Chapter 2: The Pickup Plan
As the last embers of the Great Flame Bomb faded from his fingertips, Uchiha Raizen watched the entry on his system panel turn a dull gray before it slowly vanished entirely.
So, the skills I pick up are one-time use, he realized. A flicker of disappointment was quickly overshadowed by a wave of exhilaration. But that's still unbelievably powerful. If I just save them up, hoarding these one-shot techniques… I could unleash a barrage that would overwhelm even a Kage-level opponent.
"Hey, when in the world did you learn to use the Great Flame Bomb?!" Uchiha Ryoken slung a friendly arm around Uchiha Raizen's shoulders, his voice a mixture of excitement and disbelief. "That was incredible! And without any hand signs!"
"I… I just felt it in the moment," Uchiha Raizen stammered, crafting a hasty excuse. "I tried to replicate what I saw, and it just… happened. But now, it's like the knowledge is gone. I don't think I could do it again." It was a flimsy cover, but it was the best he could manage.
"Well, it was amazing while it lasted," Uchiha Ryoken said, clapping him on the back before growing more serious. "But more importantly, our weekly quota is fulfilled. We can head back to camp. Let's move, before more Senju show up."
As members of the support corps, their mandatory duty was to secure at least one enemy combatant per week. It was a grim reminder of their status; at fifteen, most prodigies were already seasoned Chunin, while they were still struggling to solidify their place as Genin.
"Right. Just… give me a second. I need to check something," Uchiha Raizen said, his eyes glued to the ground only he could see.
A dazzling array of glowing orbs had appeared where the two Senju had fallen. When Uchiha Ryoken had used his Fireball Jutsu, Uchiha Raizen had automatically picked up that technique. Now, the spoils of their combined victory lay before him.
"System, can I grab more than one of these at a time?" he asked mentally, his mouth practically watering at the sight.
[Negative. Only one pickup per interaction. Available items from this cluster: Basic Chakra Enhancement Technique, Senju Clan Primary Physique Fragment x2, Ninja Tool Pouch x2, Water Release: Water Fang Bullet…]
The list scrolled through his mind. The Senju Clan Primary Physique… that has to be good. And a Water Release jutsu? As an Uchiha, that would be impossible to learn normally.
"I'll take the Water Release: Water Fang Bullet and the Senju Clan Primary Physique Fragment," he commanded silently.
A warm sensation flowed through him as the items were absorbed into his system warehouse. With his pickups spent, he followed Uchiha Ryoken back toward the relative safety of the Uchiha encampment. Though both were fifteen, Uchiha Ryoken had recently passed the Chunin exams, a fact that filled Uchiha Raizen with a complex mix of admiration and envy. Ryoken had always taken on the role of the protective older brother.
Once back in the cramped, spartan quarters he called his own, Uchiha Raizen finally allowed himself to breathe. "System, display my current status."
The translucent blue panel materialized before his eyes.
Host: Uchiha Raizen
Age: 15
Pickup Level: 1
Experience: 3/100
Chakra: 100 / 140 | Evaluation: Not Yet Academy Graduate Level
Physical Skills: 10 / 12 | Evaluation: Not Yet Academy Graduate Level
Mastered Ninjutsu: None
Kekkei Genkai: Sharingan (Unawakened)
Novice Gift Pack: Used
Pickups Available Today: 3/3
Warehouse: Water Release: Water Fang Bullet, Senju Clan Primary Physique Fragment
His eyes locked onto the Senju Clan Primary Physique Fragment. Let's see what this does. He willed it to be used.
A sudden, vibrant energy surged through his muscles and bones. It wasn't painful, but it was intensely invigorating, like every cell in his body was being awakened and reinforced. He glanced back at his status and his breath caught. His Physical Skills upper limit had skyrocketed from a pathetic 12 to a formidable 100.
Just a primary fragment… and it nearly increased my physical potential tenfold? The sheer potential was staggering. Overwhelmed by the day's events and this new influx of energy, Uchiha Raizen collapsed onto his thin mattress and fell into a deep, dreamless sleep. For someone with his previously weak constitution, the strain had been immense, and his mind and body demanded rest.
The next morning, he awoke to find his daily pickup count refreshed: 0/3. He also felt a profound sense of relief knowing his weekly combat obligation was fulfilled. He wouldn't be forced back onto that terrifying battlefield today. While a part of him itched for the powerful items he knew were there, the memory of a single misdirected jutsu ending his life was a powerful deterrent.
"Uchiha Raizen, what's so important you had to call us over?" A voice interrupted his thoughts. Uchiha Ryoken entered his quarters, followed by a younger, rounder boy.
"Ryoken-nii, Natsume, you came!" Uchiha Raizen greeted them. This was Uchiha Natsume, the youngest of their trio at just twelve years old. Despite his age and chubby appearance, Natsume was a genuine prodigy, already demonstrating talent that placed him firmly on the path to becoming a Tokubetsu Jonin. Yet, around his two older friends, he was always just the little brother.
"Uchiha Raizen, I had to get a pass from the reconnaissance unit for this," Natsume said, his tone playful but curious. "This better not be just because you're bored and want to hang out."
"I'll get straight to the point," Uchiha Raizen said, his expression turning serious. "You're both stronger than I am. I need to get stronger, fast. I want you to teach me the most powerful ninjutsu you know."
For a moment, there was silence. Then, both Uchiha Ryoken and Uchiha Natsume burst into laughter.
"What? What's so funny?" Uchiha Raizen asked, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
"Nii-san," Uchiha Natsume began, trying to stifle his giggles. "If you want to get stronger, the path isn't to learn one or two flashy techniques. You have to go back to the basics. You need to build your chakra reserves, hone your fundamental taijutsu, and master the beginner ninjutsu until they are second nature. You can't build a tower without a foundation."
"I just… I wanted to see how powerful you've both become. Is that really such a joke?" Uchiha Raizen muttered, looking down at his feet.
"Alright, alright, don't look so down," Uchiha Ryoken said, his laughter subsiding. "You want to see something powerful? Fine, we'll show you. Just remember, this is what a solid foundation allows you to do. Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"
Uchiha Ryoken's hands flew through a sequence of seals, and from his mouth erupted a volley of fireballs that shot toward a line of training posts, scorching them deeply.
Not to be outdone, Uchiha Natsume stepped forward. "My turn! Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" He took a deep breath and exhaled a massive orb of flame that dwarfed Ryoken's, completely incinerating one of the posts in a roaring conflagration.
Uchiha Raizen watched, but more importantly, his system scanned. Glowing orbs of light, invisible to his friends, bloomed in the air where the jutsu had been performed.
And so, his plan was set into motion. Over the next three days, he found excuses to train with them, always asking to see their most impressive techniques. They humored him, believing he was just seeking inspiration.
He never attempted to perform the jutsu himself in front of them. He only collected. When three days had passed, Uchiha Raizen reviewed his system warehouse with a satisfied grin. His patience had paid off.
Warehouse: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique x3, Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique x2, Grand Fireball Technique x4.
He had successfully stockpiled nine powerful Fire Release ninjutsu. It wasn't true strength, not yet. But it was a start—an arsenal of devastating one-time attacks that could turn the tide of any battle he might face.