The next day.
Sunlight streamed through the window, warm and gentle. Shadows of swaying branches danced on the ground outside, and the occasional leaf drifted past on the breeze. Bathed in this golden light, Uchiha Kaien lay nestled in bed, soaking in the morning warmth.
It was so comfortable that he almost wanted to stay under the covers a little longer. But habit was stronger than comfort—he'd always been an early riser. Even half-asleep, his body stirred awake.
He opened his eyes to a ceiling that felt both familiar and strange.
A brief haze settled in his gaze, then his pupils sharpened, coming into focus, flickering with the spark of life.
Those expressive, almost mischievous eyes gave Kaien a sense of vitality that made his whole being feel more... alive.
Last night's sleep wasn't particularly restful, nor was it especially troubling. The original Kaien's memories had been flashing through his mind all night.
Still, he'd been an adult in his previous life. The lingering memories of a five-year-old child were nothing he couldn't handle. He accepted them with ease.
"But... lately, I've been waking up feeling a bit worn out. Is the Bloodline Disease already starting to take hold?"
Kaien frowned slightly, mind already working through possibilities.
With the system around, staying alive shouldn't be too difficult. The real problem was the limit it placed on his growth.
Overtraining was out of the question—it would only accelerate the drain on his potential. That would be as good as asking for death.
But at the same time, he couldn't afford to neglect his body either. Physical condition was the foundation of everything. If he let it deteriorate, the Bloodline Disease would take him even faster.
After thinking it over, Kaien realized that beyond relying on the [system], he didn't have many other options.
If he could awaken the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, that might solve everything.
But right now, he only had two tomoe. The Mangekyō wasn't even close.
To make matters worse, it was this very two-tomoe Sharingan that had caused the Bloodline Disease in the first place.
The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he felt. Having talent without the lifespan to use it—what kind of cruel joke was that?
Still, Kaien remained optimistic. At least he was alive. And as long as he lived, there was always a chance.
He'd even figured out a stable way to farm [affection]—through Namikaze Minato.
With enough days of back-to-back pulls, maybe—just maybe—he'd hit the pity counter and land something that could treat the Bloodline Disease.
With that thought, Kaien summoned his spear with a single flick of intent—Cloudpiercer appeared in his hand.
This was his only purple-rank template weapon so far. Of course he had to train with it constantly.
He had only unlocked two moves, but they were still proper techniques. He needed to get them down.
Cloud Cavalry Spear Arts – North Wind was the most basic technique. It had two phases, both focused on striking at enemy weak points with precise thrusts. It was a move that required sharp perception and clean execution.
Swift Rain, on the other hand, used a three-strike combo. After the [system] localized the technique, it became a high-level application of Wind-nature chakra.
To master it, Kaien had to understand and develop Wind-nature manipulation on his own—whether it meant shredding, piercing, or cutting, the nature transformation was up to him to discover.
The triple-stacked strikes aimed to pressure the opponent into revealing an opening—then Kaien could land the finishing blow. It was a ruthless and refined move.
But that was all far off. For now, Kaien had to stick to the basics, repeating the two core strikes of North Wind with precision.
The more fundamental the technique, the more critical it was to drill it properly. Each lift, thrust, spin, and pivot needed the perfect combination of force and angle.
He washed up, had breakfast, and spent the entire morning training in spear basics.
...
Afternoon.
The sun blazed in the sky, and Kaien's pale skin seemed almost luminous under the light.
As soon as Namikaze Minato arrived, he spotted Kaien already sitting on a training stump, waiting for him. Minato lit up and ran over, waving enthusiastically.
He'd been buzzing with excitement all night after he got home.
This was the first time he'd made a friend from a ninja clan.
No—actually, this might be his first real friend ever.
The kids he'd hung out with before mostly just goofed off, playing ninja games without putting in any real effort. Eventually, Minato drifted away from them, choosing instead to focus on mastering chakra control techniques by himself.
But yesterday had been different. He'd even learned a C-rank jutsu—Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique—before even starting at the academy!
"Good afternoon, Minato."
Kaien spotted him instantly. The blank expression he usually wore faded away, replaced by a bright and open smile.
The little lamb had returned. Nice!
"Still want to work on the Great Fireball Technique today?"
"Please do! I'm super into ninjutsu!"
[Affection from Namikaze Minato +2]
...
By the lake.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
He gathered chakra in his mouth, carefully transforming the neutral energy into fire-natured chakra under precise control.
Then, with a sharp exhale, he unleashed it in one massive breath.
A flaming sphere a meter wide erupted from his mouth, heating the air around them with its intensity.
Thanks to the Sharingan's enhancements and the chakra boost he got from the [system] last night, Kaien finally had enough chakra to properly perform the technique.
Still, sweat beaded on his forehead—it was obvious the cost was steep.
"That's the key. When casting the Great Fireball, you've got to concentrate fire-nature chakra in the mouth, then release it all in one burst. That's how you pull it off."
Kaien turned and began explaining the mechanics of the jutsu step-by-step.
Minato listened intently, trying it twice himself. But like Kaien yesterday, he ran into the same wall—his chakra reserves were just too low.
"Looks like I really need to work on increasing my chakra," Minato muttered, rubbing his temples. "Kaien, do you have any tips?"
"Chakra comes from a mix of spiritual and physical energy. So if you want to boost your chakra, physical training is a must."
"In general, most people have more spiritual energy than physical, so it's better to focus on strengthening the body. Don't worry too much though—there's a phase in growth where chakra capacity jumps up naturally. Right now, our job is to build a strong foundation."
"I see. The chakra control guide mentioned that, but not as clearly as you just did."
Kaien took a drink from his water bottle before continuing.
"In my opinion, a strong body helps you draw out your full potential."
"I'll definitely step up my physical training," Minato said, nodding seriously.
Kaien raised an eyebrow. "Do you even have any taijutsu scrolls?"
"Uh... not really..." Minato scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
"I'll bring some next time—just basic Leaf-style Iron Fist taijutsu."
"As payment, how about you treat me to some cake?"
"Deal!" Minato's eyes lit up. He knew Kaien was being considerate of his pride, and he really did need the help. Once he became a ninja, he'd make sure to repay Kaien properly.
...
Right after finishing his water, Kaien suddenly felt the urge to pee. He looked around, found a convenient spot by the bushes, and casually wandered over to relieve himself—completely unconcerned with how Minato might react.
After all, it was just the two of them, and they were the same age. Nothing to be embarrassed about. So he simply turned his back and went.
It wasn't like they were grown-ups. Even Hashirama and Madara were older than this when they had pee battles. Who cared?
Kaien clearly didn't.
But Minato, upon seeing it, went completely still—like he'd turned to stone.
He stood frozen, mouth slightly open, not sure what to say or do.
Kaien finished up, turned around, and waved a hand in front of his friend's face. Minato was still stuck in the same stunned expression.
Wait... Kaien's standing to pee... So... Kaien's a boy?!
Minato's young mind spun in confusion. From yesterday until just now, he'd honestly thought Kaien was a girl!
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Pls Drop some Power Stones
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