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Chapter 56: The Uchiha Outlier
Chapter 56: The Uchiha Outlier
"Want to head back together?" Obito asked, stacking the papers he had just graded as he spoke to his companion.
"You're heading back early today, Obito?" The question held a hint of confusion.
Both boys belonged to the Uchiha clan and lived relatively close to each other, but they rarely walked home together. Obito knew that Kakashi often stayed out later than him.
It wasn't that Obito was unwilling to train more; he just worried that his grandmother would fret if he returned too late.
"Yeah, Muzuki-sensei said to head back early today and rest up for tomorrow's training," Kakashi nodded.
The reason he usually returned home late was that there was no one at home anyway, so it didn't really matter where he was.
"Then you should really get some good rest, Kakashi. Tomorrow's training will likely be exhausting." There was a hint of concern in Obito's voice as he looked at his friend.
After all, if Muzuki-sensei had suggested rest, the training Kakashi would face tomorrow was sure to be intense.
Obito's training had never been so intense that Muzuki-sensei felt the need to remind him to rest up beforehand.
"I have a vague idea of what it might be. I think it will be something to do with strengthening the body, maybe legwork." Kakashi surmised.
Since Muzuki-sensei had already mentioned that the new teleportation technique would put more strain on their legs, it made sense that they would need to focus on physical conditioning.
"Maybe you'll even get to join us in sparring this time!" Kakashi added jokingly.
"I hope not," Obito said, bringing his hands together in a quick prayer to the Sage of the Six Paths.
He had watched Kakashi practice his teleportation technique while he was doing his assignments, and the speed was just too much. There was no way he could keep up with that in a fight.
If Kakashi were his opponent, he'd probably have to double the number of problems he solved during the battle.
"I don't think so. If that were the case, Muzuki-sensei would have mentioned it beforehand," Kakashi said, unable to hold back a laugh at the sight of Obito's earnest prayer.
To be a bit blunt, neither Obito nor Might Guy could offer him much of a challenge at this point, so Muzuki-sensei wouldn't arrange for them to train together.
Unless, of course, Muzuki-sensei's intention was to put pressure on Obito and the others.
As they walked, Obito suddenly stopped, and Kakashi looked at him questioningly.
"Hey, Kakashi, wait up. That elderly lady over there looks like she needs some help," Obito said, pointing at an elderly woman who was hunched over and carrying a large bundle on her back.
Kakashi looked in the direction Obito was pointing and saw an elderly woman who indeed seemed to be having a difficult time walking.
"Obito, is your observation skill that good?" Kakashi asked, a little surprised that he hadn't noticed the woman himself.
After Obito found out what the elderly woman needed help with, he immediately offered to carry her luggage and escort her to her destination.
"Granny, I'm fine. Don't underestimate me just because I look young. I'll be a ninja next year, and I'm very strong," Obito said, patting his chest proudly.
He then performed a set of taijutsu moves, truly impressing the old woman, who finally agreed to let Obito carry her luggage.
With Obito walking ahead and the old woman following, Kakashi brought up the rear, a thoughtful expression on his face.
After helping the elderly woman, the two boys resumed their journey home. But soon enough, Obito stopped again to assist another elderly woman, this one leaning on a cane, and helped her get home.
Now Kakashi understood why Obito was considered an outlier among the Uchiha clan.
The first lesson that Uchiha children learned was not to respect their elders or teachers, but rather that might makes right and that ninja powers took precedence.
Nothing was more important than enhancing one's strength, and as long as you were powerful enough, nothing else mattered.
Kakashi, despite his young age, was already exceptionally talented and powerful, and even those older than him by several years acknowledged his leadership.
Obito was different. He didn't have the same zeal for training to increase his power, but he was very interested in helping the elderly.
Kakashi thought that this was probably why Obito was so quick to notice people in need of assistance.
"Tihoka," Itachi acknowledged with a greeting.
"Then I'll head home first." Eager to return to his grandmother, Madara bid them farewell and left.
He did not exchange greetings with Uchiha Tihoka; they were truly not acquainted.
"Mhm." Itachi nodded.
"Itachi, why are you with him?" Uchiha Tihoka asked curiously.
Prior to this exam, Madara had been in Tihoka's eyes a strange member of the Uchiha clan—poor grades with no ambition, looking foolish, and behaving unlike a true Uchiha.
Though the labels lessened after the exam, Madara was still considered an odd one among the Uchiha.
This wasn't just Tihoka's opinion; it was a consensus among the Uchiha of the same age group.
"What's the matter?" Itachi inquired.
"Well, it's just surprising, given that he's that Uchiha Madara," Uchiha Tihoka replied after some thought.
"You'll find that Madara is actually a pretty great person once you get to know him," Itachi said.
Itachi didn't offer much of an explanation, and after exchanging a few more words, he returned home.
"Could Madara's improvement be because Itachi taught him some secret cultivation technique?" Uchiha Tihoka wondered as he watched Itachi's retreating figure.
Tihoka felt a bit resentful that he had been defeated by Madara, and he had been diligently training lately to regain his pride during the final exam.
...
In the morning, Itachi and Madara woke up early and headed to the training grounds in the Southern Forest.
As Itachi had expected, Muzuki had arranged an extensive regimen of physical exercises for them.
Basic exercises like push-ups and squats were just the beginning; they also had to swim, run laps around Konoha, and endure a training volume far beyond Itachi's imagination.
"Isn't this level of training a bit excessive for someone my age?" Itachi couldn't help but ask.
Although it was said that a ninja's body held infinite potential, the truth was that over-training could leave hidden injuries.
Hearing Itachi's comment, Madara curiously glanced over, only to be stunned. Suddenly, his own training regimen felt like a breeze in comparison.
"Of course, this volume of training wouldn't normally be possible, but I have a special elixir that can relieve fatigue and heal the body after training," Muzuki explained.
Itachi was unaware that Muzuki was actually rewarding him generously for his performance.
As the system provided a limited number of elixirs, Muzuki intended to keep two for future research, leaving the rest to be used sparingly.
Among his three disciples, only Might Guy was exclusively focused on physical techniques, and Muzuki had originally planned to give them all to Guy.
However, seeing Itachi's outstanding performance, he decided to give two to Itachi for this intensive training.
Itachi had the highest potential among his current disciples, and Muzuki hoped that Itachi would quickly enter a period of explosive growth, thereby providing a substantial amount of chakra through the Teacher System.
"Elixir?" Itachi was surprised. The intense training regimen made sense if it was accompanied by a special elixir.
Based on Muzuki's usual training plans, he wasn't the type of teacher to arbitrarily increase the training load without reason.
"Teacher Muzuki, how much do these elixirs cost? My family left me with a substantial amount of money," Itachi asked.
Although his grandparents and parents had passed away, they had left all their assets to him.
"You don't need to worry about that. Your dedication to training is the best repayment for me," Muzuki replied with a smile.
Seeing the sincerity on Muzuki's face, Itachi was deeply touched. He could sense that Muzuki truly meant what he said.
To be honest, the warmth Muzuki brought him far exceeded what he had received from his own uncle.
(End of Chapter)
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