A-Rank Ninjutsu

Leiyin thought for a moment, then reached toward the card in the middle.

An exciting moment was about to arrive.

The card in the middle slowly flipped over, revealing a line of small text.

Lightning Release—Chidoryū (A-Rank): This technique evolved from the foundation of the ninjutsu "Chidori" and releases lightning throughout the user's entire body.

System: Congratulations. You obtained the A-Rank ninjutsu [Chidoryū].

As soon as the system finished speaking, Leiyin saw that "Chidoryū" had appeared under the "Ninjutsu" category in his personal information. His "Chakra Amount" had changed from the original 0/0 to 100/100, while his "Ninja Level" had changed from "Ninja Academy Student" to "Genin (Low Rank)."

Leiyin could clearly feel the energy flowing through his body.

This was chakra flowing!

Amid his excitement, Leiyin asked the system, "Why is my chakra '100/100'?"

System: "Because this was your first card draw, the system determined your chakra amount based on the first ninjutsu you learned. Using [Chidoryū] once requires 80 chakra, so the system set your value at 100."

Leiyin continued, "Then if the first ninjutsu I drew had required 9,800 chakra, would my maximum chakra have been 10,000 the first time?"

System: "That's right. That's exactly what it means."

In an instant, Leiyin's curiosity was piqued. "Then can you tell me what ninjutsu are on the other two cards?"

Everyone had this kind of mentality: after making a choice, they wanted to see whether the path they had chosen was right or wrong, and whether they should feel relieved or regretful.

System: "Well, it's not that I can't tell you...but are you really sure you want to know?"

Leiyin: "Of course."

System: "Just don't cry after you see them."

Leiyin: "You're so long-winded. Hurry up and show me."

The golden light that had faded from the two cards remaining on the ground flared up again. First, the card on the left flipped over.

Wind Release—Spiraling Shuriken (S-Rank): The first S-Rank ninjutsu learned by Naruto Uzumaki, the protagonist of Naruto.

Leiyin was more familiar with this technique than anything. In the original story, Naruto had used only fifty percent of its power to shatter two of Kakuzu's hearts, leaving Kakuzu completely paralyzed.

If seeing the first ninjutsu had made Leiyin feel a little regretful, then the second one made him want to cry himself unconscious in the bathroom.

"What about the one on the right?"

After Leiyin finished speaking, the card on the right slowly flipped over as well.

Impure World Reincarnation (S-Rank Forbidden Technique!): Directly summon the First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, to fight for you!

After seeing it, Leiyin even felt like jumping into a river!

As someone familiar with the Naruto anime, Leiyin knew exactly who Hashirama Senju was. He was the man who had defeated Uchiha Madara! Moreover, Hashirama Senju's Wood Release—Wood Golem Technique was powerful enough to rival a complete Susanoo!

If he learned this technique, forget about a mere Buggy—even if one of the Four Emperors came, he could still exchange a few blows with them, right?

If Leiyin's hand had reached three centimeters farther to the right when he drew the card, he could now have looked down upon the world of the Pirate King!

But none of this was useful now. He had still drawn the A-Rank Lightning Release—Chidoryū.

It was truly regretful not to look, but even more regretful after looking.

After seeing the two techniques, Leiyin couldn't help saying, "Damn, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"

System: "Your luck was bad. How is that my fault?"

Leiyin: "..."

Leiyin often suspected that the system had deliberately made him draw this card during his first card draw. Later, something he learned made him even more certain of his suspicion.

The first ninjutsu draw had been free.

The system had deliberately teased him by mentioning one million.

This system really was full of malicious amusement.

Right, he should try out this newly acquired ninjutsu.

Lightning Release—Chidoryū!

As he spoke, Leiyin felt the chakra inside his body surge violently. Lightning immediately flashed all over him, illuminating the pitch-black ship's hold once again.

If anyone saw Leiyin at that moment, he would have looked just like a thunder god wrapped in lightning.

With his excitement running high, Leiyin withdrew the technique.

With this, he truly possessed the strength to contend with this world.

And he would become even stronger.

Sure enough, after testing the technique, the value under "Chakra Amount" changed to 20/100. [Lightning Release—Chidoryū] consumed 80 chakra each time.

This meant that Leiyin had exhausted most of his physical strength in an instant. Combined with the day's labor, an intense wave of exhaustion soon overcame him.

By then, it was already past midnight, and dawn was approaching. Leiyin lay on the floor and fell into a deep sleep.

When Leiyin woke again, it was already noon. He rose from the floor and checked his chakra. It had returned to 100/100 and was fully restored.

Now that he had obtained this power, he planned to force his way out of here and stop letting others control his fate.

Because it was quite dark around him, he groped his way toward the hold's door. Then he tried gathering a small amount of chakra in his fist and punched the door.

The door to the lowest hold had never been very sturdy. With chakra, the force of Leiyin's punch was on an entirely different level from before, and he blasted the door open with a single blow.

Leiyin gradually made his way onto the deck. Having just emerged from the darkness, he found the sunlight especially glaring and raised a hand to shield his brow.

That was when he discovered that the ship had reached an island and was docked along the shore.

Leiyin looked toward the island. Even from far away, he could see a mountain of corpses and rivers of blood, along with houses either belching smoke or already engulfed in flames. The excited, bloodthirsty roars of pirates also drifted over from the island.

Leiyin's brows drew together. Could this be...

Six hours earlier, when the sky had already brightened, Buggy's ship had arrived at Orange Town.

The town's residents had all gone pale with terror when they saw the pirate flag. They had never suffered a pirate invasion in forty years and had lived peaceful, prosperous lives, utterly unaccustomed to war. Now that so many savage pirates had suddenly arrived, many residents couldn't help but panic.

To the residents, the fluttering pirate flag seemed to be declaring their doom. The clown's face on it floated in the air like a demon king.

The only two people in town with any courage were the mayor, Boodle, and Hoka, the owner of the feed store. The two immediately urged the townspeople to organize a resistance, but some of the more timid residents chose to flee or hide, while others still decided to drive the invaders away.

Buggy stood at the bow with his arms folded across his chest and his right foot resting on the railing. He said coldly, "You weak commoners actually dare to oppose me?"

The ship's five cannons had already been pushed to the bow by the pirates, their black, icy muzzles aimed at the townspeople.