"What's this scarf for?"
On his way home, Shinmoku took out the system's reward.
[Cold Protection]
"Chirp, chirp—"
As luck would have it, summer cicadas began to chirp.
"How strange. A scarf can actually keep you warm?"
[Charm +1]
Charm?
Whatever you said, the scarf really was quite pretty. It had the Ukiyo-e style, with plenty of blank space, and was woven from fine cashmere yarn. It had tassels, was long and wide, and could even be worn as a shawl.
But what use was charm? He already had a handsome face.
Back in his room, he casually tossed it onto the clothes rack.
First, he'd see if he could use Flying Raijin. He took out the scroll he'd copied long ago, studied it carefully, then gathered chakra at his fingertips and began drawing the Flying Thunder God Mark on the wooden floor.
His training had been effective, at least in this part. His movements were very smooth.
He drew the first version of the Flying Thunder God Mark. There was no other way; one of the prerequisites for learning the Fourth Generation's mark was mastering the Second Generation's version.
The second step was sensing his own mark. That depended entirely on talent. Either you had it, or you didn't; without it, you'd never learn the technique.
Shinmoku could sense it.
After establishing a connection, he stepped back two meters.
Face-to-face fast travel.
No, a one-centimeter teleport.
"Flying Raijin Jutsu."
In an instant, he appeared above the mark.
"I did it."
"Thud!"
He slammed hard into the floor.
It hurt.
Every cell in his body ached, as though he'd been crushed and then stuck back together.
No wonder so few people mastered this technique. If you weren't physically strong enough, wouldn't the pain kill you the first time you practiced?
"Knock, knock, knock—"
Someone knocked on the door.
"W-what is it?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Have you eaten?"
"I have..."
The footsteps receded. Shinmoku slowly closed his eyes and passed out.
In another courtyard behind the central one, Shinna had finished washing up and changed into a nightgown.
Under the bright moonlight, she lightly leapt onto the roof, where the ridge curved downward. Barefoot, she sat with her knees drawn up.
In the moonlight, a hazy veil seemed to settle over her.
Across the central courtyard, the light was still on in Shinmoku's room.
She waited for who knew how long. The lights in the distant village had all gone out, but Shinmoku's room was still brightly lit.
She stood, leapt across the central courtyard, and landed outside Shinmoku's room. After hesitating for a long while, she pushed the door open.
Shinmoku lay curled up on the floor, his face contorted in pain.
Shinna sighed and turned off the light for him.
Early the next morning, Shinmoku woke from his pain.
It wasn't a matter of physical strength. The Raikage himself had beaten his body into shape for him to practice Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
It was probably because he wasn't proficient enough with the hand seals, and his chakra control was lacking, too.
He still had to keep practicing his weaving.
After reviewing everything, Shinmoku struggled to his feet, went outside, and headed for the Hyuga Clan's compound.
"What are you doing here?"
At the Hyuga Clan's gate, Shinmoku ran into Neji, who had just come out.
"...I'm here to see Hinata."
Neji frowned slightly and walked around him.
"..."
He wouldn't get involved or comment.
"Hello, I'm here to see Hinata Hyuga."
Once inside, he stopped someone at random to ask for directions.
"If you're here to deliver a gift, you can give it to me."
"...I'm Uchiha Shinmoku."
"Please follow me."
Shinmoku followed him to a separate courtyard.
Inside, a little girl was sparring with a middle-aged man. They were probably Hanabi and Hyuga Hiashi.
"Head of the family," the guide called out. "Uchiha Shinmoku is here to see Miss Hinata."
"Uchiha?" The practice paused. Hyuga Hiashi said, "Since when has Hinata had anything to do with the Uchiha Clan?"
"Yesterday?"
Uncertainty colored Shinmoku's voice. Before yesterday, he and Hinata hadn't exchanged more than three sentences, so he wasn't sure it counted.
"Shinmoku?" Hinata poked her head out of the room. "Are we studying again today?"
"Yes. Sorry for the trouble."
"It's no trouble. I'm happy to help." She gave him a faint smile.
"Thank you."
"Let's go~"
The two of them practically ignored Hyuga Hiashi.
Hyuga Hiashi watched them leave with a frown. A moment later, he resumed sparring with Hanabi.
They were still weaving scarves, but they finished in just one morning.
They went to Ichiraku Ramen again. Teuchi had learned Hinata's secret—that she could eat a lot—and had promised not to tell anyone.
"This afternoon, I'm going to practice a few other things. Want to come with me, or would you rather go back and rest?" Shinmoku asked after lunch.
"I..."
Kiba was training with Shino. Since Hinata was recovering from her injuries, she couldn't help them, and she didn't have many friends. She was actually a little tempted.
"Can I watch?"
"I don't mind," Shinmoku replied.
"Is there anything you'd like me to do?"
"Probably not... Cheer me on?"
"Sure!" Hinata nodded emphatically, her eyes crinkling with a smile.
This afternoon, he'd be developing Lightning Release: Spider Web and Lightning Strike further.
Both techniques were C-rank ninjutsu. Spider Web could only paralyze enemies, while Lightning Strike was lethal but slow to form and required guidance. After becoming a Chunin of Kumogakure, he hadn't used it again.
The goal of developing them further was to give Spider Web some killing power and make Lightning Strike faster.
"Lightning Release: Spider Web."
At the back of the mountain, after releasing the technique, Shinmoku followed the Spider Web hand seals and formed the Boar seal.
Thanks to the past two days of practice, he controlled his chakra precisely, making a few arcs of light leap up from the web that had initially spread flat. They gradually gathered into a clump.
Not bad. The first stage was going smoothly.
He dispelled Spider Web.
"Summoning Technique!"
A small, entirely black cat appeared.
There was a theory that the reason Kakashi Hatake's Earth Flow technique had a dog-head sculpture was because he'd borrowed chakra from his summoned beast.
Shinmoku wanted to do something similar, but with the opposite goal. He wanted to change the shape of his summoned beast.
"So cute!" Hinata's eyes lit up.
Shinmoku glanced at her.
"Summoning Technique!"
"Go play with her," he told the second, chubby calico cat.
"Meow~"
"Xiao Hei, lend me your chakra."
"Meow!"
Xiao Hei straightened up on its front legs. Its paw, with its claws nowhere to be seen, smacked against its forehead in a salute, then it leapt onto Shinmoku's head.
"Lightning Release: Spider Web!"
The blue arcs of light took the shape of a little cat.
The second stage was complete.
"Xiaobu, jump up."
He turned and spoke to the calico cat playing with Hinata.
"Meow!"
Without a second thought, Xiaobu jumped straight up.
As it stiffened in midair, a cat made of lightning raced toward it along the web.
"Meow, meow, meow!"
"That's some foul language."
Shinmoku dispelled the technique, and Xiaobu sprang into Hinata's arms.
Lightning Release: Spider Web: Cat Rush.
Complete!