Chapter 40 – Power Up!

Unknown, deep and powerful entities across the universe whispered their choices.

Controlling Raito’s choices, they pointed at the ‘Basic Level Enhancement’.

[Basic Level Enhancement]

[Anything in the world can be improved.]

[Increase stat of the item.]

The description couldn’t be more vague.

[Basic Level Angling]

[A rod, thread, and a bait.]

[No one knows what you might get.]

[Basic Level Puppet Refining]

[I believe in my puppets can show you a good show.]

[Creating life that does not breathe, eat and talk.]

Raito closed the description tab and choose ‘Basic Level Enhancement’.

“Young Lord, are you sure?” Ten asked as she brought up a thick book with a green cover.

“Yes, yes.” After getting the book, Raito wanted to store it in the inventory but he couldn’t open it. Raito sighed and held the book by the side.

‘Ten’ cleared her throat and said, “Young lord, please learn the book right now.”

Raito gave a side glance but seeing that ‘Ten’ wasn’t saying anything else, Raito sighed then held the book in front.

[Do you want to learn skill ‘Basic Level Enhancement’?]

[Yes / No]

Raito chooses ‘Yes’ then sat down.

[Basic Level Enhancement Lvl 1 (Active)]

[Increase stat of the item.]

‘Ten’ walked with Raito to the door then pushing her two hands forward like asking for something.

Raito blinked in confusion and waited. Seeing that Raito was waiting for her she spoke up, “Hand.”

Sighing he placed his hand on her hand. She grabbed it and said, “Please don’t leak anything that happened in here in whatsoever form.”

“… Okay.” Raito replied with a frown.

[A contract has been established.]

Raito looked through the contract and didn’t find anything problematic.

SLAM!

The door shut behind sounding like a clap of thunder.

“Jeez, that was not cool.” Looking back at the door he muttered.

Resting below the tree, Raito took out a stone bead, ready for his first enhancement.

[Stone Bead]

A round and smooth bead made by the manipulating stones and rocks.

Made by – Yoshizawa Raito

Owned by – Yoshizawa Raito

Durability – 800/800

Weight – 43 kg

Holding the stone bead, Raito activated his chakra. “Enhance.” A hundred points of CP escaped and disappeared into the stone bead.

[Stone Bead +1]

A round and smooth bead made by the manipulating stones and rocks.

Made by – Yoshizawa Raito

Owned by – Yoshizawa Raito

Durability – 800

Weight – 44 kg

“…” Ratio stared at the description tab in a daze. “The heck.”

Raito took out another bead which was slightly heavier and used enhancement once more.

[Stone Bead +1]

A round and smooth bead made by the manipulating stones and rocks.

Made by – Yoshizawa Raito

Owned by – Yoshizawa Raito

Durability – 800

Weight – 51 kg

“WHAT!?”

[Apple +1]

Apple grown at Raito’s backyard.

Owned by – Yoshizawa Raito

Freshness – 9/10

“It’s just a waste to do in these things.” Taking out a kunai from inventory, Raito used ‘Enhance’.

[Kunai +1]

A small hidden weapon with a sharp, pointed end and a ring end.

ATK 16-18 > 18-20

Durability – 200

“Now it’s good to call enhancement.” Raito nodded with a small smile.

[CP – 4,800/5,200]

“Each enhancement cost me a hundred point of Chakra points.”

Clutching into the enhanced kunai, Raito activated the skill again.

[Kunai +2]

A small hidden weapon with a sharp, pointed end and a ring end.

ATK 18-20 > 21

Accuracy +5%

Durability – 200

“ATK increased to 21 only? And it costed me 200 points?”

[CP – 4,600/5,200]

“Enhance.”

[Kunai +3]

A small hidden weapon with a sharp, pointed end and a ring end.

ATK 21 > 22

Accuracy +5%

Durability – 200

“I don’t like this, at all.” Raito frowned hard looking at the increased value.

