Dinner?
Lei Dou paused, instinctively glancing up at the clock on the wall. At this hour, plenty of hardworking Genin should still have been putting in extra practice at Konoha's Public Training Ground.
He had already planned to stake the place out and see whether he could use Great Sage to pick up a ninjutsu or two for free. If he happened to catch an elemental technique, he would really hit the jackpot.
But faced with Tenten's expectant gaze, turning her down flat seemed a little too heartless.
After all, he had only just accepted such an expensive gift from her.
"I'm afraid I can't today. The graduation exam is coming up, so I need to make every second of training count. Once I get my Forehead Protector, how about I treat you to a big meal instead?"
His excuse was perfectly respectable and impossible to argue with. Though Tenten felt a little disappointed, she also thought it made complete sense.
After all, graduating was a major milestone for an aspiring ninja.
"All right, it's a promise!"
"Don't go forgetting the moment you turn around, Lei Dou!"
"Don't worry! I've got a great memory. I never go back on a promise!"
With that, Lei Dou stood to take his leave.
Tenten stood as well and walked him all the way to the shop entrance.
Just then, Lei Dou keenly sensed a gaze as sharp as a blade fixed on him, sending a slight chill down his back.
He abruptly turned and followed that scrutinizing gaze, his heart stirring. That's... Neji Hyuga?
He had never had anything to do with this genius of the Hyuga Clan, had he? Why was the guy looking at him like a sworn enemy?
Lei Dou frowned slightly. Glancing at Tenten's radiant smile beside him, he began to get the picture. Could this be trouble over a pretty girl?
Beside Neji, Rock Lee, with his signature bowl cut and green jumpsuit, was also staring intently at Lei Dou.
Without another word, the hot-blooded fool strode straight toward Lei Dou.
"You're the guy Tenten said was incredible at throwing hidden weapons and had unfathomable swordsmanship, right?"
"Hello! I'm Rock Lee, a Genin whose goal is to become Konoha's strongest Taijutsu ninja!"
Looking at the callused hand Rock Lee extended, Lei Dou put on no airs and reached out to shake it.
"Shimozuki Raito. I'm still a student at the Ninja Academy. I haven't graduated yet."
"I never imagined someone who wasn't even a Genin could have such a powerful presence. I look forward to seeing you graduate! If we get the chance afterward, I absolutely have to experience your swordsmanship for myself and see whether it's really as strong as people say!"
Fierce fighting spirit burned in Rock Lee's round eyes, and his tone was utterly earnest.
Lei Dou shrugged helplessly and gave a casual reply. "No problem. Anytime!"
Right now, all Lei Dou could think about was going to the training ground to steal some techniques. He had no interest in getting tangled up with this hot-blooded youth.
After one last wave goodbye to Tenten, he left without looking back.
Only when Lei Dou disappeared at the end of the street did the silent Neji withdraw his gaze and slowly speak in the direction he had gone.
"Yesterday, that guy single-handedly defeated over a hundred Genin at the training ground!"
"What?!" Rock Lee was so shocked his eyes nearly popped out.
"He's actually that strong? He beat a hundred people all by himself?"
"Yeah..." Neji looked in that direction, his gaze growing increasingly grave, with even a trace of apprehension.
As the top graduate of his year, how could he possibly ignore a genius who had emerged out of nowhere like this?
It was only natural for him to feel hostility and a sense of rivalry.
"If that's true, then I'm even more fired up! I've got to have a proper fight with him!"
Rock Lee clenched his fists so tightly his knuckles cracked. Challenging a monstrous genius like this would be all the more proof that hard work could surpass anything!
Whatever turmoil Neji and Rock Lee were feeling at that moment, it had nothing to do with Lei Dou.
By now, Lei Dou had jogged all the way to Konoha's Public Training Ground.
Just as he had expected, at this awkward hour around four or five in the afternoon, only a scattering of people remained at the training ground.
He could see barely a dozen people still at it, and most were practicing Taijutsu with loud grunts and cries.
Ninjutsu practice!
After scanning the area, he actually spotted someone practicing alone.
Unfortunately, the guy wasn't using the Water Release Lei Dou wanted most.
