Chapter 34 — Explosive Power Surge
Since transplanting the Iwa ninja Gari's bloodline limit, Obuya now wielded the full extent of the fallen shinobi's explosive power.
The transformation was immediate and overwhelming. His muscles felt denser, his reflexes sharper, his entire presence elevated to a level that even he found difficult to fully grasp. Opponents who once posed a lethal threat—ordinary jōnin he would have needed careful tactics to survive against—now seemed almost insignificant. In a direct confrontation, he no longer needed to rely on elaborate strategies. Raw speed and overwhelming force were enough to crush them.
"Finally," he muttered under his breath, a faint gleam of satisfaction flashing in his eyes. "Now I actually have the means to survive in this world. Even if I'm still not on Minato Namikaze's level—a near-Kage-class elite jōnin—I'm strong enough to protect myself… for now."
He quickly suppressed the surge of pride rising in his chest. Losing control to arrogance in the ninja world was the fastest path to death.
Shifting his focus inward, Obuya brought up the system interface. The "Ability Attributes" panel appeared clearly within his mind, displaying the abilities he had accumulated so far.
"Killing a bloodline limit user really does grant a Demon Point," he murmured, recalling the previous battle. "So my assumption was right. Only by defeating—or killing—someone with a bloodline limit can I obtain one."
Another realization followed closely behind. During the Chūnin Exams, defeating Uchiha Shisui had yielded nothing. That meant the reward wasn't tied to the individual, but to the bloodline limit itself. Since he had already obtained the Sharingan, defeating another Uchiha would no longer grant additional Demon Points.
Understanding this, his thoughts turned immediately to allocation.
At present, three abilities stood out as priorities.
The first was Cardiac Shock, currently at Stage Four. Before acquiring Explosion Release, it had been his most powerful offensive technique, and even now, its destructive capability remained undeniable.
The second was Human Body Modification, the foundation of his long-term growth. It governed the evolution of his body and dictated how far he could ultimately go.
The third was Lethal Injection . In his previous battle, its instantaneous activation speed had proven decisive, allowing him to seize the initiative at critical moments. In sudden engagements, it could even outpace Shisui's Shunshin no Jutsu. While it still fell short of Minato's Flying Thunder God Technique, in the chaos of combat, it was nearly impossible to defend against.
Each ability had its own irreplaceable role. Together, they formed the core of his combat system.
"Now that I have Explosion Release," Obuya thought carefully, "I don't need to rely on Cardiac Shock for raw power as much as before. This point should go into Human Body Modification. If I can unlock Bloodline Transplant, then the limitations of borrowed bloodlines will disappear entirely."
He assessed his current condition with cold clarity. Although Gari's power now flowed through him, it was still bound by the original owner's limits. He had inherited the bloodline, but not the full potential behind it. Without a true foundational evolution of his own body, there would always be a ceiling he couldn't break through.
Just as the decision settled in his mind, the system responded.
[Human Body Modification Fruit ability requires 2 Demon Points to upgrade to Stage Two. Confirm?]
"Two?" Obuya frowned slightly.
Spending his only point here would bring no immediate improvement in combat. In the middle of a war, that kind of delayed return was too risky.
Following the principle of prioritizing immediate lethality, he temporarily set aside Human Body Modification. He then considered upgrading Lethal Injection —but the system gave the same response.
Two points required.
Letting out a quiet breath, Obuya made his choice without hesitation. He redirected the Demon Point into Cardiac Shock, favoring instant combat effectiveness over long-term development.
The change occurred instantly.
[Cardiac Shock·Ultimate: High-frequency electrical currents pushed to their absolute limit, surpassing all prior stages. Grants increased speed, enhanced lethality, and stronger chain effects.]
"My ability… has reached its ultimate form," he said softly, unable to hide the faint curve of a smile.
Ultimate meant there was no further path of evolution. This was the peak—no refinement or upgrade could push it any higher.
"Before, it could only paralyze or disable…" he continued, his gaze sharpening. "Now, it can kill instantly."
Just as he prepared to test its power, a voice cut through the forest, sharp with urgency.
"Obuya! If you're still alive, answer me!"
It was Uchiha Shisui.
His voice carried clear anxiety. Moments earlier, he had pursued one of Gari's clones using Shunshin no Jutsu, believing it to be the real body. From his perspective, Obuya had been left alone to face the original—without any comparable movement technique. The situation had looked grim.
"I'm here, Shisui!" Obuya called out.
Before his words had even fully settled, a figure appeared in front of him in a flicker of motion.
Shisui's eyes widened as he took in the scene.
"You… killed him?"
His gaze shifted to Gari's corpse lying on the ground, still faintly crackling with residual electricity.
Obuya gave a short nod, his expression steady. "You can see the condition I'm in. He underestimated me, and I took advantage of that opening."
Shisui studied him carefully—his injuries, his breathing, the aftermath of the battle—before slowly accepting the conclusion.
"…I see."
Then, as if recalling something, he frowned slightly.
"Wait. Isn't your barrier-based bloodline supposed to keep targets alive even after severe damage? Why didn't you capture him? He might've had useful intel."
Obuya's thoughts sharpened instantly. Keeping Gari alive had never been an option. If anyone discovered the transplanted bloodline, it would expose everything.
"In a real fight, you don't get that kind of control," he replied calmly. "Everything happens in a split second. I didn't have time to set up a barrier. Honestly… part of it was luck. I didn't expect to win either."
Shisui held his gaze for a moment, then nodded without further suspicion.
"That's fair. Still… it's a shame. Whatever mission he was carrying dies with him. But at least the threat is eliminated. How are your injuries? Do you need time to recover?"
"They're nothing serious," Obuya answered. "Let's head back and report to the Hokage."
Not long after they left—
Four Iwagakure ninja arrived at the scene, their expressions grim as they surveyed the aftermath.
"He's dead. Not long ago—around ten minutes," one of them said, crouching beside Gari's body as he examined the wound.
"Can you identify the attacker?" a blond man asked, his tone low.
"Difficult. Fatal injury is a stab to the heart. But there's still strong residual lightning chakra in the body. He was hit by a lightning-based attack before dying."
The blond man's expression darkened further.
"Gari had Explosion Release. No sane opponent would fight him at close range. Yet he died in close combat…" His eyes narrowed. "That means the attacker's speed was so fast he couldn't react. And on top of that, they used Lightning Release…"
A brief silence fell—
Then several voices spoke at once.
"Minato Namikaze!"
"Who else could kill Gari instantly at close range?"
"They couldn't have gone far—ten minutes at most. If we move now, we might catch up."
The blond man's lips curled into a sharp grin as he leapt forward.
"I've always wanted to see if the Flying Thunder God can break my clay giant."
The others followed immediately, their figures vanishing into the forest in pursuit.