The next morning.
Uchiha Kaien woke early.
Even though A lived alone, his house was quite spacious, and the backyard opened directly into a small training ground.
All it took was a short jump and you were in a wide, empty area, perfect for setting up training facilities however you wanted.
Kumogakure's unique geography intrigued Kaien.
Thanks to the village's mountainous terrain, land usage here seemed far more efficient than in Konohagakure.
A was already working up a sweat, his fists slamming into the surrounding wooden training posts with rhythmic thuds.
After finding a good spot, Kaien leapt down as well.
It was only a few meters down, and even without using chakra, he landed steadily by stepping down on a few stones embedded in the slope.
"You're really going at it, huh? It's only five-thirty."
Judging by the sweat pouring down A's face, it was obvious he'd been at this for a while.
"Time never betrays those who work hard."
"You're not wrong."
Kaien nodded in agreement.
His thoughts drifted back to a certain green-clad figure in Konoha. That level of dedication—pushing through limits to burn with the fire of youth—was exactly why that guy could shine so brightly.
Even without powerful bloodlines, there were still other ways to prove your worth.
"I've seen people as dedicated as you in Konoha. In fact, he trained even harder—practically every waking moment. A pure taijutsu specialist."
"Let me guess. Not that Namikaze Minato guy again?"
"Of course not. Minato's real talent lies in how fast he learns. Focusing only on taijutsu would've been a waste of his potential."
"Besides, there's a certain jutsu I'm still waiting for him to master and teach me."
"You planning on going back to Konoha?"
"If Kumogakure doesn't give me enough excitement… then yeah, I'll head back."
Kaien spoke like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"You think they'll even take you back?"
A scoffed, clearly amused by Kaien's confidence.
"Why wouldn't they? You really don't think things through, do you?"
"I'm an Uchiha. Konoha isn't about to let someone with the Sharingan just walk away. They won't allow our bloodline to leak out so easily."
"Also, your intel agents really need work. You just grabbed me without even double-checking."
Kaien smiled faintly.
"The most powerful member of the Uchiha clan has… a rather special connection to me."
It was a vague statement, but not a lie.
Officially, Uchiha Kagami, who had awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, was Kaien's uncle.
Unofficially, the so-called "Demon of the Shinobi World" was his mentor.
Any way you looked at it, the claim held water.
"If I go back to Konoha, I'll return as a proud shinobi of the village. Got it?"
After all, he was the Hokage's grand-disciple, sent here under orders. If anything, his rank should be bumped up to Jōnin when he returned.
"You… seriously. You're just a kid, all alone in a foreign village—how are you this calm?"
A's expression fell. The sarcasm from before faded, replaced with quiet frustration.
He could tell from Kaien's eyes that he wasn't bluffing.
"Just basic survival skills when you're on your own."
"That line again…"
Kaien chuckled softly and, as if performing a magic trick, pulled a towel from nowhere.
"Here. Want a towel?"
"…Thanks."
A reached out and took it, wiping the sweat from his forehead. A strange warmth welled up inside him. No one had ever handed him a towel before.
Was this the warmth of human connection? Was this the bond his father had wanted him to build?
[Affection from A +1]
"What do you want for breakfast?" Kaien asked casually.
If building affection meant making breakfast, Kaien had no problem whipping up an extra serving.
"Breakfast? I usually just drink milk…" And maybe some bread.
He didn't say that last part aloud. Something in Kaien's eyes told him not to.
Even without changing his expression, Kaien's gaze felt like it was dripping with disdain.
"Hey! Don't look at me like that!"
"Oh."
Kaien instantly switched to a different expression.
"And stop looking at me like I'm a little kid. You're the one who's younger than me!"
Frustrated, A punched a nearby training post hard enough to crack it.
Kaien's gaze made him irrationally annoyed, like he was the one who needed looking after.
"Fine. I'll just make what I like. I'll set aside a portion for you."
That punch wasn't intimidation—it was a crack in A's calm facade, a hint of the turmoil inside.
Kaien wasn't fazed in the slightest. He turned and calmly climbed the steps out of the training area. From A's perspective, he could only see Kaien's back as the boy walked away.
And on that back, Kaien wore a faint smile.
If he could control A's emotions this easily, he already held the advantage. Especially when—
[Affection from A +1]
See? Winning over brutes was the easiest thing in the world.
Kaien didn't look back as he exited the training grounds, leaving A behind to continue his drills. Everything looked the same.
Except for the towel now hanging neatly on the railing, and the faint smile curling A's lips. His punches came faster, sharper than before.
Kaien didn't spare another thought for him.
The affection was already secured.
Now, it was time to make breakfast.
Even in another village, he wasn't about to slack on his own well-being. In fact, he deserved to eat even better than usual today.
And since he'd saved up enough...
It was time for a ten-pull.
Kaien focused on the [System], reaching out and grabbing ten glowing orbs of different colors that hovered before him.
Eight white, one blue, one purple.
Eight white orbs boosted his basic stats again—spirit, body, strength, agility. Standard stuff.
The blue one surprised him.
It was [Affinity] again.
With this, [Affinity] had upgraded to [Affinity +2], further enhancing its effect.
A very useful trait when operating solo in an unfamiliar village—building trust would now be easier than ever.
Finally, Kaien reached out and touched the lone purple orb. The moment the information about the trait appeared, his eyes lit up.
[Eternal Light: The Uchiha bloodline, though powerful, has thinned over generations. Its inherited powers come with innate flaws that are difficult to overcome. But your potential is not bound by such limits. Your bloodline will gradually be perfected. You will inherit the Eternal Light. Maximum potential restoration target: Ōtsutsuki Indra.]
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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