Chapter 38: 38. YOUTH!!!!!
(Bonus Chapter For 150 Powerstones, Guys We are still not in the Top 30, So Give me your Powerstones)
Just then, a puff of smoke announced the arrival of Team 10's sensei, Asuma Sarutobi.
"Sorry I'm late, kids," Asuma said, lighting a cigarette. "I got caught up in a... strategy meeting with some of the other jounin."
"You mean you were flirting with Kurenai-Sensei again, weren't you?" Ino accused.
Asuma coughed awkwardly. "Anyway, what's going on here? Sora? This is your doing?"
Sora quickly explained the stat-tracking bracers to Asuma, who looked intrigued.
"Interesting," Asuma mused, slipping on the last bracer. His stats appeared:
- Chakra Control: 720
- Strength: 780 (1150)
- Speed: 690 (1020)
- Stamina: 750
- Endurance/Body Defense: 730
- Chakra Amount: 600
- Reflexes: 790
The genin gaped at their sensei's stats.
"Holy smokes, Asuma-sensei!" Ino exclaimed. "You're a monster!"
Choji nodded vigorously. "Yeah, those numbers are insane!"
Even Shikamaru looked impressed. "I knew you were strong, sensei, but this is beyond what I calculated."
Asuma rubbed the back of his head, looking a bit embarrassed. "Well, I've been at this for a while. You kids will get there too, with enough training."
Sora couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. His invention was not only providing valuable data but also inspiring the genin to push themselves harder.
"Well, I should get going," Sora said. "I've got more data to collect. Keep those bracers for a week, okay? I'll be back to see how you've improved!"
As he turned to leave, Shikamaru called out, "Hey, Sora. That seal works... it's pretty impressive. If you ever want to collaborate on something, let me know. Could be... interesting."
Sora grinned. "Careful, Shikamaru. If I didn't know better, I'd think you were offering to do extra work."
"Troublesome," Shikamaru muttered, but there was a hint of a smile on his face.
With a wave and a cheeky salute, Sora bounded off, leaving Team 10 to their training and Asuma to deal with a suddenly very motivated genin.
As he roof-hopped back towards the village centre, Sora's mind was already whirling with new ideas. "Shikamaru hacked my seal that quickly... I wonder what other improvements I could make? And I still haven't tested these on any specialized jounin or ANBU..."
With a mischievous grin, he changed course. The day was still young, and there were plenty more stats to uncover in the Village Hidden in the Leaves. And who knows? Maybe he'd even find a way to track Choji's chip-eating capacity after all.
As Sora approached Training Ground 9, he could hear the enthusiastic shouts of "YOUTH!" echoing across the area. He couldn't help but grin; Team Guy was always a source of entertainment.
Landing on a nearby tree branch, Sora observed the scene below. Guy and Lee were engaged in what appeared to be a high-speed taijutsu spar, their movements almost too fast to follow. Tenten was practising her weapon accuracy, turning a nearby tree into a pincushion of various sharp implements. And Neji... Neji was staring directly at Sora with his Byakugan activated, a slight frown on his face.
"Ah, busted," Sora muttered to himself before calling out cheerfully, "Yo, Team Guy! Mind if I join your youthful training session?"
Guy and Lee immediately stopped their spar, striking their signature nice guy poses. "Sora-kun!" Guy boomed. "How wonderful of you to grace us with your presence! Have you come to fan the flames of your youth with us today?"
"Something like that," Sora grinned, hopping down from the tree. He could feel Neji's glare intensifying and decided to address it head-on. "Hey there, Neji! Still sore about the whole 'turning the Hyuga compound into a giant disco ball' thing?"
{Author Note-This is a completely different prank than the red paint one, I haven't covered it, Do you want me to?}
Neji's eye twitched slightly. "That prank was highly disruptive and showed a blatant disregard for the dignity of the Hyuga clan."
"Aw, come on," Sora teased. "You have to admit it was pretty funny seeing all those stuffy elders trying to navigate through all those flashing lights and mirror balls."
Tenten stifled a giggle, while Lee looked torn between amusement and respect for his teammate's feelings.
"While your... creativity... is undeniable," Neji said stiffly, "such childish antics are beneath a shinobi of your potential."
Sora blinked in surprise. "Was that... a compliment hidden in there somewhere, Neji? I'm touched!"
