Chapter 189: Ruins of Uzushiogakure
Although Ishiro's sensory ninjutsu could cover a large area, it still couldn't encompass the entirety of Uzushiogakure at once. Thus, Ishiro began to explore the ruins of this uninhabited village.
Every so often, Ishiro would use his sensory ninjutsu to check his surroundings. This could be considered a habit Ishiro had developed over his years as a ninja, a sign of him gradually aligning with this world.
And wouldn't you know it, he actually found a stubborn one.
Ishiro couldn't help but chuckle, "Is there really someone not afraid of death?"
Ishiro was about to end his sensory ninjutsu, but then he was taken aback. The chakra source that had been stationary, upon Ishiro's detection, actually began to move rapidly towards the outskirts of the village.
Ishiro blinked. Was this a coincidence?
Having transmigrated for so long, Ishiro naturally wouldn't think it was a mere coincidence. Thinking so was just Ishiro's self-deprecating humor.
Originally, Ishiro wasn't particularly interested in this person. As long as the other party obediently hid and didn't cause trouble, Ishiro wouldn't be deranged enough to kill them.
Because the other party's chakra level was at most Chūnin-level. Measured by the strength of a rogue ninja, this person's combat power was equivalent to that of a stronger Genin from a major ninja village.
"Hmm, Konoha Genin excluded."
A ninja of this strength posed no threat to Ishiro; Ishiro wouldn't pay them any mind.
But the other party's escape piqued Ishiro's interest. Ishiro also knew ninjutsu that could sense an enemy's detection; he had learned anti-sensory ninjutsu a long time ago.
However, the ninjutsu Ishiro learned needed to be cast in advance. In other words, if an enemy secretly used a sensory-type ninjutsu on Ishiro, Ishiro wouldn't be able to detect it. Only when Ishiro suspected someone might be using sensory ninjutsu on him would he cast the anti-sensory ninjutsu beforehand. This greatly limited the usability of this anti-sensory ninjutsu.
Of course, now that Ishiro had completed the development of his Kekkei Genkai, Porcelain Release, his chakra level had already increased. Just like Minazuki Kyō whom he had encountered back then, Ishiro would also react to lower-level chakra probes.
Getting back to the point, if this fleeing rogue ninja had merely cast an anti-sensory ninjutsu in advance like Ishiro, that would be one thing. But if the other party had mastered a passive sensory ninjutsu, that would be impressive.
Because Ishiro, having read Iwagakure's entire ninjutsu catalog, knew very well that Iwagakure did not possess any similar ninjutsu. What an unexpected gain!
"Hehe, trying to run?" Ishiro sneered, then activated his Lightning Release stimulation method and pursued at a speed far exceeding the other party's.
In a short while, Ishiro caught up with the rogue ninja. At this point, the other party hadn't even escaped the borders of Uzushiogakure.
Ishiro carefully sized up this ninja he had cornered: around twenty-something in age, not wearing the standard attire of a ninja village, nor a village-specific headband. He was fully equipped with a long sword, ninja tool pouch, etc. His attire did indicate he was a ninja.
"A standard rogue ninja," Ishiro confirmed the person's identity.
Looking at this rogue ninja who was staring at him with a grave expression, hands gripping his sword, Ishiro had no intention of attacking directly. Instead, he spoke in a negotiating tone, "Would you be willing to accept a trade, Your Excellency?"
There was no helping it. Ishiro wasn't sure if the other party would choose a mutually destructive fight in the end. If he attacked head-on from the start, and the other party directly destroyed the ninjutsu record, or simply didn't have a ninjutsu record, then Ishiro would suffer a great loss.
Hearing Ishiro say this, the man seemed to let out a sigh of relief, no longer as tense as before. After all, whether it was the astonishing speed Ishiro had just displayed or the fire jutsu far exceeding B-rank that he had released upon arriving in Uzushiogakure, both indicated that Ishiro's strength far surpassed his own.
