Naruto:Ten Skill Bar

Gekkō Ishisaki was just about to take out the illusion scroll and analyze it with his skill system, hoping it would enhance his mental power and, by extension, the efficiency of his Chakra refining technique.

However, a sudden knock at the door interrupted his plans.

"Ishisaki, are you home? It's me, Uncle Masano!"

Uncle Masano?

Ishisaki hurried to the door and opened it.

Gekkō Masano, a nearly forty-year-old Chūnin with a sturdy build and thick arms, stood there. Though his strength was average, Masano had always been close to Ishisaki's father and had cared for Ishisaki ever since his parents passed away.

"Uncle Masano, come in!" Ishisaki said warmly. "I'll make some tea!"

Masano stepped in and waved his hand dismissively. "Sure, sure! Add more tea this time!"

Ishisaki quickly busied himself preparing tea while Masano made himself comfortable.

The older ninja looked around the house, which was modest but well-kept, and smiled

When Ishisaki returned with steaming tea, Masano took the cup and spoke, "You're about to graduate soon, aren't you? Work hard. These last few months are crucial."

Ishisaki nodded. "Thank you for the encouragement, Uncle Masano."

Masano reached out and patted Ishisaki's head affectionately. "You seem... different. It's a good change, though. You don't look as troubled as you used to. What could a young kid like you possibly worry about, anyway?"

"I've been feeling more motivated lately," Ishisaki replied with a smile.

Masano chuckled. "That's good to hear. It's important to have confidence."

Reaching into his pouch, Masano pulled out a small box and placed it on the table. Inside was a wallet with money.

"These are your living expenses," he said.

Ishisaki shook his head. "Uncle Masano, the money my parents left is more than enough for me."

"Nonsense," Masano said, waving off the protest. "Your parents worked hard for that money. Save it for when you get married someday. Don't spend it all now."

Ishisaki couldn't help but smile at the comment. "Thank you, Uncle Masano."

Masano grinned. "The Gekkō Clan may be small, but we take care of our own!"

As Masano prepared to leave, he stopped at the door and turned back.

"Oh, by the way," he began, pulling a scroll from his pouch. "Hayate mentioned yesterday that you were looking for ninjutsu scrolls."

Ishisaki started to decline, explaining that Hayate had already helped him, but Masano interrupted.

"Here," he said, handing over the scroll. "It's a Fire Style ninjutsu scroll. I don't know if you can learn it since I'm not a ninjutsu specialist myself, but it might be worth a try."

Before Ishisaki could respond, Masano patted him on the shoulder and left.

Ishisaki stared at the scroll in his hands, his heart swelling with gratitude. For a Chūnin, obtaining a ninjutsu scroll wasn't easy, and yet Masano had handed it over without hesitation.

"Uncle Masano, you've done so much for me. I'll make sure to repay you a thousand times over someday," Ishisaki whispered.

Ishisaki opened the scroll on his table and began studying it carefully.

"Can this be analyzed?"

[Analyzing...]

The system responded, and the process began.

The progress bar appeared in Ishisaki's mind.

[1%]

[1.5%]

"It's slow," Ishisaki noted. Each increase was only 0.5%. It was slower than when it analyzed (Transparency), but he reasoned that Masano wasn't there to explain the technique step-by-step like Hayate had been.

Determined to speed things up, Ishisaki started practicing the hand seals and chakra control methods described in the scroll.

While this slightly accelerated the process, it was still a painstaking endeavor. Hours passed as Ishisaki sat there, refining his chakra and repeating the seals.

Finally, as the clock ticked past midnight, the progress bar inched toward completion.

[99.5%]

[Analysis complete!]

The system chimed.

[Congratulations! You have acquired a new skill: Fire Style—Fire Dragon Technique.]

[You have also unlocked: Nature Transformation—Fire.]

"Fire Dragon Technique? And I gained the fire attribute too?" Ishisaki's eyes widened in surprise.

Most Genin could only access one chakra nature, but Ishisaki now had two: Water and Fire.

Looking at his hands, Ishisaki pondered the possibilities.

"With water and fire attributes, I could theoretically develop Boil Style!"

Boil Style, a Kekkei Genkai, used the combination of water and fire chakra to create boiling steam. If Ishisaki could master it, he'd gain access to incredibly destructive power.

"The thought of boiling chakra coursing through my body... combined with my ability to sustain infinite physical strength, I could become unstoppable," he mused.

However, he quickly tempered his excitement.

"I'll need guidance. Combining chakra natures is no simple feat. Without proper training, the two energies could clash and kill me."

The system chimed in.

[Unknown ※: Attempting to combine natures is possible but risky. Proceed with caution.]

"Well," Ishisaki said with a wry smile. "Nothing ventured, nothing gained."

Ishisaki began focusing on his chakra. He recalled the volatile energy he'd experienced the last time he attempted simultaneous nature transformations.

"If I'm not careful, this could end very badly," he muttered.

But he was determined.

"Great power requires great risk. Let's do this!"

Taking a deep breath, Ishisaki concentrated on merging his water and fire chakra. He visualized the two elements intertwining, not clashing, but harmonizing.

At first, the energy felt unstable, like a boiling pot about to overflow. Ishisaki's forehead dripped with sweat, and his hands trembled as he tried to maintain control.

The room was filled with tension, and the air around Ishisaki grew warm.

End of the Chapter.

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