Enso arrived at Kushina's home, bracing himself for a lecture. After all, he had used a clone to attend the academy in his place, and he wasn't sure how both his masters would take it. But instead of scolding, he was greeted with something completely unexpected—a cake, waiting on the table, and warm smiles from both Minato and Kushina. It wasn't the lecture he anticipated, but a celebration and acknowledgement for his hard work.
Minato, with a smile on his face, had brought an abundance of takeout, announcing that they wouldn't need to cook tonight. The trio sat down to enjoy their meal together, with Naruto crawling around on the floor, raising his tiny hands, wanting to be held by Enso. The sight of Naruto's innocence brought a smile to Enso's face, reminding him of the little things he cherished about family. For a moment, it felt like a simple, normal dinner. But as the conversation shifted, so did the mood.
Minato and Kushina began to share stories of their own experiences as Genin, emphasising the importance of teamwork. They spoke about their challenges, the bonds they forged with their comrades, and how teamwork helped them survive the most difficult missions. Enso listened intently, absorbing every word, knowing that this was more than just casual conversation—it was a lesson, a reminder of the foundation that would support him on his journey.
However, Kushina soon shifted the conversation toward Enso's future, and the lighthearted atmosphere began to fade. She gave him a serious look, her eyes scrutinising him in a way that made him feel exposed. "Enso, now that you're officially a Shinobi, what are your plans?" she asked. "I know you want revenge against the Masked Man, but do you have anything else in mind?"
Enso had not expected such a question from his mentor. His heart skipped a beat, and before he could process the question, Minato turned to him, his expression equally serious, awaiting his response.
Enso sat up straighter, his usual confident demeanour shifting to one of calm determination. "Well, my mother was a proud Uzumaki," he began, his voice steady. "Her decision to move to Hidden Leaf showed that she still valued kinship to a certain degree. Growing up, I heard countless stories about the Uzumaki clan—our legacy. If I could, I'd like to gather the scattered remnants of our people and rebuild the Uzumaki Clan. I want people like my mother, and like me, to have a place where we can call home, without constantly running or living in fear."
It was clear to both Kushina and Minato that this wasn't a sudden decision for Enso. It seems like before the Nine Tails Incident, he had already been working toward this goal. The idea of rebuilding and restoring the Uzumaki legacy was something that had been growing in his heart for years. Yet, as he spoke, Minato's expression turned grim. Kushina, too, was silent for a moment, clearly troubled by what Enso had said. The Uzumaki clan had been wiped out by a combined force of several Hidden Villages. Rebuilding it wouldn't just be difficult—it would be dangerous. Those Hidden Villages would never allow it to happen.
Kushina finally broke the silence, her voice laced with concern. "You'll need overwhelming strength to achieve this kind of ambition," she said. "The world might turn against you the moment you begin. Have you thought this through, Enso?"
Her words lingered, weighted with undeniable truth. Minato, too, turned toward Enso—his eyes reflecting a shift in understanding. What Enso had just revealed wasn't the dream of an ordinary person. It was something far greater, and far more dangerous. This wasn't just about personal growth or revenge. Enso's vision threatened to disrupt the balance of power itself. It wasn't merely the Hidden Leaf that would be affected—his ambition could shake the entire Shinobi world.
The atmosphere in the room grew tense, and Enso, despite the weight of their questions, smiled brightly. His eyes shone with determination—an unwavering resolve that both surprised and impressed his mentors. For a moment, Minato and Kushina were taken aback by the sheer depth of his conviction.
Enso's silence was his answer, and his determination was unmistakable. He wasn't going to back down from his goal. Kushina and Minato could only sigh, knowing that their student was more than capable of achieving whatever he set his mind to. Still, they were concerned for him. They knew the challenges he would face. They had seen the horrors of war, the dangers of unchecked ambition. But they also knew Enso's potential. If anyone could walk this difficult path and survive, it would be him.
Minato composed himself and spoke again, his voice softer but no less serious. "I hope you won't resort to indiscriminate killing in your quest," he said. "You possess strength and talent unmatched by anyone in history, but be cautious not to follow the path of Madara Uchiha." The mention of Madara's name was heavy with meaning, a reminder of the destructive power that ambition unchecked could bring.
Kushina, however, smiled at Enso, placing a hand on his head as she had many times before. "I wholeheartedly believe in my student," she said with absolute confidence. "He won't disappoint us."
Enso's heart swelled with gratitude at her words. He had always known that Kushina and Minato believed in him, but hearing them say it so openly filled him with warmth. It was the kind of support he hadn't realised he needed so much. He performed a sincere bow to both of them, his gratitude clear in his posture. In that moment, the three of them shared a group hug, and even Naruto, sensing the family bond, crawled over to join the embrace.
Later that evening, Enso was exempted from his usual seal training. He had been sent home early to rest, for tomorrow was an important day. Becoming a Genin marked a significant milestone for him—it was the transition from being a Shinobi in training to an official member of the village, with all the responsibilities that came with it. The weight of that responsibility was not lost on Enso, but he was ready for it.
That night, after taking a long, refreshing shower, Enso sat in deep thought. As the warm water had cascaded over him, he had gone over his battle with Itachi, reflecting on his performance. One thing stood out to him—he had neglected to use water-style Ninjutsu against Itachi. The thought lingered in his mind as he mulled over the potential of incorporating more Jutsu into his arsenal. He had always been more focused on physical training, especially his Kenjutsu and Taijutsu, but now that he was officially a Shinobi, it was time to expand his skillset. Ninjutsu could provide him with a new way to fight, one that would complement his existing strengths.
