It kicked its feet, trying to struggle, but the effects of the alcohol left it only flailing helplessly. Unable to bear the sight, Nebula Kotetsu fetched some liquor, gripped the chicken by the neck, and poured it down its throat with a steady "glug, glug, glug."
Once things had quieted down, he resumed practicing the suture technique.
He practiced all the way until late at night.
The two Silkie chickens had died neither peacefully nor with dignity. But at last, a new entry appeared on Nebula Kotetsu's system panel.
[Host: Nebula Kotetsu] [Charisma: 99] [Equipped Title: Hand of the Succubus] [Chakra: 0.31 cards, Status: Heavily depleted] [Taijutsu: Big Slap Lv1 (Can inflict minor mental damage)] [Ninjutsu: Body Replacement Technique Lv0, Basic Chakra Extraction Lv0, Unbearable Nourishing Suture Technique Lv0] [Genjutsu: None] [Inventory: Medical Ninjutsu 100x Upgrade Card.]
Seeing the words "Unbearable Nourishing Suture Technique" on the panel, Nebula Kotetsu's eye twitched.
He couldn't help feeling the system was taking a jab at him.
"Use the Medical Ninjutsu 100x Upgrade Card."
[Eligible skill detected: Unbearable Nourishing Suture Technique Lv0] [Beginning 100x upgrade...] [Unbearable Nourishing Suture Technique Lv0 → Mystical Palm Technique Lv2!]
The panel's information changed slightly. Nebula Kotetsu, who had been watching closely, suddenly widened his eyes.
Mystical Palm Technique!
It was the Mystical Palm Technique!
Nebula Kotetsu even wondered if he was seeing things, but the panel's information was right there in plain sight.
[Host: Nebula Kotetsu] [Charisma: 99] [Equipped Title: Hand of the Succubus] [Chakra: 0.31 cards, Status: Heavily depleted] [Taijutsu: Big Slap Lv1 (Can inflict minor mental damage)] [Ninjutsu: Mystical Palm Technique Lv2, Body Replacement Technique Lv0, Basic Chakra Extraction Lv0] [Genjutsu: None] [Inventory: None] [Bound Target 1: Rin Nohara (Scenario: Obito Uchiha).] [Current Mission: Date A Live (Go on a date with Rin Nohara. Dates lasting over half an hour count; extra time does not count. No restrictions on location or method.)] [Mission Time Limit: 100 days] [Mission Reward: 0.01 cards of chakra per completion.] [Bound Target 2: Might Guy (Scenario: Kakashi Hatake)] [Current Mission: Youth Spark (Become friends with Might Guy).] [Mission Time Limit: 7 days.] [Mission Reward (choose one): 1. Konoha: Strong Fist Whirlwind; 2. 1,000 Youth Quotes; 3. 10x increase to physical reflexes.]
After confirming it was real, overwhelming joy filled Nebula Kotetsu's heart.
He had thought his unbearable suture technique might turn into something like Proficient Suture Technique or Perfect Suture Technique. He never expected it to become the Mystical Palm Technique.
Could the system really make such a huge leap with an upgrade?
Then why had the previous 100x Taijutsu Upgrade Card only given him one Lv1 skill, and one with such a tacky name as "Big Slap," no less?
The system offered no explanation, so he could only guess. One possibility was that his stats had been too poor to begin with. His body had been so weak that the 100x Upgrade Card hadn't been able to deliver its full effect. Another possibility was that the system had bugged out.
Whatever the reason, the result was good.
Nebula Kotetsu was fired up. If it weren't already dark, he would have gone out immediately to complete his next mission.
He glanced at the clock. It was nearly two in the morning.
Decision made: tomorrow at five, he would wait for Might Guy at the Konoha Gate!
The next day.
Before dawn, Nebula Kotetsu was jolted awake by his alarm. He slapped it quiet.
He sat bolt upright, then ten seconds later stared at the pitch-black sky outside and slapped himself across the face.
The sting helped clear his head, and the urge to die didn't feel quite so strong anymore.
I can do this!
He got up, brushed his teeth, and, as the sky began to lighten, got dressed and left home.
At this hour, only a handful of shops were getting ready to open. The streets were silent. Apart from the patrolling ninja, there wasn't a soul in sight.
But at the Konoha Gate, a guy in a green leotard was bouncing around.
"One thousand one hundred and twelve, one thousand one hundred and thirteen..."
Keeping a steady rhythm, Might Guy alternated his feet as he did squat jumps, leaving row after row of footprints at the Konoha Gate.
After a while, Might Guy finished a large set and paused to rest. As he caught his breath, he suddenly sensed that something was off.
He whipped around!
Not far away, a neatly dressed, pale-faced guy was smiling at him.
(*￣︶￣)
Might Guy: (ｷ｀ﾟДﾟ´)!!
He jumped in fright!
It was so early, the sky was still dark, and the sun hadn't come up. When had this thing appeared behind him?
Under Might Guy's wary gaze, Nebula Kotetsu casually began stretching.
He bent at the waist, swung his arms, and stretched his legs.
He pretended to be an ordinary passerby out for a morning workout.
Might Guy believed him, just as expected.
Though he still felt a little suspicious, he let his guard down. Feeling that his strength had recovered, he started exercising again, this time with squats.
"One, two, three... seventeen, eighteen... nineteen..." Might Guy's movements grew slower and slower.
At one point, he felt that the person behind him had gone quiet.
He spun around. There was that familiar, almost dreamlike smile again: (*￣︶￣)
Might Guy: "..."
"Y-you... are you... out for a morning workout?"
At that, Nebula Kotetsu resumed his flexibility stretches, showing through his actions that he really was just a passerby who happened to be exercising there.
Might Guy turned back around suspiciously and continued his squats.
Once, twice, three times.
His movements grew slower and slower.
Then, at one point, Might Guy squatted down and didn't move, holding the position.
Puzzled, Nebula Kotetsu watched him.
Was he... trying to take a dump?
In the dim light, he didn't notice Might Guy's ears twitch. Thinking the other man really did need to go, Nebula Kotetsu's eyes lit up.
At last, he had a chance to speak!
He reached into his ninja tool pouch, took out the tissues he always carried, and stretched out his hand. He was just about to ask if the other man needed one when everything suddenly changed!
"Boom!" The ground beneath Might Guy's feet erupted with a sudden blast.
As the burst of dirt obscured Nebula Kotetsu's view, Might Guy sprang forward from his squat like a cannonball.
"Thud, thud, thud!!!" His powerful strides pounded against the ground. In just a few steps, Might Guy had shot off like a rabbit and vanished from sight.
All that remained was Nebula Kotetsu, frozen in place with his hand extended, offering a tissue.
Nebula Kotetsu: "..."
He couldn't understand what had just happened.
He'd come to make a friend, so why had the other guy run off without even exchanging a word?
"Could there be something wrong with my plan?" Nebula Kotetsu muttered to himself.
According to his plan, making friends with Might Guy should have been easy.
All he had to do was wait where Might Guy often showed up and pretend they'd run into each other by chance.
He'd act youthful, sunny, and friendly. Then, when the time was right, he'd recite a couple of passionate quotes about youth.
Making friends would happen naturally, wouldn't it?
That was why he'd gotten up so early to "bump into" Might Guy at the Konoha Gate. But he hadn't expected the other man to bolt like a rabbit before he could even say a word.
Before you continue