Before Neji could retort, Guy interjected. "Now, now, let's not dwell on past pranks! Sora-kun, what brings you to our training ground today?"
Sora's eyes lit up as he remembered his purpose. "Oh, right! I've got something cool to show you guys." He pulled out the stat-tracking bracers. "Who wants to test out my latest invention?"
As Sora explained the function of the bracers, even Neji looked intrigued despite himself.
"How youthful!" Lee exclaimed. "This will surely help us track our progress and become even stronger shinobi!"
"I'll go first!" Tenten volunteered, slipping on a bracer. Her stats appeared:
- Chakra Control: 270
- Strength: 180 (220)
- Speed: 200 (240)
- Stamina: 250
- Endurance/Body Defense: 220 (260)
- Chakra Amount: 230
- Reflexes: 340
"Wow, Tenten!" Sora whistled. "Those reflexes are off the charts! No wonder your aim is so deadly."
Tenten beamed with pride. "Thanks! All that weapons practice really pays off."
Lee was practically vibrating with excitement as he put on his bracer:
- Chakra Control: 100
- Strength: 350 (420)
- Speed: 380 (460)
- Stamina: 450
- Endurance/Body Defense: 300 (360)
- Chakra Amount: 180
- Reflexes: 390
"YOSH!" Lee shouted. "The power of youth flows strongly through me!"
Sora's eyes widened at the numbers. "Lee, your physical stats are insane! You're already at chunin level in several areas, and your stamina is pushing jounin territory!"
Guy wiped away a tear of pride. "That's my precious student! Your hard work is truly paying off, Lee!"
Neji stepped forward next, his curiosity seemingly overcoming his annoyance with Sora. His stats appeared:
- Chakra Control: 401
- Strength: 220 (270)
- Speed: 250 (300)
- Stamina: 280
- Endurance/Body Defense: 260 (310)
- Chakra Amount: 290
- Reflexes: 380
"Impressive, Neji," Sora nodded. "Your chakra control is already at jounin level. I guess that's the Gentle Fist style for you."
Neji allowed himself a small smirk of satisfaction. "The Byakugan allows for precise chakra manipulation. It is only natural that my control would be superior."
Finally, Guy put on the last bracer:
- Chakra Control: 420
- Strength: 1100 (1400)
- Speed: 990 (1450)
- Stamina: 1100
- Endurance/Body Defense: 890
- Chakra Amount: 600
- Reflexes: 1000
There was a moment of stunned silence as everyone stared at Guy's stats.
"G-Guy-sensei," Tenten stammered, "your numbers are incredible!"
"The springtime of youth truly burns bright within you, Guy-sensei!" Lee exclaimed, tears streaming down his face.
Even Neji looked impressed. "Those stats... they're beyond even most elite jounin."
Guy struck his nice guy pose, teeth gleaming. "It just goes to show what hard work and dedication can achieve! Now then, let us use these youthful devices to push ourselves even further!"
Sora whistled low. "No kidding. Guy-sensei, you're an absolute monster! I knew you were strong, but this is ridiculous! The only Stats that comes close to yours in terms of ridiculousness is Kakashi-sensei's"
"As expected of my rival, YOSH, To Celebrate this we are gonna make 1000 rounds of the village on one hand" With that Guy started his journey with more enthusiasm than a cat on coffee.
"Well, I should get going," Sora said. "Keep those bracers for a week, okay? I'll be back to collect data and see how much you've all improved!"
As he turned to leave, Neji called out, "Sora."
Sora paused, turning back with a raised eyebrow. "Yes, oh grumpy one?"
Neji's eye twitched at the nickname, but he pressed on. "Your invention... it's quite impressive. Perhaps your talents would be better spent on such pursuits rather than childish pranks."
Sora grinned widely. "Aw, Neji, you do care! But why choose? I think my pranking skills and my inventing skills go hand in hand. After all, you never know when you might need to turn an entire ninja village red overnight!"
With a wink and a puff of smoke, Sora disappeared, leaving behind an exasperated Neji, an amused Tenten, and an enthusiastically shouting Guy and Lee.
As he roof-hopped away, Sora couldn't help but chuckle. "Neji might act all high and mighty, but I think he's starting to warm up to me. Maybe next time I prank the Hyuga compound, I'll spare his room. Or better yet, I'll give it a special, extra flashy treatment!"
With that mischievous thought, Sora headed off to his next destination, eager to see what other surprises his stat-tracking bracers would reveal.