Training, Fugaku's Test

Sasuke was examining someone's body for the first time, and he wasn't very familiar with the process.

He also had to keep discussing things with Elder Nobuhiko.

As a result, the entire examination took over an hour...

Inside the Soul Space.

Uchiha Izumi looked utterly spent.

Although she couldn't feel anything, she'd seen everything clearly through the images Sasuke shared with her...

Watching herself get...

The visual impact had been even more devastating!

So after Elder Nobuhiko finished drawing up her training plan, she'd been too embarrassed to meet Sasuke's eyes.

All she could do was turn her embarrassment into motivation and train herself even harder.

Only a small part of her consciousness remained in her body, controlling it as it mechanically carried out its physical training to the letter.

Most of her consciousness had entered the Soul Space to receive Elder Nobuhiko's guidance and practice ninjutsu.

It was roughly like splitting off a clone to do different training, but there were some differences.

Ordinary people were limited by their chakra and couldn't practice ninjutsu for long periods.

Take Kakashi from the original story, for example.

At the start of the story, he'd explicitly said that he had enough chakra to use the Lightning Blade only four times.

That meant that if he wanted to practice the Lightning Blade or improve the technique, he could make at most four attempts. After that, he'd have to stop and rest to recover his chakra.

That was the fundamental reason ordinary ninja made such slow progress in mastering ninjutsu.

But with Sasuke's help, Uchiha Izumi didn't have to worry about that!

Izumi: "I'm out of chakra, Lady Setsuna. Please!"

Setsuna: "You got it!"

That was right—she had Setsuna, her very own rechargeable battery!

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

Instead, whenever Izumi ran out, Setsuna replenished her chakra to match her own capacity.

The goal was to ensure she remained aware of how much chakra she had and didn't develop a false impression.

Of course, Setsuna was more than happy to oblige, getting carried away by every "Lady Setsuna."

As for Sasuke, he'd also begun his training.

Being able to gain abilities through the Soul Space didn't mean he no longer needed to train.

Nor did it mean he was already at the same level as the people who'd granted him those abilities.

Put simply, he'd gained all the skills possessed by a high-level game character through the Soul Space.

But in essence, he was still a level-one rookie who'd just started playing.

When it came to control, he naturally couldn't compare to the original account holder.

For each skill—each ninjutsu—the corresponding button, or hand seal, was something he only knew the location of. He hadn't yet built up muscle memory, so he couldn't react quickly.

And he had zero experience fighting players or monsters!

He was a total newbie who'd bought a top-tier account.

So,

with his chakra pathway system not yet fully developed, he began practicing the basic hand seals.

Well, he could now manage two seals in three seconds...

Ha...

As evening drew near, the setting sun dyed the horizon a deep red.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone knocked on Sasuke's bedroom door, followed by Fugaku's voice.

"Sasuke, are you there?"

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

Fugaku pushed open the door.

Seeing Sasuke rubbing his fingers, Fugaku understood at once. "Practicing hand seals?"

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded and shook his sore, swollen fingers in frustration. "But I've run out of medicated oil. Do you have any?"

"I've got a little. I'll buy you some more tomorrow." As he spoke, Fugaku took the oil from his medical kit, came over, and crouched in front of Sasuke. He took the boy's tender hands, applied the soothing oil, and gently massaged them. "You're still young. Don't practice for too long at a time, understand?"

"I know, I know. You're so naggy, Dad."

"Ha!" Fugaku chuckled.

Then he glanced at Uchiha Izumi, who was training in the little garden outside the room. "Even during vacation, Izumi's still working hard."

"Yeah." Sasuke nodded. "You know her final exam results weren't very good. If things keep going this way, she might not meet the graduation requirements."

"She's lived outside the clan since she was little, and her parents..." Fugaku paused, then changed the subject. "Would you like me to arrange for someone to tutor Izumi?"

"Well..." Sasuke smiled diplomatically. "I don't think that's necessary. Because of her bloodline, Izumi already feels a little awkward in the clan. I'm worried people might say unkind things..."

Fugaku looked at Sasuke for a long moment, then nodded. "All right."

