Chapter 29: The Crucible of the Shadows
The true essence of Tsunade's secret technique was not mere reinforcement, but compression. The act of gathering the latent power from every muscle fiber, every sinew, every ounce of chakra-infused vitality, and condensing it into a single, infinitesimal point of release.
In theory, a shinobi who could achieve 100% compression—harnessing every iota of their physical and chakra potential into a single strike—would stand at the pinnacle of the world, needing no ninjutsu to command awe. But as Tsunade's notes candidly admitted, that was a fantasy. The human body was a fragile vessel. Attempting total compression would likely cause it to rupture from the inside out. Even Tsunade, with her Senju vitality and unparalleled chakra control, could only manage a stable compression ratio of 40-50%.
The practice was deceptively simple in concept, fiendishly complex in execution. It demanded exquisite, granular control over one's own biology. How does one measure "10% compression"? How does one direct power from the extremities to a central point without causing internal damage? It required a profound, almost surgical understanding of the body—a field where Tsunade, as the world's greatest medical ninja, reigned supreme. Coupled with her lineage as a descendant of Asura, her chakra naturally brimming with potent Yang vitality, she was uniquely equipped to wield such a dangerous power.
"One hundred percent…" Ragnar murmured, the ambition a cold spark in his mind. "How far can I push it?"
He shelved the grandiose thought. Power was built brick by brick. The scroll outlined the first step: coating the body's surface with a uniform layer of chakra. With his experience molding Armament Haki over his limbs, this was trivial. A flicker of focus, and a faint, shimmering blue aura clung to his skin.
The second step—compression—was the true hurdle. Tsunade's notes provided the key: a force-generation method called "Spiral Force." It utilized a spiraling, inward-whirling motion of chakra to gather and condense power from the body's periphery toward a focal point.
Spiral Force… The principle was strikingly similar to the Rasengan. The parallel was not lost on him. It seemed the greatest techniques often echoed the same fundamental truths.
With a clear methodology, progress, while grueling, became possible. Time, measured only by the rhythm of his training and the shared fatigue of his clones, blurred.
A week passed in the isolated stone chamber.
His shadow clones were a force multiplier. One dedicated itself to pushing the boundaries of Haki, the other to refining Shave and Moon Walk into a seamless, three-dimensional movement style. Ragnar himself drilled the Spiral Force, his senses hyper-attuned by Observation Haki to the flow of chakra within his own flesh. He learned to feel the "weight" of power in his limbs and began the agonizing process of drawing it inward.
The results were tangible. His compression control stabilized at roughly 10%—a foundational, yet significant, step. More importantly, the constant, intense practice across three bodies had accelerated his system's growth. His experience points, earned through sheer exertion, had climbed to 800/10000. The rate was far beyond his solitary training before.
But perpetual seclusion was not the ANBU way. Strength needed to be tested, tempered in conflict. It was time to step out.
The moment he opened the heavy training room door, a familiar presence solidified from the gloom.
"Tengu."
The dog-masked operative stood silently, his posture assessing. "A full week in the chamber. No breaks noted. It seems your reputation is not unearned," he stated, his voice neutral. Within ANBU, only the captains and Tengu, his designated handler, knew the face behind the red Rakshasa mask. To the rest, he was just another new ghost.
"I've made some progress. Care to test it?" Ragnar asked, the offer casual but his intent sharp.
Tengu almost accepted—the professional curiosity was there—but the memory of being effortlessly paced across Konoha's rooftops was a fresh bruise on his pride. He remained still. "If you seek practical experience, I know a more suitable venue."
He turned without waiting for a reply. Ragnar fell into step behind him.
They navigated the labyrinthine underground complex, passing other masked operatives in the dim light. Interactions were minimal—a curt nod at most, often nothing at all. This was ANBU culture: anonymity bred detachment, which in turn forged the perfect, emotionless instrument. Their business was assassination, infiltration, and behind-the-lines butchery—work that left little room for camaraderie, especially in an era sliding toward total war.
Finally, they entered a vast, cavernous space. The air here was different—charged, tense. At its center, two masked ANBU were locked in a vicious, silent duel. Kunai sparked, bodies blurred with Body Flickers, and compact, efficient ninjutsu—a torrent of water, a flash of fire—lit the arena. Around the perimeter, dozens of other operatives stood watching, utterly silent. No cheers, no gasps, just intense, clinical observation.
"A duel?" Ragnar murmured, stopping at the edge of the crowd.
"Internal spars," Tengu confirmed, his voice low. "No rules, save one: no intentional killing or maiming. The masks grant freedom. You can use anything in your arsenal without fear of your identity being linked to the technique."
Ragnar understood. It was an underground fighting ring, sanitized and sanctioned. A perfect pressure valve and training tool.
"Total active operatives: one hundred and eight. Divided into three platoons. Each platoon captain is a jonin. Among them are thirty-six jonin-level fighters; the rest are chunin, elite chunin, and special jonin," Tengu explained, his tone that of a briefing officer. "To encourage… proactive skill development, the captains maintain a roster. Rankings are determined here."
He gestured to a large stone slate on one wall. It was etched with rows of symbols—stylized animal masks—and corresponding codenames.
Ragnar's eyes scanned the list.
1. White Fang. The current ANBU captain. Hatake Sakumo. No surprise.
2. Red Sun. A codename he didn't recognize.
3. Serpent.
His gaze lingered on the third entry. Serpent. The pieces connected instantly. Orochimaru. Of course. The Sannin had served in ANBU, even led a squad. He'd almost forgotten the snake sannin's deep roots in Konoha's black ops.
A cold ripple of caution spread through him. Orochimaru of this era might not yet be the grotesque immortal he would become, but his curiosity was already legendary, and his morality was… flexible. Being on his radar, even as an anonymous mask, was a variable that demanded respect and wariness. Ragnar filed the knowledge away, a mental note to operate with an extra layer of discretion.
His eyes continued down the list, absorbing the hierarchy of ghosts.
"Do you wish to participate?" Tengu asked, watching the masked boy beside him. "It is the fastest way to learn what you are truly capable of… and what the shadows of Konoha are capable of."
On the arena floor, one combatant landed a pinpoint strike that shattered the other's guard. The defeated operative vanished in a Body Flicker, conceding. The victor stood alone for a moment, chest heaving slightly beneath the uniform, then also disappeared into the surrounding darkness.
A space had opened. The silent audience waited.
Behind the blood-red Rakshasa mask, Ragnar's eyes narrowed. This was not the structured format of the academy tournament. This was raw, unfiltered combat with seasoned killers.
"Alright," he said, his voice emerging flat and distorted by the porcelain. "Let's give it a try."
(End of Chapter)
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