'Great! It's [Super Beast Imitation Drawing]!'
Nara Shikadan was thrilled to have learned a high-difficulty ninjutsu.
Although [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] was only B-rank—it wasn't A-rank or S-rank—in terms of functionality and practicality, it definitely surpassed most ninjutsu in the shinobi world!
Just to say one thing—
Learning [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] was practically the same as gaining the ability to fly!
Before the ninja world evolved from "intelligence warfare" to "Gundam warfare," any ninja who could fly was basically invincible—as long as they weren't facing an enemy who could also fly.
However...
Nara Shikadan stared at the skill effects panel, feeling slightly regretful.
He had originally assumed that [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] was a Yin Release secret technique.
After all, creating beasts by drawing them seemed to align perfectly with Yin Release's core trait: "creating form from nothing."
And if [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] had been a Yin Release technique…
Nara Shikadan could have freely wielded it using his B-rank [Intelligence] attribute.
'What a shame! It's a Yang Release technique!'
Shikadan closed his eyes, recalling the technique details he'd just read.
'For [Super Beast Imitation Drawing], painting skills aren't the key. The real core is the ink!'
According to the scroll Tsunade had given him,
To achieve the best results, the ideal "ink" for [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] was one of the following:
Best: His own blood or hair.
Acceptable: Elemental substances containing chakra.
Worst: Regular ink.
'Let's ignore the second and third types for now... but ink made from blood or hair…'
Nara Shikadan frowned, thinking over the scroll's instructions.
'Modifying the cellular ratio of blood or hair using chakra... what kind of top-tier medical ninjutsu is this?!'
Although he had applied to the Animal Training and Rehabilitation Division under the Medical Department…
That was only because he came from a "well-educated family" and was good at caring for wild animals.
Nara Shikadan didn't know a single medical ninjutsu.
And with his previously meager chakra reserves, he hadn't had the means to study them either—Yang Release techniques like medical jutsu were notoriously chakra-intensive.
'Luckily, [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] isn't pure medical ninjutsu. It only requires precise chakra control.'
'With my current chakra, as long as I prepare in advance, I can still use it.'
His frown gradually relaxed.
'Of course, the best path forward would be to transform [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] from a Yang Release technique into a Yin Release one…'
'Use shadows in place of ink!'
Now that was a major topic for research.
But also a very tempting one.
Nara Shikadan silently revised his internal plans—he would move the research of [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] ahead of [Camouflage Hidden Jutsu].
"Invisible shadows" were certainly hard to defend against…
But aren't 'shadow beasts surrounding you' even harder to handle?
And if he ever managed to perfectly convert [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] into a Yin Release technique—
Then perhaps he could finally envision the birth of his "Black Shadow Corps."
'No one escapes their shadow… Black Shadow Corps, Arise!'
"Ahem."
Nara Shikadan coughed twice and forced himself out of his daydream.
He was still miles away from that ideal "Black Shadow Corps."
Better to focus on reality—
Specifically, what's inside the remaining [Ninja Secret Scrolls].
He had already collected quick-clear rewards from his B-rank missions [Catching Spies] and [Bounty Hunters], and the C-rank mission [Police Force Member].
He'd already used the reward from the C-rank combat mission and obtained the scroll for [Body Flicker Technique].
As for the other two B-rank missions—
Because [Bounty Hunter] had ended prematurely, he had only received a C-rank [Ninja Secret Scroll].
So currently, he had one B-rank and one C-rank [Ninja Secret Scroll].
"Let's open the C-rank scroll first!"
Before opening it, Nara Shikadan went to wash his hands—believing a little "good luck ritual" couldn't hurt.
"Opening a scroll brings fortune!"
[Opening...]
[C-rank Ninja Secret Scroll contents: Technique]
[C-rank Technique: Earth Style: Hiding Like a Mole Technique]
[Technique Description: Burrow underground and move freely]
[Technique Effect: Uses chakra to transform soil into fine sand, allowing the user to tunnel underground like an earth dragon]
[Technique Evaluation: Diving? No—burrowing like a mole!]
"Earth Style Ninjutsu?"
Shikadan raised an eyebrow at the panel.
"This is the first time I've unlocked an Earth-style ninjutsu from one of these scrolls.
I've never used Earth Release before—can I even use it…?"
Still, even if he couldn't—
Looking at the [Hiding Like a Mole Technique] effect left him with a strange feeling.
