The Uchiha Clan's Arrogance

Kirito was still grumbling inwardly about being forced to accept the challenge, but when he picked up the scroll Kari Uchiha had left on the ground and opened it to read, his impression of the Uchiha Clan instantly improved.

The scroll actually contained methods for cultivating Chakra and training in the Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques.

Moreover, it detailed all kinds of specifics, tricks, and practical insights for cultivating Chakra and practicing the Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques. It was packed with useful information, giving Kirito the delighted feeling of having found a treasure.

These things might not have been particularly precious at the moment, since he could learn them after entering the Ninja Academy. But his time was valuable. If he had to wait another month before going to the Ninja Academy to learn them, would that not be wasting an entire month for nothing?

What a waste.

Besides, this scroll had been given by someone from the Uchiha Clan. The Chakra cultivation methods and Three Basic Ninjutsu Techniques recorded inside should be far superior to the commonplace material taught at the academy.

He had thought he was about to be forced and taken advantage of for free.

After all, he was just an orphan with no one to rely on, while the other side had the immensely powerful Uchiha Clan behind them. If they truly wanted to take advantage of him by force, there was nothing he could do but passively accept it. Yet he had never expected to receive compensation instead.

After the initial surprise, Kirito calmed down and began considering the meaning behind the benefit in his hands.

If you wanted to take something, you first had to give something.

He did not believe the Uchiha Clan would be so kind as to give him something this valuable over a single challenge. They could have easily substituted it with something else, such as money, a simple and straightforward benefit.

Putting himself in the Uchiha Clan's shoes, Kirito quickly understood the meaning behind the scroll in his hand.

One reason the Uchiha Clan had compensated him was probably because they did not like taking advantage of others. The other was that they had seen he could not use Ninjutsu and hoped he would not be too weak to serve as a whetstone for Chizuru Uchiha.

Making him into Chizuru Uchiha's whetstone was probably the Uchiha Clan's true purpose.

It seemed the Uchiha Clan had great confidence in Chizuru Uchiha. They believed she would definitely defeat him next time, which was why they did not mind giving him these benefits.

Was this the Uchiha Clan's arrogance?

It was quite a nice sort of arrogance.

Very Uchiha indeed.

Although he felt somewhat looked down upon, Kirito did not mind because they had given him benefits.

I was too hasty. Looking at it this way, the Uchiha Clan isn't bad at all. They're arrogant, but they give real benefits. I like this kind of behavior that doesn't take advantage of people for free.

Still, despite thinking that, Kirito had no intention of losing to Chizuru Uchiha. Since the Uchiha Clan had underestimated him, he would use the benefits they had given him to slap them hard across the face.

With the two scrolls tucked away, Kirito quickly ran toward the Orphanage.

The next morning, in the Orphanage basement.

The Orphanage originally had no basement, but after Kirito revealed his talent, it did.

Kirito had built it himself with the old director's approval. Naturally, the purpose was to prevent news of his cultivation of Natural Energy from leaking out. He did not want to become someone's test subject.

Now, this basement had become Kirito's private room.

At the same time, it had become the place where Kirito usually studied and taught.

At that moment, Kirito was explaining the methods of Chakra cultivation to Yakushi Nonō and two boys.

The Chakra cultivation method recorded on the scroll Kari Uchiha had given him was something Kirito mastered smoothly after reading it once and trying it once. Its difficulty was far lower than cultivating Natural Energy.

Previously, he had merely lacked the proper method for cultivating Chakra, which was why he had not begun. Now that he had the correct method, success came naturally.

After learning it, he decisively called Yakushi Nonō and the other two over and taught them the Chakra cultivation method.

There were not many people in the Orphanage with ninja talent. Including himself, there were currently only four.

"Chakra is the power formed by fusing physical energy and spiritual energy. So, if you want to extract it, you must fuse physical energy and spiritual energy. But this fusion is not done at a one-to-one ratio. The optimal ratio is 2.5 to 1—2.5 parts physical energy to 1 part spiritual energy. As for the order of fusion, spiritual energy comes first, followed by physical energy."

Kirito carefully explained the process of Chakra cultivation to the three of them, warning them that they needed to remain calm and keep their focus sufficiently concentrated during training.

Yakushi Nonō truly was a talented ninja. After Kirito explained it once, she successfully extracted Chakra after only a few attempts.

As for the other two boys, they had yet to succeed because they could not concentrate well enough.

The two boys were named Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda. The former was eight, while the latter was nine. Their talents were average, but both had come from difficult backgrounds. They were mature for their age and remarkably determined. Even without Kirito urging them, they trained very diligently.

"That is enough for now. Your minds are unsettled. Go eat first, calm yourselves down properly, then come back and train."

Kirito checked the time. It was nearly time for lunch, so he decisively had Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda stop training.

"Yes, Big Brother Kirito."

Although Heizo Yamazaki and Taiga Noda were unwilling, they immediately obeyed Kirito's order.

Everywhere had its hierarchy, and the Orphanage was no exception.

Kirito was undoubtedly the strongest person in the Orphanage now. He had also made sure everyone there could eat their fill, learn to read and write, and even receive precious pocket money. Life had given them hope, so he naturally earned the support of everyone in the Orphanage and had become the acknowledged leader of the orphans.

In the orphans' eyes, a leader was the big brother who led the way.

After the two left, Kirito said to Yakushi Nonō, who had remained behind, "Are you really not planning to attend the Ninja Academy?"

He had already gathered enough money to send Yakushi Nonō, Heizo Yamazaki, and Taiga Noda to the Ninja Academy. Yet Yakushi Nonō was unwilling to go, which greatly surprised him.

"If we all go to school, what will happen here? Someone has to stay home and protect the younger children. Besides, if I don't go, we can save 100,000 yen. We can use that money to start a small business. You can't be the only one carrying everything forever."

Yakushi Nonō gently shook her head.

She had seen all the effort Kirito had put into the Orphanage these past days, and she was sincerely grateful to him.

However, she did not want to be someone who was always receiving help, nor did she want to become Kirito's burden. She wanted to become his support and help him take care of this home.

She was far too mature.

So mature it made one's heart ache.

She was only eight years old herself.

After hearing Yakushi Nonō's reason for refusing, Kirito sighed inwardly and tacitly accepted her decision.

After spending some time together, Kirito understood Yakushi Nonō's personality. Once she made up her mind, she would carry it out resolutely, and her ability to act was exceptional.

Most likely, by the time she said those words, she already had a concrete plan in mind.

"What small business are you planning to do?"

Kirito asked curiously.

"I made some of the foods you taught me to make before and sold them in the village. They were very well received."

Yakushi Nonō said with a smile.

Her eyes shone as she spoke.

Owning a restaurant of her own had been Yakushi Nonō's greatest dream back when she could not eat her fill at the Orphanage.

At the same time, images of dumplings, wontons, spring rolls, and tangyuan—foods he had personally made because of his cravings—flashed through Kirito's mind.

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