A Family Beyond Saving!

The Konoha Style swordsmanship and the Uchiha Style swordsmanship are fundamentally different.

The former focuses on technique, utilizing Shadow Clones to coordinate a three-pronged assault that leaves the opponent unable to discern the true body, thereby creating an opportunity for a lethal strike. The latter's style is somewhat more brutal; it is not merely about the wide, sweeping motions of the strikes, but also about imbuing the blade with chakra to maximize destructive power!

Gekko Hayate performed it only once, yet Arata managed to replicate it with the help of his Sharingan.

However, it was limited to mere imitation.

The Dance of the Crescent Moon he executed was riddled with flaws, and the coordination between his true self and the two Shadow Clones was like that of a babbling toddler. There was no rhythm to it; they even obstructed each other's attack paths, completely failing to display the eerie, agile advantages of this swordsmanship.

After all, there is a fundamental difference between copying ninjutsu and copying swordsmanship or taijutsu.

The former only requires matching chakra attributes, while the latter requires the practitioner's own physique and talent to keep up.

Arata's current state was such that his brain had already issued the commands, but his actions were still two or three beats behind, not to mention the difficulty of coordinating with his own Shadow Clones.

Seeing this, Gekko Hayate's expression finally softened slightly.

If the Sharingan could truly copy the swordsmanship he took such pride in and make it its own, he might as well just run headfirst into a wall and die.

One must know that it took him three months just to master the basics of the Konoha Style: Dance of the Crescent Moon, and three years of honing to reach his current level.

No one knew how he had survived those three years!

His peers who graduated at the same time were all learning flashy ninjutsu—things like the Great Fireball Technique, the Hidden Shadow Snake Hands, or even summoning torture houses shaped like lucky cats.

Only he remained, bitterly training in the monotonous art of the sword.

And yet, this young boy of the Uchiha clan had bypassed those first three months of effort simply by relying on his Kekkei Genkai; such a disparity was difficult for anyone to accept.

Fortunately, relying on the Sharingan alone is far from enough to truly master Konoha Style swordsmanship.

Besides, in front of the thousands of ninjutsu collected by the Uchiha, could this little guy in his field of vision really persist in honing his craft for three years?

Unlikely.

The sunset gradually faded.

Gekko Hayate had long since departed.

As an Anbu of Konoha and a private soldier of the Third Hokage, he did not have the luxury of time to stay here and watch a little kid practice swinging a sword.

Yes.

It was still a mechanical swinging of the blade.

Because the chakra within Arata's body had been exhausted back in the morning while practicing the Dance of the Crescent Moon, and even though he had popped two military ration pills for lunch, he still hadn't recovered much chakra.

However, by a stroke of luck, the daily task "Endless Ninjutsu" had been completed.

In the past, ninjutsu and the manipulation of ninja tools were the two areas he trained in the least.

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-eight."

"Nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine."

"Ten thousand times!"

The blade lowered. Arata, who had been rotating like a machine all day, finally ushered in a time for rest.

After taking a few deep breaths, he sat down right where he was. His katana was placed to the side, and his involuntarily trembling right hand slowly reached into his pocket; it was time to enjoy the fruits of today's labor.

When his right hand opened again, there were three pills in his palm, similar in shape to military ration pills. However, their purpose was not to fill his stomach, but to enhance this body!

The emerald green one was a Low-Level Speed Pill obtained from weighted running. After swallowing it, his whole body felt light, and the fatigue accumulated from a day of training was swept away.

Although he could barely feel the improvement in his speed from the low-level pill anymore, the effect of clearing away a certain amount of fatigue was still very useful to him.

Most importantly, weighted running was the daily task he persisted in the most besides meditation. In a few more days, he would reach the thousand-day achievement and obtain a Mid-Level Speed Pill!

At that moment, it would be time for a qualitative change!

The physique pill granted by swinging the blade was red. This was the source of his confidence, at the bone age of eight, to dare to trade punches with Akimichi Hishi.

After swallowing it, a warm sensation spread through his body, as if the strength hidden in the deepest parts of his physique was surging forth, further weakening his physical fatigue.

Without the maintenance of these two pills, his body would likely not have been able to last even a week under such high-intensity training.

The last one was a blue chakra pill, which gave one a feeling of profound peace.

After swallowing it, he felt as if he were lying in a shallow stream, letting that gentle energy wander through his body before finally sinking into every cell.

It brought not only a bit of chakra energy but also a slight increase in his chakra limit!

Logically speaking, as long as he accumulated it with perseverance, one day Arata would also be called a Tailed Beast without a Tail by others.

However, although he had completed three daily tasks today, there was still regret in his heart.

The stage mission, "Swordsmanship Mastery," had not been completed.

On the mission progress, it showed that the only swordsmanship mastered was still the Uchiha Style.

Copying with the Sharingan alone is not enough.

After a soft sigh in his heart, Arata gripped the blade at his side once more. Borrowing the little bit of chakra he had just recovered, he was going to practice one more time.

"Ren."

As he muttered to himself, two Shadow Clones appeared with a poof.

At the same time.

In the heart of the Uchiha clan district, within the residence of the clan head, Fugaku Uchiha.

"Itachi."

A heavy voice echoed through the brightly lit hall.

Watching the youth who intended to walk past the foyer without a word, a flicker of anger could not help but surface in Fugaku Uchiha's eyes.

To have entered the Anbu at eleven years old by his own merit—this should have been the beloved son who made him immensely proud!

Yet now, he was becoming increasingly headstrong!

The clan elders had been dissatisfied with this for far too long.

Itachi Uchiha, who had paused in the corridor, hesitated slightly before turning around to respond softly to the man sitting upright in the hall.

"Father."

It was merely a simple address, with no further words.

"Why were you absent from the gathering again last time?"

Suppressing the fury in his heart, Fugaku Uchiha asked in a deep voice.

"I have already explained this matter, Father."

Itachi said calmly.

"The Anbu had a mission; I had no choice but to go."

As if fearing the man in his line of sight might not recall, he added.

"Do not use the Anbu as an excuse again. Remember your identity—you are Itachi of the Uchiha!"

Fugaku Uchiha practically roared the words out.

Even an orphan in the clan could recognize his own identity, calling himself Arata of the Uchiha! Why did his own son disappoint him time and time again, unable to see where he truly belonged?

Yet, upon hearing these words, Itachi did not show the slightest reaction; instead, a trace of disgust was hidden deep within his eyes.

"Uchiha, Uchiha!"

He has had enough of this clan!!

No.

Perhaps, this clan is already beyond saving.