Chapter Text
Chapter 1: No Errors
"Seiryū, what's your dream?"
"To open a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop. It's safe and profitable."
The summer moonlight spilled into a small courtyard where two children, a boy and a girl, sat on the steps. They looked quite young, probably around six years old.
They were chatting idly.
"Barbecue? Grilled meat?"
"Mm, something like that..."
Kurenai tilted her head cutely and asked tentatively, "Shouldn't it be to become Hokage? That's many people's dream."
Hearing this, Seiryū shook his head like a rattle-drum.
"What's so good about being Hokage? You work yourself to death for so little pay. It's not as profitable as opening a barbecue shop next to a ramen shop."
"And opening a shop next to a ramen shop ensures safety!"
What's so great about being Hokage?
It seemed powerful and influential.
But Seiryū knew very well that it was a mess. Only those hot-blooded types would go all out to become Hokage. Even if someone paid him, he wouldn't do it!
Kurenai poked her chin with her index finger, looking very cute, and asked doubtfully, "But Konoha is very safe now, and the competition for barbecue shops is fierce. As far as I know, Konoha already has several, and their food is quite good!"
It's only safe for now… Seiryū muttered to himself, then explained, "Whether there's competition or profit doesn't matter. The main thing is being able to open a shop next to a ramen shop, that's the key!"
Kurenai: "?"
Not considering competition, not considering profit, then what's the point?
Even though she had been with Seiryū for two months, she still found some of his thoughts and actions hard to understand.
For example.
For some unknown reason, Seiryū hung a sign reading "Shin'ō Academy" on his door... He sat cross-legged on the floor, seriously claiming to be sensing some kind of "Space Shuttle Gate"... She didn't understand it, but she had been deeply shocked!
She had once suspected Seiryū had a few screws loose, but fortunately, he seemed normal most of the time, though he would occasionally blurt out things she didn't quite understand...
Kurenai blinked, looking very adorable, her bright red eyes fixed on Seiryū.
"But do you have money? Opening a shop requires a lot of money!"
At the mention of money, Seiryū's face fell.
"No..."
A single coin can trip a hero. Dreams are dreams precisely because they're hard to realize!
Kurenai's eyes darted around, and she giggled.
"Then become a ninja! Genin can take on missions and get paid well. Once you save enough money, you can open your shop!"
"I get it now!" Seiryū looked at Kurenai, who had clearly revealed her true intentions.
He rubbed her slightly upturned, soft black hair and said, feigning sternness,
"Tell me, did Uncle Shinku send you to do ideological work on me?"
Becoming a ninja... too dangerous!
Look at the current time. The Third Great Ninja War is about to break out. Is this a good time to become a ninja?
She swatted away Seiryū's mischievous hand, feeling a bit guilty and not daring to look directly at him.
"No, no, I... I just..."
Unable to find a good excuse... Kurenai pursed her lips, looking pitiful, and decisively played the emotional card.
"Actually, it's like this. Tomorrow is registration day for the Ninja Academy, and I want you to come with me. If I go alone, I'll be nervous..."
To get Seiryū to attend the Ninja Academy with her, Kurenai decided to make a big sacrifice. She blushed and stammered,
"At worst... at worst... I can call you onii-chan!"
She had noticed Seiryū always wanted her to call him "onii-chan." She wondered what kind of strange hobby that was?
Still, for the pocket money her father had promised, she decided to go through with it.
Of course, she truly did want to go to school with Seiryū... Seeing Kurenai's cute expression, Seiryū couldn't help but chuckle inwardly, though his face remained serious.
"I'm older than you, so I'm naturally your older brother!"
Kurenai snorted softly.
"Liar, I'm taller than you, so I'm the older sister!"
Then she put on a stern face and glared at him.
"Are you going or not? If you don't go, I won't call you anything!"
"Of course I'm going. I naturally have to agree to my little sister's request." Seiryū chuckled, then paused, drawing out the sound.
"However..."
"I'm the older sister!" Kurenai argued, annoyed by his teasing.
"However what?"
Seiryū raised his index finger.
"I want half of your pocket money!"
Kurenai was stunned.
"Eh!? You, you, how did you know!?"
"I heard it yesterday..."
"Darn it, you're so mean, Seiryū! Did you already decide to go to the Ninja Academy and were just messing with me?"
"Not at all. I only agreed because my cute little sister asked me!"
"Hmph! Liar. I'm not talking to you anymore!"
Watching the sulking Kurenai leave, Seiryū couldn't help but smile.
Sitting alone on the steps, looking up at the full moon in the sky, Seiryū sighed and mumbled with emotion.
"Becoming a ninja isn't good, but not becoming a ninja is even worse..."
He sighed, full of melancholy.
Seiryū had been in this world for two months now.
Nothing to say, really, just your average Naruto fanfic orphan.
He woke up in the Yūhi household, adopted by Yuhi Shinku.
Why not in an orphanage?
This was closely related to Seiryū's striking red hair.
In a certain ocean-themed world, red hair was impressive, and those who didn't show respect often suffered. In this world, some red-haired individuals were also incredibly powerful, tracing their bloodlines back to the Sages.
That's right, Seiryū was believed to be a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan, so he naturally received special treatment.
Moreover, he was rescued by Shinku and brought back to Konoha, so of course he stayed with the Yūhi family.
Red-haired people weren't unheard of in this world, but someone going from severely injured and near death to bouncing around energetically overnight was rare. People wouldn't believe there wasn't something special about him.
As for whether Seiryū was actually from the Uzumaki Clan?
Who knew!
Anyway, Seiryū knew that his injuries didn't heal because of some Uzumaki constitution. It was simply because the system wouldn't let its Host die like that.
That's right, the system... Like many transmigrators before him, Seiryū also had a system after arriving here, but this one was so unreliable it left him completely unprepared...
It happened like this:
Seiryū still remembered the first day after transmigrating.
To help Seiryū get familiar with Konoha, Shinku had arranged for Kurenai to show him around...
At that time, Seiryū was just walking down the street when a system prompt suddenly rang out in his mind.
[Achievement Soul King System loaded!]
[This system will strive to help the Host achieve the title of Soul King.]
[As the future Soul King who governs the Three Realms, the Host will use his power to maintain the balance of the Three Realms and solve the problems of all beings within them.]
[This is a grand undertaking for the benefit of all realms, and also the responsibility of the one who rules over them.]
[Host, please report immediately to Shin'ō Academy, activate the system, and begin your legendary journey toward becoming the Soul King step by step!]
"???"
Hearing the strange voice in his mind and seeing the text appear before his eyes, Seiryū subconsciously looked around.
He saw several ninja in green flak jackets with Konoha headbands. He couldn't help but frown in confusion.
"System, are you sure you didn't make a mistake?"
[Ding, this system has no errors. Host, please report to Shin'ō Academy as soon as possible!]
Seiryū: "???"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 2: The System From Another Anime
What should I do?
I'm in the Naruto world. Where am I supposed to find the Shin'ō Academy from Bleach to activate this thing?
And the stupidity doesn't end there. Even if it can't be activated, ever since the first notification, it dings at midnight every day. When asked, it just repeats that there's no error.
Pure noise. Extremely annoying.
Just like now.
[Ding, this system's 61st reminder: Host, please do not slack off. Please report to Shin'ō Academy as soon as possible to activate the system and achieve the Venerable of the Soul King early, fulfilling your responsibility as the Soul King who governs the Three Realms!]
Listening to the system's voice and seeing the text appear again, Seiryū was furious, grinding his teeth.
"I'm in the Naruto world. Where am I supposed to find Shin'ō Academy to activate your dumb system?!"
"And what the hell is 'achieve the Venerable of the Soul King' and 'govern the Three Realms as Soul King'? Anyone who's watched Bleach knows the Soul King is a scam! He was chopped into a limbless torso and sealed away!"
"Even pyramid schemes aren't this shady!"
"Legendary life? More like a torso life!"
Even after two months, Seiryū was still irritated by it. After cursing it out in his heart, he finally felt a bit better.
