Konoha: I have a great understanding and just want a stable daily life

Starting in Konoha, Fujiwara Yuu is an orphan. It doesn’t matter, he has a natural innate understanding!

You can learn any ninjutsu at a glance, and you can easily control chakra to the maximum! Three-body technique? Learn it in seconds! Shuriken? Hit wherever you point!

But this cheat is too big, showing off is not my style. In this dangerous world where genocide and war can happen at any time, You chooses to stay alive!

Ninja school? Pretending to be an average student, he passed the theory test and just met the practical test.

Naruto is isolated? Sasuke wants revenge? Plot? It’s none of my business, stay out of it!

My goal is to make money! Buy a house! Open a secret base in the back mountain, secretly study the sealing technique just for storage convenience, and teach myself medical treatment just to go to the hospital less often!

By the way, get along well with the gentle and kind girl next door, share delicious food, and enjoy a warm daily life.

No one can disturb my salted fish life! Who dares to destroy this tranquility? Then don’t blame me, an “ordinary person”, for just moving a finger!

Konoha: I have a great understanding and just want a stable daily life
Chapter 1 Konoha
Konoha Village, as the most powerful ninja village in the Land of Fire, is always filled with a strange atmosphere. Under the peaceful appearance, there is the omnipresent ninja atmosphere, the occasional nimble figures passing by on the eaves, the shouts and the collision of weapons coming from the training ground, and the awe and vigilance in the eyes of the villagers.
The sun shines through the dense branches and leaves, casting mottled shadows on the street. A little boy who looks about five or six years old is walking slowly on his way home alone. His name is Fujiwara Yu, a name that couldn’t be more ordinary.
In this village, Fujiwara is not uncommon, most of them are war orphans, or descendants of civilians who settled here in the early days of the establishment of the ninja village. You has no prominent family background, and even his memory of his parents is vague. According to the old nanny in the orphanage, he was found on the edge of the village after a small-scale conflict, with only a note with his name written on it in his swaddling clothes.
Therefore, Fujiwara Yuu is an orphan, relying on the meager pension issued by the village and the occasional assistance from the welfare home, living alone in an inconspicuous small apartment in the corner of the village. It is far away from the bustling commercial street and the core area where ninjas often appear. It is quiet and even a little deserted.
But this is exactly what Fujiwara Yuu likes.
He didn’t crave playmates like other kids his age, nor did he like making loud noises. Most of the time, he liked to be alone, or like now, walking slowly, quietly observing the world with his seemingly ordinary black eyes.
He saw ninjas in a hurry, their faces showing the exhaustion of completing a mission or the solemnity of going out for battle. He saw street vendors skillfully soliciting business, and the sound of bargaining was endless. He saw housewives carrying vegetable baskets, discussing family matters and the latest news in the village. He also saw the iconic Hokage Rock in the distance, where the heads of successive Hokage were carved on the cliffs, silently guarding the prosperous and undercurrent village below.
Konoha is very big and complex. Children’s eyes should be pure and curious, but deep in Fujiwara Yu’s eyes, there is a calmness that is not in line with his age, or even indifference. It seems that all this is just a background in his life that needs to be carefully observed but does not need to be invested with too much emotion.
He doesn’t need to be a figure on the Hokage Rock, a powerful ninja that everyone respects, or even a hero that the villagers talk about. All he wants is to have a peaceful corner of his own in this seemingly peaceful but actually dangerous world.
This idea seemed a little too premature and negative for a five or six-year-old child, but for Fujiwara Yu, it seemed to be an instinct engraved deep in his soul.
Back in the small apartment with simple furnishings, the air was filled with a faint smell of old books and dust. A small bed, a table, a chair, and a barely usable kitchen corner, this was his entire world. There was no care from his parents, no play and fighting from his brothers and sisters, only endless silence.
But he didn’t feel lonely, instead he enjoyed the silence. He skillfully put down the firewood he had picked up from outside and started to prepare a simple dinner. His movements were not fast, but orderly, revealing a self-care ability that was beyond his age.
This is Fujiwara Yu, an inconspicuous orphan in Konoha Village and a new student who is about to enter the Ninja School. His story seems destined to start from this ordinary starting point.
However, being ordinary is just his disguise.
Fujiwara Yuu’s abnormality had already been apparent since he was a baby. The old lady at the orphanage would occasionally complain to others that the child named Yuu was a learner at an alarming speed.
While other children were still babbling and trying to imitate adults’ pronunciation, Fujiwara Yuu almost skipped the slurred stage. He seemed to just listen quietly, observing the mouth shape and intonation of adults when they spoke, and then one day, he could pronounce simple words clearly and soon form sentences. His learning speed was so fast that the nanny who took care of him at first once thought that he had some kind of “precocious wisdom” problem.
The same is true for walking. When other babies of the same age were still learning to walk, needed adults to support them, and often fell and cried, Fujiwara Yuu just watched silently for a few days, and then stood up by himself by holding on to the wall. Not long after, he walked very steadily, even more steadily than some children who had been walking for a while, as if his body coordination and sense of balance were innate.
But this is not the most surprising thing. The most puzzling thing is his extraordinary understanding.
In the orphanage, the maids sometimes get together to discuss things in the village or complain about the trivialities of life. To a one or two-year-old child, those topics should be meaningless background noise. But Fujiwara Yuu seems to understand them.
He would sit quietly in a corner, with not much expression on his small face, but his dark eyes seemed to be able to penetrate the surface of words and understand the hidden meaning. For example, he could feel a general anxiety from the tone of the maids complaining about rising prices; he could detect the heavy sadness and fear of war when they talked about the news of a ninja’s death.
Once, a slightly younger caregiver was sighing in front of a basic literacy book in the yard, complaining that she had a bad memory and couldn’t remember a few simple words. Fujiwara Yu, who was only about two years old at the time, happened to be playing in the mud nearby. He looked up at the words and pictures on the book, then looked at the distressed expression of the caregiver, then stretched out his little finger covered in mud, accurately pointed at one of the words she had just mispronounced, and pronounced it clearly and correctly.
The nurse was stunned on the spot. Looking at the tiny person in front of her who was not even as tall as her legs, she thought for a moment that she was hallucinating. She tentatively pointed at a few more words, and Fujiwara Yu could actually read them accurately, and even connect the pictures to tell what they were.
This incident caused a small commotion in a small circle. Some people said that this child was a genius, while others thought it was a bit weird. But Fujiwara Yu seemed to notice the mixed surprise, curiosity and even a little uneasiness in the eyes of the adults when they looked at him. Since then, he rarely took the initiative to show this “talent”.
He began to imitate the “normal” behavior of other children. When speaking, he would deliberately slow down his speech and occasionally pretend to think; when walking, he would deliberately make himself look less stable and even imitate others falling, although it didn’t hurt at all; when learning new things, he would show appropriate confusion and need repeated instructions.
He is like a skilled actor, playing the role of an “ordinary kid” perfectly.
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ActivityRegister as a Filo member and get 200 points![Register Now]Chapter 2 Chakra (Old Version)
Only when he was alone could he relax. He would flip through the old books and newspapers discarded by the orphanage, greedily absorbing the information on them. Much of his knowledge of the world, ninjutsu, chakra, and the relationship between countries came from these incomplete written records. His understanding allowed him to draw inferences from one instance to another, piecing together a broader picture from a few words.
He understood that his extraordinary learning and imitation ability, his talent that was almost “supernatural”, might not be a good thing in this world. At least, in the eyes of a child who longed for an ordinary and stable life, too dazzling a light would often attract unnecessary attention and trouble.
Being ordinary is the best protective color.
Fujiwara Yuu realized his own difference very early on, and this awareness did not come from others’ explicit instructions, but from a keen observation and comparison.
When he saw children of the same age crying because they could not successfully complete a simple building block, he felt nothing inside, because in his eyes, the structure and balance of the building blocks were as clear as the lines on the palm. When he heard adults praising a child for being “smart” just because he could recite a few simple nursery rhymes, he would silently lower his head, hiding the fact that he could already understand more complex texts.
He found that his speed of learning anything was far beyond the “normal” range. Whether it was language, action, or understanding of the laws of how things work, he was like a dry sponge that could absorb the stream of knowledge instantly. This feeling was wonderful, as if there was an efficient processor in his brain that could automatically analyze, imitate, and optimize all the information it received.
At first, this kind of “fast” brought him a secret pleasure and a sense of superiority that looked down on all living things. But soon, this feeling was replaced by a deeper sense of vigilance.
It was at the welfare home. By chance, a passing ninja who seemed to have some status saw him accidentally using a few small stones to quickly form a rather complicated geometric shape. A flash of surprise flashed in the ninja’s eyes, followed by a scrutinizing and probing look, which made the young Fujiwara Yuu feel inexplicably uncomfortable, as if he had become a strange object waiting to be appraised.
Although the ninja did not say much and left soon, the brief gaze was like a stone thrown into Fujiwara Yu’s calm heart. He vaguely felt that if his “unusualness” was exposed in broad daylight, it might lead to consequences that he could not predict or control.
trouble.
This word emerged clearly in his little head. He might be given high hopes and lose the space to grow freely; he might be treated specially and become the focus of everyone’s attention, losing the tranquility he longed for; or even, in the worst case, he might be targeted by some people or organizations with ulterior motives and used as a tool or experiment.
Although he was young, he had already seen the cruel side of the ninja world from the words between the lines of those old books and newspapers. Genius is often accompanied by higher risks, either becoming a dazzling star or a falling meteor. Fujiwara Yuu was not interested in either of these two endings.
He just wanted to live a peaceful life, like a blade of grass by the roadside, inconspicuous but able to freely bask in the sun and rain.
So, out of an almost instinctive self-protection and a precocious cognition beyond his age, Fuji?????you made an important decision: to hide himself.
He began to deliberately “become stupider”.
When he spoke, he would imitate other children, add meaningless particles, or deliberately express himself less clearly.
When taking action, he no longer pursues efficiency and perfection, but will deliberately appear a little clumsy, and never competes for the first place when playing games.
When studying, he would control his own progress, acting as if he needed repeated practice to master it, and even “make mistakes” on some simple questions.
He carefully concealed his edge and buried his amazing understanding deep in his heart. He tried to make himself look like the ordinary children around him, ordinary, forgetful, and occasionally a little confused.
This was not easy. For him, pretending not to understand was much more difficult than actually learning. Every time he deliberately slowed down his thinking and made a wrong judgment, he needed to spend extra energy to “perform”.
But he persisted, because he knew that only in this way could he minimize the trouble and get closer to the “stable daily life” he expected.
A natural talent? Maybe. But before you can fully control your own destiny, you should keep this talent well hidden. It should be your trump card for quiet growth, not a signboard that attracts others’ covetousness.
In this process, Fujiwara Yuu became more taciturn and more observant. Like a bystander, he calmly watched the world around him and learned how to better integrate into this “ordinariness”.
Fujiwara Yu first heard the word “chakra” from the older children in the orphanage. They would discuss the deeds of the powerful ninjas in the village, imitate the hand gestures of making hand seals, and mutter vague words like “fire escape” and “water escape”. “Chakra” always appeared in these discussions, as if it was the source of some mysterious and powerful power.
Later, in his small apartment where he lived alone, while sorting out old things that came from nowhere, he found a badly damaged booklet. The cover had long been blurred, and the paper was yellowed and brittle, like garbage that had been thrown away casually. But the few scattered pages inside introduced some basic knowledge about ninjas with simple pictures and texts.
Among them is the description of “Chakra”.
“Chakra is the foundation of a ninja. It comes from the combination of physical energy and spiritual energy…”
“Refining chakra is the first step to becoming a ninja…”
The description was very simple, even vague, and the illustrations were crude. But for Fujiwara Yuu, who had extraordinary comprehension, these few words seemed to open the door to a new world.
Physical energy? Mental energy? Combination?
He sat in the dim little room, pondering these words over and over again in the dim light coming in from the window. He tried to follow the vague mind-guiding diagrams in the booklet, closed his eyes, and tried to feel the energy inside his body.
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Chapter 3 Uzumaki Naruto (Old Version)
At first, there was nothing. Just the rise and fall of breathing, the beating of the heart, and the faint sound of blood flowing.
Fujiwara Yuu was not discouraged. He was born with great patience and concentration. He put aside all distractions, immersed all his consciousness into his body, and tried to “feel” over and over again.
He didn’t know how long it had been, maybe a few days, maybe a few weeks. On a quiet night, when he sank into that state of concentration again, he suddenly felt an unusual warmth.
That warm current did not come from the beating of the heart, nor was it the temperature of the blood. It was more like… a more fundamental energy hidden in every limb, even in every cell. It was weak, but real. At the same time, his spirit, or consciousness, seemed to be able to produce an invisible wave that echoed with the warm current.
“Is this… physical energy and spiritual energy?” Fujiwara Yu asked himself silently in his heart.
He tried to use his mind to guide the two feelings, to bring them closer and merge. This was a very wonderful experience. No one taught him, he just relied on the few words in the tattered booklet and his own extraordinary understanding to explore.
The process was not smooth. The two energies seemed to have different properties and would repel and dissipate as soon as they came into contact. He tried repeatedly, failed, and tried again. Every time he failed, he would carefully recall the feeling just now, analyze the possible mistakes, and then adjust the way of guiding his thoughts.
Finally, one day, under his careful control, a trace of weak physical energy and a trace of spiritual energy, like two shy streams, slowly merged together.
Buzz!
An unprecedented feeling instantly spread throughout my body!
It was a gentle and energetic energy, different from pure physical strength and empty spiritual fluctuations. It seemed to be the essence of life itself, although the amount was very, very small, so small that it could be almost ignored, but its appearance made Fujiwara Yu’s spirit suddenly rise!
“Is this… Chakra?”
He could clearly feel that this new energy was flowing slowly in his body. Although it was as thin as a thread, it carried an indescribable rhythm.
Success!
Without any teacher’s guidance, relying only on a torn basic manual and his own understanding, Fujiwara Yu, a child who was only five years old, actually sensed and successfully extracted the first trace of chakra without any instruction!
This discovery filled him with excitement, but his face remained calm. He knew that this was just the beginning. Refining chakra was only the first step. How to control it and use it was a profound knowledge.
More importantly, he had to keep this a secret. An orphan who could refine chakra on his own at the age of five? This was more shocking than any of his previous “precocity”. Once exposed, he was almost certain that he would never be able to live the peaceful life he had hoped for.
So, after that night, Fujiwara Yu had a secret. He would quietly practice chakra extraction every night after making sure that the surroundings were absolutely safe. He carefully controlled the amount of chakra, felt the path it flowed through his body, and became familiar with its properties.
He is not in a hurry to achieve success, nor does he pursue rapid growth. He is more like an exploration, an understanding of his own body and potential. For him, chakra is first of all an inner strength, a trump card that may protect his stable life at a critical moment in the future, rather than a tool for showing off or competing.
After getting a glimpse of the mystery of chakra, Fujiwara Yuu became more determined to hide his strength. There was still a long way to go, and he needed to walk more steadily and stealthily.
Time flowed slowly like a river outside Konoha Village. In the blink of an eye, Fujiwara Yuu reached school age.
Like other school-age children in the village, he went through the enrollment procedures step by step and became a new student of Konoha Ninja School. For him, this was just a necessary step in his life plan. If he wanted to live a stable life in Konoha, becoming a ninja, even if it was just the lowest level Genin, and obtaining a legal identity and a stable source of income seemed to be the most cost-effective option.
Of course, what he pursued was definitely not to become an elite ninja who charged into battle and performed high-risk missions. His goal was to choose a safe and leisurely position after graduation, such as organizing documents in the village’s data room, or doing some inconspicuous work in the logistics department. In short, the farther away from fighting and killing, the better.
The entrance day of the Ninja School is always a unique sight in the village.
The school gate was crowded with children’s noise and parents’ earnest advice. Many children’s faces were filled with excitement and longing, as if they were about to step into a new world full of glory and adventure. Parents had different expressions, some proud, some worried, and some looking forward to it.
Fujiwara Yuu was inconspicuous in the crowd. He was not accompanied by his parents and was alone, carrying a small cloth bag with a few simple stationery items. His expression was calm, neither excited nor nervous, he just quietly observed everything around him.
He saw all kinds of children. Some of them had already revealed their family characteristics, such as the child wearing the Uchiha clan uniform with a round fan logo, with an arrogant look; and some children were obviously from commoner families, looking a little reserved and uneasy.
Soon, his attention was attracted by several particularly eye-catching figures.
In a corner, a boy in orange clothes with dazzling blond hair was jumping up and down, shouting something, trying to attract other people’s attention. However, the children and parents around him seemed not to see him, and either avoided him deliberately or cast disgusted and repulsive eyes. The smile on the boy’s face seemed a little too forced, but deep in his eyes, there was a trace of loneliness and desire that was difficult to conceal.
“Uzumaki Naruto…” Fujiwara Yuu silently said the name in his heart. Even in a remote corner like his, he occasionally heard rumors about the Nine-Tails Jinchuriki. This child seemed to have been burdened with a heavy fate since birth, destined to live under the gaze and discussion of everyone, which was contrary to the “stability” he pursued.
Not far away, another boy had a completely different style. He was wearing dark blue clothes, black hair and black eyes, with his hands in his pockets, a stern expression, and an air of keeping strangers away. However, he was surrounded by a group of chattering girls, their eyes were almost glued to him, and their faces were flushed.
“Uchiha Sasuke.” Fujiwara Yuu recognized the conspicuous round fan emblem. The Uchiha clan, a powerful family in Konoha, is famous in the ninja world for its Sharingan. This boy seemed to be born to stand in the spotlight, carrying the glory of the family and… perhaps an unknown burden? Fujiwara Yuu felt a little curious about his gloom and indifference that was inconsistent with his age, but quickly suppressed this curiosity. The premonition of trouble always surrounds such people.
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Chapter 4: Will of Fire (Old Version)
Among the group of girls surrounding Sasuke, a girl with pink hair was particularly eye-catching. She looked at Sasuke with obsession, and the expression on her face changed with Sasuke’s subtle movements. She seemed both excited and nervous.
“Haruno Sakura.” Fujiwara Yuya recognized her. A girl who looked ordinary, but seemed to be completely focused on the Uchiha boy.
Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura… these names are not unfamiliar to Fujiwara Yu. In the fragments of information that he accidentally read, which seemed to record fragments of the “future”, these three people seemed to be the core of a story.
But Fujiwara Yuu was not very interested in this.
Their stories, their fates, their love and hate, have nothing to do with him. He is just a bystander, a passer-by. He came to the Ninja School not to participate in any magnificent plot, not to intersect with these future figures, and not to change anything.
He just came here to study step by step, get his diploma, and then find a safe job and continue to live his stable, low-key and undisturbed life.
Thinking of this, Fujiwara Yu retracted his gaze and no longer paid attention to those “protagonists”, but followed the crowd and walked into the gate of the Ninja School.
The familiar wooden structure and slightly old classrooms, the air was filled with the faint smell of chalk dust and disinfectant. The teacher was giving a speech at the beginning of the school year, which was nothing more than some clichés about the will of fire, ninja honor, and hard work.
Fujiwara Yuu found a corner near the window but not noticeable, sat down, and opened a brand new textbook. The content of the book was simple and a little boring to him. But he knew that from today on, his “performance” would begin again.
He needs to play the role of an average student who is neither good nor bad and is just like everyone else.
The classroom of the Ninja School is more like a stage that Fujiwara Yuu needs to take seriously. On the podium, the Chunin teacher is holding a piece of chalk and explaining the history of ninjas on the blackboard, from the great achievements of the first Hokage in establishing the village, to the institutional foundation laid by the second Hokage, and then to the hard work of the third Hokage.
The voice was neither high nor low, with a stylized tone. Most of the children were drowsy listening to it, only a few, such as the pink-haired girl Haruno Sakura, sat upright, eyes focused, and kept taking notes. The blond Uzumaki Naruto had already slumped over the table, drooling and snoring softly, which attracted the teacher’s stern glare and the snickers of the students next to him. And Uchiha Sasuke, with one hand on his chin, looked out the window, absent-minded, but no one dared to disturb him.
Fujiwara Yuu sat in the corner by the window, his posture was upright, his eyes were fixed on the blackboard, he also held a pen in his hand, occasionally writing a few words in his notebook. But only he knew that he had already learned most of what the teacher said from the old newspapers and tattered books in the welfare home, and even more in detail than what the teacher said. What he was doing now was just imitating what a student who listened attentively but had mediocre qualifications should be like.
“Then, who can tell me what the core of ‘Will of Fire’ is?” The teacher looked around the classroom with a hint of anticipation.
Haruno Sakura in the front row immediately raised her hand and almost jumped up.
The teacher nodded with satisfaction: “Haruno Sakura, you answer.”
“Yes!” Sakura stood up excitedly and answered crisply: “The core of the Will of Fire is love and protection! It is the spirit of being willing to sacrifice oneself in order to protect the village and companions!”
“Very good answer! Very spirited!” the teacher praised, “This is the most precious spiritual wealth passed down from generation to generation by us Konoha ninjas.”
There was a sparse applause in the classroom. Fujiwara Yuya clapped his hands twice, not too loudly, with a dull expression. He knew the answer, and could even explain it more profoundly from different angles, but he did not raise his hand. Being the center of attention was never an option for him.
The theory exam was a test of Fujiwara Yuu’s acting skills. The questions involved history, geography, basic knowledge of ninja tools, ninja rules, etc., which were not difficult for him at all. With his comprehension and memory, it was easy for him to get full marks.
But he can’t.
He would carefully review each question, and then quickly calculate a score range of “below average” or “just passing” in his mind. Then, he would selectively make some “mistakes”. For example, he would deliberately write a wrong year that was not very important, or omit one or two key points in the explanatory questions, or even in the multiple-choice questions, he would deliberately choose a seemingly reasonable but wrong distractor even though he knew the correct answer.
He controlled himself very precisely, making sure his scores always hovered around the passing line, occasionally a little better, but never in the top. In this way, the teacher would not think that he was a poor student who needed special attention, nor would he think that he was an excellent student and have high hopes for him. He was like the middle group in the class, the largest in number and the most easily ignored, safe and hidden.
After the corrected papers were handed out, Fujiwara Yuu did not feel the slightest bit disappointed when he saw the score that was neither high nor low. Instead, he felt a sense of satisfaction. Like other students who got similar scores, he would show an expression of “Ah, I got it wrong again” or “Oh, I almost got a higher score”, and then put the paper in his bag without even looking at it again.
The same is true for practical classes. Whether it is the basic throwing of ninja tools or the simple trap setting, Fujiwara Yu strictly follows the “normal” principle.
When throwing shurikens or kunai, he doesn’t aim to hit the bull’s eye accurately. He usually aims at the middle of the target, occasionally a little off, and “accidentally” misses the target a few times. His posture is standard, but his power is deliberately restrained, making his speed and strength seem mediocre. He is neither as precise and sharp as Sasuke, nor as random as Naruto.
When setting traps, he would follow the steps taught by the teacher, step by step, at a moderate speed. The tripwires and camouflages he set were all done in a standard way, and they could play a basic role, but there was absolutely no clever idea or eye-catching improvement.
“Fujiwara Yu, well, your movements are standard, but your speed and accuracy still need more practice.” The teacher in charge of the practical class checked his throwing results and gave an expected evaluation.
“Yes, teacher, I will try my best.” Fujiwara Yu lowered his head slightly and answered in a “sincere” tone.
Chapter 5 Ninjutsu (Old Version)
He mingled in the crowd, watching those classmates who were training hard and sweating, watching those emerging and high-spirited talents, his heart was as calm as water. He was like a calm chess player, carefully controlling his position on the chessboard, not advancing rashly, not falling behind, and always staying in a safe and unnoticeable middle ground.
The “average student” in the classroom is the protective color that Fujiwara Yu carefully created for himself. He enjoys it and enjoys this “ordinariness” without being disturbed.
The basics taught in ninja schools, besides theoretical knowledge, the most important one is the “Three Body Techniques” which are known as the compulsory courses for ninjas – the technique of clone, the technique of transformation and the technique of substitution.
These three ninjutsu are the entry bricks for all ninjas, and are also the basis for carrying out missions and protecting oneself in the future. In class, the teacher will explain in detail the hand seals, the chakra mobilization methods, and the application scenarios of the ninjutsu.
On the podium, the teacher was demonstrating the seals of the clone technique: “Si-Wei-Shen-Hai-Wu-Yin, pay attention to evenly distribute the chakra, and imagine your own image…”
Fujiwara Yuu sat below, watching the teacher’s demonstration carefully, and followed the movements with his fingers, but deliberately slowed down, which made him look a little awkward. His brows were slightly furrowed, revealing an expression that said “it seems a bit difficult”, perfectly blending in with the students around him who were also struggling to imitate.
However, deep down in his heart, it was a different picture.
Long before the teacher formally taught him, Fujiwara Yuu had already completely mastered the tricks of the Three Body Technique just through the explanations and observations in class. For his extraordinary understanding, the principles of this level of ninjutsu and the use of chakra were almost understood at once.
That night, after returning to his simple little apartment and making sure that the doors and windows were closed and there was no one prying within his perception range, Fujiwara Yuu began his real practice.
He stood in the small open space, recalling the hand seals that his teacher had demonstrated during the day.
The art of clone.
Si-Wei-Shen-Hai-Wu-Yin.
His fingers moved flexibly and precisely, like a butterfly flying through flowers, without any sluggishness. The chakra in his body, which had long been refined to a very high level, was accurately diverted and shaped according to his thoughts.
“Bang!”
With a slight sound, a clone that looked exactly like Fujiwara Yuu appeared beside him. This clone was not an illusion, but had a physical touch, a clear face, and an expression that was synchronized with the original body. It seemed extremely stable, with no signs of dissipating.
“It’s really simple.” Fujiwara Yu looked at his clone and nodded. He could even feel the weak chakra connection between himself and the clone. As soon as he thought about it, the clone could make the corresponding action. This was much stronger than the inferior clones in the class that could hardly maintain a stable form.
Next is the transformation technique.
Wei-Si-Yin.
The seals were also formed in one go. Fujiwara Yuu’s mind moved, and he imagined the appearance of the teacher he had seen during the day.
Another puff of smoke dissipated, and the person standing there had become a smaller version of the ninja teacher, whose hairstyle, clothing, even the subtle wrinkles on his face and his habitual serious expression were all imitated to perfection. If it weren’t for the huge height difference, it would have been almost indistinguishable from the real thing.
Fujiwara Yu walked to the only blurry mirror in the room and looked at his transformation effect. “Well, the degree of detail restoration is very high, and the consumption of Chakra is also very small. The key lies in whether the image constructed by spiritual energy is clear and stable.” As he thought, he canceled the transformation and returned to his original state.
Finally, there is the art of substitution.
Wei-Hai-Chou-Shen-Yin.
This requires a substitute. Fujiwara Yuu casually picked up a worn rag from the stool next to him. He concentrated his mind, sensing the position of the rag and his own position, and at the moment the seal was completed, he injected chakra into it and activated the technique.
call out!
A rag was left behind, and Fujiwara Yu himself appeared silently in another corner of the room. The whole process was so fast that there was almost no afterimage and almost no sound was made.
“The key to the substitution technique lies in the grasp of timing, the instantaneous burst of chakra, and the connection established with the substitute.” Fujiwara Yu concluded silently.
For most students in the ninja school, the three-body technique requires a lot of time and energy to practice repeatedly, and they may not be able to fully master it even by the time they graduate. But for Fujiwara Yu, he has mastered it in just one night.
“You can learn it at a glance” is no exaggeration to use these four words to describe his process of learning ninjutsu.
However, when he returned to school for classroom practice the next day, Fujiwara Yu’s performance was completely different.
“Clone Technique!” he shouted, and “clumsily” formed seals with his hands, deliberately controlling his chakra in a intermittent manner.
“Bang!” The smoke dissipated, and a blurry, shaky clone appeared, as if it would disappear at any time.
“Fujiwara Yu, your chakra output is not stable enough. You need to be more focused!” the teacher instructed.
“Yes! Teacher!” Fujiwara Yuu showed an annoyed expression and scratched his head, “I’ll try again!”
When practicing transformation, he would turn into a cat with the wrong fur color, or a stranger with crooked facial features. When practicing substitution, he would be “half a beat slow” and often get hit by the soft ball used for training, and then “flusteredly” successfully launch the attack, leaving behind a substitute.
He would even deliberately ask for advice from students who had mastered the art better, such as asking Sakura for details on the seals, or asking Sasuke… well, forget it, the aura around Sasuke was too cold. He would find some students who were also “mediocre” and discuss questions like “how to make the clone more stable” with just the right amount of confusion and effort on his face.
Only he himself knew that this kind of “hard work” in learning was much more tiring than truly mastering ninjutsu. But he had to do it.
The three body skills are the foundation, but they are also an important indicator of a student’s potential. If you perform too well, you will easily attract attention. If you perform too poorly, you may not graduate. It is safest to maintain a “medium” level that requires “hard work” to master.
Chapter 6 Sealing Technique (Old Version)
Mastering it easily in private and studying “hard” in public. Fujiwara Yuu uses this dual mode freely and continues to play his role as an inconspicuous “average student”. This hidden strength is the biggest secret in his heart and the cornerstone of his future stable life.
Physical training is another important course in Ninja School besides Ninjutsu theory and practice. A strong physique is the foundation for Ninja to carry out missions and fight.
The dust was flying on the training ground. Students of the same grade were wearing training clothes that were easy to move around in, and were doing various basic training under the guidance of the physical training teacher. They were running, push-ups, sit-ups, frog jumps, and the most basic punch and kick attack and defense exercises.
The air was filled with the smell of sweat and the slightly heavy breathing of the young men.
“Drink!” “Ha!”
Some students were full of energy, using all their strength in every move, wishing they could become a master of physical training right away, such as the boy in green tights with thick eyebrows (although Fujiwara Yuu didn’t know his name yet), his movements were full of power and an almost paranoid enthusiasm, and he had no intention of stopping even though his clothes were soaked with sweat.
Uzumaki Naruto was also full of energy, his movements were bold and aggressive, and he seemed brave, but in fact, he had many flaws and often lost his balance due to excessive force. Uchiha Sasuke’s movements were standard, his speed and strength far exceeded his peers, and his punches and kicks were fierce, attracting the attention of most girls.
Fujiwara Yu, on the other hand, was mixed in the middle area of ​​the crowd, doing the same actions as everyone else, but his state could be described in one word – paddling.
His goal is very clear: just to meet the standards, not to pursue rankings.
When running, he would control his speed and always stay in the middle of the team. He would not rush at the beginning like Naruto and then lose strength in the second half, nor would he always stay ahead like Sasuke and the boy in green. His breathing was even and his pace was steady. He seemed neither fast nor slow, just above the passing line.
When doing strength training such as push-ups and sit-ups, the number he completed always just exceeded the minimum standard required by the teacher. Not too much, not too little, neither too bad nor too eye-catching.
When practicing punches and kicks, his movements can be said to be very standard. Every posture and every force point are completely in line with the teacher’s teachings. If you only look at the standardization of the movements, he is not much worse than Sasuke.
But the problem was that there was something missing from his movements.
That is “momentum”.
His punches, speed and power were all controlled at the level of an ordinary student, looking soft and lacking penetration. His kicks had the right angles and heights, but they didn’t have the swiftness of breaking through the air. His blocking and posture were in place, but they lacked the rock-solid stability.
The whole person gives people the feeling that he is completing a set of radio gymnastics. The movements are standard, but they have no lethality and do not feel any threat.
“Fujiwara Yu, move with more force! Show your momentum!” The physical training teacher would occasionally notice him and remind him loudly.
“Yes! Teacher!” Fujiwara Yu would respond immediately, then symbolically increase his strength a little, but would soon return to that “standard but powerless” state.
Of course he could do better. With his control over his body and the chakra he refined, he could definitely burst out with speed and strength far beyond his peers. But why would he do that?
The purpose of the physical training class is to strengthen the body and lay a solid foundation. For him, as long as he is healthy and can support daily life and necessary self-protection, it is enough. He does not need to pursue the ultimate physical training like the green-clothed boy, nor does he need to use his strong strength to prove something like Sasuke.
Showing off one’s talent in physical training too early would also attract unnecessary attention. He might be spotted by some enthusiastic teachers or classmates, who would force him to undergo high-intensity training or sparring every day, which would severely squeeze his own private time and disrupt his peaceful daily plans.
So, paddling is the best option.
He only needs to make sure that his physical fitness test is up to standard, that he does not lose too badly in group practice (but of course he will never win too easily either), and that he is not judged by the teacher as someone who “needs extra intensive training.” That’s enough.
He even felt that this kind of “paddling” that deliberately controlled the output of force and only performed standard movements was also a form of exercise in itself, an exercise in the fine control of force.
So, in the heated training ground, Fujiwara Yuu is like a gear that runs precisely, not a bit more or less, completing every movement in a standard manner, and carrying out the image of a “medium-level student” to the end. He sweats, but not too much; he breathes quickly, but he calms down quickly.
He looked at those people who were trying their best, and his heart was calm. Everyone has their own pursuits, and his pursuit was this peace and stability. The physical training class was just a “task” that he needed to complete step by step on the way to this goal, nothing more.
The library of the Ninja School is not as large as the large library in the center of the village, which is open to all villagers and ninjas, but the collection is rich for students. It contains basic theories, history and geography of the Ninja world, basic introductions to various Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu, as well as some publicly released Ninja deeds and mission reports.
Compared to the noisy classrooms and sweaty training grounds, Fujiwara Yu prefers the quiet atmosphere of the library. There are not many people here, especially those bookshelves involving advanced theories or unpopular knowledge, which are even less visited.
He often came here after school or during breaks. Of course, he would not read books that were obviously about powerful ninjutsu or popular fighting techniques, as that would easily attract attention. He usually chose books that looked more “harmless”, such as “Common Herbal Medicines in the Land of Fire”, “Analysis of Basic Chakra Properties”, “History of Changes in the Water Conservancy System of Konoha Village”, etc.
This knowledge may not be very useful in battle, but Fujiwara Yuu thinks it is very interesting and fits the image he has set for himself: “average curiosity and scattered interests”. At the same time, this knowledge can also subtly increase his understanding of the world and lay the foundation for various “life skills” he may need in the future.
That afternoon, Fujiwara Yu came to the library as usual. He did not go to the bookshelves that he often browsed, but walked to the innermost corner of the library. The light there was a little dim, and there was a thin layer of dust on the bookshelves. It seemed that there were some old materials and scrolls that were very old or of little importance.
He came here mainly to find a quieter place to sort out some of the experiences he had recently gained about chakra control through “observation” and “learning”, and by the way, to avoid classmates he might meet outside and save unnecessary greetings.
He casually browsed through the dusty scrolls and books on the bookshelf. Most of them were old village regulations, expired mission records, and even notes left by some unknown ninjas, with disorganized contents.
Just as he was about to find a clean corner to sit down, his eyes were attracted by something that was tucked into the bottom shelf, almost completely hidden by other scrolls. It was a scroll that looked quite old, with an ordinary wooden head and the scroll itself made of some rough leather, without any labels or text on it.
