Naruto Card King

Haruto Saito had achieved his goal—he wanted to provoke Tsunade into making their bet official, and she had done exactly that, shouting it out loud for everyone to hear. Now, she had no way to back out of it.

"Kid, you're really confident, huh?" Tsunade smiled at him, finding his nonchalant attitude and self-assurance completely incomprehensible.

"I've already won!" Haruto raised his thumb and pointed at himself with absolute certainty.

"This kid is insane!"

"Sigh… Do you think he lost his mind because Tsunade-sama scared him too much?"

"Very possible! Tsunade-sama was about to bury him alive yesterday…"

The buzzing voices of the crowd filled Haruto's ears, but he ignored them. Just a bunch of simple-minded people with no vision!

Haruto was well aware that if he really managed to master the Mystical Palm Technique in a single day, it would definitely cause trouble. Such an abnormal feat would arouse suspicion, and more people would see him as a threat rather than a genius.

But he didn't care.

His current situation was already precarious. Assassins from the Rain Village constantly targeted him, and within the village, the Hyuga Clan bore a deep grudge against him. Could things really get any worse?

The waiter arrived with two bowls of ramen and side dishes.

After finishing their meal, Haruto and Tsunade walked back toward the lakeside cabin under the golden hues of the setting sun.

"The Mystical Palm Technique… changing the nature of chakra… the power of healing…"

As promised, the moment they returned, Tsunade began instructing Haruto in the technique. She taught with utmost seriousness, not wanting him to later claim he failed because she didn't teach him properly.

The sky darkened as night settled in.

Standing at the door of the cabin, Tsunade bid Haruto farewell.

"Kid, I've taught you everything you need to know. If you practice diligently, maybe in ten years, you'll actually master the Mystical Palm Technique," she teased before flashing him a dismissive wave and vanishing into the night.

"Idiot woman." Haruto muttered, his usual parting words for her, before shutting the door behind him.

Midnight.

In the dimly lit cabin, moonlight spilled through the window, casting a pale silver glow across the floor.

Haruto, who had been sound asleep, woke up on cue. Lying flat on his back, he opened the Reputation Exchange interface in his mind.

New items had refreshed!

He quickly scanned through the ten available exchanges until his eyes locked onto the eighth one—

Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu - 100 Reputation Points.

"Hidden Mist Jutsu!" Haruto's eyes gleamed. It was a D-rank jutsu, but its utility was incredible. More importantly, he had already consumed four Hidden Mist Jutsu cards before this!

Currently, the mist he could summon was eight times denser than a standard Hidden Mist Jutsu.

If he consumed another card, it would double again—making it sixteen times denser!

"It's rare to find this jutsu in the exchange shop." Without hesitation, Haruto spent 100 reputation points to purchase it.

Ding! Notice to Host: Using multiple identical cards will only affect drop rates but will not influence the refresh cycle of the Reputation Shop.

"I see!" Haruto nodded, pulling the newly acquired Hidden Mist Jutsu card from his inventory and crushing it with his teeth.

The moment the card turned into glowing energy and merged with him—

Ding! Congratulations! You have achieved the hidden milestone: 'Fifth Card Usage.' A random Magic Card has been awarded!

Ding! Notice to Host: Water Style: Hidden Mist Jutsu has reached sixteen times amplification. Effect has exceeded its limit—unlocking a new passive ability! The jutsu can now be cast anywhere, regardless of water source.

A rapid series of notifications left Haruto momentarily stunned.

"A Magic Card? A passive ability?" Haruto processed the information. The second message was easy to understand—it meant he could now summon mist anywhere, even without nearby water. But the first message…

Curious, he opened his inventory and found a brand-new card labeled Magic Card.

Unlike other ability cards, this one had a black vortex on the back and just two words on the front—Magic Card.

No further explanation.

"What's this about? Can I eat it like other cards?" Haruto asked in his mind.

Ding! Answering Host's query: The Magic Card can be consumed. Upon use, it will randomly grant an unconventional reward, a temporary mission, or unlock a new feature.

"A reward, a mission, or a new function?" Haruto blinked. "That sounds… unpredictable."

Without further hesitation, he crushed the card between his teeth.

**Ding! Congratulations! You have unlocked the exclusive ability: 'Hyper-Perception.'

Effect: Host's current sensory abilities have been amplified one hundred times!

Ding! Implanting ability…

A sudden chill shot through Haruto's forehead, spreading into his mind like icy tendrils wrapping around his consciousness.

Cold.

Unbearably cold.

It wasn't physical—it was a coldness that gripped his awareness, making his entire being tremble involuntarily.

As the chill reached its peak, warmth slowly crept in, gradually soothing his senses.

The strange sensation lasted a full minute before fading completely.

Haruto felt different. His mind was clearer than ever, his thoughts sharper, and his perception keener than anything he had experienced before.

Through the window, he could sense tiny insects crawling on the grass, their wings vibrating with each movement. On the lakeshore, a frog emerged from the water, its tongue flicking out to snatch a fly. Across the lake, a dry leaf detached from a branch and drifted downward. In the distant woods, a caterpillar slowly crawled along a tree trunk.

It was as if all these things were happening right before his eyes.

Hyper-Perception!

Before this, Haruto could barely perceive mosquitoes buzzing outside his window. Now, with his amplified senses, he could detect movements across the lake and deep within the forest.

Within a hundred meters, nothing could escape his awareness.

Within three hundred meters, even strong chakra signatures and significant sounds could be detected.

Even someone like Tsunade probably didn't have sensory abilities this refined!

"This is insane!" Haruto was in disbelief. He never expected such an overpowered reward. Something this valuable was given to him just like that—almost like a joke!

Haruto sat up abruptly, crossing his legs into a meditative posture.

He needed to test the full extent of this ability.

Outside, the wind rustled, carrying fallen leaves in spirals… A frog flicked its tongue… Tree branches swayed… The lake rippled gently… And—

Someone was watching him.

Haruto's eyes snapped open.

He felt it.

Outside his cabin, someone was there!