Chapter 2: Refining Chakra
Once they reached the street, Fenghuo noticed that every passerby wore the proud fan crest of the Uchiha clan on the back of their high-collared navy blue tunics. Their heads were held high, backs straight, pride nearly tangible. Each of them exuded the kind of superiority that made it seem like any one of them could fire off a Grand Fireball Jutsu and scorch half the block without blinking.
"Look, it's Uchiha Fenghuo. Can't believe that disgrace has the nerve to show his face in public!"
"He humiliated the clan when he challenged Kakashi. What a joke."
"An utter embarrassment to the Uchiha name!"
Fenghuo was instantly spotted by a small group of academy-age kids six or seven years old, just like him. They gathered around, pointing, laughing, their faces full of mockery and disdain.
Right beside him, Uchiha Obito shrugged and gave a smug little grin. "Told ya I wasn't lying, huh?"
"Hey, isn't that Obito? Pfft, makes sense. Losers stick together. The clan's bottom two!"
"Yeah, no wonder. A pair of dead-last buddies."
Having found a new target, the kids quickly redirected their scorn toward Obito.
"Wha? You brats calling me an idiot?!" Obito shouted, his cheeks puffing with rage. "I'm going to be Hokage someday!"
"Hah! That's a laugh! You can't even activate your Sharingan. The elders say you probably never will!"
"I will awaken my Sharingan! And I will become Hokage!" Obito roared back, fists clenched, face red with fury but his voice was soon drowned out by the chorus of childish jeers.
Eventually, satisfied with their insults, the little bullies dispersed like a victorious platoon after a skirmish.
"Damn it, Fenghuo, why didn't you say anything?!" Obito barked, fuming. "You just stood there like a log!"
Fenghuo merely shrugged. "They're just kids. What's the point of arguing?"
Sure, he was only six physically, but mentally? He had the mindset of a man in his twenties. There was no way he'd waste energy on a playground-level spat. He had much bigger concerns than toddler-level trash talk.
"Weren't you saying something about ramen?" he reminded, changing the subject.
Obito scowled but relented, still muttering bitterly under his breath as he led the way. His fists were clenched, his gait determined. "Just wait. I'll become Hokage and prove everyone wrong!"
Fenghuo followed behind, observing the neighborhood more closely as they walked.
This was the heart of the Uchiha compound, tucked inside the southern sector of Konoha. Outsiders rarely entered. One would think that shared lineage would create warmth, but Fenghuo only sensed cold detachment and simmering pride from the clan members who passed them by. Their eyes were sharp, calculating, and distant, their expressions unreadable.
No wonder the Uchiha became isolated, Fenghuo thought. This arrogance runs deep like it's woven into their DNA. Only someone like Senju Hashirama, the God of Shinobi, could tolerate this kind of pride and still believe in unity.
"Oi, Fenghuo! Stop mumbling to yourself we're here!" Obito shouted from a few steps ahead.
Fenghuo blinked. He'd been so deep in thought, he hadn't realized they'd arrived. Of course, this wasn't Ichiraku Ramen it wouldn't be. That iconic stall wouldn't even be founded until years later by Teuchi, just before Naruto's birth. This was just a modest family-run eatery inside the Uchiha district.
They each ordered a simple bowl of ramen and tucked in without ceremony.
"Ahhh, I'm stuffed!" Obito leaned back, patting his stomach with theatrical satisfaction.
Fenghuo, who hadn't eaten since waking in this world, found even the plain broth delicious. He gave a small nod. "Alright, time to head out."
His thoughts turned inward. If I'm going to survive here no, thrive I need strength. Power is everything in this world. I have to start refining chakra and training right away.
But just as he stood, Obito blurted, "Time to do the dishes!"
Fenghuo stared, dumbfounded. "...What?"
"Yep!" Obito grinned, hands confidently on his hips. "What, you thought this ramen was free?"
"You said you were treating me!"
"I was, but then I ran into that old lady this morning you know, the one crossing the road and I, uh... gave her the coins I had left," Obito said, scratching his head sheepishly.
Fenghuo stared at him in disbelief. This is the guy who eventually becomes Tobi? The mastermind behind the Akatsuki? The shadow that plunged the world into chaos?
He slumped in defeat. "You've gotta be kidding me..."