[CP – 4,300/5,200]

Raito gritted his teeth. “What the hell is this? A billion Ryo can just do this?”

Raito massaged his forehead and walked home.

Inside the Poison Hall, ‘Ten’ looked at the figure walking away shook her head and said, “What a hotheaded person, not like Han-Jee Han, at all.”

“Not at all.” A manly voice corrected her from behind and explained. “He didn’t feel comfortable where his power does not work.”

“Then why did he use power in the courtyard?”

“To let us see.” The man seemingly had an answer to all the Ten’s question.

Waving his hands a black spiral appeared in front of him, “Let’s go. We shouldn’t stay here for too long.”

Ten nodded and walked through the portal and disappeared. And as they disappeared the corridor, stairs and the stall also disappeared turning back into nothing.

Raito who was grumbling and walking, after getting some distance used ‘Body Flicker’ and reached home.

“Ah! Raito.” Naruto who was practicing his Fuinjutsu stopped as he looked towards the door and saw Raito but before he could say anymore, Raito disappeared.

“So nwww.” Naruto grumbled then went back to his Fuinjutsu.

Raito closed the door with a big smile on his face. Taking out various things from the inventory Raito started his ‘Enhancement’.

[Rock Knife +1]

ATK 9

[Spring Water +1]

(110 CP in 1 minute)

[Spring Water +1]

(110 HP in 1 minute)

[Spring Water +1]

(Fatigue recovery +1)

[Standard Katana +2]

ATK 75-80

[Sharp Bicone Stone +1]

Weight – 26 kg

[Small Bed]

(Comfort +1)

[Chair]

(Comfort +1)

[Table]

Durability – 500

“I somehow like this ‘Enhancement’.” Raito let out a small smile.

[Exploding Tag +1]

[Dizzy Tag +1]

Raito laughed in joy as he exhausted his chakra, enhancing everything he could.

[CP – 10/5,200]

“I need more chakra.” Raito looked at his stats then at the stat points that he used in a blue moon.

“I should go for INT already.” Raito played with the thought but rest it when he thought further.

Walking down, Raito couldn’t find Naruto. Looking at the messed up room, Raito sighed then started cleaning the room.

[Enhancement (Active) Lvl 1 99%]

“A hundred enhancement for increasing one level?” Raito played with kunai in his hand.

[Kunai +10]

A small hidden weapon with a sharp, pointed end and a ring end.

ATK 29

Accuracy +10%

Durability – 200

“For enhancing once, a hundred points. For enhancing to level two, two hundred and so on. Lastly for level ten, a full thousand points. From level one of enhancement to level ten it takes a total of five thousand five hundred chakra points.”

[CP – 5,200/5,200]

“Enhance.”

[CP – 200/5,200]

[Kunai +11]

A small hidden weapon with sharp, pointed end and a ring end.

ATK 30

Accuracy +11%

Durability – 200

(Pierce)

“Both numbers increased by one and ‘Pierce’.” Raito gaze lingered on ‘Pierce’.

[Pierce – Chances of ignoring defense by 10%]

[Skill ‘Enhance’ leveled up by 1.]

[Skill ‘Enhance’ reached level 2.]

“Oh.” His eye lit up in joy but seeing the depleted CP, Raito frowned.

Keeping the kunai back he activated ‘Meditation’.

After half an hour with full chakra, Raito grabbed the kunai and once again activated his chakra. “Enhance.”

[Insufficient Chakra Points]

“Eh!?” Raito stood up in annoyance and anger, his shoulder raising. But a while later, he sat down with another item in his hand.

[Sharp Bicone Stone +1]

Weight – 26 kg

Durability – 50/50

[Sharp Bicone Stone +10]

Weight – 44 kg

Durability – 150/1500

[Sharp Bicone Stone +11]

(Pierce)

Weight – 46 kg

Durability – 170/170

“But I need to store my chakra too.” Everything needed chakra. His book of secrets could hold a total of fifty thousand points of chakra then there were chakra seals in his body to use for emergency situation. Few points for the Genjutsu so it would continue to level up and finally to keep his ever activated ‘Chakra Sense’.

