Five C-Rank Techniques… Looks like that's my maximum, I thought, sinking heavily onto a rock.
I quickly scanned my body, assessing the remaining chakra.
About ten percent left. I could feel it almost instinctively — a slight dizziness, a warm heaviness in my body, as if all my internal reserves were starting to fade.
That wouldn't be enough for a full technique. Even a basic "Great Surge" in a shortened form — there wouldn't be enough power or control to safely and accurately direct it.
I slowly dropped to one knee, the kunai still in my hand.
Mechanically, I ran my finger along the blade, feeling a faint residual pulse of chakra trembling along it again. But the technique I was trying to test — using the "Great Surge" right after a throwing attack — wasn't ready for combat yet. Too many variables.
The problem was the throw.
To throw precisely, release chakra at the right moment, guide the wave strictly along the weapon's trajectory without disturbing balance — that synchronization was too complicated. The slightest mistake, and the chakra would either miss or knock the weapon off course.
"Damn," I exhaled, dropping the kunai to the ground.
Even if the technique had potential, it couldn't be used while unstable. In battle, that would be a weakness, not an advantage. And right now, I couldn't afford mistakes.
I leaned back against a tree, looking at the cooling sky.
Well, that meant I had to find another way.
Without access to new techniques, without training from a mentor, my options for strengthening were limited. The standard paths were closed to me for now. The only option was to go deeper into what I already knew.
"So… coating weapons with chakra."
I pulled out the kunai, spinning it in my hands. The steel shimmered in the last light of the day.
Apparently, this should use far less chakra. After all, I was concentrating energy into one object instead of wasting it creating external effects. If I managed to stabilize the chakra in the metal and infuse it with wind element, even an ordinary kunai could become many times deadlier.
Especially if I achieved a stable resonance — such a strike wouldn't just cut, it would tear everything it touched apart.
In the anime, Asuma could create chakra blades at the ends of his weapons. Naruto infused his Rasengan with an element, creating destructive power — the Rasenshuriken. I was far from that. Very far.
I dropped to my knees and placed the kunai on my outstretched palm. I slowly began to channel chakra — at first evenly, without any element. The first step was to keep the flow stable inside the metal.
It didn't obey.
Once, twice, ten times — the chakra slipped away, faltered, the metal twitched and cooled. It felt like trying to catch smoke with bare hands.
Again.
Again.
On the twenty-second attempt, the kunai trembled slightly in my hand. The metal seemed to hum — barely audible. I carefully layered wind chakra. I tried not to force it — just to embed vibrations inside the blade. In theory, this should increase the cutting power.
A sharp jab in my temple. Sweat streamed down my forehead.
I ran the kunai along a thin wooden stick — it split. Unevenly, but easier than before. So… something worked.
But immediately the chakra flow cut off — I started coughing. Darkness flickered before my eyes for a moment, and I had to support myself with my fists on the ground not to fall sideways.
Weakness came first — sudden, as if someone had flipped a switch inside me. My legs gave out, and I collapsed to my knees. The ground was sticky and hot, but I barely felt it — like through a thick layer of cotton. My heart pounded in my chest, but my body wouldn't respond. My fingers trembled with convulsive shakes, my vision blurred and flickered. Everything around became dull, like through a foggy glass.
I gulped air greedily, but it didn't fill me. My chest burned, and a sharp pain stabbed my stomach — an emptiness, hunger so severe it twisted my insides painfully. It felt like I could eat anything right now. Even the gravel beneath my feet.
My body temperature jumped: first a fever, my forehead slick with sweat, then suddenly a cold chill ran down my spine, like cold water poured on bare skin. I was shaking. True cold, to the point of aching teeth.
And at some point, fear overwhelmed me. I felt that if I kept going, I would simply die.
But… something changed.
At first, it was a barely noticeable tremor inside. Like a thin current running down my spine. At first, I didn't believe it — thought it was my imagination. But no. It happened again. One more time. Like a tiny stubborn flame igniting deep inside my belly. Warmth. Chakra. Mine.
