The moment chakra surged within Uchiha Gen, the birds perched above him suddenly took fright, scattering into the sky.
At the same time, a striped venomous snake, which had been lurking in the grass and stalking the birds, slithered silently onto a nearby stone. But before it could strike, it was blasted away by the sudden burst of chakra pressure.
A brilliant, flame-like aura erupted around Uchiha Gen, and waves of compressed air rippled outward in pulses, shaking the clearing. The ground beneath him cracked under the invisible force, spiderweb fissures spreading across the stone.
After some time, the powerful airflow surrounding him—expanding and contracting like the rhythm of breathing—suddenly stilled.
The fiery aura collapsed inward, drawn back into his body. A faint golden mark shimmered on his glabella, the center of his forehead.
The mark made Uchiha Gen's expression sharp and imposing. He radiated an aura that was both sacred and intimidating, as if touched by a deeper mystery.
The human body had 361 recognized chakra points, with the forehead mark—where spirit and will converged—considered one of the most vital. In some secret traditions, this was known as the Ancestral Aperture.
After years of cultivating his mind and soul with the forbidden technique Sage Art: Ultimate Evolution, Gen had finally opened a spiritual domain within his Ancestral Aperture: the Sea of Consciousness.
Two golden rays flickered in his eyes as he opened them, the forehead mark slowly fading away.
Within that inner space, he perceived a glowing pool—his Sea of Consciousness. In it, chakra did not simply circulate through his body; it flowed like countless rivers of light through his meridians, all converging at the glabella before gathering into the golden pool.
When Gen first noticed the mark on his forehead, he had immediately thought of Princess Tsunade's Strength of a Hundred Seal. That technique also focused on building chakra at the forehead through years of precise control.
So it's true… the Strength of a Hundred Seal must also rely on cultivating this spiritual aperture.
He reflected on what he had learned:
"The essence of chakra is vital energy. Refining chakra squeezes life force itself—that's why shinobi die when they burn it all away.
That's also why most clans forbid children from molding chakra too early; doing so can damage their growth unless special medicines or training methods are used."
But his path was different.
"The shinobi system is built on bloodline limits and ninjutsu formulas. My Immortal Arts cultivate by continuously absorbing natural energy until a qualitative change occurs.
Ordinary shinobi must eat heavily after training to recover vitality—but my body replenishes itself naturally.
For me, refining chakra is the same as refining natural energy. The more my body adapts, the more efficient I become."
He compared shinobi to ore.
"Most are like lumps of rock—some richer, some poorer in fuel. How much chakra they can extract is set from birth.
But I am different. I can refine myself endlessly, making my chakra denser, purer… until, in the end, I transform. From ordinary stone into something like uranium—power enough to reshape heaven and earth."
Gen rose from the stone and prepared to resume his daily Seiken Zuki striking drills. Before leaving, he picked up the snake's corpse. Its body was shredded and charred—proof of how his chakra pressure had torn and burned it apart.
In the following days, his training became a routine: refine chakra, then practice Seiken Zuki, repeating tirelessly.
As promised by their bet, Uchiha Eiji delivered a C-rank ninjutsu scroll—Fire Release: Flame Bullet. But unlike before, he didn't challenge Gen again. Even so, Gen could see it in his eyes: defiance and battle intent simmered within him. The third challenge would come sooner or later.
The simpler a ninjutsu, the easier it was to dissect. By studying lesser fire techniques, Gen had already grasped the basics of how chakra form and nature were manipulated. Now, with Flame Bullet, he could push that understanding further.
Time passed swiftly. The village's reconstruction neared completion, and the Ninja Academy reopened.
On the first day, the entrance bustled with noise. Parents led their children toward the gates, while clans gathered in groups.
Gen arrived alone, his dark eyes calmly observing.
The Hyūga, with their pale, featureless eyes.
The Inuzuka, their canine companions growling at their sides.
The towering Akimichi, eating even as they walked.
And the Aburame, their sunglasses concealing faces, faint swarms of insects hidden beneath their cloaks.
But as he studied others, he felt the stares. Whispers spread along the road like smoke:
"Did you hear? On the night of the Nine-Tails' attack, the Military Police Force didn't move at all."
"Yeah. Those arrogant Uchiha were nowhere to be seen when it mattered most."
"That's why the Hokage pushed their compound to the edge of the village—it's punishment."
"If you ask me, they should've been disbanded outright."
"The Uchiha aren't fit to guard anyone. They're all pride and no loyalty."
"Hmph. The clan should compensate the village for the damage caused that night."
The voices weren't loud, but every word reached Gen's ears.
He clenched his fists silently, walking forward beneath the weight of rumor.
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