hang! Kling!
The sharp clatter of my chain sickle echoed through the cave as it scraped against the stone wall. I was trying to replicate the weapon techniques I'd seen Hanzo use in the anime—specifically during his duel with Mifune.
I visualized it again: Hanzo leapt from Ibuse's back, swung his sickle once—blocked. Then a second time—dodged. After that, Mifune cut him down without hesitation. Two swings. That's all Hanzo managed before he fell.
So much for using my memories of the anime to learn his techniques.
It was a stupid idea in the first place—because Hanzo was only a shell of his former self in the fight against Mifune. I don't know why, but for some reason he just stopped. Although in the anime he tried to cover it up with sloppy excuses such as having lost his hope of being able to achieve his dream of turning Ame into a great ninja village. In the end, they are just excuses! After all, a dream is never meant to seem achievable to the dreamer in the near future. It's meant to make you feel scared and hopeless so that you become greater than hope, greater than fear, greater than your current self! This—this is what I shall be—no matter the cost.
Silently, I clenched my fist, the resolve hardening in my chest.
Abandoning the idea of continuing to mimic his outdated style, I turned to the scroll shelves, hoping to find something more… substantial. But as I scanned through them, slight disappointment set in. The shelves were mostly barren, and what remained was underwhelming.
Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu
The user channels chakra into their chest, converts it to fire nature, and expels it through the mouth as a massive ball of flame. The fireball expands rapidly, engulfing enemies or terrain in its path. The size and intensity of the fireball depend on the user's chakra control. It's often used for both offense and intimidation, capable of scorching enemies and igniting the battlefield in seconds.
Fire Style: Dragonfire Technique
This technique releases a focused, high-speed stream of fire that takes the shape of a dragon's breath. It is often channeled along a wire or chakra thread to ensure precise targeting. The flames travel in a narrow, devastating line, capable of melting through armor or igniting multiple targets in sequence. It requires strong chakra control and timing, making it ideal for ambushes or coordinated attacks.
Fire Style: Flame Formation
A defensive fire jutsu that creates a wall or dome of blazing flames around the user or a designated area. It can be used to block enemy attacks, trap opponents, or protect allies. The fire can be manipulated to respond to motion, intensifying if enemies try to break through. Some advanced users can shape the flames into symbols or barriers that reflect their clan's style, making it both a shield and a psychological weapon.
Hanzo's Style: Chain Sickle
Hanzo's personal notes on how to use the chain sickle.
Hanzo's Art of the Body Flicker Technique
Hanzo's modified Body Flicker technique.
Hanzo's library had just five jutsus. Three, if you don't count his notes! No wonder he barely used any proper ninjutsu in battle—Hanzo was poor. Well, I suppose it's to be expected. After all, this was Ame, not Konoha. However, Hanzo's notes before he became rusted are still extremely valuable to me.
Over the next few days, I trained in my cave, never daring to go outside for fear of some random bloodthirsty ninja killing me. After all, this was Amegakure—a place where lawlessness was as rampant as the rain that washed over the dreary soul of this country. And although I didn't know what point I was at in the Naruto timeline, I did know from the anime that the people of Amegakure were always suffering from hunger and war.
Not exactly a recipe for peace or safety.
That said, I felt oddly at home in the cool, damp cave—with Ibuse by my side.
The damn lizard's slow, steady breathing as it slept—and its mundane routine of drinking, sleeping, or occasionally slipping out to hunt—brought an odd sense of calm and structure to my life. I'll admit, though, whenever it left the cave to chase bigger prey than the rats it usually munched on, its absence sent a cold spike of fear through my veins.
After all, I was a defenseless man in a world of fire-breathing, red-eyed men.
That fear pushed me to train even harder. By the end of what I think was a month, I had mastered all the jutsu and techniques—except the Body Flicker. While I could use it, it still didn't feel polished. Something was missing.
Further training wouldn't help. I needed experience. Real combat.
Besides, the ninjas I killed with Ibuse might have jutsu worth looting. That alone was enticing enough to finally leave the cave I'd called home for the past month.
"Hey, Ibuse! Get up! It's time to go!"
I roused the salamander from his sleep and tucked the last scroll away before heading out of the cave with Ibuse in tow.