"2,433 experience points."
Akira glanced at his two strongest Fire Release techniques. What he lacked right now was a true finishing move—something that could decide a fight in one blow.
Both of these techniques were qualified for that role.
"…But I can give up Blazing Flame Release."
That technique was a Hiruzen Sarutobi–lineage secret art and had never been formally recorded by Konoha.
In contrast, Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique had originally belonged to the Uchiha clan, but Uchiha techniques had long since been turned over to the village. In theory, many Konoha ninja knew this jutsu.
While its raw destructive power wasn't quite on par with Sarutobi's Blazing Flame, Great Dragon Fire was far easier to control.
Especially now—when his chakra carried Nen-like properties.
"…That aside," Akira suddenly paused, "what Nen category do I actually belong to?"
He found an empty cup in the room and filled it with water from the bathroom faucet, staring at the full glass.
"…So where the hell am I supposed to find a leaf?!"
Akira nearly lost his mind for a moment, glaring at the cup.
He decided to allocate his experience first.
[Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique (lv1) EXP (0/500) Traits (None)]
[Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique (lv2) EXP (0/1000) Traits (None)]
[Fire Release: Great Dragon Fire Technique (lv3) EXP (0/2000) Traits (None)]
He had 900 EXP left—not enough to continue.
The rest went into Fire Release: Ignition Flame.
[Fire Release: Ignition Flame (lv4) EXP (0/800) Traits (None)]
[Fire Release: Ignition Flame (lv5) EXP (0/1600) Traits (None)]
After allocating everything, Akira stepped outside the room and picked a leaf near the base, ignoring the surveillance gazes around him.
He had a feeling that even without activating the Byakugan, his enhanced senses from Nen alone already qualified him as a sensory-type ninja.
Back in his room, he placed the leaf into the cup of water.
Water Divination.
In the Hunter world, this was the standard method used to determine one's Nen affinity.
Nen abilities were divided into six major categories:
EnhancementTransmutationEmissionManipulationConjurationSpecialization (the rarest)
Enhancement strengthened one's natural physical abilities, pushing attack or defense to the extreme.
Transmutation altered the properties and shape of aura, offering immense versatility.
Emission allowed aura to be projected outward—similar to ki blasts—though nowhere near Dragon Ball levels.
Manipulation infused aura into external objects to control them.
Conjuration shaped aura into physical objects.
Specialization covered everything that didn't fit the other five categories.
Akira's ideal choice was Enhancement—a direct boost to attack and defense.
As for Emission and Transmutation, chakra could already replicate similar effects, offering limited benefit.
Conjuration? Why bother forming items when Six Paths relics existed—far superior to anything Nen could conjure?
As for Specialization—too unpredictable. His game system already provided plenty of bizarre effects.
He placed both hands on the cup and slowly infused chakra into the water.
At first, nothing happened.
Akira lifted the cup and took a sip.
The taste started sweet—then gradually turned bitter.
"…Transmutation?"
Transmutation users were known for fickle personalities and habitual deceit.
"That doesn't sound like me at all. I'm clearly an honest person."
Still, he accepted the result.
"Transmutation isn't bad. It borders Enhancement and Conjuration—both can reach 80% efficiency."
Cross-category training always came with penalties:
Adjacent categories: 80%Emission: 60%Manipulation: 40%Specialization: 0%
Specialization was unique—no other category could access it at all.
Akira wasn't disappointed. His combat style still revolved around ninjutsu.
Nen was an enhancement layer—important mainly for future ability development.
Killua and Hisoka were both Transmutation types.
Killua's aura mimicked lightning, boosting speed and control.
Hisoka's aura carried elasticity and stickiness.
Akira poured the water out, satisfied, and flopped onto the bed.
Sleep.
Several days passed with Akira staying inside the room.
Murakami Hana didn't appear during that time—who knew what he was busy with.
The base wasn't somewhere you could freely come and go. Stepping out briefly was tolerated, but extended absence meant being barred—or even executed.
Rain ninja were… really not humane.
With nothing else to do, Akira trained relentlessly in his room. Despite being inside a mountain, air circulation was decent.
No new neighbor ever moved into the adjacent room.
Finally, after several days, Murakami knocked on his door.
"Lord Hanzō wants to see you," Murakami said, looking at Akira's bare upper body, still slick with sweat from training.
"Got it."
Akira quickly dressed and followed him.
Before entering the room, he activated the Byakugan.
The moment he saw who was inside, his pupils shrank—then instantly returned to normal.
The man before him was still wearing a breathing apparatus.
But the chakra within his body—
It wasn't chūnin-level anymore.
It far exceeded jōnin.
It rivaled Tsunade.
And Tsunade was a Senju—born with monstrous chakra reserves. In the entire shinobi world, only a handful surpassed her in that regard.
Anyone matching her chakra was unquestionably terrifying.
This is the real Hanzō.
"Kiuame," Hanzō called out in a deep voice.
Akira dropped to one knee.
"Lord Hanzō."
Hanzō continued, "From this moment on, you are promoted to Chūnin of the Hidden Rain. You may form your own squad and gain access to select village intelligence."
"Thank you, Lord Hanzō," Akira replied, feigning excitement.
Still a genin in Konoha… yet already a chūnin here.
A ninja beside Hanzō stepped forward, holding a vest.
"This is the chūnin flak jacket. From today on, you are a Rain chūnin."
Akira accepted it.
Was handing out vests upon promotion some kind of universal shinobi tradition?
Konoha had green ones.
The Rain used gray.
He slipped it on over the black Rain uniform—perfect fit.
Add a respirator and he'd have the full Rain Village starter pack.
"Wood Rain," Hanzō said after Akira finished dressing, "what is your view of the Hidden Rain Village?"
Akira's heart tightened.
Here it comes.
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