Chapter 22: Haze Dojo Training (2)
[You have earned 220 Reputation points with Elder Otuka]
[Your reputation with Elder Otuka has surpassed 500. You are now 'friendly' with him]
[A quest has been unlocked]
[Trial of Steel II - The Water's Flow (Chain Quest) [A]
You have become the disciple of Byakuren's son, Elder Otuka. He has acknowledged your spirit and convictions and decided to wholeheartedly teach you to reach your dreams. You have ignited a new fire in his soul. Learn the passive skill [Water Flow Mastery], a passive skill that allow you to use the momentum of opponents against themselves.
Task - Acquire [Water Flow Mastery] (0 / 1)
Rewards - 10 000 EXP]
"Before we begin, you must have heard of my lineage", Otuka said, "Since you confided your dreams to me, will you listen to an old man's story?"
Takeshi nodded, but quickly realized that the old man would have rambled anyways, regardless of his answer. It was rhetorical.
"First of all, what do you know of Byakuren?"
"He was a glorious leader", Takeshi said instantly, "He founded the village and built a legacy that is still present today. From the military structure to the vast array of ninjutsu he pased down to his disciples and into scrolls, he played a big role in why Kirigakure is one of the five Major Villages today"
Otuka nodded at the words of his disciples. Few knew that the true quality of Byakuren was not his strength, but rather, the legacy he left behind.
"The Mizukage revealed that I am his son. Unfortunately, I inherited none of his talent, so I had to find a way around to become strong. Eventually, I stumbled upon Kenjutsu. During one of my mission in the Land of Iron, I integrated the slow and refined art of samurai into the Mist Kenjutsu style, to create the Haze Style. You have talent that I did not have. You have high chakra reserves for your age, a gift that I would have sacrificed lifespan for. However, you are weak"
Takeshi nodded.
[Name - Takeshi Ryu | Level 24 Academy Student [210 / 3 150 EXP]
Attributes:
Strength - 26 → 30 [D] | Agility - 25 → 29 [D] | Vitality - 30 → 34 [D] | Chakra - 66 → 78 [C]
Perk - Swordsmanship Talent (High) [+], Water Elemental Talent (Medium) [+], Chakra Mastery (Medium) [+]
Taijutsu - Kirigakure Academy Taijutsu [E] (28)
Kenjutsu - Hidden Mist Kenjutsu [D] (60 → 78), Haze Kenjutsu Art [B] (Incomplete)
Ninjutsu - Water Eagle [C] (55 → 60), Water Clone [D] (85 → 90), Water Shield [D] (60 → 65), Water Arrow [D] (20 → 25), Water Wall [D] (15 → 20), Body Flicker Technique [E] (10 → 15)
Shurikenjutsu - Water Shuriken [C] (115 → 120), Shadow Shuriken [D] (12), Shurikenjutsu [E] (25)
Items - ø]
After receiving 10 000 EXP from completing the quest [Trial of Steel I], he had managed to grow tremendously in terms of pure attributes. His physical attributes were on par with mid-genins, while his chakra had already reached mid-chunin levels. Overall, his strength was on par with elite genins at the very least.
However, he was nine. Compared to the likes of Itachi Uchiha, who became a captain ANBU at the age of 12, so by the age of 9, he was already a chunin at the very least.
This was the cold truth of this world. No matter how talented you were, even with a system and relentless, pragmatic training, there would always be a more talented shinobi in the world. On the battlefield, Takeshi knew that there would be a time when he would face Kakashi Hatake, who was a similarly dangerous opponent.
If he wanted to become strong, he had to first acknowledge he was weak.
He had said it
He wanted to become Mizukage, and if it required him to go through a monstrous training, he would go through it. It was his conviction. His nindo.
Unknowingly, Takeshi's mind had become that of a shinobi already.
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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