c5: Devil Fruit Sublimation Edition
After reviewing the detailed analysis about himself, Hinata Matsuba opened his backpack. In fact, he already knew what was inside, even without opening it. He had sensed it from the beginning.
After a brief glance, this backpack was no different from an online game's inventory system, though Matsuba hadn't yet tested its full capacity, so he didn't know how much storage space each grid could hold.
But these were minor details. Surprisingly, there was a compensation package inside a bonus he hadn't anticipated.
"Is this because the system felt guilty about the long update?" Matsuba wondered, unable to predict the system's logic.
However, the Hinata Matsuba Summoning System proved frustratingly unreliable due to its intermittent dialogue function. Still, now that he had the gift pack, he figured he might as well open it.
Clicking on the gift package, a dazzling golden light shot forth, so intense that Matsuba couldn't keep his Tenseigan open.
"Why is this light so blinding? Even my Tenseigan can't handle it. How am I supposed to follow the path of an idol? If this spectacle ends up being something trivial like an okonomiyaki, fruit, or a stick, then this system deserves a beating."
Matsuba's eyes stung. The burst of light brought a searing discomfort, forcing him to look away.
When he finally managed to open his eyes again, Matsuba eagerly checked his backpack to see what rewards he had received. As expected, three new items appeared.
The first thing he noticed was a Devil Fruit. This one was yellow with intricate patterns that defied logical explanation.
Upon discovering it, Matsuba felt torn.
This yellow fruit held immense potential, but like all Devil Fruits, it carried inherent drawbacks fatal weaknesses that couldn't be ignored. That was why Matsuba hesitated.
After a moment of consideration, Matsuba finally made his decision. "Well, I'll open it first. If it turns out to be a good fruit, I'll eat it. If not, I'll just chalk it up as a harvest."
A loss worth tolerating.
He opened his backpack again, preparing to take out the newly acquired Devil Fruit. As his hand hovered over it, a system-generated introduction appeared beside the item. He had to admit, this was one of the system's advantages.
Glint-Glint Fruit (Upgraded Version): This fruit, optimized by the system, has minimized its original drawbacks. Its offensive power has been significantly enhanced, and it boasts increased compatibility, allowing it to synergize with other Devil Fruits without side effects.
At first glance, this upgraded fruit seemed to have no downsides and promised a substantial boost to his abilities. At that moment, Matsuba didn't hesitate. He immediately chose to consume it.
As the fruit slid down his throat, Matsuba's body convulsed briefly. After struggling for a moment, he managed to swallow it completely.
"This stuff tastes absolutely awful. I can't believe I forgot that part," Matsuba groaned, quickly logging out of the system and grabbing a bottle of water to wash it down.
Its flavor and texture were indescribable. It took Matsuba a while to recover from the overwhelming bitterness of the fruit.
What Matsuba hadn't noticed, however, was a line in the item description that had appeared earlier.
Note: The system's upgrade affects only the fruit's abilities and compatibility. The taste remains unchanged and may even intensify in sourness.
Yet, even if Matsuba had noticed this warning, he would still have eaten it without hesitation. Such a minor inconvenience was negligible.
Now, Matsuba set aside thoughts of the fruit's flavor and focused on assessing his own transformation. His hands sparkled, emitting golden light intermittently.
"Did all that flashiness amount to just looking cool? Nah, it's probably because I just consumed the fruit. It hasn't had time to fully activate. Besides, I'm not strong enough yet. It's bound to develop later," he reassured himself optimistically.
He scrutinized the light radiating from his fingers again. Though he wasn't immediately stronger, he believed the fruit would eventually enhance him and unlock techniques he hadn't previously mastered. He expected substantial changes.
"If nothing else, this Glint-Glint Fruit seems like a treasure. Definitely a powerful acquisition."
"Now that I've eaten it, and since it's been upgraded by the system, I'm undoubtedly far stronger than Borsalino (Kizaru)."
Matsuba still had two more items to retrieve from his inventory. This time, he didn't bother re-entering the system but took them directly from his backpack.
These two items were less significant than the Devil Fruit. One was a Rokushiki Manual, and the other was a flash bomb. Neither was particularly useful to the current Matsuba.
Rokushiki consisted of techniques like Tekkai, Geppo, and Soru—each impressive, but still limited. However, some techniques, like Life Return (Seimei Kikan), could be quite intriguing.
What stood out was that these techniques weren't limited to the Naruto world; they originated from the One Piece world. Techniques from that world often pushed the boundaries of human capabilities. Even though Matsuba might not use them immediately, their potential power was undeniable.
Bringing One Piece-style techniques into the Naruto universe could revolutionize combat. These moves would certainly qualify as high-level abilities. However, Matsuba wasn't particularly concerned with flashy skills right now. His top priority was physical training.
