Unlike Hodaka and Mieko, Feng Zheng's training continued.
On the ninth day, he finally created a Vacuum Core similar to the one Hiruzen had made.
Hiruzen inspected it and praised Feng Zheng.
"Very good. Now, wrap this Vacuum Core with another thin layer of Chakra and then create wind around it."
Feng Zheng followed his instructions and succeeded on his first attempt!
He threw the Wind Vacuum Sphere at a tree. It pierced straight through it, then through eight more trees behind it, before dissipating!
Feng Zheng laughed.
"Excellent! Thank you, Grandpa!"
After nine days of training, Feng Zheng's relationship with Hiruzen was now very casual. Of course, he still controlled his words to avoid provoking Hiruzen.
Hiruzen nodded.
"Feng Zheng, you are truly amazing!"
Feng Zheng looked at Hiruzen and asked.
"Can we now learn all the Wind Vacuum Techniques?"
Hiruzen looked puzzled and asked.
"What do you mean by Wind Vacuum Technique?"
Although Hiruzen looked puzzled, he secretly chuckled in his heart.
"This kid has taken advantage of me quite a bit. It's a pity that even if he reads the entire Library, his knowledge won't be comparable to mine."
Feng Zheng's eyebrow twitched. He asked.
"Aren't there a bunch of Wind Vacuum Techniques?"
Hiruzen chuckled and shook his head.
"There's no such thing as 'Wind Vacuum Technique'. Wind Vacuum is a technique to create a Vacuum Core within Wind Release Ninjutsu. So some Wind Release Ninjutsu can become Wind Vacuum Techniques through the Vacuum Core. For example, the Wind Vacuum Sphere is just an improved version of the Wind Blast Technique."
Feng Zheng said in surprise.
"Uh, I never thought of it that way before."
Hiruzen was about to let Feng Zheng experiment on his own to create his own Wind Vacuum Technique, but Feng Zheng looked at him and asked.
"Grandpa, can you guide me on how to incorporate a Vacuum Core into the Great Breakthrough Technique?"
Feng Zheng's request came so quickly that Hiruzen's face darkened slightly. He coughed and said.
"No, due to the wide attack range of the Great Breakthrough Technique, a Vacuum Core cannot be added."
Feng Zheng said.
"Oh... I read that the Second Kazekage used Wind Release: Vacuum Bullet Technique, and the scroll said it moved very fast and was difficult to dodge. Grandpa, can you teach me that Ninjutsu?"
He looked at Hiruzen with anticipation. Although Feng Zheng disliked Hiruzen's diplomatic methods, he only respected Hiruzen's strength and experience.
Now that he had the chance to cling to a powerful figure, Feng Zheng intended to fully extract all advantages from Hiruzen!
Having spent so much time with Feng Zheng, Hiruzen understood that Feng Zheng's expression was fake. He decided.
"I absolutely must get him to join the negotiation team. He knows that I know his expression is fake. But he still did it!"
Hiruzen sighed and reluctantly agreed.
Using the Wind Vacuum Bullet Technique requires creating a small Vacuum Core inside one's mouth. While they are mostly harmless, if something goes wrong, it could cause significant damage! Hiruzen sighed, thinking.
"I wonder if Homura Mitokado will still agree to continue helping me with paperwork! When will my students return to take over my hat?"
As Hiruzen wished, one of his students would eventually return to take over his hat. However, he also wanted to take Hiruzen's head when he took the hat!
Hiruzen looked at Feng Zheng and said.
"But first, you need to learn Wind Release: Air Bullet Technique."
Feng Zheng continued to ask.
"Oh, can you teach me that Ninjutsu too?"
Feng Zheng noticed Hiruzen's face darken. Hiruzen wasn't surprised; he expected Feng Zheng to make this request immediately. But he couldn't help but think.
"Was this kid born without shame?"
Hiruzen demonstrated the Hand Seals for the Air Bullet Technique to Feng Zheng and explained how it worked. Feng Zheng succeeded after a few attempts.
He continued for another half hour, improving his mastery of this Ninjutsu. The lethality of this Ninjutsu was also very great. If used against an army, its power would be terrifying!
However, any good defense could easily block it. Feng Zheng wondered as he practiced.
"Why isn't this Ninjutsu in the Library?"
Hiruzen then taught Feng Zheng the improved Hand Seals for the Vacuum Bullet Technique. Of course, Hand Seals alone could not use this Ninjutsu, as Feng Zheng first had to learn to create a Vacuum Core in his mouth.
Hiruzen first demonstrated it to Feng Zheng. This Vacuum Core was not a sphere. Its shape was like a bullet, but thinner. The outer layer was again divided into several parts by Chakra. The inner core was a complete vacuum.
Feng Zheng began to practice. He faced two challenges. The first was that he had to create it in his mouth, not his hands. So he couldn't see it and could only perform it by feel.
Another problem was Chakra control. It was much easier to control Chakra with the palm of the hand. But controlling it in the mouth was very challenging.
Hiruzen also realized this. The ideal training sequence would be after Feng Zheng could use the Vacuum Sphere very smoothly.
