"Only sixty thousand experience after staying in the village for months…"
Akira stared at his panel, speechless.
[EXP: 68,892]
That already included the Chunin Exams and his Root mission.
Inside the village, there was basically no way to farm experience.
And the long-awaited battlefield mission still hadn't come.
He lay sprawled on the sofa.
In front of him, Hyuga Natsuna was vigorously wiping the table—so hard it was practically shining.
…Why did this feel like child labor?
Then again, he was only thirteen himself and already fighting for Konoha.
If the village didn't consider that illegal, then this probably wasn't either.
Still—
wasn't she wiping that table for a bit too long?
"…You need something?" Akira asked.
Natsuna looked at him with hopeful eyes.
"Can I go outside?"
"Then go. Who's stopping you?" Akira rolled his eyes.
If she wanted to leave, he wouldn't stop her.
This wasn't some imprisonment scenario.
She was the one refusing to leave.
"But can you escort me?" Natsuna pleaded. "If anyone from the clan sees me, they'll drag me back for the engagement!"
Akira shook his head without hesitation.
"I don't feel like going out."
If he wasn't farming, he didn't want to leave the house at all.
Anything beyond a hundred meters counted as a long trip.
Natsuna's face fell.
As a caged bird of the main family, she didn't attend the Academy, didn't train—
most of her life was confined to a tiny corner of the Hyuga compound.
…It was a bit harsh.
Akira thought for a moment.
"Come here."
Natsuna crossed her arms and looked at him warily.
"That kind of thing is not allowed."
"Not allowed my ass!"
Smack!
Akira smacked her on the head.
"Clear those filthy thoughts out of your head! With what you've got, who would even be interested?!"
"Machi's more appealing than you!"
Machi, who had just come out to get water, immediately crossed her arms and stared at him.
"…I'm not allowed either."
"I'M THIRTEEN!!" Akira roared. "What is wrong with you two?!"
Machi rolled her eyes and turned to leave.
"Wait, Machi."
Akira placed a hand on Natsuna's head.
"Transformation Jutsu!"
Poof!
The seven-year-old girl transformed—
into a curvy, mature woman in her twenties.
Her face resembled an older version of herself.
Her Byakugan—
replaced with normal brown eyes.
Akira's transformation could be cast on others.
With enough chakra, it could last a long time.
Natsuna looked down—
…couldn't see her feet.
Her face flushed red.
"You're the one with filthy thoughts!!" she snapped.
It was way too obvious.
Akira turned his head, blushing slightly.
So what if he liked mature women?!
"You're not even denying it anymore!!" Natsuna shouted.
"So you're the dirty one after all!"
"Enough, enough." Akira waved it off. "Machi, take her out."
He turned serious.
"No killing. No stealing."
Machi wasn't exactly known for paying.
At least, not in Akira's experience.
Phantom Troupe habits—
see something, take it.
Get blocked, kill.
He handed over most of his cash.
"Got it."
Machi accepted it naturally.
After so long in this world—
she could finally go out.
And honestly—
compared to Akira—
she was practically a saint.
"…I'm going with her?" Natsuna trembled slightly, looking at Akira.
"You got a problem with that?" Machi shot her a cold glance.
Natsuna immediately recalled all the times she'd nearly died at home.
"…No."
Very firm.
Seeing them get along so well, Akira turned back to his panel.
He spent 51,100 EXP and maxed out:
Fire Style: Phoenix Flower Jutsu (Lv.10)
[Trait Selection]
[Fireball: Fireballs are invincible. No arguments allowed.]
"…Why are you here again?" Akira stared at it in disbelief.
Abstract nonsense.
[Split: Upon killing a target, flames spread to nearby enemies.]
"…What is wrong with my Fire Style? I'm basically collecting Brand's entire kit at this point."
[Burn: As long as chakra flows, the flames will not extinguish.]
"…Discount Amaterasu?"
After some thought—
he chose the third.
Reliable.
His jutsu didn't end upon release—
he could control them, sustain them, even reinforce them with chakra.
The result—
a massive boost in power.
Looking at his remaining EXP—
just over ten thousand—
he decided to stop.
"I've got four maxed Fire Style jutsu…"
"Six more, and I can fuse them."
Akira lay back on the sofa.
Grinding in Konoha was impossible.
Ever since they were allowed out—
Machi and Natsuna were gone all day.
Meanwhile—
after several days—
Akira finally received a message from Orochimaru.
He immediately headed to the waterfall training ground.
Several people were already there.
Jiraiya waved at him cheerfully.
Orochimaru stood deep in thought.
Tsunade glanced at him coldly.
"Big bro!! You're finally here!!" Nawaki rushed over excitedly.
Beside him, Mushi-hime clasped her hands, face flushed as she stared at both of them.
…Wait.
Why did that look so weird?!
Akira shot her a suspicious look.
"Alright," Orochimaru spoke up, wearing his usual gentle smile.
"Our mission this time—"
"—is to secretly depart and reinforce the Cloud Village front."
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