What started as a simple gathering to taste various breakfast dishes for the restaurant's opening eventually turned into a wild celebration among a group of young shinobi.
Uchiha Mikoto, and Honoka teamed up with Kushina to take down Tsunade in a drinking contest. By late afternoon, they had all said their goodbyes and left.
Nara Shikaku, Akimichi Choza, Yamanaka Inoichi, and Aburame Shibi kept drinking well past 8 p.m., getting so drunk they passed out. In the end, their wives had to carry them home.
Meanwhile, Kurenai Yuhi, Rin Nohara, and the rest of the six younger ones stayed behind, making sure to clean up the mess in the living room and kitchen before politely taking their leave.
As for Jiraiya...
Yamanaka Shinno was too busy making out with a tipsy and utterly adorable Kushina to even remember that guy existed.
If it weren't for Namikaze Minato and Honoka returning home and feeling like something was off, Jiraiya might have been left to spend the night on the third-floor balcony. It wasn't until Minato, after much thought, finally recalled his master's absence and teleported back using the Flying Thunder God Technique to dump him at the training cavern.
Once all the guests had left, the once-lively house fell into silence.
Kushina, now feeling the full effects of the alcohol, barely managed to cuddle with Shinno for a bit before she completely passed out in his arms.
Shinno glanced toward the guest room where Tsunade was staying.
With a resigned sigh, he carefully carried Kushina back to her room, tucked her in, and then headed into his study.
Thanks to the rapid reading ability granted by [King of Knowledge] and his exceptional memory, he quickly sifted through the numerous scrolls and secret texts Tsunade had brought back.
The Senju Clan, as one of the twin powerhouses of the Warring States period, had conducted water release research far beyond what most clans could even dream of.
They had mastered both nature and shape transformations of Water Release to an astounding degree. Their collection wasn't just a variety of jutsu—it contained extensive research on shortening hand seals, maximizing chakra efficiency, and increasing jutsu power.
After all, most Senju were born with impressive chakra reserves due to their bloodline. Using brute force to overpower finesse was the most fitting approach for them.
Even Second Hokage Senju Tobirama's high-compression, high-rotation techniques like Water Severing Wave and Hard Whirlpool Water Blade had absurdly high chakra costs.
Of course, there were also scrolls discussing methods to reduce chakra consumption—but Shinno couldn't shake the feeling that the Senju ancestors had treated that research halfheartedly, as if to say, 'If you're running out of chakra, that sounds like a you problem.'
In contrast, the Hozuki Clan's techniques leaned heavily toward efficiency—using the least chakra possible for maximum lethality. While they seemed stingy, their methods were undeniably more accessible to the average shinobi.
Take the Water Gun Jutsu, for example. It compressed a tiny water bullet to achieve extreme penetrative force, prioritizing small-scale, pinpoint destruction.
"Huh? This Water Barrage Jutsu works similarly to the Water Gun Jutsu! And it doesn't even require the Hydrification Technique as a prerequisite. The starting point is already launching over a dozen water bullets—seriously, the Senju treat chakra like it's free."
Just as Shinno was admiring the Hozuki Clan's efficiency, the Senju ancestors immediately humbled him with their superior understanding of Water Release. They had dissected the mechanics of the Water Gun Jutsu entirely and even expanded on its principles to create a wider-range, deadlier jutsu.
"The corrosive properties of Water Release... Is this a precursor to Boil Release? Damn, the Hidden Mist is going to lose their minds over this."
"Water shape manipulation... High and low-temperature water experiments..."
"Sharp, swift, turbulent, invasive, heavy, fluid, gentle..."
"Wave-Riding Strike—allows free movement in water. If used with the Hydrification Technique, it's a god-tier move for underwater infiltration, ambush, and escape!"
"Water Blade Slash—coating a ninja tool in a thin, high-speed rotating water edge... This could be deadly if applied to kunai. Wait, don't I have a ninja sword lying around somewhere?"
Shinno had originally planned to skim through just two scrolls and go to bed before midnight. That plan became a joke in the face of the Senju Clan's vast collection of techniques.
Even as a reincarnator, he couldn't help but be awed by some of their innovative ideas and experimental approaches.
Who would have thought that centuries ago, the Senju Clan had already attempted to use Water Release nature transformation to mimic the 'layered wave force' concept from martial arts?
A single punch, followed by successive waves of force, multiplying the original strength several times over!
If it weren't for the near-impossible chakra control requirements—surpassing even those needed for monster strength—who could possibly stand against the Senju Clan?
...
By the time morning light filled the study, Shinno finally snapped out of his deep dive into research.
Glancing at the clock on the wall, which now pointed to 8 a.m., he put the scrolls away and headed off to wash up.
After preparing breakfast using leftovers from the previous day, he packed a portion, left a sticky note behind, and walked out the door, heading toward the training cavern.
Despite pulling an all-nighter, his superior mental endurance left him feeling little fatigue.
He had already agreed to spar with Jiraiya for three days—showing up late on the first day wouldn't leave a good impression.
The training cavern was located northwest of the village, in the exact opposite direction of Konoha's bird summon sanctuary.
Jiraiya had spent a great deal of time and even most of his manuscript royalties securing the land around the cavern for training purposes.
Over time, Minato had grown fond of the area too, often training alongside Jiraiya. Through their combined investments over the years, the once barren cliffs had transformed into a breathtaking retreat, with exquisite cliffside structures and serene lakes below—a hidden paradise.
A falcon soared gracefully from the sky, descending toward the training ground.
Shinno activated his sensory abilities and spotted Jiraiya snoring away inside the largest building on the cliff.
As he leaped off the falcon's back, he cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted:
"PERVERT SPOTTED PEEPING AT THE WOMEN'S BATHHOUSE! GET HIM!"
THUD! BOOM!
Jiraiya bolted out of his room before his eyes even opened. Realizing too late that there was no solid ground beneath him, he flailed helplessly before plunging into the lake below, sending water splashing into the air.
"Shinno, can't you wake people up gently like Minato does?!"
Soaking wet, Jiraiya floated on the water's surface, chakra supporting his weight as he groaned in exasperation.
Was it too much to ask for a normal wake-up call? That shout nearly gave him a heart attack!
"Nice guys finish last. Now hurry up and eat—we're getting started."
"..."
...
Back at the Yamanaka estate.
Hungover and groggy, Kushina scratched her sun-warmed cheek, realizing she had slept in far too long. With a start, she bolted upright in bed.
Her wide eyes darted around, taking in the unfamiliar guest room. Then she glanced down at her nightwear, lifting the covers slightly to check her shorts.
"Ugh! Kushina, you weakling!"
She pouted, smacking her smooth thigh in frustration—only to immediately wince in pain.
The mood had been perfect last night!
Even if Tsunade was still in the house, it wasn't like she would barge in and watch, right?
How could she—how could she just black out like that?!
Even a few more minutes would've been enough!
"Arghhh! Drinking ruins everything! No more drinking from now on!"
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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