“This technique is truly miraculous.
Unlike normal chakra, which is extracted from the physical and spiritual energy produced by the body’s 130 trillion cells, this utilizes natural energy from the surroundings.
In the language of martial arts novels, you’d call it ‘Qi’.” “Does this mean…
this is essentially an alternative version of Sage Mode?” “And it’s a version I can store within my own body, ready to draw upon at any time.” “The higher the realm of the technique, the purer and more vast the stored natural energy becomes.
Unlike Naruto or Jiraiya, who have to gather natural energy on the spot, I don’t have that limitation.
Furthermore, the Tiangang Art possesses traits that standard Sage Mode lacks: once practiced to a high level, it grants a teleportation-like ‘Flash’ ability, a protective Qi shield, and a repertoire of devastating combat moves.” Chiya marveled at the realization.
He had hit the jackpot.
Not only did he possess Aizen’s Zanpakutō, capable of perfect hypnosis, but he could also enter Sage Mode through cultivation, and eventually master the techniques of the Tiangang Art.
His strength would undoubtedly skyrocket in a short time.
Once that happened, he would have a degree of self-preservation.
It felt great.
But for now, he had to keep a low profile.
He absolutely could not let the “Konoha F4” know, or he’d end up on Danzo’s operating table as a lab rat.
For the time being, he would continue to live as an ordinary ninja-in-training.
Time flew, and before he knew it, the Ninja Academy’s opening day had arrived.
To make up for the combat power lost on the Night of the Nine-Tails, the Academy had begun recruiting on a massive scale.
Any child of age could apply, and after a review process, they would be issued an admission notice.
As the child of a fallen ninja, Fujiwara Chiya naturally received his.
He couldn’t help but feel a flicker of excitement.
The Ninja Academy was where one learned the fundamentals of shinobi skills.
With his system, he was guaranteed to achieve great power, but he still needed to learn how to apply it.
Essential knowledge was non-negotiable.
He didn’t want to end up like Kaguya—possessing the power to rule the world, but with the combat IQ of a toddler.
As if to double the good fortune, today was also his sixth birthday.
His cultivation of the Tiangang Art had finally made some progress, reaching the first level.
In an instant, Chiya’s perception soared.
He could feel the bustle of the streets, the young Naruto being mistreated by his babysitters, Kakashi standing decadently before Obito’s grave, and Danzo arguing with the Third Hokage over who would take custody of Naruto.
“Is this the first level of the Tiangang Art?
And this sensory ability…
my hunch was right.
Once the technique reaches the first level, simply circulating the energy allows me to enter what this world calls ‘Sage Mode’.” A smug look crossed his face.
He experimented with Kyōka Suigetsu next, and to his surprise, he found that while in Sage Mode, he could maintain its release for an entire day.
Of course, he had to be careful to hide his aura while circulating the technique; if a sensory-type ninja appeared nearby, there was still a risk of being exposed, as the chakra volume in Sage Mode was far beyond that of an ordinary person.
But for someone with his cultivation technique, masking his presence was a trivial matter.
He just wondered what it would be like to release ninjutsu using his internal Qi while in Sage Mode.
Unfortunately, because his parents had died during the Nine-Tails incident, he only knew the basics of chakra refinement.
He had no ninjutsu scrolls—even if his parents had left any, they certainly wouldn’t have reached his hands; Hiruzen probably “donated” them to the village reconstruction effort.
With these thoughts, Chiya walked over to the mirror and put on a fresh set of clothes he’d never worn before.
The boy in the reflection wore a slim-fit white long-sleeve tee and black casual pants, his messy black hair cut to a perfect length.
Combined with his sharp, handsome features, he looked every bit the charming young lad.
“I really am something else,” Chiya shamelessly praised his own reflection.
Grabbing his school-issued bag, he stepped out the door and headed toward the Academy.
By the time he arrived, many parents were there with their children.
Chiya’s presence didn’t draw much attention, as everyone’s eyes were glued to Uchiha Itachi.
Save for a few children, the majority of the parents looked at Itachi with visible hostility.
Clearly, the narrative spread by a certain “Pot-Shadow” (Danzo) that the Uchiha clan had controlled the Nine-Tails was firmly rooted in their minds.
It was just like what happened to “Konoha’s White Fang” in the past.
Meanwhile, their “strongest Hokage in history,” the Third, maintained his usual stance: neither opposing nor supporting the discrimination.
He turned a blind eye.
In a way, this was the result of a power exchange between Hiruzen and Danzo.
Hiruzen bore the pressure of reclaiming the Hokage seat, while Danzo gained power, forming the Council of Elders with Homura and Koharu—the infamous “Konoha F4.” There’s a saying: If the ninja world is in chaos, it’s the Uchiha’s fault.
If Konoha is in chaos, it’s the F4’s fault.
Those guys had truly pioneered the art of internal infighting.
Danzo’s power in the village was nearing its peak, and as long as his little schemes didn’t touch the Sarutobi family’s interests, Hiruzen generally didn’t care.
Chiya was long used to this.
He wouldn’t stand up for the Uchiha clan; he would just take care of himself.
Until he had sufficient strength, he would be an ordinary student.
As for the future, it was up to fate.
If Konoha couldn’t hold him, he would just leave.
For someone with Kyōka Suigetsu, defecting wouldn’t be too difficult, and he had no attachments or sense of belonging here anyway.
Of course, a little exception was about to arrive.
Chiya passed through the crowd and handed his admission notice to the chunin teachers in charge of registration.
Just as he finished, a petite figure appeared behind him.
A gentle, youthful voice reached his ears: “Chiya-kun…
long time no see…” “Ah…
long time no see indeed.” Chiya took his class info card from the teacher and turned around.
He saw Uchiha Izumi standing there with her hands behind her back, hiding something.
She leaned forward slightly, looking at him with a curious expression.
“That’s a very indifferent response,” Izumi puffed out her cheeks, then stepped forward, flushing slightly as she compared their heights.
Her eyes widened in surprise.
“Chiya-kun, have you grown a little taller?”