Training, Kushina, Shisui

Some information circulates only among the big shots; low-level ninja remain oblivious to it.

Hiroya's utility was thus made manifest, as he shared the intelligence he possessed with Byakuya without reservation.

Byakuya pondered what kind of mission Danzo would assign him next.

It would likely change depending on the shifting situation on the battlefield.

After leaving Hiroya's office, he ate a bowl of ramen at Ichiraku Ramen for lunch before returning to the Ninja Academy warehouse.

The brutality of the war was becoming increasingly profound; the village felt somewhat empty, the population had dwindled significantly, and some civilians out to purchase food had hollow eyes, radiating an indescribable sorrow.

Hiroya had also told him about the casualties among the ninja on the front lines.

At the top of the list were the young ninja.

Especially the civilian ninja who had been sent to the battlefield shortly after graduating from the Ninja Academy.

Although this group of Konoha ninja was full of complaints, they persisted due to the conviction of protecting the village.

Byakuya could not describe the feelings in his heart; in his view, these young civilian ninja should never have had to bear such heavy responsibilities.

But there was no help for it; in the ninja world, weakness is the original sin.

If he did not possess the Heaven Rewards Diligence fate, would he also have become just another casualty number listed on a sheet of paper?

He clocked out for the day.

First, he bought two sets of suitable clothes, went home to eat his fill, and then donned the Shuten-dōji Mask to head toward the forest to complete the new task issued by his fate.

The reward of improved chakra control was extremely important to Byakuya, as it would allow him to continue developing new Storm Release ninjutsu.

Although the perfected Storm Release: Torrential Lightning Flash was excellent in terms of attack power, penetration, paralysis, and speed, it was too singular because he mastered so few offensive ninjutsu, leaving him with no other combat options to choose from.

It was nothing more than using the Shadow Clone Technique to attract the enemy's attention while coordinating his use of Storm Release: Torrential Lightning Flash.

This had been vividly demonstrated during his battle with Pakura of Sunagakure.

And his accidental skirmish with Orochimaru had verified the offensive and defensive effects of his Water Release: Water Formation Wall infused with Storm Release chakra, but for now, he could only take a passive beating and could not perform other form transformations.

"Now that I have the Flying Thunder God Technique, if I encounter a powerhouse at the Kage level, I won't be as pathetic as I was before."

He ventured deep into the forest outside the village.

He arrived at the riverbank where he had previously practiced Water Release: Water Formation Wall.

He used the tip of his index finger to release chakra, creating one hundred non-dispersing water droplets on the surface of the water and maintaining them for thirty seconds.

It looked difficult, but doing it was even harder.

Byakuya had slightly improved his chakra control several times, and after failing over a dozen times, he successfully tapped one hundred non-dispersing water droplets onto the water surface with his fingertip.

"Thirty seconds, up."

He withdrew his chakra.

The water droplets immediately merged back into the river.

This type of training was a severe test of mental energy; Byakuya wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand and proceeded to the next round of training.

Failure!

No matter, try again.

Success.

Good, I must maintain control over the chakra; don't let the water droplets disperse!

Twenty-nine seconds in, a water droplet on the edge dissipated—failure.

Byakuya plopped down on the riverbank.

The ripples caused by the water droplets spread out in circles.

It wasn't just sweat on his forehead anymore; his mental energy was being rapidly consumed, and his physical strength was also declining, causing the sweat all over his body to nearly soak through his newly purchased clothes.

He pulled up his Fate Grid Panel.

Heaven Rewards Diligence, Perseverance Leads to Success
Time limit 6 days: Use the tip of your index finger to release chakra, create one hundred non-dispersing water droplets on the water surface, and maintain them for thirty seconds (2/100)
Reward: Chakra control improvement

"No wonder it gave me six days; it really is too difficult. It doesn't matter, my efforts are visible—as long as I put in the work, there will be a reward!"

Byakuya pulled himself together and continued his training.

The moon climbed to the center of the sky.

