In the secret base, charred stumps lay toppled everywhere.
Fang Xu stood in the middle of the clearing, his long sword hanging at his side. His chest heaved visibly, but he could not suppress the excitement on his face.
Over the past hour or so, he had taken turns testing Thunder Breathing, the Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Lightning Mode, and Lightning Release Chakra.
With Thunder Breathing alone, he was fast, his sword moves flowed smoothly, and the physical drain was not too extreme.
Adding Lightning Mode sent his explosive power soaring.
Then, when he compressed the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's actual lightning into his blade, it was no longer merely "like lightning," as it was for the Demon Slayer Corps. His slashes carried real lightning.
Finally, he tried using Lightning Release Chakra to guide the Rumble-Rumble Fruit's lightning along with his breathing rhythm and the exertion of his sword techniques.
The effect was even more powerful than he had imagined.
With a single slash, the trunk was not simply cut open. Lightning and the sword strike pierced it simultaneously, blasting a charred split through its center and sending wood chips flying more than ten meters.
"That's more like it."
Fang Xu tightened his grip on the hilt. His fingertips still tingled a little.
"The Rumble-Rumble Fruit determines the upper limit of my lightning, Lightning Mode handles my body's explosive power, Lightning Release Chakra provides stable guidance, and Thunder Breathing handles the exertion of my sword techniques and my breathing rhythm."
"Each one is strong on its own."
"Combined, they take the power up a whole level."
More importantly, his endurance had changed too. Previously, using the Rumble-Rumble Fruit had depended entirely on what his six-year-old body could endure.
Fifteen seconds of Elementalization had already been his limit. He had to be even more careful with high-intensity discharges; one careless moment could drain all his stamina.
But after absorbing Kaigaku's Thunder Breathing Crystal, his physique had been forcibly raised by a substantial margin.
His lung capacity, muscle strength, explosive leg power, and physical coordination were all far better than before.
During his consecutive tests just now, his maximum duration for Elementalization and lightning output had increased to more than three times what it had been.
"Physique is the foundation."
Fang Xu exhaled and sheathed his long sword.
"The stronger my body, the more power the Rumble-Rumble Fruit can unleash."
"From now on, I can't focus only on ninjutsu and moves. I have to keep pushing my physical training to the limit."
He did a quick cleanup of the site and made sure he had left no obvious traces. Only then did he leave the secret base and head home under cover of night.
Once inside, Fang Xu first shut the door, checked the windows, and confirmed that he did not feel anyone watching him nearby.
Only after doing all that did he sit at the desk and will it to appear.
The Attribute Panel appeared.
[Name: Fang Xu] [Status: fatigued, slightly excited] [Talent: Exchange Level 1] [Talent progress: 3/10] [Chakra attributes: lightning, earth, water] [Chakra level: elite genin] [Ability: Rumble-Rumble Fruit mastery (weakened by physical limitations)] [Skills: swordsmanship proficiency, Thunder Breathing proficiency, Lightning Mode proficiency] [Ninjutsu: Lightning Release: Lightning Ball Technique proficiency, Three Body Technique proficiency, Shadow Clone Technique beginner, Water Release: Water Wave Technique beginner] [Overall assessment: elite chunin] [Notice: at full combat power, capable of briefly fighting an ordinary jonin. Foundational reserves still require consolidation.]
As Fang Xu looked at the panel, the corners of his mouth slowly lifted.
Elite genin-level chakra.
Elite chunin-level overall strength.
At full combat power, he could even briefly fight an ordinary jonin.
A little over two weeks ago, he would not have dared to imagine this.
Back then, he had been just an ordinary student at the Ninja Academy, with average chakra, average taijutsu, and average ninjutsu.
His greatest advantage had probably been his good looks.
And now?
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit, Lightning Mode, Lightning Release Chakra, and Thunder Breathing swordsmanship.
Hatake Sakumo as his teacher, the Shadow Clone Technique and Water Release Tsunade had given him, and the Attribute Panel, a cheat that provided real-time feedback.
"A little over two weeks, and I've made it this far."
Fang Xu leaned back in his chair, feeling deeply satisfied.
This had not been an effortless victory. Every improvement had depended on him seizing opportunities and working desperately to absorb what he gained.
The Rumble-Rumble Fruit had given him a high ceiling, but he had to train his body; Thunder Breathing had given him experience, but he had to integrate it with the Shinobi World's system; Sakumo had given him kendo, but he had to practice the basics every day; Tsunade had given him the Shadow Clone Technique, but without enough chakra, he did not dare create clones recklessly.
"I still can't get carried away."
Fang Xu quickly suppressed his excitement.
"Elite chunin is only an assessment."
"If I actually face a jonin, their intelligence, experience, ninjutsu combinations, and methods of killing will be nothing like a fight at the Ninja Academy."
"Being able to fight one now doesn't mean I can win."
"Next, I'll keep absorbing Thunder Breathing and consolidate my swordsmanship and Lightning Mode."
"Once these things have truly become my own, I'll consider the next step."
Fang Xu closed the panel and took a sip of water.
Fatigue washed over him, but inwardly, he felt steady. The path to becoming stronger was growing clearer and clearer.
Meanwhile.
East of Konoha, beneath an abandoned street, the lights were dim in the depths of an underground base.
Danzo sat in the seat of honor, half his face hidden behind bandages and shadows.
A Root ninja knelt on one knee, his voice flat.
"Lord Danzo, the intelligence has been confirmed."
"Hatake Sakumo has taken Fang Xu as his disciple."
Danzo tapped his fingers lightly against the armrest.
"Give me the details."
The Root ninja, Takuma, lowered his head. "Fang Xu, six years old, a Ninja Academy student."
"His father, Fang Naoto, was an Anbu jonin. Killed on a mission."
"His mother, Tawara Keiko, was an ordinary chunin. Also killed on a mission."
"After his parents' deaths, Fang Xu remained unremarkable for two years, with mediocre performance."
"Half a month ago, he defeated older students near the Ninja Academy using self-created Lightning-Attribute Nintaijutsu."
Danzo's fingers paused against the armrest.
"Self-created?"
"So far, we have found no signs of contact with Hidden Cloud ninja."
Takuma continued, "After that incident, the Third Hokage began paying attention to him."
"Fang Xu subsequently sparred with Kakashi Hatake. The match ended in a draw."
"After watching in person, Hatake Sakumo judged that Fang Xu had a talent for kendo and took him as his disciple on the spot."
"In addition, Tsunade visited Fang Xu's home at night and stayed for quite some time."
Danzo's gaze darkened.
"The Third Hokage, Sakumo, Tsunade."
"One little brat has drawn quite a crowd."
Takuma did not respond.
Root did not need unnecessary judgments, only reports.
Danzo spoke slowly. "Hatake Sakumo's reputation has been growing these past few years."
"His battlefield achievements, his prestige within the Anbu, and that short-sleeved Hokage coat."
"Some in the village are already saying that Hiruzen is getting old, and that White Fang might be better suited to step into the spotlight."
At this point, his voice grew colder.
"Such talk should not exist."
Hatake Sakumo shone too brightly.
So brightly that he blocked many people's paths.
Danzo had already been considering how to rein in this White Fang of the Leaf.
He had not expected Sakumo to gain another disciple who had suddenly revealed his talent.
Lightning-Attribute Nintaijutsu, a talent for kendo, and the bloodline of a Senju branch family.
And he had caught the attention of the Third Hokage and Tsunade.
If a child like this grew to maturity, he could easily become another source of support for Hatake Sakumo.