NoviceAuthor

[NGS] [ARC-01] Chapter : 09

Added 2025-07-02 20:31:40 +0000 UTC

The rustle of leaves stirred in the stillness of the secluded training ground, filtered sunlight flickering through the trees. Genma stood in the center of the clearing, arms crossed, brow slightly furrowed in concentration.

Kurenai circled him slowly, her crimson eyes sharp and calculating. “You already grasp the structure of Genjutsu—the disruption of chakra flow, the manipulation of sensory input,” she said, voice smooth but firm. “But to truly master Bringer of Darkness Jutsu, you need more than theory.”

Genma smirked, shifting the senbon in his mouth absentmindedly. “You say that like I’ve been brute-forcing it.”

“You have been brute-forcing it,” Kurenai shot back with a raised eyebrow. “You’re overwhelming the senses, not weaving the illusion. That might work on civilians or lower-ranked shinobi, but an experienced Jonin? They’ll break it before it even takes hold.”

Genma exhaled and closed his eyes, drawing on his chakra. “Alright, sensei. Enlighten me.”

"First, tell me what you think of Genjutsu." Kurenai asked.

"Well… It's a jutsu that allows us to influence a target's mind through their five senses."

"As you said, genjutsu influences the mind—and 'mind' is the correct word over 'brain'—as genjutsu doesn't change the physical structure of the brain, but it does influence the electric and chemical processes that are happening in your brain..."

"As you would've already been in multiple genjutsu attacks till now, you should know that 'deception of the senses' isn’t an apt description when put in the larger context, which is why 'altering reality perception' is better."

Then Genma blinked, and everything had changed. He tilted his head briefly before shaking off the slight confusion as he patiently waited. He was excited about the genjutsu lesson; he wondered how they would start.

But then he felt a tremor beneath him. Years of combat had drilled into him what to do in this situation; he immediately jumped up with all his strength just in time to watch an explosion rip through the training ground. He had no time to react and was thrown away by the force, which was so powerful that his back hit the tree before he fell down. The entire training ground was decimated as flames attached themselves to every tree nearby.

Genma felt the fire burn near his skin, the flames trying to stick to him as though his body was the only source of fuel they could eat away at. He immediately tried a Water-style: Water Wall Jutsu; the flames seemed to disregard everything. There was not even steam. That's when it clicked. Why was there no steam…

'Shit. Genjutsu'

"Kai!"

Kurenai moved in front of him as soon as he released the genjutsu, her chakra gently flaring as her presence seemed to ripple through the air. “Genjutsu isn’t about force. It’s about expectation. Make the target’s senses lie to them in a way that feels natural. The Bringer of Darkness isn't just about blinding the person by manipulating sight. It is also about what you do before. You can't just cast this jutsu on a guy in a barren land in broad daylight. That is going to be a clear indication that it is a genjutsu.”

"The other main aspect of this jutsu is strong chakra is required to keep the target under the genjutsu even when the target knows it's an illusion. There is no need for intricacies to manipulate the target based on his actions."

“Exactly,” she said, pleased. “Now, again. This time, focus less on cutting off their sight—and more on feeding them the sensation of being lost in a deep, dark ravine.”

He nodded, hands moving into the rat seal. His chakra flared subtly this time, more refined. The surrounding air cooled slightly as his Genjutsu wrapped around the clone she had summoned.

The clone tensed, its stance faltering for a split second longer than last time before it dissolved.

Kurenai gave a small nod of approval. “Better. The illusion lingered for at least two seconds longer than your last attempt.”

Genma exhaled and shook his head. “Feels like rewiring half my brain to think like a manipulator instead of a brawler.”

Kurenai smirked. “That’s because it is. But if you can master this, Genma... you’ll be more dangerous.”

He tilted his head, meeting her gaze. “And here I thought I was already dangerous.”

“Not nearly enough,” she teased, turning on her heel. “Now again. And this time, try not to flatten the clone with a lightning bolt when it resists.”

Genma laughed under his breath and reset his stance. The training was mentally exhausting, but the payoff? More than worth it.

—

Midnight, Genma’s Apartment

Genma can be seen sleeping peacefully on his futon shirtless, but suddenly his eyes snapped open.

He was halfway into pulling a kunai from under his pillow when a shadow knelt at the edge of his windowsill—silent, motionless, unmistakably ANBU. The porcelain dog mask and unmistakable silver hair gleamed faintly under the moonlight.

“Shiranui Genma,” the Kakashi's masked figure intoned in a low voice. “By order of the Hokage.”

Without another word, he extended a tightly sealed scroll—black ribbon, wax stamped with the official seal of the Hokage’s office.

Genma exhaled, tension slowly leaving his shoulders as he sat up, shirtless and mildly annoyed.

“You just had to crawl through my window in the middle of the night, huh?” he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck as he took the scroll.

Kakashi gave no answer. He vanished in a flicker of shadows the moment the scroll left his hand.

Genma stared at the seal for a moment before cracking it open.

To: Shiranui Genma
Subject: Jonin Trials – Commencement Notification

Candidate: Shiranui, Genma
Status: Cleared for entry
Commencement Date: 7 days from now
Format: Field-based assessment (details classified)
Adjudicators: Sarutobi Hiruzen, Shimura Danzo, Nara Shikaku.
Evaluation Parameters: Confidential until mission briefing

You are to report to the Hokage building at 0600 on the seventh day from delivery of this notice. Delay or absence will be considered forfeiture. Prepare accordingly.

—Hokage's Office

Genma stared at the last line for a moment, then lowered the scroll, eyes narrowing slightly.

“Seven days…” he murmured to himself, the corners of his mouth twitching into a half-smile. “Hmph. So it finally begins.”

He rose, moving to his desk in the corner of the room. He lit a single candle and laid out the scroll beside a blank notepad.

Training plans began forming in his mind—reflex drills, fuinjutsu seal enhancements, chakra control training, and sparring sessions with Gai or Raido. He'd have to find time to work on genjutsu with Kurenai as well. No aspect could afford to be neglected.

But first—he glanced at the night sky, moonlight still flooding his room—rest. Tomorrow would mark the start of the hardest week of preparation in his life.

And when he passed…

He’d finally walk among Konoha’s elite as a Jonin.

He could finally take on S-rank missions with greater frequency—missions that would accelerate his path to power. At his current pace, grinding through C-ranks every two weeks, B-ranks every few, and A-ranks that could drag for months, it would take years to hit the level he needed to stand among the greats. The current goal is to reach Kage level 2 years before the Uchiha massacre. This promotion was essential for that.

'Also, I'll need to check with Kakashi on how ANBU missions work.'

—

At the current moment Kakashi's stats.

Name: Kakashi Hatake
Age: 15
Chakra Capacity: 70300/70300 (Jonin)
Strength: 130/500
Endurance: 200/500
Durability: 220/500
Agility: 150/500

Chakra Control: 250/500
Taijutsu: 220/500
Ninjutsu: 300/500
Genjutsu: 250/500
Bukijutsu: 200/500

Fuinjutsu: 100/500

Sensory Jutsu: 150/500

Chakra Affinities:

Fire (Advanced)—Master of Fire Chakra nature.

Lightning (Advanced)—Master of Lightning-style ninjutsu.

Earth (Advanced)— Master of Earth Chakra nature.

Water (Adept)—Know five Water-style ninjutsu.