Under Konoha’s Shadow

Chapter 25: Genjutsu

When the other ninjas had left, Mito Uzumaki turned on Hashirama Senju and started yelling, "What kind of teacher are you? Beating up Ryusei like this in a spar!"

Hashirama quickly denied it. "His injuries weren't from me! He hurt himself when he fell from the sky."

Mito was furious that he dared to talk back, and her red hair practically floated with her anger. "If he fell, you couldn't have caught him? You just let him fall on the ground like that?"

Hashirama pointed to the shattered Wood Locking Wall. "I was using the Wood Locking Wall to defend against Ryusei's taijutsu at that moment! I didn't even see him fall from the sky!"

"You fool! There's a limit to lying! What kind of taijutsu from Ryusei would make you use your Wood..." Mito's words caught in her throat as she saw the broken stockade.

Tobirama looked at the shattered wood and the fissured ground, asking in disbelief, "This was done with taijutsu?"

Madara was also a bit surprised, staring at the cracks, silent for a long time.

Taijutsu had never been highly regarded in the ninja world. Not just now, but even decades later, Might Duy, who could only use taijutsu, would remain a "ten-thousand-year Genin" for his entire life. It was only at his death, using the Eight Gates Released Formation, that he would finally bring recognition to taijutsu.

Hashirama said proudly, "That's right, it was taijutsu! I never thought taijutsu could have such immense power."

Mito hammered a fist on Hashirama's head. "What are you so proud of? Hurry up and give Ryusei some of your chakra to heal him!"

Hashirama looked at Ryusei, who had fallen asleep at some point, and transferred some of his Yang Release chakra to heal him. Thinking of Ryusei's food and his novel, he remarked with emotion, "He will grow to be stronger than us one day. He will become a pillar of Konoha."

When Yamamoto Ryusei woke up, he found himself in an unfamiliar room. It was already dark outside.

Senju Miyuki walked in from outside with a bowl. Seeing Ryusei sitting up in bed, she said, "Ryusei, you're awake. Here, have something to eat."

Ryusei drank the porridge she brought and asked, "Big Sister Miyuki, where am I?"

"You're at the Senju compound. Lord Hashirama carried you back. You were unconscious when you arrived. What happened? Did Lord Hashirama hit you?" Miyuki's large eyes looked at Ryusei, filled with curiosity.

"It wouldn't be wrong to say I was hit," Ryusei said, scratching his cheek. "But most of my injuries were self-inflicted. Hey... why don't I feel any pain?" Not only did he feel no pain, but he also felt full of energy.

"That's because I told Hashirama to give you some of his Yang Release chakra," Mito Uzumaki said, entering from outside. "How are you feeling now?"

"I feel great!" Ryusei said with a beaming face. "I feel like I could go for another round!"

Mito smacked him on the head. "Another round? You need to take better care of your body! Depleting your chakra like that is very dangerous. One careless mistake and you could die."

Ryusei chuckled. "I know, Lady Mito."

Mito patted his head. "Then you can stay here tonight. Get some rest early."

The Next Day

After waking up, Ryusei began to exercise in the courtyard. Before long, Senju Miyuki came out, her hair disheveled and her eyes bleary, letting out a yawn. "Ryusei, what are you doing up so early? All your clattering around woke me up."

Ryusei glanced at the high-hanging sun but didn't argue with her. "Then I'll be a little quieter, Big Sister Miyuki."

Half an hour after she closed the door, Miyuki emerged, fully dressed and groomed.

She had a handmaiden bring breakfast from the kitchen and said to Ryusei, "Ryusei, time for breakfast."

The Senju family's breakfast had now become the same as the Yamamoto's: soup dumplings, porridge, fried dough sticks, and the like.

After breakfast, Ryusei and Miyuki went to find Hashirama.

When they arrived at his room, they found that Madara was also there. Several scrolls were placed on the table.

