The basic Wood Style ninjutsu had advanced to the intermediate level, but Yuichi still hadn't obtained the Wood Style Clone he desired.
Still, this wasn't a major problem.
There was time.
"There are still three or four hours before six in the evening. With the advanced Body Flicker Technique, I can return to Konoha within ten minutes."
"The half hour I'll save can be used to grind Wood Style proficiency."
Yuichi clenched his fists tightly.
"I refuse to believe I can't unlock the Wood Style Clone today."
He began channeling Wood Style chakra into the vegetation around him.
Vines sprouted from the bare rock walls on either side of the riverbank.
The sound of the system echoed in his mind:
[Wood Style proficiency +1] [Wood Style proficiency +1]
With Wood Style chakra being cast nonstop, Yuichi could practically hear the ding of proficiency increasing every second.
Character Panel
[Wood Style (3% into first stage of ability inheritance):
Tree-Binding Eternal Burial – Intermediate (100/1600)
Wood Ingot Wall – Intermediate (0/2000)
Silent Kill-Binding Technique – Intermediate (100/1600)
Great Forest Technique – Basic (100/1000)
Tree Boundary Wall – Basic (0/1200)
Thorn Killing Technique – Basic (100/1000)]
Each use of Wood Style chakra earned him a bit of proficiency.
Even after raising his three basic Wood Style ninjutsu to intermediate, Yuichi could still increase his mastery through raw control of chakra.
With three or four hours left, reaching advanced—or even perfect—proficiency was not impossible.
The Wood Style Clone couldn't be that advanced of a jutsu.
He was determined to unlock it today.
Yuichi dismissed his character panel and focused wholly on training.
Meanwhile, Kakashi raced back to Konoha from the Valley of the End.
He arrived in the Third Hokage's office, where Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at him anxiously.
"Kakashi, what's wrong? Has something happened?"
Though clearly concerned, the Third Hokage remained calm.
Kakashi steadied his thoughts before speaking slowly.
"Lord Third, that kid… Nagano Yuichi. He left Konoha to train at the Valley of the End."
Hiruzen stroked his beard thoughtfully. "So he chose a secret training ground. But why there of all places?"
Kakashi's expression turned serious. "Lord Hokage, that boy possesses incredible talent."
Hiruzen raised a brow and chuckled. "Oh? Surprised even you?"
After all, Kakashi Hatake had seen countless geniuses. He himself graduated the Academy at five, became a Chūnin at six, and rose to fame as the Copy Ninja with Obito's Sharingan.
Surely no civilian-born Genin could surprise him.
But Kakashi nodded firmly. "Yes, Lord Hokage. That boy is truly remarkable."
Hiruzen's eyes sharpened.
"He not only possesses three chakra attributes, but his mastery of Water Style already surpasses that of Jōnin who specialize in it."
"And…" Kakashi hesitated, then continued. "The reason he trains away from the village is because his ninjutsu causes too much commotion."
"Too much… commotion?"
"The power of his technique is at least S-rank."
"What?!" Hiruzen shot to his feet.
A fresh Genin capable of using S-rank ninjutsu? It was unthinkable.
"Lord Hokage, Yuichi's chakra reserves are astonishing. And the S-rank jutsu he used—Water Style: Hard Vortex Water Blade—I've never even heard of it."
Hiruzen frowned deeply. "Water Style: Hard Vortex Water Blade? What kind of ninjutsu is that?"
Even the Professor himself, master of all five elements, had never heard of it. That could mean only one thing—Yuichi had created it himself.
"Impossible… did he really create an S-rank jutsu?" Kakashi muttered, still unable to fully accept it.
But Hiruzen had heard enough.
A self-created S-rank ninjutsu. Mastery over Water Style. Immense chakra reserves.
Konoha had birthed another genius.
And if the rumors were true—that Yuichi carried faint traces of Senju bloodline—then perhaps, after generations, that heritage had awakened.
"Kakashi."
Hiruzen's tone grew grave.
"Yes, Lord Hokage?"
"Tell me everything. Every single detail about what you witnessed today."
"Yes." Kakashi bowed. "From the very beginning…"
Back at the Valley of the End…
[Wood Style proficiency +1] [Wood Style proficiency +1]
[Wood Style: Great Forest Technique upgraded to Intermediate]
[Wood Style: Thorn Killing Technique upgraded to Intermediate]
Yuichi gazed at the thicket before him. The once-barren bank was now dense with tightly-packed trees.
Not even a man could pass through—only small animals like rabbits and mice could squeeze between the gaps.
Proficiency continued to climb.
Soon, Tree Boundary Wall was also upgraded to Intermediate.
[Beginner Wood Style techniques promoted to Intermediate. New techniques unlocked: Wood Style: Wood Substitute / Wood Transformation / Wood Clone]
Yuichi's eyes lit up.
"Finally!"
The skill he had long awaited appeared at last—Wood Style Clone.
"With this, I won't waste tomorrow's mission time."
The Wood Style Clone functioned much like a Shadow Clone, able to fight, deceive, and strategize. But its most terrifying feature was its realism.
Even Madara Uchiha had once been fooled by Hashirama's clones.
Against an average Jōnin—or two unsuspecting Genin—such a clone would be virtually undetectable.
Yuichi smirked.
"With this… things just got interesting."