Training

[Mission: What Does "Fairness" Even Mean? Complete]

[Reward: Body ×0.1, Special Reward: Bu'a]

[Bu'a: Upright and impartial, adhering to principles without bias. Grants the holder a powerful boost to mental strength, greatly enhancing the effects of mental attacks and genjutsu, and greatly increasing resistance to mental and genjutsu attacks. (Grows stronger alongside the holder. Current effect: immunity to genjutsu below the level of the Two-Tomoe Sharingan.)]

The system's cold, mechanical voice rang out, signaling that the mission had been completed successfully.

Aside from the usual attribute points, this special reward was just as powerful as ever, offering benefits far beyond ordinary attribute points.

With my current One-Tomoe Sharingan, I can already resist every genjutsu below the Two-Tomoe level. It's hard to imagine what it'll be like when my ocular powers improve again.

Reading the words that had appeared on the panel, the boy couldn't help drifting into a reverie.

At that point, maybe I'll be able to withstand the Mangekyō Sharingan with just three tomoe...

The thought put him in a good mood. Seeing that the crowd around him still hadn't dispersed, he raised a hand and called out, "All right, everyone, break it up! There's nothing left to see. Go on and get back to work!"

As soon as he finished speaking, the onlookers began to disperse with a rustle.

"We'll be off, too." Uchiha Huohuo and Uchiha Liu greeted the boy, then escorted the two Root members toward the guard station.

After seeing everyone off, the boy turned and left.

At a training ground in Konoha, the boy stood with his hands moving through a series of seals. Then he gave a low shout.

"Wind Release: Wind Cutter!"

His physical and mental energies surged and mingled under Uchiha Kai's control, refining into pure Chakra as he completed the hand seals.

The next moment, threads of invisible wind converged into a steel blade. It whooshed through the air, and the wooden post in front of him toppled over.

The smooth cross-section of the cut showed just how sharp the attack had been.

"Phew. Not bad. Wind Cutter is a great jutsu, both in power and practicality. It makes up for a lot of the gaps in my offense. Relying on Fire Release alone would be too limiting."

Looking at his handiwork, the boy nodded with satisfaction.

As for where he'd gotten the jutsu, it was naturally one of the techniques recorded in the scroll Uchiha Yashiro had given Uchiha Kai that night.

[Host: Uchiha Kai]

[Body: 4.4]

[Spirit: 6]

[Energy (Chakra): 130]

[Energy Control: Fire (Proficient) Wind (Novice) Lightning (Locked) Water (Locked) Earth (Locked) Yin (Locked) Yang (Locked)]

[Special Talents: Sharingan (One Tomoe), Proof of Sweat, Bu'a]

[Skills: Great Fireball Jutsu, Flower Shuriken Red Claw Technique, Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques, Genjutsu: Sharingan, Shurikenjutsu, Konoha Style Taijutsu, Shadow Clone Jutsu, Wind Cutter, Body Flicker Technique]

[Overall Assessment: A barely repaired piece of broken porcelain, with a little power at his disposal, a mayfly in troubled times]

Watching the numbers on the panel keep climbing, Uchiha Kai felt a sense of relief. There was something intoxicating about growing stronger step by step and gaining complete control of himself.

The boy felt as if he held the future in his hands.

"Now, time to test the next one."

As he spoke, the boy formed several more hand seals. The next moment, an invisible wave of heat rose around him.

A fireball formed from Chakra hovered in front of Uchiha Kai. But he wasn't done. As he flung out more than a dozen Shuriken, the flames empowered them, and they streaked toward the targets like blazing meteors.

"Bang! Bang! Bang!"

A string of impacts rang out. The Shuriken, wreathed in Chakra flames, sank deep into the wooden posts, leaving large scorch marks.

"So it's not just a matter of coating them in flames... Even the Shuriken themselves fly faster and hit harder. Is that what Chakra does...?"

After gauging the attack's power, the boy murmured in amazement.

"Finally, I'll test how well I've mastered the Body Flicker Technique. Once I've got it down, I'll have the beginnings of a proper combat style."

With that thought, the boy's hands moved through a steady series of seals.

Ox—Dog—Dragon—Rat—Dog—Pig—Snake—Tiger.

"Poof!"

As the white smoke cleared, a figure identical to the boy appeared.

"Whoa! I finally made it out!" the Shadow Clone shouted, striking a pose with its arms spread wide.

"Fresh air! I thought I was going to suffocate in there!"

"Tell me, what do you want me out here for this time, you perverted original?" The Shadow Clone picked its nose and spoke flippantly.

"I just want to test what I've learned. Attack me with these Shuriken." Before he finished speaking, the boy tossed the clone a pouch full of Shuriken.

"Oh? Should I go all out?" The Shadow Clone caught the pouch and asked meaningfully.

"Do everything you can," the boy replied calmly.

The next moment, two pairs of eerie, blood-red eyes opened at once, and a sinister Chakra cloaked the area.

"Clink! Clink-clink! Clink-clink-clink!"

The Shuriken reached him before any words could—their formation became an iron net, and their sharp assault came from every direction, sealing off every escape route.

A rain of iron was about to fall. It seemed there was nowhere left to run or hide.

"Whoosh—"

With a rush of wind, more than a dozen Shuriken struck empty air and buried themselves in the dirt. When they looked again, Uchiha Kai had vanished, leaving only a few green leaves swept over by the gust.

"Not bad," the boy said quietly, reappearing ten meters away.

"My turn."

Before the words had left his mouth, several Shuriken flew from the boy's hand toward the clone.

"Again?! You really are a pervert, original!" the clone shouted, and the two of them launched into a fierce battle.

Five minutes later, the gleaming Zhulu sliced through the Shadow Clone's throat, dispelling it in a puff of white smoke as it gave him a resentful look.

After fighting a Shadow Clone with half his Chakra, the boy had gained quite a bit of insight. A satisfied smile spread across his face.

"That was quite productive..."

He spent the entire afternoon training, and Uchiha Kai felt more and more fulfilled.

"That's enough for today. It's getting late, so I'd better grab something to eat first." He raised an eyebrow as his stomach growled in protest.

"I'll have dinner there." With that, he turned and headed for his destination.

In the evening light, Konoha looked more haggard than it usually did. The crimson clouds burning on the horizon cast a dusky glow over the streets, making the air feel even chillier.

Steam billowed from a small shop by the road, carrying a distinctive aroma. The boy lifted the half-drawn curtain, sat on a tall stool at the counter, and called out, "A large tonkotsu ramen, with an extra serving of chashu."

"Coming right up! One large tonkotsu with extra chashu. Just a moment!" Uncle Ichiraku called cheerfully from the kitchen.

Uchiha Kai glanced at the faded poster on the wall and took a sip of the complimentary hot water.

"Mm, I should eat less instant noodles from now on. Things aren't so tight anymore, and I shouldn't keep skimping on proper meals."

The rich aroma of ramen filled the shop, lifting his spirits. He swallowed without even realizing it.

Five minutes later, a generously filled bowl of steaming ramen was served.

"Enjoy!" Uncle Ichiraku gave him a kind smile.

"Thanks for the food!"

He took a huge bite of ramen, and its rich aroma burst across his taste buds, filling his nose with the scent of pork bones.

"Mmm... delicious!" The boy gave a satisfied hum. Seeing him, Uncle Ichiraku smiled warmly, his face radiating kindness.

"Take your time. No rush."

The only sound in the empty shop was the boy slurping his noodles, lending the place a quiet, peaceful atmosphere.

"Huh?! Kai! You're here, too?"

A loud call came from outside.