Chapter 48: The Upcoming Chunin Exams!

Fujinaka Genma didn’t think as much as Mimura Yajuan did.

To him, the broader trends of the ninja world were still too distant to influence.

Explaining so much to Mimura Yajuan was really because the latter admired him—he had once been his team leader.

Besides, there were no shortage of clever people in Konoha; what he could think of, others might have thought of too.

For him, the most important thing was survival.

Especially survival when the larger tide couldn’t be changed.

Only after surviving could he think of other things, like building reputation.

He had already gotten a strong start: the name “Konoha’s White Flash” had spread throughout Konoha and would soon spread across the ninja world.

“I must prepare for the possibility of Iwa ninja launching a surprise attack on the Land of Grass…”

After returning to the camp, sharing dinner with Hyuga Mio and the others, Fujinaka Genma lay on his bed and thought in silence.

He wondered how he could turn the tide without revealing his Jin Gang Sealing.

Would the Wind Release: Spiral Shuriken be enough?

“The cost-to-benefit ratio doesn’t seem high enough…”

Suddenly, as he thought, Fujinaka Genma had a flash of inspiration: “Perhaps I can leverage my massive chakra reserves and hurl large-scale Lei Dun Rasengan!”

“Brilliant idea!”

With that, Fujinaka Genma felt considerably more at ease, and only then opened his Raiden & Kai system.

Character: Fujinaka Genma

Level: 21

Age: 12 years old

Faction: Hidden Leaf Village, Land of Fire

Available attribute points: 1

Available skill points: 1

Looking at the available skill points, Fujinaka Genma pondered for a moment, then opened his talent skill menu.

Iron Bones at Level 10: Increases constitution by 10% per level, total 100%.

Strong Strike at Level 1: Increases damage by 10% per level.

Strong Throw at Level 1: Increases thrown weapon damage by 10% per level.

Weapon Mastery at Level 3: Raises weapon skill cap by 1 level per level, total 3 levels; accelerates weapon skill improvement through use by 10% per level, total 30%.

After thinking it over, Fujinaka Genma allocated his skill point to the talent Strong Strike, raising it to Level 2.

Thus, his attacks would now deal 20% more damage than before.

This meant nearly all his ninjutsu, taijutsu, and other attacks would gain a 20% power boost.

That was terrifying!

Recent missions had been plentiful, making Raiden & Kai points relatively easy to earn, so Fujinaka Genma had considered upgrading his talent skills.

Unfortunately, Iron Bones—the constitution-boosting talent—could not be upgraded further; even the shop offered no way to improve it. What could he do?

After spending his skill points, Fujinaka Genma, as usual, added to his constitution attribute, and also used his newly earned 2000 Raiden & Kai points to buy two more attribute points, exhausting them all.

Thus, he opened his attribute panel.

Constitution: 1130

Agility: 33

Intelligence: 36

Charm: 33

Compared to his last attribute upgrade, he had gained 10 points: 6 from this upgrade, the rest from daily training or natural physical development.

Four points was quite significant.

Agility had only increased by 1 point recently, showing how much harder it became with each level.

Intelligence and Charm had risen significantly: the former by 5 points, the latter by 6.

Intelligence was tied to Jin Gang Sealing, while Charm had surged due to his recent fame.

Feeling his constitution slowly rise, Fujinaka Genma felt deeply content.

Hm?

Suddenly, he felt a soft, warm body press against him.

Opening his eyes, it was indeed Hyuga Mio.

She lay atop him like a kitten, still faintly scented from her recent bath.

The soft pressure against his chest stirred his blood.

Due to the Raiden & Kai system, his physique had developed to rival that of a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old, so some reaction was inevitable.

Hyuga Mio noticed, and her cheeks flushed slightly.

She knew his body too well—her hand reached out and seized it.

Hss!

Fujinaka Genma sucked in a sharp breath, flicked her forehead with his finger, and growled: “Don’t move.”

Hyuga Mio wasn’t the least bit afraid; she huffed twice, then settled down.

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, after training, Fujinaka Genma ate breakfast and went to the commander’s tent for orders.

Soon, one after another, jonin and chunin entered the tent, then exited.

Many came and went, all greeting Fujinaka Genma, and he responded without arrogance.

His reputation as “Konoha’s White Flash,” combined with his first mission where he rescued comrades and captured two Iwa jonin, made his achievements impossible to ignore.

Moreover, Fujinaka Genma had grown nearly 1.7 meters tall—no one dared underestimate him.

Soon, it was his turn. The mission had no special features: enter the Land of Grass and patrol the border with the Land of Rain.

Deep reconnaissance in enemy territory was not the duty of the defense unit.

This mission offered 500 Raiden & Kai points and lasted three days.

After collecting rations and chakra pills, Fujinaka Genma set out with Hyuga Mio and the others.

The mission was generally safe, but still carried some risk, especially now that Iwa ninja had been spotted.

The first day passed without incident.

The second day passed smoothly.

The third day passed without any unexpected events.

In the afternoon, after handing over to the relief team, Fujinaka Genma led his squad back toward the Land of Fire’s border.

For a long time afterward, missions like this became routine—monotonous and dull.

Occasionally, they encountered Iwa ninja and fought.

Fujinaka Genma earned Raiden & Kai points from these fights, and sometimes gained upgrades or equipment boosts—he didn’t mind.

For him, these days were rare.

At least compared to the Suna front.

On the Suna front, after half a year of stalemate, Orochimaru finally led the main Konoha force into the Land of Wind.

This marked Konoha’s shift from defense to offense.

Meanwhile, Suna, forced to defend against Mist ninja raids on their coastal prosperous regions, became defensive toward Konoha.

Both sides now engaged in small-unit skirmishes.

There had been no large-scale battles like the “White Flash—Great Windmill” mission.

Year 44 of Konoha, March.

As the thirteen-year-old Fujinaka Genma awaited an Iwa invasion, he suddenly received orders.

Return to Konoha for rest!

Inside the tent, listening to Mimura Yajuan, Fujinaka Genma realized—he had not returned to Konoha in nearly half a year.

In an instant,

A wave of longing rose within him.

Was his mother well?

And what of Teacher Kushina? Had she moved in with Minato?

Had they begun discussing marriage?

Seeing Fujinaka Genma lost in thought, Mimura Yajuan realized he was still just a child, and smiled gently: “Go rest for a while, and take part in the Chunin Exams.”

“I have no doubts about your team.”

Fujinaka Genma snapped back: “Chunin Exams?”

“Yes!”

Mimura Yajuan nodded: “I’ve already spoken to the Hokage about it.”

“Understood!”

Fujinaka Genma nodded: “We won’t let Itachi down, sensei.”

“Of course!”

Mimura Yajuan had absolute faith.

Afterwards.

Fujinaka Genma returned to camp and announced the news.

Hyuga Yumio and the other two immediately cheered.

This mission would be the longest time they had ever been away from home.

They packed up their belongings.

Ten minutes later, the four set off on their journey home!