Out of intuition, or pure curiosity, Fujiwara Yu squatted down and took some effort to pull out the scroll. He gently brushed off the dust on it and carefully unfolded it.
The scroll was not big, and the content inside was not much. It was written in an ancient font with some strange symbols and patterns, and some brief text notes beside it.
“The basics of…sealing…techniques?” Fujiwara Yu whispered, identifying the first few words.
His heartbeat couldn’t help but quicken.
Sealing technique!
This is not the basic ninjutsu introduction in the library. Sealing techniques have always been somewhat mysterious in the ninja world. Powerful sealing techniques can even seal tailed beasts and change the terrain, with infinite power. Of course, what is recorded in this scroll is obviously not of that level.
He read on patiently and carefully.
Chapter 7 (Old Version)
The scrolls contained some of the most basic knowledge of sealing techniques, such as how to use specific symbols and chakra to build a tiny sealed space on a scroll or object to store items; how to make simple preservation symbols to extend the shelf life of food or medicinal materials; and some basic warning runes that would issue a faint warning when someone touched or approached.
The power of these sealing techniques is very small, and it can even be said that they are not offensive at all. They are more like a kind of… skill to assist life.
But this just hit the spot for Fujiwara Yu!
Storage? This means he can more easily carry something he doesn’t want to be seen later, or quickly retrieve tools when needed.
Preserving food? This is a magical skill for a child who lives alone and needs to be thrifty! It can reduce food waste and even store some emergency rations for special periods.
Warning runes? Although the effect was weak, placing them around his small apartment could at least provide a sense of psychological security and prevent unnecessary disturbances.
These basic sealing techniques perfectly meet his need for a “stable daily life”! They are not ostentatious or violent, but can greatly improve the convenience and safety of life in subtle ways.
Fujiwara Yuu’s heart was burning. His powerful comprehension began to work again. Just by looking at the symbols and annotations on the scroll, he began to deduce the principles of these sealing techniques in his mind, analyze the flow path of chakra, and even think about how to improve it to make it more concealed and more efficient.
This is a skill tailor-made for him!
He quickly and carefully memorized everything on the scroll, the order of strokes of every symbol, the meaning of every comment, all of which were engraved in his mind like a brand.
Then he carefully restored the scroll to its original shape, gently wiped away the marks left by his fingerprints, and quietly tucked it back into its original corner, making sure everything looked exactly as it did before he arrived.
After doing all this, Fujiwara Yu stood up, with an imperceptible glimmer of excitement in his eyes.
This unexpected discovery in the library opened a new door for him. Sealing, this seemingly insignificant auxiliary skill, may become an indispensable piece of the puzzle for him to build a stable life.
Of course, this matter must also become one of his many secrets. He would never let anyone know that he had come into contact with the Sealing Technique, let alone let anyone know that he might be able to master it at an astonishing speed.
Carrying this new secret and expectation, Fujiwara Yu left the corner of the library, his face returning to that calm “average student” expression, as if everything that had just happened had never happened.
Ever since he accidentally discovered the scroll of basic sealing techniques in the library, Fujiwara Yuu has had a clear and practical goal in his practice of chakra control.
The basis of the Sealing Technique is to infuse and solidify the chakra in an extremely precise manner along a specific rune path. This requires much higher precision in chakra control than performing the Three Body Technique.
Fujiwara Yu understood that whether it was to learn more advanced ninjutsu in the future (mainly to save life and facilitate life, rather than fighting), or to master and improve those practical life-related sealing techniques, improving chakra control was of utmost importance.
So, in his undisturbed little apartment, or in some secluded corner in the back hills that he accidentally discovered, Fujiwara Yuu began a more systematic and sophisticated chakra control training.
Late at night, moonlight shone through the window onto the floor. Fujiwara Yuu sat cross-legged with his eyes closed, his entire mind immersed in the perception and control of the chakra in his body.
He was no longer satisfied with simply extracting chakra or roughly directing it to the palms or soles of the feet. He began to try to condense the chakra into extremely thin threads.
At first, this was very difficult. Chakra energy itself is fluid and unstable. To shape it into a stable and thin thread, one needs to concentrate one’s mental power and adjust the output of chakra at the micron level.
In front of him was a leaf he had picked up from outside. He tried to separate a very weak strand of chakra from his fingertips, like an invisible embroidery needle, and gently touched the surface of the leaf.
The first time, the chakra output was a little more, and with a “pop” sound, a small hole was poked in the leaf.
The second time, his mental strength was not focused enough and the chakra dissipated midway.
The third time, the chakras successfully touched the leaf, but because it was not stable enough, it only caused the leaf to shake a little.
Fujiwara Yuu was not discouraged at all. His understanding played a huge role at this time. Every time he failed, he could quickly analyze the cause and make corrections in the next attempt. His understanding of the nature of Chakra and his perception of the combination of spiritual energy and physical energy continued to deepen in this precise practice.
Gradually, the invisible chakra thread extending from his fingertips became more and more stable, thinner, and more and more resilient.
He could use this chakra thread to gently lift the leaf and make it spin slowly in the air as if it were being blown by a breeze.
He could even separate two or three chakra strands at the same time, attaching them to different positions of the leaves, and accurately controlling the leaves to perform various flipping and hovering movements. This was an incredible skill for people of the same age, and even many experienced Genin might not be able to achieve such a sophisticated level.
In addition to practicing chakras, he also performed other control training.
For example, he would fetch a basin of clean water and then cover the chakra on the water surface, trying to precisely control the water surface to form specific ripples, or make a certain area of ​​the water surface slightly concave or convex, to practice controlling the coverage and strength of the chakra.
He would also try to evenly attach the chakra to the soles of his feet to simulate the feeling of treading water. Although he couldn’t really walk on water yet, he could already clearly feel the subtle interaction between the chakra and the water surface, and constantly adjust the chakra output frequency and mode to find the best balance point.
These exercises may seem boring or even a little far-fetched to outsiders, but Fujiwara Yuu enjoys them. Every tiny progress, every deepening of his understanding of chakra control, makes him feel a sense of control over his own power.
He clearly knew that this precise chakra control ability, which far exceeded that of his peers, was not only for learning the sealing technique. It would be the basis for him to learn more advanced ninjutsu in the future, and the key to his developing various “little tricks of life”.
Chapter 8 New Neighbors (Old Version)
For example, he has begun to think about whether chakra threads can be used to assist in sewing or mending things? Can chakra be used to control water flow to more conveniently wash items? Can the changes in the properties of chakra be used to make some simple constant temperature devices?
These ideas are all based on the premise of having extremely high control over chakra.
As time went by, the total amount of chakra in Fujiwara Yu’s body also increased steadily, although he deliberately controlled the speed. He did not have a huge amount of chakra like Naruto because of the existence of the Nine-Tails, nor did he increase rapidly like Sasuke because of family blood and hard training. His chakra growth rate was maintained at an “upper-middle” level, which was consistent with the image of a “medium student” he showed in school.
But when it comes to the purity and control of chakra, he is confident that he has far surpassed everyone in the school, perhaps even some Genin.
This precise control hidden under the “ordinary” appearance is another trump card he has carefully polished. It will not be easily shown to others, but will only serve his stable life in the most hidden way when it is most needed.
It was late at night and Fujiwara Yuu finished a day’s practice. He felt the chakra flowing smoothly and under his control in his body, and a barely perceptible smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
The foundation is being laid step by step, and the future seems to be more relaxed.
Life officially begins, and Fujiwara Yu has already prepared his mask.
The small apartment where Fujiwara Yuu lives is located in a relatively old area of ​​Konoha Village. The buildings here are not high, mostly two or three-story wooden structures with mottled walls and traces of time. The neighbors are not very warm, but they also maintain a calm tacit understanding. When they meet, they will nod, occasionally exchange a few simple greetings, and keep a proper distance from each other. This just right sense of alienation is exactly what Fujiwara Yuu likes.
After school that day, Fujiwara Yuu walked home slowly, carrying his washed-out little cloth bag as usual. The setting sun stretched his shadow long, casting it on the slightly bumpy stone road. The air was filled with the aroma of dinner from various families, mixed with the smell of soil and old wood. He just turned a familiar street corner, but his steps paused slightly.
He saw a strange figure standing at the staircase of his nondescript apartment building.
It was a girl who looked about the same age as him, or maybe a year or two older. She was wearing a simple but clean light blue dress, the hem of which swayed gently in the evening breeze. The girl had smooth black medium-length hair, a few strands of which were blown to her cheeks by the wind, and she was trying to tuck them behind her ears in a hurry.
Her profile was softly outlined in the afterglow of the setting sun, and her skin was fair and healthy. When she turned her head, as if looking for something or confirming the direction, Fujiwara Yu saw her eyes. They were a pair of clear and bright eyes, like obsidian with a hint of water. There was a bit of shyness and uneasiness in her eyes, but more of a natural gentleness and kindness.
The girl seemed to have noticed Fujiwara Yu approaching. She paused for a moment, and when her eyes met Fujiwara Yu’s, she became a little flustered. She subconsciously took a half step back, her hands twisted together nervously, pinching the corner of her dress.
Fujiwara Yuu’s mind was quickly evaluating. New here? He didn’t look like a ninja. He didn’t have the trained aura and he wasn’t wearing a forehead protector. Was he an ordinary villager’s child? Why was he here? Was he a new neighbor who moved in?
His brain was like a sophisticated instrument, analyzing all the possibilities in an instant. Judging from her clothes, demeanor, and subtle movements, this girl was most likely harmless. The pure, untouched, gentle aura she exuded was incompatible with the vigilance and solemnity common in this ninja world.
Fujiwara Yuu doesn’t like accidents, and doesn’t like uncontrollable variables in his life. But the girl in front of him doesn’t seem to be a “troublemaker”. At least, that’s what it seems now.
He maintained his usual calm expression, did not speak, but continued to walk towards the stairs without stopping. His eyes stayed on the girl for a short while, then moved away naturally, as if he had just seen an ordinary passerby.
However, just as he was about to pass by the girl and step onto the stairs, the girl mustered up her courage and spoke in a voice as thin as a mosquito and a little trembling:
“Um, um… please…”
Fujiwara Yu stopped, turned half his body, looked at her with questioning eyes, and said nothing. His silence seemed to put a little pressure on the girl, her cheeks flushed slightly, and her fingers pinched the corners of her clothes tighter.
“Please, please ask…is this…Mr. Fujiwara’s home?” The girl’s voice was very low, but her words were clear, with a soft tone.
Mr. Fujiwara? Are you asking me? Fujiwara Yuu’s mind raced. He had no father, his name was Fujiwara Yuu. Did he find the wrong person? Or… He remembered that occasionally someone would come to the welfare house to deliver some meager relief supplies, but they were usually sent directly to the welfare house, and rarely to his remote little apartment.
He did not answer immediately, but asked in return, his voice flat and emotionless: “Which Mr. Fujiwara are you looking for?”
The girl seemed stunned by the question. She lowered her head, looked at the small piece of paper tightly clenched in her hand, and muttered softly: “The address is right here… Fujiwara… Yu…”
When she read the word “You”, she raised her head suddenly and looked at Fujiwara You in surprise, her eyes slightly widened: “Ah! Could it be that you are…”
Fujiwara Yuu understood. It seemed that he was the one looking for him. Who could it be? The welfare home? The village office? He nodded calmly: “I am Fujiwara Yuu. What can I do for you?”
After getting the confirmation, the girl was obviously relieved, and her tense shoulders relaxed a little. A shy smile appeared on her face, like the sky after the rain, clean and gentle.
“That’s great! My name is Ayane Yamanaka, and I just moved next door to your house today…um…my mother asked me to bring some housewarming cakes over, saying…please take care of me, neighbors.” As she spoke, she moved a small basket wrapped in a clean cloth, which she had been carefully protecting in front of her, slightly forward.
New neighbor? Next door? Fujiwara Yuu remembered that the room next door had been empty for a long time. It turned out that a new tenant had moved in. Yamanaka? This surname seemed to be related to a family that was good at spiritual and mystical arts in Konoha, but looking at the girl’s appearance, she didn’t look like she was from a ninja family at all. Maybe she was just an ordinary civilian branch of the same surname.
Fujiwara Yuu’s eyes fell on the small basket. Under the cloth, he could vaguely see some delicately made pastries, which exuded a faint sweet fragrance.
Chapter 9 Yamanaka Ayane (old version)
“You’re welcome.” Fujiwara Yuu’s tone was still calm, but it didn’t seem cold and distant. He didn’t immediately pick up the basket, but just looked at Ayane.
Seeing that he didn’t take it, Yamanaka Ayane seemed a little at a loss, and her hand holding the basket was shaking slightly. Her big eyes showed a look of help, and she whispered: “Well… Mom said that neighbors should help each other… This is a little gift from our family…”
Seeing the girl about to cry, Fujiwara Yuu sighed in his heart. It was not a trouble… It just disturbed his usual peace. However, since they were neighbors, they would see each other every day. Being too indifferent might lead to unnecessary speculation. Maintaining a friendly but distant relationship might be a better choice.
Thinking of this, he reached out and took the small basket. The basket was not heavy and felt warm to the touch, obviously it had just been made. The aroma of the pastries became more distinct.
“Thank you.” Fujiwara Yu simply thanked him, his voice still flat.
Hearing his thanks and seeing him take the basket, Yamanaka Ayane seemed to have completed a difficult task. She relaxed completely, and a shy but sincere smile bloomed on her face again: “No, you’re welcome! Um… I… I’ll go back first! Mom is still waiting for me.”
She bowed hurriedly, then turned and ran to the door next door like a frightened little rabbit, took out the key, opened the door a little clumsily, and slipped in. The whole process was full of panic and cuteness that only little girls can have.
Fujiwara Yuu stood there, looking at the closed door next door, then looked down at the small basket in his hand. The pastry was indeed made with great care, and the maker’s intentions could be felt through the cloth.
The girl next door has grown up. She is gentle, kind, and a little… timid?
Fujiwara Yu picked up the basket, turned around, went up the stairs, and returned to his familiar little apartment.
This is… a small ripple in the peaceful life, he thought.
As for this new neighbor, Ayane Yamanaka, whether she will become an embellishment to his peaceful daily life or a potential source of trouble, it will take time to observe.
The pastries in the basket did smell good, though. Perhaps a proper response to this neighborly kindness would be in order?
Fujiwara Yu opened the small basket that Yamanaka Ayane had brought him, and inside it were several beautifully crafted Japanese confectionery. Some were in the shape of cherry blossoms, some were in the shape of rabbits, and they were pink and tender, exuding an alluring sweet fragrance. It was obvious that the maker had put a lot of effort into making them.
He picked up a piece of cherry blossom-shaped pastry and took a bite. It was soft and sticky, sweet but not greasy, with a light aroma of red bean paste. It tasted really good, and it was a very high standard that an ordinary family could make.
Fujiwara Yuu is not a person who indulges in food, but he does not reject delicious food. Especially in this period when material is relatively scarce and he needs to be frugal, such a thoughtful pastry does bring a little joy.
As the saying goes, courtesy should be reciprocated. Since you have accepted the other party’s kindness, you should also give appropriate gifts in return, which helps maintain a peaceful relationship between neighbors and avoid unnecessary estrangement and suspicion.
What should I give him? Fujiwara Yuu pondered. Giving money or purchased gifts would seem strange and would not fit his current financial situation and his principle of keeping a low profile. Perhaps the best way would be food.
What kind of food should we cook? It can’t be too complicated, so as not to expose his “understanding” that is far beyond ordinary people, but it needs to show a little bit of heart, and the taste must be good enough to achieve the effect of “bringing people closer”.
Fujiwara Yu thought of the simplest food he usually made – rice balls.
Rice balls may seem simple, but making them delicious actually requires skills. The choice of rice, the ratio of water, the heat of cooking, the strength of pinching the rice balls, and the combination and seasoning of the fillings, each step will affect the final taste.
For Fujiwara Yuu, who has an extraordinary understanding, these are easy to do. He does not need any secret recipes or guidance from famous teachers. He can accurately grasp the best balance point of every detail just through observation and practice.
For example, when cooking rice, he can determine the best time to turn off the fire and how long to simmer the rice by sensing the changes in water vapor and subtle changes in the internal structure of rice grains.
For example, when it comes to seasoning, he can accurately mix the proportions of salt, vinegar and sugar as if by instinct, so that the rice itself has just the right, refreshing sweetness.
For example, for fillings, he would not use any expensive ingredients. Maybe just a few slices of pickled vegetables at home, or some fried sesame seeds and seaweed crumbs. However, he can make these most common ingredients emit the most tempting flavor by adjusting the saltiness of the pickles or the degree of roasting of the sesame seeds.
He can even control the strength and shape of the rice balls just right, ensuring that the rice balls are firm and not loose, while not pressing the rice grains too tightly, thus maintaining the fluffy texture of the rice itself.
So, the next day after school, Fujiwara Yuu did not go home immediately, but went to a nearby cheap rice store and bought a small bag of rice of decent quality with his limited pocket money. When he got home, he started to work.
He washed the rice, soaked it, and precisely controlled the amount of water, and began to cook the rice in his worn-out little iron pot. He did not open the lid from time to time like ordinary people, but just sat quietly by the stove with his eyes closed, as if listening to the sound of the rice gradually cooking in the pot.
At a precise moment, he removed the firewood from the stove, covered the pot tightly, and let the rice slowly cook in the residual heat.
While waiting, he took out the only small piece of pickled radish in the house, rinsed it repeatedly with clean water to remove the excess salt, and then cut it into very fine dices. He also found some leftover seaweed from last time, roasted it over a low fire, and crushed it into fine pieces after it gave off a burnt aroma.
The rice is ready. When you open the lid, a rich rice aroma hits you. The rice grains are plump, crystal clear, and exude an attractive luster.
Fujiwara Yuu scooped out the rice, let it cool slightly, then added a very small amount of salt and a little bit of rice vinegar and mixed it in. His movements were gentle and quick, ensuring that every grain of rice was evenly coated with the seasoning without damaging the integrity of the rice grains.
Then he began to make rice balls. He wet his hands, took a small ball of rice, spread it out in his palms, put in some diced radish and shredded seaweed as fillings, and then quickly and gently closed it to form a perfect triangle. His movements were smooth, as if he had practiced it thousands of times. Soon, several rice balls of uniform size and perfect shape appeared on the table.
These rice balls look no different from ordinary rice balls, and even look more plain because they don’t have fancy fillings. But Fujiwara Yu knows that their taste is definitely far beyond the ordinary level. This is the result of his extreme optimization of the simplest ingredients using his “insight”.
He wrapped three of the rice balls in clean bamboo leaves and put them into an equally clean small cloth bag.
After doing all this, he began to eat his dinner, which was still a few simple rice balls with a simple bowl of vegetable soup.
Chapter 10 Average Students (Old Version)
The next morning, before leaving for school, Fujiwara Yuu came to the door of Yamanaka Ayane’s house next door. He could sense slight movements inside the door, which must be someone.
He knocked gently on the door.
“Knock, knock.”
The sound from the door paused for a moment, and after a while, the door was cautiously opened a crack, revealing Yamanaka Ayane’s sleepy and curious face.
“Fujiwara-kun?” Ayane was a little surprised to see it was him, as if she didn’t expect that he would come to her on his own initiative.
Fujiwara Yuu didn’t say any more nonsense. He just handed over the small cloth bag in his hand and said calmly, “This is a return gift.”
Ayane was stunned for a moment, then subconsciously took the bag, which was slightly warm to the touch. She looked down at the bag, then looked up at Fujiwara Yuu, with a puzzled expression on her face: “Return gift?”
“Yesterday’s pastries were delicious.” Fujiwara Yu explained, answering her doubts and expressing his affirmation of yesterday’s gift.
Hearing her cakes being praised, Ayane’s eyes lit up and her cheeks flushed with joy. She quickly opened the bag and saw three rice balls wrapped in bamboo leaves.
“Ah… this is… a rice ball?” She was a little surprised and a little embarrassed, “Fujiwara-kun, you are too polite. What happened yesterday was just…”
“Neighbors should help each other.” Fujiwara Yu interrupted her, using the words she said yesterday.
Ayane was amused by his words and burst out laughing. Her previous awkwardness and embarrassment immediately dissipated a lot. She looked at Fujiwara Yu’s expressionless face and felt that this seemingly cold neighbor didn’t seem so difficult to approach.
“Thank you, Fujiwara-kun! I will enjoy it!” Ayane held the cloth bag and gave Fujiwara Yu a bright smile, as warm as the morning sunshine.
“Yeah.” Fujiwara Yu nodded, without saying anything else, turned around and went downstairs to go to school.
Seeing Fujiwara Yuu leaving, Ayane’s smile deepened. She held the bag carefully, feeling warm in her heart.
Back in the house, Ayane’s mother, a woman who looked equally gentle and demure, saw what her daughter was holding and asked curiously, “Ayane, what is this?”
“It’s a return gift from Fujiwara-kun next door! The rice balls he made!” Ayane said happily, handing the cloth bag to her mother.
“Oh? That child?” Ayane’s mother was a little surprised. Yesterday, she asked her daughter to deliver cakes. In fact, she was just following the etiquette after moving. She didn’t expect the child who seemed a little lonely to respond. “Open it and take a look.”
Ayane carefully untied the bamboo leaves, revealing the plump and cute rice balls inside. A fresh aroma of rice mixed with the faint aroma of seaweed and pickles wafted out.
“It smells so good!” Ayane couldn’t help swallowing.
“You try it.” Ayane’s mother said with a smile.
Ayane picked up a rice ball and took a small bite.
“Wow!” Her eyes widened instantly, and her face was filled with surprise and disbelief.
The texture of the rice is just right, soft and chewy, with a hint of sweetness. Although the filling is simple, the crispness of the pickled radish and the salty fragrance of the seaweed are perfectly blended together, with a rich and fresh taste. This is definitely the best rice ball she has ever eaten! Even better than the one her mother makes!
“How is it?” Ayane’s mother asked curiously, looking at her daughter’s expression.
“Mom! It’s delicious! It’s really delicious!” Ayane exclaimed incoherently, and couldn’t help but take a big bite.
Ayane’s mother also picked up one and tasted it, showing the same surprised expression. This taste… is indeed extraordinary. It is totally unlike the level that a child of this age can make. That child named Fujiwara Yuu is really surprising.
“It seems that our little neighbor is quite extraordinary.” Ayane’s mother said thoughtfully.
At this time, Fujiwara Yuu was on his way to school. He could imagine Yamanaka Ayane’s reaction when she ate the rice ball. Sharing food is indeed a simple and effective way to get closer. Especially for a girl like Ayane who is simple-minded and easy to satisfy.
This neighborhood relationship seems to be developing in the direction he expected, “friendly but distant.” A neighbor who is gentle and kind, not threatening, and can occasionally bring a little happiness to life seems to be good.
At least, it’s much less troublesome than those troubled protagonists.
The shuriken throwing course at the Ninja School is an important part of testing students’ basic ninja tool use ability and initial chakra control. On the training ground, rows of wooden targets are neatly arranged, and students are divided into groups and take turns to practice.
It’s Fujiwara Yu’s group’s turn.
He and several other students stood behind the designated throwing line, holding the standard shuriken issued by the school, and the cold metal touch was transmitted to the palm of his hand.
“Pay attention to your posture! Use your wrists! Concentrate!” The Chunin teacher in charge of instruction shouted commands loudly.
The students next to him had already started throwing. Some used too much force, and the shuriken flew out crookedly and stuck in the dirt next to the target; some did not use enough force, and fell down halfway; some, like Sasuke, had a quick and neat move, and with a “swoosh”, the shuriken accurately nailed the red dot on the bull’s eye, attracting exclamations and screams from the girls. Naruto threw all the shurikens in his hand at once, and they were scattered everywhere, missing the target and almost hitting the people next to him.
It’s Fujiwara Yu’s turn.
He took a deep breath and assumed a standard throwing posture. He stared at the target in front of him with a “focused” look, tilted his wrist back slightly, and then swung it forward!
The shuriken flew out, spinning in a fairly standard arc.
“Boom!”
With a dull thud, the shuriken pierced the target.
The position is around the seventh ring. A very “mediocre” result, neither high nor low.
“Well, not bad, keep practicing!” The instructor nodded, and without paying too much attention, went on to instruct the next student.
Fujiwara Yu picked up the second shuriken expressionlessly and threw it again.
Whoosh! Boom!
This time it was in the eighth ring, slightly closer to the ninth ring. It was slightly better than last time.
He continued to throw.
The third one, six rings.
The fourth one, eight rings.
The fifth one seemed to have good luck. With a “dong” sound, it hit the ninth ring close to the center of the bull’s eye.
The students around him exclaimed in admiration, thinking that he had done well this time. Fujiwara Yu showed a hint of “lucky” and “satisfied” expression at the right time, then quietly stepped aside and let the next student take the place.
His overall score was neither good nor bad, and was stable in the upper middle level. He was neither outstanding like Sasuke nor terrible like Naruto. It perfectly matched his “average student” personality.
However, only Fujiwara Yu himself knew how much “acting skills” he used in those throws just now.
What is his real level?
Chapter 11: Secret Training (Old Version)
In the dead of night, he stumbled upon a secluded grove in the back hills. The moonlight filtered through the sparse branches and leaves, casting mottled spots of light. Far away from the hustle and bustle of the village and away from the regular patrol routes of ninjas, it was a perfect place for him to practice in secret.
Fujiwara Yuu stood in front of a thick tree, holding a few shurikens in his hands. But at this moment, his eyes and aura were completely different from those in school during the day.
His eyes were calm and sharp, as if they could penetrate the darkness and accurately lock onto the target. His breathing was long and steady, blending into the surrounding night. His center of gravity sank slightly, and his posture seemed casual, but it contained an indescribable coordination and strength.
He did not deliberately imitate the standard posture as he did during the day, but instead held the shuriken in a way that best suited his body’s strength and allowed him to best display his skills.
Then, he flicked his wrist slightly.
There were no loud shouts, no exaggerated movements, and even the sound of breaking air was so faint that it was almost inaudible.
A cold light flashed in the moonlight.
puff!
There was a muffled sound that was so slight that it could be ignored. A dozen meters away from him, on the trunk of the big tree, a shuriken was nailed in the center of a leaf! The tip of the shuriken accurately penetrated the vein in the center of the leaf, but did not cause any extra damage to the surrounding area.
This is no longer a simple throw, but a precise control that is almost artistic!
Fujiwara Yuu didn’t stop.
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
There were three more barely audible sounds of breaking through the air.
Almost at the same time, three shurikens, at different tricky angles, accurately nailed three points around the first shuriken, forming a perfect equilateral triangle, firmly fixing the pierced leaf to the tree trunk!
That’s not all.
Fujiwara Yu’s eyes narrowed slightly, and his body spun half a circle on the spot like a ghost, while his wrist turned again.
call out–!
The last shuriken flew out of his hand with a strange arc, bypassing several small branches that were blocking the way in front.
It was accurately nailed in the center of the tail ring of the first shuriken!
The five shurikens formed a wonderful and stable pattern, like a carefully crafted work of art.
crack shot?
For him, this is just the most basic requirement. What he pursues is to be able to send the shuriken to any point he wants in any environment and with any posture, and to be able to control its force, angle and incidental effects.
This was due to his abnormal understanding and his increasingly sophisticated control over chakra. He could attach a tiny but extremely precise chakra to the shuriken the moment it left his hand, and finely adjust its flight trajectory and rotation speed, making it almost “hit wherever you point” effect.
This ability, if exposed, would be enough to shock any teacher in a ninja school, and might even attract the attention of higher-ups. But this was exactly what Fujiwara Yuu was trying to avoid.
He doesn’t need this kind of false reputation, nor does he need recognition from others. He just needs to make sure that when he really needs to use this skill to protect himself or achieve a certain goal, it can work reliably.
Hiding his strength was his consistent principle. He had to strictly follow the basic skills such as shuriken throwing. In school, he only needed to show an “above average” level, a level that could be achieved through hard work, and that was enough.
The real fangs should be hidden in the most difficult place to be discovered, so that they can deal a fatal blow to the enemy (if there are any) at the critical moment.
Fujiwara Yuu walked forward, easily pulled out the five shurikens, wiped them carefully, and put them back into the ninja bag. Only a few tiny holes were left on the tree trunk, which would soon disappear under the tree’s self-repair.
He raised his head and looked at the moon in the sky with calm eyes.
This world, after all, belongs to the strong. A stable life also requires enough strength to protect it. But the way he chose was not to stand in the spotlight, but to hide behind the scenes and accumulate quietly until he had absolute certainty.
The accuracy of the shuriken was just one of his many hidden cards, and this card would never be easily revealed in front of others unless it was absolutely necessary.
Life in the ninja school goes on day after day. In addition to the necessary study and “performance”, Fujiwara Yu has a lot of private time. He is not like Naruto, who is eager to be recognized by everyone and stirs up trouble everywhere; nor is he like Sasuke, who is burdened with a heavy past and drives him to pursue power madly; nor is he like Sakura, who spends most of her thoughts on how to attract Sasuke’s attention.
Fujiwara Yu’s goal is very clear: to live a stable, low-key life, accumulate strength, and lay the foundation for his future “retirement life”.
Therefore, when he occasionally saw some familiar “plot” scenes in the corners of the campus or on his way home from school, he always felt calm.
For example, he had seen Uzumaki Naruto isolated by other children more than once.
It might be on the playground, where the kids were playing ninja games in groups. Naruto ran over excitedly to join in, but was pushed away by everyone like they were avoiding the plague. Some even threw rocks at him and called him a “monster”. Naruto’s smile froze, and then he pretended not to care, ran to a corner alone, and practiced his shapeless punches and kicks against a big tree, shouting “I must become a Hokage in the future, and let all of you recognize me!” That voice was full of reluctance, anger, and a deeper loneliness.
It could also be that in the classroom, when the teacher asked a question, Naruto rarely raised his hand to answer, but was directly ignored by the teacher, or when he answered incorrectly, he was ridiculed by the whole class. He would blush and want to argue, but he didn’t know what to say, and finally he could only sit down in dismay, using pranks to cover up his loss and embarrassment.
Even on the streets of the village, some adults who didn’t know the truth or were afraid would look at him with disgust and rejection, and whisper something. Naruto would pretend not to hear, and walk past with his head held high, but his clenched fists and slightly trembling shoulders revealed his inner grievances.
Fujiwara Yu saw all of this.
If it were a real child, he might feel sympathy, or confusion, or distance himself from Naruto out of fear, or he might want to speak up for Naruto out of a sense of justice.
But Fujiwara Yuu is not.
His mental age, or the cognition deep in his soul, has long surpassed this age. He knows what Naruto is carrying and why he is treated like this. He also “knows” (or draws a conclusion with a high probability through observation and deduction) the trajectory of Naruto’s future destiny, and knows that he will eventually overcome all this and become the hero of the village.
These cognitions prevented him from having much emotional resonance with what was happening to Naruto.
Sympathy? Maybe a little, but very little. Everyone has their own destiny and suffering. Naruto’s suffering is obvious and on the table, but in this world, there are countless hidden pains and struggles that are unknown to people. He does not have the energy and position to sympathize with everyone.
Angry? Not even close. The ignorance and fear of the villagers, the inaction or deliberate guidance of the upper echelons, these are all part of the reality of this world. Anger cannot solve the problem, but may draw oneself into a vortex of right and wrong.
Want to intervene? Help Naruto? Fujiwara Yuu didn’t even think about it.
Chapter 12: Trying to Cohere (Old Version)
First of all, this runs counter to his life goal of “low-key and stable”. Being associated with Naruto is like jumping into the center of the “plot”, which will inevitably attract countless attention and troubles. Uchiha Sasuke, Kakashi, the Third Hokage, and even the later Akatsuki organization… Just thinking about these names makes Fujiwara Yuu feel numb.
Secondly, he thought it was unnecessary. Naruto’s life trajectory had its own destiny, and his growth required these hardships. Apart from disrupting the rhythm, increasing uncertainty, and bringing unpredictable risks, how much positive significance could his intervention as a “passerby” have? Should he help him solve all the difficulties and heal all the traumas like a nanny? Can Naruto, who is like that, still become a hero in the future?
The last and most fundamental reason: it’s none of your business.
This may sound a bit cold and heartless, but it is Fujiwara Yu’s truest thought. Naruto’s fate, Sasuke’s revenge, Sakura’s love, the bond of Team 7, the future Ninja World War… In his opinion, these grand narratives and exciting plots have no direct relationship with him, Fujiwara Yu.
He is just a small person who wants to live in this world peacefully. His first priority is to protect himself and manage his own life. No matter how wonderful other people’s stories are, they are still other people’s stories. He has no ambition to save the world, nor does he have the ambition to change his fate.
So, when he saw Naruto being isolated again, or saw Sasuke’s cold eyes, or even occasionally recalled the vague information about the Uchiha clan’s genocide, his heart was as calm as a pool of deep water, without the slightest ripple.
Like a true bystander, he would take a calm look, then look away and continue on his way, thinking about whether to eat simple rice balls in the evening, or to improve the food a little, or figure out how to optimize the newly learned sealing runes.
Let the story of this world develop as it is. He, Fujiwara Yu, just wanted to be a quiet spectator. If possible, it would be best if he didn’t even sit in the audience seats, but stayed far away in his own safe house, and occasionally listened to the noise outside.
It’s none of my business, so I’ll just ignore it. This is the core attitude of Fujiwara Yuu when facing the “main storyline” of this world.
In the theory class of the Ninja School, the teacher also began to introduce the basic concepts of chakra property changes.
“Chakra is not static. According to its properties, it can be divided into five basic types: fire, wind, lightning, earth, and water. These five properties complement and restrain each other, forming the basis of the ninjutsu system…”
The teacher drew representative symbols of the five attributes on the blackboard and briefly explained their respective characteristics: the heat and destruction of fire, the cutting and swiftness of wind, the penetration and paralysis of thunder, the firmness and defense of earth, and the flow and shaping of water.
“Every ninja is born with a higher affinity for one or more chakra properties. Understanding and mastering one’s own chakra properties is the prerequisite for learning ninjutsu of the corresponding properties.”
In the class, the students seemed to understand what was being said. Some of the children who came from ninja families, perhaps they had learned relevant knowledge from their elders, showed a look of understanding. But people like Naruto looked confused, and probably didn’t even remember the names of the five attributes.
Fujiwara Yu sat in the corner, listening very attentively.
Although the teacher only explained the most basic things, combined with his own knowledge gained from books and secret practice, his understanding of the changes in the nature of chakra has long surpassed the scope of the classroom.
He knew that the nature of chakra was not clear-cut, and many powerful ninjas could even master two or more nature changes, and even combine them to create new “bloodline limits” or “bloodline eliminations.” He also knew that in addition to these five basic natures, there were also two types of nature, yin and yang, which involved the origin of spiritual energy and physical energy, and were closely related to illusions, medical ninjutsu, and some special secret techniques.
But for him right now, the most important and basic step is to find out his own chakra attribute affinity.
