Yuichi left without saying a word.
For Sasuke, that silence only made his anger burn hotter.
He had been completely ignored—by a civilian ninja.
The proud Uchiha, heir to one of Konoha's two great bloodline legacies, had been despised by a mere commoner.
How could Sasuke possibly accept that?
Now that he was the last Uchiha, he bore the pride of the entire clan. No one was allowed to trample on it.
"I… I'll crush you next time! I swear it!"
Not long after Yuichi left, the Third Hokage watched Mizuki escort Naruto away, before returning to his office.
'Naruto has been arranged for… now it's time to check on Sasuke.'
Through his crystal ball, the old Hokage searched.
What he saw made him frown—Sasuke was lying beneath a tree, drenched from head to toe, surrounded by shallow puddles and uneven craters of water.
"This… what happened here?"
Not only was Sasuke soaked and clearly injured, but the river nearby had been strangely drained, leaving only a thin stream where once it had flowed wide and strong.
The Hokage narrowed his eyes.
'These aren't training injuries. Sasuke usually practices with kunai, taijutsu, or Fire Style… and this damage, this landscape—it's clearly the work of a Water Style user.'
A "Water Style ninja."
That alone was surprising enough. But even more so—the last Uchiha had been completely defeated.
Just the remaining traces of water around the battlefield were proof enough. Whoever his opponent was, they had overwhelmed Sasuke with ease.
'But who could it have been?'
The Hokage thought carefully. There was no chance that any active Konoha shinobi would suddenly attack Sasuke. Which meant…
"It must have been one of his peers…"
He stroked his beard, his gaze heavy.
Sasuke would not let this loss go. Of that, Hiruzen was certain. The boy carried too much pride and too much hatred to back down. He would train even harder and seek out the opponent again, desperate to prove himself.
The Hokage found himself curious.
'Among this year's graduates… is there a hidden gem?'
Meanwhile, Yuichi was moving swiftly through the forest, the wind biting at his clothes. He had found the perfect place to train.
As he leapt from branch to branch, he exhaled sharply, deep in thought.
His chakra never weakened—yet his body still tired. Physical strength couldn't be ignored.
"I can't neglect taijutsu… I'll need to find a way to train my body."
Ninjutsu was easy—his infinite chakra ensured that endless repetition would sharpen his skills. But physical ability wasn't so simple.
Perhaps Shadow Clones could help…?
Still, now wasn't the time. Tonight, Naruto would steal the Forbidden Scroll. Yuichi had no intention of interfering with that mess.
Instead, he pressed onward, his mind also lingering on the "character development system."
It was almost like a strategy game: up to three people could be chosen to build relationships with—friend, enemy, or lover. Each path had stages, each stage granting rewards.
Today, he had already triggered two development choices with Sasuke. Whether their relationship grew closer or worse would depend on tomorrow.
As he pondered, Yuichi finally halted.
A gust of wind swept past him as he looked out over a vast forest. The sun pierced through scattered clouds above, painting the Valley of the End in golden light.
Two towering statues loomed before him—Senju Hashirama and Uchiha Madara, locked in eternal battle.
Just as Yuichi was about to resume training, the system interface appeared.
[Detection: Host has arrived at a special location — The Valley of the End.]
Yuichi's eyes widened.
"...A special location?"
[Please choose:]
Pay homage to the statue of Senju Hashirama → Unlock inheritance of Hashirama's abilities. Reward: First Stage Wood Style.
Pay homage to the statue of Uchiha Madara → Unlock inheritance of Madara's abilities. Reward: First Stage Sharingan.
Do nothing → Reward: Random Tailed Beast Chakra.
Yuichi's breath caught.
Wood Style, Sharingan, or Tailed Beast Chakra…
The last option was worthless to him. His chakra was already infinite—he had no need for a tailed beast's reserves.
Sharingan, however, was dangerous. Its potential was limitless, evolving toward Mangekyō and even Susanoo.
But with infinite chakra, the power of Wood Style was far from ordinary.
Yuichi clenched his fist, his decision made.
"I choose… one!"
[Host pays homage to the statue of Senju Hashirama.]
[Ability inheritance unlocked. Reward: Wood Style, First Stage.]
[Fusion successful.]
[Generating Character Panel…]