Chương 38

"…That sounds boring."

"And getting shot in the head sounds fun?" Rei asked calmly.

"… Fair point." And thus from the next day, a new schedule started for everyone. The Demon Brothers were taught like students by Daniel, and at times by Laura. Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura were given different tasks across the ranch. This was a huge ranch and thus needed maintenance. And since others weren't allowed because Team 7 was here, they needed to take care of it. Of course, if social services ever came to see what was going on, Daniel and Laura would be in jail.

This was where Allied Universal came in and made sure that the property and things happening around would never get out. Laura had a public image now, which in time would only grow larger, thus they needed to be as discreet as possible. Thankfully, they wouldn't be here always and only for practice they would come to this world. Kakashi helped his students when he could, but right now he had a favorite student and that was Rei himself.

He had half of his abilities and thus Kakashi was the prime person to teach, regulate and make sure that he was able to tap into his awesome ability to the full max. Kakashi really got the scare of his life when Rei first performed Chidori. Though it went off after a second, the fact that he was able to display the technique meant it wouldn't be long before he was able to master it. Meanwhile, Zabuza was finally awake in his world and Haku made sure that he couldn't create any problems, with the help of Rei.

"What do you assholes want?" That was the first sentence Zabuza spat out after understanding that he was a prisoner and for some reason Haku was helping them. Though Zabuza didn't know what had happened, he believed that Haku was under someone's control. But of course, being the man that he was, he would never speak what gears were spinning in his mind. Rei could see some of the thoughts behind those eyes and thus he played his card.

"Momochi Zabuza, a failed coup, running from Kirigakure.. It must be disgusting for you to hear the words of nobodies, and carry on their evil plans.." Rei said.

"Heh.. You are getting ahead of yourself for talking down to me in that tone.. Who do you think you are? Just because you know some seals, you think you can stop me? Unhand me and see how I beat you to a pulp before throwing your corpse down the very bridge you are helping to protect... Hehe.." Zabuza replied.

"I am sure that one of the Seven Swordsmen does have the capability to do that. So how about a bet. This bridge will finish in a month or so right? How about you give me 15 days. Yes, 15 days and have a 1 on 1 battle with me. If you win Haku will return to you but if I win, you will have to listen to my commands for the rest of your life.." Rei said.

"Oi.. Oi.. Aren't you getting too ahead of yourself? I don't accept any challenge nor any kind of games with you.." Zabuza outright rejected.

"Yes you can, but then Haku will never be with you. Are you sure you will survive alone? After all, Kirigakure, one of the 5 great nations, is hunting you. Sure they have fallen from grace, but that doesn't mean they aren't powerful. Once they come to know that you have lost your most loyal puppy, they will come for you with more fire than ever before. Besides, do you think you have a choice? It's either you accept my challenge or I kill you right now.

You don't think the Demon Brothers just vanished into thin air, did you?" Rei stared down at Zabuza with no fear in his heart.

"Lad.. you have some guts threatening me?" Zabuza gave a devilish smile as he asked that.

"Oh you have no idea. So sit tight for the next 15 days. You sleep here, you shit here and you eat here. Of course, Haku here will take care of you. I am not a savage." Rei replied and for some reason that last sentence gave Zabuza a chill. All this time, though he was acting all rough and tough, he knew himself that he had no cards to play. This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

They had confiscated his sword, his ninja tools, sealed his hands that Rei would check on every day and on top of that this guy had Kakashi on his back. Even Haku seemed to be following his orders and never talked in response. Besides, when he talked just now, the kid didn't feel intimidated at all. The kids of his age always wet their pants in front of him by the sheer glare and bloodlust, but this young child didn't seem to be fazed at all. One was pretending to be tough and another was just plain nonchalance.

Rei was the latter. But whatever it was, he was sure that this challenge this kid had proposed had something deep hidden in it. He was still trying to find out what had happened to Haku and thus he needed to tread with care. And thus the next ten days turned into absolute hell for Rei. All because he was honing his body to absolute precision. The amount of chakra now flowing through him was absurd compared to before.

