Haruto Saito blinked in surprise, his mind stirring as he quickly asked in his consciousness, "What was that notification just now? Strength Enhancement Card Fragment?"
"Card fragments have been automatically added to the host's item storage," the system spirit responded.
Tsunade was still explaining and demonstrating the principles of Strength Enhancement. Haruto paid close attention to her expressions while subtly flicking his hand to open his item storage. From inside, he pulled out three cards. Due to the system's restrictions, people in this world couldn't see the cards or similar items.
In other words, Haruto was holding the cards right now, but to everyone else, they were invisible.
He avoided making any strange movements, crossing his arms casually while lifting the cards slightly, his gaze lowering to examine them.
These were three white cards, noticeably thinner than regular cards. The back had no designs, and the front contained some text—B-Rank Strength Enhancement Card Fragment. Can be combined. Can be refined.
The cards looked extremely basic, almost like cheap, defective prints from a small workshop.
All three cards were identical.
"Combine? Combine into what? A real Strength Enhancement Card, right?" Haruto asked excitedly, his heart racing.
"Yes. The host only needs to collect a certain number of the same type of card fragments to combine them into a complete card."
"How many are required?"
"If the host has 30 Strength Enhancement Card Fragments, there is a 30% chance of successfully combining them into a Strength Enhancement Card. If the combination fails, all fragments will be lost. If the host has 50 fragments, the success rate is 50%. At 100 fragments, the success rate is 100%."
"There's a success rate involved? Wait, then what about refining?"
"That function has not been unlocked yet."
"Alright."
Haruto quickly put aside that concern and focused on the three Strength Enhancement Card Fragments in his hands, his excitement bubbling over. This was a lifeline! If he could collect 100 card fragments, he could guarantee a full Strength Enhancement Card, consume it, and officially gain Strength Enhancement!
Wait a second… something feels off!
"System spirit, how often do I receive card fragments from training?"
"Every two hours."
"Two hours? A full day has twenty-four hours, which means twelve cycles. At three card fragments per cycle, that's thirty-six fragments per day. That means I'll only have a 30% success rate?"
"No, 30%. A single card fragment does not equal 1% success rate. If the host possesses between 30 and 49 Strength Enhancement Card Fragments, the success rate remains at 30%. Less than 30 means combination is impossible."
"So, even if I grind all day, I only get a 30% chance of success? That's… way too risky!"
The success rate was far too low! Haruto's emotions fluctuated like a roller coaster.
"Hey! Brat! Are you even listening seriously?" Tsunade noticed Haruto zoning out, abruptly stopping her explanation. She marched over, furious, standing before the mat with her arms crossed. "Are you looking for death? I'm warning you, don't think you can use 'not paying attention' as an excuse later. If you fail to learn this, I swear I will—" Tsunade mimed strangling him, her expression incredibly menacing.
Haruto immediately snapped to attention and looked at her properly.
"Ding! Reminder: The number of card fragments the host receives through training is determined by the level of focus from both the host and the instructor. The more seriously both parties take the training, the more fragments the host will receive."
Haruto's eyes gleamed with realization. He recalled the previous notification saying, "Received Strength Enhancement Card Fragments through general instruction by Tsunade." That "general instruction" must be a ranking system! Perhaps there were also levels like "casual instruction," "focused training," and "intensive mentorship."
"You're acting quite cocky, huh? Daring to glare at me?" Tsunade scolded him, her eyes narrowing.
"Hmph! You dare call me cocky?" Haruto's expression sharpened as he stood up, his tone full of indignation. "You haven't even been teaching me seriously! You think I can't learn Strength Enhancement in one day, so you've been brushing me off. How am I supposed to get interested in learning like that? And then you have the nerve to blame me? Do you even realize how boring your lesson is?"
"You little brat! You've got some nerve!" Tsunade exploded with rage, her figure flickering in a blur as an overwhelming sense of danger engulfed Haruto, her presence closing in like a predator pouncing on prey.
Jiraiya, who had been lazily lounging, suddenly propped himself up, looking toward Haruto. Orochimaru, who had been staring at the lake for the past two hours without moving, also turned around.
In that fleeting moment, time seemed to slow down.
Tsunade's fist stopped just inches from Haruto's face, the sheer force creating a gust of wind that ruffled his hair.
Haruto felt a chill run down his spine, his back covered in cold sweat.
If she had actually thrown that punch… he would've died, right?
"Hmph!" Tsunade huffed and withdrew her fist, looking him up and down with an expression that screamed, "I see through you completely." She then flicked his forehead with her finger. "Brat! Don't think I don't know what you're up to. You're trying to provoke me into hitting you, so you can use that as an excuse later, aren't you? Well, I won't fall for it!"
"…You're really smart," Haruto muttered, forcing a smile, his heart still pounding from the near-death experience.
"Take this seriously!" Tsunade scolded him before softening her tone slightly. "I've already taught you everything. Now, you should try channeling your chakra."
"Uh… I didn't remember all of it."
"What did you just say?!" Tsunade's voice shot up eight octaves.
"I didn't remember it!" Haruto forced himself to stand his ground and spoke quickly. "And your teaching is way too sloppy! Do you teach the medical ninja at the hospital like this too? You're expecting me to learn Strength Enhancement in just one day—shouldn't you be more patient and give me special guidance? Unlike other jutsu, Strength Enhancement isn't widely known. The principles of Healing Palm are common knowledge, so even without training, people at least understand the concept. But Strength Enhancement is a technique only you know. Don't you think you should be a little more meticulous?"
Haruto's argument was logical and well-reasoned.
Tsunade squinted at him. She didn't believe for a second that he was this eager to learn. He didn't act like this when learning Healing Palm. Clearly, he was making excuses now to justify his failure later!
"Fine!" Tsunade lifted her chin. "I'll teach you however you want! But don't you dare come up with excuses later! Hmph! If you still fail to learn Strength Enhancement like this, not even the gods can save you!"
"Let's begin!" Haruto sat back down, his expression completely serious, even flashing Tsunade a bright smile.
Tsunade took a formal kneeling position. Though it looked like kneeling, it was actually "seiza," the most formal sitting posture. Haruto, unused to it, remained cross-legged.
"Give me your hand," Tsunade ordered, extending her own.
Haruto placed his hand in hers, and immediately, a surge of chakra flowed from her palm into his body, circulating through his pathways. This was her chakra!
"Feel that? This is the fundamental circulation pattern of Strength Enhancement. If you can replicate this process with your own chakra and gather it in your hands, you can unleash Strength Enhancement…"
Two hours later.
"Ding! The host has received Tsunade's focused guidance. Gained Strength Enhancement Card Fragments ×13."