Naruto: Desert Phantom

The Anbu training grounds of Sunagakure, like the living quarters, were located in the shadow of the pyramid. But unlike the residential complex, they weren't inside a building.

They consisted of many smaller natural caves and tunnels, expanded and reinforced over the years using Earth Release jutsu.

Like a massive labyrinth, they stretched through the soft sandstone, creating the perfect environment to train in all kinds of scenarios.

In one of these caves, Sabaku stood before his Anbu Commander.

He felt used.

For almost two hours, he had been stuck lying on that table while Camel experimented on him, poked and prodded like a test subject, until Lion had finally freed him.

In his eyes, it was borderline torture.

One test after another, while he wasn't even allowed to get dressed.

And worse… her massive milkers had been dangling in his face the entire time.

If he hadn't been completely naked and in constant danger of getting a boner, he might have actually enjoyed himself.

But instead, he had spent the entire two hours forcing himself to think about wrinkled old grannies.

Because he knew he wouldn't survive Camel's teasing if he actually reacted to her body.

'I swear she did that on purpose. Some of those positions were just too unnatural… Why else would her mommy-milkers brush against me so often? She wanted me to embarrass myself… or was this already part of my training?! If so, it was effective!'

He was pulled back to reality by Lion's voice.

"I've studied your file. You were a kind of mediocre student at the Academy. Not particularly talented in offensiv or defensiv jutsu. And even as a Genin, that hasn't changed much. Very good chakra control, average chakra reserves…"

Sabaku remained silent.

None of this was new to him.

He had already dug through the original Sabaku's memories as thoroughly as he could to learn everything about his situation.

"The only promising aspect in your portfolio? Your mastered Jutsus, your talent as a sensor and especially your own Mirage Jutsu. And now that we know you have a Kekkei Genkai…"

Lion's eyes gleamed with certainty.

"We will build on your strengths. You have the foundations to become a perfect spy and assassin. And we will turn you into a monster in that field."

Sabaku nodded absentmindedly.

He knew the next months—years—would be brutal.

He would have to grind harder than any protagonist in the anime he used to watch, because his life was on the line.

His cozy hospital bed days were over.

His own life had become a goddamn shonen.

"What do you know about Kekkei Genkai?" Lion asked.

'What do I say? I can't reveal too much… just what a Genin should know. But how much is that exactly?'

Sabaku's thoughts raced.

"They are special abilities passed down from parents to their children. Most are a unique combination of different chakra natures, like Lava Release," Sabaku finally answered.

Lion took his time, his gaze lingering on Sabaku as if measuring how much he truly understood.

After a long pause, he spoke, his voice calm but firm. "I'm starting to think that you weren't paying enough attention in the academy, Fennec. Or maybe you've forgotten too much. Remember—knowledge is a weapon. You never know when you'll need it."

He crossed his arms. "Most shinobi believe Kekkei Genkai are just special abilities tied to certain bloodlines. But that's a crude oversimplification."

Lion exhaled slowly before continuing. "Kekkei Genkai fall into two main categories. The first are naturally occurring Kekkei Genkai—abilities that exist without any active effort. They aren't learned or developed but are an inherent part of the body or chakra network from birth. Your case most likely falls into this category."

Sabaku nodded, though irritation prickled at him. He didn't like how Lion made it sound like he'd given a bad answer.

"Then there are the learned Kekkei Genkai," Lion continued. "These do not manifest through inheritance but rather through deep study and an advanced understanding of a specific chakra phenomenon."

Sabaku raised an eyebrow. "Learned Kekkei Genkai?"

'Did those even exist in Naruto?!'

Lion nodded. "One example is the Kazekage's Magnet Release. It wasn't inherited but developed by him personally. He spent years studying the iron-rich sand mist around the Pyramid's peak, analyzing the movements,the swirls and its interactions with chakra.

Eventually, his chakra began reacting to the iron until the magnetic power became a part of him."

Sabaku's thoughts raced.

So not every Kekkei Genkai was tied to DNA? They could be learned? Could he acquire more than one?

'Fuck! If Madara has even more Gekkei Genkei, the shinobi will be knee-deep in shit!'

Lion continued. "Another example is Iwagakure's Dust Release. It requires such an advanced level of chakra shape transformation and nature manipulation that the Second Tsuchikage only passed it down to his most talented student, Oniki the Third Kazekage."

Sabaku was fascinated. This changed everything.

Even if he wasn't sure whether this information was canon or not, the idea of acquiring additional Kekkei Genkai opened countless possibilities.

"But there's another distinction," Lion said, locking eyes with him.

"Some Kekkei Genkai are inheritable—like Magnet Release, which the Kazekage's son also possesses. Others can only be acquired through learning, like Dust Release. One type becomes a genetic trait, while the other depends entirely on knowledge and application."

"And another distincition are chakra based gekkei genkai like the lava-release you memtioned and on the other side are the physical Kekkei Genkai," Lion went on. "These directly affect the body. They aren't tied to chakra but instead alter the user's physiology."

He paused, ensuring Sabaku was still following.

