After eating barbecue with Yugao, Uchiha Sora returned home.
His encounter with Orochimaru had brought him tremendous gains.
His chakra had already exceeded that of an ordinary jonin many times over. Now that it had doubled again, he had probably reached the threshold for Kage Level chakra reserves.
Moreover, with both his body and mind training automatically, there would no longer be a ceiling on his chakra growth.
At his current automatic training speed, his chakra reserves would probably rival those of an average tailed beast in less than three years!
As for experience, he had now fought a Kage Level opponent-something most ninja would probably never experience in their entire lives.
Still, despite his gains, Uchiha Sora remained wary of the eyes watching him from the shadows.
This time, it had been Orochimaru. Who would it be next time?
Danzo? Or Obito Uchiha?
That meant he still couldn't afford to let his guard down when developing ninjutsu.
He already had plenty of chakra and some trump cards, but those trump cards could only be revealed at critical moments.
For everyday ninjutsu, aside from a few Fire Release and Wind Release techniques, he seemed to lack techniques of the other chakra natures.
The defense of Earth Release, the versatility of Water Release, the explosive power of Lightning Release...
The five basic chakra natures aren't just innate. They can also be learned through training, Uchiha Sora thought. With his exceptional talent, Kakashi mastered transformations for all five natures. With the Sharingan, he also learned Yin Release transformation.
"And I have not only the Sharingan, but also a sage body. In theory, I should be able to master every nature transformation!" Uchiha Sora murmured. "Starting tomorrow, I'll look into nature transformation."
In the days that followed, Uchiha Sora carried out ANBU missions while also asking Kakashi for guidance on nature transformation.
However, Uchiha Sora's own talent was limited. Even with Kakashi's clear explanations, he couldn't quickly learn transformations for chakra natures he hadn't been born with.
Fortunately, the automatic training system stepped in to help.
After he spent several consecutive days seeking Kakashi's guidance on lightning nature transformation, a system notification finally sounded in Uchiha Sora's mind.
"Ding! Through the host's tireless efforts to learn, your innate physical aptitude has been moved by your dedication! A new innate nature has awakened: lightning!"
Once he gained an innate affinity for lightning, Uchiha Sora mastered its nature transformation in no time.
Then Uchiha Sora sought out Kakashi again and had him explain Earth Release and Water Release nature transformations in detail several times.
About half a month later, Uchiha Sora successfully awakened innate affinities for earth and water.
With that, Uchiha Sora finally possessed a body with every chakra nature: yin, yang, fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water.
With those innate affinities, the training that followed became much easier.
Uchiha Sora could directly copy some low-level ninjutsu simply by observing them with his Sharingan.
As for the more difficult B-rank and A-rank ninjutsu, as long as he used his Sharingan to see how they worked and memorize their Hand Seals, he could take them back and practice them at his own pace.
Even though Uchiha Sora wasn't particularly talented at training and progressed relatively slowly, his ninjutsu repertoire rapidly expanded with the system stepping in to help from time to time...
Time flew by, and before long, the year was drawing to a close again.
Light snow fell over Konoha.
Uchiha Sora had finally turned eleven.
During his time in the ANBU, he had carried out many difficult missions, including quite a few A-rank missions and even a handful of S-rank missions.
The trials of those ANBU missions had significantly improved both his combat experience and his resolve.
His strength was gradually revealing itself as well.
With his outstanding ninjutsu, genjutsu, and swordsmanship, he could handle any mission with composure.
Sometimes, even opponents Kakashi found troublesome could be defeated by Sora.
At Uchiha Izumi's home.
Sora enjoyed a lavish meal with Uchiha Izumi and her mother.
Half a year earlier, Uchiha Izumi had graduated from the Ninja Academy and become a Genin. Lately, she had been busy carrying out Genin missions.
Listening to Izumi recount amusing incidents from her Genin missions put Uchiha Sora in a very good mood.
After dinner, Uchiha Sora took Izumi out to stroll through the streets, then went to a theater to enjoy the Naruto world's New Year festivities.
After the show, Sora and Izumi walked through the snow, their hands clasped tightly as they felt each other's warmth.
Izumi held out her other small hand and gently caught a falling snowflake. Blushing faintly, she asked Uchiha Sora, "Hey, Sora, when we're both grown up, will we still be able to walk together like this and watch the snow?"
The girl's words were a confession, her eyes filled with nervousness and anticipation.
Uchiha Sora raised his hand and gently patted her head. "Yes."
One simple word, without any flowery promises, was enough to make Uchiha Izumi feel especially reassured.
Suddenly, sobbing came from the snowy ground ahead, mixed with children shouting insults.
