"How are you getting along with your new teammates?"
"We just execute missions together. Getting along isn't important," Kakashi said indifferently.
This morning, he had met his two new teammates and his Jōnin leader.
He felt nothing special.
He only hoped they would be able to complete their missions.
Hearing Kakashi's nonchalant tone, Rin guessed that Kakashi's relationship with his new teammates might not be harmonious.
"I have something to do later," Kakashi said, starting to walk forward.
"Wait... wait a minute, Kakashi. Are you researching chakra nature transformation? That is, transforming chakra into a nature like 'electricity'?" Rin tried to find a common topic with Kakashi.
Even though she hadn't completed the transformation step that day, she was meticulous and had memorized all the theoretical knowledge Kiyoshi taught her.
Kakashi's steps noticeably paused. He turned around to look at Rin.
Rin held her hands together in front of her stomach, her brown eyes fixed on Kakashi. A look of worry was etched on her face.
She looked significantly more fatigued than usual.
"You've also been learning chakra nature transformation?" Kakashi was quite surprised.
The Ninja Academy barely taught this.
Because only Chūnin and above considered such matters.
It was too far removed from them, who were either Genin or students who hadn't yet become Genin.
"Mm, I learned a little." Rin recounted some of the things Kiyoshi had taught her, based on her memory.
Kakashi listened and realized Rin did understand quite a bit.
He had been developing Lightning Release Ninjutsu alone and happened to lack someone with whom he could discuss and verify his ideas.
"Rin, what are your thoughts on activating the cells in the wrist and palm?" Kakashi asked a question.
Rin thought for a moment and shared her conjectures.
In fact, medical Ninjutsu and Lightning Release share some common ground, both act upon the human body.
And medical Ninjutsu, in its study of cells, is unparalleled by any other Ninjutsu.
"Let's find a place to discuss this in detail." Kakashi became interested. He hadn't expected some of Rin's insights.
This Ninjutsu was still in its initial, embryonic stage, and Kakashi had only set a rough direction.
He still needed to fill in many details to complete the technique.
"Mm." Rin softly acknowledged, quickly catching up with the departing Kakashi.
Her heart was leaping with joy, and the look of worry on her face lessened somewhat.
As long as she stayed close to Kakashi, she could guide him back, right?
Rin prayed as much.
***
Ninja Academy.
More than half a month passed in the blink of an eye, and Kiyoshi's life returned to a state of calm.
In class, Kiyoshi listened to the Chūnin instructor explain the history of the ninja world.
In this world, not much was known about the myths from over a thousand years ago, before the Warring States Period.
Even the most famous Six Paths Sage was described vaguely, and as for Kaguya, the progenitor of chakra, no one knew about her.
The Uchiha clan, ironically, held the most records of historical secrets, possessing an ancestral "Uchiha Stone Tablet" in the Naka Shrine's secret room.
"It's starting to slow down." Kiyoshi thought about the Sharingan while listening to the Chūnin instructor talk about history.
The feedback from the Sharingan was no longer as rapid as it was at first.
It gradually slowed down, instead feeding back in a more subtle manner to synchronize Kiyoshi's physical body and spiritual power.
The Sharingan is the "Eye that Reflects the Heart." It's precisely because the strength of the user rapidly increases after awakening that the Uchiha's power is so widely feared.
Soon, the class bell rang, signaling the break time.
Kurenai was the first to run to Kiyoshi again, asking him if he understood the last lesson.
Kiyoshi responded to Kurenai's inquiries while reading his book.
Mostly, Kurenai talked, and Kiyoshi occasionally replied with a sentence or two.
He was currently preparing for early graduation, compressing the knowledge that others took years to learn into a very short timeframe.
The Uchiha clan generally had good talent, and Kiyoshi memorized knowledge quickly, especially since he also had the two Traits, "Reading Absorption" and "Basic Memory."
"Kurenai is going to find Kiyoshi again. It seems Kurenai is genuinely interested in Genjutsu." Chōmaru Akimichi said, eating a bag of chips taken from his pocket.
"I've been training hard in the clan for several days recently," Asuma Sarutobi said confidently.
His original Genjutsu grade was only around the passing line, but after training hard for several days, although he hadn't improved too much.
Would it really be that difficult to deal with an Uchiha who wasn't allowed to use the Sharingan?
After all, only the Sharingan and Fire Release of the Uchiha clan were well-known.
Without the Sharingan, the Uchiha were nothing special.
"Impressive." Chōmaru Akimichi said, swallowing a chip.
He was happy as long as he could eat and drink every day.
Asuma felt speechless toward Chōmaru.
If it weren't for the fact that the Sarutobi clan and the Ino-Shika-Chō trio of clans had always been close, he wouldn't know why he and Chōmaru Akimichi got along well.
Asuma glanced over and saw that Kiyoshi had said something that made Kurenai laugh.
He immediately stood up and walked toward Kiyoshi.
"Hey, Kiyoshi Uchiha, we agreed to spar last time, don't forget." Today was the beginning of the month, and Asuma Sarutobi tapped on Kiyoshi's desk.
He deliberately lowered his voice in front of Kurenai to make his voice sound deep and manly.
"Don't worry." Kiyoshi nodded.
Seeing Kiyoshi agree, and with Kurenai turning her head to watch him.
Asuma returned to his seat satisfied.
"Would you lose?" Obito, sitting in front of Asuma, turned around and asked.
He also wanted to see what kind of expression Kiyoshi Uchiha would have if he lost.
With Kakashi gone from school recently, Obito felt things were a bit boring.
Naturally, he was eager to see Kiyoshi Uchiha suffer a setback.
"Nah I'd win." Asuma Sarutobi said confidently.
He looked at Obito with a slightly pitying look.
The last time Obito sparred with Kiyoshi, he lost and was greatly embarrassed in front of Rin.
This time, he would show Obito what a real man looked like.
"Kurenai, you won't mind if I beat Asuma, right?" Kiyoshi asked Kurenai.
The current Asuma had not yet achieved the maturity of his future self, he was just a kid, like Naruto, who yearned for attention and recognition.
The son of a hero often faces greater pressure than other children.
Because people would unconsciously make comparisons.
"It might be good if Kiyoshi could beat Asuma and humble him a bit. Asuma is quite rebellious." Kurenai nodded.
She hadn't spent much time with Asuma Sarutobi recently.
But their relationship had always been good, they were childhood friends.
She knew a little about the strained father-son relationship between Asuma and the Third Hokage.
***
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