Sage

Is this what being Indra's reincarnation is worth? Toru Kujyo forcibly suppressed his inner elation, keeping his expression focused as he treated Sasuke.

As the [Sage Eye (Red)] trait merged with him, Toru Kujyo immediately felt a change in his eyes. Warm energy flowed through his eye sockets, and his vision became clearer than ever before.

He quietly raised his head and looked toward the distant woods. Where he could once make out only vague outlines, he could now clearly see even the veins on the leaves. More amazingly, he could see through the leaves to the bird's nest hidden behind them, and even make out the tiny speckles on the eggs.

This ability to see through things... Toru Kujyo was thrilled. Could it be a power of perception similar to the Byakugan?

But he soon realized that the abilities of these [Sage Eyes] went far beyond simply seeing through things.

When he turned his gaze toward Sasuke, he could actually see the paths along which chakra flowed through his body. The chakra flowed slowly through Sasuke's meridians like blue streams, while near his heart, a mass of dark red energy slowly rotated.

What is that? Toru Kujyo frowned as he studied the dark red energy.

He soon realized that it must be the source of the Sharingan's power, as well as the foundation of the Uchiha Clan's kekkei genkai. Right now, that energy was extremely unstable, swelling and contracting in turns, clearly affected by intense emotional fluctuations.

Interesting. The corners of Toru Kujyo's mouth lifted slightly. These eyes can not only see the flow of chakra, but also observe the energy forms of kekkei genkai.

Even more thrilling was the fact that, when he concentrated, he could actually see the natural energy drifting through the air! Those energy particles, normally invisible to the naked eye, floated like tiny points of light, giving off a faint glow.

Is this the natural energy mentioned in senjutsu? Toru Kujyo was stunned. They say only ninja who have mastered Sage Mode can sense this power, yet I can actually see it directly!

By then, Sasuke had regained consciousness under Toru Kujyo's treatment. He struggled into a sitting position, the fire of defiance still burning in his eyes.

"I lost." Sasuke's voice was slightly hoarse, but the resolve in it was striking. "But this is only the beginning."

Toru Kujyo withdrew his healing hand and said as though nothing had happened, "Your Fire Release really is impressive. It was more powerful than I expected."

"It's not enough." Sasuke clenched his fists. "Not nearly enough. This little bit of strength won't let me avenge my clan."

He stood and looked at Toru Kujyo. "You're strong. Much stronger than I imagined. But I won't give up. Someday, I'll surpass you."

"Then I look forward to it." Toru Kujyo smiled calmly. "But before that, you'll need a lot more training."

Sasuke nodded and turned to leave. After a few steps, he suddenly stopped and said without looking back, "Toru Kujyo, thank you."

"For what?"

"For not going easy on me, and for not looking at me with pity." Sasuke spoke softly, but Toru Kujyo heard him clearly. "Right now, other people's pity is what I hate most."

With that, Sasuke strode out of the Training Ground.

Toru Kujyo watched Sasuke's retreating figure, his feelings complicated. He knew what a painful journey of growth awaited the boy, but these were things Sasuke had to experience. Only after experiencing despair could someone understand how precious hope was.

"But now, I have greater power too." Toru Kujyo touched his eyes. The changes brought by the [Sage Eye] filled him with anticipation for the future.

Once home, Toru Kujyo immediately began testing the various abilities of the [Sage Eye].

First was the ability to see through things. He discovered that it did not simply penetrate all matter; instead, he could adjust it at will. When he wanted to see through a wall, his vision penetrated it. When he wanted to examine the inside of a human body, he could see blood vessels, meridians, and the flow of chakra.

Next was distance vision. The [Sage Eye] greatly extended his visual range. Where he had once been able to see clearly only a few hundred meters away, he could now make out details several kilometers away. This would be a tremendous help in both reconnaissance and combat.

Most important was his perception of natural energy. Toru Kujyo tried observing how natural energy was distributed through the air and discovered that its density varied considerably from place to place. Near the forest, natural energy was noticeably more abundant, while around man-made structures, it was relatively sparse.

"If I can learn to absorb and use this natural energy..." Excitement shone in Toru Kujyo's eyes. "That means I have a chance to master Sage Mode!"

Sage Mode was one of the most powerful abilities in the Shinobi World. Ninja who mastered it experienced a qualitative leap in strength. Their taijutsu, ninjutsu, and chakra reserves would all receive enormous boosts.

More importantly, Sage Mode could also greatly extend one's lifespan. For someone like Toru Kujyo, who had transmigrated into this world, that was undoubtedly the most precious gift of all.

"But now isn't the time." Toru Kujyo quickly calmed down. "Training in Sage Mode is extremely dangerous. One careless mistake, and natural energy could turn me to stone. I need to find a suitable teacher, or wait until I'm stronger before trying."

Regardless, acquiring the [Sage Eye] had brought a qualitative improvement to Toru Kujyo's strength. He now possessed the basic ability to protect himself in this dangerous world.

"Next, I just need to wait for an opportunity." Toru Kujyo gazed at the night sky outside his window, planning his future. "The Chunin Ninja Exams are still a few years away. That gives me time to build up my strength."

Meanwhile, Sasuke had returned home and was sitting alone in the empty Uchiha residence. He was the only person in the enormous house, and the silence was terrifying.

"Brother..." Sasuke looked up at the ceiling, complicated emotions flickering in his eyes. "Why did you do it? Why did you kill Father, Mother, and everyone in the clan?"

But soon, hatred once again took hold of his heart.

"No matter what your reasons were, I'll never forgive you." Sasuke clenched his fists. "I'll become stronger. Strong enough to kill you!"

His battle with Toru Kujyo that day had made him painfully aware of his own weakness. If he could not even defeat someone his own age, how could he possibly challenge that man?

"Training. I have to train even harder!" A resolute fire burned in Sasuke's eyes.

That night, two boys in Konoha quietly steeled their resolve to pursue their respective goals. One sought to survive in this dangerous world; the other sought the strength to take revenge.