Reward × Chakra Metal

But surprisingly, Nara Dan hadn't merely achieved some success in taijutsu. He'd broken new ground and developed a style of his own.

Judging by Nara Dan's current record and strength, few people in the Nara Clan could probably face him head-on.

A shinobi's strength couldn't be summed up by a single title.

Otherwise, people wouldn't say things like "Konoha Jonin fight with punches and kicks, while Genin fights devastate the world."

Nara Dan's feats made it clear that his strength was terrifying. He was far more than an ordinary Special Jonin.

The perceptive people in Konoha could all vaguely tell that Nara Dan had probably already reached the threshold of that level.

That was why the clan elders had gone from muttering among themselves to falling silent.

"Likewise, we've decided to appoint you as the Nara Clan's taijutsu instructor."

"Whenever you're free, you'll teach taijutsu to the clan members who haven't yet graduated from the Ninja Academy."

As the Nara Clan Head spoke, the elders quietly watched Nara Dan's expression.

When they saw that he showed no reaction and still wore that calm, untroubled look, they let out a breath of relief.

That included the Nara Clan Head, who had made the offer.

No matter how unorthodox Nara Dan was, his strength was beyond question.

If even a little of it could be passed down, it would surely become a foundation for the clan's prosperity.

If the clan could reliably produce Kage Level shinobi through a legacy like the Toad Clan's Sage Mode, the Uchiha's Mangekyō Sharingan, or the Senju's Sage Body,

there was no doubt it would take the clan to new heights.

Appointing him as a taijutsu instructor was also a way to test how he felt about the clan.

Though Nara Dan wasn't from this world, he wouldn't turn against the hand that had fed him.

The clan had helped him a great deal over the years, so he had no objections to teaching its members.

Besides, being a taijutsu instructor wasn't simply a thankless job that drained the clan's resources.

In this world, the bond between master and student could be even stronger than family ties. The Third's line, passed down from the Third Hokage onward, was proof enough of that.

For Nara Dan, building good relationships within the clan would also give him a considerable source of support.

With the taijutsu instructor position settled, the atmosphere at the meeting grew much more relaxed.

The elders joined the discussion one after another, focusing mainly on Nara Dan's position and the political implications for the clan.

At the center of the discussion, Nara Dan gently closed his eyes and made the most of the time, quietly refining his Chakra as he meditated. It was as if none of it had anything to do with him.

Once the discussion had mostly run its course, Nara Dan opened his eyes. A beastlike Chakra presence spread from him, and the meeting room fell abruptly silent.

All the Nara gathered there couldn't help but stare at the clan's undisputed monster, their hearts filled with dread.

Nara Dan merely nodded to the clan head and elders to show he understood their intentions, then rose and bowed.

"Then I'll take my leave, Clan Head."

The Nara Clan Head gave a wry smile. He knew what Nara Dan was like.

Unlike the other clan members, who excelled at scheming and politics, Nara Dan devoted himself to absolute strength and arduous training.

"Very well. If there's nothing else, you may go."

The clan head waved a hand. They had already discussed most of the matters at hand.

Nara Dan wasn't ignorant of strategy or politics. He just couldn't be bothered with them.

As for politics, he'd come from a country in his previous life that had practiced it for thousands of years. To be honest, politics in the Ninja World felt a little like child's play.

Nara Dan said nothing more. He took the clan's gifts and left, while everyone present remained quiet. No one dared make a remark about him.

Nearby, the young Nara Shikaku watched Nara Dan's departing figure pensively, admiration and envy flickering in his eyes.

By the time Nara Dan returned home, steam was rising in the backyard. The household servants had already heated water, waiting for him to come back and wash up.

Naturally, as a member of Konoha's upper class, Nara wasn't expected to do everything himself—especially now that Nara Dan was a Jonin of the Nara Clan.

Nara Dan didn't hurry to wash up. He finished his daily taijutsu training in the yard first.

Only after he was drenched in sweat did he climb into the tub with the servants' help.

Ordinary training barely affected his strength anymore.

But part of it was habit, and part of it was a reminder: in this dangerous world, he couldn't afford to let his guard down.

Nara Dan was naked as he took out the item the clan had given him earlier. He bit off a piece of the Chakra Metal and chewed it like fruit.

"Crunch, crunch."

"It's got an unusual fragrance. Tastes even better than ordinary iron."

If anyone saw Nara Dan appraising it like this, they'd probably be even more convinced that he was a monster, a freak.

Thanks to the System Trait, Nara Dan's digestive system had long since become far different from an ordinary person's. Even his sense of taste was unusual.

As a result, things that ordinary people couldn't eat or found disgusting had a unique flavor to him.

For example, iron tasted a little like hard biscuits with a hint of sweetness.

Wood was like crisp biscuits with a sandalwood aroma. This was Nara Dan's first time eating Chakra Metal, too.

"It's kind of like the crispy dried meat snacks from my previous life."

At the same time, Nara Dan's digestive system was working at full throttle, breaking down the Chakra Metal—an unfamiliar substance with special properties—into nutrients.

Nara Dan opened the system interface and looked down.

(Blue) Copper Head Iron Bone:

Years of digesting and absorbing metal have given your body certain metallic properties. Ordinary physical attacks and elemental attacks can barely harm you.

The Trait's description was still the same, but that wasn't what Nara Dan was focused on.

The Copper Head Iron Bone label, which had been an ordinary pure blue, had turned deep blue after he ate ten pounds of Chakra Metal. It even seemed to shimmer with a hint of purple.

"Just as I thought—it works!"

His delight was plain to see. At last, a chance to break through his bottleneck had appeared.

As long as either Taijutsu Mastery or Copper Head Iron Bone turned purple, Nara Dan was confident he could fully reach Kage Level.

He could even become one of the strongest among those at Kage Level.

After all, he'd already had one foot in that realm for a long time. All he needed now was a chance to undergo a qualitative transformation.

Of course, ten pounds of Chakra Metal was nowhere near enough to bring about that transformation.

By Nara Dan's estimate, turning the Trait purple would probably take more than a hundred pounds of Chakra Metal.

To be honest, he even doubted whether all of Konoha had a hundred pounds in stock.

After all, Chakra Metal was scarce no matter where you went—even in the Land of Fire, the wealthiest of the Five Great Nations.