Spiral Zetsu advanced, unlocking the Impersonation Technique

Looking at his latest Attribute Panel, Luo Yu fell into thought.

Adding another 8 chakra would bring his reserves to 100, reaching what the system considered Genin Level.

Then Spiral Zetsu would grow stronger alongside him, and he would receive a Ninja Scroll as a Level Reward.

The only Ninjutsu currently requiring Ninja Scrolls to upgrade was Great Fireball.

But as for the quantity required...

[Materials required to upgrade Great Fireball: Ninja Scrolls 0/5 or Nameless Inheritances specializing in Fire Release 0/25]

Good grief!

Peak Mastery really wasn't so easy to reach.

The materials required had increased fivefold compared to level 4!

Just gathering 25 Nameless Inheritances would probably take ages of grinding in the Secret Realm.

I'd better see if I can squeeze some more resources out of President Bai and the others later.

With that thought, Luo Yu asked inwardly, System, since the next level of Great Fireball requires so many materials, does it undergo some qualitative change?

The system, with its built-in Customer Service, immediately explained, "Great Fireball is the most basic Fire Release technique. Once it reaches Lv.5..."

"In addition to improving the technique itself, the host's understanding of Fire Release will also improve."

"You will be able to learn other Fire Release Ninjutsu with ease."

"The default level of Fire Release techniques learned through observation with the Sharingan will increase from 0 to 1."

Luo Yu nodded at the explanation.

That's not bad.

It'll save plenty of materials when I learn Fire Release techniques in the future.

As he thought, the two stopped outside a cave.

"This is where that Wind Demon Ape lives. The Byakugan Ninja's body is inside."

Xu Ying looked toward the entrance and spoke gravely.

"Stay outside. Don't come near until I've dealt with the Wind Demon Ape."

After giving that quiet warning, Luo Yu calmly walked into the cave.

There were numerous signs of fighting on the cave's stone walls.

Patches of blood also dotted the ground.

It seemed a fierce battle had indeed taken place here, just as Xu Ying had said.

Nodding, Luo Yu continued deeper into the cave.

Soon, he passed the bodies of two enormous white-furred apes, each three meters tall.

Nearby lay two Fragments glowing with white light.

They were clearly Kamatari summon Fragments.

And the giant white-furred apes were undoubtedly the two dead Wind Demon Apes.

Just as Luo Yu reached out to touch the white Fragments...

A deafening roar erupted from deep within the cave.

The entire cave shook violently, sending loose stones tumbling down.

Outside, worry crept across Xu Ying's face.

After all, the Wind Demon Ape had the strength of a Low Chunin and an innate command of certain Wind Release Ninjutsu.

Could Luo Yu really face such a powerful enemy alone?

Farther away from the cave, other Ninjas exploring the Secret Realm felt the tremors beneath their feet and all turned toward it.

"With a commotion that big, some idiot must have provoked the Wind Demon Ape again."

"Let's get away from there. If the Wind Demon Ape gets angry, it'll probably start slaughtering everything nearby."

"Run!"

Deep inside the cave.

As the earth trembled, an enormous Wind Demon Ape tore across the ground on all fours, charging toward Luo Yu.

The deaths of its companions seemed to have made it extremely wary.

Thus, it had noticed Luo Yu as soon as he entered the cave.

"Eight Gates! Gate of Opening, open!"

Facing the gigantic enemy bearing down on him, Luo Yu immediately released his brain limiters and activated overclock mode.

Then he immediately performed Shadow Leaf Dance, flashing in front of the Wind Demon Ape and kicking it in the chin.

Opening the first gate had doubled Luo Yu's strength, putting him close to the Wind Demon Ape's level.

The kick actually sent the Wind Demon Ape's massive frame staggering backward.

But it hadn't lifted its body high enough into the air for him to follow up with Front Lotus.

Thus, Luo Yu's plan to try Front Lotus in actual combat fell through.

Watching the Wind Demon Ape retreat several steps, Luo Yu shook his head helplessly.

If Xu Ying knew he had dared to practice an unfamiliar Taijutsu technique while fighting a Wind Demon Ape...

He wondered what expression she would make.

With his practice attempt thwarted, Luo Yu immediately began taking the Wind Demon Ape before him seriously.

He still remembered the essential rules for defeating stronger enemies: big bodies have weak gates, fur is weak to fire, heavy armor is weak to lightning, knights are weak to bridges, and everything is weak to elevators.

This Wind Demon Ape appeared to be covered in thick white fur.

So he closed the Gate of Opening and used his most highly mastered Fire Release technique.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Twenty chakra inside him instantly transformed into a fireball that surged from his mouth.

The magnificent fireball immediately intimidated the Wind Demon Ape.

However, it quickly recovered and responded, raising its seemingly clumsy long arms to form hand seals.

Then it, too, spat out a Ninjutsu formed from chakra.

But what the Wind Demon Ape expelled was a gale formed from Wind Release.

Wind Release: Great Breakthrough!

Judging by the force of the gale, its mastery should have been at Proficient Level.

The Wind Demon Ape's plan was simple: use the wind to blow the Fire Release attack back.

However, although it had mastered casting Ninjutsu, it was still a low-level mutant beast with limited intelligence.

It didn't understand that fire countered wind.

Great Breakthrough failed to push back the highly mastered Great Fireball.

Instead, it fueled the fireball, sending it crashing into the Wind Demon Ape's enormous body with even greater ferocity.

Originally, even a Greater Mastery Great Fireball with the double bonus from Hashirama cells wouldn't have been fatal to the Wind Demon Ape, given Luo Yu's low rank.

But Great Breakthrough pushed Great Fireball's power to its limit.

Combined with the principle that fur was weak to fire, the intense heat instantly broke through the Wind Demon Ape's exceptionally tough body, reducing it to charred remains.

"What a shame. If not for the elemental disadvantage, the Wind Demon Ape might have lasted a few more exchanges."

Luo Yu looked disappointed.

Forget Hell's Turmoil-it hadn't even forced him to use Intangibility.

He hadn't expected that.

Attribute points +15!

Seeing that he had enough attribute points, Luo Yu quickly allocated them to chakra.

Stamina: 100 (+50%) → 100 (+50%)

Chakra: 92 (+100%) → 107 (+100%)

Congratulations! The host has advanced to Genin First Rank. Level Reward obtained: Ninja Scroll ×1.

Teammate: Juanwo White Zetsu-Fei has advanced to Genin First Rank. All attributes increased.

Racial skill unlocked: Impersonation Technique!

Hearing the system notifications, Luo Yu's heart stirred.

White Zetsu's Impersonation Technique!

Wasn't that the advanced Transformation Technique that even the Byakugan couldn't see through?

Curious, Luo Yu opened Juanwo White Zetsu-Fei's new panel.

Name: Juanwo White Zetsu-Fei

Level: Genin First Rank (linked to the host)

Stamina: 110

Chakra: 150

Attributes: water, earth, wind, lightning, fire, wood

Abilities: Possession Lv.max, Wood Release Mastery Lv.1, Mayfly Technique Lv.max, Impersonation Technique Lv.max

Skimming past the old information, Luo Yu opened the details of the new Ninjutsu.

Impersonation Technique Lv.max: White Zetsu's racial Ninjutsu. It not only changes the user's appearance, but also allows the user to absorb a target's chakra and produce identical chakra.

The most powerful Transformation Technique.

Luo Yu smiled. "Now that he even has the Impersonation Technique, Tobi can serve as a professional spy!"