The Training Ground Barrier

"Oh, my, I haven't seen you two little boys around before. Ah, Young Master Sasuke, I'm sorry I didn't recognize you earlier. Is this your friend? Please, come in."

Her name was Uchiha Chiyuki, one of the Uchiha Clan's rare medical ninjas. Most members of the Uchiha Clan were skilled in Fire Release. Almost none were born with Water Release, let alone learned Medical Ninjutsu.

As for Yang Release, there were none at all. Chiyuki was one of the best among the few. Though she was always very modest, her Medical Ninjutsu had reached the level required to work at the Ninja Hospital.

The two boys were a little surprised when they arrived. They both knew about this place, but neither had ever been here. They had expected a huge open area, but it turned out to be a room.

Quite a few Military Police members were stationed around the area. They all greeted Sasuke when they saw him, and Sasuke struck a pose Hui knew all too well.

Just like when he'd first enrolled at the Ninja Academy, Sasuke had his hands in his pockets, giving off a cool, aloof air.

"This place was built by an elder of the clan. Supposedly, he was the one who invented the Flame Explosion Technique," Chiyuki explained as they walked.

"We're here. To go any farther, you'll need to activate your Sharingan for verification. I'm sorry, Young Master Sasuke, but clan rules state that only members with the Sharingan may enter this training ground. I can't let you in either. Please understand," Chiyuki said, looking troubled.

The two exchanged a glance, and Sasuke spoke up. "This is a bit of a letdown. Hui, let's just go back."

Hui didn't answer right away. His father had indeed told him to come here for the test. His father didn't "know" that he'd awakened his Sharingan, and Hui didn't want to reveal it and make him worry.

Since his father had said that, it meant they were allowed in according to the "rules."

"Sister Chiyuki, the rule for entering the Training Ground isn't that you have to have awakened the Sharingan, is it?" Hui turned and asked her.

"Huh? No, that's not it. The rule is that any Uchiha who knows the Flame Explosion Technique can come in to train, accompanied by at most one friend," Chiyuki answered without thinking.

"Then there's no problem. I know the Flame Explosion Technique. Sasuke is my friend, so he can come in with me. Is that okay, Sister?" Hui asked Chiyuki.

"But without the Sharingan, how can you prove you know the technique? Even if you're Young Master Sasuke's friend, I can't let you in." Chiyuki looked down at the brazen little boy, resisting the urge to throw him out.

Just then, a Uchiha dressed as a Military Police officer stepped forward. "Lady Chiyuki, he really does know the technique. He tested the Flame Explosion Technique outside the Training Ground today and made quite a commotion."

Chiyuki suddenly understood, and her manner warmed considerably. "So that's it. You're Hui. You really are gifted. To have mastered such a difficult technique at your age..."

Sasuke gave a cold snort from the side, making his displeasure clear.

After the two boys went inside, Chiyuki turned to the Military Police officer who'd spoken and complained, "Why didn't you say so earlier? When will I ever get transferred out of this awful place? People keep testing their Shadow Clone Technique. You'd think it was life-threatening."

"I'm sick of dealing with people's heart palpitations every day. You watch the entrance. I'm going in to take a look." After that, Chiyuki headed into the Training Ground without looking back, leaving the unlucky Military Police officer behind.

"Hui, we'll just watch from here. The barrier will block all the impact from inside. You can use the Shadow Clone Technique now."

Chiyuki led them to the observation platform. The enormous spherical barrier in front of them immediately caught their attention.

The barrier seemed to have two layers. The one before them glowed purple-red. Through it, they could just make out a pale blue barrier that looked somewhat "leaky." It looked less like a barrier and more like a ball woven from threads.

Hui turned and walked over to the mound of dirt piled near the entrance. He formed Hand Seals and released a ninjutsu.

Earth Clone Technique

Once he'd finished, Hui jumped back onto the observation platform.

Chiyuki froze when she saw the earth clone, then hurried off to the side.

"Activate Level Three protection. This time it's an earth clone."

When Chiyuki returned, she said to the two boys, "Sorry, sorry! I didn't realize Hui wanted to test his Earth Clone Technique. You really are the son of that esteemed man!"

