Lay Low, and the Future Holds Promise

"More than 37,000 left... Time to strengthen my body!"

Shigure turned his attention to the physique category interface.

[Basic Physical Enhancement (LV1): Strength, speed, endurance +5. Purchased.]

[Basic Physical Enhancement (LV2): Strength, speed, endurance +15. Price: 2,500 Emotion Points.]

[Basic Physical Enhancement (LV3): Strength, speed, endurance +30. Price: 5,000 Emotion Points.]

[Basic Physical Enhancement (LV4): Strength, speed, endurance +50. Price: 8,000 Emotion Points.]

[Basic Physical Enhancement (LV5): Strength, speed, endurance +80. Price: 15,000 Emotion Points.]

"LV5 costs 20,000? If I buy up to LV5, won't that wipe out all my remaining Emotion Points? Whatever. The body is the foundation of everything. The further the enhancements go, the greater the improvements and the better the value. I have to build a solid foundation!"

Muttering to himself, Shigure decisively purchased the remaining physical enhancements.

[Ding! Successfully purchased "Basic Physical Enhancement (LV2-LV5)"! Total Emotion Points consumed: 37,500.]

[Current remaining Emotion Points: 7,300.]

Boom!

A torrent of energy countless times more immense than all the previous enhancements combined erupted within his body!

It felt as though an endless spring of life was pouring into every limb and bone, while at the same time, a cosmic explosion swept through his entire body!

"Ugh, aaahhh!!!" Shigure could not help letting out a low roar of pain and pleasure.

He could clearly feel every bone in his body groaning under unbearable strain, before rapidly being strengthened and reforged into something tougher and denser.

Every inch of his muscle fibers tore violently apart, only to be reborn an instant later with greater resilience and strength.

His internal organs, meridians, and blood vessels were washed, cleansed, widened, and reinforced by a warm yet powerful force.

At that moment, his five senses also underwent a tremendous leap.

The entire world seemed clearer and more vivid than ever before.

This feeling... was simply incredible!

When the terrifying enhancement energy finally subsided, Shigure slumped onto the bed, gasping for breath. His entire body was drenched in sweat, as though he had just been pulled from the water.

His black eyes gleamed like the brightest stars in the night sky.

He could clearly sense that his physique had undergone a complete transformation.

Now, relying on physical strength alone, he could crush most genin and even rival those chunin who specialized in taijutsu.

"Awesome! This is fucking awesome!!"

Shigure roared excitedly again, throwing a heavy punch as the surging power churned within him.

He glanced at his balance. "...7,300 Emotion Points left. That's not enough to buy anything worthwhile... Hmm, right!"

An idea flashed through his mind as he recalled the ninjutsu from the Water Release gift pack he had just acquired.

"It's about time I raised my skill levels while I'm at it."

Shigure immediately switched to the ninjutsu interface, opened the "Water Release" category, and found the techniques he had just learned.

[Water Release: Water Prison Technique (LV1) - Emotion Points required to upgrade to LV2: 1,000]

[Water Release: Water Clone Technique (LV1) - Emotion Points required to upgrade to LV2: 800]

[Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique (LV1) - Emotion Points required to upgrade to LV2: 1,200]

[Water Release: Water Dragon Bullet Technique (LV1) - Emotion Points required to upgrade to LV2: 1,500]

[Water Release: Great Waterfall Technique (LV1) - Emotion Points required to upgrade to LV2: 2,000]

Shigure scanned the list and muttered, "Water Dragon Bullet and Great Waterfall are too expensive to upgrade... I'll raise Hidden Mist Technique first. Once this thing is maxed out, it can attack or defend as needed. It's absurdly powerful."

He made his decision at once.

[Ding! Successfully upgraded "Water Release: Hidden Mist Technique" to LV4! Emotion Points consumed: 7,200!]

[Current remaining Emotion Points: 100.]

Another wave of deeper insights into the Hidden Mist Technique flooded into his mind.

He felt his command of the ninjutsu rise several levels in an instant.

"Whew... Only 100 points left. I can only save them for next time."

Looking at his meager remaining points, Shigure smacked his lips in lingering dissatisfaction, but his face was full of satisfied smiles.

This dream had brought him a truly massive haul.

Not only had his physical abilities improved dramatically, but he had also mastered the basic Three-Body Technique and Body Flicker.

He had also mastered LV4 Hidden Mist Technique; LV1 Water Clone Technique, Water Shockwave, Water Prison Technique, Water Dragon Bullet Technique, and Great Waterfall Technique; as well as LV1 Lightning Release: Earth Flow, Lightning Release: Electromagnetic Discharge, and Lightning Release: Chakra Flow.

Though his actual combat experience was still zero, with this skill set and these enhanced attributes alone, he figured that even if he faced an ordinary jonin, he could still run away if he could not win.

The next morning.

When Naruto pushed open his front door, he was still groggy. The happy yet slightly regretful dream from last night continued to echo in his mind.

"Mom's cooking... was so delicious..." He smacked his lips nostalgically and could not help swallowing, a foolish but satisfied and wistful grin appearing on his face.

Although discovering upon waking that none of it had been real had left him disappointed for quite a while—

"But! That ninjutsu Dad taught me in the dream seems like I can really use it!" Naruto's eyes suddenly lit up.

After waking that morning, he had tried gathering chakra according to the feeling from his dream, and a powerful burst of airflow had truly erupted from his palm.

That proved the training in the dream had not been mere fantasy. It had produced real results.

Naruto clenched his fists, his heart surging with excitement.

As long as he practiced hard, he would definitely learn that super—awesome "ball" ninjutsu!

And then...

Hehehe, he would definitely make Sasuke and Sakura look at him in a whole new light!

At the thought, Naruto was filled with motivation once more.

He lovingly patted the old rubber ball tucked against his chest—his practice tool, which he had gone through great trouble to dig out from a pile of junk.

Then, brimming with anticipation, he rushed out the door, humming an off-key tune as he ran toward Team 7's usual meeting place.

However, when Naruto eagerly arrived at the agreed bridgehead, the sight before him made his smile freeze instantly.