Living in Konoha: Picking Up Abilities Starting from the Anbu

The entire swamp had transformed into a fierce battlefield, split into two ongoing clashes.

On one side, the ANBU were battling the rogue ninjas. On the other side, Jiraiya was locked in a fierce fight against Orochimaru.

After about ten minutes, both sides had reached the point where they were fighting with lethal intent.

On the ANBU's side, injuries had begun to accumulate.

As for Orochimaru's followers, most of them were wandering ninjas from the Land of Fire. Their strength was nowhere near that of the ANBU elites, and soon enough, they too started to suffer casualties.

With the sight of blood driving them into a frenzy, both sides fought with even greater ferocity.

In the swamp, shurikens were scattered everywhere.

Explosions from paper bombs echoed alongside the shouts of enraged shinobi and their dying screams.

Kurenai was still unscathed.

As a Jōnin, she had the skills to defend herself, and with the occasional help from the surrounding ANBU, she wasn't in any real danger.

The ANBU on this mission were all part of Kazuya's team.

They were well aware of the close bond between Kurenai and Captain Kazuya. When possible, they didn't hesitate to lend her a hand.

It was common sense. A small favor now might lead to big rewards later—maybe even a promotion.

Meanwhile, the battle between Jiraiya and Orochimaru had reached a fever pitch.

"Summoning: Snakes!"

Orochimaru roared, and in an instant, a massive brown snake, over ten meters long, appeared behind him, lunging straight at Jiraiya.

In close combat, Orochimaru was more than confident against Jiraiya!

Hiss!

The massive snake attacked with blinding speed.

"So fast!"

"Ninja Art: Needle Jizō!"

Jiraiya's eyes flashed, and in an instant, his white hair hardened, forming an impenetrable armor around him.

Crack!

Crack!

Crack!

The snake sank its fangs into Jiraiya, lifting him into the air before slamming him into the ground with earth-shattering force.

BOOM!!!

The swamp trembled, a massive crater forming as an explosive shockwave shook the ground.

The tremendous impact immediately drew the attention of the nearby ninjas.

"Jiraiya-sama!"

"Did something happen?!"

"No way!"

"Relax, with Captain Kazuya here, Jiraiya-sama will be fine. Captain Kazuya is the one who held his own against the Fourth Raikage!"

"Exactly!"

The ANBU, who had started to panic at the sight, calmed down upon seeing Kazuya standing there, unshaken.

Captain Kazuya!

That damn sense of security he radiated!

Boom!

Another explosion rang out.

Jiraiya burst from the ground, his aura intense and commanding. Other than being a little dirty, he appeared unscathed.

Thud, thud, thud!

Jiraiya's steps quickened.

In the blink of an eye.

He became a blur.

And in the next moment...

Jiraiya leaped high into the air, charging straight at Orochimaru. "Orochimaru, witness this super move that'll etch itself into your soul!"

"Massive Rasengan!"

VROOOOM!

Chakra roared.

In an instant, a massive sphere of swirling chakra appeared in Jiraiya's hand.

The inside of the Rasengan was filled with volatile, high-pressure chakra, spinning at chaotic angles, growing larger and larger.

It swelled to a massive size, over two meters in diameter, and came crashing down toward Orochimaru.

"Supreme Rasengan!!!"

Jiraiya roared with fury.

At that moment, Orochimaru's expression shifted: "White Snake Summoning!"

Chakra erupted violently!

Behind Orochimaru, a massive white snake materialized, lunging towards the Rasengan.

BOOM!!!

A thunderous explosion shook the battlefield.

The terrifying shockwave rippled outward, sending numerous battling ninjas flying through the air.

"What the...!"

"So this is what it's like when Kage-level shinobi clash?!"

"It's terrifying!"

"If I jumped in there, I'd be dead in a second!"

The gathered ninjas couldn't hide their fear, eyes wide with awe.

The difference between a Kage-level shinobi and a Jōnin was immense—it was like comparing the earth to the sky!

Yet amid this chaos, Kazuya remained still, his expression unchanged. His white coat flapped wildly in the wind, but his feet stayed firmly planted, unmoved.

"Now this..."

"This is what a Kage-level battle should look like!"

"The Third Hokage... such a faker!"

Kazuya spat out in disdain.

Meanwhile, countless streaks of golden light surged toward him.

[You have picked up 300 points of Chakra]

[You have picked up 300 points of Chakra]

[You have picked up 100 points in Genjutsu talent]

[You have picked up 100 points in Genjutsu talent]

[Your Genjutsu talent has leveled up to lv3 (0/1000)]

[You have picked up 100 points in Lightning Release talent]

[Your Lightning Release talent has leveled up to lv5 (20/1000)]

[Your Water Release talent has leveled up...]

[Your Earth Release talent has leveled up...]

The golden light was endless, shining brightly!

This battle had granted Kazuya a tremendous boost to his base stats!

His Lightning Release, Water Release, and Earth Release talents all leveled up:

Water Release talent: lv4 (50/1000)!

Lightning Release talent: lv5 (300/1000)!

Earth Release talent: lv4 (100/1000)!

He was becoming unstoppable!

The upgrades were coming fast and furiously!

Even his Wind Release talent was close to reaching lv5!

[Your Fire Release talent has reached max level, lv5. Special passive unlocked: Fire Release Ninjutsu damage increased by 100%]

Whoa!

Following the maxing out of his Taijutsu talent, Kazuya's Fire Release talent had now also reached its peak!

With Fire Release damage doubled, this was incredibly powerful!

Not bad!

Not bad at all!

It rivaled his enhanced reaction speed!

Ah... this feels amazing!

If he could max out his other Release talents, his ninjutsu would become absurdly powerful!

Back in the Fourth Great Ninja War, it took a massive combined effort of water-style users to counter one of Uchiha Madara's massive fire attacks.

Kazuya believed that if he kept improving, he'd one day surpass even that level.

Maybe he'd even become stronger than Madara himself!

On top of that, Jiraiya's Supreme Rasengan had helped Kazuya level up his own Rasengan to level 2!

And that wasn't all!

Kazuya had also accumulated 8000 points of Chakra!

His Chakra attributes now stood at:

[Chakra: lv4 (79500/100000)]

Almost 80,000 points!

In this battle alone, Kazuya had racked up nearly 20,000 Chakra points!

His power had surged to unimaginable levels.

At this point, Kazuya was confident that he could take on and defeat Orochimaru himself!

Good!

Keep it up, my hardworking ninjas!

Don't let me down!

Meanwhile, Orochimaru, having taken a direct hit from the Supreme Rasengan, was left bloodied and battered, his flesh torn and mangled.

"Damn it..."

His face was filled with a cold fury, and his gaze frequently flickered toward Kazuya.

Jiraiya alone was already proving to be this troublesome. If that damn ANBU joined in again, Orochimaru doubted he'd escape from the Land of Fire alive.

"Orochimaru, surrender!"

Jiraiya shouted, "Return to the village, and you'll still have a chance to atone for your sins!"

"Atone?"

Orochimaru sneered. "Jiraiya, you'll never understand the true meaning of life!"

Then, he crouched down and glared menacingly at the ground: "Formation of Ten Thousand Snakes!!!"

The next moment...

Countless brown snakes spewed from his mouth, swarming towards Jiraiya.

Orochimaru...

Was preparing to risk it all!!!