However, Ishiro's change in approach was a bit too abrupt, not at all like the attitude of a strong person speaking to a weaker one. So, this rogue ninja, unable to react immediately, still maintained a grave expression, not daring to speak.
Ishiro smiled and deliberately said, "It seems I still have to demonstrate my strength before we can trade. Very well."
Hearing Ishiro say this, the rogue ninja subconsciously wanted to speak up and stop him, but then felt that doing so would seem too guilty, so he hesitated for a moment.
It was precisely this hesitation that allowed Ishiro's ninjutsu to be cast. Under the rogue ninja's dumbfounded gaze, Ishiro formed six hand seals in about one second.
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" Ishiro directly cast a Great Fireball with a diameter reaching twenty meters.
However, under Ishiro's deliberate control, the speed of this Great Fireball was not fast. Ishiro didn't want to kill the person directly.
But the scene that followed astonished Ishiro. This rogue ninja, who had been under Ishiro's "Mind's Eye" observation all along, after a brief moment of panic, immediately unleashed all his chakra and dodged to the side at his fastest speed.
This action was well within Ishiro's expectations; there was nothing surprising about it. However, the amount of chakra this person had just unleashed was no longer the Chūnin level Ishiro had previously sensed, but had genuinely reached the Jōnin level.
Ishiro's sensory ninjutsu had always been very accurate in judging a ninja's strength, from Kage-level down to Genin, never making a mistake. It could even sense natural energy. Therefore, sensory ninjutsu was one of the few ninjutsu where Ishiro could leverage his mental strength advantage.
Because of this, Ishiro had always been very confident in the detection results of his sensory ninjutsu and had never suspected such a large discrepancy could occur.
Ishiro, thinking the other party had intentionally hidden his strength, was about to continue probing when the other party spoke first. Although he had just dodged the Great Fireball Technique, he had also seen from the attack speed of the Great Fireball that Ishiro was holding back.
"Senior, please stop! I am willing to accept the trade." Although he knew he would definitely be at a disadvantage in the upcoming trade, Ishiro's hand seal speed of about six seals per second just now had almost scared him to death.
Ishiro was still in his previous Konoha Anbu disguise, and he had deliberately changed his voice when speaking earlier. So, it wasn't surprising that this person called him "Senior."
Since the other party was willing to trade, Ishiro also dismissed the thought of further probing.
After thinking for a moment, Ishiro asked, "Where did you obtain the anti-sensory ninjutsu and the method to conceal chakra?"
Seeing his biggest trump card so easily exposed by Ishiro, although the man was somewhat flustered, because he was already mentally prepared, he didn't lose his focus. Instead, he answered straightforwardly, "Senior, I found a scroll in the home of an Uzushiogakure ninja. These two ninjutsu are recorded on it."
Ishiro nodded and said, "I want to exchange for that scroll, the original version. You should have memorized the contents, right? If not, you can make a copy now."
"Senior, I have already memorized the contents of the scroll. However, I don't know what Senior will use for the trade," the rogue ninja asked cautiously.
Ishiro said calmly, "Rest assured, since it's a trade, it will naturally be equitable. I have stated what I want; you can also state some things you want."
Hearing Ishiro say this, the man was visibly relieved. As long as Ishiro didn't force a sale, if it could truly be a fair trade, perhaps today would be a lucky day for him.
Of course, this was condition that Ishiro wouldn't go back on his word after the trade was completed.
After thinking for a moment, the man said, "Senior, I want one B-rank large-area attack Wind Release, one B-rank single-target attack Wind Release, one B-rank Fire Release, plus three C-rank Wind Release and three C-rank Fire Release jutsus."
After stating his demands, the ninja, afraid Ishiro wouldn't agree and would think his demands were excessive, added, "Senior, that scroll also has several other ninjutsu on it."
Ishiro wasn't interested in other ninjutsu. Ishiro was considering whether he could meet the demands this person had raised.
If he had asked for Water Release, it would be simple. If Ishiro didn't have enough ninjutsu, he could even make up the numbers with ninjutsu he had developed himself. But Wind Release and Fire Release were not his specialties. Most of his collection belonged to the village, and the village had regulations that ninjutsu exchanged from the village could not be taught to non-village ninjas.
