Ch 59: Research

I moved the Female Character list to Aux also Voting won't help as I have already said I am gonna use the spin wheel to choose the lead that way everyone will probably get a fair chance.

---x---

The days passed in a blur of ink-stained scrolls, sealing formulas, and rigorous training. While most of my time was spent learning the intricacies of seals from Jiraiya and Kushina, my curiosity kept pulling me toward a different avenue: the biology of this world.

Chakra was something entirely different from Mana. It wasn't just a form of energy—it was a cornerstone of life in this world. The way it flowed, manipulated, and interacted with the body made me curious.

To satisfy my curiosity, I began by setting up a small research space in Jiraiya's apartment. It wasn't much—a makeshift table, some scrolls for notes, and basic medical tools—but it was enough for my experiments.

I started by acquiring anatomy scrolls from the local library, detailing everything from muscle structures to the chakra system. The information was rudimentary at best, but it gave me a starting point.

"Kid, what the hell are you doing with all these diagrams?" Jiraiya asked, peering over my shoulder as I scribbled furiously on a scroll.

"Research," I replied without looking up. "I want to understand how chakra works on a biological level. How it flows, where it originates, and how it interacts with the body."

He scratched his head. "You're a weird one. Most people just accept it as it is."

"Well, I'm not most people."

The first thing I noticed was that the chakra system seemed to act as a parallel energy network, distinct from the circulatory and nervous systems but still deeply integrated with them.

Through a combination of medical texts, I learned that chakra was produced by the fusion of physical energy, derived from the body's cells, and spiritual energy, which seemed tied to one's soul or consciousness. This explained why physical training and meditation could enhance chakra reserves.

But what truly intrigued me were the chakra pathways—tenketsu points and the vast network connecting them. They reminded me of mana circuits just visible to the naked eye, but were far more intricate, almost like a hybrid of blood vessels and nerves.

The more I researched, the more I realized just how adaptable this system was. Unlike mana circuits, which were rigidly bound to the soul, chakra pathways seemed capable of expanding or contracting based on need, almost like muscles.

One afternoon, I brought up my findings with Kushina during a sealing lesson.

"Chakra pathways are like muscles?" she said, raising an eyebrow. "That's an interesting way of looking at it."

"It's just a theory," I admitted. "But it explains a lot. The more you use chakra, the stronger your pathways get, right?"

She nodded. "True, though overuse can lead to burnout. That's why proper chakra control is so important. Without it, you could strain your pathways or even damage them permanently."

"Fascinating," I murmured, jotting down notes. "And the spiritual energy part—do you think it's tied to the soul?"

Kushina paused, tapping her chin thoughtfully. "It's believed so. Some clans have techniques that seem to draw directly from their soul or emotions. Maybe that's why spiritual energy plays such a big role in chakra production."

The similarities between Mana and Chakra was equally intriguing: both systems relied on energy flow, required mental focus for control, and could be strengthened through practice.

When I shared my findings with Jiraiya, he was surprisingly impressed.

"You've got a sharp mind, kid," he said, stroking his chin. "Most shinobi don't think about chakra on this level. They just use it without questioning how it works."

"I can't help it," I replied. "Understanding the mechanics makes it easier to optimize its use."

---

As July came to a close, I delegated my ongoing research into human anatomy and seals—particularly the modification of chakra-based seals into mana-compatible ones—to my clones. With those tasks on autopilot, I turned my focus toward something far more pressing: my combat abilities.

My fight with Jiraiya had opened my eyes. Sure, I was a trained fighter, but that wasn't enough. Against someone like him—a shinobi honed for war and survival—I was lacking. Experience and intent made all the difference.

I resolved to use these precious months to sharpen every facet of myself.

After some negotiation Jiraiya and Hiruzen both took it upon themselves to guide me. My sparring sessions with Jiraiya increased. His unpredictability forced me to adapt constantly. He'd mock me mid-fight, casually dodging my strikes while offering 'advice.'

