The morning sun marked a new chapter in Yuichi's life as a genin. Gone! the early, rigid starts and the constant pull of classes.
Now, his mornings began around 10 a.m. with a jog around the village, followed by either training at Ground 49 or stopping by the Hokage's residence to pick up a mission.
It had been two weeks since he donned the Konoha headband, and he was already starting to notice the perks of being a ninja.
Aside from the respect he received from villagers and fellow shinobi alike, the pay was surprisingly generous.
Each mission, even a D-rank one for the squad, offered more money than he'd seen in the academy days. A high D-rank or a C-rank mission under a jonin's supervision could yield between 50,000 to 80,000 ryo, enough to cover a decent amount of expenses after dividing it among teammates.
For personal income, Yuichi picked up simpler D-rank tasks daily like taking care of ninja pets, helping with farming, cleaning and other small, mundane assignments within the village that brought in an easy 5,000 to 20,000 ryo each time. Not a bad way to pass time and earn ryo when training felt counterproductive.
"Earning more is always good," he muttered to himself with a small grin as he made his way toward Konoha's famed Ninja Library, the village's heart of secured knowledge.
The building itself was a fortress within Hokage Mountain, lined with more layers of defense than the Uchiha Clan Library or even the Hokage's residence.
The only fortress that contained more knowledge than it was the Uchiha clan library, renowned due to the number of Jutsu they kept thanks to their Sharingan eyes.
Ninja library was housed deep within the mountain, surrounded by layers of secured doors and checkpoints, with ANBU guards at various points.
A tense chakra pressure radiated from the seals embedded in the walls, a silent warning to any who'd even think of misusing the library's contents.
This was only his second time coming here. Entry alone was restricted by rank, with each genin allowed a mere four visits a month. And each scroll came at a price, leaving him mindful to use his limited access and funds wisely.
As he navigated through the meticulously organized rows, the subtle aroma of old parchment filled the air, lending a sense of reverence to his surroundings. Scrolls containing jutsu, clan techniques, and village secrets were shelved under stringent categorization, each section marked by its rank.
"DAMN, why the hell are these so expensive?" he blurted, earning hard stares from surrounding shinobi. Bowing quickly in apology, he focused on his task, skimming through the scrolls and reviewing his selections.
His mission today was to invest in techniques he'd deliberated over for weeks.
Yuichi had already decided on three jutsu scrolls: one each for lightning, wind, and medical ninjutsu, plus two training scrolls covering moderate-level fuinjutsu and lightning affinity enhancement technique.
The decision wasn't made lightly; he'd spent hours discussing it with Kagami-sensei, who had pointed out specific strengths in his skillset that needed to be harnessed.
Kagami had been especially encouraging about the Great Breakthrough Technique for wind release—a useful, highly adaptable skill.
The Lightning Chains Technique, a powerful option Kagami recommended, would also synergize with his lightning Sense technique and Kekkei Genkai, helping Yuichi push his capabilities with chakra manipulation.
His curiosity toward medical jutsu led him to purchase Healing Touch, a practical choice that Kagami believed would provide the foundation he needed.
As Yuichi reached the counter, the main gatekeeper, a seasoned, gray-haired jonin with an air of quiet authority, took his selections and examined him closely. "Are you sure you want these?" he asked, laying the five scrolls on the table, his gaze appraising.
Yuichi nodded, handing over 63,000 ryo—more money than some families could make in three months.
The man's scrutinizing gaze softened slightly as he recorded the transaction, jotting down Yuichi's details alongside the scrolls he'd selected.
The cost stung, but he consoled himself with the knowledge that each scroll represented months, if not years, of careful study.
He too knew that he had to dedicate a lot of time to master them but it all resulted in his own good.
He was calculating his decisions before taking them. After all he knew the stronger the base, the higher the building went.
As he left the counter, the sense of purpose weighed on him, filling him with determination.
He'd kept his secret fuinjutsu studies under wraps, presenting them as a mere 'hobby' whenever he brought it up. But he devoted nearly half his daily training hours to it, with his shadow clones often poring over fuinjutsu basics, symbol combinations, and theories for hours.
This dedication stemmed from a personal ambition he'd concealed from everyone else: he was striving to understand the Flying Thunder God Technique.
Although the path was far from easy, and success seemed distant, Yuichi's mind echoed the mantra he lived by: "One strong step at a time is enough to cover miles."
Walking out, he glanced over his shoulder at the Hokage Mountain's looming shadow, which bathed the library entrance in a cool shade. The idea of getting stronger wasn't merely about power or fame for him, it was about reaching for something greater than himself.
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Hey, Author this side!
I will upload irregularly for this month due to my exams, so just bear with it. Also as Yuichi has already graduated from the academy now i can create a whole arc according to my imagination. though i don't know how it will turn out but i will do my best. lastly give your reviews and keep supporting.
peace!!