Now that you've been here for a while, is there any jutsu you want to learn?" Fugaku asked.
"I just enrolled… I'm probably not ready to learn any jutsu yet," Raizen replied, hesitating slightly.
"You can learn later. Every Uchiha has the privilege to select jutsu," Fugaku said, his gaze falling on Raizen.
That square, stern face carried an aura of unspoken authority.
Every Uchiha shinobi had the right to access the clan's jutsu repository, a collection built and contributed to over generations.
"Then… thank you very much, Lord Fugaku," Raizen said, feigning gratitude.
Fugaku nodded in satisfaction. A few jutsu in exchange for Raizen's acknowledgment of the Uchiha clan? A fair deal, all profit, no loss.
According to the Chunin instructors at the academy, Raizen's talent was exceptional.
It had become increasingly necessary to establish ties between him and the clan. If that failed, marginalization would follow.
The Uchiha needed loyal Uchiha above all.
"Is there a particular elemental nature you wish to practice?" Fugaku asked.
The shinobi world recognized five basic elemental natures:
Fire, Water, Wind, Lightning, and Earth.
Anything beyond that belonged to secret techniques or kekkei genkai.
"Lightning. I've previously tested my chakra with elemental papers… I have a 'Lightning' affinity," Raizen said, pretending to deliberate.
Lightning.
The Yotsuki clan excelled at body-based Lightning techniques, and for Raizen, this would be an unparalleled advantage.
Among the five primary elemental natures, any could be developed into a formidable specialty.
However, the shinobi world was overly reliant on chakra; success and failure depended solely on it.
Many technologies were simply chakra-wrapped versions of natural phenomena, ignoring other physical principles.
For example, Lightning could give rise to magnetism, controlling magnetic fields, distorting gravity, or manipulating electronic orbits.
The possibilities were endless.
This was Raizen's advantage as a traveler: his unique perspective allowed him to innovate.
Simply using Lightning to enhance the body or harness natural thunder was far too crude.
Even Fire techniques had depth.
Fire release could be developed along two axes: plasma generation and temperature control.
One could manipulate molecular motion to generate heat or cool, or develop high-frequency energy waves.
When it came to technological innovation, Kumogakure's ingenuity was often the furthest ahead.
Orochimaru specialized in biological science and genetic engineering, but in the Fourth Great Ninja War—just a few years after....it was Kumogakure that developed chakra cannons capable of destroying the moon, the most powerful weapon in the shinobi world.
"Very well," Fugaku nodded.
The Uchiha jutsu repository contained many Lightning jutsu scrolls.
"I'll have someone guide you to select the scroll you want. Remember: don't aim too high; a D-rank jutsu will suffice."
"Yes, thank you, Lord Fugaku," Raizen said with a polite bow, feigning gratitude.
"All right, let's eat," Misato interjected, looking at the dishes.
"They'll get cold if we wait any longer," she said.
Raizen filled his bowl to the brim. Proper nutrition was essential for growing strong.
Fugaku and Misato chatted occasionally, sharing lighthearted anecdotes that even drew smiles from the usually stern Fugaku.
Raizen ate quietly, observing.
---
About half an hour later, Misato escorted Raizen back along the same path.
"Misato-nee, at what age do shinobi typically retire?" Raizen asked.
Shinobi seemingly had no legal retirement age, nor were pensions guaranteed.
"Retire? Hmm…" Misato paused thoughtfully.
"Most shinobi never live to see retirement.
But if one wishes, they may apply; upon approval, they can leave the profession."
She had not seen many shinobi reach their eighties or nineties, but she knew many young genin who quit after graduation, unable to endure the harsh life of a ninja.
"I see," Raizen nodded. It made sense.
In the "Itachi True Chronicles," a female ninja in Itachi's second team named Shinko became disillusioned with the cruel shinobi world and gave up her title, later working in a tea shop.
Shinobi were tools. Children went to war with kunai in hand, facing death without counseling or support.
By this logic, it was no surprise that the shinobi world bred extremists and psychologically warped individuals.
"They've been quietly twisted by the system," Raizen mused.
"I suppose, in my case, retirement might not be too far off," Misato said softly, her voice more tender than usual.
"Then congratulations, Misato-nee," Raizen replied, smiling warmly, though inwardly, his mind remained cold.
Is Itachi about to be born?
The thought weighed heavily on him.
"You can retire too if you ever wish not to be a shinobi," Misato said gently.
Raizen walked silently behind her, glancing at her ahead.
Was there a way to stop Itachi's birth and prevent his fateful descent?
Raizen's left Sharingan glowed faintly red, the ocular power rippling like water.
Read 50+ Advance Chapter and Support Me
patreon.com/HeavenlyYinYang