Relying Entirely on One's Own Efforts~ (Seeking Collections, Seeking Reads!)

"Rumble!!!"

The Wind Style: Rasenshuriken that Uchiha Chen had just tossed aside fell like a crashing meteor, tearing through everything in its path. Massive boulders along the way were pulverized in an instant, leaving a small trench over ten meters long stretched out before the two of them.

Jiraiya: !!!

Jiraiya turned his head stiffly to look at Uchiha Chen, stammering as he spoke, "Brother Chen, you... you've already mastered the Rasengan?"

"Mm-hmm. After listening to your explanation, Big Brother, I felt a sudden sense of clarity. I tried to condense the Rasengan, and I didn't expect to actually succeed."

Uchiha Chen smiled "embarrassedly."

"No, you brat, not only did you master the Rasengan, but you even added the nature and shape transformation of Wind Style chakra on top of it!"

Thinking of this, the look Jiraiya gave Uchiha Chen became even more incredulous.

"This... doesn't seem that hard, does it? Why are you so surprised, Big Brother?"

Uchiha Chen scratched his chin in confusion.

Jiraiya: ...

Right, it's not hard. It's not hard at all—for a genius like you, there's certainly nothing difficult about it!

"I once thought that an outstanding genius as rare as Minato would be hard to see again, but until today, I realized I was wrong."

"Brother Chen, in terms of ninjutsu, you are just as excellent as Minato. No, you might even be an even more outstanding genius!"

Jiraiya muttered to himself, then suddenly looked at Uchiha Chen, his gaze burning with undisguised admiration.

Yet, faced with Jiraiya's praise, Uchiha Chen shook his head and said with a determined expression, "Big Brother Jiraiya, I'm no genius. I've reached this point entirely through my own hard work!"

And the insignificant little bit of help from Max-Level Comprehension, Uchiha Chen added silently in his heart.

"Uh..."

Jiraiya stared at Uchiha Chen with a strange expression. Hard work?

He had lived at Uchiha Chen's house for several months, and during that time, Uchiha Chen spent his days practicing basic ninjutsu and the rest of the time meditating to refine chakra. That didn't seem like very hard work, did it?

However, seeing Uchiha Chen's serious expression, Jiraiya nodded. Fine, if you say it's hard work, then it's hard work. I believe you!

"Haha, Big Brother, let's eat the popsicles first, they're about to melt!"

Uchiha Chen knew Jiraiya wouldn't believe him, but he didn't dwell on it. He laughed it off and handed one of the popsicles over.

Taking the popsicle, Jiraiya pondered for a moment before speaking seriously again, "I had originally reserved three days for you to learn the Rasengan, but your talent truly exceeded my expectations. In that case, our plans can be moved up."

Konoha, Uchiha Clan grounds, the residence of the Fourth Elder, Uchiha Sanhe.

Inside a secret room, the Fourth Elder, Uchiha Sanhe, sat on the main seat with his eyes closed, resting.

Below him, an Uchiha clansman knelt on one knee, reporting with an expressionless face, "Fourth Elder, that Uchiha Chen and Jiraiya have split up!"

This Uchiha clansman was named Uchiha Hengxing. His own strength was at the Chunin level, but thanks to his exceptional tracking skills, he had risen to the rank of Special Jonin.

Ever since Uchiha Sanhe had been humiliated at Uchiha Chen's house a few months ago, he had arranged for Uchiha Hengxing to monitor Uchiha Chen the moment he returned to his residence, waiting for an opportunity.

But what Uchiha Sanhe hadn't expected was that Jiraiya would actually move into Uchiha Chen's house—and stay for several months!

With Jiraiya holding the fort, Uchiha Sanhe naturally didn't dare to act rashly.

Just as Uchiha Sanhe was losing patience and even preparing to give up, Uchiha Hengxing brought good news.

Jiraiya and Uchiha Chen had actually gone out on a mission!

Hearing the good news brought by Uchiha Hengxing, Uchiha Sanhe snapped his eyes open. They gleamed, and his excitement was written all over his face.

"Good, good, good!"

"I thought you could hide by Jiraiya's side forever, Uchiha Chen. Since you're on your own now, don't blame this old man for being ruthless! Hahaha!!"

"I wanted to cling to a powerful ally, but it turns out I still have to rely on myself in the end!"

Uchiha Chen muttered, moving slowly in a certain direction. Anyone who didn't know better would think he was out for a stroll.

Uchiha Chen had originally thought his mission with Jiraiya was just to scout the movements of the main Sunagakure force. He never expected that Jiraiya would actually intend to infiltrate the enemy's interior.

As for him, he had been assigned to scout the movements of the Sunagakure Village vanguard.

"At this rate, if I want to cross the border of the Land of Fire, I'll have to pick up the pace!"

Uchiha Chen suddenly accelerated, his entire body shooting forward like a cannonball.

"Whoosh!"

"Whoosh! Whoosh!"

He had no idea how long he had been traveling when several sounds of something piercing through the air suddenly came from ahead.

Uchiha Chen frowned, instantly activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan, and clearly saw over a dozen kunai, each attached with an explosive tag, hurtling toward him.

Good grief, over a dozen explosive tags—they're really out for my life!

But by then, the explosive tags had already detonated!

"BOOM!"

A series of violent roars erupted, sending rocks flying and snapping several large trees in half, causing them to crash down.

After the explosion, five mysterious figures cloaked in black robes and wearing animal masks appeared in unison. Looking at the ruins ahead and the thick smoke still rising, various strange, mocking laughs emanated from behind their masks.

"So this is the disciple the Sannin took a fancy to? Doesn't seem like much!"

"Heh, so even Jiraiya and Tsunade have moments where their judgment fails them."

"Hahaha, who would have thought this mission would be completed so easily."

"Let's go, back to collect the reward!"

With that, the five of them turned around, ready to leave.

"Yo, you're leaving already? Isn't your execution of this mission a bit too much of a joke?"

However, just at that moment, Uchiha Chen's languid voice suddenly rang out.

The five figures stiffened and slowly turned around. Following the direction of the voice, they saw Uchiha Chen leaning lazily against the trunk of a towering tree, wearing an expression as if he were watching a show.

The five of them stared in astonishment at the center of the explosion, where they saw a wooden log blown to smithereens.

"A Substitution Jutsu?"

"When did he use the Substitution Jutsu? I didn't even notice!"

The Tiger Mask Man standing in the center muttered in disbelief.

"Heh, if you could have spotted that, would I even be able to survive in this world?"

Uchiha Chen let out a scoff, casting a look of utter disdain at the Tiger Mask Man.

Being dismissed so casually by Uchiha Chen, the Tiger Mask Man's body began to tremble uncontrollably; though his expression was hidden behind the mask, it was clear he was beyond furious.

At the same time, a flash of red light flickered across his eyes. Even with the mask obscuring his face, Uchiha Chen caught it nonetheless!