Training, Fugaku's Probing

Sasuke was also doing this for the first time, so he was quite unfamiliar with how to perform a physical examination.

He had to communicate with Elder Nobuhiko from time to time as well.

Consequently, the entire examination process lasted for a full hour.

Inside the Soul Space.

Uchiha Izumi looked as if she had been completely broken.

Although she couldn't feel anything, she had seen everything clearly through the vision Sasuke shared...

Watching herself being...

This visual impact was even more lethal!

So much so that after Elder Nobuhiko finished drafting the training plan, she didn't dare to meet Sasuke's eyes.

She could only turn her embarrassment into motivation and drill herself ruthlessly.

She left only a small portion of her consciousness to control her physical body in the outside world, performing physical training in a meticulous and mechanical fashion.

The majority of her consciousness entered the Soul Space to receive guidance from Elder Nobuhiko and practice ninjutsu.

It was roughly the same as creating a clone to perform different training, yet there were some differences.

Ordinary people were limited by their chakra and could not practice ninjutsu for long periods.

Take Kakashi from the original story as an example.

When the plot began, he had explicitly stated that his chakra was only enough to use the Lightning Blade four times.

This meant that if he wanted to practice the Lightning Blade, or optimize the technique, he could only attempt it four times at most; after four times, he would have to stop and rest to recover his chakra.

This was also the fundamental reason why ordinary ninjas progressed so slowly in their training.

But with Sasuke's help, Uchiha Izumi didn't need to worry about this problem!

Izumi: "My chakra is exhausted, Lady Setsuna, please help me!"

Setsuna: "You got it!"

That's right, she had a Setsuna-brand power bank!

However, at Elder Nobuhiko's request, Setsuna did not give Uchiha Izumi too much chakra at once.

Instead, she would wait until it was exhausted and then replenish it to match Izumi's own chakra capacity.

The purpose was to keep her clearly aware of her own chakra levels and avoid any misconceptions.

Of course, Setsuna was also happy to do it, losing herself in every "Lady Setsuna" she heard.

As for Sasuke, he also began his own training.

Being able to acquire abilities through the Soul Space did not mean he didn't need to train.

Nor did it mean he had reached the same heights as the people who bestowed those abilities upon him.

Simply put, he had merely acquired all the skills mastered by a high-level game character through the Soul Space.

But in essence, he was still a level 1 newbie who had just started playing the game.

Naturally, his operation could not be compared to the original owner of the account.

He was still at the stage of simply knowing where the buttons (hand seals) for each skill (ninjutsu) were located; he hadn't formed muscle memory yet and couldn't react quickly.

His experience in combat was zero!

He was truly a novice who had bought a top-tier account.

Therefore, With his meridian system not yet fully developed, he began practicing basic hand seals.

Well, he was already able to perform two seals in three seconds...

Heh~

As dusk approached, the setting sun dyed the horizon a deep crimson.

Knock, knock~ knock!

A knock sounded at Sasuke's door, followed by Fugaku's voice.

"Sasuke, are you in?"

"Father, I'm here. Come in."

Pushing the door open, Fugaku saw Sasuke rubbing his fingers and understood immediately: "Practicing hand seals?"

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded, shaking his swollen fingers with a hint of annoyance: "I just ran out of medicinal oil. Do you have any more, Father?"

"I have a little left. I'll buy you some more tomorrow." As he spoke, Fugaku took some medicinal oil from his medical kit, walked over to Sasuke, and crouched down. He took Sasuke's small, tender hands, applied the oil meant to relax the muscles and activate blood circulation, and then gently began to massage them: "You're still young, you shouldn't practice for too long, understand?"

"I know, Father, you're so long-winded."

"Ha~!" Fugaku chuckled.

He then turned his head to glance at Uchiha Izumi, who was training in the small garden outside the room. "Even on her day off, Izumi is still so diligent."

"Mm." Sasuke nodded. "Father, you know as well that her results in the final assessment weren't ideal. If things continue like this, she might not meet the graduation standards in the future."

"After all, she grew up outside the clan, and her parents were..." Fugaku paused, then shifted the tone of his conversation. "Does she need Father to arrange for someone to guide Izumi?"

"This..." Sasuke offered a subtle smile. "That won't be necessary. Given her bloodline, Izumi is already in a somewhat awkward position within the clan. I worry that it might invite unpleasant talk..."

