In the world of the Hokage, there was a strange rule: only adults were allowed to drink alcohol, while minors could kill.
Even ninjas were no exception. Yet when Uchiha Shunichi asked for alcohol, the owner did not stop him. Some of the more familiar diners understood what was going on.
The sake Uchiha Shunichi requested was not for drinking. It was mixed with a special sauce and brushed over the grilled meat.
After fussing over it for a short 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 set route, strengthening his digestive and absorptive abilities.
This had been Uchiha Shunichi's greatest gain over the past few years. Chakra could enhance physical strength, so naturally, it could also be used inside the body to improve absorption and digestion, or strengthen other functions.
In fact, similar Ninjutsu existed in the Shinobi World, but none allowed the user to control them voluntarily as Uchiha Shunichi did.
Just as the Aburame clan needed to wear glasses and the Akimichi clan were all extremely large, Shinobi World ninjas generally turned such changes into bodily instincts, eventually forming Bloodline Limits.
Uchiha Shunichi's focus was not on that. Compared to other ninjas, he had a stronger desire for control. Not only did he want to control his chakra perfectly, but he also wanted to control his own body.
Several years of special training had allowed Uchiha Shunichi to achieve part of that goal while restoring his body to normal.
After eating and drinking his fill, Uchiha Shunichi paid the bill with some pain in his heart. Konoha's grilled meat was expensive. Even someone as wealthy as him found it painful to pay for.
If I went into the forest and hunted a pig...
Forget it. It was just money. As long as he resolved his current problem, everything would be fine.
Uchiha Shunichi sensed the man following behind him and felt slightly helpless. Was there something wrong with this guy's brain? He was stalking him openly on the street?
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 a ruin. In just a few years, many of its houses had fallen into disrepair.
The houses closer to Konoha were in especially bad condition, because many brats went into the empty rooms to explore. As everyone knew, naughty children were highly destructive creatures.
"Tell me, why exactly are you following me?" Uchiha Shunichi walked to a place where he often trained and spoke to Yakushi Kabuto behind him.
Yakushi Kabuto remained silent, looking at Uchiha Shunichi with a complicated expression. There was hatred, as well as gratitude, but above all, wariness.
"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 one 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 confused Uchiha Shunichi. Why had Yakushi Kabuto not come looking for him then...?
"How did you know it would happen? Why didn't you explain it more clearly back then?" Yakushi Kabuto suppressed the excitement in his heart, and his voice returned to normal.
"I merely saw it. If my guess was correct, she still died." Uchiha Shunichi found a place to sit before speaking.
His body was easily exhausted. Although his combat strength did not suffer, he was extremely sensitive to fatigue and pain.
Hearing that answer, Yakushi Kabuto could not calm his heart 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 all of it go, but the moment he saw Uchiha Shunichi, Yakushi Kabuto still could not suppress the turbulent emotions in his heart.
"Why did you say that to me?" It took Yakushi Kabuto a long while to calm down.
"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, "Did you come to see me only because of this?"
Yakushi Kabuto froze for a moment, then said, "That person wants to see you. Keep an eye out during the Chunin Ninja Exams."
Uchiha Shunichi nodded. After saying that, Yakushi Kabuto left.
Clearly, he had only come to deliver a message. Everything else had been his own decision. It seemed Orochimaru had not forgotten Uchiha Shunichi yet.
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 worked 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 appear out of thin air. It required a massive amount of materials.
"Yeah. This mission showed me how lacking my strength is. Shunichi, is there any way for me to keep increasing my power?" Uchiha Sasuke asked with a serious expression.
"Say, aren't you overestimating me? I'm only a Genin. Even if I've made all these things, I'm still a Genin your age."
"What you need most now is to train in Ninjutsu. Not those Fire Release techniques from the clan. Go ask your teacher to teach you new Ninjutsu." Uchiha Shunichi rolled his eyes and spoke.
"I see..." Uchiha Sasuke immediately became somewhat discouraged.
"Don't be so disheartened. Your foundation is still very solid. You only need to systematically learn how real ninjas fight, and your strength will advance by leaps and bounds in a short time." Uchiha Shunichi offered a word of comfort.
"Yeah, I understand," Uchiha Sasuke said.
Uchiha Shunichi worked for a while, then dumped the work on Uchiha Sasuke and ran into the laboratory.
Having just met Yakushi Kabuto, Uchiha Shunichi had suddenly come up with a very interesting idea. He did not know whether it could be realized...
The moment Uchiha Shunichi entered his underground laboratory, he sensed a feeling of danger before he even turned on the lights.
"Who is it?" A powerful surge of chakra erupted from Uchiha Shunichi's body as he swung his ninja blade forward without holding back.
"You're certainly a... vigilant child."
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