Chapter 44

I returned home late and was promptly scolded by all three of my housemates. After that, I was informed that even though my training was complete, Hitomi and Yugao would continue living here since they were also registered in the apartment's documentation. I understood that if I hadn't developed relationships with them and if they hadn't shown professional diligence in continuing their assignment, they would have been recalled by Danzo and the Hokage.

As for Hana, she was here by my invitation, which, it seemed, she had started interpreting differently about a year ago. And she wasn't particularly happy that after finishing the Academy, we didn't end up alone in the apartment (thank the gods, or else I would have failed Taming the very next morning).

After a brief discussion on the topic of "how recklessly someone acted" and "you could have told us about your suspicions", Yugao ultimately agreed with my argument that if I had taken someone with me, persuading Mizuki wouldn't have worked. And, implicitly, I wasn't sure this information wouldn't have reached their superiors, at least in the form of a report after the fact. Questions would have arisen anyway, and they would have been harder to answer than they were now. After all, even when Hiruzen asked, "Why didn't you warn anyone?", I simply replied that I wasn't sure, and who knows what a newly minted Genin might imagine? But if I had involved someone else, I wouldn't have been able to just brush it off as "a misunderstanding". And it wouldn't have fit my somewhat careless persona.

I got sidetracked again. Anyway, after the discussion, they still congratulated me—both on finishing the Academy (and securing a decent overall ranking) and on completing my first mission. We didn't celebrate too wildly, though—it was too late when I got back, and I still had to wake up early for tomorrow's team assignments.

Once in my room, I settled into my chair, deciding to spend the night there, giving in to my intuition's nagging. Let them look for me in the bed!

Morning proved that this had been a wise decision—Hana was in my bed. To be honest, she was the last person I expected to find there. Though, maybe she just wanted to sleep next to me in the literal sense? Either way, I didn't dwell on it—I did my workout, freshened up, and prepared breakfast for the sleepyheads.

I had a feeling they had already managed to lightly celebrate my graduation, even if I hadn't noticed it yesterday. A mild celebration wouldn't affect the coordination of trained shinobi, and any lingering scents could easily be masked with a jutsu—especially for someone with an Inuzuka's keen sense of smell or an ANBU's stealth skills.

Damn, my thoughts were jumping all over the place again—I still couldn't shake the news that Danzo had been keeping an eye on me.

Then, I pulled out a rather notable scroll. Well, attempt number six?

I suppose I should explain—this was that third scroll that Itachi had gifted me along with two techniques. Inside, a set of clothes was sealed, resembling traditional Chinese attire. Yep, such outfits exist here too, and even Tenten wears something similar.

I once saw this outfit in a shop, but at the time, I couldn't afford it, and later, someone else bought it. I have no idea how Itachi found out about it or if he just guessed, but the fact remained—I became the proud owner of wide black pants that concealed leg movements well but were snug around the ankles so I wouldn't trip, a matching black shirt, and an overcoat—a bright orange changshan. The color was what won me over the most! Besides, my current outfit was already worn out, and I had outgrown it. Finding a new one like it proved impossible… I had a feeling it was a conspiracy by my housemates, who were slightly irritated by my wonderfully loud orange color and had probably arranged things with the shopkeepers before each shopping trip, making sure my jumpsuit was "unexpectedly out of stock."

So why hadn't I worn Itachi's gift earlier? The answer was simple—he had miscalculated the size slightly, and only after two years had I grown enough to almost fit into it. This attempt was nearly successful—just had to fix the pant legs a little higher, making them seem even wider. Otherwise, it fit well, and in a couple of months, it would be perfect.

Smirking, I looked at my reflection in the mirror… and froze.

I gathered my hair in the back into something resembling a ponytail—though it was too short for a proper one—and smoothed it slightly in the front. Damn, if I dyed my hair red, I'd really look like Li Shuwen. Even his clothes at this age were oversized, as if handed down from his father. How ironic.

And only now, as the shock wore off, did I finally notice the long-blinking notification.

Congratulations on completing the Academy.

To commemorate this significant milestone in your life, you have been awarded a bonus of +300 free points. Additionally, now that you have the rank of Genin, the leveling penalty preventing progress beyond level 20 has been lifted, allowing advancement up to level 40.

For finishing in the Academy's top ten, you are entitled to a bonus of your choice:

1. Evolution of Iron Fists into Steel Fists.

Steel Fists.

You've done it! The faintest possibility of crushing walls with a punch and grinding stones with your fingers has become a harsh reality! Your blows are significantly stronger and heavier than your peers'. Your fists are as tough as steel—and just as devastating. A little more, and you'll enter legend as one of those who can shatter barrier techniques with a punch. And surely, you won't stop halfway, will you?

+100 Strength

+20 Endurance

(Retained bonus from 100 levels of the previous skill stage.)

+2 Strength per skill level

+35 damage to punches and hand-to-hand combat techniques

-0.5% damage from enemy attacks if blocked with a fist or the back of the hand up to the elbow.

Increased Lightning element damage taken by 5%.

2. New status – Diligent Effort (future evolution into Power of Youth).

3. +150 free points, +35 Control, +10 Intelligence, and the status "Above Mediocrity."

I didn't even bother reading the second option—the mention of its evolution was enough to drive me away. The third was decent, but I could gather those attribute points myself. So, the choice was obvious.

…Wait, why did I only get 250 free points? Where are the other 50?

Oh, I see… system, are you mocking me? An advance? Seriously? Though, considering how much I get per level, I suppose, yeah—those fifty points really were extra. But a little warning woud have been nice! What if I had failed? Would you have taken back the points?

Sigh. Whatever. Time to head to the team assignment.

I wonder who my mentor will be? And just as importantly—who will be on my team?