The instant his blade carved through Mekawa Shōsuke's throat, Natsume Yō didn't linger. He kicked off, retreating more than ten meters to escape any dying counterattack.
"Ghrrk… ghhhk!"Shōsuke's throat rattled with wet gasps. His eyes bulged wide, brimming with unwillingness, before the light drained from them. His face dimmed, his body stiffening as life bled away.
Ding!Congratulations, Host! Mission complete. EXP +30, Gold +100!
Ding!Congratulations, Host! Rank up: Chūnin! Rewards: B-rank Water Release—Water Arm Cannon! Elite Chūnin Experience Scroll x1!
A searing heat surged through Yō's veins, flooding his muscles, bones, every corner of his body. He flexed his hand, stunned by the raw strength now brimming inside.
Then the experience scroll tore open on its own—force-feeding everything into his mind.
"Hss—!" Yō hissed, clutching his head. His skull felt like it was splitting apart, bursting at the seams from the sudden flood of memory and battle insight.
Only one thought clawed at him: Sleep. I need to crash for days before my brain explodes from this Chūnin-level info-dump.
Status Window:
Host: Natsume Yō
World: Naruto (Fire Country)
Age: 10
Skills: Lion Combo, Leaf Whirlwind, Wind Cutter, Water Formation Wall, Wind Sword Style (Basic)
State: 115/1000 → 140/1000
Gold: 346
Rank: Chūnin
Weapon: Standard ANBU Short Blade
Three days later—ANBU HQ.
"Well, well. Didn't expect you to clear that mission so fast—and looking barely winded, too. Guess you're not some throwaway brat after all," said Shio, the ANBU captain nicknamed Lion-Hawk, raising an eyebrow at the bloody head Yō tossed onto the desk.
"If that's all, I'm leaving. I need sleep." Yō's voice was cold, his eyelids heavy.
Shio grinned, sharp as a blade. "Bad timing, kid. You're not getting your nap. We've got a mission."
Yō's brow twitched. "…When do we depart?" His voice dropped into a growl. ANBU wasn't something he could disobey. Orders were orders.
"Tomorrow. Six a.m. sharp. Meet at the village gate. Mission: infiltrate the Land of Wind. Scout Sunagakure's movements."
"…Got it."
Outwardly calm, Yō strode out. Inside, his heart pounded like war drums.
The Land of Wind infiltration… which means the Kikyo Mountain campaign is about to begin.
His eyes gleamed with ruthless resolve. Then before that war hits, I'll push my strength to its peak.
His current State was 140/1000, up from 115 thanks to fully digesting the Chūnin scroll.
"I've stepped into the Chūnin tier. Once I've mastered this B-rank Water Release, I'll smash through the 200 threshold for sure."
Each time his EXP rose, his body itself transformed, refined, empowered. The sensation was addicting—like his whole existence was leveling up, step by step.
"Kakashi… Shisui… just wait. I'll surpass you both."
Yō exhaled sharply, a faint grin tugging at his lips. "Still, if the system would toss me a genjutsu scroll sometime soon, that'd be nice. In this world, not knowing illusions is the fastest way to get played like a fool."