"Rin, come here!" Kechi called out.
Rin, who'd been standing guard to the side, immediately turned and hurried to Kechi's side.
"Drink this. Whether you can survive it or not depends on you!" Kechi extended the potion toward him.
Rin accepted the potion from Kechi's hands without hesitation and downed it in one gulp.
Soon, he felt an indescribable agony begin raging wildly through his body.
Every cell felt like it was being stabbed by countless sharp needles, or as if violent flames were burning within them.
The intense pain made his body gradually curl into a ball, as though resisting a terrible storm.
Then strange hallucinations began appearing before his eyes.
Countless twisted figures danced in the darkness.
They wove and shuttled through the void like a terrifying nightmare endlessly playing out.
At the same time, murmuring whispers faintly rang in his ears.
That voice seemed to come from distant emptiness, continuously assaulting Rin's mind.
As time passed, this pain gradually reached its peak.
Rin felt like his body was being torn into countless fragments, his consciousness on the verge of collapse under the onslaught of agony.
As if trapped in an endless dark vortex with no way out.
Kechi watched Rin struggle in pain with cold indifference, her eyes showing not the slightest ripple.
Like a detached observer waiting for results.
Rin's body seemed swept up by endless waves of suffering.
Every cell screamed, every nerve burned.
Those countless twisted figures danced ever more frantically in the darkness. The murmuring whispers crashed against his mind like a curse, trying to drag him into an abyss of despair.
Time passed second by second. This terrifying storm gradually subsided.
His previously trembling body slowly calmed down.
Looks like it worked!
Sensing the spirituality within him, Kechi's lips curved upward in a satisfied smile.
Since the potion system was compatible with the chakra system, the room for manipulation was huge.
Witches specialized in dark magic to begin with.
It might not be impossible to combine it with chakra-based ninjutsu.
Though Rin's body no longer trembled, his face still showed the exhaustion following such pain.
"Kechi-sama, I succeeded!" His tone carried great excitement.
He genuinely felt like he'd undergone a transformation.
His physical abilities had improved. He now possessed eagle-like vision and dark vision. His stealth, ambush capabilities, and weapon skills had all greatly enhanced.
The current him was at least one tier stronger than before.
When facing Takigu again, he definitely wouldn't be as pathetic as earlier.
"This power..." Rin clenched and unclenched his fists, feeling the energy coursing through his body. "It's incredible. I can see everything so clearly now, even in the shadows."
Kechi nodded slightly, a flash of anticipation in her eyes.
"Good. The potion worked better than expected. Now let's see how well you can use it."
"Let's go. Back to the training grounds."
Rin nodded vigorously, his eyes full of excitement as he followed closely behind Kechi. His steps felt lighter, more controlled. Every movement was precise in a way it hadn't been before.
They quickly returned to the training grounds.
The grounds remained lively, with ninja conducting their various training exercises.
Kechi's appearance drew everyone's attention. They all stopped what they were doing.
Murmurs rippled through the group.
"That was fast. What could they have possibly done in half an hour?"
"Look at Rin's eyes. Something's different about him."
"He looks... sharper somehow."
The Yugakure leader straightened from his relaxed position against the fence, curiosity clearly piqued.
"Kechi-sama, you and Rin fight again!" Kechi smiled.
Takigu froze slightly, his gaze turning toward the Yugakure leader as if silently seeking permission.
The leader immediately showed an interested expression.
From the time they left until their return, not even half an hour had passed.
Could such a short time really transform Rin, who'd been defeated in just a few moves?
This defied common sense!
"Let's give it a try then!"
Takigu nodded slightly and once again stood facing Rin.
They formed the Seal of Confrontation.
Takigu, just like last time, launched the first attack, a punch straight toward his opponent's face.
However, this time Rin's reaction was extremely swift.
I can see it! Rin's eyes tracked every movement. The wind currents, his muscle contractions, everything!
He easily dodged Takigu's attack and instantly counterattacked.
"What?!" Takigu's eyes widened in shock. He dodged that? But last time—
Bang!
A smoke bomb dropped. White smoke gradually spread across the entire training ground.
Everything turned hazy white, making people barely able to see outlines.
"A smoke bomb? That's basic genin tactics," one ninja muttered.
"Wait, where did he go?" another asked, squinting into the haze.
Rin utilized his newly acquired stealth and ambush abilities, instantly disappearing from Takigu's line of sight.
"What the...Where'd he disappear to?" someone gasped.
