Naruto: Systematic Shinobi Chapter 3: The Grind Begins 2

"FINAAAAAALLLLLYYY!" Daiki's jubilant cry reverberated through training ground sixty-nine.

Anyone stumbling upon the scene, drawn by the sheer volume of his shouting, would have witnessed a lanky, sun-kissed teenager, his dark boxers clinging to his wet form, standing triumphantly atop the flowing stream. He was practically crowing his victory to the heavens.

Seven days! Seven agonizing days dedicated solely to the arduous task of walking on water.

While he embraced the rigorous training a shinobi required, and harbored aspirations of reaching legendary status, this particular challenge had become mind-numbingly monotonous after a full week.

Though he had ample free time, the sheer insanity of spending every waking moment splashing in the water was pushing him to the brink of madness.

"Fuck, I need a break from this hell," Daiki groaned, slumping down onto the water's surface. The surface rippled precariously beneath him, yet he managed to maintain his balance.

He simply had no desire to continue this grueling exercise any longer.

It was undoubtedly common for shinobi to endure extended training sessions, a fact he acknowledged. However, he desperately craved some form of variety.

The only solace that sustained him through this ordeal was the occasional glance at his status screen, observing the steady upward trend of his numerical attributes.

It was an odd comfort, finding peace in the simple act of watching numbers increase, but he certainly wasn't complaining. It served as a much-needed balm for this wretched week.

'Being a ninja is such a pain,' Daiki lamented internally. He mused that perhaps a simpler life, learning a trade in a civilian school, might have brought him more happiness.

Yet, there was no turning back now. Once a ninja, always a ninja, and all that jazz. Besides, he harbored a grim certainty that if he were a civilian, a colossal snake would undoubtedly have him for lunch during the Chunin Exams – such was his luck.

He resolved to shake off this melancholic mood, and there was only one recourse available: "Status."

[Name: Daiki Yurei]

[Age: 13]

[Chakra Capacity: 312/1960 (Genin)]

[Strength: 14/500]

[Endurance: 16.6/500]

[Durability: 14/500]

[Agility: 14/500]

[Taijutsu: 25/500]

[Ninjutsu: 20/500]

[Genjutsu: 10/500]

[Bukijutsu: 15/500]

[Chakra Control: 130.4/500]

[Chakra Affinities:]

[Lightning - (N/A): You have no training with this element.]

"Ah, that's more like it," Daiki sighed with relief as he absorbed the information on his status screen. His eyes widened at his chakra control – it had surpassed one hundred!

It was an incredible surge of progress! After just a week and a half of dedicated effort, he had managed to achieve over a fifth of the maximum potential for this attribute.

However, he anticipated a significant slowdown from this point forward. He wasn't aware of any other chakra control exercises, and if his memory served him correctly from the series, none were prominently featured after mastering water walking.

Beyond Naruto's eventual mastery of Sage Mode and his struggle to balance the Nine-Tails' chakra, were there truly any other usable chakra control exercises available to him? Or was it a stat he would need to cultivate passively, much like he had before discovering the status system, once he completed the leaf-sticking exercise?

Perhaps acquiring more jutsu or training his elemental affinity would help. The problem was the lack of readily available resources; standard library texts wouldn't likely contain instructions for such advanced techniques, would they?

Regardless, on a more positive note, "My chakra capacity has practically doubled since I began this training," Daiki's grin widened to an almost blinding degree– before it rapidly diminished.

Even with this impressive increase, his chakra capacity was still designated as 'Genin level.' This implied that his baseline capacity must have been abysmal initially. In fact, he supposed it still was.

He let out a sigh, his mood fluctuating wildly. What he had achieved here was presented as a pivotal moment for Naruto, a significant milestone that propelled his strength and combat prowess to new heights. Yet, for him, it felt like just another objective completed, with the only acknowledgement from the chirping birds in the trees.

"Screw this, I'm completely over this," Daiki declared, standing up and dismissing his status screen.

His immediate plan was to return home, change his damp undergarments, and then... well, he hadn't decided yet. Anything seemed better than this.

