The last three months were more of fine-tuning for Kai. Before this war, he had only focused on more chakra-oriented skills, taijutsu, or weaponry while ignoring other prompts for skills that would form based on a few actions in missions.

His trait wasn't without any restrictions for all its benefits. If an action is turned into a skill, it has a numerical requirement to level up, and once a skill levels up, Kai will gain the relevant information that allows him to reduce the cost of chakra and whatnot. Titles serve to reduce the requirements of the grind per level.

But he can only have five active skills to grind at once. If he removes one skill midway, he will lose the progress in the form of the knowledge temporarily in his head but he would retain what skill he was training and why so that he could resume the grind from the beginning. This doesn't mean Kai cannot learn anything aside from the skills. It only meant that what he learned couldn't be CONVERTED into skills. The war changed that. Being a scouter with Hizashi brought him certain skills and his act of constantly going for one-shot assassinations because, why the hell would he alert the platoon of enemies with ninjutsu, added certain stealth and better perception to his skill set.

[Basic Trap Detection (5/5): This allows the host to detect the more basic traps in the form of perceiving hints present in the surrounding a bit better.]

[Basic Trap Construction (5/5): This allows the host to set up a variety of basic traps ranging from a hidden pit to a short wire trip.]

[Basic Track Detection (10/10): Focuses on the knowledge of tracks left by shinobi in their moments of carelessness.]

[Paw Steps (5/5): Reduces the sound of steps barefoot. Each level improves the noise reduction by 5℅. Current Noise Reduction: 30℅.]

[Chakra Paws (15/15): Manipulates the chakra to cushion the steps of the host to reduce any disturbance from their movement by 3.33℅ at every level. Current Reduction of Disturbance: 50℅.]

[Mental Stat already surpassed the threshold. Adjusting the effects of the skill.]

[Joker's Retreat (25/25): A sound and scent-based Genjutsu that discreetly hides the user's body under the guise of their surroundings under the senses of the target. The requirement of sound and scent shifts according to the location. Reduces Chakra Consumption by 2℅ at every level. Current Consumption: 80/sec.]

[Intermediate Track Detection (20/20): Utilizes one of the five senses enhanced with chakra to detect residual hints of the target. Reduces Chakra Consumption by 2.5℅ at every level. Current Consumption: 20/min.]

Of all skills, he was quite proud of his creation— Joker's Retreat, a C- rank Genjutsu.

While D and E-rank Genjutsus are mere illusions with almost no control over the opponent's flow of chakra, the C-rank Genjutsus targets specific senses of the opponent. The greater the number of senses targeted and used as the medium, the better and more discreet control over the opponent.

The major difference between C and higher rank genjutsu was the number of senses it targeted or the addition of shift in time perception of the opponent. During the war, Orochimaru may have not taught him anything concrete but the man trained him more religiously than the bored Jiraiya who would throw hands once or twice with him or the stern and almost overprotective Tsunade... relatively, mind you. The snake from the trio also hinted that any Genjutsu that targets three senses belongs to B-rank or higher and a rare few Genjutsu can shift how the opponent perceives time.

In theory, only a second may pass in real-life but the opponent would feel like they've been trapped for years. Although, the man admitted that even he longed for such techniques much less Kai.

Again, these three months had little progress on his raw stats and more on covering up the bases under intense pressure and living a life of constant exhaustion.

[Name: Kai

Age: 6

Title: Konoha Chunin

Gamer Traits: Skill Tree; Sleepless Gamer

Rank: Chunin

Hit Points: 100℅

Stamina: 100/100℅ (21.1/min)

Chakra: 31066 (7985→ 8876+250℅) || (682.5/min) (195+250%/min)

Physique: 209→ 212/1000

Mental: 241→ 247/1000

Perception: 114→ 136/1000

Water: 21/100℅

Wind: 4.4/100℅

Fire: 0/100℅

Earth: 20.6/100℅

Lightning: 0/100℅

Yin: 1.3/100℅

Yang: 0.8/100℅]

[Skill points: 844]

[Skills]

[Advance Track Detection (7/50): Utilizes chakra awareness in tandem to detect residual chakra signature and follow it. Increases perception of the host by 1 at every level. Increases the range of detection by 3 meters at every level. Reduces chakra consumption by 1℅ at every level. Current Range: 21 Meters. Current Consumption: 93/min

Next Level: Detect 45/4500 residual chakra signature using this technique or 14 SP.]

[Wind Nature Transformation (11/50): Convert chakra extended out of the body into the element of air. Increases the mastery of wind stat by 0.4℅ at every level. Reduces chakra wastage by 0.06℅ at every level.

Next Level: Convert 5639/27000 Chakra points or 14 SP.]

[Reduction of Chakra Wastage: 56.66℅]

Observing his growth in clear-cut numbers improved his mood somewhat and while the Grind for the Wind Nature Transformation was admirable... the advance tracking was more tedious than necessary as Kai contemplated if he should go ahead and utilize quite a bit of his saved-up stock of SP.

But right now, he had to give someone else his attention.

Standing in front of him were Kushina and Mikoto. As disgruntled as they were about this, Tsunade made it clear that he had made enough gains to tackle most chunins due to his deadly finesse sharpened by the grind. But he wasn't the only one without gains.

It would seem that the development of Sharingan forces the growth of the user, too... in more ways than one. Easily resisting yet another genjutsu attempt from her Sharingan as his own experience with it made it easy for him to tackle genjutsu based on a single sense, in this case, sight, Kai looked at the two girls.

