Upgrades and Taking Missions

Golden Finger, why did you even have a beginner phase?

"Why didn't anyone tell me?!"

If there was a beginner phase, you should've said so earlier.

And there were only eight restrictions. Other people's beginner phases started with at least ten.

You're going to make it big.

"Can't you keep up with the others? Is being short by two really that hard for you?"

No matter how furiously he cursed in his heart, the Deduction Golden Finger gave no response.

Though if it had responded, that would have been terrifying.

Jin sighed helplessly.

He began counting the techniques he had.

Basic Inner Cultivation, the Four Styles, Cat Language, Spirit Gun, and this current technique.

That made exactly eight.

Basic Inner Cultivation and Spirit Gun were essential. Basic Inner Cultivation was his foundation; if he wanted to cultivate immortality in the future, he would have to rely on it.

As for Spirit Gun, it was his strongest long-range trump card.

Though it had no room for future development, all his early damage depended on Spirit Gun.

As for the Four Styles, Soru's mobility and Kami-e's evasion were very useful, while Tekkai's ability to withstand damage was actually not that significant.

What ninja would stand still and take a ninjutsu head-on?

As for Shigan, it was trash among trash. Even Snake Life, which he had deduced himself, was stronger than Shigan.

He had only deduced it in the first place to make up the Six Styles.

Cat Language was completely useless now!!

"If I'd known, I would've deduced stronger techniques."

He gritted his teeth.

A technique that could raise the upper limit—once he threw it out there, he would soar the moment others mastered it.

What a pity.

In his previous life, he had never heard of a Golden Finger with a beginner phase that it never mentioned.

Why did he have to be the one to run into it?

He looked up at Orochimaru.

Orochimaru was immersed in his experiments on Hashirama Senju's cells and had not noticed anything here.

Jin looked at the update log described above the input box.

1. Removed the host's instant mastery ability.

2. Removed the ability for others to drive the host's advancement.

3. Added detailed information for the Deduction process.

4. Will absorb all knowledge possessed by everyone other than the host. The target's knowledge may be freely accessed at any time.

5. Will directly conduct Deduction using the knowledge absorbed by the system. No ideas need to be provided.

6. Increased the host's comprehension by ten percent.

"Hiss." Jin sucked in a breath, feeling his molars ache.

The noise was too loud.

Orochimaru cast him a puzzled look.

"It's nothing. I just thought of something."

Jin hurriedly waved him off, waiting until Orochimaru returned to his experiment.

Looking at those updates, he truly had mixed feelings.

It was obvious from this that the beginner phase was over, and the difficulty had immediately risen.

But the functions had also improved tremendously.

Now, he did not lack any ninjutsu at all. As long as someone had practiced something he gave them, the knowledge in that person's mind was effectively his.

Jin gazed at Orochimaru thoughtfully.

For example, the future Impure World Reincarnation. Although he needed to access it, the process was merely a little more troublesome.

That meant that from today onward, he would no longer lack ninjutsu. As long as he knew the name or the required conditions, he could search it up directly.

Deduction no longer needed to be so troublesome either. Previously, Deduction had been completed entirely based on his own level of knowledge. Now, the knowledge brought by the number of people expanded that scope.

Basically, most of the ninjutsu he could think of could now be deduced directly.

But if it fell within everyone's blind spot of knowledge, it would still fail.

He also no longer needed to rack his brains writing essays on principles and collecting ninjutsu.

As long as he entered the name and effects of the technique he wanted, the Deduction could be completed.

But without the ability to instantly master it or be advanced by others—

Even getting started was difficult for him!!

The only consolation was that Deduction would list every step of the process. Coupled with the additional ten percent comprehension—

The learning process was quite easy.

But it had been even easier before!!

"Was this Golden Finger made to prepare people for graduate entrance exams?!"

At first, it had been a beginner's tutorial. Now it had raised the difficulty.

It was... hard to judge.

He felt that as long as he rose through this Golden Finger, even if he no longer had it in the future, he would still be able to deduce things easily on his own.

The previous stage had been university essays. This stage was an exam. The next stage would be a doctorate.

"So it really is learn until the day you die."

However—

"An Uchiha without awakened eyes fuses with Hashirama Cells."

The input box before him began rapidly displaying characters.

All kinds of data and conclusions appeared above it—how to awaken the eyes, how to fuse with Hashirama Cells.

The summary was that he first needed to awaken the Sharingan, then awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan, and then slightly improve the Hashirama Cells to achieve a perfect fusion.

There would not be the slightest side effect.

"Do I need you to tell me that?!"

If he could awaken his eyes, would he need Deduction to figure it out?

The requirements for awakening the Sharingan were written very clearly. Awakening it required an extreme emotion to produce special Chakra, but the Mangekyo Sharingan had extremely high requirements.

It was the same as saying nothing.

Don't say it next time.

"Is this thing going to turn into artificial stupidity?"

But after thinking it over carefully, not many people were connected right now. Although those connected people knew quite a few ninjutsu, they truly could not find a way to fuse without awakening the eyes.

"Looks like the underlying knowledge is insufficient."

"If only I could connect to Madara Uchiha."

Madara Uchiha was still hiding somewhere in the ninja world, waiting for an Uchiha capable of awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan to appear.