Raito thought for a while then left for the library. He still had a total of sixty hours of reading time which he had to use properly.

At the Hokage tower, Sasuke banged the table, glared at the lady opposite, “Give me a C-Rank!”

“Yeah.” Kiba also grabbed the table and stretched himself to face the lady. “C-Rank.”

The lady frowned as she looked at the two. One had destroyed her whole morning work by punching on the paper whereas the other boy with the dog had covered her face with spit.

“What’s going on here?” Iruka who was walking by saw the situation shouted stunning the two Genins and Hiruzen who was grumbling and cursing Kakashi in anger also saw what was happening. His steps quickly caught the attention of everyone and Iruka looked back with fear. He could feel that Hiruzen was releasing his chakra in a bad way.

“Hokage-sama…”

Hiruzen gave Iruka an icy glance making him shut up.

“Team eight D-Rank for a whole month.” Hiruzen said blandly and left.

“No.” Sasuke who woke up from daze and wanted to chase but Shino who have been standing quietly made his bug army envelope the two then took the mission scroll and left the room through the window.

Hiruzen walked back to the office and asked Kurenai to come.

Sometime Kurenai walked in with a frown on her face. The frown matched the frown in Hiruzen’s face. But as she walked in and stood in front of Hiruzen, she had unfurrowed her brows, standing like a true ninja.

“Kurenai.” Hiruzen’s voice had a steely edge as Kurenai sensed an ill foreboding.

“Yes!” She immediately kneeled on one knee.

Hiruzen looked at her with a bit of anger and asked, “When are you going to manage your Genins?”

“And I see that your team has still not finished the basic learning course whereas team seven and team ten have already finished it.”

Turning on the pages, Hiruzen was still not finished. “And you even submitted a request for a C-Rank?”

“I…” Kurenai sighed.

Hiruzen turned the page and sighed, “Kurenai, you need to learn that the three you have chosen are… a bit bigger for you.”

“I understand, Hokage-sama.”

“Now the reason you were not with your team when getting mission.”

“Yes. I was called by… the Hyuga Clan head.” Kurenai started.

“How troublesome.” Hiruzen’s face turned grim.

At the western part of the village, Naruto was training but it would be better to say that he was getting beaten by Hinata.

Kakashi who was on top of the tree, reading his books looked at Naruto with side glance and shaking his head.

Raito could see everything that they were doing. Withdrawing back, Raito looked at the empty cubicle in the library then down at the books. Pouting, Raito kept everything in their place and walked out.

“Shun.” Mari called out pulling the man beside her.

“Hm?” they stood on top of a tree above the Hokage monument looking at Raito.

“I think he is sad.”

Pulling Mari towards him, shun replied, “Don’t worry. This is a normal part of those who are special.”

Raito walked down the streets of Konoha, quickly reaching a building behind the Hokage tower and in front of Hokage monument.

Sitting in front of the building were two men, wearing a grey trench coat and a bandana type forehead protector. They were sitting with a clipboard and roughly crossing out the words written. One of the two frowned and threw the board down.

“Damn.” He cursed then took the clipboard and started working again.

Raito looked at them in a strange way and continued walking. Opening the door of the building, he found that the reception was fairly normal with a lady sitting.

Hesitatingly, he called out and gave her the paper given by Mariko to the lady.

“Good.” The lady had a slim body with blond hair and blue eyes. She was wearing earrings and her nails were nicely done.

“We finally have some Genin coming to our department. It has been so long.” She sighed then showed Raito a small emblem pin.

Raito looked at the pin then at the lady with confusion. “What?”

The lady stood up and walked a step back, covering her mouth, “What a rude person?”

“umm…” Raito blinked.

“What a bland reaction.” She sat down dejected.

Raito pursed his lips.

