Comprehensive training

Late at night, when Uchiha Itachi slowly made his way home through the deep darkness, Zongyan and Fugaku had long since left the clan's secret chamber. The family sat in the hall, their faces calm, but all of them were still on edge.

After all, something momentous had happened that day.

After they exchanged a few pleasantries, Zongyan returned to his room and shut the door. He drew a deep breath and called out inwardly:

System, open the panel.

As the words fell, a pale blue screen that only he could see appeared before him:

[Host: Uchiha Zongyan]

[Age: 6]

[Bloodline: Uchiha (One-Tomoe Sharingan)]

[Rank: Intermediate Ninja]

[Skills: Three Basic Techniques, Great Fireball Technique, Uchiha Swordsmanship]

[Lottery draws: 0]

[Items owned: Fragmented Bloodline Altar]

After reading the information on the panel, a glimmer of delight surfaced in Zongyan's eyes, and the corners of his mouth lifted involuntarily.

Chunin level at six. Even across the entire shinobi world, I qualify as a genius, don't I?

But that happiness lasted only a short while.

He stared at the scant few skills in his status panel, his brows slowly drawing together.

His family's swordsmanship, the Three Basic Techniques, and one fire release technique-just those three things. Nothing else.

He had chunin-level chakra, but his stock of skills was pitifully meager, leaving him with too few ways to fight.

If Itachi had not arrived in time during the fight in the alley that day, there was no telling how things would have ended with him holding out using nothing but a Great Fireball and a kunai.

I have to expand my range of ninjutsu and shore up my weaknesses as soon as possible.

Zongyan silently made up his mind.

Hand-to-Hand Combat, swordsmanship, ninjutsu, genjutsu—he was only a beginner in all of them, far short of the standard of a powerful ninja.

If he wanted to survive in this damned place and truly control his own destiny, merely awakening his eyes was nowhere near enough.

Only after planning his general direction for the days ahead did Zongyan lie down to rest.

Early the next morning, as the first light of dawn slipped through the window lattice, he got up and went to the hall.

Breakfast was already on the table. Mikoto was ladling porridge into bowls, Fugaku sat upright at the head of the table, Itachi sat to one side, and Sasuke was still rubbing his eyes, not fully awake.

Zongyan sat down at the table. Rather than picking up his chopsticks, he spoke solemnly:

"Father, there is something I would like to discuss with you."

Fugaku set down his bowl and chopsticks and looked at him. "Go ahead."

"The Ninja Academy's lessons are already too basic for me. What they teach can't keep up with my current progress. I have too few ways to fight and a serious lack of practical experience. Continuing to attend regular classes at the academy would be nothing but a waste of time."

Zongyan raised his eyes to meet Fugaku's gaze and finished speaking in one breath.

"So from now on, I intend to send a shadow clone to class in my place while I devote myself entirely to improving my strength."

"I ask that you select the clan's finest members in the four fields of Hand-to-Hand Combat, swordsmanship, ninjutsu, and genjutsu to give me dedicated instruction and intensive combat sparring."

"I need special training to address all my weaknesses and take my destiny into my own hands."

His words were firm, his reasoning clear, and his goals precise. He did not seem like a six-year-old child at all.

Fugaku stared at his second son in a daze. After a moment of silence, he slowly spoke:

"As a ninja, being strong is certainly important. But as your father, I still hope you can have a simpler childhood."

"Even if... those happy days won't last very long."

Zongyan was faintly moved by those words, but he still nodded solemnly. "Please grant my request, Father."

Fugaku watched him for a while longer before finally nodding slowly. "Very well."

Uchiha Itachi, who sat upright beside them, nodded slightly at this. His cool eyes were filled with approval and warmth as he quietly added:

"Father, Zongyan is mature for his age. Since he made this decision after careful consideration, we should support him."

"Training is hard and tedious, but I'll check on you often. If the strain becomes too much, remember to stop in time. You don't have to push yourself."

Mikoto also set down her bowl and chopsticks, gently raising a hand to rub Zongyan's head, her eyes full of tender concern. "Since you've made up your mind, I won't stop you."

"But you must eat properly and get enough rest. Your body is the foundation of your training. Don't hurt yourself trying to be tough."

