Several factions had already set their sights on Uesugi Toru in the shadows, yet he himself seemed completely oblivious.
Both the Hokage and 'Root' were watching him; it was uncertain which side would make the first move.
In reality, however, Uesugi Toru was perfectly aware.
In the days following graduation, he didn't celebrate with classmates or friends. Instead, he stayed in his simple apartment, maintaining his usual disciplined routine.
No one knew that inside his mind, the AI chip's data was processing at lightning speed.
*Creak—*
Outside the window, a sparrow landed on the sill, tilting its head and looking curiously at the quiet youth inside with its bead-like black eyes.
Uesugi Toru sat at his desk, calmly wiping his newly acquired forehead protector.
The AI chip's scanning report appeared in his mind.
Within a two-hundred-meter radius of the apartment, there were three abnormal Chakra signatures stationed at fixed points.
The one to the southeast on the roof, disguised as a repairman, had been there for over four hours. The one to the west at the ramen shop, pretending to be a customer, had been there for about the same amount of time. Based on their behavioral patterns, there was a over ninety percent probability they were surveillance.
There was one more whose movements were even more peculiar.
Uesugi Toru wiped the forehead protector until it shone, then tied it around his brow. In the mirror, the youth's expression was indifferent, his gaze deep, as the Konoha symbol reflected a cold light.
Looking at his reflection, he commanded the AI chip in his mind: "Analyze their origins."
The AI chip quickly cross-referenced the Chakra fluctuations with the operational database of known Konoha departments and provided the results.
The two at the rooftop and the ramen shop operated covertly yet with discipline, maintaining communication with each other—a standard Anbu operational pattern. They seemed more focused on observation and protection, showing no hostility. There was a ninety-eight percent chance they were sent by the Hokage.
As for the third, their movements were very eerie, with Chakra fluctuations suppressed to nearly nothing by a secret technique. Their behavior was full of probing and evaluation. There was a ninety-nine percent chance they belonged to Danzo's 'Root' organization.
A nearly imperceptible curve formed at the corner of Uesugi Toru's mouth.
Just as expected.
His two displays of skill during the graduation exam had indeed worked.
Now, the various factions in both the light and the dark had been drawn out.
The Hokage, and Root.
The two most powerful men in Konoha had both turned their gazes toward him.
This was precisely the first step of his plan: to attract attention.
Only by being seen could he have value and lay the foundation for the next step of his plan.
He had long since grown tired of playing house with a bunch of immature children at the Ninja Academy. He needed a higher platform and more resources to touch the true core of this world—the confidential knowledge regarding Bloodline Limits, Sage Jutsu, and the nature of Chakra, all monopolized by the great clans and the high-ranking officials.
Now that the stage was set, it was time for the next step.
The AI chip issued a warning, considering his current situation high-risk, like walking a tightrope where one wrong step could mean the end. The combat talent he displayed had turned him into a sharp weapon. And the fate of a weapon could only be decided by its wielder. He would either be collected by the Hokage or snatched by Danzo; regardless of the outcome, he would lose his autonomy.
"I understand," Uesugi Toru responded in his mind. "That's why I can't just be a weapon."
Even the sharpest sword can be broken, and its direction is determined by others. But the blacksmith who forges the sword is different.
"What if what I display isn't the ability to use techniques, but the ability to create the rules?"
The AI chip quickly followed his train of thought and began simulations. If he could demonstrate theoretical value beyond combat itself, his positioning would shift from a weapon to a scholar or developer. In any organization, these two identities would garner far more respect and freedom than combat personnel. The conclusion was clear: this strategy had lower risk and higher long-term returns.
"Very good," Uesugi Toru nodded.
The question then was, what kind of topic should he choose to shock even those Kage-level powerhouses in the shortest time possible?
His gaze swept around the room, finally landing on a worn-out copy of 'Basic Ninja Theory' at the corner of his desk.
This was the only textbook he had read seriously and filled with countless notes during his six years at the Ninja Academy.
It contained the most basic things like the Three Basic Jutsu, Chakra Refinement, and Hand Seals.
To other students, this was trash to be thrown away upon graduation.
But in Uesugi Toru's eyes, it hid a fundamental flaw within the entire Ninjutsu system.
