“Kurenai, I’ve invited Kakashi, Rin, and the others to the barbecue restaurant for lunch.
My treat!”
For the past two semesters, Asuma and Kurenai’s sparring matches had always ended in a draw.
This year, perhaps because the Third Hokage was watching, Asuma couldn’t hold back and ended up winning.
Now, he was panicking a little.
At the school gates, Kaito gloated for a few seconds as he watched Asuma desperately try to curry favor.
He then declined Obito’s invitation and headed home with his small backpack.
Summer vacation had finally begun!
“Aunt Shu, I’m home!
Guess what rank I got on the exams this time?”
Aunt Shu emerged from the kitchen wearing an apron.
“Whatever rank our little Kaito gets is fine by me.”
“Fifth place.
I’ve met the graduation requirements.”
“Really?
You’re amazing, Kaito.
I’ll make you something delicious.” Aunt Shu turned and went back into the kitchen.
Kaito felt a bit helpless.
As a non-ninja, Aunt Shu had no real concept of what that meant.
He decided to wait until Uncle Takumi got home that evening to share the news properly.
He returned to his room, quickly fixed his hair, sat on his bed, and opened his status panel.
Template: Trainee Ninja (2/3) Basic Attributes (3) Physical Strength: 23.55 Mental Strength: 28.90 Chakra Capacity: 27.30 Main Skills (4) Throwing Jutsu Level 1 (100% + 2%) (Current template limit reached) (Duplicates omitted) Auxiliary Skills (9) (Hidden) Free Attribute Points: 14
“My basic attributes increased a bit after the fight with Kakashi.
Also, this ‘current template limit reached’ thing…” Kaito thought aloud, his eyes lingering on the template section.
“For the Trainee Ninja template, is the maximum level for each skill Level 1 at 100%?
If I want to improve further, do I need to upgrade the template?”
The very first line of the status panel was the template, which Kaito had naturally noticed long ago.
However, he had previously assumed it was just a description of his ninja rank and that it would automatically change to Genin once he graduated.
Now, it seemed that wasn’t the case.
“The numbers in the parentheses next to the template changed from (0/3) to (2/3).
If my guess is right, that ‘2’ represents the two skills I’ve pushed to the template’s limit.
In other words, if I max out one more skill, will I be able to upgrade the template?”
He pondered for a moment.
Which skill should he upgrade?
The Basic Three Jutsu?
His current proficiency with them was practically enough.
He could use them flexibly in combat, and their stealthiness was decent.
Unless he was facing a highly experienced Chunin or Jonin, most opponents wouldn’t be able to see through them at a glance.
Upgrading them further wouldn’t yield much short-term benefit.
“Next, I need to figure out a way to learn a few ninjutsu, so my chakra capacity is crucial.
I’ll upgrade that!”
Chakra Refining Jutsu Level 0 (74%)
Add seven points!
Chakra Refining Jutsu Level 1 (100% + 14%) (Current template limit reached)
A line of text scrolled past: *’Ninja template upgrade conditions met.
Proceed with upgrade?’*
“I knew it…
Yes!”
The status panel instantly dimmed.
A few seconds later, it gradually reappeared.
*’Ninja template upgraded to Genin template.
Skill level cap increased to Level 2.
Acquired Free Attribute Points * 5.
Acquired True Skill * 1 (Note: The level cap for a True Skill is the template limit + 2).’*
“Five attribute points?
A True Skill?
The level cap is the template limit plus two?” Kaito was both thrilled and astonished as he examined his new template.
Template: Genin (0/4) (Duplicates omitted) Main Skills (4) Basic Three Jutsu Level 1 (7%) Throwing Jutsu Level 2 (2%) Chakra Refining Jutsu Level 2 (14%) Taijutsu Level 1 (19%) Auxiliary Skills (9) True Skill 1: ???
Free Attribute Points: 12
“What the hell is with the three question marks?
Hnnng—”
Kaito’s face turned beet red from straining, but he didn’t awaken any primal powers, nor did he manifest any unprecedented superpowers.
After studying it for a long time without any results, he could only scratch his head in confusion and look at the rest of the panel first.
‘Could it be that I’m not strong enough yet, so it hasn’t activated?’
The other changes weren’t too drastic; it was just that the skills previously stuck at Level 1 had leveled up to Level 2.
Kaito pulled out a kunai and tested his grip, finding it felt even more familiar in his hand.
He sat back on his bed and began refining chakra.
Compared to before, his refining speed was nearly four times faster!