This idiotic system!
To be honest, transmigrating into the Naruto world and ending up with a system from Bleach... Seiryū couldn't tell if it was a good thing or a bad thing. The good thing is the system can't be activated. The bad thing... is also that it can't be activated.
How is that not depressing?
Of course, as someone with a system, not trying to activate it wouldn't be right. Maybe it was one of those setups where you travel between two worlds?
With that in mind, Seiryū made many attempts over the past two months.
He named his room "Shin'ō Academy," trying to trick the system. He sat cross-legged, attempting to sense some "space-time shuttle gate." As expected, nothing happened.
This is the Naruto world. Where is he supposed to find the actual Shin'ō Academy to activate this thing?
Completely ridiculous.
Aside from saving him from dying at the beginning, this idiotic system is no better than air. It doesn't even qualify as decoration.
To make it worse, it dings on time every day just to harass him.
"Stupid system."
He cursed coldly, then chose to ignore it.
"This thing is useless. I can't rely on it. From now on, I'll have to count on myself…"
To be honest, when he first realized where and when he was, Seiryū panicked a little.
He even thought that being an ordinary person wasn't so bad. At least he wouldn't be sent to the battlefield. The Third Great Ninja War was a meat grinder where even Kage-level ninja could fall.
Not to mention ordinary ninja. They were just numbers, cannon fodder.
Seiryū didn't think his small body, without a cheat or an active system, could survive a war.
It would be better to open a shop next to Ichiraku Ramen. If he played it safe, maybe he could survive until the Boruto timeline. A wife, some kids, a warm home. That wouldn't be too bad either.
But Ichiraku Ramen doesn't exist yet, and he has no idea where it will be built in the future. Plus, opening a shop needs money. Where is a little kid supposed to get money?
No connections either.
Plagiarize some novels from his previous life? Start a cultural takeover of the Naruto world?
Forget it. His school essays in his previous life were never even praised by his teachers.
Without money, he couldn't move an inch. A single coin can trip a hero. That's true in any world.
Of course, that idea of living as an ordinary person came after realizing he couldn't activate the system.
Now, Seiryū had changed his mind.
After these two months of living together, Seiryū had come to view Shinku and Kurenai as family. He didn't want either of them to meet a tragic end.
Shinku dying in the Nine-Tails attack? Kurenai being snatched by some spiky haired guy?
Absolutely not!
The Naruto world is a place where the strong decide everything. If he wanted to change those outcomes, he couldn't do it without strength.
Reluctantly, he could only enter the Ninja Academy and become a ninja.
"So what if I'm a transmigrator with no cheat or active system? I can still make a name for myself in this world!"
"Stupid system, get lost!"
Seiryū refused to believe that someone who knew the plot couldn't make it in this world.
Knowing the plot is his cheat.
As for the system?
Pfft!
"Time to sleep!"
The alarm rang on time. Midnight. Time to go to bed.
Tomorrow was Ninja Academy enrollment day. Since he had decided to take this path, Seiryū wouldn't slack off. Who knew? He might even be a genius.
After all, red hair could mean Uzumaki blood.
Anyone who's watched Naruto knows that besides Kurama, Naruto's other cheat is the Uzumaki physique.
Throughout the entire series, Naruto was ridiculously durable. He could spam Rasengans all day and still be full of energy.
Unlike a certain famous Chakra gauge... Hatake Kakashi. Use a technique once and he's out. Totally not comparable.
Morning.
At the dining table.
Shinku looked at Seiryū with a hint of surprise. His usual serious face even showed a slight smile.
"You've made up your mind?"
Not long ago, this kid was completely against becoming a ninja. Now, he was going on his own?
Sure enough, words from a peer work better than from an adult like him.
Seiryū nodded seriously.
"I can't keep eating your food and using your things, can I? I'm part of the Yūhi family now. Becoming a ninja means I can earn money and help support the household."
Shinku smiled.
"I'm not so poor I can't even feed you, kid. But going to the Ninja Academy and making new friends is a good thing."
There was a 90% chance this kid was a survivor of the Uzumaki Clan. If he didn't become a ninja, that would be a waste of talent.
This was also a mission given by the Third Hokage, to guide this child onto the path of becoming a ninja.
He had put in a lot of effort for this...
Seiryū shrugged.
"Just think of it as me watching over Kurenai. With me around, no one will bully her. I am the older brother, after all."
Kurenai, nibbling on her breakfast, puffed out her cheeks and looked dissatisfied.
"What do you mean! I'm clearly the older sister, okay? And just now... doesn't count!"
Just now, she had called Seiryū "onii-chan" to fulfill their agreement from last night… and her dad overheard. She was furious!
Shinku glanced at his daughter and gave a rare fatherly smile.
She called him "onii-chan" just a moment ago. Why deny it now? Girls' moods change way too fast.
He didn't say anything and smiled at Seiryū.
"Then I'll leave Kurenai to you, her older brother, to look after."
To be honest, aside from sometimes doing things he couldn't understand, Seiryū was usually very reliable.
He had a maturity beyond his age.
Some experiences force people to grow...
"I will," Seiryū nodded, then raised an eyebrow at Kurenai.
The meaning was clear: See? Even your dad confirmed it. I'm your older brother!
"Why am I the younger sister?" Kurenai's small face was full of defiance. Even her own dad said that?
Was it just because she had been forced to say "onii-chan" earlier?
Her lips pouted in frustration, almost able to hang a water jug, and she muttered,
"I'm clearly the older sister..."
She decided, no matter what, she would make Seiryū call her "older sister" voluntarily. Earlier... earlier didn't count!
Soon, the three finished breakfast.
Led by Shinku, they headed to the Ninja Academy.
Not long after, the three arrived at the gates of the Academy.
Today was enrollment day. Parents and children filled the area in front of the Academy.
Seiryū scanned the adults and kids around him and muttered to himself, The timeline in the original story is such a mess. I wonder how many familiar faces I'll see?
The Naruto timeline was just like his system.
Both were the kind of things that made you want to complain every time they were brought up...
Forget it. I'll find out tomorrow once enrollment officially begins.
He shook his head, deciding not to think too much. Everything would be clear tomorrow.
He followed Shinku and Kurenai into the Academy and went to the office to complete the registration process.
However... just as Seiryū stepped through the Academy's main gate, a sudden "ding" sounded in his mind.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 3: Bugging the System
[Ding, detecting Host has arrived at Shin'ō Academy, Achievement Soul King System activating...]
???
The sudden system notification in Seiryū's mind left him filled with questions. He thought he was hallucinating.
What's going on?
Did the stupid system just activate?
Wait, when did he arrive at Shin'ō Academy?
Is this dumb thing malfunctioning again?
Just as Seiryū was confused and completely lost, the system notification rang out again.
[Ding, Achievement Soul King System activated!
[As the Host, the future Soul King who will govern the Three Realms, your starting point is crucial. Shin'ō Academy is the Shinigami training institution of Soul Society and an indispensable part of the Host's path to becoming the Soul King!]
[Mission issued: Become a first-year student at Shin'ō Academy!]
[Mission Reward: Spiritual Pressure aptitude increased!]
...
The repeated notification and the glowing text in front of him made Seiryū fall silent. This wasn't a hallucination. It just made him speechless as he sank into deep thought.
This system isn't just dumb, it's clearly bugged.
Ninja Academy = Shin'ō Academy?
Fine, if that's how it wants to play, so be it.
He had already given up on relying on the system and was mentally prepared to live his life with no cheats, using the system as a glorified bedtime reminder.
He never expected this sudden twist.
Damn it, it really is his ridiculous system. The way it activated is just... clever?
He knew it. Using bugs was the right idea. He just hadn't figured out the correct angle before.
Ninja Academy and Shin'ō Academy did share some common ground. Both were schools for training the next generation. It made sense. It actually made a lot of sense!
