The people watching him followed him all the way home.
The newcomers left once they reached the vicinity of Zhou Cheng's house. They seemed to be scouting the area.
They did not dare get too close, afraid the other watchers would notice them.
Meanwhile, the ANBU and Root operatives dutifully continued their surveillance.
Knowing that two more people were watching him, Zhou Cheng did not dare fall asleep.
With the joy and excitement of winning today's match added to that, he felt even less sleepy.
After washing up and saying good night to Haku, he crawled under his quilt, leaving only his head exposed.
Unable to sleep, Zhou Cheng began thinking.
After this month of diligent study and training, I've become much more familiar with my own body.
The talents and knowledge I gained through replication have undergone their initial integration, becoming something uniquely my own.
Especially when it comes to ninjutsu, I'm more proficient at controlling how quickly chakra flows and how it's distributed through my acupoints when casting techniques. I have a much better grasp of it now.
I've gained a deeper understanding of my chakra control talent. What I replicated was talent and theory, not actual strength.
I can already cast ninjutsu with less chakra without reducing its power.
I can also eliminate four hand seals without reducing a technique's power.
My next goal is to further compress and reduce the chakra used in casting while maintaining the technique's power.
And to eliminate another three seals without losing any power.
But top-tier chakra control talent offers far more than that.
It can also let me increase a technique's power with the same amount of chakra.
For example, I could cast C-Rank ninjutsu with the power of B-Rank ninjutsu. Right now, though, I can only increase a technique's power by ten percent with the same amount of chakra.
If people knew I hadn't even used my full strength against Neji, the looks on their faces would be priceless.
But none of this can be accomplished in a day or two.
I can only train hard every day and grow through that training.
Or graduate early and grow faster through missions, through life-and-death situations.
As for taijutsu, I've barely gotten started, despite how evenly I traded blows with Neji.
In reality, it was just two amateurs flailing at each other. To a taijutsu master like Guy, it was children playing pretend.
Even if I reach Chunin level, I'll still be an amateur in a Jonin's eyes!
Next, I can incorporate Tai Chi into my taijutsu.
The Hyuga Clan's Gentle Fist is actually very similar to Tai Chi.
It can overcome strength with softness, but it can also unleash tremendous power in an instant.
I'll need to spar with Neji regularly. Taijutsu isn't like ninjutsu, where repeated practice lets you develop a feel for the flow of chakra.
Taijutsu is close-quarters combat. I have to accumulate experience through actual fights, face all kinds of styles, and discover my own shortcomings.
Although replicating Guy gave me a wealth of taijutsu theory, theory is ultimately just theory, not experience. Without putting it into practice, it'll never be more than knowledge on paper!
Next, I'll keep turning the taijutsu theory in my head into experience, then begin incorporating Tai Chi.
Also, although I replicated the Eight Gates of Life, I haven't actually opened a gate yet. I haven't experienced what it feels like to briefly multiply my strength and speed dozens of times over.
But opening the gates causes irreversible damage to the body.
I'll have to learn either Tsunade's medical ninjutsu or Yin-Yang Release.
Only then can I open any gate before the Eighth Gate without reservations.
Only then can I minimize the damage the Eight Gates of Life does to my body.
The reason Rock Lee was basically relegated to the sidelines later in the story was that he could only learn taijutsu.
On top of that, he trained in taijutsu like a madman, never considering that his body was already riddled with hidden injuries.
Before one hidden injury could heal, another would appear.
And Guy was an oblivious guy himself. He only knew how to keep his student fired up, not how to make sure Rock Lee's hidden injuries were treated.
By the Fourth Shinobi World War, he could only open the sixth gate. Was it because he didn't want to open the Seventh Gate? No, he simply couldn't.
If I learn Tsunade's medical ninjutsu, I can become practically impossible to kill, healing myself as I fight.
But the best match for the Eight Gates of Life is still Yin-Yang Release or a Sage Body.
Both have absurd levels of regenerative power.
I can obtain Yin-Yang Release by training in chakra nature transformation myself.
Yin Release is spiritual energy, and Yang Release is physical energy. These two paths will be my main focus in the future.
I can strengthen my spiritual energy with talent original liquid, and improve it through regular training as well. That means I'll need to study genjutsu properly next.
I can also strengthen my physical energy with talent original liquid, but regular physical training is essential too.
As for a Sage Body, that will mark my transition from pawn to player.
It will be my greatest asset for surviving in the world of Naruto.
Only a handful of people possess a Sage Body, and all of them are far beyond my reach right now.
As long as I can get close to them, I can replicate their Sage Bodies.
Hmm, I'll have to plan this carefully.
Next, Naruto should be stealing the Scroll of Seals. I have to find a way to see its contents too.
It's full of forbidden techniques, like Multiple Shadow Clone, Flying Thunder God, the Strength of a Hundred Technique, Mutually Multiplying Explosive Tags, and more.
Learning even one would give my strength an enormous boost.
Hmm, I need to pay closer attention to Naruto and Mizuki lately. When they go to steal the scroll, I can take it for a look. How much I can memorize will depend on how much time I get.
That old fox, the Third Hokage, will definitely be watching through the Crystal Ball then.
After that, there's the question of whom to replicate next.
There are plenty of talented people in Konoha, but few who suit my needs.
The abilities that could greatly improve my strength are genjutsu, ocular jutsu, and secret techniques.
Secret techniques draw too much attention. Even if I learn them, I won't be able to use them, so I'll leave those aside for now.
As for ocular jutsu, there's only the Byakugan and the Sharingan.
Both are abilities that easily attract attention. I shouldn't consider them before I have the strength to protect myself, either. Otherwise, even if I get those eyes, someone stronger will gouge them out.
If Sasuke didn't have plot armor, people would hunt him down the moment he left Konoha. Who knows how many people have their sights set on those eyes!
That leaves only genjutsu. And when it comes to genjutsu, there's Kurenai Yuhi and the Kurama Clan.
Kurenai Yuhi is easier to approach. I can find her by following Asuma!
Sigh. In this dangerous world, I'll have to become one of the strongest just to get a good night's sleep!
Before he knew it, a faint light had appeared outside the window. Zhou Cheng had unexpectedly spent the entire night lying awake.
Still, with his current physical fitness and mental strength, going a night or two without sleep had little effect on him.
He climbed out from under the quilt, folded it neatly, opened the door, and went to the bathroom to wash up.
Once he was done, he went to the kitchen and put on a kettle of water to make ramen.
Before a woman had come to live in the house, Zhou Cheng and Haku had both settled for convenient meals of ramen.
When the water boiled, Haku got up too. Zhou Cheng noticed that he seemed a little different today.
Haku glanced warily around, then pulled Zhou Cheng into a corner.
He traced a few words on Zhou Cheng's palm with his finger.
"Big Brother Zhou Cheng, I think I've awakened a Kekkei Genkai!"