Hiroya, that old fox, acted as if he'd done Byakuya some enormous favor. After putting on airs and offering a few words of encouragement, he walked away with his hands behind his back.
Watching him go, Byakuya felt a slight stir in his heart, but quickly quelled it.
If he'd been an impetuous youth, he might have shouted, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Don't bully a young man for being poor!" Or, "I may not be strong now, but things will change when I am!"
But if those people had any sense, they'd hear such a threat and slap him—a parentless civilian Genin—to death on the spot.
But Byakuya's body housed a mature soul.
He would never reveal even a hint of revenge or ambition while he was still weak.
He would simply keep pursuing opportunities, steadily growing stronger, and watch every word and step.
"My whole life has been like walking on thin ice. Do you think I'll make it to the other side?"
Byakuya gripped his Ninja Sword, focused, and swung. Storm Release chakra flashed across the blade, then vanished.
Evening.
Time to clock out.
After practicing with his sword all day, Byakuya's arms ached terribly.
Izumi Orange stood outside the Ninja Academy gates, dressed cutely and looking around as if waiting for someone.
When she spotted Byakuya in a black shirt and pants, his handsome features framed by a Konoha Ninja Forehead Protector, her face immediately lit up with a smile.
"Byakuya, I want barbecue."
"Sorry, I have to go home and practice with my sword."
She leaned forward slightly, playfully hooking her hands behind her back as she came up beside Byakuya. She exclaimed in surprise, "You really brought a sword! That's so cool. All right, it's a deal. After we eat barbecue, you can go home and practice."
For a moment, Byakuya wanted to smack Izumi Orange's baby face with the hilt of his sword. What, was she treating him like a work quota?
"Sorry. I'll treat you to barbecue next time, Teacher Izumi Orange."
With that, he quickened his pace.
Izumi Orange hurried after him and lowered her voice. "All right, all right. I know how badly you want to get stronger, Byakuya. It's been long enough. You should give me an answer, don't you think?"
"I don't want anything to do with any of your business. I just want to practice with my sword."
After dropping that line, Byakuya leaped onto the wall beside him and darted away. In a few breaths, he was out of Izumi Orange's sight.
She stood there, seeming utterly helpless, her head bowed, the hair on either side of her face hiding her expression.
Then he heard her mumble a few words under her breath.
Byakuya ate dinner at Ichiraku Ramen and didn't skimp on himself. He ordered the deluxe toppings.
The moment he got home, he eagerly began swinging his sword.
The rewards granted by the Fate Grid were generous, but the tasks were just as grueling. The whole point was that you reaped what you sowed.
One minute before midnight.
Byakuya's arms hurt so badly that he could no longer hold his sword. It clattered to the floor.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success Time limit: 1 day: Swing sword (20000/20000) Reward: Sword Mastery Talent Boost]
He suddenly felt a deep affinity for the sword and confidence in his skill, as if simply gripping one would let him cut down an enemy commander amid a vast army.
Every basic sword technique he'd learned at the Ninja Academy could now serve as a lethal move.
This was the most brute-force kind of improvement!
The Fate Grid's tasks refreshed.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success Time limit: 2 days: Use up 90% of your chakra, then train in Taijutsu for thirty minutes (Incomplete) Reward: Vitality Boost Fate Choice 1: Pledge allegiance to the Third (Incomplete) Reward: Master Fire Release chakra]
Byakuya only had time to glance at "Fate Choice 1" before dismissing it outright.
He'd have to be out of his mind to choose that.
After all, he'd already obtained Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Formation Wall technique. It had most likely come from Shimura Danzō, that old bastard. If he pledged allegiance to Sarutobi Hiruzen, wouldn't that mean making an enemy of Danzō?
The next moment, Byakuya collapsed onto the floor and fell asleep, exhausted.
He vaguely heard his alarm go off.
His eyes snapped open.
The arm that had throbbed with pain from sword practice the day before felt much better. He could feel the soothing flow of Storm Release chakra easing his muscles without end.
This was the power of a Kekkei Genkai rooted in his bloodline.
He moved both arms. They seemed fine, so he could go ahead with today's training.
He brought up the Fate Grid Panel.
When he saw "Use up 90% of your chakra, then train in Taijutsu for thirty minutes," Byakuya couldn't help freezing.
If the reward weren't so hard to pass up, he would have given up for sure.
What the hell was this Fate Grid trying to do, kill him?!
"The Vitality Boost reward really is great. It's absolutely perfect for the way of survival I believe in."
Other ninja had their own ninja way. Sorry, Byakuya didn't have one of those. All he had was survival!
He decided not to go to work at the Ninja Academy. He'd see how much of his behavior Hiroya would tolerate.
With his Ninja Sword on his back, he packed his bag and plenty of Kunai and shuriken, tucked Senju Tobirama's Water Release: Water Formation Wall scroll into his clothes, and headed straight for the forest outside the village.
Last time he'd practiced in the woods, Hatake Kakashi had caught him. Once bitten, twice shy. Byakuya went farther in this time, choosing a reasonably open clearing. He tossed the bag containing his rice balls onto the ground, sat down beside it, and opened the copy of the Water Release: Water Formation Wall scroll.
Tobirama's version of Water Formation Wall differed from the ordinary version in that it spewed a waterfall's worth of water from the user's mouth, swirling around them in a circle to form an all-around defense. It also required only two Hand Seals.
The ordinary Water Formation Wall merely created a single upright wall of water.
If the techniques didn't have the same name, they'd be two entirely different Water Release techniques.
The scroll explained everything in great detail. The Second had clearly been afraid that future generations wouldn't be able to learn it.
After reading it all, Byakuya—whose talent for ninjutsu had already improved—still couldn't help sighing in frustration.
Tobirama's version of Water Formation Wall required a huge amount of chakra in an area without water, along with precise chakra control.
Byakuya searched the forest until he found a river.
He held his breath and focused.
He formed the Hand Seals.
He gathered chakra and spat out water.
With the river's help, he managed to perform Tobirama's version of Water Formation Wall. However, it only formed a thin layer of water that revolved slowly around him.
Byakuya canceled the technique. Cold sweat poured down his forehead as he leaned on his knees and gasped for breath. His vision flickered in and out; the excessive chakra consumption had clearly taken a toll on his body and mind.
He'd used up more than 90% of his chakra in one go.
If this was all it could do, he might as well use the ordinary Water Formation Wall.
"I was wrong. I can't use Tobirama's version of Water Formation Wall yet. And this is with water nearby. If I tried it somewhere dry, using the technique would be suicide."
"Since I've already used up 90% of my chakra, I should push through thirty minutes of training."
Byakuya felt awful and could barely keep his eyes open, but he mechanically performed Konoha Style Taijutsu.
He nearly collapsed several times, but with sheer willpower, he finally completed the full thirty minutes.
[Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success Time limit: 2 days: Use up 90% of your chakra, then train in Taijutsu for thirty minutes (Completed) Reward: Vitality Boost]
He collapsed onto the riverbank with a thud and passed out, one hand submerged in the water.
The river flowed gently.
A school of little fish seemed to have discovered something new and kept nudging his fingers.
Byakuya jolted awake and pulled his hand out of the water.
His body was still extremely weak, and his mind exhausted, but both were recovering in the right direction.
"So this is what a Vitality Boost feels like... No wonder the people of the Uzumaki Clan can take such a beating."
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