Flying Sky (Seeking Follow-up Reads)

"Perhaps I should specifically add a Chakra control setting to improve it."

Genma had an idea in mind.

However, he only had 2 Setting Value points left. Adding a new setting would cost 1 point, and with only 1 point left to modify, he certainly wouldn't achieve the desired effect, especially since his Chakra control was already quite excellent.

"Better to look at the others first."

Genma's gaze swept across the other settings in the Setting Collection.

Genjutsu was the first to be ruled out. Currently, he was not most proficient in Yin Release nature transformation, but rather Yang Release nature transformation; these few Genjutsu didn't have much potential.

Medical Ninjutsu was also ruled out.

Chakra Refinement Technique 1.0—not enough Setting Value.

Wood Release Chakra Mode—not enough Setting Value.

Substitution Technique 1.0—also not enough Setting Value for further modification.

Using this process of elimination, Genma realized there weren't many options left to modify.

Clone Technique, Shadow Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Body Flicker Technique.

Genma couldn't help but scratch his head.

Among the four techniques, he first ruled out Clone Technique and Shadow Clone Technique.

As for Transformation Technique and Body Flicker Technique, the latter had the most value for modification.

But to what extent could 2 Setting Value points modify it?

Even if he modified it into a space-time type Body Flicker Technique like the Substitution Technique, the teleportation distance probably wouldn't be much of an improvement.

A teleportation distance of ten or twenty meters was not as good as using the new version of the Substitution Technique.

"What about Transformation Technique? Is there potential there?"

Genma pondered to himself.

An E-rank Transformation Technique could achieve both physical and behavioral resemblance, as well as voice mimicry. Those who mastered it could transform into stones or small animals and conceal their own Chakra to avoid detection.

However, it generally couldn't fool sensory ninjas.

Additionally, while one could transform into a bird, one couldn't actually fly.

A person could mimic a rabbit hopping, but they couldn't mimic a bird flying.

If he could transform into a bird that could fly, the utility would be immense.

And if he could cast Ninjutsu while flying in the air as a bird...

"It's doable!"

Genma immediately attempted the modification.

Transformation Technique 1.0: Transform into a bird to fly, transform into a fish to swim, and it does not affect the performance of any of one's own abilities.

But it failed!

Not enough Setting Value.

Genma sighed, then settled for the next best thing.

Transformation Technique 1.0: Transform into a bird to fly, transform into a fish to swim.

It succeeded!

At the same time, the last 2 Setting Value points were gone.

Genma immediately stood up and cast the new Transformation Technique.

With a fluttering sound, Genma, now a sparrow, flapped his wings and flew through the woods, arriving at the place where Kakashi was training.

At this moment, Kakashi was focused on training his Lightning Release against a cliff face, leaving the stone wall pitted and charred.

Kakashi was fully concentrated and didn't notice a sparrow flying past behind him.

Genma circled around, landed on a tree, and then transformed into a golden eagle with a wingspan of three meters. With a boom, he flapped his wings, stirred up a powerful gust of air, and shot into the sky.

This speed was incomparable to that of a sparrow.

"Awesome!"

Genma couldn't help but let out a spirited eagle cry.

Only after flying up to an altitude of over a thousand meters did Genma's excitement begin to subside.

Then he discovered that even while circling at an altitude of over a thousand meters, his current vision allowed him to see Kakashi training below very clearly.

Not only could he see him clearly, but he could also identify his movements, and it was extremely distinct, as if everything were in slow motion.

"In other words, besides the ability to fly, I also possess the eagle's powerful visual capabilities."

Genma felt this was quite reasonable.

Unfortunately, he couldn't form hand seals in this state, so he couldn't cast Ninjutsu that required them.

He also couldn't perform seal-less Ninjutsu like the Chakra Blade, though Genma realized this wasn't a restriction of the rules.

If he were to intensify his training, he could still manage to perform the Chakra Scalpel using his eagle talons.

If he could manage to perform other ninjutsu without hand seals, then he could naturally perform them while in eagle form as well.

All of this would require new development and training.

Of course, he could also simply modify the Setting Value.

After circling at high altitude for a moment, Genma locked onto a rabbit and dove down.

With a stretch of his sharp talons, Genma snatched the rabbit just as it realized the danger and tried to hop away.