No, I can't be too happy just yet. What if this is a false alarm? This dumb system has always been unreliable…
Plus, these are two completely different worlds. Even if the reward is issued, whether it can be used or not is a whole other matter…
Suppressing the excitement in his heart, Seiryū reminded himself not to get carried away. He had to wait and see if the mission reward would really be given and whether it would take effect before he could relax.
There was a reason he called this system idiotic. It was just too shady. He had to stay cautious.
Besides, Shinigami and the Naruto world belonged to different settings entirely. Just because the system activated didn't mean the reward would be useful here. And even if it could be used, it might not work the way it should.
Didn't that saying go? Receiving a gift doesn't mean you agreed to it, and getting a reward doesn't mean you can actually use it. If this ended up being a false hope, Seiryū would only feel more frustrated.
Caution is key!
Seiryū thought to himself, The mission is to become a first-year student at Shin'ō Academy. If there's a shared context, it should mean becoming a first-year student at the Ninja Academy, right?
If he remembered correctly, the Ninja Academy also had grade levels.
The Ninja Academy had grades one through six. Shin'ō Academy had first through sixth-year students. There was definitely overlap.
As he continued walking with Kurenai and Shinku, Seiryū's mind was focused on the mission reward.
Looking at the system message, Seiryū muttered, Spiritual Pressure aptitude increased? Spiritual Pressure is the power measurement on the Shinigami side, right? And aptitude increase probably means enhanced talent?
Speaking of Spiritual Pressure, it was how a Shinigami's power level was gauged.
It was divided into twenty ranks.
The higher the Spiritual Pressure rank, the stronger the combat power. Rank three and above meant Captain-level.
If his Spiritual Pressure aptitude increased, that likely meant a talent boost.
Once the mission was completed, he'd see if the reward really worked. If it did... Thinking of the cheat-like life awaiting him, Seiryū couldn't help but grin.
"Hehe…"
Hearing Seiryū's strange laugh, Kurenai tilted her head in confusion.
"Seiryū, what are you laughing about?"
"Cough…" Seiryū coughed lightly, quickly shifting his expression to one of seriousness.
"Just thinking about getting half your pocket money makes me inexplicably happy."
Kurenai stared blankly at Seiryū, then pouted and snapped, "I never agreed to that!"
"Then I'll leave," Seiryū shrugged.
"That way you won't get any pocket money at all."
"You're so unfair!" Kurenai got flustered and tried to bargain.
"No, half is too much. Only... only one-third!"
Seiryū clapped his hands.
"Deal!"
Seeing him agree so easily, Kurenai suddenly realized she'd been tricked again. She raised her hand and pounced angrily.
"Ahhh, hateful Seiryū, you tricked me again! I'm gonna beat you up!"
The little girl's punches were soft and light, more like a massage. Seiryū raised an eyebrow and gestured toward the people around them.
"Stop. People are watching…"
"Mmm…" Prompted by Seiryū, Kurenai noticed the stares and instantly blushed. She quickly stopped, hiding behind Shinku and shrinking her presence.
She glared at Seiryū with eyes that screamed—you just wait!!
Seiryū smiled calmly and returned a meaningful look—One-third of the pocket money!
...Kurenai understood that look perfectly. Her teeth itched with frustration.
But maybe this isn't so bad… Shinku smiled slightly as he watched the two children argue.
Ever since his wife passed away unexpectedly a year ago, Kurenai had changed. Probably not wanting her father to worry, she had become very mature.
Being mature was good, but Shinku preferred his lively daughter. In these past two months since Seiryū's arrival, Kurenai had slowly started to return to her old self.
The enrollment process was simple and quickly completed.
From today on, Seiryū and Kurenai were officially students of the Ninja Academy, Class B, first-year, and desk mates.
As he received his Ninja Academy student ID, Seiryū heard the system notification again.
[Ding, mission completed, reward being distributed...]
Somehow, Seiryū felt a subtle change in his body. It was hard to describe. Warm and somewhat comfortable…
It worked!
Feeling the changes, Seiryū's eyes lit up with excitement. The corners of his mouth curled into a smile that gradually grew wild.
The bug exploit worked.
This meant... in the future, as long as he could find shared traits, he could keep using these system missions and get rewards.
Achievement Soul King System.
The Soul King in Bleach was a scam, reduced to a limbless torso sealed in crystal, forced to become the stabilizing pillar of the Three Realms. Couldn't move, couldn't speak, truly a miserable fate.
Who would want to be that Soul King?
But in the Naruto world, there were no such dangers.
Now, Seiryū had a new goal.
Achieve Soul King status in Naruto!
(To be continued.)
Chapter 4: The Sibling Showdown
Watching Seiryū's smile, Kurenai, who was walking beside him, once again felt like today's Seiryū was doing things she couldn't understand.
He had been acting completely normal just a few days ago!
So why...
She couldn't help but reach out and poke Seiryū's smooth cheek with her small hand. She pursed her lips and asked, "Seiryū, what are you smiling about again? Does getting pocket money really make you that happy? Or... are you actually looking forward to going to school?"
The arrogant smile on Seiryū's face faded. He snapped out of his fantasy of becoming Soul King in the Hokage world and crushing all enemies beneath his feet. Slapping away Kurenai's hand, he grumbled, "Don't mess around."
His skin was still delicate and tender. What if she poked him too hard?
He glared at Kurenai and said seriously,
"What nonsense are you talking about? Who said I'm looking forward to school? If I could just lie around doing nothing, who would bother going to school?"
Kurenai tilted her head.
"Then why were you smiling so weirdly? Did something good happen?"
"Isn't it worth smiling about when you get to go to school with your cute little sister?"
"Eh? So I'm that important?"
Kurenai's face turned slightly red, clearly very pleased by his words. But being called "younger sister" again made her annoyed. She emphasized, "Also, I'm the older sister!"
Seiryū wasn't as tall as her.
An older sister should be taller and stronger than her younger brother. She needed to firmly establish this image in Seiryū's mind.
"Let me clarify. You were born in June, and I was born in May. I'm a month older, which makes me the older brother!" Seiryū said firmly.
How could someone with a mental age over twenty call a little girl "older sister"?
Impossible. Absolutely not.
He didn't actually know his real birthday, but he decided he had to be older than Kurenai.
Kurenai pouted.
"But last time you..."
Not giving her a chance to finish, Seiryū interrupted and quickly made up an excuse,
"Back then, I wasn't familiar with the place or the people. You didn't know me, and I didn't know you. One has to be cautious and not reveal their true identity too soon.
Understand?"
"Hmm..." Kurenai was briefly confused by his explanation, but she wasn't completely convinced.
She crossed her arms.
"I don't care. I'm the older sister! Unless... you can beat me. Starting today, we're ninja. Ninja settle things with strength. Whoever's stronger is the older one!"
Seiryū burst into arrogant laughter again.
"You said it!"
Hehehe, did she really think she could suppress him?
Now that the system was activated and its rewards were effective, how could he, a cheater, possibly lose to this little girl?
Ridiculous!
Kurenai snorted with confidence.
"Of course. I'm not like you, who always goes back on his word. Once you can use your chakra, we'll have a match to determine who's the older sibling."
"Pfft, who's the older brother or sister? We'll see soon enough."
In her mind, she was sure to win. After all, she had already been training her Chakra for half a year.
And Seiryū? He had been completely against becoming a ninja before and hadn't even started Chakra training. He was far behind her, with no chance of winning!
Seiryū clapped his hands.
"Alright, deal. Uncle Shinku, you're our witness. I'm afraid Kurenai might go back on her word."
Kurenai puffed her cheeks.
"I won't go back on my word!"
"Hahaha!" Shinku couldn't help laughing as he watched the two bicker. He nodded and said, "I can be the witness. But as the older brother, you should be more tolerant of Kurenai."
He was well aware that Seiryū most likely had a special constitution. Recovering from near-fatal injuries overnight strongly suggested he was part of the Uzumaki Clan.
His daughter had decent talent, but it all depended on the comparison.
If Seiryū was indeed Uzumaki, his future achievements would surely be impressive.
Seiryū nodded.
"Next time, for sure!"
"..."
