Young Ai

(From now on, the Third Raikage would be called the Third Raikage, and the Fourth Raikage would be called Ai.)

At the southeastern corner of Kumogakure, the new Uchiha Clan compound backed against a cliff was bustling with activity.

Under the Third Raikage's personal direction, dozens of Kumogakure logistics ninja, craftsmen, and combat ninja on rotation were working at a feverish pace to help the Uchiha Clan with the initial organization of their compound.

This included repairing and reinforcing the houses, as well as transporting various basic necessities.

Timber, stone, furniture, bedding, and even ingredients and daily necessities unique to the Land of Lightning were being delivered in a steady stream.

The people of Kumogakure worked with decisiveness and remarkable efficiency. It was noisy, but orderly.

The Uchiha Clan's ten adults were not idle either. Uchiha Renhuo, Qianying, and the others were responsible for coordinating with Kumogakure and confirming the various requirements and arrangements.

Uchiha Rei and Mei led several female Chunin in directing the placement of supplies and the internal organization.

Uchiha Mihuo and several other Chunin got their hands dirty as well, taking on whatever physical work they could, such as moving lighter construction materials, clearing the grounds, and setting up simple defensive warning traps.

Though they had only just arrived, they were enthusiastic. They had a bit of pride and arrogance, but it was easy to see that they were not bad people. Before long, they had begun interacting with the Kumogakure ninja helping them.

The youngest, Uchiha Shisui, curiously followed Sister Rei around, helping pass small items. His large dark eyes constantly took in this new environment and these unfamiliar faces, so completely different from Konoha.

His brother had brought them to this unfamiliar place, but the people here were different from those in Konoha. He did not feel much hostility from those around him.

Just then, a tall, powerfully built young man with spiky white hair, blue lightning markings on his face, and an aura of vibrant vigor and formidable strength strode into the busy compound.

It was none other than the young Ai, who had hurried over after hearing the news.

His arrival immediately drew the attention of many.

Whether they were Kumogakure ninja or Uchiha clansmen, they recognized him as the Third Raikage's only son, the undisputed leader and future star of Kumogakure's younger generation.

Everyone stopped what they were doing and nodded to him in greeting.

Young Ai casually waved a hand, signaling for everyone to continue working. His sharp gaze swept over the Uchiha faces present, as though he were searching for someone.

Before long, he spotted Uchiha Renhuo, whose demeanor was calm as he confirmed blueprints with a Kumogakure Jonin.

He walked straight over.

"Excuse me."

Young Ai's voice was as direct and forceful as his appearance.

"Are you from the Uchiha Clan? I heard there is an elder named Shaoyu here. May I ask where he is?"

Overall, young Ai was quite polite. Though rough around the edges, he had a thoughtful side. He knew the Uchiha Clan was proud, and that they probably responded better to softness than force, so he was very courteous.

Uchiha Renhuo turned around and faced the Raikage's son, who stood half a head taller than him and radiated an intimidating presence. He gave a slight nod, neither humble nor overbearing.

"That is correct. Does Young Master Ai have business with Lord Shaoyu?"

Though he disliked being called Young Master, since it made him feel as though he were always living beneath his father's wings, this was not the time to fuss over such things.

"I would like to meet the elder my father recognizes."

Renhuo pondered briefly, then pointed deeper into the compound, toward the roaring waterfall that plunged down from the cliff.

"Lord Shaoyu is tempering his body beneath the waterfall over there. Follow this path straight ahead, and you will see him."

"Thanks!"

Young Ai tossed out those two words, then strode off quickly in the direction Renhuo had indicated.

His steps were steady and powerful, and the ground seemed to tremble faintly beneath them, revealing his astonishing physical strength.

He crossed a newly cleared stretch of open ground and passed several stone houses being reinforced. The roar of water grew closer and closer. The air was thick with damp mist and the scent of stone.

Before long, young Ai arrived before the waterfall.

It was a rather spectacular waterfall. Water poured down from a break in the cliff dozens of meters above, crashing into a deep pool below and throwing up a skyful of mist with an ear-splitting roar.

Every so often, sunlight pierced the watery haze, refracting into streaks of rainbow light.

And on a boulder at the edge of the deep pool directly beneath the waterfall, enduring the crushing force of the torrent, stood a figure.

It was Uchiha Shaoyu!

He wore only a pair of dark training shorts, his upper body bare.

