Eight Years of Gains!

Suppressing his negative feelings, Shita Genichi steeled himself and began taking stock of what he had gained from borrowing against his future.

First, he had mastered Water Formation Wall and Water Dragon Bullet, and simplified the Hand Seals for both, using the Nine Syllables Hand Seals.

Water Formation Wall had originally required the Seals Tiger–Snake–Tiger–Snake–Tiger–Snake, but Shita Genichi now knew it with just two: Front and Snake.

Water Dragon Bullet had originally required the Seals Rat–Rabbit–Snake–Tiger, but now he could perform it with just three: At, Snake, and Tiger.

Shita Genichi was quite satisfied. He had taken another step forward by standing on Senju Tobirama's shoulders.

Correspondingly, he had gained a far deeper understanding of the Nine Syllables Hand Seals than he had before borrowing against his future.

He had also learned the ninjutsu Shadow Clone Technique and Water Clone Technique.

And he had learned the Genjutsu Bringer-of-Darkness Technique.

Shita Genichi raised an eyebrow slightly. The Shadow Clone Technique and Bringer-of-Darkness Technique must have been what he had traded for the Rasengan in the future.

That had been part of his plan. He had wanted the Shadow Clone Technique so he could develop the Water Clone Technique, and, judging by the results, he had succeeded.

As for Genjutsu, that was another path Shita Genichi had chosen to pursue. He hadn't expected to get the A-rank Bringer-of-Darkness Technique in exchange. It seemed Sarutobi Hiruzen had given him a little support.

"Since I mastered the Bringer-of-Darkness Technique, I guess I've got some talent for Genjutsu, too."

He had actually borrowed eight years from his future, up to the age of fourteen.

A-rank difficulty meant an exceptionally high level of difficulty, beyond even that of a Jonin.

As for the Rasengan, Shita Genichi had only learned it by following instructions, so it wasn't a good measure of his talent.

"So my body's not that great, but my brain's doing all right."

Shita Genichi furrowed his brow.

He could feel that his physical abilities had improved another step after borrowing against his future.

After thinking it over, Shita Genichi picked up his short sword, said goodbye to his parents, and dashed out to his usual training spot.

He crouched low, his right hand resting on the hilt, and fixed his sharp gaze on a tree ahead that would take several people to wrap their arms around.

The next instant, chakra burst beneath his feet, and he shot forward.

His blade flashed as Shita Genichi drew it and swept past the trunk.

A moment later, the tree crashed to the ground with a roar, sending up billowing clouds of dust.

A Draw-Sword Strike backed by nearly ten years of training!

"I'm starting to look like a swordsman."

Shita Genichi turned to look at the fallen tree, a smile tugging at his lips.

After sheathing his sword, he went to another tree, plucked a leaf, and held it between his palms.

A moment later, he opened his hands. The leaf lying in his left palm had been split in two.

Wind Release nature transformation.

But that was all. He had only just begun to master it.

"To cut through a waterfall like Naruto, chakra volume alone would be a huge problem."

Shita Genichi shook his head to himself.

The two halves of the leaf fell. Shita Genichi formed Hand Seals, and a green chakra glow appeared in his hands.

Medical Ninjutsu: Mystical Palm Technique!

Still, this was the only Medical Ninjutsu he had gained from borrowing against his future.

Most of what he had gained was knowledge of human and animal anatomy, animal experiments, various drugs, and more.

That included knowledge of cell transplantation.

As he thought about it, Shita Genichi moved his right arm. His forearm twisted like a knot, yet he felt no pain at all.

"Soft Physique Modification?"

Shita Genichi's mouth twitched.

His borrowed future had ended in Year 50 of Konoha. Had Orochimaru completed Soft Physique Modification by then?

Had his future self become one of Orochimaru's test subjects?

Once his arm had returned to normal, Shita Genichi tried forming Hand Seals at full speed. His hands moved so quickly they blurred.