Ryusei bowed slightly. "Good morning, Teacher Hashirama, Teacher Madara. Have you eaten breakfast?"

Hashirama laughed heartily. "Madara and I have already eaten. How is your body, Ryusei?"

Ryusei's eyes shone as he asked, "It's all better! Teacher Hashirama, your chakra is amazing! How do you do it?"

Hashirama pushed the scrolls on the table towards him. "This is the effect of Yang Release chakra nature transformation. As for how to train it, it's all in here. Besides that, there are also training methods for Yin Release chakra nature transformation and genjutsu."

Madara said coldly, "I will be the one to teach you Yin Release and genjutsu."

Ryusei immediately sat up straight. "Yes, Teacher Madara."

"Genjutsu is a type of Yin Release technique, activated through spiritual energy. It typically uses chakra and a medium—such as light or sound—to interfere with the opponent's five senses, disrupt their chakra, or control their nervous system, causing them to fall into an illusion and be manipulated."

After speaking, Madara activated his Sharingan. With a single glance, Ryusei felt himself instantly transported to a forest full of cherry blossom trees. But then, the cherry blossoms suddenly shattered, and he was back at the table.

Madara deactivated his Sharingan. "That was just the most common type of genjutsu. It causes no harm. Most genjutsu in the ninja world are like this. It's also very simple to break; you just need to disrupt your own chakra flow."

"A step above that is a genjutsu that controls the opponent's nervous system. The target knows they're in a genjutsu, but their body can't move, nor can they disrupt their own chakra. For that, you need someone else to help you. These two types already cover ninety-nine percent of all genjutsu in the ninja world."

"Further up from that is using chakra to plant an illusion directly in the consciousness. The person caught in it will be completely at the caster's mercy and cannot wake up until it is dispelled from their mind. These are the highest-level genjutsu, and most require special talents to be activated."

Ryusei raised his hand. "Is there a genjutsu that can affect reality?"

Madara thought of his clan's Izanagi, which was a genjutsu that could affect reality. "There is. The Kurama clan's Kekkei Genkai, the Five Senses Control, can turn illusion into reality. It can use genjutsu to influence the real world."

Madara took a sip of tea and continued, "In general, genjutsu is an attack using spiritual energy. Therefore, whether you are casting or resisting it, you need a vast amount of spiritual energy."

Ryusei raised his hand again. "Then is it possible to directly attack someone with spiritual energy without using genjutsu?"

"It is possible, but such an attack is easily detected by others, so its effect is not high. It's better to use genjutsu, unless your spiritual energy is much greater than the enemy's."

"For now, you should read these scrolls. If you don't understand something, just ask me."

Ryusei began to read the scrolls at the table, while Hashirama and Madara started talking about peace again.

"Hashirama, do you think we have achieved peace now?"

"Of course, Madara! Look, isn't it very peaceful?"

"Peace? The other four great hidden villages are the best proof that peace has not yet arrived. The only reason they haven't started a war is that they are wary of the two of us. Once we die, war will break out immediately. Hashirama, let's join forces and take down the other ninja villages. The only way to achieve true peace is if there is only one ninja village in this world."

Hashirama's expression turned serious. "No, Madara. We have already ended the age of war and established a village. What you are suggesting is starting another war. Do you want the village to go through that again? Madara, I have already arranged to have a peace talk and form an alliance with the Tsuchikage. If we can talk things out, we can surely achieve peace."

Ryusei's heart skipped a beat. Now Onoki is going to come to the village to get beaten, and Teacher Madara is about to defect.

Madara gave Hashirama a deep look. "Hashirama, you are too naive. You will pay the price for your naivety sooner or later."

He stood up and said to Ryusei, "Ryusei, let's go to my house to study."

Ryusei glanced at Hashirama, who remained silent. He then gathered the scrolls and followed Madara out of the Senju compound.

On the streets of Konoha, Madara and Ryusei walked one after the other. Madara's gaze was so terrifying that the pedestrians on the street all steered clear of him.