Chapter Thirty-Five: Leveling Up

The wind stirred the fallen leaves, and all around was silent as the grave. The villagers stared wide-eyed, dumbfounded, at Yu Higashino. They had entertained the faint hope that Yu might win, but never had they imagined he would triumph like this. It had all happened too quickly; before they could even register what was happening, the fight was already over.

They were well aware of Kohei Matsutsuki’s strength—he could defeat those mountain bandits with his bare hands, leaving them no chance to fight back. Yet this “esteemed ninja” had been dispatched by Yu Higashino in an instant.

Hadn’t he just been boasting that Yu was no match for him?

“Master Higashino, is it really over?” the village chief asked uncertainly.

“Yes.” Yu nodded, then added, “I’m just a little stronger than he expected.”

Such an overwhelming disparity was merely “a little stronger”? The villagers, who were just beginning to process what had happened, found themselves stunned once more by Yu’s words.

Seeing their silence, Yu spoke again, “In any case, I killed him. The commission is complete. You’re safe now.”

“Th-thank you, Master Higashino, for saving us,” the chief blurted automatically.

The others, still reeling, struggled to catch up with the whirlwind of events: one moment they were driving someone away, the next they faced mortal danger, and then, just as suddenly, the crisis was over. The abrupt swings left them feeling as if none of it were real.

“Is this all just a dream? Things like this don’t happen in real life. Yes, I must be dreaming,” someone couldn’t help but think.

But whatever their reactions, Yu Higashino no longer cared. Just as the chief had thanked him, a new skill appeared on his panel.

[Beast Taming lv1: 0/100]

Why had he gained the [Beast Taming] skill? Yu wondered, but after sensing the chief’s house with his mental energy, he understood—there were pigs being raised there.

As for the [Beast Taming] skill, Yu had always liked animals, though he’d never kept a pet himself, finding it troublesome. Now, with this skill, perhaps he’d reconsider.

Suddenly, inspiration struck. Perhaps the protagonist in his novel should have an animal companion—or, more accurately for the Shinobi World, a summoning beast.

As for the specific animal, he hadn’t decided yet. Maybe when he eventually kept one, he’d write it into the story.

After checking his skills, Yu glanced at the two figures lying on the ground.

The villager, he sensed, was not yet dead—just hanging onto life. Yu casually tossed over two “healing” spells; while it didn’t restore him fully, a few weeks of rest should see him recover.

As for Kohei Matsutsuki—truth be told, taking a life for the first time left Yu with little feeling. Perhaps he still hadn’t fully integrated into this world.

Turning to the chief, Yu said, “Please settle the commission fee.”

“Oh, yes, of course!” The chief hurried to comply. “Please wait a moment, Master Higashino.”

Then came the money-collecting: dozens of villagers each contributed a share, pooling together ten thousand ryo for Yu. After what had happened with Kohei Matsutsuki, none dared to be slack.

After counting the money, Yu glanced again at Matsutsuki’s corpse, as if remembering something.

“He’s a rogue ninja. His corpse should fetch a reward at the underground exchange. You—”

Before Yu could finish, the chief interrupted, “Master Higashino, handle it however you see fit. We have no objections.”

“Then I’ll take it.” Yu planned to visit the exchange anyway; collecting a bounty along the way seemed only sensible.

With that, Yu used his [Transformation] skill before everyone’s eyes, turning Matsutsuki’s body into a stone.

The villagers stared in amazement, but simply chalked it up to the mysterious arts of a ninja, thinking nothing more of it.

With everything resolved, Yu was ready to leave.

But before he could go, a voice called out to him.

“Master Higashino—won’t you stay for a meal before leaving?”

It was the young woman who’d brought him breakfast that morning, summoning her courage to make the offer.

Yu glanced at the sky. The sunlight was warm, bathing the girl in a beauty that was quietly moving.

“No, it’s best if I leave now.”

And with that, Yu truly departed.

Where to next? Westward, he decided. A wandering ninja, after all, was always meant to wander.

…

After walking for most of the day, Yu still hadn’t reached another settlement. But he wasn’t in much of a hurry, ambling along at a leisurely pace.

As he walked, he swung a slender twig in his hand again and again. He was grinding proficiency for his [Swordsmanship] skill.

Today’s battle had made him realize that the world outside Konoha was far less safe. Swordsmanship at level four, combined with his other skills, ensured he wouldn’t lose—but not that he could always vanquish his foes in an instant. So, he resolved to hone his [Swordsmanship] further.

To reach level five from level four required one hundred thousand proficiency points. With each swing of the twig granting a point, and at a rate of seven or eight swings per second, it would take him only about three and a half hours to reach level five.

Of course, Yu couldn’t keep up that pace—he’d grow bored, and his arm would tire. So he extended the time a bit. As long as he reached level five by the end of the day, it was enough.

After half a day, he’d already accumulated over fifty thousand points.

Yet, when his proficiency ticked past sixty thousand, Yu paused. From the mountaintop, he saw the outline of a town in the valley below.

It was a sizeable town, with many buildings. Yu reached out with his mind, and made a surprising discovery—there was activity underground.

With a bit more focus, he realized it was the very underground exchange he’d been seeking.

The entrance, however, wasn’t in a restroom as in the original story, but in the sewers.

“Skills really are useful,” Yu muttered, and began descending the mountain toward the town, still swinging his twig as he went.

From a distance the town seemed close, but the closer he walked, the farther it felt. It was nearly dusk by the time Yu reached the town.

His [Swordsmanship] had yet to reach level five, still over ten thousand points short. So Yu decided to postpone his visit to the exchange until the next day, and instead find a place to finish his training.

Towns like this always had inns. Yu paid for a room and continued practicing inside.

By a little past nine that night, his [Swordsmanship] finally reached level five—Kage among Kage, a level equal to Hashirama Senju himself.

According to the story’s timeline, for the next few years, he should be an invincible existence.

With his goal achieved, Yu was content to rest. He lay back on his bed and drifted into a deep sleep, unwilling to exert himself a moment more.