Three days later.
Northwest of Konoha.
In a forest, Qingming and the others arrived.
"Is this the place?"
Ryosuke looked around and asked.
"Yes."
Furukawa nodded and said, "From now on, you'll collect herbs here according to the mission requirements. Remember, don't collect the wrong ones!"
That's right, they were on another mission today.
Just as Qingming had expected, Furukawa didn't recklessly continue accepting C-rank missions, but instead found a D-rank mission to collect herbs.
Without a doubt, this mission was issued by the Nara clan.
After all, they had contracted this forest.
Not only did they cultivate various herbs that were difficult to cultivate artificially, but they also raised a large herd of deer, whose antlers were valuable medicinal materials.
All of this combined made its value self-evident.
Therefore, even ninjas from the same village couldn't enter without their permission.
Only they had accepted the mission; otherwise, they would have been stopped before they even got close.
"I know,"
Ryosuke said impatiently, waving his hand dismissively. "Honestly, such a simple task could be done by an ordinary person. Why make us do it?"
"Ryosuke, stop talking,"
Shizuko Mizutani said, offering a word of comfort before explaining earnestly, "This forest is relatively safe, but wild animals occasionally wander in. It would be very dangerous for ordinary people, which is why we genin are chosen."
Seeing Shizuko's serious explanation, Ryosuke quickly said, "Alright, alright, Shizuko, stop nagging, I understand!" Seeing
the two of them like this, Aomine secretly felt relieved.
Clearly, three days was enough time for them to adjust their mindset.
However, the mission three days ago hadn't been without its impact. Although they seemed no different from before,
the childishness on their faces had noticeably diminished after seeing blood.
And this was probably what Furukawa and even the village wanted.
Shaking his head, he stopped thinking about it.
With a thought, Qingming gathered some chakra at the soles of his feet and followed his two companions into the depths of the dense forest.
After nearly four days of practice, his 'Chakra Control' had improved from lv2 (350/500) to lv3 (3/1000), further strengthening his control over chakra.
Now, when using the same ninjutsu, he could conserve 15% of his chakra while maintaining the same power.
This was already the limit achievable by an ordinary person.
Even for him, with the proficiency panel bonus, ensuring continuous progress, further breakthroughs in the short term were unlikely.
The reason was simple: after advancing to lv3, the efficiency of gaining proficiency points had greatly decreased.
Previously, he could gain about forty to fifty proficiency points a day; now, he could only gain a maximum of five.
Compared to the effort, this gain was negligible.
Practicing 'Chakra Control' didn't consume too much chakra or take up too much of his time; otherwise, he would have stopped long ago.
Until he found a more effective training method, he didn't intend to waste any more time and energy on it.
From now on, he'll probably only practice in his 'free time'.
Like now, while gathering herbs, he can practice whenever he has free time.
"Qingming, hurry up!"
Just as Qingming was lost in thought, Ryosuke's voice came from ahead.
Hearing this, Qingming replied, "Coming."
He was already approaching.
Time slowly passed, and the three of them, just like when they first graduated, carried out one low-skill D-rank mission after another.
A week passed in the blink of an eye.
That night.
At home.
Qingming opened his eyes, letting the special chakra generated by the 'Mind Reflection Technique' in his brain dissipate, and slowly opened the panel.
[Name: Uchiha Qingming;
Age: 10;
Physique: 6;
Spirit: 7
; Chakra: 14 (1546→2011)
; Bloodline: Sharingan - Unawakened (81/100)
; Skills: Chakra Refining Technique: lv2 (240/500) → lv2 (360/500);
Shadow Clone Technique: lv2 (140/500) → lv2 (270/500);
Transformation Technique: lv2 (130/500) → lv2 (260/500)
; Substitution Technique: lv2 (110/500)] ) → lv2 (250/500)
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique: lv1 (16/200) → lv1 (30/200)
Mind Reflection Technique: lv2 (110/500)
Basic Taijutsu: lv2 (150/500) → lv2 (280/500)
Ninja Tool Throwing: lv2 (260/500) → lv2 (380/500)
Chakra Control: lv3 (25/1000)]
Skip the basic attributes and Qingming immediately locked onto the Sharingan awakening progress.
"As expected, it hasn't increased."
Looking at the Sharingan awakening progress still at (81/100) on the panel, Qingming murmured.
He had just felt that the 'Mind Reflection Technique' lacked staying power, and now that he saw it, it was indeed so.
According to the previously summarized pattern, leveling up the 'Mind Reflection Technique' to lv2 (110/500) should have allowed his Sharingan awakening to reach (82/100).
However, in reality, his progress remained at (81/100).
'As expected, the thing I was worried about still happened?'
Long ago, Qingming knew that awakening the Sharingan wasn't easy, and the effect of the 'Mind Reflection Technique' would inevitably weaken as the awakening progressed.
Sure enough, once the Sharingan awakening reached (81/100), ten points of 'Mind Reflection Technique' proficiency were no longer enough to advance it by one point.
For other Uchiha clan members, this would basically be the point of failure.
Afterwards, they would either wait for an opportunity, like previous Uchiha clan members who had awakened their Sharingan, to awaken it in the traditional way, or they would diligently improve their 'Mind Reflection Technique' proficiency, slowly grinding it down.
The former, if successful, would inevitably weaken the effect of the 'Mind Reflection Technique,' while the latter offered virtually no hope.
Because this was just the beginning.
Currently, ten points of proficiency in the 'Mind Reflection Technique' isn't enough to boost the Sharingan's awakening level, and even twenty or thirty points might not be enough later.
It's a path with no end in sight.
Of course, Qingming is different.
With the proficiency panel, he can easily increase his 'Mind Reflection Technique' proficiency; no matter how long the path, he can see the end.
Suppressing the urge to continue practicing the 'Mind Reflection Technique,' Qingming looked at the other parts of the panel.
The Three Body Techniques, 'Basic Taijutsu,' and 'Ninja Tool Throwing' are not worth mentioning; their improvement speed hasn't changed much—in ten days, they've all gained about a hundred points of proficiency.
However, his chakra limit is more than ten points lower than expected.
Originally, with a 120-point increase in 'Chakra Refining Technique' proficiency, his chakra limit should have increased by 480 points.
1546 + 480 = 2026.
But now, his chakra limit is only 2011 points, 15 points less than the theoretical value.
The reason for this is simple: his 'barrel' is nearing its limit.
The 'Chakra Refining Technique' accelerated his potential-unlocking process, but it couldn't actually raise his aptitude ceiling.
Currently, the increase in his chakra ceiling was only a dozen points lower than the theoretical value; after a while, it would likely be several dozen points.
Once his potential was fully unlocked, the 'Chakra Refining Technique' would probably only be effective at restoring chakra.
"I need to awaken the Sharingan as soon as possible. Only by awakening the Sharingan can I significantly improve my aptitude,"
Qingming murmured, closing the panel and beginning a new round of training.
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