2nd Reconstruction...

~ Omniscient Pov, Riki residence ~

.

.

.

As the door creaked open, Hayatou trudged inside, his body aching from the brutal training he had put himself through. His muscles screamed with every movement, his limbs heavy as if weighed down by lead.

'I really pushed myself to the brink today…' he thought, dragging himself toward his room, 'Though, I think I'm finally getting used to the exercises.'

Every day, the intensity increased. Every day, his body adapted. But tonight was different—he had pushed beyond his limits, and now he was paying the price.

His stomach growled in protest, a sharp reminder that he needed to eat. Normally, he would rely on N.E.O.'s accelerated recovery functions to repair the damage, but at this point, he was completely spent. He had exhausted every ounce of energy in his body.

There was nothing left for N.E.O. to work with.

Which meant he had to endure the pain.

'Great.'

He clenched his jaw, his vision blurring slightly as he finally reached his room. His futon had never looked so inviting. Every muscle in his body begged for rest, but just as he was about to collapse, N.E.O.'s voice echoed in his mind.

[Host, I must remind you that additional caloric intake is required to initiate Phase II: Physiological Reconstruction. Your current nutritional levels are insufficient for optimal enhancement.]

Hayatou groaned, rubbing his face, 'Of course. Just when I thought I could rest…' Food wasn't even on his mind, just sleep.

But, he also knew N.E.O. was right. Without enough food, the reconstruction wouldn't work, and all his progress would stagnate. He had already seen firsthand how much energy his body burned through just from training alone. If he wanted to keep growing stronger, he couldn't afford to skip meals—no matter how exhausted he was...

Dragging himself up, he staggered toward the kitchen, hoping there was still something left to eat.

As he descended the stairs, his steps sluggish and heavy, his eyes landed on the dining table. Several covered bowls sat neatly in place, their warmth still faintly lingering in the air. Beside them, a small note rested against a cup.

Curious, he reached for it, unfolding the neatly written message.

{Hayatou, if you get this, that means I'm out with some of my friends. I left this to tell you not to wait for me—just eat well. Love, Mom.}

He stared at the note for a moment, his tired brain taking a second to process the simple yet thoughtful gesture...

A small, tired smile tugged at his lips.

Even though she didn't say it outright, he could tell—she was worried about him.

He wasn't sure if she had noticed how much he had been training or how exhausted he had been coming home lately, but she had still gone out of her way to make sure he had enough food waiting for him.

His stomach growled, reminding him that now wasn't the time to dwell on emotions.

Pulling off the covers, he took a deep breath as the rich aroma of home-cooked food filled his senses. His mother had made extra portions, probably noticing how much he had been eating recently.

Without wasting another second, he grabbed his chopsticks and dug in.

Instantly, in just a few moments, he could already feel his stamina returning to him, all the needed food allowing him to recover once again.

'Oh yeah~ That was awesome.' He easily finished everything within just a few minutes, now it was time for that last body reconstruction...

.

.

.

He laid down on the futon, ready for the process to begin, but a lingering thought crossed his mind.

'Hey, N.E.O.… What does this actually do to my body? Rather than just making me stronger, what are you actually doing? Can you explain it in detail?'

For a moment, there was silence. Then, N.E.O.'s voice resonated in his mind.

[Clarification requested. Processing…]

[Response: I am capable of restructuring your genetic and physical composition within the limitations imposed by your inherited biological framework. This includes optimizing muscle fiber density, reinforcing skeletal integrity, and refining neurological efficiency. However, my modifications cannot surpass the constraints of your genetic potential.]

Hayatou frowned slightly. 'So you're saying you can enhance what's already there… but you can't make me into something I wasn't meant to be?'

[Correct. While I can induce enhancements at an accelerated rate, I cannot introduce genetic attributes you were not predisposed to possess. However, I can replicate, reproduce, or eliminate both endogenous (self-produced) and exogenous (foreign) cellular structures within your system. This includes improving immune response, accelerating healing, and optimizing metabolic functions.]

His eyes widened slightly. 'Wait… does that mean if I got something like a Kekkei-Genkai, you could replicate it throughout my body?'

[In theory, yes. However, practical application would require direct genetic integration from an external source, and if said external source is even something I can manipulate.]

Hayatou had to rethink some things because of that...

'Doesn't that mean if I ever managed to obtain a sample of something powerful—like the Sharingan, or even a unique bloodline ability—N.E.O. could potentially integrate it into my body?'

A slow grin crept onto his face...

'Alright… go ahead with the reconstruction.'

[Commencing Phase II: Physiological Reconstruction. Standby. Commencing Neuron enhancement protocol.]

Almost instantly, a deep warmth flooded his body, followed by an overwhelming sense of weightlessness. His vision blurred, and before he knew it—he was slipping into unconsciousness. 

The next stage had already begun…

As he slept, his body twitched and convulsed sporadically, his muscles subtly contracting and relaxing in perfect rhythmic pulses. Beneath his skin, unseen changes were taking place—his nerves rewiring, his brain processing at an accelerated rate, his very cells restructuring under N.E.O.'s precise direction.

Then came the purging.

A thick, inky black substance seeped from his pores, pooling around him in thin, viscous streams. It reeked—an acrid, metallic scent that lingered in the air. These were impurities, waste byproducts from his accelerated cellular evolution. Damaged cells, metabolic buildup, unnecessary biological limitations—most of it being expelled.

Slowly, his skin took on a smoother, healthier sheen. His once-soft features became subtly sharper, more defined. His body, though still young, appeared slightly leaner, his muscles subtly compacted, denser—more efficient.

Inside his mind, neurons fired at speeds previously unimaginable. New connections were already forming, enhancing processing speed, memory retention, and sensory awareness... Every single pathway was being slowly optimized, reforged into something already beyond human standards.

