[Wood Style proficiency +1]
Yuichi tossed the wooden stick aside and looked at the piles of wood stacked like a small hill.
Opening his properties panel, he examined his Wood Style again:
[Wood Style (18% in first stage of ability inheritance):
Tree-bound Eternal Burial Advanced (2400/3200)
Wood Ingot Wall Advanced (2000/4000)
Silent Bound Technique Advanced (2400/3200)
Big Forest Technique Advanced (1000/4000)
Tree Boundary Wall Advanced (600/4800)
Thorns Killing Technique Advanced (1000/4000)
Wood Clone Advanced (753/3000)
Wood Stand-in Advanced (800/3000)
Wood Transformed Advanced (800/3000)]
After two hours of training, Yuichi had gained a full 3,000 points in Wood Style proficiency. His original Wood Style techniques had all been upgraded to high levels.
Not only were his ninjutsu levels raised to advanced, but the inherent power of his Wood Style had also increased. The inheritance percentage went up by six—still short of the 20% target, but a solid improvement.
At the same time, new Wood Style techniques appeared:
Wood Style: The Tree World Is Coming!
Wood Style: Four-Pillar Prison!
Wood Style: King Kong Recruits Wood!
Yuichi now possessed an enormous arsenal of Wood Style techniques—all at advanced levels except for these three newly unlocked ninjutsu. Combined with his intermediate ninja physique and the unique powers he developed himself, Yuichi's combat capability was formidable.
With advanced Body Flicker Technique, speed and Chakra consumption were no longer concerns. He could fully utilize his strength without restraint.
Yuichi now felt confident that he could face the Third Hokage, though he remained uncertain whether illusions would affect him.
It was time to return to Konoha.
Yuichi jumped out of the valley crack, vanishing into the forest as he sped toward the village. His movements were so fast that after a few breaths, he disappeared from view entirely.
Ten minutes later, Yuichi arrived at the spot where he had met Naruto yesterday. They had planned to meet here again for a rematch. Yuichi was eager to raise Naruto's favorability and discover the potential rewards—perhaps even the Ashura Chakra.
But Naruto was nowhere to be seen.
On the bench, Yuichi noticed a kunai with a note pinned to it.
He picked it up and read:
Uzumaki Naruto: Yuichi, today's challenge is postponed. I'm leaving the village for a mission. When I return, I'll be stronger—and I will definitely beat you!
Yuichi clenched his fists. Naruto had gone out on a mission to the Land of Waves. The Chūnin exam would only start after he returned.
"Timing, reputation, strength…" Yuichi murmured, a faint chill in his expression.
Originally, Yuichi had planned to participate in the Land of Waves mission, but entry required integration into the Hokage family—a path currently blocked.
Still, he found the mission intriguing. A C-level mission could easily become A-level with his abilities. Konoha's system, it seemed, was surprisingly lenient.
Despite all, Yuichi smiled and turned toward the ramen shop. Yesterday's feast couldn't go to waste—he had to repay it with a visit.
That evening, back at home, Yuichi prepared for the daily evening selection.
After climbing the wall and waiting quietly, he activated the system:
[Daily selection enabled]
He waited patiently as time passed. Around eight o'clock in the evening, Yuichi, hanging upside-down from the ceiling, opened his eyes to see the prompt:
[Please choose]
Refine Chakra for one hour; double the amount of reward Chakra.
Refine Chakra for two hours; double the amount of reward Chakra.
Boom!
Yuichi fell from the ceiling, rolling three hundred and sixty degrees midair.
"Chakra volume increased…"
Choosing a different time each day truly granted different rewards. Naturally, Yuichi selected option two—two hours of refining to maximize his Chakra gain.
He sat cross-legged on his bed and began following the meditation and Chakra control methods taught in the Chūnin School of Memory.
Blue Chakra surged through his body, illuminating the room with a radiant glow as it spread outward.
Yuichi's mastery of Wood Style, Water Style, and now Chakra control was steadily approaching a level no ordinary Genin could hope to reach. The stage was set for him to become a true prodigy.