Uchiha Sora frowned slightly, while Uchiha Izumi hurried over.
Not far away, several children were throwing snowballs at a little girl, completely ignoring her tears.
"Hey! You lot, stop that!" Uchiha Izumi immediately rushed forward and shouted, putting a stop to their bullying.
"Hey, why are you sticking your nose into our business?"
"Who are you? Do we even know you?"
"Why should we listen to you?"
The children were utterly defiant.
Izumi's face flushed with anger. She really wanted to beat them all up.
But she didn't want to use her age and strength to bully children who hadn't even started attending the Ninja Academy.
For a moment, she didn't know what to do.
"Brats, if you don't behave, someone might die." Suddenly, an icy voice sounded behind them.
It was Uchiha Sora. He walked slowly toward them, radiating a terrifying aura.
The sight immediately froze the children in place, every one of them on the verge of tears.
"You scare this easily, yet you're awfully good at bullying others! Hurry up and apologize." Seeing that even the slightest trace of his aura had frightened them, Uchiha Sora curled his lip and withdrew it.
The children immediately went over and obediently apologized to the little girl they had bullied.
Once they finished apologizing, they ran off and vanished in a flash.
Uchiha Izumi helped the little girl up from the ground and said gently, "Don't be afraid. That big brother chased away the people who were bullying you."
Only then did the little girl stop crying and lift her face. A pair of large, pure-white eyes looked up at Uchiha Izumi and Uchiha Sora from her delicate, adorable face.
"Oh? Are you from the Hyuga Clan? What's your name?" Only then did Uchiha Izumi realize that the little girl belonged to the Hyuga Clan, a prestigious clan just like the Uchiha.
"Thank you, big sister. Thank you, big brother. M-my name is Hinata Hyuga," the little girl said timidly, her cheeks faintly flushed.
"What? You're Hinata Hyuga?" Surprise appeared on Uchiha Izumi's face, and she couldn't help looking at Uchiha Sora.
This was the Hyuga Clan leader's daughter. Her status was anything but ordinary!
To think she had been bullied out here. If something had happened to her and caused a misunderstanding, it could have been serious trouble.
"It's fine. We'll just take her home," Uchiha Sora said.
He had also recognized Hinata. Since they had already helped her, they might as well see it through and take her home.
After all, their meeting could be considered a stroke of fate.
Uchiha Izumi nodded and took Hinata's little hand. "Come on. I'll take you home."
"Okay." Hinata nodded softly, took Izumi's hand, and stood up. Then she pointed toward her home and began walking.
Along the way, Uchiha Izumi asked why the children had bullied her. When she learned it was because Hinata was timid, she encouraged her. "Girls need to be strong, too! As long as we're strong, boys won't be able to bully us!"
Hinata nodded softly. Feeling Uchiha Izumi's warmth and kindness, she gradually began to smile.
The three soon reached the Hyuga estate.
At the gate, a branch-family guard recognized Lady Hinata at once and hurried off to inform the clan leader.
A short while later, Hyuga Hiashi came out personally to receive his daughter.
To thank Uchiha Sora and Izumi for their kindness, Hyuga Hiashi ushered them into the main hall and served them fine tea.
Faced with Hiashi's hospitality and gratitude, Uchiha Izumi felt nervous and awkward.
He was an important figure who led an entire clan, after all. Izumi, who was still only a Genin, wasn't used to speaking with someone like him.
Uchiha Sora, however, remained perfectly calm. "There's no need for such courtesy, Clan Leader Hiashi. It was no trouble at all."
"Haha, Uchiha Sora, sorry for the trouble my daughter caused you. It's only right that I thank you." Hyuga Hiashi smiled warmly and was exceedingly courteous.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Uchiha Sora left with Izumi.
Only after the two had left did Hyuga Hiashi put away his smile and speak to Hinata beside him. "Hinata, remember this. From now on, wherever you encounter Uchiha Sora, you must be cautious! Treat him with respect! Do you understand?"
"Okay..." Hinata didn't dare disobey her father and nodded.
But she was still deeply puzzled.
That big brother seemed like such a nice person. Why did she have to be cautious around him?
Hiashi naturally wouldn't explain it to his daughter. He only needed her to remember that point.
Through his Byakugan, he had seen that the eleven-year-old Uchiha Sora possessed a staggering amount of chakra! It far exceeded everything he understood about the Uchiha Clan's chakra reserves!
Clearly, his strength was nowhere near as simple as what he had shown on the surface!
Someone like him would undoubtedly become the most dazzling figure in the Uchiha Clan, perhaps even in all of Konoha!
When that day came, perhaps even the entire Hyuga Clan would amount to little before him.
Before you continue