Two Years Later

Spring, Year 42 of Konoha. The Shimura estate.

Shimura Danzō and Bing San sat facing each other on their knees.

Danzō returned from the front lines every two or three months. Sometimes he tested Bing San's strength; other times, he simply watched him without saying a word.

At first, Bing San had been reserved around Danzō, but he had gradually become more at ease.

The man had never made a point of showing it, but whether it came to food, clothing, daily necessities, or training resources, he had never shortchanged Bing San.

In three months, Bing San would finish his studies at the Ninja Academy and officially graduate.

After more than two years of training and growth, Bing San's theoretical strength was already no worse than that of an average Chunin. What he lacked was experience.

Last year, when Danzō returned to test Bing San's strength, he discovered that Bing San had mastered three Water Release techniques improved by the Second Hokage, and could also use two Wind Release techniques developed by a certain Shimura. He was quite pleased.

Then, after hypocritically scolding Bing San for being too reckless, he gave him one of the Second Hokage's B-rank Water Release techniques.

Orochimaru had also come back twice when he had some free time. He further modified Bing San and taught him a great deal of biology.

The problem was that biology in the Shinobi World was incredibly unscientific. For example, Ninja had no idea how many blood types there were. They simply wrote that transfusions failed due to rejection, which was practically treating people's lives like nothing.

It was worth mentioning that, on this visit, Orochimaru had specially given Bing San a summoning snake. It was silvery white all over and exceptionally beautiful.

Orochimaru had said that it was all thanks to Bing San's "I Love A Shiba Inu." Otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to cut off one of Ebizo's arms.

With Ebizo wounded, the constant skirmishes along the Land of Wind front had quieted down all at once.

However, Bing San's own biological modifications seemed to have come to a complete halt. No one could say why, but for some reason, Bing San's earth affinity kept getting weaker.

His wind affinity, on the other hand, had gradually grown strong enough to produce a passive skill. Bing San glanced at his character panel and felt reasonably satisfied.

Host: Shimura Bing San (Cyborg)

Strength: 15 (10)

Agility: 21 (10)

Intelligence: 33 (10)

Constitution: 9 (10)

His attributes had grown considerably, and his skills had undergone major changes.

Skill 1: Biochemical Miracle (Passive); the activity of your body's cells is 9 times that of an ordinary person. Chakra generation speed increased by 20%, total amount increased by 500%, invasiveness of body tissues increased by 1000%. Sensory tolerance increased by 8%. (Note: You are a living miracle. Just be careful you don't grow into a lump of flesh.)

Skill 2: Affinity for Water, Earth, and Wind (Passive). When using Water-type power, consumption is reduced by 33%, power increased by 25%, and range increased by 5%. When using Earth-type power, consumption is reduced by 10%, power increased by 20%, and range increased by 3%. When using Wind-type power, consumption is reduced by 10%, power increased by 40%, and range increased by 5%.

Skill 3: Water Arrow Technique (Level 3) (20/500). Water-type damage +18, inflicts Slow 6 for 3 seconds. Cooldown: 15 seconds.

Skill 4: Rozan Sho Ryu Ha (Passive). Each time you strike an enemy's jaw, there is a 15% chance to trigger a powerful blow, dealing 135% Strength + 45% Constitution and knocking them away.

Skill 5: Chakra Mastery (Passive). Chakra circulation speed increased by 15%; control increased by 200%.

Skill 6: Ninjutsu: One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones (Activated). The host now has three physical clones, each of which can inherit one of the host's Strength, Agility, or Intelligence attributes. While present, each clone can train independently. They share sight and thoughts with the host, and disappear once their Chakra is depleted.

As for the techniques Bing San had learned himself, they apparently had nothing to do with the system and did not appear on the system panel.

Still, over the past two years, Bing San had used One Qi Transforms into Three Pure Ones to split himself into four and train relentlessly. He had made considerable progress.

But Bing San didn't seem to have any talent for close combat. At best, he could just about take a beating well enough.

As for Ninjutsu, he had learned several C-rank techniques and two B-rank ones. However, because of his limited Chakra, he could only use reduced versions, and even those required him to weave a great many hand seals.

The Ninjutsu he knew included Water Release: Water Wall, Water Current, Water Prison Technique, and Water Clear Wave.

Wind Release: Breakthrough, Great Breakthrough, Cutting, Great Wind, and Eight-Sided Wind.

Earth Release: Earth Flow Wall. He had also learned the Three Body Techniques and the special technique, Summoning Jutsu.

Over the past two years, Bing San had drawn his lottery prize on time every time, but the rewards had been all over the place.

Few of them were useful, but a handful of items were pretty good: XX Kidney Supplement (from a man surnamed Lü in some apartment building), Shrinking Lamp (from Gray Wolf) (1/3), Small Returning Pill (from the master of some Lion King), and Ornate Sword Sheath (from one of some dull-haired King's subordinates).

They were a bizarre assortment, but their functions were powerful. For example, XX Kidney Supplement had been made by a scientist named Xiao Hei. Taking it quickly restored damaged kidneys. It had a downside, though: a fifty percent chance of causing kidney stones.

The Shrinking Lamp could only be used three times. It shrank nonliving objects that it was aimed at, without changing their structure or weight—or their abilities and effects.

Bing San had tried it once on the Summoning Scroll. The scroll was now only eight palms long.

The amazing thing was that as soon as he unfurled it, it returned to its original size: more than a meter wide and nearly three meters long.

The Ornate Sword Sheath came with a very good attribute, but Bing San didn't know how to use a sword yet, so he couldn't make use of it for now. He also had no idea what its activation conditions were.

Ornate Sword Sheath: Special Equipment (Token). Equipping this item allows one of the following effects to be triggered under certain conditions:

1. Knights Do Not Die Empty-Handed: The quality of a weapon drawn from the sheath increases by 1.

2. Unregrettable Lake Light: The next strike doubles all attributes. Consumes a large amount of Chakra. Cooldown: one year.

Bing San hadn't hidden his unusual nature from Danzō. He lived under Danzō's nose every day, so there was no point trying to conceal it.

Danzō didn't think anything was amiss, and the way the two of them got along had grown increasingly strange.

It was worth mentioning that Danzō had also written his name on the Summoning Scroll, and could easily summon Bing San's three clones.

"Ahem." Danzō gave a soft cough, interrupting Bing San's thoughts.

Danzō set down his bowl and chopsticks. "You'll graduate in a little over two months. I've already arranged for someone to be your team leader. Also, from today on, don't have any more contact with Orochimaru."

"Yes, sir. But Orochimaru-sensei..." Bing San hesitated. Orochimaru had treated him quite well over the past two years, at the very least teaching him a great deal of unscientific "biology."

"Hmph. Do as I say."

Danzō sounded displeased, but then seemed to remember something. "Today, I'll have Yong Ren take you to Root. Don't wander off after school."

With that, Danzō flicked his sleeve and stood to leave. Bing San also got up, preparing to go. Just then, Tomoko, who had been waiting outside, came in and quietly told him, "Young Master Bing San, Sarutobi Asuma has been waiting at the entrance for a while."

Over the past two years, Asuma and Bing San had grown closer and closer. The main reason was that Asuma had his eye on Kurenai, but that silly boy only knew how to annoy her. How could Kurenai possibly like him? After Bing San gave him a few terrible suggestions, Kurenai liked him even less.

So Asuma and Bing San had grown closer and closer.

Asuma: o(一︿一+)o