Chapter 17
As night fell— A faint yellow candlelight flickered inside the wooden cabin by the lake. Haruto Saito had just returned home.
A Day of Preparations After parting ways with Tsunade, Haruto had gone to the village's general market, purchasing various necessities. He had also visited the labor market, where he arranged for a group of carpenters and masons to come tomorrow morning to build him a proper bathhouse. Having money was a blessing. For Haruto, any problem that could be solved with money wasn't a problem at all.
Forced to Train Inside the candlelit cabin, Haruto sat cross-legged on the wooden platform, closed his eyes, and began channeling chakra. He was training. Not by choice— But because he had no other option.
Today, he had barely escaped death twice— First from an assassination attempt by Amegakure's shinobi. Then, from the Hyuga Clan's assassination attempt. The danger felt real. Since he didn't inherit this body's original memories, he had no idea how strong he actually was. Thus, the only way to assess his capabilities was through training.
This was the body of an Amegakure Genin. Physically speaking, Amegakure's Genin were stronger than those from other villages. It was a result of their harsh upbringing, constant training, and brutal survival environment. So, despite his small and frail appearance, Haruto's body was tough and powerful. From a purely physical perspective, he believed his strength and endurance were already at least on par with a typical Chunin from other villages.
However— Physical strength wasn't everything. What truly determined a ninja's combat ability were three factors: Jutsu (Ninjutsu, Genjutsu, Taijutsu) – These defined a ninja's offensive and defensive capabilities. Chakra Reserves – This determined how long a ninja could sustain a fight. Combat Experience – The ability to adapt, strategize, and execute under pressure.
Right now, Haruto had no shortage of jutsu. Since arriving in this world, he had acquired several techniques through skill cards:
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (C-rank Ninjutsu)
Sealing Technique: Thorny Bind Curse Mark (C-rank Fuinjutsu)