It was still six in the morning.
Kō figured Tsunade and Uzumaki Mito should be awake by now, so he decided to stop training. He sat down and began circulating the Uchiha Clan's chakra extraction technique.
The chakra extraction technique was no secret within the Uchiha Clan. Almost everyone knew it, but they weren't allowed to tell outsiders. That was simply one of the rules of a great clan.
Uchiha Kō sat cross-legged, circulating the chakra within his body and adjusting himself to the most comfortable state. Then he began drawing chakra from his surroundings.
This was the first time Kō had tried cultivating on his own since transmigrating. He found that chakra was a little like the inner energy described in wuxia novels: it came from the air and entered the body through controlled breathing.
He opened his eyes. According to the original owner's memories, extracting chakra should have been difficult. You could only extract a little in a whole day. So why didn't it feel that hard to him? And why was the chakra he extracted this time so much purer and denser?
He thought it over carefully but couldn't figure out why, so he let it go. Then he closed his eyes and continued breathing in and out, replenishing the chakra in his body.
Uzumaki Mito was a little surprised. "Nine-Tails, look. Is Uchiha Kō extracting chakra? But its concentration and quality shouldn't be this high!"
Through Uzumaki Mito's senses, the Nine-Tails observed Uchiha Kō, brows furrowed. "Mito, that kid really is extracting chakra, but a Genin shouldn't be able to withstand chakra like that!"
"Oh? What do you mean, Nine-Tails?" Uzumaki Mito was intrigued by what he said.
"That kid is extracting Natural Chakra. Oh, what you humans call Senjutsu Chakra. Only Tailed Beasts and those who've trained in the Three Great Sage Regions' sage arts can absorb it. His Uchiha Clan signed a contract with the Ninja Cat Clan, but I've never heard of any Ninja Cat breaking through to become a sage. That kid..." The Nine-Tails couldn't make sense of it.
A glimmer flashed in Uzumaki Mito's eyes. Senjutsu Chakra. She didn't have any herself, but she knew her husband did. And as far as she knew, besides Jiraiya, no one else in Konoha could extract Senjutsu Chakra.
The fact that this kid could extract it meant he was sure to become a powerful shinobi. She had been worried that, after she was gone, someone might bully Tsunade and Nawaki. Now, it seemed she would have to find a way to help Tsunade get along with him.
Uchiha Kō spent about an hour extracting chakra. After replacing the last of the ordinary chakra in his body with higher-quality chakra, he opened his eyes.
He clenched his fists and found that his physique had improved quite a bit, too. The corners of his mouth lifted. In this damned meat grinder of a war, I've got one more chance to survive!
Just then, Uzumaki Mito opened the door with a smile. "Xiao, come over here. Breakfast is ready!" As she spoke, she waved him over.
Uchiha Kō quickly stood up, straightened his clothes, and bowed. "Lady Mito, isn't this too much trouble?" He kept his head lowered and his manners impeccable, while the Anbu in the tree recorded everything by reading Lady Mito's lips.
Uzumaki Mito glanced at the Anbu before turning back to Uchiha Kō with a smile. She stepped forward, helped him straighten up, and took his hand. "Grandma Mito knew you and little Tsuna would be heading to the battlefield today, so I prepared the ingredients last night and made breakfast for you this morning. Make sure you eat plenty."
"Lady Mito, you really don't have to!" Kō hurriedly tried to refuse, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull his hand free from Uzumaki Mito's grasp.
"Xiao, there's no need to be so formal. From now on, you can call me Grandma, just like little Tsuna does!" Uzumaki Mito's words shocked not only Uchiha Kō but also Tsunade, who had just come out after getting dressed.
Tsunade had put on her battle gear. She looked at her grandmother in astonishment, then at Uchiha Kō. What was going on? Had things really moved this fast?
"Lady Tsunade!" As if he'd spotted a savior, Uchiha Kō grabbed her by the arm and looked at her pleadingly. Tsunade was about to speak, but then she caught the cold glance Uzumaki Mito shot her. She closed her mouth, struggled to pry Kō's hand off her arm, then sat down nearby and started eating.
Uchiha Kō broke out in a cold sweat and swallowed. In the end, under Uzumaki Mito's insistence, he sat across from Tsunade, beside Uzumaki Mito.
Seeing how cautious Uchiha Kō was, Uzumaki Mito couldn't help wanting to laugh. Am I really that scary? Look how frightened the poor boy is.
Uchiha Kō saw he couldn't win, so he started eating too. Just then, the system's notification sounded.
Ding! Congratulations, host. You have completed the achievement: Breakfast at the Senju Household. Reward: 1,000 points. Current balance: 1,550 points. Ding! The system has issued a mission. Since the Second Shinobi World War is extremely dangerous, please join the Sannin's team. Reward: 5,000 points. (Optional)
At the same time, Uzumaki Mito gave Tsunade a look, urging her to hurry up and say it. Under her grandmother's watchful gaze, Tsunade put down her bowl and suddenly said, "Kō, I have a favor to ask. I hope you'll agree."
After speaking, Tsunade looked at Uchiha Kō, her expression serious. Hearing her, Uchiha Kō turned to face her, put down his bowl, and sat up straight.
"Please, Lady Tsunade. If it's something I can do, I won't turn you down." Kō met her eyes, his gaze earnest and solemn.
Hearing his words and seeing him so ready to agree, Tsunade felt relieved. She said kindly, "Lord Hokage has ordered me, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru to each lead a thousand shinobi to the Land of Rain as the vanguard. We're allowed to choose one trusted confidant from the village, so..."
Uchiha Kō's eyes lit up, and he hurriedly stood. "If you need me, I, Uchiha Kō, will go through fire and water for you, Lady Tsunade. I won't hesitate!"
Tsunade was taken aback. Uchiha Kō might not be very strong yet, but he sure knew what to say. "Through fire and water. I won't hesitate." What kind of resolve did that take!
Even Uzumaki Mito, sitting nearby, narrowed her eyes into a smile when she heard Uchiha Kō say that. A trusted confidant—this was a pretty good start.
Tsunade smiled. "Then I look forward to working with you on this mission, Kō."
"Yes, Lady Tsunade." Uchiha Kō was overjoyed. I've searched everywhere, only to find it without any effort at all.
Ding! The system has detected that the host has completed the mission. Reward: 5,000 points. Current balance: 6,550 points. Ding! Congratulations, host. You have achieved the milestone: Making Some Progress (total points accumulated: 5,000). Reward: B-rank ninjutsu, Magnet Release: True Sight Eye (based on the technique Gaara used to cheat during the Chūnin Exams).
He'd actually gotten this reward! Uchiha Kō's expression brightened. With this sensory skill, he'd be able to avoid a lot of danger!
He looked up at Uzumaki Mito, who was eating slowly beside him. Suddenly, something occurred to him, but he hesitated to speak.
Oh, right. How should I warn Lady Mito about the Uzumaki Clan?
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