Hui asked curiously, "Sister Chiyuki, can an earth clone really use this ninjutsu?"

The question caught Chiyuki off guard. "Of course it can. Didn't Lord Chuanhe explain it to you? Besides, among the clones currently known, earth clones have the greatest destructive power."

Sasuke had already been feeling irritable watching Hui expertly perform ninjutsu. Hearing this, he asked without thinking, "Why? Aren't they all physical clones? What difference could there be?"

"Just wait and see the results, Young Master Sasuke," Chiyuki replied. She couldn't explain why, so she could only point him toward the results.

Soon, Sasuke forgot about his unnecessary question again. The purple-red barrier in front of them visibly grew deeper in color. Wrapped inside the outer barrier, the inner one was almost impossible to make out.

"Hui, Young Master Sasuke, here are some protective goggles. Put them on," Chiyuki said, handing each of them a pair.

They put them on without protest. Neither wanted to experience being blinded by the light again.

A blinding flash and a muffled boom came from within the barrier.

Chiyuki let out a heartfelt exclamation. "Amazing. I imagine this test will be rated at least A. You really are incredible, Hui."

"An A? What does that mean?" Hui asked curiously.

"So boring. I thought we'd be able to see more clearly. We didn't see anything at all," Sasuke said.

Chiyuki answered them one by one. "The damage rating is just a general measure. C corresponds to the destructive power of a Chunin, B to that of a Jonin, and A to that of an elite Jonin."

"Hui, are you really only six? I feel like you could try competing for Hokage," Chiyuki teased.

"Because this technique is so dangerous, we have to keep the safety measures strict, Young Master Sasuke," Chiyuki said after answering Hui's question.

Then Chiyuki suddenly realized something. "Hui, don't tell me you didn't feel any discomfort in your heart? You know, like it was being burned."

Chiyuki's words reminded Hui that he couldn't remember feeling any feedback when he'd performed the technique either of those times.

"No, Sister Chiyuki. I don't think I felt any feedback. It was the same last time," Hui said after a moment of thought.

"That's impossible. This has never happened before." Chiyuki grew anxious.

She opened the medical kit she'd left nearby and began examining him.

Chiyuki's brow furrowed more and more. Nothing wrong? How could there be nothing wrong? This was such a serious issue, yet Hui's body seemed perfectly normal.

Sasuke asked anxiously from the side, "Sister Chiyuki, is Hui all right?"

Sasuke felt a little guilty. It seemed like he'd caused Hui trouble both times. His hands clenched into fists.

After a long silence, Chiyuki said, "Don't worry, Young Master Sasuke. Hui is perfectly healthy. I can't figure out what's causing this. Sorry, Hui, but you'll have to ask Senior Chuanhe and see if he knows what's going on."

"This is the first time I've ever seen a physical clone fail to send back its memories. I'll ask my teacher whether he's heard of anything similar."

Hearing that, Sasuke relaxed a little.

"Hui, let's hurry back and ask Senior what's going on."

Hui was concerned about his own condition too, but before that, he was more curious about his test rating.

"It's good that nothing's wrong. Sister Chiyuki, what was my damage rating?"

Chiyuki was speechless. "Kid, can't you worry about yourself for once? Naturally, you got an A. You've trained your ninjutsu to this level at six. I doubt even Lord Itachi or Lord Shisui could do much better."

"Haha, thanks for worrying about me, Sister Chiyuki. You can just call us by our names next time. I'm Hui, and he's Sasuke."

Chiyuki laughed in spite of herself. "You little rascal. I'll remember. Hurry back now. I still have work to do. You too, Young Master Sasuke."

Sasuke snapped, "Why do you still call me that? My name's Sasuke! That's it, Hui, let's go."

Chiyuki only smiled. She could call Hui that, naturally, but she couldn't do the same with Sasuke.

After watching the two leave, Chiyuki returned to the Training Ground. Looking at the clumps of earth inside the barrier, she rubbed her brow in frustration.

"Looks like I'll have to work overtime again today. And I still have to look up the records when I get back. When will this ever end?"