Chapter 38

Kazuki, understanding the cause, responded, "Honestly, it's not the blade's fault. It's just because of my Kekkei Genkai that the material of the blade tends to corrode from the inside."

"Kid, if this is the kind of stress you are planning to subject your blade to every time you fight, even a blade made of the highest purity chakra metal cannot handle the stress," the old man cautioned.

After the demonstration, the party returned to the forge. Kazuki then pulled out his storage scroll to release the box containing the unique meteorite fragment. He also handed the old man a scroll with a detailed design of the blade he wanted.

The old man marvelled at the design's intricacies, appreciating the depth of the details. Kazuki opened the box, revealing a pitch-black metal with red veins running within it—a remarkable meteorite. The old man eagerly examined the wonder metal, understanding why Kazuki desired to craft a weapon from it.

However, a new challenge surfaced. The meteorite fragment was too large to forge into a single sword, and Kazuki understood that the old man wanted a piece of the material. Kazuki chuckled at the old man's sheepish smile.

"Well, the core of the ore will be completely for my sword. If possible, I would like it forged purely out of the core with no other additions," Kazuki stated his request.

The old man agreed, noting that with a fragment this size, the core alone should be enough for a blade and a bit more. Kazuki made a request for a short blade from it. Kazuki then generously offered a part of the material for the old man to use for his family as payment for the forging. He then provided blueprints for the various weapons he wanted, including those for Tsunade and Shizune.

"Well, we might have one more issue to address before we proceed. Although I have means to refine the material, none of the flames that I currently hold can refine the material to top-notch purity, so this might lower the quality of the final product," the old man shared his thoughts after carefully observing the material fragment that Kazuki provided.

"Oh, that's not going to be an issue. I hope you know the flame sealing technique," Kazuki responded.

Upon hearing the old man's concerns, Kazuki pulled out a scroll, and the old man nodded, stating that he knew how to seal flames using fuinjutsu. As Kazuki released the scroll and partially undid the enclosing seal, a pitch-black flame appeared in the middle of the Fuin circle on the scroll. Everyone except Kazuki in the room couldn't help but unconsciously take a few steps back away from the flame, feeling like the flame would literally devour their souls.

"Old man, you need to be absolutely careful when you handle this. As a craftsman myself, I know the inherent curiosity for knowledge, but I am warning you not to underestimate the potency of this flame. I am sure this flame should be enough to refine the material," Kazuki shared a word of caution.

Only Kazuki knew the true source of this flame—it was something gifted to him by the Hell Beast clan. Even he had to handle this flame with extreme caution. Kazuki quickly resealed the flame and passed the scroll over after getting the consent of the old man to handle the flame with the utmost caution.

Tsunade wanted to know where Kazuki got hold of such a potent flame but chose to question him about it later, when they were in a more private setting.

"I am grateful for your consideration. Upon checking your requirements and designs, it should take me somewhere close to a month to get the blade done. As for the other weapons, I can only finish those after that," the old man estimated.

Kazuki nodded, having already passed all the weapon blueprints he needed crafted. Additionally, he planned to keep the remaining material in the Nara clan treasury, as the fragment was more than enough to forge a lot of weapons.

"And before I forget, if there are any fuinjutsu rituals or seals involved during the crafting process, I would like to be informed beforehand," Kazuki declared. Tsunade smiled, not offering an explanation, and the old man agreed without much hesitation, understanding that such requests were not uncommon when crafting high-end weapons.

"And now that the weapon forging work is settled, Kazuki, why don't you tell us why you were interested in the little girl? I am sure you were simply not just admiring the child." Tsunade couldn't help but question her student because she knew how Kazuki would act most of the time.

Kazuki created a barrier around the tiny forge and simply pulled out a blank paper tag from his pouch, gesturing for little Tenten to step forward. With her great-grandpa's nod, she stepped up.

"I see that you have already started refining your chakra. Can you pour some of your chakra into this tag?" Kazuki extended the paper tag to Little Tenten, who did as instructed. After a few moments, the empty paper tag started filling up with various symbols, covering almost four-fifths of the empty tag.

"No wonder," Kazuki couldn't help but mutter to himself while observing the tag's reaction to Tenten's chakra.

"Kid, stop acting all mysterious and tell us what's going on," Tsunade, unable to handle suspense, shouted at Kazuki to reveal the information.

"Sensei, you know that I have an affinity for space-time ninjutsu, and the little kid here is the same. I believe, by my estimate, her affinity is strong enough to match that of Yondaime."

Kazuki's statement threw a curveball at both the adults who were curiously waiting for his reveal. Both knew the significance of this revelation. Only earlier today, Tsunade was discussing the rarity of space-time affinity users, and now a little girl has the talent to match Minato.

Tenten's grandfather couldn't help but involuntarily gulp and quickly look around to make sure that no one was eavesdropping. He was grateful that Kazuki had raised a barrier before starting this conversation.

