Tsunade rejected Kei Yamanaka's idea of taking the best from different schools to create a new technique outright with no room for compromise.
According to her explanation, merely transferring life energy wasn't particularly difficult.
The real challenge lay in using that transferred life energy to heal the physical injuries of the recipient.
After all, not everyone was like Gaara from the canonical storyline, whose body remained intact even after Akatsuki extracted his tailed beast.
In most cases, fatal injuries sustained by ninja could only be described as gruesome.
Rin Nohara's death—her chest brutally torn open—was actually considered relatively minor bodily damage within the ninja world.
After listening to Tsunade's words, Kei silently removed Earth Grudge Fear and Corpse Reanimation from his list of potential techniques.
He once again highlighted Dragon Life Reincarnation of the Tatsu Clan and [Fuma Clan's Metamorphosis jutsu] as key targets.
Even if he couldn't openly seize these techniques by force like Kumo ninjas did.
With his current abilities and mastery of Yin Release,
finding opportunities to capture members from these two ninja clans who possessed the required techniques, then modifying their memories afterward wouldn't be especially difficult.
This conversation seemed to trigger old memories for Tsunade.
After finishing an entire table full of dishes and rice,
she didn't demand to enter another illusionary battle scene but instead returned alone to her previous bedroom to continue researching the jutsu.
Kei Yamanaka had just returned from a mission lasting over ten days.
Kushina had been supervising the construction of the new Jonin Dispatch Office.
After cleaning up several large crates they'd brought back from the Senju ancestral house,
both thoroughly exhausted, they exchanged greetings after washing up, then went to their respective rooms to rest.
As for the romantic implications of living together,
right under Tsunade's nose, both instinctively restrained their eager thoughts in unison.
——————
The night passed uneventfully.
At nine-thirty the next morning, accompanied by the pattering rain, Kei woke from deep sleep.
They say each autumn rain brings cooler weather.
This mid-October rain carried away the last traces of summer heat.
Pushing open his bedroom door,
the originally spacious living room now held numerous ingredients and cooking utensils.
The list he'd given Yoshino Nara last night was placed on the dining table together with a sticky note and breakfast.
[Kei, checked against the list – nothing missing.]
[I've made an appointment with the furniture shop owner today to customize furniture for the Jonin Dispatch Office. I'll be back at noon.]
[There are umbrellas ready by the entrance – don't forget to bring one!]
[Also, make sure to finish your breakfast before leaving ~ (*^▽^*) ..:* ]
The handwriting on the sticky note was familiar.
A slight smile curved Kei's lips as he quickly washed up and sat at the dining table to devour his breakfast.
Although Kushina had already left home,
that warm feeling of always being cared about and remembered still brought comfort to him, someone who had lived alone for many years.
He devoured the rest of his meal.
Kei Yamanaka slipped on a simple combat uniform and pulled over it a brand-new Jonin flak vest.
After checking the scrolls in his pockets and the ninja tool pouch at his waist, he finally picked up the umbrella by the door and headed out.
On rainy days, Konoha had noticeably fewer pedestrians than usual.
Even though the stone-paved streets wouldn't turn muddy during rain, many still preferred to stay indoors.
Kei loved rainy days.
Whether it was sleeping cozily under the covers, leaning quietly by the windowsill watching the rain, or peacefully writing something indoors,
the scattered patter of falling rain always brought him an unusual sense of calm and comfort.
Umbrella in hand, he headed toward the Hokage Tower.
At the foot of the tower's entrance steps, Kei shook off the closed black umbrella he carried.
He left the umbrella temporarily in the document verification room downstairs before ascending to the second floor and proceeding to the scroll archives for registration.
The scroll archives were split into two sections—an outer chamber and an inner vault.
In the outer chamber stood a desk with two chairs. An Anbu sat on one chair, his gaze locked firmly on Kei as he entered.
Inside, the archive room was sealed behind a thick metal door guarded by another Anbu member standing watch.
Yesterday afternoon, the order signed by the Third Hokage had already reached the archives.
"Ox," the Anbu commander in charge of guarding the archives, finished Kei's registration and then reconfirmed his identity.
Only then did he bring out a catalog as thick as three fingers containing the techniques stored within the archives.
"No need. I've already chosen—Bringer-of-Darkness Technique and Spirit Transformation Technique."
Kei waved off the lengthy list without so much as glancing at it.
Although the archives held countless jutsu, few techniques listed here held any real value to him.
Born into the Yamanaka Clan and spending five years serving in the Analysis Team,
he had amassed a vast repertoire of elemental ninjutsu and rare, highly specialized techniques—far beyond what most could fathom.
"Just wait a moment."
Ox gave a slight nod, returned the catalog, and gave a subtle signal to the other Anbu guard.
Then he unlocked the heavy metal door and stepped inside the inner vault.
A short while later, Ox emerged holding two palm-sized scrolls, placing them on the table.
"Confirm authenticity of the techniques, sign your name, and You already know the rules, don't you?"
His tone remained cold and firm.
Having joined the Anbu since Tobirama Senju's era—the Second Hokage—
years spent operating in the shadows had made him exceptionally reserved and taciturn. Speaking this much today was already an unusual courtesy—one he only extended to those he knew well.
"Yeah. Cannot record, cannot take away, cannot leak the principle of the technique, and cannot secretly teach others."
Kei glanced over both scrolls briefly before signing the confirmation sheet. Then he grew serious and began studying the two techniques closely.
[Genjutsu: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique] – an A-rank illusion technique.
Specializes in completely cutting off vision, plunging the target into absolute darkness.
Unlike most genjutsu, which targets can usually escape by disrupting their own chakra flow once they realize they're ensnared,
victims trapped from the very beginning are fully conscious of being ensnared.
Here's the kicker—they can't break free!
Because this technique was specifically engineered to counter the Sharingan.
With the Sharingan's ability to defend against, reflect, and dispel various genjutsu, any illusion capable of sealing the Sharingan must be extremely difficult to break free from.
Kei Yamanaka's genjutsu is indeed powerful at the moment. He has also incorporated numerous anti-dispelling mechanisms into his techniques.
However, [Bringer-of-Darkness Technique] still provides him with considerable assistance.
[Spirit Transformation Technique] — a rank-S soul-based jutsu.
Its effects are similar to the legendary "soul projection," allowing one's soul to leave the body and move freely.
It enables instant teleportation across any distance, long-range perception of other souls, transferring chakra through the soul, immunity to physical attacks, crushing enemy willpower, and taking control of enemy bodies.
Even after [Impure World Reincarnation] is dispelled, it can still control the ascending soul.
As a Yamanaka, Kei wields his clan's secret techniques, which allow him to crush enemy willpower and take control of their bodies.
However, his clan's techniques do not allow for soul projection or free movement, nor can they transfer chakra.
If he could integrate this ninjutsu into the clan's secret techniques that he already masters,
and manipulate those techniques while in a controlled soul state, his power could potentially reach a whole new level!
Furthermore, while in spirit form, he retains the ability to instantly teleport across any distance.
<><><><><><><><>
Thank you for reading! Your support will keep me updating!
~ Every 50 Powerstones = **4 Bonus Chapters** this weekend!
<><><><><><><><>
~ 100+ Advanced Chapters Available on Patreon!
~ More *Free* Chapters and Books Available on Patreon!
patreon.com/Tansnovel
<><><><><><><><>