It was coming back. Slowly, painfully, like oil through the eye of a needle. My body seemed to respond: my breathing steadied, my vision cleared, the tremors eased. The cold didn't disappear, but receded a step. I still felt drained to the bone, but no longer on the edge.
Lying in dust, covered in dirt and sweat, for the first time in minutes I didn't think I'd die right here.
Chakra returned. Just a little. But it was enough to stay myself. Enough not to fall completely into darkness.
With relief came another thought, sharp and clear, as if my mind, finally rested from fear, allowed itself to remember something that might help me.
It had been two months since I got that drug from Orochimaru. All that time, it lay hidden in my bag, in a sealed capsule, wrapped in multiple layers of insulation — like a poison I didn't dare swallow myself.
I hadn't dared try it once.
And honestly, I was scared. Not just anxious — truly scared. That fear wasn't irrational. I knew who the drug came from. Orochimaru — a genius, no doubt, but a genius without morals, without brakes, without human concern for others. He could give you power or turn you into a monster with equal interest — depending on what seemed more curious to him.
But, whatever it was, curiosity and the will to survive won out.
I couldn't just throw it away. It was a chance. A potential breakthrough — even if the cost was unknown.
All this time I hadn't been idle. I took apart several capsules. Opened them, extracted the substance, analyzed it. Not that I was a chemist — but basic knowledge from one book I found in the archives gave me some understanding.
Surprisingly, the formula wasn't poisonous or unstable. The base was herbal, a chakra enhancer, with some synthetic stimulants, and a few herbs that stimulated cell regeneration.
It resembled a concentrate of military pills, but much more balanced and… deeply integrated at the chakra network level.
I even asked my sensei — carefully, without naming the source. Just mentioned I found something like an experimental pill, wanted to make sure it wasn't poison. He examined the sample, frowned, but said the "composition reminded him of old-school work," adding that their clan had something similar but more stable.
But even the confirmation from sensei didn't make me swallow the capsule right away. The fear remained. Rationally, I understood it was all checked — I analyzed the composition, had it tested by a more experienced shinobi whose family made pills, and even got approval.
But I kept postponing it. Day after day. With different excuses: not the right moment, not the right setting.
But today — today I felt it was time.
I took out the package from under a hidden panel, unwrapped it. A small capsule lay on a cloth lining. My body tensed on its own, like before jumping into cold water.
"Well…" I exhaled. "Let's try."
I held it between my fingers. Light. Almost weightless.
But felt like a lead weight.
Try the whole thing at once? No. Too risky. No matter what sensei said. I didn't know how my body would react. Even if the pill was safe, the dose could be too high. And I'm no fool to test it blindly on myself.
I carefully took out a tool — a sharp needle I used for fuinjutsu. I held the capsule up to the light, found a faint seam, and began carefully opening the shell. The movements were precise, slow. Like I was cutting an explosive seal.
When the shell gave way, I poured the contents onto a piece of paper. The powder had a strange smell — not unpleasant, but… concentrated. Almost like a strong stimulant or energy drink.
I separated one tenth. As accurately as I could, by eye and intuition.
"That'll do," I muttered. "If something goes wrong — the chakra will go wild, but at least it won't kill me."
I mixed the powder with water, stirred, and took a sip. The liquid burned my throat. The taste… bitter, metallic. Almost like blood.
I closed my eyes and froze. My heart started pounding faster. A second passed. Another. Less than a minute went by — and I already began to feel changes.
Something warm spread in my lower belly. A flow — gentle, not sudden, like a second layer of chakra slowly turning on.
My body didn't resist. It didn't pulse or spasm. On the contrary — it began to work… steadier? Easier?
My muscles relaxed but didn't lose tone. My mind cleared. The pressure in my head caused by fatigue started to fade.
"It works," I whispered almost in disbelief. "It really works…"
But it was too early to celebrate. I felt the surge, yes. But that was only a tenth of the dose.
Now I just had to watch the body's reaction.