Strength Increase

After wrapping up a busy day of official duties, Nangō Kumoi returned to his residence but did not rest immediately.

He first spent nearly an hour in the quiet room practicing chakra refinement and fine control according to the methods taught by Tobirama.

Thanks to Ray's long-term guidance in "energy efficiency optimization," his chakra refinement speed and purity, as well as the precision with which he could multitask, had long surpassed those of ordinary shinobi. His chakra reserves had also steadily risen to the formidable Kage Level.

Then, with a thought, his consciousness sank into that space unique to him.

"You're here? Why are you later than usual today?"

Gaia's figure condensed first. His red eyes brimmed with fighting spirit, though there was even more of the tacit understanding of someone who had known Kumoi would come.

"Government affairs were complicated, but training cannot be neglected."

Ray's figure appeared as well, golden arcs of electricity flowing calmly around him with a scrutinizing air.

"Your chakra aura is more harmonious than yesterday. It seems you have already begun to digest your daytime insights."

"Perfect. I'll use you to test the results!"

Gaia grinned. Without waiting for Nangō Kumoi to reply, he transformed into a red afterimage and charged forward. His fist howled through the air. Though he had no physical body, his battle intent and simulated force trajectory were incomparably solid.

Nangō Kumoi remained unruffled. Lightning flickered beneath his feet—not the complete Lightning Release: Body Flicker.

Instead, it was an improved footwork technique that combined Ray's concept of "ultimate swiftness" with his own chakra stimulation techniques, allowing him to twist aside at the last possible instant.

At the same time, his hands rapidly formed seals, but he was not using a single ninjutsu.

"Compound Ninjutsu: Earth-Lightning Barrier!"

A sturdy earthen wall instantly rose from the ground to his left, but dense arcs of lightning crawled and leaped across its surface like living creatures!

This was not simply Earth Release with Lightning Release attached. It was an attempt to initially combine Earth Release's "structural stability" with Lightning Release's "energy activity," giving the defense the dual properties of physical resistance and energy disruption.

"Interesting!"

Gaia's phantom slammed a fist into the wall. The earthen wall shook violently, but the lightning on its surface surged back along the intent of his attack, causing his movements to stall slightly.

At that moment, Nangō Kumoi's figure flashed, and he appeared behind Gaia's side like a ghost—

This time, he used a high-speed movement technique that combined the light agility of wind-nature chakra with his perception of "qi," partly derived from Gaia's battle instincts.

"I'm not done yet!"

He gave a low shout. His right hand closed in the air, and highly compressed fire-nature chakra instantly formed a blazing yet exceedingly condensed crimson fireball. Meanwhile, his left hand guided streams of water that coiled upward like spiritual serpents.

"Water-Fire Linked Barrage: Modified!"

It was not a simple combination of the Great Fireball and Water Dragon techniques, but an attempt to use the principles of elemental opposition and mutual generation across an extremely small contact surface, creating an instantaneous burst of violent energy and a steam shockwave.

Though the fusion was still extremely crude and energy loss was severe, this approach, so unlike conventional composite ninjutsu, already showed the beginnings of an attempt to control and unleash power at the level of energy's fundamental nature.

Gaia's phantom was forced to dodge repeatedly by the sudden combined assault, the red light in his eyes burning brighter.

"Good kid! It's only been a few days, and your methods are getting wilder and wilder! But your openings are getting bigger too!"

Spotting a tiny gap in the energy transition, he simulated an even trickier strike, one more in line with his concept of "inch force," and aimed it straight at the core.

Yet Nangō Kumoi seemed to have anticipated it. The chakra around his body suddenly contracted.

Then it vibrated outward at a peculiar frequency, faintly carrying the profound solidity and tolerance of the earth—Gaia's concept of "structural load-bearing"—dissipating and neutralizing most of that sharp attack intent.

A fierce round of mental combat temporarily came to a halt.

Ray had watched quietly from the side. Only now did he slowly speak, his tone carrying unmistakable approval.

"Of chakra's seven basic nature transformations—fire, water, wind, lightning, earth, yin, and yang—you can already wield the first five with considerable proficiency, and you are attempting more fundamental energy manipulation and fusion.

"The fusion concepts you demonstrated today may appear immature, but the direction is correct. More importantly..."

His golden eyes fixed on Nangō Kumoi.

"Your command over your own power, your grasp of combat tempo, and your understanding and battlefield application of different chakra properties have already surpassed the scope of an ordinary 'Kage.'

"Even without Gaia's and my assistance, considering only your current ninjutsu mastery, chakra control, combat wisdom, and physical capabilities, you have barely stepped across the threshold of 'Super Kage.'

"Congratulations, Kumoi."

Gaia also dropped his playful demeanor, folding his arms and nodding.

"Not bad! Your fusion techniques are still rough, and when fighting, you still rely a bit too much on instinct and our ideas, but your foundation is genuinely solid.

"Super Kage, huh... In this world, that means you finally have the hard strength to establish yourself.

"When it comes to construction later, if anyone refuses to cooperate, you can give them a little hard reasoning too. Hahaha!"

Nangō Kumoi slowly calmed the turbulent sensation brought about by the simulated mental battle, feeling the increasingly smooth and fluid circulation of chakra within his body.

He also sensed the growing clarity in his mind regarding the characteristics of different energies—chakra and the power of Ray and Gaia—and the possibilities of combining them.

He knew Ray's assessment was fair.

Thanks to the extraordinary foundation he had laid during the Second Hokage's era, his talent for all chakra natures, and the reexamination of power's essence and arduous training under Ray and Gaia's "dimensional reduction" guidance over the past few months, he had indeed achieved a qualitative leap.

"Super Kage..."

He repeated it softly. There was little self-satisfaction in his eyes. Instead, he felt the steadiness of finally having some confidence, along with an even stronger thirst for knowledge.

"But I still have no clue about Yin Release and Yang Release.

"And there is the deeper fusion with your powers... The road ahead is still long."

Ray added, "Strength is the foundation.

"Now that the foundation is sufficient to support your current plans.

"Next, aside from daily improvement, perhaps you can try applying some of your preliminary understanding of fusion to your 'construction.'

"For example, more efficient energy transmission and material processing. That may also be a unique form of training."

"I understand."

Nangō Kumoi withdrew from the Mindscape and returned to the quiet room. He slowly opened his eyes, the sharp glint in them restrained.

The increase in strength brought not only a sense of security, but also a weighty responsibility—having the ability meant he needed to use it on the right path.

He walked to the window and looked at the pilot housing project site, its outlines beginning to emerge in the night, then toward the silent Uchiha Compound farther away.

"With strength, perhaps many ideas can be put into action faster and more securely..."

As he planned for tomorrow, he also gained a clearer grasp of the upcoming New Year's Eve dinner and his subsequent dealings with the various factions.

That night, in a quiet room unknown to anyone else, Kumoi completed a crucial transformation in his strength.

It might not change anything immediately, but it injected a solid, surging confidence into every one of his grand and minute blueprints.