Uchiha Yoru choosing to go solo only made the administrative ninja pause for a moment, then he moved on.
Not strange.
There were plenty of lone wolves in Konoha. Especially among jōnin—many preferred working alone.
Ninjutsu had been around for over a thousand years. After two wars and countless deaths, the system for low- and mid-level techniques was already mature.
Genin and most chūnin couldn't build a complete combat system on their own, so squads became the standard. Cover weaknesses, amplify strengths. A good team could crush opponents of the same level, even challenge stronger ones.
That's why the village system completely outclassed clan-based organization.
But once you reached jōnin—
Everything changed.
High-level jutsu were still evolving. New ones appeared every year. Every few years, someone would shake the entire system.
Tobirama Senju was the clearest example. Most of the forbidden techniques in Konoha came from him.
And after he died—
No one could organize that level of power anymore.
High-level jutsu had no standard. Everyone developed differently. Trying to cooperate was more trouble than it was worth.
For strong shinobi, going solo was simply easier.
Years later, when Hiruzen Sarutobi tried to build momentum for Minato Namikaze, he assigned jōnin to assist him.
Didn't work.
No one could keep up with Minato.
In the end, he fought alone. Killed fifty Iwagakure ninja in an instant.
Impressive.
Also stupid.
No teammates meant no shared merit.
As Hokage, he only had one real subordinate. Easy to sideline. Easy to hollow out.
On the battlefield, he had no one to share gains with.
In the village, no one had a reason to stand with him.
Simple.
No benefits, no loyalty.
So the admin ninja didn't think much of Yoru's choice. Just recorded "no squad" and moved on.
Soon, everything wrapped up. The newly promoted chūnin scattered.
Yoru slipped out quietly.
Didn't go home.
Just walked.
Slow, casual steps.
Testing the range of his All-Knowing Mind's Eye… and feeling the changes after suppressing the mind-ape.
That thing wasn't real.
But it affected everything.
Now the giant ape had been beaten down into a trembling little monkey… and what it left behind—
Was real.
His heart meridian had strengthened.
Bone marrow makes blood—that's what normal people say.
But in cultivation?
The heart is the root.
Stronger heart → stronger vitality.
Stronger vitality → smoother meridians.
Smoother meridians → stronger everything.
And this wasn't just theory.
He could feel it.
Bones. Muscles. Chakra.
All rising.
And then—
His eyes.
A strange feeling.
Swelling… and coolness… at the same time.
Just like—
That day.
When his Sharingan went from two tomoe to three.
Back then, the change was drowned out. His whole body had been transforming.
Now—
He could clearly feel it.
This was a good sign.
The Uchiha's bloodline was infamous for a reason. Once the Sharingan awakened, fighting them became a nightmare.
Yoru's thoughts drifted.
Could it be… Mangekyō?
Eighteen-year-old Mangekyō.
That would be ridiculous.
…
No.
He shut it down immediately.
First—too weak.
The sensation wasn't strong enough. Not even close to that kind of leap.
Second—
Power isn't always a good thing.
If you can't carry it, it crushes you.
Kakashi Hatake was proof. A genius… dragged down by a single eye.
And the Uchiha?
Obito Uchiha.
Itachi Uchiha.
Both awakened early.
Both paid the price.
One survived on a borrowed body.
The other burned himself out.
Yoru knew where he stood.
His current body—foundation stage—
Not enough.
If Mangekyō awakened now, it wouldn't be a power-up.
It would be a burden.
Three tomoe was more than enough for a chūnin.
No need to reach higher.
…
Lost in thought, he kept walking.
Didn't notice the crowd thinning.
Didn't notice his surroundings slipping out of focus.
Normally, not a problem.
Konoha was safe.
No Root watching him right now.
Even if distracted, his body could avoid civilians on instinct.
But—
A shinobi running at full speed?
Different story.
Just as he crossed the market and stepped into the Uchiha district—
A figure slammed straight into him.
Hard.
His abdomen took the hit. Breath almost cut off.
His mind snapped back instantly.
Hands moved before thought—
Senbon.
Kunai.
Defense ready.
Then he saw who it was.
Weapons lowered.
And—
His hand swung out.
Smack.
A clean hit to the head.
…
Yoru paused.
…Why did my hand move on its own?
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