Yakushi Kabuto's Confusion

In the world of the Hokage, there was a rather strange rule: only adults were allowed to drink alcohol, yet minors could kill people.

Even ninjas were no exception. However, when Uchiha Shunichi asked for sake, the shopkeeper did not stop him. Some of the patrons who knew him understood why.

The sake Uchiha Shunichi ordered was not for drinking. It was mixed with a special sauce and brushed onto the grilled meat.

After working at it for a while, Uchiha Shunichi eagerly began eating. Before long, the large platter of grilled meat on the table had vanished.

Uchiha Shunichi rubbed his slightly bloated stomach as chakra circulated through his body along a specific route, strengthening his digestion and absorption.

This was Uchiha Shunichi's greatest gain over the past few years. Chakra could strengthen the body's physical power, so naturally, it could also be used internally to improve absorption and digestion, or enhance other functions.

In fact, the Shinobi World had similar Ninjutsu, but never anything that could be consciously controlled like Uchiha Shunichi's.

Just as the Aburame clan needed to wear glasses and the Akimichi clan all had enormous builds, shinobi in the Shinobi World usually turned such changes into bodily instincts until they eventually formed Bloodline Limits.

Uchiha Shunichi's mind was not on that, so compared to other shinobi, his desire for control was stronger. He not only wanted to control his chakra perfectly, but also his own body.

Several years of special training had allowed Uchiha Shunichi to accomplish part of that, while also restoring his body to normal.

After eating and drinking his fill, Uchiha Shunichi reluctantly paid the bill. Konoha's grilled meat was expensive; even someone as wealthy as him felt the sting.

What if I just caught a pig in the forest...

Forget it. It was only money. As long as he resolved the current problem, nothing else would be a problem.

Uchiha Shunichi sensed the man following behind him and felt slightly helpless. Was something wrong with this guy's brain? Following him openly on the street like this?

Pretending not to notice, Uchiha Shunichi headed toward the Uchiha district on the outskirts of the village.

Though it still bore the same name, the Uchiha district had nearly become ruins. In just a few years, many houses had fallen into disrepair.

The houses closer to Konoha were especially bad, because many little brats would go exploring through the empty rooms. Everyone knew that unruly children were highly destructive creatures.

"I want to know, why exactly are you following me?" Uchiha Shunichi asked Yakushi Kabuto behind him after arriving at a place where he often trained.

Yakushi Kabuto remained silent, staring at Uchiha Shunichi with a complicated expression. There was hatred, there was gratitude, but above all, there was wariness.

"How... how did you know that would happen?" Yakushi Kabuto's voice was somewhat hoarse, as though he could no longer control his emotions.

His reaction puzzled Uchiha Shunichi. He had indeed given him a warning back then, but it had only been a single warning. It should not have been enough to change that woman's fate.

But... did she die around this time?

"When did it happen?" Uchiha Shunichi asked calmly.

"Two years ago..." Yakushi Kabuto's answer left Uchiha Shunichi somewhat confused. Why had Yakushi Kabuto not come to find him then...?

"How did you know that would happen? Why didn't you explain it more clearly back then?" Yakushi Kabuto suppressed the agitation in his heart, and his voice returned to normal.

"I merely saw it. If my guess is correct, she still died." Uchiha Shunichi found a place to sit and spoke.

His body tired easily. Though his combat strength did not suffer, he was extremely sensitive to fatigue and pain.

Hearing that answer, Yakushi Kabuto could not calm himself for a long time. Although he had remembered those words at the time, the director's words had clearly shocked him even more.

He had already let it all go, but the moment he saw Uchiha Shunichi, Yakushi Kabuto could not suppress the churning emotions in his heart.

"Why did you say something like that to me?" Only after a long while did Yakushi Kabuto regain his composure.

"My eyes can see certain things, but I don't know exactly when they will happen. I thought it would happen soon." Uchiha Shunichi offered a brief explanation, then continued, "Is that the only reason you came to find me?"

Yakushi Kabuto froze for a moment, then said, "That person wishes to see you. Pay attention during the Chūnin Exams."

Uchiha Shunichi nodded. Yakushi Kabuto left after speaking.

Clearly, he had only come to deliver a message. Everything else had been his own decision. It seemed Orochimaru had not forgotten about him.

After returning home, the vegetable shop had already delivered the food Uchiha Shunichi had purchased. Uchiha Sasuke was sorting through it, looking very much like an ordinary civilian at work.

"Did your mission end?" Uchiha Shunichi walked over and began working alongside Uchiha Sasuke.

Not all of these vegetables were for eating. Uchiha Shunichi would only keep a small portion as food; the rest needed to be crushed to extract nutrient solution.

After all, High-Concentration Nutrient Solution did not simply appear out of thin air. It required a vast amount of raw materials.

"Yeah! This mission showed me how lacking my strength is. Shunichi, is there any way to keep improving my power?" Uchiha Sasuke asked with a serious expression.

"Tell me... aren't you overestimating me? I'm only a Genin. Even if I've made all those things, I'm still a Genin your age."

"What you need most right now is to train in Ninjutsu. Not those Fire Release techniques from the clan, but new Ninjutsu you should ask your teacher to teach you." Uchiha Shunichi rolled his eyes and spoke.

"I see..." Uchiha Sasuke immediately became somewhat discouraged.

"Don't be too disheartened. Your foundation is already very good. You just need to systematically learn how real shinobi fight, and your strength will improve by leaps and bounds in a short time," Uchiha Shunichi reassured him.

"Yeah, I understand," Uchiha Sasuke said.

Uchiha Shunichi worked for a while, then dumped the job on Uchiha Sasuke and ran into the laboratory.

Having just seen Yakushi Kabuto, Uchiha Shunichi had suddenly thought of something very interesting. He did not know whether it could be realized...

The moment Uchiha Shunichi entered his underground laboratory, before he even turned on the lights, he immediately sensed danger.

"Who's there?" A powerful surge of chakra instantly erupted from Uchiha Shunichi's body, and the ninja blade in his hand slashed forward without reservation.

"Such a... vigilant child!"