Ten minutes later, Kaito returned home.
With a creak, he pushed open the old door, and the clean courtyard immediately came into view.
Compared to Uchiha Fugaku's home, this house appeared much simpler.
Kaito looked around, finding everything so familiar.
After taking a bath and changing his clothes, Kaito sat quietly in the living room.
Crackle.
A trace of electric light flashed.
After two days of training, Kaito had mastered "C-Rank: Lightning Release: Lightning Reflex."
Why so fast?
"Because I am a genius."
Kaito rested his chin on his hand and murmured.
That's right, a true genius of the mind can learn ordinary ninjutsu, taijutsu, and genjutsu at a glance.
The only shackle to his talent... was this body.
"The Uchiha body is dragging me down."
Of course, Kaito wouldn't say, "I have great trouble because I have this body."
Because the opening of the Sharingan had pried open the ceiling, unlocking the upper limit of his talent, everything... was already different from before.
In just two days, Kaito completely mastered Lightning Reflex.
At this moment, electric arcs occasionally jumped on the surface of his body. This was a new technique, named...
"C-Rank: Lightning Release: Thunder Transfer!"
The crackling electric arcs seemed to burst from inside his body to the surface. In reality, if someone used the Sharingan or Byakugan to inspect his body right now, they would discover countless tiny snake-like lightning bolts surging through Kaito's limbs and bones.
The specific principle was somewhat similar to the Cloud Village Raikages' "Lightning Release Chakra Mode."
These lightning attribute chakras turned into a Lightning Release formula, capable of stimulating Kaito's body, causing the muscles all over his body to vibrate and tear. Destruction, regeneration, destruction, regeneration... repeating this process.
"In other words, through artificial control and exercise, I can continuously increase the upper limit of my muscle strength. As long as I continue to practice, I can burn fat while developing devilish eight-pack abs..."
Just a local example.
Ultimately creating a physically fit body with extremely high taijutsu intensity was the function of this technique.
In an era before Might Duy became famous in a single battle, the internal disdain for taijutsu ninja within Konoha would become a powerful trump card for playing the pig to eat the tiger.
The door was closed, and Kaito continued his training.
Time passed... as dusk approached, the sunset glow shone. The moment the light disappeared into the horizon, the room went dark.
In the gloomy environment, arcs of Lightning Release occasionally lit up. The irregular blue light frequently illuminated the shadows.
Kaito's figure, bathed in darkness, constantly projected shadows onto the wall. The dark little room instantly turned into an abyss breeding demons...
...
When the moon climbed into the sky, the stars were full.
Creak...
The door opened, and Kaito appeared.
Slowly moving his feet, enduring the soreness of his body, Kaito set off for the secret gathering point... "Naka Shrine."
On the road illuminated by the full moon, clansmen walked forward in silence one by one. As if summoned by something, all Uchiha ninja left their homes in unison and headed for the destination together.
After entering the completely dark environment... the jungle at the edge of the village, a huge red torii gate and stairs appeared before Kaito's eyes.
Climbing the stone steps, step by step upwards.
After entering the "Naka Shrine," the origin of the Uchiha clan, Uchiha Fugaku slowly closed the main gate.
Then, he began to form hand seals, using Uchiha chakra to activate the mechanism.
A stone slab on the ground revealed dense curse marks, then automatically opened, revealing a downward staircase.
The clansmen filed in. Underground, in a different world, two braziers were burning.
In the center of the braziers was the source of sin, the stone tablet left by the Sage of Six Paths and later tampered with by Black Zetsu.
Uchiha Fugaku walked over there and sat down.
Other clansmen took their seats in order of rank from front to back.
As a Genin, Kaito naturally sat in the back row with Uchiha Yo and Uchiha Tekka.
"Kaito..."
A silly face leaned over.
Although the light was dim, Kaito recognized Uchiha Obito.
Being in the same squad as Kakashi and Nohara Rin, and taught by Minato Namikaze, he had grown a little since the last time Kaito saw him.
"Obito, is Nohara Rin doing well?" Kaito asked.
