A black shuriken shot out from Veigar Koshima's hand like a bolt of lightning!
"Thud!"
With a dull impact, the wooden target at the center was pierced clean through. The shuriken, having passed straight through, landed on the ground behind it.
The sudden silence was almost suffocating, as if the very air had been sucked out of the training ground.
At that moment, neither Kaoru Iwabe nor any of the surrounding students could utter a word—they simply stood there, wide-eyed and slack-jawed.
A gentle breeze swept through the area, lifting a few fallen leaves, subtly breaking the oppressive stillness.
"T-That power…"
"How did Veigar do that?!"
"No way! That has to be a trick!"
The stunned silence was short-lived. As soon as reality sank in, the entire training ground erupted in chaos.
None of Veigar's classmates could believe their eyes. How could a mere shuriken, something so ordinary, penetrate a solid target with such terrifying force?
The impact was beyond comprehension!
Even Veigar himself hadn't expected to pierce straight through the target. All he had done was infuse the shuriken with a small amount of chakra.
And that was precisely the key.
Unlike most people, Veigar's chakra quality was three times that of an ordinary shinobi. Using the same amount of chakra as others resulted in exponentially greater effects.
"Veigar Koshima—full marks."
Taking a deep breath, Kaoru Iwabe announced Veigar's score and recorded it on the results sheet.
With the training session concluded, those who had failed, including Obito Uchiha and Might Guy, were held back for remedial practice.
That very night, Veigar's performance on the training field was reported to Hiruzen Sarutobi.
"Veigar Koshima… could he be the civilian genius who rivals Minato?"
It was rare for a commoner to rise to prominence, and many found it hard to believe. Yet, the reality was undeniable.
The gap between civilians and noble clans wasn't easily bridged. Resources, heritage, and bloodline advantages often formed insurmountable barriers.
However, when a true prodigy emerged from humble origins, their talent would inevitably outshine the vast majority.
Holding Veigar's results sheet in his hands, Hiruzen remained silent for a long time.
...
Time flowed like an unceasing river, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.
At the academy, Veigar quickly became well-liked by his classmates. His perfect academic scores and easygoing personality made him effortlessly blend in.
Regardless of gender, everyone found Veigar approachable.
To Veigar, however, the novelty of childhood antics had long since worn off. Despite inhabiting the body of a seven-year-old, his soul belonged to a man in his twenties.
Moreover, with his sharp wit, shaped by the digital age, he found it all too easy to connect with his younger peers.
As he walked home after class, Veigar's thoughts seemed distant.
"Youth is about running forward with all your might!"
"Ahhhhh!"
From afar, Veigar heard Might Guy's dramatic cries. Turning his head, he saw a blur of green flash past him, sprinting at full speed like the wind itself.
By now, Veigar was used to it.
Two months ago, he had first witnessed Might Guy running laps around the village after school. Since that day, he had never seen him skip a single session.
Later that evening, after finishing his usual task of cleaning the slaughterhouse, Veigar made an important decision. Instead of leaving as usual, he approached Tomiyasu Saburo, the owner, to tender his resignation.
"Veigar, why are you quitting? Is the pay too low?"
Over the past few months, Saburo had grown very fond of Veigar's work. Despite his young age, Veigar never made mistakes, and under his care, the slaughterhouse had become cleaner than ever before.
Most importantly, Veigar had already become a valuable asset—capable of butchering livestock entirely on his own.
It was hard for Saburo to let him go.
"No, it's not that," Veigar replied calmly. "The pay you've given me is more than generous. But I need more time for my training, and I can't afford any distractions."
One cannot have both the fish and the bear's paw.
If working at the slaughterhouse had still significantly contributed to his growth, he might have stayed longer.
However, a week ago, when his chakra quality reached four times the normal level, the benefits from absorbing Life Essence from livestock had sharply diminished. Beyond mild fatigue relief, it no longer provided meaningful improvement.
The gains were negligible—unless he could harvest in massive quantities, which was impractical.
Between money and power, Veigar had chosen the latter.
His decision to quit also stemmed from the fact that his training had reached a crucial turning point.
After three months of relentless effort, he had successfully completed the first stage of the Human Body Enhancement Technique. Now, he was ready to move on to the second stage.
Seeing that Veigar was firm in his decision, Saburo had no choice but to accept it. He settled Veigar's wages and said, "If you ever want to return, my doors are always open for you."
"Understood. Thank you for everything, boss."
With everything settled, Veigar finally felt at ease.
"I have enough money to sustain myself for a while. My priority now is completing my training before thinking about anything else."
Back at home, Veigar immediately began the second stage of the Human Body Enhancement Technique.
He guided his chakra outward, forming a thin, lingering layer over his body.
In the next moment, his eyes snapped open, forming a new hand seal. The chakra that had been enveloping his body began to shift—slowly seeping into his flesh.
This was the Second Stage: Permeation.
The main goal of this stage was to acclimate the body to chakra, enhancing control, self-recovery, and overall efficiency.
Most importantly, after completing this stage, drawing out and channeling chakra would become faster and more effortless.
Only after mastering this stage could one advance to the third and final step—True Body Enhancement.
But for now, there was one overwhelming sensation.
Itching.
Intense itching.
Excruciating itching.
As Veigar's chakra permeated his body, every inch of his skin felt like it was being tickled by a thousand soft feathers.
"Hahaha—"
Unable to endure it, Veigar burst into uncontrollable laughter. His focus shattered, and the chakra surrounding his body dispersed.
Even as the sensation faded, he couldn't stop smiling.
"Damn… that was unbearable."
Once his body fully recovered, he picked up his ninjatō.
It was time for sword training.
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