Unlike Hoka and Mieko, Fujin's training continued. It was on the 9th day that he finally managed to create a similar vacuum core as the one Hiruzen had created.
Hiruzen checked it and praised Fujin, "Very good. This is good enough. Now, encase this vacuum core with another thin chakra film, and then create winds around it."
Fujin followed his instructions and got it right on his first try! He threw it at a tree. It pierced through it and pierced 8 more trees behind it before collapsing!
Fujin grinned, "This is great! Thanks gramps!"
After 9 days of training, Fujin was now very casual with Hiruzen. Of course, he still kept proper control over what he spoke and didn't antagonize Hiruzen.
Hiruzen nodded, "Very impressive Fujin!"
Fujin looked at Hiruzen and asked, "Can we learn all the Wind Vacuum jutsus now?"
Hiruzen showed a confused face and asked, "What do you mean by Wind Vacuum jutsus?"
Though Hiruzen had a confused face, he was laughing internally while thinking, 'This brat has taken a lot of advantages from me. Unfortunately, even if he read the entire library, his knowledge won't compare to mine.'
Fujin's eyebrows twitched. He asked, "Aren't there a bunch of Wind Vacuum jutsus?"
Hiruzen chuckled and shook his head, "There are no Wind Vacuum jutsus. Wind Vacuum is a technique to create a Vacuum core inside a Wind jutsu. So some Wind jutsus can become Wind Vacuum jutsus by using a Vacuum core. For instance, the Vacuum Sphere is just a modified Wind Explosion jutsu."
Fujin was surprised at this, "Oh, I didn't think of it that way."
Hiruzen was about to ask Fujin to experiment on his own and create his own Wind Vacuum jutsus, when Fujin looked at him and said, "Grandpa, could you guide me in how to add the Vacuum core in the Great Breakthrough jutsu?"
Hiruzen's face went slightly black at how quickly Fujin requested him. He coughed and said, "No. The vacuum core can't be added to the Great Breakthrough jutsu due to it having such a wide area of attack."
Follow on NovᴇlEnglish.nᴇtFujin replied, "Oh… I read that the 2nd Kazekage used a jutsu called Vacuum bullet jutsu. The scroll said that it moved at a very high speed and was very hard to dodge. Can you teach me that grandpa?"
He looked at Hiruzen with a hopeful look on his face. While Fujin didn't like Hiruzen's diplomacy, he had nothing but respect for Hiruzen's power and experience. Now that he had a chance to hold his thigh, Fujin would take every advantage he could from Hiruzen!
Having interacted with Fujin for so long, Hiruzen understood that Fujin's expressions were fake. He decided, 'I definitely need to include him in negotiating teams. He is aware that I know that his expression is fake. But he still does them!'
Hiruzen sighed and agreed. Using Wind bullets needed one to create small vacuum cores inside their mouth. While they were mostly harmless, they could result in horrible injuries if something went wrong! Hiruzen sighed thinking, 'I don't think Homura will agree to take over paperwork for me again! When will those students of mine return to take my hat?'
As Hiruzen wished, one student of his would eventually return to take his hat. Though, he would want Hiruzen's head alongside his hat!
Hiruzen looked at Fujin and said, "For that, you will first need to learn Air bullet jutsu."
Fujin replied, "Oh, can you teach me that jutsu as well?"
Fujin noticed Hiruzen's face going black. Hiruzen wasn't surprised as he expected Fujin to immediately make this request. However, he couldn't help but wonder, 'Was this boy born with no shame?'
Hiruzen showed Fujin the hand signs for Air bullet jutsu and explained how it worked. Fujin managed to perform it after a couple of tries. He improved his mastery of the jutsu for half an hour. This jutsu was very lethal as well. If used against an army, it'd have a terrifying effect! However, any good defense would easily block it. While practicing, Fujin wondered, 'Why wasn't this jutsu placed in the library?'
Hiruzen then taught Fujin the modified hand signs for Vacuum bullet jutsu. Of course, the hand signs alone won't help to use this jutsu as Fujin first has to learn to create a vacuum core inside his mouth.
Hiruzen first showed it to Fujin. The vacuum core for this wasn't a sphere. It was shaped like a bullet, but much thinner. The outer layer was once again fragmented into parts separated by chakra. While the inner core was a proper vacuum.
Fujin began practicing. He faced two challenges. The first was that he was creating it inside his mouth rather than his hand. So he couldn't see it and had to work based on just feeling it.
Another issue was chakra control. Controlling the chakra was a lot easier when done with the palm. Controlling it inside his mouth was challenging.
Hiruzen was aware of this as well. The ideal time to train this would have been after Fujin began using the Vacuum sphere very smoothly. However, seeing Fujin's talent, Hiruzen was interested in seeing how quickly Fujin would learn this. Besides, he was happy to not go back to paperwork for a few more days.
