Heavens, This Is Exactly Me!

"Let's call it a day." Shisui put away the whiteboard.

"Get some good rest tonight, and tomorrow..." He paused.

"Are you going to watch the match between Sasuke and Gaara tomorrow?"

Qingyu nodded: "Of course!"

That was one of the iconic scenes from the original work; how could he miss it?

Good heavens, that's practically me!

Amaterasu!

"Then I'll apply for a spectator pass for you." Shisui stood up.

"Oh, right, the Clan Head asked me to pass on a message: after the match, go see him. It seems... he has something to discuss."

Qingyu's heart tightened.

Clan Head Fugaku wants to see him? What for?

What good could possibly come from the Uchiha? Could he just cut ties? Just because Itachi didn't pay him a New Year's visit didn't mean the Anbu or Root wouldn't come knocking on his door!

But he didn't ask further, simply nodding.

"Understood, thank you, Senior."

He was still known by too many people; if he didn't eat the loyalty oranges of the Hokage, he would naturally have to eat the leeks of the aftermath later.

After Shisui left, the ward returned to silence.

Qingyu lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, reviewing today's training in his mind.

[Ding!]

[System Notification: Limited-time mission "Devil Instructor in the Ward" completed!]

[Completion Assessment: A-]

[Mission Reward: Chakra Control +5% (Current control precision: 73% → 78%)]

[Bonus Reward: Obtained Shisui's Random Ninjutsu Insights ×1... "Thirty-Seven Practical Tips for the Body Flicker Technique (Part 1)"]

Qingyu's eyes lit up.

Body Flicker Technique insights! Even if it was just the first part, this was Shisui's private stash!

He couldn't wait to open the scroll, but the very first line made his mouth twitch:

"Tip 1: Run faster."

Below it was a small note:

"This is not a joke! 90% of Body Flicker Technique failures are due to insufficient speed! So, practice running first."

Run! GO! GO! GO! Johnny! GO!

Go, my foot. Might as well push the wheelchair faster.

Qingyu: "..." As expected of you, Senior Shisui.

He continued reading, and the rest was much more serious.

From the distribution ratio of chakra in the legs to cushioning techniques upon landing, and even how to maintain a clear field of vision while moving at high speeds... it was packed with solid information.

"These techniques..." Tobirama evaluated in his mind.

"They are very practical, and some of the concepts coincide with my own research from back then."

"Hmph, it's alright." Izuna rarely refrained from nitpicking.

"This kid really has something when it comes to movement."

Qingyu studied with insatiable hunger, only reluctantly putting the scroll away when the nurse came in to deliver dinner.

After dinner, he continued his chakra recovery training.

By the time night fell, his chakra recovery rate had reached 65%, and his body was basically no longer in pain.

With the Uchiha physique combined with system assistance, his recovery speed was astonishingly fast.

The patient in the next bed had been discharged that afternoon, leaving him alone in the ward.

Qingyu sat on the bed, looking at the night view of Konoha outside the window, when he suddenly remembered something.

"System," he asked internally.

"That 'Expectations of the Uchiha' hidden side quest... are there any trigger conditions?"

[Notification: The hidden side quest "Expectations of the Uchiha" requires the following conditions to be met]

[1. Reputation within the Uchiha clan reaches "Rising Star" level (Achieved)]

[2. Receive a personal audience with Clan Head Fugaku Uchiha (Pending)]

[3. Make a certain statement at the clan meeting (Pending)]

[4. ??? (Unknown)]

Qingyu looked at that string of conditions, especially the final "???", and his heart skipped a beat.

Unknown conditions were the most troublesome; heaven only knew what kind of moth the system would pull.

If it threw in some head-severing minor events...

Like defecting, rebelling, or clan extermination...

"Don't overthink it," Tobirama said. "Improve your strength step by step. If you're strong enough, you can handle any side quest."

"That's easy to say..." Qingyu sighed.

"But I always feel that the Uchiha plotline... runs very deep."

In the original work, the Uchiha had already been wiped out by this point in time, but in this world, the Uchiha seemed quite normal...

Clan meetings were held as usual, the youth participated in the Chunin Exams normally, Shisui was alive, and Itachi was still a regular Anbu...

Could it be that this world line had changed?

Or was it... the calm before the storm?

The artistic composition of this world was a bit too high!

"Thinking so much is useless," Izuna sneered.

"What's meant to come will come. What you need to do now is become strong—strong enough to cope with any change."

Qingyu nodded.

Indeed, strength was everything.

I beg the system for a one-click stat boost function; I don't want to work hard anymore!!!

He lay back on the bed, closed his eyes, and began to circulate his chakra.

The night grew deep.

Konoha Hospital gradually quieted down.

In a corner of the hospital, an Anbu member wearing an animal mask reported in a low voice to their communicator:

"Target 'Qingyu' underwent ward special training with Shisui Uchiha today, focusing on chakra control and tactical deduction. Recovery speed is extraordinary; full recovery is expected by tomorrow."

"Fugaku Uchiha has scheduled a meeting for tomorrow."

"Recommendation: Continue observation. Additionally, the status of the Sunagakure Jinchuriki and Gaara... is unstable. Security for tomorrow's matches must be strengthened."

A brief response came from the other end of the communicator: "Received. Continue monitoring."

The Anbu member put away the communicator, their figure blending into the shadows and vanishing.

Moonlight spilled through the window onto the empty corridor.

In the silence, one could almost hear the sound of undercurrents surging.

The next morning, Qingyu was awakened by a nurse from the Medical Corps in a "gentle" manner.

She yanked the curtains open with a swish, letting the sunlight slap him right in the face.

"Qingyu-kun, time for a chakra recovery check." The nurse held a clipboard.

Qingyu reached out groggily, and the nurse pressed the Chakra Detector against his wrist.

The instrument emitted a faint hum, and the numbers on the screen flickered.

"78%... Not bad." The nurse recorded it.

"You can be discharged, but I suggest avoiding strenuous exercise today."

"What about watching the matches?" Qingyu asked immediately.

"Sitting and watching is fine." The nurse put away the instrument.

"However, if you suddenly jump up and charge into the arena from the spectator stands, the Medical Corps won't be responsible for fishing you out."

Qingyu: "..." Nurse, have you seen too many hot-blooded youths?

The discharge process was faster than he had imagined.

Ten minutes later, Qingyu was already standing at the entrance of Konoha Hospital, breathing in the long-lost air of freedom, even if this freedom was only temporary.

"Shall we go get something to eat first?" Izuna suggested in his mind. "I see a dango shop over there."

"I suggest replenishing with high-energy food," Tobirama analyzed rationally. "Considering the various situations that may arise next, stamina reserves are important."

Qingyu rubbed his stomach; he was indeed hungry.

The bland hospital food had left his mouth feeling like it could grow a bird.

So, he wandered over to the commercial district, found a ramen shop that looked decent, and grandly ordered a bowl of chashu ramen with an extra soft-boiled egg and double the chashu.

Anyway, there was a subsidy for the Chunin Exams—spend it!

While waiting for his noodles, he observed the pedestrians on the street. The atmosphere in Konoha today was clearly different; discussions about the matches could be heard everywhere.