Teacher Nishimura quickly finished replacing the broken desk. After that, a rather sleepy and uneventful class passed.
Uchiha Tatsumi stared at his ninjutsu textbook while opening his system interface discreetly.
He had gone to bed early the previous night, so this was his first time checking it in detail.
Looking at his ninja points, he now had 13,500 points—earned through the intense training he'd been undergoing with Tsunade recently.
Without hesitation, he poured all of them into his Taijutsu stat.
System prompt:
"Congratulations to the host for upgrading Taijutsu to Level 8. Compared to Level 7, your speed, stamina, strength, and comprehension of physical techniques have significantly increased."
System update:
"Congratulations. You've become the first student to reach Level 8 in any attribute before graduating from the Academy."
Uchiha Tatsumi glanced at his updated panel:
---
Host: Uchiha Tatsumi
Affiliation: Konohagakure (Land of Fire)
Age: 6
Overall Strength Index: Comparable to a low-tier Chūnin
Chakra Control: Level 4 (0/4000)
Taijutsu: Level 8 (0/16000)
Shurikenjutsu: Level 5 (0/6000)
Hand Seals: Level 4 (0/4000)
Ninjutsu: Level 4 (0/4000)
Genjutsu: Level 5 (0/6000)
Wind Release: Level 4 (0/4000)
Fire Release: Level 4 (0/4000)
Lightning Release: Level 4 (0/4000)
Water Release: Level 0 (0/100)
Earth Release: Level 0 (0/100)
Yang Release: Level 0 (0/100)
Yin Release: Level 0 (0/100)
Remaining Ninja Points: 1,500
---
System prompt:
"Due to completion of a milestone, the host panel will now be upgraded. Estimated upgrade duration: 12 hours."
Tatsumi blinked. "Wait… the system can upgrade itself?"
System:
"Yes. Whenever the host completes a major achievement, panel upgrades may be triggered."
"What does that include? New abilities?"
System:
"Additional stats, elemental synergy features, and attribute fusion capabilities may be unlocked. Further details require host exploration."
"Attribute fusion?" Tatsumi's eyes sparkled.
"Then theoretically… I could eventually use Wood Release like Hashirama? That's Water + Earth + Yang, right? Or even Dust Release like the Third Tsuchikage?"
System:
"Host, please refrain from delusions. Your current status is closer to cannon fodder than Kage."
System:
"Furthermore, attribute fusion is not automatic. The system enhances comprehension—it does not hand over kekkei genkai."
"Tch. You're all bark and no bite."
Tatsumi knew his future path clearly. The only question was how he'd eventually awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan… the trouble was, he had no siblings to sacrifice.
---
During the break, Tatsumi turned to Mizumon, eager to exchange some of what they'd learned that week.
"Actually, Jiraiya-sensei didn't teach me any new elemental ninjutsu," Mizumon admitted. "Just more on chakra control, battle tactics… and something super."
Watergate's grin was practically glowing.
"Wait, don't tell me… it's the Toad Summoning Technique?"
"You already knew?!"
Suddenly, Mizumon playfully locked Tatsumi in a headlock.
"Easy, man, it's my neck not a boulder!" Tatsumi croaked.
---
Jiraiya's most treasured jutsu was obviously his summoning contract with Mount Myōboku's toads. Tsunade had also promised to let Tatsumi sign one someday.
But for now, Tatsumi wasn't impressed. Unless the summon was a tailed beast, summoning felt like a gimmick.
Still… if Flying Thunder God was technically a space-time jutsu like summoning, perhaps the inspiration came from it?
Summoning was notoriously hard to classify by rank—it depended on the creature, chakra cost, and control.
"Anyway," Mizumon said, puffing with pride, "I can now summon a huge toad!"
"Huge? More like a tadpole, probably," Tatsumi muttered.
"It was a tadpole at first," Mizumon admitted. "But now, I can feel it. If I put all my chakra in, I'm summoning an actual toad!"
Unable to hold back, Mizumon cut his finger using a pencil sharpener (how ninja-like), performed the seals under his desk, and—
Puff!
A small cloud of smoke burst out. And then… a slap-sized creature appeared.
It had four legs, a long tail, and was half tadpole, half toad. The thing croaked proudly.
"…That's the mighty toad you summoned?" Tatsumi whispered, trying not to laugh.
"…Hey, Chen."
"What is it, Watergate?"
Watergate turned his back, smiling sweetly—a scary smile.
"Seeing this noble being, don't you have anything you want to say?"
"Uh… it's cute?"
Mistake. Fatal mistake.
Mikoto and Kushina looked away with silent pity.
"I mean—it's got character! So unique, such… form…"
Tatsumi knew. He'd sealed his own fate.
"I think… it's still a tadpole."
"Neck! That's my neck, Watergate!"
---
The tadpole continued hopping on the desk, not yet dispelled.
"Who dares summon me during my bath time—? Hmph!"
"Shhh, Master Toad, please be quiet," Mizumon whispered, covering the creature's mouth and scanning the room nervously.
But Rope Tree, the world-class expert in saying the worst possible thing at the worst possible time, leaned over.
"Hey, Mizumon. Can this thing be eaten?"
Before Tatsumi could stop him, Rope Tree pointed dramatically. "Chen, hit it with your Great Fireball!"
"Pffft—!"
The tadpole spewed a small stream of water that hit Rope Tree right in the face.
Poof!
And then it vanished in a cloud of smoke.