It was still six in the morning.
Xiao figured that Tsunade and Uzumaki Mito should be awake by now, so he decided to stop training. Sitting on the ground, he began using the Uchiha Clan's chakra extraction technique.
The technique was no secret within the Uchiha Clan. Almost everyone knew it, but they couldn't tell outsiders—that was a rule of the great clans.
Uchiha Xiao sat cross-legged, circulating the chakra within him until his body was in the most comfortable state, then began drawing chakra from the surrounding area.
This was Xiao's first attempt at training on his own since crossing over. He found that chakra was a bit like the inner energy depicted in martial arts novels: it came from the air and entered the body through breathing exercises.
He opened his eyes. According to the original owner's memories, extracting chakra should have been difficult; a person could only extract a little in a day. So why didn't it feel that hard? And why was the chakra he'd extracted during this session purer and denser?
He thought it over carefully but couldn't figure out why, so he gave up and closed his eyes, continuing his breathing exercises to replenish his chakra.
Uzumaki Mito was rather surprised. "Nine-Tails, look. Is Uchiha Xiao extracting chakra? But the concentration and quality of it shouldn't be this high!"
The Nine-Tails observed Uchiha Xiao through Uzumaki Mito's senses, its brow furrowing. "Mito, he really is extracting chakra, but a Genin shouldn't be able to withstand chakra like that!"
"Oh? What do you mean, Nine-Tails?" Uzumaki Mito was intrigued.
"That kid is extracting nature energy chakra—or, as you humans call it, Senjutsu Chakra. Only Tailed Beasts and those who've learned the sage arts of the Three Great Sage Lands can absorb it. The Uchiha Clan has a contract with the Ninja Cat Clan, but I've never heard of any of them becoming sages. This kid..." The Nine-Tails couldn't make sense of it.
A glint flashed in Uzumaki Mito's eyes. Senjutsu Chakra—she didn't have any herself, but she knew her husband did. As far as she knew, other than Jiraiya, no one in Konoha could extract it.
Now that this boy could, it was proof he would become a powerful shinobi. She had been worried that after she was gone, someone might bully Tsunade and Nawaki. Now, it seemed she needed to find a way to help Tsunade build a good relationship with him.
Uchiha Xiao spent about an hour extracting chakra. After replacing the last of the ordinary chakra in his body with higher-quality chakra, he opened his eyes.
He clenched his fists and found that his physical strength had improved considerably. The corners of his mouth lifted. In this damnable meat grinder of a war, he had gained another chance to survive!
Just then, Uzumaki Mito opened the door, smiling. "Xiao, come on over. Breakfast is ready!" She beckoned him over.
Uchiha Xiao hurried to his feet, straightened his clothes, and bowed. "Lady Mito, I hope I haven't caused you too much trouble." He kept his head lowered, observing proper etiquette, while the Anbu in the tree recorded the exchange by reading Lady Mito's lips.
Uzumaki Mito glanced at the Anbu, then turned back to Uchiha Xiao with a smile. She stepped forward, straightened him up, and took his hand. "Grandma Mito knew you and little Tsunade were going to the battlefield today, so I prepared the ingredients last night and made you breakfast this morning. You'll have to eat plenty."
"Lady Mito, you really shouldn't have!" Xiao hurriedly tried to refuse, but no matter how hard he tried, he couldn't pull free of Uzumaki Mito's hand.
"Xiao, there's no need to be so formal. From now on, call me Grandma, just like little Tsunade does!" Uzumaki Mito's words shocked not only Uchiha Xiao but also Tsunade, who had just come out after getting dressed.
Tsunade had put on her battle clothes. She looked at her grandmother in shock, then at Uchiha Xiao. What was going on? Had things progressed this quickly?
"Lady Tsunade!" Uchiha Xiao grabbed Tsunade's arm as if she were his savior, looking at her pleadingly. Tsunade was about to speak, but then she saw Uzumaki Mito shoot her a cold glance. She shut her mouth, carefully pried Xiao's hand off her arm, and sat down to eat.
Uchiha Xiao broke into a cold sweat and swallowed. In the end, at Uzumaki Mito's insistence, he sat across from Tsunade, beside Mito.
Seeing how cautious Uchiha Xiao was, Uzumaki Mito couldn't help wanting to laugh. Was she really that scary? The poor child looked terrified.
Uchiha Xiao realized he couldn't win this one, so he began eating too. Just then, the system's notification sounded.
Ding! Congratulations, host, you've completed an achievement: Breakfast at the Senju Clan's. Reward: 1,000 points. Current balance: 1,550 points. Ding! The system has issued a quest. The Second Shinobi World War is extremely dangerous, so please join the Sannin's unit. Reward: 5,000 points. (Optional)
At the same time, Uzumaki Mito gave Tsunade a meaningful look, urging her to hurry up and ask. Under her grandmother's watchful gaze, Tsunade set down her bowl and suddenly said, "Xiao, I have an unreasonable request. I hope you'll agree."
Tsunade watched Uchiha Xiao, her expression serious. Hearing her, Uchiha Xiao looked over, set down his bowl, and sat up straight.
"Please tell me what it is, Lady Tsunade. If it's something I can do, I won't refuse." Xiao looked Tsunade in the eyes, his gaze solemn and serious.
Hearing his answer and seeing how readily Uchiha Xiao agreed, Tsunade felt relieved. She spoke warmly. "Lord Hokage has assigned me, Jiraiya, and Orochimaru to lead a thousand shinobi each as the vanguard in the Land of Rain. We're allowed to choose one trusted aide from the village, so..."
Uchiha Xiao's eyes lit up. He jumped to his feet. "If you need me, I, Uchiha Xiao, will brave fire and water for you, Lady Tsunade. I won't hesitate!"
Tsunade froze at his words. Uchiha Xiao wasn't very strong yet, but he sure knew how to make a promise sound good. "Brave fire and water, won't hesitate"—that took real resolve!
Even Uzumaki Mito, sitting nearby, narrowed her eyes into slits at his words. A trusted aide, huh? It was a good start.
Tsunade smiled. "Then I look forward to working with you on this mission, Xiao!"
"Yes, Lady Tsunade." Uchiha Xiao was overjoyed. He'd searched high and low, only to find it without any trouble at all.
Ding! The system has detected that the host has completed the quest. Reward: 5,000 points. Current balance: 6,550 points. Ding! Congratulations, host, you've achieved the milestone "A Little Accomplishment" (total points accumulated: 5,000). Reward: B-rank ninjutsu, Magnet Release: True Sight Eye (based on the ninjutsu Gaara used to cheat during the Chunin Exams).
He'd actually gotten this reward! Uchiha Xiao's face brightened. With this sensory technique, he could avoid many dangers!
He looked up at Uzumaki Mito, who was eating slowly beside him. Suddenly, he thought of something, but hesitated to speak.
Oh, right. How could he remind Lady Mito about the Uzumaki Clan?