This is related to the direction of his future ninjutsu learning. Although he does not plan to learn too many offensive ninjutsu, it is still very necessary to master some defensive, auxiliary or life-related ninjutsu that matches his own attributes in order to improve his survivability and quality of life.
How to detect the properties of your own chakra?
The teacher didn’t explain in detail in class, but just said there would be a special test later. But Fujiwara Yu didn’t want to wait. He was used to taking everything into his own hands instead of passively waiting for arrangements.
He began to explore using his limited resources.
The first step is observation.
He would carefully observe the school teachers or the ninjas he occasionally met performing ninjutsu with attributes. For example, the physical training teacher would occasionally use earth escape to harden his arms to demonstrate blocking skills. The rock texture covering his arms at that moment, as well as the heavy and stagnant feeling contained in the chakra, were all keenly captured and memorized by him.
He would also observe natural phenomena and try to relate them to the nature of the chakras: the burning heat and irregular jumping of flames, the sharpness and flow of strong winds, the penetration and tolerance of raindrops, the stability of the earth carrying all things… He tried to understand the essential characteristics of the five basic qualities from these phenomena.
The second is to consult books.
In the corner of the library, he found some broken scrolls or notes that described the changes in chakra properties in more depth. Although there was no specific attribute testing method recorded (which usually required special chakra test paper), it described the subtle differences in physical sensations that might occur when chakras of different attributes were refined and used.
For example, people with an affinity to fire may feel a subtle warmth when refining chakra; people with an affinity to water may feel cool; people with an affinity to wind may feel light; people with an affinity to lightning may feel a slight numbness; and people with an affinity to earth may feel steady and heavy.
These descriptions are very vague and vary from person to person, so they cannot be used as an exact basis for judgment, but they at least provide a direction to try.
So, during the secret training time in the dead of night, Fujiwara Yuu began his attempts at self-perception.
He sat cross-legged, put aside all distracting thoughts, and immersed all his mind in his body. He no longer simply refined and controlled the flow of chakra as before, but went a step further and carefully “tasted” the “texture” of his own chakra.
He mobilized a small amount of chakra and let it flow slowly through his fingertips.
Is it warm? He felt it carefully, and it seemed… there was no obvious burning sensation. Excluding the possibility of fire attribute? Or is the affinity not high?
Is it refreshing? It seems… not.
Was it light? He tried to make the chakra float, and it seemed easier than he thought. There was a feeling of… flowing and cutting? Like a breeze brushing across his fingertips?
Is it paralytic? Not at all.
Is it steady? He tried to gather his chakra and could feel the solidity of its energy, but it seemed to lack the heavy feeling of being connected to the earth.
Chapter 13 Chakra Affinity (Old Version)
Fujiwara Yuu did not jump to conclusions. This kind of perception is very subjective and easily affected by psychological suggestion. He tried again and again, perceiving from different angles.
He also tried to inject chakra into different objects and observe the subtle changes that occurred. For example, when injected into water, the water did not become noticeably hotter or colder, but the flow seemed to become more regular. When injected into leaves, the leaves would tremble slightly and sharply. When injected into stones, there was no special reaction.
Chapter 14: Accumulating Wealth (Old Edition)
“Wind… and water?” Fujiwara Yu speculated silently in his heart.
The cutting and flowing feeling of wind attribute seems to be more obvious. The penetration and shaping of water attribute also seem to be felt a little bit.
Does this mean that he is born with an affinity for both wind and water? Or is one of them the primary attribute and the other the secondary attribute?
Fujiwara Yuu was not in a hurry to confirm. The perception of attributes requires time and more professional tools (such as chakra test paper) to verify. What he is doing now is just a preliminary exploration.
But this exploration itself has deepened his understanding of chakra. He began to think, if he really has wind and water attributes, then what ninjutsu can he learn in the future?
Wind attribute, you can learn wind-style cutting and acceleration ninjutsu, which can improve mobility and a certain attack/defense power. For example, basic wind blades, or techniques to accelerate the body.
Water attribute, you can learn water-based defense, binding or shaping ninjutsu, such as basic water array wall, or making water whip, water prison, etc.
More importantly, the two properties of wind and water seem to have great potential in assisting life. For example, wind can be used to clean and dry items, and water can be used to wash and irrigate. Even more, if the control is strong enough, can wind and water be combined to create an effect similar to a “humidifier” or “air purifier”?
Fujiwara Yuu’s thoughts began to diverge. For him, the value of ninjutsu is not only in fighting, but also in making his life more comfortable, safer and more convenient.
The initial exploration of the basic five elements’ properties opened up a new direction for his future “technological research and development” and “capability reserve”.
He included this speculation and perception in his own secret. Before the official test results from the school came out, he would not show any understanding of his own attributes.
The most important task at present is to continue playing the role of the “average student” who is ignorant about everything.
Fujiwara Yuu has always lived a frugal life. As an orphan, the pension given by the village is not much, just enough to maintain his basic living expenses – rent, water and electricity, the cheapest food, and the necessary books and basic ninja tools for the ninja school. Unlike other children, he does not have pocket money to buy snacks or toys, so every penny needs to be spent wisely.
In the past, he did not have a strong feeling about this, or rather, he had long been accustomed to this kind of poverty. A person’s life does not require much, as long as he can have enough food and warm clothes, and a place to shelter from the wind and rain, he will feel satisfied.
But as he grew older and had clearer plans for a “stable daily life” in the future, Fujiwara Yu began to realize a very realistic problem: money.
A stable life is not only about being away from violence, but also about having a certain material foundation. He can’t live in this small, old apartment forever, relying on the village’s meager subsidies. He wants a home of his own that is more comfortable, safer, and perhaps has a small yard. He wants to not have to worry about the next meal or fixing a leaky roof in the future. He wants to have enough resources to support his “unprofessional” research, such as improving life ninjutsu or studying sealing techniques in depth.
All of this requires money.
Being a ninja is indeed a lucrative profession, and you can get corresponding rewards for completing tasks. But Fujiwara Yu’s goal is to take as few tasks as possible after graduation, especially those that are dangerous and require leaving the village. His ideal job is a clerical position such as the village data room administrator, which usually does not pay too much and can only provide food and clothing.
Relying on the conventional path of ninja missions to accumulate wealth was obviously contrary to his life plan.
Then, we have to find another way.
He must find a way to make money without attracting too much attention or exposing his hidden strength.
Fujiwara Yuu began to think about this problem seriously.
What are his advantages?
Incredible comprehension. Superb learning and imitation abilities. Chakra control accuracy far beyond that of his peers. And, knowledge reserves accumulated through books and observation that go far beyond the surface.
How to turn these advantages into money?
Directly use powerful ninjutsu to make money? For example, accept difficult secret commissions? No, the risk is too high, the movement is too big, and it directly goes against his original intention.
Using advanced knowledge to invent and create? For example, creating some high-tech products that are not available in this era? Not to mention the technical barriers, the source of this knowledge that is beyond the times cannot be explained. Once it is exposed, the consequences will be disastrous. He is not sure that he is a so-called “time traveler”. Only some vague “information fragments” occasionally flash through his mind, but these information are scattered and unreliable, not enough to support him to make shocking moves.
Then, we can only start from the existing, low-key aspects.
His eyes fell on the empty plate of simple pickles that he had just finished eating.
food.
The rice balls he gave to Yamanaka Ayane last time seemed to work well. He was confident that he could use his comprehension to make the most ordinary ingredients taste far beyond the ordinary. Perhaps, he could make some improved versions of simple foods that tasted better or lasted longer and sell them on a small scale? For example, specially made pickles, unique seasonings, or even “improved version of Bingliang Pills” with slightly improved taste and recovery effects?
This idea seems feasible. The threshold of the food industry is relatively low, and it is not easy to attract the attention of the top ninjas. As long as the scale and quality are controlled well and not too good, it should not cause big trouble. The disadvantage is that the profit may not be high, and it is more time-consuming and energy-consuming.
Or, use his knowledge and skills?
He is well versed in various basic theories and has a deep understanding of the construction and use of ninja tools. Perhaps he could try to undertake some simple maintenance and repair work for ninja tools? Or, make some basic ninja tools with slightly better quality or some minor improvements? For example, a shuriken that is more aerodynamic when thrown, or a kunai set that is easier to hide?
This direction seems to be closer to the ninja world, but the risk is relatively high. Ninja tools are weapons after all, and when it comes to this, it is easy to be related to combat and missions. Moreover, if what he makes is better than the official or large family workshop products, it will also attract unnecessary attention.
There is also the Sealing Technique. Although the basic Sealing Technique he mastered was not very powerful, it was very practical. For example, making storage scrolls. Storage scrolls on the market are very expensive. If he can make scrolls with similar effects at a lower cost, or even improve in some aspects (such as portability and concealment), maybe there will be a big market for it?
This idea made Fujiwara Yuu a little excited. Sealing techniques were his current research focus, which could not only improve his own strength (in the auxiliary aspect), but also be converted into an economic source, killing two birds with one stone. But there were also risks. Sealing techniques were sensitive in themselves. How could a student from a ninja school make and sell storage scrolls? This was too abnormal. He had to do it extremely covertly, and could not sell it under his own name. He needed to find a reliable and inconspicuous sales channel.
Chapter 15 Risk Avoidance (Old Version)
Fujiwara Yu sat at the table, his fingers tapping unconsciously, his brain working at high speed, weighing the pros and cons and risks of various options.
At present, these are just preliminary ideas. He is not in a hurry to implement them immediately. You have to eat one bite at a time and walk one step at a time. He will not act easily before he is absolutely sure.
But the idea of ​​making money to support his family has already taken root in his heart.
He needs money to realize his ideal life of stability, comfort and undisturbedness, and he believes that with his own brains and abilities, he will be able to find a low-key and effective way to make money that suits him.
This is also an important part of his future fortress. Although money is not omnipotent, it is indeed one of the important cornerstones to freedom and stability in this world.
Fujiwara Yu is a very risk-averse person. In his view, anything that may put him in an uncontrollable situation or attract unnecessary attention should be avoided as much as possible.
Going to the hospital is one of them.
Being a ninja is a high-risk profession, and getting injured is commonplace. There is no doubt that Konoha Village has the best medical system and medical ninjas in the entire ninja world. But for Fujiwara Yuu, the hospital is a place he wants to stay away from as much as possible.
The reason is simple.
First of all, it is troublesome. Registration, queuing, examination, payment… a series of cumbersome and time-consuming procedures will take up his precious personal time.
Secondly, there is the risk of exposure. Hospitals are places where information is highly concentrated. Every visit to the hospital will be recorded. Your injuries, physical condition, and even some subtle features of your chakra may be noticed by someone with ulterior motives. For Fujiwara Yuu, who tried his best to hide his strength, this undoubtedly increased unnecessary risks. If he encountered a medical ninja with keen perception or meticulous mind, and saw his unusualness from some subtle wound healing or chakra reaction, it would not be worth the loss.
Thirdly, he didn’t like that kind of environment. The smell of disinfectant, the painful groans of the injured, the anxious waiting of the family members, the depressing atmosphere of separation… all of this was contrary to the tranquility and stability he pursued.
Of course, if it is a serious injury that is life-threatening, he will naturally not shy away from seeking medical treatment. But before that, for those minor injuries that may occur in daily life, such as accidental abrasions and cuts during training, or minor sprains and burns, if you can handle it yourself, that is undoubtedly the best option.
Based on this consideration, Fujiwara Yu decided to teach himself some basic medical knowledge.
His goal was not to become a legendary medical ninja like Tsunade, which required special talents, huge chakra and systematic learning. His goal was very practical: to master the methods of dealing with common minor injuries, understand the basic knowledge of human structure and physiology, know some commonly used herbs and their effects, be able to perform simple debridement, disinfection, bandaging, and deal with some minor illnesses.
The way to learn is still the library.
He once again came to the familiar corner that few people visited. This time, he was looking for basic books related to medicine.
“Basic Human Anatomy Atlas (Simplified Edition)”, “Common Trauma Treatment Manual”, “Identification and Application of Common Medicinal Plants in the Fire Country”, “Introduction to Chakra and Human Meridians”…
Most of these books are not for professional medical ninjas, but more like popular science books written for ordinary ninjas or villagers. The content is relatively simple, but for Fujiwara Yu, it is enough.
With his strong comprehension and memory, Fujiwara Yu absorbed this knowledge like a sponge absorbs water.
The distribution of human bones, the direction of major muscles, the location of important blood vessels and nerves… these things that look complicated on anatomical atlases seemed to have turned into logically clear structural diagrams in his eyes.
How to determine the type of wound (cut, blunt force trauma, burn, frostbite), the principles of treatment for different wounds (debridement, hemostasis, disinfection, bandaging), and how to use different types of bandages (circular, spiral, figure eight)… He can not only remember the steps in the manual, but also understand the principles behind them.
Which herbs can stop bleeding, which can reduce inflammation, which can relieve pain, their appearance characteristics, growing environment, preparation methods and usage contraindications… Combined with the “Herbal Illustrated Book” he had read before, he quickly established a small personal “pharmacopoeia”.
Even the book “An Initial Exploration of Chakras and Human Meridians”, although the content was very basic, gave him a clearer understanding of the flow paths of chakras in his body. This laid a theoretical foundation for his future attempts to use chakras to assist in treatment (such as the most basic coagulation or stimulation of cell activity).
He doesn’t just watch, he practices (when it’s absolutely safe).
He would use a knife to simulate different types of wounds on discarded wood, and then practice how to clean and bandage them as quickly and effectively as possible. He would go to the back mountain to collect some common herbs recorded in books (of course, only the most common and unnoticeable varieties), carefully identify them, and try simple processing and preservation.
He would even occasionally deliberately make some very small wounds (such as a finger pierced by a needle), and then observe the blood coagulation process, and try to use the most basic chakra control techniques (such as concentrating a small amount of chakra at the wound to imitate the effect of coagulation factors) to speed up the process. The effect was minimal, but he could clearly feel the changes and the requirements for chakra control accuracy.
All this happened silently.
In school, he was still the average student who would occasionally get a scratch in physical training class and then clumsily treat it with a Band-Aid. No one knew that he already had knowledge and skills far beyond his peers in dealing with these minor injuries, and even not inferior to some inexperienced Genin.
Self-learning medical knowledge is another brick and stone for him to build a “stable fortress”. It is inconspicuous and unobtrusive, but it can reduce trouble and increase calmness at critical moments.
Fewer visits to the hospital means less trouble and more safety. This is Fujiwara Yu’s simplest logic.
Ever since Fujiwara Yu sent rice balls as a return gift last time, his relationship with his next-door neighbor Yamanaka Ayane seemed to be gradually becoming familiar with each other in a subtle and natural state.
They are no longer just strangers who nod to each other, but there is a vague friendship and daily interaction between young boys and girls.
The most common scenario is going home together.
Chapter 16: A Small Favor (Old Version)
The Ninja School had roughly the same time for dismissal. Fujiwara Yuu habitually packed up his things slowly, and Ayane always seemed to finish packing at the same time. As a result, the two would often walk together naturally not far from the school gate.
The way home is not long, but it is enough for two taciturn (Fujiwara Yuu) and slightly shy (Ayane) people to have some simple communication.
Ayane usually speaks first, sharing some interesting things at school or little discoveries in life.
“Fujiwara-kun, today Iruka-sensei talked about the story of how the first generation established the village. It was really amazing!” Ayane’s eyes sparkled, full of admiration for the hero.
Fujiwara Yuu would say “hmm” to indicate that he was listening, but he would not make too many comments. He knew those stories, and even knew the details and background better than the teacher, but there was no need to say it.
“By the way, today I saw a very pitiful little cat by the playground. It seemed injured…” Ayane’s tone became a little worried again. “I gave it some of my lunch box. I hope it can get better.”
Fujiwara Yuu’s eyes would move slightly, but he would still simply respond, “Really?” He would not ask where the cat was, nor would he show too much concern. He had his own principles and would not easily intervene in things that might cause trouble, even if it was just a stray cat.
Sometimes, Ayane would talk about family matters, mainly her mother.
“Mom made new miso soup today. She said you can come to our house and try it next time you are free.” Ayane’s cheeks blushed slightly, with a little anticipation.
“Thank you, if there is a chance.” Fujiwara Yu’s answer is always polite, but he keeps his distance. Going to someone else’s house for dinner? This seems to be beyond the “safe social distance” he has set.
Fujiwara Yuu rarely initiates conversations, but when Ayane shares some of the little confusions she encounters in study or life (non-ninjutsu related), he will occasionally give some concise but often to-the-point advice.
For example, when Ayane complained that she couldn’t remember a certain historical era, Fujiwara Yu would casually say, “Three major events happened in that era. Remember the logical order in which they occurred, and the years will naturally connect.”
For example, if Ayane says that a drawer of an old cabinet at home is difficult to open, Fujiwara Yuu will remind her: “It may be deformed by moisture. Try sanding the contact area with sandpaper.”
These seemingly random instructions can always effectively solve Ayane’s little troubles, making her feel a sense of trust in Fujiwara Yuu, as if “although he doesn’t talk much, he seems to know a little about everything.”
In addition to walking home together, the sharing of food also continued.
Ayane’s mother seemed to be impressed by the rice balls that Fujiwara Yu sent last time, and occasionally asked Ayane to send some homemade snacks or side dishes. Usually, they were placed at the door of Fujiwara Yu’s house so that he could see them when he came back.
Fujiwara Yuu would also return the gifts appropriately. Sometimes it was simple food that he made himself, improved by his understanding, such as roasted sweet potato chips with a crispier texture, or sweet jam made from ordinary wild fruits. Sometimes, he would also use his saved pocket money to buy some good quality fruits, divide them into two portions, one for himself, and one in a clean bag, which he would leave at the door of Ayane’s house.
This way of communicating through food without meeting in person not only maintains contact but also avoids the embarrassment and uncertainty that may come with excessive face-to-face social interaction, which is very much in line with Fujiwara Yu’s preferences.
As time went by, the relationship between the two people gradually warmed up in this plain and warm daily interaction.
The way Ayane looked at Fujiwara Yuu was no longer just a neighbor or classmate, but a little more intimate and dependent that a girl could have. She would be happy for a long time because of an unintentional affirmation from Fujiwara Yuu, and would also feel satisfied because she could walk a part of the way home with him. She began to notice some of Fujiwara Yuu’s subtle habits, such as he always walked steadily, was always focused when reading, and was always quiet when eating.
Although Fujiwara Yuu remained vigilant and distant in his heart, he did have some different feelings towards Ayane, a gentle, kind, and simple girl. Her existence was like a ray of warm sunshine, shining into his slightly lonely and closed world. The time spent with her was very relaxing, and he didn’t need to pretend too much or be on guard all the time.
This feeling…is not bad.
He even found that he would occasionally slow down his pace subconsciously after school, waiting for the light blue figure to appear.
Of course, the rise of this emotion is extremely slow and restrained. Fujiwara Yuu will never let it affect his core plan. Ayane is just a “variable” in his stable daily life, a variable that seems to be benign at present. How it will develop in the future needs to be further observed.
But at least now, this warm daily life with the girl next door has become a rare bright spot in his somewhat monotonous life.
The peaceful days flowed silently like a trickle of water. The interaction between Fujiwara Yuu and Yamanaka Ayane was also maintained in a friendly and slightly shy balance. Fujiwara Yuu carefully guarded his secrets and played the role of an “ordinary middle-class student”, while Ayane was satisfied with this peaceful neighborhood friendship.
However, one time, a small accident almost broke this balance.
It was a weekend afternoon. Fujiwara Yu was reading at home when he suddenly heard Ayane’s slightly anxious and frustrated voice coming from next door, which seemed to be mixed with a few low sobs.
Out of an almost instinctive reaction, or out of concern for this rare neighbor who allowed him to let down some of his guard, Fujiwara Yu put down his book and walked to the door. He did not knock, but just listened attentively.
There were intermittent sounds coming from next door.
“Why… why did it break again…” It was Ayane’s crying voice, “Mom just fixed it for me…”
“Woo… little rabbit… your ears…”
It sounds like Ayane’s favorite toy is broken.
Fujiwara Yuu thought about it. If it was normal, he would probably pretend not to hear it and avoid intervening. But this time, hearing Ayane’s obviously sad cry, he actually felt a little bit of pity in his heart.
Maybe… I could help out a little? It’s just a toy repair, it shouldn’t reveal anything. Besides, it could also quiet down the neighbors and give him a quiet afternoon.
Having made up his mind, Fujiwara Yu gently knocked on the door next door.
The crying stopped abruptly. After a while, the door was opened, revealing Ayane’s red-eyed, tearful face. She was holding a somewhat old stuffed rabbit tightly in her hands, one of the rabbit’s long ears drooping, and the connection seemed to be broken.
Chapter 17: Back Mountain (Old Version)
“Fuji, Fujiwara-kun?” Ayane was a little surprised when she saw Fujiwara Yuu. She quickly wiped her tears and lowered her head a little embarrassedly.
“I heard crying.” Fujiwara Yu briefly explained why he came here, and his eyes fell on the stuffed rabbit. “Is the toy broken?”
“Hmm…” Ayane nodded, her voice still thick with nasal sounds. She held up the rabbit and said aggrievedly, “The rabbit’s ear is broken again… Mom sewed it for me this morning, but… it seems that it is not strong enough…”
Fujiwara Yuu looked at the drooping ear and the broken thread. It was just ordinary cotton thread, and the sewing technique was rather rough, so it was no wonder that it broke again.
“Let me see.” Fujiwara Yu stretched out his hand.
Ayane hesitated for a moment, but still handed her beloved rabbit to him.
Fujiwara Yu took the rabbit and found it soft to the touch. He carefully examined the broken part. The fabric was a little worn, and it would be difficult to sew it firmly together with ordinary needle and thread, unless thicker thread was used, but that would ruin the beauty.
what to do?
His mind raced. Chakra? No, too obvious. Special adhesive? He didn’t have any.
Suddenly, he thought of the chakra he had been practicing recently.
What if… you use extremely fine, almost invisible chakra threads to reconnect and reinforce the broken fabric fibers like sutures? This requires extremely high chakra control precision, and no traces of chakra residue can be left.
The risk is very high. Once discovered, you will be completely exposed.
But looking at Ayane’s eyes full of expectation and trust, and the old rabbit in her arms that seemed to carry a lot of emotions, Fujiwara Yu’s heart moved slightly.
Just this once. Be careful and it should be fine.
He held the rabbit, turned his back to Ayane, and walked to a dimly lit corner, pretending to study carefully how to insert the needle. In fact, his fingertips had already condensed several strands of chakra that were thinner than a hair and almost transparent.
He was highly focused, carefully controlling these chakra strands, like a micro-probe with independent consciousness, probing into the gaps between the broken fibers of the fabric. Then, with a delicate operation beyond human limits, he redirected, woven, and fixed the broken fibers together one by one. At the same time, he also separated a strand of chakra, imitating the trajectory of ordinary needles and threads, leaving some “sewing” marks on the surface as a camouflage.
The whole process lasted only a dozen seconds.
He loosened his grip, handed the rabbit back to Ayane, and said calmly, “Okay, give it a try.”
Ayane took the rabbit and was surprised to find that the drooping ear had stood up again! The joint looked almost exactly the same as before, even more natural than before! She gently pulled the ear and felt it was very firm.
“Huh?! It’s done! It’s really done!” Ayane cried out in surprise. Her previous frustration was swept away and a bright smile bloomed on her face. “Fujiwara-kun! You are so good! You sew better than my mom!”
“It was just a little trick.” Fujiwara Yu said calmly, but secretly relieved. He could feel that the operation just now did not leave any obvious traces of chakra.
However, Ayane’s curiosity was aroused. She tilted her head and looked carefully at the connection between the rabbit’s ears, then looked at Fujiwara Yu’s ordinary-looking hands, her eyes full of doubt and inquiry.
“But… Fujiwara-kun, you didn’t seem to use needle and thread just now?” She asked in a low voice, with a hint of uncertainty in her tone. Although she didn’t see it clearly just now, it seemed that she really didn’t see Fujiwara-kun take out needle and thread or anything like that. Moreover, the speed and effect of that repair were too incredible.
Fujiwara Yu’s heart skipped a beat!
Discovered? No, it should just be the little girl’s intuition and doubt.
He had to dispel her doubts immediately.
“I used it.” Fujiwara Yu’s tone was firm, without any panic on his face. “It was a very thin line, hidden in the finger, and it was fast. You just didn’t see it clearly.”
As he spoke, he stretched out his fingers, pretended to twist out an “invisible thread” from between his fingers, and then retracted them.
This explanation was a bit far-fetched, but it seemed to make sense to the simple-minded Ayane. After all, in her mind, Fujiwara-kun was a somewhat mysterious person who “talked little but seemed to know a lot”.
“Oh… I see…” Ayane nodded as if she understood. Although she still felt a little strange in her heart, she was more happy and grateful when she saw that the rabbit was really repaired.
“Thank you! Fujiwara-kun! You really helped me a lot!” Ayane held the rabbit and gave Fujiwara Yu an extremely sincere and sweet smile.
“It’s just a piece of cake.” Fujiwara Yu nodded. His goal had been achieved (pacifying the neighbors and avoiding noise). He didn’t want to stay any longer, lest he be questioned about more flaws. “I’ll go back first.”
After saying that, he turned and left Ayane’s house.
Back in his room, Fujiwara Yu leaned against the door and let out a breath.
I was really taking a risk just now. It seems that I have to be more cautious even in such seemingly harmless things. My ability, even if it is just a little bit, may inadvertently attract the attention and suspicion of others.
However, seeing Ayane’s happy smile at the end, he didn’t seem to have any regrets in his heart.
Ayane was left behind, holding her beloved rabbit, watching Fujiwara Yu’s departing back, with curiosity gleaming in her obsidian eyes.
Fujiwara-kun…it seems that he is really more mysterious and powerful than she imagined.
Although Fujiwara Yuu skillfully concealed this unintentional revelation, it undoubtedly planted a seed of curiosity in Ayane’s heart. For Fujiwara Yuu, this incident also reminded him again that it was more urgent to find a place that was absolutely safe and could practice and relax without any interference.
His small apartment was too cramped and had poor soundproofing, so any loud noise or prolonged chakra activity might be noticed by his neighbors (especially the meticulous Ayane) or any ninja passing by.
The school’s training ground and library are crowded with people and eyes, making them even less suitable for secret activities.
He needed a “little world” that truly belonged to him, a place that was remote enough, quiet enough, and hidden enough.
The back mountain became his only choice.
Chapter 18 New Cultivation (Old Version)
Konoha Village is backed by a vast mountain forest. Except for some areas near the village that have been developed into training grounds or logging areas, the deeper areas are sparsely populated, with complex terrain and dense trees. It is a natural barrier and an excellent place to hide.
Fujiwara Yuu began to use the time after school or on weekends to explore the back mountains.
Instead of rushing around like a headless fly, he used the basic tracking and stealth skills he learned from books, as well as his observation and perception that far exceeded that of ordinary people.
He would carefully observe the traces on the ground and avoid areas with obvious signs of human activity. He would pay attention to the wind direction and sound, and choose valleys or dense forests that were downwind and where sound could not travel well. He would release weak chakra perception to detect whether there were other ninjas or large beasts around.
Like an experienced hunter, he searched patiently and carefully for his “prey” – the perfect secret base.
After several days of exploration, he finally found an ideal place.
It was a seldom-visited area in the back mountain. To reach it, one had to pass through a dense bush and climb up a steep path that was almost completely covered with weeds.
The location itself was a small platform hidden behind several huge rocks. The platform was not big, only about the size of two rooms in his small apartment, and the ground was relatively flat, covered with a layer of soft moss. On one side of the platform was a steep rock wall, and on the other side, you could overlook the layers of trees below. The view was wide, but because there were several towering old trees in front of it, it was difficult to see the existence of this place from below.
What’s even more interesting is that there is a shallow cave formed naturally on the rock wall behind the platform. The entrance is not big, only enough for one person to enter by bending over, and the space inside is not deep, probably only enough for two or three people to curl up and avoid the wind and rain, but the cave is dry and ventilated, and there are traces of water seeping out on the rock wall, gathering into a small puddle, providing a clean water source.
This is the perfect secret base!
It was remote enough, with few people and easy to defend but difficult to attack (although he didn’t intend to fight here).
Quiet enough, away from the hustle and bustle of the village, with only the sounds of wind, birdsong and rustling leaves.
Hidden enough, the natural terrain and vegetation provide perfect camouflage.
There are platforms for practicing Taijutsu or Ninjutsu, stone caves for shelter and storage, and even a small water source.
Fujiwara Yu stood on this platform, took a deep breath of the fresh air in the mountains and forests, felt the cool breeze brushing across his cheeks, listened to the natural sounds around his ears, and his tense nerves involuntarily relaxed.
This is it.
From today on, this is his “little world”, his real secret training ground, and a safe haven where he can take off all disguises and completely relax his body and mind.
He did not start large-scale training immediately, but first carefully checked the surrounding environment to make sure there were no signs of surveillance or traps.
Then, he used his knowledge of basic sealing techniques and precise control of chakra to set up some extremely covert security measures here.
He used chakra to carve a tiny warning rune at the entrance of the path leading to the platform. Once a person or a large animal approached, the rune would produce a faint fluctuation that only he could sense.
He also used a similar method to leave several sensing marks on several large trees around the platform.
He even set up a simple illusion barrier at the entrance of the small stone cave, making the cave entrance look like an ordinary shadow of a rock wall. It would be difficult for people who did not observe carefully or did not have special perception abilities to find any abnormalities.
These arrangements are extremely concealed and consume very little chakra, but they can provide him with an extra layer of security.
Only after doing all this did Fujiwara Yuu feel truly at ease.
He sat on the edge of the platform, looking at the sea of ​​trees and the sky in the distance, his heart filled with peace.
Here, he could practice chakra control without any scruples, try out his newly conceived little ninjutsu for life, or delve into the mysteries of sealing techniques.
Here, he could practice his shuriken throwing to the degree of accuracy he desired without having to worry about being seen.
Here, he can even do nothing, just sit quietly, empty his mind, and enjoy this rare time alone.
This secret place in the back mountain will become an important fulcrum for his secret life under his ordinary appearance. It is another important fortress for him to accumulate strength and maintain stability.
He would carefully guard this secret and not let anyone know of its existence.
Including Yamanaka Ayane.
Even to this girl who made him feel a little different, he would never reveal a single thing.
Secrets are safest when they are in your own hands.
Fujiwara Yu stood up, stretched his body, and felt the smooth flow of chakra in his body.
New practice begins now.
After mastering the secret base in the back mountain, Fujiwara Yu finally had a place where he could study and practice the sealing technique with peace of mind. The basic sealing technique knowledge he learned from the worn-out scroll in the library was no longer just theoretical, but began to be transformed into practical application. Deep in his heart, he had a passion for this skill that could bring “convenience” and “hiding” capabilities that far exceeded other ninjutsu. After all, this perfectly matched his vision of a stable life in the future.
The first thing he tried, and what he needed most urgently at the moment, was to make a basic storage scroll.
This thing is simply a necessity for him. He has too many secrets and too many “private things” to practice. Whether it is the materials secretly copied from the library, the simple tools he tried to make, or the multiple sets of clothes and emergency food prepared to hide from others, they all need a safe and reliable way to store and carry them. He can’t carry a bulging, suspicious package every time he goes to the secret place in the back mountain.
Storage scrolls are not particularly rare in the ninja world. Many ninjas are equipped with them to carry various ninja tools, food pills, and even some special tools required for missions. It is normal for an experienced ninja to have several bulging scrolls hanging around his waist. But for students in ninja schools, especially orphans like Fujiwara Yuu who have no background, there are very limited ways to get one. Either, like ordinary villagers, you have to work hard to save money for a long time and go to those expensive ninja tool shops to buy a minimum-level, pitifully small standard scroll; or, you have to wait until graduation to see if the village will distribute one as basic equipment.
Fujiwara Yuu didn’t want to wait, nor did he want to spend the huge amount of money that he had wasted. He had a tendency to be self-sufficient. He would never rely on others or external systems to solve problems that he could solve by himself, which could minimize variables and risks. He preferred to do it himself and have enough food and clothing.
Making a storage scroll sounds complicated, but according to the records in the basic scroll, the principle is not complicated, but it requires certain materials and the ability of the maker. There are three core elements: a suitable carrier (blank scroll), special ink that can conduct and solidify chakra, and most importantly – the pure chakra and highly concentrated mental power required to draw the sealing technique.
Chapter 19 Homemade “poor quality” ink (old version)
Among them, the blank scroll was the first obstacle. In order to withstand the repeated injection of chakra and the distortion pressure of space, the blank scrolls sold on the market are usually made of special fibers or processed tough animal skins, so the price is naturally not cheap. Fujiwara Yu touched the coins in his pocket that were jingling. This amount of money was not enough to buy even the lowest quality blank scroll.
However, there are always more solutions than problems. Especially for people with “sense” like Fujiwara Yu, they can always find ways to adapt.
Instead of going to the ninja tool shop, he turned into an inconspicuous shop in the village that specialized in recycling old items. The shop was filled with all kinds of miscellaneous items, from broken furniture to rusty farm tools, as well as some old ninja tools discarded by ninja families, broken scrolls and training uniforms. The air was filled with dust and the musty smell of old items.
Fujiwara Yu patiently searched for a long time, and finally bought a lot of old scrolls and some thick discarded leather that were discarded by others and of decent material at a very low price, almost for free. These things may be garbage in the eyes of others, but in the eyes of Fujiwara Yu, they are resources that can be used. Although the content of the scroll is invalid, the shaft and some paper can still be used; although the leather is worn, it is thick enough to be cut as the main body of the scroll. He plans to use his knowledge to clean, repair and simply strengthen these materials after returning, so that they can barely meet the requirements of carrying basic sealing techniques. This will undoubtedly increase the difficulty and failure rate of production, but the advantage is that the cost is almost zero and the source is hidden.
After solving the scroll carrier, the next thing is the special ink. This is another difficult problem. The formula of professional sealing ink is usually a secret of each ninja village or family. It needs to add various precious materials with good chakra conductivity and stability, such as certain mineral powders, blood of spirit beasts or special plant essences. This kind of ink is not only expensive, but also cannot be bought on the market. It is a controlled item.
Fujiwara Yuu naturally couldn’t afford it, nor could he get in touch with it. But this didn’t bother him either, as he was good at drawing inferences from one instance. Since he couldn’t buy a professional one, he could just create a “low-profile version” himself!
He began to recall and integrate the knowledge he had read from the miscellaneous books in the library. Which common plants or minerals have certain chakra conductivity? How to process them and stably integrate them?
He went to the back mountain and collected some vines that were recorded in books, such as the “silk-wrapped vine”, which had sticky juice and was said to have a weak reaction to chakra. He also found some hardwoods that had fine ash and strong adhesion after burning, and burned them into charcoal powder for later use. He also tried adding a little bit of finely ground ordinary river sand containing trace metal elements, hoping to increase the stability of the ink.
Then, in his humble little apartment, like an ancient alchemist, he began the process of “refining ink”. He filtered and concentrated the vine juice, carefully controlled the temperature, and then mixed it with charcoal powder and river sand powder in different proportions, stirring and grinding it continuously.
