Five days after Renjiro made his promise, he walked up a towering tree with his feet attached to chakra.
Six days later, he stood on the water, and his powerful spiritual power gave him extraordinary chakra manipulation ability!
Ten days later, while watching a mouse frightened to death in front of him, he mastered the first illusion since awakening chakra. It took him less than two hours to learn this genjutsu.
Possessing powerful spiritual energy, he had an unparalleled advantage in chakra control and illusion.
Fifteen days later, he stood on the grass, looking at the dense clusters of fire in front of him. His chakra was exhausted, but he nodded with satisfaction. He had mastered the first ninjutsu since gaining chakra.
These two techniques were the legacy left by his father, two of the only three ninjutsu he knew. The scroll not only recorded the hand seal method, but also his father's understanding and experience.
It was not difficult for Renjiro to learn them, but his limited chakra slowed progress. That was why it took days to fully master even a C-rank ninjutsu.
By the twentieth day, Renjiro still had no intention of learning the third technique. With his current chakra reserves, even if he learned it, he couldn't cast three jutsu in succession.
The third ninjutsu, though powerful, consumed too much chakra and wasn't practical for combat.
After twenty days, his body had finally recovered from past malnutrition. His health was greatly improved, and at the very least he was no weaker than his peers.
Tight new muscles covered his once-skeletal frame. He even flexed his arms in front of Mikoto, making her blush so hard she nearly lost her appetite.
Leisurely eating his bento, Renjiro watched another group of primary school students rush into the classroom. This time, he didn't run or hide.
He sat beside Mikoto, calmly chewing each bite.
Seeing this, Uchiha Fugaku frowned. A lackey, catching the signal, stepped forward.
"Brother, could you eat somewhere else? My eldest brother is here to see Miss Mikoto. Please make room."
He understood what Class 1 represented. Anyone in this class had a Jōnin behind them. He didn't dare push too far.
Renjiro chuckled. "This is my seat. Why should I give it up? Even if I was just myself, I wouldn't move for you, much less your so-called boss."
He ate another mouthful without pausing, and the words ignited anger in Fugaku's followers.
"What did you say, bastard?"
"So arrogant! Sounds like he's never been beaten before!"
The noise drew a crowd of children who eagerly gathered to watch.
Fugaku himself stepped forward, his sharp eyes fixed on Renjiro.
"You… are you Uchiha?"
Renjiro's dark hair and eyes fit the clan, but Fugaku had never seen him before. More importantly, Renjiro was a Class 1 student. For the grandson of the Great Elder to miss him didn't make sense.
"Uchiha Renjiro," he replied calmly.
"Uchiha… Renjiro?" Fugaku muttered, frowning. The name meant nothing to him.
At that moment, another boy squeezed through the crowd and shouted, "Brother Fugaku, I know who he is!"
Fugaku gestured for him to continue.
The boy puffed up his chest, basking in the crowd's attention. "That's him. He looks just like his mother. His father's only a Chūnin, and his mother… she used to be a nanny in my house."
The words rippled through the students.
"Just a Chūnin's son?"
"The nanny's brat?"
The boy's voice grew louder, excited. "Yes! She lived in my house, but she was always sick, coughing blood. My father fired her so she wouldn't infect my sister. Her son is Uchiha Renjiro!"
Snap!
Renjiro's chopsticks splintered in his hands.
"I see… my mother…"
His face twisted with grief and rage. The crowd went quiet.
After a pause, his trembling voice cut through the silence:
"So that's what broke her…"
Memories of his sickly mother—fired, shamed, harassed, and broken by grief—flashed in his mind.
The boy laughed nervously, but before he could finish another word—
Crack!
Renjiro's fist slammed into his mouth.
Blood sprayed. Two teeth clattered onto the floor. Renjiro's knuckles split, but he didn't flinch.
Fueled by rage, he kicked the boy in the stomach, sending him flying several meters before crashing hard to the ground.
Gasps erupted.
But before Renjiro could move again, Fugaku stepped forward.
His kick lashed out at Renjiro's chest.
Renjiro blocked with his arm, but the force drove him stumbling back. His arm throbbed painfully.
My body… still not at full strength.
He steadied himself and glared at Fugaku.
"As a fellow Uchiha, isn't it excessive to try to kill him?" Fugaku said coldly, glancing at the boy writhing and spitting blood.
The words, spoken like a leader, won nods of approval from many Uchiha students in the crowd.
End of the chapter.