The ninjutsu information in his mind, and even his research into the Sharingan, was definitely among the very best in the ninja world.

Unfortunately, Jin could not connect to him.

"This damned Golden Finger."

Jin roared inwardly.

Daytime.

Jin rolled up his sleeves and harvested rice.

Minato Namikaze and Kushina were already covered in mud.

Who said ninja did not farm? There was land to cultivate, but unfortunately, it was all work for genin.

They were all D-rank missions. They took time and effort, yet paid pitifully little, so naturally no one liked accepting them.

"Jiraiya-sensei, when can we take some higher-level missions?"

Kushina shouted in dissatisfaction at Jiraiya, who was writing and drawing nearby.

"Higher-level missions..." Jiraiya stopped his pen. Their team's strength certainly qualified them for somewhat higher-level missions.

But ordinary formal genin teams needed to do these basic missions to develop teamwork.

Though outwardly, it was said that this was to improve their familiarity with missions.

But his three disciples... were already so familiar with one another.

He looked at Jin and Minato Namikaze, who were still working diligently.

Then at Kushina, who wanted to slack off.

They already had bonds between them, so there should be no problem with the teamwork they had developed during this period.

"Fine. Today, I'll take you to accept a higher-level mission."

Jiraiya put away his book and pen.

"Then hurry up!!" Kushina became excited.

She had had enough of harvesting wheat, cleaning up garbage, and the like!

And caring for the elderly, watching children, carrying goods.

They were ninja!! Not servants!!

"You'd better change clothes first." Jiraiya looked at their mud-covered bodies with distaste.

"Right away!"

Kushina hooked an arm around Minato Namikaze's neck and another around Jin's, then dashed off into the distance in a flash.

"She really is quick." Jiraiya scratched his head and looked at the fairly abundant rice field.

The produce from these fields was meant to meet Konoha's basic needs.

But ninja expenses came from funds allocated by the daimyo.

After all, ninja were major consumers of money. Food and drink alone were nowhere near enough.

Soon, Kushina came racing back, the two people in her hands flying through the air.

Jiraiya covered his forehead helplessly. She really was just like Tsunade.

"Jiraiya-sensei, let's go." Kushina finally released the two of them after reaching the destination, her eyes gleaming.

Jin and Minato Namikaze exchanged looks.

Jin: Why don't you pick someone else? This woman is too fierce. She'll beat her husband in the future.

Minato Namikaze slightly turned his head away.

Did this guy seriously not understand what his look meant?

Seeing Minato Namikaze's face flush red—

"Forget it. Destroy everything."

Konoha's mission hall.

Jiraiya led the three of them inside.

"Jiraiya." Hiruzen Sarutobi sat behind a long table and adjusted his conical hat.

Jiraiya stepped forward and slapped a hand on the table.

"Sarutobi-sensei, give us a B-rank mission."

"Hmm." Hiruzen Sarutobi glanced at the three behind Jiraiya.

Other than Jin, he knew them well.

Minato Namikaze, the talented civilian youth who had dominated the top spot at the Ninja Academy, and Kushina, the Jinchūriki.

One gentle, one fiery.

His gaze settled on Jin, and Jin glared right back at him.

Who was he trying to intimidate?

He had just argued with Uchiha Kagami not long ago. Arguing with Hiruzen Sarutobi would be no problem either.

Hiruzen Sarutobi shifted his gaze to Jiraiya.

This one clearly was not easy to deal with, but he did not seem like someone who hid his thoughts. Still, he did not look at all like someone quietly cultivating secret techniques.

Careful-minded Uchiha were far too dangerous.

Everything still required discussion.

"Jiraiya, it seems you have great confidence in them."

"This is my first time leading a team, so let's start with a B-rank mission."

Jiraiya proudly patted his chest. Although he wanted to say something grand, they should start by practicing with a B-rank mission.

If it involved chunin, his three disciples could still handle them easily.

"As it happens, there is a B-rank mission here."

Hiruzen Sarutobi took out a scroll and placed it before them.

"A mission to investigate a suspected village spy. Determine whether the target is truly a spy. If so, assassinate them without alerting anyone else."

This was not a time of peace. There were no bandits outside for them to practice on.

After all, ninja wars could break out anywhere these days. Even bandits were afraid. Those who could hide had hidden, while the rest had gone somewhere remote.

Jiraiya's eyes narrowed as he looked at Hiruzen Sarutobi.

"Old man, this mission won't be easy."

Among B-rank missions, spy missions were the most difficult, because they were missions issued directly by the village. The difficulty was self-evident.

The mission had three stages: investigation, gathering evidence, and assassination.

Troublesome, to say the least.

Worst of all, there was no way to determine the spy's strength. They were most likely a chunin, but there was also the possibility that they were a jonin.

A B-rank mission could turn into an A-rank mission at any moment—something even Jiraiya would have to face with caution.

However.

If it were Orochimaru or Tsunade, they would give it careful consideration before ultimately declining.

But Jiraiya...

"Then let me show you what Jiraiya's team can do. We'll take this mission."

Jiraiya directly picked up the scroll.

With Lord Jiraiya here, wasn't a mission like this a piece of cake?