"Dōjutsu like the Sharingan or Byakugan fall into this category. They're not chakra-based abilities but biological mutations. There are also Kekkei Genkai that modify muscles or skin—like the Kurogane Clan's steel body."

Sabaku frowned.

'Who the hell is the Kurogane Clan?!'

"Your Kekkei Genkai is neither physical nor learned—you didn't acquire it through research or training. It's a natural mutation within your chakra network. So, as I said earlier, it most likely falls into the first category. But we'll get a clearer answer from Camel soon."

Sabaku leaned back slightly. "That means… it could be hereditary?"

"Possibly. Maybe in a few years, we'll have dozens of undetectable Sabaku Clan prodigies running around Suna." Lion smirked slightly. "But that's something for the future. For now, let's focus on your training. The Kazekage has assigned every available resource to ensure you reach your full potential."

Lion pulled out a large scroll from his pocket.

"This is your training schedule. Mornings will start with physical conditioning. After that, you'll study everything a spy and assassin needs to know—how to erase your tracks, how to approach a target, all of it. Anbu 007 from the regular Anbu-Corps will be your instructor."

"In the afternoons, I will personally teach you combat and assassination techniques. I had a custom-made glove with a hidden assassin's blade crafted for you. It's a traditional weapon of my clan, and I thought it suited you, given your missing arm. I'll teach you how to use it properly."

"In the evenings, you'll meditate in a chamber filled with chakra stones to strengthen your chakra affinities. After that, your time is your own. But we expect you to furder refine your mirage jutsu."

He handed the schedule to Sabaku, who immediately widened his eyes at the sheer intensity of it.

'My life is going to be hell', he thought as he skimmed through it. Barely any breaks, no time for his own life…

'Not that I had much of a life in this world to begin with.'

Then his gaze landed on the last part.

Chakra stones?

"Any questions?" Lion asked.

"What the hell are chakra stones?" Sabaku blurted out before he could stop himself.

Lion's eyes twitched.

"Are you forgetful or just plain stupid? Has the academy's curriculum degraded so badly in recent years? What kind of question is that? Do I need to send you back to the academy for a 'Ninja-For-Dummies' course?"

At that moment, Sabaku's mind flooded with old memories, knowledge from the original Sabaku that had been buried deep, now surfacing at the worst possible moment.

Of course, he knew what chakra stones were.

Ores infused with an immense concentration of elemental chakra. Each of the five main elements had a corresponding stone, a natural conductor for its respective affinity. They were incredibly rare and highly sought after, especially for training purposes.

He had learned about them in the academy.

The original Sabaku just… hadn't expected them to actually exist in a practical way. Most students thought of them as a theoretical concept, something shinobi discussed but rarely encountered outside of elite research labs or the vaults of the great villages.

'Shit. That was a dumb slip-up.'

He needed to recover, and fast.

Sabaku forced a grin, raising his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Commander. I was just joking. You know, keeping the mood light. Wouldn't want my super serious Anbu training to be too dry, right?"

Lion's stare was made of stone.

Sabaku swallowed.

"Joking, huh?" The commander's tone was flat. "Is that what you think this is?"

Sabaku held back a sigh. 'Yup, he's not buying it.'

Lion took a slow step forward, the weight of his presence pressing down on Sabaku like a sandstorm about to hit. "Fennec, let me make one thing very clear," he said, his voice like grinding rock. "You are not in the academy anymore. There is no place for jokes in this training. You either learn, or you die."

Sabaku stiffened.

Lion didn't raise his voice, didn't look particularly angry. But the intensity in his words carried a promise—a warning.

Sabaku forced himself to nod, keeping his expression as neutral as possible. "Understood."

A beat of silence stretched between them before Lion let out a short, unimpressed snort. "Tch. Your humor is as bad as your academic retention."

Sabaku exhaled slowly, relieved that the topic was shifting.

"Since you apparently need a reminder," Lion continued, "chakra stones are some of the rarest training resources in existence. Each elemental nature has a corresponding ore that naturally absorbs and stores chakra over centuries. Fire affinity stones are often found in volcanic regions, Earth affinity stones in deep underground caves, and so on. Their purpose is to refine chakra control and increase compatibility with an affinity."

He folded his arms. "We don't waste them on just anyone."

Sabaku perked up slightly at that. "So, I get to use them because of my Kekkei Genkai?"

Lion gave him a side glance. "That, and the Kazekage has decided you're too valuable to train like an ordinary shinobi."

Sabaku couldn't help but feel a little smug about that. He was getting the VIP treatment. Finally, something was going his way.

"You'll be using wind-affinity stones primarily," Lion went on. "You have an affinity for fire as well, but it's weaker. We'll focus on your strengths first."

Sabaku nodded, keeping his thoughts to himself.

He was about to spend nights meditating with chakra-infused minerals? That actually sounded… kind of cool.

'But when do I sleep?!'

'Hopefully this training won't be entirely hellish.'

But that thought died rather quickly.

"Now run until you physicly can't. And better dodge my kunais!" Lion said while throwing the first.