Kiyoshi had a guess in mind, and he turned to practice throwing shuriken.
When Sakumo Hatake returned, he would be unable to withstand the village's public opinion and would soon commit suicide.
Kiyoshi could not change this event.
He could only use it as a temporal marker for himself.
After Kakashi graduated, Obito, Rin Nohara, and others would also graduate successively.
Following that, small skirmishes would continuously break out.
This would continue until the Third Kazekage was poisoned and taken by Sasori. Once the Hidden Sand Village discovered the Kazekage was missing, they would immediately fall into a chaotic, leaderless state.
This major event would become the fuse for the Third Great Ninja War.
"Kiyoshi?" Kurenai Yūhi parted her lips, noticing that Kiyoshi was now seriously throwing shuriken.
She looked at the shuriken in her hand and began practicing as well.
"You have comprehended a new Trait: [Sturdy Physique (White)]"
The translucent panel appeared before Kiyoshi's eyes.
[Trait: Sturdy Physique (White)]
[Requirement Achieved: Physical fitness far surpasses peers, excavating the physical potential of the Yotsuki clan.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: Your muscles become more powerful; strength increases by 5% on top of your existing foundation.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded later.]
"You have acquired a new Trait: [Shuriken Throwing Technique (White)]"
The translucent panel appeared before Kiyoshi's eyes.
[Trait: Shuriken Throwing Technique (White)]
[Requirement Achieved: Master the indispensable shuriken technique of a ninja.]
[Progress: 1%.]
[Effect: The power of your shuriken technique increases by 5%.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded later.]
Two Traits rang out consecutively in Kiyoshi's mind.
If the condition was met, the term "comprehended" was used.
If the Trait condition was not yet met, the term "acquired" was used.
These were minor details. Seeing the appearance of the [Sturdy Physique] Trait, Kiyoshi's black pupils flickered.
"I can finally synthesize the first Green Trait."
Kiyoshi felt a warm current circulating through his limbs and bones, like bathing in a hot spring.
When he clenched his fist, he could feel a sense of power.
"The [Long Distance Runner] Trait increased my leg strength by 5%, and the [Sturdy Physique] Trait increased my overall strength by 5%. Do these two stack?"
Kiyoshi pondered while throwing a new shuriken.
The shuriken landed with a soft thud.
The shuriken was embedded one-third of the way into the training dummy.
Previously, his shuriken only had the shallowest part of the tip inserted into the dummy.
This was the effect of the [Sturdy Physique] Trait.
"I wonder if the Wind Release: Rasenshuriken is included in the range of shuriken mentioned on the Trait panel." Kiyoshi thought.
"Kiyoshi, your strength is incredible." Kurenai Yūhi had just observed Kiyoshi's movements were unfamiliar, yet somehow, his shuriken throwing speed drastically increased, instantly embedding the shuriken into the dummy.
If that had been flesh and blood, would it have pierced all the way to the bone?
"Just luck. That spot was particularly weak," Kiyoshi shook his head.
He then found an excuse to leave the training ground and entered the restroom, intending to synthesize the new Trait.
Kiyoshi opened the Trait panel and saw that the advancement route under [Apprentice Lightning Release Ninja (White)] was flickering slightly.
He tried clicking on it with his mind, and a new pop-up immediately appeared.
"Advancement Route One has been satisfied. Proceed with advancement?"
The emotionless mechanical synthesized female voice sounded.
Kiyoshi nodded and said: "Advance."
The next moment.
"You have acquired a new Trait: [Lightning Release Genin (Green)]."
[Trait: Lightning Release Genin (Green)]
[Requirement Achieved: Meet the minimum physical fitness requirement for a Lightning Release Genin.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: Your circulatory system will have a better adaptation to 'Lightning,' increasing by 20% on top of your existing foundation.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded later.]
"The circulatory system..." Kiyoshi immediately began refining chakra and executing [Lightning Release: Iron Armor]. He noticed that the current diffusing through the subtle circulatory system beneath his skin was much smoother than before.
"Does this mean I can gather more Lightning Release chakra in my circulatory system?" Kiyoshi wondered.
A ninja's strength is limited not only by their total chakra but also by their circulatory system.
The circulatory system determines the "flow rate" of chakra within the body.
The circulatory system is extremely minute, existing within every single cell.
All refined chakra can circulate through the circulatory system immediately.
The Lightning Release Chakra Mode is a technique that involves coating the body with Lightning Release chakra to vitalize the physique, thereby enhancing durability and speed.
However, this technique is not something everyone can do, and there is a limit to how much chakra can be gathered in each part of the body.
When Sasuke encountered Itachi, he gathered an excessive amount of Lightning Release chakra in his hand to perform the Chidori due to his intense emotions, far exceeding his capacity, resulting in damage to his skin.
Kiyoshi's circulatory system now has a 20% increased adaptation to Lightning Release. In other words, the limit for casting a series of Lightning Release Ninjutsu, such as Chidori, will also be 20% higher.
After a moment of thought, Kiyoshi closed the Trait panel and returned to practicing shuriken throwing to increase his progress for that Trait.
***
In the evening, school was dismissed.
Kiyoshi made an excuse to give Kurenai Yūhi the evening off and sent her home. He then quickly made his way toward Kakashi's house.
After the White Fang of the Leaf dies, Kakashi will fall into an obsessive state.
He will frantically research the Chidori.
This technique will later be renamed Raikiri after Kakashi shatters a lightning bolt with the Chidori during his Anbu days.
The hand signs for both techniques are the same three: Ox—Rabbit—Monkey.
Kiyoshi was going now because he wanted to acquire some Traits before Kakashi completely abandoned his swordsmanship.
One should remember that the White Fang of the Leaf used his short sword for a lifetime, yet Kakashi shattered his after a short time...
This was an external sign of Kakashi's neglected swordsmanship, he was no longer able to precisely control the chakra coating on his blade.
"Hey, did you hear? The White Fang's mission actually failed!"
"Didn't they say his reputation was even above the Legendary Sannin?"
"Who knows? Apparently, the mission's failure will cause significant losses to the village and the Land of Fire."
In the streets, there were constant whispers.
These people were all ninjas, and they knew more than civilians.
The village, which had been perfectly quiet yesterday, was now filled with rumors of Sakumo Hatake's mission failure today.
Kiyoshi observed that these people seemed to have only learned of this news today.
Everyone at the Ninja Academy, being confined to the school, was uninformed, not a single student knew about it.
By tomorrow, it was likely that every student arriving at the Academy would know about this event.
After a while, Kiyoshi passed a small fish pond and arrived in front of a spacious residence.
This was Kakashi's home.
Only he and his father, Sakumo Hatake, lived here.
"Kakashi, are you home?" Kiyoshi called out from outside.
After a brief moment, the wooden sliding door opened, revealing the interior.
***
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