[A/N: Shoutout to Piet—thank you for the support!]
Chapter 22: The Path to Power
Kiyoshi watched as the golden roulette wheel spun, each section gleaming with possibility. His heart pounded in anticipation, his fingers unconsciously tightening into fists. Then, with a final click, the wheel came to a stop.
A radiant glow pulsed from the center, and words materialized before his eyes.
[Congratulations! You have obtained: Rasengan (螺旋丸) – Epic Tier!]
Kiyoshi's breath hitched. Rasengan?!
Before he could fully register his excitement, a sudden jolt surged through his body. His vision blurred for a split second, and then—
A torrent of information flooded his mind.
It wasn't just knowledge; it was experience.
The principles of chakra rotation and compression imprinted themselves in his thoughts as if he had spent years studying them. He could feel the precise micro-adjustments needed to mold chakra into a stable sphere. His body trembled slightly, not from pain, but from the sheer intensity of the process.
The three-stage training method flashed through his mind:
1. Chakra Rotation – Controlling raw chakra and making it swirl in all directions.
2. Chakra Forming – Compressing and containing the chaotic energy into a concentrated sphere.
3. Chakra Stability – Maintaining the Rasengan's shape without external support.
It was as if a door had been thrown open in his consciousness, revealing pathways he had never known existed. His fingers twitched involuntarily, his muscle memory already adapting to what his mind had absorbed.
Then, as quickly as it had begun, the sensation faded.
Kiyoshi staggered slightly, inhaling deeply as the last echoes of the system's transfer settled within him. He lifted his hand, staring at his palm as if expecting something to appear.
He knew how to perform the Rasengan.
Not in the sense that he could immediately execute it perfectly, but the blueprint was there, etched into his mind like an unshakable instinct. The years of training that normally accompanied the technique had been compressed into pure understanding.
A grin tugged at his lips.
"This… is insane."
He exhaled, testing his chakra flow. The familiar warmth pooled in his palm, and he could feel the energy wanting to take shape. The system hadn't granted him instant mastery, but it had given him something just as valuable—a perfect roadmap to get there.
With this, he wasn't just fumbling in the dark, hoping to grasp a technique beyond his level. He had a shortcut—a clear, structured path to unlocking one of the most powerful A-rank jutsu in history.
He clenched his fist, determination flaring in his eyes.
"Let's see how far I can take this."
Kiyoshi exhaled slowly, letting his heartbeat settle. The rush of receiving an Epic-tier technique was exhilarating, but exhaustion was creeping up on him. His body was still worn from the mission, and while the system's knowledge transfer had been smooth, it hadn't erased his fatigue.
He glanced at his palm, flexing his fingers. He could almost feel the Rasengan taking form—but forcing himself to train now, half-asleep and mentally drained, would be pointless.
"Tomorrow," he muttered to himself. "I'll try it tomorrow."
With that, he pushed himself off the counter and made his way to his bedroom. The silence of his home felt different now—not empty, but full of potential. For the first time in a while, he felt like he had taken a real step forward.
Collapsing onto his bed, he let out a deep sigh.
His last thoughts before sleep took him were filled with swirling chakra and the realization that, for the first time since arriving in this world—
He was truly starting to change its course.
---
The first thing Kiyoshi noticed when he woke up was how well-rested he felt.
There were no lingering aches from yesterday's mission, no stiffness in his joints—just a lightness in his body that almost made him forget the exhaustion from before.
Then, the memories of last night resurfaced.
His eyes snapped open.
He had gotten the Rasengan.
Sitting up, he ran a hand through his hair, shaking off the remnants of sleep. The system's ingrained knowledge was there, resting in his mind like an unspoken truth. He didn't have to recall training steps or figure out where to start—the requirements for learning were already embedded within him. All that was left was execution.
Kiyoshi swung his legs over the bed, stretching his arms before standing. The house was quiet, bathed in the soft glow of morning sunlight filtering through the windows. It was the perfect time to practice.
Moving to the center of the room, he took a deep breath. His hands came together, fingers forming the natural stance for chakra manipulation.
The Rasengan wasn't about hand seals or elemental affinity—it was pure chakra control. A spinning sphere of compressed energy, meant to deal immense damage on impact.
Alright. First attempt.
He extended his palm outward and began channeling his chakra. The energy gathered swiftly, but keeping it stable was another issue entirely. The moment he tried to rotate it—
Fwoosh—
It dispersed, vanishing into harmless strands of energy.
Kiyoshi blinked. That was fast.
His chakra control wasn't bad, but the Rasengan required unparalleled refinement. He clenched his fist, taking another deep breath.
Again.
This time, he focused on building the rotation gradually. Not forcing it, not rushing—just letting it form naturally. The chakra gathered in his palm once more, swirling in small, unstable movements.
Fwoosh—
Gone again.
Kiyoshi sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "This is gonna take a while, huh?"
Despite the failures, he didn't feel frustrated—just determined. He could feel that he was close. His body knew what to do; it was just about getting there.
And if nothing else—
He had all the time he needed.