Chapter 54: Training.

Author Note: Nothing of importance, just enjoy the chapter, and if you have any questions, make sure to comment!

And like always, remember if you want to read up to 18-22 chapters ahead go to https://www.patreón.com/cornbringer

I'm currently updating the novel 2-8 chapters a day in patreeeeon. On chapter 69 so far, though by the end of today it will be chapter 71-74

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Enjoy you sexy bastards.

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[Arata Takeshi - POV.]

The Chunin Exams were just three months away, and I knew that in order to increase my odds of success, I needed to make every day count. This was one of the reasons I had decided to train alone for these three months. I wanted to use this time to the fullest, pushing myself beyond my limits while also preparing for every possible scenario.

The thought of facing new challenges and testing my abilities filled me with a new sense of excitement. These exams were an opportunity to showcase everything I had learned, to push my limits, and to see where I stood among my peers. But more than that, they were a stepping stone towards achieving my goals.

The exams this year were being held in Konoha, which meant familiarity with the terrain but also the added pressure of performing well in front of my village. I knew a good deal about the exams, thanks to what I had read about them and what I remembered.

The exams were broken down into three stages: the written part, the survival part, and the culling part. Each stage was designed to test not just our abilities but our adaptability, intelligence, and how marketable we were.

The written part was straightforward enough. At face value, many would think the purpose of this part was to test our knowledge of various subjects, from ninja tactics to village politics, but in reality, that wasn't the case. The test's questions were intended to be too difficult for normal Genin to answer, thereby forcing them to cheat without being caught, which was the real objective of this test. I wasn't too worried about this part; in fact, I was fully confident I would be able to ace the test without having to cheat.

My strategy for the written part was simple: finish the test as fast as possible. That way, I could use the remaining time to study what methods the others were using to cheat, using the information around to form hypotheses about their abilities based on their methods and approach, in case I ever had to fight them.

That would give me a big edge for parts two and three of the exam.

"I wonder if they are going to use the Forest of Death for part two," I hummed, tilting my head to the side.

I had never been in the Forest of Death, despite wanting to, mostly because only Chunins were allowed free access to that forest in particular. Chances were the second part of the exam was going to take place there, seeing most exams hosted in Konoha used the forest, so I had no reason to believe otherwise.

"Oh… that gives me another idea," I muttered, a faint smile dawning on my face. I could not only use the time of the written exam to gather valuable information but also to memorize the chakra signatures of all the contestants, giving me a huge tactical advantage over the rest.

That only left… the final stage of the exams.

The culling part… or as some call it, the tournament part, where those skilled enough to remain thus far would face off against other participants in one-on-one battles. This was where our true skills would be tested, as well as the stage for the Kages to show off their talent.

I didn't know how many would remain by this stage, but I imagined the odds of facing Itachi or Shisui in the final stage were incredibly high. This is one of the reasons I had decided to train alone; I wanted to have a few surprises up my sleeve.

Three months might seem like a long time, but in reality, it was a blink of an eye. If I wanted to make a noticeable difference, every day needed to be utilized to its fullest. I had to make sure I was in peak physical condition, that my chakra control was better, and that my mind was sharp before the time came.

I knew that I had a lot of work ahead of me, but that was just part of the fun.

"So, Teresa… are you ready to work me to the grave?" I asked, turning to her as she gave a small, wistful smile.

"From dusk until dawn and beyond, if you're up for it," she replied, her tone as unwavering as mine.

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[Third Person POV - Uchiha Compound.]

The training grounds of the Uchiha clan were filled with the sounds of explosions and the clash of metal as Shisui and Itachi sparred. The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the scene as Shisui moved with effortless grace, pushing his friend, while Itachi struggled to keep pace with a determined look on his face.

Shisui had taken it upon himself to train Itachi for the exams, even if Lord Fugaku was already doing so in the mornings.

"Come on, Itachi!" Shisui called out, parrying a strike from his younger friend. "You can do better than that!"

Itachi gritted his teeth, pushing himself harder. He knew Shisui was holding back, and that only spurred him on. "I'm trying..."

Shisui nodded, a small smile playing on his lips. "I know you are, but it doesn't hurt to keep trying, now does it?"

Itachi offered a small smile, nodding. "No, it doesn't…."

"So, Itachi, as you know… the exams are designed to test every aspect of a shinobi's skills to see if they are ready to be a Chunin. The written exam, the survival test, and the final tournament. Each stage is a challenge, and you need to be prepared for anything," Shisui said, circling Itachi with a beaming smile.

Itachi nodded, wiping sweat from his brow. "I am aware. I read a lot about the exams, and I know what to expect."

"Good," Shisui said, his tone shifting to a more serious one. "But there's something you need to understand about the final stage, the tournament. If you end up having to fight Takeshi, you'll lose."

Itachi's expression remained calm, though a small frown could be seen on his face if you looked hard enough. "I am aware of that as well, just as I'm aware of the fact that the result would be the same if I ended up having to fight you."

Shisui grinned at Itachi's response. "True true... so, why even try?"

Itachi frowned, this time noticeably, his expression showing he had taken insult to Shisui's words. "Are you suggesting that I give up?"

"Of course not," Shisui replied, his eyes glinting with determination. "I'm saying that no matter how hard you train right now, if you remain like you are… you will lose regardless. In other words, you need to awaken the reason our clan is universally feared, you need the Sharingan."

Itachi's frown deepened even more. He knew Shisui was right, that no matter how hard he trained or pushed himself, the gap between his friends and him would continue to grow, and that the only way to close that gap was awakening the Sharingan, but that was easier said than done. "I know the importance of the Sharingan, but it's not something I can force."

