Two months had flown by, and Shin made impressive strides in the tree-walking exercise, steadily honing his chakra control. He had started to consider, doing water-walking exercises as well, while the leaf exercise time limit was increased to an hour and a half.
The Rasengan practice was progressing much more slowly as the high-speed rotation inside the balloon could only be maintained for up to five minutes. After five minutes, the chakra would go docile and would dissipate due to his lack of concentration. However, he still hadn't been able to pop the balloon, intentionally. The only times it happened were due to accidents.
As for his Nature Chakra training, Shin focused solely on wind nature and managed to expand his cut to half a leaf.
At this moment, He was in Training Ground 12, looking for ways to go to the pond. The water walking exercise would be far easier if he practiced on still water, instead of running water like the Naka River. Training ground twelve was huge, there was only one pond located to the side which was closer to the Village`s bulwark. He moved quickly to get to the water area.
Instead of running on the ground, he opted to travel in the ninja way, swiftly navigating through the trees. Jumping on the trees required constant chakra control in his legs which helped improve his focus. With a sharp whoosh, he jumped on the giant tree overlooking the pond and hid under its branches.
"The place sure is packed with genins. Oh!... there are Chunins here too!", Shin whispered with wide-eyed excitement. Almost all of the pond was filled with ninjas each showcasing their jutsu with varying degrees of mastery. Shin's gaze darted around, captivated by the spectacle.
Water Style: Fish Spit
Water Style: Water puddle Technique
Water style: Wave
Water Style: Water Sword
Water Style: hidden mist
Some teams were practicing combat as well along the bank of the pond. Shin watched the different jutsus with fascination in his eyes. Some parts of the ponds became hard to notice because of the mist spreading from various areas. Shin looked everywhere and tried to search for a secluded spot.
'It looks hopeless. I can't practice here. I would be snuffed out by any one of them'.
With that thought, he turned around to take off. 'I guess it's Plan B.'
"Hey, over there! I sense someone!" a boisterous voice echoed through the air.
"Oh crap...!" Shin cursed under his breath, hastily leaping to another tree branch to evade detection.
A fifteen-year-old boy with his sword drawn appeared on the very spot Shin had vacated moments before. "Achoo!"
"What's the rush, Hayate? Why`d you take off suddenly?" His teammate who was still on the ground commented.
"Oh! nothing... Just felt like someone spying on me" Hayate replied while trying to stop another sneeze.
"Come back down, you still haven't perfected that technique yet."
"Okaachoo"
"Damn it! you better get those sneezes of yours checked out quickly"
"Yeah okay!"
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"AH!!! It's so warm!" Shin exclaimed while sitting in the hot spring inn's pond. He had carefully scouted the place multiple times before and noticed that there were hardly any customers in the morning or during the day. So, after returning from Training Ground Twelve, he swiftly climbed up the building from behind, sneaked past the nearly asleep guard, and slipped into the pond.
'I really should start practice now. But this water is just too comforting. It goes to all the places.' Shin thought, trying to muster the willpower to focus. However, his tranquility was interrupted by some unsettling noises coming from another section of the hot springs.
"Okay girls! enter one by one."
"Ah, the water is so warm today."
"Hey! get off me, I need some personal space, Airi"
"Kochi! wow you sure are huge"
In an attempt to ignore the distracting conversation, Shin submerged his head in the water. But the heat proved too much, forcing him to resurface abruptly. Suddenly, he bacame aware of the threat growing below and immediately picked up his towel and came out of the hot springs.
"Ah! its too awkward. I cant focus on practice if I am listening to that", With a steaming red face, Shin ran back to the orphanage.
After calming himself down with a series of cold showers, He started the balloon rotation exercise. He moved on to the climbing exercise, this time walking on the walls. The walls were much harder becasue of their smoothness as compared to the trees. It took repeated tries but he was gradually improving and staying on the wall for longer periods of time.
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Solely my kin, who bears the sacred legacy of Sharingan may lay their eyes on this Stone tablet.
Mine kin, thou are tasked to improve the power of thy eyes as each evolution may marshal't to moe unveiling of secrets. After the sharingan, comes mangekyo sharingan. Yet, only the eyes that are not seel can remain. Only with power, thou may take mine revenge.
This, I hast decreed, Indra
Reading the stone tablet for the past month, Fugaku had only managed to decipher a fragment of its contents, along with the names of some notable Uchihas who had awakened the Mangekyo in the past.
"Who is this Indra?. A clan head, probably in the past. But what does it mean by the seal.", Fugaku felt a wave of weakness wash over him and deactivated his Mangekyo.
Feeling exhausted, he sat down on the tatami mat, deep in thought about the ancient text. Frustration gnawed at him as he struggled to grasp its meaning. Finally, he ended the session and made his way home.
As he walked, memories of his conversation with the Hokage resurfaced. After updating the Hokage on the overall situation of the clan, they had agreed that by next year, Uchihas would be granted additional positions in the Village administration and ANBU.
With a newfound confidence in his future, Fugaku smiled at the thought of welcoming a new guest into his home. He had already discussed and sought permission from the Third Hokage to name their child Sasuke, if it was a boy, as a way to honor the Third's late father.
'I still need more control over my new abilities, From the clan archives, it seems that the power of forming an avatar outside of your body is called Susanoo. That was the power I activated last time' Fugaku thought.
.
Lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice an eye observing his every move from the shadows.
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In another corner of the village, Minato was tending to his wife in a special way.
With exaggerated hand signs, he asked, "Dear, what do you think of this one? Spiralling Flash Super Round Dance Howl Style Three."
"Ugh! That's way too long, you know," Kushina replied, a touch of irritation in her voice.
"So, what do you suggest?" Minato spoke, with a beaming smile.
"You're throwing six knives and teleporting to just one. Where's the spiralling? Where's the flash? Where's the dance? Blegh!!!" Kushina groaned, promptly vomiting into the nearby dustbin.
"Let me..."
Minato gently approached, lifting Kushina in a princess carry and giving her a light pat on the back. After ensuring she was comfortably settled back in bed, he sealed the bucket with a containment seal and placed it outside.
"I can still walk by myself, You know" Kushina spoke with a red face, embarrassed by the princess carry.
"Yes...I know, I Know", Minato smiled at his easily embarrassed wife and asked lovingly, "You remember Sensei`s face when we told him about the name."
"Yeah! he was truly happy. I just hope he doesnt teach our child bad habits when it grows up. If it is a girl, I would not allow her to be one feet of him, you know", Kushina declared with her fist.
Looking at the panda eyes, Minato caressed her lovingly and whispered in her ears,"Sure, My red hot habenyaro"
"Minato!!!"
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Author Note:
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