The most critical step was to try to inject the highly purified chakra he extracted into the mixture in an extremely small and stable amount during the grinding and mixing process. He did not want to use chakra to forcibly change the structure of matter, which was something only gods could do. His purpose was to use chakra as a “catalyst” or “primer” to better integrate the various components of the ink and improve its overall “affinity” for chakra, so that it could more smoothly carry and conduct the chakra he injected when drawing runes.
This process is full of failures. Sometimes the proportions are wrong, and the ink is either too thin to adhere or too thick to write; sometimes the timing or amount of chakra injection is wrong, which directly causes the material properties to collapse and turn into a pool of useless waste.
But Fujiwara Yuu has extraordinary patience and analytical ability. Every time he fails, he will carefully record the process and results, analyze the possible reasons, and then adjust the formula and technique and try again.
Finally, after spending a lot of time and energy, as well as a lot of cheap raw materials, he successfully formulated an ink that looked very “copycat”. The color was a strange gray-black, not as pure and dark as professional ink; the texture was a bit rough, not smooth enough; and it had a faint smell of grass and coke that could not be completely removed.
But Fujiwara Yu dipped a little with his fingertips, injected a trace of chakra and felt it. It worked! Although the performance of this homemade “inferior” ink is far inferior to that of professional products, it can indeed carry and conduct chakra. Although the loss during the conduction process is relatively large and the stability is also a bit poor, it should be barely enough to draw those basic sealing techniques with the simplest structure and the lowest requirements!
The most important thing is that its cost is extremely low, all materials can be found everywhere, the production process is completely controlled by oneself, the source is absolutely hidden, and will not arouse anyone’s suspicion.
After the materials were ready, Fujiwara Yu carefully put these things, along with the processed old scroll leather, into an ordinary cloth bag and came to his secret base in the back mountain.
The light in the small cave was a little dim, but it was enough to see things. The stone wall blocked most of the outside sounds, and only the faint sound of the wind could be heard in the distance, making it extremely quiet. This was the best place for him to carry out secret activities.
He spread out an old leather scroll that had been repaired and flattened. There were still some old marks on the surface that could not be completely removed, but this did not affect its use. He took a deep breath, calmed his mind, discarded all distracting thoughts in his mind, and concentrated his mind.
Then, he took out a most ordinary fine brush bought from a second-hand shop. The tip of the brush had split a little due to long-term use, but he didn’t care. He carefully dipped the brush into the homemade gray-black ink that exuded a strange smell, and held the tip of the brush at the beginning of the scroll with his wrist suspended.
What he wanted to draw was the most basic storage sealing technique recorded in the worn scroll. This technique was very simple, consisting of five basic runes connected in a specific order and structure to form a closed energy circuit. Its core principle was to activate the runes through the injected chakra, distort the tiny space inside the scroll, and form an extra-dimensional node that could isolate the outside world and store items.
It sounds simple, but in practice, the control precision of chakra is extremely high. Every stroke needs to inject its own chakra into the ink line evenly, stably, and without more or less, and resonate with the structure and meaning of the rune itself. Any slight deviation may cause the entire technique circuit to collapse.
Chapter 20 is done (old version)
Fujiwara Yuu’s eyes were focused, and he wrote steadily. The tip of the pen moved slowly on the rough leather, leaving a gray-black ink mark. His movements were so steady that he didn’t look like a child of only seven or eight years old, but more like an old craftsman who had practiced for many years. His breathing became extremely long, and it was almost impossible to feel the ups and downs, as if his whole body had merged with the pen in his hand and the flowing chakra.
He could clearly feel that the pure chakra in his body, like a gentle and obedient stream, passed through his arms, transferred to his wrists, gathered at his fingertips, and finally passed through the shaft and tip of the brush, accurately injected into the moist ink that was being drawn.
The first rune, representing the basic concept of “space”, was completed. The lines were smooth, and although it was drawn on old leather with “poor quality” ink, it strangely exuded a sense of stability. The chakra was injected evenly, without any stagnation or overflow.
A good start. Fujiwara Yuu had no joy in his heart, and he remained absolutely focused.
The second rune, representing “boundary” and “isolation”, began to be drawn. His pen tip paused slightly, as if adapting to the uneven texture of the leather surface. It was this tiny pause that caused a very slight fluctuation in the output of chakra.
The third rune, representing “stability” and “solidification”, has just begun…
There was an extremely slight sound, like the flapping of a mosquito’s wings. The runes that had just been drawn on the scroll suddenly flashed a dim light, and then the entire circuit of the technique collapsed instantly like a bubble that had been punctured! The chakra that had just been injected into it lost its restraint and dissipated like a kite with a broken string. Only a pool of blurred, soulless ink was left on the scroll, emitting a stronger smell of burnt grass and wood.
Failed.
Fujiwara Yuu looked at the failed work in front of him, without any expression of frustration or discouragement on his face. He just looked at the pool of ink quietly, his eyes full of analysis and thinking.
Was it because the pause in drawing the second rune caused the chakra fluctuations and destroyed the continuity of the circuit? Or was it because the homemade ink was not stable enough to withstand continuous chakra injection? Or was it because the mental power was momentarily dispersed during the drawing process?
It is a delicate skill that requires patience and understanding. It is not as fiery and explosive as Fire Style, nor as swift and unrestrained as Lightning Style. It is more like weaving rules and order with invisible threads under the calm water.
Fujiwara Yuu was not discouraged. Failure is the mother of success, especially in the field of sealing. He carefully recalled every detail of the drawing just now and analyzed the reasons for the failure: Was it because the pause when drawing the second rune caused the chakra fluctuation to be too large, destroying the continuity of the energy circuit? Or was it because the homemade ink was indeed not stable enough to withstand continuous and high-intensity chakra injection? Or was it because his mental power was highly concentrated for a long time, and there was a momentary dispersion that he did not even notice?
He rested for a moment, and did not immediately start the next attempt. Instead, he closed his eyes and replayed the entire process of drawing in his mind. His powerful understanding began to work, like an ultra-high-precision simulator, analyzing every subtle change in the flow of chakra in the rune lines and feeling the interaction between energy nodes.
“The chakra conduction loss of the ink is greater than expected. I need to slightly increase the chakra output during the drawing process, and make it more stable…”
“The unevenness of the leather surface affects the stability of the pen tip and the uniformity of chakra infusion. The pen needs to be written more gently, with more emphasis on the guidance of ‘intention’ rather than pure physical force…”
“The concentration of mental power needs to be improved, especially when drawing the key nodes connecting the runes. There can be no slackness…”
After some reflection, Fujiwara Yuu felt that his understanding of this basic technique had deepened. He opened his eyes, his gaze clear and firm. He changed to a new leather scroll, dipped it in ink again, and began a new attempt.
This time, his movements were more careful and focused. The tip of the pen was like sliding on ice, soft and steady. He controlled the output of chakra at an extremely stable level, and made fine adjustments according to the slight undulations of the leather and the penetration speed of the ink.
fail.
The ink disintegrated at the fourth rune.
Fujiwara Yu didn’t pause for too long. After making some adjustments, he immediately started the next one.
The third rune failed.
Try again.
…
It was as if he was stuck in a cycle. The only sounds in the cave were his even breathing and the rustling sound of the pen tip rubbing against the leather. Sweat dripped down his forehead and onto the ground, but he was unaware. His entire mind was devoted to each stroke and each drop of chakra flowing.
This is not just about making a scroll, it is more like a dialogue and game with oneself, chakra, and rules.
I don’t know how much time has passed. The sky outside seems to have darkened, and the cave is even darker. Fujiwara Yuu can’t remember how many times he has failed. The scrapped scrolls are piled up in a small pile beside him. His face is a little pale, his mental energy is greatly consumed, and his fingers are trembling slightly because of holding the pen for a long time.
But the light in his eyes was brighter than ever, because he felt that he was only one step away from success. His control of chakra, understanding of runes, and use of mental power were greatly tempered and improved through repeated failures and adjustments.
He picked up the pen again, dipped it into the running low ink, and began another, perhaps final, attempt.
This time, he felt completely different.
The pen follows the heart, and the chakra is as easy to use as the arm. Each rune is drawn smoothly, and the chakra is injected just right, not a centimeter more or less. The five basic runes are like five precisely meshed gears, perfectly connected together under his pen, forming a stable and harmonious closed loop.
When he put down the last stroke, the moment when the entire technique was completely closed—
The rune on the scroll suddenly lit up with an extremely faint but clearly visible white light! The light was soft and not dazzling, flowing along the rune lines like water waves, and then quickly disappeared, as if blending into the texture of the leather.
Then, a strange spatial fluctuation came from the scroll. The fluctuation was extremely weak. If Fujiwara Yu had not concentrated his mental power and studied spatial fluctuations (from deduction of certain materials), it would be almost unnoticeable. But this fluctuation truly proved that the sealing technique was successfully activated!
Fujiwara Yu could clearly feel that inside this simple scroll made of discarded leather and homemade ink, a tiny, twisted alien space had been successfully constructed! A storage space independent of the outside world!
He put down his pen, picked up a small stone nearby for testing, recited the command in his mind, and connected a trace of chakra to the core of the scroll’s technique.
There was no sound, no light, and the small stone disappeared into his palm out of thin air, as if it had been wiped away by an invisible hand.
Fujiwara Yuu’s heart skipped a beat. He concentrated again and gave the command to “take it out”.
The small stone appeared out of thin air in his hand again, with a slightly cool touch unique to space teleportation.
It worked! It really worked!
Chapter 21 Convenience (Old Version)
Although this space is pitifully small, Fujiwara Yuu estimated that it can only hold two of his fists. And due to the limitations of materials and technology, the stability of this space may not be high. Repeated access or storage for too long may cause the technique to fail.
But this is indeed a usable storage scroll! A storage scroll that he made completely by himself, using the most basic knowledge and the cheapest materials!
An indescribable sense of success and satisfaction surged into his heart like a warm tide. The corners of Fujiwara Yu’s tightly clenched mouth finally couldn’t help but slightly rise, revealing a relaxed smile from the heart.
This is not just a simple storage scroll, it is the result of his wisdom and hard work, and an important milestone in his transformation of knowledge into practical application and control of his own power! It proves that even without a prominent family background, without the guidance of a famous teacher, and without superior resources, as long as there is enough understanding and perseverance, those seemingly profound powers can still be mastered!
With the experience of the first success and the valuable insights accumulated from the failure, the subsequent production process was much smoother. After resting for a night and recovering his mental strength and chakra, Fujiwara Yuu once again devoted himself to the production.
He no longer failed as often as before. His control of chakra became more precise, his understanding of runes became more thorough, and his drawing technique became more skillful. His success rate increased greatly.
He began to try to make slight optimizations to the basic techniques within the limits allowed by the size and material of the scroll, such as adjusting the arrangement of runes or changing the rhythm of chakra infusion, trying to find a better balance between stability and spatial capacity.
Gradually, the internal space of the storage scroll he made expanded from the size of a fist to the size that could hold a few rice balls, a set of clothes, or a dozen shurikens and kunai. This was more than enough for his current needs.
Of course, this level of storage scrolls, whether in terms of space capacity, stability or safety, are far from comparable to those professional scrolls on the market made by professional sealers that can hold a large number of ninja tools, supplies and even living things. In the eyes of true experts, what Fujiwara Yuu made may not even be considered a “toy”.
But for Fujiwara Yu, this was enough and even exceeded expectations.
He carefully put away several “finished” scrolls that he had made. These scrolls would become important tools for him to hide secrets and facilitate his life.
He could store some ninja tools that were inconvenient to carry with him (such as spare shurikens, kunai, or some small props he used for private practice), or books and materials that he secretly copied and did not want to be discovered, as well as some emergency food, medicine, and a small amount of money, in different scrolls.
In this way, he only needs to carry one or two seemingly inconspicuous scrolls when he goes out, which can not only reduce the burden of daily carrying, but also greatly increase concealment. In case of any emergency, he can quickly take out the necessary items at the critical moment and improve his response ability.
For example, when he goes to the secret place in the back mountain to practice next time, he can store his spare clothes, practice materials, tools, and even some snacks and water in the storage scroll in advance. He only needs to carry a small cloth bag that looks empty, or simply bring nothing, and he can go to his “little world” more calmly and unnoticed.
This convenience allowed Fujiwara Yu to taste the first sweetness of mastering the sealing technique.
He has even begun to wonder whether this basic storage sealing technique has the potential for further improvement and expansion?
For example, could the spell be further miniaturized, no longer limited to the form of a scroll, but engraved on a smaller object? For example, a wooden sign, a ring, or even a button on a piece of clothing? Wouldn’t it be more concealed in this way? But this requires more precise compression and optimization of the rune structure, and the requirements for materials are also higher, which he cannot do with his current ability.
For example, can we add some simple identification functions to the basic spells? For example, set a specific chakra frequency or mental imprint as a “key” so that only you can open it, to prevent others from easily obtaining the contents of the scroll after it is lost? This involves more complex permission settings and mental power applications, which also goes beyond the basic scope.
These ideas, like shining stars, constantly emerge in his brain full of “insight” and desire to explore, guiding the direction of his future research.
The door of the Sealing Technique had opened a tempting gap for him. The world behind the door was full of endless possibilities, which could not only bring powerful strength (although he mainly focused on assistance and defense), but also bring the “convenience”, “safety” and “low-key” that he pursued.
Fujiwara Yu carefully hid the several storage scrolls he had made, and thoroughly cleaned up the waste and traces produced during the production process to ensure that no clues were left.
Having mastered this new skill, he felt extremely happy and felt that his plan to build a “stable fortress” had taken a big step forward.
After mastering the simple method of making storage scrolls, Fujiwara Yu’s life has indeed become much more convenient, and he has gained more confidence to hide. At least, he can carry some necessary items more calmly without having to worry about being discovered in certain situations.
There were no classes scheduled for this afternoon at the Ninja School. Fujiwara Yuu did not go home or hang out in the library as usual, nor did he immediately go to the secret base in the back mountain to practice. He planned to go to a small trading market on the edge of the village.
This market is different from the bustling commercial streets in the center of the village that cater to ninjas. It mainly serves ordinary villagers. There are no glamorous ninja tool shops, nor shops selling expensive scrolls or medicinal herbs. There are more small vendors selling daily necessities, fresh vegetables and fruits, as well as some old ninja tools, old clothes or daily necessities discarded by ninja families and not worth much.
Fujiwara Yuu would come here occasionally for three purposes: first, to see if he could find some cheap materials at a very low price that might be useful for his research or production; second, to observe the market conditions and the daily lives of the villagers, and collect information for his initial idea of ​​”making money to support his family”; third… there were so many people and so many eyes here, and the atmosphere was so confusing that it was less likely to be noticed by specific people than in some quiet places. Changing the environment occasionally could also relax his tense “hidden” nerves.
Chapter 22: It Can Be Done (Old Version)
The market is not big, but because it is afternoon, the flow of people is quite dense, full of noisy and real life. The vendors are shouting with voices with various accents, housewives are arguing with stall owners for the price of one or two copper coins, and children are chasing and playing in the narrow aisles, making a series of crisp laughter. The air is filled with the freshness of vegetables, the smell of fish, cheap spices and sweat.
Fujiwara Yuu wore a half-worn but clean ordinary outfit, and restrained his chakra fluctuations to almost nothing, blending into the bustling crowd like a drop of water merging into the sea. He put his hands in his pockets, walked slowly, and his eyes seemed to casually scan the stalls on both sides – the old woman selling not-so-fresh fruits, the blacksmith apprentice repairing broken farm tools, and the wandering merchant selling small gadgets of unknown origin…
His expression was as calm as ever, even with a hint of indifference that was inconsistent with his age. In his eyes, these mundane scenes were more like pictures that needed to be observed and analyzed.
Suddenly, a suppressed quarrel and a faint, crying voice of defense came from a remote alley in the corner of the market where miscellaneous items were piled up, breaking the relatively harmonious noise around it and attracting Fujiwara Yu’s attention.
He paused subconsciously. Trouble?
Because of his inherent caution, Fujiwara Yuu did not immediately go over to watch the excitement out of curiosity, as that would easily attract attention. He pretended to be interested in a small stall selling used books nearby, walked over slowly, squatted down, picked up a book called “A Study of the Geography and Customs of the Land of Fire” whose cover was about to fall off, and flipped through it casually. However, his peripheral vision accurately locked onto the alley where the sound came from.
The light at the alley was dim. Several teenagers who looked older than him, about ten years old, dressed in rags and looked like hooligans, were cornering a girl who looked younger.
The girl looked younger than Fujiwara Yuu, maybe only five or six years old, or even younger. She was thin and frail, wearing a dark blue dress that didn’t fit her well and was washed a bit pale, which looked like it was left over by her older brothers and sisters. She had short, smooth black hair that was a bit messy and stuck to her cheeks, which made her face look even paler and bloodless.
The most eye-catching thing was her eyes. They were a pair of very light-colored, almost white eyes, which were now misty due to fear and tears. Even from a distance, Fujiwara Yu could recognize that they were the characteristics of one of the most famous bloodline limits in Konoha Village – the Byakugan.
The Hyuga clan? And judging by her attire and her timid yet stubborn expression, she was most likely… a member of a branch family.
The Hyuga branch family, who bears the curse of “bird in a cage”, has been strictly controlled by the main family since birth and has a low status.
The Hyuga branch family, with the “bird in a cage” curse, has been under the strict control of the main family since birth. They have a low status and often suffer tremendous pressure and discrimination within the family and in society. This little girl is obviously in trouble at the moment.
Those ruffian boys were surrounding her, pushing and shoving her, cursing at her.
“Hey! You white-eyed monster! What are you looking at?” A young man with freckles on his face reached out to poke the girl’s eyes.
“I heard that your Hyuga family is very rich? Lend some money to your brothers through Huabei!” another tall boy said in a frivolous tone, trying to snatch a small cloth bag that the girl was holding tightly in her arms. The cloth bag looked very old and seemed to contain something, which was protected tightly by the girl.
“That’s right! Don’t be so stingy! Otherwise… hehe…” The third short and fat boy laughed maliciously, his eyes scanning the girl’s thin body.
The girl was so frightened that she was shaking all over, tears falling like beads from a broken string, but she bit her lips tightly, stubbornly refusing to cry out, and only stared at the bullies with her white eyes, full of fear and a hint of anger. Her body was trembling slightly because of fear, but her hands protecting the cloth bag were extremely firm.
“I… I don’t have any money…” The girl’s voice was small and trembling, with tears in her eyes, “That… that’s the money I use to buy medicine for my mother…”
“Buying medicine? Who are you kidding? They must have hidden it!” The freckled boy didn’t believe it and pushed the girl harder, “Hand it over now!”
“Let me go! Let me go!” The girl finally couldn’t help crying and struggling, but her strength was insignificant in front of several teenagers who were much older than her. She was about to be pushed to the ground, and the small cloth bag in her arms was about to be snatched away.
Fujiwara Yu was squatting in front of the used bookstall, seemingly carefully flipping through the tattered copy of “Geography and Customs”. In fact, everything that happened at the alley was clearly reflected in his perception.
His brows knitted slightly.
Another trouble.
According to his usual code of conduct, he should turn a blind eye to such things and leave immediately to avoid being involved in any possible disputes. Bullying the weak is not uncommon in the chaotic fringe of the ninja world. The Hyuga branch? That is a complicated family political issue within Konoha. Outsiders who get involved will definitely not end up well.
Helping this girl? There would be no benefit. Instead, it might lead to revenge from these hooligans, or worse, attract the attention of the Hyuga clan. Either result would be contrary to the “stable daily life” he was pursuing.
Therefore, the most sensible choice is to turn around and leave.
However……
Looking at the little girl’s stubborn and helpless eyes, listening to her crying explanation while still trying to protect important things, something seemed to be gently touched deep in Fujiwara Yu’s heart.
Is it sympathy? Maybe a little. He himself is an orphan. Although he has not experienced this kind of direct bullying, he has also experienced the loneliness and weakness of being helpless.
Is it a sense of justice? Probably not. He doesn’t have much faith in the “justice” of this world.
It was more like an instinctive rejection of meaningless chaos and ugliness. In his opinion, the behavior of these hooligans was purely the lowest level of bullying. There was no technical content, it only created noise and trouble, and ruined his relatively peaceful mood at the moment.
Moreover, this Hyuga girl really looked too pitiful. In her white eyes, besides fear, there was also a deep heaviness and depression that did not belong to this age.
To intervene? Or not to intervene?
Fujiwara Yu’s brain quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Should I stop it directly? No, that would be too conspicuous, and I would be exposed, which would cause endless trouble.
Then…can we solve this little problem in a more covert way?
He glanced at the environment around the alley entrance. There were piles of debris, rickety wooden boxes, and a few empty bottles rolling down the wall…
The outline of a plan quickly formed in his mind.
It requires a little bit of precise control of chakra, perfect grasp of timing, and also… not leaving any traces pointing to yourself.
It can be done.
Chapter 23 Avoidance (Old Version)
He continued to squat in front of the bookstall and read, as if he was unaware of the conflict at the alley entrance. But his mental power had already quietly extended out like an invisible tentacle.
At the alley entrance, the conflict was escalating. The tall boy was getting impatient and reached out to forcibly take the cloth bag from the girl’s arms. The girl screamed in resistance, and her body staggered and was about to fall.
At this critical moment!
Above the alley entrance, a clay jar that looked like it had been there for a long time and was covered in dust was stacked on the top of a shabby wooden shelf. Without any warning and in a very “natural” manner, it tilted to the side.
Then, there was a crisp “crack” sound!
The earthenware jar rolled down from the wooden rack and hit the head of the tall boy who was reaching out to grab the cloth bag!
“Ouch!”
The tall boy screamed, covered his head and squatted down, blood flowing out from his fingers. The broken pieces of the earthenware jar and the dust and debris inside hit him all over, making him look miserable.
This sudden change left everyone stunned.
The other two boys were startled and rushed to check on their companion’s injuries. The bullied little girl took advantage of this opportunity to crawl out from between them and huddled in the corner, staring at the chaotic scene in front of her in shock, with fear and confusion on her face.
“Damn! What is that!” The freckled boy looked up at the empty wooden shelf, then looked around. Apart from the piles of debris, there was no one there.
“Who? Who’s there?!” the short and fat boy shouted towards the alley in a timid manner, trying to find the “culprit”.
However, with people coming and going outside the alley, no one noticed the little incident that happened in this remote corner, and no one would admit that they did it.
“It must be someone who threw things around without any eyes!” The freckled boy cursed and helped his tall companion who was still lying on the bed. “Boss, how are you?”
“It hurts so much… Damn it…” The tall boy covered his bleeding head and grimaced, not caring about causing trouble for the girl anymore. “Let’s go! Let’s check the wound first!”
“You’re lucky! Don’t let me run into you next time!” The short and fat boy glared at the Hyuga girl in the corner fiercely, left a harsh word, and together with the freckled boy, supported the injured boss and hurriedly left the alley cursing.
In the blink of an eye, the alley that was full of bullying and noise just now was left with only the skinny Hyuga girl and the broken clay pots and dust on the ground.
The girl leaned against the cold wall, her body still trembling slightly. She looked at the backs of the gangsters fleeing, then looked at the broken clay pot on the ground, her white eyes filled with fear and confusion.
Is it… a coincidence? Or… did someone help her?
She subconsciously raised her head and looked outside the alley. The crowds were still bustling, and no one paid special attention to this side.
There was only a black-haired boy who was wearing ordinary clothes and looked about her age. He stood up from the stall selling used books, brushed the dust off his pants, stuffed a tattered book into his arms, and then turned around and blended into the crowd as if nothing had happened, walking towards the other direction of the market.
The girl followed the boy’s back until he disappeared into the crowd. Was it… was it him? She was not sure. The boy never looked at her from beginning to end, nor did he make any unusual moves.
Maybe… it was just luck. The girl lowered her head and hugged the small cloth bag containing the money for life-saving medicine tightly. She couldn’t help but shed tears again, but this time, there seemed to be a hint of relief for surviving the disaster in her tears.
At this time, Fujiwara Yu, who had already walked some distance, raised the corner of his mouth with an imperceptible arc.
The scene just now was certainly not a coincidence.
Just before the tall boy stretched out his hand, an extremely fine, almost imperceptible strand of chakra condensed at Fujiwara Yu’s fingertips, like a living snake, stretched out silently, accurately wrapped around a tiny protrusion on the bottom of the earthen jar, and then gently pulled it.
The force, timing, and angle were all calculated in his brain. He made sure that the fall of the jar looked like an accident, that it landed right on the head of the leading boy, and that the damage was enough to scare them away, but not enough to cause loss of life and attract the security team.
The most important thing is that he retracted the chakra thread cleanly and neatly, without leaving any chakra residue. Even an experienced perception ninja would never be able to find any traces of human intervention at the scene.
A perfect “passing by” helping hand.
He didn’t even have any direct contact with the girl, leaving no clues that might expose his identity.
Why did he take action? Fujiwara Yu himself couldn’t explain it clearly. Maybe he was in a spur of the moment, maybe he felt that those hooligans were an eyesore, or maybe… those white, stubborn and helpless eyes touched a soft corner deep in his heart?
Whatever the reason, the matter had been resolved. A small trouble was resolved by him in the most concealed way with the lowest cost. The Hyuga girl was safe, and he himself did not get into any trouble.
That’s enough.
As for whether the girl would remember him or guess that he was the one who did it, Fujiwara Yuu didn’t care. It was just a chance encounter, a “passing” helping hand, and he didn’t plan to have any subsequent interactions with the other party. He didn’t want to get involved in the affairs of the Hyuga family.
He casually put the book “Geography and Customs” that he had not read into the storage scroll (yes, he put a tattered book in the storage scroll to cover it up), and continued to stroll around the market with brisk steps. The little episode just now was quickly forgotten by him.
To him, this was just a tiny episode in the long journey of life. Perhaps, not even a ripple.
His goal was always to find his own peaceful and stable harbor, and he would subconsciously avoid anything that might deviate from his course.
Chapter 24 Bearing Foundation (Old Version)
This time, I have already reached my limit. I will not do it again. Fujiwara Yuu warned himself silently.
After experiencing the “War Jar Incident”, Fujiwara Yuu realized more deeply that even if he tried his best to avoid the world, troubles might sometimes come to him. Having a certain self-protection ability is not only for dealing with wars and missions in the ninja world, but also for being able to calmly deal with some emergencies in daily life and protect the peace that he wants to protect.
Although he does not seek to become a master of physical skills or a fighting maniac, a healthy and energetic body is the basis for him to carry out various research, practice, and enjoy a “stable daily life” in the future.
Therefore, in addition to the secret research on chakra control and sealing techniques, Fujiwara Yuya began to systematically carry out some moderate physical exercises.
His goal is very clear: just to be healthy, not to reach the limit.
He doesn’t need to be like the thick-browed kid named Rock Lee, who overloads himself with self-torture every day to pursue the ultimate in physical skills. He also doesn’t need to be like Uchiha Sasuke, who frantically squeezes his potential for revenge and pursues absolute power.
Fujiwara Yu’s training is more like a kind of health preservation, an optimization and maintenance of body functions. He pursues body coordination, flexibility, endurance, and abundant energy, rather than explosive strength or amazing speed.
He usually chose the secret base in the back mountain as his training location, where the air was fresh, the environment was secluded, and no one would disturb him.
The exercise content is not complicated, even a little…ordinary.
For example, morning jogging. But he doesn’t pursue speed and ranking like the ninja school, but jogs at a uniform and comfortable speed on the trails in the mountains and forests. He pays more attention to the rhythm of breathing and the rhythm of the body, so that every breath can absorb fresh air to the maximum extent, and every step is light and elastic. He can clearly feel that his cardiopulmonary function is gradually improving, and his endurance is also steadily improving.
For example, stretching. He would spend a lot of time stretching all the joints and muscle groups in his body. The movements were slow and relaxed, aiming to improve the flexibility and extensibility of the body. This not only prevented sports injuries and improved the flexibility of the body, but also helped the chakra flow more smoothly in the body. His body flexibility had reached a rather amazing level, allowing him to easily perform various difficult yoga moves, but this was also his hidden secret.
For example, some basic strength training. But he won’t lift heavy stone locks or do heavy weight training. He prefers to use his own body weight to do some compound movements, such as push-ups, pull-ups, squats, plank support, etc. He is not pursuing muscle size, but muscle quality and endurance, as well as core strength stability. His strength may not grow fast, but his body coordination and control are steadily improving.
He even does some balance training, such as standing on one leg with his eyes closed, or practicing the slow and continuous movements of Tai Chi on a slightly sloping rock (a health-preserving method he read in an ancient book and learned because he thought it was very interesting). This helps him improve his control over the center of gravity of his body and his stability in complex environments.
Throughout the whole exercise, Fujiwara Yuu seemed very relaxed and enjoying it. There was no gnashing of teeth and no sweating. It was more like he was talking to his body, feeling the subtle changes brought about by every breath, every stretch, and every exertion.
He even combined his understanding of chakras and consciously guided chakras to nourish the body during exercise. For example, when running, he allowed a small amount of chakras to stimulate the leg muscles and relieve fatigue; when stretching, he allowed chakras to help relax fascia and improve flexibility; after strength training, he used chakras to accelerate muscle recovery.
The effect of this chakra-assisted training method may not be as significant as specialized medical ninjutsu or secret physical training methods, but it is gentle, long-lasting, has no side effects, and is extremely concealed.
His goal is not to make rapid progress in a short period of time, but to adjust his body to an optimal state of health, harmony and vitality, just like polishing a piece of rough jade, day after day, with perseverance.
Such a healthy body will allow him to be energetic enough to cope with the “performance” in the Ninja School, will give him enough physical strength to support the consumption of secret training, and will also allow him to stay away from the troubles of illness in the long years to come and better enjoy the stable life he expects.
As for combat effectiveness?
Fujiwara Yuu believes that the real strength is never just muscle or strength. Precise control, flexible response, smart mind, and… the trump card that can surprise the opponent at the critical moment are the “practical” combat power he pursues.
A healthy body is the foundation for all of this.
Therefore, he will continue to adhere to this kind of moderate exercise of “only seeking health, not seeking limits”, quietly laying a solid and reliable foundation for his future without showing off.
After Fujiwara Yu’s idea of ​​”making money to support the family” had been lingering in his mind for a while, he decided to give it a small attempt.
He needed start-up capital, even if it was just a tiny amount, to provide some foundation for subsequent bolder plans (such as secretly making and selling storage scrolls). At the same time, he also wanted to use this attempt to test whether his idea was feasible and to assess the possible risks.
The entry point he chose was neither the riskier improvement of ninja tools nor the time-consuming and labor-intensive food production, but a more inconspicuous field that was closer to “little skills in life.”
He noticed that students in the ninja school, as well as many Genin, often had to deal with some worn ninja tools or clothing during their daily training and life. For example, the handle strap of a kunai was loose, the edge of a shuriken had some curled edges that needed to be sharpened, and training clothes were torn by branches and needed to be mended.
These are trivial matters, but they also take time and effort to handle. Ninja tool shops provide professional maintenance services, but they are expensive. Doing it yourself may not be that skilled or patient.
There seems to be business opportunity here.
Fujiwara Yu’s advantage lies in his extremely stable and dexterous hands, as well as his chakra control accuracy far beyond that of ordinary people. He can fully apply these advantages to these delicate manual works.
He decided to start with the simplest thing – repairing the straps on the kunai handle.
Kunai is one of the most commonly used basic tools for ninjas. The handle is usually wrapped with cloth to increase friction and facilitate holding and throwing. However, after repeated use and friction, this cloth can easily become loose or worn, affecting the feel and even safety.
Chapter 25: Sense of Control (Old Version)
Re-wrapping the cloth tape seems simple, but it actually requires some skills to make it firm, beautiful and feel good.
Fujiwara Yu first went to the flea market and bought a batch of discarded kunai (mainly those with completely damaged cloth straps on the handles but with the blades still in good condition) and some old cloth that looked fairly sturdy at extremely low prices.
Back in the secret place in the back mountain, he began his “research and development”.
He did not directly imitate the common winding methods on the market. Instead, he used his understanding, combined with ergonomics (a vague concept he learned from books) and mechanical principles, and began to design a new winding method.
He repeatedly experimented with different winding angles, tightness, and knotting methods. He even tried to subtly inject a tiny bit of chakra into the winding process, using the chakra’s adhesion and shaping ability to make the cloth belt and the handle more tightly combined and more suitable for the hand shape, without leaving any obvious traces of chakra.
After some research and practice, he mastered a unique winding technique. The kunai handle wound in this way is not only extremely strong and will not easily come loose, but also very comfortable to hold, and can even be fine-tuned according to the user’s hand shape. The appearance is also neater and more tidy than the ordinary winding method.
Now that we have the “core technology”, the next step is how to convert it into money.
He couldn’t open a stall and shout “Professionally repair kunai handles” because that would be too conspicuous. He needed a more low-key and “quiet” approach.
He thought of his classmates in the same grade at the Ninja School.
Many students’ kunai have the problem of loose grip straps, especially those civilian students who train hard or don’t pay much attention to maintenance.
Fujiwara Yuu started to pay attention and observe. When he found that a classmate’s kunai strap was loose, he would “happen” to be next to the classmate and “accidentally” mention it:
“The handle of your kunai seems to be loose. It might slip when you throw it, which is a bit dangerous.” His tone was flat, as if he was stating a fact.
Usually, the other party will complain: “Yeah, it’s loose again, what a hassle.” or “I’ll have to find time to re-tie it later.”
At this time, Fujiwara Yu would say “by the way”: “I’m just practicing this recently. If you don’t mind, I can help you try it. It’s free, just treat it as practicing your skills.”
His attitude was very casual, as if he really just wanted to find an opportunity to practice. And by emphasizing that he would not charge any money, it was easier to dispel the other party’s vigilance.
Faced with this kind of “free lunch”, few people would refuse it. After all, rewinding is really troublesome.
So, Fujiwara Yuu took his classmate’s kunai “naturally”. He would not repair it immediately in front of the other person, but said, “I need some time, I will return it to you tomorrow.”
Then, he would use his unique skills to perfectly repair the kunai handle, making sure no one was paying attention, after class or when he got home.
The next day, when he returned the brand new kunai to his classmates, they would often be very surprised.
“Wow! Fujiwara, you’re really good at wrapping it! Much better than I did it myself before!”
“Yeah, it feels really comfortable to hold! And it’s so firm!”
“Fujiwara, your cooking skills are quite good! Thank you!”
Facing the praise from his classmates, Fujiwara Yuu simply responded: “It’s nothing, practice makes perfect.”
After several times of “free help”, the small reputation of “Fujiwara Yu is good at repairing kunai handles” quietly spread among a small number of civilian students in the same grade.
At this time, Fujiwara Yu felt that the time was almost right.
When another classmate came to him with a question about the kunai handle (this time he took the initiative to come to him), he would “hesitate” for a moment and then say:
“A lot of people have asked me for help recently, and I don’t have enough time… Besides, wrapping this also requires some materials (referring to the fabric he ‘recycled’)…” He would reveal a hint of “embarrassment” from time to time.
