This was the most direct way to show just how gifted those born into the Yuki Clan were when it came to the Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
The "power of ice" that others needed more time, more effort, and more chakra to condense took Kei only half as much time, effort, and chakra, or even less.
This also meant that, for the same chakra expenditure, Kei's Ice Release techniques were far more powerful than those of his clansmen. Of course, limited by his age and sources that could hardly count as legitimate channels of information, Kei could not truly judge whether his talent ranked at the very top of his clan. Still, through his daily observations, he could boldly infer that he was at least among the most outstanding!
It was also because the "power of ice" within him was so immense that Kei needed to control it with extreme caution and precision every time. Otherwise, failure was guaranteed, and that was already a very forgiving outcome. If he was not careful enough and let the "power of ice" within him run completely wild, it could very well turn against him!
Clearly aware of this risk, Kei had kept himself on edge from the moment he first began honing his Kekkei Genkai, never daring to relax. He would rather progress a little more slowly if it meant ensuring that every step he took was steady and solid enough!
In this world, ninjas who suffered backlash from their own techniques or Kekkei Genkai were practically countless. Kei had no desire to become one of those unlucky souls!
I still need to work harder on my chakra training. I can't casually attempt or dabble in area-of-effect techniques yet. What I need to prioritize is controlling the power of ice concentrated at a single point!
Kei looked at the dazzlingly beautiful ice crystal on his fingertip and murmured to himself.
Those born into prestigious ninja clans generally underwent the appropriate tests for Kekkei Genkai talent at the age of three. The mediocre were directly "given up on," while once someone was confirmed to possess the corresponding bloodline talent, the clan would make different arrangements according to the level of that talent.
Of course, this was all a gradual process. A Kekkei Genkai also needed continual development and exploration before it could gradually display different levels of power.
The initial showing could only serve as a preliminary assessment, not a final judgment.
In the initial tests for his generation of peers, Kei had displayed considerable talent for his Kekkei Genkai, and the clan had allocated resources and provided instruction accordingly. Relying on the clan's support, as well as some of what he could still remember of the original story from his previous life, Kei had begun devising a corresponding training plan for himself last year.
Over more than a full year.
Kei had not only met the training and testing targets set by his clan.
He had also completed the series of basic chakra control exercises he had set for himself, including tree climbing and Water Walking!
He had thought he could already be considered a qualified Genin and should have gained a preliminary grasp of his Ice Release Kekkei Genkai. But now, it seemed he was still quite some distance from his initial goal.
Stability alone is a huge problem. I'll need to do more compression exercises next!
Kei looked at the ice crystal slowly changing shape on his fingertip, carefully thinking through his training plan.
Although Kei's growth could already be called incredibly rapid compared with his peers, he could already use this power while the others had only just begun developing the power of their Kekkei Genkai. Even if it was not yet very stable, the gap was plain to see. Just as there was a gap between Hashirama Senju's and Tenzo's Wood Release, there could also be an enormous disparity between one person's Ice Release and another's!
I'll try plan B next!
Once his break ended.
Kei sprang to his feet with a kip-up and returned to the edge of the lake.
"Hah!"
Bang!
Crack!
He continued training his Ice Release Kekkei Genkai.
Splash!
He repeated those simple, tedious exercises over and over. The more he was in this early stage, the more attention he needed to pay to his foundations.
To survive in such a cruel world and protect those he cherished, he had to possess power!
This was also the sole, unchanging truth of this world.
Thus, even though this training was more horrifying than the "hellish final year of high school" in his previous life, Kei still gritted his teeth and persevered through all of it. In his previous life, failing to work hard meant, at worst, hauling bricks for a living. In this life, failing to work hard could mean losing his head!
However.
Even hard work needed limits.
Especially since he was only a little over four years old, he really could only do the most basic training, and he also had to watch how fatigued his body became.
There was another reason as well: although this place was still within Kirigakure's boundaries, it was outside his clan's compound, after all, so he could not possibly stay very late. When he saw that the sun was about to sink in the west.
Kei ended his training, left his secret training ground with light steps, and headed back toward his clan's compound.
He passed through the forest he had left behind and returned to Kirigakure's residential district. People gradually became more numerous, and he could also see a small number of Mist Ninja wearing their distinctive forehead protectors and flak jackets patrolling the streets.
Unlike Konohagakure in the original story, which always appeared bustling and lively on the surface, all one could ever see and feel in Kirigakure was an endlessly "oppressive atmosphere"!
Ninjas and civilians alike.
Not a single person walking the streets wore a smile. The entire ninja village was steeped in an air of solemnity.
This could also be considered one of Kirigakure's distinctive features!
Kei had long since grown accustomed to his village's atmosphere. With a calm expression, he headed straight toward his clan's compound.
Along the way.
When the ordinary residents who saw Kei noticed the six-pointed snowflake pattern on his sleeve, they all instinctively put a little more distance between themselves and him.
Of course, this was not out of fear.
Rather, it was because the Yuki Clan, the Kaguya Clan, and the Hozuki Clan were Kirigakure's three foremost prestigious ninja clans!
In the countless clashes with other ninja villages in the past, these three prestigious ninja clans had been the greatest pillars of Kirigakure's fighting strength!
And, really, speaking of it.
The Yuki Clan was still the prestigious ninja clan in their village that Kirigakure's residents found most acceptable. After all, the other two prestigious ninja clans both seemed somewhat wrong in the head!
At most, the impression the Yuki Clan gave Kirigakure's residents was that they were a little rigid and stern.