After dinner, Yakumo reviewed and memorized the theoretical knowledge his teacher had taught him before immediately attempting to extract chakra.
Starting out as an orphan, he could rely on no one but himself.
With his sense of security at an all-time low, he had to seize every opportunity to become stronger.
According to the reference materials, chakra was a mixture of spiritual energy and physical energy drawn from the body’s cells.
It originated from the combination of energy deep within one’s soul and the energy contained in the body’s countless cells.
Yakumo sank his consciousness into his body, sensing the flow of energy within him.
A tiny amount of chakra emerged in his lower abdomen before beginning to circulate throughout his body.
Everyone in this world possessed a certain amount of chakra.
However, only those capable of consciously drawing upon and accumulating that energy possessed the aptitude to become shinobi.
It wasn’t until the world outside had grown completely dark that Yakumo finally opened his eyes.
The tiny amount of chakra inside him seemed as though it might dissipate at any moment.
This was the result of two hours of effort.
Although his parents had passed down to him the potential to become a shinobi, that talent was pitifully weak.
[Personal Information]
Name: Iori Yakumo Age: 7
Stamina: 3.4 (endurance, resistance, recovery)Strength: 2.8 (lifting capacity, attack power, etc.)Agility: 3.2 (reflexes, running speed)Intelligence: 4.3 (learning ability, mental resistance)Chakra: 0.05 (10 points required to advance to Genin)[Personal Skills]
Passive Skill: Chakra Extraction Technique — Acceleration
Gold Coins: 550
As he practiced chakra extraction, the godforsaken little game introduced an entirely new skill interface.
With a mere thought, Yakumo lightly touched the Acceleration option.
『Would you like to spend 100 gold coins to accelerate this skill?
(Note: The acceleration process is irreversible, and refunds are unavailable.)』
“Confirm.”
『100 gold coins deducted.』
『We wish you an enjoyable gaming experience.
Create happiness with dedication.』
Accompanied by the game’s mechanical electronic voice, the tiny amount of chakra in Yakumo’s body suddenly multiplied several times over.
It felt as though he had continuously refined chakra for a full twenty-four hours.
Before the age of ten, the safe daily chakra-training limit was approximately three hours, as excessive training could deplete the body’s reserves and damage physical development.
The major shinobi clans could double that duration through their inherited Ōtsutsuki bloodlines and secret medicines, but even they couldn’t sustain twenty-four consecutive hours of chakra extraction.
This grinding game was GOATed!
Acceleration!!!
Four hundred gold coins were deducted in an instant, and the amount of chakra in his body doubled repeatedly once more.
There was no need to eat enormous quantities of food.
No fatigue.
No physical exhaustion.
His chakra reserves had skyrocketed…
The surging chakra constantly reminded Yakumo that this wasn’t a hallucination.
This was his talent.
The talent of Iori Yakumo!
Within seconds, his chakra reserves had already reached 3 points.
He earned 150 gold coins through daily missions.
That meant he could afford one acceleration each day, allowing him to simulate twenty-four hours of continuous training and gain approximately 0.6 units of chakra.
By that calculation, he would possess the chakra reserves of an ordinary Genin after ten days.
However, that didn’t mean he would have the combat ability of a Genin, nor could he compare himself to those freakish prodigies with chakra reserves measured in entire swimming pools, seas, or seemingly endless oceans.
“I’m still far too weak.”
Yakumo switched on his desk lamp, took out the notes he’d written during the day, and began grinding through his third mission.
Naturally, he also needed to consult his reference book, The Great Ninja: A Biography of Hiruzen Sarutobi.
“The Will of Fire…”
“Proposed by the First Hokage, refined by the Second Hokage, and carried forward to its greatest heights by the Third Hokage.
After listening to Lord Third’s speech today, I’ve gained many new insights.”
“Lord Third’s words have helped me understand that young people like us are the future hope of Konohagakure.
The older generation must trust and protect us.
Their sacrifices are not meaningless; instead, they will inspire the younger generation to shoulder the responsibility of leading Konohagakure toward a brighter future.”
“Starting tomorrow, I have decided to follow the example of the Third Hokage and devote myself to training for the prosperity of Konohagakure…”
“Conclusion: Wherever the leaves dance, the fire will continue to burn.
