Naruto: From Novice to Grave

As it turned out, Higashino Jiro's little test for his son was meaningless.

After dinner, Higashino Makoto took the key and, instead of searching around the house, went straight to the study and stood by the pillar next to the bookshelf.

He moved a stool, stood on it, and tapped the pillar with his fingers. Then he lifted a piece of the decorative wooden panel on the wall, revealing an old-fashioned locker without a combination lock.

After opening it with the key in his hand, he saw that in addition to some documents and money, there were also many scrolls inside.

Higashino Makoto turned around and looked at his father who was following behind him.

Higashino Jiro was somewhat surprised: "How did you know you were here? When did you sneak a peek?"

"No, Father, I have no hobby of spying on anyone's secrets."

"How did you find it? I designed this when I was renovating the house, before I married your mother and before you were born."

"I've noticed this in our building before; the load-bearing column between the kitchen and the study is unnecessary."

"It's that simple?"

"I once visited Mr. Kuroda's shop, which is a general store on the first floor, and there was no load-bearing column in the same location."

"Hahaha, is the flaw that obvious? I thought it was perfectly designed." Higashino Jiro awkwardly scratched the back of his head: "My sense of accomplishment is ruined again."

Makoto Higashino: "..."

It's not perfect at all. This load-bearing column is obviously wrong here. Do you even have any basic architectural knowledge?

Higashino Jiro reached out and took out the smallest scroll, saying, "This is it. Put this place back as it was, and then we'll go to your room."

"Yes, Father." Higashino didn't ask about the other scrolls; he knew they were ninjutsu accumulated by the Higashino family over generations.

For those large clan ninjas, these might be insignificant items, but for a commoner family that wants to grow and prosper, these are the most important and precious things to be passed down.

Because of their power structure, the Hokage faction in Konoha naturally suppresses powerful ninja clans and supports commoner ninjas. But what commoner ninjas don't want to develop their own clans into ninja clans?

Ultimately, the common people both resented and envied the ninja clan.

This is the same for all ninja villages, or rather, the same for the entire world.

Higashino Makoto's key was not taken back by his father, which means that he will also have the right to use this place in the future. After all, if his parents do not have any more children, he will be the only heir of the Higashino family.

In the bedroom, Higashino Jiro handed the scroll to Higashino Makoto: "Take a look at it yourself first, and ask me if you don't understand anything."

"Yes, Father."

He opened the scroll and began to read it carefully, while Higashino Jiro waited patiently beside him.

Chakra extraction techniques are not complicated; the scroll mainly contains precautions and some helpful tips for beginners.

Thanks to the wisdom of an adult and the extensive reading he's done over the past two years, Higashino's reading speed and comprehension are top-notch; he finished the book very quickly.

"Is there anything you don't understand?"

"no."

"Okay, then give it a try. Remember I told you before that after each workout, you should concentrate and sense the subtle changes in your body?"

"Remember!"

"That's good. Don't be impatient. Keep your mind focused and don't let your thoughts wander. This will take some time, maybe a few hours, maybe a few days. I believe you will succeed."

Higashino Makoto recalled the subtle changes he had sensed in his body after each training session, sat cross-legged on the bed, formed the Mudra with his hands, followed the extraction technique, closed his eyes, and emptied his mind.

Focus your mind, stay concentrated, and discard all worries about failure. A tangible spiritual energy flows from your head down and envelops your entire body, using this spiritual energy to sense the body's energy within your cells.

Having gained a year of sensory experience, and combined with the description of bodily energy in the Chakra Extraction Technique, Higashino Makoto quickly made a discovery, and then immediately tried to mobilize them with his mental power.

Using the methods in the Chakra Extraction Technique, he roughly estimated the abundance of this physical energy and then extracted an equal amount of spiritual energy to mix with it.

Energy is something that exists within the body, but it cannot be seen or quantified; it can only be perceived through spiritual intuition.

The first attempt at mixing failed.

Higashino calmly sensed the reaction after the defeat; the muscles at the point where the two energies merged seemed to tremble slightly.

The notes in the scroll indicate that this is a sign of excessive body energy, indicating an imbalance between the two.

With a little more spiritual energy added, the second mixing failed, but the movement of flesh and blood at the mixing point could hardly be felt.

