(A/N: After careful consideration of the future plot, I've made some changes. The Justice Point function has been removed. Only the Gacha function and the Ninja Shop will remain. However, there's a new addition: he now possesses a Gacha Upgrade Ticket, which can be used to enhance the Gacha function. You can check out the previous chapters incase there are some changes I missed)
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He shrugged off his thoughts for the moment and focused on the Ninja Shop. Quickly, he entered the required Jutsu into the search menu: Mystic Palm Technique.
The screen shifted, displaying the Jutsu's details:
Mystic Palm Technique (A)
- Price: 50,000
- Category: Ninjutsu
- Description (Shōsen Jutsu):
A fundamental medical ninjutsu that utilizes precise chakra control to heal wounds and injuries by accelerating cellular regeneration.
Before this, he had already researched several other medical ninjutsu, such as the Healing Resuscitation Regeneration Technique (Chikatsu Saisei no Jutsu) and the Delicate Illness Extraction Technique (Dokunuki no Jutsu).
However, in the end, the best option was still the Mystic Palm Technique. He glanced at the description one more time and nodded inwardly—this was exactly what he needed.
The only problem was the price. He was more than halfway short of the required points, but it wasn't a major issue for now. He still had two to three months before he'd need it. There would be plenty of opportunities to earn reputation points later.
For now, all he wanted to do was sleep.
It didn't take long before he was tucked into bed. While he only needed about four hours of sleep daily to function, he still made sure to sleep at least six hours whenever possible.
It wasn't long before he drifted off.
In the morning, he woke up early, around 6:30 AM. After freshening up, he created a new batch of twenty shadow clones to replace those training in the forest on the outskirts of New York.
After breakfast, he created two more shadow clones and assigned them to continue working on novel writing and modifications. With the Shadow Clone Jutsu, his life had taken a complete turn. He now had more time to himself since the clones could handle almost everything.
However, he wasn't one to slack off. There were still plenty of tasks he wanted to accomplish. He summoned the system for a quick review, his gaze falling on the description of the Sage Body skill.
"The Sage Body was exactly what I needed," he muttered. The Mana Control skill he received as compensation had been fused with the Sage Body, but his control was still only passable—just enough to perform Jutsu effectively.
The system allowed him to use any Jutsu, but poor control could lead to inefficiency. For instance, he might expend A-rank Jutsu levels of mana for a simple C-rank Jutsu. After realizing this, he focused on improving his mana control.
Unfortunately, training with shadow clones hadn't yielded much progress in this area. Likely due to the differing universal laws, he couldn't use them for mana control exercises. That's why, every morning, he devoted time to refining his control through physical exercises.
Whether it was sticking upside down on the ceiling or attaching multiple objects to his body, he practiced relentlessly. Over time, these exercises brought noticeable improvements.
Still, he wasn't in a hurry. With the Sage Body, it was almost impossible for him to fully deplete his mana reserves. Yet he knew the future would bring challenges—abilities and Jutsu requiring immense amounts of mana. These preparations were for those moments.
Then there were the Adamantine Sealing Chains. Although his shadow clones could practice them, progress was limited because the technique consumed more mana than the clones could expend.
To compensate, he focused on other exercises to refine his abilities. During this time, the shadow clones he had sent out the day before began relaying their progress back to him, while the newly created clones had already taken over their tasks seamlessly.
After a brief rest, he took time to digest the influx of information. Despite the enhancements of the Sage Body and the mental amplifier effect of the Sharingan, the constant use of the Shadow Clone Jutsu left him slightly mentally fatigued. Fortunately, the exhaustion faded within a few minutes, allowing him to resume his work with renewed focus.
After processing the experiences from his shadow clones, he began his daily study of Mana, focusing on Mana manipulation, Mana shape transformation, and Mana elemental transformation.
He had purchased scrolls containing detailed information on these topics. Each scroll was divided into levels, and though progress was gradual, he steadily advanced, gaining deeper understanding with every session.
The more he learned, the more confident he became that, one day, he could create his own Jutsu. However, he understood that such a milestone was still far off and required years of dedication.
He continued studying until evening, when the sun had just begun to set. Feeling restless and bored with his routine, he decided to take a stroll to clear his mind. Perhaps, along the way, he'd grab a drink or two to break the monotony.
