This Is Fair, Isn't It?

Completing one ninjutsu could push the progress to a little over 33%.

Now, it had already reached 45%.

That was because after learning the Clone Technique, Kiyoshi had shifted his focus back to "Lightning Release: Iron Skin."

Kiyoshi learned this ninjutsu very smoothly.

All he could say was that the Yagura Clan was naturally suited for Lightning Release and taijutsu.

"It should still need a little more."

Kiyoshi let out a breath.

The Strong Physique trait had yet to trigger. He estimated that after practicing for a while longer, he would meet the requirements.

The current him was worlds apart from who he had been more than two months ago.

He was no longer skinny and frail, someone who looked malnourished at a glance.

"Hey, Kiyoshi, aren't you leaving?"

Kakashi's voice came from outside the door.

"Coming."

Kiyoshi packed up his things, picked up his cloth bag, and headed outside.

His home was on the outskirts of the Uchiha Compound, so visiting each other was convenient. There was no need to go deep into the compound.

For some reason, Kakashi often came to see him.

The two of them arrived at the Ninja Academy together.

From Kakashi, Kiyoshi learned something.

Kakashi's father had gone on a classified mission and seemed to finally be returning.

Kiyoshi knew that this should be the classified mission where he served as captain and infiltrated the enemy camp.

They were now in the sensitive period before the war. This mission would likely have a major impact on the Land of Fire.

Then Hatake Sakumo would have to choose between the mission and his comrades.

In the end, he chose his comrades.

"So it's already here,"

Kiyoshi thought.

Within the next few days, news of the mission's failure would spread.

What followed would be overwhelmingly one-sided public opinion. Even the comrades he had saved would condemn him.

Kiyoshi glanced at Kakashi.

Then Kakashi would graduate this year and become a chunin in a very short time.

"Kakashi, Kiyoshi."

As soon as they entered, Rin Nohara greeted them warmly.

Her gaze was almost entirely focused on Kakashi.

Kiyoshi nodded.

Whenever Kakashi was around, Rin Nohara's after-class explanations would be more detailed.

If it was only Kiyoshi, Rin Nohara would stop guiding him after a few days at most.

But Kakashi kept coming afterward, and Rin Nohara never mentioned stopping her guidance.

Of course, Obito would find all sorts of excuses to come in every time.

"Alright, class is starting."

After chatting for a while, the chunin teacher responsible for teaching history tapped the lectern.

Only then did a figure come rushing in.

"I accidentally helped too many old ladies across the street."

Obito tried to sneak in, only to be caught red-handed by the chunin teacher.

"Too many old ladies to help, huh? Go stand in the back."

The chunin teacher had no interest in listening to Obito's nonsense.

This kid was often late.

On the first day of enrollment, they had to collect the materials to complete registration, yet Obito had still managed to be late.

"Uh... it's true."

Obito scratched the back of his head.

Kiyoshi watched Obito from below.

Before being corrupted, Obito really did like helping old ladies across the street.

He turned his head and struck up a conversation with Rin Nohara.

He asked her about some techniques for throwing shuriken.

Obito swept his gaze downward and saw Kakashi's smug face filled with speechless exasperation.

He also saw Kiyoshi whispering with Rin in the back.

"Hurry up and go."

The chunin teacher urged him again.

Only then did Obito withdraw his gaze and obediently head toward the back.

"Obito, the next period is another class. You won't have to stand for long."

Obito had deliberately taken the aisle beside Rin Nohara.

Hearing Rin Nohara's comforting words, the frustration in Obito's heart vanished completely.

As expected, Rin treats me the best!

As he walked toward the back, Obito even imagined his future: becoming Naruto, reaching the peak of life, and then marrying Rin.

School was over.

Uchiha Compound.

Not long after Kiyoshi returned home, someone came for him and led him to an old-fashioned building.

Hazuki Uchiha had brought Kiyoshi here.

"Yakusen, one D-rank Lightning Release scroll."

Hazuki Uchiha spoke.

She wore a dark purple Uchiha robe, its sleeves bearing the Flame War Fan crest. A beauty mark beneath her eyelid added a finishing touch.

Kiyoshi stood behind Hazuki Uchiha.

Hazuki Uchiha was the person Fugaku had sent to bring Kiyoshi to collect the scroll.

She was also Izumi Uchiha's future mother.

She, too, would die at Itachi's hands.

But Kiyoshi had waited a month for Ye Yue to show up. He knew full well that they simply had not taken this matter seriously.

They had only come to deal with it because they could not delay any longer.

If it had not been Fugaku's order, Kiyoshi figured he would never have received this scroll.

Any other Uchiha would have gotten it within two or three days at most.

It was perfectly normal for him to be ostracized and discriminated against by the Uchiha.

After all, the Uchiha were a proud clan.

If Kiyoshi had been a mixed-blood born in Konoha, it probably would not have been much of an issue.

But he had come from the Land of Lightning.

Perhaps the Uchiha's ancestors had once lived in the Land of Lightning, but that had been far too long ago.

So long ago that no Uchiha believed they had any connection to the Land of Lightning.

In Sasuke Shinden, Sasuke had learned of the Uchiha's history with the Land of Lightning from members of the Chinoike Clan.

"A new clansman?"

Yakusen Uchiha poked his head out. He looked to be in his early forties, and the crisscrossing scars on his cheeks made his smile seem vicious.

"Mm, he's Kiyoshi Uchiha."

Yakusen grinned, his scars bunching together as he said,

"A mixed-blood in the Uchiha Clan is rare enough. One sent over from the Land of Lightning is even rarer."

Ye Yue did not respond, merely signaling for Yakusen to retrieve the scroll.

Kiyoshi stood where he was and observed the furnishings of the building.

"Heh, a first."

Yakusen Uchiha forced an ugly smile onto his face.

There had been mixed-blood Uchiha before, but this was the first one sent from somewhere as far away as the Land of Lightning.

He turned and walked toward an iron door in the back, pulling out a key to unlock it.

Light from outside fell into the pitch-black room, adding a faint glimmer.

But deeper inside, where the sunlight could not reach, it looked dim and murky.

White dust floated in the air.

Yakusen Uchiha lit several oil lamps, and the room that had seemed dim now glowed orange-yellow.

Many old bookshelves stood inside, filled with all kinds of scrolls.

"Lightning Release is over here."

Yakusen Uchiha walked to an area marked with the character for "lightning" and selected a D-rank Lightning Release ninjutsu scroll.

"Can't I choose for myself?"

Kiyoshi raised a brow.

He had wanted to pick a ninjutsu suited to himself.

Yakusen Uchiha looked toward Hazuki Uchiha, the scroll in his hand stopping in midair.

Hazuki Uchiha gently shook her head, her delicate face calm.

"Fugaku didn't say so. I can't make that decision on my own."

"Did you hear that?"

Yakusen Uchiha smiled again, his scars once more piling together.

"Alright, thank you."

In the end, Kiyoshi said nothing and accepted the scroll.

After receiving it, the two left the room.

Yakusen Uchiha locked the iron door, then returned to sit beneath the eaves at the front.

"Fugaku is the clan head. We must obey his orders."

After walking some distance, Hazuki Uchiha suddenly spoke.

"I understand, Lady Ye Yue. This is for my own good, after all. I don't know which ninjutsu would suit me either."

Kiyoshi nodded and smiled.

It did not matter if they bore him ill will.

He could collect some interest from them later.

This was fair, wasn't it?

Ye Yue froze for a moment. Looking at Kiyoshi's guileless smile, she clearly had not expected him to be so sensible.

A gentle smile slightly eased the crease between her brows. "It's wonderful that you see it that way. You're a good child."