The other party usually understands immediately and quickly says, “Oh, it’s okay, it’s okay! Fujiwara, how about this? I’ll pay you a little for the materials and labor? How much do you think is appropriate?”
This is exactly what Fujiwara Yu wanted to hear.
He would pretend to think for a moment, then quote a very low price that would still leave him with a small profit. For example, he would charge a few copper coins for repairing a kunai handle. This price was far lower than the professional maintenance fee at a ninja tool shop, and was completely affordable for students.
“That’s fine… ” Fujiwara Yu agreed “reluctantly”.
The deal is done.
In this way, Fujiwara Yu started his first “business attempt” in his life.
He does not have a fixed stall, does not shout loudly, and does not even actively solicit business. He is like a craftsman hidden behind the scenes, taking on some scattered and inconspicuous restoration work through “word of mouth” and “introductions from acquaintances”.
In addition to kunai handles, he later also “incidentally” expanded his business, such as helping to polish the curled blades of shurikens (using his precise chakra control, he can polish them sharper and smoother than ordinary people), or using special needlework (actually thanks to the chakra thread) to mend the small, imperceptible holes in the training uniforms.
The charges are very low, just a symbolic charge for “material fees” and “labor fees”.
But a little bit adds up.
He could earn a few or a dozen copper coins every day. Although it was not much, it was a considerable extra income for Fujiwara Yuu who had been living on a meager pension.
More importantly, the process was very low-key and safe. He only interacted with ordinary classmates, the transaction amount was negligible, and the “services” he provided were all basic manual work, which would not attract the attention of any senior management. Even his classmates only thought that he was skillful and a good person, and that he could occasionally earn some pocket money, and they would not think about it in a deeper way.
Fujiwara Yu carefully stored the copper coins he earned in an old pottery jar that he had reinforced with basic sealing techniques. Whenever he heard the crisp sound of the copper coins colliding, he would feel a sense of solid satisfaction in his heart.
Although his dream of buying a small house with a yard was still a long way off, this first pot of gold, even if it was so meager, proved that his idea was feasible.
He can continue on this path, using his knowledge and skills to earn the resources needed to maintain a stable life in a low-key and safe way.
The success of the first business attempt, although it only earned a negligible amount of pocket money, was like a stone thrown into Fujiwara Yu’s heart lake, causing ripples. He looked at the increasing amount of copper coins in the old pottery jar hidden under the bed and reinforced with a seal, and an unprecedented sense of steadiness and longing for the future quietly grew.
This is not just about money, but also a sense of control. A sense of control to create a better life for yourself by relying on your own wisdom and hands.
Chapter 26 Actively accepting the world’s arrangements (old version)
He no longer just passively accepted the arrangements of the world and barely made ends meet by relying on the village pension. He began to take the initiative to plan and act, to build bricks and tiles for his ideal “stable daily life”.
The most important carrier of that ideal “stable daily life” is a home that truly belongs to you.
Not the small, old apartment that may be taken away at any time because of unpayable rent.
He wanted a…real home.
A place that doesn’t need to be too big, but is comfortable enough.
One that is sturdy enough to withstand wind, rain, and even some unexpected impacts.
A place that is quiet enough, isolated from the outside noise, so that he can read, study, or just daydream in peace.
It would be best if… I could have a small yard.
In Fujiwara Yu’s mind, he began to unconsciously outline the appearance of that ideal home.
You can plant some plants he likes in the yard. You don’t need expensive flowers, maybe just some hardy and easy-to-care green plants, or a few fruit-bearing trees, such as orange trees or persimmon trees. You can enjoy the flowers in spring, cool off in summer, harvest fruits in autumn, and in winter… you can stay in a warm house and watch the snow fall on the bare branches.
Can I have a small pond in my yard? Maybe it’s a bit of a luxury. But if I can have one, raising a few common carps and watching them swim leisurely in the water seems to be a very pleasant thing.
There should also be an open space in the yard, which can be used for sunbathing, or… for some exercises that are not convenient to do indoors? For example, physical skills, or some ninjutsu attempts that require space (of course, the premise is to set up enough barriers).
The house itself did not need to be ornate, but it had to have a reasonable structure and good lighting. He wanted a study room of his own, which could be filled with books and scrolls he collected from all over the place, and a large desk where he could comfortably do research and work. He also wanted a fully functional kitchen where he could practice his fantastic ideas about food. The bedroom had to be quiet and comfortable so that he could sleep peacefully.
Of course, the most important thing is safety.
This home must be a solid fortress. Not only physically solid, but also with strong defensive capabilities. He will engrave the highest level of defense and concealment he can master on the foundation, walls, doors and windows of the house. He will design secret passages and safe shelters to deal with various emergencies that may occur.
This home will be his ultimate pursuit and embodiment of “stability” in his heart. A harbor that can let him completely relax, isolated from all wind, rain and danger, and truly belong to him.
This idea, like a seed, quickly took root and sprouted in his heart, becoming clearer and stronger.
Every time he went home from school, when he passed by the quiet-looking small houses with yards in the village, his eyes would involuntarily linger for a while, silently evaluating their pros and cons in his heart.
Every time he put his newly earned copper coins into the old clay pot, he would calculate in his mind how much money and how long it would take to buy a small house like this one.
This goal became his new motivation to work hard to make money and accumulate strength.
He knew that in Konoha Village, buying an independent property with a yard was not an easy thing, especially for an orphan like him who had no one to rely on. The money required might be an astronomical figure.
But he was not discouraged.
He has time, patience, brains and growing abilities.
The success of the first business attempt was just the beginning. He believed that as he acquired more knowledge and skills, he would be able to find more effective and low-key ways to make money.
Be it an improved version of a practical gadget, or a basic medicine with better effects and fewer side effects (based on the medical knowledge he taught himself), or even… making and selling some basic but practical sealing scrolls in small batches under the premise of absolute safety and concealment.
As long as you are careful and take one step at a time, that little house with a yard, that real “home”, will come true one day.
The desire for “home” has become a warm and firm beacon in Fujiwara Yu’s heart, illuminating his way forward and making him more clear about what he really wants to pursue in this ninja world.
Not strength, not fame, not power.
It is a home where you can calm your mind and body, away from all the troubles, and truly belong to you.
The success of the first business attempt, although it only earned a tiny amount of money, was like a stone thrown into Fujiwara Yu’s heart lake, causing ripples. It brought not only a small amount of material benefits, but also a spiritual encouragement and confirmation of future possibilities.
In the dead of night, Fujiwara Yuu carefully dragged out the plain old pottery jar from under the bed. The surface of the pottery jar was reinforced by him using an extremely concealed basic sealing technique, which was not only stronger, but also could block chakra detection and play a certain role in moisture prevention. He gently shook the pottery jar, and a crisp and pleasant metal collision sound came from inside.
He poured all the copper coins from the pottery jar onto the table and counted them carefully one by one in the dim light of the oil lamp. The copper coins were of different sizes and in different states of old and new, and were stained with various smells – sweat, soil, food, and even a faint smell of rust. Behind each copper coin, there was a successful “transaction”, a reward for his wisdom and skills.
Looking at these gradually accumulated “small treasury funds”, an unprecedented sense of security and longing for the future quietly grew in Fujiwara Yu’s heart.
He no longer just passively accepted the arrangements of the world, drifting like duckweed, barely making ends meet on the meager pension from the village. He began to feel that he seemed to be really capable of actively planning and taking action with his own hands and brain, to contribute to the ideal “stable daily life” in his heart.
The most core and solid carrier of that ideal “stable daily life” is a home that truly belongs to you.
Not the current small apartment in an old neighborhood, with cramped space, mottled walls, and poor sound insulation, where the landlord may evict him at any time because he cannot pay the next quarter’s rent. He is tired of the sound of mice running on the ceiling at night, the noise of the neighbors quarreling or the crying children, and the trouble of water seeping from the corners of the roof every time it rains.
Chapter 27 I Want a Home (Old Version)
A house doesn’t need to be as grand as the Hokage’s residence, nor does it need to be as vast as the Hyuga or Uchiha mansions. It just needs to be just right, to accommodate him (or… maybe someone else in the future?) to live comfortably.
A place that is strong enough. The materials must be solid and the structure must be stable, able to withstand the common wind and rain in Konoha, and even some unexpected shocks and vibrations (after all, this is a world where ninjas may destroy your house at any time).
A quiet enough place. It would be best if it was a little remote, away from the main road of the village and the noisy commercial area, which could isolate him from most of the noise and interference from the outside world, so that he could have an undisturbed space to read, study, practice, or just do nothing, empty himself, and enjoy a moment of tranquility.
The most important point, which is also what Fujiwara Yu repeatedly outlined in his mind, is that it would be best to have a small yard.
The yard doesn’t need to be too big, but it must exist. It is a small world connecting him with nature and a yearning for an idyllic life deep in his heart.
He imagined that he could plant some of his favorite plants in the yard. He didn’t need those precious flowers that needed careful care, as he didn’t have the time and energy. Perhaps he could plant a few green plants that were tenacious and easy to care for, such as evergreen pines and cypresses, or gardenias that bloomed elegant flowers in summer. He could also plant a few fruit-bearing trees, such as orange trees, which could yield golden fruits in autumn, or a persimmon tree, which would be a joy of harvest if he saw the red persimmons hanging from the branches.
In spring, you can feel the vitality of tender buds breaking through the soil in the yard; in summer, you can spread a mat under the shade of a tree, listen to the chirping of cicadas, and feel the cool breeze blowing through the hall; in autumn, you can watch the leaves slowly fall and taste the fruits you have grown; in winter, you can stay in a warm house, look through the window, and watch the snowflakes silently cover the entire yard, dyeing everything pure white.
Can we dig a small pond in the yard? Fujiwara Yu thinks this may be a bit extravagant and troublesome to maintain. But if conditions permit, we can have a small pond, not too big, to draw fresh water, raise a few common red or black carp, and watch them swing their tails leisurely in the clear water, chasing and playing, which seems to add some vitality and fun to this tranquility.
Of course, a relatively open area should be left in the yard. It can be paved with bluestone slabs, or simply flat land. When the weather is good, you can move a chair here to bask in the sun and read a book. If necessary, you can also do some exercises that are not convenient to do indoors, such as physical exercises to stretch the body, or… some ninjutsu or sealing techniques that require a certain amount of space (of course, the premise is that a sufficiently strong and hidden isolation and defense barrier must be set up around the yard, which is the top priority).
As for the house itself, Fujiwara Yuu does not pursue gorgeousness or grandeur in appearance. Traditional Japanese style is good, simple, practical, and in harmony with nature. The internal structure must be reasonable, and ventilation and lighting must be good.
He wanted a quiet and spacious study room of his own. This was his spiritual territory. There should be bookshelves large enough to hold the books, scrolls, and research materials he had collected from all over the place. There should be a large and sturdy desk with a tabletop large enough for him to spread out several books or scrolls at the same time for comparative study. There should be a lamp next to the desk with a soft but bright enough light.
He also needs a fully functional, clean and tidy kitchen. He is not particularly fanatical about food, but he enjoys the process of turning ordinary ingredients into delicious dishes through his own understanding and skills. A good kitchen can help him better practice his ideas about food and improve his happiness in daily life.
The bedroom does not need to be too big, but it must be absolutely quiet and comfortable. A comfortable bed and a set of clean bedding will allow him to get enough rest and relaxation after a day of “performance” and secret practice, fall asleep peacefully, and restore his energy.
Of course, the core of all these assumptions, and what Fujiwara Yuu values ​​most, is the safety of this home.
It must be a solid fortress. Not just physically solid, such as using more impact-resistant building materials, strengthening the foundation and wall structure. More importantly, it must be a magical, or ninjutsu-level defense.
He would consider geographical factors when choosing a house, avoiding areas with unstable geology or areas that are prone to attack. During the construction process, he would personally participate, using the highest level of defense barriers, concealment barriers, isolation barriers, and warning barriers that he could master… It was like weaving an invisible, layered protective net, perfectly integrated with the building structure itself. This makes the house look ordinary and unassuming from the outside, but in fact it is impregnable, difficult to detect, and even more difficult to invade.
He would even consider designing secret underground passages and sufficiently safe emergency shelters, equipped with independent air, water and energy systems, to cope with various extreme emergencies that might occur in the future, such as war, natural disasters, or…Pain’s Demolition Team? (Thinking of this possibility, Fujiwara Yu’s eyes twitched).
This home will not only be a place to live, but also the ultimate pursuit and embodiment of his innermost desire for “stability” and “control”. A place where he can completely remove his disguise and isolate himself from all the wind, rain and danger from the outside world. In the true sense, it is his own sacred territory and absolute harbor.
This desire for “home”, like a carefully watered seed, quickly took root, sprouted, and thrived in his heart, becoming clearer, more concrete, and stronger.
Every time he went home from school, when he passed by the small houses with independent courtyards in the village that looked relatively quiet, his eyes would involuntarily stay there for a while. He would subconsciously observe the orientation, structure, height of the courtyard wall, and surrounding environment of the house, and even silently evaluate how to arrange the barrier and how to transform it to achieve the best comfort and safety if he lived there.
Every time he carefully put the newly earned copper coins with residual warmth into the old pot, the jingling sound seemed to remind him that he was one step closer to his dream home. He would silently calculate in his mind, at the current rate, how many years would it take to save enough for the down payment? If he could find a more efficient way to make money, how much shorter would this time be?
Chapter 28: Say Thank You (Old Version)
This goal, like a warm and firm beacon on the distant coast, pointed out the direction for Fujiwara Yuu, a small boat that was sailing carefully in the ninja world, and also injected endless motivation. It made him more clear about the direction and meaning of his efforts.
He knew that in a place like Konoha Village where every inch of land was worth a lot of money, it was not an easy thing to buy an independent property with a yard in a decent location. Especially for an orphan like him who had no parents, no family background or connections, the money required was probably an astronomical figure that an ordinary Genin could hardly reach in his lifetime.
But he did not feel discouraged or desperate.
His greatest wealth is not money, but time, patience, a brain full of “insight” far beyond that of ordinary people, and his ever-growing hidden strength.
The success of using “little life skills” to earn pocket money for the first time was just the first step in his huge plan, a trivial beginning. He believed that as he mastered more and more knowledge and skills (whether it was ninjutsu, sealing techniques, medical knowledge, or other miscellaneous knowledge), he would be able to find more and more effective ways to make money that were low-key and safe enough.
Perhaps it is an improved version of Bingliang Wan with better effect and good taste? (The problem of the source of materials and the effect should not be too exaggerated needs to be solved)
Perhaps you can use the medical knowledge you have learned by yourself to make some topical ointments or powders that are effective and have few side effects for common minor ailments (such as bruises, insect bites, and minor burns)? (You also need to consider the source of the materials and not be too conspicuous.)
Perhaps… after he has mastered the art of sealing to a higher level and can ensure absolute safety and secrecy, he can anonymously produce and sell some basic but extremely useful special function scrolls in small batches? For example, storage scrolls that are more portable and quicker to activate than those on the market? Or special spells with weak purification and constant temperature functions? (This is the highest risk, so you must be extremely careful)
In Fujiwara Yu’s mind, various money-making ideas flashed like stars. He needed to carefully screen, evaluate, and plan, choose the most suitable and lowest-risk plan for himself, and then implement it carefully step by step.
He is confident that as long as he is cautious enough, works hard enough and is smart enough, that small house with a yard, that true “home” that embodies all his yearnings for a stable life, will one day turn his dream into reality.
The desire for “home” has become the warmest, most determined, and most secret driving force in Fujiwara Yu’s heart. It makes him cherish the peace in front of him more, work harder to accumulate strength, and make him more clear about what he really wants to protect and pursue in this ninja world full of variables and dangers.
It’s not about becoming a shadow-level hero, it’s not about becoming famous, it’s not about changing the world.
It is just about having a home that truly belongs to you, where you can comfort your body and mind, isolate yourself from the wind and rain, and enjoy tranquility.
While Fujiwara Yu was low-key carrying out his initial attempt to “earn money to support his family” and silently planning the blueprint for his future home in his mind, he didn’t know that some of his seemingly inadvertent actions had attracted the quiet attention of someone.
This person was none other than the little girl from the Hyuga branch family who was rescued by him using an “accidentally fallen clay pot” in the corner of the market that day.
After that day, although the little girl was skeptical about the possibility of Fujiwara Yuu helping her, the figure of the ordinary-dressed, black-haired boy with calm eyes left an indelible impression in her heart for some reason.
She didn’t know his name, nor what class he was in. But she began to subconsciously look for that figure in the crowd.
The Ninja School is very large, and there are many students of the same grade. It is not easy to find someone who deliberately keeps a low profile in the vast crowd.
But perhaps it was the Hyuga family’s natural keen observation skills, or perhaps it was some kind of mysterious attraction, the little girl found that she could always “accidentally” meet the boy at certain specific times and places.
For example, in the crowd going home from school, she would see him walking slowly and leisurely, carrying that half-worn cloth bag on his back. He neither kept company with anyone nor looked around, as if everything around him had nothing to do with him.
For example, in a quiet corner of the library, she would see him holding a book that looked very profound or boring (in her opinion), sitting for a long time with a focused expression, as if he was completely immersed in his own world.
For example, in the physical training ground, she would see him blending in with the crowd, performing standard movements, sweating a moderate amount, and performing neither well nor badly, inconspicuous at all.
Every time she “encountered” him, the little girl would quietly and inconspicuously observe him. She found that this boy had a very special temperament, a calm and alienated feeling that was incompatible with the surrounding environment. He was not as lively and active as other boys of the same age, nor was he as arrogant and ostentatious as some children of certain families. He was like a quiet stone, calm, introverted, and hard to see through.
She developed a strong curiosity about him.
Who is he? What is his name? Why does he always go alone? Was he just passing by that day? Or did he really see her and help her in some way that she couldn’t understand?
In addition to curiosity, there was an indescribable emotion quietly growing in her heart – gratitude.
Regardless of whether he was the one who did it that day, she clearly remembered that when she was most helpless and scared, it was the “accidental” fall of the clay pot that allowed her to escape and save the money to buy medicine for her mother. That money was crucial to her poor and long-term bedridden family.
In a sense, that “accident”, or the boy who may have caused the “accident”, was her benefactor.
This gratitude made her pay more attention to Fujiwara Yu’s every move.
She began to pay attention to the people and things around him. She saw that he seemed to have a good relationship with the gentle girl next door named Yamanaka Ayane. Sometimes they would go home together and share food. When she saw this scene, the little girl’s heart would inexplicably surge with a sense of loss that she herself could not explain.
She also saw that he always sat in the corner in class, his grades seemed to be only average, he never took the initiative to answer questions, and never participated in discussions with those top students. This made her even more confused. If he really had some special abilities as she guessed, why did he behave so mediocrely in school?
Chapter 29: Thinking Hard (Old Version)
She tried to get closer to him, to say thank you (even if it was just for that “coincidence”), or just to know his name. But every time she mustered up the courage to go forward, she would retreat subconsciously like a frightened deer when she saw his calm eyes that seemed to keep her at a distance.
She was afraid. She was afraid that her approach would break the tranquility in him, that her abruptness would cause him to dislike her, and even more afraid… that her identity (the Hyuga branch family) would bring him trouble.
Children of the Hyuga branch family were taught from a young age to be careful with their words and actions, to recognize their own status, not to cause trouble for the main family and the clan, and not to expect to establish deep connections with people “outside”. This concept has long been ingrained in their bones.
Therefore, she could only choose this method – to pay attention quietly.
She was like a small shadow hidden in the dark, silently observing Fujiwara Yu’s life trajectory, remembering his every subtle move and every subtle expression in her heart.
Her attention was cautious, without malice, and full of a girl’s naive curiosity and pure gratitude.
And has Fujiwara Yu noticed this attention coming from the dark?
With his superhuman perception and vigilance, perhaps… he had vaguely sensed that there seemed to be a special gaze that always fell on him inadvertently. But he did not investigate further. As long as the other party did not show obvious malice and did not try to invade his “safe distance”, he would usually choose to ignore it.
After all, it was impossible to completely ignore the attention in this world. As long as this kind of attention was within the controllable range and did not affect his plans, he would not take the initiative to disrupt it.
In this way, one carefully hides himself in the light, and the other quietly watches with curiosity in the dark. Between the two children who seem to have nothing in common, a subtle, yet unspoken connection is quietly being established.
This little girl from the Hyuga branch family (character B) is like an unexpected rest with a unique timbre in the melody of Fujiwara Yu’s life. Will her appearance bring new variables to Fujiwara Yu’s carefully planned “stable daily life”?
Time slipped by like quicksand between fingers. In the blink of an eye, the first school year of Ninja Academy was coming to an end, ushering in the test that all students must face – the school year assessment.
This assessment is not only a test of the students’ learning achievements over the past year, but also will affect the future class placement to a certain extent, and may even attract the initial attention of some teachers or senior management. For those students who are eager to stand out and prove themselves, this is an important opportunity.
Uchiha Sasuke is still the focus of everyone’s attention. His performance is perfect both in theory and practice. He firmly occupies the top spot in the grade, and the arrogance in his eyes seems to be even greater than before.
Uzumaki Naruto was just as usual… creating trouble and making jokes. His theory classes were a mess, and in practical classes he either messed up everything by trying too hard, or performed some weird and unconventional “ninjutsu”, which gave the examiners a headache, so his grades were naturally at the bottom.
The other students were also working hard, hoping to get a good result. The atmosphere on the training ground was tense, and the examiners had serious expressions as they recorded the performance of each student.
And Fujiwara Yu once again demonstrated his consummate “score control” skills.
He had already studied all the items and scoring criteria of this assessment. For him, it was not impossible to get a high score, or even challenge Sasuke’s first place (maybe in theory, but the difference in practice was huge). But why would he do that?
His goal has never been to be at the top or to attract attention. What he wants is to be safe, to be low-key, and not to be disturbed.
Therefore, this academic year assessment was just another stage play for him. He had to play the role of the average student who was neither good nor bad and needed to work hard to keep up with the rest of the group.
In the theory test, when the test papers were handed out, Fujiwara Yu glanced at the questions on them and already had the answers in his mind. But he did not start writing immediately. Instead, he frowned and “pondered” for a while, and then began to answer “slowly”. When encountering simple questions, he would deliberately pause, as if he was recalling the knowledge points; when encountering slightly difficult questions, he would “calculate” on the draft paper, and finally come up with an answer that “looks like he tried hard but seems to be a little short”. He would selectively make some harmless mistakes, such as confusing the seals of two similar ninjutsu, or misremembering the details of a historical event. In the end, the score of the paper he handed in was neither too much nor too little, just stuck in the “above average” position. It was a little higher than the passing line, which showed that he had “made some progress” this year, but it was far from the standard of excellence, and perfectly avoided the teacher’s focus list.
The practical assessment includes the use of the three-body technique, the throwing accuracy of shuriken and kunai, and basic physical training.
Three body skills assessment.
In the clone technique, he would “try hard” to form a seal, and then with a “bang”, a clone would appear with a relatively stable form, but the movements were a little stiff, and the duration was just enough to meet the standard. The examiner commented: “Well, it’s an improvement over the usual practice, but the chakra control needs to be improved.”
For the transformation technique, he would choose to transform into a common animal, such as a cat or a dog, but would deliberately leave some flaws in the details, such as the wrong fur color or a slightly unbalanced body proportion. The examiner commented: “The mastery of the transformation technique is acceptable, but not sophisticated enough.”
As for the substitution technique, he would “nearly” succeed at the “last moment” when the examiner threw the training ball, leaving behind a wooden stake and appearing a few meters away with a “lucky” sigh on his face. The examiner commented: “The reaction speed needs to be improved, and the timing of the substitution is not accurate enough.”
Ninja tool throwing test.
With shuriken and kunai, he still maintained the previous “above average” level. Out of ten throws, he would hit the seventh or eighth ring five or six times, two or three times hit the fifth or sixth ring, occasionally “miss” the target, and then “perform beyond his normal” once to hit the ninth ring or the edge of the bull’s eye. The overall score was neither high nor low, and he was steadily ranked in the middle. He would not make people think he was too bad, nor would he make people think he was gifted.
Physical training assessment.
The assessment is conducted in the form of random drawing of lots for group practice, which stops at the required level and mainly examines students’ reaction speed, offensive and defensive awareness, and basic physical fitness.
Chapter 30: Creating Ninjutsu (Old Version)
Fujiwara Yu’s luck was neither good nor bad, as the opponent he drew was a civilian boy who was also of average ability.
The sparring began. Fujiwara Yuu took a standard defensive stance, staring at his opponent with a “focused” look. He did not attack, but only passively blocked and dodged. The opponent’s attack was not fierce, but it was also quite standard. Fujiwara Yuu’s response seemed a bit “struggling”, and every block seemed to have exhausted all his strength, and every dodge seemed a bit “embarrassed”, and he was almost hit several times.
On the field, he seemed to be at a disadvantage and was suppressed by his opponents.
But only Fujiwara Yuu himself knows that he has precisely controlled his strength, speed and reaction to a level that is “just enough to cope with”. He can clearly predict every move of his opponent, but he will deliberately react half a beat slower; he can easily block the opponent’s fist, but he will make it look like he barely blocked it; he has several opportunities to seize the opponent’s flaws and counterattack, but he chose to give up.
What he wants is not victory, but “qualification”.
Finally, when the sparring time was about to end, Fujiwara Yu seized an obvious mistake made by his opponent due to his reduced physical strength, and knocked him to the ground with a seemingly “lucky” trip. Then he immediately withdrew his opponent and stepped back, indicating the end of the sparring.
The examiner recorded: “Fujiwara Yu, your taijutsu foundation is passable, your defensive awareness is strong, but your offensive desire is insufficient, and your reaction speed and strength need to be improved. Overall assessment: medium.”
Perfect review!
Fujiwara Yu was very satisfied with his “performance”.
After the assessment of the entire school year, his total score was neither high nor low, and he was firmly ranked in the upper middle area of ​​the grade. This score would not make him fail to graduate or be specially “taken care of” by the teacher because of his poor performance, nor would it attract unnecessary attention and trouble because of his excellent performance. He was like an ordinary drop of seawater in the ocean, perfectly blending into the background.
“Master of Score Control”, Fujiwara Yu gave himself this title in his heart, with a hint of barely perceptible pride.
For him, the assessment of the Ninja School has never been a goal, but just a level that he needs to pass step by step on the road to a stable daily life. How to pass these levels with the lowest risk and the least attention is what he really needs to consider.
So far, his strategy seems to be very successful.
The end of the exam meant the long-awaited holiday was coming. Most of the students breathed a sigh of relief and began to discuss their holiday plans excitedly. Fujiwara Yuya packed up his things and prepared to go home alone as usual.
Just then, a slightly shy voice sounded behind him.
“Fujiwara-kun…”
It was Yamanaka Ayane. Her cheeks were slightly red, and her fingers were twisting the corners of her clothes nervously, seeming a little nervous.
“Is there something wrong?” Fujiwara Yu turned around and looked at her.
“Um…holiday…do you have any plans?” Ayane asked in a low voice, her eyes flickering, not daring to look him in the face.
“I haven’t decided yet.” Fujiwara Yuu replied. His holiday schedule is simple: practice in secret, study the art of sealing, continue his “small business”, and maybe go to the library to find treasures.
“Well… that…” Ayane took a deep breath, and seemed to have mustered up a lot of courage. “Mom said that the neighbor’s family just opened a big flower garden. There are so many beautiful flowers and some rare varieties… I want to… I want to go and see… You… are you willing to go with me?”
After saying this, her face turned as red as a ripe apple, and she lowered her head, not daring to look at Fujiwara Yu’s reaction.
Go to the flower garden? Fujiwara Yu was stunned for a moment. He had no particular interest in flowers and plants, and thought it was a waste of time. But looking at Ayane’s expectant and uneasy expression, the words of refusal came to his lips, but he couldn’t say it.
During this period of time, Ayane had indeed brought some rare bright spots to his somewhat gloomy life. Her gentleness, kindness and simplicity were like a clear spring, allowing his tense nerves to relax a little. Occasionally walking home with her and listening to her share those trivial daily lives seemed to have become a habit.
Besides, going to the flower garden… doesn’t seem to be dangerous. It’s just an ordinary leisure activity, it shouldn’t cause any trouble, right? Just think of it as… a reward for her sending all kinds of snacks and side dishes during this period? Or is it a necessary investment to maintain this “friendly neighborly relationship”?
Fujiwara Yuu quickly weighed the options in his mind.
“…Okay.” Finally, he nodded slightly and uttered a word.
“Huh?! Really?!” Ayane raised her head suddenly, her eyes instantly flashing with surprise, as if she couldn’t believe her ears.
“Yes.” Fujiwara Yu confirmed again, his tone was still calm, but his eyes seemed softer than usual, “When are we going?”
“Ah… then… then the first day of the holiday, is that okay? In the morning?” Ayane said quickly, as if afraid that he would go back on his word.
“Can.”
“Great!” Ayane smiled happily, her eyes curved into two lovely crescents, “Then we’ll meet downstairs!”
“good.”
After getting a positive answer, Ayane jumped away like a happy little bird, turning back and waving to Fujiwara Yu as she ran.
Fujiwara Yu looked at her excited back and felt inexplicably relieved.
Going to a flower garden with a girl? This seemed to be an experience he had never had in his two lifetimes combined. It didn’t sound like… it wasn’t a complete waste of time? Maybe he could see some interesting plants? Or maybe it would make her happier?
He shook his head, shaking off these chaotic thoughts.
During the holidays, in addition to practicing and making money, there seems to be a small, unplanned arrangement.
Maybe relaxing once in a while and experiencing some “normal” activities for his age will help him play his role better.
The holiday agreement with Yamanaka Ayane undoubtedly made the relationship between the two people take a small step forward without realizing it. That vague friendship seemed to be quietly developing in a deeper direction.
The holiday finally came. Without the constraints of the Ninja School, Fujiwara Yuu had a lot of free time. He did not completely relax and have fun like other children, but devoted himself to his secret plan more systematically.
The secret place in the back mountain became his must-go place every day. Physical training, chakra control practice, shuriken throwing accuracy polishing, sealing technique research and practice… everything was carried out in an orderly manner.
In addition to these “main businesses”, Fujiwara Yuya began to apply his “understanding” to some more interesting areas that are closer to “stable daily life” – creating or improving some low-level ninjutsu that facilitate life.
He did not seek to develop powerful offensive ninjutsu, as that did not meet his goal and would easily expose his strength. He was interested in how to use chakra and basic ninjutsu principles to solve some practical problems in life and improve the comfort and convenience of living.
His first goal was cleaning.
As a teenager living alone, cleaning is a time-consuming and tedious task. His small apartment is not big to begin with, but dust and stains are always everywhere.
Fujiwara Yu thought, since wind jutsu can produce cutting and blowing effects, and water jutsu can produce flushing and shaping effects, can he combine these two properties (he speculated that he had an affinity for these two attributes) to create a small ninjutsu for cleaning?
He started trying.
Chapter 31: Pursuit of Peace (Old Version)
In the secret place behind the mountain, he faced a rock covered with mud. First, he tried to mobilize the trace amount of water attribute chakra in his body, condensed it on his fingertips, and then released it, forming an extremely fine but pressured water flow, like a miniature high-pressure water gun, washing away the dirt on the surface of the rock.
This required precise control of the form and pressure of the water-attribute chakra. At first, the water flow was either too weak to wash away the stains, or too strong to splash everywhere. But with his understanding and repeated practice, he soon mastered the trick and was able to steadily release just the right amount of clean water.
Next, it was the wind attribute. He tried to mobilize the wind attribute chakra while the water was flowing, forming a small, rotating airflow next to it, like a miniature hair dryer, to quickly blow away and dry the washed-down sewage and remaining dust.
This also requires precise control. The wind force should not be too strong or too weak. It should be just enough to blow away the dirt without raising more dust.
After many attempts and adjustments, Fujiwara Yu finally succeeded in combining the weak effects of water escape and wind escape, creating a… life skill? Or a low-level composite ninjutsu?
When performing this technique, he only needs to point his fingers at the place that needs to be cleaned, silently recite in his mind (or simply omit it), mobilize the two attributes of chakra, and release a miniature “tornado” with clean water and dry air, quickly and effectively removing dust and stains in a small area.
The effect was very good! He used this technique to clean the moss and fallen leaves in the cave much faster and cleaner than wiping with hands or sweeping with a broom!
He even tried to apply this technique to washing clothes. Although it can’t handle stubborn oil stains, it works well for daily sweat stains and dust, and it has a self-drying effect after washing, which is really convenient!
Having tasted the sweetness, Fujiwara Yu’s creative passion was ignited.
He turned his attention to sorting.
Although there weren’t many things in his small apartment, it was often a bit messy due to reading or research. It took him a lot of time to tidy it up, which was very troublesome.
Can chakra be used to assist in organization?
He thought of the chakra that he had mastered quite well.
What if… you could control multiple chakra threads at the same time, like invisible hands, to grab, move, and place objects?
This requires extremely high precision in chakra control and the ability to multitask.
Fujiwara Yuu started a new practice. He tried to separate five, ten, or even more chakra strands at the same time, and then controlled them with his mind to absorb small stones, leaves, broken branches and other debris on the ground.
At first, he could only barely control three or four chakras, and his movements were clumsy, often losing sight of one thing while focusing on another. But with continuous practice and the improvement of his mental strength, he was able to control more and more chakras at the same time, and his movements became more and more flexible and precise.
Eventually, he developed a technique that could be called “Mind Arrangement”. He only needed to stand still and spread his mental power, and he could control dozens of invisible chakra threads, as if he had countless obedient little hands, to put the books scattered around the room back on the bookshelf, fold the clothes and put them in the closet, and even accurately sweep the small garbage on the ground into the dustpan!
This is great news for lazy people! It saves him a lot of time and energy in housework.
The last problem he wanted to solve was maintaining a constant temperature.
Konoha Village has four distinct seasons, hot in summer and cold in winter. His small apartment has no air conditioning or heating, so it is hot and stuffy in summer, and he needs to burn firewood to keep warm in winter, which is neither convenient nor safe.
Can we use the changes in the properties of chakra to regulate the temperature in a small area?
Fire attribute chakra can generate heat, and water attribute (or some variants of water jutsu, such as ice jutsu) can generate cold air. Although he has a low affinity for fire attribute, he seems to have some affinity for water attribute, but he feels that using attribute chakra directly to adjust the temperature will make too much noise, consume a lot of energy, and be easily exposed.
He thought of another idea – sealing technique.
The core of sealing is to build a stable energy cycle or rules in an area. So, is it possible to design a sealing technique that can absorb the heat or cold air from the surrounding environment and then release it slowly and steadily to achieve the effect of regulating the temperature?
This idea was more complicated, and the knowledge involved was beyond the scope of the basic scroll. But Fujiwara Yuu did not give up. He began to look up more information about chakra property transformation, energy circulation, and basic barrier techniques in the library (of course, all of them were public basic information), combined with his own understanding and deduction, and tried to design a sealing technique with this “constant temperature” function.