The light of the flames will keep illuminating the village, allowing new leaves to sprout.”
After stretching his back, Yakumo placed his essay, Reflections on and Analysis of the Will of Fire, in the most conspicuous spot on his desk.
This document would surely prove useful in the future.
It was still early, so Yakumo took out the ninjutsu notes his parents had left behind.
These two badly damaged, yellowing notebooks were the greatest treasures his family possessed.
They contained instructions for practicing several ninjutsu techniques.
His father had possessed a Water Release chakra nature, while his mother had possessed an Earth Release chakra nature.
Yakumo himself possessed both Water Release and Earth Release.
Water Bullet was a C-rank ninjutsu derived from the B-rank Water Release technique, Water Dragon Bullet.
It required three hand seals—Snake, Ram, and Ox—to create a fist-sized ball of water that could be launched at an enemy.
Earth-Style Wall was a B-rank defensive ninjutsu.
It required three hand seals—Dragon, Snake, and Ram—to channel Earth Release chakra into the ground and raise a defensive barrier.
After thinking it over briefly, Yakumo began carefully studying the instructions for Water Bullet.
After all, the best defense was to defeat the enemy before they could attack.
Besides, his current chakra reserves were nowhere near sufficient to support the use of Earth-Style Wall.
Half an hour later, when he noticed his learning efficiency beginning to decline, Yakumo collected the reward for his third mission.
The familiar energy welled up from deep within his brain.
It felt as though he were soaking in a hot spring.
Once his mind had been refreshed, he lowered his head and resumed practicing Water Bullet.
Forming the hand seals, he guided the chakra within his body through the sequence: Snake, Ram, and Ox.
A ping-pong-ball-sized sphere of water appeared in his palm.
The next second, it shattered.
Failure.
He tried again.
Failure.
Failure.
Failure after failure.
Five consecutive failures!
Eight consecutive disasters!
“Ah, screw this!
I’ll fight you again another day!”
Frustrated, Yakumo grabbed the kunai beside him and hurled it toward the circular target hanging on the wall.
The kunai traced an almost perfect arc through the air.
It struck the target securely, but landed nowhere near the bull’s-eye.
He really had no idea how those freaks from the Uchiha clan managed to perform such incredible tricks with kunai…
The Third Shinobi World War was still seven years away.
He still had time.
Yakumo lay down on his hard wooden bed and gradually drifted off to sleep.
Beneath his pillow rested a gleaming, razor-sharp kunai.
In this world, safety had never been guaranteed.
The Next Morning
The following morning, Yakumo opened the [Daily Missions] interface as usual.
A Good Start to the Day
Complete a five-kilometer jog before 7:30 a.m.
Rewards: 50 gold coins, 0.1 Strength.
Burning Red
Shout at a red-haired girl that red hair is the most beautiful color.
Rewards: 50 gold coins, 0.1 Constitution.
Hard Work Makes Up for a Lack of Talent
Write a summary of the chakra extraction process.
Rewards: 50 gold coins, 0.1 Intelligence.
As he ran his morning route, Yakumo recalled the second daily mission.
The red-haired girl was probably Kushina Uzumaki.
But was it really safe to approach the jinchūriki of the Nine-Tails so recklessly?
The ANBU or Root must be “protecting” the Nine-Tails’ jinchūriki around the clock.
Was risking his life really worth fifty gold coins?
I suppose I could give it a try.
“Yakumo?
Yakumo, what are you thinking about?”
Mori Yasuko followed behind him, her face full of concern.
Ever since Yakumo’s parents had died, he had become increasingly withdrawn and colder toward her.
As his only friend, however, Yasuko believed she had a responsibility to help him overcome his grief.
Gradually, determination filled the girl’s eyes.
A little difficulty like this is nothing!
“Ah…”
Yakumo looked up.
“What I mean is…
red hair is the most beautiful color!”
Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a red-haired girl sitting on one of the round stools at Ichiraku Ramen, eating her noodles.
Without hesitation, Yakumo shouted at the top of his lungs.
“Red hair is the most beautiful color!”
Mission Two: Completed.