Chapter 79: Space Rift

"Have all the demons been eliminated?" Shinji's heart skipped a beat as he quickened his pace.

When Haku and Karin chased after the demon, they left marks along the way, so it didn't take him much effort to find the two collapsed by a pond about ten miles away.

Glancing at them, Shinji breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing they were merely exhausted and resting on the ground.

"What happened?"

Haku hurriedly stood up but stumbled and fell again.

"No need to get up," Shinji gestured, prompting Haku and Karin to stay put while he surveyed their surroundings.

Panting, Haku explained, "Sir, we intercepted a demon here, and a fight ensued."

"What kind of demon?"

Karin quickly replied, "Lower Moon Third!"

Haku nodded in agreement, "Yes, it was a demon in a jar that controlled water and fish. When we intercepted it, it seemed seriously injured."

Surveying the ice debris and the half-frozen pool of water, Shinji pieced together the battle scene.

Clearly, the 'Lower Moon Three' intercepted by Haku and Karin was Gyokutsuki, 'Upper Moon Five' among the original Twelve Demon Moons.

The Land of Rain's abundant rainfall and complex underground water network made it akin to its home ground, allowing it to narrowly escape the Hidden Rain Village.

But luck had turned against it. Severely injured, it encountered Haku, who possessed the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.

Haku continued, "After I used Ice Escape to crush its body several times, it didn't revive. I'm not sure if it's completely destroyed."

Karin added solemnly, "I can't sense it anymore."

Seeing their tense spirits relax, Shinji reassured them, "Don't worry, it's dead. A demon's recovery ability has limits."

Finally breathing a sigh of relief, they relaxed.

[Scanned loot.]

[Analysis of loot.]

[Loot: Water attribute chakra affinity.]

[Loot: Water and Earth Chakra Fusion Technique (Transformed from Blood Demon Art)]

With a "ping" sound, two balls of light appeared before Shinji.

He stared at them, feeling pleasantly surprised.

The "Water Attribute Chakra Affinity" should belong to the deceased "Lower Moon Three," Tamarind Demon.

As for the technique merging water and earth chakra properties, it was clearly from Hantengou.

Hantengu's "Blood Demon Art" itself didn't rise to the level of "Wood Release," hence the loot left behind were mere skills, akin to experience points.

Shinji was quite satisfied with these trophies.

What surprised him was Deidara's claim of four invading demons, having personally slain "Lower Moon" Muzan Kibutsuji.

Yet, only two items were collected as spoils.

"It seems not all demons leave spoils behind."

Having resolved this dilemma, Shinji pondered over how to handle the trophies.

"Water attribute chakra affinity" would enhance control over water-style ninjutsu and bloodline limits related to water chakra. Given his little use for it, it would be best to give it to Haku, the Ice Release Bloodline Ninja.

However, he hesitated over the second trophy, the technique merging water and earth chakra properties.

This was clearly Hantengu's spoils.

Hantengu's "Blood Demon Art" wasn't on par with "Wood Release," so the spoils were just skills, akin to an experience bar.

The question arose: who would use this experience bar?

If Shinji consumed it, he could enhance the fusion of water and earth chakra properties. Years of practice might lead to mastering "Wood Release" in the orthodox manner.

Alternatively, giving it to Karin would enable her to tap into the sacred tree's power within the first generation's cells. Mastering "Wood Release" through chakra property fusion would significantly aid her bloodline power and sage body.

"The Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan is my primary goal. I must not let 'Wood Release' distract me and lose sight of priorities!"

After weighing options, Shinji suddenly realized.

Acquiring the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan was paramount. Regardless of 'Wood Release's allure, priorities must remain intact.

Besides, the experience bar of "Wood Release" didn't equate to the ability itself. He lacked the energy for years of honing water and earth chakra properties.

Without a robust sage body, "Wood Release's" power would be lackluster.

Decided, Shinji commanded, "Haku, take the left one. Karin, take the right one."

Having experienced this before, both understood what the balls of light meant.

Initially thinking they'd receive nothing, they were surprised when their leader abstained and offered both spoils.

After a brief hesitation, Haku touched the water attribute chakra affinity, and Karin seized the "Wood Release" experience bar.

Expressions of surprise lit their faces.

While they received their spoils, Shinji's "ping" settled the rewards.

[Settling rewards.]

[Rating: A]

[Ninja World Gifts: Chakra (small amount), Natural Energy Affinity (small amount), A-level Ninjutsu (random)]

Please select one.

[Achieving A-level rating allows for forfeiting Ninja World Gifts for a random reward.]

Shinji hesitated not, deciding, "Forfeit the Ninja World Gift!"

He needed swift upgrades in authority and improved "Light" control to avoid incidents like demons sneaking into the Ninja World unnoticed.

[Generating random rewards.]

[Accrued Merit Points: 25 points]

[Total Merit Points Calculated]

[Total Merit Points: 76 points]

"76 points?"

Promotion to 'Lantern Bearer' required 100 merit points. He was 24 points shy, needing another A-level rating for promotion.

Just when Shinji presumed all was done and prepared to return, a "ping" sounded once more.

[Additional rewards generating.]

"A safe space-time rift detected?"

Shinji was stunned.

End of chapter