Chapter 4 — Uchiha Mikoto
Kinoshita Hikaru sat cross-legged on the tatami, extracting chakra.
[Practicing Chakra Extraction Technique, proficiency +1]
[Practicing Chakra Extraction Technique, proficiency +1]
After a short while—
Hikaru felt a wave of hunger and stopped cultivating. He knew this meant his body's energy was depleted and needed replenishment.
"One full cycle gives +1 proficiency point. With progress this visible, there's no way to stop."
It felt just like playing a game. Training had a strange, irresistible pull on him.
Mm. Like a gaming addict—without the Thunder King's electric shock therapy, there'd be no quitting.
And Hikaru's version of the Thunder King… was his stomach.
"So hungry!"
He glanced at the sky and realized it was already very late. This wasn't his old homeland where you could go out anytime without worry. It was dangerous outside at night here. If he got kidnapped by traffickers, that would be the end of the entire story.
Hikaru quietly slipped into the kitchen, intending to cook something for himself.
The moment he entered, he saw a large bento box on the table.
He felt a little touched. This must have been specially prepared by Kinoshita Muraichi.
Having an older brother was really nice. A smile curved at the corner of his lips.
"Hiss—(´;︵;`)"
He tugged at a wound. Hikaru's small face was visibly swollen and red—pinched by Kinoshita Muraichi back then.
"Bastard. Enjoy this while you can. Once I've trained a bit more, I'll definitely suppress you."
With misty eyes, Hikaru ate the loving bento.
All of this was watched by Muraichi, who stood hidden nearby, a faint smile appearing on his lips (˃̶̤́꒳˂̶̤̀).
I couldn't hold back just now. Sorry, little brother. This is the last time.
…
The next day. Ninja Academy.
"Today we'll train kunai throwing. Everyone, follow me."
Kinoshita Muraichi led the students to the training ground and demonstrated a kunai throw.
With a sharp whoosh, the kunai struck the bullseye, drawing a round of applause.
"Now let me tell you all—unless absolutely necessary, don't throw your kunai."
The students looked confused. If they were training kunai throwing, why shouldn't they throw them unless necessary?
A boy finally asked, "Teacher, why?"
"Because it costs money! (´▽`)ﾉ"
The field fell silent.
All the students stared at Muraichi resentfully, thinking the same thing.
Teacher is the worst!
They were all civilians, their families not well-off. They couldn't treat kunai like pebbles the way the great clans did.
Muraichi gave an awkward laugh. These kids just didn't understand self-deprecating humor.
You're the worst class I've ever taught.
His gaze swept across the students before settling on Kinoshita Hikaru and Minato Namikaze.
Openly giving them special tutoring.
"Kinoshita Hikaru, step forward. Ten-meter target. Throw it like I just did—pay attention to your force application."
Hikaru walked to the line, picked up an unsharpened kunai, pressed his left leg forward, raised his right hand high—and hurled it with force.
"So cool!"
All the students' jaws dropped open—
Because Kinoshita Hikaru had stuck his hand into the ten-ring.
His hand!!!
"Uh (▼皿▼#)" Veins bulged on Muraichi's forehead as he roared, "What are you doing?!"
Hikaru's face darkened. Having just fused with the Rubber Fruit, he still couldn't control it at will. He had used too much force and accidentally flung his hand out along with the throw.
"Teacher, how many points does this count for? (ง•̀_•́)ง"
"That counts as cheating, you brat! （;≥皿≤）"
Muraichi took a deep breath, reminding himself internally: This is my little brother. My biological little brother.
"Idiot! Go run fifty laps around the field! …Next, Minato Namikaze."
All the students fell silent as cicadas, frightened by Kinoshita Muraichi's rough teaching style.
"Oh." Kinoshita Hikaru turned and left. This foolish older brother simply couldn't understand his sense of humor.
Watching Hikaru walk away alone, Muraichi felt as if his heart were bleeding. Did I hit him too hard?
Sorry, little brother. This is the last time!!!
…
The Ninja Academy's track measured 400 meters per lap. Fifty laps meant 20,000 meters.
Hikaru felt that maybe this brother of his should just self-destruct—making a six-year-old run 20 kilometers?
Did he think he was Might Guy or something?
He jogged a few laps listlessly.
"Hm?"
Hikaru realized he didn't feel tired at all. He knew this must be the ability of the Rubber Fruit.
Not only had he become a rubber human, but his endurance and strength had also increased dramatically.
"Does this mean I already have the physique of the Pirate World? Then won't I just grow stronger the more I train?"
Hikaru grew excited. He had always thought he was too young and didn't dare push himself with high-intensity training, afraid of shortening his lifespan.
But if he could train freely now, then if he didn't turn himself into a superhuman, how would he ever unlock Gear Fourth? How would he awaken Nika?
A smile curved on Hikaru's lips, his eyes narrowing slightly as he began sprinting at full speed.
If I can't train myself to death, then I'll train like I'm trying to.
His first lap took 55 seconds. The next took 57. After that, he gradually slowed.
Eventually, he stabilized at 80 seconds per lap.
He had found a balance.
10 laps.
30 laps.
40 laps.
49 laps.
50 laps.
"Huff… huff…" Hikaru breathed like a bellows. His throat burned, sweat dripping steadily down his body. Yet he didn't stop—he kept running.
Just as he was reaching extreme exhaustion, a warm current surged from within his body. His foggy mind suddenly cleared, and he felt some of his stamina restored.
[Breaking limit. Rubber Fruit proficiency +1]
"So the Rubber Fruit's proficiency increases by breaking my limits? Does that mean I'll need to break my limits 100 times to level up?"
His mind was clearer than ever, countless thoughts racing before finally settling into firm resolve.
…
As time passed, upperclassmen began noticing Hikaru and pointed at him.
"What's that kid doing?"
"Probably being punished by a teacher. I heard the new teacher for the lower grades is really fierce."
"Is that so? Good thing he doesn't teach upperclassmen, or we'd be in trouble… Still, that kid looks pretty miserable."
"Hmph. Just a civilian. It's normal for him to have poor physical condition," said Uchiha Shigeru.
The moment everyone saw the fan-shaped clan crest on his back, they fell silent.
In Konoha, there was one clan you absolutely did not provoke—the Uchiha.
Seeing that no one responded to him, Uchiha Shigeru grew irritated. He had merely gone along with what the others were saying—so why was it still like this?
What had he done wrong? Why did they isolate him out of fear?
Was it really as the elders in the clan said—that these people weren't worthy of being friends with the Uchiha?
"Shigeru-kun, what's wrong?" Uchiha Mikoto asked with concern.
"Ah (︶.̮︶✽), Mikoto-chan, I'm fine."
"That person has been running all morning. If you're looking for a friend, he might be a good choice." Uchiha Mikoto blinked playfully.
"O-Okay," Uchiha Shigeru replied mechanically. In his mind, he had already imagined himself walking down the aisle with Mikoto-chan—and that little kid serving as his best man.
Heh… hehehe…