The water struck his not especially bulky body like countless heavy hammers, producing dull thuds. Spray burst around him, only to be swallowed by even fiercer currents.

The instant young Ai saw this, his footsteps halted of their own accord.

The urgency and challenge on his face seemed to be washed away by the waterfall's mist, swiftly replaced by an indescribable... blankness.

Uchiha Shaoyu was considered tall among the Uchiha, standing around one meter eighty, but before young Ai, who was over two meters tall and covered in knotted muscle, he truly did not appear imposing.

Yet from that seemingly lean body, young Ai sensed an exceptionally unique quality—one that even his father did not entirely possess.

It was a... tranquil strength.

Shaoyu had his eyes closed, his body like a pine tree rooted in the boulder, utterly unmoving beneath the waterfall's violent impact.

The lines of his muscles were not exaggerated, yet they were smooth and taut like the finest alloy. Every muscle seemed to contain explosive strength, yet lay calm under absolute control.

Droplets slid down his wet black hair and body, glimmering with crystalline brilliance beneath the sunlight.

There was no killing intent, no overbearing aura, no deliberate intimidation.

Simply standing beneath the waterfall and tempering himself, Uchiha Shaoyu gave young Ai an unprecedented sense of pressure.

Young Ai was a dedicated cultivator himself and knew exactly what astonishing physical conditioning and chakra control were required to train beneath a waterfall.

But what Uchiha Shaoyu displayed before him went far beyond that.

It was the manifestation of a state where body, chakra, and even spirit had been tempered into harmonious unity.

This guy...

Young Ai was deeply shaken. His initial disdain had unknowingly turned into deep scrutiny and...

A trace of seriousness he himself had not noticed, the kind one reserved for an equal—or perhaps even a superior.

As if sensing his gaze, Uchiha Shaoyu beneath the waterfall slowly opened his eyes.

The Mangekyo in his left eye was not activated, but his deep, tranquil gaze pierced through the roaring curtain of water and mist, landing precisely on young Ai.

Their gazes met.

In that instant, young Ai felt as if he had been struck by an invisible bolt of lightning. His heart jolted violently.

That gaze was utterly calm, yet it seemed capable of seeing through everything.

Uchiha Shaoyu slowly stepped out from beneath the waterfall, the water naturally sliding off his body.

He picked up a towel from a nearby rock and casually dried his hair and body. Then he draped a dark outer robe over himself and walked toward young Ai.

His pace was unhurried, yet every step seemed to fall into some peculiar rhythm, faintly harmonizing with the roar of the waterfall and the sound of the wind.

"You are... Lord Raikage's son, Ai, correct?"

Shaoyu stopped before young Ai. His voice was calm, betraying no emotion.

"What do you need from me?"

Young Ai took a deep breath, suppressing the stirring in his heart. He straightened his imposing frame and looked directly at Shaoyu with bright eyes. His voice rang out, carrying the characteristic forthrightness of Kumogakure.

"Elder Shaoyu, pardon my intrusion. I am Yotsuki Ai, son of the Third Raikage. I heard that you fought my father yesterday and displayed extraordinary skill. You have also earned my father's and the village's recognition, being elevated to the position of elder. I greatly admire you, so I came to pay my respects."

????????

Why was this guy different from what he had imagined? He was actually quite polite.

What he did not know was that while young Ai was extremely proud, he also deeply respected the strong. Naturally, he would not be overly discourteous.

Seeing an Ai whose personality was so different from the original story, Shaoyu was somewhat curious. Still, since the other party was showing him respect, he could not fail to appreciate it.

"So it is Young Master Ai. There is no need for such formality. My spar with Lord Raikage yesterday benefited me greatly. The position of elder is Lord Raikage's favor, but it is also a responsibility. Having only just arrived, I will need to interact with everyone in Kumogakure more in the future."

Ai straightened up, curiosity and fighting spirit rising in his eyes again. This time, however, he kept them carefully within the bounds of courtesy.

"You are too modest, Elder. To battle my father for so long proves your strength beyond doubt. I have trained under my father since childhood and know how powerful he is. That is precisely why I am especially curious about an elder who can face him head-on."

He paused, his blazing gaze fixed on Shaoyu. His voice remained loud, though it now carried a hint of cautious probing.

"Would... would Ai have the honor of asking Elder to offer a little guidance? Of course, not a formal match—just a simple exchange, so that I may personally experience the strength that even my father praised?"