-x-X-x-
The sun had long dipped below the horizon, casting the city in a web of artificial light. Neon signs buzzed faintly, their glow reflecting off rain-slicked streets, and the distant hum of traffic filled the air.
Orchid walked leisurely, hands tucked into his pockets, his eyes tracing the intricate dance of shadows and light. The city at night had a rhythm of its own—a pulse he found oddly comforting.
The city was alive in a way that daylight couldn't capture. Street vendors still peddled their wares to late-night wanderers, the aroma of grilled meat and roasted chestnuts wafting through the air.
Somewhere, a street performer strummed a guitar, his voice raspy but soulful. Orchid's lips twitched into a faint smile as he observed the scene. Despite the chaos and grime, there was a strange beauty to this place.
Orchid turned down a quieter street, letting his thoughts wander. The rhythmic tap of his boots against the pavement provided a soothing backdrop to his musings.
As he passed an alley, his keen hearing picked up raised voices. He stopped mid-step, his attention zeroing in on the sounds. The faint buzz of anger and defiance reached his ears—a woman's voice, sharp and biting.
"You think I'm scared of you losers? Go crawl back into whatever gutter you crawled out of." Her tone was fierce, laced with a confidence that made Orchid raise an eyebrow.
Another voice, gruff and menacing, responded. "You've got a mouth on you, don't you? We're being nice, sweetheart. Don't make this harder than it has to be."
The exchange continued, the woman unwavering despite their threats. Orchid's eyes narrowed as he stepped closer to the mouth of the alley. His gaze swept over the scene.
Three men stood blocking the narrow passage, their postures tense and predatory. The woman, arms crossed and chin high, faced them without flinching.
She was defiant, her confidence like a shield. Even as one of the men leaned closer, attempting to intimidate her, she didn't budge.
Orchid tilted his head slightly, observing. The thugs were clearly amateurs, relying more on bluster than actual skill. The woman, on the other hand, seemed to know exactly how to push their buttons. Her words cut like knives, throwing their composure off balance.
For a moment, Orchid considered his options. This wasn't his fight, and the woman seemed capable of holding her ground. But once again he was certain that her harsh words would soon irritate and anger the thugs. At that time their was no telling what they could do.
Besides, this could be an excellent opportunity to earn Achievement points—perhaps even Reputation Points if word of his actions spread.
Fortunately, he had the perfect outfit for the occasion, and with the system's inventory, he could equip it in an instant. Orchid was gone. In his place stood a figure clad in a sleek black ninja suit, a cloak cascading down his back. A mask concealed his face from his chin to his nose, leaving only his piercing gaze exposed. His very appearance exuded an aura of intimidation, enough to unnerve even the boldest onlookers.
With a deep breath, Orchid stepped into the mouth of the alley, his figure swallowed by shadows, his movements silent and deliberate.
As he had expected, the thugs had drawn their knives, and the one who appeared to be their leader already had his gun in hand.
"Where's that little confidence of yours, huh?" the leader taunted, a smug grin spreading across his face. The woman flinched, her feigned courage evaporating. Fear flickered in her eyes as she struggled to maintain composure, though it was clear her attempt had only made things worse.
"Boss, looks like we're gonna have some fun tonight," the thug on the right sneered, his grin grotesque and menacing.
From the shadows, Orchid observed, his frown deepening. Their words grated on him, and his irritation was evident.
It was time to intervene. Stepping forward, his voice cut through the tension like a blade. "How about we step away from the nice lady?"
His voice and the soft shuffle of his boots against the wet ground drew the attention of the thugs. They turned, their initial irritation shifting to confusion as they took in the sight of him.
"Who the hell—?" one of them started, his voice faltering as Orchid's piercing gaze locked onto him.
The woman, though visibly surprised, remained stoic, her eyes darting between Orchid and the thugs. For the first time since the confrontation began, a flicker of uncertainty crossed her face.
"Gentlemen," Orchid said, his voice thick and deep, he had used Mana to amplify specific parts of his voice making it deeper and more fear inducing, "I'd suggest you leave before you regret it."
The leader of the group, a burly man with a scar running down his cheek, sneered and stepped forward. "And what're you supposed to be? Some wannabe hero in a cheap Halloween costume?"
Orchid tilted his head, the faint red glow of his eyes beneath the cloak sending a shiver down the man's spine. "No, I am your worst nightmare,"