Hands together–Tiger–Rabbit–Snake–Horse–Monkey–Rooster–Tiger–Rabbit–Snake–Horse–Monkey–Rooster–Tiger–Rabbit–Snake–Horse–Monkey–Rooster–Dog–Rat.

Twenty seals in two seconds, completed in less than three. More than eight seals a second.

These were the Hand Seals for Evil Sealing Method.

Besides Evil Sealing Method, Shita Genichi had also learned Fire Sealing Method.

"Not much... but I wasn't a disciple, after all."

Shita Genichi wasn't disappointed.

He could trade for more ninjutsu and such, and get his hands on Four-Symbols Seal.

Then he could combine two Four-Symbols Seals, study the result, and develop the Eight Trigrams Seal to seal a Tailed Beast.

That was the ultimate goal of his studies in Sealing Jutsu.

As for human experimentation...

Should he open his own lab?

Shita Genichi sighed.

He had no money.

Besides, his knowledge still wasn't extensive enough.

Turning toward the cliffs, Shita Genichi decided to test how much his stamina had improved.

Overall, he had gained a great deal from borrowing against his future this time.

Setting aside chakra reserves, Shita Genichi could now be called a Water Release expert, even if he only knew four Water Release Ninjutsu.

In fact, even a Special Jonin might not know that many techniques.

And his chakra nature transformations had gone from knowing one—Water Release—to knowing four: Water, Yin, Yang, and Wind.

Still, Shita Genichi could tell that improving his Yang Release and Wind Release nature transformations would be difficult in the future. He would need a cheat.

Genjutsu, on the other hand, was something he could develop further.

It was true that the Uchiha Clan could easily counter Genjutsu, but they were on the same side for now, so he didn't need to worry too much about that.

All in all, this time he had gained more than before.

The future hadn't let down the effort he was putting in now.

At the foot of the cliff,

Shita Genichi began climbing with both hands.

He wanted to test his stamina.

The first time, he climbed with his bare hands.

The second time, he carried a boulder, moving across the cliff face as easily as if he were walking on level ground.

Then he went back and forth again and again, until he was completely exhausted and collapsed.

"I've doubled my strength. At six, I've got the body of a fourteen-year-old... no, Human Body Modification must have given me a boost, too."

"But my stamina still isn't great. I'm nowhere near Kakashi."

It wasn't exactly fair to compare himself with an adult Kakashi, but Shita Genichi knew the truth.

If he grew up normally, he would never measure up to Kakashi as an adult.

He remembered Kakashi's stamina rating was six.

His own was probably four. With hard training and plenty of food, perhaps he could reach five.

But even if he reached six, Shita Genichi wouldn't be satisfied.

He wanted chakra reserves measured in tons.

He wanted to be able to unleash large-scale Water Release even in places without water.

No, Ocean Release!

The only chakra nature Shita Genichi had tested for was Water Release. That meant Water Release would be the easiest for him to achieve results with, and it might also have the highest ceiling.

But everything was limited by the amount of chakra he had.

Shita Genichi knew that, given his current state, even if he could use Water Release without Hand Seals, what would it matter?

Even if he used every last bit of his chakra, the power of a single Water Release technique might not compare to Senju Tobirama casually showing off.

After all, in actual combat, he wouldn't always have the advantage of favorable terrain.

On the contrary, most of the time he wouldn't have that advantage. He would have to fight somewhere without water.

"The direction's right... Human Body Modification, Tailed Beasts, Sealing Jutsu."

Shita Genichi got to his feet, but suddenly paused. "The Great Blade Samehada seems pretty good, too."

"But borrowing against my future probably can't get me the Great Blade Samehada. I'll have to steal it myself."

"Mm, as a backup option."

After putting away his short sword, Shita Genichi headed home.

But he was still thinking about something.

Should he graduate early?

The reason he was considering it was that the Ninja Academy had little left to teach him.

And while he was at the Ninja Academy, it was even harder to get access to more resources that could help him improve.

"If I don't graduate early, will I still be able to get resources that help me improve?"

Shita Genichi asked himself silently, and pondered.