Chapitre 88: Chapter 88 - The truth is, My Ability is...

It was the second weekend of May. Daichi was at home completing the first step of his earth nature training. It has now been three weeks since he started the training.

'Come on. Just a bit more…'

[Skill Earth - Leaf crumbling technique's level has risen by one.]

'Yes!'

[Earth - Leaf crumbling technique - (Active/Passive)(LV. MAX)]

[Effects:]

100% increase in Earth Chakra control.

CP cost : 3/sec.

[Congratulations. You have successfully trained a skill to its highest level.]

[+500 Exp.]

[+75 Exp.]

"I did it. It's finally completed." Daichi sat down to meditate and soon was back to prime condition.

At that moment Kensei came to the training field.

"I completed the first step, gramps…"

"What?!" 'So soon?'

"Yup!" Daichi picked up a leaf and placed it between his index and middle finger. He only injected a small portion of his chakra into the leaf for a second but it was enough. The leaf instantly turned to dirt and earth and crumbled with the wind.

Kensei was astonished as he watched the scene. 'I thought I had gotten used to his talents and growth speed, yet he still managed to surprise me.'

"For ordinary people it would take 5 to 8 months to master this step. For someone capable it would take two or three months. And yet you were able to complete it in 3 weeks… You used the shadow clones to speed up the process… But still… Truly impressive, boy!" Kensei had a smile on his face.

Daichi had a smile when he heard him. "I'm going to take the next two days off and do some light training and relax. I'll start the second step after that… Truth be told. I'm exhausted."

Kensei understood and simply nodded.

"I'll be back. I'm gonna get something to eat. You want anything gramps?"

Kensei merely shook his head. He watched Daichi go inside the house for some snacks.

For the past three weeks Kensei had seen the boy training relentlessly, with only taking a couple days in between to rest. At that moment he tried to sense Daichi's chakra and what he felt was within his expectations.

'He only had a small amount of chakra left after he was done with his training but… His body is regenerating his chakra at an astonishing speed. His chakra is replenishing at 3… No 4? Times faster than before. Hmm… '

Kensei had a complicated expression as he looked at Daichi who came back with some fresh steaming buns.

'I can't delay it any longer… The secret of his incredible growth. I want to know. I'm sure Daichi knows the secrets of his body. Or at the very least he has an idea. The question is… Is he willing to share those secrets with me?'

Kensei came near Daichi and sat down. He had a serious expression which confused Daichi.

"Daichi, I'm going to ask you a question… I'd very much like for you to answer me... But… If you don't want to answer, then I'll understand…"

Daichi was on guard as he heard Kensei. 'What is he…? What does he want to know?'

"Daichi… Do you have any special abilities that help you with your growth?"

Kensei kept his eyes on Daichi. He saw that the kid had become defensive the moment the question was asked. It was the subtle signs.

'He's learned how to mask his reactions far better now. A trained interrogator would still be able to see through him, but… he'd be able to fool the average Joe.'

Daichi was startled. He knew the old man would ask this question one day but he didn't think it'd be so soon. 'In hindsight I should have expected this. With everything I've learned and shown… And my speed and strength… Now that I think about it, I'm kinda surprised it took him this long to ask. Still… Should I tell him?'

Daichi decided to respond with a question of his own. He had a wide smile and asked "Come on! What makes you say that…?"

Kensei sighed as he heard the question. "Daichi, the way I see it… Your secrets are yours. Like I said before, if you don't want to tell me… It's fine. But don't think of me as an idiot."

Daichi's smile fell and then he sighed. "Fair enough."

Daichi mentally struggled with the decision. 'On the one hand, he's helped me a lot. Much more than I ever expected. On the other hand, do I trust someone else with my secrets?'

Daichi was silent for several seconds. Kensei could see that the boy was struggling to make a choice.

'Seems those secrets will stay with him…'

The old man let out a small, slightly sad sigh and was about to walk away when Daichi spoke up.

"Yes!" Daichi looked at Kensei and replied to his question. "To answer your question, yes! I do have some abilities. At least I think so."

Kensei was surprised that Daichi admitted that much. He felt happy that Daichi decided to open up to him.

"What are they?" Kensei asked with great curiosity.

"Before I answer that, how much have you figured out about my abilities?" Daichi asked while sitting down on the back porch.

Kensei joined him. He looked at the setting sun and began to recall the observations he made on Daichi over the course of the last 3 years.

"Over the years I noticed that your chakra reserve increases at an exceptionally faster rate. Despite being 8 years old, you only need at most 5 hours of sleep each day. No matter how exhausted, bruised or wounded you are, you completely recover with a single night's rest. Your chakra and stamina recovery after exhaustion is incredible but when you meditate, that recovery increases by several fold. For some reason your natural recovery has become much faster this year. You're immune to Genjutsu. Well, most genjutsu anyway. You have a steep learning curve. Your body is far more durable than most chunins. And finally based on my observations your body has the ability to adapt and become stronger when pressured. It's as if your body detects that it needs to improve to survive. For example when you lack chakra your body increases your chakra volume and expands so on. I don't know if you're the one consciously doing it or if it's your body's automatic response? But I know there is a limit. Otherwise you'd already have surpassed me by now."