It may not be the right time to make certain conclusions but he was aware of their charms. The kind of charm that would have gotten them into a few internal conflicts with the men as even within their own platoon, there were only two 'active' women with one of them being an Inuzuka. Of course, Orochimaru made sure that none went ahead and did something crazy but the other three kunoichi who were more decent in this matter had to make their strength clear when the shinobi felt truly at their wit's end.

One of the three was none other than Tsunade who finally sent Jiraiya away on the 'side missions' so that she won't have to beat him daily and then heal him back. Again, her sincere suggestion of castration to end the problem at its source was rejected by Orochi and much to Kai's anger... he was approached by one of the shinobi... the galls!

Oh, his wrist was quickly held before he could puncture the man's nutsack.

"Are you going to attack?" Mikoto remarked dryly as Kai huffed, "Like we aren't already deflecting genjutsus?"

Kushina and Mikoto looked a little dazed when seeing him smile in such a dense moment given all that had happened but now eager to make use of every opening from these novices, Kai was quick to flicker away while using [Chakra Paws] and before they realized it, his leg swiftly struck their butts the next instant.

"There, you died." He quipped with a smirk as Kushina still remained seated while Kai noted their other forms of growth, too.

'Kushina went ahead and has almost 110,000 chakra points... that's insane. And this isn't even including the unending depths she suppressed at this point. And Mikoto just got a fucking upgrade till 43000 points of chakra... ah, Kekkei Genkai. It's either you or my grind... fuck, I'll surpass every damn kekkei genkai but byakugans do look sweet... too bad they have that cursed seal mark...'

"What is it? Still not standing? Then again, being awed is the right reaction to witnessing my strength," Kai cackled and stretched his hand towards them, "Kushina-chan, Mikoto-chan... being sad won't do it. Grandma Mito had a full life, yeah?"

The girls dazedly reached out for the boy easily half their ages as he seemed much more... pleasing to the eyes. Yet, he was the seeker of grind and chaos. The moment they held his hands, Kai whipped their light bodies like rag dolls... after all, the weights he used before were easily heavier than the two combined.

---

"Subpar! And you wanted to join the war?! Where's that Uchiha pride, Mikoto? Kushina, how many times do I have to say you don't have to stop when you're shouting. Just these three months made both of you recover your bad habits and you!"

The woman looked at an even more bruised Nono before nodding, "Good. Your chakra reserve is smaller than both of them but you kept up with the right training. If I didn't snatch you up, you'd be in Anbu, no doubt!"

Nono smiled and accepted the compliment as a series of mocking 'tsk tsk' echoed.

"Sensei, you're going too easy on them." Kai beamed, "If it were me—" fully enjoying the trio's glare, Kai was about to continue when Tsunade raised her brow, "Oh? Are you the Sensei or I am?"

Kai blinked and then chuckled, "Well, of course—"

"That's a rhetorical, boy. Sit down!"

"Tch... jealousy everywhere..."

"Did you say something?"

"Nope!"

---

Tsunade smiled softly. The day had been too eventful... but it was a sight indeed to see a boy of such tender age take charge. If she had been a little on the fence regarding Kai's apparent apathy then going into war alongside him and today's circumstances shifted her opinion of the boy greatly. As he said, he was trustworthy not only in skills but in other situations, too.

'Hmm... I do hope he gets promoted to Jonin only after 13 years of age...'

After all, she had a lot riding on this bet. Well, it was money, but still!

There were not many sources of entertainment and whatever Jiraiya suggested was shot down so a bet it was and Kai, to the trio, happened to be a source of great interest. After all, the three of them saw themselves to some extent within the boy.

Tsunade related with his ability to brighten the room and recalled how her presence would alight everyone's mood not only then but even now.

Orochimaru was in great adoration of the boy's work ethic and reminisced how he would study snakes all day long.

Jiraiya related to his potential and taste in culture. Oh, and also his sheer talent. After all, Jiraiya himself felt he was the most talented amongst Orochi and Tsunade.

"Onee-san..." Nawaki pouted and called out again as Tsunade blinked and smiled, "Ah, sorry, I was thinking of something else.'

It was clear to Tsunade that Nawaki and Mito had a rocky relationship at best so knew not to bring her up in front of the boy as he munched on his dinner while groaning, "But you never told me what you're getting me for my birthday by the end of this year."

"It's a surprise," Tsunade smirked.

"Hah! That's so unfair!" The boy grumbled as the woman shook her head with a doting smirk. Nawaki was the only one left in her family. Others could argue that she and Kushina were distant cousins but to Tsunade, Nawaki was the closest bond she had.

"I'll make it worth your while, now don't you have some training routine yet to complete?" Tsunade inquired as Nawaki nodded eagerly, "Yeah, Sensei just whipped the entire team into shape this afternoon. Still, I was the last one standing. Once I defeat Sensei, I'll come after you and Jiraiya-san and then become the Hokage!" He gave a cheeky smirk as Tsunade only wondered what kind of sapless life Nawaki would lead if he actually became the Hokage. She knew better of Hokage's responsibilities but didn't think of dousing his motivation and leaned forward, pecking his forehead, "Well, you better work harder than my team then or you're gonna watch one of them become Hokage."

"No way!" Nawaki stood up and shot out of the room and into their courtyard to train as Tsunade shook her head.

'Oh, well, as long as he's motivated. I think even Orochimaru wouldn't want to have a friendly spar with Team Tsunade.' Her lips quirked up before she frowned again at the thought of the mission tomorrow...

***

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