The column returning to the village stretched a long way.
Shuo followed somewhere behind the middle, taking strides neither too long nor too short, just enough to keep up without ever moving toward the front.
He carried a small pack containing his few belongings.
A dedicated transport unit handled the supplies dismantled from the frontline camp, while combat personnel like them traveled light.
They took a relatively safe route, but none of the necessary precautions were neglected.
Sensory ninja and mobile squads patrolled ahead, behind, and on both sides of the column.
The atmosphere was a little more relaxed than at the front, but no one dared let their guard down completely-the war had not officially ended yet.
Shuo walked without thinking about anything, simply staring at the back of the Chunin's head ahead of him and moving his legs mechanically. The sun was a little harsh. Squinting, he pulled his canteen from a side pocket of his pack and leisurely took a sip.
[Maintaining "energy-saving mode during a long march." "Beginner's Laziness" remains active. Stamina consumption -5%.]
Not bad. This was the most practical benefit of deepening that demeanor.
After walking for most of the morning, they stopped beside a small stream to rest at noon.
Everyone dispersed, some eating dry rations, some drinking water, and others checking their equipment.
Shuo found a flat rock beneath a tree's shade and sat down, breaking apart a rock-hard Soldier Pill and nibbling at it.
The taste was as moving as ever, but his face showed little expression. He ate slowly, but never stopped.
"Hey, you're the one on the western sentry line who..."
Two unfamiliar Chunin approached, apparently from another squad. One looked a little curious. "Held off two Iwagakure guys by yourself?"
Shuo looked up at them and swallowed what was in his mouth before drawling, "Got lucky. Took a few tumbles, and they ran into trees themselves." His standard answer. He could not be bothered to change it.
"Tch. Boring."
The man curled his lip and left.
He had probably wanted to hear some hot-blooded story.
Shuo went on nibbling his Soldier Pill.
Across from him, beneath the roots of a tree, several younger Genin huddled together, excitedly discussing something in low voices. Their eyes kept darting toward the very front of the column-Minato Namikaze was speaking quietly with several Jonin beside the river, his brilliant blond hair standing out even in the crowd.
"So that's the Yellow Flash..."
"I heard he never needs a second move to kill an enemy!"
"One day, I'm going to become a ninja that strong too!"
Their voices were quiet, but a few remarks drifted over on the wind.
Shuo listened without feeling much.
Strong? Yeah, he was pretty strong.
But watching Minato bustle about, constantly alert and looking after the column... Shuo did the math: strength ≈ responsibility ≈ more work ≈ being busier.
Tch, that value for effort... didn't seem very high.
He shook his head, stuffed the last bit of the Soldier Pill into his mouth, and brushed the crumbs from his hands.
Then he leaned back against the tree trunk, tucked both hands behind his head, and closed his eyes.
There was still a while before they set off again. Time to squeeze in some rest.
[Ding! Perfectly upheld the principle of "seizing every opportunity to rest" during a group break. Imitation Points +3.]
The break ended, and a whistle sounded.
The column set off again. The afternoon's journey was even more tedious, and the scenery hardly changed.
Shuo continued his "energy-saving follow-along" mode. Occasionally, he also tried sensing the little bit of "light" within him.
After overexerting himself last time, these past few days of recuperation and laziness seemed to have restored a little, but it remained faint, like a candle guttering in the wind. He could barely sense it without concentrating.
He definitely could not form Ama no Murakumo.
Light-Speed Kick? Even kicking a pebble would probably take effort. Flash Movement? Out of the question.
Having a short mana bar really was a crippling weakness.
Shuo grumbled inwardly.
He needed to find a way to increase his total "light energy" or its recovery speed.
Relying on passive activation alone was too slow.
As they walked, the column ahead suddenly slowed, then stopped.
He faintly heard a scouting ninja returning to report up ahead.
"A small landslide? Blocking half the road?"
"Clearing it will take time. A detour would add at least two hours..."
"We can't afford delays. We must reach the designated campsite before nightfall. Gather some people and clear it immediately!"
The order came down, and each squad assigned physically fit members to help move rocks and clear the road ahead.
Several people in Shuo's squad were selected too, including him.
The Chunin leading them looked at Shuo, hesitating a little. "Shuo, you've only just recovered. How about..."
"It's fine. I'll go."
Shuo interrupted him, stood up, and brushed the dirt from his backside.
It was not that he was particularly eager. He knew that with collective tasks like this, slacking off was fine, but openly shirking would easily draw attention.
Besides... he glanced at his character panel. Imitation Points: 158/100.
Would moving rocks count as "being forced to perform meaningless labor" and earn him Imitation Points too?
He followed several Chunin to the landslide.
It was not particularly severe, but several large rocks mixed with considerable amounts of dirt and tree trunks had completely blocked the already narrow mountain road.
Some ninja were already clearing it with Earth Release and physical strength.
Shuo was assigned to an area where smaller rocks and broken wood needed moving.
He bent down, picked up a rock the size of a washbasin, and hefted it. Not too heavy.
He walked slowly to the roadside and tossed the rock over the cliff. Then he went back for the next one.
His movements were not slow, but they carried a perfunctory air of "going through the motions." His face showed little enthusiasm either, a sharp contrast to his companions beside him, who shouted in rhythm as sweat streamed down their bodies.
