Konoha Training Grove - Sunset
Three exhausted figures lay sprawled across the grassy clearing, their chests heaving like bellows. The evening sun painted their sweat-slicked skin gold as they gasped for air—Hoshita Shūichi, Might Gai, and Hatake Kakashi had pushed their bodies to absolute limits.
Shūichi's muscles screamed in protest, yet his mind buzzed with electric anticipation. After precisely 100 days of grueling training alongside Gai, the activation conditions for his [Physically Gifted] talent had finally been met.
"Activate!" he mentally commanded.
In his mind's eye, the previously grayed-out leaf on his Talent Tree erupted in vibrant emerald light. A surge of inexplicable energy flooded his veins, triggering immediate physiological changes:
Recovery Boost (100% Increase):
Torn muscle fibers began repairing at visible speed
Lactic acid dissipation accelerated dramatically
His heartbeat stabilized far quicker than normal
Metabolic Overdrive:
Ravenous hunger struck like a hammer blow
His stomach growled loud enough to startle Kakashi
Latent Potential Unlocked:
Nerve endings tingled with heightened sensitivity
His limbs felt lighter, as if gravity's pull had weakened
"Incredible..." Shūichi marveled at the tangible enhancements. Yet the system wasn't without limits—his body demanded caloric repayment for this rapid recovery.
The Price of Power
Scrambling for his backup bento (always prepared for post-training crashes), Shūichi analyzed the mechanics:
"The talent enhances my natural biology rather than creating energy ex nihilo. Double recovery means double nutrient consumption."
He devoured the first meal box with savage efficiency, noting how quickly satiation came. Midway through the second bento, he paused—Kakashi hadn't brought provisions.
"Here," Shūichi tossed the remaining container to the silver-haired prodigy. "You'll need this more than me now."
As Kakashi caught it with a nod of thanks, Shūichi's scientific mind raced:
If my base taijutsu aptitude was 5/10, does this make me a 10? But where does that place Gai—15? 20?
The absence of a numerical HUD frustrated him. Without hard data, he could only estimate through sparring results. One thing was certain—tomorrow's training would reveal the truth.
Home Laboratory - Transformation Practice
By 9 PM, freshly bathed and fed, Shūichi turned his attention to the Transformation Technique—finally introduced in class after months of chakra control drills.
Gathering resources, he created the optimal learning environment:
Reference Materials:
His father's annotated scroll on basic ninjutsu
Instructor Murakumo's lecture notes
Nonō's medical diagrams of chakra pathways
Memory Palace Integration:
Created a dedicated "Ninjutsu Wing" for technique storage
Cross-referenced transformation theory with known physiology
Subject Selection:
Chose Might Gai as first transformation target
Recalled every mannerism from three months of observation
The first attempt produced a visual replica—flawed in subtle tells. Gai's signature exuberance was missing.
Poof!
Second try: Posture and expressions matched, but the voice remained off-key.
Third iteration: Perfect synchronization. The mirror reflected Gai's spiky hair, vibrant green jumpsuit, and even his trademark thumbs-up grin.
"Now for the ultimate test..."
"YOSH! LET'S TRAIN UNTIL WE COLLAPSE!" the transformed Shūichi bellowed in Gai's exact timbre. Not even a vibration difference.
New Talent Unlocked: [Transformation Expert]
The system notification glittered in his consciousness:
Requirements:
Master 100 distinct transformations (1/100 completed)
Achieve ≥95% similarity in appearance, mannerisms, and voice
Effects:
Seal-less Casting: Eliminates hand signs for rapid deployment
Deep Mimicry: Replicates behavioral patterns even under scrutiny
Anti-Detection: Only specialized sensors (Byakugan, Sharingan) can pierce the illusion
Shūichi's lips quirked. While impressive, it fell short of White Zetsu's perfect biological mimicry. Still, for infiltration purposes? Priceless.
Strategic Implications
As he dissolved the transformation, Shūichi's mind raced through applications:
Short-Term Goals:
Use classmates as practice targets (already 30+ candidates in Class 1-A)
Test detection thresholds against Kakashi's sharp senses
Advanced Combinations:
Pair with [Prodigy] talent's mental speed for instant persona switching
Develop "nested" transformations for layered disguises
Future Synergies:
Could [Transformation Expert] enhance the Clone Technique?
Might it allow partial transformations (e.g., just arms for weapon mimicry)
The possibilities thrilled him. But first—mastery through repetition.
Beyond Transformation
His success sparked another realization:
If basic jutsu unlock talents, what about the other Academy Three?
Clone Technique:
Current focus: Illusory duplicates (chakra control intensive)
Future potential: Shadow Clone integration
Substitution:
Foundation: Pre-positioned object replacement
Advanced tier: Clone-based counters (like Kakashi's Lightning Clone feints)
"And theoretically..." Shūichi's eyes gleamed, "could Flying Thunder God be considered spatial substitution?"
The lines between jutsu classifications seemed delightfully blurry.
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