He found a flat stone slab in a secret cave in the back mountain, used it as a carrier, and began to draw the complex spell he had conceived, which combined the runes of weak energy absorption and release.
This process is much more difficult than making a storage scroll, and the failure rate is much higher. The structure of the technique is more complicated, and the understanding of the nature of chakra and the control precision required are also higher.
But Fujiwara never tires of it. He enjoys the process of exploring the unknown and putting his ideas into practice.
After countless failures and improvements, he finally succeeded in making a “constant temperature slab” that… had very weak effects.
Placing this stone slab engraved with complex runes in a cave, it can slowly absorb the surrounding heat (in summer) or cold air (in winter), and then maintain the temperature inside the cave at a relatively comfortable range (but only slightly better than outside) within a few hours.
Although the effect is not strong, it is indeed effective! And the consumption is extremely low, almost negligible, and it is extremely hidden. From the outside, the stone slab is just an ordinary stone slab.
Fujiwara Yu carefully placed this “constant temperature stone slab” deep in the cave. Although it is just a rough experiment now, he believes that as his understanding of the sealing technique deepens, he will be able to produce a constant temperature device with better effects and wider range in the future. By then, his dream home will be warm in winter and cool in summer!
Cleaning, organizing, maintaining constant temperature… these seemingly insignificant little ninjutsu (or chakra techniques, sealing techniques) in life have greatly improved Fujiwara Yu’s quality of life and convenience.
More importantly, the process of creation and improvement is itself a great practice. It not only trains his chakra control accuracy and mental concentration, but also deepens his understanding of the essence of ninjutsu and sealing techniques.
He immersed himself in the pleasure of applying “supernatural powers” to “ordinary life” and felt that he was one step closer to the ideal of “stable daily life”.
These self-created little life ninjutsu will also become part of his many secrets. They are his unique skills to build a comfortable, convenient and safe home, and he will never show them to others easily.
After successfully developing some convenient life skills, Fujiwara Yuu was not satisfied with this. He knew that if he wanted to truly realize the ideal of “stable daily life”, it was far from enough to just improve the comfort and convenience of life. What was more important was safety.
In this dangerous ninja world, a sense of security is always a luxury. Even in the seemingly peaceful Konoha Village, there are all kinds of unpredictable risks. Whether it is enemies from outside or prying and disputes within the village, they can easily break the peace he pursues.
Chapter 32: Sense of Security (Old Version)
He needs to build a reliable security barrier for his future home and his current temporary residence.
The art of barrier naturally came into his field of vision.
The barrier technique is an important branch of the sealing technique, focusing on building an energy barrier in a specific area to achieve multiple purposes such as defense, isolation, vigilance, and trapping enemies. A powerful barrier technique can even protect an entire village and resist the invasion of a shadow-level strongman.
Of course, with Fujiwara Yuu’s current level, he is still far from being able to access that level of barrier. What he can access is still the basic, public knowledge in the corner of the library.
He found some methods of setting up simple warning barriers in a tattered booklet titled “Introduction and Application of Basic Barrier Techniques”.
This kind of warning barrier has almost zero power and does not have any direct defensive or offensive capabilities. Its only function is to send an extremely weak chakra signal that can only be sensed by a specific frequency to the person who set it up when someone or a creature with chakra enters the range of the barrier without permission.
This is exactly what Fujiwara Yuu wants!
He didn’t need a shield that was radiant with light, surging with energy, and afraid that others would not know that there was a barrier here. What he needed was concealment and early warning. Being able to detect the approach of uninvited guests at the first time and prepare in advance (whether it was hiding, escaping or counterattacking) was the most important thing.
Preparations for his future home could begin now. He could use his small apartment and the secret base in the back hills as places for practice and experimentation.
To set up a basic warning barrier, some special media are usually needed, such as wooden signs or stones engraved with specific runes, or specially made barrier symbols. These media need to be arranged in a specific direction and formation, and then the caster injects chakra into them to connect them to form an invisible perception network covering a specific area.
Fujiwara Yu once again demonstrated his “hands-on ability”. Instead of buying expensive standard barrier talismans, he made the medium himself.
He went to the back mountain to pick up some medium-sized, hard pebbles, and some fine-grained, non-corrosive hardwood blocks. Then, using his increasingly sophisticated chakra control skills, he concentrated a tiny amount of chakra on his fingertips, like a carving knife, and carved the basic runes needed for the warning barrier on these stones and wood blocks in great detail.
This method of using chakra to directly engrave runes on the medium is more demanding than drawing with ink, but the advantage is that it is more hidden and more durable. After the engraving is completed, the runes are almost integrated with the texture of the stone and wood, and are extremely difficult to distinguish with the naked eye.
After the medium was prepared, Fujiwara Yu began to try to arrange it.
The first place he chose to experiment was his secret base in the back mountain. This place was remote and had a complex environment, which was very suitable for practicing this kind of enchantment technique that required surveying the terrain and cleverly arranging the medium.
He carefully surveyed all possible paths leading to the secret platform, analyzing which places were most likely to be overlooked and which places were best for hiding vectors.
Then, he placed the rune-carved stones and wood blocks in pre-selected locations with great care. Some were buried in the shallow soil beside the path, with only a corner exposed, looking like ordinary stones; some were stuffed into the gaps between tree roots, covered with moss; and some were cleverly embedded in the depressions of the rock wall, blending in with the surrounding environment.
After arranging all the media, Fujiwara Yu stood in the center of the platform, took a deep breath, and began to make hand seals. The seals of the warning barrier were not complicated, with only a few basic hand seals. The key was that after the seals were completed, one needed to accurately connect one’s own chakra to each arranged medium through mental guidance, and connect them in series according to a specific formation line to form a stable energy perception field.
“Basic warning barrier: activate!”
Fujiwara Yu let out a low growl and completed the last hand seal.
Buzz…
An extremely weak, almost imperceptible chakra wave spread out like a ripple, with him as the center, quickly covering the entire secret base and its surrounding areas. He could clearly feel that his chakra had established a connection with the media hidden everywhere, forming an invisible and sensitive “net”.
In order to test the effect, he controlled a leaf and let it “float” into the range of the barrier.
Instantly, Fujiwara Yu received an extremely weak signal in his mind! The signal was very vague, and it could only roughly determine that “something” had entered a certain direction, but it did serve as an early warning!
He tried again to walk to the edge of the barrier by himself, and then took a step inside.
The signal became clearer, and it could be felt that a creature with chakra had entered.
Although this barrier is still very crude, with a limited sensing range, fuzzy signals, and can be easily interfered with or destroyed, it does achieve the most basic warning function!
Fujiwara Yuu was filled with joy. This was not only a new technique he had learned, but also the first safe cornerstone for his future “fortress”.
In the following days, Fujiwara Yu continued to practice and improve this basic warning barrier.
He tried to optimize the layout of the medium to make its coverage wider and the perception more uniform.
He tried to adjust the frequency and pattern of chakra injection, trying to make the early warning signal clearer, and even be able to make a preliminary judgment on the approximate strength of the invader (although he couldn’t do that at present).
He also tried to add some simple “camouflage” or “anti-reconnaissance” functions to the barrier, such as making the chakra fluctuations of the barrier more similar to the natural energy fluctuations of the surrounding environment, making it more difficult for other sensory ninjas to detect.
He even quietly set up this basic warning barrier around his small apartment. He hid a small stone with runes engraved on it under the flower pot on the windowsill, stuffed a small piece of thin wood into the gap of the door frame, and made some tricks in the inconspicuous corners of the corridor. These media were extremely hidden, and even if someone carefully checked, they would only think they were ordinary debris.
When he returns home and activates this extremely small-coverage security barrier, anyone who tries to approach his doors or windows (such as a thief, or… some malicious peepers?) will be noticed by him immediately.
This gave Fujiwara Yuu an unprecedented sense of security. Although it was still far from enough, it at least meant that he was no longer completely defenseless.
Chapter 33: It Was You Last Time (Old Version)
Learning and setting up basic security barriers is an important preparation that Fujiwara Yuu has made for the small house with a yard in the future. He believes that as his strength improves and his understanding of barrier techniques deepens, one day he will be able to personally weave a truly impenetrable and solid security net for his home.
And now, every successful arrangement and every small progress are strengthening his determination to move towards this goal.
Ever since she was rescued by Fujiwara Yuu in an “accidental” way in the corner of the market last time (although she was not entirely sure), the little girl from the Hyuga branch family – Hyuga Hinata (yes, she is one of the future Twelve Strongmen, but at the moment she is just a timid, self-conscious little girl living in the shadow of the main family) has been full of curiosity and gratitude towards the black-haired boy.
She quietly found out his name – Fujiwara Yuu, and also knew that he was in the same class as her, but in a different class. This discovery made her feel a little excited, and she felt that the distance between them seemed to have shortened a little.
But she still didn’t have the courage to take the initiative to go up and talk to him. Every time she saw him from a distance, her heart would beat faster, her cheeks would get hot, and she would subconsciously hide away, only daring to sneak a few glances at him from the corner of her eyes. She was afraid that her clumsiness and cowardice would make him unhappy, and she was even more afraid that her identity as a member of the branch family would bring him unnecessary trouble.
She could only bury her gratitude and curiosity deep in her heart.
However, opportunities always come unexpectedly.
On this day, the Ninja School organized an outdoor practical activity for the entire grade. The location was in a small woods near the village. The content was to identify common medicinal plants and set simple hunting traps.
The students were divided into different groups and, under the guidance of their teachers, scattered throughout the woods to carry out activities.
Hinata was unlucky and was assigned to a group of mischievous boys. Those boys had no interest in identifying plants and were only concerned with chasing and playing with each other or throwing stones at bird nests on trees. Hinata was introverted and did not dare to discipline them. She could only follow the teacher’s instructions and look at the atlas to try to find the target plants.
Just when she finally found a hemostatic herb that matched the description in the atlas and squatted down to observe it carefully, the boys who were playing suddenly chased after her. One of the boys didn’t pay attention and bumped into Hinata.
“Ouch!” Hinata screamed, lost her balance, and rolled down a small rocky slope next to her.
“Bang!” She fell heavily to the ground, her elbows and knees were cut by sharp stones, bleeding, and the pain almost made her cry. What made her even more distressed was that the brand new plant atlas she had just received fell into the mud puddle beside her and was covered with mud.
“Hey! Why don’t you watch when you walk?” The boy who knocked her down, instead of apologizing, shouted at Hinata like a villain.
“That’s right! It’s blocking our way!” Several other boys also followed suit.
Hinata felt very wronged, tears welled up in her eyes, but she couldn’t refute a word. She struggled to get up, but her knees were sore from the fall that she couldn’t move.
Just then, a calm voice sounded above her.
“Do you need help?”
Hinata raised her head blankly, and what came into her sight was the black-haired boy she had been secretly paying attention to – Fujiwara Yuu!
He appeared here at some point, looking down at her, his eyes still so calm, not showing much emotion. He was holding a few freshly picked herbs in his hand, obviously also doing some practical activities.
“Fujiwara…kun?” Hinata couldn’t believe her eyes, and for a moment she even forgot the pain and grievance in her body.
When the boys who caused the accident saw Fujiwara Yu, they were stunned for a moment, and then someone recognized him.
“Oh, it’s you, the guy with the deft hands.” A boy pouted and said, obviously referring to Fujiwara Yuu’s help in repairing ninja tools. Although they were naughty, they also knew that Fujiwara Yuu was well-known among some civilian students, so they didn’t make trouble immediately.
Fujiwara Yu ignored the boys, his eyes still on Hinata, and he repeated, “Do you need help?”
Hinata looked at the hand that Fujiwara Yu stretched out to her. The hand was clean and steady. Her heartbeat accelerated and her cheeks instantly became hot. She hesitated for a moment, but finally mustered up the greatest courage in her life and gently placed her small hand covered with mud on Fujiwara Yu’s hand.
Fujiwara Yuu effortlessly pulled her up from the ground.
“Thank you, thank you…” Hinata lowered her head, her voice as thin as a mosquito, and her face was so red that it almost bled.
Fujiwara Yuu loosened his hand, glanced at her scraped and bleeding elbows and knees, and frowned slightly. Then, he took out a small bottle of transparent liquid and a roll of clean bandage from an extremely inconspicuous small cloth bag he carried with him (actually a well-disguised storage scroll).
“This is for disinfection. It may be a little painful.” As he spoke, he unscrewed the bottle cap, dipped a cotton swab (also prepared by him) into some liquid, and gently and skillfully helped Hinata clean the dirt and stains around the wound.
His movements were very steady and professional, and he didn’t look like an ordinary ninja school student at all.
Hinata felt a slight stinging pain from the wound, but more of a feeling of… warmth and peace of mind. She looked at Fujiwara Yuu’s close, focused and calm profile, her heart pounding, and she almost forgot to breathe.
The mischievous boys looked on, feeling a little uncomfortable. They wanted to say a few more sarcastic words, but when they saw Fujiwara Yuu treating his wound seriously and his inexplicable calm aura that made people dare not offend him, they finally shut up, winked at each other, and walked away.
Fujiwara Yu quickly treated Hinata’s two wounds, carefully bandaged them with bandages, and tied a beautiful and firm knot.
“Okay.” He put away his things and said in a flat tone.
“Thank you so much, Fujiwara-kun!” Hinata looked at her neatly bandaged wound, her heart filled with gratitude. She finally raised her head, looked at Fujiwara Yu seriously, and mustered up the courage to say, “Also… and last time at the market… thank you!”
She said it anyway. Although she was still not sure if it was him last time, she felt she had to express her gratitude.
Fujiwara Yu paused for a moment, raised his eyelids and glanced at her. His black eyes were deep and calm, as if they could see through people’s hearts.
Hinata was startled by his gaze, and quickly lowered her head, adding in a low voice: “I… I don’t know if it was you… but… that clay pot…”
“I was just passing by.” Fujiwara Yu interrupted her, his tone calm, “It’s just a small favor, don’t worry about it.”
He neither admitted nor denied it. But this vague response made Hinata more convinced that it was him last time!
Chapter 34 is very important to me (old version)
“No! It’s very important to me!” Hinata raised her head suddenly, her eyes full of sincerity and determination, “Um… my name is Hyuga Hinata! Please give me your guidance!”
She bowed deeply to Fujiwara Yu. This was the first time she introduced herself so solemnly to a non-family member.
Fujiwara Yu looked at the little girl in front of him whose body was trembling slightly due to nervousness and excitement, and was silent for a moment.
Hyuga Hinata? One of the future Twelve Strongest Warriors, weak in character but strong at heart, who has always had a secret crush on Uzumaki Naruto… This information flashed through his mind.
The premonition of trouble resurfaced. Being associated with the protagonists was never what he wanted.
But looking at Hinata’s pure white eyes that were full of gratitude and expectation, it seemed difficult to say no.
“Fujiwara Yuu.” Finally, he gave his name, accepting her recognition. “Be careful next time.”
After saying this, he did not stop for any longer, picked up the few herbs that had just fallen on the ground, turned around and walked towards the depths of the woods, continuing his practical activities. It seemed that everything that had just happened was just a trivial matter to him.
Hinata stood there in a daze, watching Fujiwara Yuu’s back disappear into the bushes, with mixed feelings in her heart.
He…he told me his name! His name is Fujiwara Yuu!
An indescribable joy and excitement surged in her heart, making her temporarily forget the pain in her body and the grievances she had just suffered. Although his attitude was still a little cold, he did not refuse her thanks and even told her his name!
This… does this count as a formal acquaintance?
Hinata carefully stroked the bandage on her arm, feeling the calm and reliable aura remaining on it, belonging to Fujiwara Yu. The corners of her mouth involuntarily curved upwards, revealing a shy and sweet smile.
Fujiwara Yuu…
This name, together with that calm and mysterious figure, and the two unexpected helping hands, are deeply imprinted in Hinata Hyuga’s heart.
However, after Fujiwara Yuu was away from Hinata, his heart was not as calm as he appeared.
Hyuga Hinata… the troublesome Hyuga family… the even more troublesome Uzumaki Naruto…
This time, it seems that I have once again broken the principle of “mind your own business”.
Was it because of her pitiful appearance? Or because of the words “thank you”?
Fujiwara Yuu frowned. It seemed that his heart that pursued “stability” was not firm enough. Or, in other words, he always seemed to lack sufficient immunity to certain “weakness” and “kindness”.
First it was Yamanaka Ayane, and now it’s Hyuga Hinata… Both of these girls deviate from his ideal of a “low-key” and “unrelated” life.
Is this the beginning of trouble?
Fujiwara Yuu didn’t know. But he knew that he had to be more vigilant and more careful to maintain the distance between them.
When they officially get to know each other, it’s just an acquaintance. He won’t take the initiative to approach them, nor will he let them interfere too much in his life.
At least, that’s the plan for now.
This unexpected “hero rescue” (although Fujiwara Yuu would never admit it) established a strange and fragile connection between Fujiwara Yuu and Hyuga Hinata. Hinata’s gratitude and curiosity towards Fujiwara Yuu deepened, while Fujiwara Yuu became more vigilant towards this Hyuga girl who unexpectedly broke into his peaceful life, and perhaps also a little bit of subtle concern that he himself did not even notice.
Life seemed to have returned to its former peace. Fujiwara Yuu continued his performance as a “medium student” in school, and after school he immersed himself in his secret training and his small business of “making money to support his family”. His warm daily life with Ayane continued, and occasionally he would “run into” Hinata in school, and they would greet each other somewhat unnaturally, and then quickly move away.
Everything seems to be moving in the “stable” direction that Fujiwara Yuu expected.
However, beneath the calm surface of the lake, undercurrents are often quietly surging.
Fujiwara Yu began to keenly feel that the atmosphere in Konoha Village seemed to be undergoing some subtle changes.
This change does not happen overnight, but is like the spring rain that moistens everything, silent and yet real.
First, there seemed to be an increase in the number of ninjas patrolling the streets. Not just the regular guards, but occasionally some figures with a colder aura and more secretive movements (Fujiwara Yuu guessed they were members of the Anbu or Root) flashed by on rooftops or dark alleys.
Secondly, prices seemed to have fluctuated slightly. The prices of some basic strategic materials, such as ninja tools, military ration pills, and medical supplies, seemed to have risen slightly. However, some non-essential consumer goods seemed to be somewhat depressed.
Thirdly, the historical documents and related materials about the Uchiha clan in the library seemed to be more strictly managed. Some public materials that could be browsed freely before now required special permission to borrow.
The last and most direct feeling is that there is a vague sense of tension and uneasiness in the village, especially among the civilians. In people’s conversations, they always seem to mention words like “Uchiha”, “security force”, and “conflict”, but they seem to hesitate to speak, as if there is some invisible pressure looming over their heads.
Although Fujiwara Yuu deliberately stayed away from the political center of the village, turned a deaf ear to the outside world, and devoted himself to reading the books of sages (and studying his gadgets), his keen observation and strong ability to integrate information still allowed him to smell a hint of something unusual from these clues.
The Uchiha clan…
The most powerful eye-jutsu family in Konoha Village has always had irreconcilable conflicts with the village’s top leaders. From the alienation and suspicion that began during the Second Hokage period, to being forced to move to the edge of the village after the Nine-Tails Rebellion, to the establishment of a security team that seemed to give them power but actually further isolated them… Fujiwara Yuu already knew all of this history through various channels.
And now the subtle atmosphere in the village… could it be…
Fujiwara Yuu’s mind involuntarily flashed through some “fragments of information” he had received about the future of this world. Those fragments were blurry and fragmented, but he vaguely remembered that there seemed to be a huge tragedy related to the Uchiha clan. A night of… genocide?
This speculation made Fujiwara Yu’s heart sink suddenly.
If this is true, it means that a huge storm is about to set off within Konoha Village! This will not only be a high-level political struggle, but it is likely to affect the stability and security of the entire village!
He must respond immediately!
His first reaction was not to find out the truth, not to try to prevent the tragedy from happening, and certainly not to think about how to take advantage of the turmoil to gain benefits.
His first reaction was: Stay away! Stay away from all this!
The glory and struggle of the Uchiha, the calculations and decisions of the village leaders, the bloodshed and sacrifices that may happen in the future… all of this has nothing to do with him! He is just a small person who wants to live a stable life!
He immediately adjusted his strategy.
First, he reduced unnecessary outings. Apart from the necessary trips to and from school, he no longer went to the marginal market and temporarily stopped his small business of “repairing ninja tools”. Staying in his simple but relatively safe apartment or going to the secret base in the back mountain was the best option at the moment.
Secondly, he strengthened the security of his residence and secret base. He upgraded and optimized the basic security barrier he controlled, making it more concealed and slightly expanding the sensing range. Any slight movement would not escape his perception.
Chapter 35: Invisibility Cloak (Old Version)
Once again, he began to consciously stockpile some basic survival supplies. Using the convenience of the storage scroll, he quietly bought and stored some food that was easier to preserve (such as compressed biscuits and pickled meat), as well as some basic medicines and drinking water. Although the quantity was not large, it could at least cope with a few days of emergency.
Finally, and most importantly, he began to be more deliberate about his presence and presence. He would choose more secluded routes when walking, avoiding contact with people (especially ninjas). In school, he became more taciturn, even more inconspicuous than before. He tried to make himself look like an inconspicuous stone on the side of the road, not attracting anyone’s attention.
Like a small animal that smelled danger, he instinctively curled up and erected all the “protective thorns” on his body to isolate himself from the right and wrong of the outside world.
He didn’t ask for any news about the Uchiha or the village’s high-ranking officials, nor did he participate in any related discussions. Even if he occasionally heard some rumors, such as “the guards and the Anbu clashed again” or “I heard that some Uchiha people behaved abnormally”, he would ignore them and not take them to heart.
His only concern was how to protect himself and preserve his little peace in this possible storm.
Watch. Watch from the sidelines.
This is the only choice Fujiwara Yu can make when facing the impending great tragedy that he vaguely senses, and it is also the choice that best suits his heart and interests.
As for Uchiha Sasuke… the cold and arrogant boy in the same grade as him who shouldered the fate of his family… Fujiwara Yu would occasionally see him in school and found that he seemed to have become more silent, with a gloomier and more stressed look in his eyes.
Fujiwara Yuu just calmly looked away.
Everyone has to face their own destiny. Fujiwara Yuu has no right and no desire to interfere.
He just needed to make sure that when the bloody storm came, he could stay safely in his “safe haven”, that’s all.
After realizing the huge potential risks within the village, Fujiwara Yu took the survival rule of “hiding oneself” to an unprecedented level. He understood that in the coming chaos, the more inconspicuous and the more he could be ignored, the safer he would be.
Simply being low-key and passively avoiding behavior was no longer enough to make him feel at ease. He needed to hide more thoroughly from a more fundamental level – his aura and chakra fluctuations.
In the ninja world, perception is extremely important. A strong perception ninja can judge a person’s strength, emotional state, and even their general identity by sensing the strength, nature, and flow of chakra. Even ordinary ninjas have a certain perception ability and can detect obvious chakra fluctuations or strong murderous intent and hostility nearby.
Fujiwara Yuu himself possesses an excellent perception (which is also one of his hidden talents), so he knows better that if he cannot effectively restrain his own breath and chakra fluctuations, even if he behaves like an ordinary person, he may be exposed in the eyes of certain masters.
Especially in this sensitive period, the dark forces, roots, and even other hidden forces in the village are stepping up monitoring and investigation. Once they target you, the consequences will be disastrous.
The method of concealing one’s aura must be strengthened!
Fujiwara Yuu began to devote his energy to studying techniques in this area.
The first thing that came to his mind was chakra control.
He already possessed a chakra control accuracy far beyond his peers. He tried not only to control the flow path and output of chakra, but also to control the “frequency of chakra fluctuation” and “degree of overflow” of chakra.
He locked himself in a secret base in the back mountain and practiced over and over again.
He tried to reduce the speed of chakra circulation in his body to the minimum, as if entering a “turtle breathing” state, making the chakra fluctuations extremely weak and smooth, blending with the body’s natural physiological activities and difficult to be perceived by the outside world.
He tried to completely gather the chakra in his body and not let any of it leak out. This required extremely fine control of every pore and every energy node in the body, which was extremely difficult. He couldn’t completely prevent leakage yet, but he could control the amount of chakra that leaked out within an extremely small range, so that even at close range, it was difficult to detect abnormalities.
He also tried to imitate. Imitate the chakra fluctuation pattern of ordinary people. Although ordinary people have not refined chakra, there are also weak, unintegrated physical energy and spiritual energy fluctuations in their bodies. Fujiwara Yu tried to use his own chakra to simulate that weak, scattered, and irregular fluctuation state. In this way, even if someone sensed him, they would only think that he was an ordinary person with very poor chakra talent or no ninja qualifications at all.
In addition to controlling his own chakra, Fujiwara Yuu also began to study some techniques that could help conceal his aura.
In the deserted corners of the library, he found some theoretical introductions on basic stealth and breath blocking (of course, they were all the most basic ones; advanced secret techniques could not appear here).
For example, how to adjust the breathing frequency and depth to blend with the ambient sound.
For example, how to relax muscles, eliminate unnecessary tension, and avoid giving off an aggressive or vigilant aura.
For example, how to use the environment for camouflage, such as mixing your own scent with the surrounding grass, trees, and soil, or using shadows and obstacles to hide your body.
These techniques may seem simple, but mastering them requires deep understanding and repeated practice.
Fujiwara Yu combines these theories with his own practice.
When he walked in the mountains and forests, he would deliberately practice the lightness and heaviness of his steps, adjust the rhythm of his breathing, and try to blend into the environment quietly like a fallen leaf.
He would practice staying in one position for long periods of time, like a rock, minimizing his presence.
He even tried to use a small amount of chakra to form an extremely thin “camouflage layer” on the surface of his body that could distort light and interfere with perception. This idea came from his deduction of the principles of transformation and basic illusion. At present, the effect is still very weak and the consumption is not small, but it is a very promising research direction.
As time went on, Fujiwara Yu made great progress in his ability to hide his aura and chakra fluctuations.
Now, if he didn’t release his chakra actively, even an experienced jonin would have a hard time finding his abnormality without trying his best to sense it. He walked on the road like a normal teenager, with a calm breath and chakra fluctuations so weak that they could be almost ignored.
This state of being “indistinguishable from the crowd” made him feel extremely at ease.
He was like a grain of sand thrown into the sea, completely submerged in the vast sea of ​​people in Konoha Village.
Only in the secret base in the back mountain, or in his own small apartment protected by a warning barrier, would he relax briefly, release his true chakra fluctuations, and practice and research.
The method of strengthening the concealment of his breath is the most important layer of “invisibility cloak” he puts on himself to deal with the coming storm.
Chapter 36: Increasing Income and Reducing Expenditure (Old Version)
As long as he doesn’t get noticed and isn’t involved in any trouble, he has a greater chance of getting through this crisis safely and continuing his ordinary and stable life.
The Konoha Guard is an important armed force responsible for maintaining public order and handling internal disputes in Konoha Village. Most of its members are ninjas from the Uchiha clan. This is not only a manifestation of the power of the Uchiha clan, but also a means for the village’s top leaders to isolate and restrict them to a specific functional scope.
The Uchiha clan members, wearing dark blue uniforms with a combination of round fans and shuriken patterns, and wearing Konoha forehead protectors and guard armbands, always carry an indescribable aura when patrolling the village or performing official duties.
That aura is a mixture of the pride of being a prominent family, the majesty of law enforcement, and… an imperceptible sense of alienation from other villagers and ninjas. Their eyes are usually sharp and alert, their expressions are serious, they don’t smile, and they have an imposing aura when they walk.
Before the atmosphere in the village became subtle, Fujiwara Yuu didn’t have much special feelings about the Konoha Guard. He just regarded them as a necessary part of the village’s operating system, just like the police in his previous life. As long as he abided by the law and didn’t cause trouble, the existence of the Guard didn’t matter to him.
But now, as he became aware of the undercurrents within the village and had a vague premonition about the future fate of the Uchiha clan, Fujiwara Yu began to instinctively and subconsciously keep his distance from these figures in guard uniforms.
He did not hate or fear the Uchiha clan. He had no personal grudge against the family, and even had a little (extremely weak and suppressed by reason) pity for their impending tragic fate.
He chose to stay away purely out of risk aversion instinct.
The Uchiha clan is now undoubtedly the biggest “center of right and wrong” in the entire Konoha Village, and the “eye of the storm” before it comes. Anyone or anything that has anything to do with them may be drawn into the unpredictable political vortex and bloody conflict.
Fujiwara Yuu definitely doesn’t want to be one of them.
As a result, there was a noticeable change in his behavior pattern.
If he saw a security patrol coming from afar on the road, he would immediately and without hesitation choose to turn into the alley next to him, or lower his head and walk quickly past them, trying his best to avoid any form of contact with them, even just eye contact.
If he needed to go to the village center to handle certain matters (such as collecting pensions), and the guard station happened to be on the road he had to pass, he would rather take a big detour and spend more time to avoid that area.
At school, he kept a greater distance from Uchiha Sasuke than before. Although he knew that Sasuke might not be fully aware of the undercurrents within the family, the Uchiha family name itself represented huge potential trouble. He would even deliberately avoid appearing in areas where Sasuke might appear, such as certain training grounds or corners of the classroom.
His subconscious alienation was very natural and completely integrated into his usual low-key and unsociable style, and did not attract anyone’s special attention.
But Fujiwara Yuu himself knew that this was not just due to his personality, but also a well-thought-out self-protection strategy.
He was like a small animal that keenly sensed that a forest fire was about to spread, and instinctively stayed away from the area where the fire was most intense and most dangerous.
Looking at the increasingly solemn expressions of the Uchiha guards, whose eyes occasionally flashed with anxiety or determination, Fujiwara Yuu felt no ripples in his heart, only one sentence that kept ringing in his ears:
Keep a distance and stay away from trouble.
This is not only his attitude towards the Konoha Guard, but also his basic attitude towards all huge and uncontrollable forces in this world that may threaten his stable life.
He just wants to guard his own piece of land and live his own life. The fate of Uchiha and the future of Konoha, these grand propositions should be left to the “protagonists” to worry about.
With Fujiwara Yuu’s continuous efforts to “increase income” (a small business repairing ninja tools) and “cut down expenditure” (a frugal life), the old pottery jar hidden under the bed finally became heavy. Although it was still a long way from his goal of buying the small house with a yard of his dreams, the savings were enough for him to consider taking a substantial step.
His current residence, a small apartment in an old neighborhood, is not only cramped, noisy, and lacks a sense of security, but more importantly, it is rented. This means that he is always in a state of wandering and lacks a real sense of belonging. Moreover, as the atmosphere in the village becomes increasingly tense, it is unknown whether the rent will increase in the future, or even whether the landlord will not renew the lease for some reason.
Owning a property that belongs entirely to you, no matter how small or old it is, can provide a basic sense of stability and security, which is crucial for Fujiwara Yuu who is extremely eager for stability.
He began to turn his attention to the real estate market in Konoha Village – of course, not those newly built houses located in prime locations and with high prices, but those old houses that were relatively remote, old, and might even be a little dilapidated, and therefore relatively cheap.
In his spare time, Fujiwara Yu quietly conducted market research. He would go to the department in the village office responsible for real estate registration and transactions (of course, in the name of looking for some “public information”) and look through the public and unlisted property information records. He would also wander around the more remote and older neighborhoods in the village, paying attention to old houses with “for sale” signs or that seemed to have been uninhabited for a long time.
He has his own clear selection criteria:
First, the location should be remote. Away from the center of the village, away from the main streets, away from ninja gathering areas, away from any possible right and wrong places. The more inconspicuous the better.
Second, it must have a yard. This is his obsession. The size of the yard is not a must, but it must exist, as it is the foundation for him to build a “stable fortress” and enjoy the pastoral fun in the future.
Third, the structure must be relatively intact. Although he has the ability to repair and renovate, if the foundation of the house is too poor, such as rotten beams and subsidence, it will be too time-consuming and labor-intensive to repair, and the gains will not outweigh the losses. He can accept minor problems such as leaks, peeling walls, and broken doors and windows.
Fourth, the price must be within his budget. The little “treasury” in his pottery jar is his entire budget, and he may need to reserve a little for subsequent repairs.
Houses that meet these conditions are rare and are often quickly bought by others (after all, the demand for housing in Konoha Village is always great). Fujiwara Yuu searches patiently, like an experienced hunter waiting for the best prey.
Chapter 37: Overgrown Weeds (Old Version)
Finally, one weekend afternoon, he found a “target” that met all his requirements in the northwest corner of the village, an extremely remote area almost close to the outer protective wall.
It was an independent old Japanese-style house, standing alone next to a somewhat desolate vacant lot, with almost no other residents around, only some abandoned warehouses and overgrown wasteland. The house looked quite old, with wooden walls that looked gray due to wind and sun, several broken tiles on the roof, and several holes in the paper on the windows.
But what attracted Fujiwara Yuu the most was that this small old house actually had a small but square yard! The yard was surrounded by a half-man-high, dilapidated wall made of a mixture of stone and wood. There were weeds and even a few wild trees whose names he couldn’t tell.
Fujiwara Yuu walked around the house and observed it carefully. He released a weak chakra perception and explored the internal structure of the house. The beams and load-bearing walls seemed to be stable, without obvious decay or tilt. The foundation also looked solid. Although there were many minor problems, the main structure was still acceptable and was completely within the scope of his repair and renovation.
Most importantly, this place is remote enough, quiet enough, and hidden enough! It is simply a “retreat” tailor-made for him!
He found a sign hanging on the door with a contact number. Fujiwara Yuu wrote down the number, but did not contact immediately. Instead, he returned to his small apartment and carefully counted all his savings.
He poured out all the copper coins in the pottery jar, as well as the small amount of silver he had saved through various means (such as the meager rewards from completing some extremely simple and safe D-level commissions), and counted them over and over again.
The money was just enough! Maybe even a little extra to buy some basic repair materials.
Fujiwara Yuu’s heart beat faster with excitement. That was it! The first step of his dream was right before his eyes!
He took a deep breath, calmed himself, and then contacted the owner of the house according to the instructions on the information board.
The owner seemed eager to sell this old house in a remote location and with poor appearance, and did not question Fujiwara Yuu, a young-looking buyer who offered a straightforward price. The two sides quickly agreed on a price and agreed on a time to go to the village office to handle the transfer procedures.
In the following days, Fujiwara Yuu was in a state of subtle excitement and anticipation. While he was performing at school as usual, he was constantly planning in his mind how to repair and transform the small old house that would soon belong to him.
The process of handling the transfer formalities went more smoothly than expected. In the slightly old office of the village office, Fujiwara Yuu signed his name on the title deed in his still slightly immature handwriting – Fujiwara Yuu.
When he got the title deed with the official seal, proving that the small old house and its attached courtyard belonged entirely to him, his fingers trembled slightly.
From today on, Fujiwara Yu finally has a place in this world that truly belongs to him and can be called “home”! Although it is still shabby and inconspicuous, it carries his most sincere desire and dream for a stable life in the future!
He carefully put away the deed and placed it in his homemade, safest storage scroll. Then, he almost couldn’t wait to come to the remote courtyard in the northwest corner of the village again.
This time, he stood here as the master.
Looking at the weathered old house in front of him and the weeds growing wildly in the yard, Fujiwara Yu felt no disgust at all, but was full of energy and expectation.
He will personally build this place into the shape of his dreams!
The dream starts now!
After getting the title deed of his own small old house, Fujiwara Yuu couldn’t wait to move in and start his renovation plan. But he also knew that he had to take things one step at a time. This old house had been in disrepair for a long time and had many problems. Before he could live in it safely and comfortably, he had to undergo a thorough repair and preliminary renovation.
He used his weekends and free time during the holidays at the Ninja School to devote most of his energy to the construction of this “new home”. He did not hire workers, firstly because he had no money, and secondly because many renovations involved his own secrets (such as setting up barriers, using chakra to assist construction, etc.), which made it inconvenient for outsiders to intervene. He decided to do it himself, little by little, to transform this shabby little home into his ideal look.
First comes the cleanup.
The weeds in the yard were almost half a person’s height, and there were many dead branches and leaves and unknown garbage. Fujiwara Yu did not use fire escape to burn them directly (it would make too much noise and was unsafe), but took out a sickle and hoe, and like a real farmer, patiently cut and removed the weeds inch by inch. This process was boring and hard, but he enjoyed it. Every time he dug the hoe, it seemed to clear away the past wasteland and make room for future vitality. He even found a few wild fruit trees that were growing well, and decided to keep them for the time being to see if they could be improved in the future.
After cleaning the yard, the next step was to clean the house. The house was filled with thick dust, spider webs were everywhere, and the air was filled with a stale and damp smell. Fujiwara Yu put on a simple mask (which he made himself with cloth), rolled up his sleeves, and began to clean up. He first used a broom to sweep away large pieces of garbage and dust, and then used his “cleansing dust technique”. Weak water and air flows through his fingertips, as if possessing magic, cleaning the dirt on the walls, floors, and window frames bit by bit. Although the efficiency of this technique is not very high and the range is limited, it is much more labor-saving than simply wiping with a rag, and the effect is better.
After the cleaning work was completed, the small old house finally revealed its original appearance. Although it was still shabby, it was at least much cleaner and tidier.
Next comes the repairs.
There were several broken tiles on the roof that were leaking, and this was a problem that had to be solved first. Fujiwara Yu climbed onto the roof and carefully checked the leaking spots. He had no money to buy new tiles, so he found some relatively intact old tiles from the waste cleared from the yard, and then mixed some soil mixed with grass tendons to carefully repair the damaged areas. He also used his precise chakra control to reinforce the repaired seams with extremely weak earth attribute chakra (he found that he seemed to have a little affinity for earth attribute, although it was very weak) to ensure that it was more solid and waterproof.
Chapter 38: Girl’s Concern (Old Version)
In some places, the wooden boards on the wall were rotten or cracked. He found some cheap wood from the flea market, cut it to size, and polished it, and then replaced the severely damaged boards. For some small cracks, he filled and smoothed them with sawdust mixed with a homemade adhesive (made from rice water and some kind of vegetable glue).
He also tore off all the damaged window paper and replaced it with new, cheap but sturdy white paper. He also checked and reinforced the window frames and door hinges to ensure that they could be opened and closed normally.
These repairs are trivial and complicated, full of physical and manual labor. Although Fujiwara Yu has chakra and ninjutsu, he does not abuse it. He is more like a real craftsman, repairing this home bit by bit with his hands and sweat. This process makes him feel unprecedented steadiness and satisfaction. Every time he hammers a nail and smoothes a crack, it is like adding bricks and tiles to his dream.
Just when Fujiwara Yu was busy renovating his nest, an unexpected “visitor” appeared.
It’s Yamanaka Ayane.
She seemed to have heard the news that Fujiwara Yu bought this remote old house (perhaps she overheard the neighbors talking about it, or perhaps she had been paying close attention to it), and on a weekend afternoon, she came over hesitantly and curiously.
When she saw Fujiwara Yu, wearing old clothes covered with dust and paint, standing on a ladder to repair the eaves, she covered her mouth in surprise.
“Fujiwara-kun? Are you…are you really here?” Ayane asked uncertainly.
Fujiwara Yu jumped down from the ladder and was a little surprised to see Ayane. He wiped the sweat from his forehead and nodded: “Yeah. Is there anything wrong?”
“No, it’s okay…” Ayane waved her hands quickly, her cheeks slightly red, “I just… heard that you moved here, so I came to see you… need help?” She looked at the house in front of her, which had been cleaned but still looked very shabby, and then looked at Fujiwara Yu’s slightly tired appearance, and couldn’t help asking.
Fujiwara Yuu wanted to refuse. He was not used to letting others interfere in his affairs, especially when it came to this secret base. But looking at Ayane’s sincere and worried eyes, he couldn’t say no. Besides, some tasks, such as handing over tools or helping to hold a ladder, would indeed be more convenient with more people.
“…Okay.” Fujiwara Yuu thought about it and finally nodded, “Help me carry that bucket of water over there.”
“Yes! Okay!” After getting permission, Ayane immediately ran over happily like a little rabbit that had received an order, and tried hard to lift the bucket that was a little heavy for her, and carefully presented it to Fujiwara Yuu.
From that day on, Yamanaka Ayane became a frequent visitor to Fujiwara Yuu’s home during his renovation.
Every weekend or holiday, she would come to help. She couldn’t do any heavy work, but she could help Fujiwara Yu, such as passing tools, cleaning materials, sorting out sundries, or bringing some delicious snacks and tea made by her mother from home when Fujiwara Yu was busy.
Fujiwara Yuu was a little uncomfortable at first, but gradually, he accepted her presence. Her chattering beside him (although Fujiwara Yuu worked silently most of the time) seemed to add a little more life and color to the boring repair work.
Ayane was very surprised by Fujiwara Yu’s hands-on ability. She watched Fujiwara Yu skillfully use various tools to make the originally dilapidated house neat and solid little by little, with admiration in her eyes. She felt that Fujiwara not only knew a lot, but also had such strong hands-on ability, which was amazing!
Fujiwara Yusuke felt the gentleness and kindness of Ayane even more during his time with her. She always quietly did what she could, never complained about the hard work, and would take the initiative to hand him water and a towel when she saw he was tired, always with a warm smile on her face.
The relationship between the two of them, in the process of renovating the nest together, unconsciously became closer and more harmonious. Although there was still not much communication, there seemed to be a tacit understanding between them that did not require words.
Fujiwara Yuu would even occasionally share some of his “improved” snacks with Ayane during breaks, such as nuts that were slightly roasted with chakra to make them more crispy, or dried fruits that were preserved in a special way to make them sweeter. Every time he saw Ayane’s surprised and satisfied expression when she ate something good, Fujiwara Yuu’s mood would inexplicably improve.
The process of personally renovating the small home not only brought Fujiwara Yuu one step closer to his dream home, but also unexpectedly deepened the bond between him and Yamanaka Ayane. The stable and warm home that originally existed only in his imagination seemed to have a touch of warmth in advance because of this girl who occasionally visited with a sunny smile.
As Fujiwara Yuu personally repaired and renovated his small old house, Yamanaka Ayane appeared there more and more frequently, helping out, or just sitting quietly by the side, watching Fujiwara Yuu busying around. The two spent more and more time together, and their understanding of each other deepened.
Ayane’s affection for Fujiwara Yuu, like a vine growing quietly in spring, spreads and grows unnoticed, becoming more and more obvious.
She no longer just regarded Fujiwara Yuu as a somewhat mysterious and powerful neighbor and classmate. In her heart, Fujiwara Yuu has occupied a very special place. Although he doesn’t talk much and his expression is always indifferent, he always appears when she needs help (such as fixing her rabbit doll, or “just happened” to pass by when she was bullied), and he knows so many things and has such strong hands-on ability that he can take care of such a shabby house more and more presentable.
This kind of reliable, capable, and slightly mysterious quality is a fatal attraction to Ayane, who is simple-minded and longs for stability.
Her concern for Fujiwara Yuu also gradually became more proactive and thoughtful, from the polite greetings between neighbors at the beginning.
She would pay attention to what Fujiwara Yuu was wearing. Seeing that he always wore the same half-worn clothes, she would go home and secretly beg her mother to teach her needlework, and then secretly help him sew the tiny tears or loose threads on his clothes when Fujiwara Yuu wasn’t paying attention. Her skills were still rusty, and the stitches were crooked, but every stitch was filled with the pure heart of a girl.
She would care about Fujiwara Yuu’s diet. Knowing that Fujiwara Yuu was an orphan and lived alone, she would definitely not eat well, so she would often send him all kinds of food under the pretext of “Mom cooked too much” or “new food for practicing cooking skills”. From steaming miso soup, exquisite and delicious Japanese fruit, to nutritious bento, warm red bean porridge… She tried all kinds of ways to make Fujiwara Yuu eat better, worried that he would neglect his health because he was busy repairing the house.
Chapter 39: Handmade (Old Version)
She would pay attention to Fujiwara Yuu’s emotions. Although Fujiwara Yuu always had no expression on his face, the thoughtful Ayane could occasionally catch a trace of fatigue or irritability from his subtle changes in eyes or pauses in his movements. Whenever this happened, she would not ask more questions, but would just stay aside more quietly, or silently hand him a cup of warm tea, trying to give him silent comfort and support in her clumsy way.
She even began to actively share her thoughts. She would tell Fujiwara Yuu about some small things that happened at home, such as her mother’s health getting better, or she learned a new flower arrangement technique. She would also tell him about some of the little confusions and troubles she encountered at school (of course, avoiding those that might involve ninja secrets or family privacy). She found that although Fujiwara-kun might not give a lot of responses, she would feel inexplicably at ease when talking to him, as if all the troubles were diluted by his calm aura.
Ayane was very careful in all these actions, with the shyness and reserve that only a young girl could have. She was afraid that her concern would cause trouble to Fujiwara Yuu, and that her initiative would seem inappropriate. But the growing affection for him was like a small flame burning in her heart, making it impossible for her to completely suppress her desire to get closer to him.
It was impossible for Fujiwara Yuu not to notice Ayane’s obvious affection and active concern.
His heart is actually a bit complicated.
On the one hand, he admitted that Ayane’s care and concern did bring a lot of warmth and convenience to his somewhat lonely and hard life. He was grateful for the food she brought him, and he also appreciated her selfless kindness and gentleness. Having her by his side did make the process of transforming his little nest less boring and more relaxing.
But on the other hand, the alarm string about “trouble” and “risk” deep in his heart has never been completely relaxed.
The better Ayane treats him and the more she cares about him, the deeper the bond between them will be. Will this bond pull him away from the originally set track of “low-key” and “alienation”? Will it bring him unexpected trouble at some unpredictable moment in the future?
He knew that Ayane was a member of the Yamanaka clan (although it was just an ordinary branch). The Yamanaka clan was good at spiritual mysticism and had been on good terms with the Nara and Akimichi clans for generations. It was also a family with a certain influence in Konoha. Would getting too close to her attract some unnecessary attention?
Moreover, he has always kept a distance from love. In his previous life (if the vague memory is true), he seemed to be alone, and in this life, he has put all his energy into how to survive and build a stable home. He lacks experience and interest in love between men and women, and even… has some instinctive resistance. He is afraid that this complicated emotion will disrupt his plan and make him become unlike himself.
So, in the face of Ayane’s increasingly obvious feelings, Fujiwara Yu adopted a…slightly “slow” and “evasive” attitude.
He would accept the food sent by Ayane, but would try his best to find opportunities to return the favor, maintaining a balance of “reciprocity” and avoiding one-sided debt.
He pretended not to notice Ayane’s little gesture of helping him mend his clothes, or just kept it in mind.
He would listen carefully to what Ayane shared, but he rarely expressed his own opinions, and would never take the initiative to explore her privacy.
In response to Ayane’s occasional expression of dependence and closeness that went beyond friendship, he would quietly distance himself from her or respond with silence.
He tried to maintain the relationship between the two within the boundaries of “friendly neighbor + friend who occasionally helps out” and not let it cross the red line that could cause trouble.
But he also knew that feelings were often not something that could be completely controlled by reason. Ayane’s pure and warm affection was like the sunshine in winter. Even if he tried to avoid it, he would always feel the warmth.
Sometimes, in the dead of night, he would reflect on whether he was too cautious, too… unkind. Ayane was a good girl, and she deserved better treatment. Was it a bit cruel for him to deliberately keep his distance?
But soon, the desire for stability and security, as well as the vigilance against unknown risks, will overwhelm these brief fluctuations.
No. Before he has enough power to fully control his own destiny and provide absolute protection for himself and the people around him (if there really are any), he cannot have any weaknesses that may endanger his own safety.
Feelings, especially those between men and women, are often the biggest variable and the weakness that is most easily exploited.
Therefore, even though he feels a little bit reluctant in his heart, Fujiwara Yu will continue to maintain this “friendly but distant” attitude.
He hoped that Ayane would understand his “hint” or that this affection would naturally fade away with the passage of time.
However, how can a girl’s feelings be extinguished so easily by reason? Ayane’s affection for Fujiwara Yuu does not seem to diminish because of his “slowness”. Instead, it becomes deeper because of his unique sense of mystery and reliability.
This emotion, which has not yet been revealed but is already undercurrent, adds a touch of complexity and subtlety to Fujiwara Yu’s seemingly peaceful daily life.
While Yamanaka Ayane was trying to express her affection to Fujiwara Yu in her gentle and delicate way, another figure was trying to approach Fujiwara Yu in a completely different, even somewhat clumsy way, trying to express her deep gratitude.
This person is naturally Hyuga Hinata.
Since the last outdoor practice, when Fujiwara Yuu helped her again with a simple gesture and the two of them exchanged names, Hinata’s gratitude to Fujiwara Yuu reached its peak. In her opinion, Fujiwara Yuu not only saved her twice (she had basically confirmed the time in the market), but also gave her the most timely and gentle help (although his expression was very calm) when she was in the most embarrassing and helpless time.
This kindness is as heavy as Mount Tai for Hinata, who has been neglected and ignored since childhood because of her status as a branch family and her cowardly character. She feels that she must do something to repay Fujiwara-kun’s kindness, even if it is just a little bit.
But how to do it?
Hinata’s personality is introverted, shy, and not good at speaking. Coupled with the strict family rules of the Hyuga branch, she has no idea how to express gratitude and intimacy like an ordinary girl.
Send a gift? Her family was very poor, and she had no pocket money, so she couldn’t afford any decent gifts. Moreover, Fujiwara-kun seemed to have everything he needed (in her eyes), and he looked a bit distant. Would he accept an ordinary gift? Would he think she was being abrupt?
Take the initiative to talk to him? She even found it difficult to communicate normally with her classmates, let alone facing Fujiwara-kun who had a special aura. Every time she saw him, her heart would beat faster, her mind would go blank, and she couldn’t speak at all.
Can she help? Fujiwara-kun seems so capable, he can fix the house by himself, it seems that she doesn’t need to help, right? Going there might just cause more trouble.
Hinata was troubled by this for a long time. She often tossed and turned at night, thinking about how to express her feelings without disturbing Fujiwara-kun.
Finally, she thought of a method that might be feasible and best suited to her current abilities – giving away small items that she had made herself.
Chapter 40: Pure Show of Good Will (Old Version)
She is not as good at cooking and housework as Ayane, but as the daughter of the Hyuga family, she has received some basic training since childhood, such as… She is actually very good at tracking and hiding (although she rarely shows it because of her personality), and… She seems to have a little talent and patience for handicrafts.
So, Hinata began to use the little free time she had (most of the time she had to do arduous family training) to secretly prepare a “gift” for Fujiwara Yu.
Since she couldn’t afford good materials, she would go to the hills or the river to collect small stones, oddly shaped branches, or brightly colored wild flower petals that she thought were beautiful.
Then, she would lock herself in the room (this saved her from a lot of unnecessary family affairs and scolding), and use her hands, which were covered with thin calluses from years of practicing soft boxing, but were extremely dexterous, to process and combine these inconspicuous materials bit by bit.
She would use the finest needle and thread (which she secretly bought with the money she saved from buying medicine) to carefully string together the dried wild flower petals to make a simple but faintly fragrant sachet.
She would find a smooth pebble and, using a sharpened piece of hardwood, carve a simple symbol representing “peace” or “luck” (which she had secretly seen in the family collection of books) on it with great difficulty and in a crooked manner.
She would also use a few flexible vines to weave a small wind chime that could be hung by the window and would turn with the wind (although it couldn’t make any pleasant sounds).
These little things were made very roughly, even crudely. Compared with the exquisite accessories sold in the store, they were not worth mentioning. Moreover, the production process was full of difficulties for Hinata. She often accidentally pricked her fingers, or her previous work was wasted because of broken materials.
But every little thing embodies all of Hinata’s thoughts and efforts. That is the deepest gratitude she can express in her most clumsy and sincere way.
After making these “gifts”, how to give them away becomes a problem.
Just hand it to him? Hinata blushed and felt uncomfortable just thinking about that scene.
Leave it at his doorstep like Ayane did? She didn’t know when Fujiwara-kun would be at home, and she didn’t dare to appear near his house naturally like Ayane did.
In the end, Hinata chose an extremely “circular” and “hidden” way that best suited her personality.
She would use her ability to track and observe to quietly find out Fujiwara Yu’s fixed route and approximate time of going to and from school every day.
Then, she would ambush in advance in a corner of the route that was not easily discovered, such as behind a big tree or next to a low wall.
When she saw Fujiwara Yuu appearing in the distance, her heart would beat like a rabbit. She would hold her breath and wait until Fujiwara Yuu was about to pass by her hiding place, then she would calculate the timing and place the small “gift” in her hand, which embodied her heart, on a conspicuous stone on the roadside or hang it on a low-hanging branch nearby, as quickly as possible.
Then, she would immediately flee the scene as fast as a frightened rabbit and hide somewhere farther away before she dared to secretly stick her head out to observe Fujiwara Yu’s reaction.
She would see Fujiwara Yuu walking towards her calmly as usual, and then his eyes would seem to casually glance at the “gift” she had put down. Sometimes, he would stop, take a look, and then continue walking forward with a blank expression, as if it was just an insignificant piece of debris on the side of the road. Whenever this happened, Hinata would feel a strong sense of loss and frustration, wondering if she had done something wrong, or if the things she made were too bad, and Fujiwara-kun didn’t like them at all.
But sometimes, after seeing the little thing, Fujiwara Yuu would pause for a moment, then bend down, pick it up, and look at it for a moment. Although there was still no expression on his face, this small action was enough to make Hinata, who was hiding in the distance, ecstatic, and feel that her heart seemed to be received a little bit.
As for whether Fujiwara Yuu picked up the thing and threw it away or put it away, Hinata didn’t know. She didn’t have the courage to follow him to see. Seeing him pick it up was already a great encouragement to her.
In this way, Hinata Hyuga tried to express her gratitude to Fujiwara Yu again and again in her extremely clumsy, extremely roundabout and even somewhat silly way.
What she gave away might be a sachet made of wild flowers that would soon wither; a useless pebble engraved with vague symbols; or a wind chime woven from vines that would not make a sound…
These things themselves are worthless and may even seem a little weird to Fujiwara Yuu.
But what they carry behind them is the greatest courage that a girl who has been repressed and inferior for a long time can muster, and the purest and most clumsy kindness that she can give.
Fujiwara Yuu naturally noticed these little creatures that “mysteriously” appeared on his usual route and were obviously coming for him.
With his observation and perception, Hinata’s self-concealed “ambush” and “escape” were full of loopholes in his eyes. He could even clearly sense the nervous and expectant chakra fluctuations of Hyuga Hinata hiding in the distance every time he passed by.
Fujiwara Yu felt a little…laughable and helpless about these clumsy gestures of goodwill.
Of course, he knew who sent these little things, and he could probably guess the other party’s intention (mainly gratitude). But he really didn’t know how to respond.
Accept? These things are useless to him, and accepting them seems to represent some kind of approval, which may cause unnecessary misunderstandings on the other side and deepen the relationship between them.
Ignore it? That would be too cold and heartless. After all, she was just a poor little girl, expressing her purest gratitude in such a clumsy way. To ignore her directly seemed a bit… cruel?
In the end, Fujiwara Yu adopted a compromise approach.
As for those small things that were obviously handmade and embodied with love (such as the sachet or the stone with inscriptions), when Hinata “observed” them, he would pick them up, take a look at them, and then… quietly put them into the storage scroll. He didn’t intend to keep these things, but at least on the surface, he gave her a signal of “I received it” so that she wouldn’t be too disappointed.
As for those beautiful stones or leaves that he picked up casually, he would simply ignore them and leave them where they were.
He hoped that through this subtle difference in treatment, he could make the Hyuga girl understand that he had received her feelings, but that was all, and he did not want any further development.
However, it is unknown whether Hinata, who is sensitive and extremely insecure, can accurately receive this “hint” and understand his true intentions.
This clumsy and pure show of goodwill was like a small stone thrown into the calm lake of Fujiwara. Although the ripples it caused were not big, it made his world no longer what he had originally imagined… absolutely lonely and isolated.
Chapter 41 The exam begins (old version)
Time passed unknowingly, and the last academic year of the Ninja School was about to be halfway through. This meant that graduation, and the subsequent class division and career as a Genin were getting closer and closer.
Although Fujiwara Yu’s goal is to find a safe and leisurely civilian job after graduation and stay away from fighting and killing. But before that, he still has to follow the process and become a Genin first, and will be assigned to a three-person team with a Jonin as the instructor to carry out tasks together (at least in the early stages).
This is the standard procedure for Konoha Village to train a new generation of ninjas, and even he cannot completely avoid it.
Therefore, Fujiwara Yuya had to start thinking about a question that he had been trying to ignore before: What kind of guiding jonin and teammates might be assigned to him in the future?
His requirements for this are not high, or even very low: just want to have peace of mind!
The best instructors are those who are more Buddhist, or are too busy to pay too much attention to their teammates. For example, Kakashi (although he knows that he is unlikely to be assigned to the same team as the protagonists) seems lazy and takes a laissez-faire approach to his teammates. As long as they can complete the minimum mission targets, he will not interfere too much with the personal time of his teammates.
The most fearful thing is to encounter a jonin who is too passionate, overly responsible, or extremely controlling. For example, like Might Guy, who drags his team members to super-high-intensity training every day, always talking about “youth” and “hard work”; or like some strict former Anbu members, who are demanding and strict with their team members, and want to turn them into perfect fighting machines.
If he encounters the latter two types of jonin, Fujiwara Yu feels that his plan of “slacking off” might be ruined, and he might even be “focused” on because of his “mediocre” performance. That would be a nightmare.
As for his teammates…Fujiwara Yuu hopes they can be as ordinary as possible.
It would be best if they were two passersby A and B, who were like him, with no background, no ambition, mediocre ability, and just wanted to live a stable life. They worked together without putting in any effort, and would just do nothing when they received a D-level task (such as catching cats or weeding). They would try to turn down or perfunctorily handle a C-level task. They would keep a safe distance from each other and not interfere with each other’s private lives.
What I fear most are the so-called “plot characters” or trouble makers.
For example, if he was assigned to the same team as Uzumaki Naruto? That would be a disaster! He was born with a trouble-attracting physique, and he would cause a lot of trouble wherever he went. He also had the aura of a protagonist, so he would definitely be involved in various dangerous missions and events. Fujiwara Yuu felt a headache just thinking about it.
If you are assigned to the same team with Uchiha Sasuke? It will be the same trouble! He carries a blood feud, and he only wants revenge and power. He is cold, arrogant, and difficult to get along with. If you follow him, sooner or later you will have to face the terrifying existence of Orochimaru and Akatsuki. Keep your distance, keep your distance.
If she was assigned to the same team with Haruno Sakura? It would be a little better, but her mind was all on Sasuke, and she was probably a restless person. Besides… Fujiwara Yuu was a little physically uncomfortable with this overly obsessed love brain.
What if I was assigned to the same team as Hyuga Hinata? Although Hinata is gentle and seems harmless, she is from the Hyuga branch family and may bring troubles to the family. Moreover, she seems to have… special feelings for Naruto? This is related to the protagonist group. No, no.
What if I was assigned to the same team with Yamanaka Ayane? This… Fujiwara Yuu was a little shaken. Ayane was gentle and of average ability, and seemed to be one of the least troublesome choices. But… considering her increasingly obvious affection for him, if he spent every day in the same team with her, would the relationship become more complicated? Would it affect his principle of “keeping a low profile”? Fujiwara Yuu thought it was better to keep a distance.
After much thought, Fujiwara Yuu found that the most ideal teammates were those pure passers-by who did not even leave their names in the “original work” or were just mentioned briefly. They were like the huge background of this world, existing in obscurity, and they best met his need to “hide in the city”.
Of course, Fujiwara Yuya knew that the results of class division were largely random, or were decided by the school’s top management based on a comprehensive consideration of various factors (such as academic performance, personality, family background, etc.), and were not something that could be influenced by his personal will.
The only thing he could do was to continue to maintain his “above average”, “mild-tempered” and “neither good nor bad” personality, try not to attract any special attention, and pray that he would have good luck and be assigned to a team that was truly worry-free and suitable for slacking off.
“I hope he’s an old-fashioned jonin who likes to drink, gambles when he’s free, and has no enthusiasm for teaching students…” Fujiwara Yuu prayed silently in his heart, “As for teammates… I hope he’s the type who feels tired even when doing D-rank missions and just wants to go home early to eat…”
While thinking about these unrealistic “dreams”, Fujiwara Yu continued his uneventful campus life.
As graduation day draws closer, his heart, which longs for stability, begins to ripple slightly because of this little worry about the unknown future.
The graduation exam of the Ninja School is an important threshold for all students who are about to finish their six-year study career. It not only determines whether you are qualified to become a true Konoha Genin, but also wears the forehead protector that symbolizes honor and responsibility, which will also greatly affect your future life trajectory.
The exam is usually divided into two parts: a written theory test and a practical ninjutsu test. The written theory test examines the students’ mastery of ninja history, rules, basic ninjutsu theory, tactics and strategies. The practical ninjutsu test focuses on the ability to use the three basic ninjutsu techniques: clone technique, transformation technique and substitute technique.
As the exam date approaches, the atmosphere in the school becomes obviously tense. Students are no longer playing and laughing as usual, but mostly burying their heads in books or sweating on the training ground, making the final sprint.
Even the usually carefree Uzumaki Naruto seemed to feel the pressure. Although he was still playing pranks, he could occasionally be seen clumsily practicing hand seals in a corner, or pestering Iruka-sensei with some very basic questions. Uchiha Sasuke was even more taciturn and trained even harder. The sharpness in his eyes and his desire for power almost overflowed. Haruno Sakura put all her energy into reviewing, taking dense notes, aiming for the highest score in the theory exam, hoping to attract Sasuke’s attention.
And Fujiwara Yu was naturally also making his “preparations”.
However, his way of preparation is completely different from others.
For him, the difficulty of the graduation exam is almost negligible.
Theoretical knowledge? With his photographic memory and strong comprehension, he had already mastered the contents of the textbooks and even the more profound materials in the library. Not to mention the difficulty of the graduation exam, even if it was a theoretical assessment at the Chunin or even Jonin level, he was confident that he could handle it.
Chapter 42 Careful Care (Old Version)
The Three Body Technique? It was a piece of cake. A few years ago, he had already mastered the Three Body Technique to perfection. Whether it was the solidity of the clones, the realism of the transformations, or the speed and concealment of the substitutes, they were all far beyond the level of ordinary Genin.
It can be said that with Fujiwara Yu’s current true strength, passing the graduation exam and getting a forehead protector is a sure thing, and it can even be said to be easy.
But the “preparation” he needs to make is not to pass the exam, but how to pass the exam “smoothly”.
This “smoothly” does not mean passing with high scores, but passing in a way that fits his image as an “average student”, not conspicuous, not too high or too low, but just right.
This is another test of “score control” skills, and even more demanding than the previous year’s assessment. Because the results of the graduation exam are directly related to whether one can become a Genin, the examiners will be more strict and careful.
Therefore, Fujiwara Yu’s “review” is also full of “performance” elements.
In the classroom, he would take out his textbooks and notes and read “carefully” like other students. When he encountered “difficult points”, he would frown at the right time, mark the book with a pen, or talk to himself quietly, as if he was trying to understand and remember. He would even occasionally ask the students next to him (usually those who seemed to be easy to talk to like Ayane) some “basic” questions, showing an expression of “sudden enlightenment”.
On the training ground, he would also join the ranks of those practicing the Three Body Technique. But the techniques he performed were still “a little laborious”, “required effort”, and “just met the standard”. The clones were still a little blurry, the transformations were still a little flawed, and the stand was still a little slow. He would exchange “experiences” with other students, discussing questions like “how to make the clones more stable” and “what to do if chakra is always difficult to control when making hand seals”, with just the right amount of “confusion” and “motivation” on his face.
He hid himself very well. No one doubted that this boy, who usually performed mediocrely and was “working hard” to prepare for the exam, had already surpassed most of the graduating students in terms of real strength, and might even have reached the level of a senior Genin or even close to the level of a Chunin (at least in terms of chakra control accuracy and the mastery of some basic ninjutsu).
His strength is improving by leaps and bounds in secret, and his disguise is flawless on the surface. This is Fujiwara Yu’s way of survival.
He just needed to ensure that, on the day of the graduation exam, his theoretical score would be in the range of “above average, slightly better than usual”; and in the practical exam, his performance in the Three Body Technique would be “slightly strenuous but ultimately successful”, just reaching the standard line of a Genin.
In this way, he could naturally get the forehead protector he needed, obtain the status of a Genin, and get an important admission ticket for his subsequent “slacking off in retirement” plan.
As for the exam itself? It’s just a formality.
His real energy was actually put into his own affairs. For example, he continued to improve the repair and renovation of his little nest; for example, he studied more advanced sealing techniques or barrier techniques; for example, he thought about how to make his “small business” more covert and more profitable; for example… he made some small preparations for the upcoming “flower garden appointment” with Ayane?
For Fujiwara Yuu, the period before the graduation exam is not only a critical period for him to complete the “surface” preparations step by step to ensure the smooth progress of the plan, but also a rare and precious time for him to improve himself relatively freely and accumulate strength for a stable life in the future. He enjoys this dual-track state, just like a skilled chess player, quietly planning his future on a seemingly ordinary chessboard.
After a period of personal renovation and transformation, Fujiwara Yuu’s small old house has gradually faded from its original dilapidated appearance, showing a bit of simple and tidy vitality. Although it is still a long way from his ideal “stable fortress”, at least it has the basic living conditions.
He gave up the small apartment he had been renting and moved his few belongings to this new home that belonged to him. Although the process was simple and even a little shabby, when he slept for the first time under this roof that belonged entirely to him, he felt an unprecedented sense of peace and satisfaction.
With his own home and that square little courtyard, the idea of ​​”pastoral pleasure” in Fujiwara Yu’s heart began to take root and sprout uncontrollably like seeds nourished by spring rain.
He decided to plant the first plant that belonged to this home in the yard.
This is not just for beautification, but more like a symbol, a declaration, declaring his ownership of the land and his yearning for a stable, peaceful and vibrant life in the future.
What should I plant?
He avoided flowers that were expensive or required elaborate care, as that would not fit in with his low-key, down-to-earth style, nor did he want to plant trees that grew too quickly and might draw attention to themselves.
He thought of the few wild fruit trees that he had saved when he was clearing weeds in the back hills last time. One of them, according to what he had learned from books, seemed to be a wild orange tree. Although it looked sparse and malnourished now, its root system seemed to be intact.
The orange tree symbolizes good luck, is relatively easy to care for, and produces edible fruit. Most importantly, it is wild and inconspicuous, so even if it grows up, it will not look too abrupt.
That’s it!
Fujiwara Yu made a decision. He carefully transplanted the wild orange tree from the back mountain. This process was not difficult for him. He gently wrapped the soil around the roots of the tree with chakra silk to ensure that the root system would be minimized during the digging and transportation process.
After returning home, he chose a sunny, slightly elevated location in the yard that was not prone to waterlogging, dug a tree pit of appropriate size, carefully placed the orange sapling in the pit, filled it with new soil mixed with humus (which he collected and fermented himself), stomped it gently, and finally poured an appropriate amount of water on it.
He was very serious throughout the whole process, and followed every step meticulously, as if he was performing some kind of sacred ritual.
After planting, Fujiwara Yu took a few steps back and looked at the sapling that stood alone in the middle of the yard. It looked a little thin, but its branches and leaves were trying to stretch upwards. His heart was full of anticipation.
This is not just a tree, it is the beginning of his new life and the first “resident” of his future home.
He knew that this wild orange tree would probably never produce big, sweet fruits like those sold in the market. But it didn’t matter. He had patience and… special “fertilizer”.
He thought of the improved nutrient solution he had tried to mix in order to practice chakra control and understand the changes in properties. The nutrient solution contained extremely weak but specially proportioned chakra energy that promoted growth and improved soil quality. Although the effect was not so great as to bring dead trees back to life, it should still have a certain effect on improving the growth of plants and the quality of fruits.
Chapter 43 Ling Yin (Old Version)
Of course, this “chakra fertilizer” must also be used in secret and must not be discovered by anyone.
From that day on, taking care of the small orange tree became a new part of Fujiwara Yu’s daily life.
He would water it regularly (using “active water” containing a weak amount of water-attributed chakra), loosen the soil, and remove the weeds around it. He would also quietly apply a little bit of his homemade “chakra nutrient solution” to it in the dead of night or when Ayane was not around.
He enjoyed the process. Watching the yellow leaves of the saplings gradually turn green under his care, and the dry branches begin to sprout new buds, a feeling of peace and satisfaction slowly grew in his heart.
This is different from the sense of power brought by practicing ninjutsu, and it is also different from the sense of control brought by making money. This is a kind of pleasure that is closer to the essence of life, the pleasure of creation and protection.
He seemed to be able to see that in the near future, this small tree would grow up slowly, with luxuriant branches and leaves, and bloom small white flowers, emitting a faint fragrance. Then, it would produce green fruits one by one, and eventually turn into an attractive golden color.
By then, he can sit under the tree, taste the oranges that he grew with his own hands, which may not be so perfect but are definitely unique, and enjoy his own quiet and pleasant pastoral time.
The first plant in the courtyard is not just a tree, but also a symbol of Fujiwara Yuu’s desire for stability, vitality, and a better life in the future. It is rooted in this land that belongs to him, and also in his heart, growing silently with him, waiting for the flowers to bloom.
Ever since Fujiwara Yuu treated Hinata Hyuga’s wound and exchanged names during the last outdoor practice, Hinata’s attention to Fujiwara Yuu has become more obvious (although she thought she hid it well). Although Fujiwara Yuu deliberately kept his distance, he would nod symbolically when he met her at school occasionally, as a greeting.
On the other hand, Yamanaka Ayane’s affection for Fujiwara Yuu deepened day by day. She almost became a frequent visitor to Fujiwara Yuu’s remote courtyard, helping with things within her ability and sharing each other’s daily life. Although the relationship between the two was not exposed, the warmth and tacit understanding far exceeded that of ordinary neighbors and classmates.