"Come on, Arthur! You're leaving yourself wide open! Again!"

At first, I relied on the martial arts I'd already mastered, but against someone like Jiraiya, conventional approaches weren't enough. I had to integrate, combine, and create something entirely my own—a fighting style that flowed naturally with both my swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat.

Hiruzen, on the other hand, offered a different perspective. The "Professor," as he was called, lived up to his reputation. Under his guidance, I began experimenting with techniques that combined the finesse of magic and the practicality of elemental manipulation.

Artoria Pendragon's Invisible Air—an unseen sheath of wind surrounding the sword to conceal its form. While I began adapting Invisible Air into a more versatile tool.

Since Avalon was already in my posession Invisible Air felt useless therefore I started using it as both offense and mobility.

With the help from Hiruzen I was able to create 2 techniques.

1. Wind Blade: By coating my arms in dense, focused currents of air, I could release torrents of razor-sharp wind. It functioned like a wide-area Severing Charm—cutting through anything in its path without the need for a wand or incantation.

2. Air Step: By condensing Invisible Air beneath my feet, I could create solid platforms of wind to move mid-air. At first, I could only manage small bursts—simple hops or quick redirects—but with practice, I extended it into temporary "steps" that allowed me to navigate the battlefield three-dimensionally. Launching myself into the air and raining attacks from above felt exhilarating, though I knew true flight was still far out of my grasp. For now.

With Hiruzen helping me understand elemental theory and Jiraiya acting as my combat test subject, I began developing a hybrid style that merged swordsmanship, martial arts, and elemental attacks.

Wind Constructs: By shaping Invisible Air with precise control, I experimented with constructs—shields, short-lived barriers, or even temporary extensions of my blade to increase its range. They weren't perfect, but they were functional.

Even with my huge arsenal of magic I wanted to not be vulnerable in any situation because wand was a fragile thing and Caliburn at its best was still a ornamental sword.

July was coming to an end, I had made significant progress. My combat style was sharper, my techniques were expanding, and my understanding of this world's systems—both chakra and elemental manipulation—was deepening.

"I've got a long way to go," I muttered to myself, clenching my fists. "But I'll get there."

---

The Next Day

Arthur sighed, carrying a bag of vegetables as he trailed behind Kushina through the bustling streets of Konoha. "Kushina-san, if you don't mind me asking, why am I buying groceries with you?"

Kushina turned, a sly grin on her face. "Because I'm your sensei, and you should respect your teachers. Consider this part of your training!"

Arthur raised an eyebrow, muttering under his breath as he adjusted the bag. His eyebrow twitched with mild irritation. Training? Really? Carrying vegetables counts as training now?

Before he could say anything more, a cheerful voice called out, "Kushina!"

Both turned to see a woman with long black hair approaching them, a baby cradled in her arms. Arthur instantly recognized her—Mikoto Uchiha, the mother of Itachi and Sasuke.

Kushina waved enthusiastically. "Mikoto! It's been a while! How have you been?"

Mikoto smiled warmly. "Good. And you? Oh, and this little one here is Sasuke."

Kushina bent slightly to coo at the baby. "Aw, Sasuke-chan looks so cute!"

Arthur, who had activated Presence Concealment the moment Mikoto approached, nearly choked trying to suppress his laughter. Sasuke-chan? The brooding emo and Orochimaru's ex gets called 'chan'? The mental image was too much, but he managed to keep his composure, staying invisible as the two women continued their conversation.

After a few more pleasantries, Mikoto waved goodbye, leaving Kushina and Arthur to resume their errands. Once Mikoto was out of sight, Arthur deactivated his skill and fell back into step with Kushina.

"You know," Arthur said, fighting back a smirk, "I think Sasuke-chan suits him."

Kushina glanced at him, confused. "What are you mumbling about now?"

"Nothing, nothing," Arthur replied, shaking his head, though the amused grin lingered.

