ALL NOVEL Chapter 3: Chapter 3
"Uncle Jiro, do we still have any chakra paper left in the clan?"
In the calm of the evening, Fujiwara Tetsuya, his black hair draped over his shoulders, pushed open the door and stepped inside.
"So, it's Tetsuya!"
"Come, sit down!"
Seeing Fujiwara Tetsuya, Tanaka Jiro let out a hearty laugh. However, he discreetly pushed the small trinket in front of him to a corner behind him, hiding it from view.
"Chakra paper, you say? Just a moment, Tetsuya, I'll go fetch it right away!"
Facing Tetsuya's sharp gaze, Jiro didn't hesitate. He turned and walked toward another room.
Jiro had been observing the changes in Tetsuya over the past twenty days. Among all the clansmen, if anyone had the best chance of becoming a ninja, Jiro believed it would undoubtedly be Tetsuya.
In no time, Jiro returned to Tetsuya's side, carrying a wooden box.
Under Tetsuya's watchful eyes, Jiro took out the few remaining sheets of chakra paper from the box.
This was likely the entire stock of the three clans.
"Tetsuya, this is the chakra paper. For ninjas, chakra typically divides into five elements: wind, fire, lightning, water, and earth. In our Fujiwara clan, water is the most common chakra nature, while the Tanaka and Uesugi clans mostly have earth and fire."
"By the way, Tetsuya, do you know how to use the chakra paper?"
"Uncle Jiro, have you forgotten? I'm the top student in our class for theoretical studies. Of course, I know this basic knowledge."
Tetsuya took the chakra paper that Jiro handed him, sniffing disdainfully.
He had already completed a remarkable transformation from a mediocre student to the top of his class.
Wasn't it clear? Even the girls in class couldn't help but be drawn to him, making him the recognized rival of the boys.
As Tetsuya infused the chakra paper with his energy, it quickly became wet, and then, two-thirds of the way, it wrinkled.
Water and lightning, huh?
Not too bad!
———
Konohagakure's Training Ground #37.
In the vast darkness, a solitary figure appeared. It was none other than Fujiwara Tetsuya.
Tetsuya, carrying a small katana on his back, stood atop a large boulder, gazing steadily into the pitch-black forest in the distance. His eyes were filled with determination.
From deep within, it seemed as though tigers and bears were roaring fiercely.
After determining his chakra nature, Tetsuya had managed to obtain two C-rank jutsu scrolls from Jiro: the Water Release: Water Clone Technique and the Water Release: Water Prison Technique.
As for lightning-based jutsu, there were none within the three clans. Tetsuya hadn't even held any expectations for that.
No expectations, no disappointment.
Even though the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans were small and declining, his starting point was still far better than that of the average civilian.
After a few days of hard work, he had barely grasped the basics of the Water Prison Technique.
To think he could pass the Genin exams at this level was nothing but a fool's dream. He likely wouldn't even make it past Mitsurugi Suzuko's trial.
*Swish!*
The small katana gleamed under the moonlight as Tetsuya held it in front of him. The blade, thin and sharp, reflected a cold light.
This was one of the last three katanas left among the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans.
It might not be worth much, but it carried with it Jiro's fervent hopes.
With a light flick of the blade, Tetsuya's figure vanished into the darkness of the forest.
…
"Roar…"
From deep within Training Ground #37, a painful roar suddenly echoed.
Under the shadow of a tree, a two-meter-wide pit appeared, with dozens of sharpened bamboo stakes protruding from its bottom. A two-meter-tall brown bear, after several minutes of violent struggle, finally lay still.
Watching the scene below, Tetsuya, hiding in the shadows of the tree, let out a sigh of relief.
Two days and two nights!
He had hunted tigers, crushed snakes, and trapped bears! He had finally made it through!
[Oh, kind-hearted host! After two days and nights of hardship, you have completed the Three Killings! Temporary system task completed! Calculating rewards!]
[Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the temporary task. Proficiency in Transformation Technique has increased by one level. You have accumulated (18+15+19)*2104 points of slaughter value.]
"System! Allocate all slaughter value to Water Release: Water Prison Technique."
[Ding! Slaughter value allocated! Host's proficiency in Water Release: Water Prison Technique has increased to Intermediate level.]
"System, bring up the ninja panel!"
Exhaling slowly, Tetsuya quietly sensed the changes in his strength.
