Chapter 3: Uchiha Nobuhiko's Shock and Warning
An hour passed.
The once-proud smile on Uchiha Nobuhiko's face had all but vanished, replaced by a strained stiffness around his jaw.
He could feel it—his youngest son was devouring his entire knowledge base on Chakra refining techniques. Not just the basic principles, but subtleties, theory, even early-stage Nature Transformation.
"How is this possible? When did this brat become so terrifyingly smart?"
His mind raced.
"Was he hiding this genius all along? No… no way. This is beyond a simple leap. It's as if he suddenly awakened a whole different mind!"
His answers were becoming slower—hesitant.
Some of Tianyi's deeper questions, he could no longer answer properly.
For a proud man like Nobuhiko, this was intolerable. To be overwhelmed by your own son's intelligence?
Unthinkable.
He shot a quick glance at his wife. Years of marriage meant he didn't have to say anything aloud.
Uchiha Shinmi raised an eyebrow at her husband, catching on instantly. She stifled a laugh and gave him a teasing look.
Then, smoothly, she stepped in.
"Dear, didn't you say earlier that you had something urgent at the Security Department? You can't be late, remember?"
Before Nobuhiko could reply, she turned to Tianyi and added with a gentle smile:
"Tianyi-chan, don't keep pestering your father. He has important work to handle."
"And besides, there are plenty of scrolls and notes on Chakra refining and Nature Transformation here at home. Go through them first. If you still have questions, you can ask your father later, alright?"
"Yes, yes!" Nobuhiko added quickly, nodding. "Everything in my study and the secret room—anything related to Chakra refining or element transformation—you're allowed to read freely."
"If that's not enough, I'll get you access to the clan library myself. I can even issue a clearance certificate."
Then his voice dropped slightly, and he looked Tianyi straight in the eye, his expression now serious and deliberate.
"I can see it—you've awakened. Your perception and intelligence have soared. That's a good thing."
"But don't get arrogant. You're still far from being strong."
He stepped forward, voice calm but commanding.
"Let me teach you your first lesson in becoming a true shinobi."
"Whenever you face a problem—try to solve it yourself first. Don't just rely on others. If you always ask for help before thinking, you'll never grow strong on your own."
"Understand?"
Tianyi, of course, saw through the act. His father was retreating under pressure, trying to protect his pride. But—he had won.
His goal was never to show off. It was to gain access to the clan's scrolls and records—and that had just been granted.
"Mission complete."
He nodded seriously, eyes bright with sincerity.
"Yes, Father! I understand. I'll work hard and try to solve everything on my own first!"
"Good! That's my son!" Nobuhiko laughed heartily, clearly relieved.
Then, as if remembering something, he added a warning:
"One more thing. I'm granting you access to our archives, but not the ninjutsu training scrolls. Not yet."
"Right now, your focus should be on refining and expanding your Chakra network. Build your foundation first."
"Continue your physical training and medicinal baths without interruption. Chakra alone doesn't make a shinobi—physical fitness is essential."
"Once I see your Chakra capacity has grown enough, I'll personally begin your ninjutsu instruction. Understood?"
Tianyi nodded again.
He fully agreed. With his comprehension, learning ninjutsu could be postponed a little. Increasing Chakra capacity and foundational strength was far more urgent.
And besides—he had too much reading to do already.
"Understood, Father."
"Good. That's settled then."
Nobuhiko turned to leave, gesturing briefly.
"Ask your mother about the scrolls. Once you finish them, let me know—I'll arrange access to the clan library."
With that, he stood, robes rustling slightly as he left the room at a pace that betrayed his discomfort. To Tianyi, his father's retreating back looked… just a little too fast.
He smirked.
Uchiha Shinmi noticed. And sighed.
"So the kid saw through us."
Still, it wasn't a big deal. She walked up to her son, a bright smile on her face.
"Tianyi, you really surprised us today. I don't know what happened, but you've changed. It's like a switch flipped inside you."
"Hehe…" Tianyi rubbed the back of his head, playing up his innocent act. "Well… after I refined my first bit of Chakra, my mind just felt… sharper. Like something inside clicked. Maybe I got enlightened or something?"
"Oh?" Shinmi's expression shifted. "Let me see."
Her Sharingan activated—a glint of crimson spinning through her eyes. Gently, she placed a hand on his head and sent her chakra into his body to probe his condition.
What she found stunned her.
His mental strength had skyrocketed. His cellular activity, tendon flexibility, chakra channel durability—all massively enhanced. The changes weren't small—they were tenfold improvements across the board.
"Hiss…"
She retracted her chakra, eyes wide in disbelief.
"Are you really my son?"
Tianyi gave her a deadpan look.
"Whose son would I be otherwise?"
If he'd been possessed, maybe he'd feel guilty. But he wasn't. He was Lu Tianyi—reborn, yes, but still himself.
Shinmi blinked, then laughed softly.
"This kid…"