Chapter 7: Preliminary Study of Chakra

When a person is deeply engaged in something, time always seems to pass quickly.

Unknowingly, two months had passed since the first taijutsu battle.

During these two months, with numerous battles and under the guidance of Uchiha Shin, Uchiha Kiyoshi's progress was evident.

According to Uchiha Shin, Uchiha Kiyoshi's taijutsu skills were now comparable to those of a just-graduated Genin.

Well, in the end, it meant that Uchiha Kiyoshi could defend against the attacks of a just-graduated Genin before his stamina was depleted.

As for launching attacks against opponents? Uchiha Kiyoshi didn't seem to know how to do that...

But is it considered defeating an opponent if you exhaust them? After all, they do end up on the ground...

Uchiha Kiyoshi believed that the result was the same: he had defeated them.

Unfortunately, after three months of training, without the medicinal baths and not daring to push himself too hard, Uchiha Kiyoshi's physical abilities couldn't progress rapidly in a short period of time anymore.

However, Uchiha Kiyoshi was already quite satisfied. These three months of specialized training had transformed him, giving him the basic combat abilities of a Genin.

Of course, this wasn't something to boast about, and Uchiha Shin rarely mentioned it to others, fearing that the topic would suddenly shift to Uchiha Kiyoshi's tactics.

During this time, Uchiha Shin had also attempted to change Uchiha Kiyoshi's situation. But after several unsuccessful attempts and investigating Uchiha Kiyoshi's previous circumstances, he had a general understanding and stopped persuading him.

"Sigh! He can only overcome his inner struggles on his own in the future."

Waking up in the morning without the need for special training, Uchiha Kiyoshi felt considerably relieved. The intensity of the training was too much, and even Uchiha Kiyoshi had almost reached his limit. If not for the medicinal baths, he would have thought he had exhausted himself completely.

However, this also demonstrated the potency of the Uchiha clan's medicinal bath formula. It could treat such intense exercise-induced injuries, and it was even suitable for children without affecting their growth.

One could only say that the Uchiha clan, which had inherited its legacy from the Warring States period, possessed deep reserves.

Although there was no need for special training, Uchiha Kiyoshi didn't slack off. After finishing breakfast, he began his warm-up exercises.

Being well-versed in medical scrolls, Uchiha Kiyoshi was able to devise the most suitable exercise routine for himself without causing harm to his body or hindering his development.

After completing the basic training, Uchiha Kiyoshi moved on to the main focus.

Although he had successfully extracted and refined chakra for more than two months, he hadn't had the time to study it. Now that he finally had some free time, Uchiha Kiyoshi eagerly began his research.

First, Uchiha Kiyoshi controlled his chakra, circulating it in his hands, and threw a punch.

The sound of "boom" reverberated throughout the training ground as Uchiha Kiyoshi's fist collided with the target, leaving behind a shallow dent.

"Ha! I did it!" Uchiha Kiyoshi shouted excitedly.

He had finally mastered the basic technique of using chakra to strengthen his body—Chakra Enhanced Strength. By circulating chakra in specific areas, Uchiha Kiyoshi could greatly enhance both offensive and defensive abilities.

Through the battles during these two months, Uchiha Kiyoshi had already mastered the basics of using chakra to strengthen his body. For example, when defending, he would circulate chakra in his arms, and when evading, he would circulate it in his legs...

Uchiha Kiyoshi had also tried circulating chakra in various parts of his body, hoping that it could nourish his body. Unfortunately, all of those attempts ended in failure.

Well, if it were possible, the entire ninja world would have discovered it by now.

Based on Uchiha Kiyoshi's research, the final conclusion was that chakra could significantly enhance the attacking and defensive capabilities of the body, but only for a short period. It couldn't permanently strengthen the body through nourishment.

However, this was what ninjas were all about. What difference did it make whether he researched it or not?

