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They stepped forward and bowed their heads.
"team 14 here to report, Hokage-sama."
The air was filled with smoke from the constant poofing action of the lord three . On his desk were severals order awaiting to be signed and scroll were were unrolled some form mission reports. On the desk sat Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage.
Before him now stood Shintoki, Izumo and Kotetsu, three young shinobi, their body still wrapped partialy in bandage.
Hiruzen took a slow drag of his pipe, exhaled smoke, and studied them in silence. At last, a faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
Hiruzen: "First, allow me to congratulate you and your team. Though you failed the exam, you have stood your ground and defended the honor of the Leaf Village."
The three genin froze, unsure how to respond.
Hiruzen: "Every other team besides yours was eliminated by enemy shinobi before the encounter with the Kiri team.
Though you did not pass to become chunin now you can always try another time, your actions spared Konoha from disgrace. Without you, the village's reputation would have been severely hurt."
Shintoki, Izumo, and Kotetsu looked embarrased. While they can see the logic in the words a part of them cant still accept it.They had expected a stern lecture, not words of honor and praise. After all, they had still failed the exam — and deep down, the weight of that failure stung
Shintoki tried to maintain his composure to the amusement of the three.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama. I'm truly honored but I don't believe I deserve this. We ran away like cowards. To call us heroes feels too much."
H is tone respectudl and sinsere. Izumo and Kotetsu nodded beside him, faces drawn with humility. They were still young and sincère not yet tempered by the greed of achievement.
Hiruzen chuckled softly, their actions under normal circumstances, would not have earned such recognition but they had spared Konoha from a humiliation that would have cast a shadow on his entire term as Hokage.
He saw in them not failure but potential that only few shinobi possesse Add in their sincerity only make them more valuable in his eye.
Hiruzen: "You faced death and lived. The team you fought was the strongest in the entire exam—and yet you triumphed. Pride is not in victory, but in courage. You have already proven yourselves worthy."
"And You can always prove yourselves further in the future but for now, what you accomplished during the exam is more than enough. The team you faced was the strongest in the entire exam. Considering that you still managed to incapacitate them, you've already done enough you shouldnt feel shame."
Shintoki, Izumo, and Kotetsu stood side by side, visibly tense yet determined. Their hesitation was apparent .
Seeing this, Tsume who had acompanid them finaly took the chance to speak
Tsume:"Just accept the hokage's recongnition. You won't get this kind of opportunity again. After all, this is as good as it get. This will make your future as Konoha shinobi much brighter."
Her tone was firm but encouraging,
Seeing their senseis backing any confusion or hesitation in their heart disperssed.
Hiruzen Sarutobi, the Third Hokage, smiled and nodded approvingly.
Hiruzen: "Indeed. Opportunities like this don't come often. This is a special case one born from the sensitivity of the situation."
Shintoki let out a deep sigh. Then, bowing his head, he replied:
Shintoki: "Fine… if you insist. We'll do our best to improve in the future. We are deeply honored by your recognition, Hokage-sama."
Izumo and Kotetsu immediately followed his lead, bowing respectfully beside him.
Hiruzen nodded, his eyes reflecting both wisdom and pride.
Hiruzen: "Good. You've made the best choice. Now, tell me the details of the fight. For a team of Genin to defeat such an opponent… that's unheard of during the Chūnin Exams."
Izumo, grinning sheepishly, scratched his head.
Izumo:"Honestly, Hokage-sama, we didn't do much. It was mostly Shintoki. His water jutsu, it tore through their formation!"
Shintoki hearing izumo making it all look like shintoki did everything alone was having none of it. So he kickly decided to highly the others participation.
Shintoki: "No, it wasn't just me. Izumo and Kotetsu created the perfect distraction. Without them, my plan would've failed."
So they continued everyone adding in their détails filling in what was left unanswered by the others.
Hiruzen leaned back, satisfaction deep in his voice.
Hiruzen: "Excellent. Your teamwork was remarkable. As reward, each of you will be granted access to one B-rank jutsu, selected to suit your strengths."
Their eyes lit up with excitement showing for once the side of the children of their age.
The trio bowed deeply once again.
"Thank you, Hokage-sama"
After they left, the doors of the Hokage's office closed behind them.
As they walked down the corridor, Tsume turned to her team with a smile.
Tsume:"All right. As promised We celebrate tonight. There's a barbecue place near the Akimichi District. I'll reserve us a table."
Kotetsu and Izumo exchanged a smiles very overcome by the momemt. Shintoki bowed lightly.
Shintoki: "I think I'll head home first to rest and change. I'll meet you all there later, sensei."
As he disappeared down the street, the others headed the opposite way, laughting echoing faintly behind him from his teamate and sens who were walking together.
