Yang Release Chakra

Oshima had no time to think. He rushed toward the center of the explosion.

He had assumed both children would be seriously injured by such a violent blast, but the sight before him left him stunned.

Lu Miao was carrying Lihuo in her arms as she struggled toward Oshima. They were both covered in dust, but neither was badly hurt. Oshima couldn't help feeling overjoyed.

"Quick! Get the medical team here!"

When Lihuo woke again, he was already lying in a hospital bed.

The faint smell of disinfectant filled the room. Across from the bed sat several fruit baskets and bouquets. Most eye-catching of all was an enormous set of deer antlers!

Looking up to the side, he saw Lu Miao dozing with her head on the table. It was clear she had been keeping him company for a long time.

Before, Lihuo had only seen Lu Miao's sleepy figure from behind in the classroom. Now that he could see her face, he realized that even asleep, the girl was a little cuter than everyone else.

Before Lihuo could take a good look around, a faint ache began to spread across his back.

Before long, the pain grew more intense, and Lihuo couldn't help crying out. The sound woke Lu Miao, who had been fast asleep.

"Ah! You're awake! I'll get the doctor!" Lu Miao hurried off like a startled rabbit.

The doctor arrived quickly. "There's nothing seriously wrong. You fainted because your body was exhausted, and you were also hurt by an Explosive Tag. The pain you're feeling now is normal."

"You've also been training intensively for a long time, and your muscles can't take it. If you keep this up, you might suffer hidden injuries."

Lihuo nodded to show that he understood.

"Doctor, how long was I asleep?"

"Not long, just one day. You should thank your little girlfriend. She's been here with you the whole time."

Lihuo's face turned red at once. "N-no, it's not like that. We're not in that kind of relationship."

Before he could finish, the hospital room door suddenly swung open. Oshima rushed in, still holding a set square. He had clearly been teaching when he heard the news and hurried over immediately.

"Lihuo, you're finally awake. How are you feeling?"

The doctor tactfully left the two of them alone. Before Lihuo could explain what had happened to Oshima, a flurry of hurried footsteps sounded in the hospital.

"Lihuo! You're my best buddy. You had me so worried!"

It was Guy and Kakashi, followed by the Ino-Shika-Cho trio. After running hard to deliver the message, Lu Miao was panting, her little face flushed red.

The teachers and students exchanged concerned questions, and the room was filled with warmth. Once they learned Lihuo was out of danger, everyone breathed a sigh of relief. They told him to rest properly and not push himself too hard.

Lihuo nodded. Since coming to this world, he had met so many people and made so many friends. He had never experienced anything like it in his previous life.

Lihuo sat up and looked toward Akimichi Dai, beckoning him closer.

"Dai, I heard what you said during the fight. I really admire the courage and perseverance you showed in supporting the team."

"And look—we're not geniuses. We're just people who work hard."

With that, he gently patted Dai on the head.

"Ding! You patted the head of C-rank ninja Akimichi Dai. Choose one of the following rewards."

"I'll choose later," Lihuo said silently.

"Keep it up, Dai! I believe you'll become a ninja who can stand on his own someday!"

Before, Dai might not have thought much of Lihuo's encouragement. But after fighting him, he knew how strong Lihuo was.

Being acknowledged by someone his own age who was so much stronger left Dai a little overwhelmed.

"Lihuo, I bought you lots of snacks. They're all things I like to eat. Thanks for encouraging me!"

Dai's face turned slightly red, making everyone burst into laughter. After chatting for a little longer, Oshima called everyone back to class and said they would all come help when Lihuo was discharged.

He then led the students back to the Ninja Academy, while Lu Miao volunteered to stay behind and look after Lihuo. Oshima smiled and allowed it.

Now only Lihuo and Lu Miao remained in the room, and an indescribable feeling gradually settled over them.

Lihuo felt his heart beating a little faster. The room seemed warmer than before, too.

Their eyes met, and Lu Miao was the first to speak.

"Why are you so strong, yet you waited until the very end to use your full strength?"

"Because this was only a spar, not a real fight on the battlefield."

"Why did you risk getting hurt in the explosion to save me?" Lu Miao recalled what had happened, and a faint shimmer of tears appeared in her eyes.

Lihuo understood that if he said something touching now, he could make the girl swoon. But he decided to follow his true feelings instead.

"It wasn't just you. Whenever any of my teammates are in danger, I'll do everything I can to step in and protect them. You're all my friends!"

Lihuo's words stunned Lu Miao. For some reason, she sensed a hint of loneliness in them. It cast a veil of mystery over the boy before her.

"M-my parents are very grateful to you. They'd like to invite you over for a meal in a few days. I hope you can come." With that, Lu Miao fled from the room.

As Lu Miao left, Lihuo's heart slowly sank. He had heard the doctor say that if he kept training so intensely, he might suffer hidden injuries.

But if he didn't train like this, how could he survive in the danger-filled Shinobi World? Neither was something he could afford to give up.

That was why Lihuo had thought of patting Dai on the head. After all, Dai had something Lihuo still didn't.

"System, claim the reward!"

"Ding! You patted the head of C-rank ninja Akimichi Dai. Choose one of the following rewards."

"Shamate-style tutorial"

"Yang Release Chakra"

"100 bags of potato chips"

Here it was! Just as he'd expected!

"I choose 'Yang Release Chakra'!"

"Reward issued."

In an instant, Lihuo's body felt as warm as if he were soaking in a hot spring. There was no pain at all. It was like a spring breeze had washed over him, and he couldn't help wishing the sensation would last a little longer.

But the warm current vanished in a flash. Then Lihuo felt a type of chakra within him that didn't belong to him at all—or, more precisely, didn't belong to the Uchiha Clan.

Yang Release Chakra!

Thanks to his "Kage Level Chakra Control," Lihuo immediately understood what Yang Release Chakra could do.

"Yang" represented the power of the body, while "Yang Release techniques" could breathe life into physical form.

However, without Six Paths Power—that is, a Sage Body and a Sage Eye—Lihuo couldn't wield Yin-Yang Release as powerfully as Naruto and Sasuke had in the original story.

Still, with only a little experimentation, he had completely understood how Yang Release could help him.

First were its passive effects. Yang Release could increase the body's healing and recovery rates while strengthening its vitality and constitution.

Unlike the system's "Physical Enhancement," Yang Release Chakra slowly and steadily improved one's physical condition. Over time, the body would grow stronger and stronger.

Then there was the active skill, a Yang Release secret technique Lihuo had developed entirely on his own: "Life Return"!

That's right. He had borrowed the idea from One Piece and improved on it. By precisely controlling his chakra, he could inject Yang Release Chakra into his various organs and make his body act according to his will.

This included, but wasn't limited to, eating quickly and then speeding up digestion, boosting his metabolism to heal wounds rapidly, slowing his heartbeat to feign death, and treating hidden injuries.

Lihuo immediately put it to the test. He devoured the fruit and food everyone had brought and frantically activated "Life Return." His stomach was like a bottomless pit, greedily absorbing nutrients.

His body recovered rapidly, and Lihuo instantly felt full of strength.

"This power is so useful!" Lihuo exclaimed excitedly.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on successfully collecting all seven chakra natures. The hidden mission—Bloodline Web—has now been unlocked!"