Late that night, Kaen checked the system again.
Quietly.
Methodically.
Remaining points:
130.
Ultra Instinct requirement:
20,000 points.
A vast gap.
Too vast for casual accumulation.
He didn't jump to reckless conclusions.
But the system mechanics were clear:
Victory brought points.
Combat accelerated growth.
War… inevitably created opportunities.
That reality sat heavily in his mind.
Kaen wasn't eager for bloodshed.
Yet he understood shinobi life bluntly:
Battlefields didn't ask permission.
Survival sometimes meant lethal decisions.
If war forced combat anyway…
He would fight to survive.
And grow stronger while doing so.
Still, he resolved one thing firmly:
No unnecessary killing.
Efficiency, not cruelty.
Control, not indulgence.
Morning came quickly.
Academy grounds buzzed with unusual activity.
Senior shinobi present.
Advanced training discussions underway.
And at the center of it all stood a group drawing attention naturally:
Sarutobi Hiruzen.
Several of Tobirama's other disciples.
And among them — Uchiha Kagami, composed as always.
Their presence alone signaled escalating seriousness.
War preparation clearly accelerating.
Kaen observed from a distance.
Low profile intact.
Observation Haki extended lightly — enough to read emotional tone without risking detection.
Professional concern.
Strategic planning.
Measured urgency.
Expected.
Then another presence caught his attention.
Sharper.
More unsettling.
Shimura Danzo.
Younger than the version history would later remember… but already intense.
Already calculating.
And his gaze lingered noticeably on Uchiha students passing nearby.
Not admiration.
Not simple curiosity.
Assessment.
Possessive almost.
Like someone evaluating assets.
Or trophies.
Kaen's instincts sharpened immediately.
Past-life fragments hinted at Danzo's complicated future relationship with the Uchiha.
Not confirmed facts.
But enough to warrant caution.
Especially when combined with Observation Haki's emotional read:
Ambition.
Control.
A hint of distrust.
Focused particularly on Uchiha.
Nearby, Kagami seemed aware too.
His posture remained calm, but his attention subtly tracked Danzo's movements.
A protective awareness.
Quiet.
Professional.
Kaen made a mental adjustment instantly:
Political risk level increasing.
Especially for:
Uchiha with unusual composure
Potentially strong individuals
Those who avoided easy categorization
That description fit him uncomfortably well.
So his strategy refined again:
Even lower visibility.
Even tighter chakra suppression.
Even more neutral academy performance.
Hitomi noticed his shift immediately.
"Something wrong?"
"Just… paying attention."
She followed his gaze briefly toward Danzo.
Understanding flickered.
No further questions.
Their communication rarely needed many words.
Meanwhile, the academy atmosphere continued intensifying.
Emergency drills scheduled.
Team formations finalized.
Deployment rumors spreading openly now.
Childhood ending faster than anyone wanted.
That evening, Kaen trained lightly again.
Not pushing extremes.
Integration mattered.
Preparation mattered.
But emotional balance mattered too.
Because uncontrolled ambition — whether for power, revenge, or system points — often led shinobi to ruin.
History showed that repeatedly.
Before sleep, one quiet realization settled:
Strength alone wasn't enough.
Navigating people… politics… intentions…
That required equal mastery.
And Kaen intended to survive all three.
Outside, the village remained calm.
But underneath…
War currents flowed steadily closer