Kazeo stepped into the Konoha library, his eyes scanning the numerous shelves stacked with scrolls. Some covered only basic knowledge of Genjutsu that had already been discussed in lectures but he knew that true mastery required deeper understanding. He navigated through the sections until he found a part of the library dedicated to illusions.
As he unrolled the first scroll, the opening words made him raise an eyebrow.
"Genjutsu is the art of deception. To use it effectively, you must have good control over your chakra and a sharp mind. If you lack either, Genjutsu is not for you."
Kazeo got confused 'Do you really need sharp mind as kurenai tried to use genjutsu on Itachi?!'
However, as he read further, he felt a growing sense of curiosity. Genjutsu wasn't just about casting illusions, it was about understanding how the human brain processed reality. The scroll explained that by manipulating the chakra in an opponent's cerebral nervous system, a shinobi could distort their perception of the world.
"Genjutsu can be categorized into two types," he read. "The first alters an opponent's entire perception, making them experience a completely false reality. The second is more subtle, changing only a small detail, a slight misdirection that can lead to fatal consequences."
Kazeo's thought. 'So it's not always about grand illusions… Sometimes, a simple trick is deadlier than an elaborate one.'
Moving through the shelves, he began searching for actual Genjutsu techniques. His fingers brushed against countless scrolls, each filled with descriptions of illusions varying from simple distractions to mind-breaking nightmares. There were far more techniques than he had expected.
"Did they just throw every single Genjutsu the Konoha have developed into these sections?"
He sighed. This would take a while. Rather than picking them all at random, he decided to go through them methodically. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he opened scroll after scroll, quickly skimming the contents. Hours passed, yet he barely scratched the surface.
As he absorbed the knowledge, a realization dawned on him. Most of the techniques were not meant for direct combat. Many focused on psychological warfare, ways to distract, manipulate, or terrify an enemy into making mistakes.
"So that's why true Genjutsu users are so feared. It's not about raw power, it's about control."
It wasn't just about making someone see something false, it was about forcing them to believe in a lie, even if just for a moment.
And in battle, a single moment of doubt could mean death.
'No wonder Itachi's fights in the anime looked so cool…' Kazeo thought, a newfound respect blooming for the art of illusions.
As he continued reading, his eyes landed on a passage explaining how to strengthen Genjutsu resistance. The method was simple, experience it firsthand. The more someone got caught in illusions, the more their mind adapted to breaking free.
'If I make my clones cast Genjutsu on me, my resistance will improve while they also get better at performing it.'
A smirk crept onto his face.
Without wasting time, he went again to E-rank section. If he was going to do this, he needed techniques that were actually useful. He carefully browsed through the scrolls and picked three techniques—Double Vision, Faint Whispers, and Cloak of Invisibility. They were simple, yet effective in disrupting an opponent's perception.
Not stopping there, he moved to the D-rank section and picked out stronger illusions—Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Jutsu, Cold Grip, Phantom Pain, and Swarming Shadows.
Each of them had a unique effect.
Double Vision made the opponent see everything in duplicate for a few seconds. Faint Whispers caused eerie, unintelligible voices to echo around them. Cloak of Invisibility let the user blend in as an inanimate object.
The D-rank techniques were more sinister. Hell Viewing forced the victim to witness their worst fear. Cold Grip made it feel like an invisible hand was grabbing them. Phantom Pain sent a sharp, phantom ache through their body, while Swarming Shadows created the horrible sensation of insects crawling over them.
'These should be good enough to start with.'
With that, he noted the ways to perform them for each jutsu and took the scrolls home to begin his training.
Once inside, he wasted no time and created three shadow clones. One clone focused on casting Genjutsu on him, while the other two practiced on each other. Meanwhile, Kazeo sat cross-legged, meditating to restore chakra.
The first challenge was Cloak of Invisibility.
Despite being just an E-rank technique, it took his clones five whole days to successfully cast it on him. Twice a day, he made new clones for training. One time, he tried doing it three times in a single day, it was a big mistake. The exhaustion hit him like a brick wall, reminding him again that chakra wasn't the only thing clones drained. Stamina was just as important as it drained along with chakra.
Finally, on the ninth day, one of his clones successfully cast the technique.
Kazeo blinked. Where his clone once stood, there was now a wooden box.
'Alright… let's break this illusion.'
He disrupted his chakra flow, and in an instant, the box flickered—returning to its true form as a shadow clone.
'That was too easy…'
Frowning, he turned to his clone. "Did you feel anything weird while casting it?"
The clone scratched its head. "Yeah… even before you broke free, I could tell it wasn't going to last long. Your chakra was resisting it naturally."
A smile formed on Kazeo's lips. 'So my resistance is improving? That's good… but not enough after all it was an E-rank genjutsu.'
"Alright," he said, stretching. "Let's move on to the D-rank ones."
And so, the training continued.
