Two Auras

The light on the ceiling was dazzling.

Lying in bed, Yang Xing looked at his phone and nearly burst out laughing.

The screen displayed the two newly acquired auras. They were both quite good. After all, they had boosted his strength once again—and by more than just a little.

Land of Earth Genin (Common Aura): Increases Earth Style resistance by 50%; reduces the chakra cost of Earth Style ninjutsu by 50%.

Land of Earth Special Chunin (Unique Aura): Ninjutsu not selected. When the selected ninjutsu is limited to Earth Style, its power increases by 50%.

"Limiting it to Earth Style gives a fifty percent power boost. I basically have no choice but to pick Earth Style." He really wanted to learn the Sharingan, but a fifty percent boost to Earth Style's power was far too tempting. There was no way he could turn it down.

He opened the special Chunin aura's ninjutsu selection and had no choice but to pick Earth Style techniques.

He could learn techniques from A-rank to C-rank, except for certain special Kekkei Genkai and S-rank techniques.

There were also more techniques to choose from than there had been when he defeated the Fourth Hokage. The only downside was that the techniques he learned wouldn't be enhanced versions. Even with the fifty percent bonus, Yang Xing had a feeling the enhanced versions were boosted by more than that.

Well, those are achievements. Auras probably can't compare. Achievements and auras were clearly quite different, so Yang Xing didn't dwell on it. Instead, he patiently started choosing his techniques.

"Two A-rank, four B-rank, and all C-rank techniques mastered. Mastering every C-rank technique does sound tempting, but C-rank techniques probably won't be much use to me from now on. I'll go with B-rank." He thought it over. Mastering all the C-rank techniques was tempting, but now that he had several enhanced C-rank techniques, Yang Xing didn't want to waste his chakra on other, weaker techniques.

He made up his mind and learned four B-rank techniques.

"Earth Style: Earth Flow Wall."

"Earth Style: Earth Rain Clay."

"Earth Style: Hardening Technique."

"Earth Style: Earth Spear."

After making his selections, he hit confirm. That familiar feeling rose within him once again, leaving Yang Xing refreshed.

He checked the several new techniques. He'd wanted to test their power, but the little room was far too cramped to unleash techniques with such destructive force. Yang Xing had no choice but to give up. He'd be on missions again starting tomorrow, so he'd have plenty of chances to test them.

By the time he'd finished everything, evening had arrived, and his stomach was already protesting.

Since he might have to head out again over the next few days, Yang Xing decided to treat himself to a lavish meal out.

As for money, Konoha gave him plenty of living expenses every year.

Besides, with these techniques, making money would be easy. A few more A-rank missions would be enough.

To satisfy his growling stomach, Yang Xing left his room and picked a decent barbecue restaurant near his home. He went straight inside.

He chose a seat by the window, looked over the menu, and called to a server nearby. "Excuse me, could I get three portions of premium pork, three portions of beef, and two portions of vegetables?"

"Sure!" The server jotted it all down and left.

Yang Xing was waiting when he turned his head and spotted a familiar figure.

What a coincidence!

There was a table of familiar faces right beside him.

"Yang Xing...?" Rin Nohara was with two middle-aged adults who looked like her parents, along with several large dogs.

"Oh my, Rin Nohara's friend?" The middle-aged couple looked over with interest, as did the pack of dogs.

Yang Xing remembered that Rin Nohara was from the Inuzuka Clan. No wonder there were so many dogs here. But why did this restaurant even allow dogs inside? What if they bit someone? They were huge—big enough to kill a person.

"Yeah, he's a friend from the Fourth Hokage's class." Rin nodded. She seemed a little shy in front of her parents.

Hearing Rin's words, the middle-aged woman grew even more interested. "So you're not on the same team. No wonder. I never realized you were the extra member on Kakashi's team."

Clearly, of the Fourth Hokage's students, Kakashi was the most famous. People outside the village even called it Kakashi's team now.

Yang Xing pursed his lips and said nothing, only giving them a slight nod in greeting.

Once they heard that Yang Xing was on Rin's team, the middle-aged couple from the Inuzuka Clan became even more welcoming. They insisted that he join them for dinner.

Yang Xing couldn't refuse, and he couldn't exactly run away.

Reluctantly, he went over and sat beside Rin.

The space was cramped, and with several large dogs there, there was barely room for two people.

"Sorry, it's a bit cramped." As Yang Xing sat beside her, Rin shifted her body. She would have been better off not moving.

As she moved, the arm Yang Xing had rested against the table brushed against something strange. The soft sensation made his whole body stiffen.

The two of them were squeezed together so closely that it looked rather intimate. There were also two large dogs beside Rin, leaving less than half of the one-meter-wide space for the two of them. How could their arms not brush against each other?

He enjoyed the sensation, but Yang Xing wasn't shameless enough to look pleased in front of Rin's parents.

He could only clear his throat, trying to cover up the awkward intimacy of their position, then greet the middle-aged couple across from him. "Hello, auntie and uncle."

"Haha, what a polite boy." The middle-aged woman was taken with Yang Xing's greeting and became even friendlier toward him. "Don't be shy. Order whatever you like. You're Rin's friend, after all, so please keep getting along with her."

"Well, I would even if you hadn't asked, Auntie." Yang Xing scratched his head and smiled.

The couple across from him laughed together. "Haha!"

The atmosphere was calm and peaceful.

The grilled meat was especially delicious. Every now and then, his arm brushed against Rin's, and the feeling of their skin touching made Yang Xing's heart beat faster.

The softness of a girl's skin was simply too nice.

After dinner, the middle-aged couple started looking after the dogs. With no reason to stay longer, Yang Xing stood up to leave.

"Thanks for the meal. I'll be—"

"Wait, I'll walk you out first."

Holding two of the dogs' leashes, Rin promptly followed Yang Xing out of the restaurant.

Watching Rin's back, the middle-aged couple exchanged faint smiles for some reason.

Night had fallen, and the moon shone brightly, with not a star in sight.

Yang Xing walked ahead with his hands behind his head. He showed no sign of wanting to speak because he was waiting for Rin to start the conversation. The girl had insisted on seeing him off, so she must have something to discuss. The look on her face, different from before, made that clear.

They walked in silence past deserted shops. It was nearly midnight, and only a handful remained open.

With no one else around, Rin finally stopped, unable to hold back her confusion any longer. She seemed to hesitate for a long time before calling out, "Um, Yang Xing, there's something I want to ask you."

He looked up. The pupils in the bright-eyed girl's eyes shone like starlight.