How a genius was made

Early the next morning, Uchiha Rìtiān arrived at the training ground on time. Itachi was already there, sitting in meditation and cultivating chakra.

Rìtiān did not disturb him and obediently stood to one side to wait.

After a while, Itachi opened his eyes. "You're here."

Rìtiān immediately stood at attention. "Reporting to Teacher Itachi! Uchiha Rìtiān reporting for duty!"

Itachi: "..." The corner of his mouth twitched. Teacher Itachi? That sounded strange.

"Just call me Itachi."

"Yes, Teacher Itachi!"

Itachi: "..." Forget it. Let him do what he wants.

Itachi cleared his throat. "Before we learn Fire Release, how much do you know about changes in chakra nature?"

Rìtiān thought, Oh, I know all about that. I've even got a mastery-level Great Fireball in my head.

Out loud, however, he asked with a blank look, "Nature changes? What's that? Is it tasty?"

Itachi: "..." He had known it.

Itachi patiently explained, "Changing chakra nature means giving chakra a particular attribute. We Uchiha are naturally gifted with the fire attribute, so learning Fire Release is easier for us than for other clans."

Rìtiān pretended to realize something. "Oh! So that's how it works! That sounds amazing!"

Itachi inwardly shook his head. Why is this kid like a little fool?

"To learn Fire Release, you first need to sense fire-nature chakra. Close your eyes, feel the chakra inside your body, and imagine flames burning."

Rìtiān obediently closed his eyes, inwardly grumbling, I couldn't be more familiar with this.

Still, to make his act convincing, he pretended to work very hard, knitting his brows tightly as fine beads of sweat seeped out onto his forehead.

Itachi nodded beside him. Hmm, at least he's taking it seriously.

Ten minutes later, Rìtiān suddenly let out an "Ah!" He opened his eyes and said in delight, "Big Brother Itachi! I think I felt it! It's warm, hot..."

Itachi froze. "You felt it?" That can't be right. Most people need at least two or three days to sense elemental chakra for the first time.

Rìtiān nodded vigorously. "Yes! It feels like a little flame!"

Itachi stared at him for quite a while, confirming that he did not seem to be lying. Could it be... this kid really is a genius?

Itachi suppressed his surprise and said calmly, "Hmm, good. Try gathering the fire-nature chakra in your hand."

Rìtiān closed his eyes again and "worked hard" for a long while. A faint little flame rose from his fingertip, flickered once, and went out.

"It's out! It's out! Big Brother Itachi, did you see? I did it!" Rìtiān cried out in "delight."

Itachi's pupils contracted slightly. He successfully gathered fire-nature chakra on his first attempt? He remembered that it had taken him three whole days to reach this step.

For the first time, Itachi's expression changed noticeably. "Rìtiān, have you really never practiced Fire Release before?"

Rìtiān looked utterly innocent. "No! This is my first time! Big Brother Itachi, am I amazing? Am I a genius?"

Itachi: "..." Although he did not want to admit it, the boy did seem pretty impressive.

But who was Itachi? A genius among geniuses. He quickly suppressed his shock and said calmly, "You're all right. Not too bad."

Rìtiān laughed inwardly. All right? Keep pretending you're not impressed!

Over the next few days, Rìtiān learned Fire Release from Itachi.

On the first day, he learned to gather fire-nature chakra.

On the second day, he could steadily maintain a small flame.

On the third day, he tried breathing fire, only to breathe out a mouthful of smoke that made him cough and choke. Watching from the side, Itachi showed a rare hint of a smile.

On the fourth day, he successfully breathed out a fist-sized fireball.

On the fifth day, the fireball was as big as a head.

By the seventh day...

In the middle of the training ground, Rìtiān took a deep breath and rapidly formed hand seals. "Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

Boom! An enormous fireball two meters in diameter burst out and slammed into an open patch of ground in the distance, scorching even the earth black.

Panting, Rìtiān grinned proudly. "Big Brother Itachi, how was that? I'm amazing, right?"

Standing to one side, Itachi was utterly stunned. Seven days... he learned the Great Fireball in just seven days? And it's even more powerful than mine was when I first learned it?

Is he even human? Itachi had graduated from the Ninja Academy at seven and been hailed as a once-in-a-century genius. But compared with Rìtiān...

Learning the Great Fireball at five-who would believe it?

After a long silence, Itachi asked, "This... really is your first time learning Fire Release?"

Rìtiān blinked. "Yes! What's wrong?"

Itachi stared at him for so long that Rìtiān began to feel uneasy. He hasn't found me out, has he?

A moment later, Itachi looked away. "Nothing. You did very well."

Rìtiān breathed a sigh of relief and chuckled. "Of course. I'm a genius!"

Itachi said nothing, but inwardly, his thoughts churned like storm-tossed waves. Uchiha Rìtiān... just what is this child's background?

Learning the Great Fireball at five-with talent like that, there couldn't have been many like him in the entire history of the shinobi world, could there?

No, something has to be wrong. Itachi's intuition told him that things were not that simple. But what secrets could a five-year-old child have?

Itachi shook his head and stopped thinking about it. Whatever secrets Rìtiān had, at least he was not a bad person. That was enough.

"Do you want to take part in next month's Youth Competition?" Itachi suddenly asked.

Rìtiān's eyes lit up. "Yes! I'm going to take first place, too!"

Itachi glanced at him. "You're not allowed to use the Great Fireball during the competition."

Rìtiān froze. "Huh? Why?"

"Why do you think?" Itachi said calmly. "A five-year-old using the Great Fireball in a competition would draw too much attention."

Rìtiān thought about it. That's true. "Fine, then. I won't use it. I can win without the Great Fireball anyway."

Itachi ignored him and turned around. "That's all for today. Go home and rest."

Rìtiān nodded obediently and skipped home.

Itachi watched his retreating figure, his gaze deep. After returning home, he went straight to Fugaku.

"Father. Rìtiān... learned the Great Fireball Technique in just seven days. And he's only five this year."

The brush in Fugaku's hand stopped abruptly. He looked up at Itachi in shock. "What did you say?"

Fugaku fell silent. Five years old, learning the Great Fireball in seven days... talent like that could only be described as terrifying.

Only after a long while did Fugaku slowly say, "Don't tell anyone outside about this for now."

"I understand."

Fugaku stood and walked over to the window, his gaze deep. "Uchiha Rìtiān... there's even more to this child than I imagined."

"The Sharingan Awakening Ceremony held once every five years is only a month away... I'm looking forward to seeing what sort of surprise this child will bring."

Meanwhile, Rìtiān was happily listening to the system notifications.

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing the mission 'Fire Release Basics'!"

"Rewards distributed: Optimized Chakra Extraction Technique, Fire Release Affinity +1."

"Ding! Congratulations, host, on completing your choice. Itachi's favorability +10!"

Rìtiān grinned so widely he could not close his mouth. Awesome! A twenty-percent boost to chakra extraction efficiency, plus Itachi's favorability. In the future, I'll cling to the great Itachi's coattails and go wherever I please!

While Rìtiān was still basking in delight, something suddenly occurred to him. Next month's Youth Competition... that sounds pretty interesting. Should I enter and show off a little while I'm at it?

Rìtiān rubbed his chin, a wicked grin appearing on his face. I wonder if that guy Daisuke will enter. If I run into him again... heh heh.

Rìtiān was already looking forward to it. What he did not know was that this competition would bring him an unexpected "surprise."