"Nara Kid, are you sure that Tenten has space-time affinity? As per my knowledge, there isn't any way to test space-time affinity accurately, so if this is some kind of joke, you better stop it. You should know how dangerous this information could end up being for little Tenten," the old man shared his worries.

"Do you think I would disclose my space affinity if I was joking and paint a huge target on my back willingly?" Kazuki countered. Every village knew the true terror of a Space-Time user in the form of Minato Namikaze, and if any other village were to catch wind of the news that the Leaf currently had not one but two such talents, then Konoha would be filled with bounty hunters and assassins tomorrow.

"Old man, Kazuki might be mischievous sometimes, but he is reliable. I can vouch for his words." Tsunade, who knew about Kazuki, affirmed that he wasn't joking and that the little girl was truly a remarkable talent.

"I understand, Tsunade-sama, but I fear if this news is spread out, then little Tenten's life would be in danger," the old man shared his worries.

"In that case, now that you have agreed to become the Senju clan's vassals, why not relocate your clan to the Senju compound? The compound should be able to accommodate all of your clan members, and with you becoming a new vassal, no one would question the reason for moving, as it is normal. Also, Tenten will have a safe environment to grow up in." Tsunade directly provided a quick solution to the old man's dilemma. The old man, after weighing the matter in his mind, gave a quick nod.

"I have a request. If possible, I would like to teach little Tenten about fuinjutsu personally. In the future, if she can keep up with the training and show enough determination to master Fuinjutsu, I can help her learn Yondaime's Hiraishin," Kazuki declared, looking to the old man for his permission. Kazuki didn't know what this world held in the future for him and his loved ones, so he was not willing to lose an absolute gem like Tenten, who could be raised to be a formidable kunoichi.

The old man was baffled again by the kid's statement. A kid barely six or seven years old was confidently declaring that he would help his great-granddaughter master one of the most complex jutsu in the known Shinobi world.

"Old man, if Kazuki says that he can teach the little girl here, then trust me, he is absolutely capable of achieving it." Tsunade quickly defended her student's claims. However, the old man still held a look of disbelief on his face.

"It's not that I don't believe your words, Tsunade-hime. It's just that the kid is too young." The old man couldn't help but whisper.

"Ah, why doesn't anyone believe the words of a kid nowadays?" Kazuki simply stepped back with a sigh and pulled out a short blade whose handle was marked with Fuin symbols. With a forward thrust of the tanto, he literally teleported in a straight line and reappeared outside the barrier.

The old man and Tsunade both revealed their shock, as the move that Kazuki just executed was the infamous technique of Hiraishin, originally created by Nidaime Tobirama Senju himself. What shocked the two adults was that, with his silver hair, an image of the Second Hokage himself was seen when Kazuki executed the technique.

Kazuki simply reappeared within the barrier using the same technique. Both the old man and Tsunade were shocked by what just transpired. Even Tsunade was not aware that Kazuki had mastered the technique to such a degree, as it had only been a couple of months since he got the technique and Nidaime's notes.

"Well, the technique is still in the development phase, but this should be enough to prove that I can back my claim."

"Kid, I stand corrected. Earlier, I said it was your luck to have Tsunade-hime as your master, but now I think it should have been the other way around."

Kazuki's talent sent shivers up the old man's spine, and after all these years, his Shinobi blood started to boil again. Tsunade, who heard the old man's words, did not refute them but simply acknowledged them with a huge smile on her face.

"So, old man, what do you think? Does my student have the ability to teach your little girl?" Tsunade couldn't help but ask while brimming with pride.

"Yes, Tsunade-hime, I have no objections. Is he officially going to accept her as his student?"

Before Kazuki could speak, Tsunade declared, "Not for now. If he already accepts a student at such an age, I am sure he will start growing horns on his head. Let it go for a few years, and then we can think about it. However, Kazuki will train her to the best of his abilities."

Poor little Tenten had no idea her life's decision was being made for her without her own consent. But this decision was something that she would be grateful for all throughout her life in the future.

Shimura Clan, Konoha

With Root being completely disbanded, Danzo chose to restrict his movements mostly within the Shimura clan and a few hidden root bases that still lay undiscovered. Currently, Danzo is perplexed with two issues: how to get more funds to support his endeavor, as well as his recent headache regarding a certain matter.

Danzo, even after the recent setback, chose not to give up but only became more cunning and shrewd. In recent days, he has tried various methods to reconcile with Homura and Koharu. Homura was outright hostile towards Danzo after Hiruzen disclosed the matter of him being involved with Kagami's death, and as for Koharu, she chose to completely avoid him. With the new Uchiha Elder among the council, Danzo continued to stay low for the time being.

Seated at his desk, Danzo reviewed documents, contemplating how to secure a channel with enough funds for his ambitions and addressing recent complications with Root. Despite setbacks, Danzo's determination grew, and he became even more cunning and shrewd in his approach. He attempted various methods to win back the trust of Homura and Koharu, but with little success.