Time flew by, and in the blink of an eye, Konoha Year 41 was nearing its end.
In a snow-covered grove, Hoshita Shūichi exhaled deeply, relief washing over him. "Finally, [Wind Release Expert] is mine!"
Title: [Wind Release Expert]
Effect: Wind Release aptitude +100%, ability to perform Wind Release techniques without hand seals.
This effect mirrored that of [Fire Release Expert].
To earn this title, he had mastered five Wind Release techniques: Gale Palm, Vacuum Bullet, Vacuum Wave, Great Vacuum Bullet, and Vacuum Blade.
While Gale Palm was inherited from his mother, the other four were gifts from Namikaze Minato.
With [Wind Release Expert] unlocked, Shūichi immediately turned his attention to another grayed-out title leaf—one that had just triggered.
Title: [Wind Release Master]
Unlock Condition: Create five A-rank (or higher) Wind Release techniques, or develop one S-rank Wind Release technique.
Effect: Wind Release aptitude +100%, Wind Release chakra nature transformation +100%, Wind Release shape transformation +100%; excludes kekkei genkai-related Wind Release techniques—no learning barriers for any other Wind Release techniques or secret arts.
Both the condition and the effect were within his expectations.
"Next up: mastering the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken!"
Shūichi had pushed to unlock [Wind Release Expert] before the year's end to avoid wasting his annual "Flash of Insight."
For the S-rank Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken, he already had a rough framework in mind.
If he used "Flash of Insight" elsewhere without preparation, it might go to waste.
Ten minutes of maxed-out comprehension and creativity didn't guarantee the successful development of an S-rank technique from scratch.
"Only three days left until the new year..."
Popping a soldier pill, Shūichi sat quietly to restore his stamina.
Though he wasn't sure if "Flash of Insight" would drain him physically, it was better to be prepared.
Once fully recovered, he closed his eyes. "Flash of Insight—activate!"
In an instant, it felt as if his brain had been upgraded.
Problems that had stumped him for the past year now had solutions flashing through his mind.
The sensory ninjutsu he'd struggled to grasp.
The high-temperature ray Fire Release technique that was one step away from completion.
Medical ninjutsu, medical knowledge—everything.
At this moment, Shūichi felt as if he'd pushed open a door—the door to knowledge, to omniscience.
But then he realized the danger.
There was too much he didn't know, and now his mind was flooded with endless thoughts.
"Not good!"
He immediately activated 10x Focus Mode, suppressing the chaotic ideas and zeroing in on Wind Release—specifically, the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken.
Now, he truly experienced the power of maxed-out comprehension and creativity.
How to shape the chakra into a high-speed rotating shuriken?
Ah, first, apply Wind Release nature transformation.
How to stabilize the shuriken so it can be thrown?
Construct a dual-loop system, forming an interconnected, three-dimensional cycle.
An S-rank Wind Release technique?
Easy!
Too easy!
Less than two minutes into the ten-minute window, Shūichi had fully internalized the principles of the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken.
Why not add Fire Release?
Beyond the devastating wind needles, why not include scorching heat?
Incorporating Fire Release was simple—infuse Fire Release chakra after forming the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken.
Soon, the Wind-Fire Spiraling Shuriken—no, the Wind-Fire Halo Spiraling Shuriken—was also fully conceptualized.
Six minutes remained.
Keep going!
This time, Shūichi targeted the incredibly complex seal from the sensory ninjutsu.
Minato's hand seals relied too much on luck. Now, with his enhanced intellect, he'd rely on pure brainpower.
Time ticked by, and this task took far longer than expected.
The seal contained knowledge Shūichi hadn't yet mastered—Earth Release, Lightning Release, Water Release.
But with maxed-out comprehension, it was no obstacle.
Finally, the ten minutes ended.
His brain instantly downgraded, leaving him feeling like he'd fallen from heaven—like he'd become stupid.
But the sensation lasted only a moment before his head throbbed, his vision darkened, and something warm trickled from his nose.
Gritting his teeth to stay conscious, Shūichi deactivated 10x Focus Mode, swallowed another soldier pill, and chugged warm salt-and-sugar water from his thermos.
After finishing the drink and resting for five minutes, his mind cleared slightly, and the darkness in his vision faded.
Only then did he realize the warmth from his nose had been blood.
"'Flash of Insight' plus 10x Focus Mode is terrifying..."
Wiping the blood away with snow, Shūichi chuckled bitterly. His mind was still sluggish, and his body weak, forcing him to abandon any immediate attempts to test the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken.
