Chapter 15:
.....
The sun was beginning to rise over the high walls of Nuoding City.
At the academy, the working students were already busy with their daily chores.
Xiao Wu, brimming with her boundless energy, was sweeping the south entrance of the academy alongside Tang San, who had accepted his role as her task partner without complaint.
And yup, Itachi was genuinely relieved to have someone else who could keep up with Xiao Wu's seemingly endless energy.
Tang San and Xiao Wu chatted and competed playfully, something that was quickly becoming a daily routine for them. Meanwhile, Itachi spent most of his time studying various books and observing from the shadows, as was his habit. His clone primarily managed Innovation Forge while also keeping a constant watch on the city's surroundings in case of any unexpected arrivals, like the powerful man he had encountered shortly after arriving at the academy with Xiao Wu.
During Xiao Wu and Tang San's friendly training bouts, Itachi observed discreetly, often activating his Sharingan under the concealment of his Skydream Crown to analyze their interactions and Tang San's skills.
Itachi couldn't help but compare Tang San to other shinobis prodigies he had known in the ninja world and concluded that the boy's abilities were far too developed to be normal.
Yeah... He could clearly sense the experience behind every movement and technique... experience that someone his age shouldn't possess.
'A total puzzle…' Itachi thought, his gaze fixed on Tang San as the boy carefully placed some branches in their designated spot. 'Even a genius would need years of experience to achieve that level of control. His movements have purpose... every step backed by deep knowledge… and without a Sharingan to assist him'
While studying Tang San in detail, Itachi noted that aside from his unusual constitution, marked by two Martial Souls, a hammer and a blue silver grass... there was nothing else overtly remarkable about him, except for a few interesting techniques.
Well, very interesting, in fact. But nothing that explained everything else.
'There's definitely something more here...'
Though Itachi lacked concrete proof, his instincts as a ninja told him that Tang San was no ordinary individual.
And if he himself had arrived in this world, there was no reason to believe others couldn't have as well.
Itachi decided to continue observing silently for now, committing every movement and detail to his perfect memory with the help of his Sharingan.
'The answers will come in due time,' he concluded. Besides, he had already determined that Tang San, despite being an enigma, wasn't a threat. The boy had no malicious intent, and Itachi's ability to read people assured him of that.
.....
Later, Tang San was summoned by Grandmaster Yu Xiaogang. The relationship between master and apprentice seemed to be developing quickly, something that didn't escape Itachi's notice as he spent time in Yu Xiaogang's personal library.
Though Grandmaster had "declined to take him as a disciple"... yup, despite Itachi never truly requesting it.... due to what he perceived as Itachi's "low" spirit power level, Itachi didn't mind. After all, becoming someone's disciple was never his goal; he simply wanted to absorb as much knowledge as possible.
In the end, the outcome was favorable, as Grandmaster had practically granted him unrestricted access to all his research and records at no cost.
That same afternoon, Itachi noticed Tang San and Grandmaster leaving the academy together. His Sharingan, paired with his Spirit Bone's abilities, allowed him to follow them from a distance, but Itachi chose not to intervene or get too close. He wasn't interested in meddling in matters that didn't directly involve him, though his natural curiosity led him to take note of their behavior and actions.
Hours later, overhearing the other students talking in the dormitory, Itachi learned that Tang San had returned to the academy with a new spirit ring, obtained thanks to a Datura Snake he had hunted under Grandmaster's supervision. What was even more intriguing was that the spirit ring harmonized perfectly with Tang San's Martial Soul... the seemingly "useless" Blue Silver Grass.
'A harmonization between a plant-based Martial Soul and an animal spirit beast… interesting,' Itachi thought, analyzing the implications based on the knowledge he had been reading recently. ' Grandmaster isn't just a scholar; his theories have merit. This proves that at least part of his knowledge isn't just academic but practical'
Although Itachi was intrigued, he decided not to act on this information immediately. For now, his primary focus remained on establishing a strong foundation in this world while continuing to observe Tang San from the shadows.
.....
As life at the academy continued, Itachi, under his false identity as Fugaku Uchiha, continued expanding his business, Innovation Forge. And this one had quickly become a significant source of income thanks to the introduction of innovative tools and weapons based on blacksmithing techniques Itachi remembered from the Elemental Nations.
The business had now opened several branches across different parts of the Heaven Dou Empire, distributing products that were not only functional but also unique in design. This drew the attention of merchants, adventurers, and even some Spirit Masters and nobles, who were willing to pay high prices for high-quality custom equipment.
To maintain his anonymity, Itachi rarely interacted directly with the day-to-day operations of Innovation Forge. Even so, his identity as Fugaku Uchiha was gradually becoming more widely known.
Itachi left the daily management of the branches to his most trusted employees while supervising everything from the shadows. Using his Sharingan and analytical abilities, he continuously monitored the business's progress, ensuring everything ran smoothly.
.....
