Chapter 178: 178
Time passed quickly for Haruto, Daichi, and the rest of the team. Missions became routine, yet each one brought new lessons, challenges, and growth. The majority of their assignments were C-rank missions, which ranged from escorting merchants to guarding strategic locations, keeping them busy but not overly taxed. These missions were crucial in building their stamina, teamwork, and overall field experience. The repetitive nature of these missions gave them a solid foundation, honing their ability to work together, communicate in high-stress situations, and respond to sudden shifts in danger.
However, as their skills grew, the team was occasionally assigned more dangerous B-rank missions, which offered them the chance to push their limits. On one particular mission, they were tasked with taking down a rogue band of shinobi who had been causing trouble near the border. The mission involved careful planning, stealth, and multiple skirmishes with lower-level missing-nin. Haruto's chakra sensitivity had been critical in pinpointing their enemies before ambushes, while Shisui's Sharingan and Daichi's water techniques kept them one step ahead. Haruto, with his Thunder Scalpel, delivered precise, deadly strikes to their targets, making the mission a success.
Another B-rank mission had them protecting a high-profile diplomat from the Land of Tea. The mission took a dangerous turn when mercenaries attacked, and the team had to adapt quickly. Haruto's role was vital, as he balanced both combat and using medical ninjutsu to heal the diplomat's injuries, while Daichi created barriers and Shisui expertly countered the attackers' movements. These experiences forged their teamwork into something stronger than it had ever been, their roles becoming more defined with each mission.
Now, at eight and a half years old, Haruto was beginning to feel the weight of his progress. He and Daichi had both been granted responsibilities in leading certain aspects of their missions, a rare opportunity for shinobi so young. Sakumo had entrusted them with overseeing tactical decisions, and though the pressure was high, it pushed them to mature faster and think critically about every move they made.
Today, however, was different. Haruto had returned from a simple C-rank mission when he felt the familiar pull of the system reward—that subtle nudge reminding him that his hard work had not gone unnoticed. The system didn't explain the rewards or provide any guidance, but Haruto had grown used to this. It was up to him to interpret and make the best choice.
The options appeared clearly in his mind:
1. Physical Durability Enhancement
2. Chakra Quality
3. Chakra Capacity
4. Chakra Sensitivity
5. Increased Stamina
Haruto took a deep breath as he considered each of the options. Each choice had its own potential, and selecting the right one could significantly impact his growth.
Physical Durability Enhancement was practical, but Haruto didn't see it as essential at the moment. He rarely relied on brute force or simply tanking hits; his fighting style was more about precision, speed, and control. This option didn't align with his current path.
Next, Chakra Capacity was straightforward and appealing. Increasing his chakra reserves would allow him to perform more jutsu and sustain longer battles without tiring. He had a decent amount of chakra for his age, but it wasn't at the chunin level yet. This would help him bridge that gap and maintain his edge during more challenging missions.
Chakra Sensitivity, already at tier 2, had proven invaluable during missions. Being able to sense enemies before they could even attack had saved them multiple times. However, he was satisfied with where it was for now. Pushing it further might be overkill, and Haruto wanted to focus on other aspects, specifically chakra.
The idea of unlocking Stamina (Tier 3) was tempting. His tier 2 stamina already allowed him to outlast most shinobi his age, pushing his training and battle endurance to impressive levels. To take that a step further would be exhilarating, but Haruto wasn't sure if more stamina was necessary right now, his recover was already crazy.
Then there was Chakra Quality—the most mysterious of all. Improving the quality of his chakra intrigued him. What exactly would that mean for his techniques? Would it make his jutsu more efficient? Stronger? Haruto felt that it was worth the risk. If his chakra could be more refined, it could potentially enhance everything he did, from basic ninjutsu to more complex medical and combat techniques.
After careful consideration, Haruto decided to choose Chakra Quality.
Immediately, he felt the familiar surge of energy as the system reward activated. His chakra felt different—denser, more concentrated. It wasn't a massive shift, but the change was noticeable. He quickly formed his Thunder Scalpel to test it out. The moment the technique activated, he could feel the difference. The lightning energy crackling around his fingers felt more potent, sharper. The move was slightly more powerful, and he could sense that it required less chakra than before to achieve the same effect.
What made this even more exciting was that Haruto's jonin-level chakra control made adjusting to the denser chakra effortless. There was no struggle to handle the refined chakra—it flowed smoothly as if he had always been able to manipulate it. This upgrade had only enhanced his abilities without any drawbacks.
Haruto smirked, feeling the improvement. The condensed chakra made his jutsu more powerful, and with his fine-tuned control, he could even use less chakra to achieve the same result. The possibilities were thrilling. If this was just the first step, the potential for the future seemed limitless.
"If this is what one increase in Chakra Quality does," he thought, excitement building in his chest, "I can't wait to choose it four more times!"
With this new power, Haruto felt ready for whatever challenges lay ahead. He closed his eyes, imagining how much further he could push his limits. Now, it was time to train harder, master this newfound strength, and continue his journey toward becoming an unstoppable force.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone