Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.
Kiyohane had already fully adapted to the rhythm of life at the Ninja Academy.
Basic ninja tool throwing, genjutsu fundamentals, and the theory of the Three Basic Techniques—the chunin instructor advanced the lessons step by step.
And today, they finally reached the practical lesson for the Three Basic Techniques.
“Everyone, remember this.
It’s a mandatory subject for graduation.”
Umino Shika stood in front of the podium, holding a piece of chalk, and tapped the blackboard heavily three times.
He looked exactly like a teacher circling key points for an exam.
In fact, for these children, the Ninja Academy graduation exam was not that different from a major entrance exam.
If they failed, they could only repeat the year until they passed.
Only then could they officially obtain their shinobi qualification and be assigned to squads to carry out missions.
“The Clone Technique creates an afterimage identical to the caster by consuming chakra.”
Umino Shika began explaining the basic principles.
“In battle, it can confuse the enemy’s judgment and create opportunities for a real attack.
Sometimes, a single clone can make the difference between life and death.”
He demonstrated the hand seal sequence several times, then had the students try it themselves.
“Too easy.”
Kakashi barely even moved his fingers.
He casually formed a few seals, and an afterimage identical to him appeared at his side out of thin air.
“Kakashi succeeded on his first try!”
A classmate cried out in surprise.
Kiyohane followed immediately after, also creating a perfect clone on his first attempt.
Umino Shika nodded with satisfaction and gave both of them full marks on his clipboard.
Not bad.
Not bad at all.
Two supreme talents in one class.
Although the others performed a little worse, most of them were still able to create at least one decent afterimage after a few attempts.
Umino Shika felt that this class truly had enormous overall potential.
Well… except for Obito.
Umino Shika’s gaze swept over the crooked, blurry thing in front of Obito.
Strictly speaking, it could not even be called a clone.
It could barely stand.
Like a drunken jellyfish, it wobbled in midair twice before dispersing with a puff into a cloud of chakra mist.
Obito’s face flushed red.
Veins popped on his forehead as he argued, “That one doesn’t count!
I wasn’t serious yet!”
…
After school, Kiyohane and Shizune walked out of the school gates side by side.
The setting sun dyed the streets orange-red, stretching the shadows of passersby long across the light.
At that moment, Kiyohane suddenly stopped.
Across the street, Obito was supporting a hunched old woman, carefully helping her carry a bulging cloth bag as he guided her step by step across the road.
The old woman had gray-white hair, wrinkles as deep as ravines, and a kindly smile.
[Collectible trait detected: White Zetsu Cells (Incomplete).]
[D-rank Trait: White Zetsu Cells (Incomplete).]
[Effect: Chakra recovery ability increases by 10%.]
Kiyohane’s expression changed slightly.
With a thought, Kiyohane immediately understood the reason and looked at the old woman Obito was helping.
That had to be a White Zetsu disguised as an old lady!
Kiyohane had long found it strange.
How could a habitual latecomer like Obito always have an endless supply of old ladies to help across the street?
Doing one good deed was not hard.
The hard part was having an old lady waiting for him every single day.
So it turned out White Zetsu had been here farming performance points for him.
Madara Uchiha was quite particular when choosing people.
He even tested their kindness.
Perhaps the kinder someone was at the beginning, the greater the contrast after they fell, and the easier it became for them to turn into an utterly obsessive madman.
Kiyohane stood where he was, watching Obito and the White Zetsu’s backs disappear around the street corner.
He did not follow.
Honestly, if he were not so weak right now, he really would have liked to catch a White Zetsu and keep it nearby for study.
After all, although all White Zetsu looked more or less alike, there were important differences among them.
One batch had been created by Kaguya Otsutsuki thousands of years ago when she transformed ordinary people through the Infinite Tsukuyomi.
Another batch had been cultivated later by Madara Uchiha using the Demonic Statue of the Outer Path and Hashirama’s cells as a foundation.
Among them, there were also special beings like Tobi, the Spiral White Zetsu.
In the official databook, he was described as a mysterious chakra child born from the Divine Tree, a sprout of the Divine Tree.
After wrapping himself around Yamato, he was able to use Wood Release: Wood Human Technique, and even release ninjutsu of all five chakra natures at the same time, stopping the entire Allied Shinobi Forces.
Kiyohane was very curious what kind of traits he could extract from Tobi.
Could they help him awaken Wood Release?
I can only wait until the Fourth Shinobi World War and see.
Kiyohane shook his head.
Right now, the White Zetsu were lying dormant throughout the shinobi world.
But in a few years, war would break out sooner or later, and they would become active then.
The trait he had just obtained was already quite good.
His chakra reserves were already larger than most people’s, and now he had a boost to chakra recovery as well.
His endurance had gone up a level.
“What’s wrong, Kiyohane?”
“Nothing.”
Kiyohane withdrew his gaze and continued walking.
Madara Uchiha’s plan was not something he could casually interfere with.
It was best to pretend nothing had happened.
Kiyohane even suspected that Madara’s desire to turn him into a chess piece might be stronger than his interest in Obito.
That was why Kiyohane had never dared to casually show himself as overly kind.
Looks like traits can be complete or incomplete too…
At first, Kiyohane had thought traits were unique.
Now, it seemed that while they were indeed unique, incomplete versions might still drop until the full trait was gathered.
After returning home, Kiyohane took out the ninjutsu scroll his mother had left behind.
One of the techniques recorded inside was Water Release: Water Blade Slash.
A D-rank Water Release ninjutsu.
Its principle was not complicated.
Water Release chakra was condensed onto a kunai, forming an extremely thin, high-speed water blade that enhanced a downward slash from above.
The more concentrated the chakra, the stronger the water blade’s cutting power.
Kiyohane guessed this technique was probably inherited from Tobirama Senju.
After all, aside from being a master of forbidden techniques, the Second Hokage was also one of the top Water Release shinobi in the entire shinobi world.
It would be perfectly normal for him to leave behind a few low-rank Water Release techniques for his clan to inherit.
He unfurled the scroll and memorized the hand seal sequence and chakra flow route.
Then he began trying to refine chakra.
Chakra was generally refined as needed and could not be stored inside the body for long periods.
To store chakra, one needed a special technique like the Strength of a Hundred Seal, or a chakra battery such as a tailed beast sealed inside the body.
Very soon, under the effect of his traits, Kiyohane entered a focused state.
He took out a kunai.
Water gathered around its edge.
Kiyohane gripped the kunai and swung downward from above.
The wooden target in the yard let out a soft sound.
A smooth cut ran diagonally from the left side of the target to the right, one centimeter deep.
The severed surface was clean and neat, without the slightest splinter.
Kiyohane withdrew the kunai, looked at the cut, and silently calculated his progress and timing.
I can probably master it completely today.
It seemed the stacking effects of his traits were gradually beginning to show results.
…
Mountains’ Graveyard.
“Madara, I’m back.”
White Zetsu emerged from the wall and looked at the old man resting ahead with his eyes closed.