Evolution Chart · Plunder!

[Detected an Earth Style heart. The Evolution Chart's evolution requirements have been met. Fuse?]

"!"

Hyuga Sho froze.

He immersed his consciousness in his mindscape.

"Kamimusubi," the constellation he had chosen.

Was an Evolution Chart made up of countless "Star Points."

So-called Star Points.

Were actually formed from individual Kekkei Genkai—or, more broadly speaking, certain kinds of "Special DNA."

For example.

If Father and Mother possessed the "Byakugan," their child would have a 99.99% chance of inheriting that trait.

For another example.

If both parents were from the Uchiha Clan, their child would almost certainly inherit Fire Style Chakra.

Whether Chakra Nature or Kekkei Genkai.

They were all, in essence, mutations—or evolutions—of DNA.

"Earth Style is also a kind of inherited DNA. If I obtain it, perhaps I'll gain the Earth Release nature transformation and learn Earth Release Ninjutsu..."

Hyuga Sho took a deep breath and nodded. "Confirm plunder [fusion]!"

Compared to fusion.

Hyuga Sho preferred calling it plunder!

Genius? Trash?

None of that mattered.

If he didn't have it, he just had to make it his own!

The next moment.

Something surged out from the other party's corpse, passed through the hand touching her body, and entered Hyuga Sho's body...

"!"

Hyuga Sho shuddered all over.

At once, something extra appeared within both his body and mindscape...

Against the backdrop of the universe.

The constellation was clearly visible.

On the Evolution Chart named "Kamimusubi," aside from the lowest Star Point, "Byakugan," another Star Point lit up.

And when Hyuga Sho focused his mind on that second Star Point.

A line of description appeared.

[Earth Style, one of the Five Basic Attributes.]

As the Star Point lit up.

Hyuga Sho's body also underwent a change.

[Doka Degree: 12.5%]

Furthermore, due to the characteristics of the "Kamimusubi" Evolution Chart, Hyuga Sho, having obtained Earth Style, also gained a skill.

This skill was passive.

It was similar to Iwagakure's "Earth Release: Hardening Jutsu."

Its advantage was that it required no hand seals, activated automatically, and could increase the defensive power of the body surface.

Its drawback was that it required long-term training. Earth Style Chakra had to flow across the body surface and circulate through the entire body. The amount of defense gained depended on the degree of training.

"It's a bit like the Golden Bell Shield / Iron Shirt..."

Hyuga Sho muttered.

According to the skill description.

The essence of this "Hardening Jutsu" was to continuously circulate Earth Style Chakra throughout the body during training, transforming the body.

When an attack struck the body surface, its force could be deflected or even rebounded.

Just like the masters in martial arts novels who had attained great mastery over their inner strength.

Once trained to the utmost limit.

He would become completely immune to the slashes and thrusts of ordinary Kunai and Shuriken.

But to train it to that level.

Would obviously require enormous effort and endless hardship.

Because every increase in defensive power was the result of countless training sessions.

But for the ruthless Training Machine, Hyuga Sho, this was no difficult matter.

The abundant training experience from his previous life and this one.

Gave Hyuga Sho great confidence that he could master it to its limit.

"What's wrong?"

Seeing Hyuga Sho suddenly pause.

Morino Ibiki could not help asking.

Naturally, he had no idea that Hyuga Sho was no longer the same as before.

Having plundered the other party's Earth Style, Hyuga Sho now... had another skill that could make him stronger.

"Oh, I was thinking about where to bury her."

Hyuga Sho answered casually.

Morino Ibiki replied, "My backyard?"

The two lifted the corpse.

And carried it outside.

"Feels lighter somehow..." Morino Ibiki remarked casually.

Hyuga Sho: "!"

"I heard that when people die, their souls fly away, so corpses weigh much less than when they were alive." Morino Ibiki shared some gossip he had heard from who knew where.

But Hyuga Sho knew.

The corpse of Kōseki, the female ninja from Iwagakure... really had become lighter.

Because when he had plundered her Earth Style just now, part of the "flesh" had disappeared.

That missing portion was what Hyuga Sho had plundered.

Half an hour later.

A small mound of earth had appeared in Morino Ibiki's backyard.

The female ninja from Iwagakure had been buried beneath it.

They had even planted a jujube tree on top.

"When your parents get back, just tell them you wanted to eat jujubes."

Hyuga Sho said casually, then tossed the shovel aside.

"Sure thing~."

Morino Ibiki said sure thing.

But inside, he was miserable.

What if his parents found out?

But that was not the important part...

"A man has to take responsibility. Don't worry, Hyuga Sho, I won't tell anyone what happened tonight..."

Morino Ibiki was two heads taller than Hyuga Sho.

He looked strong and sturdy.

He was the tallest among the thirty students in their class and indeed had plenty of brute strength.

Thus, digging the hole had not exhausted them too badly.

Leaning on the shovel beside the jujube tree, Morino Ibiki gave Hyuga Sho a hearty smile. "Companion."

He said.

Hyuga Sho was his companion.

Hyuga Sho: "..."

A moment later, the two returned to the house.

It was already ten at night.

After working for most of the day.

They took turns bathing, washing away the bloody smell and drying their clothes.

Feeling refreshed, Hyuga Sho and Morino Ibiki returned to the living room.

Hyuga Natsu lay on the sofa, still unconscious.

Only then did Morino Ibiki have the time to ask, "Your sister?"

"Your sister."

Hyuga Sho rolled his Byakugan at him.

Morino Ibiki thought... I've had enough of Hyuga Sho's Byakugan! He's always giving me that Byakugan look!

"Then this must be it."

Morino Ibiki held up his pinky, meaning... girlfriend.

"Fine, I was joking."

Morino Ibiki shrugged.

The two looked at the items laid out on a piece of cloth atop the table.

These items were spoils of war.

They had been searched from Kōseki, the female ninja from Iwagakure.

"Two bottles of Hypnotic Medicine, one Sleeve Sword, one Ninja Tool Pouch, several Kunai and Shuriken, a wallet, and a mask."

Morino Ibiki gestured as he counted the spoils.

"Seven for me, three for you."

Hyuga Sho opened his mouth like a lion.

And claimed his share.

Morino Ibiki did not object, and even readily gave Hyuga Sho the most valuable Sleeve Sword.

"One bottle of Hypnotic Medicine each."

The two almost simultaneously tucked the small bottles into their clothes.

These were good things.

In less than two minutes, they had each taken what they needed and divided the loot.

The cooperation had gone quite pleasantly.

Just as Hyuga Sho was about to stand up and carry Hyuga Natsu away from there.

The latter... groggily opened her eyes.

"Sho-kun..."