The three of them had already started warming up at Training Ground Three, their movements precise and focused. Uchiha Mei arrived at a leisurely pace, his crimson Sharingan reflecting the morning light.
After observing their training for a while, he finally spoke, "Not bad. You're all highly motivated. It seems this last mission has helped you grow. Stop for a moment." He reached into his sleeve and pulled out three small slips of chakra-infused paper. "Here are chakra affinity test strips. Channel your chakra into them."
The three of them each took a strip and did as instructed. The results appeared almost instantly.
"Fire: The paper ignites. Wind: It splits cleanly in half. Lightning: It crumples. Water: It soaks through. Earth: It crumbles into dust. If a person possesses all five affinities, the paper will display each reaction in different sections," Mei explained as he observed them.
Then, his gaze landed on Uchiha Yoshi's strip—and he froze.
Yoshi's chakra paper exhibited all five elemental transformations: one section caught fire, another split, one crumpled, another grew damp, and the last section shattered into dust.
Yet, Yoshi himself remained indifferent, glancing at the paper in his hand without the slightest hint of surprise. He had already known his affinity for all five elements and had come here to refine his abilities further. His mental prowess was exceptional—his eidetic memory allowed him to recall everything he saw, and his ability to learn was remarkable. Chakra control came naturally to him, enabling him to walk on water and climb trees with ease. He wasn't as refined as the original Sakura Haruno, but he wasn't far off.
Ignoring the shocked expressions of his teammates, he turned his attention to their results. Uchiha Retsu possessed Fire, Earth, and Lightning, while Uchiha En wielded Fire, Wind, and Earth.
Yet something felt off. Retsu, despite lacking Water affinity, had mastered the Water Prison Jutsu. He excelled in Lightning Release but rarely used it in battle, relying almost exclusively on Fire Release.
Mei quickly recovered from his astonishment and examined the others' papers before addressing them. "Now that you all know your affinities, do you have any ideas on how to proceed? Your training plan should align with your strengths and personal goals."
Uchiha En spoke first. "I'd like to focus on defensive and control-oriented ninjutsu. I see myself as the team's support. I've been aware of my affinities for a while, so my jutsu choices reflect that."
He continued, "So far, I've mastered 'Earth Release: Earth Wall,' 'Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique,' and 'Wind Release: Breakthrough.' As for ninja tools, I'm proficient in the Uchiha Shurikenjutsu."
Uchiha Yoshi followed. "I prefer an aggressive style—fast-paced movement and combining ninjutsu in combat. Right now, my combinations only maintain a continuous flow; I haven't yet managed to fuse different elements into a new technique."
"My mastered techniques include 'Fire Release: Great Fireball,' 'Fire Release: Phoenix Fire,' 'Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire,' 'Fire Release: Dragon Fire,' 'Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole,' 'Earth Release: Earth Wall,' and 'Wind Release: Gale Palm.' For ninja tools, I specialize in shurikenjutsu and am currently training in kenjutsu with my father."
Now, all eyes were on Retsu. He hesitated under their scrutiny before sighing, "I'm best at setting traps and confusing enemies. I also have all five elemental releases."
"My techniques include 'Water Release: Water Prison'—though I need an existing water source—'Wind Release: Breakthrough,' which I'm still training, 'Lightning Release: Thunderbolt,' which I rarely use, and 'Earth Release: Hiding Like a Mole' and 'Earth Wall,' which I've mastered."
"But my main focus is Fire Release. I know 'Great Fireball' and 'Phoenix Fire.' For ninja tools, I'm trained in Uchiha Shurikenjutsu and am currently practicing the 'Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique.'"
Uchiha En clapped him on the shoulder. "I swear, your training is all over the place. Your grandpa really spoils you, huh?"
Yoshi smirked. "Honestly, you're more versatile than I am. Knowing all five elements? That's ridiculous."
Seeing the discussion was reaching its end, Mei clapped his hands. "Alright, continue your usual training regimen today. Except for you, Retsu—you can stop working on 'Wind Release: Breakthrough' and focus on perfecting the Shuriken Shadow Clone Technique."
He turned to leave but added one last note. "Tell your families that I'll be inviting two more trainers to assist you. Since their time is limited, pack your things—we'll begin a week-long intensive training starting tomorrow morning. You're free for the rest of the day." With that, he disappeared into the trees.
---
Mei Uchiha left the training ground and immediately used the Body Flicker Technique, arriving at the Uchiha Police Force headquarters. At the entrance, a ruggedly handsome man leaned against the doorway, smirking as he exchanged jokes with a fellow officer.
"Come with me," Mei said, his tone serious. "I need to speak with the patriarch about your son."
The man's smile faded. "Did he cause trouble again? He didn't hit anyone, did he? No, he's usually careful about that… Don't tell me he sneaked out of the village?" He continued muttering as he followed Mei.
They arrived at Uchiha Nobunaga's office. The secretary, recognizing the man, immediately opened the door. "Lord Nobunaga is inside, and he just received a fresh pot of tea."
The man grinned. "Perfect timing. Let's go."
As they entered, Uchiha Nobunaga gestured for them to sit, pouring them each a cup of tea. For half an hour, they drank in silence. Finally, the man exhaled and spoke. "Alright, what did my son do this time? If it's trouble, I apologize in advance."
Mei shook his head. "No trouble. But I thought you should know—during today's chakra affinity test, your son, Uchiha Yoshi, displayed all five elemental affinities. We need to discuss this."
Uchiha Nobunaga narrowed his eyes, turning to the man. "Ieyasu, Ming is Yoshi's mentor, not an outsider, so I'll ask you plainly. I remember when we tested him and Fugaku, he only had three elements—Fire, Earth, and Water. Fugaku had Fire and Lightning, and he cried for two days about it."
Both men looked at Ieyasu expectantly. He stared at his teacup for a moment before speaking. "Lan and I had almost forgotten about this. Yoshi doesn't remember either."
He continued, "It happened on his fifth birthday. We went on a picnic to celebrate his entry into the Academy. The kids played in the woods while the adults picked fruit. Yoshi found a strange-looking fruit and asked Lan about it. She told him not to eat it since it might be poisonous. But, being a stubborn kid, he did it anyway."
"At first, he just complained that it tasted awful. But the next morning, he developed a high fever that wouldn't break for seven days. We thought we were going to lose him. His mother stayed by his side, blaming herself the entire time."
"You were there, Nobunaga. Even Koharu and Tsunade checked on him. The fever finally broke, but he lost all memory of that week. Tsunade called it selective amnesia—a way for his mind to protect itself from the pain."
"After that, he changed. His talent skyrocketed. His chakra control became nearly perfect, and his memory became incredible. When I retested his chakra, I found he had all five affinities. His mother and I assumed the illness triggered something in his body."
Uchiha Nobunaga sighed. "I do remember that incident. And I agree—we should let it be. If he's forgotten, there's no need to dredge it up."
Mei stood and nodded. "Understood. I'll focus on training him. I've also invited Uchiha Ze and Uchiha Sa for special training. We start tomorrow." He gave Ieyasu a knowing smile before taking his leave.