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After some time, Arthev discovered that his Shinragan had mysteriously upgraded to the Two Tomoe Sharingan. He blinked in surprise, momentarily stunned, as new abilities flooded his mind: movement prediction, soul power perception, enhanced genjutsu, and x-ray vision.
"Well, this is new," he muttered, rubbing his eye like it might be malfunctioning.
Then, a thought struck him. "Wait a second… I didn't have an emotional breakdown, no tragic backstory moment, and I definitely wasn't on the verge of death... So why the upgrade?"
He scratched his head, utterly baffled. "Did I just unlock this by sheer force of will? Or maybe... I'm just that ridiculously awesome?"
........
He pondered for a while, trying to piece together the mystery. Then, an epiphany struck. His gaze flickered to the tree that was still his martial soul.
"Wait a second… was it the Spirit Awakening that triggered this? The moment I awakened the tree, That's when the eye decided to level up! Not oly that my soul power also increased to level 7" he thought, half-shocked, half-amused at the logic.
Arthev scratched his chin thoughtfully, a faint smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "I guess it makes sense now. Who needs emotional trauma when you've got a tree spirit and eye powers? I'm basically evolving without even trying. Talk about a free power-up."
He let out a small chuckle, shaking his head. "Soul power's at Level 7, and my shinragan already pulling ahead of the curve. I must be doing something right—if not emotionally, at least in the power department."
Arthev paused, piecing everything together in his mind. "Wait, it's not just the spirit awakening. I think... my eye evolves with me. When I grow, it grows. Maybe it's connected to my soul power, not just some random upgrade. That means, as my abilities develop, my eye will keep up. Makes sense, right?"
He raised an eyebrow, impressed with his own deduction. "Guess I'm not just walking around with a random upgrade. My eye's not just an overachiever; it's a reflection of my growth."
Arthev smirked. "If that's the case, I might just be on my way to becoming the most unexpected powerhouse in this world."
........
After some time, Arthev stood up, brushing the dirt from his clothes with a casual flick of his hand. He stretched, feeling the quiet satisfaction of his thoughts aligning. His mind was sharp, piecing together the puzzle of his evolving abilities. "All in a day's work," he muttered to himself with a satisfied smirk.
With a final glance at the quiet surroundings, he made his way toward the village, the evening air cool against his skin. His mind wandered, already thinking ahead. "Level 7 soul power, evolving eye..... tomorrow's another step forward. But for now," he mused, "a good night's sleep is in order."
[The Next Morining]
The morning sun had just begun to peek through the trees, casting golden beams of light over the village. Arthev had just finished some basic training, feeling the satisfying ache in his muscles when he spotted Old Jack strolling toward him, looking surprisingly spry for his age.
Old Jack grinning widely:
"Arthev! You're up early, I see. Ready for another day of learning ?"
"You're not here to drag me into more chores, are you?"
Old Jack chuckling, shaking his head:
"Not today, not today! I have something much more exciting in mind."
He paused dramatically, looking around as if making sure no one was eavesdropping.
"See, I went to the village next door yesterday. Their spirit awakening ceremony was a bust—no martial arts students this year. So, I took matters into my own hands and asked for a quota... just for you!"
Arthev slightly confused:
"A quota?"
"Yes, for the academy! I figured you can't spend your whole life finding your village. Although you ate now but you're destined for bigger things! I can't have you wandering this vast world all alone like some lost puppy. Trust me, you need an education!"
Arthev clearly amused:
"But I don't know anything about this 'academy'—what's so special about it?"
Old Jack leaning in conspiratorially:
"Well, it's the academy. It's where you'll learn the real stuff.It'll give you the foundation for whatever you want to do, kid. Trust me, it's time to stop living like a wild child in the woods."
Arthev, with a thoughtful expression, scratched his chin.
"Hmm... Old Jack might be right. I'm still just six years old, after all. If I want to get anywhere in life, I'll need to start somewhere for base. Might as well be with an academy. But... if I'm gonna do this, I'll need to make sure I'm ready."
Arthev nodding slowly, almost to himself:
"Alright, when are we going?"
"Three months! You and Tang San will be heading there together with me. It'll be good for you two to stick together. You know, support each other."
"We had a little chat yesterday, actually. But, uh, sure, we'll be 'good' with each other."
In truth, Arthev had spoken with Tang San, but he wasn't exactly eager to make a lifelong buddy out of him. In fact, the less he interacted with the boy, the better. If he hung around with Tang San, the protagonist too much, word would get out, and next thing he knew. Tang Hao's mysterious 'shadow protectors' lurking around, causing unwanted complications. Keeping a low profile was key.
Arthev with a respectful nod to Old Jack, though his mind was already elsewhere:
"I'll keep that in mind. Don't worry about me and Tang San, though. I'll make sure we don't end up as too good friends."
Old Jack raised an eyebrow but said nothing, his grin widening as he slapped Arthev on the back. "Well, it's settled then! Academy, here we come!"