Chapter 66 A Genius Is a Genius in Any Field

"Kakashi-sensei, why do you look so unenthusiastic?"

Tenten had followed along the entire way. Once they passed beyond the boundaries of the Hidden Leaf Village, she finally couldn't help but ask.

"Huh?"

Kakashi raised his eyes and replied listlessly, "It's nothing, I've simply lost my way on the path of life."

Chiba opened his mouth, but ultimately remained silent.

The Talent of the Sage...

Now was not yet the time. Only after的地陆 (Chiriku) and the Fire Temple finished their discussions could he reveal it to Kakashi and the others.

Kakashi glanced over, gave a slight shake of his head, and said nothing.

The four of them continued onward.

Kashiwa practiced her swordsmanship along the road, completely engrossed.

She was already immersed in the art of the blade. It was hard to say whether it was good or bad for the moment, but at least it was better than having no direction at all.

Chiba silently observed, offering no verbal guidance along the way.

His ways belonged to him alone.

Only by cultivating it oneself does it truly become one's own.

Of course.

This was the foundational stage. Once she crossed the threshold and mastered her own style, such meticulous oversight would no longer be necessary.

Chiba looked at Kakashi.

Their teacher might seem lazy, but in reality, he had been secretly observing them all along; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to provide such precise guidance.

Tenten's ninja tools and Earth Release ninjutsu.

Tsukimitsu Kashiwa's Lightning Release and swordsmanship.

As for himself.

Kakashi had never taught him any specific techniques; he functioned more like an all-purpose tool for answering questions.

As a teacher, he could be considered conscientious and responsible.

Naturally.

If this approach were applied to Sasuke and the others, it wouldn't work at all.

None of those three possessed the independent nature that he had.

Chiba glanced over and let out a quiet sigh in his heart.

Before the protagonist met Jiraiya, his days were truly...

Quite something else.

Of course.

This was related to Naruto's immaturity in his early years.

It was precisely these repeated trials that transformed Naruto from initial greenness into maturity. Bizarrely, such an environment failed to break anyone down completely.

It was truly a bit absurd.

Chiba sighed inwardly.

"We've arrived. The ninja tool factory is just up ahead; I used to come here before..."

Tenten pointed excitedly into the distance.

Her parents had worked and studied here in their younger years.

"Let's go."

She took the lead, guiding the way.

Upon seeing certain people, she even waved and greeted them. It was clear she was truly familiar with the place, navigating the area as effortlessly as returning home.

Before long, they met the person in charge of the establishment.

The person in charge was named Domoto.

In his younger days, he had been an exceptional master craftsman, but advanced in age and frail in body, he could no longer forge ninja tools and had gradually stepped back behind the scenes into management.

"Grandpa Domoto, we are here by the Hokage-sama's order to have a specific ninja tool forged."

"Hokage-sama?"

Domoto was surprised, then gently nodded. "Do you have the blueprints?"

"We do."

Tenten handed them over.

Domoto took the blueprints and examined them closely. He couldn't help nodding in praise, saying, "I don't quite understand these designs, but they are drawn exceptionally well, impeccably neat."

"This ninja tool is meant to be used in conjunction with barrier ninjutsu, so the material isn't entirely iron. I've already marked the parts that require forging with iron."

Chiba stepped forward to point them out one by one.

Domoto looked for a moment, then cast a somewhat astonished gaze at Chiba. "You even understand these things?"

Both barrier ninjutsu and ninja tool coordination were highly profound fields; not a single craftsman in the current ninja tool factory knew them.

Yet the child before him spoke with fluent expertise, clearly demonstrating understanding.

"I understand a little."

"Ahem, Mr. Domoto, this ninja tool is currently in the experimental stage. Perhaps we could forge it first and test it out."

"This... Very well. Since it is an order from Hokage-sama, and with Jounin Kakashi present as well, I suppose there shouldn't be any problems. I'll have my subordinates begin the forging."

Domoto was silent for a few seconds, then decisively dropped the subject.