Phantom Pain took six more days to master. The moment he understood where to send chakra in the brain and how to trigger the sensation, it became significantly easier to use. Another five days later, he had successfully learned a second D-rank Genjutsu.
Time flew by and nearly a month had passed since his meeting with the Hokage.
'I should return his scroll now. I've learned a few Genjutsu, trained my resistance… it should be a lot better than before. The remaining techniques can be learned later.'
But there was one problem.
'The academy or library doesn't have a single Kenjutsu technique…'
His thoughts immediately went to Okabe.
'I should contact him. If I'm going to use a weapon, I need a proper technique.'
With that in mind, Kazeo left his house, returned the scroll to the Hokage's office reception, and headed straight to the academy.
His Genjutsu training was far from over but he had laid the foundation. Now, it was time to take things to the next level.
.....
Inside the Academy -
When Okabe looked up and saw a small figure standing near the training ground entrance, his brows knitted together in surprise.
"Kazeo? What are you doing here during vacation? Is something wrong?" he asked, his voice firm but not unkind.
Kazeo met his gaze without hesitation, his voice steady. "Yes, Sensei. I want to learn sword techniques. Can you teach me?"
Okabe blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the unexpected request. Crossing his arms over his chest, he let out a short sigh. "Sword techniques? And why do you suddenly want to learn that?"
Without missing a beat, Kazeo replied, "Because it's a valuable skill. A ninja should learn as much as possible, right?"
Okabe let out a small chuckle, shaking his head slightly. "Smart answer. But no, I can't teach you."
Kazeo's expression remained unreadable, but internally, he was already analyzing the situation. He had expected rejection, but he needed to understand why.
Tilting his head slightly, he asked, "Why not?"
Okabe raised an eyebrow and lifted a finger, emphasizing his point. "For one, it's not part of the Academy's syllabus. You should focus on the syllabus first."
Kazeo's lips pressed into a thin line. He wasn't satisfied with that answer. "But if it's useful, shouldn't we be learning it? You always say a ninja should be well-rounded."
A smirk tugged at the corner of Okabe's lips. "That's true, but we have a set curriculum for a reason. We train young shinobi in the fundamentals, not specialized skills."
Kazeo hummed thoughtfully. He had expected the syllabus excuse, but he had another question in mind.
"If it was part of the syllabus, would you have taught me?" he asked, watching his teacher closely.
Okabe merely shrugged. "Maybe. But it isn't, so the question doesn't matter."
Kazeo's eyes narrowed slightly. He wasn't done yet. "So… if the Academy won't teach me, I have to learn from someone outside, right?"
Okabe observed him carefully, his sharp gaze not missing the determination in the boy's stance. "If you can find someone willing to teach you, sure."
Kazeo nodded to himself. That confirmed it—if he wanted to learn, he needed to seek out a teacher beyond the Academy. But one thing still nagged at him.
He tilted his head slightly and asked, "Okay, so let's say I still want to learn from you. What would it take?"
Okabe raised an eyebrow, a hint of amusement flickering in his otherwise stern expression. "And what exactly do you have to offer me in return?"
Kazeo fell silent for a moment, his mind working through the possibilities. He did have money, but explaining where it came from was out of the question.
'If I offer him money, he'll ask questions. And I already told the Hokage I wouldn't reveal it.'
Choosing his words carefully, he said, "Is teaching only done in exchange for something?"
Okabe smirked "That's how the world works, kid. No one gives away their skills for free. If you want something, you have to pay the price."
Kazeo absorbed his words. It wasn't a new concept, it was a normal thing in his past life after all. Still, he had more questions.
"Isn't it a teacher's duty to guide their students?"
Okabe chuckled "Only to a certain extent. We are here to prepare you for survival. But mastery? Power? That's not something given freely. It must be earned."
Kazeo remain persistent and asked "If I become your disciple, would you consider it?" he asked, watching his teacher closely.
Okabe hesitated for a brief moment before shaking his head. "No. I already have a disciple, and I don't have time to take on another. Even if I did, I wouldn't teach a seven-year-old Kenjutsu before he's mastered the basics of being a shinobi."
Still, he pressed a little. "What if your disciple isn't as talented as me?"
Okabe's expression didn't change, but his eyes hardened. "Doesn't matter. They were chosen first.
Kazeo let out a small sigh, as if finally arriving at the inevitable conclusion. He looked up at Okabe, a thoughtful glint in his eyes.
"So basically… if I want to learn, I need to find another teacher or give you a reason you can't refuse."
Okabe's lips curled into a faint smile at the boy's sharp thinking but his tone remained firm. "You catch on quick. But my answer isn't changing. Focus on what's in front of you first. The rest of the world is open for you to figure out."
Kazeo nodded slowly. He had gotten what he came for, not a teacher but an answer. If one door was closed, he would find another. That was how the world worked, after all.