SWNOVELXO Chapter 27: Hells's paradise.
Three months passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, my wood clone continued attending the academy, flawlessly playing the part of "Ren Senju." It behaved like me, spoke like me, trained with the others like me—no one even suspected a thing. The feedback from the clone came to me in real-time. I never missed a single conversation, a single glance, or a single movement. I was there... and yet not there.
Meanwhile, I spent every day holed up in my room, drowning in genjutsu theory, applying it with my perfect chakra control and natural energy manipulation. Day blended into night, and sleep came only when my body forced it. I didn't mind. The only time I stepped out of my room was in the evenings when Tsunade came out of the laboratory for dinner. Our conversations were light. Sometimes she'd ask about the academy. Sometimes she didn't speak at all, just shared a quiet meal beside me.
On one afternoon during the second month, she came out earlier than usual.
I took it as a chance to test the progress of my new genjutsu. I didn't want to wait until it was complete. I needed real data—something to gauge its effects even on someone who was prepared. I told Tsunade ahead of time that I'd be experimenting with genjutsu on her. She didn't ask too many questions. Just agreed and stood in place, arms folded, expectant.
I pushed a small amount of natural energy into her chakra network, embedding a sliver of focused imagination into it. That was the key—imagination and nerve disruption via nature energy. And it worked.
Tsunade froze.
She didn't collapse or scream. Her eyes simply glazed over for three seconds—three full seconds. Then, suddenly, she blinked and stepped back, a faint tremor in her breath.
"You broke out," I said calmly.
She stared at me, visibly shaken. "That… wasn't even complete, was it?"
I nodded.
That was the last time we talked about the genjutsu.
She must have realized what it could become once I perfected it. And if it could take her, a Kage-level shinobi, three seconds to break free… what hope did others have?
I returned to my room the next day, more motivated than ever. With each breakthrough, I felt myself inching closer to a technique that could rival even the Sharingan's Tsukuyomi. But mine would be natural—raw, wild, and cruel. I would make my enemies feel the weight of despair itself.
The rest of the world seemed calm in contrast. At least on the surface.
Behind closed doors, the elders and Hokage had already begun whispering about another war. It wasn't confirmed, not yet, but they could see the signs. The last Great War had ended only five years ago. The world hadn't recovered—neither in manpower nor economy. Yet the tension was rising again. It was only a matter of time.
Back at the academy, my clone continued its duty flawlessly. It was during one of those days, in the fourth week of the third month, that an instructor entered the classroom and made the announcement.
"The graduation exams will be held one month from today."
The room erupted in mixed emotions. Some were excited. Others panicked.
The instructor continued, "Anyone who wishes to appear early must submit their name."
I already knew I would. There was no point wasting time.
Kakashi stepped forward, silently writing his name down.
Guy, Asuma, Kurenai, Anko, and Rin all joined.
Obito hesitated. He looked at the list, then turned away. His fear of failing got the better of him. I saw the same doubt on many faces. Most would try again next year.
After the clone submitted my name, it returned to the Senju compound. I was already done.
My body, the real me, was sitting quietly in my room, staring at the scrolls scattered around me.
It was finished.
Three months of sweat, sleepless nights, and more trial and error than I cared to admit—but it was done.
My ultimate genjutsu technique.
Hell's Paradise.
I laughed. A real, full laugh. "Hahahaha!"
I don't know how long I cackled like that, but it echoed off the wooden walls and probably reached the compound gate. I didn't care. For the first time in weeks, I felt proud. The kind of pride that only comes when you create something completely your own.
Hell's Paradise wasn't an illusion cast with chakra through sight or sound. No, it worked differently.
Using nature energy, I would inject a sliver of chakra into the opponent—just enough to disturb their nervous system. That chakra, carrying my visualized world, would trap them within a crimson forest. A nightmarish realm filled with red trees and twisting roots. The moment they arrived in that world, the trees would bind them—strangle them, tear at them, pierce their limbs. A prison and a torture chamber all in one.
And the only way out?
They would have to realize the foreign chakra was nature-based, identify the intrusion, and forcibly eject it from their own system. All of that while they were being psychologically and physically torn apart by the illusion.
Only someone trained in senjutsu—or with a perfect chakra control rivaling mine—might have a chance.
Might.
Tsunade broke free in three seconds when I used only half power.
I couldn't wait to test the full version.
For now, though… I collapsed onto the floor and passed out, my head hitting a scroll-filled pillow.
My dream?
A world of crimson trees.
And the screams of enemies who had yet to meet them.