“Okay then.” She slapped herself then looked at Raito. “Raito, right? You need this emblem pin next time you want to come in.”

Raito nodded then pushed his hand out. But it seemed that the lady had no intention of giving him the pin.

“What do you want?” Raito asked plainly.

“Hmm, what I want?” the lady rolled her eyes in thought dangling the emblem pin.

‘Fast thinking.’ Quickly acting Raito went for the pin… but even in extreme thinking speed, the lady was casually waving her hand dodging Raito’s hand.

“Rude.” She spat her tongue out then pushed her hand forward.

Raito eyed the pin then at the lady.

[T and I department Emblem Pin]

Specific pin used by the T and I department, used to grant access to the building.

[Ijiri Haruko Lvl 38]

[T and I Receptionist]

Eyeing the new information, Raito closed them and looked at the lady. Since she wasn’t saying anything that means maybe he was asking the wrong question. So he asked again this time in a more pleasant sounding voice and slight eye contact, “What do I need to do to get that pin?”

“Heh.” Haruko smiled then said, “In two minutes, just two minutes, I want you to find out what my name is.”

“Name?” Raito was stunned as he never thought that he would ever encounter a situation like this.

“Yeah, my name but you aren’t allowed to go out of this room.”

“So, I can do anything in this room?” Raito smiled.

“Don’t smile while saying that, gross.” Haruko looked at the clock then said, “Start.”

Raito rolled his eyes, looking at the clock then at Haruko.

“Um… miss what’s your name?” Raito scratched his hair and with embarrassed pose asked for her name.

“Pfft, Hahaha what that? Miss?” she laughed loudly beating the table.

“Ijiri Haruko.”

The laughter died down and Haruno looked at Raito in a threatening way. “Yoshizawa Raito, how did you know my name?”

Raito smiled this time which looked somewhat arrogant. “I knew before I came here.” Then picked the emblem pin.

“Yawn.” Inoichi walked out with a cup of coffee in his hand.

“Oh, Raito?” Inoichi was really surprised when he saw Raito with the department pin.

“Sensei?” Raito turned around and his smile widened.

“Raito, why are you here?” Inoichi took a sip then walked forward.

Haruko walked out of her seat then standing beside Inoichi answered. “This boy came to start experiencing in our department.”

Looking at the pin, Inoichi sighed, “More work?”

“Anko-san and Ibuki-san said that they are free.” Haruko signaled, looking at Raito with a dark smile.

Inoichi waved his hand and walked out, “Don’t call me tonight.”

“Raito, just follow through for today.”

Haruko walked forwards opening the door. “I think Anko would suit you the most. Hehe.” Her laugh made the sealed dark corridor feel a bit darker.

Or so Haruko thought.

“Simple Genjutsu.” Raito looked at Haruko as looking at a stupid person and walked in.

“Who the heck is he?” Haruko grumbled then walked with him reaching to a room. Opening the door, screams came gushing out.

“Mooree!!” there was a man’s cry filled with hints of pleasure and pain.

“Oh, action.” Haruko walked forward and stuck to the glass peeking inside.

Raito also joined and he saw a scene which he may never forget. Anko was kicking a person semi-nude and with each kick the man would roll over, letting out weird noise.

“What a pervert.” Raito looked at the scene with a little disgust.

Not wanting to see anymore, Raito turned around and waited. But even after five minutes, Anko wasn’t coming out and the man was continuing to let out weird noises.

Shivering, he turned around and lightly knocked on the glass window. Haruko who was by the side was horrified, she immediately grabbed Raito’s hand and made an angry face.

[-10 HP]

‘Strong.’ Raito hissed than used chakra enhancement and strengthened his body.

Bang!

“Who the hell was that!?” the door was banged open and Anko walked out with an annoyed face.

“It was this Genin, Anko-ma’am.” Haruko quickly answered Anko pushing Raito forward.

“Raito!” Anko shouted, her eyes twinkling.