“Hmm, (0/4) means that if I want to upgrade to the Chunin template, I need to raise four skills to Level 2 at 100%.
I don’t have enough attribute points right now.
I need to get at least thirteen more.
No, thirteen isn’t enough either.
I still have ninjutsu to learn, and I have no idea what this True Skill is or when it will activate.
If it’s not particularly powerful, prioritizing the template upgrade might actually hinder my overall growth in strength.”
“I should figure out how to learn some ninjutsu first!”
Kaito adjusted his hair.
Who could he trick into teaching him?
Obito would be the easiest to fool, but dealing with the Uchiha clan was a bit troublesome.
Asuma was hostile toward him, and Kakashi wasn’t the Copy Ninja yet, making him hard to trick.
Out of his remaining acquaintances, who else knew ninjutsu?
If he had already graduated, having a Jonin instructor would make things easy, but graduation was still half a year away.
‘Should I…
write a dirty book and hang around the women’s bathhouse to see if I can bump into Jiraiya?’
‘No, that won’t work.
I can’t seek out Jiraiya, and I definitely can’t take him as a master.
Jiraiya is too sharp; if we spent every day together, he’d easily notice something is wrong with me.’
‘What should I do?
The Rasengan?’
Kaito sat at his desk and began scribbling and drawing.
Utilizing his deep well of Naruto knowledge as a correction tape, he listed out a massive number of Konoha ninjas along with their personality traits, analyzing them one by one.
He wrote in Chinese characters, so he wasn’t worried about anyone discovering his secrets.
Unfortunately, most of the major characters in Naruto were either not born yet or still studying at the academy.
As for the older generation of ninjas, there were truly very few that Kaito could actually get in touch with.
After thinking in circles, he was back to square one.
“What did Azuki say her dad’s name was today?
Mitarai…
Yotsuba?
He isn’t Shisou Mitarai of the Eight Colors of Konoha, but her father must still be a ninja, right?
Yeah, given Azuki’s strength, she definitely started training before entering the academy.
Could I use Malatang to trick her dad out of a few ninjutsu?”
It would be highly difficult, but there was still some room to maneuver.
Kaito decided to try his luck.
When he delivered the Malatang to Azuki, he would interact with Yotsuba Mitarai and see what kind of personality he had.
“Then I need to make a delicious bowl of Malatang first.” Kaito stood up and walked toward the kitchen.
Hesitating for a moment, he added one attribute point to his Taijutsu.
Taijutsu Level 1 (39%)
A faint, tingling sensation spread through him as his physical strength slowly increased once more.
Realizing during his previous duel with Kakashi that his physical power was still inferior, Kaito understood he had underestimated the limits of children in the Naruto world.
Adding a small amount of points to Taijutsu wouldn’t turn him into a muscle-bound meathead just yet.
“Aunt Shu, let me help you cook!”
“No need.
Don’t come in here, the smoke will choke you.”
Kaito grinned, showing his teeth.
“Aunt Shu, my teacher said that chopping vegetables can train my eyesight and arm strength, which is very helpful for a ninja’s training.
Let me practice.”
“Really?” Aunt Shu was half-skeptical but didn’t stop him.
“But you don’t know how…”
“Aunt Shu, you’re underestimating the dignified fifth-place student of the academy’s third-year class.” Kaito playfully nudged the heavy-set Aunt Shu aside, took the kitchen knife from her hands, and began chopping green onions with a rapid chop-chop-chop.
Aunt Shu stared blankly for a moment before her face broke into a wide smile.
“Our little Kaito is amazing.
You know how to do everything.”
Kaito knew how to cook before he transmigrated, so he was no stranger to chopping vegetables.
After finishing the green onions, he moved on to the cabbage, expertly slicing even the tough stalks.
“Our little Kaito is amazing!” Aunt Shu praised again.
Kaito chuckled.
“Aunt Shu, I accidentally learned how to make a…
special dish.
How about I try making it for you and Uncle Takumi tomorrow?”
“Is that so?
Our little Kaito is amazing!”
‘Success.’ Kaito had successfully secured the rights to use the kitchen and the opportunity to test his Malatang recipe.
Unfortunately, to protect his hairline before transmigrating, he rarely ate spicy food and certainly didn’t know how to cook authentic Sichuan cuisine.
He could only try his hand at the relatively simple Malatang, hoping it would be enough to win Azuki over.
At that moment, a sudden thought struck him.
Would cooking appear in his skill panel?
“…Huh?!
Ah?!
Fuck!!!”
True Skill 1: Cooking Level 2 (47%)
“What the…
WTF?!”