After my biweekly session ended with Master Shuzo, I stayed seated. That alone was enough to make him pause. He gave me a look and said, "Usually, you disappear before I even stand up. Why are you still here? And seated, no less?"
I sighed and replied in a pleading tone, "Master Shuzo, I have an idea. One that needs your help. And access to the village's fuinjutsu materials if it's going to work."
His brow lifted slightly, curiosity flickering behind his calm expression. "What kind of idea?"
I took a deep breath. "I want to fuse what I've learned from Lightning Release with fuinjutsu and apply it to a real weapon. Specifically, a spear."
Shuzo blinked. He didn't respond right away, so I continued before he could shoot it down.
"The Thunderclap Spear jutsu is solid, but I want to improve on it. I want to inject more power and impact into the technique. Something real. A weapon that acts like an extension of the jutsu itself. I'd channel lightning chakra through it using a chakra flow seal, then reinforce the weapon with stabilization seals so it doesn't fry my arm or launch off in some random direction."
I glanced at his face. Still unreadable. Of course.
"I'd add chakra guiding lines to make sure the current flows cleanly, so there's no discharge. Then maybe a strike enhancement seal at the tip, not explosive, just something to boost impact and penetration."
I scratched my cheek. "It's advanced, I know. I'll need materials that can handle high-voltage chakra and, more importantly, your supervision."
Finally, he reacted. Just a subtle frown. A concerning tell.
He narrowed his eyes. "Why?"
I couldn't exactly tell him that I knew a few people in this world could absorb chakra or jutsu, and that a sneak attack with a nasty surprise like this would give me a huge advantage. So I just said, "I want to create my own fuinjutsu seal formation. Something that fits me. I think using it to augment a real weapon that takes full advantage of my abilities could seriously boost my capabilities."
Shuzo looked thoughtful, then said, "Why not just stick to the jutsu? It costs less chakra."
"True," I said, "but this would be stronger. And I've got the chakra for it."
He gave a small nod, accepting that logic. "It's a lot of work for a complex but high-impact advantage. Still, considering your chakra reserves and your age, it could actually become a powerful asset once you grow more."
His eyes drifted down to the floor as he mulled it over. "All the seals you mentioned would be difficult to combine into one functional formation. But it's a good exercise in problem-solving. That strike amplification seal, though, that's going to be your biggest challenge. It's an advanced-level seal."
I sighed internally. "Guess I'll need to cut back on my ninjutsu training again," I thought. "I'm already ahead in that area. Time to shift focus to the stuff that's lagging."
I looked back at Shuzo and said, "No worries, Master. I can do it."
He smiled faintly at my determined tone. "Alright. You have my approval. But let me ask. Are you planning to carry the spear around?"
I tilted my head. "Can't I just pull it out from a storage seal?"
"You can," he said, "but you'll need a fast activation seal. One that can summon it directly into your palm. If not, the delay defeats the purpose of a surprise weapon."
I hummed, thinking it through. "Is there a way to do that?"
He looked hesitant. Not a good sign.
I frowned. "Is there a problem?"
He let out a quiet sigh. "Chakra Etching is your best option in this case. But…"
He paused, his face now more serious. "It's an advanced technique. It requires immense chakra and extremely precise control. You're etching the seal not just into your body, but into your chakra network. They have to synchronize perfectly. The process is long, complicated, and very painful. And to summon something without any delay? You'd need a detailed and complex storage seal. That makes it worse."
My finger started tapping the table automatically.
"Well, if he says it's painful, then it's probably soul-crushing," I thought. "But since on-body seals are something I'll need for my future fighting style, I might as well start early and get used to them."
I looked him in the eye and said, "Let's do it."
He nodded with a grim expression. "You'll need to improve your fuinjutsu by several levels before you're ready. Based on your current skill, I'd estimate two years before you can safely attempt Chakra Etching. Start learning more seals. Apply them frequently. I'll make arrangements for you to work with the village police and military supply corps, helping maintain gear and produce tags. You'll learn a lot from the repetition."
I exhaled slowly, already bracing myself for the brutal schedule that was about to fall on me. But this was the path I chose. And I had shadow clones now. So I wasn't completely screwed.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Time passed, and I finally mastered the Lightning Release: Thunderclap Spear. I stood in a clearing deep within one of Konoha's smaller forests, panting slightly as the scent of ozone lingered in the air. All around me, trees were shattered, scorched, or smoldering from where they'd taken the brunt of my earlier tests.
I smiled to myself and muttered, "Took longer than I planned, thanks to all the other training stealing my time, but it's done."
I glanced up at the sky.
"Guess it's time to ask Master Seiji about the Arc Net technique. If I pace myself, I might even master it by the end of the year. With my current fuinjutsu understanding, I should be able to fold my ideas into that one, too."
With that final thought, I let myself collapse backward onto the damp forest floor. The coolness soaked through my clothes, easing the heat in my muscles. I let out a long breath and just stayed there, letting my chakra settle.
Then I felt it. A familiar chakra signature. One I wasn't thrilled about.
I sighed and cracked one eye open.
Kaen stood at the edge of the clearing, his Sharingan already active. He didn't speak at first. Just stared at the devastation, eyes flicking between the blackened trees and the glowing embers still dancing in the air.
"You've gotten strong," he finally said, gaze settling on me.
I turned my head and closed my eyes again, extending my chakra sense toward him, sharp and instinctual.
He chuckled under his breath. "I always wondered how you knew where I was during our last spar. Now I get it."
He started walking closer, but I caught the flicker of his mood. Vague hostility. Not that vague, actually.
"Don't come any closer," I said flatly.
He kept walking. "What? You scared of me, Noa?"
I opened my eyes again and smirked. "No. I just don't want to hurt you."
"I have the Sharingan now. I can see the way your chakra moves, the way you fight. I might not have your sensing tricks, but I don't need them. I'll catch up. Then I'll surpass you."
"Breathe," I said, keeping my tone dry. "The Sharingan's strong, sure, but it's not limitless."
He ignored that. "Next time we spar, I'll humiliate you. Just like you did to me. I'll make sure everyone sees the power of the Uchiha."
I sighed. "Can't we just… coexist? Be rivals or whatever without all the drama?"
His eyes narrowed. "First you. Now Itachi. I'll use both of you to prove myself. I'll show the clan what I'm capable of."
I was mid-breath when the name Itachi slipped out of his mouth. It sounded familiar. Too familiar. My brain lit up a second too late.
Then it hit me.
I choked on the air like someone had stuffed a rag down my throat. My lungs locked. My mouth went dry.
Itachi.
A compound slick with blood. Bodies face-down in the dark. A child standing in the silence, eyes glowing red while the world he ended stared back.
He wanted to surpass Itachi? The guy who was going to paint the Uchiha compound with Kaen's blood? That's... one way to set the bar.
Great. I was the warm-up act for a prodigy who wouldn't live long enough to see his own legacy.
I forced the air out of my lungs and, somehow, kept my expression still. No panic. No horror. Just enough muscle control to stop my eye from twitching.
"So nothing I say is going to change your mind," I muttered.
He turned to leave, his voice echoing behind him.
"No. Just be ready for complete humiliation. That's the only payback I'll accept."