Later, as he walked through the quiet streets of Konoha, calm and serene yet his thoughts were restless.
Shintoki murmured to himself.
"Things could've gone so differently… I need to get stronger."
"If only I had awakened my system… indeed his limied streght realy make him look helpless. Without necesssary strength he wont survive long in the shinobi world."
Suddenly
a Ding echoed in his mind.
System: "Well done, Owner, for overcoming the odds. As a reward, you have been granted the Infinity System. Owner is now awarded the Lifetime Card."
Shintoki froze.
Shintoki: "Whaaaaat?" what is that? He looked around franticaly.
Before he could process it, new text appeared in glowing letters before his eyes.
It read system. Wait did I just awakened one of those power? At this his eye finaly lit up. I wonder what kind of ability it can give me.
His mood sudenly got alot bettef.
System Notice
[The system has detected traces of the Shinoike Clan's bloodline within the host. However, due to its diluted potency, it remains dormant. Even under extreme emotional stress, awakening is highly unlikely.].
[However, should the host choose to use the Infinity Card on this bloodline, the system will enhance its potency to the highest level awakening the purest form of the Ketsuryūgan, worthy of a true Shinoike descendant. This form possesses limitless potential to surpass all known boundaries.]
This is so unexpected.
System: "Congratulations, Shintoki. You have awakened your dōjutsu in its purest form. The true power of the Ketsuryūgan is now within your grasp. All that remains is to master it."
But before he can celebrate another information apeared.
[Due to the host's current limitations in chakra, physical imaturity, and combat experience, using the full power of the Ketsuryūgan may cause severe strain. The host must achieve at least 50% mastery to wield it safely.]
Mastery Progress:
Eyes faintly crimson shintoki was left full of energy, his excitement at the turn of event was hard to contain.He could fell the change in his body. His destiny had just changed and about to take a different turn forever.
0% → 4%
He could fell it not just his dojutsu the bloodline limit of the chinoike, the change is in his body and chakra too.
His blood were breaming with life energy and his chakra have a certain presence that didnt exist before.
Shintoki was too bewildered the system he didnt pocess before had finaly awakened and the reward was extraordinary.
And with shintoki already having build a strong base for himself in nin, gen and ken with Ketsuryugan as his trump card his strenght and fluidity in batle will skyrocket.
Shintoki wondered how this dojutsu will affect his water release and other ability after all Ketsuryūgan can also control liquid.
He didnt need his dojutsu to pocess anything as flash as susano since the cost for it in the first place is too great but as long it boost his chakra, kenjutsu, genjutsu and ninjutsu it will be enough.
The greatest utility of Ketsuryugan for shintoki lied in his blood mastery which will unable shintoki to not only learn curse art that feed on lifeforce bit also push its boundary.
Before shintoki was unsure if he would reach the weight of the legendary shinobi of this world but now he was seeing this possibility with his ketsurgugan.
He decided then to resume his return and rest as he told his team.
Once they celebrate he could check the system later.
Better to leave fast.
And with that he was gone.
.....
With his team in the rendez vous point.
Shintoki was the last to arrive and apologized to his comrade.
Tsume sensei ordered a barbecue and they all eat to their hearts content.
The owner of the bar an akimichi had a gentle smile on his face. He congratulated tsume and her disciple seeing that the whole village is talking about them.
His words gave them warms and eased the pressure in their heart instead filling them with pride.
Shintoki and his freinds kotetsu and Izumo kickly thanked the akimichi happily and stated they will work even harder than before.
Their face was adorable when they say it making tsume chuckle.
They then attacked their food.
They talked and laughed giving jab to each other.
After eating the barebecue they made new command which only pleased the akimichi who even offered them some bonus and a card that will allow them to get special service again if they want his reason when they refused they are all comrade and he realy like the three kids with tsume.
By the time they were done it was already late , the moon in the sky shinning brighter.
Shintoki then excused himself and departed.
His teammates went their own way, still laughing as they vanished down another street heading to a specific place since they have something else planned afterward.. Shintoki leapt to the rooftops, his movements smooth and powerful.
He landed before his small apartment, breathing steadily, not a trace of fatigue.
His mood very great.
So cool I cant wait to test the ketsuryugans power.
But for now I should keep in a secret.
"Incredible... I can't wait to see what the Ketsuryūgan can really do." said shintoki with a smile
He had already accepted that he didnt pocess a system and that by working hard he might be a junin by the time he reach adulthood and gain junin level chakra and if he is lucky he might be somewhere around base jiraiya in strenght without the sommoning technique yet now the awakening of the kekkai genkai change this completely.
His once know limit have become a unknown. Now only one question was je his mind will be reach the level of the legendary shinobi?
For now I need to rest.
Tomorrow he will check in detail the systems function