Konoha Village, Jin's Home
"Ah, that feels good."
Jin walked out of the bathroom, drying his damp hair while sighing contentedly.
After Kakashi and the others left, today's classes ended.
Now sober, Jin felt this whole assessment was rather anticlimactic.
What Jin didn't know was that the test originally had a prerequisite:
Jin couldn't use any weapons, and students would challenge him.
The test was meant to gauge everyone's courage.
However, after witnessing Jin slice a massive tree in half from a distance, Mr. Tanaka canceled the test.
Test my ass!
Even he wouldn't dare challenge Jin now, weapon or no weapon!
Let alone these students.
"Really drank quite a bit today."
Thinking back on the day's events, Jin's lips twitched.
He almost cut down that guy Kakashi, mistaking him for a spy.
But all in all, the outcome was good.
He gained the ability to hear the "Breath of All Things" and mastered the power of Steel-Cutting.
Progressing towards the realm of the Sword Master.
Hmm, had a little mishap this time. Next time, I'll still drink.
"No wonder it gave me 100 points of Swordsmanship Insight and the Steel-Cutting ability. Turns out I cut down Obito."
Jin recalled the system's reward, feeling a sense of realization.
So, I cut down the future 'pseudo-boss' Obito Uchiha.
No wonder his drunk self didn't recognize the guy.
Couldn't really blame Jin, either. At this point, Obito Uchiha was just an unremarkable dead-last.
Didn't look like much either.
Being drunk, it was perfectly normal not to recognize him.
Except for himself, who knew the future plot of Naruto—
No one else could possibly imagine this guy's Sharingan talent would be so high.
Able to awaken a Mangekyō Sharingan related to space-time ninjutsu.
Even becoming one of the key figures influencing the direction of the Naruto world.
Though just a pawn, he was still Madara Uchiha's vanguard.
And one of the masterminds behind the "Fourth Great Ninja War."
Giving such a reward wasn't strange.
"Should I... just cut him a few times whenever I feel like it?"
Jin rubbed his chin, feeling tempted.
Just scraping his skin and humiliating Obito in front of everyone yielded such a generous reward.
So, what if he cut him "slightly" harder?
Jin felt his heart stir.
Anyway, he didn't want Obito's life. Just a couple of slashes—that guy Obito probably wouldn't be that petty, right?
"But, if cutting Obito gives a reward, Kakashi is also an important figure later on, the future Sixth Hokage. Why wasn't there a reward this time?
Though, I think I got a reward the first time I cut Kakashi."
Jin felt puzzled again, but after thinking for less than two seconds, he stopped dwelling on it.
Why think so much? Just drink some booze every day, cut some people down. Why waste brainpower?
"Still, being able to hear the 'Breath of All Things' is truly wondrous."
Jin sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, closed his eyes, and focused intently.
The moment Jin closed his eyes and concentrated—
New things he had never perceived before emerged one by one.
For instance, the tatami mat Jin was currently sitting on seemed to have a rhythmic breath.
Jin felt that if he followed this breath and swung his blade, even a rusty sword could split it in two.
This was the state of "Sword Zen" (Tōzen), achievable after stepping onto the path of the Sword Master.
In this state, one could better comprehend the Way of the Sword.
However, for something like the decorative rock garden in Jin's room—
He felt its breath wasn't as clear as the tatami's.
Although Jin could now hear the "Breath of All Things"—
The path of the Sword Master had only just begun.
The gap between Sword Masters could also be immense!
Powerful Sword Masters, like "Hawk Eyes" Mihawk from the One Piece world, could slice mountains with ordinary slashes!
But weaker Sword Masters couldn't even cut steel.
So, for the current Jin, many breaths were still indistinct.
But as his Swordsmanship Insight deepened, he would eventually be able to split mountains and cleave rocks!
Thinking of this, Jin's hands itched.
He stood up, gripping Shūsui.
"Well, now that I can project slashes like a 'Sword Master', guess I should practice occasionally."
At this moment, Jin felt a strong surge of interest.
Holding Shūsui, he began to swing.
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"Practice? Practice my ass!"
After less than ten minutes of practice, Jin snapped Shūsui back into its sheath with a 'smack'.
He grabbed a bottle of wine and lay down on the tatami.
Waste of effort! Might as well drink!
Gulp— Gulp— Gulp—
["Ding! Swordsmanship Insight +1."]
["Ding! Constitution +1."]
["Ding! Swordsmanship Insight +1."]
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"Now this is my way of practicing the sword," Jin let out a comfortable drunken hiccup, listening to the system prompts in his mind, feeling utterly content.
After drinking happily, Jin hugged the wine bottle and drifted off into a deep sleep.
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