Perhaps purchasing a television would offer a chance to simply laze around his residence and unwind. The thought of undergoing another brutal training regimen, like the 'Konoha Crush,' was enough to send him spiraling. Honestly, at this point, he'd welcome a conversation with Iruka-sensei over this oppressive solitude.

The profound silence surrounding him was almost suffocating.

_________________________________________

Now that he held the rank of Genin, an active member of Konoha's shinobi forces and thus part of its military structure, he no longer needed to rely on the public library.

Instead, he was granted access to the prestigious Konoha Library Archive.

Daiki commenced his journey back through the bustling village, bypassing the Hokage building. His ultimate destination was intricately carved into the very face of the Hokage Mountain itself.

Upon entering the immediate vicinity, several shinobi clad in green vests stood visibly on guard, patrolling the entire perimeter. Daiki was quite certain that hidden from his sight, at least a dozen Anbu Black Ops members were also present, though undetectable. He really wished he possessed the abilities of a sensor ninja. However, being a sensor was a prestigious and rare gift, seldom passed down through bloodlines and often appearing out of the blue. Had he been a natural sensor, he likely would have received special consideration during his academy days. 'The only viable path for me to gain sensory abilities is by mastering the art of harnessing natural energy,' Daiki thought with a huff of frustration.

As he approached the structure built into the mountainside, numerous eyes turned towards him. A mere glance at his forehead protector was sufficient for him to be permitted entry. A low whistle escaped his lips as the entrance sealed behind him, the sound echoing impressively within. The interior of the building was astonishingly vast. Rows upon rows of enormous bookshelves stretched as far as the eye could see. The only area not occupied by shelves, as far as he could discern, was the pathway leading from the entrance to a large, circular table capable of seating perhaps fifty individuals, with a desk situated behind it.

His immediate priority was to ascertain the location of specific resources since he was unfamiliar with the layout. He proceeded towards the front desk, where an older girl, whose face seemed somewhat familiar, sat. She wore a white lab coat, and her eyes were obscured by swirly glasses. If his memory served him correctly, she was Shiho, a member of the Konoha Crypto Analytic Squad. He found it peculiar that she would be working as a librarian. 'Perhaps their laboratory is situated within this building, or even beneath it?' he pondered. Considering the immense volume of data stored here in written form, coupled with the substantial number of guards and its close proximity to the Hokage's office… it seemed a plausible arrangement.

'Hello, can I help you?' she inquired as he paused before the desk. 'Hiya,' Daiki responded with a radiant smile. 'I'm searching for some books or scrolls to aid in my training. Preferably, I'm looking for something containing jutsu instructions or elemental manipulation techniques.'

She regarded him for a moment, her lips pursed in a slight frown. 'I'm afraid that won't be entirely possible. While there are a few scattered jutsu instructions within these walls, you won't find any specific volumes dedicated solely to teaching them here,' the girl replied. 'Furthermore, elemental manipulation is a highly advanced form of training. Access to such knowledge certainly wouldn't be granted to just anyone who walks in; it would present far too great an opportunity for a spy to acquire sensitive information.'

Daiki clicked his tongue in mild irritation. The most straightforward path was now blocked. Why did nothing ever come easily for him? Yet, there was a segment within her statement that he could leverage, wasn't there? Something, however small, was better than nothing. 'Do you happen to know of any texts that contain jutsu instructions, as you mentioned?' he asked, a hint of hope in his voice. At this point, he wasn't particularly discerning. As an orphan with no inherited legacy, obtaining jutsu was exceptionally difficult. Even acquiring a rudimentary, low-level elemental jutsu would provide him with a tangible experience, a foundation upon which to build.

'Hmm…' Shiho hummed, tapping her chin. Daiki winced slightly, bracing himself for an outright refusal, as that was typical of his luck. But then— 'I do recall one, I believe,' she suddenly nodded. 'The instructions for the Shunshin are, I think, written within the taijutsu scroll that guides one in learning the Feather Fist style.'

