Naruto evolution system

Chapter 170: The Weapon

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Having dealt with the aftermath, Baishi looked up at the sky. The dark clouds that had loomed before the battle had vanished without notice, leaving behind a clear, bright blue sky.

Returning his focus to the present, Baishi decided it was time to leave. He turned and walked a short distance before stopping abruptly.

It wasn't a whim that made him pause. He sensed several unfamiliar presences surrounding him—ninjas from origins he couldn't immediately identify.

Baishi lingered momentarily, waiting to see if any of them would step out. When no one did, he chuckled softly and continued walking, deliberately making no effort to conceal his presence.

There was no need to speculate on the identities of these observers. It was obvious—they were spies from the other major ninja villages.

As Baishi had predicted, Iwagakure's large-scale mobilization into the Land of Crafts had drawn significant attention, not from the Crafting Village itself, but from other ninja villages. These entities were always vigilant about shifts in power dynamics, particularly when it involved tail beasts or powerful rogue ninjas.

Undoubtedly, the earlier battle had been observed by these spies.

The fight served a dual purpose: it deterred Iwagakure while simultaneously signaling to the other villages to tread cautiously. It was a strategic move with multiple benefits.

Since Baishi needed someone to spread his reputation further, he didn't bother confronting the spies.

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As Baishi walked along the road, he pondered his next steps and how to enhance his abilities further.

The primary goal was to maintain steady progress in his basic attributes: strength, intelligence, constitution, and agility. These fundamental traits formed the core of his growth and couldn't be neglected.

Next, he needed to continue advancing his special abilities, particularly Regeneration, which was nearing another breakthrough. This skill, once improved, would elevate his survivability to unprecedented levels.

As for Wood Release, Baishi had recently upgraded it to level IX. Now was the time to pause and explore its deeper potential. Focusing solely on leveling it up would yield diminishing returns. It was time to shift focus.

The time saved by pausing Wood Release upgrades would be redirected to enhancing Cell Adaptability.

With the progression of his Heart Eye ability, Baishi's sensitivity to natural energy had significantly improved. He anticipated that it wouldn't be long before he mastered the technique of absorbing natural energy.

However, natural energy was notoriously invasive and corrosive. Unlike Jiraiya or Naruto, Baishi lacked the guidance of the Toads of Mount Myoboku to help dispel excess natural energy during training.

For his safety, he needed a reliable countermeasure.

After careful consideration, Baishi concluded that improving Cell Adaptability was his best option.

Natural energy, after all, interacted directly with the body's cells. Just as he had once relied on Cell Adaptability to resist the invasive properties of Hashirama's cells, the same principle should apply here.

Though he wasn't yet capable of directly absorbing natural energy, planning ahead was always wise.

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Having organized his thoughts, Baishi let out a long breath.

From the nearby forest, faint rustling sounds reached his ears.

Baishi's sharp hearing caught the disturbance, and his brows furrowed. He hadn't expected these individuals to continue tailing him so boldly.

"Forget it," he murmured to himself, suppressing the urge to strike back. Instead, he locked onto a Flying Thunder God seal in the distance and activated the technique.

Moments later, Baishi disappeared from the road.

Not long after his departure, several masked ANBU operatives emerged from the forest.

Judging by their masks and attire, they hailed from different ninja villages. Surprisingly, they didn't engage in conflict but instead exchanged wary glances.

After inspecting the area and finding no trace of Baishi, they silently dispersed, each heading in a different direction.

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Meanwhile, Baishi reappeared on a path leading toward the Crafting Village.

He resumed his interrupted journey from three months prior, aiming to finally reach the village.

The reason for his visit was straightforward: he wanted a weapon.

Throughout his life, he had never possessed a proper weapon. Despite his immense physical power and speed, he had always fought barehanded. This not only undermined his image but also limited his combat potential.

With a suitable weapon in hand, Baishi estimated his close-combat effectiveness could increase by at least 50%.

The difference between armed and unarmed combat was significant, especially for someone like him, whose physical attributes far surpassed those of ordinary ninjas.

Initially, Baishi had considered seeking out the legendary Grass Cutter Sword. Unfortunately, while multiple such swords existed in the ninja world, he hadn't been able to locate a single one.

Left with no other options, he turned his attention to the Crafting Village.

Even this trip had been delayed by over three months due to various distractions.

As Baishi approached the village, he glanced at the road ahead and sighed.

"Let's hope the recent chaos hasn't scared them off," he muttered. "If they've fled, I'll have to go looking for them, and that'll be a hassle."

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Hours Later

By late afternoon, the sky was adorned with streaks of red from the setting sun.

Baishi arrived at the outskirts of the Crafting Village.

Activating his senses, he scanned the area and quickly noted the commotion within. The village was in a state of disorder, with signs of evacuation as villagers prepared to flee from potential conflict.

Sensing the tension, Baishi wasted no time. He entered the village and sought out its leader.

The village head was an elderly man with a stocky build. His combat prowess barely reached the level of a mid-level ninja, but that wasn't unusual.

In the Crafting Village, the leader didn't need to be a powerful fighter. Strength wasn't the basis of their leadership; intellect and unparalleled forging skills were.

These qualities ensured the village's survival in the treacherous world of ninja politics.

For someone like Baishi, however, the man's moderate abilities and the presence of a few skilled guards were hardly an obstacle.

Within moments, Baishi subdued them and applied his usual measures: Mental Seeds, Cursed Tongue Eradication Seal, Self-Inflicted Curse Seal, and Flying Thunder God Markings.

With the village leadership firmly under his control, Baishi used them to pacify the panicked villagers. Order was soon restored.

Only then did Baishi present his request: a custom weapon.

The village leader, utilizing his expertise, quickly proposed a design. Satisfied, Baishi approved the plan, and the forging process began immediately.

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One Week Later

Baishi received the completed weapon.

It was a katana-like blade resembling a traditional Tang sword. The handle was long, the blade straight, and the edges razor-sharp. The entire weapon was black, exuding an air of elegance and menace.

Baishi infused it with chakra, testing its compatibility. The energy flowed seamlessly through the blade, proof that it had been crafted from rare chakra-conducting metals.

Nodding in approval, Baishi flicked the blade with his finger.

Ding!

A resonant tone rang out as the blade vibrated. At first, everything seemed fine, but soon a faint cracking noise followed—a subtle sound, almost imperceptible to normal ears.

Baishi's keen senses picked it up instantly, and his expression darkened.

(Chapter End)

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