Hiruzen persuaded me to die

Outskirts of Kirigakure.

"Why do I have to teach you my kekkei genkai?!"

Terumi Mei's voice carried both frustration and disbelief.

"Because you lost."

Naraku's response came naturally, as if the matter was already settled.

"If you prefer, we can add it as a clause to the peace agreement," he continued casually. "Of course, we won't be offering anything extra in return."

Terumi Mei stood speechless for a moment.

There was no arguing the outcome. Yes, Kirigakure had been manipulated into attacking Konoha under the influence of that masked man, but in the end, they had lost.

Especially after witnessing Naraku's absurd display of Mokuton—there was no room left for resistance.

With a silent sigh, Terumi Mei relented. "My Lava Release is a fusion of the water and earth chakra natures," she explained. "It's a kekkei genkai that results from combining chakra attributes, but it's not something one can just learn overnight."

Naraku gave a small nod, completely undeterred.

"I have my own methods. Just perform the jutsu—I'll handle the rest."

Terumi Mei couldn't help but sneer inwardly.

So confident… let's see how long that lasts.

With a swift hand seal, she declared, "Lava Release: Acid Melting Technique!"

A thick stream of corrosive liquid hissed as it splattered across the rocky ground, instantly eating into the stone.

Naraku created a wooden branch using Mokuton and dipped it into the acid. The viscous liquid clung to the wood, slowly gnawing at it.

"Same elemental base—water and earth—but the manifestation is entirely different," he murmured in fascination.

Mokuton was also water and earth, but it gained life through the infusion of Yang Release. That vitality made Mokuton able to grow and flourish.

Lava Release, though composed of the same elements, expressed itself as a caustic, acidic substance.

Naraku began formulating theories in his mind.

So, Mokuton prioritizes earth and is supported by water and Yang. Lava Release, however, is dominated by the water aspect…

"Is that Mokuton?" Terumi Mei blinked in surprise, watching the branch form seamlessly in his hand.

She had only ever seen him use massive, earth-shaking Mokuton techniques requiring full seals in battle. Yet this—this simple branch—was conjured without even a hand sign.

What shocked her more was its durability. The acid that devoured stone barely ate through it.

"Surely you understand how hard it is to learn a kekkei genkai after mastering Mokuton, right?" she pressed, almost trying to dissuade him.

To her, mastering Mokuton—especially at the level of the First Hokage's Great Buddha Jutsu—must have taken years.

And she herself was born with both Lava and Boil Releases. Even with innate affinity, it had taken time and effort to control them.

"And besides," she continued, confused, "why even bother? Mokuton is already the pinnacle of kekkei genkai!"

Naraku only smiled faintly.

"Learning something new… is fulfilling in itself. The process is half the joy."

Then he added, eyes calm but burning with curiosity:

"Is mastering a kekkei genkai truly that difficult?"

With a subtle flick, light blue Tenseigan chakra swirled into his fingers. He extended his hand toward Terumi Mei.

"Wha—?!"

She stumbled back in shock.

For a moment, it felt as if her chakra had been drawn right out of her!

Naraku's eyes narrowed as he observed the swirling Lava Release chakra he had extracted.

Just as I thought. The elemental ratio determines the property of the kekkei genkai.

It wasn't just theory anymore—Lava Release was proving it.

In Kumo, Dodai's Lava Release took on a rubbery, elastic form with incredible resilience.

In Iwagakure, Kurotsuchi's Lava Release behaved more like cement—used to immobilize and trap.

And then there was Gari of the Explosion Release—another Fire–Earth fusion, yet his chakra erupted with explosive force!

Clearly, different chakra ratios—even among the same elemental pairings—produced wildly distinct results.

"Even if you absorb chakra, it doesn't mean you can use the kekkei genkai!" Terumi Mei argued, regaining her composure.

She was right, in theory.

Dark Release, another rare kekkei genkai, could absorb chakra—but no user had ever replicated another's bloodline ability just by absorbing it.

Naraku didn't bother to respond. He formed seals, calm and confident.

"Lava Release: Acid Melting Technique."

A wave of corrosive sludge burst forward, sizzling against the ground, burning through weeds and stone alike.

Terumi Mei stared in disbelief.

This is real… Lava Release?!

He learned it? Instantly?!

Even with her natural affinity, she had needed training and time to master it.

"…The results are… mediocre," Naraku muttered, shaking his head.

Terumi Mei nearly choked.

Mediocre?!

This man had just replicated her kekkei genkai after seeing it once—and now he was criticizing it?!

"Let's try Boil Release next."

In his memory, Boil Release had melted through Susanoo itself.

And its potential wasn't limited to offense. Han of Iwagakure, the Five-Tails' Jinchūriki, had combined Boil Release with taijutsu to devastating effect.

"…You're unbelievable," Terumi Mei muttered.

Still, she complied.

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

A thick, scalding white mist spewed from her mouth, hissing as it hit the air. Even the sturdy Mokuton branch corroded rapidly under its heat.

Naraku nodded.

"Definitely stronger corrosion than Lava Release."

Then he gently swept a hand across Terumi Mei, pulling out a stream of Boil Release chakra.

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique."

He completed the hand seals—but nothing happened.

Terumi Mei let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

Finally—finally! A limit.

"Hah! See? Boil Release is not as easy as Lava Release," she said triumphantly.

"It's water and fire—a far more unstable combination!"

Indeed, fire and lightning chakra were volatile and difficult to control. Water and earth were more balanced.

Even in standard ninjutsu, water and earth could span wide areas, while large-scale fire required masterful chakra control.

She crossed her arms, smug. Even he can't crack this one so easily.

Naraku said nothing, eyes focused.

A moment passed.

Then—

"Boil Release: Skilled Mist Technique!"

White-hot acidic mist exploded out in every direction, far exceeding the range of Terumi Mei's earlier technique.

"…What…"

Terumi Mei was speechless.

He actually did it?! And with this power and scale?!

"Maybe," she muttered bitterly, "you should be teaching me instead…"