Patriarch's Approval

A blinding red light flared between his hands, forming an energy ball the size of a basketball, compressed to an extreme degree.

It contained dense fire-nature chakra, making it look like a miniature sun!

"Go!"

Arashi thrust both hands forward, and a thick red beam of energy shot out with a world-ending momentum, blasting toward the fire dragon!

Boom—!!!

The energy beam and the fire dragon slammed into each other in midair!

This collision was even more violent than the last!

Arashi poured out Saiyan Chakra without pause, resisting the terrifying fire dragon on the other side.

A massive shock wave spread in every direction. The ground cracked, trees snapped, and the entire training ground seemed to tremble!

Thick smoke and flames swallowed everything, leaving nothing visible.

Arashi stood where he was, panting heavily, his face a little pale.

That attack just now had already drained all the chakra in his body.

"Next, I can only rely on taijutsu to hold out. I hope I can last until Obito brings help."

He stared into the thick smoke, not daring to relax in the slightest.

That masked man... who exactly was he?

Just then, applause came from within the smoke.

"Clap, clap, clap..."

"Good, good, good. Truly excellent!"

The moment Arashi heard the voice, it felt a little familiar. "Who are you?"

The masked man's figure slowly walked out of the smoke.

The night clothes on his body were somewhat damaged. Clearly, the collision just now had affected him to a certain extent as well, but overall, he still looked unharmed.

"To achieve this much at such a young age... you've truly shocked me. No wonder Orochimaru wanted to take you as his disciple after meeting you only once," the masked man said.

Arashi's entire body remained tense as he stared at him without daring to relax at all.

The masked man slowly raised his hand and took off the mask.

When he saw the face beneath the mask, Arashi's pupils suddenly contracted!

It was a face filled with authority, with firm features and eyes as sharp as an eagle's. Wasn't this the Uchiha patriarch—Uchiha Fugaku!

How could it be him?!

Arashi immediately relaxed.

No matter why Fugaku had worn a mask to attack him, judging by the other man's strength alone, if he had truly wanted to kill him, things would not have ended in that back-and-forth just now.

With a single order, Arashi would have to take a trip to prison—the other man was the head of the Hidden Leaf Police Force!

"Surprised?" Fugaku looked at Arashi's shocked expression, the corner of his mouth revealing a faint smile that was almost impossible to notice. "I merely wanted to personally test just how outstanding your talent really is."

"Test?" Arashi furrowed his brows, his tone cold. "In this way?"

"Heh. What, you already have complaints?" Fugaku curled his lips and asked in return. "Back in the clan assembly hall, weren't you very arrogant? Saying you would become the Uchiha's first Hokage and surpass all your predecessors. But when you truly encounter a powerful enemy, you can't take it?"

Arashi fell silent.

He had not expected Fugaku to personally make a move to probe him.

In the original work, the other man had not appeared much. Judging from his performance, he had seemed completely like a spineless, constantly compromising, useless waste. Arashi had never expected his actual combat ability to be this terrifying.

At the very least, he was a powerful veteran who had fought countless battles.

But even he had been powerless in the face of the night of the Uchiha massacre. Just what kind of darkness was Arashi facing?!

And so, Arashi fell silent...

"Looking at it now, you do indeed have some capital for your arrogance." Fugaku's gaze grew deep.

"You are only five years old, yet your chakra volume is already more than ten times that of an Uchiha your age. Your physical strength is even strong enough to withstand sixty percent of my power, and when you use ninjutsu, that same chakra of yours multiplies the technique's power several times over... all of these are completely different from us ordinary Uchiha. You are practically a 'super Uchiha.'"

"This reminds me of the strongest taboo figure our clan has had in nearly a hundred years—Madara Uchiha."

He paused, then continued, "Your refusal of Orochimaru was reckless, but it was not entirely without reason. With your talent, you truly do not need to attach yourself to anyone."

Hearing Fugaku's words, Arashi was somewhat surprised.

He had thought Fugaku would continue reprimanding him, but instead, he had praised him in every way and even compared him to Madara Uchiha.