Kurenai pouted again, her cheeks puffed like a steamed bun, silently expressing her disapproval of her father's statement.
They hadn't even fought yet. Why was her father already siding with Seiryū?
She was not happy.
Seeing her expression, Shinku smiled awkwardly and quickly said, "Sorry, sorry. Father was wrong. Please forgive me!"
Kurenai's mood shifted quickly. She wasn't truly angry, just a bit displeased. Hearing her father apologize, she giggled and said brightly, "Then I want to eat dango. Double portion!"
Shinku smiled and nodded.
"Alright, alright."
Seiryū glanced at her.
"That stuff is way too sweet. If you eat too much, you won't be a cute little girl anymore. You'll turn into a little chubby girl."
Kurenai glared.
"No way. I'm naturally beautiful!"
The three of them chatted and laughed as they left the Ninja Academy. Today was just registration. Tomorrow would be the actual first day of class.
On the way home, Shinku was summoned to the Hokage's Office by an Anbu.
Kurenai and Seiryū walked home together.
Watching Kurenai eat dango one bite at a time like a little hamster, Seiryū couldn't help but comment, "If you eat that much, you won't be able to eat lunch. And this stuff is way too sweet. Don't you get tired of it?"
Kurenai's cheeks were puffed as she chewed her dango. She looked adorably smug.
After swallowing, she gave him a knowing look.
"Girls actually have two stomachs. One for sweets, and one for everything else."
Then she popped another dango into her mouth.
Seiryū: "..."
So now biology doesn't exist?
As he stared at her, Kurenai carefully moved the remaining dango behind her back and looked defensive.
"No. You can't have even one!"
"..."
Was she seriously guarding her food from him?
"Just don't turn into a chubby little girl."
"Hmph, I won't! I told you, I'm naturally beautiful!"
Seiryū suddenly had the urge to tease her. As they walked, he said casually, "There's a saying: 'You are what you eat, and you become what you shape.' I once saw a girl who ate too much dango, and eventually..."
He trailed off, deliberately building suspense.
Gulp Kurenai swallowed her bite. Seeing how mysterious Seiryū looked, she got a little nervous.
"She... turned into a dango?"
"..."
Seiryū's mouth twitched. What kind of logic was that?
Turned into a dango?
"No, no, no." He continued with dramatic tone, "She turned into a fat person. From a beautiful young girl, she ballooned into several hundred pounds. Isn't that terrifying?"
Kurenai looked at the last two dango, suddenly hesitant to eat them. Her voice was weak.
"R-really? But don't girls have two stomachs? How can they get fat?"
Who told you that girls have two stomachs...? Seiryū cursed inwardly, then sighed.
"If you eat too much, even the other stomach gets full."
Kurenai patted her belly.
"I don't think the other one's full yet..."
"Do you feel a little full right now?"
"Hmm... a little."
"That's a sign the other stomach is reaching capacity. If you eat any more, you'll really turn into a chubby little girl."
Seeing Seiryū's serious expression, Kurenai believed him a little.
"Then I won't eat anymore. I don't want to become chubby..."
"You're not eating them, right? Then I'll take them."
Seiryū lunged forward, bit off both remaining dango in two quick mouthfuls, and ran off.
"..."
Kurenai froze. She looked down at the empty bamboo skewer in her hand.
After a second, she exploded in rage and chased after him.
"You hateful Seiryū! Stop right there! Give me back my last dango!!"
(To be continued.)
Chapter 5: Jinchuriki Reserve
After parting ways with Seiryū and Kurenai, Shinku headed straight for the Hokage Office building.
Before long, he arrived at the Hokage Office and knocked on the wooden door.
A firm voice came from inside the room. "Come in."
Shinku pushed open the door and entered, respectfully saluting the Third Hokage. "Hokage-sama."
"Mm." Hiruzen, with a pipe in his mouth, responded with a low hum.
Then, smiling, he looked at Shinku and got straight to the point. "How is that guy's situation? Does he show any rejection toward Konoha?"
As someone who might be a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, Hiruzen, as Hokage, was naturally concerned.
Every Uzumaki Clan member is a potential Jinchuriki. As Hokage, he had to consider Konoha's future.
Shinku nodded. "During the two months we've spent together, Seiryū hasn't shown any rejection toward Konoha. But, perhaps because of his past, he's more mature than his peers and rarely opens up."
Hiruzen nodded slightly. "Only time can heal the wounds in his heart. Give him more care and love, so he can forget his past traumas and truly come to love this village."
Shinku replied seriously. "Understood. I already treat him like family."
Hiruzen smiled. "It seems you're getting along well. That's good."
After a short pause, his tone grew serious as he brought up another topic. "During this time, have you confirmed whether he is a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan?"
This was crucial.
If Seiryū was indeed a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, he would be given focused training and nurtured as the next Jinchuriki following Uzumaki Kushina.
This was all for Konoha's future.
At the mention of this, Shinku thought for a moment, then shook his head helplessly. "Besides that one time, Seiryū hasn't shown any other special traits. Also... he doesn't have much ambition and doesn't want to become a ninja. When I tried to get him to refine Chakra, he kept making excuses."
Chakra volume was one of the effective ways to identify whether someone was a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan.
A month after taking Seiryū in, Shinku had attempted to get him to refine Chakra, but Seiryū refused, saying he didn't want to become a ninja.
That gave him quite a headache at the time.
"Losing his parents to ninja... For a child that age, emotional trauma is unavoidable," Hiruzen said, already familiar with Seiryū's background.
He took a puff from his pipe and slowly exhaled. "The fact that he enrolled in the Ninja Academy means he's overcome that emotional barrier. You've done very well."
A faint smile appeared on Shinku's serious face. "I didn't do anything. It was Seiryū's own decision. He wants to become a ninja to help support the household. He's a very good child."
Hiruzen nodded. "He is indeed a good child. Earning his trust shows how sincerely you treat him."
Tapping the desk, Hiruzen said gently, "Continue to observe, but don't pressure him. Whether or not he's a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, since he's joined Konoha and you consider him family, treat him well."
Shinku bowed respectfully. "Yes, Hokage-sama."
Hiruzen waved his hand. "You may go."
After Shinku left, Hiruzen looked down at the information on his desk regarding Seiryū and murmured, "Recovering from near-fatal injuries overnight... Even if he isn't from the Uzumaki Clan, there's something unique about him, a powerful life force."
"It all depends on your future performance."
"I hope you're a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan. That would ease many worries. Konoha... won't mistreat you."
Not just anyone could become a Jinchuriki. The required Chakra volume alone eliminated ninety-nine percent of Konoha's ninja.
The current Jinchuriki was Uzumaki Kushina, so there was no urgent concern.
However, the lack of a successor still weighed on Hiruzen's mind.
If Seiryū really was a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan, he could fill that gap.
Returning from the Hokage Office.
As soon as Shinku arrived home, he saw his daughter sitting on the sofa, looking a bit down. He couldn't help but ask curiously, "Kurenai, what's wrong?"
Kurenai pointed at Seiryū, puffing up her cheeks in anger. "It's all his fault. He bullied me again!"
Shinku was speechless but not surprised.
He'd be shocked if Seiryū didn't bully Kurenai for a day. Rubbing his temples, he asked, "Seiryū, what did you do to upset Kurenai this time?"
Seiryū answered boldly, "I'm doing a good deed. Eating too many sweets will turn her into a little chubby girl. It's for her own good."
Shinku: "..."
Do you think I believe that?
He immediately took back what he said earlier about Seiryū being more mature than his age. This kid could be quite mischievous.
But maybe that was a sign he was starting to open up.
"I don't need you to think for me," Kurenai said angrily, her temper flaring again. "Even if I become a little chubby girl, I'll still be a cute little chubby girl!"
Seiryū spread his hands and made a face. "I don't believe it."
"Wah, you're making me so mad, I'm going to beat you up!"
"Uncle Shinku, look, Kurenai is being naughty again. This won't do. She's not ladylike at all."
