Poison Vine Mineral Properties Awakened in Secret

"Show me the results of the changes."

Chiba did not stop walking as he followed the group back to the classroom.

[The current environment is unsuitable for displaying the full panel.]

"Just give me the conclusion."

[Natural energy circulation efficiency has increased by fifteen percent. Sage Body compatibility has risen accordingly.]

"What about the evolution requirements?"

[Aburame Shinraku does not meet the standard for an effective combat target. This sparring session cannot provide evolution points.]

Chiba glanced out the window.

The Anbu in the treetops were still watching, but the root-like presence behind the school building had left its original position. It had most likely gone to retrieve the insects Shinraku had left behind.

"Why was the swarm repelled by natural energy?"

[Kikaichū rely on the host's chakra to complete their parasitism. The natural energy within the Sage Body disrupts the absorption structures of low-level insects.]

"Would the Aburame clan's jonin be restrained as well?"

[Insufficient samples. Unable to determine.]

"Then limit the conclusion to low-level Kikaichū for now."

[Conclusion revised.]

After school, Chiba left through the front gate as usual.

He first bought several ninja tool maintenance supplies from the roadside, then circled around the crowded shops. Only after the watchers behind him had changed positions twice did he return to the Senju Clan Grounds.

The shrine entrance remained sealed.

Chiba did not hurry downstairs. He first went to the abandoned well and pressed his right hand into the damp soil.

"Root System Water Absorption. Limit it to the outskirts of the clan grounds."

Fine roots passed through the well wall and connected to the underground water veins.

Moisture returned through the Wood Release into his body. Natural energy mixed within it, flowing past his chest and into his arm.

Chiba raised his left hand and controlled chakra as it gathered in his palm.

A Poison Vine drilled out through the surface of his skin, its tip forming a purple flower bud.

[Natural energy circulation stable.]

"Lower the efficiency back to its original level."

[The host does not need to actively reduce efficiency.]

"I want to compare the consumption before and after the increase."

The system paused for a moment, and the warm current within his body weakened accordingly.

Chiba had the Poison Vine wrap around a stone pillar in the yard and maintain its growth, then drew out a second vine.

The chakra consumption was noticeably lower than it had been the night before.

With the same root coverage, he could now sustain two additional Poison Vines. After entering his body, natural energy no longer settled entirely in his right arm.

"Restore the enhanced circulation."

The warm current began flowing again, and the purple patterns on the Poison Vine deepened.

Chiba took out the materials he had purchased during the day and buried a chunk of sulfur ore in the soil through which the roots passed.

"Absorb it."

Fine roots wrapped around the ore, and the water they brought back carried an extra pungent smell.

The Poison Vine's bud slowly opened, its originally purple pistil turning dark yellow.

[Detected changes in toxin structure.]

"Specific effects."

[Contact with a biological sample is required.]

Chiba lifted a damp brick from the corner of the wall and caught the centipede hiding beneath it.

The tip of the Poison Vine stabbed into the centipede's back. After the toxin was injected, faint smoke rose from the edges of its shell.

The centipede curled up, but its legs continued moving.

"The paralysis effect has weakened. Corrosion and burning have increased."

Chiba severed the Poison Vine and removed the sulfur ore.

He then replaced it with calming herb powder purchased from the apothecary and had the roots absorb moisture from it.

The newly grown bud turned pale blue.

"Continue testing."

This time, the centipede pierced by the vine tip did not struggle. It crawled a few steps along the crack between the bricks before collapsing in place and becoming unresponsive.

Its shell showed no corrosion, and its legs did not twitch as they would from paralysis.

Chiba poked it with a thin twig.

The centipede rolled over and, after a moment, began crawling again.

"A sedative toxin. At higher doses, it may induce sleep."

[Poison Vine Sprout has gained derivative abilities.]

[Currently available toxin configurations: neural paralysis, mineral burning, neural sedation.]

"Don't record them as fixed branches yet."

[Reason.]

"Materials affect the results. Herb powder may also leave residue after entering the roots. Consecutive configurations could contaminate the next toxin."

