Meanwhile, in the Kazekage building, Satei sat in his office.
He wore his high-collared Kazekage robe and a strong, wide-brimmed green pointy hat.
The black kanji for "Wind" was bold on the front of hat.
He rubbed his head and mumbled something.
Many papers and scrolls lay scattered on his desk.
Then, a soft knock came at the door.
"Sensei," it was Yuta's voice behind the office door.
"Come in," Satei said at once.
He took off his Kazekage hat and put it on the desk.
When Yuta entered, he quickly saw that Satei looked little worried and tired.
He asked, "Sensei, what's wrong? Is something bothering you?"
Satei sighed and pointed his right index finger at the scattered papers on the desk.
He said, "These are reports from our spies in other nations. Tensions escalating too much that if once any nation shows sign of vulnerability, another war might start."
Yuta flinched, but wasn't much surprised.
He said, "War, huh? That does seem likely. But even so, when it starts, most forces of other hidden village's will go against Konoha anyway."
Satei interjected, "But that does not mean our forces will survive, if we join, we will also lose ninjas.
With our nation's state, that would be terrible. Unless we can get some gains from war, from Konoha's side."
He ruffled his spiky blue hair before putting his hat back on.
"I am just worry that the war won't start because of any sign from Sunagakure's vulnerability," Satei said.
He then waved his hand, putting those thoughts aside.
"Let's forget it. It's not certain anyway. Tell me, did the date for the Chunin exams finalized?"
Yuta nodded.
He gave a report and said, "The Elders have decided that the Chunin exam would be better off on two months from now."
Satei nodded and said, "That is enough time, I think. By the way, how many Genin are in the Genin Corps this year who are strong enough for Chunin? Anbu needs for more forces!"
"Well, in the Genin Corps, there are 15 Genin from four years ago, and 40 who have been Genin for three years. They might be strong enough," Yuta replied.
Satei thought a little and said, "Hm, well, we will see about that in the Chunin exams."
"Have the Elders said anything about, who could be the next candidate for Jinchūriki of Ichibi?" Satei asked.
"It would be better if we found one soon. With the current escalating tensions, we should be ready for anything, especially from that old fox Tsuchikage, Ōnoki."
Yuta shook his head and said, "Not yet. They say it would be better if we took our time. You know how Kumogakure even makes their Jinchūriki stronger by making them perfect Jinchūriki."
"Oh yeah, I remember. No one even knew there could be a 'Perfect Jinchūriki', making the Bijuu and its host partners, making the Jinchūriki's strength even to likes of Kage's," Satei added.
Great nations had never thought much about Jinchūriki.
But Kumogakure was the one to focus on them.
They somehow turned the hidden village's weapon into a true war weapon.
No one knew about the term 'Perfect Jinchūriki,' where the Jinchūriki could be in harmony with the Bijuu and use its power at will.
Sunagakure's first Jinchūriki was also in harmony with Ichibi.
But Bunpaku was not a ninja, and nothing about 'Perfect Jinchūriki' was known back then.
Otherwise, Sunagakure would definitely have used him to gain advantages from other nations, especially from the Land of Fire.
But that was not the case.
The idea of 'Perfect Jinchūriki' only came to light when news of the Eight-Tails Jinchūriki in Kumogakure becoming one spread out.
Satei also understood that this time it would be better if the Jinchūriki could be one who could make harmony and a good bond with Ichibi.
Otherwise, a normal Jinchūriki might only be a ticking bomb after few years.
Ichibi would keep disturbing their sleep, and eventually break free.
The same thing happened recently with Isago, the second Jinchūriki of Ichibi.
But for now he could only sigh at this thought.
...
Another week passed.
And Kaiji fully learned the Blood Coagulation Technique.
Now he could use it easily on himself if he ever had external or internal bleeding.
He even used it on himself a few days ago.
When he had tried to force himself to stay in the 'First Activation' state a little longer.
Though he did not get much harm to his body.
With the Blood Coagulation Technique, he was able to stop his internal bleeding that time.
The Chakra Scalpel Jutsu was still taking some time.
But he guessed it would take him only until next week at most.
Then he could even start practicing the Mystic Palm Jutsu.
As for the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Jutsu, that was a very advanced Jutsu that requires a team.
It could also be used and learned by one person, but that alone would take him many months or a year.
Even Blood Coagulation and Chakra Scalpel Jutsu took one or two months of constant practice to fully master them, and they were simpler Jutsu than others.
His current goal was only to learn them to a usable level, and he was succeeding.
So, he decided to return that Jutsu scroll, along with the Blood Coagulation and Chakra Scalpel Jutsu scrolls, back to Akane in the Medical Department.
He had only keep the Mystic Palm Jutsu.
After all, he only wanted to learn self-healing.
So, anything big for team tasks was out of the question.
Meanwhile, he spent his evening training on Kenjutsu and those two D-rank Earth Release Jutsu.
He learned those jutsus much more easily.
For now, Fūinjutsu training was on hold until he get his hand on few sealing technique scrolls some other way.
Today, as usual, he trained early in the morning for "Seven Heavens Breathing: First Activation!"
After training for hours every morning for last two weeks, he could now stay in that state for about 3-4 minutes.
He considered this duration was enough for now, improve with time.
At first, he thought his body was strong enough, even enough to use the first two gates of the Eight Gates Technique, if he ever learn them.
But while training in the Seven Heavens Breathing Activation, he understood that was not true.
He had spent many months, doing physical training every morning.
However, he understood that he could not match the body strength of Rock Lee and Shira, who trained almost all day long that easily.
He only trained his body in the morning alone, not all day.
"Well, whatever, my body is still strong enough," Kaiji shrugged.
'First Activation' was done for now.
To increase his duration while being in state, that can improve with time.
He could not just focus on that alone.
So, he decided to either start practicing for 'Second Activation' or try using Ninjutsu while in the Seven Heavens Breathing Technique state.
But he could not decide which to start first.
"Let's see what I will train in first," Kaiji start contemplating.
•••