This feeling was truly unique.

Returning to the woods and shifting back into human form, the Shadow Clone he had sent out earlier returned as well.

Upon dispelling the Shadow Clone, the Wood Release Chakra Mode energy returned to his main body, and as he dispersed the chakra, his physical strength immediately began to recover and swell rapidly.

Genma soon felt stuffed, so he sat down to contemplate his next steps in training.

With chakra at the level of a One-Tail, his absorption of plant cell power would be greatly enhanced, which in turn would accelerate the rate of his body's transformation.

At the same time, Genma could arrange for a Shadow Clone to refine chakra in the woods, then have his main body use the Summoning Technique to summon the clone and dispel it.

In this way, he could rapidly enter Wood Release Chakra Mode during combat.

This was an imitation of how Naruto utilized Sage Mode.

Therefore, he had to get his hands on the Wood Release Secret Technique.

As for developing it himself... why waste time on development when there were ready-made techniques available?

As for the risk of exposing his mastery of an alternative Wood Release.

It would be exposed sooner or later.

Moreover, there was no danger in being exposed; on the contrary, he would be valued more highly and could obtain ninjutsu resources more easily.

As for the Pot Kage.

Did he even have the qualifications to fight over a Wood Release user?

Next was genjutsu.

Genma already had some ideas.

But he could not rely solely on genjutsu, taijutsu, and swordsmanship to face his enemies.

"It is time to cultivate other nature transformations."

Genma stood up and walked toward Kakashi.

Hatake Sakumo's signature skills were Lightning Release, Body Flicker, and swordsmanship; as his student, and possessing a natural lightning affinity, he could not afford not to inherit them.

"It will be the year 44 of Konoha soon, and I estimate that the Third Ninja World War will break out in 45 or 46."

"If I graduate normally, I will be 11 years old, which happens to be right at the start of the Third Ninja World War. That is not a good time to graduate—straight into a war."

"I need to advance my timeline by a year to accumulate real combat experience and mission experience."

Generally speaking, avoiding the Ninja World War was the best course of action.

But Genma had to participate; he needed to obtain Setting Value by changing the fates of characters and even the original plot of the Ninja World.

How else could he compete with cheaters like Uchiha Itachi, Naruto, and Sasuke without using cheats himself?

Uchiha Itachi awakened his Mangekyo at 11 and was already at the Kage level.

And Uchiha Shisui might have awakened his Mangekyo even earlier.

Emerging from the woods, he found Kakashi taking a break.

"How is it going?"

Genma stepped forward to ask.

Kakashi looked weary but carried a hint of laziness: "I'm confident I can finish developing the technique this year."

Genma raised an eyebrow upon hearing this; this was much earlier than the original timeline.

But it was also normal.

Kakashi hadn't graduated early this time, so he had plenty of time to train in the village.

Furthermore, influenced by him, the new chakra control training methods had raised Kakashi's level in this area far above his peers.

"How is your genjutsu coming along?"

Kakashi asked in return.

Genma replied: "I already have a concrete idea, though I'm not sure when it will be finished—it could be soon, or it could take a few months."

Kakashi became interested: "What type of genjutsu?"

He and Genma were friends, fellow disciples, and also rivals.

Looking at the eager Kakashi, Genma smiled: "Immobilization Technique!"

Kakashi frowned slightly.

This type of genjutsu was either very weak or incredibly strong; he would have to be careful from now on.

He certainly didn't want to be taken down by a single genjutsu move from Genma.

"Kakashi, I plan to start training in Lightning Release nature transformation next, so you'd better step it up. Don't let me surpass you."

Genma said suddenly.

Kakashi was taken aback: "Lightning Release? Didn't you say you were going to delve into Yin Release and Yang Release?"

Genma spread his hands, wearing an infuriatingly smug expression: "Who else but a genius like me?"

Kakashi gritted his teeth and stood up: "Don't worry, I won't let you surpass me!"

Sigh, there will be even less time to rest from now on.

Having a senior brother who is such a workaholic, this life is truly unbearable.

Kakashi resumed his training with indignation.

Genma watched with secret delight, then created 9 Shadow Clone to begin training in Lightning Release nature transformation simultaneously.

Kakashi, who was just about to start his own training, turned back with a blank stare: "Your chakra... when did it become so vast?"