A/N: Our first goal has been reached, so there will be a Double Release next Monday. Our target is to reach 900 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next week Monday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! New Goal: 900 Powerstones!
It was late evening, and Goro had returned from his training session with Yugito and Miki. Taking off his katana and placing it on his bed, Goro slumped onto the couch in his lodge.
'I've got to avoid training with people at or above the level of Elite Jonin when it comes to battle experience and skill. It's not easy to feign weakness when the person you're trying to deceive is almost as strong as you are…'
Taking out the scroll he had used to store the hearts and fingers he had stolen, Goro sat up and laid it out on the couch, summoning the body parts inside.
'Let's start by copying the skills of the two hearts. These are from the individuals with the lowest level of security, so it shouldn't take too long. Besides, I've got other plans for these hearts, so I can't dispose of them.'
[Estimated Time of Copy: 1 Minute]
'Hmm, both hearts are at the lower Genin level. It takes 30 seconds to absorb one Genin heart, so two will take a minute. I suppose the best I'll get from this is an increased affinity multiplier.'
A minute later, the hearts had been successfully copied, but what Goro gained from the organs made his heart flutter with elation.
[Stats:
Taijutsu: Lower Sannin (19%)
Physical: Sannin (29%)
Ninjutsu: Lower Sannin (67%)
Chakra Capacity: Upper Sannin (85%)
Chakra Control: Sannin (29%)
Shurikenjutsu: Upper Elite Jounin (15%)
Kenjutsu: Lower Elite Jounin (90%)
Chakra Affinity: Water(x5) + Fire(x5) + Lightning(x4) + Wind(x4) + Ice(x4) + Earth(x4) + Storm(x4)
Skills:
'No way… Not only did the Genin give me a new jutsu and increase my chakra affinity multiplier for earth and lightning, but I also got the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai! I can now create jutsu with Storm Release instead of just regular lightning-style jutsu. What confuses me, however, is the new jutsu I gained. System, what does the Lightning Style: Overdrive jutsu do?'
[Overdrive enhances the user's speed by accelerating the signals sent from the brain to the muscles. This jutsu also increases the user's cutting capabilities by channeling lightning through the body.]
'That's nice. I'm guessing it's a watered-down version of the Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode.'
[Correct. The Raikage's Lightning Release Chakra Mode is a superior version of the Overdrive jutsu. The Overdrive jutsu is only a C-rank jutsu.]
'In terms of affinity multipliers, shouldn't I have gotten an increase in water release as well? Someone with the Storm Release Kekkei Genkai must have had an affinity for water.'
[Your water release stats are maxed out. However, you can allocate the multiplier to a Kekkei Genkai that involves water release. Would you like to allocate it to Ice Release or Storm Release?]
'If I allocate it to Ice Release, I can max out my Ice Release stat, but if I allocate it to Storm Release, it'll max out my Storm Release stat… I think it's only logical to go with Ice Release, given that I already have Ice jutsu and no Storm jutsu.'
Creating a clone, Goro handed the fingers to it, so it could copy the skills while he moved on to the next phase of his plan.
'I'll be honest, this next part is going to hurt… I have no other option though. To rule this world and become the most powerful, I need immortality on my side.'
Taking a deep breath, Goro pulled a kunai from a pouch strapped to the back of his waist and steadily pressed it against the space between his clavicles.
'Here goes nothing…'
Goro pushed the kunai deeper, blood seeping from the wound he had just made. Realizing the pain would be too much to handle, Goro took off his shirt and wrapped it around his mouth, biting down hard to muffle his screams.
Taking his time, Goro dragged the knife down, keeping a consistent depth, biting down even harder to stifle his increasing cries of pain.
Having made a large enough cut, Goro widened the wound by tugging on the skin while using his other hand to offer up the heart to the black threads emerging from his chest.
The threads took the heart Goro held and retreated into his chest. Moments later, they emerged again to retrieve the second heart lying on the scroll.
'It's moving on its own. I didn't even offer up that second heart!'
[Incorrect. The threads followed your desire to implant the second heart into your chest. The threads respond to your will. They are connected to your brain, just like your muscles are. It will take a few minutes to fully adjust to manipulating them.]
Once the threads finished implanting the second heart, they began stitching Goro's chest back together. He felt a surge of chakra rushing through his body, flowing through his chakra pathway system.
Goro lay back on the couch, sweat pouring down his face. The operation had left him exhausted, and he needed sleep.
Creating another clone, Goro handed it the remaining fingers from the scroll.
"Hold onto these for me while I get some sleep," Goro instructed, rolling over and falling into a sound sleep on the couch.
'Seems like the village has been on edge ever since I killed 12 ninja in the cemetery. Usually, they hand menial tasks like this over to Chunin…'
The stadium was located on a mountain near the Raikage's mansion. Goro and Miki both entered through the main gates, while the onlookers climbed the steps to the audience section.
After checking their candidate numbers and papers, the two Jonin guarding the main entrance allowed Goro and Miki into the stadium. Inside, there were already ten Genin lined up, and standing in front of them was someone Goro immediately recognized.
'The Raikage is really taking no chances if he's assigned Dodai, his personal attendant, to oversee the final exams…'
As Goro walked toward the center of the stadium, joining the line of Genin, he glanced up at the crowd gathering in the seats above. His eyes paused on two particular individuals.
'The Raikage and the Daimyo of the Land of Lightning… This is my best chance to get on the Raikage's good side. If I win, I'll be invited to his office. And if I make a strong enough impression, I'll have an excuse to leave a clone behind to gather information.'
Completely immersed in the atmosphere, Goro didn't even notice Karui glaring at him from the other side of the line.
"What's your problem, kid?" Atsui asked, looking at Karui.
Karui grabbed Atsui by the collar and stared into his eyes. "Don't get involved, bull. Focus on yourself," Karui retorted.
Omoi, standing between them, pushed the two apart, emphasizing that if they wanted to fight, they should wait for the finals to begin.
Reluctantly, Karui let the situation go and waited for the finals. Atsui, on the other hand, was burning with rage that a little girl had grabbed his collar and pulled him around.
"If she somehow stays in the final long enough to face me, I'll make sure to teach her a lesson!" Atsui thought.
Having taken in the scenery, Goro was about to turn his attention back when something made him freeze.
'The Raikage… Is he looking at me?'
The Raikage sat with his arms crossed, his usual serious expression dominating his features.
"That's the boy they said almost beat my record? Hah. We'll see how talented he truly is in this battle. I was fast, but also strong. It's no use being fast but feeble," the Raikage mused, his eyes lingering on Goro.
Not wanting to lock eyes with the Raikage, Goro quickly looked away.
'I can't help but feel cautious after what happened with Yugito. I have to avoid appearing suspicious at all costs.'
Reminder: Our target is to reach 900 powerstones by Sunday for a Triple Release next week Monday. This story's continuation depends on your support—so don't forget to give the story powerstones! New Goal: 900 Powerstones!