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[NTU] [ARC-03-GENIN] Chapter : 40
🕑 Added 2024-05-25 17:26:04 +0000 UTCHolding the enormous scroll, which was more than half a meter long and nearly thirty centimeters thick, Toshiro walked home. The basement transcription session had given him a general idea of its contents.
Much of it, however, seemed cryptic, even for someone with his modern background and theoretical knowledge. He realized that understanding the scroll’s practices would be challenging.
"The practice of Yin and Yang Release is incredibly difficult," he thought. "Just a cursory glance reveals so many concepts I can't grasp. When I actually start practicing, it will be even tougher than I imagined."
He sighed, lamenting the disparity between his situation and those of the protagonists in other fanfics he read, who often had systems to help them become stronger effortlessly. Instead, he could only carry the heavy scroll back home and start training.
Walking into the courtyard, Toshiro sat at the entrance and habitually called out while changing his shoes, "I'm back!"
The sound of footsteps followed, and three figures identical to Toshiro appeared before him.
"Back so late today? I thought you’d be home by noon at the earliest," said one figure, identical in appearance and clothing. His expression was disdainful as he looked Toshiro up and down.
This was Toshiro's shadow clone, left at home to practice fire release. It looked just like him, with no differences.
The daily task for this clone was to stay home and practice fire release nature transformation. With the most scrolls at home related to Fire Release, this approach maximized their utility.
However, this shadow clone was different from the diligent clone Toshiro had imagined. Possibly due to the prolonged training of fire nature, this clone had developed a hot-tempered and unruly personality.
Before Toshiro could scold it, another voice chimed in.
"Great, you brought back such a large scroll. It looks like our workload is about to increase again. Are you trying to be a slave master!"
Seeing the huge scroll, another shadow clone also complained about the increased workload and his relentless work.
This shadow clone stayed home to condense Yang Release Chakra, and in addition to that, he had to study medical ninjutsu knowledge.
Toshiro found himself dealing with a house full of clones, each with a distinct personality, and grumbling about the burdens he placed on them. Despite the challenges ahead, he was determined to master the yin and yang release.
"Calling him a black-hearted slave master doesn’t even begin to describe this guy. We handle all the daily practice tasks, housework, grocery shopping, and cooking while he lives the life!"
The other shadow clone joined in the complaints, though his expression was colder and his voice more detached.
This was the clone Toshiro had recently assigned to stay at home. Previously, this clone had attended the academy in his place. After graduation, it stayed home to learn about genjutsu and handle household chores.
"You should greet me with 'welcome home' and a bow! No sense of ritual at all!" Toshiro retorted.
"Don’t complain so much. You guys can feel the pain of physical training every day, just like I do," he shot back while changing his shoes, responding to the verbal attacks from his shadow clones without missing a beat.
This banter had become a daily pastime—arguing with his own shadow clones. It was a unique, self-indulgent experience.
At the entrance of his house, four identical figures gathered, creating a noisy scene.
"Alright, calm down. I’ve brought back something amazing this time, and it’s going to blow your minds," he said, heading towards the study.
The three clones fell silent and lined up behind him, following him to the study.
The study in Toshiro's house had changed significantly from when he first set it up. The bookshelves had increased from one to three, and the original small square table and futon had been replaced with a larger square table in the center of the study, surrounded by futons on each side.
The study was filled with books, both on the table and in the bookcases. These were all collected by Toshiro over the years, some purchased on his behalf by Mei, and others borrowed and copied from the Academy library.
As soon as he stepped in, the faint smell of books and ink filled his nose.
He sorted through some materials on the desk, then sat on the futon, looking at the three clones sitting cross-legged around the table. He placed the huge scroll on the desk and motioned for them to examine it.
Despite their usual noisiness, his shadow clones knew how to behave during serious moments. If they acted up at a critical time, it would be a significant problem.
"Did you rob the family vault?" asked the Fire Shadow Clone, full of surprise.
"Didn't you say we could only choose one secret technique? How did you end up with both Yin and Yang?" wondered the Genjutsu Clone, puzzled.
"This is great! I've been struggling with Yang Release lately. With this information, it'll be much easier!" exclaimed the Yang Shadow Clone, happily.