One morning, while Itachi's clone was reviewing reports from one of the Innovation Forge branches, he overheard that a new blacksmith had been hired at the main headquarters. Normally, this wouldn't have caught his attention.... after all, they were always looking for skilled smiths.... but this particular hire stood out for two reasons: the young age of the new blacksmith and his name.
Tang San.
Yup...
'Tang San… working as a blacksmith. Well, I didn't see that coming,' Itachi thought as he observed the situation through his clone. The coincidence was far too curious to ignore.
Itachi already knew Tang San wasn't an ordinary student, and his decision to seek employment at his business only deepened his interest. He decided to visit the main branch of Innovation Forge under his Fugaku Uchiha identity to observe the boy firsthand.
.....
When Itachi, as Fugaku, arrived at the forge, he was dressed in simple clothes appropriate for a blacksmith but carried an air of authority that made his position as the owner unmistakable. Using his Skydream Crown, he completely concealed his aura and true power level, ensuring no one could detect his real identity.
From a quiet corner of the forge, Itachi observed as Tang San worked. The young blacksmith was crafting a simple tool, but his movements and technique were highly unusual.
'Another unfamiliar technique,' Itachi thought, activating his Sharingan to analyze more closely. As he did, he observed how Tang San manipulated the metal using a method unlike anything he had seen in this world unitl now.
'Where did he learn these skills?' Itachi wondered, committing every movement to memory with his Sharingan.
...
In the days that followed, Itachi continued to observe Tang San in secret, gathering information about his abilities. What he discovered left him even more intrigued.
Tang San wasn't just an exceptional blacksmith; he also seemed to possess advanced knowledge of alloys and cooling techniques that shouldn't exist in this world.
One night, as Itachi reviewed the notes he had taken, he began to theorize.
'His skills are too advanced… and they don't align with the techniques of this world. At least, not entirely. But again, this is just speculation. It's almost as if his knowledge comes from somewhere entirely different…'
'Umm... Could it be from a powerful and hidden family or clan?'
This raised even larger questions.
Who is Tang San really? And where does his knowledge come from?
...
...
A few days later, sunlight streamed softly through the private room window, illuminating Itachi's calm face. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, his eyes were closed, and his breathing was slow and rhythmic.
For the first time since arriving in this world, Itachi felt a sense of stability. His spirit power, which had been unstable due to the overwhelming acquisition of his first golden Spirit Ring, and the immense spirit power it brought... had finally settled. If not for his significantly stronger body compared to a normal person, he... well he likely wouldn't have survived the process.
While this was a significant milestone, Itachi didn't allow himself to relax. Now was the time to push forward... to begin cultivating his spirit power and further strengthen both his Sharingan and his Ice Silk Worm.
In the silence of the private room, Itachi reached out with his awareness, summoning his Martial Soul. The Sharingan appeared before him, silent and radiating latent power. As he opened his eyes, his Sharingan reflected faintly in the orb of his Martial Soul, as if it were an extension of himself.
'Meditation,' Itachi thought, recalling what he had read in Grandmaster's books and the academy library.
This was the foundational cultivation method for all soul masters in the Douluo Continent. Through meditation, Martial Souls absorbed the ambient energy in the environment, known as Heaven and Earth Energy, and transformed it into spirit power. While simple in theory, the method's effectiveness depended on the quality of the Martial Soul.
Closing his eyes once more, Itachi entered a deep state of meditation. Gradually, the invisible energy in the air began to flow toward him. It was a subtle, almost imperceptible current, but Itachi could sense it clearly, as though his spirit had attuned itself to the world's rhythm.
His Sharingan absorbed the energy efficiently, but only up to a point. After three hours, he encountered a block.
No matter how hard he tried, the energy refused to flow further into his Martial Soul.
'Hmm. So... Is this my limit for now?' he wondered, opening his eyes. His Sharingan still floated before him, but it no longer showed signs of absorbing energy.
Running a hand over his face, Itachi sighed softly.
Yes, there was an inherent limit imposed by his Martial Soul. He already knew that this limitation was common among soul masters.
'At this rate…' he calculated quickly in his mind. 'It will take at least six months to raise my spirit power by just one level. And to reach level 20 from 12… it'll take no less than four years'
His brow furrowed slightly at the thought. Four years was an unacceptably long time. And that amount of time would only grow exponentially once he surpassed level 20.
'I need to find a way to speed up this process'
While his internal tone remained calm, his resolve was unshakable. Depending solely on basic meditation wouldn't suffice. He needed more effective methods. Perhaps there was something hidden in Grandmaster's books he hadn't yet discovered. Or maybe… the answers lay beyond the academy.
A knock on the door broke his train of thought.
"Brother Itachi, are you still meditating?" Xiao Wu's unmistakable voice came from the other side, followed by another, more insistent knock.
"Open up! It's time for breakfast, and Tang San says he has something interesting to show me. Come on!"
