[Clang!]
[You bravely charged at the Jashin sub-leader Hideki. Obtained random skill: Earth Style: Earth Flow Slope (Entry, C).]
[You bravely countered a Genin. Obtained random skill: Earth Style: Rock Thief Staff (Entry, C).]
[You bravely countered a crowd of enemies; the opponents are now unable to argue back.]
[The counter-attack was powerful; Critical Reward triggered!]
[Due to Special Equipment: Earth Grudge Fear Heart (Earth), the obtained ninjutsu skills have been converted into Heart Upgrade Progress.]
[Current Progress: Wind (6%), Fire (52%), Lightning (0%), Water (88%).]
[The Kenjutsu skills obtained from countering the Ronin crowd have been integrated into: Shinobi Basic Kenjutsu (Skilled, D).]
Another flood of subtitles streaked past. Ren Uchiha gave his sword a few experimental swings and noticed that his grip, which had been clumsy and awkward before, was suddenly much more fluid.
Shinobi Basic Kenjutsu was the foundation of all sword styles in the ninja world. It covered everything: Iai, Vertical Slashes, Circular Slashes, Diagonal Slashes, and Thrusts. Leveling this up would grant a proficiency bonus to more advanced styles like Cloud Style or Uchiha Style.
Ren felt a spark of realization. So that's how it works! My 'Brute Force' sword style can finally be retired.
As for the Heart Progress, it was simply the cultivation level of his chakra natures. Fire and Water were higher because those were his innate attributes, and most Yugakure ninjas used Water Style.
It won't be hard to get my original attributes back, Ren thought. Especially Fire Style... man, I really miss that Fire Style: Chakra Mode. It's the ultimate self-detonation tool.
He knew that if he remained conscious and healthy, he could eventually use Physical Rebirth to grow a new, original heart. But for now, he only had one more combat opportunity to use that forbidden jutsu safely. And he had already decided: that chance was reserved for the Leader of the Jashin Cult.
The reinforcements were almost there. Ren quickly scavenged the battlefield, picking up fallen ninja tools and snatching pouches from the "playing dead" ninjas.
However, before he could finish "farming," several dark shadows landed on the wall. Ren straightened his back, narrowing his eyes.
Twelve Jashin members stood before him, wearing high-collared black robes with leather scripture cases strapped to their forearms. They scanned the wreckage with cold eyes and drew their signature weapon: pitch-black spears.
The elite leader asked indifferently, "Was this... your doing?"
"Tch." Ren made a sound of annoyance, like a player whose cutscene had been interrupted just as they were about to press 'F'. He lowered his head, putting on a brooding, "Sasuke-esque" expression.
"What? You want to kill me?" Ren asked, his tone deep and condescending. "Frankly... you're all just too ignorant."
He snapped his eyes open, his Double Tomoe Sharingan spinning within the crimson glow. "Under these eyes, all your movements have already been seen through!"
Under this "modern" level of posturing—techniques that wouldn't be seen in the ninja world for another decade—the Jashin elites felt a vein pop in their foreheads. The leader barked:
"KILL HIM!"
Twelve cultists split into three squads. Four charged with spears, six stayed back to weave signs for ninjutsu, and two began drawing the 'Triangle-in-a-Circle' ritual curse on the ground, black lines creeping across their faces.
Ren had only managed to grab half of the fallen pouches. He had 34 shuriken, 8 low-quality kunai, one sword, and a sleeve-guard filled with 40 senbon.
Faced with the elites, Ren didn't even think. He took a massive leap off the fortress wall!
He had fought these guys before in the village. Three of them had nearly killed him. Logically, he should stay and fight to the death here. But things were different now. With Earth Spear, as long as they didn't have high-level Lightning Style or a specific counter-curse, they literally couldn't kill him!
If I waste all my chakra here, the system might judge me as 'slacking off' or 'intentionally seeking death' when I face the Final Boss, Ren reasoned.
He skidded down the wall, using his feet to brake, then sprinted vertically along the stones. Sharp sonic booms echoed near his ears as spears whistled past. He threw two shuriken trailing threads into the cliffside, using them to swing through the air and dodge the projectiles before landing and sprinting toward the rendezvous point.
"Running is never faster than flying!" Ren grinned, seeing the meeting spot with Mei just around the corner.
But as he rounded the cliff's edge, his smile froze.
He slammed on the brakes, his Sharingan wide with shock. The twelve elites who were just on top of the wall were now standing right in front of him! And their numbers had grown!
Sixteen Jashin elites stood in a perfect line. And simultaneously, they hurled sixteen pitch-black spears straight at his face!