Who was Madara Uchiha? He was someone who had swept through the ninja world without equal, the strongest villain in the world of Naruto, the man who, after returning to life during the Fourth Great Ninja War, made every ninja feel despair.

"These past few days, the elders in the clan have had quite a few criticisms of you," Fugaku said. "The doves feel that you offended Orochimaru and brought trouble to the clan. The hawks believe you are neglecting your proper duties, valuing taijutsu while ignoring the Sharingan, and tarnishing the glory of the Uchiha."

"Hmph." Arashi gave a cold snort, completely dismissive of it.

"But I do not think so." Fugaku looked at Arashi, and the smile at the corner of his mouth could no longer be suppressed. Clear appreciation appeared in his eyes. "If the Uchiha want to establish themselves in the Hidden Leaf, and even restore our former glory, we need a genius like you who breaks convention. The Sharingan is certainly our pride, but it cannot become the shackles that bind us."

Arashi looked at Fugaku in some surprise.

He had not expected Fugaku to have such thoughts.

"You are strong, but not strong enough." Fugaku's tone became serious. "Your fighting style is unusual, but your foundation is not yet solid enough, and your understanding of ninjutsu is still very shallow."

"Starting tomorrow, come to the patriarch's office to find me after school," Fugaku suddenly said.

"Huh?" Arashi froze.

"I will personally guide your training," Fugaku continued. "I will teach you some of the Uchiha's core ninjutsu. You need to master them as quickly as possible and incorporate them into your own combat system."

Arashi was completely stunned.

Patriarch Fugaku... wanted to personally guide him?

How was that possible?

"What? You are unwilling?" Fugaku looked at him.

Arashi came back to his senses and looked at Fugaku with a complicated gaze.

Although this man's political ability was lacking, his talent for raising people was indeed extraordinary.

Just look at his current eldest son, Uchiha Itachi, and his future second son, Uchiha Sasuke. One was more heaven-defying than the other.

If he could receive Fugaku's guidance, his strength would undoubtedly improve even faster.

"I have one condition," Arashi said.

"Oh? Speak." Fugaku raised an eyebrow.

"Just teach me knowledge about combat. Don't lecture me on how I should conduct myself. I greatly disapprove of your philosophy of being kind to others."

Hearing Arashi's disparaging words, Fugaku not only did not get angry, but instead burst into laughter.

"Good, good, good, good, good."

"If not for my lack of strength, why would I need to smile and compromise everywhere? I hope there comes a day when you can make us Uchiha hold our heads high."

"Also, I need the Shadow Clone Technique." Arashi looked straight into Fugaku's eyes. "Time waits for no one. I have to seize every second to become stronger."

Hearing Arashi's request, surprise flashed through Fugaku's eyes, and then he nodded.

"Not bad. You have great foresight."

"The Shadow Clone Technique falls under the category of B-rank ninjutsu. It is an advanced form of the ordinary Clone Technique."

"Unlike the illusions created by the ordinary Clone Technique, shadow clones are clones with independent consciousness, physical form, and a certain amount of chakra."

"Most crucially, after a clone is dispelled, the memories and combat experience it went through will return to the original body in sync."

"With your chakra volume, splitting off four to five shadow clones will be no problem. This technique is indeed very suitable for your training. Tomorrow, I will teach you this ninjutsu first."

Arashi nodded.

"Very good." After saying that, Fugaku turned around, and with a few leaps, he disappeared into the woods.

Arashi stood where he was, looking in the direction where Fugaku had vanished, countless thoughts churning in his heart.

Fugaku's test, Fugaku's decision... all of it had exceeded his expectations.

However, this was fine too.

Vegeta obeyed his father, the Saiyan patriarch. I, Uchiha Arashi, obey my clan uncle, the Uchiha patriarch. Even if the system gets nitpicky, it won't trigger a drop in the progress bar.

Arashi immediately set off to chase after Obito and Rin, and happened to run into the two of them leading a patrol team over to rescue him.

After Arashi gave an explanation, he ultimately muddled through amid the patrol team's grumbling.