Muscle Memory Trait

She wanted to help Fugaku shoulder more of the burden.

Mikoto wore a ninja outfit, with a green flak jacket over black pants that outlined her full thighs as she rose to her feet.

The shadows beneath the dim lights made the contours of Mikoto's features appear even more defined.

Seeing that it was Mikoto, Fugaku immediately said gently,

"Alright, then I'll leave it to you."

There were mutual feelings between them; they only lacked the final push to break through that last barrier.

In Fugaku's eyes, it was merely a matter of time.

Kiyoshi had not gone far before he heard someone calling his name.

When he turned around, he saw a gentle-looking woman.

"Lady Mikoto."

Kiyoshi spoke.

Although Mikoto always looked like a housewife, the official Book of Formations clearly stated that she had retired as a jōnin.

And a jōnin already stood near the top of the ninja hierarchy.

"One of the Sannin, Tsunade, will be coming later. I'll take you back to your room first."

Mikoto suggested.

"Alright."

Kiyoshi nodded and silently followed behind Mikoto, half a step behind her.

He had already been with the Uchiha Clan for a month and had long since become familiar with the location of his room.

Yet Mikoto said she would show him the way.

The two walked on for a while and passed around a corner.

Mikoto suddenly said,

"The Sharingan is a rare Kekkei Genkai. In the Land of Lightning, other people must have found it strange. You must have received plenty of looks from people who treated you like an outsider, Kiyoshi."

She turned her head slightly and lowered her gaze to Kiyoshi, who was shorter than her.

Before Kiyoshi could say anything, Mikoto smiled gently and said,

"And there's no need to call me Lady. It feels too distant. You can call me big sister. If you've been wronged, you can come talk to me."

Mikoto's words were full of concern for Kiyoshi.

"Lady Miko... Big Sister Mikoto, you're so kind. No one has cared about me in a long time."

Kiyoshi said, moved.

He paused, as though recalling something, then added,

"But no one else has seen my crimson eye. Nobody has done anything to me."

Art of Speech (White) was still in effect.

Kiyoshi's words were filled with sincerity.

Yet his heart remained perfectly calm.

Even now, she had not forgotten to test him.

Mikoto might have been a housewife after retiring, but she was currently a genuine jōnin.

And ninja had never been some "righteous profession."

Beyond the adventures seen on the surface, there was far more darkness hidden beneath.

Poisoning, espionage, assassination... those were the unchanging mainstays.

"I see. That's wonderful."

Mikoto smiled.

Children only a few years old were most likely to unconsciously reveal information.

It seemed very likely that Kiyoshi was truly innocent.

Mikoto relaxed somewhat, but she still maintained a measure of vigilance. What he was really like would require long-term observation.

The two continued walking and soon arrived at Kiyoshi's room.

"Wait a little longer. They should be here soon."

"Alright."

Kiyoshi waited inside while Mikoto went out.

"Next, I need to find a way to improve my strength."

He did not have many peaceful days left.

The Third Shinobi World War was about to erupt.

Konoha would even be invaded as far as Kikyo Mountain at its doorstep. Beyond that, the village itself was not far away.

Kumogakure might be a good breakthrough point.

After learning that they had missed out on Uchiha bloodline, they sent spies to "run into" Kiyoshi.

Kiyoshi had not chosen to report them.

In a Konoha where classes had already solidified, Kumogakure's overtures could help him secure more benefits for himself.

After pondering for a moment, Kiyoshi closed his eyes and began cultivating by refining Chakra.

A panel appeared before him.

Trait: Muscle Memory (White).

Requirement: Repeatedly perform a complex training routine and develop an instinctive habit.

Progress: 99%.

Effect: After repeating a large number of movements, your muscles gradually change and become accustomed to those movements, allowing you to perform them through conditioned reflex without thought.

Your muscle memory is 10% stronger than that of an ordinary person.

You currently cannot erase incorrect muscle memory.

Note: Can continue to advance in the future.

This was the trait Kiyoshi was about to obtain.

Looking at the words on the translucent panel, Kiyoshi continued his training. If nothing unexpected happened, he would obtain this trait within three days.

Ever since entering Konoha, he had been continuously refining Chakra every day.

This was an ability with immense potential.

As long as he possessed this trait, Kiyoshi would learn anything faster than ordinary people.

For now, Muscle Memory (White) could not erase incorrect movements, so Kiyoshi had to correct them himself.

Since it specifically stated that he "currently cannot erase incorrect muscle memory," perhaps after advancing in the future, it would be able to correct it passively.

And since his muscle memory was currently 10% stronger than that of an ordinary person, that number might become even higher later.

Until he could make his body remember something permanently after seeing it only once.

Half an hour later.

"Sorry to keep you waiting, Kiyoshi."

Mikoto, who had only been gone for a short while, entered again.

Two female ninja followed behind her.

At the front was a voluptuous woman with long blonde hair tied behind her head and a diamond-shaped mark on her forehead.

With just one glance, Kiyoshi recognized who she was.

One hundred and six centimeters.

Only Tsunade could possess such magnificent grandeur.

One of the legendary Sannin.

The second female ninja followed behind Tsunade. She had short black hair and looked like a quiet girl.

Shizune.

Tsunade's little follower, who was always at her side.

Kiyoshi calmly analyzed the information.

It was now after the Second Shinobi World War. Tsunade had lost her lover, Dan Katō, and developed hemophobia.

That was why she took especially good care of Dan Katō's niece, Shizune.

"This is Tsunade, and this is Shizune."

Mikoto introduced them to Kiyoshi one by one.

"Hello."

Kiyoshi's tone was humble. Even when facing Shizune, who was slightly younger than him, his attitude remained the same.

"Hurry up and show me your Sharingan."

Unlike Tsunade's lovely face, the words that came from her mouth were filled with impatience.

She clearly was not very willing to come to the Uchiha Clan.

At that, Kiyoshi closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his left eye had turned crimson, and a tomoe emerged within it, slowly rotating.

His right eye was pitch-black, like the eye of an ordinary person.

"It is indeed rather strange."

Tsunade's red-polished finger pressed against Kiyoshi's eyelid and pulled it wider.

From up close, Kiyoshi could smell Tsunade's faint fragrance.

Only after around five minutes did Tsunade withdraw her hand.

"Have you noticed any changes?"

"I feel like my physical abilities are becoming stronger."

"What else?"

Tsunade stared at Kiyoshi.

Her second grandfather had been a master researcher of the Uchiha and had compiled much information. Tsunade knew a little about it.

Whenever these Uchiha opened their eyes, their personalities changed drastically.

Did Kiyoshi count as half-changed?

"Nothing else."

Kiyoshi answered sincerely.

Tsunade then continued examining Kiyoshi's body. Kiyoshi did not understand Medical Arts, so he could only let Tsunade feel around and inspect him.

Shizune, who had been silently following Tsunade, secretly studied Kiyoshi from the corner of her eye.