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After a satisfying meal, everyone worked together to clean up the mess before disbanding and heading back to their respective posts.
However, before leaving, Miss Megumi, who had downed half a bucket of ice-cold beer, subtly gave Sawara Kiri a knowing look.
Sawara Kiri's expression immediately soured.
She still wanted it today?
Nevertheless, noticing her urging expression, Mr. Sawara had no choice but to follow behind her.
The two quietly bypassed the main road and entered the small woods nearby.
Hatake Sakumo, who was heading back to the encampment in the distance, seemed to notice something. He paused, then gave Namikaze Minato beside him a look of surprise and uncertainty, subtly pointing.
Minato, however, merely smiled mysteriously, shook his head, and said nothing.
Hatake Sakumo immediately sighed with emotion.
"These young people nowadays..."
"They're truly something else."
Now, let's Magnify on the interior of the woods.
"Boom!"
A blazing fire suddenly flickered, illuminating the narrow night sky here.
Sawara Kiri stood nearby, observing Miss Megumi in front of him, arms crossed, while nodding slightly in approval.
Recently, Megumi had been making quite rapid progress.
Should it be said that it truly lived up to its name as a Sharingan capable of copying all Ninjutsu?
He looked at the empty space ahead.
At this moment, Uchiha Megumi was gripping a Ninja blade tightly with both hands, her crimson pupils spinning eerily like windmills. Three jet-black tomoe erupted with intense ocular power, controlling every bit of Chakra flowing onto the surface of the Ninja blade with the utmost observation and manipulation.
At the same time, a crimson flame, like blood, continuously emerged on the surface of this steel Ninja blade.
However, compared to Sawara Kiri's Crimson Blade, the fierce fire in front of Uchiha Megumi could only be considered tiny sparks, far inferior to Sawara Kiri's flames that often extended several meters.
But to reach this level in just three short months was already enough to surprise Sawara Kiri.
"Boom!"
Another burst of ignited roar, the fierce fire, gradually becoming difficult to control amidst drastic nature changes, suddenly roared, instantly engulfing the entire Ninja blade and transforming it into a blazing torch.
"Alright, that's enough!"
Sawara Kiri's figure immediately appeared in front of the girl, striking down her hands tightly gripping the Ninja blade's hilt with a hand chop.
The molten Ninja blade fell to the ground, turning into a charred, melted puddle of steel.
"Hoo—"
Miss Megumi, whose Chakra was depleted by nearly half, plopped onto the ground. Tiny, glistening beads of sweat dotted her nose, like dewdrops on her jade-white skin, and her chest heaved with her rapid breathing.
Although she was only fifteen, it was evident that the girl had already developed quite a figure.
Sawara Kiri thought this to himself, but Miss Megumi seemed to keenly catch his gaze, slightly puffed out her chest with a bit more force, and stared directly at him.
He then subtly averted his gaze, coughed twice feigning nonchalance, and commented:
"Not bad."
"Normally speaking, this can already be considered a preliminary mastery of the 'Crimson Blade's' essentials."
"Next, you need to find a way to maintain this state for a long time in combat, until it eventually becomes instinctual."
"Also, pay attention to Chakra consumption..."
Uchiha Megumi listened attentively, absorbing Sawara Kiri's effective experience like a shriveled sponge.
Sawara Kiri himself didn't think much of it; he was simply reciting the knowledge transmitted by the system.
Similar lessons had been ongoing between the two for a long time.
During the breaks in combat over these three months, whenever they had free time, they would find a secluded spot to practice the Crimson Blade Technique.
The reason Sawara Kiri did this was very simple.
He slightly raised his head, looking at the increasingly bright pale blue halo above the girl's head with his peripheral vision.
「Sawara's Book of Friends」
「Uchiha Megumi's Worry (Mid-level)」
「Details: That damned woman, if, if only I also had the power to keep up with Kiri」
Sawara Kiri first noticed this mid-level worry the day after that night in the tent.
