NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: Chapter:2
Run?
This is running?
Just slot it in, and it starts right away?
The concept of Chakra Refining doesn't require much explanation. It's one of the first lessons taught at the Ninja Academy. The technique involves combining physical energy and spiritual energy to extract chakra—a vital skill for every ninja.
In theory, everyone has chakra, but ordinary people lack the ability to extract it. Only those with a natural talent for chakra manipulation can successfully refine it. These gifted individuals are the ones who qualify to become ninjas.
For six years, Gekkō Ishisaki had been refining chakra diligently, day and night. But no matter how hard he tried, his talent and aptitude were painfully average. Even now, as graduation approached, his chakra reserves were still among the smallest in the Academy.
In terms of chakra quantity, Ishisaki was stuck at the bottom of the class. He wasn't even close to meeting the basic requirements of a Genin. The limitations of his physical and spiritual energy meant he could only refine chakra three times a day. Attempting a fourth refinement would lead to exhaustion, or worse, unconsciousness.
The instructors had explained that this was normal. As one's body grew stronger and mental energy improved, the number of successful refinements would increase. Over time, chakra reserves would gradually grow.
But this was small comfort to Ishisaki. Compared to Naruto—whose Uzumaki lineage gave him an absurdly high chakra capacity—he was like a single drop of water against an ocean. Even Sasuke, hailed as a genius, seemed worlds apart. Naruto could refine chakra hundreds of times in a day, even as a beginner. The gap between geniuses and ordinary people felt insurmountable.
---
As Ishisaki sat on his bed, reflecting on his meager progress, something unexpected happened.
[Passive Skill 1: Chakra Refining Technique]
[Completed 1 Time]
"Huh?"
He froze, staring at the translucent notification hovering in his vision. A sudden warmth surged through his body, a sensation he recognized immediately—it was the feeling of successfully refining chakra. But something was different. This refinement was flawless, better than anything he had ever achieved before.
Normally, Ishisaki's chakra refining efforts were clumsy and inefficient, yielding only tiny increments of chakra. Yet this time, the process felt perfect. It was as if his body had reached its peak condition, refining chakra without wasting a single ounce of energy.
And most importantly, he hadn't done anything. The passive skill had refined the chakra for him, completely bypassing the usual limitations of physical and mental energy.
"This… is this real?"
---
Before he could process what had happened, the system's voice chimed again.
[Passive Skill 1: Chakra Refining Technique]
[Completed 1 Time]
Another trace of chakra flowed into his reserves. Ishisaki's eyes widened in disbelief. Two perfect chakra refinements in less than ten minutes—without any effort on his part. This passive skill was working autonomously, refining chakra continuously while he simply sat there.
It was unbelievable.
"No fatigue… no consumption…" Ishisaki whispered to himself, excitement bubbling in his chest. "If this continues… doesn't that mean I can refine chakra endlessly?"
He glanced at his meager chakra reserves, barely the size of a pinky finger. But now, with the passive skill at work, those reserves were steadily growing. Every few minutes, another trace of chakra was added, each refinement flawless.
In just half an hour, the system had performed six chakra refinements—double the number Ishisaki could achieve in an entire day. And yet, he felt no exhaustion, no drain on his physical or mental energy. It was as if he were cheating reality itself.
---
"This is insane!" Ishisaki muttered, his hands trembling with excitement. "If I keep this up, I'll reach Genin-level chakra reserves in no time!"
But before he got carried away, a new thought crossed his mind.
"Wait… I still have six empty passive skill slots."
His gaze shifted to the list of available skills displayed by the system. Among them, the first option was still Chakra Refining Technique.
"Can I… install the same skill more than once?" he wondered aloud.
With cautious anticipation, Ishisaki selected Chakra Refining Technique and slotted it into his second passive skill slot.
[Passive Skill 2 Installed Successfully]
[Current Passive Skill 2: Chakra Refining Technique]
[Running]
It worked.
---
A moment later, the system chimed again.
[Passive Skills 1 and 2: Completed 1 Time Each]
This time, two traces of chakra flowed into his reserves simultaneously. Ishisaki could hardly believe it. By installing the same skill in multiple slots, he had effectively doubled the rate of chakra refinement.
"This… this is incredible!" Ishisaki's voice was filled with disbelief and excitement. "If I can keep stacking the same skill… what's stopping me from multiplying my chakra refinement speed even further?"
He couldn't contain his grin. The possibilities were endless.
"Seven passive slots… if I install Chakra Refining Technique in all of them…"
Ishisaki's hands trembled as he moved to fill the remaining five slots. With a few quick selections, the system confirmed his actions.
[Passive Skill 3 Installed Successfully]
[Passive Skill 4 Installed Successfully]
[Passive Skill 5 Installed Successfully]
[Passive Skill 6 Installed Successfully]
[Passive Skill 7 Installed Successfully]
Now, all seven passive slots were occupied by Chakra Refining Technique. The system immediately began running them simultaneously.
---
[Passive Skills 1–7: Completed 1 Time Each]
Seven traces of chakra surged into his reserves at once. Ishisaki felt the sudden influx, his chakra flow swelling far beyond anything he had experienced before.
"This is insane… it's seven times faster than normal!" Ishisaki whispered, his voice shaking with excitement. "Every five minutes, seven perfect refinements. This is beyond anything even Naruto or Sasuke could achieve!"
Unlike them, Ishisaki didn't need to expend any effort. There was no fatigue, no decline in efficiency. The passive skill bar operated continuously, refining chakra in his most optimal state without any interruptions.
End of the Chapter.