The following afternoon, nothing happened that day.
On the training ground in Konoha, a place steeped in countless stories from years gone by, Uchiha Chiba stood alone. His gaze was firm and fervent, fixed on the open ground before him.
The original story said—
Only the gifted could learn the Flying Raijin Technique. He wondered whether he had the talent for it...
The Flying Raijin Technique was famed throughout the Ninja World for its uncanny mobility. Its user could move between marked spaces in an instant, killing enemies in the blink of an eye.
Chiba slowly closed his eyes and began molding chakra, focusing his mind completely.
Following the formula recorded on the scroll, he carefully guided chakra through his body, compressing and shaping it. At first, the chakra was like a mischievous sprite, difficult to control as it darted wildly through his chakra pathways.
Fine beads of sweat gradually formed on Chiba's forehead, but his expression remained focused. He kept adjusting the chakra's course, as though he could feel the flow of his own blood.
Again and again, his calculations for the destination point fell apart just as he was about to succeed. Uchiha Chiba's breathing grew labored, and frustration surged through him like a tide. He bit down on his lower lip until a trace of blood appeared. The sting only sharpened his gaze.
"The Flying Raijin is nothing..." Uchiha Chiba stared intently at the open ground before him, then continued working through the destination point in his mind.
VMMMM!!
The chakra dissipated.
After taking another deep breath, Chiba began gathering chakra again. This time, he cast aside every distraction and immersed himself completely in understanding and controlling the formula.
Gradually, the chakra began to gather obediently, forming a faint formula mark in his palm. It glowed dimly, taking the shape of a rose.
Chiba abruptly opened his eyes, a resolute glint flashing in them. He formed Hand Seals in an instant and shouted, "Flying Raijin Technique!"
In the blink of an eye, his figure vanished from where he stood!
KABOOM!!
The trees on the training ground came crashing down.
Tree: Hey, what the—?!
Then Uchiha Chiba emerged from behind the ruined trees.
The result wasn't ideal, but a pleased smile appeared on Uchiha Chiba's face.
"It's not perfect yet, but I should be able to master it in a few months. The Sharingan's assistance is no joke." His original Three Tomoe Sharingan turned slowly. He had already put away the pair of Sharingan that had been on the verge of going blind.
Chiba knew he had reached the threshold of the Flying Raijin Technique. As long as he kept working hard and honing his skills, one day he would be able to race across the battlefield like the Yellow Flash in the original story—and might even surpass him!
After all, who didn't love being the fastest in the Ninja World?
Of course, in his whole life, the Yellow Flash had only failed to arrive in time once...
Obito: I have something to say.jpg
At that moment, the setting sun spilled across the training ground, illuminating his upright, resolute silhouette, as though heralding the rise of a future powerhouse of the Ninja World.
After a long while,
Uchiha Chiba suddenly remembered something.
Then he took a Kunai from his ninja pouch and muttered, "I remember everyone who used the Flying Thunder God Formula in the original story had a unique mark. So how did I just teleport over there?"
Chiba tightened his grip on the Kunai.
A little later,
A rose-shaped mark appeared on the Kunai in Chiba's hand. He looked it over, then said, "I'll call you... Blood Rose."
Then,
Perhaps to test it,
Chiba threw the Kunai.
"Flying Raijin Technique!"
WHOOSH!!
A red flash appeared on the tree in an instant.
Uchiha Chiba landed steadily on the branch.
"Because I'm not very practiced yet, a precise teleport to a fixed point used about twice as much chakra as before?" Chiba murmured, sensing the change in his chakra reserves.
Based on his current condition,
Chiba could make about ten to fifteen precise teleports with the Flying Raijin Technique in a short period.
Suddenly,
The sound of footsteps caught Chiba's attention.
He turned around.
"Lady Tsunade," Chiba said.
She wore a simple, light purple robe, its loose sleeves rolled up slightly to reveal her fair, strong forearms.
A dark brown belt was tied around her waist, accentuating her slender figure while lending her outfit a neat, practical look.
She wore matching trousers, their cuffs tucked neatly into black boots. The leather gleamed softly, and the heels were low enough to let her move freely.
Her hair was no longer tied up as tightly as it had been on the battlefield. Instead, it fell casually over her shoulders, with a few strands framing her face and softening her features.
"Hmm... Chiba, are you practicing a technique?" Tsunade came over and sat down on a bench beside Uchiha Chiba.
"Yes, Sensei." Uchiha Chiba looked at Tsunade and suddenly remembered the Lucky Necklace still hanging around his neck.
Tsunade sighed.
Then,
She glanced at the sunset. Its brilliant golden glow seemed to bring with it a touch of sadness.
"I've decided to leave Konoha, Chiba. Come with me. I'll teach you all the medical ninjutsu I know. I can't hold a scalpel anymore..." Tsunade's hair fluttered in the breeze. She had developed Hemophobia, just as she had in the original story.
Uchiha Chiba was silent for a long time.
At last, he spoke. "Sensei, I can't leave the village just yet."
"Why? Don't you want to return to the Uchiha Clan?"
"Because of someone who died. I promised her I'd live well. I have to avenge her."
"I see... Then I won't press you. I'll leave Konoha with Shizune, Dan's niece. I'll probably come back in a few years... to see you, and Orochimaru and Jiraiya, too." Tsunade stood up.
Chiba nodded and stood as well.
Then,
"Sensei, I'll become Hokage." Behind Uchiha Chiba stretched an endless golden sunset. Of course, his reason for becoming Hokage was very simple.
For a moment,
Tsunade froze.
The image of her late younger brother, Nawaki Senju, gradually merged with the boy before her.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"Sensei? Why are you crying?" Chiba looked at Tsunade in confusion.
Tsunade stepped up to Chiba.
She touched his face,
then gently kissed his forehead.
Feeling the warmth on his forehead,
Chiba froze.
After a long while,
"Chiba, promise me you'll be careful around Danzo. Be very careful. I received word that he's investigating you. If you truly have nowhere else to go, stay at my house in the Senju Compound." After saying this, Tsunade left reluctantly. She had come all this way just to say goodbye to Chiba...
There, alone,
Uchiha Chiba clenched his fist and muttered, "Danzo... Danzo... How can you be so damn hateable? I have to take him out within the next few years. That way, I can make it in time for the Third Shinobi World War and stop Obito from turning evil..."
At this point, the Third Shinobi World War was still eight years away...
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