Although Miss Megumi said nothing at the time, merely acting as if she had impulsively done something irrational, she immediately acted as if nothing had happened the next day, performing missions, resupplying, and resting as usual.
However, Sawara Kiri also noticed that the time Megumi spent on training had, at some point, become increasingly more.
Sometimes, even during missions, she would continuously refine Chakra to practice the nature transformation of elemental Ninjutsu.
It was only then that Sawara Kiri vaguely sensed the pressure hidden deep within the girl's heart.
In their entire squad, Sawara Kiri was the strongest main attacker and breakthrough specialist; no matter what kind of defense line, it could not stop his charge;
Namikaze Minato was a flexible peripheral member, possessing extremely powerful spatial Ninjutsu, excelling in close combat and Ninjutsu battles, and also mastering the Rasengan and high-speed attack methods like the unsealed Wind Release Kunai.
Only she, although a Ninjutsu type, her Ninjutsu released in place often couldn't keep up with the speed of the two's breakthroughs and maneuvers, and large-scale offensives were easily blocked. Most of the time, she could only use Ninjutsu for cover.
The Sharingan was only three tomoe, completely unable to use powerful Susanoo and Mangekyo ocular Ninjutsu like Uchiha Hikari.
In terms of overall strength, she was merely an Uchiha Jonin who could at most take on three or four opponents.
What was so great about that?
The thought that she might gradually be unable to keep up with Sawara Kiri's pace and be left behind would fill Megumi with an uncontrollable sense of urgency.
Perhaps out of this thought, and also to train her specialized abilities, Uchiha Megumi began to spend more and more time training her Sharingan from that point on.
Even though it was still only three tomoe, even her teammates could feel that the Yin Release Chakra on Megumi's body was becoming increasingly dense. When she occasionally activated her Sharingan, just a glance could give people a strong sense of oppression.
Sawara Kiri wasn't sure how enemies reacted when facing her.
Anyway, he himself was scared to death.
What if.
He meant, what if!
If one day Miss Megumi really pushed herself to the limit, and her mental state accidentally collapsed, causing the three tomoe to suddenly link together—what kind of power would she most likely awaken?
The Mangekyo Sharingan is the eye that mirrors the heart.
In short, what one thinks about during the day, one dreams about at night; it's all about getting what you wish for.
Just thinking about this, Sawara Kiri immediately became very proactive in helping her set up a power-up training class.
The first thing to learn was the 'Crimson Blade'.
The 'Hinokami Kagura' is essentially a sword technique, but after 'Crimson Blade' was localized, it has basically become a relatively difficult special Fire Release Chakra nature transformation.
Although difficult, it can still be learned.
Especially when Sawara Kiri now had the overall training structure in his mind.
In any case, as long as she didn't open the Mangekyo for the sake of power, everyone could talk things over nicely.
Sawara Kiri felt he was very easy to talk to.
"That's enough for today."
He looked at the girl sitting on the ground and extended his hand: "From tomorrow, the front lines should begin large-scale movements, and we'll probably be busy for a while longer."
"Yes, yes~"
Miss Megumi, though so tired she was almost drenched in sweat, still wore a joyful smile on her face. As she responded, she reached out to take Sawara Kiri's hand, gripping it tightly.
Only when this person was by her side did she feel that all the effort she was putting in now was meaningful.
Therefore, she would never let go.
Sawara Kiri didn't notice.
When Uchiha Megumi looked at the back of the young man walking in front of her, her curved eyes faintly shimmered with an intense and fervent red glow—an ocular power that even the girl herself hadn't noticed, uncontrollably overflowing without her awareness.
Quietly, the three tomoe rotated even faster.
Lying back in the tent, Sawara Kiri gazed at the dark tent ceiling. From the densely arranged tents around, he could faintly hear the subtle breathing sounds of others sleeping.
Everyone was very tired and sleeping soundly.
At this moment, he inexplicably recalled the scene he had witnessed in the conference room earlier that day.
Those calm-faced Commanders, each of them a powerful Jonin renowned in Konoha Village, any one of whom had completed hundreds of difficult missions, were the mainstays of the entire Village.