She chased, he ran. She couldn't catch him, and he started complaining. The atmosphere was very harmonious, yes, harmonious...
Watching the two chase each other in the living room, Shinku felt both amused and warm inside. This is what a home should feel like.
But before things got out of hand, he stepped in. "Alright, alright, you're going to wreck the house. I think I understand what's going on. I'll give you some extra pocket money this month, Kurenai. Seiryū gets none."
Kurenai stopped, her red eyes blinking. "Really!?"
Shinku nodded. "Of course. When have I ever lied to you?"
Kurenai's mood instantly turned sunny, and she gave a radiant smile. "Father, you're the best!"
Then she raised her delicate brows at Seiryū, a gesture she had learned from him. It meant — I have it, you don't. Hmph, I won't share. Go ahead and be jealous!
"Tsk..." Seiryū couldn't help but chuckle.
He just enjoyed teasing this doll-like little girl. Honestly, having a younger sister was pretty fun, a good feeling.
A beautiful, cute younger sister with no blood relation, who wouldn't like that?
Just then, Shinku thought of something and said to Seiryū, "Seiryū, tomorrow's the official opening day of the Ninja Academy. While the school also teaches Chakra refinement, since I'm free today, let me guide you first."
Seiryū didn't refuse. Instead, he looked eager. "Okay, Uncle Shinku."
He wanted to verify the rewards he received from the system.
Spiritual Power Aptitude could be considered a type of innate talent, but the term came from the Bleach world.
Would it work in this world?
And what effect would it have?
No one could say without testing.
Maybe refining Chakra would reveal some clues. It had to be tried.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 6: Terrifying
"Let's go to the backyard."
Seeing Seiryū didn't refuse, Shinku smiled and led him to the backyard.
"I'm coming too!" Kurenai followed along, eager to witness her younger brother Seiryū's talent firsthand, so she could size up and surpass her rival.
She wanted to be the big sister!
The three of them arrived in the backyard, and Shinku began explaining in detail, "Generally speaking, Chakra is formed by mixing spiritual energy and physical energy in equal parts."
"Physical energy comes from the cells in your body, drawn from the 130 trillion cells making up a person. Spiritual energy, on the other hand, is developed through mental growth, learning, and willpower."
"It's not wrong to say Chakra is a combination of the two, but to be more precise, the direct combination results in stamina."
"Chakra is produced by converting stamina. Since everyone has stamina, that means everyone can generate Chakra."
"The difference lies in how quickly or slowly someone can do it, which reflects talent. Especially the time it takes to form Chakra for the first time, that's a direct measure of someone's potential..."
Shinku explained everything very clearly. And since Seiryū was a transmigrator, he already had some concept of Chakra.
So it wasn't hard to understand.
Seiryū asked with interest, "Fast or slow? Then, how long does it usually take a normal person to produce Chakra for the first time? What about someone considered a genius?"
Since the refining speed was a way to measure talent, he needed a baseline to evaluate himself.
Shinku smiled. Kurenai had asked the same thing before. As expected of siblings.
"It takes a normal person about ten days to half a month to form Chakra for the first time, up to a month at most. If it takes more than that, they're not really suited to be a ninja."
"For a genius, it might only take a few days. The faster they generate Chakra, the more gifted they are."
"For example..."
He pointed at Kurenai and smiled. "Kurenai took just over two days. The fastest I've heard of is Sakumo Hatake's son, Kakashi Hatake. He managed it in under a day."
Seiryū was speechless. "Kurenai is actually a genius?"
And the famous Kakashi Hatake, the legendary 'Mr. Worldwide,' did it in under a day?
Kakashi really was a genius as a kid, though he turned into a mess later from reading too many adult books.
The lesson here: don't be a pervert, or it'll make you weak.
Another reason found for Kakashi's downfall...
Kurenai was originally a little proud after being used as a positive example by her father, but Seiryū's words made her explode. "What do you mean by that? Why wouldn't I be a genius?"
"..."
Seiryū's strange reaction left Shinku a little speechless.
Shouldn't the main focus be on Kakashi?
"The method to generate Chakra is..." Shinku then taught Seiryū the correct process and smiled. "Any other questions?"
He was actually pretty curious about Seiryū's talent.
There was something special about this kid. If he really was from the Uzumaki Clan, then his talent shouldn't be ordinary. Shinku was quietly excited.
Seiryū said, "I've memorized it."
"Let me give it a shot. As the older brother, I shouldn't lose to my younger sister!"
He was confident.
Not to mention the system rewards, his body had already changed subtly. And just by being a transmigrator, his spiritual energy was likely stronger than kids his age.
Clearing his mind, Seiryū began following the Chakra molding method step by step...
One second, two seconds, three seconds...
After about ten seconds, Seiryū felt a faint 'flow' inside his body. Though weak, it was real...
Almost instinctively, Seiryū could guide this 'flow' through his Chakra pathways, as naturally as moving his arms or legs...
"I think I succeeded?"
He opened his eyes, bent his index finger slightly, and controlled the Chakra within his body to release from the chakra point at the tip of his finger. A faint flash of light appeared and vanished...
Chakra was indeed visible to the naked eye.
Just look at the Rasengan, which forms a ball of high-speed spinning Chakra.
To make Chakra visible like that, you need to either release a high amount in an instant or compress it to a single point.
The Chakra Seiryū just produced was compressed into a point, and only enough for that one brief flash... but that flash was clearly seen by Shinku and Kurenai, who had been watching him closely!
Both of them widened their eyes, faces full of disbelief and shock...
He actually succeeded!?
Kurenai's mouth hung open slightly, stunned. Her dazed expression made her look even cuter, but the shock in her heart couldn't be calmed. "How long was that? Did Seiryū already generate Chakra? Did I imagine that?"
It took her more than two days. And Seiryū?
Just over ten seconds!
Wasn't that gap a little too insane?
'Not only did he form Chakra, but he could also control it to release from his fingertip?' Shinku was equally shocked, but what stunned him most wasn't the speed.
Sure, Chakra generation in ten seconds was already hard to believe.
But the fact that Seiryū could immediately control it, compress it, and release it?
That was unbelievable.
Was that something someone who just generated Chakra could do?
Terrifying talent.
Shinku muttered to himself in disbelief, "He picked it up instantly... This kind of natural control. He really is a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan."
He was now ninety-nine percent sure Seiryū was from the Uzumaki Clan, and not just any branch. He had the strongest kind of talent.
There was no other explanation...
To be able to control Chakra with this kind of precision without any formal training, the person had to have a special physique and rare talent.
For example, the Hyuga Clan had naturally better Chakra control than average. That was due to their unique physical traits.
The Uzumaki Clan were masters of Fuinjutsu, which required extremely fine Chakra control. They also had special bodies. Otherwise, why would the Uzumaki Clan be the strongest in sealing techniques across the entire ninja world?
Seiryū was someone with a special body and terrifying talent.
It all made sense. Too much sense.
Shinku felt like he had just seen the truth.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 7: Turns Out I’ve Been a Genius This Whole Time
Seiryū nodded and expressed his honest thoughts. "It's pretty easy. The Chakra is very obedient. It goes wherever I tell it to…"
As a transmigrator, Seiryū understood just how unusual this was.
In the original story, Uzumaki Naruto and Uchiha Sasuke only began Chakra control training after becoming Genin.
That was when they practiced things like tree climbing and water walking.
Seiryū had basically skipped that entire phase… The ability to control Chakra precisely was a fundamental requirement for a strong ninja.
Both learning and executing jutsu relied heavily on precise Chakra control.
'The system reward for increasing my spiritual power aptitude really boosted my talent…'
Seiryū had a strong feeling that his current talent was due to the system's reward for improving his spiritual aptitude. It had clearly paid off.
I'm just going to say it straight. I'm a genius.
"Is that so?" Upon receiving Seiryū's confirmation, Shinku let out a deep breath and spoke seriously. "Seiryū… your talent is beyond anything I've ever seen."
"This also confirms something for me. You really are a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan. And not just that, you're a genius among them."
