The first thing I did upon stepping into the courtyard was to examine the scrolls I was given. It didn't take long for my optimism to turn sour—these weren't Hyuga techniques at all. Instead, the scrolls detailed the academy basics: Transformation, Clone, and Body Substitution techniques. While useful for beginners, they felt like child's play compared to the advanced skills I had once wielded in the cardinal world.I sighed, rolling up the scrolls. "Well, it's a start," I muttered. My gaze wandered to the moonlit garden, its tranquil beauty oddly at odds with my frustration.Then a memory struck me. An entire arc of the anime revolved around the protagonist learning to climb trees and walk on water. That training had been crucial for mastering chakra control. Maybe this was my chance to rebuild myself from the ground up.I began with the basics, forming the seals for the Transformation Technique. To my surprise, executing it felt natural, as though I'd done it a thousand times before. A puff of smoke later, I looked down to see myself transformed into a perfect replica of Takahiro. I suppressed a laugh. Seeing that grumpy face on my body was both amusing and unnerving. The Clone and Body Substitution techniques followed, both mastered within minutes."It's almost too easy," I murmured, a pang of nostalgia hitting me. This was eerily similar to "hand casting" in the cardinal world, where mages used specific gestures to weave their spells. Back then, hand casting was considered inefficient compared to the unique and ultimate skills I had. But now, without those powers, this may be my only path forward.After mastering the academy techniques, I turned my focus inward, revisiting the sensation of chakra flowing through my body. It was similar to magicules, but also distinct—a liquid energy that required constant circulation.Though because that was the case, then Chakra is not a sole kind of energy. Some of the scrolls I got even talked about it, To release chakra means to bring out physical and spiritual energy and mix it together within one's body.It wasn't as powerful or versatile as magicules, but it had its own nostalgic charm, reminding me of my favorite manga.Chakra felt similar to "mana", yet distinct. While aspectual magic uses both internal mana and external magicules, the self proclaimed "ninjas" who are actually mages in this world rely solely on their internal mana—chakra—seemingly unaware of the surrounding magicules they dubbed as "natural energy" used in senjutsu.Good thing I at least read the manga until Pein waged a war against Konoha. Anyway considering this, there are at least three individuals in this world who might be an "Enlightened." Perhaps the Kage as well, but I'm not certain.So if I think about it, there wasn't exactly that much difference, it's just Magicules is more reactive that chakra as it cause more mutations with a slight radiation.I started experimenting, trying to recreate the skills I once had. While I lacked the unique and ultimate skills that had defined me in my past life, I found myself able to reawaken some of the more common abilities. Thought Perception returned with ease, allowing me to analyze the flow of chakra within and around me. Haki, a manifestation of willpower, resurfaced as well—though it lacked the overwhelming potency it once had.Standing barefoot on the grass, I focused on channeling chakra to my feet, recalling the tree-climbing exercise. Slowly, I placed one foot against the wooden post of a nearby pergola. The first step was wobbly, and I almost slipped. By the fifth step, I was walking upside down along its beams, the chakra steadying me like invisible glue.Next came water walking. The koi pond at the edge of the courtyard served as my training ground. I stepped onto the surface cautiously, chakra flowing to my soles. The water rippled beneath me as the colorful fishes swam away frantically, and for a moment, I thought I'd fall. But with a deep breath and careful focus, I stabilized. Standing atop the pond, the moonlight reflecting off the rippling water, I felt a surge of accomplishment."Not bad for a 'defect,'" I said, smiling faintly.As I trained, I couldn't shake the feeling that something—or someone—was watching me. The thought sent a shiver down my spine, but I shook it off. I had more important things to focus on.Tomorrow, I would delve deeper into chakra control and continue experimenting with blending chakra and magicules. For now, though, I allowed myself a moment of pride. Step by step, I was reclaiming my power.I made my way back to my room, the cool night air clinging to my skin. The soft crunch of my footsteps on the gravel was the only sound accompanying me—until I noticed a figure standing in the shadows near the training grounds. It was Neji.His gaze lingered on me for a moment, filled with an emotion I couldn't quite place. Then, just as I passed him, I caught his voice, barely more than a murmur."No, it's not the time for me to take pity. If he's anything like me, he wouldn't even want me to pity him."Thought Communication Translation: "He must hate this clan as much as I do. A defect and a branch member—how much worse can it get?"I paused briefly, my enhanced perception ensuring I caught every nuance of his words and thoughts. Pity, huh? So that's what this was about. I understood where he was coming from; his emotions weren't lost on me. But I couldn't bring myself to care. I had no use for pity—his or anyone else's. With a faint sigh, I continued walking, leaving his conflicted thoughts behind me.When I reached my room's entrance, I found the elder Takahiro waiting for me. His arms were crossed, and his face wore its usual scowl. He glanced at me, taking in the sweat on my brow and my steady breathing. His lips curled into a sneer."Huh, you didn't pass out? That's rare for you, defect."Thought Communication Translation: "Good, at least he's not about to collapse like usual. Maybe there's hope for him yet."I didn't respond, simply wiping my face with the sleeve of my kimono. His expression twisted further as he scrutinized me."You're sweating, but you don't look like you pushed yourself. Were you even training seriously, or were you just walking around pretending to do something useful?"Thought Communication Translation: "Please tell me you didn't overdo it, kid. If you collapse again, I'll have to hear the elders talk about how worthless you are—and I'm sick of that."A laugh escaped me, sudden and genuine. The absurdity of his harsh words clashing with his genuine concern was too much. His frown deepened as he glared at me."What the hell is wrong with you, brat?"I shook my head, suppressing another chuckle. "Nothing. I'm fine. I'll just go to sleep now."Without waiting for a response, I slid the door open and stepped inside. His gruff voice followed me, muttering to himself."Did that idiot hit his head while training?"I smirked as I closed the door, leaning against it for a moment. The elder's duality struck me in a way I hadn't expected. His sharp tongue, laced with insults, and his hidden care, buried beneath his words, tugged at a memory from a life long past.It was oddly entertaining.Laplace.The more I listened to this elder, the more the resemblance became clear. Their personalities, that peculiar blend of being the toughest on the outside while harboring the deepest sadness and worries within, were almost identical."Come to think of it, in all my time loops, that other Yuuki who appeared in my dreams before the loops started, he actually cares about the clowns..."The more resets I've gone through, the less I've been willing to sacrifice them for the plan. In my last attempt, I even tried to save them—well, only Laplace and Tear ended up surviving, but... I can't help but wonder why....To be continued.