Fugaku looked at Sasuke deeply, then nodded. "Very well."

Not dwelling on the topic further, he continued, "Elder Nobuhiko passed away peacefully with a smile. Following his final wishes, he was buried near Naka Shrine."

There was no need to tell a child like me about such things... Sasuke was taken aback.

He vaguely understood that his father had guessed something. Perhaps he was testing him, or perhaps he was using Sasuke's ears to speak to someone else.

He asked curiously, "Why was the burial so soon? Didn't Father organize a memorial service for the clan?"

Fugaku shook his head. "This was Elder Nobuhiko's own wish. He felt it was meaningless."

"I agree. If people truly care, they will naturally bring flowers of their own accord."

"Just like one of your predecessors who sacrificed himself; his teammates go to the Memorial Stone to pay their respects every single day."

He must be talking about Obito and Kakashi... Sasuke felt a stir in his heart.

At that moment, Elder Nobuhiko's voice rang out: "Sasuke, help me ask if anyone has come to mourn this old man of their own volition."

"..." Sasuke was speechless.

He demanded no memorial service while alive, yet worries about whether anyone mourns him after death. What an insincere old man...

Silently grumbling to himself, he hesitated. "So, is there anyone in the clan who..."

This doesn't sound like Sasuke's own intention... Fugaku felt a shift in his heart, as if confirming something. He nodded and said, "Of course. Elder Nobuhiko was the most respected elder in the clan. Many clansmen, upon hearing the news, went to Naka Shrine of their own accord."

"Even some clansmen stationed at the border have sent letters to Lord Third, requesting to return to pay their respects."

Although the Third Shinobi World War had ended two years ago, small-scale conflicts still occurred at the borders from time to time. Therefore, not only the Uchiha clan but most of Konoha's shinobi were still guarding the frontiers.

Sasuke nodded silently, saying to Elder Nobuhiko in his heart, "Are you satisfied now?"

"Fugaku said 'many clansmen,' which means some people didn't go! Sasuke, help me ask again—who exactly didn't go!"

"..."

Sasuke couldn't help but retort, "Elder Nobuhiko, your image of selfless nobility is crumbling..."

"I have exhausted my efforts for the Uchiha clan. It is true that it wasn't entirely for the clan, but also to leave behind a good reputation, yet these two things do not conflict." Elder Nobuhiko stroked his beard, unbothered. "Besides, I am already dead. I want to see exactly which ones are the ungrateful wretches!"

Those who value their name are burdened by it; the greatest selflessness is selfishness.

Of course, to Elder Nobuhiko, who had spent his entire life laboring for the clan, this statement held no derogatory meaning.

As long as one has truly performed good deeds and benefited ordinary people, then one is a good person.

One cannot use the excuse that others perform good deeds for the sake of reputation to deny their benevolent acts.

Judge by actions, not by intentions; if one judges by intentions, there are few perfect people in this world.

"Fine, for the sake of your honesty, I'll ask for you!"

Sasuke spoke up. "Father, didn't you say Elder Nobuhiko was highly respected by the clan? Why was it only a portion of the clansmen?"

As expected!

Sasuke's question didn't stem from his own intent; it was more like someone had prompted him.

And those who would care about this issue are...

Seeing that Sasuke had waited a moment before asking the question, Fugaku had already confirmed his suspicions.

He ruffled Sasuke's hair and smiled. "Of course, Elder Nobuhiko was a highly respected elder. Perhaps a small number of clansmen were simply drowning in grief, or perhaps they hoped to speak their hearts to Elder Nobuhiko in private when there were fewer people around."

"You don't need to worry about these things, Sasuke."

"Alright." Sasuke could only nod, saying to Elder Nobuhiko in his heart, "Elder, I'm afraid I can't help you."

Elder Nobuhiko huffed and puffed. "In all the years Fugaku has been clan head, he hasn't learned anything good, but he has certainly learned how to smooth things over and play politics! He's going to be the death of me!"

"Oh, right!" At that moment, Fugaku took out a bottle and handed it to Sasuke. "Elder Nobuhiko asked me to give this to you before he passed."

??? There's something for me?

Why didn't he mention it?... Sasuke was stunned, then cast his gaze toward the bottle, and his pupils instantly constricted!