He already saw Seiryū as part of the family, and Seiryū also treated the Yūhi family as his own.
Seeing Seiryū with such talent made him truly happy. The Yūhi family had found a real gem.
Kurenai, who had recovered from her earlier shock, tilted her head and looked at Seiryū.
Then she asked curiously, "A descendant of the Uzumaki Clan? What's that? Is it a famous clan like the Uchiha or Hyuga?"
"Uh…" Shinku froze. He had gotten too excited and blurted it out without thinking. Inwardly, he cursed himself, "Crap."
He had never brought up his suspicions about Seiryū's origins to the boy directly. Seiryū didn't know anything about it!
Now that it had slipped out, he couldn't avoid the topic. He wasn't sure how Seiryū would take it, but this wasn't something he could keep from him forever. It had just come up earlier than planned.
Originally, he had hoped to build more trust and a deeper bond before finding the right moment to explain everything.
Taking a deep breath, Shinku spoke seriously, with a tinge of guilt. "I'm sorry, Seiryū, for keeping this from you all this time."
"When I brought you back to Konoha, Hokage-sama and I suspected, based on your condition, that you might be a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan…"
"Taking you in was also part of a mission given to me by Hokage-sama. But… I…"
Shinku trailed off, unsure how to explain.
At first, he had accepted the mission and brought Seiryū in under Hokage's orders. But after spending time together, he had come to see him as true family.
Now, telling him this truth… would Seiryū think he was only taken in because of a mission?
That would be too cruel for a child. Even if Seiryū had maturity beyond his years, he was still only six or seven.
Shinku's heart was in chaos. He was afraid Seiryū would hold a grudge and distance himself from the family. That was the last thing he wanted.
It had nothing to do with Seiryū's identity. He simply didn't want to lose him as family.
"Father… Seiryū…" Kurenai, noticing the tension, used her clever little brain to grasp the situation. She grew nervous too.
Would Seiryū… leave them?
She didn't want that to happen!
She even made a big decision in her heart. If it would stop Seiryū from leaving, she was willing to sacrifice even more. If she had to be his little sister forever, she'd accept it!
"Oh, that? I already knew." Seiryū, on the other hand, didn't mind at all.
He had overheard the conversation between Shinku and the Third Hokage while he was lying in bed. He'd understood the situation clearly.
Even if Shinku had taken him in because of a mission, he had truly been good to him, and it was Shinku who had saved his life.
A man who saved your life isn't an enemy.
Besides, he was a transmigrator. What kind of grudge could he possibly hold?
He was thankful to be taken to Konoha, one of the safest places in the ninja world. He had already accepted this place as home. Would he really leave the Yūhi family over something like this?
Don't be ridiculous.
The dumb one was the system, not him.
Seeing that the worst didn't happen, Shinku let out a small sigh of relief. Still, he was surprised. "You already knew?"
Seiryū smiled. "Even though I was weak and half-conscious at the time, I heard your conversation with the Third Hokage."
He added, "Don't worry, Uncle Shinku. I'm not the type to hold grudges. I'm part of the Yūhi family now. I'm Kurenai's older brother. With such a cute little sister, even if you kicked me out, I'd still shamelessly stick around."
"If you really don't believe me, I'll go register the Yūhi surname tomorrow…"
Anyway, Seiryū didn't even know what his original surname was. His past memories were blank in that area, just like Nagato and Karin. He had a given name, but no last name.
Hey, maybe he really was a descendant of the Uzumaki Clan?
If he could exploit system bugs and also turn out to be from the Uzumaki Clan, wouldn't that be too perfect?
"No need for that. In our family, names aren't what matter." Hearing Seiryū speak so lightheartedly, Shinku completely relaxed. He rubbed Kurenai's head and chuckled. "Honestly, it's all thanks to Kurenai…"
He took back what he said earlier once again.
Seiryū truly had maturity beyond his age.
Now he realized something. The reason Seiryū didn't want to become a ninja before might have been because he already knew the truth and felt a little uncomfortable about it.
After all, if he didn't plan to be a ninja, it wouldn't matter whether he was from the Uzumaki Clan or not. But as time passed and he accepted them as his family, he must've changed his mind for their sake.
Just thinking about it made Shinku's heart feel warm.
Kurenai was also happy. She planted her hands on her hips and declared proudly, "Hmph. I'm still very important. Today, I'll reluctantly be your little sister, Seiryū, but only for today!"
Her eyes lit up as a thought popped into her head. Kurenai began scheming. "Since you've already generated Chakra, let's spar tonight. If I win, I'm the older sister. If you win, you're the older brother!"
The whole matter of who was older had to be settled early.
Given Seiryū's ridiculous talent, she probably wouldn't be able to beat him for long.
The difference between ten seconds and two days, her clever little brain could calculate what that meant.
She couldn't let him grow up first. She had to put him in his place now.
Hehe… She suddenly felt like a genius.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 8: Mission Impossible
"Do you think I'm stupid?"
The little girl's idea sounded nice, but he had just extracted a tiny bit of Chakra. What could he even do with it?
Winning would be expected. Losing would be a total embarrassment.
Getting beaten by a six-year-old girl would be worse than getting slapped around by a monkey.
But just as Seiryū was about to refuse, the system prompt suddenly rang in his mind.
[Ding. As the future Soul King who will rule the Three Realms, the Host's legendary path must be full of challenges. The Host must not fear any challenge from a Shinigami!]
[Mission Released: Defeat challenger Ochiai Rumi!]
[Mission Reward: Bakudo #1: Sai (Restrain)!]
Seiryū: "..."
Who the heck was Ochiai Rumi?
No clue... though, it made sense if the system treated the Ninja Academy like the Shin'ō Academy and mistook Kurenai for some Bleach side character.
Not bothering to dwell on it, Seiryū instantly changed his tone, as if he hadn't just been about to say no. "But now that I think about it…"
He spoke with confidence, considering Kurenai. "Uncle Shinku said if you can extract Chakra within a few days, you're a genius. I did it in ten seconds, so I'm basically a genius among geniuses."
"If I wait too long, it won't be fair to Kurenai. She might accuse me of cheating. So, fine, I accept. We'll spar tonight!"
Oh well, since the system gave a mission, how could he refuse?
Even if the reward was just a low-level Bakudo, a gain was still a gain.
A tiny girl? How scary could she be? Even if she'd been extracting Chakra for half a year, she was still just a kid.
He'd take her down in a few minutes.
"Really?" Kurenai didn't care that Seiryū clearly looked down on her. What mattered was locking in the deal to decide who was the older sibling.
She placed her hands on her hips. "Then it's settled. No one can back out now. Father, you'll be the witness!"
Shinku glanced at Seiryū, smiled, and nodded. "Alright, I'll be the witness."
Seiryū rubbed Kurenai's head like an older brother giving a head pat. "Kurenai, just be a good little sister. Big brother will take good care of you!"
Kurenai slapped away his mischievous hand and snorted. "It's not decided yet. We'll see who wins!"
...Afternoon.
After lunch.
Seiryū continued practicing Chakra extraction in the backyard.
Feeling the Chakra flowing inside him, he rubbed his chin and muttered, "As expected, I need to build up step by step. Talent only determines the ceiling."
"Realizing that talent takes time. Just because I started ahead doesn't mean I can slack off and still get stronger…"
Probably because of his exceptional aptitude, Seiryū's Chakra extraction speed wasn't slow.
But maybe due to his body still being immature, or because it was his first time doing this, the actual amount of Chakra in his body wasn't much.
He estimated it wasn't even enough to pull off an E-rank jutsu…
Seiryū made a judgment. "I still need to let my body adjust. In the original story, Kakashi graduated at age five and was already at Genin level. There's no way he had this little Chakra…"
Understanding this, Seiryū felt more at ease. He just needed to take things one step at a time.
The system had activated and its rewards were working. That alone was enough to make him happy. He wasn't expecting instant invincibility.
The system already made it clear, he would gradually walk the path of a Soul King. One step at a time. No skipping to the top.
