Chapter 66
Zixu sighed as he listened to Gekkō Hayate judgment. "You don't have the talent for learning swordsmanship. You are more suited to wielding a staff. Change direction." After extensive discussion, Gekkō Hayate had reached a conclusion regarding Zixu's abilities.
He struggled to articulate Zixu's talent in swordsmanship. If talent points were a thing, with a total of ten points distributed among various skills, a swordsmanship genius would have seven allocated to the craft, while the remaining three would support related abilities.
Zixu, however, was different. While he too had ten total talent points, Gekko felt that his skill with a staff should be at thirty points, leaving the rest at zero, and his talent for swordsmanship was an abysmal negative twenty. He could wield other weapons just fine, but when it came to a blade, his techniques were laughably awkward—his movements resembling staff techniques more than anything else. It was unfathomable how he managed to leave blunt marks on a target while wielding the renowned blade, Yubashiri. Ultimately, Gekko Hayate concluded that he could not train Zixu and sent him away.
Zixu made his way back to his dwelling—a modest, earth-style structure. He turned back to glance at Gekko Hayate, who remained at his post, guarding the entrance. A sigh escaped him.
"The Impure World Reincarnation (Edo Tensei) is truly a remarkable technique. An immortal body, accelerated chakra recovery, and virtually no drawbacks other than the inability to grow stronger—it's the perfect labor force and experimental subject. No wonder Orochimaru is so confident..."
Zixu found himself intrigued by this broken technique. Wasn't this essentially resurrection? Not only that, but it also granted an undying body and incredible chakra regeneration. It was like a twisted version of eternal life.
"Now that I think about it, Orochimaru is truly dangerous. Impure World Reincarnation... is indeed a forbidden technique. Luckily, sealing techniques can counter it. The Uzumaki clan is renowned for their prowess in sealing. Without them..."
Zixu finally reached his so-called "home," a simple mud-brick shelter made with Earth Release (Doton), containing only a bed. He lay down and noticed the black snake he had lent to Orochimaru earlier slithering toward him, nudging at the hem of his clothing affectionately.
For a moment, Zixu held the little snake in his hands before releasing it. Then, he turned his focus inward, peering into his own spiritual space. A vast mass of deep blue, highly refined soul energy occupied the area. Once pristine white, his spiritual domain was now a brilliant azure, pulsating like the depths of the ocean.