But now, these people were about to rush into enemy territory, a place almost certain to be their demise, like moths to a flame.
After this mission, how many of them would truly return?
Sawara Kiri subconsciously thought this.
At this moment, he seemed to have completely forgotten his identity as a Hidden Mist spy, instead wholeheartedly considering things from the perspective of a Konoha Ninja.
Sawara Kiri thought to himself, opening his panel for a look.
"Personal Information"
"Name: Sawara Kiri"
"Age: 15"
"Talent: Photographic Memory (B), Kekkei Genkai (A)"
"Abilities: Limitless · Third Stage (S), Kyōka Suigetsu (S), Fire Release (A+), Water Release (A), Lightning Release (A+), Genjutsu (A), Taijutsu (B+), Crimson Blade · Hinokami Kagura (B), Ninja Tool Manipulation (B), Sealing Technique (B)"
"Overall Rating: S+"
"Emotional Entanglement Points: 2"
"System Evaluation: How lonely how lonely is invincibility! Alone at the peak, the cold wind constantly blows! Hey girl, so you're Ōtsutsuki Kaguya, huh? If you dare to peek your head out from the moon, you're definitely in for a bad time, I'll make you birth another litter of Sage of Six Paths in minutes! Heh-ha! — Ga!!"
Automatically ignoring the system's gibberish, Sawara Kiri's gaze fell on the Emotional Entanglement Points column, a slight hesitation in his eyes.
These two meager points, one came from Hiruko, who was currently gnawing on dirt in Kusa Country, and the other from Uchiha Hikari.
To advance Limitless from the third stage to the fourth stage, four points were required.
If he speculated based on previous advancement routes, the ability he could likely obtain this time would be one of the strongest domains in Jujutsu Kaisen, Infinite Void.
This ability, if you said it was strong, it truly was very strong.
To make an analogy, it would be equivalent to a Tsukuyomi that simultaneously affects a group, capable of rendering everyone within a domain unable to act due to a massive information overload.
The user themselves, however, could freely harm the enemy's body within this range, inflicting real damage upon them.
At the same time, within the domain's scope, the user could also arbitrarily adjust their own sense of time or 'information volume.'
In the plot of Jujutsu Kaisen, the peak-condition Satoru Gojo once, within this domain, in 0.2 seconds of real time and 299 seconds of his own subjective time, fully slaughtered a thousand mobs.
They were almost completely annihilated in the blink of an eye.
However, Sawara Kiri, having used the system for some time now, was no longer as naive as he was at the beginning.
The original work was the original work, and this world was this world.
In fact, even now, his shortcomings were already beginning to show—Sawara Kiri did not possess the terrifying total Chakra reserves of a true protagonist.
Take Hollow Technique: Purple as an example.
Even if he went all out now, he could probably only use this move twice a day.
But in the later stages of the Jujutsu manga, when Satoru Gojo fought a certain major boss, this move was almost used as a continuous normal attack.
What was even more headache-inducing was that even with such strength, Satoru Gojo could only use Infinite Void five times a day.
Comparing them, one could roughly see the difference in consumption between Hollow Technique: Purple and Infinite Void.
Sawara Kiri thought, if he painstakingly unlocked a skill only to find he had no Chakra to use it, wouldn't that be too ridiculous?
Would I have to go capture a Tailed Beast to become a Jinchuriki first?
Just as he was thinking this.
"Dong dong dong dong ~"
"The young man guards his empty room alone, the big sister next door comes to help!"
"Ah Kiri, I say, have you completely forgotten that the gacha function includes both 'abilities' and 'talents'?"
"Body and Chakra talent, those are also talents, you know!"
"Hmm?"
Sawara Kiri was stunned by the words, then suddenly sat upright.
He suddenly realized.
Before, he had always focused his attention on the 'abilities' section, and his strength had indeed gradually risen to the peak of the 'Kage' level, completely forgetting about 'talent' gacha.
This broken system occasionally has some use, huh?
Thinking of this, Sawara Kiri immediately opened the gacha panel.