"Eh?"
Obito was slightly stunned and naturally didn't catch the implication.
"Rin is doing quite well."
"Un, that's good." Kaito finished speaking and said no more, turning his head to look at Uchiha Fugaku in the seat of honor.
At this time, Uchiha Obito did not have the appearance of being mad for love as in the original work. At this time, he was just a mediocre Uchiha.
Of course, Minato Namikaze saw Uchiha Obito's talent and felt he was teachable material.
Just like Senju Tobirama saw Uchiha Kagami's talent.
And just like Hiruzen Sarutobi and Shimura Danzo saw the talent of Uchiha Shisui and Uchiha Itachi.
These four Uchiha... they were all "good citizens."
"Everyone."
With Uchiha Fugaku speaking, the whole venue quieted down.
"First... I want to announce something to everyone. Kaito... has awakened the Sharingan."
The room went silent at first, then everyone turned to look at Kaito.
"Congratulations, congratulations!"
Various sounds of congratulations rang out continuously.
Kaito stood up and returned the greetings one by one.
The Sharingan is the symbol of the Uchiha bloodline and the embodiment of true power.
The fan crest means "one who controls fire," but only an Uchiha who has awakened the Sharingan is qualified to be called a true Uchiha.
"Kaito... awakened his eyes?"
Uchiha Obito stared at Kaito's face and murmured, feeling a huge impact in his heart.
He was both envious and disappointed.
However, considering that Uchiha Yo and Uchiha Tekka hadn't awakened theirs either, Obito felt he should still have a chance.
Next, Uchiha Fugaku recounted the sacrifice of Kaito's instructor, and everyone immediately had a clear understanding of the reason for Kaito's awakening.
"According to my discussion with the higher-ups, they have decided that a Jonin from our Uchiha clan will temporarily take the position of instructor, responsible for letting them participate in the 'Chunin Exams' held a month later."
Uchiha Fugaku laid out the specific arrangement.
"Yashiro, I'll trouble you with the affairs of these three children..."
"Yes, Captain!"
Uchiha Yashiro stood up.
He had graying hair, narrowed eyes, and thin cheeks.
Uchiha Yashiro was Uchiha Fugaku's right-hand man, from the same generation as the Sannin, and also a senior Uchiha ninja.
Within the Uchiha, his status was second only to Uchiha Fugaku.
His more prominent identity was in the original work: after Uchiha Shisui's death, he was the leader of the three Uchiha who went to question Itachi.
"The situation in the ninja world has been unstable recently, as we all know... pro-war factions in various countries are rising, and a great war... has the possibility of breaking out."
After Uchiha Yashiro sat back down, Uchiha Fugaku continued.
Mentioning the "Ninja World War," every Uchiha's face showed a solemn expression.
"To test the attitudes of various countries and also to understand each other's national strength, for this Chunin Exam, Lord Hokage has invited the Five Great Nations, as well as ninja from other small countries, to come and participate in the assessment held by our Konoha."
The Chunin Exam is a miniature war chessboard.
Genin candidates are the chess pieces.
The higher-ups of various countries use this method to infer the big picture from small details.
"For our Uchiha, this is another good opportunity to make a name for ourselves!"
Uchiha Fugaku raised his voice.
"Kaito, Tekka, Obito, Yo..."
He read out several names in succession.
"You must perform well in this exam! Strive to become Chunin!"
"Yes!"
Uchiha Yo, Uchiha Tekka, and the others immediately nodded in agreement.
Obito was even more excited, his face flushed red. He had long been looking forward to this assessment. Because if he could become a Chunin, he could extinguish Kakashi's arrogant flame~!
"..."
Kaito stared at the performance of his peers and remained silent.
Chunin Exams.
The first hurdle for Uchiha clan ninja.
Kaito was not referring to the difficulty of the Chunin Exam, but... the consequences brought about after passing the Chunin Exam.
Kaito: "Becoming a Chunin is impossible; I will never become a Chunin in this lifetime."
Chunin? I won't be one for shit! I want to continue being a Genin!!!