Chapter 55: My Earth Release Technique is a bit... off

[Boar → Dog → Bird → Monkey → Ram]

"Clap!"

Walking home, Link couldn't resist forming seals and slapping his hands together. That strange sensation arose again as countless energies flowed, and a voice grew louder, coming from a great distance.

"Son, you're back again~" His father's familiar voice greeted him warmly.

Link had added a bit more chakra this time, and the voice felt noticeably closer. He couldn't help but think that if he kept increasing the chakra, he might actually summon his father to the living world.

"Dad," Link thought, addressing him mentally. "Can you sense me reaching out to you? What does it feel like? And what's the Pure Land like? Have you seen Mom?"

With limited time, Link fired off a series of questions.

"Sense you? Isn't it you reaching out to me?" His father replied, surprised. "It's like you called out over a radio. I recognized your voice and responded instinctively."

"As for the Pure Land, you mean the afterlife? Hmm… I wouldn't know. I feel like I was unconscious until just now, when you reached out. It's like I just woke u—"

"Zzzzt!"

And just like that, the connection cut off again.

Link sighed inwardly, summarizing the characteristics of his altered summoning technique. Deciding to conserve his chakra for other jutsu practice, he refrained from trying again.

[Whether this summoning is incredible or not, I'll master it later. For now, focus on other ninjutsu.]

Based on the patterns of his previous jutsu mutations, most of the scrolls he'd requested likely wouldn't undergo dramatic changes.

For instance, Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish, Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage, or Earth Release: Earth Flow Divide—these were straightforward techniques unlikely to evolve into something significantly more valuable.

After all, every ninjutsu required chakra, and what suited Link best were techniques with unique mechanisms, like the utility of Shadow Clone Jutsu or the versatility of the Transformation Jutsu.

[Special effects would be acceptable, but minor upgrades wouldn't mean much given my limited chakra reserves. The results might just… fall short.]

Back home, Link emptied his bag of ninjutsu scrolls onto the floor and began unrolling them one by one.

As expected, most were Earth Release techniques, likely chosen because of his prior purchase of Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole Technique, signaling a proficiency in Earth Release.

While Link had applied for techniques spanning Wind, Fire, Earth, and Lightning natures, the Hokage's office had only approved Earth Release scrolls.

[They probably assumed there's no way a nine-year-old could master a second chakra nature transformation yet. Well… they're not wrong.]

For most people, mastering the first chakra nature transformation could take years. Thanks to his strong chakra control, Link had managed to complete it in just over a year at the academy, reaching near-jonin-level chakra control.

But the second transformation required both talent and time—time he simply didn't have.

"Earth Release, Earth Release, Earth Release… Medical Ninjutsu?"

Link pulled out a medical scroll and opened it. It contained B-Rank: Delicate Illness Extraction Technique. Judging by the name, he immediately set it aside, feeling it lacked potential.

"Earth Release, Earth Release, Earth Release… Summoning Technique: Rashomon? Genjutsu…"

"The highest rank is only B-Rank?"

He flipped through the scrolls, finding a chaotic assortment. None of the A-Rank techniques he'd applied for, such as Mystical Palm Technique or Sealing Techniques, were included. Unsurprisingly, such high-level jutsu weren't easily granted to a mere Chūnin.

Even B-Rank jutsu corresponded to jonin-level skills. A-Rank techniques were exceedingly difficult, often bordering on forbidden jutsu, and S-Rank jutsu were completely out of reach. No matter how much trust the Third Hokage had in him, handing over such powerful techniques to a nine-year-old was unthinkable.

"If I sold all these scrolls, they'd probably fetch a few million ryō…"

"But selling them? Yeah, no."

Laughing at his own foolish thought, Link dismissed the idea of risking his life by betraying the village.

"Let's start with the genjutsu then," he decided, curious whether genjutsu might mutate like his ninjutsu.

…

Training Ground Seven

"Guess not. Genjutsu doesn't mutate."

Link shook his head. Like medical ninjutsu, genjutsu required extremely precise chakra control.

The same went for breaking genjutsu—stronger chakra control meant faster casting or dispelling.

With his advanced control, Link had no trouble learning D-Rank and C-Rank genjutsu like Demonic Illusion: Hell Viewing Technique, Demonic Illusion: False Surroundings Technique, or Demonic Illusion: Fox Mind Disturbance. They were excellent for dealing with weaker opponents, consuming little chakra and proving easy to master.

Unfortunately, they were entirely unaltered, just like the originals. Non-dōjutsu-based genjutsu was effectively useless against stronger opponents, who could break free in less than a second. High-level opponents wouldn't even be momentarily disoriented.

"Alright, onto Earth Release…"

Refining his chakra, Link formed the seals and activated:

"Earth Release: Subterranean Voyage."

His body sank seamlessly into the ground, descending over ten meters as if swimming.

"Blub-blub-blub." Air bubbles emerged from his nose and mouth, leaving muddy traces behind.

[It feels like underwater swimming. My movement speed isn't significantly affected, and I can still observe the surface. The chakra cost is low, and the effect lasts for a long time.]

Link remained underground for five full minutes before the technique naturally ended, and he was ejected back to the surface.

The jutsu was almost identical to the original but surprisingly practical.

[This could be a game-changer for reconnaissance—just need to avoid running into other Earth Release users. If it's just my head sticking out, I can't exactly outrun them…]

Noticing he still had ample energy, Link decided to test another Earth Release jutsu.

"Earth Release: Underground Projection Fish."

Placing his hands on the ground, he channeled chakra into the earth. The soil within a five-meter radius turned transparent, revealing shimmering red and pink fish swimming gracefully through the dirt.

The sight was surreal—fish in the soil, moving as if they were underwater. Startled by his presence, the fish darted away, vanishing once they left the jutsu's radius.

Other fish soon swam in, their colors and types just as vibrant and varied.

[What an odd effect…]

Intrigued, Link used Subterranean Voyage to dive underground and examine the fish up close. Startling a few, he tried to catch one but came up empty-handed.

[So, they're just projections? Guess I've discovered my first purely decorative jutsu.]

~~~

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