He was using Wind Release instead. Though missing out on Water Release was a little disappointing, this was still better than nothing.
Wind Release!
At the very least, it would let him master another chakra nature transformation. There was no such thing as having too many skills!
Great Sage, can you analyze the Wind Release Ninjutsu that guy up ahead is using?
[Great Sage: Of course. Establishing analysis model... Analysis in progress.]
A translucent progress bar that only Lei Dou could see instantly appeared before his eyes.
[15%] [58%] [94%]
The progress was practically rocketing upward.
Lei Dou did a quick mental estimate. At this rate, he probably only needed to wait another two minutes for the whole thing to finish.
The unlucky fellow in the distance showed no sign of stopping. If he suddenly got tired and decided to rest, Lei Dou's analysis would be stuck halfway.
Fortunately, the ninja merely caught his breath and wiped away his sweat before forming Hand Seals and unleashing his ninjutsu again.
After two more consecutive uses, the guy seemed to have exhausted his chakra.
He finally stopped, panting heavily as he recovered his strength.
Hidden behind a tree, Lei Dou nodded in satisfaction, a smile curling at the corners of his mouth.
[Analysis complete.] [Congratulations, host. New skill acquired: Wind Release: Beast Wave Palm. Nature transformation successfully unlocked-wind.]
This Wind Release Ninjutsu wasn't particularly high-ranking, but it was practical. More importantly, it had given him wind nature transformation for free.
Wait, now that I have wind chakra, should I try developing a Wind Release Body Flicker Technique?
A moment's thought was enough to tell him that a Body Flicker Technique enhanced with Wind Release would surely be faster than Water Release: Body Flicker, as well as quieter and harder to track.
[Great Sage: Calculations estimate a development time of approximately six months.]
Well, that was six times the time required for Water Release: Body Flicker.
Forget it. Water Release: Body Flicker was already being developed in the background. He couldn't get too greedy.
Even if he wanted to work on a version using another element, he would have to wait until the Water Release version was finished.
Lei Dou watched the Genin at the training ground pack up and leave one after another.
He didn't intend to linger either. There was nothing left to pick up for free.
Turning onto the road home, Lei Dou had an idea and began trying to incorporate the Body Flicker Technique into his journey.
After leaving the Body Flicker Technique in his skill slot for a full day of background calculations, Lei Dou was eager to find out what level he had reached.
Whoosh!
In a single instant, Lei Dou vanished from where he stood. The terrifying burst of acceleration made it seem as though he had crossed space itself, appearing directly on a tiled rooftop dozens of meters away.
The speed of this Body Flicker Technique really is no joke. This feels amazing.
What if I combine Transparent Release with the Body Flicker Technique?
Lei Dou's figure gradually turned transparent, while his presence vanished completely, as though rubbed away with an eraser.
The next second, now fully invisible, Lei Dou used the Body Flicker Technique again.
A faint whisper of air being cut could still be heard, but in this noisy environment, it was so weak as to be negligible. Unless someone deliberately tried to sense him, they would never notice.
Transparent Release and the Body Flicker Technique were a match made in heaven!
The sheer speed his Body Flicker Technique now produced was already beyond what an ordinary ninja could react to.
Add the visual invisibility and concealed presence provided by Transparent Release, and this elusive combination was practically a god-tier assassination technique.
Lei Dou could already picture the battle in his mind: he would suddenly disappear before his enemy's eyes, then emerge without warning from their blind spot.
How wonderful it would be to deliver that unexpected, lethal strike.
Basically, anyone at his own level would be instantly killed by that combination.
Once the Body Flicker Technique is fully developed, I'll strengthen Transparent Release next!
"Lei Dou! You finally decided to come home!"
"Why are you so late? Where have you been running around?"
Lei Dou had barely strolled up to his front door when Shimozuki Hayate, who had been waiting for quite some time, called out to him.
Hayate lived nearby, so it seemed he had come specifically to wait for him.
"I went to the ninja tools shop to pick up the Ninja Blade I ordered!"
As he spoke, Lei Dou turned sideways, revealing Zangetsu strapped horizontally across his back. Hayate glanced at the blade, fully enclosed in its sheath, without paying it much attention.
