In the blink of an eye, three months had passed since they arrived at the front.
During those three months, although no large-scale decisive battle had broken out at the front, small clashes and infiltration battles had never stopped.
For ordinary shinobi, it was a long, grueling ordeal.
But for the three members of Team Five, it was a golden period of rapid growth.
Behind the camp was a training ground that had been specially cleared.
"Sealing Technique: Five Elements Seal: Modified!"
With a low shout, five different types of Chakra glimmered on Nishikawa Tetsu's fingertips. He slammed them down onto a wooden post used for testing.
"Vmm—"
Complex black Curse Marks instantly spread across the post. The Chakra flowing inside it to simulate meridians was forcibly cut off in an instant, bringing it to a halt.
"Phew..."
Nishikawa Tetsu wiped the sweat from his forehead and looked at the result.
"The seal's strength has increased by 15%, and I've cut the Hand Seals down to 1.2 seconds. It still can't match the Uzumaki Clan's instant-cast level, but it's more than enough to disrupt an enemy's Chakra flow in battle."
Over the past three months, Nishikawa Tetsu hadn't devoted all his energy to those bottles and jars.
Once he realized that he wouldn't be able to resolve his Chakra shortage in the short term, he'd promptly asked Jiraiya to teach him Fuinjutsu.
Fuinjutsu was the perfect fit for a shinobi like him: techniques that let the weak overcome the strong and achieve great things with limited means.
Jiraiya was usually carefree, but he held nothing back when it came to teaching. He'd even taught Nishikawa Tetsu some basic sealing theory from the Uzumaki Clan.
But the Five Elements Seal was originally an A-rank technique, and it still consumed too much Chakra for him. So Nishikawa Tetsu had modified it. Its power was greatly reduced, but at least he could use it now.
Nishikawa Tetsu was also trying to inscribe Fuinjutsu onto Explosive Tags and Kunai, creating all sorts of what Uchiha Fugaku called "weird, underhanded weapons."
"Che! Take this!"
Suddenly, a golden flash burst out of the woods.
Namikaze Minato moved so fast that only a blur remained. The Kunai in his hand shot straight toward Nishikawa Tetsu's back.
"I've been waiting for you."
Without even turning around, Nishikawa Tetsu flung his left hand behind him. A specially made Kunai engraved with the character for "bind" flew out and burst open in midair, spreading a web woven from Chakra Threads.
"Too slow!"
Minato's figure folded impossibly in midair. Using a falling leaf to propel himself, he instantly bypassed the Chakra net and appeared at Nishikawa Tetsu's side.
A mass of pale blue energy spun furiously in his right palm.
It hadn't taken shape yet. It was only the size of a ping-pong ball, and it wasn't stable, but the shrill sound of it tearing through the air was enough to make one's scalp tingle.
"Rasengan... still in the first stage?"
Nishikawa Tetsu's eyes narrowed. He didn't try to meet the attack head-on. Instead, he used the Explosive Tag array he'd planted underfoot to propel himself backward, sliding five meters and narrowly dodging the strike.
"Boom!"
The ball of energy in Minato's hand slammed into the ground. The earth was instantly churned apart, leaving a half-meter-deep spiral crater.
"Still not good enough."
Namikaze Minato watched the energy dissipate and scratched his head in frustration. "Maintaining the rotation and compression is too difficult. If I lose focus even a little, the Chakra disperses. I've still got a long way to go before it's ready for actual combat."
"Getting this far in three months is already insane."
Nishikawa Tetsu walked over and looked at the crater. "At least you've mastered the trick of chaotic rotation. And your Body Flicker Technique—your midair change of direction just now means your reflexes have improved again, right?"
"Heh, of course." Minato gave his trademark sunny smile.
As the two discussed what they'd learned, Uchiha Fugaku emerged from deep in the woods.
Compared with three months ago, the young Uchiha clan leader's demeanor had changed dramatically.
Before, he'd been a sharp-edged blade, always ready to wound.
Now, he was more like a sword hidden in its sheath: steady and restrained.
Over the past three months, Team Five had carried out more than a dozen missions of all sizes.
They'd handled everything from intelligence gathering and counter-infiltration to assisting the main force with flanking attacks.
Each time they'd shared life and death, their teamwork had grown stronger.
Uchiha Fugaku was no longer the arrogant captain who only knew how to give orders. He'd learned to use genjutsu to cover Minato's advances and Fire Release to force enemies into position while Nishikawa Tetsu set traps.
After all, he often had to look after those two Genin—oh, they were Chunin now.
There were no exams during wartime, and no one could argue with their record.
"Take a break."
Uchiha Fugaku tossed them two canteens, then sat on a boulder and stared blankly at the overcast sky.
"What's wrong, senpai?"
Nishikawa Tetsu caught the canteen and keenly sensed that something was bothering Fugaku. "Did you get more bad news in the letter from your clan?"
Uchiha Fugaku fell silent for a moment before answering slowly.
"The elders aren't happy with how I've performed at the front."
"Not happy?" Namikaze Minato asked in surprise. "We've earned plenty of merit. Even Lord Jiraiya praised us."
"That's exactly why they're unhappy."
Uchiha Fugaku gave a cold laugh, a trace of self-mockery in his eyes. "In the eyes of those old men, the Uchiha Clan is noble. We shouldn't serve as anyone else's blade—especially when that blade takes orders from the Hokage faction."
He turned to look at them, his voice carrying a rare note of weariness and candor. "They think I'm trying to curry favor with the Hokage and selling out the Uchiha's dignity. Some have even suggested transferring me back to the Police Force."
Namikaze Minato frowned. The Little Sun couldn't understand this kind of clan politics. "But if we don't fight, how can we protect the village? Aren't we all part of Konoha?"
"In some people's eyes, the clan's interests come before the village's."
Nishikawa Tetsu added the words flatly.
He understood all too well the roots of the Uchiha Clan's tragedy: their awkward desire to fit in while refusing to lower themselves, and the plight of being deliberately isolated by the village leadership.
"Fugaku-senpai."
Nishikawa Tetsu walked over to Fugaku, looked him in the eye, and spoke earnestly.
"Prejudice is like a mountain. Explanations and compromises won't move it."
"Then what will?" Fugaku asked.
"Strength, and achievements no one can dispute."
Nishikawa Tetsu pointed toward the camp. "When your name resounds throughout the Shinobi World, when you become an indispensable hero on the front, those elders' gossip will sound like a joke. Then you won't be the one who needs the Uchiha's approval. The Uchiha will need yours."
"And besides..." Nishikawa Tetsu smiled and patted Minato on the shoulder. "You've got us."
Uchiha Fugaku looked at the two companions before him.
One was a commoner, the other an orphan.
Neither had any backing, yet both were fighting to shine on this brutal battlefield.
By comparison, getting hung up on all those disgusting matters within his clan did seem a little petty.
A faint smile tugged at Uchiha Fugaku's lips. He stood, the gloom in his eyes clearing away.
He pulled out a newly delivered mission scroll, his expression turning cold again.
"Lord Jiraiya's latest assignment: A-rank. It might even be upgraded."
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