Watching their reactions, Toshiro couldn't help but question if something was wrong with his clones. They were all derived from the same chakra, yet their daily practices led to different responses to the same information. This seemed unreasonable, considering the shadow clones were dispelled and recreated each day.
He pondered this inconsistency, wondering why the same essence produced varied reactions.
Regarding fire release, after three years of practicing nature transformation, its power has become significantly stronger. However, if he continued to focus on enhancing its nature transformation, the chakra consumption would increase, which was not ideal for his current situation. As a child, he could barely sustain three shadow clones. During battles, conserving chakra was crucial. It's not just about explosive power; endurance is also a vital aspect of combat effectiveness.
Relying too much on Fire Release could make him vulnerable. It was time to develop a second attribute's nature transformation. After much consideration, he had already made his decision.
Although the fire attribute would pair well with the wind attribute, he decided it was safer to choose the lightning attribute as his second nature. The Third Shinobi War's sequence—first wind, then earth, followed by lightning and water—suggested that lightning could provide a speed advantage.
For Yin Release, he decided to delegate its training to his Genjutsu clone, given the commonalities with Genjutsu. With the scroll on Yang Release, he believed progress in that area would improve.
Reflecting on his Uchiha lineage, he noted that although he could condense yang attribute chakra and use medical ninjutsu, the effects were always subpar. In contrast, his progress in illusions related to spiritual energy was fast. This suggested that Yang Release wasn't his natural affinity, which only motivated him to invest more in that area.
With his overall plan set, he decided to continue following Satoshi-sensei for missions, focusing on physical exercise and real combat for his main body.
After finalizing his future training plan, Toshiro didn't waste any time. He went to his parents' room, retrieved a relatively expensive wooden box from a cabinet, and took out a passbook to check the balance.
'Ninja training is truly expensive!'
Reflecting on when he first learned about his inheritance, he had naively thought that the six or seven million ryo would secure his future.
However, reality was a harsh wake-up call.
The cost of medicinal baths over three years had consumed nearly three million ryo, even with substantial family subsidies. Regular expenses on ninja gear, equipment, and medicinal drinks were manageable. The real financial drain was food, which he hadn't initially considered.
For instance, the 20 pounds of beef he bought recently for nearly 3,000 ryo averaged about 150 ryo per pound. This beef only lasted two days, with more than three pounds consumed per meal. And this didn't include other necessary items like vegetables, rice, bread, and fruits.
To support the chakra consumption of his three shadow clones, Toshiro had to increase his food intake significantly. Without adequate nutritional supplements, generating a large amount of chakra would deplete his body's nutrients, severely hindering his growth and development. Additionally, his rigorous physical training in strength, speed, and endurance further increased his nutritional needs.
After three years, the six or seven million ryo left by his parents were nearly depleted, leaving him with about 300,000 ryo and a passbook containing nearly one million ryo in untouched pension funds. His mother had never taken a penny from this passbook since his birth.
He had no plans to use this money, saving it for the expected Third Shinobi World War. War is always expensive, involving substantial costs beyond just a small amount.
To illustrate, consider the costs of basic ninja tools: shuriken at 100 ryo each, kunai at 400 ryo each, and explosive tags at 750 ryo each. Throwing four shuriken with both hands in one wave costs 800 ryo.
These figures underscore the enormous financial burden of sustaining ninja practice and preparation for potential conflicts.
If you add explosive tags to the mix, the costs become even more staggering.
Although the village provides resupply, based on his previous life's experience, these supplies often fall short of actual consumption. And this is the current pricing—during wartime, the costs of battle-related materials inevitably skyrocket.
Without sufficient preparation, he might face critical shortages of weapons, potions, or explosive tags on the battlefield. Dying due to such shortages would be an ironic twist of fate for a reincarnated guy like me.
“No matter the world or status, making money is important!”
"Anyway, as a member of the police force, I wonder if there are any financial subsidies available?" he pondered. Recalling his previous life, he had spent countless hours in libraries, studying various materials and exam papers to secure a stable job within the system. Despite his efforts, he ultimately fell short.
Now, obtaining an established position here has been surprisingly easy and effortless. Yet, the consequences of this newfound role presented its own challenges.
“Well, I’ll ask Satoshi-sensei tomorrow!”
He also contemplated the tasks ahead and wondered about the remuneration for the low-level missions typically assigned to a Genin.
