: Konoha Prodigy
Acquisition Condition: Become a Chunin at the age of six, breaking Konoha's record for the youngest Chunin promotion.
Effect: Comprehension ability increased by 50%.
Hiss!
A boost to comprehension!
Unlike the [Fire Release Expert], which only enhanced fire-based talents, this was an all-around improvement in learning and understanding abilities.
"I must secure this!"
Hoshita Shūichi clenched his fists.
While the ranks of Genin, Chunin, and Jonin weren't strict measures of strength, they were still based on combat capability.
Having Chunin-level strength didn't guarantee passing the exam.
Take Uchiha Obito, for example.
"The written exam won't be a problem. As for the individual combat round... among the participants, no one should be stronger than Shisui, right?"
Hoshita Shūichi assessed himself.
Over the past two months, his swordsmanship still lagged behind Uchiha Shisui's.
However, his heightened mental processing speed and reflexes made him exceptional in close combat, whether unarmed or wielding a blade.
Kurama Sanyō was no longer a match for him.
Even against Uchiha Shisui, without using the Body Flicker Technique, their sparring sessions were evenly matched.
Hoshita Shūichi's insight and attack speed were inferior to Shisui's, but his reflexes were faster.
Fast reflexes didn't equate to faster attack speed—explosive speed depended not only on chakra but also on physical conditioning and technique.
Uchiha Shisui's Body Flicker Technique and genjutsu posed significant threats to Hoshita Shūichi.
In their past sparring sessions, he had never managed to counter Shisui's Body Flicker Technique. He could only rely on his superior reflexes to respond, but he still ended up losing.
Of course, individual matches typically didn't pit teammates against each other.
"Still, I need to be wary of Genin with strong genjutsu abilities."
Hoshita Shūichi pondered.
He was proficient in genjutsu himself. Being on a team with Uchiha Shisui and Kurama Sanyō, he had ample experience dealing with illusions during their regular spars.
Detecting when he was under a genjutsu and then dispelling it.
But genjutsu was often insidious—most of the time, he couldn't immediately realize he was trapped in one.
If he failed to notice in time, the danger would be immense.
Against the Sharingan, breaking free from genjutsu was even harder, usually requiring external help.
Then there were the "immobilization" types of genjutsu, where the victim was fully aware of being trapped but couldn't control their body.
For example, the Demonic Illusion: Shackling Stakes Technique—Orochimaru was instantly defeated by Uchiha Itachi using this move.
Another example was the Sage Art: Frog Song, an auditory-based immobilization genjutsu.
"The Sharingan... I've trained myself not to make eye contact with Shisui during battles, but it's not foolproof. Not all Sharingan genjutsu require eye contact to activate..."
Hoshita Shūichi thought of Danzō.
Orochimaru had joined the Anbu, and it was possible he was already researching Wood Release.
He wondered if Danzō had already transplanted Sharingan eyes. In the original story, Danzō ambushed Shisui using Izanagi.
"Izanagi isn't too bad—it won't kill me in one go. Just kill him a few more times."
"But Izanami is especially nasty. It's touted as the counter to Izanagi, forcing the victim to accept their original fate."
"Which basically means accepting death without using Izanagi."
"Who would willingly accept that?"
Currently, Hoshita Shūichi was most wary of Izanami.
If Danzō had mastered Izanagi, could he also have Izanami?
He didn't know, but he had to be prepared.
Just look at what happened to Yakushi Kabuto under its effects.
It wasn't as simple as saying, "I was wrong." Under the infinite loop of scenarios, Kabuto was likely driven to madness and forcibly brainwashed.
Its effects were on par with Kotoamatsukami.
If Danzō hit him with it, wouldn't he immediately kneel, join Root, and work tirelessly to secure Danzō's position as Hokage?
His thoughts had strayed too far. Hoshita Shūichi quickly reeled them back to the present.
With his exceptional reflexes, instant-cast Fire Release, swordsmanship, and taijutsu, unless there was someone even more monstrous than Uchiha Shisui or himself in the Chunin Exams, he wouldn't lose.
As for team battles, he had even less to worry about. With two genjutsu specialists and his own instant-cast Fire Release and close-combat prowess, their advantage was overwhelming.
Finally, Hoshita Shūichi returned to his original task and pulled out a scroll.
Sealing Technique: Memory Palace!
Over the past two months, he had fully mastered this sealing technique perfected by Namikaze Minato.
Today, he would complete it and secure the [Sealing Expert] entry.
He fetched a large blank scroll and began inscribing the sealing formulas.
About half an hour later, the formulas were complete.
Hoshita Shūichi set down the brush and sat cross-legged in the center of the scroll, surrounded by dense, intricate sealing patterns.
Then, he formed a series of hand signs—twelve in total.
Once completed, the formulas on the scroll activated, squirming like tadpoles as they crawled up his body, converging at the top of his head before vanishing beneath his scalp.
Memory Palace—success!
Hoshita Shūichi immediately sensed a new sealed space within his mind.
Or rather, a memory space.
Now, the Memory Palace truly lived up to its name.
The structure of the Memory Palace took the form of Konoha Village.
The buildings within the village served as repositories for his memories.
Beyond the structures, there were also people.
Kakashi, Might Duy, Yūhi Kurenai, Sarutobi Asuma, Shizune, Uchiha Shisui, Uchiha Obito, Kurama Sanyō, and others.
These were his memories—collected samples representing their abilities, habits, combat styles, and more.
As he observed his Memory Palace, Hoshita Shūichi mused, "This Memory Palace would be most suitable for genjutsu."
Yes, genjutsu.
Or rather, a fusion of genjutsu and sealing techniques.
However, Hoshita Shūichi hadn't yet delved deeply into genjutsu, so this remained just an idea for now.
Shifting his focus from the Memory Palace, he turned to the Skill Tree.
Activate [Sealing Expert]!
Effect: Talent in sealing techniques and cursed seals increased by 100%. Memory capacity increased by 100%.
Hoshita Shūichi felt a jolt in his brain, his consciousness blanking for an instant.
When his senses returned, he immediately stood and retrieved another scroll.
Sealing Technique: Yin Seal!
This was given to him by Tsunade just two days ago.
Unsurprisingly, this technique was far more complex than the Memory Palace.
Previously, he had only skimmed it, finding it profoundly difficult. He had decided to postpone further study until he had a stronger foundation in sealing techniques.
Now, however, his perspective had changed.
"Hmm... it doesn't seem that difficult anymore?"
"And I really do have a perfect memory now."
Hoshita Shūichi smiled.
Even without relying on external advantages, his talent in sealing techniques and cursed seals had earned praise from Namikaze Minato. Now, with a 100% boost, he wondered if he could rival Minato and Tsunade.
"It looks like I'll need to seek their guidance on sealing techniques more often from now on..."
He put away the scroll and formed a hand sign.
Poof!
A shadow clone appeared, nodded at him, and then leaped out the door.
This clone was tasked with training in Wind Release chakra nature transformation.
For now, given his chakra reserves, using one shadow clone for training was optimal—it could last longer.
Read advance chapters here:
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