The noise in the courtyard finally woke their mother, who had dozed off in the living room while waiting for her sons.
Mikoto hurried out, and the moment she saw the two boys, her eyes instantly reddened.
She covered her mouth with one hand, tears already welling up.
But then—
When she noticed their hair sticking straight up toward the sky, she couldn't help herself.
"Pfft—"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA—!"
"Did you two go outside to get new hairstyles for school tomorrow?"
Leaning against the doorframe, Mikoto laughed so hard she nearly doubled over. Tears streamed down her face—whether from worry or laughter, even she couldn't tell.
Sasuke had originally wanted to share his joy of becoming stronger, but the moment he heard his mother laughing, he subconsciously reached up and touched his hair.
Instantly, he turned as red as a freshly boiled shrimp.
Embarrassed beyond belief, he curled himself into a ball.
Ryan, unlike his pride-obsessed little brother, smiled openly when he saw their mother like this. He even casually ran a hand through his own hair.
"Well? What do you think, Mom?"
"Sasuke dragged me out to get this super trendy perm."
"I DID NOT!!"
Sasuke exploded on the spot.
Ryan's exaggerated gestures, his tone, and Sasuke's furious reaction were simply too much—Mikoto burst into laughter again, slapping the floor as she laughed.
If her earlier laughter had been to cover her worry, this time she was genuinely, wholeheartedly amused by her sons.
"It looks great—HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Ryan was never like Sasuke, always holding onto pride and an overdeveloped sense of dignity.
To him, being able to make his mother laugh was something precious. As for embarrassment? He didn't really care.
No matter how embarrassing it was, it was still better than being a clown outside—
At home, your mother only worries about you.
Outside, people really do treat you like a joke.
Infected by her laughter, Ryan laughed along with her.
Even Sasuke—who cared deeply about his image—found the corners of his mouth creeping upward.
After reassuring their worried mother, Ryan took Sasuke to the bathroom to wash up.
By the time they returned to their room, it was already the latter half of the night.
Yet neither of them felt sleepy at all.
Ryan sat on the futon and lowered his voice as he asked about what had happened earlier.
"So… what was that electric discharge just now?"
Sasuke had clearly been waiting for this question. The moment he heard it, he lifted his chin so high it nearly bent backward, his grin wider than an AK's recoil.
"Since you, as my dear younger brother, have sincerely asked—then I, as your older brother—"
Bang.
Ryan's fist landed on Sasuke's head first, instantly raising a bump. Sasuke yelped and clutched his head, immediately knocked out of his smug state.
"Ryan! Are you sick?!"
"Why are you hitting me while I'm talking?!"
Sasuke rubbed the spot hard. It really hurt—so much that tears nearly came out.
"Get to the point."
Ryan crossed his arms, his face completely expressionless.
If Sasuke dared keep posturing in front of him, Ryan didn't mind beating him down again.
Thinking of what he'd just witnessed outside, Ryan added a reminder.
"And also… talk properly. Don't strike that 'pooping' pose again while yelling."
"Mom's already asleep."
Sasuke's so-called Super Saiyan mode had honestly been hard for Ryan to endure.
Combined with the looming night of the Uchiha massacre, Ryan seriously felt that if Sasuke yelled like that a few more times, he might end up offering himself as a sacrifice.
Bad luck.
And extremely abstract.
Hearing his supposedly cool technique described as pooping, Sasuke got so angry he almost shouted—then remembered their mother and immediately lowered his voice.
"W-What do you mean 'pooping'?!"
"That's my new jutsu!"
Ryan slightly raised his chin, signaling him to demonstrate.
Go on. Let me see what you've really learned.
"Watch carefully."
Feeling Ryan's expectation, Sasuke kicked off the blanket and got out of bed, once again assuming that infamous pooping stance.
This time, though, he didn't shout—just quietly muttered "hnnng, hnnng."
Sasuke sank into a horse stance, his little face turning bright red, while Ryan observed from the side.
However—
Ten minutes passed.
Sasuke remained frozen in the exact same position.
During that time, Sasuke scratched his back six times and killed three mosquitoes.
Meanwhile, Ryan yawned three times, stretched twice, and fought a desperate battle against drowsiness.
"Are you done yet?"
Ryan was losing patience. It was already 4 a.m. In just a few hours, they'd have to wake up early to report to the academy.
This body might be stronger than his previous life's, but he was still a six-year-old—no way could he pull off all-night cultivation like before.
"Don't rush, don't rush… almost there."
"That's the seventh time you've said that!!"
Ryan finally gave up. Rolling his eyes, he flopped onto the bed and prepared to close his eyes—
When he suddenly heard a faint sound.
Zzz—
Electricity?!
Ryan shot upright.
Blue arcs of electricity were flickering around Sasuke's body.
There weren't many—about three strands, as thin as hair—snaking up and down his frame.
Sasuke was the first to notice the change. Seeing the surprise on Ryan's face, it felt like sweet revenge. His whole body felt smoother than when he'd been electrocuted earlier.
Mimicking Ryan's usual expression, Sasuke struck a cold, cool pose and shouted proudly:
"Ryan. Speak."
But his triumph didn't last long.
As soon as the words left his mouth, the flickering arcs vanished—
As if they had never existed at all.
Ryan's evaluation was short, but decisive.
He'd thought Sasuke had truly grasped something powerful—something on par with the electric arcs from the utility pole.
Turns out—
I waited half the night for this?
Ryan rolled over and went straight back to sleep, pulling the blanket over his head, completely unwilling to talk to this idiot anymore.
"Hey! Wait!"
"Ryan, that one didn't count!"
"Wake up first!"
After years together, Sasuke immediately recognized that Ryan's reaction was pure mockery. He hurried to explain.
Of course, to Ryan, it sounded exactly like bad teammates saying 'lag spike' or 'my mouse broke'.
And besides—
Even if Sasuke really could produce electric arcs, the ability was ridiculously weak. He might as well just wait and learn properly from Kakashi later.
"Alright, alright, I got it."
"I believe you. Go to sleep."
The extremely perfunctory response drifted out from under the blanket.
To Sasuke, it was unbearable.
"I'm just out of electricity right now! As long as I do it again, my Lightning chakra will recharge!"
He grabbed the blanket while explaining.
Ryan turned his back in response.
Again?
This idiot really wanted to train under utility poles every day?
Sasuke was completely furious now.
He turned around, went to the corner, picked up the hair dryer he'd used earlier, and with a tug—
Pulled out the power cord.
Dragging the plug along the floor, he walked straight toward the outlet.
...
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