"Is it really impossible to nourish the body while cultivating chakra? No, I must find a way. Otherwise, even if I reach the level of a Six Paths, I will still meet a tragic end and lose my physical body. Even if I could have an eternal soul like the Six Paths Sage, I would still lose the opportunity for further advancement."

To Uchiha Kiyoshi, who had read many novels in his previous life, losing his physical body meant imperfection, and it might even mean losing the potential for further growth.

Speaking of chakra, there were indeed some mysterious aspects to it.

Ever since he successfully cultivated chakra for the first time, Uchiha Kiyoshi noticed that during subsequent training, his body seemed to remember the corresponding proportions automatically, merging the physical energy with the spiritual energy.

According to the explanation Uchiha Kiyoshi found in the clan's archives, once chakra was successfully merged, no matter how much was squeezed out, a trace of chakra would always remain in the body. It was like leaving behind a chakra seed, which could grow on its own as long as it received physical and spiritual energy.

Uchiha Kiyoshi could only accept this setting.

It seemed like something came to Uchiha Kiyoshi's mind. He patted his head and got up, rushing into the warehouse upstairs.

That was the place where his parents' belongings were stored, mostly his father's ninja tools and notes.

Previously, Uchiha Kiyoshi rarely touched these items. In his opinion, he wasn't capable of understanding them yet. What could an ordinary person who hadn't even refined chakra do with them? The clan's databank was more useful!

Now that Uchiha Kiyoshi had practiced chakra, these items had slowly become useful and would eventually become nourishment for him.

Uchiha Kiyoshi searched for a long time and finally found a few obviously worn-out scraps of paper.

Chakra test papers, that's what Uchiha Kiyoshi found. Chakra test papers were used to measure a ninja's chakra nature.

Generally, ninjas would have a chakra nature, and some prodigies would have two or even more chakra natures. For example, the Third Hokage, Hiruzen Sarutobi, naturally possessed all five chakra natures.

Chakra nature was innate, and having a particular nature meant that it would be easier and more convenient to practice jutsu of that nature.

The more chakra natures one had, the stronger their talent in ninjutsu.

Chakra test papers were tools used to determine a ninja's chakra nature.

Uchiha Kiyoshi had found these papers when he was organizing his parents' belongings a long time ago.

If he hadn't suddenly remembered, he wouldn't have known his own chakra nature.

Naturally, Uchiha Kiyoshi hoped to have as many chakra natures as possible, as it would save him a lot of trouble.

Staring at the chakra test paper in his hand, Uchiha Kiyoshi took a deep breath and slowly infused his own chakra into it.

When different chakra natures were infused, the chakra test paper would exhibit different reactions. Wind nature would be cut in half, lightning nature would become wrinkled, earth nature would crumble, water nature would become moist, and fire nature would ignite.

If one possessed multiple chakra natures, the test paper would show different areas indicating the different natures.

In Uchiha Kiyoshi's hand, half of the chakra test paper began to burn, while the other half was half crumbled and half moist.

This meant that Uchiha Kiyoshi possessed three chakra natures—fire, earth, and water—with fire being the dominant one.

Excitedly observing the reaction of the chakra test paper in his hand, Uchiha Kiyoshi thought to himself, "Having three chakra natures is already quite a talent. Among all the known individuals in Konoha, only the Third Hokage and Orochimaru surpass me. Jiraiya might also have multiple natures, but I'm not sure."

"With three chakra natures, practicing in the future will be much more convenient."

Uchiha Kiyoshi looked at the test paper divided into three parts, and the thought flashed through his mind.

However, as if realizing something, Uchiha Kiyoshi looked around and made sure there was no one before destroying the test paper and returned downstairs.

"From now on, I'll tell others that I have a fire chakra nature, and at most, I'll add earth as well."

Since he had decided to hide, Uchiha Kiyoshi naturally had to conceal his chakra nature and avoid any mistakes. Otherwise, it would be counterproductive, and the higher-ups might suspect his motives for no reason.