"..."
Ryohei was speechless.
He did not know how to evaluate Jokichi.
Was he afraid of death?
But he clearly had regenerative abilities akin to an immortal body.
Was he cowardly?
When fighting, he often used tactics of trading injuries for his life; it was impossible for him to be cowardly.
In other words, Jokichi truly believed he was very weak.
But, was Jokichi truly weak?
Ryohei fell into deep thought.
Leaving aside those items with various functions, and even the Mangekyo Sharingan which was extremely rare even among the Uchiha, could go unmentioned.
However, his speed and strength were only slightly inferior to his own, his endurance completely crushed his, his astonishing chakra volume and special constitution akin to an immortal body, his proficient combat skills, his rich combat experience...
Just these alone were enough for him to fight those Tokubetsu Jonin.
Not to mention he had also mastered the fire-attribute chakra nature transformation, could freely imbue weapons with chakra shape transformation, and had learned a large number of the Uchiha clan's secret Fire Release jutsu.
With this standard, in a head-on confrontation, an ordinary Jonin would have to kneel.
If he used the Mangekyo Sharingan...
Heh!
Although Ryohei did not know the specific power of the Mangekyo Sharingan, he could somewhat guess a bit from the might of the three-tomoe.
If Jokichi used the Sharingan, even if it was just the three-tomoe form, Ryohei absolutely did not think he had any chance of winning.
If he used those messy items, he felt no one in the ninja world would be his match.
Yet, it was exactly this kind of strength that was also considered very weak in Jokichi's eyes.
For a moment, Ryohei somewhat doubted his life.
"What is wrong?"
Seeing Ryohei remain silent for a long time, Jokichi could not help but ask.
"No, nothing." Ryohei snapped back to reality. "However, if it is just other ninjutsu training, there is no need for me to keep accompanying you."
Jokichi hesitated for a moment and asked, "...Do you have anything busy going on recently?"
"It is not that I have anything busy, it is just..." Ryohei paused and continued, "I have spent all my savings. If I do not go out on missions anymore, I will not be able to feed myself."
"I see." Jokichi suddenly realized.
Jonin could accept high-level missions, and the remuneration was a lot.
But similarly, the expenses were also very high.
Various weapons, supplies, medical goods, and so on...
If it was not wartime and not a mandatory mission, these expenses were borne by the ninjas themselves.
After all, ninjas, to put it plainly, were also existences like mercenaries.
Although Ryohei had accumulated quite a bit of savings during his dozen or so years in Root, these past three years of spending with no income...
Especially this past year accompanying Jokichi in life-and-death struggles.
A massive amount of physical stamina was consumed every day, and the need for food supplements was exceptionally large.
There were also the consumption of weapons and medicine, and so on...
Now, Ryohei had very little savings left. If he did not accept missions, he would have no food to eat.
Jokichi saw all of Ryohei's dedication.
This subordinate who was controlled by him using Kotoamatsukami and became his servant...
Although he only treated him as a tool at first.
But as they spent time together, Ryohei gradually found back the heart that had been obliterated in Root.
Regarding Jokichi's cultivation...
From executing orders at the beginning to being spontaneous and proactive later, Ryohei's psychological changes could be seen from his increasingly changing expressions. How could Jokichi, who had trained with Ryohei for a year, not feel it.
Repay kindness with kindness, and repay enmity with vengeance.
Ryohei treated him sincerely, so he would not simply treat Ryohei as a tool.
After all, Jokichi himself was not enthusiastic about power.
He never cared about master and servant relationships to begin with.
The relationship between the two changed from master and servant at the very beginning to superior and subordinate, then to the relationship of senior and junior, and now to friends.
The two met every day for a year, picked up weapons to fight every day, knew each other's personalities inside and out, and could also feel the changes in each other's intentions.
Regarding Ryohei wasting all his time and money on him, Jokichi also felt somewhat apologetic in his heart.
Therefore, after Ryohei explained the situation, he did not obstruct him either.
After all, he had already completed one chakra nature transformation. Although the subsequent training content would be different, it would also be much the same.
As for ninjutsu, there were also recorded training methods.
Having absorbed the Soul of a Genius, he could also learn them quickly.
"Then, I will take my leave first."
Ryohei waved to Jokichi and turned to leave.
He had to go back and sort out his equipment to cope with the mission departing tomorrow.
"Wait a moment."
Jokichi stopped him.
Ryohei paused his figure and looked back.
Jokichi did not speak, but he was somewhat hesitant in his heart.
"Do not worry." Ryohei smiled gently. "I am a veteran who has been a Jonin for nearly ten years. Even if I have not gone on a mission for three years, I have not forgotten that experience."
At the end, he paused and added, "Moreover, fighting with you for a year, I have also improved a lot."
"I am naturally very at ease with your strength, however..." Jokichi hesitated for a moment, took out two katana swords from a scroll, and handed them over. "Take these two swords."
The swords were three feet and three inches long, and the blades were two fingers wide.
The edges were sharp, emitting a cold glint, the spines were slightly broad and thick, and there were dragon-patterned blood grooves on the blades. One was entirely blood-red, and the other was entirely ice-blue.
The patterns on the hilts and blades, as well as the style of the handguards, all showed that they were a pair.
"These are?"
Ryohei did not take them, but looked at the style of the swords once before looking at Jokichi in confusion.
Jokichi smiled and said, "Although your strength is very high, there are many in the ninja world who are stronger than you. These two swords can let your strength be exerted to the extreme. Moreover, these are swords forged from your body, so, accept them!"
"Swords forged from my body?"
Ryohei's pitch-black eyes became even more confused.
However, although he did not understand, he did not ask.
Just as he never asked about the bizarre and weird items on Jokichi's body, he simply stretched out his hands calmly and took the blood-red and ice-blue twin swords.
At the instant he touched the swords and a cold sensation transmitted from his skin, Ryohei knew the names and abilities of these two swords.
"Sword of No Heart: A blade completely devoid of emotion, a sword possessing special toughness and sharpness. If the sword wielder is heartless and ruthless, they can exert the active skill: Indestructible. (Note: This is a sharp weapon capable of severing any armor.)"
"Sword of Affection: A blade possessing emotion, a sword possessing special toughness and sharpness. If the sword wielder possesses strong emotions, they can exert the active skill: Sever All Things. (Note: This is a sharp weapon capable of even severing energy.)"
The Sword of No Heart represented Ryohei's past in Root, and the Sword of Affection represented his present of finding his emotions back.
These two swords were forged a year ago and a month ago.
A year ago, after forging the Sword of No Heart, Ryohei's bodily tissues no longer possessed the potential to forge items.
But a month ago, during an exchange of blows, he accidentally got stained with Ryohei's blood, and the system prompt sounded in his mind.
It was also at this moment that Jokichi understood.
The potential with memes circulated in his past life could be forged at any time, while the potential one possessed internally could only be forged when the person themselves possessed it.
This was also one of the reasons why Jokichi wanted to continue staying at the academy.
Because the bodily tissues obtained from Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, and others forged items that were exceptionally scammy, having nothing to do with their families' secret jutsu.