However, seeing Feng Zheng's talent, Hiruzen was eager to see how quickly Feng Zheng could learn this. Furthermore, he was happy to have a few more days without returning to paperwork.
Feng Zheng practiced until his Chakra was exhausted. This time, Hiruzen did not let Feng Zheng leave but said.
"Come with me, Feng Zheng."
With that, Hiruzen flashed away. Feng Zheng followed behind him. They left the Training Grounds and entered a secluded area of Konoha.
There was a small house here, with smoke rising from its chimney. Hiruzen stopped in front of the house. A few seconds later, Feng Zheng appeared. Feng Zheng asked.
"Grandpa, who lives here?"
Just then, Feng Zheng heard a loud clang of metal.
"Is this a blacksmith's shop?"
Hiruzen knocked on the door with a smile.
The sound of metal striking stopped. Soon, a middle-aged man opened the door. Seeing Hiruzen, he was not surprised. He bowed and said.
"Welcome to my home, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen smiled and said.
"Hello, Ota Momo, how have you been lately?"
This middle-aged man was Ota Momo. He was a blacksmith in Konoha. Due to his connections, he held a special status in Konoha.
Ota Momo replied.
"I'm very well, Hokage-sama, please come in."
He invited Hiruzen in. Hiruzen and Feng Zheng walked into his home.
Upon entering, Feng Zheng saw an old man. He wore a white robe and had a long white beard and long white hair. However, for his age, his physique was quite good.
Hiruzen greeted him.
"Furutani Fuji-sama. Have you been well recently?"
Furutani Fuji replied.
"Hokage-sama, I am well. It's good to see you again."
Hiruzen and Furutani Fuji exchanged a few pleasantries.
Furutani Fuji was a very famous blacksmith from the Land of Iron. He was one of the very few living blacksmiths capable of forging Chakra metal weapons.
He visited Konoha once a year to take orders for new weapons.
Ota Momo watched the Hokage and his mentor greet each other like old friends. He was very proud. After all, not everyone could boast of having the Hokage visit their home every year.
After the small talk, Furutani Fuji looked at Feng Zheng and asked.
"Is this the young man who wants swords?"
Hiruzen nodded and said.
"Yes, he wants samurai swords that can help enhance the flow of Wind Chakra."
Furutani Fuji looked at Feng Zheng for a while. He stared at his own sword and asked.
"May I see the progress of your current Chakra flow?"
Feng Zheng looked at Hiruzen, who nodded.
Feng Zheng drew his two swords, and Chakra flowed through them. Then he transformed it into Wind Release. Furutani Fuji observed for a few seconds and nodded.
"Very good! Your foundation is solid!"
Feng Zheng politely replied.
"Thank you."
Furutani Fuji stood up and asked Feng Zheng to follow him. Ota Momo and Hiruzen also followed.
They entered a room filled with many swords. Furutani Fuji looked at Ota Momo and said.
"Bring a few swords for Feng Zheng to try."
Feng Zheng tried several swords. Feng Zheng felt most comfortable with a 60-centimeter-long sword. However, Furutani Fuji and Hiruzen recommended longer swords so they would be more suitable for him when he grew up. After all, he was only 11 years old now.
Eventually, they settled on two 76-centimeter-long, 5.5-centimeter-wide double-edged swords. Furutani Fuji said.
"Alright. I will have these two swords made and brought over next year."
Feng Zheng was stunned! He asked softly.
"Next year?"
Hiruzen laughed.
"He is one of the best swordsmiths in the world and can only visit Konoha once a year."
Furutani Fuji added.
"Also, adding Chakra metal to swords is very complex and takes a long time to complete."
Feng Zheng nodded in disappointment; there was nothing he could do. Hiruzen said.
"You may leave, Feng Zheng, I have some official business to discuss with Furutani Fuji-san."
Feng Zheng nodded and left. After leaving, he sighed.
"A year... Does it take that long to make a sword? Well, it shouldn't be a problem, my current swords are enough for now."
Then he went to the clothing store and picked up his new clothes. After returning home, he took off his old clothes and tried on the new ones.
The Restaurant Owner had done a great job; the clothes fit him perfectly. Especially the mesh armor set for the upper body. It was very comfortable.
Training continued the next day. Hiruzen and Feng Zheng discussed more techniques and topics related to powerful Ninja.
After Feng Zheng had no more technical questions, he asked some questions about the Great Ninja War.
He asked what caused these wars, whether there would be wars in the future, and how to avoid them.
These words greatly surprised Hiruzen. Feng Zheng's questions showed a maturity far beyond his age. This reminded him of Itachi, who had once shown similar maturity.
Feng Zheng knew Hiruzen would realize this. He was deliberately showing it. In the future, he would need a lot of Konoha's S-Rank Ninjutsu, so increasing his value in Hiruzen's eyes could bring many benefits.
Although Feng Zheng had indeed built a personal relationship with Hiruzen over the past week, Feng Zheng also realized that this relationship would not bring him too many benefits. After all, Naruto's connection with Hiruzen could be said to be even deeper.
These conversations eventually led Hiruzen to decide to invite Feng Zheng to join the Anbu several months later.