Chapter 15: Training Direction

(T/N: There is now a p.atreon for this work, and any new work I add will be dropped there first. check it out for an early release of up to 30 chapters edited smoothly. https://www.p.atreon.com/INeedRest)

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As for the events unfolding through his shadow clone's perspective, Colt remained oblivious for the time being.

However, he received the system notifications and accrued attribute points directly.

Immediately, Colt created a second shadow clone.

What he had learned was the single Shadow Clone Technique, not its multi-form variant.

Yet that did not preclude him from maintaining multiple clones simultaneously.

Colt had tested this the previous night - maintaining two or three shadow clones proved no significant strain on his chakra reserves.

"Your duty is to locate beasts within the forest and contribute to Konoha's security and stability," Colt instructed his newly-formed doppelganger solemnly.

Witnessing the original's self-important tone, the clone couldn't help rolling its eyes derisively.

This guy was hopeless, putting on airs even when addressing himself.

After watching Clone #2 depart, Colt fully embraced his newfound indolent lifestyle with zeal.

Yet a nagging sense of unease tugged at him.

Had he perhaps grown a tad too accustomed to that prior flurry of busyness?

"No, such thoughts are dangerous. I cannot allow such unhealthy ideas to take root!" he vehemently berated himself.

However, after whiling away the entire morning just lazing about on the bed, Colt found he could no longer abide such indolent idleness.

Incapable of simply lazing about, he rose with reluctant determination.

These days, Hinata had also begun her formal clan training, leaving her daily schedule exceedingly full with little time to visit.

This represented the standard demands placed upon those born to ninja lineages - from a tender age, they were instructed in their families' militaristic ways.

Once reaching a certain level of maturity, arduous teachings in the clan's exclusive techniques would commence.

Recalling Hiashi Hyūga's harsh canon treatment of Hinata, Colt's brow furrowed in consternation.

If he could, he wished to barge into the Hyūga compound and have stern words with his future father-in-law.

There was nothing inherently wrong with rigorous training itself - the methods employed mattered just as much.

Relentless, suffocating pressure would only further erode Hinata's fragile self-confidence.

Yet Colt remained far too underpowered to challenge the elite Hyūga guards, much less their patriarch.

This sober realization banished any further indolent inclinations from his mind.

After a succinct lunch, Colt donned his training attire and made for one of Konoha's public facilities.

The village boasted numerous grounds dedicated to ninja exercises which Colt had never utilized before.

Now seemed as appropriate a time as any to commence ninjutsu practice in earnest.

[Kamiyo Colt]

[Age: 5 years]

[Constitution: 155 (Sage Body awakening)]

[Spirit: 103 (Sharingan dormant)]

[Chakra: 4.7] (E/N: Even I don't understand, the original is written as ranks? But before it was Kakashi, is it maybe 4.7 Kakashi's chakra capacity?)

[Skills: …]

[Chakra Control (56/500 Lv.5)]

[Throwing (66/800 Lv.8)]

[Great Fireball Technique (185/400 Lv.4), among others]

[Chakra Natures:]

[Wind (4), Lightning (5), Earth (2), Fire (2), Water (2), Yin (1), Yang (4)]

[Points: 3265]

[Evaluation: Tremendous untapped power yearning for refinement and mastery. With brute force alone, Colt's might already surpassed most chūnin.]

[(Stat panels will appear less frequently in later chapters for smoother reading)] (E/N: Was written by author I think not me)

An awe-inspiring panel marred by a scathing assessment.

This encapsulated Colt's current situation in a nutshell.

Even the Copy Ninja Kakashi would develop migraines facing the sheer chakra density Colt could unleash in raw ninjutsu bombardment.

Yet his overall combat experience remained woefully lacking.

Ninja skirmishes hinged on far more than chakra reserves and ninjutsu alone.

Otherwise, any who mastered those basics could simply overpower all opposition through sheer force.

If nothing else, Colt currently trailed even ordinary ninja initiates when it came to hand seals.

At present, he could barely form three seals per second, a ludicrously sluggish rate that carried fatal risks in real combat scenarios...

The system also did not track seal-weaving as a distinct skill, providing no shortcuts to rapidly improve.

But such conveniences held little appeal regardless.

Once any given ninjutsu reached level nine mastery, most could be unleashed without hand seals entirely through sheer mental focus.

Until attaining that lofty pinnacle, however, Colt would need to diligently drill his seal formations through rigorous practice.

There existed no effortless path to power.

...

"Excuse me, which training grounds are currently unoccupied?" Colt inquired to the facility's clerk.

The attendant eyed the tiny youth skeptically - youngsters renting grounds for personal use proved quite rare sights indeed.

Ultimately, he said nothing, merely consulting the roster before responding.

"Training Ground 22 remains vacant at present. You may utilize it until 18:00 hours this evening. The fee is one thousand ryō."

Colt gave a curt nod, finding the price more than fair as he produced the funds.

Konoha's training areas were hardly simple open spaces - each boasted an array of specialized equipment and amenities.

Renting such premium facilities for a full afternoon at a thousand ryō could only be considered quite reasonable and a conscientious allocation of village resources.

...

Snake...Ram...Monkey...Boar...Horse...Tiger...

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

In perfect synchrony with the hand seals, Colt's chakra surged and coalesced before exhaling a massive blazing orb spanning over four meters wide.

The conflagration's scorching heat seared ugly scorch marks across the grassy area.

Fortunately, Colt aimed toward the training ground's reservoir - otherwise an uncontrolled wildfire could have erupted.

Even so, the intense thermal shockwaves evaporated a discernible portion of the small lake's waters.

According to the system panel's data, three key factors determined the offensive power behind any ninjutsu Colt unleashed:

First was the technique's overall mastery level - higher ranks translating to greater raw might.

Second was his corresponding chakra nature's transformation proficiency - the greater his mastery, the more potent any elemental ninjutsu became when utilizing that nature.

This essentially acted as an innate boost.

Third and finally was the sheer volume of chakra funneled into each technique.

Quite simply, more chakra output resulted in more destructive ninjutsu power.

However, this did not mean Colt could recklessly overspend without restraint.

Injecting too much chakra beyond his control would inevitably cause the jutsu to destabilize spectacularly.

Thus, exquisite chakra control formed the true key to unlocking greater ninjutsu might by raising his personal chakra ceiling for each technique.

(The above combat system mechanics are this author's interpretation for this story's internal logic. Readers are welcome to view things differently.)

With these factors in mind, Colt formulated his current training regimen's primary objectives:

First and foremost was refining his chakra control precision to increase his personal chakra ceiling.

For some inexplicable reason - perhaps an influence of the system - his talents in this area proved quite prodigious.

The basic chakra control exercises of Tree and Water Walking were trivial accomplishments. He could now perform ballet maneuvers atop the smallest liquid surfaces without breaking a sweat.

His second priority was mastering chakra nature transformation.

While ninjutsu mastery had to be developed individually for each technique, nature transformation provided generalized boosts across entire elemental affinities.

Of the five standard natures, the awe-inspiring Lightning Style resonated most profoundly with Colt.

Recalling the sheer might of the future pillars Sasuke and Kakashi's countless Chidori line techniques...

Colt resolved that his elemental journey would commence with Lightning Release mastery.