And yet, through it all, Hayatou remained unconscious...

The transformation continued, unseen and unheard, his body undergoing its greatest evolution to date...

By the time he awoke, nothing would be the same.

.

.

.

.

.

.

An unknown amount of time had passed, but the first thing Hayatou registered was the overwhelming sensation of discomfort. His body felt sticky, covered in a thin layer of something unpleasant. The faint stench of metal and sweat clung to him, making his nose scrunch in disgust.

It's way worse than last time… He groaned internally. Might as well take a—

He froze mid-thought.

His eyes blinked once, twice. Something was… off.

Rubbing his face, he sat up, his fingers running over his skin. It felt smoother, more refined, almost unnatural in its lack of imperfections.

But that wasn't what caught his attention.

As he looked around his room, everything felt sharper. His vision wasn't just clearer—it was different. Colors seemed richer, details more pronounced. He could see the fine grain of the wooden floor, the subtle flicker of light reflecting off dust particles in the air. It was like his brain was processing everything at an accelerated rate.

Not just sight—his hearing was different, too. The distant hum of village life outside reached his ears with unnerving clarity. Footsteps, muffled voices, even the rhythmic thump-thump of his own heartbeat echoed with perfect distinction.

He took a slow breath, only to realize that his breathing felt controlled, measured, as if his body had already accounted for oxygen intake before he even thought about it.

His movements, too—when he turned his head, it was like time itself had slowed. Not in a literal sense, but his perception of time felt stretched, his reaction speed far beyond what it used to be.

'What the hell…?' His hands trembled slightly as he clenched and unclenched his fists. 'Is it just me… or can I see clearer than before? Not even that… everything feels… slower.'

[Affirmative, host. Phase II: Physiological Reconstruction has successfully enhanced neurological processing speeds, sensory perception, and cognitive response efficiency. You are now experiencing reality at approximately 1.45 times your previous perception rate.]

His breath hitched at that.

This wasn't just physical enhancement anymore.

His mind had practically been rewired too…

He let out a short, disbelieving laugh. "Haha… anything else I gained?"

[Affirmative. I have corrected an underlying defect in your chakra pathways that would have caused progressive closure of chakra points over time. If left unchecked, this would have significantly slowed your chakra development. Additionally:

Chakra molding efficiency has increased by 50%. Lifespan extension detected—biological deterioration rate significantly reduced. Physicality, Agility and strength have improved by 45% from your prior baseline. Regenerative capabilities have increased by 26.4%.]

Hayatou stared blankly for a moment.

'…That was a joke dude...'

He exhaled, running a hand through his hair as he processed the sheer absurdity of what he had just been told. A 45% strength increase? Chakra molding efficiency boosted by half? A longer lifespan?!

A slow grin crept onto his face, "But… thank you. Definitely."

Even if he had been joking, N.E.O. hadn't. And now, he was already so much more than he had been yesterday...

'Show me those attributes of mine.'

[Affirmative...]

_____________________

Name: Hayatou Riki

Age: 7 / 94.2 Years Old ➡ 7 / 135.1 Years Old

Height: 141.2 cm / 174.3 cm ➡ 150.1 cm / 185.3 cm

STR: 8 ➡ 10

PHYS: 8 ➡ 10

AGI: 8 ➡ 10

C-C: 321.4 / 321.4 ➡ 853.2 / 853.2 

C-D: 1

______________________

'Yeah, that's a good increase... Everything is so uniformed. But, I guess balance is greater than leaning towards any one attribute. Technically, I was good at everything, physically speaking...' He liked the idea of being well balanced.

And it was the type of balance that excelled in everything.

As he got up, he quickly made his way to shower himself off... After getting a well needed bath, he stood in front of the mirror.

His features had matured slightly, the roundness of childhood subtly fading in favor of a more defined structure, or as it could be for a seven year old. His skin was clearer, smoother, almost unnaturally perfect, with his shoulders slightly broader. His frame, while still relatively lean, had filled out a bit more, his muscles compact but undeniably athletic—the kind of physique built up purely for efficiency rather than bulk.

A build perfect for a shinobi.

Yet, as he stared into the mirror, one thought nagged at him...

'N.E.O., are you perhaps... altering my appearance?'

Not just his body—but his face.

His features were sharper now. His jawline had subtly defined itself, his cheekbones more pronounced, and his once-childish face had gained an almost unnatural refinement. He still looked like himself, but, well… better.

[Negative, host. I do not engage in aesthetic modifications... All observed changes are a result of genetic optimization and cellular refinement. Your facial structure has been naturally enhanced due to slightly increased bone density, improved skin elasticity, and overall symmetrical correction.]

Hayatou raised an eyebrow. 'Symmetrical correction?'

[Minor irregularities in your bone structure have been adjusted for peak biological efficiency. This includes proper alignment of facial proportions to reduce airflow resistance, improve sensory input pathways, and maximize muscle responsiveness.]

Hayatou blinked.

'So I didn't just get stronger… I literally became a more refined version of myself?'

That was insane.

Looking at his reflection again, he could finally see it—he wasn't prettier, nor did he look unnaturally altered. He just looked… right. As if this was how his body was always supposed to be before years of imperfect human biology and environmental factors had gotten in the way.

A slow smirk formed on his newly-defined lips.

'Hah… so I'm literally peak human now?'

[Correction: You are already beyond peak human, host.]

His smirk widened.

Now that was a sentence he liked hearing.

[Oh, I should also mention that your body is more; adaptable. Hence, attribute points now are gained after achieving a result of being 20% stronger than before, rather than 15%.]

'...'

[...]

'You purposely saved that bit for last, didn't you...'

[Perhaps...]

.

.

.

.

.

.

.

END