Anbu?

This was the result of a year of training.

Three-Tomoe Sharingan: fully stabilized. Chakra: 388. Combat strength: 155.

Just going by the numbers, his combat strength was already approaching a jōnin's 200.

His chakra was nearing the 500 of an elite jōnin.

This wasn't because Jingxin had an especially strong physique.

It was all thanks to the system's Linear Potential.

He was using the training method Naruto had used in the original story: training with Shadow Clones.

When his Shadow Clones refined chakra, his total chakra reserves increased.

Once the Shadow Clones were dispelled, all the chakra they had accumulated during that time was transferred to his real body.

Having his Shadow Clones refine chakra made his reserves grow rapidly.

The more chakra he had, the more Shadow Clones he could maintain.

The more Shadow Clones he used, the faster he could train.

It was a virtuous cycle.

He could now maintain twenty Shadow Clones at a time for his daily training.

The downside was that at night, when he dispelled them, all the fatigue and experience he had accumulated throughout the day flooded into his mind at once, and he would collapse onto his bed.

It had effectively solved his insomnia.

Jingxin had also noticed that his body was recovering from training fatigue faster and faster.

This might have been thanks to the combined effects of the body's resilience and Linear Potential.

As a result, Jingxin's injuries now healed at an astonishing rate.

He had tested it: a half-centimeter cut took just two days to heal completely, without even leaving a scar.

After bathing, Jingxin returned to his bedroom, lay on the bed, and formed a hand seal.

The Shadow Clones training outside were dispelled.

Jingxin kicked his legs out and collapsed stiffly onto the bed.

Kitsuchi, next door, opened the door with practiced ease, picked Jingxin up, and put him in the medicinal tub he had prepared in advance.

The mild medicinal herbs slowly restored Jingxin's body.

An hour later, Kitsuchi laid Jingxin on the bed and tucked him in.

As usual, the tall man muttered, "You're a little stronger than yesterday. Still improving steadily. You really are a freak."

The next day.

Jingxin made Shadow Clones and began studying and training with the six scrolls Ōnoki had given him.

A month later.

The Tsuchikage Building.

Jingxin's footsteps echoed along the stone walls.

The guards saw him and nodded in greeting.

The door to Ōnoki's office was open.

Jingxin walked up and knocked.

"Ah, Kintsuchi. Come in." Ōnoki looked up, saw Jingxin, and smiled. "Have you run into some trouble? Don't be discouraged. I know it's difficult..."

Jingxin cleared his throat. "I think I've mastered the prerequisites for training in Dust Release."

Ōnoki: "?"

Ōnoki had expected that even with Jingxin's exceptional talent and the help of Shadow Clones, it would take him at least half a year to master the prerequisites. That was the shortest estimate Ōnoki could make.

Ōnoki's expression turned serious. "It's not that I don't believe you, but seeing is believing."

Ten minutes later.

Training ground.

Ōnoki watched Jingxin demonstrate his training results one after another, the corners of his mouth twitching.

Sarutobi Hiruzen, did you know this would happen?

Ōnoki took out a scroll and handed it to Jingxin, then began explaining. "Dust Release is a Kekkei Tōta formed by combining Earth, Wind, and Fire chakra."

"The principle is to mix the three chakra natures in specific proportions, creating a stable chakra structure."

"This structure can disintegrate matter, breaking a target down to the atomic level."

Jingxin listened carefully, not daring to miss a word.

Ōnoki explained the training method. "Training has three stages."

"First, control all three chakra natures at once and keep them balanced."

"Second, try to combine them in the correct proportions and structure."

"Third, produce a stable output and form a Dust Release technique."

"You'll start with the first stage. Controlling all three chakra natures at once is extremely difficult. Each nature has different qualities, and they'll interfere with each other. You need to find a balance that lets them coexist peacefully."

Jingxin sat cross-legged and began trying to control all three chakra natures at once.

Earth, Wind, and Fire chakra were drawn together inside him. As they converged in his palm, the close proximity made them interfere with one another.

The balance broke almost instantly, and the chakra became chaotic.

Bang—

The chakra flow Jingxin had just gathered in his palm exploded on a tiny scale, then dispersed into white mist.

Seeing this scene, so familiar yet so strange, Ōnoki comforted Jingxin just as his own teacher had once comforted him. "Don't rush. There are no shortcuts to Dust Release."

"It took me five years from mastering the prerequisites to successfully using Dust Release for the first time. I failed nearly a hundred thousand times."

"Experience comes with time."

Jingxin didn't get discouraged and immediately tried again.

Ōnoki nodded with approval, his eyes even growing misty. "If I could see a young shinobi from Iwagakure use Dust Release just once—just once—I could close my eyes in peace."

As someone who had trained in Dust Release day after day for five years, Ōnoki had no shortage of patience.

But he had waited too long.

He was old, and an accident could happen at any time.

There were hardly any shinobi in the village who met the prerequisites, let alone anyone else who could use Dust Release. Those who did qualify had only barely reached that level after accumulating more than fifty years of experience.

Kitsuchi had talent, but he was still a long way from Dust Release.

Kurotsuchi and Deidara were much better than Kitsuchi, but they were too young, and each had only one chakra nature. Before learning the prerequisites, they first had to learn the prerequisites for those prerequisites: how to draw out and become familiar with the other two chakra natures hidden within them.

Now that Ōnoki could see Jingxin truly training in Dust Release, he was incredibly excited.

Jingxin's heart jolted. The words carried too much emotion: the hope of passing something on, the trust of an elder.

Jingxin grew serious. "Lord Tsuchikage, it won't take long."

"And you'll live to a hundred. You'll see Iwagakure grow stronger with your own eyes."

He wasn't just saying it to comfort him. Ōnoki was already destined to live to a hundred.

Ōnoki laughed heartily. "That would be wonderful. I'll take you at your word and do my best to live until then."

When his laughter faded, Ōnoki's expression turned serious again. "There's one more thing. You've reached a certain level of strength, but training in isolation won't get you anywhere. Shinobi need practical experience and missions to hone their skills."

Jingxin listened quietly.

"You've joined the Anbu, but you haven't carried out many missions," Ōnoki continued. "The Leaf's efforts targeting you have decreased considerably, and we haven't seen them in the Land of Earth or the surrounding areas for a long time."

"So I'd like to assign you to an Anbu squad. There'll be three of you in total; the other two are experienced elite jōnin."

"They'll help you get used to the mission procedures and broaden your experience. The assignment will last a month."

"But there's no rush. We haven't decided on your teammates yet. For now, focus on training in Dust Release. That's the top priority."

"If you hit a bottleneck someday, going out to clear your head and getting a change of scenery might have an unexpected effect."