Sasuke, the youngest at the table at only four years old, seemed to understand only vaguely. Still, he opened his round black eyes wide, clenched his little fists, and encouraged his second brother in his childish voice:

"Go, big brother! Sasuke believes you'll become super strong!"

Feeling the support of his whole family around the table, Zongyan felt genuine warmth well up within him. He nodded firmly, taking their hopes to heart and turning them into motivation for his training.

After a simple breakfast, Zongyan said goodbye to his family and went alone to the spacious clan courtyard.

The morning light was lovely and the breeze gentle. Clean and open, the courtyard was an excellent place to train.

He took a standard short ninja blade suited to his build from the weapons rack. Planting his feet, he lowered his stance into a steady opening posture and began practicing his family's swordsmanship again and again.

Chops, slashes, thrusts, rising cuts, blocks-he drilled every movement repeatedly and meticulously.

Sweat soon soaked the loose hair over his forehead, but he showed no intention of stopping, continuing from one stroke to the next.

Before long, steady, synchronized footsteps sounded outside the courtyard.

Zongyan lowered his blade and turned to look. Fugaku strode at the front, tall and straight, followed by four clan members in Uchiha clothing whose presence was steady and substantial. Even standing still, they exuded the pressure of battle-hardened veterans.

Fugaku brought the four over to Zongyan and said:

"All four are Konoha jonin, specializing respectively in Hand-to-Hand Combat, swordsmanship, ninjutsu, and genjutsu. They are among the very finest combat elites currently in the Uchiha Clan."

"They each have missions to handle and cannot teach you at all times, but whenever they can, they will teach you genuine skills. Make sure you learn well."

After saying this, Fugaku turned to the four jonin and instructed them gravely:

"Starting today, the four of you will be responsible for teaching Zongyan. Don't go easy on him. Give it your all and train him to the strictest standards."

The four jonin bowed in unison. "Yes, Clan Leader!"

Fugaku gave Zongyan a long look. Without saying anything more, he turned and left the courtyard, leaving the entire space to the four teachers and their student.

After Fugaku's figure disappeared beyond the courtyard gate, the four jonin stepped forward in turn to greet Zongyan.

The first was powerfully built, his muscles hard as stone and his voice equally robust:

"Young Master Zongyan, I am Uchiha Rei, at your service. I specialize in Hand-to-Hand Combat, particularly developing strength and speed."

The lean man beside him, with a long blade at his waist, spoke next, his tone crisp and direct:

"Uchiha Kiyoshi. I specialize in swordsmanship and am proficient in various blade techniques, iaido, and combat slashes."

The more scholarly-looking man stepped forward next, speaking mildly. "Uchiha Makoto. I specialize in ninjutsu and will be responsible for developing your ninjutsu and teaching you chakra control."

The last man, whose gaze was deep and whose restrained presence resembled a block of ice, spoke flatly. "Uchiha Xuan. I specialize in genjutsu and mental resistance training."

Each of the four handled one area, neatly covering all four fields in which Zongyan needed to improve.

Once the introductions were over, the four quickly exchanged glances and gathered to plan his schedule with practiced coordination.

The schedule they finally agreed upon was:

Taijutsu and endurance conditioning in the morning, swordsmanship sparring at noon, expansion of ninjutsu fundamentals in the afternoon, and special genjutsu training in the evening.

The entire day was packed, without a single gap from the moment he opened his eyes until nightfall.

After hearing the schedule, Zongyan's eye twitched involuntarily. ...How is this training? This is all-around, exploitative training from hell. It's even worse than working nine to nine, six days a week.

But the complaint passed through his mind for only an instant before he suppressed it.

He had chosen this path himself, and he would have to see it through even if he had to crawl.

He had rejected the comfortable days at the Ninja Academy to come here and suffer beatings and hardship. He was the one who insisted on becoming stronger, on holding his destiny in his own hands.

Since he had chosen it, there was nothing to complain about.

He took a deep breath, tightened his grip on the short ninja blade, and bowed slightly to the four jonin with a respectful bearing:

"Sorry for the trouble, teachers. Please instruct me. In the days ahead, I will give it my all and never slack off."