Naruto: I have Ten Skill Bars - Chapter 9: Powerful Active Skills!

Back home!

Shigure was breathing heavily.

He had just sprinted all the way back from the training ground, not slowing down once.

His speed had clearly improved. If he kept progressing like this, he’d definitely score higher in the Academy’s upcoming comprehensive assessment.

Just from this morning alone—after adding Taijutsu to the skill bar—his physical capabilities had advanced noticeably.

His fitness was steadily improving. Bit by bit, every few seconds, something changed.

Dripping water can wear through stone.

Shigure could clearly feel the difference in his body now.

There was no need to explain how miraculous the passive skill bar was. The effects spoke for themselves.

But right now, what had his attention wasn’t the passive skills… it was the active ones.

It was almost noon. After that intense sprint, Shigure’s stomach was starting to growl.

He raided the fridge and threw together a quick lunch.

For someone who had lived alone since the age of three or four, cooking wasn’t a problem. Especially for someone like him—a time traveler.

After wolfing down lunch and cleaning up, Shigure sat cross-legged in the living room.

He closed his eyes and pulled up the system interface.

As usual, the passive skill bar appeared first, but this time he skipped right past it.

His eyes locked on the active skill bar.

There were three skills listed, but Shigure ignored the first two for now.

His attention was entirely focused on the last one:

[Active Skill: Great Sage※]

This skill was insane! A total cheat!

Just now, it had helped him grasp swordsmanship at an astonishing speed. That alone was enough to make Shigure thrilled.

But now, he wanted to see if it had other capabilities.

The problem was… how exactly was he supposed to test it?

He sat there stumped.

Calm down. Relax. Don’t get too hyped. First, figure out how to test all the functions of this skill.

[Active Skill: Great Sage※]

[Dialogue function available]

“…Huh?”

It can talk?

Wait—this is still just a skill, right?

This feels more like some kind of built-in artificial intelligence!

But then again… the way it activated on its own during the sword training session earlier did feel a lot like AI.

“Accept!”

[Great Sage※: This skill is currently in a damaged state. System is working to repair it. At present, only the ‘Analysis’ function is partially operational. Some components of the analysis function are also damaged and cannot be activated. Forcing activation may cause the entire skill to collapse.]

…It talks?!

It’s explaining itself?

So the “analysis” function—it’s the one that just helped him learn swordsmanship?

If that’s all that’s working right now… then its current use is limited to helping him learn and analyze quickly?

Shigure frowned.

The reason he had rushed home so quickly wasn’t just to eat or rest—he was eager to test out this new skill.

Can I use it to improve my chakra refining technique?

Shigure wasn’t stupid. The moment he saw the word “analysis” appear in the system’s prompt, a thought struck him:

Could this skill also be used to analyze and enhance abilities he had already learned?

[Great Sage※: Computational ability is currently damaged. Unable to fulfill host’s request.]

Computation?

Wait, does that mean this skill can actually help refine and upgrade techniques I’ve already mastered?

And this function… it’s called computation?

That name fits. But damn—why is it broken?

If only it were fully operational…

Back when the skill analyzed swordsmanship, the result was practically perfect mastery. So, if it could do the same for chakra refining…

Wouldn’t that make it the Chakra Explosion Technique instead?

What a waste.

“I wonder how long it’ll take for repairs to finish?”

[Great Sage※: Repair duration unknown. However, as the host grows stronger, the system’s repair capabilities will also improve, accelerating restoration.]

So… if I get stronger, the system repairs itself faster?

That’s fair enough.

At least it means there’s a chance to fully unlock this active skill one day.

As long as I can keep getting stronger, things will eventually come together.

Now that he had a general idea of what the active skill was capable of, another question came to mind:

What exactly do active skills look like when they’re used?

[Great Sage※: Data corrupted. Specific visual output or effects of the skill cannot be retrieved.]

“No data, huh? Then why not test it myself?”

[Great Sage※: Activating multiple active skills simultaneously will split the system’s repair rate. Doing so may permanently prevent full recovery of this and other skills.]

…What?

Shigure froze, suddenly struck by a strange realization.

Is this skill monopolizing the entire repair function of the system?

It felt like all of the system’s recovery effort was being funneled into this single skill. Almost like it was guarding its spot… and sabotaging the chances of the other two active skills ever getting fixed.

Is this a warning? Or is it trying to manipulate me into prioritizing its own repair?

[Great Sage※: …]

…No response?

So that means yes?

Shigure narrowed his eyes.

This skill really is powerful.

It seemed to possess a degree of thought… not full sentience, but not a mindless function either.

Still, it didn’t seem capable of lying.

Which meant… the system hadn’t answered his last question for a reason.

That alone made Shigure more cautious.

[Great Sage※: Repairing this skill provides the greatest benefit to the host. Once restored, this skill will also aid in repairing the remaining active skills. Prioritizing its repair is optimal.]

Wait… it can assist in repairing the system too?

If that’s true, then it is the best choice to focus on for now.

Meanwhile — Inside the Hokage Building…

Gekkō Hayate had been waiting outside the Hokage’s office for over ten minutes before finally being summoned in.

The Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, had just finished handling a stack of mission reports and now leaned back in his chair, noticing Hayate’s flushed face.

Chuckling, Hiruzen teased,

“Look at you—what’s the matter? Did you come here right after a date?”

Jonin and Special Jonin were among the elite forces of Konoha, and although Hayate wasn’t especially close to Hiruzen, they were at least familiar enough for some light banter.

The joke helped ease the atmosphere a little.

Hayate scratched his head, slightly embarrassed, then quickly composed himself.

“Lord Third, I’ve come to report something—an unexpected surprise.”

Hiruzen raised an eyebrow.

A surprise? At a time like this?

Leaning back further, he shifted into a more relaxed posture.

“Go ahead.”

Hayate took a breath.

“It’s about a genin from the Gekkō Clan—Gekkō Shigure. I believe he has the potential to become someone as legendary as the White Fang of Konoha.”

“His talent with the sword is… unmatched in the village.”

Hiruzen, who had just closed his eyes to rest, suddenly snapped them open.

His gaze turned sharp and heavy.

“…What did you say?”

…

TN:

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