At this moment, Riku knew he wouldn't break through his limits so easily again. He needed to carefully test the power of the Chakra Refining Technique: Spirit Devour.
The first object Riku chose for testing was a living creature. After all, most living beings in the Ninja World contained Chakra. Passing by a small lake, he activated his Byakugan and instantly saw several large fish swimming gracefully beneath the surface.
Casually, he drew two senbon. With swift precision, the needles plunged into the water, leaving crimson traces in their wake. Moments later, two large fish, about fifty centimeters long, floated belly-up on the lake's surface.
Riku quickly scooped up the fish. Through the x-ray vision of the Byakugan, he observed the scarce Chakra within them rapidly dissipating. Wasting no time, he activated the Chakra Refining Technique after its recent breakthrough. Immediately, a strong suction emanated from Riku's palm. The Chakra inside the fish was drawn into his body, refined, and absorbed.
He could feel some of the Chakra lost during his battle with Itachi slowly returning. But the efficiency was abysmally low. If the Chakra inside the two fish were divided into ten parts, only one part—or less—would become usable to him.
Even though the absorption process was quick, refining external Chakra was frustratingly slow. Testing more animals, he confirmed the method remained ineffective.
"Alas," Riku muttered, "it's only a C-rank skill. Absorbing dead matter or unclaimed Chakra can help with minor shortages, but in actual combat… this is practically useless."
A pang of disappointment crossed his mind. "It's far from what I expected. I need to try again."
Riku's gaze shifted to the experience panel, still brimming with unspent points. Determined, he prepared for another breakthrough of the Chakra Refining Technique.
A prompt appeared:
"Confirm breakthrough. Please select the skill breakthrough direction!"
Three options were displayed:
1.
Increase external Chakra refining speed significantly – 25,000 experience points.
2.
Increase absorption and refining efficiency significantly – 28,000 experience points.
3.
Channel excess into the lacking; refine external Chakra to nourish the body and break physical limits – cost unspecified.
Without hesitation, Riku selected the third option.
"Selected Breakthrough Direction Three. Breakthrough initiated!"
The free experience points rapidly dropped, soon falling below 100,000. Despite the massive expenditure, Riku felt no distress. Instead, he quietly sensed profound changes within his body. The method of refining Chakra had transformed, and when he exhaled, the breath felt dense and heavy, almost tangible.
Once the torrent of information had settled in his mind, Riku opened his eyes. A sharp gleam shone within them. He immediately captured a few nearby creatures and tested his newly enhanced skill.
The results were extraordinary. Chakra absorption and refinement were no longer inefficient; the excess energy no longer dissipated. Instead, it slowly integrated into his body, improving his physical strength.
Because the surplus Chakra was minimal, his body's enhancement was slight—but even a tiny improvement was noticeable. This growth thrilled him, because increased physical power indirectly expanded his total Chakra reserves.
After all, Chakra is the combination of spiritual and physical energy. Strengthening either aspect can enhance overall capacity.
Two breakthroughs later, the Chakra Refining Technique finally met Riku's expectations. The skill had transformed, now appearing on the panel as Spirit Devour:
Spirit Devour (B): MAX (Can be broken through)
Riku studied the panel. Its evaluation had conservatively rated the skill as B-rank, but he knew better. By true measure, this was a forbidden technique, possibly rivaling A-rank or even S-rank Ninjutsu in effect.
The power to improve one's body while absorbing Chakra could reshape the Ninja World. A skill like this could mass-produce strong individuals, though Riku had no intention of spreading it—at least, not yet.
For now, he focused on himself. His eyes scanned his skill panel:
Ninjutsu: Clone Technique (E): lv10 (MAX) (Can be broken through)
Ninjutsu: Transformation Technique (E): lv10 (MAX) (Can be broken through)
Ninjutsu: Substitution Technique (E): lv10 (MAX) (Can be broken through)
Spirit Devour (B): lv10 (MAX) (Can be broken through)
Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique (C): lv1 (342/400)
Wind Release: Great Breakthrough (C): lv1 (176/400)
Taijutsu: Hyuga Gentle Fist (C): lv9 (1486/3600)
Sealing Jutsu: Sealing Pulse Seal – Evil Breaking (B): MAX (Can be broken through)
Ninjutsu: Body Flicker Technique (C): lv8 (2691/3200)
Dōjutsu: Byakugan (A): lv4 (6047/12800)
Free Experience Points: 95,480
The evaluation read:
"Genin? No. Your potential surpasses imagination! Age is no longer a limit to growth!"
Riku smiled, satisfied. The last weakness had been resolved, and from now on, his sole focus could be on cultivating power.
Feeling his strength surge, he flashed into the Forest of Death, ready to continue his rigorous training.
The forest welcomed him with its familiar shadows, a perfect training ground for his newly enhanced abilities. Riku could feel the Spirit Devour skill resonating through his body as he moved. Even a faint surplus of Chakra now contributed to his physical development.
He began small, practicing absorption on minor creatures and objects first. Each attempt reinforced his control over Spirit Devour, allowing him to refine and channel the absorbed Chakra more efficiently.
Soon, he moved on to larger challenges, capturing medium-sized animals with precise senbon throws. With each absorbed creature, Riku's physical energy grew incrementally, and his Chakra reserves increased in tandem.
For the first time, he experienced the synergy between physical and spiritual energy, understanding that the two were no longer separate. By strengthening the body, his overall Chakra capacity naturally expanded.
Riku's training was not without risks. Mismanagement could result in wasted Chakra or even injury. Yet, his confidence grew with every success.
By midday, he had tested the skill thoroughly. The results exceeded even his expectations. Where Chakra Refining Technique had been slow and inefficient, Spirit Devour now allowed him to convert external energy into usable power and physical strength seamlessly.
The potential of this technique stunned him. If fully mastered, Riku could theoretically surpass most ninja of his age group, even some elite Jonin.
Yet, he remained focused. Mastery required patience and repetition. For now, he continued experimenting, refining every subtle movement, every nuance of Chakra absorption.
Hours passed as Riku honed his technique. Sweat dripped from his brow, but his movements remained precise. With every absorbed morsel of Chakra, his body adapted and strengthened.
As evening approached, he finally paused. Surveying the forest around him, Riku felt a profound sense of satisfaction. His Chakra reserves were full, his body more resilient, and his skill—once a mere C-rank—had grown into a formidable B-rank ability with immense potential for further growth.
He knew the path ahead would be long, but for the first time in a while, he felt truly in control. Spirit Devour was no longer just a skill—it was a bridge to limitless potential.
With renewed determination, Riku prepared for the next stage of his journey. The Forest of Death had tested him before, and it would continue to do so. But now, armed with the power of Spirit Devour, he was ready to face any challenge and rise beyond the limits of ordinary ninja.
And so, Riku's path of relentless growth continued, each step bringing him closer to the heights of power he had only dreamed of before.
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