Itachi sighed, rising to his feet as he willed his Sharingan to vanish. Walking to the door, he opened it to find Xiao Wu standing there, arms crossed and a mischievous grin on her face.
"How long are you planning to stay locked up in here like a boring old man?" she teased, tilting her head. "Come on! You can't be serious all the time"
Itachi didn't respond immediately, but seeing her insistence, he decided not to argue.
"Fine. Let's go"
The only reason he had isolated himself was to avoid interruptions.... yup, he couldn't meditate while simultaneously using his Spirit Bone to conceal his Sharingan. Staying out of sight had been the safest option.
Xiao Wu grabbed his arm almost immediately, pulling him toward the academy's dining hall.
"Finally! I thought you'd grow roots from meditating so much!"
.....
During breakfast, Xiao Wu and Tang San chatted animatedly.
Itachi noted with interest how much more relaxed Tang San seemed around Xiao Wu. She had a natural ability to connect with people, and Tang San clearly appreciated it.
"Xiao Wu, do you want to try something I've been working on?" Tang San asked with a shy smile. "It's something I learned from Grandmaster, and I think it could be useful for our training"
"Something new? Of course!" Xiao Wu exclaimed excitedly. "What is it?"
Tang San didn't answer immediately, but his gaze briefly flicked toward Itachi, who watched the interaction with his usual calm.
"It's related to Martial Souls," Tang San said. "If you're up for it, we can try it after breakfast"
Though Itachi showed no outward reaction, he was listening intently. Every time Tang San mentioned his skills or training, there was always something worth analyzing. Being who he was, Itachi couldn't afford to ignore any opportunity to observe or learn.
.....
Later that night, as Xiao Wu slept soundly in her bed and Tang San reviewed his notes quietly in a corner of the dormitory, Itachi sat cross-legged on his own bed, reflecting on what he had learned throughout the day.
However, his thoughts soon shifted to something far more pressing: finding a way to obtain his next Spirit Ring and strengthen his Ice Silk Worm. Now that his spirit power had stabilized, he could finally move forward with this critical task.
...
...
Morning in Dormitory Seven began like any other: students groaning about having to wake up early, the murmur of heavy footsteps, and the sound of creaking beds as everyone prepared for their daily tasks. But one voice, louder and clearly irritated, broke through the background noise.
"What?! You're leaving?" Xiao Wu exclaimed, crossing her arms and glaring at Itachi, who was carefully folding his clothes and packing a few belongings into a small backpack.
"You didn't even ask me if I wanted to go with you!"
Itachi, his usual calm expression in place, didn't look up as he adjusted the straps of his bag.
"Xiao Wu, this isn't something you can just decide to join. I have personal matters to take care of outside the academy"
"That's not fair!" she shot back, stepping closer to him. "You're always doing mysterious things on your own, and I'm stuck here cleaning gardens and trying not to die of boredom. I want to go with you! What if you need me to protect you, huh?"
Itachi finally glanced at her, raising an eyebrow.
"Protect me? Well, I'm pretty sure I can handle myself," he replied, his tone calm but with a subtle hint of humor.
"You don't know that! There could be fierce spirit beasts or… or thieves! And besides, I want to get out of here! Everything's been so boring lately," Xiao Wu puffed out her cheeks in clear frustration, something Itachi had come to recognize as her way of pressuring him to give in. Oh and since she had a spirit ring now, she felt that was stronger than he was, although they had not yet fought enough for her to be sure.
"Xiao Wu," Itachi began, his voice low but firm, "first, the headmaster won't allow you to leave the academy without a good reason. Second, unlike me, you have responsibilities here. You can't just abandon your work at the academy, and it wouldn't be fair to Tang San and the other students who rely on you. Remember, you're their dorm boss"
"And third…" he paused, meeting her eyes directly. "This is something I need to do alone"
Xiao Wu crossed her arms even tighter, as if that could somehow win her the argument.
"T-that's not fair. What if you never come back? What if you get lost or something bad happens to you? What am I supposed to do without you, huh?"
Itachi set his backpack aside and stepped closer to her. He gently tapped her on the forehead with his fingers as he often used to do.
"I'll come back. I promise"
Xiao Wu, though still upset, softened her expression slightly.
"You promise?"
"Hn," Itachi nodded calmly. "And I'll bring you something"
Xiao Wu's eyes lit up immediately.
"Something? Like what? Something pretty? Or maybe… something delicious?"
"It'll be a surprise," he replied, picking up his bag and heading toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped and glanced back at her.
"Take care of yourself, and try not to get into too much trouble while I'm gone"
Xiao Wu, still pouting, slowly nodded.
"Fine… but don't forget, I want my surprise!"
Itachi gave a slight nod before stepping out. The door closed softly behind him, leaving Xiao Wu staring at it.
"Hmph. Mysterious as always," she muttered to herself before turning to face the rest of the dormitory. "Alright! Where's Tang San? I need someone to practice with today"