Boom!
The surface of the lake before Haruto Saito exploded into a massive water column, surging upward with immense force. This was the Water Release: Exploding Water Stream Jutsu! A C-rank jutsu Haruto had acquired yesterday from killing a spy from Kirigakure.
Over the past half month, Haruto had slain a total of sixty-seven enemy spies. By consuming the cards dropped from their corpses, he had obtained nineteen different C-rank jutsu and over a hundred D-rank jutsu. Among them, there were over thirty duplicates!
Haruto had asked the Card Spirit if consuming duplicate jutsu cards had any effect.
The answer? Absolutely!
And the effects were insane!
For example, if he obtained a second copy of Wind Release: Great Breakthrough and consumed it, the jutsu's power would double. If he obtained a third, it would double again. A fourth? Another doubling!
In other words, if Haruto consumed four copies of Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, its power would be eight times the base strength!
If he consumed a fifth copy?
Sixteen times the strength!
A sixth?
Thirty-two times!
The power increase was downright monstrous! However, the Card Spirit had mentioned two limitations: first, he could consume a maximum of six copies of the same ability card; second, the more he consumed, the lower the drop rate became!
For example, Haruto had already consumed three copies of Hidden Mist Jutsu. Obtaining a fourth copy had become incredibly difficult. It was possible that he might never find another one in his lifetime!
Of course, there were no absolutes. If Haruto had the power to rampage through Kirigakure, slaughtering every ninja skilled in the Hidden Mist Jutsu, he would eventually get more copies. Even with a low drop rate, sheer numbers would guarantee success.
Despite the six-card limit, Haruto still found this ability system absolutely overpowered!
Normally, just consuming three copies of a C-rank jutsu would make its power equivalent to a B-rank jutsu. If he consumed six, it would surpass even A-rank techniques—perhaps reaching S-rank levels!
And that was just a C-rank jutsu!
What if he consumed six copies of a B-rank technique?
Or an A-rank?
The possibilities were mind-blowing!
At present, Haruto had mastered over twenty different C-rank jutsu. Among them, he had consumed a second copy—doubling their power—for three techniques: Wind Release: Great Breakthrough, Water Release: Water Substitution, and Earth Release: Petrification. Additionally, he had already consumed three copies of one specific C-rank jutsu!
Fire Release: Flame Bullet!
One of these three copies had come from an overkill bonus—achieved by defeating a stronger enemy. Since Haruto's strength had improved, overkill bonuses weren't as frequent anymore. The other two copies had dropped from enemy spies—both from Amegakure!
Amegakure was a peculiar place. While most of its ninjas specialized in Wind and Water Release, it wasn't uncommon to find some skilled in Fire, Lightning, or Earth Release. For example, the village leader, Hanzo the Salamander—one of the most feared shinobi in history—was renowned for his swordsmanship, yet he also wielded the infamous Fire Release: Explosive Flame Array!
Amegakure was a haven for assassins. A village built on blood and betrayal. Historically, many notorious rogue ninjas had ended up there.
Judging from his current strength, Haruto estimated that he had reached the level of an Elite Chunin. If he went all out, using his Kekkei Genkai and healing cards, he might even be able to take down a Jonin!
A half-month's progress like this?
Insane!
But Haruto was still unsatisfied.
First, his chakra reserves were lower than most Chunin. While there were ways to increase chakra reserves, Spiritual Enhancement Cards were too rare. He hadn't obtained a second one yet, and the Reputation Shop hadn't restocked them.
Second, despite killing so many enemies, he had yet to obtain a single B-rank jutsu through loot drops. Every single jutsu he had acquired was either C-rank or lower.
Typically, only Jonin could master B-rank techniques. Some talented Elite Chunin might manage to learn them, but it was rare. True prodigies were a different story—some of them could wield B-rank jutsu even while still in the Ninja Academy!
Haruto desperately craved B-rank jutsu. Even though his chakra reserves were still limited, he viewed them as an investment. The more he acquired now, the more unstoppable he would be once he boosted his chakra with enhancement cards.
Currently, Haruto only possessed two B-rank jutsu: Lightning Release: False Darkness and Shadow Clone Jutsu. That was far from enough. Even if he increased his chakra reserves, those two techniques alone wouldn't make him a proper Jonin-level fighter.
On the lake's surface, Haruto moved like a phantom—dodging, striking, weaving through clones and elemental attacks.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Water erupted repeatedly as he continued his rigorous training. Every morning, Haruto spent two hours training, then spent the rest of his day hunting enemy spies—repeating this cycle daily.
So far, he had identified six additional enemy spies, including two Amegakure assassins. But he hadn't made a move yet. He couldn't afford to fail!
Failure didn't mean death.
It meant ANBU would step in and eliminate his targets instead.
Haruto refused to let that happen. These spies were his treasures! He had to either eliminate them himself or bide his time until the perfect opportunity arose. Letting ANBU handle them was a complete waste!
"Water Release: Water Clone Jutsu!"
Haruto split into three. Holding his sword, he attacked his own clones, dispelling them with swift strikes. Water splashed back into the lake.
"Good enough!" Haruto exhaled heavily.
He had used up 90% of his chakra. Training for the morning was over.
Sitting cross-legged on the lake, he began to recover. The streets of Konoha were dangerous for him, so he always ensured his chakra reserves were at least 50% full before heading out.
The lake, once turbulent, gradually returned to calm.
Haruto floated effortlessly, regulating his breathing, keeping his chakra expenditure minimal to maintain water-walking.
Time passed. The sun rose higher.
Then—
A faint chakra fluctuation stirred the air.
Thick, dense mist spread across the lake within seconds, blanketing everything in white.
Haruto's eyes snapped open.
Hidden Mist Jutsu! But he hadn't cast it!
From a nearby tree, ANBU operative Chinen observed the lake. He was unfazed. Haruto used Hidden Mist Jutsu often during training, so he assumed it was just part of his routine.
But Haruto knew better!
Splash!
Behind him, something burst out of the water!
A shadowy figure, shrouded in darkness, surged forward—blade gleaming with a deadly edge, slicing toward Haruto's back!
He couldn't see.
Reacting purely on instinct, Haruto spun and drew his sword.
Too fast!
In the dense fog, he was as blind as a bat. His body barely moved in time to counter.
A split second later—
Shhk!
Cold steel pierced his chest, driving straight through his heart!