"You gave all your pocket money to that old lady, didn't you?" Fenghuo's eyes twitched uncontrollably.
"Ahahaha, Fenghuo, you really get me!" Uchiha Obito puffed out his chest with pride. "Helping the elderly is the duty of a future Hokage. How could I just walk away when someone needed help?"
Fenghuo was speechless. Internally, he'd already cried a thousand tears. This is the guy who will one day declare war on the world?
In the end, both of them were dragged to the back kitchen by the stern-eyed owner of the ramen shop. For two full hours, they washed dishes nonstop and to make matters worse, the owner gave them an intense lecture on responsibility, hard work, and the importance of financial planning. It felt more like a D-rank mission sponsored by the Konoha Ethics Department.
"Two hours... of dishwashing..." Fenghuo muttered in disbelief. Even in my worst moments in my last life, I never stooped to this...
"You're acting weird, Fenghuo," Obito said with a tilted head. "Didn't we always do this kind of thing before?"
"..." This isn't even your first time pulling this nonsense? How did the shop owner let us eat free ramen repeatedly without snapping earlier?
When they finally got back home, Fenghuo, still simmering from the humiliation, grabbed Obito and demanded to know everything he could about chakra training.
Unfortunately, this version of Obito was the pre-Sharingan, pre-tragedy, pre-Madara's manipulation version a full-on academy underachiever. His basics were sloppy at best. Even the E-rank Three Body Technique Bunshin no Jutsu, Henge no Jutsu, and Kawarimi no Jutsu was something he couldn't perform consistently, and more advanced chakra control methods were completely out of his league.
After chasing the hopeless Obito out the door, Fenghuo sat down, took a breath, and began analyzing his current situation with a calmer mind.
Even in that ramen shop, I wasn't just eating. I was gathering intel. Based on what I overheard...
"It's currently Year 39 of the Hidden Leaf calendar," he murmured. "That means the Third Great Ninja War is still about three to four years away. This is the perfect window to get stronger fast!"
"Also... Kakashi just graduated early. That means the Academy is on break. It's the ideal time for independent training."
Luckily, during his first year at the Academy, the war-hardened Chūnin instructors were strict and efficient. Not only did they teach the basic Three Body Techniques, they also taught chakra control exercises like tree climbing (Kinobori no Waza) and water walking (Suimen Hokō no Gyō) techniques critical for mastering chakra flow. Even shurikenjutsu basics were drilled extensively.
That made sense Konoha had just emerged from the Second Great Ninja War, and tensions along the borders remained high. The one-year Academy curriculum he had just completed was, in terms of intensity, equivalent to the multi-year training that Naruto's generation would receive much later.
Tall buildings begin from the foundation, Fenghuo reminded himself. First, I need to refine my chakra.
He sat cross-legged on the tatami mat, hands on his knees, spine straight. Slowly, he closed his eyes and entered a meditative state.
According to the Academy instructors and consistent with what he remembered from the manga chakra is the result of combining physical energy (from cells) and spiritual energy (from the mind). The more stamina and mental focus you have, the more chakra you can produce.
Relying on his memories from his past life, Fenghuo quickly navigated the internal flow of his energies. In less than half an hour, he successfully produced his first stream of chakra.
And then he noticed something startling.
My spiritual energy... it's abnormally high!
A wave of realization hit him. Could it be because I reincarnated here? A mental imprint from another world enhancing my soul's strength?
He opened his eyes, stunned. With this immense spiritual energy, as long as he regularly trained his body, he'd be able to produce vast amounts of chakra continuously.
"And then... there's the Sharingan!"
His heartbeat spiked at the thought. The Sharingan the Uchiha clan's legendary dōjutsu was a power that could change the course of battles. In its fully evolved form, the Mangekyō Sharingan, users could manifest Susanoo, a massive chakra avatar of defense and destruction. They also gained unique pupil abilities like Obito's Kamui or Itachi's Amaterasu and Tsukuyomi.
But such power came with a price. Excessive use degraded vision, leading eventually to complete blindness unless the user acquired the Eternal Mangekyō Sharingan, which required transplanting a close relative's eyes.
That's all still far away, Fenghuo reminded himself, taking a deep breath to calm his rising excitement. For now, step one: master chakra control and build my foundation.
He steadied his breath, settled his heart, and returned to refining chakra again and again, until his reserves grew stronger with every cycle.
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