Two completely different girls quietly entered Fujiwara Yu’s life. One was gentle and cheerful, like the sunshine; the other was shy and introverted, like the moonlight. Their existence added a few different colors to his low-key life, which was originally only black, white and gray, and also… planted some potential “Shura Field” hidden dangers? (Although Fujiwara Yu himself was unaware of this and had no interest in it).
He had been carefully maintaining contact with the two girls to avoid any intersection between them. After all, less trouble is worse than more trouble. If the two girls met, who knows what would happen, it would probably bring him unnecessary trouble.
However, the arrangement of fate is often so ingenious, or… so funny.
What is meant to come will eventually come.
It was a weekend afternoon, the weather was clear and the breeze was gentle. Fujiwara Yu was in the yard, taking care of his precious orange tree and testing the effect of the newly improved “Chakra Nutrient Solution”.
Just then, there was a familiar, slightly shy knock on the door.
“Fujiwara-kun, are you home? My mother made some new matcha cake and brought some to you!” It was the voice of Yamanaka Ayane, as sweet and excited as ever.
Fujiwara Yu responded, put down the small spray bottle in his hand, walked over and opened the gate.
It was indeed Ayane standing at the door. She was wearing a beautiful pink dress, holding a small box wrapped in a delicate cloth in her hand, and a bright smile on her face.
“Try it now! Mom said the matcha powder used this time is particularly good!” Ayane handed the box to Fujiwara Yu.
Fujiwara Yu took the box, thanked him, and was about to say something.
At this moment, another voice as thin as a mosquito, with obvious tension and hesitation, came from not far away.
“Um, um… Fujiwara…kun…”
They both looked in the direction of the voice.
At the corner of the road not far from the entrance, a thin figure was looking over here. It was Hyuga Hinata.
Hinata obviously didn’t expect to meet Ayane here. Her face instantly turned red, her eyes were flustered, and she subconsciously wanted to shrink back and hide. In her hand, she was tightly holding a small object wrapped in a few bamboo leaves, which looked like… a few rice balls? (I guess she wanted to “feed” Fujiwara Yu in her clumsy way to express her gratitude).
Ayane was also stunned when she saw Hinata. She recognized this girl. She was a student in the same grade but different class as them. Her last name was Hinata. She was always very shy and didn’t seem to fit in with the group. Why was she here? And…was she calling Fujiwara-kun just now?
For a moment, the atmosphere became subtly awkward.
Fujiwara Yu stood at the gate of the yard, looking at the scene in front of him, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.
The thing I was most worried about happened! These two people actually bumped into each other under such circumstances!
His brain started working at high speed instantly, thinking about how to resolve the embarrassment in the fastest and most natural way, and minimize the “trouble” that might be caused.
“Hinata-san? Are you here to see Fujiwara-kun as well?” Ayane was the first to break the silence. She was a relatively cheerful person, and although she was a little surprised and curious, she still took the initiative to ask. Her tone was very gentle, and there was no hostility, just pure surprise.
“I…I…” Hinata became even more nervous after being asked this by Ayane, and she stuttered a little. She held the small rice ball in her hand even tighter, as if it was her only support, “I…I was just passing by…and saw Fujiwara-kun at home…” Her voice became smaller and smaller, and finally almost inaudible.
“Passing by?” Ayane blinked, her eyes fell on the food in Hinata’s hand, and she seemed to have guessed something. She looked at Fujiwara Yu again, and found that his face was still expressionless, and there was no clue.
“Well, Hinata-san sometimes passes by here.” Fujiwara Yu took over the conversation without changing his expression, and smoothed things over for Hinata in a flat tone, “She may… want to ask me some questions about the last practical activity.” He made up an excuse.
“Oh…I see.” Ayane nodded and didn’t ask any more questions. Although she was still a little confused, she didn’t show it out of politeness and trust in Fujiwara Yuu. She turned to Hinata and gave her a friendly smile: “Hello, Hinata-san, my name is Yamanaka Ayane, and I’m Fujiwara-kun’s neighbor.”
Chapter 44: Seal (Old Version)
“Hello… Yamanaka-san…” Hinata was a little overwhelmed by Ayane’s sudden friendliness, and responded quickly in a low voice, and bowed subconsciously.
“Okay, come in first.” Fujiwara Yu didn’t want this awkward confrontation at the door to last too long, so he stepped aside and motioned for both of them to go into the yard.
Ayane naturally walked into the yard happily, looking around curiously at the house that was being tidied up more and more by Fujiwara-kun.
Hinata seemed hesitant. She wanted to go in and get closer to Fujiwara-kun, but she was afraid that her presence would disturb them, and she was even more afraid that Ayane (the girl who seemed to have a good relationship with Fujiwara-kun) would not like her.
“Come in too. I just happen to have some questions about herb identification that I have forgotten a little. We can discuss it together.” Fujiwara Yu spoke again, giving Hinata a way out and also paving the way for his previous lie.
After hearing what Fujiwara Yu said, Hinata finally mustered up the courage, like a frightened little rabbit, lowered her head, and carefully stepped into the courtyard. She held the rice ball tightly in her hand, not knowing whether she should take it out.
So, on this ordinary weekend afternoon, two girls with whom he had a subtle relationship appeared in Fujiwara Yu’s courtyard at the same time for the first time.
Yamanaka Ayane is like the warm and bright sunshine, enthusiastic, cheerful and proactive in showing goodwill.
Hyuga Hinata, like the cold and shy moonlight, silently pays attention and is clumsily grateful.
Their first meeting was filled with a little awkwardness and curiosity about each other.
Ayane was curious about why this seemingly insignificant Hyuga girl was connected to Fujiwara-kun? What happened between them?
Hinata envied Ayane for being able to get along with Fujiwara-kun so naturally, but at the same time she felt a little inferior and lost because she saw such an outstanding girl by Fujiwara-kun’s side.
Fujiwara Yuu, who was caught in the middle, appeared calm on the surface, but he was secretly complaining in his heart. He felt like he was walking on an extremely fragile tightrope, and if he was not careful, it might lead to unpredictable consequences.
He could only try his best to maintain an equal and slightly distant attitude, guiding them to have some irrelevant discussions about study or plants in the yard, trying to keep this delicate “threesome” situation within a safe and controllable range.
Although this unexpected first encounter did not lead to any fierce conflict immediately, it undoubtedly planted deeper seeds in the hearts of the two girls. They became aware of each other’s existence and became more curious and curious about Fujiwara Yuu, a seemingly ordinary boy.
Fujiwara Yu’s “stable daily life” plan seems to be becoming less and less “stable” because of the appearance of these two girls.
The graduation exam of the Ninja School finally arrived as scheduled.
The examination room was set up in the school’s largest indoor training hall, and the atmosphere was serious and tense. The examiners were several experienced ninja school teachers, including Iruka, the head teacher of Fujiwara Yuu’s class. In the stands, even several high-ranking officials of the village (such as the Third Hokage’s advisor Mitomon En and Utatane Koharu) also attended symbolically, showing the importance the village attached to this year’s graduates.
The first part of the exam was a written theory test, which had been completed the day before. As expected, Fujiwara Yuu performed at his “master of score control” level, getting an above-average score, which was slightly better than usual, but by no means outstanding.
The highlight of today is the practical test of ninjutsu, which is also the key to whether or not one can get the forehead protector. The core content of the test is one of the three body techniques, which is also relatively the most difficult and can best reflect the chakra control ability and talent – the clone technique.
The requirement is simple: successfully create one or more physical clones that can remain stable for a certain period of time in front of the examiner.
This is a huge challenge for many students.
In the center of the examination room, students came forward one by one in order of their student numbers to take the test.
Some students were so nervous that their palms were sweating and they made several mistakes in making the seals. In the end, they either failed or only created a blurry shadow that disappeared in an instant. They were ruthlessly judged as unqualified by the examiners and retreated aside in frustration.
Some students performed well. Uchiha Sasuke was still the focus of the whole audience. He used only a very short time to easily form a seal, and then with a “bang”, he instantly created three perfect clones that were exactly the same as his original body, with flexible movements and no flaws, which attracted praise from the audience and nods of approval from the advisory elders.
Although Haruno Sakura’s practical ability is average, she has a solid theoretical foundation and good chakra control. She took a deep breath, formed hand seals carefully, and successfully created a slightly stiff but stable clone, and passed smoothly.
It was Uzumaki Naruto’s turn. Everyone’s eyes were focused on this blond boy. Everyone knew that he was the last in the class and couldn’t even use the simplest jutsu properly. This graduation exam was almost an impossible task for him.
Naruto stood in the middle of the examination room, with a rare look of nervousness and solemnity on his face. He took a deep breath, shouted, and quickly formed seals with both hands – Si-Wei-Shen-Hai-Wu-Yin!
“Clone Technique!”
Bang——!
A thicker smoke than the others dissipated. However, what appeared in the original place was not a decent clone, but a… limp, lying on the ground, as if it had no bones, and rolling its eyes… a low-quality doll?
The whole audience was silent.
Immediately, there was a burst of laughter.
“Pfft…Hahahaha! What the hell is that?”
“Naruto, this guy is still not good enough!”
“How embarrassing!”
Veins popped up on Iruka’s forehead, but he tried hard not to get angry. The examiner shook his head helplessly and announced, “Uzumaki Naruto, failed!”
Naruto’s expression instantly collapsed, filled with disappointment, resentment and anger. He clenched his fists, wanting to argue, but eventually walked out of the examination room dejectedly.
Seeing this scene, Fujiwara Yuu was calm. The plot began. He knew that Naruto would steal the forbidden scroll tonight, and then learn the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique, and finally get the forehead protector. None of this had anything to do with him.
Soon, it was Fujiwara Yu’s turn.
“Next one, Fujiwara Yuu!”
Fujiwara Yu took a deep breath, a hint of “nervous” and “solemn” expression appeared on his face at the right time, and he walked to the center of the examination room.
He could feel gazes from all directions, including the scrutinizing looks of the advisory elders in the stands, and…Ayane Yamanaka’s encouraging and worrying gaze in the audience, and…Hinata Hyuga’s quiet, expectant attention in the corner.
There can be no mistakes. This scene must be performed well.
Fujiwara Yuu began to make hand seals. His finger movements were deliberately slowed down, not so smooth, and he even “accidentally” paused on a certain seal, as if he was recalling or confirming something.
Chapter 45: Morinoi (Old Version)
Si…Wei…Shen…Hai…Wu…Yin!
His brows furrowed slightly, his lips pursed tightly, and he mobilized the chakra in his body. He precisely controlled the output of chakra, maintaining it at a “just enough” level, and deliberately made the flow of chakra appear a little “sluggish”, simulating the appearance of an ordinary student who was not proficient in chakra control.
“Clone Technique!” He shouted softly and released his chakra.
Bang!
A cloud of smoke rose up.
When the smoke cleared, a clone appeared next to him.
This clone looks… not so-so.
The shape is relatively complete, and it has not turned into a puddle of mud like Naruto. The facial features are also basically clear, and it can be seen that it is Fujiwara Yuu.
However, the color of the clone seemed to be darker than the original body, and the edges were slightly blurred, as if it could disappear at any time. Moreover, the clone’s movements seemed a little stiff, and its eyes were a little dull, lacking in agility.
More importantly, while Fujiwara Yuu was maintaining this clone, a layer of fine sweat beads “just right” appeared on his forehead, his breathing became a little “rapid”, and an expression of “very strenuous” and “barely maintaining” appeared on his face.
The examiner carefully observed the clone, then looked at Fujiwara Yu’s “trying his best” look, looked at each other, and nodded.
One of the examiners said, “Fujiwara Yuu, your clone form is basically qualified and can maintain stability. Chakra control… still needs to be improved. Barely passed!”
Hearing the word “passed”, Fujiwara Yuu immediately breathed a sigh of relief, a “tired but relieved” smile appeared on his face, and at the same time he released the clone technique. The clone, which looked not very strong, turned into smoke and disappeared with a “bang”.
“Thank you, teacher!” Fujiwara Yu bowed to the examiners, then walked out of the examination room with “slightly unsteady steps”.
His performance was perfect.
He not only demonstrated the “results” of his “hard work”, successfully reaching the standard of a Genin, but also just right exposed his “weaknesses” (chakra control needs to be strengthened), which is completely in line with his usual “average student” personality and will never attract any unnecessary attention.
The advisory elders in the stands clearly had no interest in this mediocre student and had already looked away. Teacher Iruka, on the other hand, gave Fujiwara Yu a look of approval, as if he was happy that this usually inconspicuous student had passed the test.
Ayane, who was in the audience, was so excited that she almost jumped up when she saw Fujiwara Yu passed the test. She waved her fist vigorously and was happy for him. Hinata, who was in the corner, also breathed a sigh of relief. A trace of joy and…admiration flashed in her white eyes? (In her opinion, Fujiwara-kun was already very impressive for being able to successfully perform the clone technique in such a tense situation).
Only Fujiwara Yu himself knew that the “acting skills” and precise control of chakra he had spent in those few tens of seconds were more tiring than if he had used all his strength to create ten perfect clones.
But it’s all worth it.
He successfully passed the graduation exam and was about to get the coveted forehead protector.
The identity of a Genin is obtained.
The next step is the most crucial and also the one that makes him most nervous – the class division.
I hope… my luck will be better. Fujiwara Yuu prayed silently in his heart, and at the same time began to think, after getting the forehead protector, can he celebrate a little? For example… use the money he saved to buy something delicious? Or prepare a small gift for Ayane who has always supported him silently?
After the graduation exam, the students who passed the exam were excited to receive their own Konoha forehead protectors. The new dark blue cloth belt had a shiny metal piece with the Konoha logo inlaid in the middle. This was not just a decoration, but also a symbol of identity, a proof of transformation from an ordinary student to a true Konoha ninja.
The moment he received the forehead protector, even someone as calm as Fujiwara Yuu couldn’t help but feel a subtle touch. He tied the forehead protector on his forehead (this is the most common way to wear it, and it is also the least noticeable), feeling the cold and hard touch, and he had an indescribable feeling in his heart. It was like completing an important milestone, and it was like… stepping into a new stage full of unknowns.
Of course, more of it is the expectation for the future “slacking off” life.
After receiving the forehead protection, the next step is the most exciting and also the most nervous part for students – the announcement of the class division results.
All qualified graduates gathered in the classroom, waiting for Iruka to announce the final list. The classroom was noisy, and everyone was excitedly discussing who they would be assigned to the same class with and which jonin would be their instructor.
“Hey, Sasuke-kun, do you think we will be assigned to the same class?” Haruno Sakura looked at Uchiha Sasuke beside her with anticipation.
Sasuke still had a stern expression on his face and ignored her.
“I don’t want to be in the same class with that arrogant guy Sasuke! I want to learn ninjutsu from one of the legendary three ninjas!” Uzumaki Naruto shouted loudly, trying to attract attention.
Yamanaka Ayane also seemed a little nervous. She secretly glanced at Fujiwara Yuu who was sitting in the corner, and prayed silently in her heart, if… if she could be assigned to the same class with Fujiwara-kun…
Hinata Hyuga sat quietly in her seat, lowered her head, and twisted her fingers nervously. She didn’t dare to hope to be assigned to the same class with Fujiwara-kun, she just hoped that her teammates and instructors would not be too strict.
Fujiwara Yuu sat in the corner. On the surface, he seemed to be looking forward to the result of the class division just like everyone else, but in his heart he was quickly calculating various possibilities and praying that the most ideal combination of “passerby A and B + salted fish jonin” would come to him.
Finally, Mr. Iruka walked up to the podium with a list in hand. The classroom instantly became quiet, and everyone’s eyes were focused on him.
“Ahem,” Iruka cleared his throat and said seriously, “Now, I will announce the class division results of this year’s graduates of the Ninja School and their respective instructors. Those whose names are called will form teams of three and meet with your instructors at the designated location this afternoon.”
“Team Seven: Uzumaki Naruto, Haruno Sakura…”
When Sakura heard her name and was assigned to the same class as Naruto, her face instantly fell and she wailed, while Naruto was very excited about being assigned to the same class as Sakura.
“…Uchiha Sasuke!”
When Sasuke’s name was read out, Sakura’s expression instantly went from hell to heaven, and she was so excited that she almost fainted. Naruto looked at Sasuke with an unhappy face.
“Team Seven’s Instructor Jonin: Hatake Kakashi.”
Kakashi? The legendary copy ninja? The configuration of Team 7 was exactly the same as the “plot” in Fujiwara Yuu’s memory. Fujiwara Yuu was not surprised at all and felt nothing inside. Let them play out the story of the protagonists themselves.
“Team Eight: Kiba Inuzuka, Shino Aburame, Hinata Hyuga. Instructing jounin: Kurenai Yuhi.”
Hinata looked up in surprise when she heard her name. She was relieved to see that her teammates were Kiba and Shino from the same class. Kiba was noisy but not a bad person, and Shino was very quiet. The instructor, Kurenai Yuhi, was a famous illusion master and a gentle female ninja. This grouping seemed pretty good for Hinata. Fujiwara Yuya thought this grouping was reasonable and in line with the original work.
“Team 10: Nara Shikamaru, Akimichi Chouji, Yamanaka Ino. Instructing jonin: Sarutobi Asuma.”
This grouping was also within Fujiwara Yuu’s expectations. The Ino-Shika-Cho team, led by Asuma, was a classic configuration. When Ayane heard Ino’s name being called, a hint of envy appeared on her face, but she quickly regained her composure and continued to nervously wait for her result.
Next, Iruka read out the names of several classes, most of which were composed of students that Fujiwara Yuu was not very familiar with, or had no impression of at all. The instructors were also ordinary jonin.
Fujiwara Yuu’s heart gradually began to lift. The grouping of the main characters and the main supporting characters had been settled, and now it was his turn as a “passerby”. What kind of grouping would it be?
“Class 11…” Teacher Iruka paused, scanned the list, and then read, “Fujiwara Yuu…”
Here it comes! Fujiwara Yu held his breath.
“…Yamanaka Ayane…”
Eh?! Fujiwara Yuu and Ayane were both stunned!
Two blushes instantly appeared on Ayane’s face, her eyes were filled with disbelief and surprise, and she subconsciously looked at Fujiwara Yu.
Fujiwara Yuu frowned. How could he be assigned to the same class as Ayane? This was not what he expected from a “passerby”! Although Ayane had a good personality and average ability, and seemed easy to deal with, but… if he got too close to her, would…
Before he could think about it, Iruka-sensei called out the third name.
“…Inuzuka Hana.”
Inuzuka Hana? Fujiwara Yuu had some impression of this name. She seemed to be Inuzuka Kiba’s sister? Also a veterinarian and ninja? Her personality seemed to be… strong?
“Team Eleven’s Instructor Jonin: Morino Ibiki.”
Morino Ibiki?!
Hearing this name, Fujiwara Yu’s eyes twitched violently!
Morino Ibiki! The captain of Konoha’s torture and interrogation unit! Known for his extremely cruel torture methods and strong mental pressure! He looks fierce and his face is covered with scars. Just standing there is enough to make people shudder!
Let him be the guiding jonin?! Are you kidding me?!
This is completely different from the “salted fish jonin” that Fujiwara Yuu expected! It’s a world of difference!
Fujiwara Yu felt that his “slacking off in retirement” plan seemed to have encountered a bolt from the blue just at its inception stage!
Morino Ibiki is a jonin? Will he be able to live a peaceful life in the future? Will he use torture to train his team members? !
Fujiwara Yu’s heart was instantly wailing, but his face still maintained a calm expression, except that there was a barely perceptible flash of… despair in the depths of his eyes?
When Yamanaka Ayane heard that the instructor was Morino Ibiki, her expression of surprise froze instantly, and her face turned pale, obviously frightened by the name. Only the legendary Inuzuka Hana, Fujiwara Yuu had not seen it yet, and it was unknown what her reaction would be.
The result of this class division is really…unexpected!
One of her teammates is a girl next door with whom she has a subtle relationship, and the other is a member of the Inuzuka family who may be very strong. The guiding jonin is even a torture expert at the level of a demon god!
Fujiwara Yu felt that his future seemed to become confusing all of a sudden.
Can his plan of “stable daily life” go on smoothly?
He looked at Mr. Iruka who had just finished announcing the list and was about to leave, his heart filled with countless questions and… a hint of foreboding.
After the results of the class division were announced, some people were happy while others were sad. Fujiwara Yuu was undoubtedly in the sad category, and he was very sad.
Morino Ibiki! This name was like a huge shadow, looming over his heart, making him deeply worried about his upcoming career as a Genin. He even began to wonder if his previous “point control” performance was too much, or if there was a flaw somewhere, which was why he was assigned to such a “special” coaching Jonin?
With an uneasy mood, Fujiwara Yuu, Yamanaka Ayane who also looked worried, and a girl he had never seen before but judging from her name should be their third teammate, arrived at the designated meeting place – the third training ground in the afternoon as notified.
The third training ground was a relatively ordinary one among the many training grounds in Konoha Village. It had an open space, some trees and simple obstacles. At this time, the setting sun dyed the training ground with a warm orange-red color, but Fujiwara Yuu’s mood was not warm at all.
When he and Ayane arrived, they found that someone was already waiting there.
It was a girl who looked a few years older than them, about fifteen or sixteen years old. She was wearing a dark ninja uniform that was easy to move in, had neat brown short hair, and wore a Konoha forehead protector on her forehead. She was tall and fit, exuding a wild and capable aura. The most eye-catching thing was the two inverted triangle red oil paint marks on both sides of her cheeks, and the agile and sharp-eyed gray ninja dog squatting at her feet.
“Inuzuka Hana?” This name immediately popped up in Fujiwara Yu’s mind. As expected, she was Inuzuka Kiba’s sister. Just as she remembered, she looked like a cool female ninja who was not easy to mess with.
Inuzuka Hana also noticed Fujiwara Yu and Ayane approaching. She raised her eyebrows and swept her eyes over the two of them with a hint of scrutiny, but did not speak actively. She just leaned against a tree, crossed her arms, and looked waiting.
Ayane felt a little nervous when she saw her slightly oppressive look, and subconsciously moved closer to Fujiwara Yuu.
Fujiwara Yuu looked back at the other person calmly, then found a position not too far away and stood still, also silently waiting for the appearance of the guiding jonin who made them all feel pressured.
Time passed by, the light of the setting sun became softer and softer, and the shadows on the training ground gradually lengthened.
Just when Fujiwara Yu began to suspect that the torture expert was deliberately trying to intimidate them and was preparing to make them wait until dark, a tall figure finally appeared at the entrance of the training ground.
The man was wearing a standard Konoha jonin vest, with a burly figure and steady steps. The most eye-catching thing was his face covered with crisscrossing scars, and the special forehead protector on his head that covered most of his face and looked like a turban or a hat. Just standing there, an invisible but extremely powerful sense of oppression came over him like a heavy mountain, making the air around him seem to solidify.
Morino Ibiki!
Chapter 46: Quiet Estrangement (Old Version)
Even though he was mentally prepared, when he really faced this legendary torture expert, Fujiwara Yu’s heart still skipped a beat. He could clearly feel the sharp eyes of the other party who had experienced interrogation and could see into people’s hearts, as well as the steel-like will hidden under the calm appearance and… a certain degree of sadism? (Fujiwara Yu’s intuition told him).
Yamanaka Ayane was so frightened that her face turned pale. She subconsciously grabbed Fujiwara Yu’s sleeve, and her body was shaking slightly.
Even Inuzuka Hana, who seemed fearless, became serious when she saw Morino Ibiki appear. She straightened her body and restrained her casual posture leaning against the tree.
Ibiki walked up to the three people and stopped. His eyes, hidden under the shadow of his forehead protector, scanned the three newly promoted Genin in front of him as sharply as a hawk.
His gaze lingered on Inuzuka Hana for a moment and he nodded, as if he was quite familiar with this elite descendant of the Inuzuka family.
Then, he turned his gaze to Yamanaka Ayane. Ayane froze up under his gaze and almost cried. Ibiki seemed to sense her nervousness, and his eyes softened a little (but only a little), without lingering for too long.
Finally, his eyes fell on Fujiwara Yuu.
Fujiwara Yuu immediately felt a strong mental pressure coming over him, as if it was trying to see through his heart and expose all his secrets in broad daylight. This was a special “aura” that Ibiki had developed through years of torture and interrogation, targeting people’s hearts.
If it were any other ordinary Genin, they would have probably lost their minds and broken into cold sweats under this gaze.
But Fujiwara Yuu was different. Although he also felt the pressure in his heart, his mental strength and willpower, which had been tempered by thousands of times and far exceeded that of ordinary people, as well as his long-accustomed “disguise” instinct, allowed him to successfully resist this mental shock.
His face remained calm, even with a hint of “nervousness” and “reverence” at the right level. He didn’t evade or provoke, but just looked back at the other person calmly, like an ordinary new Genin who was confused about the future but tried hard to appear calm.
There was a hint of surprise in Ibiki’s eyes. He didn’t expect that this ordinary-looking boy with the weakest breath could remain so calm under his gaze. Interesting.
However, he did not dwell on this issue for too long. He retracted his oppressive gaze and spoke in a low and hoarse voice, like the friction of sandpaper:
“From today on, I am your guiding jonin, Morino Ibiki.” His voice was not loud, but it carried an unquestionable power. “I know you may have some… misunderstandings about me.” The corners of his mouth seemed to curl up in an extremely subtle arc that looked more like a grin. “Don’t worry, I won’t treat you like a prisoner… As long as you are obedient enough, work hard enough, and don’t cause me any trouble.”
The last sentence, “Don’t cause me trouble,” he said particularly clearly.
Fujiwara Yuu immediately grasped the key point of this sentence. Don’t cause trouble? This really touched his heart!
Could it be that… this ferocious-looking torture expert is actually… essentially a person who is afraid of trouble? Or, in other words, he prefers to devote his energy to his “professional” torture work, and as long as the “side job” of tutoring students does not cause him trouble, he is happy to be free?
This possibility made Fujiwara Yu’s mood, which had originally sunk to the bottom, quietly improve a little.
“First, introduce yourselves,” Ibiki said. “Tell me your name, what you are good at, what you are not good at, and… your dream.”
This is the standard procedure for a Genin team to meet.
Inuzuka Hana spoke first, her voice clear and capable: “Inuzuka Hana. Good at orc clones and tracking in coordination with ninja dogs. Not good at… fine chakra control. My dream is to become an excellent veterinarian and ninja like mother!” Her answer was concise and clear, full of confidence.
Next came Yamanaka Ayane. She took several deep breaths and said in a trembling but clear voice: “I… my name is Yamanaka Ayane. I’m good at… well… I don’t seem to be particularly good at anything… My grades in theory classes are OK… I’m not good at physical training and actual combat… My dream is… I hope to open a small flower shop, and then… help everyone…” Her voice got smaller and smaller, and she seemed to be very unsure.
After listening to this, Ibiki remained silent.
Finally it was Fujiwara Yu’s turn.
Fujiwara Yuu took a step forward, bowed slightly, and said in a steady and slightly “sincere” tone: “My name is Fujiwara Yuu. I’m good at… probably theoretical knowledge and some… manual work? I’m not good at physical skills and ninjutsu that require explosive power. My dream is… to master more useful knowledge and skills, and then find a stable job and live a stable life.”
His answer was also carefully designed. He highlighted his “theoretical” and “hands-on” abilities (Ibiki probably knew his reputation as a ninja tool repairer), and concealed his true chakra control and combat potential. He spoke plainly about his dream, portraying himself as an ordinary person who only wanted a stable life and had no ambitions.
After listening to Fujiwara Yu’s introduction, Ibiki’s sharp eyes stayed on him for a few seconds again, as if evaluating the truth of his words. Fujiwara Yu’s heartbeat slightly accelerated, but he remained calm on the surface.
Finally, Ibiki nodded and said, “Very good. It seems that the three of you… each have your own characteristics.” His tone still lacked any emotion. “Inuzuka Hana, the main force in combat, but you need to pay attention to coordination. Yamanaka Ayane, has the potential to assist, but her actual combat ability and courage need to be greatly improved. Fujiwara Yu…” He paused, “You are good in theory and a little clever, but you lack the fighting spirit and strength that a ninja should have.”
This comment is simply perfect! Fujiwara Yuu almost gave Ibiki a thumbs up in his heart! This is exactly the image he wanted to create!
“Starting tomorrow, we will conduct a one-week survival exercise.” Ibiki suddenly announced, “The content of the exercise is very simple. In this training ground and the back mountain area, do everything you can to take these two bells from me.”
He took out two small bells tied with red ropes from his ninja tool bag, and they jingled.
Stealing the bell again?! Fujiwara Yuu was shocked. This was very similar to Kakashi’s test of Team 7! Could this also be the standard procedure for the jonin to test new team members?
“There is only one rule: you are not allowed to kill me.” Ibiki’s mouth curled up into that creepy arc again, “Of course, you can’t kill me either. At the end of the exercise, those who fail to grab the bell, or those who I judge as unqualified, will be stripped of their Genin qualifications and sent back to the Ninja School for retraining.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a heavier pressure enveloped the entire training ground. Inuzuka Hana’s eyes were solemn, and Ayane was so scared that she almost couldn’t stand.
“Disband. Gather here at six o’clock tomorrow morning. Those who are late will be deemed to have automatically given up.” After saying this, Ibiki no longer paid attention to the reactions of the three people. He turned around and disappeared into the gradually darkening night.
Only Fujiwara Yu, Ayane and Inuzuka Hana were left looking at each other with mixed feelings.
“Grab the bell…survival drill…Morino Ibiki…” Inuzuka Hana muttered to herself, frowning, “It seems that our guiding jonin is really not a good person.”
“Then…then what should we do?” Ayane asked in a crying voice, seeming at a loss.
Fujiwara Yuu remained silent. His mind was working rapidly.
Stealing the bell? The opponent is Morino Ibiki? This is hellish! Although Ibiki is not known for his speed or pure fighting ability, his rich combat experience, insight into people’s hearts, and endless interrogation techniques (who knows if he will use them in the exercise) make him an extremely difficult opponent.
What’s more, there are only two bells, but three people, which means that one person is bound to fail.
This is obviously not just a test of personal strength, but also a test of teamwork, sacrifice, and… the ability to stay calm and make correct judgments under pressure.
Fujiwara Yu’s initial judgment is: Ibiki’s purpose may be similar to Kakashi’s, and he wants to use this method to screen out team members who truly possess ninja qualities and understand the importance of teamwork.
So, the strategy of getting along…
Fujiwara Yuu gradually came up with an idea in his mind.
First of all, you must never reveal your true strength. Even if you have the chance to grab the bell, you must do it in a way that “seems forced”, “full of coincidences” or “relies on the help of teammates”.
Secondly, he should show a certain “teamwork” spirit. Although he tends to work alone, he still needs to do the necessary surface work to pass the assessment. At least, he should not appear too selfish or unsociable.
Thirdly, he should make use of his “advantages”. He has solid theoretical knowledge and keen observation skills, so he may be able to play a “supporting” role in formulating strategies, analyzing intelligence, or setting traps, so as to make up for his “apparent” lack of combat power.
Finally, and most importantly: fish mainly, save life first. On the premise of ensuring your own safety, not exposing your strength, and being able to “barely” pass the assessment, save as much energy as possible and avoid unnecessary conflicts and consumption. After all, his goal is to live a stable daily life, not to fight for life and death in this kind of survival exercise.
As for the two teammates… Inuzuka Hana seems to be quite capable, but may be more impulsive; Yamanaka Ayane is timid and weak in actual combat, but she is thoughtful and may be able to provide help in some aspects. It seems that in order to pass this exercise, a certain amount of cooperation is indeed required.
Fujiwara Yu took a deep breath, looked at the other two, and said in a calm tone: “It seems that we are in trouble. However, maybe… it is not time to despair yet. There are three of us, and he is only one. Perhaps, we can…”
He began to try to communicate his initial thoughts (disguised and modified of course) with these two “temporary” teammates whom he had just known for less than half an hour.
Although the first meeting with Morino Ibiki was full of pressure and fear, it also allowed Fujiwara Yuu to make a preliminary judgment on the other party’s character (maybe he is not completely inhuman, he values ​​efficiency and results, and hates trouble), and based on this, he formulated a preliminary strategy for getting along with him (keeping a low profile, showing auxiliary value, and mainly slacking off).
In the next few days, they will have to participate in the survival exercise that will determine their qualifications as Genin. Fujiwara Yuu knows that this will be a tough “performance”, but he is confident that he can handle it.
In the intervals between preparing for the exercise, Fujiwara Yu occasionally cast his eyes to other directions of the village. He knew that at the same time, other Genin teams were also experiencing the test of their guidance of Jonin.
That afternoon, on his way to a secret place in the back mountains for “secret additional training” (mainly thinking about how to better hide one’s strength and set traps during exercises), Fujiwara Yuu saw a scene on another training ground from afar.
That is the training ground of Class 7.
From a distance, he could see four familiar figures.
The blond Naruto Uzumaki was rushing towards a silver-haired, masked, lazy-looking figure, but was knocked down by the other party with a casual move and fell to the ground.
The pink-haired Haruno Sakura stood aside, looking anxiously at the other side – the black-haired Uchiha Sasuke was engaged in a rapid attack and defense with the silver-haired figure. The shurikens and kunai collided with each other, making crisp sounds. The scene looked extremely intense, but anyone with a discerning eye could see that Sasuke’s attacks were completely manipulated by the opponent.
The silver-haired figure was, of course, Team 7’s instructor, Kakashi Hatake. He held a small book with an orange cover in one hand (Fujiwara Yuu recognized it as Jiraiya’s “Intimate Paradise”), and with the other hand he easily dealt with Naruto and Sasuke’s attacks, appearing to be at ease, and even had time to read a book.
The bell-grabbing drama was indeed staged in Team 7. Moreover, it seems that Naruto and Sasuke, the two future “hacks”, are still too immature at this stage to face an elite jonin like Kakashi.
Fujiwara Yu stood behind a big tree in the distance, watching the scene quietly.
Watching Naruto’s recklessness and unwillingness to admit defeat, watching Sasuke’s coldness and persistence in strength, watching Sakura’s worry and obsession with Sasuke, watching Kakashi’s seemingly lazy but actually in control of everything…
A strange feeling welled up in Fujiwara Yu’s heart. It was familiar, yet strange.
Familiarity is because these scenes and characters are highly consistent with the vague “information fragments” in his mind. He is like an audience who has received the script in advance, watching the opening of a drama that is destined to be magnificent.
The reason for the strangeness is that he truly felt the distance between himself and that “story”.
He no longer understands them only through words or pictures, but as a real person existing in this world, he observes them from afar. He can feel Naruto’s unyielding will and desire for recognition, the flame of revenge burning under Sasuke’s cold appearance, Sakura’s pure and humble love, and Kakashi’s heavy past and protective heart hidden under the lazy mask.
These vivid emotions and characters all exist truly before his eyes.
But deep down in his heart, he still maintained an almost cold calm and aloofness.