“Yes, his name is Raito…but how?”

Just as Haruko finished, a white but long thing came out of Anko and disappeared inside Raito’s clothing.

“Midori.” Anko pouted.

“What is happening here?” Haruko trembled as she saw Raito and Anko bickering about snakes.

“I am here to gain experience.” Raito answered to Anko’s question.

“Heh, so you want experience huh? Come with me.” Anko dragged Raito inside the smaller room and picked the man, throwing him into a chair.

“Your gang stole the golden Buddha from the northern shrine. Tell me and we can end it now?” Anko cracked her knuckles looking a bit menacing combined with her chakra influencing the man, the man began trembling but he bit his own tongue then spat the blood and spit towards Anko.

“Tough one, I have been giving him a good time for an hour now but…” Turning around Anko patted Raito’s shoulder and said, “Use all the techniques that you have been holding back on him. We want the location of the golden Buddha statue as fast as possible.”

“Generally a healer would rarely come here but…”

Raito gave her a nod before pushing her out of the small room. “Hey, uncle what’s your name?”

The man didn’t speak opting to remain silent, glaring at Raito.

“You can glare how much ever you like but that’s not gonna change anything.” He leaned the table then brought out a bowl and chopsticks placing them near the man.

“The heck is this?” the man stared at Raito.

“Aren’t you hungry? An hour… you have been in this room for a whole hour. So, I thought that you must be hungry.”

Like a magic trick, various pots and pan appeared out of nowhere. Raito served the food then made the pots and pans disappear. Walking behind, he took out a kunai and cut the ropes off.

“As long as you don’t try anything funny, I assure you that I will not beat you to your death.” Raito’s voice mixed with Genjutsu made the man shiver for a moment.

Picking the chopstick, he started eating but as he continued, the taste of the food overwhelmed him.

“What’s your name, uncle?” Raito’s voice laced with chakra entered the man’s system reaching his brain.

The man who heard the question wanted to snort but he felt the body was not responding properly. Feeling that another Genjutsu was in effect, he wanted to bite his tongue but this time, he couldn’t even bite his tongue. Soon after, Raito’s continuous monotonous heavy voice and chakra entering his system, his consciousness began to waken reaching a point when his central system was totally depressed.

“Razan, they call me Razan. I don’t have any surname, no parents, no one to call my own.”

Looking at the paper in front of him, Raito started asking him.

“That statue? That monk? Hmph, it’s made up of gold. We can sell it and make lots of money. And then I will go to the Red Marina District every night, play with two girls every night or even three.”

The obscene smile made Raito want to punch him. While the man was dreaming his life, Raito looked at the direction where Anko was with his chakra sense. Anko was looking at the scene had her lips curled. When she found Raito looking at her, she smiled and signaled him to continue.

Raito let him smile and indulge in his fantasy before starting. “So where did you keep it?”

“Heh, like I would tell you. We have hidden it and let the matter rest for a while. Err like waiting for second women at the brothel. Hehe.”

[Skill ‘Hypnotic wave’ leveled up by 1.]

[Skill ‘Hypnotic wave’ reached level 20.]

Affect unlocked – Suppress: Fully suppress the consciousness of the target.

Raito watched as the new notification popped up. This made things quite easier for him. An image appeared in his mind of an old martial arts master saying, “With this you can finish that stupid work faster. Don’t dawdle with those things. Get back to practice.”

Anko frowned as he looked at the scene. She felt that the end was so near but Raito went into daze once again. She cursed internally and looked at Haruko, then she was ready to open the door when she heard Raito speaking.

Feeling that it was so, Raito activated the skill. “Just tell me.” Words coming out like a decree hit the man’s consciousness.

“To the east of the snake’s river. Following the river, a cave can be seen. We have buried the statue inside the cave.” The words were jumbled but the answer was clear.

Raito wrote everything on the paper then walked out then gave it to Anko. “Done.”

