The three of them didn't stay long at Ichiraku Ramen.
Namikaze Yoru hadn't fully digested the grilled meat he'd eaten for lunch, and Minato had never had much of an appetite. Only Kushina seemed reluctant to call it quits, but she was too shy to ask for another bowl—even though Namikaze Yoru had repeatedly told her it was fine.
After paying, Namikaze Yoru asked Minato to take Kushina home first. He then strolled around the village at a leisurely pace, as if taking a walk to aid digestion.
In reality, he had already secretly activated Mind's Eye of the Kagura. His perception spread outward like invisible ripples, carefully probing the areas around Konoha where chakra seemed unusual or where barriers were in place.
He silently noted several areas where Seal Techniques clearly masked the surroundings and obstructed his senses. Only then did he finish his "stroll" and head home.
As soon as he got back, Namikaze Yoru pulled the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique scroll from his robes and began training.
The basic Shadow Clone Technique wasn't difficult. After a few attempts, he had grasped how to circulate his chakra.
The beginning of the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique scroll, however, was filled with warnings, cautioning practitioners to use the jutsu sparingly.
Namikaze Yoru skimmed over the warnings. Naruto used this thing like a basic attack. How could he, Naruto's "uncle," fail to manage it?
Following the scroll's instructions, he circulated his chakra and formed the Hand Seals. Even though he tried to control how much chakra he used, more than a dozen clones still appeared in an instant with a poof!
At the same time, Namikaze Yoru felt utterly drained. His chakra was nearly depleted, and the sensation of being emptied in an instant was truly unpleasant.
Ever since he'd exchanged for the Uzumaki Sage Body, the transformation had been so profound that he'd almost begun to think his chakra was endless.
But having it divided among a large number of Shadow Clones in an instant was still too much. More than a dozen clones packed into the cramped room wasn't exactly comfortable, either.
When he dispelled them, a flood of memories from all those different perspectives came rushing back into his mind. For a moment, Namikaze Yoru felt light-headed.
No wonder the scroll said that some people who learned the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique had suffered mental breakdowns when using it heavily. It stressed that only those with strong minds should learn the jutsu.
My nephew's protagonist aura really is something. It's probably not just his physique—looks like he inherited Minato's mental fortitude, too.
As for his other jutsu scrolls, Namikaze Yoru decided to take a shortcut. If he could use a cheat to buy what he needed, why bother suffering through training?
"Pawn."
[Scan complete. The following items can be pawned:] [Ding! 4 unregistered jutsu... Valuation: 5 each] [Ding! 1 unregistered advanced jutsu... Valuation: 40] "Pawn them all." [Current Pawn Points: 2130] [Available items:] [Uzumaki Clan Sealing Technique—4000 points (can be exchanged in parts)] [Mizuki Bloodline—600 points] [Kaguya Clan Primary Bloodline—100 points] [Body Rapid Repair—500 points/use] [Swordsmanship (Mastery)—200 points] [Longsword Ninjutsu (Stitch)—200 points] [Forbidden Jutsu: Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—80 points] [Wind Release: Great Breakthrough—10 points] [Lightning Release: Earth Flow—10 points] [Earth Style: Earth Fish Camouflage—10 points] [Illusion Technique: Fox Heart Technique—10 points]
"These are all good stuff!" Namikaze Yoru couldn't help exclaiming.
If he hadn't struck it rich in the Land of Whirlpools, he'd probably be staring helplessly at that sky-high price list right now.
He exchanged the four jutsu he'd just pawned back, then bought the Swordsmanship Mastery he'd gotten from Kushimaru Kuriarare. That cost him 240 Pawn Points, and the corresponding training memories flowed into his mind. In an instant, he had mastered all the jutsu.
"Good to go. I've got all the elements covered. Once I figure out how to copy the Lightning Blade, Kakashi will be the little Namikaze Yoru."
By the time he'd finished preparing everything, night had fallen. He'd wasted a great deal of chakra testing the jutsu and was clearly exhausted, so he collapsed into bed and fell fast asleep.
The next day.
He slept until noon again. As he stared at the bright sun outside his window, a wave of guilt washed over him. Was having a system really making him this lazy?
He promptly gave himself a hard slap. He couldn't let himself think that way again. If he had a system and still had to work hard, what was the point of having one?
Perhaps the village was looking out for Namikaze Yoru. Or perhaps the front lines were under pressure. Either way, there was still no word about a new Jonin instructor for him.
According to regulations, Konoha Genin couldn't undertake missions alone without an assigned ninja instructor. So, for the time being, Namikaze Yoru had gained a rare stretch of free time.
He decided to use the opportunity to put his plan into action. After grabbing a quick lunch, he began searching every corner of Konoha for that rare beast.
"497, 498, 499..."
When he heard a familiar voice counting and the heavy breathing coming from deep in the forest, Namikaze Yoru perked up and followed the sound.
He found a ninja in a green bodysuit and a bowl-cut hairstyle training with all his might. Whenever he seemed close to giving up, he'd mutter things like "youth" and "burning" under his breath.
Namikaze Yoru's eyes lit up as the ninja before him gradually matched the image in his memories.
Might Duy, a Konoha legend, was hailed as the Konoha Genin no one should ever provoke. One man, one life—and he'd taken on the Seven Ninja Swordsmen by himself. With all Eight Gates open, he'd kicked the Seven Ninja Swordsmen, at the peak of their strength, right out of the ranks of the elite.
Might Duy was still rather young at this point, and his trademark stubble wasn't all that noticeable yet. He was doing push-ups with all his strength.
Namikaze Yoru walked over without drawing attention to himself and started training on his own nearby.
Might Duy noticed someone approaching through the trees and had initially meant to avoid him. But when he saw that it was a boy doing the same basic exercises as him, his competitive spirit kicked in, and he trained even harder.
The two of them, one big and one small, began competing in the forest. Namikaze Yoru had the advantage of a superior physique and recovered quickly, needing only a short rest before he could resume training.
Might Duy, meanwhile, had no talent for ninjutsu, but years of training had given him tremendous physical stamina.
They didn't say a word, yet seemed to share an unspoken understanding. They kept training until the sun set.
By then, Namikaze Yoru had reached his limit, and beads of sweat the size of beans dripped from him.
Partway through the workout, he'd considered stopping early and going over to strike up a conversation with Might Duy.
But he soon realized that training beyond his physical limits made his body absorb growth like a sponge. His chakra circulated and was refined noticeably faster, too.
Gradually, Namikaze Yoru lost himself in the training. He followed Might Duy's pace and routine with total focus. Even the simplest basic exercises had him completely absorbed.
Only when waves of hunger hit him and his body ached all over did he come back to his senses and realize he needed to stop.
The two of them stopped training at the same time, as if by tacit agreement, and looked at each other.
Might Duy had already decided Namikaze Yoru was a kindred spirit. He spoke first, flashing a brilliant smile:
"Youth, boy! Can you feel it burning?"
"I think... my stomach's burning a little."
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