[Participating in the collective labor of "road clearing." Demeanor matches the lazy civil servant style of "showing up without putting in effort." Imitation Points +2.]
It actually worked!
Shuo was inwardly delighted and put more enthusiasm into moving rocks-enthusiasm for farming Imitation Points, that was.
He maintained his "I'm working, but my heart is on vacation" state as he moved one rock after another.
After several rocks, he came upon a larger one wedged between several broken logs in his assigned area, making it awkward to get at.
A Chunin clearing debris nearby came over. He looked like quite a hot-blooded fellow and called to Shuo, "Hey, brother, give me a hand! Let's get this big guy down together!"
Shuo looked at the rock, then at the Chunin's expectant eyes, and sighed inwardly.
Moving it together... wouldn't that be more tiring? And we'd have to coordinate? What a hassle.
He thought for a moment, then suddenly spoke just as the Chunin reached out to lift it. "Hold on."
"Hm?" The Chunin looked puzzled.
Shuo offered no explanation. He stepped back twice, sweeping his gaze over the rock and the broken logs supporting it.
Then he raised his right foot and, seemingly casually, tapped his toe against a slightly suspended part at the rock's base where its support was precarious.
He used little strength, much less the power of "Light-Speed Kick"-he could not have used it anyway.
It was purely an ordinary, physical tap.
But that tap seemed to break its already precarious balance at just the right point.
Creak... crash!
The large rock wobbled, then rolled down the slope on its own with the broken logs wedged against it, knocking loose plenty of smaller stones along the way before plunging over the cliff with a boom.
Dust filled the air.
The hot-blooded Chunin stood openmouthed, staring at the suddenly much clearer area, then at Shuo's foot, which he had just withdrawn as though it had done nothing. For a long while, he could not react.
"See," Shuo said flatly, shaking his foot as though dust had stuck to it, his tone saying "it's handled, so stop bothering me." "Sometimes, a gentle touch in the right place... saves a lot more effort than lifting with brute force, you know~"
With that, he clapped his hands and turned toward the next pile of small rocks that needed clearing, leaving the Chunin scratching his head. Something felt off, yet it seemed to make a lot of sense.
[Ding! Successfully practiced the slacking philosophy of "using finesse over strength and avoiding brute labor" while working, accompanied by a classic lecturing tone. Highly consistent with the template's behavioral style. Imitation Points +8!]
The road was soon cleared, and the column resumed its journey. Shuo followed along, concealing his achievement and renown.
Toward evening, the column reached the designated outdoor campsite.
It was a forest clearing near a water source. The squads divided the work, setting up security, digging simple cooking pits, and arranging night watches.
Shuo was assigned to gather dry firewood near the forest's edge with two others.
It was easy work. He had no objections.
The forest was quiet, with only the calls of birds returning to their nests.
Shuo gathered branches leisurely, taking whatever he found. As long as they burned, they would do.
His two companions seemed a little afraid of the silence and chatted quietly, mostly about what they wanted to do after returning to the village and whether the war really was almost over.
Shuo did not join in. Holding a bundle of firewood, he walked to a spot near the forest's edge with a slightly more open view and looked toward Konoha. Though it was still far away, he could almost sense its familiar bustle of everyday life.
After so long away, the Konoha in the original owner's memories had grown a little hazy.
To a transmigrator like him, it was even more of a mere concept.
So that was where he would live from now on.
As Uchiha Saku, as a Chunin with a Kizaru template system.
What would it be like?
He watched for a while, then lowered his head and looked at his open palm. With a slight shift of his intent, he tried to summon that faint light energy.
The air above his palm distorted slightly. A few golden specks, dimmer than sparks, flickered for an instant, then went out with a puff.
Not even as good as a lighting technique.
"Sigh..." Shuo lowered his hand, picked up the firewood, and turned back.
His face still wore that same lazy expression, but his small desire to grow stronger had become a tiny bit clearer than before because of this return to the village, Minato's invitation, and the uncertainty of the future.
Just a tiny bit.
By the time he returned to camp, the bonfires were already lit.
Orange-red firelight illuminated the faces of ninja sitting in rings around them. Shuo put down the firewood and collected his portion of heated rations-a little better than dry rations, a mush with wild vegetables and dried meat mixed in-then found a seat neither too close to nor too far from the fire and ate in small bites.
The night wind passed through the forest, carrying a chill and the scent of vegetation. Overhead lay a clear, starry sky he had not seen in a long time.
Around him were quiet conversations, occasional laughter, and the faint scraping of weapons being maintained.
The air of war was much fainter here.
After finishing his food, Shuo set his bowl aside and leaned back, lying on a simple waterproof groundsheet with his hands behind his head as he gazed at the stars.
The system panel glowed faintly before his eyes. Imitation Points: 168/100.
Enough to unlock the next ability, but he did nothing. No rush.
He listened to the crackling bonfire and the gradually fading chatter.
Tomorrow, he would be back in Konoha.
New troubles, a new routine, new... opportunities for imitation.
One step at a time.
He closed his eyes and slowly exhaled into the cold outdoor air.
After all...
Vacations always came to an end.
Before you continue