Advancement in Strength Comes in an Instant.
Feeling his chakra rapidly increasing within his body, a stream of information began pouring into his mind.
Having gained experience the last time, Mo Yu didn't panic this time. Instead, he swiftly absorbed all the knowledge.
In the blink of an eye, Mo Yu had already become a Chūnin (Middle-Rank Ninja).
Both in terms of chakra capacity and experience, he had advanced.
When he had advanced to Genin (Low-Rank Ninja), the system had granted him three E-rank ninjutsu: Substitution Technique, Transformation Technique, and Clone Technique.
This time, he was granted three D-rank ninjutsu.
"Taijutsu: Leaf Whirlwind!"
"Genjutsu: Illusion of the Shifting Phantom!"
"Ninjutsu: Hidden Mist Technique!"
These three techniques were all beneficial to Mo Yu at the moment.
The Leaf Whirlwind was a signature Taijutsu of Konoha, much like the Fireball Jutsu for the Uchiha clan. It was a fundamental technique for nearly every Konoha Taijutsu user.
This Taijutsu, like the Fireball Jutsu, could be upgraded.
For example, the C-rank Leaf Great Whirlwind, the Leaf Double Whirlwind, and even the B-rank Leaf Mighty Whirlwind were all based on the Leaf Whirlwind.
Although Mo Yu had learned the Eight Gates of the Chakra Pathway, he wouldn't focus entirely on Taijutsu, but he wouldn't neglect it either. The Leaf Whirlwind came at the perfect time.
The Shifting Phantom Illusion was similar to the Naraka Vision Technique Mo Yu had previously mastered.
While Naraka Vision could reveal the target's inner fears, the Shifting Phantom Illusion caused the opponent to see black phantom images, primarily used to confuse the enemy.
As for the Hidden Mist Technique, anyone familiar with Naruto would know it well.
This was the signature technique of the Hidden Mist Village, made famous by the swordsman Killer Zabuza.
Although a D-rank technique, it wasn't limited by rank.
For example, when used by a Genin, it was a D-rank technique. When used by a Chūnin, it would be C-rank. When used by a Jōnin, it could even reach B or even A-rank, depending on the user's chakra amount and their understanding of water-style chakra.
Anyone who's seen the original series knows how troublesome this technique can be. Even Kakashi had a tough time dealing with it, eventually relying on his Sharingan to dispel the mist.
So, although the system classified the Hidden Mist Technique as D-rank, to Mo Yu, it was more like a C-rank ninjutsu.
After absorbing all the knowledge of these three ninjutsu, Mo Yu's proficiency instantly reached 100%, and they became as easy as an extension of his limbs.
Opening his eyes, he saw a thin, cruel-smiling ninja approaching.
Mo Yu smiled in response.
"You see, this kid is so scared that he's gone dumb, and yet he's still smiling."
The tall ninja pointed and mocked.
The next moment, something unexpected happened.
Mo Yu quickly formed a few simple hand seals, and mist began to emerge from all directions, quickly enveloping an area of fifty meters.
"What's going on? Who's there? Fatty, where did you go?"
The tall ninja said in panic.
Although the mist wasn't too thick, it reduced visibility drastically. They couldn't even see the fatty who had been standing beside them.
A moment later, the fatty's voice came, filled with fear: "Boss, I'm here, but I can't see you!"
The tall ninja cursed in anger: "Damn it, it must be that brat's doing. Slim, be careful! We've probably been tricked. That kid is not a Genin but a Chūnin!"
Mo Yu's faint laugh came from the mist: "You're quick to catch on, but it's already too late."
The voice came from all directions, making it impossible to pinpoint his position.
"How is this possible? He just graduated from the ninja academy. How did he become a Chūnin so fast?"
The fatty's voice grew shrill with fear.
"Damn it! He's been hiding his strength! That group from the Uchiha clan must have been covering for him! When I get back, I'll settle the score with them!"
The tall ninja raged.
"Let's see if you even make it back alive!"
Mo Yu's voice came just before the sound of fighting erupted from the mist.
"This is bad, he's attacking the thin guy! Hurry, use Wind Release to blow away this damn mist!"
The tall ninja anxiously yelled.
"Got it."
The fatty responded.
The two of them used Wind Release, but they could only disperse a small section of the mist. As soon as their wind stopped, the mist closed back in, like an insistent parasite.
"Damn it, what kind of mist is this?"
"What the hell!"
A scream rang out.
"That's the thin guy's voice. He... won't be..."
The fatty trembled.
"Exactly. He's dead. Now, it's your turn."
Mo Yu's voice was like the tolling of a death bell, making the two ninjas pale as ghosts.
"Thud!"
The fatty immediately dropped to the ground, crying and kowtowing, as if he were begging for his life.
