The entire morning, Ryun stayed at the open-air training ground, practicing diligently.
Might Dai, who had to complete missions to earn money, left Ryun midway and went to the Hokage Building.
"997… 998… 999… 1000!"
Gritting his teeth, Ryun finally completed 1,000 frog jumps before collapsing to the ground, completely exhausted.
Normally, his physical condition wouldn't allow him to finish this training goal without breaks. But with chakra reinforcing his legs, completing 1,000 frog jumps became possible.
Frog jumps were mainly for training explosive leg strength, keeping blood and chakra concentrated in the legs for extended periods to nourish muscle activity. When needed, he could release the power in his legs instantly—this was a necessary training method for the Body Flicker Technique.
Ryun had already mastered basic chakra control and could easily guide chakra to stay in his legs, so he started practicing the training methods Might Dai taught him ahead of time.
Might Dai didn't know this because he didn't believe an elementary school student could master chakra control, nor did he think Ryun had enough chakra to sustain such training.
After lying sprawled on the ground for over ten minutes, Ryun forced his exhausted legs to carry him back home.
At noon, Ryun stared silently at the lunchbox in front of him.
Rice balls, sashimi, meatballs, and vegetables—this was the lunch his mother, Asuka, had prepared for him. His school lunchbox was usually the same.
Since Asuka worked and rarely came home at noon, Ryun ate lunch alone, always cold meals prepared by her in the morning.
He was almost sick of this bento.
Ryun closed the lunchbox, took his pocket money, and left the house. He planned to buy some ingredients and cook hot food to improve his diet.
Since his family wasn't well-off, his pocket money was limited, so he couldn't buy expensive ingredients.
He bought a few eggs, a cheap taro root, and reluctantly splurged on some imitation crab sticks.
After working in the kitchen for a while, he successfully made two decent-looking dishes: steamed egg with crab sticks and candied taro.
These dishes required skill, and most people wouldn't know the tricks to make them properly.
Ryun ate the rice balls with the dishes, enjoying them so much that he quickly finished half, his belly already round and full.
He packed the other half into a lunchbox and left the house, intending to deliver it to his mother, Asuka, for her to try.
Though this behavior didn't match the original Ryun's "persona" and would inevitably make Asuka suspicious, Ryun wasn't worried. Since he lived with Asuka every day, it was impossible to completely hide his changes without her noticing.
Besides, home was a place to relax. He didn't want to wear a "mask" at home—living like that would be too exhausting.
So he simply stopped pretending. Even if he didn't act like the original Uchiha Ryun anymore, as long as he genuinely acknowledged Asuka as his mother and could call her "Mom," he was still Uchiha Ryun.
Asuka had to work to support the family while also taking care of Ryun's meals. Life wasn't easy for her, and Ryun wanted to lighten her burden—at least not be a small nuisance like the original Ryun had been.
At this moment, Asuka hadn't eaten lunch yet, and her meal was also the same cold bento prepared in the morning.
"Asuka, come out quick! Your son brought you lunch!" a woman suddenly shouted.
"What?!"
Asuka, who was about to eat, was shocked.
Her son brought her lunch? Didn't he have his own? What could he have brought her? She hurriedly ran to the factory entrance.
"Mom, you haven't eaten yet, right? I just made two dishes and wanted you to try them..."
Ryun handed her the lunchbox.
"Th-This… you made all this?"
Asuka stared at the dishes in the lunchbox, completely stunned.
"Mm, I followed a recipe. Try it..." Ryun nodded with a smile.
"Asuka, your kid's still in school, right? He already knows how to cook?"
A woman overhearing their conversation was instantly amazed.
"Wow, this little one is so well-behaved!" another factory worker praised.
Their commotion quickly drew a crowd of female workers.
"How did you raise such a sensible, filial child, Asuka?"
The women chattered in admiration, each praising the mother and son.
Asuka ignored all the comments.
It was midsummer, and the sun outside was scorching. Seeing her son drenched in sweat from the heat, Asuka felt her throat tighten. She covered her mouth, tears instantly filling her eyes.
Did Asuka suspect someone had replaced her child? Absolutely.
Ryun was too mature and too unusual—it was impossible not to be suspicious.
But looking at this good child, this sincere and pure affection, it was undeniably real!
Especially the look in Ryun's eyes—that earnest, expectant gaze, the kind a child gives when hoping for their mother's praise—only a mother could recognize that expression.
From that look alone, Asuka was 100% certain this was her son, Uchiha Ryun!
From this moment on, Asuka would only believe her son had suddenly grown up, not that he wasn't her real child.
Wiping her tears, Asuka took the lunchbox and hugged Ryun tightly.
"Thank you, son!" Her voice trembled with emotion.
Ryun froze for a moment before gently breaking free from her embrace.
"Mom, go eat first. I'll head home now..."
The weather was too hot, and being hugged tightly was uncomfortable. Plus, being surrounded by a crowd of women felt stifling.
"Okay..."
Asuka nodded reflexively.
"Wait..."
Ryun had only taken a few steps before Asuka called out to him.
She quickly pulled a bill from her pocket and stuffed it into Ryun's hand.
"Son, it's too hot out. Buy yourself some ice cream and drinks to cool down..."
Ryun stared at the money for a second before smiling. "Thanks, Mom!"
"I'm leaving now... Go eat, Mom!"
"Mm, the sun's too strong. Stay home and don't run around, okay?"
Asuka waved, reminding him.
"Got it..."
Asuka watched his small figure disappear into the distance, lost in thought. Only when someone playfully snatched her lunchbox did she snap back to reality.
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