With a little more spiritual energy added, this time, the two energies seemed to have found a kindred spirit, quickly embracing each other and intertwining into one.

As this mixed energy appeared, it quickly traveled through the chakra meridians, eventually converging at the vortex meridian in the lower abdomen.

That place is not the dantian mentioned in novels or traditional Chinese medicine theories from my previous life. The physical structure of humans in the ninja world is different from that of my previous life. They use a chakra network and there is no such thing as a dantian.

Higashino Jiro watched his son sit cross-legged on the bed with his eyes closed, a slight smile playing on his lips as he thought, "This is the crucial first step in whether you can become a ninja. It all depends on whether you have enough patience."

After waiting a few seconds, he quietly left the room.

But before I even reached the door, I heard a voice behind me.

"Father, I think I have successfully extracted the chakra."

Higashino Jiro whirled around, his eyes wide, and exclaimed, "What? So fast? Are you sure?"

"I'm sure!"

"Don't stop, keep extracting. The first time is very important. Keep going until you feel fatigued."

Upon hearing this, Higashino Makoto stopped speaking and continued to extract chakra using the same method. Waves of physical and mental energy mobilized from his entire body mixed together, and instantly, a continuous stream of energy flowed into his lower abdomen.

Soon, Higashino felt a slight fatigue throughout his body, so he immediately released the seal and ended the extraction.

According to the chakra theory he had learned from books, continuing down this path would no longer be called extraction, but rather exploitation. It is not recommended to do so unless one is fighting desperately.

Excessive exploitation will shorten your lifespan; exploitation to the extreme will lead to the exhaustion of all cells in the body, resulting in immediate death.

Seeing that Higashino Makoto had finished the hand seals, Higashino Jiro darted to his son, placed his hand on his lower abdomen, and connected with him using his chakra.

He quickly smiled happily: "To extract chakra so quickly for the first time, and with such a good amount of chakra, you truly are a genius! My son has the potential to become Hokage!"

"I feel like you're cursing me!"

Higashino Jiro had no idea about the "Emperor" reference and immediately denied it: "How could that be? I'm telling the truth."

Not wanting his father to continue making excuses, Dongye curiously changed the subject, asking, "Father, how long did it take you to extract it the first time?"

"Well, that's not important!" Higashino Jiro's embarrassed expression vanished in an instant as he turned and called out to the door, "Megumi, are you done cleaning up? Bring me a chakra test strip."

"You succeeded so quickly?" Higashino Megumi was also surprised when she came in. She was hoping to see a rare moment of impatience on her son's usually expressionless, precocious face.

Ideally, she should be impatient for three to five days, then she can lecture him with the air of someone who's been there, letting him know that his mother is still his mother.

As a result, the expectation ended before it even began.

Higashino Jiro didn't reply to her. He took the test strip and handed it to Higashino Makoto: "Activate your chakra and input it."

Taking the test strip, Higashino Makoto injected chakra into it. Soon, the small test strip split in two. One half remained in his hand, but it was wet. The other half crumbled into small pieces and fell onto the bed sheet like snowflakes.

"Hui, do you see? She was born with three attributes!"

"Oh my, it's a combination of your earthy climate and my water element. As expected of our child, it has gathered the best of both of us."

Most ninjas are born with only one attribute. To make other attributes manifest, they have to spend a long time training, which is not easy and takes years.

If it were that simple, there wouldn't be so few ninjas in the ninja world with all attributes.

Having three starting attributes can undoubtedly save a lot of time in the growth process.

Of course, it's not that the more attributes you have, the stronger you are. A ninja's strength is a combination of factors such as chakra reserves, tactical skills, and combat talent.

The fact that ninjas are born with multiple attributes gives them more tactical options and makes them less likely to be countered or targeted by other ninjutsu.

Therefore, single-attribute ninjas usually develop their other attributes when they have time.

Except for those who are cheaters who make meatballs.

"What a happy day! Come on, Megumi, let's go have a few drinks." Higashino Jiro pulled his wife towards the door, then, as if remembering his son, turned back and added, "Shin, you should know about the aftermath of the chakra extraction, right?"

"I know, Father."

"Okay, then keep up the good work! Remember not to overdo it, get some rest, and remember that good health is the foundation of everything."