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Haruto Takeda lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling, his thoughts swirling in the quiet of the room. They had saved the women and children, yes, but the victory tasted bitter, soured by the cruel reality of what people were capable of. He had seen humanity's darkness firsthand in that smuggling camp—the twisted faces of men who reveled in their depravity. No matter how many times he faced it, the impact never seemed to fade.

It stayed with him, gnawing at his mind long after the mission had ended. The sight of the terrified children huddled together, the haunted eyes of the women, broken and abused, their captors laughing as if it were all a game. It wasn't just another mission—it was a reminder of what lurked in the shadows of the world he had chosen to protect.

Haruto sighed heavily, trying to shake off the weight that settled over him like a thick fog. "People can be shitty," he muttered, his voice barely a whisper in the silence of the room. It was a simple truth, but no less painful for it. Even as a shinobi, someone trained to fight, to kill, the worst enemies weren't always those wielding jutsu. Sometimes, it was the darkest parts of humanity itself.

He couldn't dwell on it, though. Sakumo Hatake had given the team the rest of the week to do as they pleased, and Haruto needed to refocus. Tomorrow, he'd meet Daichi for some much-needed training, and afterward, he planned to visit Kushina Uzumaki to continue honing his fūinjutsu. But tonight, he had another task in mind, something that would keep his hands busy and his mind sharp.

After an intense training session that pushed his body to its limits, Haruto returned to his apartment, his muscles aching but his mind clear. He quickly prepared a large meal—rice, miso soup, grilled fish, and steamed vegetables. The simple but filling food helped to refuel him, but even as he ate, his mind was already moving toward his real obsession: fūinjutsu.

The idea had been brewing in his mind for months now—permanent seals that could enhance his body in ways that few shinobi could even dream of. Haruto had been studying fūinjutsu from old scrolls and books he had managed to gather, and though his understanding was still developing, he had already reached a low-tier medium level of skill. He knew enough to create basic seals and storage techniques, but what he sought was far more ambitious.

His goal was to pair fūinjutsu with his medical ninjutsu, using it to enhance his nervous system, muscles, and bones—the very foundation of his physical abilities. These seals wouldn't be temporary boosts; they would be permanent, ingrained into his body and designed to grow with him over time. If he could perfect the process, the benefits would be immense.

Haruto summoned a Shadow Clone, watching as it materialized beside him with a soft puff of smoke. Thanks to his two-mind ability and Tier 2 cognitive upgrade, the clone could think and process as sharply as he could. They worked in perfect synchronization, each mind focused on different aspects of the fūinjutsu process. With the clone by his side, Haruto set up his workspace—scrolls, ink brushes, sealing tags—and began working on the seals he had been developing for weeks.

The Seals: A Vision of Permanent Enhancement

Haruto's work centered on three specific seals, each targeting a different aspect of the body's natural function.

1. Nervous System Enhancement Seal:

The first seal was designed to augment his nervous system, enhancing his reflexes and reaction speed by improving the transmission of nerve signals. With this seal, Haruto hoped to sharpen his ability to react to threats faster than the average shinobi, giving him a split-second advantage in combat.

But it wasn't just about speed—it was about processing information more efficiently, seeing the world in a clearer, sharper way. The challenge lay in regulating the chakra flow. Too much stimulation could lead to sensory overload, causing his body to freeze up under the strain. Tonight, Haruto focused on adjusting that balance, trying to refine the seal so that the chakra flowed smoothly, without spikes.

2. Muscle Enhancement Seal:

This seal aimed to strengthen his muscles, increasing his raw strength and endurance without sacrificing agility. By infusing chakra directly into the muscular system, Haruto could push his body beyond its natural limits, becoming faster, stronger, and more resilient.

The key was maintaining control. Too much chakra, and the muscles would tear themselves apart; too little, and the enhancement would be negligible. He had already made progress here, able to briefly boost his physical power during short bursts of training. The muscle seal was coming together, but it still needed refinement to handle extended use in battle.

3. Bone Density Seal:

The most intricate of the seals, this one focused on reinforcing his bones. Haruto knew that if his muscles were to grow stronger, his bones had to keep pace to avoid injury. The seal was designed to enhance bone density, making them more resistant to fractures while keeping them flexible enough for swift movement.

Achieving this balance was tricky. If the bones became too rigid, his movement would be hindered. Too soft, and the enhancement would be ineffective. Haruto had already felt the improvements during sparring sessions—his body could absorb impacts better, but he needed to ensure that the seal wouldn't lock his bones in a rigid state.

As Haruto and his clone worked, inscribing symbols onto scrolls and testing different chakra flow patterns, his mind kept returning to the long-term potential of these seals. The idea wasn't just to improve his abilities now—it was to embed these enhancements into his body before he hit puberty. He knew that once his body began to develop, the seals would grow with him, becoming more effective as his physical and chakra networks matured.

By applying the seals at this stage of his life, Haruto could amplify the natural benefits of his body's growth. His bones, muscles, and nervous system would adapt to the enhancements as they developed, resulting in a level of power and agility that most shinobi could never reach. The seals would become part of his biology, giving him a permanent advantage as he entered his prime.

However, the risks were high. Permanent seals required precise chakra control, and any mistake could lead to devastating consequences—damage to his body, chakra network disruption, or even death. The seals demanded a careful balance, and Haruto wasn't there yet. He had made real headway, but there was still so much work to be done.

Tonight's focus was on refining the nervous system seal, one of the trickiest due to its direct interaction with the body's most sensitive pathways. Haruto sat cross-legged, guiding chakra into the seal while his clone tested the output. He could feel the subtle improvements—a slight boost in his reaction time, his reflexes just a bit sharper—but the chakra flow remained uneven. It was progress, but not enough.

He sighed and deactivated the seal, watching as the symbols on the scroll faded. Still not there yet.

The clone dispelled, and the experience flowed back into him. It wasn't perfect, but he was getting closer. Haruto knew that with time, patience, and relentless effort, he would perfect these seals. They would make him faster, stronger, and more durable than anyone expected—and by applying them now, before his body fully matured, he would ensure that they became a natural part of him.

Lying back on his bed, Haruto felt the weight of fatigue settling in. Tomorrow was another day of training, and afterward, he'd visit Kushina to continue refining his skills. But tonight, he would rest. He still had a long way to go, but each small step brought him closer to unlocking the full potential of his body and the permanent seals that would define his future as a shinobi.