Chapter Seventeen: Martial Arts, The Art of Partial Multiplication

“Nami, my ship still needs a navigator. Would you like to come with me?” Shu Mingyuan turned to Nami and asked.

Nami was taken aback for a moment, then quickly recalled her own circumstances. She shook her head and replied, “You’re all good people, but you’re pirates, and I could never become a pirate myself. Once I’ve saved enough money, I just want to live an ordinary life. Maybe someday I’ll sail around the world, but not as a pirate.”

Shu Mingyuan smiled faintly; he had anticipated this answer and did not press her further. After bidding farewell to the others, he leapt onto the back of the Sea King and departed.

The vast ocean stretched endlessly in all directions. Shu Mingyuan memorized the sea chart, glanced at the magnetic compass Nami had given him at their parting, and directed the Sea King toward the nearest island.

The East Blue was unlike the unpredictable seas of the Grand Line; the weather along the way was fair. There was one gentle, drizzling rain, but Shu Mingyuan’s robust physique could easily ignore such minor inconveniences. When he was hungry, he had the Sea King catch some large fish, which he cooked over a fire made from chakra flames.

Most days, Shu Mingyuan focused on studying his ninjutsu, for in this world, the system brought from the world of Naruto was his greatest advantage. Ever since he had acquired the Great Fireball Technique and mastered Fire Release, he had wondered if he could recreate other familiar jutsu on his own.

Lacking the corresponding hand seals, he experimented for two days before finally managing to imitate the Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, another C-rank fire jutsu, modeled after the Great Fireball.

As soon as he cast it successfully, the system prompt sounded in his mind.

“Congratulations to the host for independently comprehending the C-rank Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique. You are awarded all 475 justice points required for redemption. As this is the first time the host has independently comprehended a technique, you are granted an additional 475 justice points.”

When he heard this system prompt, he nearly jumped for joy—it turned out that independently comprehending a technique would also earn him justice points as a reward.

He also realized that, as long as it was his first time achieving something within the system’s scope, it would grant him double rewards.

Having tasted this benefit, Shu Mingyuan began unleashing all his ninjutsu at the sea in a wild barrage.

He exhausted his chakra countless times in the process, but after another ten days, he finally developed a new form of Chidori—Chidori Current!

Chidori Current, also an A-rank technique, was an advanced version of Chidori. Chidori focused chakra in the palm, releasing a surge of lightning with enough force to cut through thunder itself, earning it the nickname “Lightning Cutter.” Chidori Current, by contrast, spread the lightning across the entire body, creating a one-meter radius of electricity—a lightning defense distinct from Gaara’s sand defense. While it lost Chidori’s piercing power, it gained the ability to paralyze.

Anyone who touched his Chidori Current, unless they were exceptionally robust, would likely be incapacitated in an instant.

Even the massive Sea King beneath his feet let out a pained cry and sank into the sea the moment it touched the Chidori Current, only resurfacing after five minutes, once the intense paralysis had passed.

This alone proved the terrifying power of the A-rank ninjutsu, Chidori Current. If such an effect could subdue a giant sea beast, what would it do to a human?

When the Sea King finally surfaced, it gazed at Shu Mingyuan with growing fear—this human’s abilities were becoming increasingly monstrous.

Awkwardly treading water, Shu Mingyuan smiled and said, “I didn’t control my strength well—purely an accident.”

Having now obtained one of Sasuke’s signature moves, Shu Mingyuan was increasingly satisfied, for Chidori Current was even more powerful than he had imagined.

However, when he attempted to develop another lightning shield technique, Chidori Sharp Spear, he found that no matter how hard he tried, he could not succeed.

After much contemplation, he concluded that his chakra control was simply not yet sufficient.

Over the course of almost twenty days of research and development, his personal attributes had changed dramatically.

Character: Monkey D. Shu Mingyuan
Rank: Junior Ninja
Chakra: (18,420/50,000)
Justice Points: 16,217
Acquired Jutsu: Lightning Release: Chidori, Lightning Release: Chidori Current, Clone Technique, Fire Release: Great Fireball, Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire
Ninjutsu Value: 428
Taijutsu Value: 54

Apart from his basic taijutsu, which remained unchanged, his ninjutsu prowess had increased manifold; his chakra reserves alone now allowed him to use techniques at will.

With 16,217 justice points, he could already exchange for A-rank ninjutsu. The extra 10,000 points or so must have been the reward for independently mastering the A-rank Chidori Current.

“It seems that self-comprehension is a much faster way to grow stronger than hunting pirates,” Shu Mingyuan mused as he sat atop the Sea King. Still, one could only comprehend techniques closely related to those already mastered.

“Let’s see what ninjutsu I can exchange for with over 10,000 justice points,” he thought, opening the system menu and jumping straight to the A-rank jutsu section. Now, several techniques were available, but when he saw the prices, he couldn’t help but curse.

“Damn it, system, are you trying to rob a bank?”

He had thought 10,000 points was a fortune, but it turned out that was only enough for a Rasengan, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, or Summoning Technique. As for unique bloodline abilities like Byakugan or Sharingan, each required 40,000 or 50,000 justice points!

After some thought, he realized he already had Chidori, and Rasengan’s power was similar, so he passed on that. His ninjutsu was sufficient for now; taijutsu remained his only weakness. Many jutsu required hand signs—even legendary figures like Madara Uchiha needed them. If someone got close, he’d have no time to form seals.

Between the Multi Shadow Clone Technique and taijutsu, Shu Mingyuan eventually chose the latter, focusing on physical skills.

For taijutsu, 10,000 points would let him exchange for certain Akimichi clan expansion techniques, Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms, or the First Gate of the Eight Gates Technique.

Although the Eight Gates Formation was powerful, it inflicted great harm on the body—one misstep could leave his meridians destroyed. He resolved not to learn it before mastering Armament Haki.

The Eight Trigrams Sixty-Four Palms was a formidable technique, combining offense and defense, each strike targeting vital points. However, it required the Byakugan to unleash its full potential.

The Partial Expansion Technique was similar to Luffy’s Gear Third, sacrificing speed for overwhelming strength and defense—a virtual cheat code in the East Blue.

After weighing the options, his mind was made up. He exchanged for the Partial Expansion Technique, and then learned the C-rank taijutsu moves Lion Barrage and Leaf Dance.

In an instant, Shu Mingyuan felt his physique multiply in power, an explosive strength surging through his body.

This was different from ninjutsu; now, through sheer physical force, he felt he could easily crush someone like Axe-Hand Morgan, the base captain.