"Calling it the 'Hiding Like a Mole Technique' sounds fancy, but to put it bluntly… isn't this just dog paddling underground?"
He was a little disappointed by the C-rank scroll.
But not devastated.
"Maybe this is just... a warm-up pull?"
After washing his hands again—double the luck this time—he decisively opened the B-rank [Ninja Secret Scroll].
[Opening...]
[B-rank Ninja Secret Scroll contents: Technique]
[B-rank Technique: Shadow Clone Technique]
[Technique Description: Split the user's chakra into a physical double]
[Technique Effect: Creates a chakra-based clone with a physical body. The clone acts independently and retains memories and experiences, which are returned to the user upon dispelling.]
[Technique Evaluation: Please... another me!]
"[Shadow Clone Technique]!"
Nara Shikadan smiled.
While he believed [Shadow Clone Technique] wasn't quite as valuable as [Super Beast Imitation Drawing] (also B-rank),
He had to admit—
It was still a very strong technique with enormous development potential.
For example, the famous protagonist's exclusive plug-in—
The A-rank forbidden jutsu: [Multi-Shadow Clone Technique]!
Not to mention, when Shikadan had been fantasizing about the "Black Shadow Corps,"
He'd already factored in the [Shadow Clone Technique].
After all, if you're going to call it the Black Shadow Corps, you can't have just one Shadow Warrior, right?
"The difference between [Shadow Clone] and [Multi-Shadow Clone] isn't that big—it's mostly a matter of chakra quantity."
Shikadan fell into thought.
"The reason [Multi-Shadow Clone] is an A-rank forbidden technique is because if you don't have enough chakra, using it can severely injure—or even kill—you."
"With my current D-rank [Chakra Capacity], I'd better not try it just yet..."
He closed the [Ninja Secret Scroll] panel and reviewed his [Technique Ability] page.
A-rank:
[Lacquer Eyes], [Camouflage Hidden Jutsu]
B-rank:
[Shadow Seam Technique], [Super Beast Imitation Drawing], [Shadow Clone Technique]
C-rank:
[Shadow Gathering Technique], [Wind King Barrier], [Hiding Like a Mole Technique]
D-rank:
[Shadow Binding Technique], [Body Flicker Technique]
E-rank:
[Clone Technique], [Substitution Technique], [Transformation Technique]
"If a man's gone three days without being seen, he must be looked at with new eyes.
This [Technique Ability] panel really changes a lot in just one day!"
Nara Shikadan's current strength still centered on his family's inheritance—the [Shadow Secret Techniques].
But once he mastered the new techniques in his arsenal—
His power would make a massive leap!
"Same four words as always: the future is promising!"
Letting out a long breath, he pulled out the chakra testing paper and the soldier pills he'd previously purchased.
"First priority: increase chakra reserves! Without chakra, all these techniques are just theory—no real value at all."
Shikadan picked up the testing paper from the table.
Mastering elemental release techniques was essential for most Genin to eventually become Chunin or Jonin.
But first, one had to learn chakra nature transformation.
To use elemental ninjutsu, a ninja had to refine their chakra and transform it into a specific element.
Take the [Hiding Like a Mole Technique] he'd just obtained, for instance—
To perform it, Shikadan needed to generate earth-nature chakra, inject it into the ground, transform the soil into fine sand, and then proceed.
Beyond nature transformation lay the deeper "principle of nature clashes"—the five elements restraining one another.
But that wasn't today's goal.
He simply wanted to confirm his natural chakra attributes—
So he wouldn't waste time on incompatible ninjutsu later.
Generally, every person was born with at least one chakra nature.
And it was easier for a ninja to learn techniques that matched their natural affinity.
The most common method of testing was with chakra testing paper.
Recalling the theory, Nara Shikadan refined a thread of chakra and channeled it into the paper.
If it wrinkled, it was Lightning.
If it broke, it was Earth.
If it became wet, it was Water.
If it tore, it was Wind.
If it burned, it was Fire.
Shikadan stared intently at the palm-sized sheet.
The paper seemed to split into four sections, each reacting differently.
One part crumbled.
One part grew damp.
One part tore.
One part caught fire.
Nara Shikadan stared at the paper in stunned silence.
He had assumed he might only have one chakra nature—if any at all.
In his memory, none of the Nara clan—experts in Yin Release—had ever used elemental techniques.
But he...
"Earth, water, wind, and fire… all four elements?"
"Balanced?!"