Chapter 28
Three days passed peacefully inside Dream Pond Cave. During those three days, Uchiha Ryo did almost nothing except meditate, observe the changes in his soul, and carefully monitor the synchronization between his body and spirit. The sluggish feeling gradually disappeared with time, exactly as he had predicted.
The system, however, had been holding back a question for quite a while.
Finally, it could no longer resist.
"Host, I have been wondering about something."
Ryo did not even open his eyes.
"Then wonder faster and ask slower."
The system ignored the jab.
"Why aren't you using your Mangekyō ability, Adaptation? Wouldn't it instantly solve the synchronization problem?"
Ryo slowly opened his eyes before calmly shaking his head.
"I could."
The system blinked.
"...Then why don't you?"
Ryo stood up and stretched his arms, causing his joints to crack softly.
"Because I want to know the difference."
"The difference?"
"Between natural adaptation and forced adaptation."
The system became interested.
Ryo slowly walked around the hidden chamber while explaining.
"If I force Adaptation every time something changes, then eventually I won't know whether the improvement came from my own body or from the ocular technique."
He picked up a small stone and tossed it into the air before catching it again.
"My eyes are powerful, but I don't want to become dependent on them."
The system quietly listened.
"My body is already adapting by itself. It only requires three days. If I use Adaptation now, I save three days but lose valuable observation data."
Ryo looked toward the cave entrance.
"A scientist who never records the control experiment is just gambling."
The system nodded unconsciously.
"So you're comparing natural recovery with forced recovery."
"Exactly."
Ryo smiled faintly.
"If the natural method reaches ninety-nine percent of Adaptation's effect, then using my ocular power would simply be wasting resources."
The system suddenly realized something.
"Host..."
"Hm?"
"You really enjoy experimenting on yourself."
Ryo answered without any embarrassment.
"Who else should I experiment on?"
The system immediately chose to remain silent.
That answer somehow made perfect sense.
After walking around the cave for another few minutes, Ryo finally stretched lazily.
"My body feels much lighter now."
"You've recovered?"
"Almost completely. Sitting still for three days was enough. If I meditate any longer, I'll start feeling like a decorative log."
The system burst into laughter.
"A talking log."
"A handsome talking log."
"...That's debatable."
Ryo ignored the comment.
"Enough wasting time."
He rubbed his hands together.
"Where's my reward?"
The system finally remembered.
"Oh right!"
A familiar blue screen appeared before Ryo.
Mission Rewards Delivered
• 10 Kilograms of Pure Gold
Ryo stared at the reward.
"..."
The system waited.
"..."
Several more seconds passed.
Finally Ryo spoke.
"I suddenly don't feel excited anymore."
The system tilted sideways.
"Why?"
"I imagined treasure."
"It is treasure."
"I imagined mountains of shiny gold."
"It is technically gold."
"I imagined becoming rich."
"...You are rich."
Ryo sighed.
"Fine."
"Claim reward."
The next instant, a huge object appeared inside the storage space.
It looked nothing like ordinary gold.
Instead, it resembled a massive slab of glowing blue jelly. Soft blue light slowly flowed beneath its transparent surface as though stars were trapped inside liquid crystal. Although its volume was roughly equal to a small wooden trunk, it weighed far beyond ordinary imagination.
Ryo observed it for several moments.
"...This is gold?"
The system proudly nodded.
"It is Pure Gold."
Ryo looked confused.
"It isn't even golden."
The system coughed.
"Host, this isn't your world's metallic gold. 'Pure Gold' is simply its translated name."
"It is actually an extremely rare planetary mineral."
Ryo became slightly interested.
The system continued proudly.
"A small planet like your ninja world can naturally produce only around one ton every ten billion years."
Ryo's eyebrows finally rose.
"...That rare?"
"Very."
The system floated around the glowing mineral.
"It possesses incredible compatibility with countless materials. Whether used for forging weapons, strengthening armor, researching energy conduction, or developing new alloys, its value is immeasurable."
Ryo nodded thoughtfully.
The system then grinned mischievously.
"Of course..."
"It also has another use."
Ryo suddenly felt something bad was coming.
"What use?"
"You can smear it across your face like beauty cream."
"..."
The cave became silent.
Ryo slowly looked toward the system.
The system nodded seriously.
"I'm not joking."
"It strengthens facial bones, skin, muscles, teeth, and other tissues over time."
Ryo's expression became increasingly strange.
"So..."
"I should use ten-billion-year planetary treasure..."
"...as a face mask?"
The system happily nodded.
"Women spend fortunes on skincare."
"You can spend planetary minerals."
Ryo looked at the glowing slab again.
Then back at the system.
Then at the slab.
"...You're insane."
The system shrugged.
"I'm merely presenting options."
"It is also the least efficient method."
"If you simply touch it, it only feels smooth and slightly cool."
Ryo reached into the storage space and broke off a fist-sized piece.
The glowing material felt surprisingly soft, almost like chilled jelly.
"It really is smooth."
"See?"
Ryo carefully examined it before suddenly making a decision.
"This thing is wasted sitting with me."
The system became curious.
"What are you planning?"
Ryo sealed away roughly half of the enormous slab.
Then he prepared a transport scroll.
"I'm sending it to Katasuke."
The system blinked.
"The scientist from Konoha?"
"Yes. He is also my younger brother."
Ryo quickly wrote a short letter.
Found something interesting.
Do not share this material with anyone yet. Form a small research team that you completely trust and study every possible application. Record everything carefully.
Also, hurry up and get me a niece.
—Uvhiha Ryo
The system stared blankly.
"...Host."
"What?"
"It's spelled Uchiha, not Uvhiha."
Ryo calmly rolled up the letter.
"I know."
"...Then why did you write it wrong?"
"It isn't wrong."
"It's my code."
The system looked confused.
"My letters are only read by Katasuke."
"If someone forges a letter using my name, they'll naturally write 'Uchiha Ryo.'"
"But every genuine letter I personally write ends with 'Uvhiha Ryo.'"
Ryo smiled faintly.
"So the spelling mistake itself proves authenticity."
The system froze.
Several moments later, it slowly nodded.
"...That is... surprisingly clever."
Ryo shrugged.
"People often ignore obvious mistakes."
"I simply made one useful."
The system sighed.
"Host..."
"Hm?"
"You really don't trust anyone."
Ryo activated the delivery seal.
"I trust people."
The scroll disappeared in a puff of smoke.
"I just trust verification more."
The system silently accepted defeat.
It had long since realized that arguing with Uchiha Ryo usually ended with itself learning something... or questioning its own existence.
Chapter End
10 POWER STONE = 1 Chapter.