In this world, the methods of physical training were clumsy and their effects limited. Compared to One Piece's training regimes, the disparity was astronomical.
That's why physical prowess in the One Piece world was generally far superior to that of shinobi in the Naruto world. Even the legendary Madara Uchiha would struggle against an Admiral from One Piece, with no guarantee of victory.
One of the reasons for this situation is that in the world of Naruto, the use of jutsu is inseparable from chakra, while in the world of pirates, the use of techniques mainly relies on the consumption of physical stamina. The contrast between the two methods is stark and defines the core difference in combat principles between the worlds.
This fundamental difference is plain to see.
However, there are still similarities between the two worlds. For instance, both worlds feature taijutsu (physical combat skills), but due to different underlying systems, the performance of these skills differs considerably. In the One Piece world, physical skills such as Rokushiki—including Geppo (Moonwalk) and Soru (Shave) are executed purely through physical exertion and precise control of muscle strength and movement.
In contrast, taijutsu in the world of Naruto is inherently tied to chakra. Techniques like Leaf Hurricane, used by Rock Lee and Might Guy, rely on channeling chakra through the body to enhance physical strikes. Without chakra as a foundation, such techniques would be impossible to perform.
Based on this analysis, the Rokushiki style from the Marines still holds value. At the very least, it offers considerable advantages to Hinata Matsuba. The thought of integrating techniques akin to Busoshoku Haki (Armament Haki) and Haoshoku Haki (Conqueror's Haki) makes Matsuba's heart race with anticipation.
"Why don't I try using my chakra refining technique now to see if it works? Maybe I can successfully extract chakra," Matsuba mused, eyeing the scroll in his hand.
This was no ordinary scroll—it contained a chakra refining technique, and the weight of this realization stirred a mixture of excitement and tension in Matsuba's heart. After spending so long in this Naruto world, he had finally come across this rare treasure.
Adjusting his focus, Matsuba cleared his mind of distractions and began to meditate on the principles of chakra refining, just as described in the classic techniques used by Konoha shinobi.
In the Naruto world, chakra is formed when an individual's spiritual energy (derived from the mind) and physical energy (generated by every cell of the body) are perfectly harmonized. However, this process is intricate and requires a finely tuned balance.
Fortunately, Matsuba's journey through dimensions had not been without its rewards. Through the system's refinement and upgrades, his bloodline and inherent abilities had been enhanced beyond the limits of ordinary shinobi. In terms of potential, he stood on par with elite figures like the Senju and Uchiha clans, known for their superior chakra reserves and combat prowess.
After a brief period of adaptation, Matsuba felt subtle changes. A faint surge of energy was drawn from countless cells within his body, condensing into a tangible form and flowing outward.
As he witnessed the successful extraction of chakra, a wave of exhilaration swept over him. Without hesitation, he focused on refining this newly formed chakra, intensifying his concentration.
His unique physiology, perhaps akin to the Senju's vital force or the Uzushio clan's longevity, bestowed upon him a clear advantage. Extracting chakra consumed immense energy, but his special constitution allowed him to recover that energy with remarkable speed. This granted him an almost endless supply of chakra to refine, theoretically enabling him to accumulate vast reserves if he persisted.
After an entire night of focused refinement, Matsuba's chakra had undergone a noticeable transformation.
However, as this was his first serious attempt, his experience was limited. By the time dawn broke, Matsuba was utterly exhausted. His eyelids drooped, and he found himself teetering on the edge of sleep, ready to collapse into slumber.
It wasn't surprising—after all, he had spent the previous day training rigorously and hadn't properly rested. To follow that with an all-night session of chakra extraction was sheer folly. Even the most disciplined Konoha jōnin would struggle under such strain.
In the Naruto world, chakra extraction isn't as forgiving as in the cultivation techniques of certain fantasy tales. In those stories, a night of secluded meditation might yield instant growth and leave one feeling refreshed. Here, however, the process was grueling and physically taxing.
Chakra, by its very nature, represents a fusion of mental and physical energies. Extracting it demands not only physical stamina but also mental fortitude. It's a task that tests one's limits.
After his relentless efforts, Matsuba found himself depleted, both in body and spirit. Fortunately, his enhanced constitution, courtesy of his cross-world journey and system upgrades, provided him with enough resilience to stay conscious. Without that advantage, he would have surely fainted from exhaustion.
"This is a hard lesson learned. Next time, I won't push myself so recklessly. I'm not trying to die," Matsuba muttered as he collapsed onto the bed, too weary to move.
"But I still need to eat," he reminded himself, dragging his tired body out of bed and stumbling towards the kitchen.
That morning, breakfast was hearty enough for two people yet Matsuba devoured it all by himself without hesitation.
The night's exertions had left him starving. Chakra refinement wasn't just a mental discipline it was a physically demanding ordeal.
---