Host:Fujiwara Tetsuya
Kekkei Genkai: None
Jutsu: Water Release: Water Prison Technique (19/300, Intermediate)
Transformation Technique (Advanced) - E
Substitution Technique (Intermediate) - E
Clone Technique (Intermediate) - E
Slaughter Value: 0
Half an hour later, Tetsuya had dealt with the valuable parts of the brown bear and left Training Ground #37 with a large bundle on his back.
The bundle contained items like tiger skins, snake gallbladders, and bear gallbladders—valuable items that could fetch a good price from the merchants in Konoha.
By evening.
After taking care of everything, Tetsuya returned to the clan with 4,000 ryō and half a butchered pig on his shoulder.
"It's Big Brother Tetsuya! Big Brother Tetsuya is back!"
"Big Brother Tetsuya, where have you been these past two days? Miko hasn't seen you at all!"
On the open space in front of the houses, several children from the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans were playing. When they saw Tetsuya, they instantly surrounded him.
"Of course, Big Brother Tetsuya went to buy meat for all of you!"
Struggling to move under the enthusiastic crowd of children, Tetsuya finally managed to place the half pig he was carrying on the nearest wooden floor.
After setting down his small katana, he lifted Miko, a little girl, high above his head.
Miko, full name Fujiwara Miko, was the second daughter of Fujiwara Sachiko.
"Meat!"
The children's eyes lit up, and they stared eagerly at the half pig, practically drooling.
Even Tetsuya himself hadn't tasted meat since arriving in the ninja world.
"Tetsuya!"
The commotion outside had drawn the attention of the adults preparing dinner inside the house. Tanaka Jiro, Fujiwara Sachiko, Uesugi Yuko, and others came out one after another.
"Uncle Jiro, Aunt Sachiko! I'm back."
In that instant, Tetsuya stood up straight and tall.
Unlike before, he now had the strength to shoulder the responsibilities of the three clans.
"We'll talk inside."
Jiro, observing the gathered children from the three clans, gave a slight shake of his head toward Sachiko.
Although Tetsuya had told Jiro where he would be going, seeing this scene, even Jiro, who was usually slow to catch on, realized that Tetsuya had deceived him.
Hearing the children's excited cries for meat, Jiro decided to postpone questioning Tetsuya about his whereabouts.
That night, the children of the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans each received a bowl of rich meat soup.
The delicious aroma of meat, after months of scarcity, once again wafted through the clan grounds.
For Tetsuya, this was also the first truly satisfying meal he had since coming to the ninja world.
———
"You drew blood?"
By the light of the candle, Jiro unsheathed Tetsuya's small katana and brought it to his nose. His gaze immediately turned sharp.
Even though Tetsuya had tried to clean the blade, he couldn't entirely mask the scent of blood.
"Yes, Uncle Jiro."
Feeling the heavy stares from those behind him, sweat began to bead on Tetsuya's forehead.
It wasn't just Jiro questioning him. There were also Fujiwara Sachiko, Uesugi Yuko, and eight or nine other adults.
Additionally, there were three other young faces: Fujiwara Aiko, Uesugi Toru, and Tanaka Yoshito. Like Tetsuya, they had all been students at the ninja academy. However, their talents were limited, and after repeatedly failing the sixth grade, they had been advised to leave the academy.
But after finding jobs and earning a modest income, they had managed to join the ranks of the "adults" in the clan.
"I'm sorry. I deceived you. I didn't go to train with Teacher Mitsurugi. Instead, I went to Training Ground #37."
"These past two days, I set up several traps at the training ground and successfully hunted three wild beasts. The blood on the blade comes from those animals."
"In addition, I sold the pelts and galls of the beasts for some silver. The money I used to buy the meat came from that."
"Uncle Jiro, here's the remaining 4,000 ryō!"
After his initial anxiety, Tetsuya gradually calmed down.
He explained everything that had happened, at least what he could openly share.
"Tetsuya…"
Looking at the 4,000 ryō in front of him, Jiro's throat tightened. He struggled to find the right words.
He knew why Tetsuya had chosen to take such risks.
It all stemmed from that one day.
"Uncle Jiro, don't worry! From now on, I, Fujiwara Tetsuya, will support the Fujiwara, Tanaka, and Uesugi clans!"
"And that day is not far off!"
Placing the 4,000 ryo in Jiro's hands, Tetsuya stood up, buckled his small katana at his waist, and in the astonished eyes of those present, exuded an invisible, formidable presence that swept across the room.
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