After adjusting his routine, Fenghuo set into a relentless daily rhythm: refining chakra at dawn, practicing hand seals after lunch, and hammering his body into shape by nightfall. His schedule was so packed, even breathing felt like a luxury sometimes.
As for the secret surveillance hovering over him?
He couldn't care less.
As long as he didn't recklessly activate his Sharingan, he was confident that his low-profile training wouldn't raise any red flags.
Sure enough, after a week of snooping, Uchiha Yamano — the stern-faced captain of the Konoha Military Police Force — finally called off his men. His final evaluation on the report was succinct:
"A hardworking but otherwise unremarkable youth. Potential asset if Sharingan awakens."
In other words, harmless... for now.
Thus, half a month passed in this grinding, monotonous rhythm. But finally, the results began to show.
"Si, Wei, Shen, Hai, Wu, Yin!"
Fenghuo's fingers flew through the hand seals, crisp and clean.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
With a deep inhale, he spewed a massive fireball forward.
Compared to his earlier pitiful sparks, this time it was a real inferno — blazing hot, twice the size, roaring with lethal force.
"My seal speed is finally at one per second...!" Fenghuo clenched his fists, thrilled.
"At this rate, I might actually survive long enough to see puberty."
His physical conditioning was improving too: weights on his ankles had reached three kilograms each, two kilograms strapped to his wrists.
Of course, the price for this power-up was brutal —
his meat consumption was skyrocketing.
The allowance Nonō Yakushi had given him?
Rapidly approaching extinction.
As for Uchiha Obito, his so-called "training"?
He lasted two days before running off to find Rin Nohara, tearfully demanding emotional support.
Fenghuo had tried dragging him back several times, but eventually gave up.
Stubbornness ran deep in that idiot's bones.
Still, Fenghuo pressed onward alone.
"Chakra levels comparable to a fresh Genin," he evaluated himself after a quick internal check. "Should be enough to start learning Medical Ninjutsu!"
He rubbed his hands together, eyes gleaming.
He decided to pay a visit to Nonō Yakushi — part-time nun, full-time medic-nin — to borrow more money and beg for medical ninjutsu lessons.
The Konoha Hospital sat in the village's heart, quite a distance from the Uchiha compound.
For safety reasons, Fenghuo swapped into plain clothes, hiding his clan's crest.
Today marked the first time he was venturing outside the Uchiha district alone.
The village beyond was far more alive than the heavy, tense atmosphere at home.
Street vendors hawked skewers and sweets.
Children's laughter echoed across rooftops.
The scent of grilled squid drifted through the warm breeze.
Fenghuo's mood lightened unconsciously.
Along the way, he spotted several Uchiha patrolling in their military police uniforms.
Their sharp, frosty gazes swept across the streets, dissecting the crowd as if every villager might be a criminal.
Fenghuo shook his head inwardly.
No wonder the Police Force had such a bad reputation later on.
With that kind of attitude, even a saint would grow resentful.
After a brisk walk, he reached the bustling Konoha Hospital.
The clean scent of disinfectant hit him the moment he stepped inside.
After asking around, he found Nonō Yakushi's office tucked away at the end of a bright corridor.
Inside, the slim young woman was hunched over paperwork, a rare frown creasing her gentle face.
Fenghuo knocked lightly on the door.
"Sister Nonō!"
His little face flushed red — it was his first time, in two lives combined, personally begging for money.
Nonō looked up, blinking in surprise before smiling warmly.
"Ah, Fenghuo. What brings you here? Are you here to pay me back?"
Fenghuo shuffled awkwardly, rubbing his palms together.
"Um... not exactly, Sister Nonō."
Nonō gave him a playful, half-exasperated look.
"Let me guess... you're here to borrow more?"
"Sister Nonō is truly brilliant!" Fenghuo said, shamelessly flattering her.
Nonō shook her head with a soft laugh. "Little rascal..."
Seeing that she wasn't angry, Fenghuo seized the chance to add,
"Also, Sister Nonō, you're a medical-nin, right? Could you teach me Medical Ninjutsu too?"
"You want to learn Medical Ninjutsu?" Nonō blinked. "You're only six years old. Why?"
"So I can heal myself when I get hurt! I won't need to trouble you guys," Fenghuo said earnestly.
(And also so I don't die tragically during some inevitable ninja war later.)
Nonō hesitated, then said gently,
"Medical Ninjutsu is difficult. You need precise chakra control, enough chakra reserves, and... a fair bit of talent."
Fenghuo stood tall. "I'm ready!"
"Alright then. Let's start by testing your chakra level."
Nonō placed a soft hand on his shoulder.
A stream of cool, refined chakra flowed through him, tracing his meridians before withdrawing.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"Not bad, Fenghuo. Your chakra reserves just meet the minimum threshold."
For a six-year-old, it was impressive.
She smiled and ruffled his hair.
"Next, let's test your chakra control. Can you climb trees? Walk on water?"
Fenghuo puffed out his chest.
"Of course!"
"Good. Walk up that wall, please."
Since there were no trees in the office, the wall would do.
Fenghuo focused, gathering chakra under his soles.
With slow, steady steps, he walked straight up the wall, perpendicular to the ground.
Nonō's eyes lit up.
"Excellent control."
"So can I learn now?" Fenghuo's eyes sparkled.
"Not quite yet. We have one more step: testing your talent," Nonō said, hiding a mischievous smile.
She lifted her hand, forming a faint blue glow.
"This is medical chakra. Focus your chakra into your right hand and try to form the same glow."
Fenghuo mimicked her carefully.
The blue light gathered slowly, flickering and wavering, but finally stabilized.
For nearly ten minutes, he maintained it.
At last, Nonō's gentle voice broke the silence:
"That's enough."
Fenghuo let out a long sigh, wiping sweat from his brow.
Nonō's smile deepened.
"Congratulations, Fenghuo. You've passed the first round of testing."
"...Wait."
"First round?!" Fenghuo's face crumpled in disbelief.
Where was the kind, loving big sister image he had trusted?!
Was it all a lie?!