'Feather Fist?' Daiki blinked in confusion. He had never encountered that particular taijutsu style before. Admittedly, his own knowledge was limited to the academy's basic techniques. However, he was aware of the Strong Fist style from his past life's memories, and he had certainly overheard discussions about various clan-specific taijutsu, given the number of clan members in his class. Examples included the Hyuuga's Gentle Fist, the Uchiha's Interceptor Style, and the Inuzuka's Beast Claw style.

'It's a taijutsu style favored by those who specialize in incredibly swift, precise attacks, best suited for assassin-type shinobi,' Shiho explained with a slight shrug. 'While it's nearly impossible to utilize the Shunshin effectively during direct combat, it can certainly be employed for bursts of acceleration and is highly useful for evading other ninja, provided you are moving in a straight line.'

The Shunshin, he mused. While it wasn't precisely his primary objective, nor the most advantageous technique for combat without a Sharingan or an ability like Shisui Uchiha's to counteract tunnel vision, it was undeniably a valuable starting point. 'Could you show me where it's located?' Daiki inquired. 'Certainly, please follow me.' Shiho rose from her chair and gestured for him to accompany her. He complied, and she led him through the towering aisles of bookshelves.

She stopped before an impressively large bookshelf, laden with countless scrolls and tomes. "We are here," she declared, gesturing towards the upper shelves where a variety of substantial scrolls were neatly arranged.

He followed her pointed finger and his gaze landed on a scroll marked 'Feather Fist.' Adjacent to it was another, labeled 'Sticky Fist,' and then his eyes widened, catching sight of the subsequent scroll in the row.

Strong Fist.

Daiki let out a strangled gasp, "The Strong Fist is here too?" he stammered, incredulous. Wasn't that a Taijutsu style created by Gai himself, a legacy from his father?

"Why would it not be?" Shiho questioned, her brow furrowed. Although he couldn't see her eyes, he surmised she was regarding him with perplexity. "The Strong Fist has always been a Konoha Taijutsu style. It remained incomplete for a considerable period until a man named Maito Dai, the father of our famed shinobi, Maito Gai, took it upon himself to perfect the style."

Ah, that suddenly made a degree of sense, given Dai's history as a perpetual genin and his comparatively lesser strength. He wouldn't have possessed the means to create such a technique from scratch, would he? Nevertheless, it was remarkably impressive what he had achieved with it.

"Doesn't this also include how to open the Eight Gates?" Daiki exclaimed, astonished. Forget jutsu, that was incredibly perilous information!

"It does, and it does not," Shiho replied, shaking her head. "The scroll does contain guidance on preparing one's body for gate opening, but the actual techniques for doing so have been removed from here. Only Gai-san and the Hokage have access to the scrolls detailing that aspect of the Strong Fist."

Oh, that was fortunate.

…And yet, perhaps not.

Learning to unlock the gates independently would have been absolutely incredible! Even just the initial few gates would have provided a massive surge in his capabilities. And as formidable as Gai and Rock Lee were, they primarily utilized the gates to enhance their physical prowess.

From his understanding, the gates also amplified the user's chakra, meaning their ninjutsu would also become significantly more potent.

While Gai and Lee were admittedly weak in ninjutsu, in his hands, if he could master the gates, he could not only skyrocket his physical capabilities but also supercharge any ninjutsu he employed!

"So, am I permitted to take these from the archive?" he inquired.

"You are," Shiho confirmed. "However, as you appear to be only a genin, your limit is strictly two pieces of literature."

Two, huh? That limited him to taking the Strong Fist and the Feather Fist. If he desired, he could learn the Shunshin from the Feather Fist scroll and then focus on training with the Strong Fist.

Alternatively, perhaps concentrating solely on the Feather Fist would be a more prudent path? The Strong Fist, judging by his observations of Gai and Lee, involved a strenuous and grueling regimen of weight training, although they inexplicably focused it only on their legs.

'If I'm going to do it, I'll commit fully and train my arms as well,' Daiki mused. He found the notion of training only one side of his body for combat to be rather illogical.

Still, a limit of two, you say? And he really didn't want to spread his focus too thin. He couldn't exactly replicate Naruto's feat of using shadow clones for accelerated learning. Therefore, dividing his attention among multiple disciplines would be ill-advised.

