Mikoto: Kiyoshi's Muscles Look Better Than Fugaku's

"The mental change is... in my left eye."

Kiyoshi could sense a force of Eye Power brewing within it. It was just a little short of breaking through and emerging.

He had not put on a shirt. He began refining Chakra within his body, gathering it and directing it along the pathways of "Lightning Release: Iron Skin."

An invisible current spread through Kiyoshi's body.

"Phew..."

Kiyoshi let out a breath.

This was only a D-rank ninjutsu. It had very little effect on his current body, and before long, it would probably stop working altogether.

He needed to acquire more and better ninjutsu.

"Kiyoshi."

A familiar voice suddenly came from outside the door.

Kiyoshi called out, "Coming."

He crossed the shabby courtyard and opened the door.

"Mikoto, what brings you here?"

Kiyoshi asked.

His black hair draped down his back, sharply contrasting with the clearly defined lines of his muscular body.

"Kiyoshi, this is this month's allowance."

A cloth bag hung from Mikoto's shoulder. She pulled out a stack of banknotes bearing Konoha's emblem.

"Kiyoshi, you..."

Just as Mikoto was about to hand him the money, she realized in astonishment that Kiyoshi was bare-chested.

It was the first time Mikoto had seen muscles so solid and aesthetically pleasing, and she could not help taking another look.

Fugaku had been wounded on the battlefield before, and Mikoto had seen him without his shirt.

Yet even he was not as proportionate and good-looking as Kiyoshi.

Was this Yotsuki's talent?

The shape muscles took was largely innate. Just like how some people could train no matter how hard they wanted, yet their abdominal muscles would never align evenly.

Some people even had eight abs, while others could only have six.

Mikoto finally understood why Tsunade had said Kiyoshi was suited to becoming a taijutsu ninja.

"Sorry, Mikoto. I was training just now and was in such a hurry that I forgot to put on clothes."

Mikoto was still a little taller than Kiyoshi. He looked up at her, his tone apologetic.

"Ah, it's fine. You're just a child."

Mikoto hurriedly shook her head.

Why was she making an issue out of it with a child?

She handed Kiyoshi the money and told him to spend it carefully and not waste it.

"Got it, Mikoto."

Kiyoshi nodded.

This money was essentially his living expenses.

Kiyoshi's everyday costs all came from this. Part of it was a subsidy from Konoha, while another part came from the Uchiha Clan itself.

It was enough for an ordinary person to live on, but it was still somewhat tight for a ninja.

"I have an appointment with Fugaku. I'll come see you next time."

Mikoto waved in farewell.

Kiyoshi responded politely. Only after Mikoto had disappeared from sight did he close the door.

"Same as before. I still need to make money as soon as possible."

Kiyoshi counted the taels in the stack of banknotes, then carefully put them away.

He could squeeze Kurenai Yuhi for money, but that was not a long-term solution.

At most, it would be enough to buy an ordinary katana.

His spar with Kakashi last time had already left the blade chipped, and it needed maintenance.

Once he started taking missions and going to war, there would be no break in the middle for him to send it off for maintenance.

"I still need a Chakra Blade forged from special metal."

Kiyoshi thought to himself.

A Chakra Blade could absorb its owner's Chakra nature, and the resistance to Chakra conduction was extremely low. With such a weapon, he could achieve twice the results with half the effort.

Afterward, Kiyoshi took out "Lightning Release: Lightning Finger," which he had not practiced since getting started, and deepened his understanding of Lightning Release ninjutsu.

"Mikoto, you're here."

Fugaku was drenched in sweat as he took off his green ninja flak jacket.

He had just finished training.

The most important thing for a ninja was to temper themselves constantly. Otherwise, if they did not advance, they would fall behind.

"You gave Kiyoshi the allowance?"

Fugaku asked casually.

"I gave it to him."

Mikoto nodded, then suddenly spotted a hole in the chainmail armor on Fugaku's upper body that resembled a fishnet shirt.

Ninjas generally wore a kind of protective gear that resembled a fishnet. It was called chainmail armor.

"There's a hole in your clothes."

Mikoto pointed at it.

Following Mikoto's gaze, Fugaku saw a hole around two centimeters wide, exposing the skin beneath.

"I must have burned it while practicing Fire Release just now."

Fugaku boldly took off his shirt, revealing his sturdy upper body.

"What is it, Mikoto?"

Seeing Mikoto stare at his body, Fugaku thought she was embarrassed.

"No, it's nothing."

Mikoto shook her delicate head.

After confirming it again, Fugaku's physique truly was not as aesthetically pleasing as Kiyoshi's.

Just how does a child train to get like that?

Although Fugaku looked bigger than Kiyoshi, his overall proportions were not very good.

"Is that so?"

Fugaku smiled and went inside to fetch a new set of chainmail armor.

He was somewhat confident in his physique. After all, he had spent so many years fighting and surviving on the battlefield, enduring countless trials.

"The gathering is about to begin. Let's go."

Fugaku said.

"Mm."

Mikoto nodded.

The gatherings held every so often were places that all Uchiha had to attend after becoming "ninjas."

Above Naka Shrine was the place for daytime discussions, which even Uchiha clansmen who were not ninjas could enter.

The secret chamber below, however, was where the Uchiha held their internal meetings. For the sake of secrecy, ordinary Uchiha were neither qualified to enter nor allowed to know of it.

Hatake Clan.

The setting sun hung low in the sky. As usual, Kakashi finished his training and hurried home.

But when he pushed open the front door, an indescribable oppression filled the air, along with a bloody, foul stench.

He frowned, took off his shoes, and said, "Father, I'm home."

Yet there was no answer from inside.

Kakashi's heart sank slightly as he walked toward his father's room.

Ever since the companion his father had rescued on the street had condemned him, his father had not left the house again.

As he crossed the living room, Kakashi saw several yellowed sheets of letter paper on the tea table where his father usually entertained guests. They were covered with dense writing, and the ink had not yet fully dried.

Kakashi glanced at them and spotted words like "regret" and "dereliction of duty." Every line was steeped in despair.

"Father?"

Unease surged in Kakashi's heart. He nearly ran as he pushed open the door.

The sight inside struck Kakashi like a bolt of lightning.

Hatake Sakumo lay collapsed on the tatami, a sharp short blade embedded in his chest. Blood had long since dyed his clothes red and had even seeped into the tatami's weave.

The bright red liquid had congealed into dark stains, giving off a suffocating metallic smell.

Kakashi stood frozen, his eyes wide, as though his mind could not process the sight before him.

"Why..." he finally forced out in a hoarse voice. Staggering toward Sakumo's body, he fell to his knees.

Kakashi's hand trembled as he gently touched his father's cold hand, only to feel skin that had already stiffened.

The grief of losing his father, fury at the rules, and self-blame over his own helplessness all surged into his heart at once, nearly drowning him.