Uchiha Shuriken Throwing Technique

Anyone who graduated from the Ninja Academy and became an official ninja was eligible to attend the gatherings. Supposedly, they discussed matters concerning the future of the Uchiha Clan.

"Those outsiders have been so annoying lately, spreading rumors about the Uchiha everywhere."

Uchiha Tekka reached out to touch the White Dove perched on Shimizu's shoulder, but it dodged with a quick flutter. He awkwardly rubbed his nose.

"Shimizu, your Ninja Beast sure is wary of strangers."

"Coo, coo!"

The White Dove flew up and settled on Shimizu's head, apparently unwilling to spend much time around the rather foolish Uchiha Tekka.

"Don't pay attention to rumors from outsiders. Just focus on doing what you need to do."

Shimizu said calmly.

Wherever he went, he was met with strange looks.

The Konoha Military Police Force was bound to rub people the wrong way, so it was only natural for tensions to arise between them and other ninja clans.

That was how the seeds of hatred were planted. With Danzo fanning the flames, the Uchiha's situation would only grow more precarious.

"By the way, let's have a shuriken-throwing contest. I can hit the target with six shuriken in one throw now!"

Uchiha Tekka raised his brows confidently, making the black mole between them wobble.

"Oh."

Shimizu nodded, exchanged a few pleasantries with Uchiha Tekka, then left.

He still had to get back to training.

The backyard of the Shimizu Household.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

A series of kunai struck their targets, the sharp impacts echoing through the yard.

The White Dove stood on the table, eating a chicken drumstick from a plate and watching Shimizu train in the yard with curiosity.

Perhaps because she was a Ninja Beast, she had chakra in her body, too.

Unlike ordinary animals with no intelligence, the White Dove could eat more than just grains and beans. She could eat meat, too.

Her digestive system could quickly break down meat and turn it into chakra, which circulated through her body.

Compared to a human's, her chakra reserves were tiny—too little for her to perform even a single ninjutsu.

At most, she could briefly concentrate chakra to enhance her body. The White Dove was no different.

Shimizu had assigned the White Dove to gather intelligence.

There was no one worth keeping an eye on yet, so the White Dove spent her days loafing around the Shimizu Household.

"Coo."

The White Dove pecked off a small piece of meat and swallowed it.

Shimizu's figure was reflected in her eyes.

He closed his eyes and bent his knees, then leaped into the air.

While airborne, he stretched his body from side to side.

Eleven streaks of silver shot toward the six targets in the yard.

Smack! Smack! Smack!

As Shimizu landed, crisp impacts rang out around him.

Every target hanging from the cedar trees had been hit dead center.

Each target was packed with seven kunai, densely clustered within the bull's-eye.

Shimizu had thrown a total of forty-two kunai, and every one had hit its mark.

This was the Uchiha Shuriken Throwing Technique.

The Ninja Academy only taught the most basic shuriken-throwing technique. To advance beyond that, a student had to rely on their clan.

Every Uchiha ninja could consult the Uchiha's ninjutsu library.

The levels of ninjutsu they could access depended on their contributions to the Uchiha.

Ninja Academy students could study E- to C-rank ninjutsu.

However, they could only choose one technique at a time, and they had to prove they had mastered it before moving on to another.

These restrictions prevented rogue Uchiha from misusing the techniques. They also stopped ninjas from biting off more than they could chew and attempting techniques beyond their abilities, risking injury to themselves.

Some clan members were overly ambitious and chose C-rank ninjutsu right away, wasting a long time before they mastered it.

Those who started with lower-ranked techniques could learn several in the same amount of time.

Of course, a ninja had only so much time and energy. The more proficient they became and the deeper their understanding of a technique, the more powerful it would be.

So most ninjas chose to master a few suitable techniques. Quality mattered more than quantity.

Shimizu was currently training in the Uchiha Shuriken Throwing Technique, which every Uchiha learned upon entering the Ninja Academy.

The next step beyond the Uchiha Shuriken Throwing Technique was the Shuriken Manipulation Technique.

A highly durable, elastic rubber cord was tied to a kunai. The user threw the kunai at a target, then pulled it back.

"I've improved a lot since a while ago."

Shimizu pondered.

He could probably go pick out a ninjutsu now. He could take some time to test his chakra nature, too.

He would also buy a scroll for a D-rank Medical Ninjutsu, just in case anyone decided to investigate him.

The Uchiha Clan were born with an affinity for fire, and its members liked to use Fire Release. That meant they had to take the initiative and test for their other chakra natures themselves.

It had been more than twenty days since he had obtained the Simulator.

Before that, no matter how hard he studied and practiced on his own, the best he could manage was hitting the targets with seven kunai in one throw.

Itachi, who was naturally gifted, could hit a target with eight kunai in a single throw at the age of five.

Itachi had entered the Ninja Academy at six. At five, he hadn't even begun systematic training.

If Shimizu continued along the path he'd originally been on, he would have a hard time surpassing Itachi anytime soon.

There were only a few ways to improve one's strength through hard work:

High-level ninjutsu, Senjutsu, the Eight Inner Gates, scientific research and transplantation, or developing a Kekkei Genkai.

Each of these required a great deal of time. By the time Shimizu had painstakingly mastered a powerful technique, Itachi would have already plunged his blade into Shimizu's back.

Time was too short. He couldn't afford to ignore that problem.

But now that he had the Simulator, things were different. Even his Taijutsu had improved considerably.

Every extra kunai he landed in a target's bull's-eye represented an improvement in his reflexes, dynamic vision, physical coordination, and overall fitness.

Shimizu retrieved the kunai one by one, preparing to start his next training session.

He wanted to see what would happen if he activated his Sharingan.

The sky gradually darkened, and the stars appeared.

Fine beads of sweat covered Shimizu's forehead. He didn't want to slack off for even a moment. The Simulator could give him abilities, but it was up to him to figure out how to use them.

A week later.

On a street in Konoha.

Ninjas and civilians streamed along the smooth road.

For the past week, Shimizu had been avoiding Kurenai Yuhi.

He was afraid that if he pushed Kurenai Yuhi too far, she would complain to her father.

Then his good reputation would be ruined.

Whenever he had free time, he went to visit Yakushi Nonō.

Shimizu understood the ways of the world and never showed up empty-handed.

He always brought a small gift or two, like an apple or a banana.

He didn't bring much—just one item each time. It was enough to show he cared.

"Is that Minato Namikaze?"

As he neared Konoha Hospital, Shimizu spotted someone.

The man had spiky blond hair, long side locks falling around his temples, and a handsome face with a gentle air. He wore an olive-green ninja vest, with a blue high collar visible around his neck.

Minato Namikaze was talking to another ninja, a dark-skinned, portly man.

The signs of a fight were obvious on him, and he looked as though he had just returned from a long journey.

"No wonder I haven't seen Minato Namikaze for the past month. He must have been away on a mission."

Shimizu understood.