After all, no matter how special a Ninja Blade was, there was little to see through its sheath.
"Were you really that impatient?"
Hayate smiled helplessly, a hint of affection in his eyes. "Didn't I promise to personally give you a fine Ninja Blade as a gift once you graduated from the Ninja Academy?"
Lei Dou opened his mouth to explain, but Hayate had already waved generously. "Never mind. Since you've bought one yourself, that's fine!"
"Did you need something, Hayate? It's pretty late."
At that, Hayate scratched his head a little sheepishly. After a moment's hesitation, he slowly spoke.
"Well... could you let me see your swordsmanship?"
So that was what he had come for!
Lei Dou gave an easy laugh. "Of course!"
His Total Concentration: Water Breathing swordsmanship was a unique art Great Sage had tailored to his physical condition. Even if someone wanted to learn it, they couldn't.
Still, since Hayate wanted to broaden his horizons, there was no reason to refuse.
Hayate had taught him Konoha Style: Swordsmanship without holding anything back, so Lei Dou owed him a debt.
If the opportunity arose in the future, he could repay Hayate by helping improve his strength.
"Then let's go to our usual spot!"
Lei Dou suggested.
"Our usual spot?" Hayate was baffled. What usual spot?
"The little grove where you took me for special training before. I've turned it into my secret training base!"
Hayate nodded at that. "All right. Lead the way!"
After grabbing a quick dinner somewhere, the two headed side by side to the secluded grove.
Looking at the place before him, now transformed beyond recognition and utterly unlike what he remembered, Hayate took it all in.
He froze for a moment, then shook his head with a wry smile. "All this damage was your handiwork, I take it?"
"That's right!"
There were deep craters scattered across the ground, shocking cracks running through it, and broken, fallen trees strewn in every direction.
These were naturally the "medals" Lei Dou had left behind after tearing through the area during training.
"Then let's begin!"
As he spoke, Lei Dou reached back to grip the hilt and slowly drew Zangetsu from its sheath, revealing its night-black blade and the blue glow flowing gently along its edge like water.
Shimozuki Hayate's expression changed instantly, and he stood stunned for a moment.
This Ninja Blade... is anything but ordinary!
Whoosh!
With a flick of his wrist, Lei Dou swung the Ninja Blade. This was his first time formally using Zangetsu to perform Water Breathing.
The exhilarating sensation of chakra surging through his body and flowing through the blade without the slightest obstruction made Lei Dou feel that only now had Water Breathing's true power been fully unleashed.
As Lei Dou's figure flashed about, he performed one move after another in an unbroken sequence.
Watching from the side, Shimozuki Hayate grew more alarmed with every passing moment, his eyelids twitching. At the same time, he felt deeply helpless and defeated.
Before long, Lei Dou had demonstrated the complete set of Water Breathing Sword Forms.
He sheathed his blade and stood still, turning toward the still-dazed Hayate. "How was that, Hayate? Did you understand it?"
Shimozuki Hayate gave an awkward, bitter chuckle and sighed. "It looks like you've left me completely behind in swordsmanship. Yours is so profound that I can't understand it at all."
"Although I can clearly feel the terrifying power within it, learning it-or even drawing on its principles-seems completely impossible!"
Seeing how dejected and shaken Hayate looked, Lei Dou could only offer some reassurance. "It's normal not to understand it. Water Breathing is a sword art created specifically for my physique and chakra flow. Other people might simply be physically incapable of learning it!"
After hearing that, Hayate could only nod helplessly and accept the reality.
Meanwhile, Lei Dou lowered his gaze to his palm, where visibly flowing water-nature chakra gathered.
More than a day had passed since he had placed Water Release in his skill slot for in-depth analysis.
When he had used Water Breathing with Zangetsu just now, Lei Dou had not only felt his swordsmanship's power multiply. More noticeably, his control over Water Release had made a qualitative leap.
Lei Dou felt as though a single thought was now enough to complete water nature transformation instantly, while only a tiny amount of chakra was needed to produce an extremely powerful shape transformation.
Lei Dou felt that now, all it took was a thought for him to instantly complete the Nature Transformation of the Water element, while using only a tiny amount of Chakra to produce a very powerful change in form.