[Fire Release (Lv.7) EXP (0/320,000) Traits (omitted)]
[Fire Release (Lv.8) EXP (0/640,000) Traits (omitted)]
[Fire Release (Lv.9) EXP (0/1,280,000) Traits (omitted)]
[Fire Release (Lv.10) EXP (MAX) Traits (omitted) Awakening (Pending Selection)]
[Skill Awakening]
Fire World: You may freely create an entire world out of flames.
Flame Sovereign: Flames shall become your servants.
Flame Origin: Your flames can transform into all things, and all things can become your origin.
This was the awakening granted when a top-tier skill reached maximum level.
It also signified that the skill had reached its absolute limit.
Only top-tier skills could awaken. Most skills never advanced beyond gaining traits.
Arin had already made his choice.
"Flame Sovereign."
Fire World would allow him to create a flame domain entirely under his control.
Within that world, he would essentially be its creator god.
As long as opponents remained inside, he would be invincible.
The problem was obvious.
Once outside that world, he would immediately return to normal.
The ability was vastly stronger than the Shadow World.
Within the Shadow World, he was merely a user.
In the Fire World, he would be the creator.
Still, it didn't fit Arin's development path.
He needed combat power that worked anytime and anywhere.
As for Flame Origin—
It would allow him to turn anything into flames.
Ice.
Water.
Even space itself.
Anything he could touch could become fire.
Conversely, he could also grant flames countless special properties.
It was an incredible ability.
For a tactician.
Arin, however, was a proud artillery mage.
He looked down on that sort of complicated gameplay.
Flame Sovereign was perfectly suited for him.
As long as Fire Release existed on the battlefield—
His power would continue increasing.
Not only could he become a living artillery platform—
He could also seize control of enemy flames.
If Uchiha Madara ever saw this ability...
He would probably cry.
That was just unfair.
Looking at the remaining two million EXP, Arin thought for a moment before dumping it all into Nen.
[Nen (Lv.7) EXP (0/320,000) Traits (None)]
[Nen (Lv.8) EXP (0/640,000) Traits (None)]
[Nen (Lv.9) EXP (0/1,280,000) Traits (None)]
[Nen (Lv.10) EXP (MAX) Traits (None) Awakening (Pending Selection)]
[Skill Awakening]
"Just as expected."
"Nen skipped traits entirely."
Arin wasn't surprised.
That was one of the reasons he had delayed upgrading Nen for so long.
Without traits, Nen merely enhanced chakra.
[Boundless Aura]
Your aura can increase without limit.
[Nen Ultimate]
You unlock all Nen categories and may create a unique Nen ability for each one.
[Nen Deity]
You become the source of Nen itself. Any individual possessing your Nen will return their power to you upon death.
Arin immediately fell into contemplation.
Boundless Aura would allow infinite growth.
Theoretically, it could even reach Dragon Ball levels of absurdity.
Nen Deity, meanwhile, would allow others to help him grow stronger.
Exactly how far it could scale was unknown.
As for Nen Ultimate—
He dismissed it immediately.
He had no intention of developing five additional Nen abilities.
His combat style was already complicated enough.
His current battle flow already looked like this:
Start with Fire Release.
If that wasn't enough, add Wind Release.
Still not enough?
Add Yin Release.
If all three failed—
Activate Hollowfication.
At that point he became a peak Kage-level fighter.
If he still couldn't win—
Release Bankai.
Then a Super Kage entered the battlefield.
"Actually…"
Arin suddenly reconsidered.
"With Fire Release alone, I'm already at peak Kage level."
He evaluated his current power carefully.
A max-level Fire Release wasn't a joke.
If he compared himself to Hashirama Senju—
Remove Sage Mode.
Remove Hashirama's monstrous chakra reserves.
Remove his ridiculous regeneration.
Under those conditions—
Arin could fight Hashirama evenly.
Hashirama had so many cheats that some had to be removed for the comparison to be fair.
Hollowfication also didn't improve his control over Fire Release.
Its enhancements were nowhere near as comprehensive as Sage Mode.
"If I use Bankai…"
"I should be able to fight a non-Sage-Mode Hashirama."
Arin rubbed his chin.
Before he realized it, he had reached the point where he could compare himself to Hashirama Senju and Uchiha Madara.
"Sage Mode..."
He remembered that obtaining it required an extremely long questline.
Unfortunately, without the quest system, he had already given up on ever acquiring it.
Six Paths Mode was better anyway.
"If I get another Mythical Zoan Devil Fruit…"
"Then I might truly stand alongside them."
Arin pondered.
But right now, the priority was obvious.
"Nen Deity."
"That's the one."
The moment he made his choice—
Numerous phantom figures appeared around him.
One after another, they plunged into his body.
"These people…"
"They're all members of the Akatsuki who died."
Arin recognized them immediately.
The Akatsuki's conquest of the Land of Rain hadn't been entirely peaceful.
Many had fallen along the way.
After all, Yahiko, Konan, and Nagato were only elite jonin.
They still hadn't reached Hanzo's Kage-level strength.
As the phantoms merged into him, Arin's chakra surged.
Rapidly.
Violently.
His reserves doubled outright.
"I should have about as much chakra as Kisame now."
As for Hashirama—
That old monster could compare himself to whoever he wanted.
Arin certainly wasn't interested.
"Looks like I should spread Nen around the world at some point."
Arin stroked his chin thoughtfully.
If everyone in the ninja world learned Nen—
The enemies he killed would yield more EXP.
Their drops would improve.
And their Nen would return to him upon death.
"One fish, multiple meals."
"That's actually genius."
At that exact moment—
Every person in the ninja world suddenly felt a chill run down their spine.
A deep sense of malice washed over them.
"HYUGA ARIN!"
Hiruzen Sarutobi stood in Konoha's war command center with a solemn expression.
A burst of flames appeared before him.
Arin emerged lazily from within them and raised a hand.
"Present."
The corner of Hiruzen's eye twitched.
This brat respected him less and less with each passing year.
"You are now the Supreme Commander of the Kirigakure Front."
"All shinobi stationed there will obey your orders."
"Got it."
Arin waved casually.
The appointment document was still in his possession anyway.
Hiruzen shot him a resentful glare.
Then he turned elsewhere.
"Orochimaru."
Whoosh.
Orochimaru appeared instantly and knelt before Hiruzen.
Hiruzen looked at him approvingly before glaring once more at Arin.
Learn from your teacher.
This is what a ninja is supposed to look like.
Unfortunately—
Arin was busy staring at the ceiling.
He had no interest in Hiruzen's silent lecture.
His rapidly expanding strength had already pushed Hiruzen out of the category of people he truly feared.
Hiruzen handed a scroll to Orochimaru.
"I hereby appoint you Supreme Commander of the Kumogakure Front."
Orochimaru accepted the appointment.
Inside the command chamber, every jonin in Konoha had gathered.
There was only one reason for such a meeting.
The war...
Had begun.
✨ Bonus Chapter Goals ✨
10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter
100 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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