"Brother, I was wrong! Please spare me, I swear I'll never oppose you again! Please spare me, I'll do anything!"
The tall ninja cursed angrily: "Idiot, you think begging will save you?"
"That's right, you're seeing now."
Mo Yu responded.
With a crisp snap, the fatty went silent.
The tall ninja trembled all over, knowing that Mo Yu's next target was him.
"Come on, if you have the guts, come out and fight me face-to-face! Attacking from the shadows is a coward's trick!"
The tall ninja tried to provoke him.
Mo Yu, hidden in the mist, found it amusing.
Being a ninja was all about ambushes and assassination. A fair fight? That was laughable.
Mo Yu made a hand seal.
The mist began to clear, revealing the surroundings.
The bonfire was still burning quietly, but now there were two fresh corpses on the ground.
The thin guy had been pierced through the heart with a single blow, blood still pouring from his chest. The fatty, however, looked much worse—his neck was twisted 180 degrees, his head resembling a twisted mess, eyes wide open, still unable to close even in death.
The tall ninja hadn't expected Mo Yu to be provoked, and a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He knew this was his only chance.
"Even if we're both Chūnin, he's just recently advanced. Even if he has a C-rank ninjutsu, he's not as skilled as I am. This is my opportunity! I must defeat him with a single blow before he uses that mist jutsu again!"
The tall ninja sneered: "Kid, you're seeking death."
He quickly formed hand seals, preparing his most skilled C-rank Water Release ninjutsu, the Water Dragon Bullet Technique.
Mo Yu's eyes glimmered, a smirk on his lips. He, too, started forming seals.
The tall ninja's speed was slightly faster, but Mo Yu's seals were more refined. Both finished the hand seals almost simultaneously.
In one breath, the tall ninja shouted: "Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique!"
Water vapor gathered in the air, forming a three-meter-long water dragon that roared and charged at Mo Yu.
Mo Yu inhaled deeply, placing his fingers in front of his mouth, and a powerful surge of fire chakra exploded from his throat.
"Fire Release: Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive fireball shot forward, its intense heat scorching the earth beneath it.
One side had the water dragon, the other a fireball, and they collided.
"Boom!"
The high temperature erupted, steam filled the air, and mist swirled around them.
Moments later, Mo Yu's fireball emerged from the mist, now smaller but still powerful. It slammed into the dumbfounded tall ninja, engulfing him.
"Ahhhhh!"
The screaming continued for a few seconds before abruptly cutting off.
When the fireball dissipated, only a patch of scorched earth remained.
Mo Yu wiped the sweat from his forehead, smiling.
The Fireball Jutsu did drain a lot of chakra. Even though he was now a Chūnin, using it once had consumed nearly a third of his chakra.
But its power hadn't disappointed him.
Facing the same C-rank ninjutsu, the Water Dragon Bullet, it was naturally suppressed, and still, it instantly overpowered it, obliterating his enemy.
Mo Yu had long wanted to test the power of the Fireball Jutsu, but it was inconvenient while in the village. Now, he finally got his wish.
"You've slain three enemies, earning 150 gold!"
"'Pickup Mode' activated. You can now randomly collect one item from the bodies of slain enemies."
Mo Yu was momentarily stunned.
He wasn't surprised by the 150 gold coins; he'd already expected that. But this Pickup Mode... wasn't it just the usual "looting" from games?
Curious about what he could get, he decided to give it a try.
Mo Yu walked over to the fatty's corpse, stretched out his hand, and mentally muttered, "Pickup!"
The next moment, three glowing orbs emerged from the fatty's body, floating in the air.
The three orbs looked identical, with no distinguishing features.
After some thought, Mo Yu touched one of the orbs.
The other two disappeared immediately, but when his hand touched the orb, a surge of information entered his mind.
"Taijutsu: Leaf Great Whirlwind!"
Mo Yu understood. He had just looted a Taijutsu from the fatty. It seemed this guy specialized in physical techniques.
And with the Leaf Whirlwind already in his arsenal, getting the upgraded Great Whirlwind was a nice surprise.
The feeling of "looting" made Mo Yu feel like a child who had just discovered a new toy. He ran over to the thin ninja's corpse, placed his hand on it, and said, "Pickup!"
Just like before, three glowing orbs appeared. Unable to tell them apart, Mo Yu picked one at random.
"100 silver notes!"
Mo Yu stared at the silver notes in his hand, feeling a little speechless.
It felt like he was grinding for loot in a game now.
"Whatever, there's still one left to loot. Hopefully, I'll get something better this time… uh…"
Mo Yu looked at the charred remains of the tall ninja, a corner of his mouth twitching.
"Well, I guess it's still worth a try... maybe..."