Old Grandma Is White Zetsu? Pick Up Traits!

Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.

Qingyu had already fully adapted to the rhythm of life at the Ninja Academy.

Basic shurikenjutsu, the fundamentals of genjutsu, and the theory behind the Three Basic Techniques—the chunin instructor pushed the curriculum forward step by step.

And today, it was finally time for the practical lesson on the Clone Technique.

"Everyone remember, this is a mandatory subject for the graduation exam."

Umino Shika stood before the podium, holding a piece of chalk and rapping it heavily against the blackboard three times.

He had the air of a teacher highlighting key points for a high-stakes college entrance exam.

In truth, for these children, the ninja graduation exam was no different from a college entrance exam.

If they failed, they would be held back until they passed, only then earning the qualification to become a ninja and be assigned to squads to carry out missions.

"The 'Clone Technique' involves consuming chakra to create an afterimage identical to the caster."

Umino Shika began to explain the basic principles.

"In battle, it can confuse an enemy's judgment and create opportunities for a real attack. Sometimes, a single clone can be the difference between life and death."

He demonstrated the hand seal sequence a few times, then instructed the students below to try it themselves.

"Too easy."

Kakashi barely moved his fingers, casually weaving a few seals, and an afterimage identical to him appeared out of thin air beside him.

"Kakashi succeeded on his first try!"

A classmate exclaimed in surprise.

Qingyu followed suit, likewise producing a perfect clone on his first attempt.

Umino Shika nodded in satisfaction, marking a perfect score for both of them on his clipboard.

Not bad, not bad at all—two prodigies in one class.

While the others performed a bit worse, most were able to produce at least a decent afterimage after a few tries.

Umino Shika felt that the overall potential of this class was truly immense.

Well... except for Obito.

Umino Shika's gaze swept over the crooked, featureless thing in front of Obito.

Strictly speaking, it couldn't even be called a clone; it couldn't even stand steady, wobbling in mid-air like a drunken jellyfish before dissipating into a puff of chakra mist with a poof.

Obito's face flushed red, the veins on his forehead bulging as he argued:

"That one doesn't count, I wasn't even trying yet."

This drew laughter from everyone, and the classroom was filled with a cheerful atmosphere.

After school, Qingyu and Shizune walked out of the academy gates side by side.

The setting sun dyed the streets orange-red, casting long shadows of the passing pedestrians across the light.

Just then, Qingyu suddenly stopped in his tracks.

Across the street, Obito was supporting a hunched-over old grandmother, carefully carrying a bulging cloth bag for her as they walked across the road step by step.

The grandmother's hair was gray, the wrinkles on her face as deep as ravines, and she wore a kindly smile.

<strong>[Detected collectable trait: White Zetsu Cells (Fragmented)]</strong>

<strong>[D-rank trait: White Zetsu Cells (Fragmented)]</strong>

<strong>[Effect: Increases chakra recovery rate by 10%.]</strong>

Qingyu's expression shifted slightly.

With a flicker of thought, he understood the reason and looked at the grandmother Obito was supporting.

This was definitely a White Zetsu disguised as an old woman!

Qingyu had long found it strange that Obito, a habitual latecomer, always had an endless supply of old ladies needing help crossing the street.

Doing one good deed isn't difficult; what's difficult is having an old lady waiting for you to help her every single day.

It turned out the White Zetsu were here helping him pad his KPI.

Madara Uchiha was quite particular when choosing people, even assessing their level of kindness.

He likely figured that the higher the initial kindness, the greater the contrast after their fall, making it easier to turn them into a paranoid, extreme lunatic.

Qingyu stood where he was, watching the backs of Obito and the White Zetsu disappear around the street corner, choosing not to follow.

In truth, if his current strength weren't so lacking, he would have really liked to capture a White Zetsu to study.

After all, while White Zetsu all looked more or less the same, there was a great deal of nuance to them.

One batch consisted of the White Zetsu transformed from ordinary people by Kaguya Otsutsuki a millennium ago using the "Infinite Tsukuyomi," while the other batch consisted of new White Zetsu cultivated by Madara Uchiha using the "Demonic Statue of the Outer Path" and "Hashirama Cells" as a foundation.

However, among them, there existed a special entity known as the Spiral White Zetsu, also called Tobi.

In the Book of Formations, he is described as "a child of chakra born from the God Tree, a sprout of the God Tree, shrouded in mystery."

After enveloping Yamato, he was able to use the "Wood Release: Wood Human Technique" and even simultaneously unleash ninjutsu of all five chakra natures, holding back the entire Allied Shinobi Forces.

Qingyu was very curious about what traits he could extract from Tobi.

Could it help him awaken Wood Release?

"I'll just have to wait until the Shinobi World War to see."

Qingyu shook his head.

The White Zetsu are currently dormant all over the shinobi world, but the war will break out sooner or later in the coming years, at which point they will become active.

The trait he just acquired is not bad either; his chakra reserves were already greater than most, and now with the added bonus to chakra recovery speed, his endurance has reached a new level.

"What's wrong, Qingyu?"

Shizune leaned over from behind him and followed his gaze, but she saw nothing.

"It's nothing."

Qingyu withdrew his gaze and continued walking forward.

Is Madara Uchiha's plan something he can just interfere with?

It is best to act as if nothing happened.

Qingyu even suspected that Madara Uchiha's desire to use him as a pawn was even stronger than his interest in Obito.

That is why Qingyu has never dared to casually display a sense of kindness.

"It seems that traits can also be divided into complete and incomplete versions..."

Qingyu initially thought that traits were unique, but now it seems that while they are unique, until they are fully assembled, perhaps corresponding traits can still drop until they are complete.

After arriving home, Qingyu dug out the ninjutsu scroll left behind by his mother.

One of them was "Water Release: Water Blade Slash."

It is a D-rank Water Release ninjutsu.

The principle is not complex: condense Water Release chakra onto a kunai to form an extremely thin, high-speed blade of flowing water, which can be used to slash downward from a height.

The more concentrated the chakra, the stronger the cutting power of the water blade.

Qingyu estimated that this must be a technique passed down from Senju Tobirama.

After all, besides being a master of forbidden techniques, that Second Hokage was also one of the top Water Release ninjas in the entire shinobi world; it is perfectly normal for him to have left behind a few low-level Water Release techniques for his clansmen to inherit.

He unfurled the scroll and committed the hand seal sequence and the chakra circulation path to memory.

Then, he began to attempt to refine chakra.

Chakra must be refined and used on the spot; it cannot be stored in the body for long periods.

To store chakra, one must possess a special technique like the "Yin Seal" or have a Tailed Beast residing within the body as a chakra battery.

Soon, under the influence of his traits, Qingyu entered a state of focus.

He took out a kunai, and water began to condense upon it.

Qingyu gripped the kunai and swung it down from a height.

The wooden target post in the courtyard emitted a soft sound.

A smooth cut ran diagonally from the left side of the target to the right, one centimeter deep, with the edges clean and sharp, devoid of any burrs.

Qingyu withdrew the kunai, looked at the cut, and silently calculated his progress and the time spent.

"I should be able to master it completely by today."

It seems the cumulative effect of his traits is gradually beginning to show results.

Graveyard Mountains.

"Madara, I have returned."

A White Zetsu emerged from the wall, looking at the old man resting with his eyes closed in front of him.