As Mikami Yuu made his choice, the text box shifted:
"Sorry, Transformation Technique. I was too clumsy last time. This time I'll definitely work hard."
[Transformation Technique: Hmph, good that you know! But… since you're being so sincere, I'll cooperate with you a little during practice this time!]
The dialogue box vanished.
Mikami Yuu waited a moment, then tried tapping [Practice]. Nothing happened.
"What does that mean… do I have to practice on my own?"
Scratching his head, Mikami Yuu stood up. He'd rested enough anyway, so he decided to give it a shot. He walked to a corner of the field, formed hand seals, and tried to mobilize the chakra inside his body.
The Three Basic Jutsu were the most fundamental techniques of all.
But "fundamental" didn't mean "easy."
Take the Transformation Technique—different people produced wildly different results. Some could transform so perfectly it looked real; others would be exposed at a glance. And then there were creative types like Naruto, who somehow turned a basic transformation into a god-tier move—so busted it even hard-stunned Ōtsutsuki Kaguya for a full second.
As a civilian-born kid, Mikami Yuu's chakra reserves and control were both pretty average. The Three Basic Jutsu were no exception.
Right now—
As he focused, chakra flowed through him. A puff of white smoke flashed, and he transformed into the spitting image of young Kakashi. Even the broom-shaped silver hair and black mask were faithfully recreated.
"Huh?"
This transformation…
Felt a lot smoother than before?
Mikami Yuu narrowed his eyes, savoring that sensation, then formed seals again. This time he turned into Might Guy—just as lifelike.
[Your practice catches Transformation Technique's attention. She realizes you really are improving, and she praises you.]
[Transformation Technique: Wow, that's way better! You even copied their vibe! Not bad, not bad—Mikami-chan's getting somewhere!]
Options appeared again:
A: I only managed it because you helped me—thank you, Transformation Technique!
B: Of course! I'm a genius—don't underestimate me, ya hear!
C: (Stay silent, just stare at her seriously.)
"…A."
[Transformation Technique Affection +1]
Oh—this might actually work!
Mikami Yuu nodded slightly. Just as he was about to keep going and see what happened once the affection bar got higher, another dialogue box popped up:
[Clone Technique: Sis, why are you wasting words on him? He's just an ordinary piece of deadweight. He'll probably end up dying on some battlefield one day anyway.]
[Clone Technique: Besides, these ninja are always so attentive when they first meet us. Then what happens? The moment temptation hits, they go chasing stronger, flashier jutsu instead. All those sweet words are just empty play-acting.]
"…?"
Uh… miss?
Who even are you?
Why are you cussing people out the second you show up?
Mikami Yuu wanted to see how Transformation Technique would respond, but nothing came.
Still, he'd already started practicing—no point quitting halfway. So he steadied himself, and once his chakra flow stabilized, he cast Transformation Technique again. This time he transformed into a Ninja Academy teacher.
He held it for half a minute, released it—then transformed again.
Again.
…
Just like he'd thought, Mikami Yuu didn't have much chakra. Forget "one Kakashi"—he was probably only "one Kurenai," at best.
Yeah. That Kurenai.
Even if Kurenai's chakra reserves were the weakest among Naruto-era's four squad leaders, she was still from a ninjutsu family—obviously stronger than an average civilian. As for Guy… he didn't lack chakra, just talent for ninjutsu. In fact, his total chakra was absurd.
"Haa…"
After seven or eight transformations in a row, Mikami Yuu had basically burned through all the chakra he'd refined.
He adjusted his breathing and wiped the sweat off his forehead. His undershirt was sticky, and his pale silver bangs were drenched, drooping over his forehead. The excellent "character model" of a face now looked unmistakably tired.
"Rest a bit, then keep practicing!"
Mikami Yuu sat down by the edge of the field, looking at the distant figure shaped like a green frog-suit silhouette—still running lap after lap like he never got tired. He could only look helpless.
See? Another cheater.
Might Guy was a civilian too, but that tanky, built-like-a-weed body—something you could abuse endlessly and it would still be fine—wasn't something Mikami Yuu could compete with.
Even if kids in the ninja world were basically born with 130 trillion cells and natural superhuman stats, if everyone trained with this kind of self-torture, half of them would probably die before graduating. But look at Guy…
Guess what?
A thousand laps was just his daily appetizer. After he finished, he still had to go to the back mountain to do push-ups, straight punches, and kicks!
After another ten-plus minutes of rest, Mikami Yuu got up again and continued practicing Transformation Technique.
And then again.
By the time he ran out of chakra for the third time, Mikami Yuu finally felt completely drained. He leaned against a wall, gulping air, looking like he'd just been fished out of water—barely able to stand.
At that moment, the long-absent text box reappeared:
[When you train yourself to exhaustion, Transformation Technique—who has been watching for a long time—finally stops you. She says practice can't be rushed; you must balance work and rest if you want to go far.]
[Transformation Technique: Alright, Mikami-chan. You worked really hard today—no need to keep going. Get some proper rest, okay? Otherwise you'll be sore all over tomorrow.]
[Transformation Technique Affection +4]
[Transformation Technique (Current Affection: 15/100 — Stranger)]
Only four points…
That's kind of low.
But considering he'd only just unlocked the system, Mikami Yuu wasn't expecting to get fat in one bite. He simply replayed the feeling of training in his head.
Then—
Another line of text appeared:
[Substitution Technique watched your entire training session from outside the field. She feels pleased by your effort, but due to her personality, she doesn't come over to talk—she simply leaves quietly.]
[Substitution Technique Affection +2]
"…Huh?"
A surprise bonus?
But why Substitution Technique, and not Clone Technique—the one that butted in earlier?
Mikami Yuu was still thinking it over when, on the other side, Might Guy finally finished his 1,000 laps and ran back, panting. He looked at Mikami Yuu:
"Yuu! How're you recovering? Want to come with me to the training grounds and do 1,000 push-ups? If you can't, then throw 2,000 straight punches!"
"…First of all, just call me Yuu. Don't add the '-ya.'"
Mikami Yuu corrected him.
To be honest, ever since he came to this world, he'd always thought his name sounded kind of weird. But his dad picked it, and he'd been called that since he was little, so… it stuck.
"Second, you go train on your own. I'm wiped today—I need to head back early and rest."
"Alright then."
Guy nodded, taking a look at Mikami Yuu drenched in sweat. "You really are exhausted—you should go rest. Then I'll train in your place and finish those push-ups. And if I can't finish 2,000 push-ups, I'll do 4,000 straight punches!"
"…nice."
Mikami Yuu raised a thumbs-up.
Guy immediately returned a thumbs-up too, grinning a mouthful of big white teeth. "Thanks for the encouragement, Yuu! You're doing great too!"
"…"