Chunin-Level Chakra

In the forty-fifth year of Konoha, autumn deepened. Ten-year-old Kyohaku Uchiha's life was precisely divided into two entirely different worlds.

On the surface, he was still the taciturn intern medical ninja at Konoha Hospital, leaning on a crutch yet possessing remarkably steady, reliable hands. Most of his daylight hours were spent amid the smell of disinfectant and the groans of the wounded, treating various cases from the Animal Training and Rehabilitation Class or assisting with basic surgical debridement. This job gave him a perfect identity that drew no suspicion.

Yet when the sun slanted westward, or during breaks when no one was watching, the focus of his life completely shifted into another dimension. Becoming Orochimaru's disciple was like receiving a master key to a treasure vault of forbidden knowledge. Like a starving wolf that had broken into a granary, he began an almost frenzied feast.

Using Orochimaru's authority—authority that even exceeded that of ordinary Jonin—he freely entered the restricted sections of the Konoha Library, the deepest archives of the hospital, and even some of the village's record rooms opened to Orochimaru. Those places held vast collections of scrolls far beyond the reach of ordinary ninja: detailed explanations of A-rank and S-rank ninjutsu principles, though without the hand seals and still priceless in theoretical value; fragments of Tobirama Senju's original Fūinjutsu manuscripts; secret records of anatomical and meridian research from various nations; numerous sealed classified reports on Kekkei Genkai and Tailed Beasts; and even dangerous human experimentation data and records of failure.

Faced with this ocean of knowledge, Kyohaku Uchiha displayed even greater drive than he had once devoted to clinical medicine in his previous life. The immense mental energy and extraordinary memory granted by the fusion of two souls played a vital role at this moment. His brain functioned like a precision instrument running beyond its limits, tirelessly scanning, inputting, analyzing, and categorizing. Complex Fūinjutsu structures, obscure theories of chakra nature transformation, intricate diagrams of the human energy cycle... knowledge enough to give ordinary Chunin or even Jonin splitting headaches was rapidly broken down, absorbed, and made his own.

No longer content with passively receiving knowledge, he began integrating it across disciplines. He used the biological and chemical concepts of his previous life to understand the nature of chakra and the genetic expression of Kekkei Genkai; he used anatomy and histology to analyze the energy transmission efficiency of the meridian system; and he used the energy observation techniques he had learned in Orochimaru's experiments to verify the vague discussions in ancient texts regarding the connection between souls and chakra.

In the laboratory, he remained Orochimaru's capable assistant, but his role had quietly changed. He no longer merely carried out instructions; he had begun participating in the design of certain experiments.

"Sensei, regarding the seventh plan for suppressing First Hokage Cell activity, what if we referenced some of the reverse runes from the Yin Seal and constructed a miniature barrier that continuously absorbed its excessive Yang Release vitality, rather than forcibly suppressing it? Wouldn't that better reduce the severity of the rejection reaction?" he asked, pointing at a complex energy simulation diagram.

Orochimaru's golden snake eyes flickered as he carefully examined the improved plan Kyohaku had outlined. After a long while, the corner of his mouth curved upward. "A very interesting line of thought... turning destructive resistance into energy diversion... Kyohaku, your talent for Fūinjutsu always brings surprises." He immediately began refining the plan, clearly attaching great importance to it.

Such innovative suggestions, built upon his deep reserve of knowledge, made Orochimaru value his young disciple more and more. Kyohaku's worth had long surpassed that of an excellent experimental assistant or a precious specimen.

At the same time, he had not set aside his cooperation with the Ninja Cat Clan. Producing Explosive Tags was both an important source of income and a daily form of training for his chakra control and Fire Release nature transformation. After three years of continuous cooperation, both sides had established stable trust and coordination.

As his body naturally grew—though his right foot remained crippled—along with uninterrupted adaptive physical training and the continued nourishment of the costly Nara Secret Medicine, the amount of chakra within him steadily and firmly increased. At last, quantitative change gave rise to qualitative change.

One night, after finishing a day of study and work, he was performing his routine chakra extraction when he clearly felt the energy that had once flowed through him like a stream suddenly become a surging, abundant river! Both its total volume and recovery speed had reached an entirely new level.

Chunin level!

He calmly acknowledged the fact. There was neither joy nor sorrow in his heart, only the indifference of something arriving as expected.

This increase in chakra immediately showed itself in his production of Explosive Tags. In the past, making five a day had already been his limit, draining more than half his chakra. Now, he could effortlessly produce ten high-quality Explosive Tags each day while still retaining spare chakra, and his mental fatigue was greatly reduced as well.

Ten a day meant two thousand ryo. This stable income completely eased his financial pressure, allowing him to devote all his energy to endless study and research with greater peace of mind.

Like the shrewdest of investors, he spared no expense in pouring all his "capital"—time, energy, and money—into the most rewarding venture of all: "knowledge" and "power." The Konoha Library, the hospital archives, Orochimaru's laboratory, and even his cooperation with the Ninja Cat Clan... all of it became soil from which he drew nourishment.

The night was deep. Kyohaku sat alone in his room, where dense notes and scroll drafts covered the space beneath the oil lamp. Outside the window, Konoha was peaceful, as though the shadow cast by the White Fang's suicide had gradually been soothed away.

But he knew that turbulent undercurrents lay beneath this calm. The Third Shinobi World War was drawing ever closer, and he had to grow faster.

His fingertips unconsciously traced a complex Fūinjutsu formula on a scroll, his gaze tranquil and focused.

Chunin-level chakra was only a new starting point. Supported by this power, he could learn more complex techniques, conduct deeper research, and take firmer steps toward his ultimate goal—"completing" himself.

The night was still long, and so was the road ahead.