Fire Release was manageable. Ishiro's B-rank Fire Release, the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, was obtained from a Sunagakure ninja when he was in Anbu; Ishiro had the right to dispose of it himself. Making up three C-rank Fire Release jutsus not exchanged from the village wouldn't be a big problem either.
But Wind Release was awkward. Ishiro had obtained two B-rank Wind Release jutsus from Root and Akatsuki, but both of these B-rank Wind Release jutsus were area-of-effect ninjutsu, not single-target attack ninjutsu.
As for C-rank Wind Release, Ishiro had plenty, so no need to worry.
Seeing Ishiro remain silent for a long time, the rogue ninja took a step back and said in a low voice, "Senior, if it's difficult, I can ask for less."
Ishiro shook his head and said, "Fire Release is no problem, C-rank Wind Release is also no problem. But for B-rank Wind Release, I only have two B-rank area-of-effect Wind Release jutsus that were captured from Jōnin of other countries. As for a village's B-rank single-target attack Wind Release, I do not have the authority to give it to you."
Hearing that Ishiro had captured B-rank Wind Release jutsus from Jōnin of other countries, the man was so frightened he took several more steps back. But after hearing Ishiro's last sentence, not only did he not dwell on it, but he was overjoyed.
Ishiro was unwilling to exchange his village's ninjutsu with him, which meant Ishiro didn't plan to silence him afterwards. This was also a good thing for him.
So, this ninja said straightforwardly, "No problem, no problem, that's enough. Two area-of-effect Wind Release jutsus are also fine."
Ishiro said, "Find a place, I'll write down the ninjutsu. I'll give you two more C-rank attack ninjutsu."
During the process of recording the ninjutsu, Ishiro actually started chatting with the other party.
"Are you dual-natured in Fire and Wind?" Ishiro was somewhat envious when he asked this. Fire and Wind were both powerful offensive ninjutsu and could also form combination ninjutsu. Much better than his Water and Earth.
"Senior misunderstands. I am Fire-natured. My son is dual-natured in Wind and Fire. These ninjutsu, I am preparing them for my child." Speaking of his child, this ninja was very proud.
Looking at his expression, his child's talent should be quite good, very likely even surpassing his own. Having a son whose talent was higher than a Jōnin's, it was normal to be proud.
After thinking for a moment, Ishiro asked tentatively, "I wonder how old your child is? Have you ever thought about having him join a major ninja village?"
Hearing Ishiro say this, he was somewhat tempted. Major ninja villages had very systematic education and put great effort into cultivating talented ninjas. If his child could enter a major ninja village, it would definitely be of great benefit to his future.
However, he was a rogue ninja after all, and rogue ninjas were not a good term in the eyes of ninjas from major villages. What if the village ninjas targeted them?
Ishiro seemed to see his worry and added, "I have some status in my village. I can resolve the discrimination issues you are worried about."
Hearing Ishiro say this, this rogue ninja's expression was conflicted for a while. Then he finally made up his mind and said, "Thank you, Senior. My child is three years old today. I am willing to take him to join your village."
A smile appeared on the face beneath Ishiro's mask. He said, "Very good. I still have a mission. I'll write you a letter of introduction later, and you can just take your son to my village."
"However, I need to confirm, do you have any grudges with any major ninja villages?" This had to be confirmed. Otherwise, if the other party was a mortal enemy of Iwagakure, then Ishiro definitely wouldn't dare to bring them back to the village.
"Senior, please rest assured. I have no grudges with any major ninja villages. My father was also a rogue ninja. Back when the five great nations were first established, my father was worried about becoming cannon fodder, so he didn't join any ninja village. We are not missing-nin from any major village!" this rogue ninja quickly explained.
Ishiro nodded, said no more, and after finishing writing down the ninjutsu, he wrote a letter of introduction. Then, he took the ninjutsu scroll given by the ninja and left.
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