Riku's Journey to Strength

"Boom!" A thunderous explosion echoed through the serene surroundings, followed by a resounding "Splash!" as the river water surged into the air. Riku reveled in the newfound power coursing through his body. He couldn't contain his excitement as he clenched his fist and unleashed another punch into the water. In an instant, a colossal explosion erupted, creating a towering pillar of water that roared into the sky, causing the river to churn violently.

The raw strength coursing through him left Riku breathless. "My power is incredible!" he muttered in amazement.

With newfound confidence, Riku took a daring step onto the water's surface and ascended into the sky. He had shattered the limits of his physical abilities, transcending even the need for the Hermes Boots. Now, he could effortlessly step onto the air and navigate the skies with ease.

His current scene mirrored that of Dora, the former Beast captain, whose abilities had once seemed unattainable.

After indulging in his newfound powers for a while, Riku decided it was time to return to the shore. He couldn't help but feel a twinge of embarrassment. After all, he was still unclothed, and streaking wasn't his style.

Examining his modified body, Riku marveled at the soft and smooth skin that had been purged of impurities. Even Couronne's skin couldn't hold a candle to his now.

Riku dipped his dirty clothes into the river, cleansing them before using his newfound energy to dry them quickly. As he dressed, he felt remarkably refreshed.

"Now, I have 6,000 exchange points," Riku mused. While saving them for an excellent treasure chest seemed tempting, he realized that the path to true strength lay in his immediate future. "Becoming stronger should be my priority. With greater strength, earning more exchange points will be easier," he concluded.

Riku pondered for a moment before making his decision. "System, exchange for an ordinary treasure chest and an exquisite treasure chest," he commanded.

"I see. After deducting 6,000 exchange points, the chest exchange was successful," the system promptly responded.

In an instant, an emerald green treasure chest and a plain white one materialized before Riku. He couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation.

Taking a deep breath, Riku placed his hand on the white treasure chest and opened it. The system chimed in.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for opening the ordinary treasure chest and obtaining the enhanced version of the Military Ration Pill]

[Fortified Military Ration Pill: It can restore one-third of the host's energy and completely rejuvenate the host's physical strength. Its effectiveness varies with the host's strength.]

"Excellent," Riku exclaimed with satisfaction. This item had the potential to turn the tide in dire situations.

With renewed enthusiasm, he turned his attention to the emerald green treasure chest. He hoped it would meet his high expectations.

Touching the chest, Riku felt it swing open, accompanied by the familiar sound of the system.

[Ding, congratulations to the host for opening the exquisite treasure chest and obtaining Physical skills - The Eight Inner Gates]

[Eight Inner Gates Formation: From the Naruto World, a technique that releases the body's chakra restrictions and unleashes excess energy.]

[Divided into: Gate of Opening, Gate of Healing, Gate of Life, Gate of Pain, Gate of Limit, Gate of View, Gate of Wonder, and Gate of Death.]

[Once activated, this skill pushes your energy beyond its limits, multiplying your original strength several times or even dozens of times. However, it inflicts severe harm on the caster, making it a forbidden technique.]

[Opening all Eight Gates results in the "The Eight Gates Formation." While granting incredible power, it burns the caster's vitality, eventually leading to death.]

Riku's eyes widened with joy as he absorbed the system's description. The Eight Inner Gates, Guy's legendary Taijutsu skill from Naruto! Even in the Fourth Ninja War, Guy had used the Eight Gates Formation to battle the mighty Sage of Six Paths, Madara.

For Riku, this was like a lifeline thrown to him in the darkest of times. It could serve as a hidden trump card, and despite the side effects, it could almost qualify as an excellent treasure chest item, considering Riku's current enhanced physical abilities.

"It's worth every bit of those 6,000 exchange points," Riku exclaimed, his excitement palpable. His raw power had experienced a significant boost.

"Now, it's time to head to the Beast Kingdom. I hope they don't disappoint," Riku thought, his eyes fixed on the map. He wasted no time, his body transforming into a shadow as he vanished from his current location. His speed was now more than double his previous capabilities, though he deliberately restrained himself, wanting to acclimate to his enhanced body gradually.

Meanwhile, in the skies above, Jibril soared with an unhappy expression on her face. A day earlier, her prey had tragically met its end by "suicide." In response, she had challenged a superior Giganto species, ranking fifth in power. However, her challenger had declined, unwilling to engage in combat.

This left Jibril frustrated, with an overwhelming desire to release her pent-up energy.