Kensei concluded and turned to look at Daichi. He saw that the kid was wide eyed and jaw dropped. Kensei smirked at that. "Seeing your reaction I take it, I'm right?"

"Umm…" Daichi didn't have any words to speak of at that moment. He was having a mental freakout.

'Holy fucking shit! How the hell is someone so perceptive? He knows all that? I thought he only knew about my genjutsu immunity and my growth speed but this is insane! He figured out the immunity aspect of the gamer's mind and several aspects of the gamer's body. He was able to sense my HP, CP, SP recovery and he was able to note that it increases during my meditation. He figured out that I heal wounds with one night's rest and somehow he came to the conclusion that I was able to increase my strength at will… By using points I can increase my strength and chakra volume. But he's not sure if I'm the one doing it or if its my body's natural response. Still… I can't believe he figured out something like that… Despite not knowing about the gamer's ability, he was able to deduce several of its aspects from just observing me… His intuition, perception and observational skills are incredible...'

Daichi opened and closed his mouth several times but no words came out. Neither of them spoke for a couple of minutes. After a minute Daichi gathered his thoughts and answered.

"I can't believe you figured out so much." He said in a low voice.

"Well… you have been living under my roof, sparring with me and training in my backyard for the last 3 years. It's only natural that I'd notice your anomalies."

Daichi nodded at that. 'I need to be more cautious from now on.'

"Yes. You're right, gramps. I only need to sleep for about 4 hours to be fully healed and be at peak form. And my body does have a limited ability to adapt to stressful situations by increasing my strength and chakra. It's an automatic response. And I pick up jutsus and techniques at a much faster rate than others. And meditation does help me recover chakra and stamina faster after a workout. You're right about everything." Daichi said with a small smile.

Reputation increases with Kensei Yasaji.

Kensei had a gentle smile on his face. 'He trusts me. I could see how difficult revealing this was for him… But the fact that he did means he trusts me with his secrets. Thank you Daichi. I'll make sure not to betray this trust.' Kensei only smiled and didn't say a single word of his thoughts to Daichi. Actions speak louder than words afterall.

"The truth is… My ability is a special kekkei genkai. Or at least that's my understanding. I don't know anyone in the village that has abilities like mine. I don't think there is any… So …" Daichi told the old man.

"I see…" Kensei pondered on that. "You might be right about that. I haven't heard of a person let alone a whole clan that has shown your uniqueness."

"You figured out this much about my powers.! Think you have a theory?"

Daichi enquired with genuine curiosity. Or at least that's what it looked like. Daichi knew no matter how smart Kensei was he would never be able to figure out that Daichi possesses an ability that could interact with the world itself. The gamer ability. Because the concept of a gamer itself didn't exist in this world.

"I might have an idea." Kensei thought about Daichi's question and answered after several seconds.

"The first Hokage Hashirama Senju had the power to use Wood style. It was a unique Ninjutsu that only he could use. From what I know neither his brother nor his descendants possessed the ability to use this Kekkei Genkai. It was concluded that it was a mutation specific to him… My guess is… you're the same case. Your ability might be a rare genetic mutation. I'm sure your parents didn't have your abilities but you might be able to pass it on to your descendants. Or you might not… We can't know for sure… But what I'm sure of is that you're probably the only one in the world who possesses a body with such capabilities…"

Daichi crossed his arms and thought about what Kensei said. He nodded along with his grandfather's assumption.

'That's an interesting idea. If someone… No! When someone in the future asks these same questions then I can say that I have a specific mutated Kekkei Genkai. They can't exactly disprove it. And by that time, I'll be strong enough to handle most people that come my way.'

Both of them sat in silence for a while and enjoyed the last rays of the sun as it disappeared over the horizon.

"Thank you Daichi." Kensei looked at the kid. "For trusting me with your secret."

Daichi smiled and nodded but didn't say anything. They both retired to their rooms shortly after. Kensei was happy that his grandson decided to trust him but unknown to him, happiness was not what Daichi felt.

As Daichi closed the door to his room, he had a complicated feeling in his heart. 'I'm sorry I can't tell you the whole truth, old man… It's just…'

Daichi clenched his fists in anger and sadness.

'Damn it! Damn it! DAMN IT!... Despite everything he's done for me… I… I still can't bring myself to completely trust him… Why?'

Small trails of tears started rolling down his eyes as he sat in a corner of the room. The Gamer's Mind activated and calmed him down more than once… But, Daichi's tears didn't stop for several minutes as he sat there in silence without an answer.