[Swordsmanship LV1 → Swordsmanship LV2]
"You have taken a small step forward on the path of counterattack."
"System Reward: Shadow Clone Technique Mastery"
[Swordsmanship LV2 → Swordsmanship LV3]
"In terms of sword technique alone, you are no longer a beginner. Please keep up the good work and complete your counterattack soon."
"System Reward: Bringer-of-Darkness Technique"
"As an Uchiha, learning Tobirama's techniques will leave Tobirama with nowhere to go..."
Kiyokawa Izumi was woken up early by the System's emotionless voice.
'Retarded System.'
'My last name isn't fucking Uchiha!!'
The Ninja World didn't have a setting like Breathing Techniques; perhaps the System would categorize it under Taijutsu. Whether he would get rewards after leveling it up, he didn't know yet.
But a setting like Swordsmanship did exist.
Wasn't a 'counterattack' just about getting stronger? It was only natural to receive System rewards after becoming more powerful.
The System's evaluation of his swordsmanship was actually not very high.
It was understandable.
After all, the Ninja World was a place where gods fought.
Maybe level five was the maximum here, but over there, one could only be a Genin or Chunin.
These things didn't really matter; it was a good thing as long as his strength increased.
What left him most speechless was that a large amount of inexplicable knowledge suddenly flooded into his groggy brain.
What was the use of knowing these things when he didn't even have Chakra?
Hand Seals—could he even use them?
There was no such setting as Chakra here, so the rewarded items were completely useless.
Kiyokawa Izumi laughed out of sheer frustration and slowly sat up, only to feel an unbearable headache—it would be strange if his head didn't ache after having a bunch of useless knowledge forced into it before he could even absorb it.
'Stupid System!'
He cursed again in his heart. A slight movement made him let out a groan; a tearing pain came from his right ribs, nearly making him lose his breath.
His aching arms were clearly due to muscle overuse, and his lungs also felt a distinct discomfort.
This level of pain was actually nothing.
The injuries he sustained during the Selection were far more serious than this. Having experienced those seven days that could be called Hell, he was much more resilient than imagined.
After a brief moment of adjustment, he looked around at his surroundings.
He didn't know who had moved him into the wooden hut and very thoughtfully covered him with a quilt.
The temperature in the mountains was indeed lower than at the foot; without proper warmth, there was a real possibility of catching a cold.
"Are you awake?"
Urokodaki Sakonji pushed the door open and entered, looking at Kiyokawa Izumi with some surprise—it wasn't even afternoon yet, not even half an hour had passed, and he was already conscious.
"Your eyes?"
"I'm not entirely sure myself, I just know that my eyes turn red when I'm agitated..."
Kiyokawa Izumi explained casually, emitting an aura that resisted further conversation.
Seeing this, Urokodaki Sakonji stopped asking further questions.
It was normal to have some peculiarities.
Just like his and Tanjirou's noses, as long as he wasn't an evil demon, everything was fine...
After a simple meal, Kiyokawa Izumi left the small hut and went to the mountain behind it.
Passing through countless tall and thin trees, the faint sound of hard objects colliding came from the distance.
At this point in time, Tanjirou should be working hard to slice the Giant Boulder.
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, are you awake? Is your body alright?"
Noticing the movement behind him, Tanjirou put away his nichirin blade and asked warmly.
"I'm fine."
Kiyokawa Izumi wasn't intentionally acting cold or pretending to be an expert.
His gaze was simply drawn to the Giant Boulder in front of him. Unable to multitask, he stared blankly at the rock.
A Giant Boulder much taller than him and too wide for one person to wrap their arms around appeared before him—was this a joke? Could this thing really be cut with a sword?
Was it logical?
Was it scientific?
The original owner didn't have any of this when he was training; it was just very basic physical and sword-swinging training.
There was no such thing as cutting a Giant Boulder.
"Thank you..."
Kiyokawa Izumi suddenly snapped back to his senses and looked around.
Just now, did it seem like someone was thanking him?
The voice was exceptionally faint; he wouldn't have heard it if he hadn't been listening carefully.
He almost thought it was an illusion created by his groggy brain.
"Because of the Hand Demon? There's nothing to thank me for. At that time, I had no way to retreat and no other choice," Kiyokawa Izumi muttered to himself, roughly guessing the situation.
"Don't worry, I won't tell Mr. Urokodaki about these things."
If that man knew that the deaths of his Disciples were related to him, he would surely feel extremely guilty.
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi, are you... talking to me?"
Looking at the newcomer with some confusion, Tanjirou subconsciously looked around but saw nothing.
At this point in time, he didn't seem to have met Sabito yet.
"Can I give it a try?"
Looking at the Giant Boulder in front of him, Kiyokawa Izumi asked with a smile.
"Of course, but is your body really okay?"
"This is nothing."
Kiyokawa Izumi wanted to try, not because he wanted to show off or act cool in front of the protagonist.
He just couldn't hold himself back.
Recalling the contradictory feeling when Urokodaki Sakonji swung his sword—light as if it were nothing, yet as if nothing could not be cut—his hands felt itchy, and he wanted to try.
"Mr. Kiyokawa Izumi's scent has changed..."
Tanjirou, standing to the side, sniffed with his nose and then suddenly turned his head. He felt as if there were many gazes watching this place from not far away.
Was it an illusion?
He was somewhat puzzled.