Chapter 20: Soft Physique Modification
Time moved forward another month, and the New Year was fast approaching.
In Orochimaru's underground base, a critical experiment was underway.
"What's the harmonization value for muscle density?"
"Condition is stable."
"And the muscle extensibility?"
"After exceeding a certain length, the muscle density decreases significantly, but overall, it's not far from our predicted values."
"Excellent."
In front of a massive culture tank, Kyosuke and Orochimaru stood side by side, their eyes fixed on the "test subject" inside.
Lately, as Kyosuke's "Human Body Modification" skills had matured, Orochimaru had invited him to participate in an experiment called "Soft Physique Modification."
What was Soft Physique Modification?
As the name suggested, it was a special method to "soften" the body.
After this modification, the body's flexibility and elasticity would be greatly enhanced, allowing one to freely extend or twist their limbs and head at any angle.
This was a secret ninjutsu created by Orochimaru himself.
In the original story, this ability was used frequently by Orochimaru. Most importantly, Soft Physique Modification was a prerequisite for many of Orochimaru's unique "forbidden jutsu."
For example, during his fierce battle with the "Tailed Beast Mode Naruto," Orochimaru used the "Ten Thousand Snakes Formation." Although the essence of this forbidden jutsu relied on the Summoning Technique, without the support of Soft Physique Modification... having tens of thousands of snakes crawl out of his mouth would have caused his head to explode.
Therefore, this modification technology was something Kyosuke absolutely had to master.
Not only did he have to master it, but he was also genuinely interested in the ability itself. He believed that if he could use it skillfully, his strength would be further enhanced.
And so, the morning passed with both of them completely absorbed in the experiment.
Perhaps it was because of Kyosuke's assistance, but the experiment, which was not easy by any means, was declared a success after just a few attempts.
All that remained was some continuous optimization, but that wouldn't stop them from performing the modification on themselves.
Three days later...
Kyosuke sat on the stone bed in the chamber, looking at a bottle of water on the table opposite him. With a slight circulation of chakra, his arm suddenly stretched out, grabbing the cup from five meters away.
When he brought the cup to his face, he saw that the water inside was still perfectly calm, without a single ripple.
With a smile, he drank the water in one gulp, then got up and left the stone chamber to test its effects in combat.
After an afternoon of repeated trials, he finally confirmed that the modification was a complete success.
With his new Soft Physique, combined with his Sharingan, he now possessed the strength to face an average Chunin head-on in a taijutsu battle.
Although the system still rated him as a "Genin," his actual combat power had reached the Chunin level. Unfortunately, due to the limitations of his physical attributes, he wasn't at the top tier of Chunin, but he was already quite formidable compared to many ordinary Chunin.
At least, among his peers, besides the current Kakashi, he feared no one.
With less than a month until the New Year, a major event occurred within the Uchiha clan.
The current Uchiha clan head announced his abdication, citing poor health.
Instantly, the atmosphere within the entire Uchiha clan became tense.
Countless individuals eligible to run for clan head began to eagerly prepare. The doorsteps of the several elders were nearly worn down by the elite Jounin visiting them over the next few days.
Although the clan was currently under the autocratic rule of the four elders, the allure of the clan head position was not to be underestimated.
According to the original story's plot, Fugaku would eventually win this election. However, the original story didn't describe this period, so Kyosuke had no idea what had happened.
But whether for personal feelings or for his own benefit, supporting Fugaku's rise to power was the best choice for Kyosuke.
So, just as the clan members were embroiled in discussion, Kyosuke, bearing the title of "The Uchiha's Strongest Genius," suddenly and publicly announced his support for Uchiha Fugaku.
His move immediately caused a huge stir within the clan.
Even though Kyosuke was only five years old, many clan members saw him as the key to the Uchiha's future revival. His endorsement made many of the previously undecided high-ranking members start to pay attention to Fugaku.
Originally, although Fugaku held the important position of Captain of the Military Police Force, everyone knew he was merely a puppet of the Second Elder. He had no real decision-making power, and due to his personality, many of the higher-ups knew little about him.
But after paying attention to him, they discovered that Fugaku was an excellent choice in terms of both skill and strength. He was a cut above the other candidates. And so, they began to support him.
For many days, Fugaku was swamped with activity.
But even in his busy schedule, Fugaku still took the time to personally thank Kyosuke and invite him to his home for dinner.
Kyosuke happily accepted and, with a sense of curiosity, went to his house.
He had hoped to meet Uchiha Mikoto, who had made few appearances in the original story. But when he entered Fugaku's home, something that filled him with dread occurred.
There was indeed a young woman preparing dinner in the house, but she was not Uchiha Mikoto.
At first, Kyosuke held onto a sliver of hope, thinking she might be a cousin or something similar.
But Fugaku's loving embrace of her told him otherwise. This was undoubtedly his girlfriend.
Not long ago, Kyosuke had been worried about what would happen if Naruto and Sasuke's growth didn't go smoothly.
But now, he didn't have to worry anymore.
Damn it, Fugaku had completely erased Itachi and Sasuke from existence.
What on earth did I do to cause such a huge change in the plot? Kyosuke thought, his head hung low in despair. Even the rather lavish dinner before him couldn't capture his attention.
Fugaku and the young woman, whose name was Uchiha Chiko, sat opposite him. Seeing his state, they exchanged a confused look.
"Kyosuke-kun, is my cooking not to your liking? What do you like to eat? I'll go prepare it," Chiko said softly, her face blushing as she looked at the dejected Kyosuke.
Fugaku also nodded and gestured for Chiko to see what other ingredients they had at home, suggesting they could cook a new meal if needed.
Hearing her words, Kyosuke finally snapped out of it, realizing that his gloomy mood had been misunderstood.
He quickly waved his hands, explaining that he had just remembered something and that it wasn't because he disliked her cooking.
With a sigh of relief from Chiko, the dinner party officially began.