Gradually Strengthening the Body

Time passed quickly at the Ninja Academy, and more than three years flew by in the blink of an eye.

Over those three years, Uchiha Shunichi's greatest gain had been barely nursing his body back to health.

The reason he said barely was because Uchiha Shunichi still could not keep his eyes open for long. His absolute limit was around an hour.

As for using them... he had no idea!

Over the past three years, Uchiha Shunichi had lived quite peacefully. There had been no need to use the Mangekyō Sharingan at all.

However, without opening his eyes, Uchiha Shunichi's physique was no different from that of an ordinary Ninja Academy student.

Within the vast and empty Uchiha Clan grounds, only one house still had its lights on. Inside, two boys soaked in wooden bathing tubs, easing the exhaustion from their training.

"Shunichi, this medicinal bath has become much less effective." After soaking for a long time, Uchiha Sasuke suddenly spoke.

"That's normal. It was originally a body-strengthening medicine bought from some washed-up samurai. Of course it doesn't have much effect. Ordinary ninja wouldn't bother with this sort of thing." With his eyes closed, Uchiha Shunichi spoke slowly.

Over the past three years, Uchiha Shunichi had searched for many nourishing medicines and various potion formulas, but none of them had helped him much.

But... having some effect was better than having none at all.

"Tomorrow, I'll go to Granny Cat's place. She should have something that works." Uchiha Sasuke said.

"Mm." Uchiha Shunichi nodded, climbed out of the bathing tub, and began reading several books.

When Uchiha Shunichi read, he did not use his eyes. Instead, he used a detection ninjutsu to examine the contents of the books.

There was no helping it. After all, Uchiha Shunichi could only keep his eyes open for a little over an hour, which was nowhere near enough.

He was currently teaching himself Medical Ninjutsu as well as books on this world's technology. They said long illness made for a good doctor, and Uchiha Shunichi could already clearly feel that his Mangekyō Sharingan was under too much strain. If he did not find a way to make up for it, it would drag him down.

The solution was actually simple—fuse with Hashirama Cells!

It was just extremely difficult to accomplish. Even if Uchiha Shunichi defected now, it would still be the same.

After bathing, Uchiha Shunichi chose to read and study, while Uchiha Sasuke began training of his own accord.

Who knew what that guy was thinking, exercising right after a bath.

"These are the materials I need for my experiments. While you're there tomorrow, help me buy them from Granny Cat!" Once Uchiha Sasuke finished training, Uchiha Shunichi handed him a note.

Uchiha Sasuke took the note and looked somewhat surprised.

"So much? And these things are too expensive. We don't have enough money left." Uchiha Sasuke shook his head.

"Then sell some more things. The assets left behind by the clan are meant for us to improve our strength with." Uchiha Shunichi replied without hesitation.

The Uchiha Clan had actually been quite wealthy, but Konoha had taken most of that money. Officially, it was being held in temporary safekeeping until Uchiha Sasuke or Uchiha Shunichi came of age.

However, neither Uchiha Shunichi nor Uchiha Sasuke cared much about that money.

"When you sell things, be careful not to expose yourself. It'd be best to have Granny Cat's people sell them for us. Konoha... isn't something we should trust too much." Uchiha Shunichi reminded him.

"I know." Uchiha Sasuke nodded and did not reject Uchiha Shunichi's suggestion.

In truth, although Uchiha Shunichi had not told Uchiha Sasuke the truth, Uchiha Sasuke had vaguely guessed some of it himself.

Still, just like Uchiha Shunichi, Uchiha Sasuke had no choice. Besides, the person he hated most in his heart was actually his own older brother.

The next day, the Ninja Academy was on break.

Uchiha Sasuke set out alone to purchase supplies, while Uchiha Shunichi trained his body alone at the Uchiha Training Ground.

Uchiha Shunichi's body had recovered considerably, but he could still feel weakness coming from all over his body. Every few hours, he needed to drink a specially made nutrient solution.

However, Uchiha Shunichi could now undergo normal ninja training.

Still, his training differed from that of other ninja. Other than practicing swordsmanship daily, he spent most of his time training his physical fitness. It was simple, but exhausting.

"One, two... three hundred ninety-one..." When Uchiha Shunichi threw his three hundred ninety-first punch, intense pain shot through his arm, and a strange indentation appeared in it.

He had overtrained...

Even in the Shinobi World, improper training methods or excessive intensity could cause muscle tears.

But for Uchiha Shunichi, that was simple. The pupil power in his right eye vanished, then strangely filled again, and Uchiha Shunichi's arm returned to how it had been one second earlier.

"My arm has reached its limit. I should train my lower body now!"

Uchiha Shunichi muttered to himself. Chakra surged from his entire body, easing the soreness in his arm. Then he picked up a bottle of highly concentrated nutrient solution from beside him and drained it in one gulp.

After that, he continued training.

In this world, aside from cheating, training was the only way to improve one's strength. Any powerful ninjutsu required a formidable body as its foundation.

If the body could not bear the burden, one would end up like Uchiha Shisui, who had nearly died immediately after activating Susanoo with one eye.

Or like Uchiha Itachi, whose body had been drained dry until he finally died in a battle where he held back.

Half an hour later, Uchiha Shunichi felt his legs becoming somewhat uncontrollable. The soreness made his muscles twitch involuntarily...

It was time to stop. Even if he possessed an ability that made him unafraid of external injuries, it was still best not to overexert himself.

"Boy, your training method... is wrong!"

Just as Uchiha Shunichi was about to stop, a voice that sounded both familiar and unfamiliar reached him.

"Who are you?" Uchiha Shunichi naturally knew who had come. That person's distinctive outfit was far too memorable.

Seeing Uchiha Shunichi's wary expression, Might Guy split his mouth wide and revealed his gleaming front teeth.

"I am Konoha's proud Azure Beast—Might Guy!" Might Guy struck a strange pose and flashed his signature smile.

"Mm... and?" Uchiha Shunichi nodded and spoke calmly.

"Uh... hahaha! Did you not hear what I said just now..."

"I heard you. This is the Uchiha Clan's training ground. Normally, no one comes here. Your purpose in coming must be me... Who sent you..."

"Uh... well..."