"AI chip," he spoke, "retrieve our research data from the past six years and perform a topic screening centered on 'Chakra Control'."
"Command received."
The AI chip immediately began searching, filtering out thousands of potential research topics. It then performed a second screening based on three criteria: impact, non-replicability, and theoretical depth... Countless topic names flashed before Uesugi Toru's eyes.
For instance, 'On the Simplification of Hand Seal Movements' was too shallow; at most, it would make people think he was a bit clever.
'Optimization of Energy Utilization in the Three Basic Jutsu' was too specific and lacked vision.
And 'Conjectures on the Fusion of Different Chakra Attributes' was too advanced and lacked a theoretical foundation; he'd easily be dismissed as a madman.
Topic after topic was rejected.
Until finally, one topic was highlighted, freezing in the center of his retina.
Seeing this title, Uesugi Toru's breath hitched for a moment.
This was it.
This wasn't just a research report. This was his manifesto to overturn the 'Talent Theory' and 'Bloodline Theory' of the Ninja world.
He picked up a pen, dipped it in ink, and wrote that title stroke by stroke at the very top of a blank scroll—
'On the Functional Relationship Between Fine Chakra Control and Mental Energy Fluctuations'
Just from this title alone, he estimated that few in Konoha would be able to understand it.
Fine Chakra control was a field pursued by Medical Ninjas, but they relied more on experience and intuition. Mental energy fluctuations were the domain of Genjutsu Ninjas, but they relied more on talent and instinct. As for 'functional relationship'... that term didn't even exist in this world.
What Uesugi Toru intended to do was link these two mysterious, talent-dependent fields using precise mathematical logic.
He wanted to tell everyone that so-called talent was nothing more than a formula that could be quantified, learned, and optimized!
The AI chip immediately began constructing the thesis framework.
The first part was the introduction, raising the issue of the low efficiency in combining mental and physical energy within the current Ninjutsu system.
The second part was the definition of variables, defining mental energy for the first time as a type of energy wave with 'frequency' and 'amplitude', and defining Chakra control precision as the'synchronization rate' between mental fluctuations and Chakra flow speed.
The third part established a mathematical model, introducing 'Uesugi Toru's First Law' to construct a functional model between the two.
The fourth part was experimental verification, using the basic Transformation Jutsu as an example to prove that this model could theoretically reduce Chakra consumption by over ninety percent and increase morphological stability sevenfold.
Finally, the conclusion and outlook, pointing out that the ultimate goal of this theory was to achieve the popularization of seal-less Ninjutsu.
The AI chip's framework was completed in his mind.
The pen in his hand was already moving rapidly across the paper.
He wasn't writing words, but symbols that would look like a heavenly script to this world: ∫, ∂, lim, ∑... Complex calculus formulas, paired with precise coordinate systems and function graphs, formed a strange yet harmonious beauty on the ancient scroll.
What he was doing was recoding this magical world using the language of science.
Outside the window, the Anbu and 'Root' members monitoring him watched his every move through their respective means.
They only saw the youth, on his third day after graduation, neither training nor practicing Ninjutsu, but hunched over his desk like a bookworm, writing something at high speed.
In the Hokage Office, the report Hiruzen Sarutobi received was: "Target behavior abnormal; writing something, content unclear."
In the Root base, the intelligence Danzo received was: "Target seems to be writing some kind of insights or a secret technique scroll; specific content cannot be seen clearly."
No one could understand what he was actually doing.
They were all waiting, waiting for the youth's next move.
They didn't know that the scroll being written would become the fuse that ignited the entire upper echelon of Konoha.
Late at night, Uesugi Toru wrote the final symbol and looked up, letting out a soft sigh of relief. He looked at the 'heavenly script' before him, filled with complex formulas and diagrams, a glint of light flashing in his eyes.
The first step was complete.
But how should he submit this thesis? To whom should he give it to maximize its value?
Hand it directly to the Hokage? No, that would be too deliberate and make his intentions seem too strong.
It needed a 'discoverer.' Someone influential enough, who could understand its value, and who could relay that value intact to the Hokage.
Who would be the first 'lucky one' to understand this thesis?