"Yeah, because I'm bored, that's all."
Uchiha Seiji replied carelessly. "Right now, I can manage two at the same time. The third one is still brewing… who knows when it'll stabilize."
Her idea was simple: raise her chakra control as much as possible. After all, that had to be useful… probably.
As for Lightning Release Rasengan, Water Release Rasengan, and other variations? She couldn't be bothered. In another two years, she figured she'd be able to exchange for Kaguya's bloodline anyway. Once she awakened that, developing bloodline abilities would be plenty. Why waste time exhausting herself now?
Too much effort.
"Hah… ha ha… I see," Masaku chuckled awkwardly. "So, does this jutsu of yours have a name?"
"A name… hmm…"
Seiji studied the technique balanced on her fingers, pretending to think deeply. "It's round, like a dumpling, spinning all the while… let's call it Rasengan."
"You… didn't you just make that up on the spot?"
"Of course. At first, I was only using it as a way to practice chakra control. But now that you mention it, it could actually be used as an attack… hmm… maybe I should test if I can throw it?"
As she spoke, Seiji flicked her wrist, sending two small Rasengan flying. They drilled into a nearby tree, leaving neat little holes.
Then she formed two more and tossed them again.
"Hmm… range is about twenty meters for now. I should be able to extend it farther in the future."
"…Is that so."
For the first time, Masaku felt something he had never known before: envy.
Such talent. She had casually created a jutsu—one that, in his eyes, was already powerful—while treating it as nothing more than child's play.
That kind of gift…
Perhaps it was precisely because of such overwhelming talent that she cared so little about training. When one could create jutsu so easily, things that were vital treasures to others became trivial.
Masaku thought quietly to himself: This must be what people mean when they say every blessing comes with its curse.
Bang—
At that moment, a soft sound rang out. Seiji's shadow clone, the one sparring against Kakashi, dissipated from chakra exhaustion.
"All right, that's enough for today. Kakashi, get some rest early. Tomorrow's the entrance exam for the Academy."
"…Got it."
Kakashi nodded, suppressing the surge of excitement from what he considered his "first victory." But once he remembered it had only been against a shadow clone, he steadied himself, made up his mind again, gave Seiji a quick farewell, and left.
"…What a rude little brat."
Seiji pouted as she watched him go.
"Haha, enough of that. By the way, aren't you going to rest as well? If I recall correctly, you're supposed to check in at the Academy tomorrow too, right?"
"That's right, but there's no strict time. As long as I show up sometime tomorrow and tell them I'll still be attending the Academy this year, that's enough. Actually, it should be possible for someone else to handle the registration. You'll be going with Kakashi tomorrow, right? Then I'll leave the sign-up to you."
With a casual wave, Seiji left as well. After all, night had already fallen.
"…Yeah, yeah," Masaku muttered, scratching his head.
Originally, Konoha's White Fang had planned to let Seiji mingle with other children. But in the end…
"As expected… geniuses always carry their own pride. She refuses to lower herself to play with ordinary kids."
If Seiji had heard Masaku's words, she would have flatly denied them. It wasn't pride that kept her away—it was laziness. Why waste time with a bunch of extras who didn't even matter to the story? And if she got attached to them, what then?
When they died someday, would she help them? If she didn't, even the shallowest bond would sting. But if she did, they'd just become burdens. Why create unnecessary attachments?
As for Hatake Masaku… a man fated to die soon—how should she deal with him?
Should she save him… or not?
Seiji still hadn't decided.