Looking over the key points he'd written in his notebook, Uka put down his pen and, as was his habit, circulated Chakra to form a thin film around his body.
Then he recorded each of the acupoints that transmitted Chakra.
He controlled the Chakra as it passed through the acupoints, transforming it into Wood Release.
"Boom-"
A sudden burst of noise. Air currents swirled around him, making the table nearby tremble.
"Hmm? Did I fail?"
Frowning, Uka thought back over what had just happened.
The Wood Release Chakra seemed to turn into Wooden Spikes or dissipate as soon as it emerged. It simply wouldn't flow and circulate according to the Nintaijutsu pattern!
Was it because he'd given it an elemental nature?
Did that mean it turned into a corresponding physical object or dissipated as soon as it came into contact with the outside world?
Uka thought it over. In that case, he could only give up on the Nintaijutsu pattern for now and simply form a thin film.
Following his idea, he circulated his Chakra again, abandoning the Nintaijutsu pattern and forming only that layer of film.
Once.
Twice.
On his third try, Uka succeeded. A thin film of Wood Release Chakra formed around his body.
With the film covering him, Uka walked over to the wardrobe. In the pitch-black mirror, he saw an oval-shaped object glowing green.
Looking at himself in the mirror, Uka's mouth twitched. "This looks a bit ominous. Forget it, let's try something else!"
Uka dispersed the Wood Release Chakra covering his body and used Senju Nintaijutsu again. A layer of blue light appeared in the dark room.
He clenched his fist, feeling the boost from Nintaijutsu, and his thoughts shifted.
The strength of Shikotsumyaku lay in the bizarre and varied nature of its attacks.
To imitate it, he needed a layer of Wood Release Chakra outside his body. A film wouldn't work, so what about armor?
Elemental Chakra turned into a physical object or dissipated when it touched the outside world. So why not directly turn it into wooden armor?
Could he control the armor to attack during battle?
It seemed feasible. Uka Senju began experimenting. As for its defensive strength, who said wooden armor couldn't be as strong as iron?
In the world of Chakra, anything was possible!
Before he knew it, time flew by.
"Wood Release: Battle Armor Technique (Upgraded Version)!"
Uka Senju shouted the line with a very chuunibyou flair, and Chakra rapidly flowed out of his body.
Soon, the mirror on the wardrobe reflected a young man clad in armor styled after ancient China.
The armor was dark green. Its plates were arranged like dragon scales along the sides and back of the ribs, while the chest and shoulders were adorned with dragon patterns.
Looking at his flashy appearance in the mirror, Uka Senju nodded in satisfaction.
He definitely couldn't wear this look in public; it drew too much attention. But it sure looked cool!
An hour earlier, Uka Senju had finished developing the Battle Armor Technique he wanted.
But the technique he'd made for actual combat looked far too ordinary. It was exactly like the outfits most of Konoha's shinobi wore nowadays, except for its dark green color.
So after completing his task, Uka's mischievous streak had led him to waste an hour developing an upgraded version of the Battle Armor Technique.
The two versions worked the same, but he had to admit that the upgraded one was much more appealing!
With the help of the Battle Armor Technique, Uka had made some initial progress on his earlier idea about Shikotsumyaku. And he could make the wooden armor just as strong as iron.
To make it stronger, he'd need to become even more proficient in Wood Release.
As for its offensive power, Uka would need to train with it in the field to find out. After all, this bizarre, free-flowing style of Taijutsu could easily injure him if he didn't build a solid foundation in Taijutsu.
Especially around his chest, hands, and legs!
He dispelled the Ninjutsu, transforming the handsome armor into a wooden box that he put in the wardrobe.
From all the sets of armor he'd made that night, Uka Senju picked out a few he liked and disposed of all the rest!
That was the most outrageous thing about Wood Release. Objects created by other elemental releases would slowly disappear once their Chakra ran out. Wood Release was different; its creations became physical objects and remained behind.
This trait originally belonged only to Hashirama's version of Wood Release.
When Uka had been editing his abilities, he had specifically saved it.
Looking at the three sets of armor left before him, Uka Senju transformed them all into belts.
After changing into his usual clothes for the day, he picked up one and fastened it around his waist.
To activate one of these transformed objects, all he needed to do was channel a little Chakra into it, and it would instantly become a suit of armor that covered his whole body.
Because this so-called transformation only changed its shape!
Looking at the clock nearby, he saw that it was already seven forty.
After packing his schoolbag, Uka Senju carried it downstairs.
Hearing footsteps on the wooden staircase, Senju Chiharu poked her head out of the kitchen and hurriedly brought over the breakfast she'd prepared earlier.
As she walked to the Dining Table and set out the food, she called, "Lady Toka, breakfast is ready!"
"Okay, I'll be right there!"
In the study, Senju Toka had gotten up early to review documents. She stopped writing and rubbed her brow.
"Good morning, Sister Chiharu!" Uka called out to the girl as he carried his schoolbag into the dining room.
"Mm, good morning. Hurry and eat!"
At the girl's reply, Uka Senju looked at the table laden with breakfast and surreptitiously glanced at her face a few times. Things had been rather awkward last night, and he still didn't know how to make it up to her. So why was breakfast so lavish this morning?
He picked up his chopsticks and lifted a small steamed bun from in front of him, examining it closely.
Had she added a lot of salt?
Or chili peppers?
Maybe mustard?
But it didn't smell like any of those strong seasonings!
Could there be something wrong with the meat?
"I didn't put anything in them. If you want, I'll make some for you tomorrow!" Seeing Uka cautiously inspecting the bun, Senju Chiharu rolled her eyes.
To her, Uka was being far too suspicious. She'd made so much breakfast simply because she felt she'd wrongly accused him last night. In the Senju clan, hiding that kind of information was perfectly normal.
"Uh... no, no need!" Caught out, Uka Senju smiled awkwardly, then stuffed the bun into his mouth and explained to the girl, "Sister Chiharu, I wasn't trying to hide it from you. It's just that yesterday's matter was a little sensitive!"
"Mm, I know!" Hearing the boy explain himself, Chiharu replied with a faint smile.
"What delicious food have you made today?" Senju Toka asked as she walked into the dining room wearing a coat.
"Sister Chiharu made a lot. Auntie, hurry over!"
"Mm, it looks wonderful!" Sitting down on a cushion and looking at the food before her, Senju Toka praised her. "Chiharu's cooking gets better and better!"
"Auntie, try a bun. It tastes great!"
"All right!" At her nephew's words, Senju Toka picked up a bun with her chopsticks. Then she took a small white box from the Ninja Tool Pouch at her side with her left hand and passed it over. "A new insect. Keep it safe!"
"Okay!" Uka put the small bun in his mouth and took the box from his aunt. Opening it, he saw a little white insect squirming around inside.
A new Shared Life Insect?
He put it away in his Ninja Tool Pouch.