So Seiryū began thinking about more practical matters, like how to beat Kurenai in their spar tonight.
He had to win. Calling a little girl "older sister" was too horrifying.
In the past two months, Seiryū hadn't seen Kurenai learning any jutsu or combat techniques from Shinku. Her daily routine was mostly light training and Chakra extraction.
Her Chakra had grown steadily.
At only six years old, laying a solid foundation was more important than combat strength.
That said, Kurenai's Chakra reserves and physical strength were definitely higher than his.
But that was her only edge.
She didn't know any jutsu or real fighting techniques, so she couldn't fully use that advantage.
As for Seiryū, well, back in his previous life, he had taken martial arts classes when he was bored.
His combat technique might be shaky, but he had some real fighting experience.
Add to that his precise Chakra control, even if he didn't have much of it, that was his ace.
This match? He had it in the bag.
Just then, Shinku walked over, raising an eyebrow at Seiryū. "I've never seen you work so hard before. But overdoing it isn't good either. You've only just started learning to control Chakra. Don't overexert yourself."
Seiryū spread his hands. "I can't lose to Kurenai, right? As her older brother, I've got to save face!"
"Then why did you agree to spar with her tonight? She's been taking it seriously, trying to figure out how to beat you…"
"Pressure builds motivation. It's good for her and for me."
Shinku chuckled and teased, "I actually want to see you lose to Kurenai and call her 'older sister.' That'd be hilarious…"
Seiryū's mouth twitched. "That's not going to happen."
After a pause, he suddenly remembered something. "Oh right, Uncle Shinku, I thought of a way to use Chakra. Could you tell me if it's viable?"
Shinku looked surprised. "Oh? What kind of application?"
Seiryū explained, "Besides releasing jutsu, Chakra should also be usable for direct attacks, right? Like if I release Chakra from a point on impact when I strike, wouldn't that enhance the power?"
Shinku was visibly stunned. "You thought of that yourself?"
Of course it was possible. Tsunade, one of the Sannin, was a master of that exact kind of technique.
Seiryū nodded. "Just a random thought."
Of course, it wasn't random. As a transmigrator, Seiryū had a pretty active imagination.
And this kind of Chakra application was already shown in the original story.
Tsunade and the Hyuga Clan both used it. The only difference was their focus, Tsunade's style emphasized raw impact, while the Hyuga focused on precision targeting of Chakra points.
The reason Seiryū asked was that he had tried it earlier, but... it had no effect.
He wanted some guidance from Shinku, a Jonin.
Maybe he'd get a helpful pointer or two.
If he could grasp the basics of this technique, it would make tonight's spar even more one-sided.
Yes, Seiryū was this cautious.
Shinku took a deep breath and nodded. "It's definitely possible. Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, specializes in this kind of Chakra-enhanced taijutsu."
"But pulling it off isn't easy. You need precise Chakra control, perfect timing, and the right amount of Chakra output. Even I haven't completely mastered it…"
Knowing the theory and actually doing it were two different things.
Take the Rasengan, for example. The theory is just condensing Chakra into your hand, making it rotate in multiple directions while keeping it compressed.
Sounds simple, right?
But without a teacher, good luck getting anywhere with it.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 9: If I Land This Punch
"So it's okay?"
Seiryū pretended to think, then said, "Uncle Shinku, I tried earlier, but the effect wasn't great. Can you help me figure out what went wrong?"
Shinku's expression turned serious. "Try attacking the training post. I can't guarantee I'll pinpoint the issue, but I can definitely offer some advice."
"Alright." Seiryū walked up to the training post, took a deep breath, and threw a punch. At the same time, he released Chakra from his acupoints, driving the strike forward.
Thud...
A dull impact echoed, and the training post only shook slightly.
'As expected, extraordinary talent.' Shinku couldn't help but admire silently as he observed Seiryū's movement.
Only half a day had passed, and Seiryū already had a firmer grasp of Chakra control.
Suppressing his surprise, Shinku, as a Jonin and instructor, had sharp observation skills. He quickly picked up on a few things.
"Let me tell you what I noticed."
After thinking for a few seconds, he said, "Although your Chakra was released instantly, the amount wasn't enough, the impact force was weak, and the Chakra wasn't condensed properly. More importantly, you subconsciously worried about hurting your fist, so the Chakra you released acted more as a cushion."
He looked at Seiryū's right fist and smiled. "It didn't hurt much when you hit the training post, did it?"
"Is that so?" Seiryū thought for a moment. His fist really didn't hurt.
In the original story, during Hyuga Neji's battle with Kidōmaru, he constantly released Chakra to deflect the enemy's attacks.
That meant releasing Chakra could also be used defensively.
Because he was worried about injuring his hand, Seiryū had subconsciously used Chakra to defend rather than attack.
That made perfect sense.
After all, punching a wooden post wasn't the same as hitting a sandbag. Anyone would instinctively hold back.
Now that he understood the problem, Seiryū grinned. "So what you're saying is, my resolve isn't strong enough?"
It wasn't that simple.
Interesting.
"Then let's try again!"
He took another deep breath. This time, Seiryū made up his mind, ignoring the possibility of injury. He got into position and threw a punch with everything he had.
Bang!
With a dull sound, the next moment... Seiryū shook his right hand, pain shooting up his arm as he grimaced. "Ouch, ouch, ouch..."
Shinku: "..."
Where did this clown come from?
If you don't know how to do it, you don't know. What does it have to do with resolve?
Should he take back what he just said again...
Shinku sighed. "You only heard the second half of what I said, didn't you? This technique isn't something you can master just by trying harder. I don't even know how to do it myself..."
"If you really want to learn, when Lady Tsunade, one of the Sannin, returns to the village, I can take you to meet her and see if she's willing to guide you."
Although this was a Chakra application technique, it was practically a secret technique.
It wasn't something you could figure out through trial and error.
Since Seiryū had this kind of talent, Shinku didn't mind humbling himself to seek out help for the kid. If it was Lady Tsunade, paying a little would probably do the trick.
Not asking her to take Seiryū as a disciple, just to give some guidance on the technique.
"Lady Tsunade?"
A certain blonde older sister appeared in his mind. Seiryū, a proud lover of big sisters, was immediately intrigued. As a transmigrator, how could he not meet some original story characters?
Especially Tsunade. Back in his past life, Seiryū really liked that blonde onee-san.
Seiryū said, "I admire Lady Tsunade too. If she's willing to guide me, that would be perfect. But for now, I'll keep trying on my own. Who knows, maybe I'll figure it out?"
"Haha, alright then. I won't disturb you. Just be careful, it's not worth getting injured over." Shinku reminded him with a smile.
Then he turned and left. Time to prepare dinner...
"Got it."
Seiryū responded and didn't continue practicing directly. Instead, he sat on the steps, deep in thought about how to improve this Chakra attack technique.
"Chakra control is definitely the key, but there must be a matching method behind it. It's not just about releasing Chakra, but causing an explosive burst of force at the moment of impact."
Seiryū realized that ever since receiving the system reward for 'Spiritual Power Aptitude Enhancement,' his thinking had become incredibly sharp.
In his previous life, he needed to pause to do basic two-digit calculations. Now, he could instantly compute three-digit problems in his head without effort.
He had his own theory about this application of Chakra.
At the moment of attack, the Chakra must surge and burst outward, creating impact similar to an internal explosion. Like a one-inch punch, maximizing force in minimal space.
The two concepts had similarities.
His martial arts classes in his past life weren't a waste. His instructor had taught him the one-inch punch. While Seiryū hadn't mastered it, he understood the concept and had practiced it a little.
With this theory in mind, Seiryū began experimenting.
For the rest of the afternoon, he practiced tirelessly, focusing on refining this Chakra attack technique.
Whenever he ran out of Chakra, he would sit down and generate more. Once recharged, he would try again.
Unknowingly, the amount of Chakra he could draw out had also increased significantly. Now, he estimated he had enough to use a D-rank jutsu and still have some left.
"I think I've got the hang of it..."