If one could become a ninja, who would willingly choose to be a craftsman?

Most of the artisans in the factory were Genin, or even civilians who couldn't even reach the level of Genin; they simply couldn't comprehend the joy of geniuses.

"I want to try as well."

Tenten volunteered.

Domoto was slightly stunned, then looked over at Kakashi.

Kakashi gave a slight nod.

"Very well, but you must abide by the factory's rules."

"Yes!"

Tenten followed along joyfully.

Chiba and the others trailed behind them. Kashiwa stopped practicing her swordplay once they entered the factory, following silently in the rear.

When the three of them had put some distance between themselves, Tenten, and Domoto, she asked in a low voice, "Chiba-kun, what rules?"

"I don't know."

Chiba's reply did not satisfy Kashiwa.

The expression of shock and surprise on her face left Chiba rather speechless.

Could it be...

I was supposed to know these things?

He sighed lightly and said, "Tenten must have been here before. Her family sells ninja tools and weapons, so she definitely has connections."

"So you don't know everything after all."

"I don't read every single book in existence. If I don't work here, why would I memorize their rules?"

Chiba offered a speechless retort.

Kashiwa couldn't help but chuckle softly.

Kakashi stood nearby, holding a book in his hand while keeping his eyes on the path, multitasking quite leisurely.

He seemed to have completely forgotten his previous depression.

Domoto made arrangements swiftly.

Once inside the factory, he selected three of his best craftsmen to handle the forging, and assigned an elderly master to guide Tenten.

Chiba and the others stood to the side as spectators.

However, aside from iron forging, the design also required wood and barrier glyphs, so Domoto arranged for two additional craftsmen skilled in woodwork to assist.

Time ticked away second by second, and the wooden components were completed.

"Senior, leave the rest to me."

"May we observe?"

Domoto hesitated for a moment before finally asking the question.

Many of these glyphs were classified secrets, but he was overwhelmingly curious about just how far a child's proficiency in barrier ninjutsu could reach.

Moreover.

Would this barrier ninja tool actually succeed...

Kakashi looked at Domoto, narrowed his eyes to survey the craftsmen, and then said, "Let's use the quiet room off to the side."

"Thank you very much!"

Domoto was immensely excited.

"It's nothing overly classified."

Chiba shook his head with a faint smile, though he didn't refuse Kakashi's kind consideration. They walked into a secluded room nearby, where Chiba retrieved a carving knife and a brush to begin the inscriptions.

He didn't know the art of sculpture, but his swordsmanship was strong and his hands were steady.

That was quite enough.

The lines were carved with absolute smoothness, every horizontal stroke and vertical line impeccably neat.

This skill alone filled Domoto with admiration—

Even if this child were not a ninja, he could still become an extraordinary artisan.

Could it be that a genius is a genius no matter what profession they choose?

Even though he was already over sixty years old, he couldn't help feeling a pang of jealousy.

Glyph after glyph was carved.

As ink was applied, the patterns gradually became striking.

Kakashi's gaze turned stern.

This barrier glyph didn't seem designed to absorb energy from within the barrier itself; rather, it drew from a different barrier formula entirely, yet it looked vaguely familiar.

Where had he seen it before?

He couldn't help deep contemplation.

After a long moment of thought—

A flash of inspiration struck Kakashi's mind.

The Fire Temple!

The two stone statues at the entrance of the Fire Temple.

"So that's how it is."

Kakashi understood.

Those two stone statues were the core of the Fire Temple's barrier technique, and the glyphs upon them were clearly related to converting and gathering chakra. Now, Chiba had adapted and integrated them into an absorption barrier.

Truly remarkable!

He silently observed the others.

He had checked the files on these craftsmen in the ANBU; they all came from clean backgrounds and were completely reliable, so there shouldn't be any issues.

Besides.

Just as Chiba had said, what was drawn on the ninja tool was only a small fraction; without the coordination of the remaining barrier techniques, it could never function, and furthermore...

He vaguely sensed that Chiba was still holding something back.