"Ice Release: Ice Pillar."
Feng Bai extended his slender finger, channeling chakra within his body as he began weaving hand seals.
With the final seal completed, several moderately thick ice pillars burst forth from the ground.
"So that's how it works. When using Ice Release in waterless terrain, my chakra consumption is significantly higher than in aquatic environments."
Sensing the rapid depletion of his chakra reserves, Feng Bai finally grasped the fundamental mechanics of Ice Release.
"Conversely, in water-rich environments—Water Release: Water Bullet! Ice Release: Ice Pillar!"
Spitting a puddle onto the ground like clearing his throat, Feng Bai executed Ice Release once more...
Wait a minute—am I overcomplicating this unnecessarily?
Observing the ice pillars formed through his combined Water Release and Ice Release, Feng Bai assessed his remaining chakra and suddenly had a realization.
No, I shouldn't think that way. If I could perform jutsu like Kisame's—techniques that transform arid landscapes into vast lakes—then for my Ice Release...
Hold on. If I possessed that level of chakra reserves, would I even need to concern myself with Ice Release's consumption?
For the first time, Feng Bai questioned his own intelligence.
Seriously, I've wasted considerable time on something so pointless.
Meanwhile, observing Feng Bai training diligently in the courtyard immediately after dinner, Yakushi Nonoyu nodded approvingly before retrieving a small notebook to record her observations.
Elsewhere, at Root's headquarters, Danzō was delegating assignments when smoke materialized before him.
"A message from Yakushi Nonoyu?" As the smoke dissipated, Aburame Ryōma immediately recognized the summoning creature.
"Correct." Danzō retrieved the letter from the summoning animal, opened it, and reviewed its contents.
After reading, Danzō's expression remained unchanged. With a subtle finger movement, razor-sharp wind-nature chakra shredded the letter into powder that scattered to the floor.
...
"Things have been rather unsettled lately."
Inside the dango shop, Asuma, seated to Feng Bai's left, observed a pair of passing Konoha ninja and made this unprompted observation.
"Huh? Everything seems the same as always to me." Hearing this, Anko, positioned to Feng Bai's right and absorbed in her dango, looked up with genuine confusion.
"Just focus on your dango." Feng Bai transferred his own serving to Anko's plate, gently tapping her forehead to signal she should simply enjoy her meal.
Seeing fresh dango appear on her plate, Anko's eyes crinkled with delight. She quickly finished her current piece to claim the new addition.
"Did you recognize those two ninja?" Feng Bai, who had little appetite for sweets, had noticed the white flowers they carried—likely bound for the Memorial Stone.
"Somewhat. They're fairly prominent chunin within Konoha." Asuma confirmed Feng Bai's suspicion while sharing his own observation: "Though there haven't been large-scale memorial services, the names on the Memorial Stone have increased by an entire row recently."
"I see..." Directing his gaze toward the street, Feng Bai watched the sparse pedestrian flow and sighed.
It appears the Third Shinobi World War's countdown has begun.
He wondered whether his arrival as a transmigrator might accelerate the conflict, which originally shouldn't commence for several more years.
Actually, if it starts now, that might not be terrible. Regardless of how dire circumstances become, Konoha's leadership wouldn't deploy seven- or eight-year-old children like us to the front lines. At most, they'd select older students—those eleven or twelve-year-old upperclassmen.
Viewed that way, an earlier outbreak might be preferable.
"Hmph! I need to intensify my training and grow stronger. When the time comes, I'll demonstrate to that old man that I've truly matured!" Asuma brimmed with determination, eager to prove himself before the Third Hokage so he'd stop being treated as a child.
"Absolutely. Work diligently to accomplish three tasks for the Land of Fire in three minutes." Feng Bai responded distractedly.
"What does that mean?" Asuma looked puzzled.
"Uh, it signifies you'll become incredibly powerful." Realizing his slip, Feng Bai quickly improvised: "During combat, just chant 'Wu Fa Qi Dai~' and no one will dare approach you."
"Wu Fa Qi Dai?" Already bewildered, Asuma grew even more confused after Feng Bai's explanation.
From the opposite table, Shiranui Genma lounged against the edge with his signature toothpick, offering Asuma advice: "Enough, Asuma. Don't overthink it. Feng Bai constantly says bizarre things—don't take them seriously."
"Rather than puzzling over Feng Bai's words, consider next week's group combat exercise. The opposing class won't be easily handled." Ebisu, adjusting his small sunglasses, added his perspective.
"I've investigated—Class Three's leader is that black-haired girl, Shizune. She's from the Kato family. Her uncle, Kato Dan, was once a distinguished Konoha jōnin, though he perished in the Second Shinobi World War."
Recalling Shizune's adorable features, Ebisu's cheeks flushed slightly.
"You—the moment you encounter a beautiful girl, you lose all composure. You're destined to become a closet pervert." After finishing his teasing of Asuma, Feng Bai suddenly stood. Under everyone's bewildered gazes, he approached Ebisu, patted his shoulder, and delivered this assessment.
Ebisu, expecting Feng Bai had something important to discuss, leaped up as if his tail had been stepped on: "Y-y-you, Feng Bai! How dare you malign my character! That's not losing composure—it's called appreciation! Appreciation, understand?!"
"Tsk, tsk, tsk. Others might not know, but I'm well aware. Just last Saturday, you were sneaking around the bookstore owner's place, secretly—mmph—" Before Feng Bai could finish, Ebisu clamped a hand over his mouth and dragged him aside.
"Ptooey, ptooey, ptooey! Did you even wash your hands, you bastard?" Breaking free from Ebisu's grip, Feng Bai spat repeatedly while glaring accusingly.
Ebisu had no time for such trivial concerns. His sole focus was silencing Feng Bai through any means necessary: "You—what exactly do you want?!"
Caught off guard by this direct question, Feng Bai blinked. Honestly, he'd never intended to blackmail anyone using methods common in those questionable stories.
However, he did want to try that particular line: "Ahem, Ebisu, you wouldn't want others discovering your... adult manga reading habits, would you?"
"Feng Bai, I'll do anything you ask—please don't tell anyone! Wait... why does that dialogue sound so familiar?" Ebisu responded instinctively, only to realize something seemed amiss.
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