Fugaku and Mikoto

"Big Brother Fugaku, you speak so well..."

Mikoto looked up at Fugaku Uchiha, who was smiling, with admiration.

Ever since she practiced shuriken alone a few years ago and Fugaku had generously offered his guidance, he had become her idol.

Strictly speaking, although Mikoto didn't receive much support from the clan, her initial mentor was Fugaku Uchiha.

As Mikoto Uchiha, whose parents were not ninjas, she attended the regular ninja academy and learned the most basic ninjutsu.

While the Uchiha clan's basic ninjutsu and ninja tool techniques were available for all clan members to learn, there was a significant difference between having guidance and not having it.

Mikoto was someone who had no guidance at all.

But with the Uchiha name, outsiders didn't care if she was a core clan member; the Uchiha name, to some extent, was associated with genius.

Therefore, young Mikoto was actually under a lot of pressure.

Fortunately, she met Fugaku Uchiha, who was the first to recognize Mikoto's talent.

It was precisely because Fugaku helped Mikoto practice in his free time that Mikoto's progress was so rapid.

The young Mikoto revered Fugaku as an older brother, this strong and gentle fellow clansman who was willing to guide her.

However, Fugaku Uchiha couldn't do much more. There were too many Uchiha geniuses, and for someone like Mikoto with no foundation, joining the core of the clan wouldn't necessarily be a good thing.

When Fugaku Uchiha officially joined the Konoha Military Police Force, he no longer had time to continue guiding Mikoto.

Until now, as he had begun to shine and was promoted to deputy captain, Mikoto hadn't seen him for a long time.

But unknowingly, Mikoto herself hadn't realized that as she grew older, her past admiration and reverence for Fugaku as an older brother seemed to have fermented...

"Oh? Mikoto?"

Fugaku, walking over, saw Mikoto by the roadside, paused slightly, and gave a gentle smile:

"It's been a long time. You've grown up—you're already a formal ninja."

"Big Brother Fugaku... it's... it's been a long time..."

Seeing Fugaku greet her, Mikoto's face turned red all the way to her neck:

"Then... um... you're busy... I... I'll go first..."

Fugaku looked at Mikoto, who suddenly turned and ran away, utterly bewildered:

"Huh?"

"..."

His subordinates stared at him with subtle expressions and collectively quipped:

"Deputy Captain, what did you do to that young lady?"

"I didn't..."

"Heh heh... we get it, we won't say anything!"

Fugaku Uchiha smiled wryly and scratched his head:

"...I just taught her some basic ninjutsu and ninja tool techniques before. Don't overthink it."

In fact, Fugaku Uchiha was also somewhat amazed when he first saw Mikoto.

The cute little girl from before had become a true ninja.

He, Fugaku Uchiha, was not the type to force his teachings on others. The reason he taught Mikoto, who was still a little girl at the time, was not only because of the talent she displayed.

It was also because Mikoto did not possess the arrogant, condescending personality that most ordinary Uchiha clan members had.

At that time, Fugaku had just experienced intense combat and awakened his Sharingan. Meeting the gentle and pure Mikoto instantly eased his tense spirit.

Whether or not he had kept Mikoto out of the Uchiha high-ranking members to protect this gentleness and purity, Fugaku felt that even he himself couldn't quite explain it now.

"Mikoto's talent is outstanding, but her parents are not ninjas and couldn't guide her in the basics. I just saw her..."

"Oh... we understand, we understand!"

The subordinates kept nodding, causing veins to pop out on Fugaku's forehead:

"Stop it! Mikoto is assigned to the Third Hokage's disciples, in that genius Orochimaru's team. You should know what that means?"

"..."

The subordinates stopped joking and their expressions turned serious:

"Meaning, even though that girl is of our Uchiha clan, she can go to the battlefield?"

"Indeed."

Fugaku nodded. Mikoto Uchiha's arrangement proved that the village's strategy towards the Uchiha likely hadn't changed.

The subordinates became agitated:

"Then it seems this is a normal deployment of defenses... the clan should provide some support for Mikoto."

"That's right, our Uchiha clan members are the best wherever they go!"

"Talent that even Deputy Captain like you recognizes, perhaps she can awaken her Sharingan early!"

Fugaku felt a bit awkward at his subordinates' words, this support...

"Vice-captain! You're the only one for this job!"

"That's right, Vice-captain, please bear with us!"

"We'll take care of the patrols, Vice-captain, you go ahead!"

"..."

Meanwhile, Satoru was working with Orochimaru to conduct a comprehensive examination of Nawaki's body.

"Hmm... truly incredible, this solidified enhancement effect, is this what's called 'Enchantment'..."

Orochimaru's gaze towards Nawaki was filled with a desire to probe, causing Nawaki to shiver involuntarily.

"T-teacher, I feel a bit cold..."

"Cough..."

Orochimaru coughed lightly, glancing at Satoru's smug expression and raising an eyebrow:

"Satoru, this Enchantment Technique reminds me of a very famous jutsu in the Shinobi World."

"The Shinobi World? So, this technique doesn't exist in the village?"

Orochimaru nodded:

"In the Land of Lightning, Kumogakure, the current Raikage uses a ninjutsu-taijutsu called 'Lightning Release Chakra Mode'."

"Ninjutsu-taijutsu? What's that?"

It was Nawaki who asked. He understood Ninjutsu, and he understood Taijutsu, but Ninjutsu-taijutsu was new to him.

"Ninjutsu-taijutsu is a special technique where Ninjutsu isn't used for direct attacks, but rather as an auxiliary to vitalize the body, thereby gaining extreme strength, speed, and defense, and fighting using Taijutsu."

"This technique, a secret of the Raikage, greatly vitalizes the body's cells using Lightning Release Chakra. Not only can it provide temporary enhancements, but long-term practice will greatly increase physical fitness, much like countless stacked, weaker versions of Enchantment Techniques."

"However, that technique requires continuous output of Lightning Release Chakra, and it can't be used on others."

After explaining to Nawaki, Orochimaru didn't ask Satoru to enhance him as well. For him, what he mastered himself was trustworthy. Before fully learning and understanding the Enchantment Technique, Orochimaru could observe the states of Nawaki and Satoru.

"Don't use this technique on anyone else. Until we've completed our research, we don't know if this method of enhancement will have any impact on future development."

Orochimaru carefully examined Nawaki's body and found no abnormalities. Satoru's Chakra was not lingering in Nawaki's body; it had only strengthened his muscles and bones.

After a brief explanation, Orochimaru, eager to return and meticulously study "Enchantment Basics," left first.

"Nawaki, it's been almost a day, how are you feeling?"

Satoru knew there wouldn't be any issues, otherwise, Might Duy would have already discovered something.

"No problem!" Nawaki grinned. "I already had my sister check me, and I'm doing great!"

"She even praised my significant progress... I didn't tell her about the Body Tempering Technique, though. How's that for a friend!"

"Uh... I suppose so."