chapter 4 : wizard Apprentice

' I should first focus on defense, flight, and stealth now. Once I reach tier two wizard apprentice, I could construct attack spell runes.' "System, send the spell rune formulas for Defense: Ethereal Barrier, Flight: Breeze Lift, and Stealth: Shadow Veil."

As the information regarding the runes was sent to my mind, I began to use chakra to construct the runes in my soul space. Once the process is started, one cannot stop the promotion midway, or else the runes might backfire which likely results in death, like the wizard Ambrose, who was a tier 4 wizard aiming to be a tier 5 wizard.

As I entered my soul space. I found myself in a completely white space. 'This must be my soul space. Now that I've reached here, I should start engraving the runes.' As I recalled the memory of the rune that was modified by the system to suit me, I began to engrave the rune. Time passed slowly, I could not perceive the time outside. Luckily, I informed the orphanage children's that I would be going to the forest to collect fruits. Even if I were late, I could tell I was lost.

Completing the rune formula in my soul space, I began to inject chakra into the rune. Suddenly, the rune began to shake as if it were coming alive. Once the shaking stopped, I understood the process was successful. 'Yes, I did it. I have become a wizard apprentice. Now I should leave my soul space.' As I left the space, I found that it was evening outside. "System, how much time did I spend in my soul space, and is there any difference in me after becoming a wizard apprentice?"

"Reporting: You have spent 6 hours in the soul space, and after becoming a wizard apprentice, your soul and body are further strengthened."

As the reply came, I eagerly started to check my body condition. I found out I had become more physically fit. Now, I started to check on my spells. Slowly, I began to inject chakra into my rune spell of Breeze Lift. I found myself starting to lift from the ground. After reached a height of 30 meters, I found I could not fly any further up. 'Well, it's a tier 0 spell after all; the maximum distance I can reach from the ground is 30 meters. If I want to go further, I need to reach tier 2 wizard apprentice.' Coming down, I started to use my remaining spells. As I used the defense spell Ethereal Barrier, I found a translucent barrier around me. Upon further inspection, I found out it does not provide complete protection, but it does minimize damage and if the attack is lower than the defense; it can completely block the attack. Lastly, I checked my stealth rune. I found out a layer of darkness surrounding me, and I can also use the layer to remove my smell or chakra from me thus making it harder to find me. Similarly, if used in night or dark places, it will be further strengthened.

After completing my inspection, I left the forest after picking up some fruits. As I reached the orphanage, I found some shinobi had came to the orphanage, each of them wearing a headband with a star on it. To find out their reason for visiting, I asked one of the children. He replied that he did not know, but everyone from the orphanage was called over. 'They finally came, well, the orphanage is the best place to find child soldiers. The childrens do not have anyone in particular to care about them even if they die. So, they are the best choice for the village. Now that they have come, I need to lay low without causing any suspicions.'

During dinner, everyone was called over, with a big feast served in front of them. Then the warden of the orphanage invited one of the shinobi to speak in front of them. As the speech goes the children became more captivated with the glory of being a shinobi and the shinobi speaking never mention any dark side of being a ninja."so tomorrow we will conduct a test to check whether you can also be a shinobi. So everyone come early to the orphanage ground tomorrow."

'I should also participate in order to avoid any suspicion. I could try to act as if I am not physically fit to be a shinobi. I could use the AI to find a way to temporarily weaken my body.'"system is there any method I could weaken my body for tomorrow's test"

"Reporting: Blocking the chakra pathway below the neck and chest is possible, or the host could try to use the knight training method in reverse manner. However, the injury might take 1 month to heal without medicine."

'I should block my chakra pathways.' with the help of AI finding chakra pathway was easy. As I went to bed I closed my eyes making plans for tomorrow.