"I understand that," Shisui said, placing a hand on Itachi's shoulder. "That's something YOU can't force."

Itachi nodded slowly, failing to realize the amount of emphasis Shisui had put on the YOU part.

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[Uchiha Shisui - POV.]

As the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink, I couldn't help but ponder how to help Itachi close the widening gap between him and Takeshi. As I had told him, training alone wouldn't close that gap, no matter how intense the training in question was, because despite his best efforts, it was clear that Takeshi's growth and abilities were outpacing Tachi's at an alarming rate.

Itachi was incredibly talented, a prodigy even by Uchiha standards, but Takeshi's weird kekkei genkai and talent were something else entirely. His skills, his instincts, his raw power—there was something about him that set him apart. It wasn't just his natural abilities; it was the way he carried himself, the way he approached every challenge with a calm, almost eerie composure.

I watched Itachi from a distance, his silhouette framed against the twilight sky as he continued his training, one of my clones leading the session. He was giving it his all, pushing himself to his limits, but I knew it wouldn't be enough. Not without the Sharingan.

The matter of the problem wasn't that Itachi was less talented than Takeshi or less smart; it was that unlike Itachi, Takeshi had access to his bloodline, giving him a huge advantage.

So, if Itachi wanted to keep up… he needed the Sharingan, and fast.

Unfortunately, awakening the Sharingan and its evolution wasn't something that could be achieved through sheer willpower or rigorous training alone. It required a catalyst, a moment of intense emotional stress or trauma. For me, it had been witnessing someone precious to me die, a moment that had etched itself into my very soul.

Itachi's chances of awakening the Sharingan before the exams were slim. The circumstances of my own awakening replayed in my mind, and a thought began to form, an idea that could potentially help Tachi's situation. What if I could replicate a similar scenario through a genjutsu? If emotional stress was all the body needed, I might just be able to push Itachi to awaken his Sharingan.

It was a risky plan, one that hinged on Itachi's mental and emotional resilience. But if anyone could handle it, it was him. The thought of putting Itachi through such an ordeal weighed heavily on my conscience, but the alternative—sending him

 into the Chunin Exams without the Sharingan, without the power he needed to compete—seemed far worse.

I was his friend, and a good friend had to be capable of traumatizing their best buddy for the sake of power. And I was the best friend to have around, so it was up to me to give Itachi the need for a therapist and a pair of cool-looking eyes.

Smiling, I continued to watch Itachi, his movements precise and fluid but lacking the edge that would give him a fighting chance against Takeshi.

My best buddies and forcibly adopted little brothers would do great in the exam; the only question was who would place second in the exams because obviously, I was going to get first place, and there wasn't enough trauma out there for them to close the gap with little old me.

Chuckling, I took a deep breath, steeling myself for what lay ahead. Tomorrow, I would begin the process. I would carefully craft the genjutsu, creating a scenario that would push Itachi to the brink, forcing him to confront his deepest fears and emotions.

"I'm such a good friend," I muttered, smiling to myself while a clone I had just created patted me on the back.

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[Arata Takeshi - POV.]

The sun had set, leaving the training ground bathed in the cool light of the moon. I stood amidst the rustling leaves, catching my breath after another intense training session. True to her word, Teresa had worked me to the grave… I could barely breathe due to how exhausted I was, which was something foreign to me because I didn't know I could get this exhausted.

"Not bad for a first day," Teresa's voice echoed in my mind. "Your mastery of the Windcutter and the Phantom Mirage have progressed faster than I expected."

"Well… I aim to please," I replied, wiping the sweat from my brow.

"I suppose you do," Teresa agreed, a faint smile on her face. "In fact, I think you've reached a point where you're ready to start learning a technique that will truly elevate your combat abilities beyond the norm. The Claymore technique with the highest offensive power, the one that allowed me to kill Priscilla: Irene's Quicksword."

I had seen glimpses of its power in my memories of the Claymore anime, a technique so fast it created the illusion of multiple blades striking simultaneously. It was said to be one of the most formidable techniques ever developed by a Claymore warrior.

"The Quicksword?" I repeated, my voice tinged with excitement and anticipation. "And here I was thinking you were saving the good stuff for the end."

"I was," Teresa confirmed, crossing her arms. "But seeing you so dedicated to your training moved my otherwise cold heart, so I thought this was the perfect time to teach you the basics of the technique. Besides… I think you are ready to start this part of your training. The Quicksword is a powerful technique, one that requires not just speed but an understanding of the flow of battle, a keen awareness of your surroundings, and precise control over your body's movements. You've shown that you possess all these qualities, at least to some extent."

I was getting far too many compliments from Teresa in one day; I didn't like the Red Flag rising on the horizon. "So, what's the first step?"

"First, you need to understand the essence of the Quicksword," Teresa explained, taking a step forward, looking at her right arm. "It's not just about moving your sword faster. The Quicksword is performed by channeling all of one's yoki into one arm, essentially letting that arm Awaken. In essence, the awakened arm goes berserk with Yoki while the rest of the body strives with all of its might to control it. The end result is a barrage of sword swings with such great velocity that it is impossible to see with the naked eye."

Partial awakening, that felt dangerous, but if Teresa thinks there's nothing to worry about, I won't think too much about it. "Sounds… easy enough, I suppose."

"That's not all… The Quicksword requires perfect calm at all times, especially during battle. Any strong emotion and the Yoki starts spreading, which could result in your awakening," Teresa added.

Considering I have to let one of my arms basically awaken to use this, it makes sense. Emotional stability is one of the parts that kept Claymores from awakening, so I imagine the same is what would keep the user from losing itself to the technique.

"Ok… so when do we start?" I asked, smiling at her.