Naruto:Ten Skill Bar

As Gekkō Ishisaki reached his home, he gasped heavily, his chest rising and falling as he tried to catch his breath. He had sprinted all the way back from the training ground, testing the improvements to his speed and endurance.

I'm definitely faster now, Ishisaki thought, glancing down at his legs. If I retake the Academy's comprehensive test, my speed score would increase by at least a third.

This newfound agility was the result of having School-Level Taijutsu assigned to the passive skill bar for less than a morning. Though the changes were incremental—just a small boost every ten seconds—the cumulative effect was already evident.

---

The Passive Skill Bar's Power

Ishisaki had grown accustomed to the steady improvements from his passive skill bar. The constant, minor enhancements felt like drops of water wearing away at a stone, slowly but surely transforming his body.

But today, Ishisaki's excitement wasn't focused on his passive skills. Instead, his mind was consumed with the potential of Active Skill 3: Unknown. After its role in helping him master Konoha-ryu swordsmanship, Ishisaki couldn't help but wonder what other functions it might possess.

---

A Quick Lunch

Feeling a pang of hunger, Ishisaki rummaged through his refrigerator, preparing a quick and simple meal. As someone who had lived alone since childhood, cooking was second nature to him.

After eating, he tidied up and moved to the living room, sitting cross-legged on the floor. Closing his eyes, Ishisaki summoned the system interface.

The familiar display appeared, with the passive skill bar prominently at the top. But today, he skipped over it, focusing his attention on the three active skills below. His gaze locked on the last skill.

[Active Skill 3: Unknown]

This skill, despite being in a damaged state, had already proven its worth by helping him master swordsmanship. Ishisaki wanted to see if it could do more. Could it, for example, enhance his Chakra Refining Technique or other skills he had already mastered?

"Let's see what it can really do," Ishisaki murmured, his heart pounding with anticipation.

---

Testing Active Skill 3

As he pondered how to begin, the system presented a new prompt.

[Active Skill 3: Unknown – Application Dialogue Available]

"Huh?" Ishisaki raised an eyebrow. Application dialogue? The skill can talk?

It felt surreal. Skills were supposed to be tools, not entities capable of communication. Then again, the way this skill had actively requested activation earlier was already unusual.

"Alright," Ishisaki said hesitantly. "Let's see what you've got. Agree."

---

[Skill Dialogue: Active Skill 3 – Unknown]

[Status: This skill is currently in a damaged state. The system is working on repairs. At present, only the analysis function is operational. Some analysis features are also damaged. Forced activation of other functions may cause the skill to collapse entirely.]

"So, the analysis function is the only thing left working…" Ishisaki muttered. "That's what it used to learn Konoha-ryu swordsmanship. But can it analyze other skills, like the Chakra Refining Technique?"

[Response: The calculation ability required for skill enhancement is damaged. Unable to fulfill the host's request.]

"Calculation?" Ishisaki repeated, frowning. "You're telling me this skill can actually enhance existing techniques? That's what you mean by 'calculation,' right?"

The lack of response made him groan in frustration. "If this function wasn't broken, I could've turned my Chakra Refining Technique into some kind of Chakra Surge Technique by now."

Still, the idea intrigued him. If the system could analyze and enhance existing skills, it would take his growth to an entirely new level. But for now, it seemed that potential was out of reach.

"How long will it take to repair?" Ishisaki asked aloud.

---

[Skill Dialogue: Repair Time Unknown]

[Note: As the host grows stronger, the system's repair capabilities will improve, potentially accelerating the process.]

"So, the stronger I get, the faster you'll repair?" Ishisaki mused. "That's fair enough, I guess. At least it's not a lost cause."

Despite the setback, Ishisaki felt a glimmer of hope. If he continued to grow, the full potential of Active Skill 3 would eventually be unlocked.

---

The Other Active Skills

Ishisaki turned his attention to the other two active skills. Their garbled descriptions made it impossible to discern their purposes.

"What about the first two? Can I activate them and see what they do?"

The system's response was immediate.

[Warning: Activating additional skills will divert repair resources from Active Skill 3, significantly delaying its restoration. This may result in all active skills remaining permanently damaged.]

Ishisaki froze, his brow furrowing. Something about this explanation felt… off.

"Wait a second," he muttered. "You're saying activating the others will slow your repair. But it sounds like you just don't want me to try them."

The lack of response from the system was telling. Ishisaki smirked. "So you're monopolizing the repair rate for yourself, huh?"

---

[Skill Dialogue: Active Skill 3 – Unknown]

[Response: Repairing this skill is currently the most beneficial for the host. Once restored, this skill will assist in repairing other active skills, making it the optimal choice for prioritization.]

"Well played," Ishisaki muttered, shaking his head. "Fine, I'll focus on repairing you first. But I'm keeping an eye on you."

Though the situation was far from ideal, Ishisaki couldn't deny the logic. If Active Skill 3 could help repair the others after its own restoration, it made sense to prioritize it. Still, Ishisaki couldn't shake the feeling that the skill had its own agenda.

---

Meanwhile, at the Hokage's Office

In the Hokage's office, Gekkō Hayate stood before the Third Hokage, having waited over ten minutes for an audience. The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, looked up from his paperwork, a hint of amusement in his eyes.

"You look eager, Hayate. What's brought you here today? Don't tell me you came to brag about some new accomplishment," Hiruzen joked.

Hayate chuckled awkwardly before straightening his posture. "It's not about me, Lord Third. I came to report an extraordinary discovery."

"Discovery?" Hiruzen leaned back in his chair, intrigued. "Go on."

"It's about my cousin, Gekkō Ishisaki," Hayate began, his tone serious. "I believe his talent in swordsmanship rivals that of Konoha's White Fang."

The casual air around Hiruzen evaporated instantly. His eyes sharpened, and the weight of his gaze bore down on Hayate.

"What did you say?" Hiruzen asked, his voice measured but intense.

End of the Chapter.

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