[Nara Mahito's Homemade Dog Food]
[Quality: Blue]
[Ingredients: Herbs, Meat]
[Effect: Enhances the physical condition of ninja dogs, with no side effects! Optimal for use during the early developmental phase after weaning]
[Summary: Highly tempting to dogs. You could use this to capture an entire pack. Control their stomach, and you control everything]
[Approval Rating: 780/1000 (The higher the approval, the more inspiration and rewards in related fields)]
[Reward: Physical Stats +1, Chakra +10]
As he watched Sanmaru, who was hunched over a bowl of the food, eating heartily, Mahito let out a sigh of relief.
The approval rating had been a mere 10/100 earlier, and it was clear that someone in the Inuzuka clan had recognized the value of this dog food.
As one of the most authoritative clans in dog breeding, their acknowledgment made a significant impact.
Moreover, the fact that Inuzuka Yama's father mentioned visiting his parents soon clearly showed interest in potential collaboration.
Mahito couldn't help but feel hopeful.
In this world, if one was a recognized ninja genius, they could bide their time, gradually becoming stronger.
As a member of the Nara clan, Mahito didn't need to worry about finding sources for ninjutsu or mentors—time and the clan's secret techniques would handle that.
But Mahito's research-oriented talent was impossible to suppress. It was a skillset that required a constant influx of resources, and there was no ceiling to its consumption.
For the sake of his own future safety and growth, Mahito had to plan ahead and display his value while figuring out ways to make money in the early stages.
Although he was a Nara, the resources allocated to him by the clan, his level of training, and his voice in crucial moments depended on his abilities and importance.
If this deal with the Inuzuka clan succeeded, he could secure a significant startup fund. With that, he could begin some feasible technological research.
Of course, his priority would be survival. Mahito lived by the principle of perseverance—no matter how many times he might be defeated, he would always rise again.
It was akin to the way in this world, Orochimaru could be beaten but never truly killed.
In a dangerous world, survival was the foundation of any future.
"Woof, woof!"
A light touch brushed against Mahito's knee, and when he looked down, he saw Sanmaru contentedly nuzzling his leg, belly bloated after eating, and letting out soft sounds of satisfaction.
"I just made this today. You can take it home when you leave," Mahito said, handing over a bag to Inuzuka Yama, who took it without hesitation.
Last time, Yama had taken two portions back to his family.
Judging by the weight of the bag, this batch would last Sanmaru three or four days, but if shared with his parents' dogs, it would only last a day.
..............
That evening, Nara Shikaji returned home, utterly exhausted, only to find his son, Mahito, sitting upright on the floor, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"I did it, Father."
Just as Shikaji was bracing himself to comfort and dismiss his troublesome son, Mahito's words left him stunned. His quick-thinking mind froze for a moment, making him wonder if he'd misheard.
"What did you say?" Shikaji, his dull eyes now wide with surprise, quickly walked over and sat beside Mahito.
Without speaking further, Mahito opened his palm.
Resting in the center was a small peach, and as Shikaji watched intently, a dark shadow swiftly took form in Mahito's hand, shaping into a black, coffin-like rectangle.
The surface of the shadowy coffin bristled with sharp, sword-like protrusions, which suddenly pierced into the interior of the black coffin.
When the shadows receded, the small peach trapped inside was left in tatters, as if it had been ravaged by countless blades.
Sweating profusely and gasping for breath, Mahito looked up. Despite his intelligence, Nara Shikaji found himself momentarily speechless.
Although the technique Mahito had just demonstrated was far from perfect, with the shape of the shadow coffin appearing fragile and unrefined, Shikaji couldn't deny that it was a highly advanced shadow technique.
Recalling his son's previous questions and discussions, Shikaji realized the potential this jutsu held—it could evolve into a profound Yin Release technique, transcending the limitations of mere shadow manipulation.
Form from the formless, creation from nothingness! This was the essence of Yin Release.
Compared to other Yin-based techniques, such as genjutsu, the Nara clan's shadow techniques were closer to the deeper mysteries of Yin Release.
Giving shadows the ability to harm was not unprecedented in the Nara clan's secret techniques, but it didn't diminish the brilliance of Mahito's Shadow Coffin.
The fact that its creator was not even six years old made it all the more astonishing.
Though Shikaji knew that the jutsu had been developed using the Nara clan's secret archives and with the guidance of several elders, including himself, he had never imagined that his son could create it so quickly. He had expected it to take years.
This jutsu required knowledge, experience, and an understanding of Yin Release that a child Mahito's age should not possess.
Even if the clan elders had provided the knowledge, mastering it in such a short time was remarkable.
"Prepare your notes and a seal for your technique," Shikaji said after taking a deep breath.
This jutsu could undoubtedly be added to the clan's secret techniques, and Mahito would receive the recognition and rewards he deserved.
Shikaji knew that's exactly what his son wanted.
Without hesitation, Mahito slid a stack of notes across the table toward his father, as if he had been prepared for this all along. At the same time, a familiar interface reappeared in his mind.
[Secret Jutsu: New ]
[Quality: A+ (Growth potential indicated by "+")]
[Training Requirements: Yin Release Mastery]
[Advanced Requirements: Shadow Techniques]
[Effect: Empowers shadows with the ability to inflict physical damage. Forms a black coffin to trap targets inside, where they suffer multiple piercing attacks]
[Approval Rating: 10/1000 (The higher the approval, the more inspiration and rewards in related fields)]
As Mahito looked at the interface, his mind became clearer, and the previously elusive concepts of Yin Release began to make sense. Ideas for the next stage of the jutsu's development flooded his thoughts.