220

Haruto sat cross-legged in the quiet of his room, his shadow clone diligently working on a scroll nearby, practicing fuinjutsu. The air hummed with concentration as the clone's brush scratched softly across the parchment, drawing careful seals. Haruto kept his eyes closed, letting the silence settle over him.

Then, without warning, he felt it—a familiar pulse of energy rippling through his body.

The system.

His eyes flew open, and a grin spread across his face. Boo ya, shock-a-locka! Silver reward time!

The excitement surged within him as the system's glowing interface appeared, listing the rewards he'd been waiting for. He'd put in the work, sent his essay out to stir up the right kind of chaos in Konoha, and now it was time to reap the benefits.

Silver Reward Options:

1. Tier 2.5 Stamina

2. Increased Lightning Affinity

3. Tier 2.5 Sensor Chakra Affinity

4. Tier 2.5 Cognitive Ability

5. Increased Ninjutsu Talent

Haruto leaned forward, his grin softening as he studied the list. All of these rewards were upgrades—improvements on abilities he had already developed. But which one did he need the most?

He quickly dismissed Tier 2.5 Stamina. His stamina was already far beyond that of most shinobi, allowing him to train and fight for long stretches without tiring. Sure, more endurance was nice, but it wasn't the edge he needed right now.

His eyes shifted to Increased Lightning Affinity. Now this was intriguing. His affinity for lightning was decent, but what if he made it exceptional? Paired with his golden ninjutsu talent, boosting his lightning affinity could take him from good to devastatingly powerful. The idea of honing his lightning techniques into something truly deadly sparked excitement in him.

Tier 2.5 Sensor Chakra Affinity? No need. He was already a highly skilled sensor, able to pick up chakra signatures from great distances with accuracy that few others could match. Improving that wouldn't give him the kind of growth he needed right now.

Cognitive Ability was tempting, though. Haruto had already sharpened his mind through previous upgrades, making him quick to analyze and strategize in battle. Enhancing that even further could give him an even faster edge mentally, but what he needed now wasn't brainpower—it was something that could change his combat style. Something that would make his jutsu hit harder, faster, and with more precision.

That left Increased Ninjutsu Talent. He had a natural gift for ninjutsu, and another boost would make him a master of learning and controlling new jutsu. It was a solid option, but he couldn't shake the thought of what combining that talent with a stronger lightning affinity could achieve.

Then it clicked.

He didn't want to be the jack-of-all-trades, master of none anymore. He had spread himself too thin—good at many things, but not truly exceptional at any one. What if he specialized? What if lightning became his element?

If I had an insanely high lightning affinity paired with my golden ninjutsu talent, I'd be unstoppable.

The idea struck like a bolt from the blue. He wouldn't just be another shinobi with a decent range of abilities—he would be a lightning specialist. Speed, power, and precision, all supercharged with his natural ninjutsu talent. He could master lightning jutsu in a way few could, making it his weapon, his signature.

Haruto's grin widened. Increased Lightning Affinity was the clear choice.

The system activated the moment he made his decision. A surge of energy swept through him, crackling beneath his skin like a live current. It wasn't just a warm rush of power—this was sharp, electric. His chakra pulsed with the elemental energy of lightning, more attuned and responsive than before. It felt natural, like his chakra had been rewired to match the speed and ferocity of lightning.

The tingling sensation spread through his body, and Haruto could feel the difference immediately. Lightning wasn't just a tool at his disposal anymore—it was his element, something deeply connected to his very being. His chakra hummed with potential, charged and ready to be unleashed.

When the energy settled, Haruto opened his eyes, and the room seemed to buzz with a newfound intensity. He didn't need to test his jutsu just yet; he could feel the raw power within him, waiting. His connection to lightning had deepened, and he could already imagine how much faster, sharper, and more destructive his techniques would become.

Haruto grinned, his excitement barely contained. He couldn't wait to see how this upgrade would impact his abilities. The Chunin Exams were on the horizon, and with his new affinity, he'd have a serious advantage.