Thin mist drifted through the forest.

His clothes were completely soaked through, and he had succeeded twenty times.

After resting for a while, Byakuya left a Flying Thunder God Formula on the trunk of a tree by the riverbank.

"I wonder if the remaining chakra in my body is enough to use the Flying Thunder God Technique to get home."

Having only learned this S-rank space-time ninjutsu a few days ago, and without a teacher to explain it, he had to figure out every detail of the technique bit by bit; there were no shortcuts to be found.

"Let's give it a try. My Fate Grid has enhanced my vitality, so as long as I don't overdraw my chakra too excessively, I won't die."

Following the steps, he sensed the Flying Thunder God Formula he had left at home, converted his chakra into spatial energy, broke through the spatial barrier, and leaped across the distance.

In a flash, Byakuya arrived at his home.

But immediately after, his vision went black, and he knew nothing more.

When he woke up again, it was already past six in the morning.

His body had recovered quite well with no major issues, but he was so hungry his eyes were practically glowing. He forced himself up and swept through everything edible in the refrigerator; only after replenishing his energy did he feel much better.

"The distance was too great. I'm not capable of long-range teleportation yet. Unless it's an absolute emergency, I must never take such a risk."

This was the benefit of his Fate Grid enhancing his vitality and stamina; slightly overdrawing his chakra was no big deal.

If an ordinary ninja dared to overdraw their chakra like that, the consequences would be severe.

He changed his clothes and headed out to work.

Passing by the vegetable market, Byakuya saw a red-haired woman carrying a shopping basket.

Red hair, he thought to himself, could that be Kushina of the Uzumaki Clan?

He sensed her chakra.

Just by her standing there, the sheer magnitude of her chakra left Byakuya astonished.

Byakuya kept his expression neutral, acting as if nothing had happened. Just as he was about to walk past her, the red-haired woman slowly turned her head: "Don't go around sensing other people's chakra in the village; it's very annoying."

"Ah, sorry, I didn't mean to..."

The red-haired woman had a few radishes in her basket. "You don't look like you did it by accident; you directed your perception specifically at me."

Hearing his actions exposed to his face, Byakuya countered: "You must be Senior Kushina, right?"

"You know me?"

"Yes, I'm the Ninja Academy Warehouse Manager. I happened to see your name while organizing old ninja tool application forms."

Kushina frowned and asked: "You recognized me just from my name?"

"Of course, it wasn't just that. There are group photos of past graduates hanging on the wall in the Principal's office, and the Principal even said, uh, that Senior Kushina left a deep impression on him."

"Haha..." Kushina asked with an awkward laugh: "Left a deep impression, huh?"

"I'm going to be late for work. I'll treat you to barbecue next time, Senior."

"What's your name?"

"Senkaku Byakuya."

Kushina watched his retreating figure, thinking the boy was strange—his personality was odd, and his chakra was even stranger.

As a member of the Uzumaki Clan, her sensory abilities were excellent, and Senkaku Byakuya's chakra was clean, pure, and of very high quality!

Could a ninja like that really just be a warehouse manager at the Ninja Academy?

At the same time.

Byakuya felt quite emotional. Uzumaki Kushina: the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki of the Hidden Leaf Village, the wife of the Fourth Hokage Namikaze Minato, and the mother of the future protagonist of the ninja world, Uzumaki Naruto.

However, she was a tragic character.

He still remembered the scene from his past life where Kushina gave her final instructions to Naruto, and he couldn't help but shed tears, letting the little pearls fall.

He opened the three heavy doors of the warehouse.

A teacher arrived right on time to request ninja tools.

"Sorry, Byakuya, bothering you again."

"What's the matter?"

"There's this kid from the Uchiha Clan with great talent, and I want to teach him a few more techniques for using ninja tools."

"A child from the Uchiha Clan? What's his name?"

"Uchiha Shisui. My guess is that he should be able to graduate from the Ninja Academy very soon."