Anko looked at the paper then looked at Raito.

“Haruko!” Anko called out with her stern face pushing out the paper.

“Yes!” She immediately took a step forward, took the paper and disappeared.

Turning around she watched Raito with smile hung on her face. “Not bad at all. Although a little bland for me… but it works.”

Raito had a small smile hung on his face. Quickly remembering, he asked, “Un… Anko-nee what will happen if the information you gave her is wrong?”

“No problem. If you want to use the room, a deposit has to be given. If the information is wrong, that deposit will be gone to compensate the ninjas going on the mission. But is the information is right, we will get 20%.”

“It’s not like I am losing money.” Raito shrugged then brought out a dango stick.

Her hand which was going to hit Raito’s head went to his hand grabbing the stick.

“So easy.” Raito smirked.

“It’s even more delicious.” Dazing, Anko looked at Raito and mumbled something before there was a knock.

“Anko, open up.” Ibuki’s loud voice shook Raito.

“What?” Anko opened the door and walked out, standing in front of Ibuki.

Ibuki looked over Anko’s shoulder and looked at Raito. His smile ever growing, “Inoichi wants you kid. Go to the top floor second room on the right.

“Ibuki-oni.” Raito called out smiling and walked out.

“Hmph. I don’t even know what that is?”

Raito smiled even brightly as he took out a sketchbook from his inventory and started drawing. Within few minutes, Raito drew sketch of a monster with muscular body with scars. A club with spikes on hand and steam or smoke coming out of its mouth. Hair tied in ponytail and eyes dangerous.

“You are a good painter. Quit working as a ninja and go to the capital. The nobles would love to buy these artworks.” Ibuki looked at the sketch and felt like it indeed looked the same.

Raito shook his head and walked towards the top.

Inside the top of the building was a room with tight security. Only after confirming that he was himself and getting his chakra locked, Raito was able to enter the room.

Inoichi was in the room with a cup in his hand, sitting in a chair letting out sighs.

“Inoichi-sensei?” Raito walked in front and called the man.

“Raito?” he smiled weakly. “This work is never ending.” He sighed.

“Oh.” Eyes shining brightly, Raito walked behind Inoichi and pressed his shoulder, massaging them. Locking the arms, reaching the neck then the hand reaching the back then turning around.

The simple brutal way of massaging made Inoichi take a huge breathe in. “That felt great.”

“Let me help you more, sensei.” Raito brought out a comfy looking sofa then made Inoichi sleep on it. Massaging Inoichi, he brought out a variety of food and drinks.

The people behind felt that this interrogation room was close to a massage parlor. Even the captive was speechless at the scene.

[Kojuro Lvl 32]

[Chakra Sealed] [Physical Restriction]

The man shook as he walked in the center of the formation. Forcing him to sit, the two men walked back and joined the other two and Inoichi.

Inoichi waved at Raito and said, “Watch carefully.”

Raito nodded then looked at the man. The man had many cuts on his face and body. His ruffian look and rough clothes made him look like someone from the streets fighting and living his day off. But what Raito could read was totally different. That man was the vice leader of a mercenary gang. Raito stood on the spot, gaping at the vast difference.

‘Start Recording’

“Earth Imprisonment Barrier”

The four men activated the seals and the earth below erupted covering the man to his neck in dome shape.

Placing their hand on the platform lines of ink spread out covering the dome.

The Fuinjutsu covered the man and soon he closed his eyes. Inoichi stood with the men his hand on the platform.

“Psycho Mind Transmission.”

Raito watched as the five froze for a long, long time. After thirty minutes, Raito saw them releasing their hands from the platform and releasing a big sigh.

“So many dirty things.”

“Disgusting.”

“These mercenaries.” One man shook in anger, his face clenched.

“Write down everything.” Inoichi was the only one sane enough to order.

Walking to Raito, Inoichi patted Raito’s shoulder. “I will teach you that the next time you come.”

Raito rolled his eyes and left the building.