"What is it?"
"Nothing."
With the words on the tip of her tongue, Samui again remembered her brother's face.
She finally bowed and left the secret room.
If she told Samatodo and the higher-ups, they would all instantly see that the important thing was not the statement itself, but that Kiyoshi Yotsuki was using it as an excuse to make a bigger issue.
Even if she hadn't said those words, Kiyoshi Yotsuki would have found another reason.
The core issue was that he was not satisfied with the benefits currently offered and wanted to demand more.
And the people at the top, as long as it was within acceptable limits, would inevitably satisfy him step-by-step for the sake of the Uchiha's Bloodline.
In time, if Kiyoshi truly returned to the Hidden Cloud...
She herself would have a political stain, having spoken words unfavorable to unity.
It would also affect her younger brother's future. He had only just become a ninja, and his future was bright.
Samui suddenly felt frustrated and melancholy.
Why did she have to be the one responsible for Kiyoshi Yotsuki's affair? And why did Kiyoshi Yotsuki happen to fixate on her?
***
In the Uchiha compound, at Kiyoshi's house.
Moonlight spilled into the courtyard. Kiyoshi returned home and slid open the paper door.
He held two ninjutsu scrolls in his hands.
The [Reading Comprehension (White)] and [Basic Memory (White)] Traits allowed Kiyoshi to quickly understand the text on the scrolls and memorize the entire content.
The [Lightning Release: Lightning Finger] he received earlier had already been committed to memory.
But he hadn't practiced it yet. This was the first time he would begin practicing Lightning Release ninjutsu.
For the first six days, Kiyoshi focused on learning E-rank ninjutsu from scratch.
Through several days of basic Tree Climbing training, and with the help of [Muscle Memory (White)], Kiyoshi had mastered the minimum chakra control required for E-rank ninjutsu.
The next step would be to progress from Tree Climbing to Water Surface Walking, moving on the water.
Kiyoshi began to refine the chakra inside his body.
Wisp by wisp, chakra was extracted from Kiyoshi's cells and flowed through his circulatory system.
All ninjutsu require the use of chakra to function.
Even the representation of pure Taijutsu, the [Eight Gates Formation], still uses chakra to activate the technique.
The first official data book, the Rin no Sho, stated that the mixture of physical energy produced by the body's 130 trillion cells and spiritual energy is called "stamina."
And stamina is essentially what is known as chakra.
However, to use ninjutsu, this physical energy must be converted into chakra.
Therefore, running out of chakra often leads to death, which is essentially dying from exhaustion.
In the ninja world, everyone, and even plants, animals, and birds, possesses chakra.
Starting with Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, the concept of "Planetary Chakra" was introduced. The ninjutsu created by the young Boruto, "Rasengan: Uzuhiko," used this concept.
The chakra is embedded into the target's body, and this chakra rotates along with the planet's rotation. As long as the planet's rotation does not stop, the Rasengan: Uzuhiko will never cease.
It is currently the most powerful Rasengan demonstrated.
Of course, these things were still a bit far away for Kiyoshi.
He extended his right index and middle fingers, converting his non-elemental chakra into Lightning Release chakra.
Kiyoshi's chakra affinity included "Lightning," "Fire," "Yin," and "Yang" four attributes.
Therefore, he had an advantage in learning Lightning Release ninjutsu.
A faint current began to dissipate bit by bit into the muscles beneath his skin, and his fingers felt a tingling sensation.
Kiyoshi endured this feeling, continuing to cautiously control the chakra.
After an unknown amount of time, the night was silent, and the shadows of the trees outside the courtyard rustled softly.
"You have acquired the Trait: [Apprentice Lightning Release Ninja (White)]."
[Trait: Apprentice Lightning Release Ninja (White)]
[Achievement Requirement: Successfully use Lightning Release ninjutsu once.]
[Progress: (Completed).]
[Effect: Your talent in "Lightning Release" nature transformation is increased by 10%.]
[Note: Can be upgraded later.]
[Upgrade Route One: Integrate with "Muscle Memory (White)" and "Strong Physique (White)" to upgrade to "Lightning Release Genin (Green)."]
Kiyoshi listened quietly to the voice in his mind, finally gaining some understanding of the upgrade process.
It was likely that when he met most of the conditions for an upgrade, the upgrade route would be revealed.
The term "Apprentice" probably referred to his current level.
Ninja Academy students are technically also referred to as ninja pre-candidates and ninja apprentices.
"Strong Physique—this Trait must be achieved by strengthening my body."
Kiyoshi looked at his body, which was already a bit more robust than before, and had an idea.
A mere White Trait increased his talent by 10%. When he reached a Green Trait, the increase would likely be even greater.
A moment later, Kiyoshi unrolled the scroll in his hand, preparing to start practicing the second ninjutsu.
[Lightning Release: Lightning Finger] is an offensive ninjutsu, all he needed was to be able to release it.
He planned to focus his energy on the second Lightning Release ninjutsu first to strengthen his body.
The deeper a ninja's understanding of a ninjutsu and the higher their proficiency, the greater the power they can release.
For example, the scale of the fireball when Sasuke first learned the [Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique] and after he became proficient with the technique were completely different.
"Alright, time to practice [Lightning Release: Iron Armor]."
***
Hokage Office.
"Hiruzen, Kiyoshi Uchiha must be monitored twenty-four hours a day," Danzō Shimura said.
A little over a month ago, ninjas from the Uchiha clan found Kiyoshi Uchiha and brought him into the Hidden Leaf Village.
Since then, they had been screening Kiyoshi to verify if he was a spy.
"Danzō, didn't you send Root's best spy ninja to observe him?" Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his pipe and exhaled a puff of smoke.
The entire Hokage office gradually became enveloped in smoke.
Danzō Shimura frowned slightly.
The information received from Nonō Yakushi, based on micro-expression analysis, indicated that Kiyoshi was indeed not a spy and had done nothing against the Hidden Leaf.
But Danzō Shimura was still uneasy.
Not being a spy didn't mean possessing the Will of Fire.
How warped would an inherently evil Uchiha brat be, especially one who also possessed the bloodline of those bandits from the Hidden Cloud Village?
Such an unstable element must join Root and have the Tongue Restriction Curse Seal implanted to be safe.
"Hiruzen, give Kiyoshi Uchiha to me. I will let him wash away all of his past and become a new Hidden Leaf ninja."
"No. The Uchiha are currently in a delicate situation with the village. This would provoke dissatisfaction from the Uchiha."
Hiruzen Sarutobi rejected Danzō's proposal without thinking.
As a firsthand participant in the First and Second Great Ninja Wars, he could smell the impending storm.
The Hidden Cloud was accumulating military power, carrying the risk of military expansion.
The Hidden Leaf had only recovered its strength for a few years. If war were to break out again, he had a premonition that it would be even more intense than the last Great Ninja War.
How could he possibly provoke the Uchiha clan's dissatisfaction now?
The Uchiha clan ninjas were a vital active force in the village.
***
If you're enjoying the story, please drop some Power Stones, they really help with new chapter releases! A short review would be appreciated. Thanks for reading lovely readers