Kakashi alone had boosted Rei's technical understanding to frightening levels while Sasuke's Uchiha constitution alongside Haku's Ice Release compatibility continuously reshaped the balance inside his body. For the first three days, Rei could barely regulate his chakra properly. At times the training field would suddenly freeze because his ice-based technique leaked outward unconsciously, he understood now how Haku was able to kill his father with his ice technique when he was a child, now Rei felt the same.

Daniel was watching all of this from far away and praying to God. But slowly as he saw this he stopped praying. Weren't these guys Gods from their perspective? Meanwhile, Rei finally revealed it to Kakashi on the fourth day after stabilizing himself enough with his chakra. The moment the crimson eyes with three tomoe appeared, Kakashi genuinely froze for a second.

"… Three tomoe already?" Even Sasuke stopped training nearby afterward and stared. Because unlike him who awakened his Sharingan through trauma… Rei simply adapted into it like his body always possessed the bloodline from birth. No, he didn't even face any problems when his eyes awakened the three tomoe. He understood it was because of the influence of Kakashi's Sharingan, but boy was he jealous. Still, even Kakashi couldn't deny how terrifyingly compatible Rei had become with the eyes.

The visual perception enhancement alone instantly improved Rei's combat ability massively. And unlike Kakashi himself… Rei could actually deactivate the Sharingan. Which meant no constant chakra drain. Lucky bastard! You took my Sharingan ability and now are dancing on my head? Meanwhile Kakashi became increasingly disturbed watching Rei adapt. Because once the chakra instability reduced slightly, Rei's growth rate genuinely became monstrous. The boy practically absorbed combat logic like a sponge. Water style?

Already functional, thanks to three people in the water style category in his contracts. Earth style? Thanks to both parents, those were the first techniques he got proper hold over, after all that was how it started for Rei. Lightning style? There was small progress but Kakashi was sure that he would soon be able to learn his signature technique and maybe go beyond. And that day came too early for him. Kakashi still remembered the exact moment vividly.

He had merely demonstrated the chakra shaping process once more while explaining the instability of lightning transformation and how difficult it was to maintain concentrated piercing power. Then suddenly... CRACKLE. Blue lightning violently exploded around Rei's hand for barely a second before immediately destabilizing. Kakashi genuinely stared at him.

"… You have got to be kidding me." Even Rei himself looked mildly disturbed. Because though the technique collapsed almost instantly, the fact remained that he was able to do it. Which meant only one horrifying thing. It wouldn't take him long anymore. Meanwhile Haku unintentionally became Rei's secondary teacher during this period too. Ice Release itself turned out to be far more delicate than normal elemental ninjutsu. Unlike pure water or wind, the balance between both had to remain almost unnaturally precise.

Too much water chakra? The ice destabilized. Too much wind influence? The structure shattered. And unlike Haku who possessed natural instincts for it from childhood, Rei had to consciously understand every little interaction manually. Though the whole DNA was etched into his soul now, it didn't mean it was easy. Still… his progress remained absurd. By the seventh day, Rei could already create stable ice senbon. By the ninth, he successfully formed small reflective ice mirrors for several seconds.

Haku looked emotionally conflicted every single time. Because watching someone else naturally use his bloodline abilities still felt deeply wrong internally. Yet at the same time… Rei genuinely respected the techniques and asked for guidance properly instead of arrogantly pretending mastery.

"…Your chakra flow is too forceful," Haku explained quietly one evening while watching Rei attempt another mirror formation.

"Ice Release requires gentleness too."

"…That sounds annoyingly poetic." Rei muttered.

"…It is true." And annoyingly enough? Haku was right. The moment Rei reduced forceful chakra output and focused more on balance rather than power, the mirrors stabilized almost instantly.