He was already aware of the mechanics behind shadow clones; they were straightforward. He was simply exceedingly hesitant to attempt them at present, given his limited chakra reserves.

Perhaps when his chakra levels approached those of a chunin, he might consider attempting it. But in his current state, he risked depleting himself entirely in the endeavor.

'It might be wise to abandon the idea of learning the Strong Fist,' he contemplated. The conditioning required, as far as he understood, was quite demanding.

However, it was best to double-check, just in case.

He reached up, retrieved the scroll, and then proceeded to open it, perusing its contents with a swift, cursory read.

'Yes, it primarily emphasizes intense weight training and general physical conditioning, with a specific focus on the legs,' he confirmed, nodding to himself.

The only reason he would require the scroll was for the forms, and he didn't truly need them. It would be more beneficial to acquire another scroll, perhaps one containing a ninjutsu technique.

If he genuinely wished to learn how to open the gates, he would inevitably need to consult the Hokage or Gai. And he couldn't foresee that happening unless he first established a reputation for himself.

Oh, wait, didn't Kakashi also possess knowledge of opening the gates?

'Pfft, my chances of convincing Orochimaru to take me as an apprentice are probably better,' Daiki scoffed internally.

Rolling the scroll back up, he returned it to its place on the shelf before retrieving the Feather Fist scroll.

"Tempting, but my interest currently lies more with jutsu," he stated to Shiho. "So, do you know of any other scrolls that contain ninjutsu techniques?"

Shiho regretfully shook her head. "I am afraid not," she stated, dashing his hopes.

Damn.

"Well, that sucks, but the Body Flicker Technique is a nice consolation prize either way," Daiki shrugged.

And it wasn't as if he was completely out of options for learning jutsu. Beyond the Shadow Clone Technique, he did in fact know how to undergo some very specific training to learn quite the powerful jutsu, a step-by-step process even.

The Rasengan.

It would be a bit of an odd jutsu for him to know, perhaps even a bit suspicious, but at the same time, there is nothing to prevent you from having 're-created' it yourself when attempting to make your own jutsu.

It is a pure chakra manipulation jutsu, after all.

The only problem, once again, is the chakra cost. The Rasengan was an A-rank jutsu and immensely powerful. But it also demanded an absurd amount of chakra to use, chakra he currently lacked.

…If only he were a Jinchuuriki, things would be so much simpler.

Sure, the Akatsuki would present a problem, but they were everyone's problem in the end. He'd rather become strong and have a target on his back than remain weak and be ambushed like he had been before by utter random scrubs.

"Well, thanks for the help," he expressed his gratitude to the older girl, "So, can I check this out now?" he held up the scroll he was holding to her.

"That should be fine," Shiho's lips quirked, "Though, if you are wanting to know jutsu so badly, might I make a few suggestions?"

Daiki blinked, before shrugging, "Sure."

She nodded, "We have a few basic instruction manuals for Fuinjutsu if you want; I can let you check out one of them," the girl said, making his eyes go wide at the mention. "And if you have sufficient chakra control, I know the hospital will assist in training any potential medic ninja, and learning the Mystical Palm Technique is one of the requirements. So, if you are able, it would be a quick way to get some instruction on that jutsu, even if you have no inclination towards being a medic."

Daiki's mind raced at a mile a minute. The healing aspect of the Mystical Palm, wouldn't it be able to mend his muscles and allow his physical training to advance even quicker?

But the bigger draw was Fuinjutsu!

Fuinjutsu was awesome, truly amazing. One of the most basic skills from that art was essentially creating an inventory!

Something his system didn't seem to offer him. He had checked.

…Quite thoroughly.

…And at even greater heights, one could even seal a Tailed Beast with Fuinjutsu.

And he just so happened to know, more or less, where the Sanbi, the three-tailed armored turtle, Isobu, should be at this moment.

Daiki grinned widely, "I think I'll take you up on that offer, Librarian-chan!"

"C-chan!?" Shiho sputtered in response.