But his mind wasn't just on Itachi. He thought of Obito—the Masked Man. Obito had taken his mother from him, and the desire for vengeance burned within him. He knew that Kamui was a high-level technique, far surpassing even the Flying Thunder God technique, and that knowledge only fueled his determination to seek out a way to defeat Obito.
As Enso sifted through the memories of the souls he had consumed, one stood out—Heracles. Among the chaos and fury of that warrior's life, a few moments held valuable insight. Though he couldn't yet access Nine Lives—a technique requiring at least 70% of his full strength—he still found something useful.
Raw power alone wouldn't be enough against someone like Obito. Enso needed a technique that didn't rely on brute strength—a style with no limitations tied to physical force.
One memory in particular caught his focus: Heracles observing the duel between Saber and Assassin, Kojirou Sasaki, during the Fifth Holy Grail War. The clash had been brief but refined—calculated movements, perfect form, lethal timing.
Kojirou Sasaki, despite his disadvantage in both strength and magical energy, had proven himself a formidable opponent, repelling all Servants with nothing more than his unparalleled swordsmanship. His skill was extraordinary, but it was not his sheer power that intrigued Enso. It was his style—and, more specifically, the ultimate technique he wielded: Tsubamae Gaeshi.
This technique was the apex of swordplay—a godlike ability that required an exceptional mastery of the blade. Enso could not help but feel drawn to it, for it was a testament to pure skill. While Kojirou Sasaki lacked the divine aura compared to most servants, his swordsmanship was in a different league altogether. Enso's gaze often lingered on the memories of the duel with Saber, where Kojirou had faced an opponent of incredible power and technical skill, yet emerged victorious. His defensive counter techniques and his use of terrain had forced even Saber into a losing battle.
Kojirou's agility reminded Enso of Licht, though their approaches in swordsmanship were worlds apart. Licht's style was offensive, a relentless pursuit of dominance through raw power and unyielding speed. In contrast, Kojirou favoured defence and counterattacks. His movements were not designed to overpower, but to outlast, to create openings where others saw only dead ends. Tsubamae Gaeshi was the culmination of this philosophy.
The technique itself was as terrifying as it was brilliant. It is a technique where three concurrent arching blades close on the enemy from all sides to create a prison, allowing no chance for defence or evasion.
It began with successive slashes done "quickly", by bending the laws of physics to multiply its existence. It starts with a flash from this world, followed by two simultaneous, overlapping flashes that disregard the concept of time and space, producing a slash attack that arrives from three different directions. Each blade cuts through reality itself, even if you saw it coming, there was no way to escape it—any defences would be useless in front of such an attack.
Enso's heart raced as he considered this ultimate technique. It was an embodiment of everything he wanted to master. But there was a flaw, a small weakness that made Enso's Void Step the perfect countermeasure. Tsubamae Gaeshi required stable, flat ground—something Enso, with his Void Step, could overcome. Void Step allowed him to step briefly on thin air, changing from one foothold to another, all without relying on the ground beneath him. This ability to manipulate his position in mid-air would allow him to evade the grounded constraint of the technique.
But he was not in a rush to learn it.
Instead, Enso spent time focusing on the essence of Kojirou's swordsmanship—its fluid defensive nature. His goal was to understand the essence of the style and weave it into his own. Licht's Origin Blade Style was all about offence: aggressive strikes meant to overpower opponents, cutting through them with precision and force. But Kojirou's style was a balance of offence and defence—what Enso saw as a way to evolve his swordsmanship beyond its current form.
Using nothing more than his fingers, Enso practised tirelessly. He would mimic the movements of a blade—strikes, parries, deflections—drawing out the swordplay in the air. Every time he made a mistake, he would stop. He would replay the movement in his mind, analysing it, then start again. His focus was absolute.
Each failure left him frustrated but determined. Even with Migeiko, the ability to recall memories and adapt techniques, integrating Kojirou's unorthodox style into his own wasn't a simple task. Kojirou's defensive nature, while brilliant, was foreign to the Origin Blade Style's overwhelming offensive mindset. Merging the two would take time, and Enso knew that without muscle memory, without the ingrained movements of the Origin Blade Style, this fusion would be impossible to achieve.
There were times when Enso's frustration nearly overtook him. He would stop, eyes closed, and allow his mind to wander. It wasn't a break; it was a reset—a return to awareness. The air around him felt thicker with each failure—his body's frustration manifesting in the subtle tremble of his fingers, a sign of an adrenaline rush.
But something changed when he refocused.
The muscles in his arms began to relax, and the tension in his legs eased. His instinct began to take over. The way he balanced himself in the air was no longer just a technique—it was part of him, rooted in his core. He felt light, but more grounded than ever.
Each practice session brought greater clarity. The movements grew smoother, more instinctive. Enso no longer saw the sword's flow as something to command—it had become an extension of his will, moving as naturally as his breath.
There was harmony now. Offence and defence no longer clashed—they blended, each giving way to the other in perfect rhythm. What once felt like opposing forces had merged into a single, seamless expression of his intent.
Enso knew his technique had evolved. He wasn't just attacking anymore. He was using his sword as a living weapon—a weapon that could adapt mid-strike, shifting from an aggressive cut to a swift defence, only to turn again and finish the job with an attack.
It wasn't perfect yet, but something had begun to take shape. The Origin Blade Style, now infused with the defensive finesse of Kojirou's swordsmanship, had evolved into something new—a dynamic, adaptable form that reflects Enso's understanding of swordsmanship and combat.
Enso breathed a sigh of satisfaction. His swordsmanship had evolved, and though it wasn't perfect yet, it was a step toward something greater, reshaping his entire fighting style into something far more dangerous than before and fitting him much better than Licht Origin Blades Style.