Chapter XII

As Mikoto prepared for tea and refreshment, she stumbled upon a surprising scene. "Oh my," she muttered in disbelief. "Leaving little Naruto and Sasuke all alone to spar is a little bit irresponsible, don't you think?" she lamented, addressing the two boys who were too engrossed in their training to notice her presence.

Mikoto quickly arranged refreshments and smiled at her youngest son, who seemed to be annoyed by Naruto's energetic antics. Suddenly, a voice called out from inside the house, "Mikoto, what's all the commotion? Do we have a guest?"

It was none other than Fugaku Uchiha, the patriarch of the clan. He had been napping in his bedroom and had only awoken due to the sound of clashing steel in the backyard.

"Who is that?" he asked his wife, curious to know who had come to visit.

"You mean little Naruto?" Mikoto replied, playfully ruffling little Naruto's hair, though he remained focused on trying to catch Sasuke, who had crawled to the other side.

"Naruto? I thought Hokage-sama left him in the orphanage," Fugaku commented with an unreadable expression on his face as he sat beside his wife, watching their eldest son spar with an unknown child.

"Well, it seems that Nobuyuki-kun is taking care of him for now. I don't really know why, but he seems like a good boy. He's even willing to befriend Itachi," Mikoto said, smiling to ease her husband's surprise.

Fugaku observed the boy for a moment. A red tinge clouded his vision as he sensed the chakra circulating around his supposed son's friend.

Fugaku commented, "Pitiful. I'm surprised he has been able to keep up with Itachi for this long. His form is poor, his physique is weak, and his reserves are abysmal, yet he's managing to keep pace."

Mikoto suggested that praising the child might be more helpful than criticizing him, but Fugaku countered that he was merely stating a fact and continued, "I can see that he's talented. He uses his chakra efficiently with a technique, and he's aware of his own limitations. I assume he's an orphan since he brought Naruto along." He then helped himself to the dessert that Mikoto had prepared.

Mikoto nodded along, though not completely understanding the nuances of the situation. She decided to change the topic and asked, "So, who do you think will win, dear?"

Fugaku finished the last dango on the stick before replying, "Without a shred of doubt, that Nobuyuki kid."

Mikoto was surprised, not by the prediction that Nobuyuki would win, but by the fact that Fugaku was admitting it, given his high expectations for their eldest son. She asked, "How come?"

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Genjutsu. I have discovered that the most effective form of Genjutsu is not one that is impenetrable, but one that the victim is unaware of being under.

Another advantage is that some Genjutsu techniques do not require hand seals and do not consume excessive amounts of chakra depending on the opponent.

In this current battle, I have utilized two techniques. The first is an advanced version of the enhancement technique I used against Shisui.

I removed unnecessary features such as the chakra scalpel, which wasted too much chakra and was not needed. Instead, I focused on chakra swapping to conserve and maintain the circulation of chakra within my body.

I developed a new technique called the "Three-Line Formation," which focuses on chakra swapping to maintain a steady circulation of chakra within my body.

The technique involves a complex interplay of three chakra layers, each serving a specific purpose on cellular level. The outermost layer functions as a sort of protective barrier and pathway, constantly monitoring the user's energy levels and regulating the flow of chakra accordingly. When the user is at rest or engaging in light activity, this layer remains in standby, gathering and storing any excess chakra that is not immediately needed.

The second layer, situated just beneath the outer layer, is responsible for enhancing the user's muscle tissue. This is achieved by infusing the muscles with a concentrated stream of chakra, which in turn stimulates them to grow and strengthen over time. The effects of this layer are particularly pronounced during physical exertion, as the muscles become more resilient and capable of handling greater levels of stress.

The third and final layer of the technique is designed to protect the muscles from tearing or other damage during intense physical activity. By exciting the muscles with a fresh surge of chakra, this layer effectively primes them for action, making them more responsive and less prone to injury. The end result is a powerful combination of strength, speed, and endurance, all of which are essential for any ninja looking to excel in combat.

This cycle repeats continuously, making the enhancement technique more affordable, long-lasting, and less strenuous to the user. The only challenge is the level of concentration required, but I have found no obstacles on that front.

Although torn muscles may promote stronger muscle growth, continuously using the old technique will hasten the ceiling limit of cell division, leading to muscle loss and atrophy at a young age.

Unlike regular exercise, the rate of tearing and healing is multiplied by manifold, making it difficult for the body to cope and adapt, resulting in losing motoric skills.

Although the technique may not be as lethal due to the loss of the chakra scalpel, it is a good concession for me to avoid long-term damage to my body or the risks of losing motoric skill once I turned off the technique.

Itachi whipped his Kunai towards me, but I deflected it to my right and seized the opportunity to jab him with a kick. He blocked it with his free hand, but I knew the concentrated chakra made it a numbing experience for him.

The second technique was Genjutsu, which I had yet to name. It was a common technique, but I had developed my own version because I didn't know anything other than references from books.

To onlookers, Itachi's form appeared impeccable, sturdy like a standing bastion, yet striking with fierce intensity. I gritted my teeth, aware of my own physical limitations. My body was frail and my chakra reserves were meager, leaving me with no solid footing.

But despite this, I could easily evade Itachi's strikes and predict his reflexes, making it easy to divert his punches.

With a slight smirk, I acknowledged my inferiority against a potential Genjutsu master like Itachi. Thus, I planned to use it cautiously, waiting for the perfect moment to cast the technique when he was confident in his strike.

Since Itachi hadn't unlocked his Sharingan yet, I had some room to maneuver. Additionally, his experience hadn't honed his ability to detect subtle changes in his body. Though, I'm sure his innate talent will soon catch on to what was happening.

A blow to my gut caused me to cough up blood, but I used this opportunity to stab him in the abdomen with a kunai.

This was all part of my plan, and I knew Itachi would disappear in a puff of smoke, only to reappear with a blade against my throat. But he had made a grave mistake by underestimating me.

"Checkmate," I declared confidently, as a disguised clone nearby had placed an explosive seal on his back without him noticing.

My manipulation of his attention had worked flawlessly.

"I yield," he conceded, realizing his defeat once the Nobuyuki in front of him disappeared and was replaced with a log.

My legs were quivering from exhaustion, and I had barely any chakra left. Two Jutsus and a simple clone had drained me, and I had to push a little further to perform a substitution.

With nods of mutual respect, we formed a seal, indicating our agreement to end the conflict without any grudges. As I watched his back recede, I couldn't help but wonder who would emerge victorious in a genuine battle between us.

However, my knowledge of the future made it difficult to view this as a true triumph. In the end, it all seemed rather pointless....

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"Focusing solely on talent and hard work will only get you so far. He's missing another crucial element: a strong physical body and potential. In the coming years, the gap between their strengths will continue to widen, particularly once Itachi awakens his Sharingan and further develops it," Fugaku affirmed.

Mikoto furrowed her brow at Fugaku's pessimistic outlook. While she knew he was right to a degree, she refused to believe it was the end for Nobuyuki. Anything could happen after all.

Fugaku seemed to read her thoughts and added, "However, with his talent, and a bit of drive to self-improve, he may find a way to overcome his limitations. All we can do is wait and see. It makes you want to cheer him on, doesn't it?" He said with a hint of amusement.

The patriarch stood up and left the porch. He has nothing more to add to the visitors.