After a whole afternoon of effort, Seiryū began to grasp the method. His eyes lit up, and he tried one more time.
He mobilized his Chakra and, without hesitation, slammed his already injured and bleeding fist into the training post.
At the moment of contact, Chakra surged and exploded outward.
Bang! Crack!
With a dull thud, the training post was struck like it had been hit by a sledgehammer. Cracks spread across the surface, wood chips scattered, and the post flew backward, sliding several meters before crashing into the courtyard wall.
Pain stung in his hand. His fist was raw and bleeding, but Seiryū didn't even flinch. His eyes were full of excitement. "I did it!"
It wasn't perfect, and his fist was badly injured, but it was a breakthrough.
To pull this off in just half a day of experimentation, that was something else.
Suppressing the joy in his heart, Seiryū's lips curled into a smug smile. "Hehehe, if I land this punch, Kurenai will probably cry for a long time, right?"
"Ugh..." Kurenai, who had been secretly spying on Seiryū's training nearby, trembled. Her face turned pale as she heard his muttering.
She quickly ran over, tugging on Seiryū's sleeve and shaking it gently. Her eyes were full of worry. "Seiryū, Seiryū, I don't want to spar anymore. I give up!"
She wanted to cry but couldn't.
What kind of freak was Seiryū?
How did he become this strong in just half a day?
If she actually took that punch, it'd probably hurt for days.
(To be continued.)
Chapter 10: What's the Harm?
Seiryū, who was focused on training, didn't notice the little girl who had been secretly watching and gathering intel on her "opponent" until she finally walked over.
Seeing her pitiful expression, Seiryū couldn't help but chuckle and ask, "When did you get here?"
The little girl pouted and replied weakly, "J-just now…"
If she'd known earlier, she wouldn't have made that bet. Great, now she had dug a hole for herself.
But who knew Seiryū was such a monster?
Blinking her big eyes, Kurenai acted cute and pleaded, "Seiryū, Seiryū, I really give up! We don't have to spar tonight, right? You're the older brother, and I'm the younger sister!"
She surrendered on the spot.
Even the wooden training post got cracked by Seiryū's punch. With her delicate skin, she really would cry for a long time!
Actually, being a younger sister didn't seem that bad...
Seiryū smiled, poked Kurenai's cheek, and raised an eyebrow. "Heh heh, scared now? Weren't you super confident this morning?"
"I'm scared, I'm scared!" Kurenai didn't even dare to slap his hand away, and carefully asked, "So we can cancel the sparring tonight?"
"Hm, of course..." The word "can" was already at the tip of his tongue, but Seiryū forcibly swallowed it back.
Originally, it was just a little bet. With Kurenai surrendering, there was no risk to his status in the sibling hierarchy. He would be the older brother, and she the little sister.
But... Seiryū suddenly realized something strange.
The system hadn't gone "ding"!
Where was his mission reward?
Kurenai... no, Ochiai Rumi had already surrendered, hadn't she?
Why wasn't the mission complete?
Could it be... that he couldn't exploit bugs like this?
His heart sank. Seiryū called out to the system internally. 'System, didn't Kurenai... Ochiai Rumi admit defeat? Why isn't the reward issued?'
[Ding! The mission is not complete. The reward will only be issued once the Host defeats the challenger Ochiai Rumi!]
'What the hell... Subduing the enemy without fighting is more impressive than brute force. If you won't give me a bonus for cleverness, fine, but now you're telling me it doesn't even count as a win?'
Seiryū silently cursed in his heart.
This system really couldn't be trusted!
[Ding! Please fulfill the mission conditions to receive the reward.]
The exchange with the system only took a moment. Kurenai was still anxiously waiting for Seiryū's response. She really didn't want to cry tonight... But why was Seiryū hesitating again?
So annoying!
"..." There was no other way. Since the system wouldn't accept surrender, Seiryū had no choice but to make Kurenai suffer a little. "Of course... not!"
"Huh?" Kurenai's eyes widened in disbelief. Shock and confusion filled her face.
Her adorable act actually failed?
This didn't make any sense!
"What do you mean, 'Huh'? Acting cute won't save you this time." Seiryū tapped her head and pretended to be serious. "A bet is a bet. Even if you surrender, it still has to happen. Besides…"
"This is also a form of willpower training. Retreating at the first sign of adversity isn't good."
For the system reward... what's the harm in making Kurenai suffer a little?
It's for her own good, right?
You can't give up just because things get tough. You've got to persevere.
"..." Kurenai was nearly in tears. It sounded so reasonable!
But she felt strongly that Seiryū was just trying to secure his place as the older brother—this was revenge!
She was so mad, but she had no way to argue back.
She could only stomp away and sulk in a corner...
Shinku, who had just finished preparing dinner and was about to call the two for their meal, happened to hear that whole exchange and fell silent.
"..."
He decided to retract his statement that Seiryū had "maturity beyond his age."
And why was this kid suddenly doing things he couldn't understand again?
He really didn't get what children were thinking these days...
After dinner.
The spar began as planned.
In the backyard.
Seiryū and Kurenai stood facing each other. One was full of confidence. The other… was also full of confidence.
'Does this girl have a trump card?' Seeing this, Seiryū's heart tensed. He didn't dare lower his guard. This afternoon, she was full of fear, so why was she acting like this now?
Something smelled fishy.
Not good. His sibling hierarchy position was at risk again.
Hmph, hmph. I won't cry for long! Kurenai thought with resolve. She had already come up with the perfect plan.
She wouldn't get punched by Seiryū and cry for a long time.
As long as she surrendered fast enough, Seiryū's fists wouldn't have time to reach her.
Looking at the two children standing across from each other, Shinku, serving as witness and referee, spoke up. "Are you both ready? Then begin!"
Swoosh!
After giving the command, he quickly retreated from the scene, leaving the field to the two kids.
"I won't let you make me cry!" Kurenai shouted with determination, charging at Seiryū with a serious expression.
"..." Seiryū didn't dare be careless. This was about his position as the older brother.
The courtyard wasn't large. Kurenai ran forward, and halfway there, she "tripped" on something, letting out an exaggerated "Oof!" as her tiny body dramatically fell to the ground with a loud splat.
She "struggled" to raise her head and looked at Seiryū, who was still two meters away. With an ultra-serious tone, she said, "What powerful Earth Release! Seiryū, you're amazing! You've even mastered Earth Release Ninjutsu! I am no match for you. I surrender!"
Hehe. Surrendered right in front of the referee. Now Seiryū couldn't possibly punch her and make her cry, right?
If he tried, Father would definitely step in to stop him.
Flawless plan.
Seiryū: "..."
Kurenai: "..."
So that's why she was so confident. She had already planned her instant surrender strategy.
But her acting was way too over-the-top, and her excuse made no sense...
"Oh, you..." Shinku didn't know whether to laugh or cry, but found his daughter adorable like this.
He flashed to the center and formally announced, "Kurenai has been knocked down by Seiryū's Earth Release! I declare that Seiryū has won the bet. From now on, Seiryū is the older brother, and Kurenai is the younger sister!"
Kurenai immediately stopped pretending, jumped to her feet, and cheered, "Yay!"
"..." Seiryū didn't know what to say.
[Ding! Mission complete. Reward is being issued...]
Just as Kurenai finished cheering, the system prompt rang in Seiryū's mind, followed by a wave of information—everything about Bakudo #1: Sai (Restrain) appeared. From the flow of spiritual pressure, to the release process, to the core principles… it was all transmitted to his mind.
In short, if Seiryū were in the Bleach world, he would've instantly mastered this technique.
Seiryū reflected silently. Surrendering this afternoon didn't work, but surrendering tonight completed the mission. What exactly was the condition? Was it time? The presence of a referee? Or something else?
He'd have to slowly figure that out later.
This concerned all future missions.
Kurenai brought up the bet, and the time was set for tonight. Surrendering early didn't work, but surrendering during the official match counted.
Was it a timing condition?
Or did it have to do with the witness?
He'd have to test and confirm it step by step...
(To be continued.)