The system revealed it during a routine academy spar.
Kaen had been matched against a senior student — not famous, just competent.
The fight lasted less than a minute.
Kaen moved simply:
Minimal motion.
Precise timing.
No visible Haki.
No Sharingan activation.
Just efficient combat.
When the instructor called the match, the system notification appeared silently.
[System Notice]
• Defeating opponents yields system points.
• Lethal combat yields significantly higher points.
• Scaling based on opponent strength.
Kaen absorbed the information without reacting.
Useful.
Potentially dangerous.
Because motivation influenced behavior.
And Kaen refused to let the system dictate his morality.
Still…
Points meant options.
And one option immediately caught his attention in the shop:
Ultra Instinct Mastery — 20,000 Points
Not something he'd rush toward.
But definitely something worth preparing for.
Over the following weeks, academy practice matches increased.
War rumors accelerated training schedules.
Students sparred more seriously now.
Kaen adapted accordingly.
He didn't crush opponents dramatically.
Instead:
Clean victories.
Minimal force.
No obvious special techniques.
Just enough skill to win consistently.
Teachers labeled him "reliable."
Peers considered him "quiet but solid."
Exactly the reputation he wanted.
Eventually, he faced the academy celebrities.
Not formally announced.
Just rotating sparring schedules.
First: Jiraiya.
Energetic attacks. Creative but slightly reckless. Kaen redirected momentum instead of overpowering him.
Victory — controlled.
Jiraiya laughed afterward.
"Man, you're sneakily good!"
No suspicion.
Just respect.
Next: Tsunade.
More challenging.
Excellent control, strong instincts.
Kaen relied heavily on Observation Haki timing while suppressing its signature.
A narrow win.
She studied him afterward thoughtfully.
Not suspicious.
Just intrigued.
Then Orochimaru.
This one required care.
Very careful.
Orochimaru observed as much as he fought.
Kaen deliberately extended the match:
Technical exchanges. Defensive maneuvers. Gradual advantage.
Finally, a subtle opening.
Victory declared.
Orochimaru smiled slightly.
"Interesting control," he said.
Not praise.
Not accusation.
Analysis.
Kaen simply nodded.
Low key maintained.
System points accumulated steadily after each match.
Not explosive growth.
But consistent.
Sustainable.
Ethically acceptable — because academy fights were non-lethal.
Kaen had no intention of seeking real combat just for points.
War, if it came, would be unavoidable anyway.
No need to rush toward it.
Hitomi noticed his growing win record.
"You're improving fast."
"Everyone is," Kaen replied.
Partly true.
Mostly deflection.
She didn't press.
Trust again.
Always grounding.
Politically, academy atmosphere shifted further.
Emergency drills introduced.
Survival lectures intensified.
Clan representatives occasionally observed training.
Preparation phase unmistakable now.
Kaen treated each spar as both:
Skill refinement.
Point accumulation.
Without ego.
Without exposure.
Late one evening, reviewing his updated system total, Kaen calculated quietly:
Still far from Ultra Instinct mastery.
But reachable.
Eventually.
And when that time came…
He'd decide carefully whether to claim it.
Because ultimate power meant ultimate attention.
And attention remained the one thing Kaen avoided most.
As he closed his eyes to rest, one thought settled calmly:
Winning wasn't about proving superiority.
It was about building options.
And Kaen intended to have more options than anyone expected.