Later that afternoon, Arthur sat at Jiraiya's desk, books and scrolls spread out around him. His focus was split between studying seal formulas and drafting new techniques. Across the room, Jiraiya was finishing up some paperwork.

Jiraiya stretched and leaned back in his chair. "By the way, kid, I'll be leaving the village for a bit."

Arthur looked up, raising an eyebrow. "Where are you going?"

"Suna," Jiraiya replied casually. "We need to review the treaty, check trade routes, and go over security agreements."

Arthur leaned back in his chair, considering the information. "Can I come with you?"

Jiraiya chuckled. "Why would you want to?"

"Well, I'm curious," Arthur said. "And besides, it beats staying here running errands with Kushina-san."

Jiraiya smirked but shook his head. "Nope. You're still under observation, remember? You can't just leave the village on a whim."

Arthur frowned. "Observation or not, I'm not a spy. Also, isn't it kind of dumb to tell me about your mission if you think I'm under suspicion?"

Jiraiya laughed, waving him off. "First of all, it's not really a mission—it's already public knowledge. Second, even if someone leaked the details, it wouldn't be useful to anyone because everything is already done I am just going as a formality. It's just bureaucratic stuff."

Arthur sighed, propping his chin on his hand. "Sounds riveting. You sure you don't want a partner for moral support?"

"Nice try, kid," Jiraiya said, gathering his things. "You'll do fine holding down the fort here. Besides, it's about time you learned the joys of solitude."

Arthur groaned. "I've had plenty of solitude, thanks. But fine, go enjoy your 'riveting' mission. Don't come crying to me when you get bored."

Jiraiya chuckled as he left the room, leaving Arthur to his studies.

---

The arrival of August meant a new set of gacha spins, as usual.

I tapped the Spin button and watched the familiar animation unfold. The first item landed with a satisfying ding, and I stared at the notification in disbelief.

[Wall-E]

"...Wait, what?" I muttered. A holographic image of the small, lovable robot from the Pixar movie appeared in my inventory.

It was undeniably cute, but I was too stunned to summon it right away. I scratched my head. "Why? And how does this help me? Am I supposed to clean up post-apocalyptic trash or something?"

Shaking my head, I moved on to the next spin.

[Fabric of Reality] Acquired

This one was even more perplexing. It wasn't a physical object or a skill. The system described it as "part of a set," but beyond that, it offered no additional information. I stared at the cryptic notification for a while before reluctantly closing it. Great, another mystery to solve.

The third spin brought something more practical, though still unusual:

[Personal Computer] Acquired

At first, I expected something mundane, but when the item materialized in my inventory, I realized it was anything but. The "computer" was a sleek, circular disc paired with futuristic glasses. The glasses had a fully functional interface, while the disc projected detailed holograms when used together.

"Alright," I said, picking up the glasses and testing them. "This is actually pretty cool."

Through the lenses, I could access files, take notes, and even pull up tutorials on a variety of topics. Combined with the holographic projector, it felt like something straight out of a sci-fi movie.

---

As I finished tinkering with the new items, something struck me. I haven't summoned Garuda even once since arriving in this world.

I quickly accessed my inventory and summoned the magnificent bird. The moment Garuda materialized, he turned his piercing gaze on me, let out a long sigh, and immediately took off into the sky.

"Hey!" I called after him, embarrassed.

The majestic bird slowed, hovering mid-air, and turned his sharp gaze on me. "What do you want, Arthur?" His voice was deep, resonant, and tinged with irritation.

I sighed. "Okay, okay, I know I haven't called you in months. But hey, I've been busy! New world, new rules, you know the drill."

Garuda landed gracefully in front of me, his wings folding in with an audible whoosh. "Busy? Or just careless? You're supposed to utilize all your tools, Arthur. What good am I if you forget I exist?"

"Fair point," I admitted, scratching the back of my head. "Alright, alright," I said, raising my hands in surrender. "I promise to use you more. Happy?"

He flapped his wings once in what I assumed was acknowledgment before taking off again, this time for a leisurely flight around the village.

---Note

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