After another half-hour of rest, he shouldered his backpack and headed home.
To his surprise, it took a full seven days—into Konoha Year 42—for him to fully recover.
And this was with his previous 100% recovery boost.
Without it, he might've needed two weeks.
Shūichi resolved to have Asuka by his side next time he used this combo.
Konoha Year 42, January 5.
Freshly recovered, Shūichi eagerly ventured to a remote training ground.
Today, he'd bring the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken from theory to reality.
Vrrrm!
Holding his right palm upward, Shūichi gathered chakra, forming a rapidly rotating Rasengan.
In actual combat, he rarely used the Rasengan—it didn't suit his style.
He preferred the Azure Flame Skyblade or Azure Flame Torrent Blade.
Even without a blade, he'd rather enhance kunai with Wind Release.
Step one complete. Step two: Wind Release nature transformation.
As Shūichi channeled more chakra, a fierce howling sound erupted, and a blazing white ring of Wind Release chakra encircled the Rasengan.
"This consumes way too much chakra..."
Frowning slightly, he moved to step three: shape transformation!
Screeeech!
A piercing, grating noise filled the air as four shuriken-like "blades" materialized around the white ring, spinning furiously.
These "blades" were actually streams of Wind Release chakra, flowing from the inner ring and back, their high-speed rotation forming the shuriken's shape.
From the core outward, the chakra density decreased, but the speed increased—hence the Rasengan's blue core, the white ring, and the nearly transparent shuriken edges.
"With my current reserves, I can only pull this off once..."
Shūichi sighed.
This was without tapping into the chakra stored in his Strength of a Hundred Seal, though.
"Let's see if it's truly complete..."
Raising his right hand, he hurled the Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken like a madman's throw.
Vrrrm!
The technique shot forward, slicing through the air, covering over a hundred meters in seconds before losing stability.
The entire construct ballooned, erupting into a dazzling white sphere over 25 meters in diameter.
A roaring gale followed, tearing up the ground in a tidal wave of dirt!
When the storm subsided, Shūichi lowered his arm from shielding his eyes and flashed to the blast's epicenter.
A massive crater now marked the spot.
"The power is undeniable."
Shūichi mused: "Not just cutting force—it's packed with microscopic wind needles that shred everything."
"Especially when it destabilizes. Without orderly motion, unless you have Six Paths Madara or Hashirama-level regeneration, severed chakra pathways and cellular perforations will leave you dead or crippled."
"If it were the Wind-Fire Halo Spiraling Shuriken, that gale would've been a firestorm—a true area-of-effect massacre."
Shifting focus, he checked the [Title Tree].
[Wind Release Master] now glowed blue!
Effect: Wind Release aptitude +100%, Wind Release chakra nature transformation +100%, Wind Release shape transformation +100%; no learning barriers for any non-kekkei genkai Wind Release techniques or secret arts.
With the title's boost, Shūichi raised his right hand, extended a finger, and conjured a miniature Wind Release: Spiraling Shuriken atop it.
Flicking it away, the tiny technique flew twenty meters before expanding, its blast radius still spanning two to three meters.
The full-sized version was too chakra-intensive, but the mini variant was efficient—perfect for single-target strikes.
Better yet, he could adjust the size based on combat needs.
Sitting down to recover with another soldier pill, Shūichi reflected: "With the Wind and Fire Release techniques I've mastered, the title 'Master' fits."
"Purely in terms of lethality—not combat experience—I'm on par with elite jonin."
"But my biggest weakness is obvious: chakra reserves."
"Limited by both physique and age. That's why I've relied on the Strength of a Hundred Seal, though the first two attempts failed."
In truth, Shūichi's chakra reserves were exceptional for his age.
Last December, he'd estimated them at roughly "3 Kakashi units."
Compared to Sarutobi Asuma, he had about double the reserves.
"I can't control growing up, so I'll focus on improving my physique and mastering the Strength of a Hundred Seal."
Shūichi plotted: "Lay low for two years, stockpile chakra in the seal."
"Unlock [Sword Master] and [Space-Time Envoy]—that's two physique boosts."
"I'm almost nine now. This year, next year—at latest by Konoha Year 43, I'll achieve my goals."
"Flying Thunder God is tough, so I'll start with other space-time ninjutsu. Even if I have to use 'Flash of Insight' to create my own."
Plan set, Shūichi headed home.
He needed to dissect that intricate sensory ninjutsu seal—mastering it would patch a critical weakness.
Read advance chapters here:
patreon.com/CNBLUE