Konoha: Gu master

Late at night.
After drinking the milk that Tsunade had given him, Shinho Aburame returned to his room.

He sat cross-legged on the bed and extended his hand.
A Wine Gu appeared in his hand, resembling a silkworm.

It emitted a pearl-like luster all over its body, looking very beautiful.
The Wine Gu feeds on alcohol and can fly through the air.

Its greatest value lies in refining primeval essence.
Because of this, although it's a Rank One Gu insect, it was more precious than some Rank Two Gu.

Gu Masters are ranked from one to nine turns, and each turn is divided into four stages: initial, middle, advanced, and peak.

After transmigrating to this world, Shinho had his aperture opened by the Hope Gu provided by the system, officially becoming a Gu Master.
But because he was too young to cultivate, he couldn't start practicing until he was about three or four years old.

He is now a Rank One mid-stage Gu Master.
With the Wine Gu, his primeval essence is equivalent to that of a Rank One advanced-stage Gu Master.

The only pity is that Rank One Gu insects can only act on Rank One Gu Masters; once one reaches Rank Two, they no longer have an effect.
However, the Wine Gu can be upgraded through fusion, potentially reaching up to Rank Eight.

Although this is just a legend, perhaps the system might have a way to make the legend happen.

Shinho closed his eyes, his mind sinking into his aperture.
The Wine Gu in his hand also entered the bronze sea formed by his condensed primeval essence.

With a thought, the Wine Gu flew into the air.
The seawater of the primeval sea surged, and strands of primeval essence flew out, which it devoured.

Mist-like alcohol vapor emanated from its body, forming a cloud.
Shinho continued to mobilize his bronze primeval essence, feeding it into the mist for refinement.

As time passed, the color of the bronze primeval essence deepened.
This indicated that Shinho was halfway into becoming a Rank Two Gu Master.

But truly advancing isn't that easy.
With an A-grade aptitude, exhausting a clan's resources, one could become a Rank Four Gu Master in about ten years.

He has an A-grade aptitude but doesn't have the resources of a Gu Master clan.
However, he has a cheat—the system.

And the ninja world is vast; perhaps there are even primeval stones and other resources.
Especially the three great sacred lands that can utilize natural energy.

When he chose to apprentice under Tsunade, he had such thoughts.
She is the contractor of the Shikkotsu Forest.

If all goes well, Shinho will also become a contractor.
By then, he can explore further.

Shinho opened his eyes.
He pondered briefly and prepared to fuse some Gu insects.

Previously, it was like a small horse pulling a big cart; as a Rank One Gu Master, he couldn't bear the burden of a Rank Two Gu insect.
Now, with the Wine Gu—equivalent to gaining a strong rein—he could reluctantly control a Rank Two Gu insect in advance.

He took out the White Boar Gu, Jade Skin Gu, and a wild boar tusk.
Soon, two lines of text appeared before his eyes.

[Fusion Successful.]
[White Jade Gu: Rank Two Gu insect, possessing more than twice the defense of the Jade Skin Gu.]

Shinho looked at his first Rank Two Gu insect.
It resembled a river pebble but was more beautiful, exuding a smooth, jade-like luster.

"Not bad. I'll test its power with Sasuke tomorrow."
Shinho yawned and crawled into bed to sleep.

A new day.
Shinho carried his backpack and headed to school.

When he reached the Konoha River, he saw Sasuke Uchiha.
He was leaning against a large tree by the roadside, expressionless, hands in his pockets, looking as if he didn't recognize his opponent.

"Shinho Aburame."
Sasuke raised his head to look at him and said, "Spar with me."

Why so impatient?
Perhaps he doesn't want others to see him lose badly like last time?
Shinho suspected it was both.

"I have a request," Sasuke said seriously. "I want to see your full strength."

Shinho walked up to him and stopped.
He said calmly, "You'll die."

Sasuke involuntarily shuddered.
He inexplicably felt that Shinho was telling the truth.
But rationally, he didn't believe it.
The gap between them couldn't be that big!

After all, his brother had said that his strength far surpassed others his age.

"Let's try," Sasuke gritted his teeth and said.

"Over there," Shinho looked around and suggested.
The two of them moved to a small forest by the riverside.
It was a secluded spot where they wouldn't be disturbed.

Sasuke put some distance between them, holding a wooden kunai in each hand.
"Switch to iron kunai," Shinho glanced at him and said.

Wooden kunai wouldn't be enough to test the defense of the White Jade Gu.
"Are you sure?" Sasuke was startled. "You can’t blame me if you get hurt."

"I won't," Shinho gave a faint smile.

"You said it yourself!" Sasuke snorted; he felt he was being underestimated.

After switching to iron kunai, he attacked without another word.
Two kunai flew toward Shinho.

But halfway through, they were suddenly tossed upward and accelerated sharply.
Sasuke frowned.

Because Shinho neither dodged nor moved, just stood there.
He hesitated.
This could end badly.

At that moment, Shinho extended his hand.
He accurately caught the kunai.

Sasuke's breath caught.
What kind of move was that?
Catching iron kunai with bare hands.

Just as Sasuke was thinking this, he felt a tremendous pulling force through the wire connected to the kunai in his hand.
He couldn't resist at all and fell flat on his face.

Blushing with embarrassment, Sasuke quickly got up.
He looked up and was stunned.
Shinho's five fingers tightened, and the kunai in his hand deformed under his grip.

He casually flicked it.
An indescribable sense of impending doom washed over Sasuke.

The kunai flew past his ear, and half a second later, something exploded with a dull sound.
Sasuke swallowed hard and slowly turned his head.

A large tree, thicker than himself, had been pierced through by the kunai.
If that had hit him... Sasuke's scalp tingled at the thought.

Shinho bent down and picked up his backpack.
The defense of the White Jade Gu was quite impressive.
Ordinary kunai couldn’t even leave any marks.

After Shinho had been gone for a long time, Sasuke finally snapped out of it.
So this is Shinho's full strength?

He couldn't react at all.
Sasuke felt an unprecedented sense of defeat.
Especially since Shinho was the same age as him.

Facing the bright sunlight, he stood there in a daze.
"Am I really that weak?"

[Achievement Unlocked: Sasuke Uchiha's 'Train More If You're Weak'; Reward: Little Light Gu.]
[Little Light Gu: A Rank One Gu insect. Used to assist the Moonlight Gu, it can make the Moon Blade attack stronger.]
[Moonlight Gu and two Little Light Gu can be fused into a Rank Two Gu insect, Moon Glow Gu.]
[Proceed with fusion?]

Shinho couldn't help but smile.
He finally achieved this accomplishment.

If he hadn't, he'd have to beat up Sasuke every day.
Although the reward was a Little Light Gu, in reality, it was the Moon Glow Gu.

Without hesitation, Shinho initiated the fusion.
[Moon Glow Gu: A Rank Two Gu insect. Its attack power is three times that of the Moonlight Gu.]

In essence, the Moon Glow Gu is an evolved form of the Moonlight Gu.
The two Gu insects look almost identical—curved like the moon, resembling crystals.
The only difference is that the Moon Glow Gu is larger.