Chiba dug up the soil and examined the color of the fine roots.

The sections that had touched sulfur ore had already yellowed, while the sections that absorbed herb powder had grown blue speckles.

If he switched materials carelessly in actual combat, the toxins would mix together, making the final effects impossible to control.

"Separate the different root systems."

Three strands of fine roots split from the main root and entered different layers of soil, leaving sufficient distance between them.

One connected to underground water, one wrapped around the sulfur ore, and the remaining one absorbed the calming herb powder.

Chiba simultaneously stimulated the growth of three Poison Vines.

The first had clear purple patterns, the second bore dark yellow speckles, and the third bloomed with a pale blue bud.

His chakra consumption increased accordingly, but the three types of Poison Vines did not contaminate one another.

"Usable."

[Recommendation: name the derivative branches.]

"Paralysis Vine, Scorch Vine, Sleep Vine."

[Naming complete.]

"Classify their toxicity."

[Insufficient biological samples.]

"There are some in the forest."

Chiba withdrew the vines and climbed over the rear wall of the clan grounds, avoiding the surveillance routes commonly used by the Anbu.

Several clearings had already been prepared in the woods.

The area near the stream was used for Root System Water Absorption, the area near the rock strata was for testing mineral toxins, and the farthest clearing contained wooden stakes and animal traps.

Chiba stopped at the first clearing.

"During the day, I'll practice chakra control at school. Keep my public performance at the middle level."

[Recorded.]

"At night, split training between taijutsu, Wood Release, natural energy circulation, and combat tracking."

[How should the training time for each be allocated?]

"Based on my physical condition. Set no fixed schedule."

He pulled off his coat and hung it from a branch, first completing chakra tree-climbing practice before attacking a wooden stake with his fists and feet.

Every punch followed the same force path he had used during the day, but his strength was kept within a range he could retract at any time.

After the wooden stake developed dents, Chiba moved to the rock-strata training ground.

A Scorch Vine drilled into a crack in the stone. Dark yellow venom remained on the rock surface, corroding shallow pits into it.

"Sulfur ore can only increase burning. It can't improve penetration."

[Metal minerals or Fire Release chakra materials may be attempted.]

"Fire Release materials would draw too much attention. Try iron ore first."

The roots connected to iron-bearing rock layers, absorbing it far more slowly than sulfur ore.

The Poison Vine did not change color, but its surface gradually hardened. Its soft flower bud tip also tightened into a cone.

[Detected a combination of Wood Release structure and mineral matter.]

[This change may affect toxin delivery.]

Chiba controlled the vine tip and stabbed it at a wooden stake.

The Hardening Vine tip pierced the wood, and purple venom seeped deep inside through the crack.

Both penetration and toxin had been retained.

"Root System Water Absorption never only absorbed water."

Chiba pulled out the vine and looked down at the soil beneath his feet.

Minerals buried underground, herbal residue, even poison released into the soil by enemies—all of it could be extracted by the roots and fed into his Wood Release.

As long as he understood the correspondence between materials and toxins, the battlefield itself would become his poison storehouse.

[New composite evolution possibility discovered.]

[Poison Vine Sprout and Root System Water Absorption are forming a symbiotic node.]

The World Tree skill map unfolded in his mind. Two branches that had originally been separate grew toward the center, their ends only a short distance from touching.

"What is still missing?"

[A high-intensity battle capable of verifying a composite toxin.]

The sound of a snapping branch came from deep within the forest.

Chiba put away the skill map, and all three Poison Vines burrowed underground at once.

The animal traps had not been triggered, and the newcomer had avoided the sensing roots he had planted.

Only a trained ninja moved like that.

"Come out."

There was no response from behind the tree.

The Sleep Vine curled along the ground toward the source of the noise, while the Scorch Vine pressed against the other escape route.

Chiba stepped between two trees, a fresh Hardening Vine tip emerging from his palm.

A hand wearing a bracer reached out from the darkness and tossed a wooden plaque carved with the Senju clan crest at his feet.

"If you want to know who the other template holder is, come to the Naka River alone tomorrow night."