"Ding! Congratulations, Master's Chakra has reached the Elite Chuunin level!" echoed the familiar mechanical voice in Youyu's mind.
"Hm, another upgrade?" Youyu murmured, clenching his fist and feeling a surge of strength.
"Open the properties panel."
Master: Qimu Youyu
Age: 8
Physique: Elite Chuunin
Chakra: Elite Chuunin
Kendo Comprehension: Swordsman
Special: Shura Sword Intent
Comprehensive Strength: Special Jounin Level
(Note: Special bonuses apply in a drunken state.)
The Bacchus system was unique—unlike the numerical progression seen in the stories of Youyu's previous life, it only updated Youyu's abilities when he broke significant milestones. Youyu didn't mind this. Numbers were just that, numbers; they couldn't truly capture his strength in combat.
Looking at his comprehensive strength labeled as Special Jounin, Youyu smirked. After all, he'd cut down Kakashi with ease before, despite his status as only a Chuunin at the time. The real weapon in his arsenal, however, was his Shura Sword Intent, a terrifying aura combining kendo and bloodlust, forged after he bested a teacher who'd dared to break one of his cherished bottles. It was that same Sword Intent he'd unleashed on Asuma, invoking a sense of dread that would overwhelm anyone without a tenacious will.
He glanced over the panel one last time and then dismissed it. With good food and wine before him, he had no desire to dwell on stats and titles; the present was for enjoyment.
Nearby, Kurenai, seeing Rin's triumphant smile, huffed softly, her mind racing with ideas about where her father might have hidden more prized bottles. Her father's complaints over missing wine didn't concern her; she was determined to find something special for Youyu.
"To become a fine shinobi…"
Ton-Ton-Ton
At the Konoha Ninja Academy, Hideichi Tanaka held his textbook and taught with dedication. Yet his words were interrupted by soft sounds of gulping echoing through the classroom.
Cough, cough.
As he reached the end of his lecture, Tanaka cautiously glanced at Youyu, relieved to see him only slightly tipsy. He had lost count of how many requests he'd made to switch classes; the prospect of dealing with a drunken, unpredictable Youyu was a constant worry.
Teaching at a ninja academy, he mused, was starting to feel like a high-risk job.
"This afternoon's lesson concludes our coursework. Next, we'll be conducting a practical test," Tanaka announced.
"Again?" a student muttered.
"Seems like we've had a lot of tests lately."
"Isn't this the first practical test of the month?"
Whispers filled the room, as many students expressed their surprise at the frequency of the tests, which seemed to have increased lately.