In the dense woods of Konoha, Mirai stood on an open training field, wielding a long blade with swift, unrelenting strikes. His movements, while fierce like a storm, carried the grace of a butterfly in flight. Enhanced by his Sharingan, the unique flair of the Uchiha sword style shone through him with remarkable elegance.
Clang!
With a final echoing sound, Mirai sheathed his blade and stood still.
"Not bad at all," he thought to himself, admiring the sword. It was no surprise—this blade, capable of channeling chakra, was incredibly rare and expensive, something even seasoned Jonin might struggle to obtain. Yet Uchiha Fugaku had gifted it to him outright. Such generosity could only be described as... beyond excessive!
Just then, a young girl dashed out of the nearby bushes.
"Mirai, have you been waiting long?" she asked.
Mirai looked at the doll-like face of Kurenai and smiled, shaking his head.
"Oh, good!" she sighed with relief. Her gaze shifted curiously. "Why did you want to train with me again? Do you really think my skills can help you?"
"Of course." Mirai's smile broadened. "Kurenai, training with you is what I look forward to the most every day."
He wasn't lying. After receiving only C-rank jutsu as rewards from Fugaku for three days straight, Mirai decided to stop relying on him. Fugaku certainly had a lot of techniques, but that also meant his power was spread thin across many skills, lowering the chance of Mirai obtaining something truly worthwhile. Besides, any strong jutsu he did manage to steal from Fugaku would be difficult to explain if he used it openly.
Instead, sparring with Kurenai was a much better option for him right now, especially with the system granting him permanent attribute points from their sessions. Much more efficient.
"Look at you, saying things like that!" Kurenai's face turned pink as she chided him. "You're getting bolder with your words."
"Alright, Kurenai, let's start today's training," Mirai urged, shifting back into his stance.
Clenching her fists, Kurenai answered, "Fine, but this time, I won't go down so easily!"
Three minutes later, Kurenai stared at the sword at her throat and swallowed nervously. At this close range, she could practically feel the coldness emanating from its blade.
"I give up," she said, admitting defeat. Facing Mirai's attacks, she had been completely overwhelmed, unable to even retaliate.
Ding! Congratulations, host! Successfully acquired reward: Chakra +1!
As he felt a surge in his chakra reserves, Mirai lowered his blade. Sure enough, sparring with Kurenai, who hadn't learned any complicated jutsu, was the ideal choice.
"Kurenai, let's call it a day for training," he said. "I'll go catch some fish, and we can have grilled fish for dinner."
Kurenai's eyes lit up, and she nodded obediently. Mirai's cooking was excellent, and she eagerly looked forward to their post-training meals together.
Soon enough, Mirai returned with two large, freshly cleaned fish. Taking out his homemade seasonings, he expertly began grilling them over a fire. The delicious aroma filled the air, making Kurenai's mouth water.
"It's ready," Mirai announced, handing her a piece.
Kurenai took the fish eagerly.
"Ouch—hot!" she exclaimed, fanning her mouth as she chewed, her eyes wide with delight.
Watching her, Mirai couldn't help but chuckle softly to himself. From now on, power, companions… he was going to have it all!
Over the next month, Mirai continued sparring with Kurenai every day at the training grounds. Under the system's rewards, his power grew at an astonishing rate.
[Physique: 25]
[Mental Strength: 25]
[Chakra: 17]
[Bloodline Limit: Sharingan]
[Jutsu: Clone Technique, Transformation Technique, Body Flicker, Shadow Clone Technique, Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique, Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu, Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique, Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique, Wind Style: Gale Blade]
[Other Skills: Shuriken Throwing, Trap Setting, Uchiha Style Kenjutsu]
Compared to where he'd started, all his attributes had increased massively, especially his physical strength, which had more than tripled. Speed, power, endurance—every aspect of his body had undergone an all-around boost. His chakra reserves had also increased by 10 points, now double what he'd had before awakening the system. Even his chakra recovery rate had noticeably improved.
By his estimation, his current strength was four or five times what it had been just a month ago! At this rate, given enough time, who knew what limits he could surpass? Uchiha Madara? The Otsutsuki? He'd trample them all underfoot!
"Mirai, the graduation exam is tomorrow. Are you nervous?" Kurenai asked, swallowing a piece of grilled meat and glancing at him.
"It's just an exam. Nothing to worry about," he replied nonchalantly.
"True," Kurenai nodded. "For a genius like you, exams must be a breeze."
Over the past month, she'd grown increasingly in awe of Mirai's strength. No matter how much she improved, she found herself utterly defeated every time they sparred.
"You'll do fine, too," Mirai said, noticing her slight anxiety. "With your skill, passing will be no problem."
"Really?" she asked, hope in her voice.
"I never lie."
Something about the way he said it, the calm confidence in his gaze, made her feel reassured. Every time she looked into his dark eyes, she felt an inexplicable urge to believe him.
"It's getting late. See you tomorrow," he said, heading back toward the Uchiha compound after they parted.
When Mirai reached his home, he found Uchiha Fugaku waiting for him at the entrance.
"You're finally here," Fugaku said.
"Is there something you need?" Mirai asked flatly, showing little warmth. His feelings toward Fugaku were less than positive—this was the man who would one day lead the Uchiha clan to its downfall. The only reason he even interacted with him was to treat him as a source of rewards.
In Mirai's mind, once his strength was sufficient, Fugaku would be the first to go. A man who would only cause trouble by constantly bending to Konoha's leadership.
Noticing Mirai's aloof demeanor, Fugaku didn't seem bothered. He assumed it was simply the pride of a "genius." After all, that attitude was common among the Uchiha.
Looking into Mirai's eyes, Fugaku spoke with a serious tone,
"I came to tell you, at tomorrow's graduation exam, you should keep a low profile."
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