Fujin trained till he ran out of chakra. This time, instead of dismissing Fujin, Hiruzen said, "Follow me Fujin."
Hiruzen flickered. Fujin followed him. They left the training ground and entered a remote area in Konoha.
There was a small house with smoke coming out of a chimney. Hiruzen stopped in front of the house. A few seconds later, Fujin appeared. Fujin asked, "Who lives here grandpa?"
At that time, Fujin heard a loud noise of metals clashing. Fujin asked, "Is this the blacksmith?" Hiruzen smiled and knocked on the door.
The sounds stopped. Soon, a middle-aged man opened the door. He wasn't surprised to see Hiruzen. He bowed and greeted, "Welcome to my home, Lord Hokage."
Hiruzen smiled and said, "Hello Momo, how are you doing?"
The middle-aged man was Ota Momo. He was a blacksmith living in Konoha. He had a special position in Konoha due to his connections.
Ota Momo replied, "I'm doing well, Lord Hokage. Come in."
He invited Hiruzen in. Hiruzen and Fujin entered his home.
On entering, Fujin saw an old man. He wore a white robe, had a long white beard and long white hair. However, he was quite well-built for his age.
Hiruzen greeted him, "Fuji-dono. I trust you have been doing well."
Furutani Fuji greeted him back, "I have been doing well, Lord Hokage. It's good to see you once again."
Hiruzen and Fuji exchanged some pleasantries. Furutani Fuji was a very reputed Blacksmith from the Land of Iron. He was one of the very few blacksmiths alive who could forge chakra metal weapons. Once every year, he would visit Konoha to take orders for new weapons.
Momo saw his Hokage and mentor exchange greetings like old friends. He felt very proud. After all, not everyone could boast about having the Hokage visit their home every year.
After finishing their small talk, Fuji looked at Fujin and said, "So this is the youngster who wants swords?"
Hiruzen nodded and said, "Yes, he wants Samurai sabers which aid in Wind chakra flow."
Follow on Novᴇl-Onlinᴇ.cᴏmFuji looked at Fujin for a few moments. He stared at his swords and asked, "Can I see your current progress with chakra flow?"
Fujin looked at Hiruzen, who nodded his head.
Fujin unsheathed both his swords and flowed his chakra through them. He then changed it to Wind nature. Fuji observed for a few seconds before nodding, "Very impressive! Your basics are solid!"
Fujin politely replied, "Thank You"
Fuji got up and asked Fujin to follow him. Momo and Hiruzen also followed. They entered a room with a lot of swords. Fuji looked at Momo and said, "Bring a few swords for Fujin to check."
Fujin checked out quite a few swords. Fujin was the most comfortable with a 2 feet long sword. However, Fuji and Hiruzen recommended longer swords that would fit him properly when he grew up. After all, he was only 11.
In the end, they settled on two 2.5 feet long, 1-inch wide, dual-edged swords. Fuji said, "Alright. I'll make and bring those swords next year."
Fujin was stunned! He said softly, "Next year?"
Hiruzen chuckled and said, "He is one of the best swordsmiths in the world. He can only make one trip to Konoha every year."
Fuji added, "In addition, adding chakra metal to swords is very complicated. It takes a long time to do it."
Fujin nodded disappointedly as he couldn't do anything about it. Hiruzen said, "You can leave Fujin. I have some official matters to discuss with Mr Fuji."
Fujin nodded and left. After leaving, he sighed thinking, "1 year… So long to make a sword! That said, it shouldn't matter much. My current swords are good enough for the time being."
He went to the clothing shop and took his new clothes. On reaching home, he swapped his old clothes for new ones and tried them. The shopkeeper had done a good job. The clothes fit him perfectly. Especially the Mesh upper body suit. It was very comfortable.
The training continued from the next day. Hiruzen and Fujin talked about even more techniques and strong ninjas. After Fujin ran out of techniques to discuss, he even asked questions about the Great Ninja wars. He asked what started them, how they could have been avoided, whether any wars will happen in the future and how they could be avoided.
This talk surprised Hiruzen. Fujin surprisingly showed maturity way beyond his age. Memories of the maturity Itachi showed surfaced.
Fujin had realized that Hiruzen would realize this. He had intentionally shown it. In the future, he would require a lot of S rank jutsus that Konoha had. Increasing his value in Hiruzen's eyes had a lot of merits.
While Fujin did create a personal bond with Hiruzen over the past week, however, Fujin was aware that this bond won't gain him many benefits. After all, Naruto's bond with Hiruzen could be said to be much deeper. However, he didn't receive any benefits from Hiruzen. Other than perhaps getting a strong Jounin sensei. Though, even that decision was likely not an emotional one.
These talks made Hiruzen finalize his decision to invite Fujin into the Anbu ranks after a few months.
[A/N : Additional chapter on Sunday if the fic stays in top 200]