"Target: Talent"
"Cost: 1"
"Let me see the strength of a European Emperor!"
His eyes burned as he stared at the spinning panel.
Excited, stirred, full of anticipation.
With full hope, he watched as the image on the panel gradually slowed down, then stopped.
Until his face turned pale.
What appeared on the gacha panel was a well-built young man in a neat teacher's uniform, wearing glowing glasses, whose face was unclear.
"Talent Acquired"
"Stamina Beast (B)"
"Information localization, completed"
"Details: To solve the low birth rate problem in another world, you, possessing both beastkin and human bloodlines, have become an outsourced teacher at this aid school, using your abundant and high-quality, at least ten-shot starting, terrifying stamina to help students overcome the difficulties of racial continuation."
"This ability comes from 'Aid Tutoring.'"
"Cannot be upgraded."
Sawara Kiri stared at this panel, stunned for at least thirty seconds.
Ah, this?
Why is the style of this talent so different from your other abilities?
He had originally thought that even if he transmigrated into a manga, he should be the protagonist type of a hot-blooded shonen manga, but now it had turned into an adult manga!
As for this manga called 'Aid Tutoring,' he had never even heard of it, probably a serious manga about tutoring, he supposed.
His precious Emotional Entanglement points were wasted just like that?
Just as he was thinking this, he heard the system's annoyed voice.
"Oh, why do you care so much!"
"Just tell me, did your Chakra reserves increase or not?"
"According to the data in the 'Book of Formations,' your previous 'stamina' was only around 7, but now it's increased to 10!"
"This is still because the maximum data is only 10, and it even comes with a superpower. Are you still not satisfied?"
That actually sounds pretty good?
But is this 'stamina' you're talking about, is it legitimate?
Sawara Kiri thought to himself, then suddenly froze, hearing that there were advantages he hadn't discovered, his spirits immediately lifted, and he subconsciously asked:
"Superpower? What superpower?"
The system's voice paused, then lowered slightly, speaking mysteriously:
"Now, you're super f***ing capable!"
Sawara Kiri's face immediately darkened:
"..."
"Get lost."
Why does it only talk about useless trivialities, without any sense of awareness!
What time is it now? So many people are about to go into battle, and who knows when they'll return!
Besides, he was a proper person; would he really care about such boring things?
If he had to say what purpose this talent served, it did indeed strengthen his body quite a bit, and his total Chakra reserves roughly expanded to more than double their original amount.
His recovery speed also greatly improved, probably even stronger than an ordinary Senju clan member.
Just barely acceptable.
It did qualify for a 'B' rank.
Sawara Kiri made an estimate, came to this conclusion in his mind, then lay back down on the ground and closed his eyes.
Indeed.
Gamblers don't get good ends.
After a while, night fell and all was quiet.
Flipping sounds came from the tent, rustling, an unknown movement.
"Hmph, just so-so."
"There's no real improvement here."
Ten days later.
The entire defensive perimeter on the Land of Wind front began a large-scale contraction.
The remaining personnel on the already dilapidated first line of defense and the second line of defense, which had been breached in many places, were all withdrawn in batches by the headquarters command to the rear for rotation.
In contrast, a large net was cast out from Kikyo Castle, spreading north and south.
The crisscrossing defensive lines were reinforced multiple times on their existing foundations, and large quantities of supplies were distributed from Kikyo Castle to various points to help each side sustain themselves independently, connecting point by point to form a unified front.
However, if one were to view the entire Land of Fire from a higher perspective, this seemingly multi-reinforced defensive network truly became a thin line, standing isolated on the western side of the Land of Fire.
Nearly ten thousand troops were spread along this line, silently awaiting the coming storm.
Even the lowest-ranking Genin, upon seeing this formation, could understand what kind of brutal battle awaited them.
However, even under such difficult circumstances, a force of three thousand troops was secretly drawn from various sources and gathered at a secret underground passage in Kikyo Castle.
Silently, they slowly surged out of the castle.
The operation had begun.
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