CH40: Awakening

The setting sun cast long shadows across the training ground as Yuichi stood on his self-made practice field, pushing himself to complete his self training selection. 

Unlike the structured and well-equipped grounds the village provided, this place was uniquely his. A barren stretch of land surrounded by tall trees, with a flat stone in the center that served as both his resting place and thinking spot. 

A few makeshift training tools, crafted from logs and stones he had dragged here over time, dotted the area. Despite its simplicity, this field held a sense of peace that Yuichi found nowhere else.

After completing a grueling set of chakra-intensive training exercises, Yuichi sat down on the flat stone. His chest heaved as he caught his breath, the faint scent of damp earth filling the air around him. Sweat dripped from his forehead, glistening in the faint light of the setting sun, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips.

He swiped his hand across the air, summoning his status screen—a peculiar ability that had stayed with him since his reincarnation. The familiar glowing panel hovered before him.

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Ensho Yuichi

Rank- B-

AGE- 11 

STR - B-

AGI - C+

INT - C+

PER - C

CHK - B-

Affinity- Yin, Lightning, Wind.

Bloodline- Phantom Apport

Abilities- Phantom steps, Lightning enhancement. 

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Yuichi's gaze lingered on the screen, his fingers lightly tapping his knee. His stats had grown steadily, though not at the pace he hoped for. But it wasn't the numbers that mattered most, it was the journey.

The knowledge, and the abilities he had acquired along the way. His eyes brightened as he focused on the newly unlocked Phantom Steps ability.

"Finally," he muttered to himself, his voice a mixture of relief and excitement. "Now I have one more ace up my sleeve."

He tapped on the ability, and the screen shifted to display its description in glowing text.

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[Phantom Steps]

(Hand signs: Rat → Ox → Dog → Hare → Snake → Tiger)

Grants the user intangibility and invisibility. Nullifies all normal physical and chakra-based attacks while active. Completely erases life energy, presence, chakra signature, and existence while invisible.

Partial Usage: Either intangibility or invisibility can be activated individually to conserve chakra.

Chakra Cost:- Full activation: 60% of the user's chakra pool. Partial activation: 40%.

Note:- Mind-based attacks remain effective. Abnormal physical and Chakra based attacks may bypass the techniques advantages. Requires a minimum of B-rank Chakra and C-rank Perception for activation.

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Yuichi's fingers trembled slightly as he read the description. The potential of this ability was immense, nearly akin to Kamui, one of the most infamous techniques in the Naruto universe. Though it came at a steep chakra cost, its strategic value was undeniable.

"Let's see how this works," he murmured, a determined look in his eyes.

He stood up, brushing off the dirt on his pants, and formed the hand signs: Rat, Ox, Dog, Hare, Snake, Tiger. 

Chakra surged through his body, flowing like molten energy through his meridians. A strange sensation enveloped him, his body grew lighter, almost weightless, and he felt… disconnected. As if he no longer fully existed in the physical world.

He looked down at his hands, which had become translucent and ghostly. His entire body shimmered like a mirage, barely visible against the darkening forest. He reached out to touch the flat stone he had been sitting on, but his hand passed right through it.

"I… I'm intangible," he whispered, though his voice didn't echo. It was as if even his sound had been erased.

But before he could marvel further, a sharp pain stabbed through his solar plexus, where his chakra was concentrated. 

He winced and instinctively released the jutsu, collapsing to one knee as the world snapped back into focus. His body felt heavy again, but his mind… his mind was somewhere else.

In the brief moment he had activated the jutsu, Yuichi had seen something extraordinary. The pathways of his chakra network had become vividly clear, glowing like rivers of light within his body.

The eight major chakra gates stood out like beacons, their positions and functions far more detailed than anything he had read about in books.

"The Eight Gates…" he whispered, his voice trembling with awe. "So that's how they work."

He had always wondered why the gates could unleash such immense power, and now he understood. The chakra gates were not just energy points - they were limiters. 

Only about 20% of his chakra flowed freely through his body; the rest was locked away, restricted by these gates. The potential that lay dormant within him was staggering.

Yuichi sat cross-legged on the ground unknowingly, his mind immersed in this newfound revelation. 

He traced the flow of chakra through his body, observing how the spiritual Yin chakra and physical Yang chakra intertwined at different points. The balance between the two energies was delicate, almost artistic in its complexity.

"This is why chakra control has been so difficult," he realized. "My pathways aren't fully open yet."

He could see that 40% of his chakra veins and meridians remained closed, limiting his potential. The revelation filled him with a sense of purpose. He clenched his fists, determination burning in his eyes.

"This… this is the path forward. If I can unlock my chakra pathways and master the flow of energy, I'll reach a level I never thought possible."

Hours passed as Yuichi remained in meditation, his focus entirely on his chakra network. When he finally opened his eyes, the sun had long since set, and the forest was bathed in moonlight. 

The cool night air brushed against his skin, but he didn't feel the chill. Instead, he felt a deep calm, a clarity he hadn't known before.

Standing up, he flexed his fingers and took a deep breath. His chakra felt stronger, more responsive, as if the meditation had unlocked something within him. 

Though he knew he'd face punishment for missing a day of training from Kagami, he didn't care. What he had gained tonight was far more valuable.

Yuichi looked up at the stars, a small smile playing on his lips.

"It was a good day," he said softly. "And now I know one more way to become stronger."

With that, he turned and began his walk back to the village, the quiet crunch of leaves under his feet the only sound in the tranquil forest meanwhile his bluish chakra got a little purplish without anyone finding anything.