Takigu's heart jumped. He quickly looked around, chakra flaring as he heightened his senses.
Where is he? I can't sense his chakra signature clearly in this smoke!
However, just as he felt confused—
Whoosh!
Rin suddenly appeared behind him, the kunai in his hand stabbing toward him like lightning.
"Behind me?!" Takigu's eyes went wide.
Feeling a prickling sensation behind his ear, Takigu reacted quickly, dodging to the side and avoiding the strike.
Too close! How did he get there without me noticing?!
But Rin's attack didn't stop. He continuously used his speed and ambush ability to launch fierce attacks on Takigu.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
"Tch!" Takigu gritted his teeth, parrying desperately. This isn't the same person I fought before!
He wielded his kunai skillfully, every attack precise and lethal, like an assassin hidden in shadows.
Though Takigu was powerful, under Rin's cunning attacks, he gradually fell into a passive position.
As the match progressed, Rin's advantage became increasingly obvious.
The watching ninja exchanged shocked glances. This wasn't just improvement, this was a complete transformation.
Meanwhile, Takigu grew somewhat irritated.
Twenty minutes ago, this guy had been his defeated opponent.
Yet in such a short time, he could push him to this extent.
How would the leader view him after this performance?
Enough of this! I'll end it with one big attack!
"Katon: Karyuu Endan!"
The surrounding air seemed instantly heated. The training ground's temperature rose sharply.
A fierce fire serpent erupted from Takigu's mouth, bringing waves of scorching air currents.
"Burn, you bastard!"
Rin remained calm, his hands equally swift in forming seals.
Fire jutsu, huh? I can counter that.
"Suiton: Suijinheki!"
A transparent water curtain instantly rose, blocking the fire serpent's attack.
The fire serpent crashed into the water curtain with a sizzling sound as steam spread outward.
"What?! He blocked it that easily?!" Takigu's frustration mounted.
Taking advantage of the water curtain blocking the fire serpent, Rin disappeared into the smoke again.
Now's my chance!
The next moment, he appeared at Takigu's side, kunai in hand stabbing toward vital points.
"Not again!" Takigu hastily dodged sideways, trying to create distance.
But Rin stayed tight on him, not giving him a chance to form seals again.
He's like a shadow! I can't shake him off!
Takigu's heart grew increasingly anxious. He knew that continuing this way meant certain defeat.
Damn it! This is embarrassing! I need to end this now!
Gritting his teeth fiercely, he decided to go all in.
While rapidly moving to dodge Rin's attacks, he secretly accumulated chakra.
Just need one opening... one clean shot...
On the training grounds, smoke still spread. Sunlight filtering through the haze formed hazy pillars of light.
The ninja watched this fierce battle tensely, not daring to breathe too loudly.
The Yugakure leader narrowed his eyes slightly, seemingly pondering something internally.
Suddenly, Takigu stopped and shouted.
Now!
"Katon: Housenka no Jutsu!"
A massive fireball shot from his mouth toward Rin.
Wherever the fireball passed, the air twisted from the heat, making whooshing sounds.
Rin's eyes gleamed in the smoke. Too obvious.
"Suiton: Teppoudama!"
Boom!
Water and fire collided, producing a massive roar. Steam instantly filled the entire training ground.
Under the steam's cover, Rin disappeared once more.
Perfect! He can't see anything now.
Takigu looked around nervously, fine beads of sweat forming on his forehead.
Where... where is he?! Come on, show yourself!
Suddenly, he felt a chill at his back.
Shit!
Instinctively wanting to turn and dodge, he was already too late.
Rin appeared behind him, kunai in hand stabbing viciously toward his heart.
"Got you," Rin whispered coldly.
"No—!" Takigu's eyes widened in horror.
At the same time, the Yugakure leader's slightly authoritative voice rang out.
"Enough! That's it, Takigu loses!"
Silence fell over the training ground.
Then all at once, shocked murmurs erupted.
"Takigu... lost?"
"In less than half an hour, that wandering ninja completely turned the tables!"
"What kind of training method is that?"
The Yugakure leader stared at Kechi with newfound intensity, his earlier casual demeanor completely gone. His mind raced with possibilities.
Half an hour. She turned a defeated chunin into someone who could dominate one of my best warriors. If she can do this with all twenty...
Takigu stood frozen, kunai still raised defensively, breathing hard. The humiliation of defeat burned in his chest, but more than that, confusion. How had his opponent become a completely different person?
---
Do you think this is interesting? I'm still checking the waves...