He didn't pursue the subject, but instead said, "Elder Nobuhiko passed away peacefully with a smile. In keeping with his wishes, we buried him near Naka Shrine."

There was no need to tell me something like that. I'm just a kid... Sasuke was taken aback.

He vaguely realized that his father might have guessed something. Perhaps he was testing Sasuke, or perhaps he wanted Sasuke to hear it so he could pass it on to certain people.

Curious, he asked, "Why was he buried so quickly? Didn't you organize a memorial service for the clan?"

Fugaku shook his head. "That was Elder Nobuhiko's wish. He didn't think a service would mean anything."

"I agree. Anyone who cares will bring flowers on their own."

"Like one of your fellow clansmen who died in the line of duty. His teammate visits the Memorial Stone every day to pay his respects."

You mean Obito and Kakashi... Sasuke's thoughts stirred.

At that moment, Elder Nobuhiko's voice rang out. "Sasuke, ask him whether anyone's come to pay their respects to this old man of mine."

"..." Sasuke was speechless.

He'd insisted on skipping a memorial service while alive, yet now that he was dead, he was still worried no one would come to mourn him. What an obstinate old man...

After silently grumbling to himself, Sasuke hesitated. "Then, did anyone in the clan..."

That didn't sound like something Sasuke would ask on his own... Fugaku's thoughts stirred. As if he'd confirmed something, he nodded. "Of course. Elder Nobuhiko was the clan's most respected elder. Quite a few clan members went to the Naka River on their own after hearing the news."

"Even some of the clan members stationed at the border sent word to the Third Hokage, asking for permission to return and pay their respects."

Although the Third Shinobi World War had ended two years ago, minor clashes still broke out along the border from time to time. As a result, it wasn't just the Uchiha Clan—most of Konoha's ninja were still guarding the frontier.

Sasuke nodded in silence and said to Elder Nobuhiko in his mind, "Satisfied?"

"Fugaku said quite a few clan members went. That means some didn't! Sasuke, ask him exactly who stayed away!"

"..."

Sasuke couldn't help grumbling. "Elder Nobuhiko, there goes your image as an unselfish, high-minded man..."

"I devoted myself tirelessly to the Uchiha Clan. It's true I didn't do it entirely for the clan—I also wanted a good reputation and people's respect. But those things don't conflict." Elder Nobuhiko stroked his beard, unconcerned. "Besides, I'm already dead. I'd like to see which of them turns out to be an ungrateful wretch!"

A man burdened by his own reputation could never be truly selfless. The greatest selflessness was selfishness.

Of course, for Elder Nobuhiko, who'd spent his whole life working for the clan, there was nothing derogatory about the saying.

As long as he'd genuinely done good deeds and benefited ordinary people, then he'd done good.

You couldn't dismiss someone's good deeds just because they'd done them for the sake of their reputation.

Judge people by their actions, not their hearts; judge them by their hearts, and hardly anyone in the world would be beyond reproach.

"Fine. Since you're being so honest, I'll ask him for you!"

Sasuke said, "Dad, didn't you say Elder Nobuhiko was greatly respected by the clan? Why did only some of them go?"

'Just as I thought!'

'Sasuke didn't ask that of his own accord. It seems someone put him up to it.'

'And the people who'd care about this were...'

Sasuke had stayed silent for a while before asking, and Fugaku was now certain of something.

He ruffled Sasuke's hair and smiled. "Of course Elder Nobuhiko was a highly respected elder. Perhaps a few clan members are still lost in grief, or would rather speak with Elder Nobuhiko privately when there are fewer people around."

"Don't worry about these things, Sasuke."

"Okay." Sasuke could only nod. In his mind, he told Elder Nobuhiko, "I'm afraid I can't help you, Elder."

Elder Nobuhiko glared, stroking his beard. "All these years as clan head, Fugaku has learned nothing good. But he's picked up how to smooth things over and dodge questions! That old man's furious!"

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

??? He left something for me?

Why didn't he mention it?... Sasuke was taken aback. Then he looked inside the bottle, and his pupils suddenly contracted!