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After testing Mei Terumī’s strength, Shin also gave her some pointers on her training. Now that she was one of them, he didn’t mind helping her improve.
“Why is Mei sulking? Did you bully her?”
Kushina asked Shin when they returned home, noticing Mei Terumī’s pouting face.
“What? Kushina, you’re questioning my character! I would never bully a girl!” Shin said, feigning indignation.
“Yes, you would. You’ve been bullying me since we were kids.”
Shin was dumbfounded. That was a blatant lie!
He had never bullied Kushina.
“See? You’re trying to bully me right now!” Kushina said, seeing his indignant expression.
“You’re right. I am going to bully you.” Shin grabbed Kushina, who was trying to escape, and gave her a thorough “punishment.”
If she was going to accuse him of bullying, he might as well do it.
“Mean!!” Kushina rubbed her red cheeks. Shin had pinched them so hard they were swollen.
Shin chuckled, enjoying her frustration.
“Don’t blame me, you asked for it. And I really didn’t bully Mei.”
“Yes, you did!” Mei Terumī glared at Shin. He had called her weak.
“Oh? How did I bully you?”
“You said I was Weak!”
“You think that’s bullying? I was just stating a fact. You are weak.” Shin said matter-of-factly.
“…..”
Mei Terumī took a deep breath. She was angry. Back in Kirigakure, she was a renowned ninja, one of the strongest in the village.
And now Shin was calling her weak? She wanted to argue, but she couldn’t. Compared to him, she really wasn’t that strong.
Mei Terumī lowered her head dejectedly. She had to train harder.
She had always been diligent. Otherwise, she wouldn’t have reached the level of an elite Jōnin at her age.
And among elite Jōnin, she was one of the strongest. After all, she had Kekkei Genkai.
Shinobi with Kekkei Genkai were generally stronger than those without.
——
Time passed, and the Third Shinobi World War continued. But it was nearing its end. Compared to the Second Shinobi World War, this war was ending faster—but more brutal.
Konoha, initially struggling, had turned the tide thanks to Minato Namikaze. They were on the path to victory.
Of course, Shin and his team had also contributed to Konoha’s advantage.
After all, this war was different from the one in the original story. If they hadn’t killed the Third Raikage, Konoha’s victory wouldn’t have been so assured.
The Kannabi Bridge incident had already occurred, unfolding much like in the original story. Kakashi Hatake had been injured and received Obito Uchiha’s Sharingan, while Obito was presumed dead.
But in reality, Obito had been saved by Uchiha Madara and was currently recovering at Madara’s hideout.
And Madara was planning to manipulate Obito into becoming his pawn to revive him.
He knew exactly how to exploit an Uchiha’s weaknesses, especially one with strong emotional attachments like Obito. His bond with Rin Nohara made him an easy target.
——
“Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!”
Mei Terumī formed hand seals and spewed out a cloud of corrosive mist towards Shin.
“That’s just steam.” Shin said, then the mist turned into ice shards before it could reach him.
“Damn it! My attacks are useless!” Mei Terumī stamped her foot in frustration.
“They’re not weak. Just not effective against me.” Shin consoled her.
“If you can learn Sage Mode, your Jutsu will become even stronger. But that’s a big ‘IF’.”
“Mei’s pretty impressive. She has two Kekkei Genkai now,” Tsunade said.
Mei Terumī had Lava Release before, and now she also had Boil Release—Both obtained through her own efforts. Even Tsunade was impressed. Mei Terumī was talented, perhaps even more talented than her.
“You’re quasi-Kage level now, but not quite a true Kage. Your chakra reserves are holding you back. If you had more chakra, you’d be a Kage-level shinobi easily.” Shin said, patting Mei Terumī’s shoulder.
Although Kage level wasn’t much in Shin’s eyes, it was still a high level of strength in the Shinobi world. Even in the Great Villages, there weren’t many Kage-level Shinobi.
Mei Terumī’s rapid progress in less than a year was impressive!
“So you acknowledge my strength?” Mei Terumī looked at Shin hopefully.
“Does strength require acknowledgement? You should acknowledge your own strength.”
“Oh, so you still don’t acknowledge my strength. You still think I’m weak.” Mei Terumī’s joy vanished, and she lowered her head dejectedly.
“Tsunade, how’s your Wood Release training coming along?”
Shin asked Tsunade after shrugging at Mei Terumī.
“Don’t even mention it. It’s frustrating.”
Tsunade had been working hard, but there was no progress. She still couldn’t grasp Wood Release.
“It’s not your fault, Tsunade. It’s Shin’s fault for being a bad teacher,” Kushina said.
Shin glared at Kushina. While he appreciated her attempt to comfort Tsunade, blaming him wasn’t fair.
“I’m starting to think I’m just not talented,” Tsunade said, shaking her head.
“Keep at it, Tsunade. You’ll awaken it eventually. You haven’t been practicing for that long. Be patient,” Shin said encouragingly.
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