Naruto: With Favorabiltity System

Chapter 199: Dragon Vein Jinchuriki Plan and Ice Release Training

Watching Zabuza leave, Haneda fell into thought.

The reason he mentioned that the people of the Mist would no longer pursue Zabuza was because he trusted Obito not to harm him or those around him—especially someone like Zabuza, whose strength and potential were not particularly high.

Haneda had sent Zabuza to the Land of Bears and the Land of Wind for two key items that appeared in the original movies. One was the Dragon Vein, which Haneda had long planned to obtain. The other was the Star.

The Star was the most important item in the Star Village of the Land of Bears. Star Village was established around it, as the Star, as its name implies, wasn't from Earth but rather from the heavens—a meteorite that had fallen from the sky. The Star emitted radiation, which resonated with chakra, enabling Star Village's ninjas to create the Peacock Technique, allowing chakra to form various shapes for attacks, and even enabling flight.

However, the Star's radiation negatively impacted the body. Yet, with his Sage Body, Haneda didn't fear these effects. Haneda even suspected that the Star might have come from the moon and could be connected to the Otsutsuki clan, as flight was a common skill among its members. Therefore, the Star could have a plausible connection to the Otsutsuki.

Haneda's main reason for asking Zabuza to retrieve the Star was that the Dragon Vein required a stable vessel for sealing. His own body, used directly as a vessel for the Dragon Vein's chakra, would be overwhelmed. However, the Star, stable and chakra-compatible, had been in Star Village for many years without any issues, indicating its stability. This stable material, capable of interacting with chakra, would be sufficient to act as the Dragon Vein chakra's vessel.

Haneda planned to seal and store the Dragon Vein's chakra within the Star and then use the Four Symbols Seal or Eight Trigrams Seal to embed it within his body, realizing his tailless beast plan. Being a Jinchuriki meant possessing vast amounts of chakra, with rapid recovery as well. Since the Dragon Vein had existed in Roran for hundreds of years and maintained chakra across time travel incidents, it was clear that the Dragon Vein could generate chakra—likely through natural energy, in Haneda's view. If he could become the Dragon Vein's Jinchuriki, he would no longer worry about chakra limitations. With that, the Susano'o Buddha armor would no longer be just a dream!

...

Knowing Obito had no intention of seeing him, Haneda also left the Mist Village after Zabuza's departure. Following his plans, he was preparing to go to Ryuchi Cave to train. This period of training might take a long time, and he didn't intend to only practice Ryuchi Cave's sage techniques. Haneda also planned to study Ice Release and the Shikotsumyaku (Dead Bone Pulse). With the boost from his affinity system, he already had a substantial understanding of both techniques. He figured that, with a little more time to research the chakra fusion ratio and usage methods for Ice Release, he'd master it.

As for Shikotsumyaku… it was more challenging. The technique involved Kaguya Otsutsuki's "All-Killing Ash Bones," a powerful jutsu that would disintegrate anyone upon contact. Even Obito, with a Sage Body, died when hit by the All-Killing Ash Bones, turning into ashes.

Haneda didn't plan to rely solely on his Sage Body, instead putting his faith in the power of his right eye's ability—Shinra Banshou. No matter how overpowering the Shikotsumyaku was, Shinra Banshou could absorb it. If his ocular power was sufficient, integrating the Shikotsumyaku wouldn't be a problem. However, Shinra Banshou wasn't all-powerful; it would require continuous support from his ocular energy, just as the Sage Body required ongoing chakra replenishment.

At present, most of Haneda's ocular energy was focused on integrating Hashirama's cells, so he planned to complete his sage training and finish the cell integration before attempting Shikotsumyaku. If that failed, he had another option: locating Hiruko to obtain the Chimera Technique, which could merge bodies to acquire bloodline abilities. With the Chimera Technique and Shinra Banshou, Haneda could potentially gain Shikotsumyaku. This was only a backup plan, though, since Hiruko had been hidden for decades, and the Chimera Technique's side effects remained unknown.

As they traveled, Haku's body recovered quickly, likely due to his chakra or bloodline. Three days into the journey to Ryuchi Cave, Haku had almost fully recovered. Haneda brought Haku and Kimimaro to a snow-covered mountain. Leaving footprints in the snow, they arrived at a cliff.

"Haku, try your Ice Release," Haneda said, stopping at the cliff.

"Yes, Haneda-sensei," Haku replied.

Haku had learned a lot about ninja basics from his time with Haneda, including chakra and his bloodline trait of Ice Release, which he both feared and knew Haneda needed. He extended his hand, trying to summon chakra to create ice. But, under the scrutiny of Haneda's Sharingan, Haku grew nervous, unable to summon the jutsu.

Nearby, Kimimaro sneered, "Still can't manage it? You've wasted a few minutes of Haneda-sensei's time, haven't you?"

Kimimaro looked to Haneda hopefully. "Why not work on my Shikotsumyaku first, Haneda-sensei?"

Haneda glanced at Kimimaro's shoulder, where a pale face was fading, and shook his head. It wasn't time yet for Shikotsumyaku.

Haku noticed Haneda's trust in him, and, spurred by that faith, he remembered the warmth Haneda had shown him. Ice crystals instantly formed in his hand, refracting the sunlight into dazzling rays.

Haneda activated his Mangekyou Sharingan, observing the fusion of wind and water chakra as it created Ice Release without any rejection. Haneda carefully recorded Haku's chakra flow with his Mangekyou and attempted to mimic it. He stretched out his hand, drawing on his chakra in the same ratio as Haku's to form ice. The water spun within the wind but eventually dissolved into bubbles, bursting.

"Still not there, huh?" Haneda muttered. He then suggested, "Try forming a prism."

"Yes, Haneda-sensei!"

Haku condensed his chakra to create a three-sided ice prism, which, under the sun's rays, produced a small rainbow of colors. Mesmerized by the beautiful jutsu, Haku gazed at the rainbow. Kimimaro smirked, thinking to himself that Haku was somewhat useful to Haneda, although still inferior to himself.

Haneda noted the chakra transformations in Haku's Ice Release. He tried once again, melding wind and water chakra. Under the influence of wind, the water began to form ice crystals, only for them to suddenly start expanding and destabilizing. Haneda quickly used Shinra Banshou to stabilize the formation.

"By gauging the amount of ocular energy consumed, I can narrow down the direction, and with enough practice, I'll have Ice Release within six months," he said, smiling.

"Even though I haven't fully succeeded, this is enough."