As one of Konoha's most prestigious clans, the Uchiha possessed substantial economic resources. The medicinal baths required for training and daily meals were plentiful. These baths, filled with herbal concoctions, allowed rapid physical recovery after intense exertion, ensuring training could continue uninterrupted the next day.
Due to the "wide net" approach in training, the herbs themselves weren't expensive, but the formulas were closely guarded secrets. Even Uchiha Tsukiki and the others weren't privy to them. However, Konoha Hospital held numerous secret formulations. Patients could purchase the prescriptions for a fee, but they had to sign confidentiality agreements to prevent large-scale leaks. Moreover, the herbs had to be bought exclusively from the hospital. While not overly costly, this monopoly allowed the hospital to funnel funds into its development—often at the expense of civilian ninjas. Over time, only the major clans retained such resources, while smaller clans lost their foundational advantages.
Since joining the clan's training program, Tsukiki had persevered through all conditions. While the Ninja Academy had holidays, he and his peers had none—every day was packed with relentless training.
Time passed in this grueling routine. Jonin meetings grew increasingly frequent. From Uchiha Fuhei's occasional slips of tongue, it was clear war was brewing again. Border skirmishes were constant, and the tension was palpable.
But this had little to do with Tsukiki yet. The war wouldn't reach him immediately. Rather than worrying about others, he focused on his own future. If the war dragged on, even cannon fodder like him might soon be thrown into battle.
So Tsukiki poured all his energy into training. As he grew older, his height surpassed his peers, making him stand out like a crane among chickens. Those who once outperformed him were now left behind.
His Uchiha throwing skills improved dramatically. Techniques that once seemed fantastical were now effortless for him. Of course, his clansmen also progressed noticeably. With the unexpected outbreak of war, Uchiha Fuhei seemed spurred into a frenzy, subjecting them to brutal training.
The Uchiha clan spared no expense in increasing training resources. Still influenced by their Warring States era mentality, they habitually bolstered their strength at any cost when war erupted. This time, however, they faced significant resistance. While the measure barely passed, most jonin opposed the "wide net" approach as wasteful. The older survivors knew this would be the last time.
Tsukiki eventually became the strongest among his几十 (dozens) of peers—top in taijutsu, kenjutsu, and throwing techniques. He earned this through relentless, brutal sparring.
As war broke out, Fuhei's methods grew rougher. Live explosives, sharpened kunai, shuriken, and short swords were used in training. Sparring turned bloody, and injuries were common. Thankfully, Fuhei intervened before fatal blows were struck.
Under this harsh but stimulating regimen, they learned the three basic jutsu, trap-making, and ninjutsu. Fuhei taught everything he could—whether they mastered or applied it was up to them.
The oppressive environment would strain even adults, let alone a group of reserve ninjas. Stimulated by the pressure, some clansmen began showing signs of instability, but their skills advanced rapidly, and their combat styles diversified.
Every technique Fuhei taught was eventually mastered by someone, then spread like dominoes. How? By learning through repeated failures.
Daily one-on-one sparring and monthly free-for-alls were mandatory. The monthly brawls were Tsukiki's least favorite—as the strongest, he became the primary target.
The first time, he suffered badly. Though he took a few down with him, he was ultimately eliminated, left covered in wounds. Without a medical ninja's intervention to prevent scarring, he'd have wanted to get up and fight again.
Despite the brutal training, no one died—Fuhei always intervened perfectly, highlighting the vast gap between them.
Most Uchiha had fire and lightning attributes, some with wind or earth. Tsukiki had fire, lightning, and wind. Fuhei taught only one fire jutsu: the Great Fireball Technique.
Perhaps due to average ninjutsu talent, Tsukiki took longer to learn it. During group fights, he endured barrages of this often-missed jutsu. Though weak, it was frustrating.
In close combat, only one clansman who'd initially beaten him remained a challenge. Others were no match for his kenjutsu skills.
Yet, in every free-for-all, Tsukiki never lasted to the end. While he improved, so did others—traps, clones, wire-guided shuriken—giving him a premature taste of battlefield chaos.
They were all taught by the same master with similar talent—that's why they were grouped together. Beyond that, it came down to individual effort and innate skill.
One day, two clansmen, overwhelmed by Tsukiki's intensity, showed signs of awakening the Sharingan. Their power surged. Though battered and staggering, Tsukiki barely lasted to the end—his first time winning the monthly brawl.
Winners received a D-rank jutsu as a reward, often leading to significant growth—though some couldn't learn it.
The two clansmen's breakthrough greatly enhanced their abilities. Had they not exhausted most of their chakra and sustained injuries, Tsukiki wouldn't have won. For Fuhei, this was a windfall. He hastily gave Tsukiki a scroll on using lightning release to stimulate cells and enhance physical strength, then rushed the twins—Uchiha Homura and Uchiha En—to Konoha Hospital for Sharingan awakening signs.
Left behind, Tsukiki was treated by a clan medical ninja. Among bloodline clans, Sharingan awakening often had precursors, like increased chakra. These signs guaranteed future awakening.
Disappointed? No—he'd accepted reality. Feeling down was natural, given the preferential treatment, but awakening the Sharingan was incredibly difficult. Within the Uchiha, those who awakened it held higher status.
Tsukiki quickly adjusted. With Fuhei gone and after intense combat, he and the others were exhausted. While envious of the twins, they could only encourage themselves that they too would awaken the Sharingan.
Regardless of others' thoughts, once healed, Tsukiki left immediately. Since becoming the group's target, no one wanted to interact with him—how could they, after just ganging up on him?
Over the past two years, his social circle had shrunk. After he left, the others dispersed—with Fuhei gone, why stay?
After Tsukiki's batch, the Uchiha trained three more groups of branch family descendants before stopping. Rumor had it the clan shifted all resources to the battlefield, ending unified training.
With Konoha caught between two great nations in the Second Great Ninja War, ninja numbers dwindled. Clan-led forces were insufficient, so many academy students graduated early and were sent to battle.
Though the academy kept enrolling, most students were civilians, especially those with no background. Those from clans like Tsukiki were prioritized last.
With limited spots, most were trained by their clans. Ironically, core descendants of major clans still occupied academy seats, squeezing out others.
When Tsukiki's group came of age, slots were full, so Fuhei continued training them. For years, despite the war expanding enrollment, they never got in.
As the war intensified and Konoha's forces dwindled, many students graduated early and became cannon fodder. Still short-handed, the Third Hokage turned to clan-trained ninjas.
The Uchiha didn't oppose war but resisted sending weak genin as expendable units. They believed they could win alone, but other clans agreed, so the Uchiha couldn't stand apart.
Thus, many Uchiha branch family members were sent to the front as genin cannon fodder. But their strength was underestimated—the Uchiha were powerful, branch members included.
They became key pillars on two fronts, making the Sharingan a nightmare for enemies. Whether branch or core, their battlefield performance was exceptional. A saying spread: "Against an Uchiha with Sharingan—especially three tomoe—flee one-on-one. For two, one distracts frontally, one flanks—never look directly into their eyes."
What few knew was that the Uchiha's Warring States dominance wasn't just due to the Sharingan. Their powerful fire releases, balanced nin-taigen, and unparalleled throwing skills made them formidable.
Even among cannon fodder, Uchiha branch members shone brightly. Those who'd slacked in the academy fell short, but those rigorously trained by the clan performed solidly—though losses were heavy.