Completing a single jutsu pushed the progress bar to just over 33%.
Now, it had reached 45%.
This was because after mastering the Clone Jutsu, Keiji redirected his focus to training [Lightning Release: Iron Body].
His progress with this jutsu was smooth.
It could only be said that the Yagetsu Clan was naturally attuned to lightning-style techniques and taijutsu.
"Still a little more to go," Keiji exhaled deeply.
The keyword [Strong Physique] hadn't been triggered yet, but he estimated that with a bit more practice, he'd meet the requirements soon.
The current him was drastically different from who he was just over two months ago.
No longer was he the frail, malnourished boy who looked like a gust of wind could knock him over.
"Hey, Keiji, aren't you coming?"
Kakashi's voice rang from outside the door.
"Coming."
Keiji packed up his things, slung his cloth bag over his shoulder, and stepped outside.
He lived near the outskirts of the Uchiha district, making it easy to come and go without delving too deep into the heart of the compound.
Kakashi, for reasons unknown, visited him frequently.
The two of them headed to the Ninja Academy together.
From Kakashi, Keiji learned that Kakashi's father had gone on a classified mission and was expected to return soon.
Keiji understood that this was likely the secret infiltration mission led by Sakumo Hatake himself.
The village was in a tense pre-war period. This mission would have a significant impact on the Land of Fire.
And soon, Sakumo would be forced to choose between the mission or his comrades.
Ultimately, he chose his comrades.
"So it's finally happening," Keiji mused internally.
Within the next few days, the news of Sakumo's mission failure would spread.
Then would come the wave of overwhelming public criticism—even the comrades he saved would turn on him.
Keiji glanced at Kakashi.
Kakashi would graduate this year and quickly rise to the rank of Chunin.
"Good morning, Kakashi, Keiji-kun!"
Rin Nohara greeted them cheerfully as they entered the classroom.
Her gaze was fixed primarily on Kakashi.
Keiji nodded back politely.
Whenever Kakashi was present, Rin's after-class explanations became much more thorough.
If it was just Keiji, she'd only offer guidance for a few days before stopping.
But once Kakashi joined, Rin never brought up stopping again.
Of course, Obito always found some excuse to barge in during those sessions.
"All right, class is starting," the Chunin teacher in charge of history said, clapping the desk.
Just then, a figure rushed in, out of breath.
"I accidentally helped too many old ladies across the road..."
Obito tried to sneak in, but the teacher caught him red-handed.
"Endless old ladies, huh? Go stand in the back."
The teacher didn't want to hear his excuses. This wasn't the first time.
Obito had even managed to be late on the very first day of school when students needed to collect their materials to register.
"Ugh... really, I did."
Obito scratched the back of his head sheepishly.
Keiji watched him from below.
Uncorrupted Obito genuinely loved helping old ladies.
Turning his head, Keiji leaned toward Rin to ask a few questions about shuriken throwing techniques.
Obito looked down from the front of the class and saw the smug Kakashi's expression—and Keiji whispering to Rin.
"What are you waiting for?"
The teacher urged again.
Obito finally looked away and trudged to the back obediently.
"Obito, the next class is a different subject, so you won't have to stand for too long," Rin said reassuringly as he passed.
Obito had chosen to walk past her on purpose.
Hearing her kind words swept away the gloom in his heart.
"Rin really is the best!"
Obito beamed, daydreaming about a future where he'd become Hokage, reach the peak of life, and marry Rin.
After school
Uchiha District
Not long after Keiji returned home, someone came to escort him to an old-fashioned building.
It was Uchiha Hazuki who brought him there.
"Yakusen, one D-rank Lightning Release scroll," she said calmly.
Hazuki wore a deep purple Uchiha robe, the Uchiha fan crest embroidered at the cuffs, and a single tear-shaped mole under her eye.
Keiji stood quietly behind her.
She was the one sent by Fugaku to help Keiji receive the scroll.
She would one day become the mother of Uchiha Izumi.
And like many others, she would die at Itachi's hands.
But Keiji had waited an entire month for her to show up. He knew full well that this hadn't been taken seriously.
They had likely dragged it out as long as they could.
Had it not been Fugaku's order, Keiji probably wouldn't have received a scroll at all.
Any other Uchiha would've gotten it in two or three days.
Being ostracized and discriminated against in the Uchiha clan was to be expected.
After all, they were a proud people.
If Keiji had been born and raised in Konoha with mixed blood, it might've been different.
But unfortunately, he came from the Land of Lightning.
Perhaps the Uchiha ancestors once lived there—but that history was so ancient that no Uchiha today saw any connection to that country.
In Sasuke Shinden, Sasuke only learned about the Uchiha's ties to the Land of Lightning from a member of the Chinoike clan.
"A new clansman?"
A man peeked his head out—around forty, with intersecting scars across his face, giving his grin a grotesque appearance.
"He is Uchiha Keiji," Hazuki introduced.
Yakusen grinned wider, the scars on his face distorting:
"Mixed-blood Uchiha, huh? Rare enough. But from the Land of Lightning? That's even rarer."
Hazuki didn't respond, only gestured for him to retrieve the scroll.
Keiji stood in place, quietly observing the furnishings of the room.
"First time, huh?"
Yakusen's smile didn't improve with repetition.
There had been mixed-blood Uchihas before, but never one sent from the distant Land of Lightning.
He turned and walked toward a large iron door, pulling out a key to unlock it.
A shaft of sunlight illuminated the dark room inside, casting a narrow beam across the dust-laden air.
Yakusen lit a few oil lamps, and warm orange light gradually pushed back the gloom.
The room was lined with old shelves, crammed with scrolls of all kinds.
"Lightning Release is over here."
He walked to a section labeled with the character for "Lightning" and pulled out a D-rank scroll.
"Can I choose for myself?" Keiji raised a brow.
He had hoped to pick something more tailored to his abilities.
Yakusen glanced at Hazuki, pausing mid-motion.
Hazuki's delicate face shook slightly: "Fugaku didn't specify. I can't decide on my own."
"You heard her."
Yakusen grinned again, scars crinkling grotesquely.
"Alright. Thank you."
In the end, Keiji said nothing more and accepted the scroll.
Once outside, Yakusen locked the iron door and sat back under the eaves.
"Fugaku is clan head. We follow his orders," Hazuki said as they walked.
"I understand, Lady Hazuki. It's for my own good. After all, I wouldn't even know which jutsu suits me."
Keiji smiled.
Malice toward him didn't matter.
He'd collect interest later.
Isn't that fair?
Hazuki paused, surprised by the sincerity of his smile. Clearly, she hadn't expected such maturity.
A gentle warmth softened her features. "You're a good child to think that way."