Chapter 7 Practical Training
"Really! Please explain what chakra is."
On the podium, Nishio Yutaro, the strict instructor of the Academy, flicked a piece of chalk at the head of a distracted student before turning his gaze to Uchiha Makoto and calling on him to answer.
"Chakra is the essential source of energy used to perform ninjutsu, genjutsu, and taijutsu. It is formed by combining the body's physical energy, produced by the 130 trillion cells in the human body, with spiritual energy cultivated through study, experience, and training."
"Generally, the greater a person's physical strength and stamina, the greater their chakra reserves."
"The application of chakra is shaped into ninjutsu by weaving hand seals. There are twelve basic seals, modeled after the signs of the Chinese zodiac. They are…"
"Alright, alright, sit down already." A vein bulged on Nishio Yutaro's forehead. Seeing that Uchiha Makoto was about to rattle off every bit of textbook knowledge word-for-word, he hurriedly cut him off before the boy lectured the whole class.
"As expected of Makoto-kun, the 'true king.' Not only is he handsome, but he even knows more than the Academy books!"
"Yeah, yeah! I wonder who's stronger—him or Hyūga Neji."
By this time, Uchiha Makoto had been enrolled at the Ninja Academy for some weeks. Yet he hadn't had the chance to learn many new techniques.
Although the mysterious system called "Ancient Matters" constantly enhanced his physical fitness, as a six-year-old his chakra pool was still shallow.
So his current training focused on mastering the basics: refining shurikenjutsu until he could hit targets in midair, and reducing the hand seal count for the two Fire Release techniques he had learned within the clan.
And of course, the Three Basic Academy Techniques—Transformation, Substitution, and Clone—remained the cornerstone of practice.
Having already grasped some of these arts from Uchiha clan training, Makoto wished Nishio-sensei would advance to higher-level lessons faster.
"Next, we'll move to the first actual combat session. Everyone gather at the training field!" Nishio Yutaro's words lit a spark in Makoto's eyes.
At last—real sparring! He was certain he could overwhelm his classmates. Though, truthfully, crushing a bunch of children wasn't much to brag about.
In his past life, it was like "punching the seniors at Nanshan Nursing Home and kicking the toddlers at Beihai Kindergarten."
Still, Makoto was eager to test Hyūga Neji's strength. The Hyūga clan's Byakugan, the rival dōjutsu of the Sharingan, carried as much renown in Konoha as the Uchiha name.
"Come on, Makoto. Otherwise, Nishio-sensei will nag like an old granny again." Tenten complained as she tugged him along toward the training ground.
When they arrived, the crowd of students had already gathered, buzzing with excitement.
From the front, Nishio Yutaro raised his voice, "For today's combat lesson, you'll be paired into groups and spar against each other."
The students erupted into cheers.
"Finally! Real fighting practice!"
"At last, no more boring theory every day!"
Makoto smirked. This was exactly what he'd been waiting for.
"The first match, Suzuki Seijin versus Tatsuo Ikuyuki!"
...
"Suzuki Seijin wins. Seal of Reconciliation. Next match, Inuzuka Osamu versus Hidemura Nobutoshi!"
Makoto grew bored watching the early matches. With his Sharingan unopened but his bloodline vision still sharper than ordinary students, these scuffles felt slow and predictable.
Soon, it was Tenten's turn. Her opponent was another kunoichi whose name Makoto didn't bother to remember.
What impressed him was Tenten's style: her taijutsu was about even with her foe's, but her shuriken skill stood out. Each throw was crisp, fast, and precise, clearly beyond what most Academy students could do.
"Well? What do you think? Amazing, right?" Tenten puffed her chest proudly after winning and exchanging the Seal of Reconciliation.
"Yes, yes. Our little Tenten is the pride of the household," Makoto replied in a mock motherly tone, teasing her with exaggerated praise.
One of his few amusements was seeing the little girl flustered.
"Wha—why 'our household'?! Don't lump me with your arrogant Uchiha clan!" Tenten's fair cheeks flushed pink.
Before Makoto could laugh further, Nishio-sensei called out, "Next match, Hyūga Neji versus Uchiha Makoto!"
This was what Makoto had been waiting for. Neji's calm, brooding expression stirred his irritation. What made a boy this young wear such a bitter mask?
But more than that, Makoto despised when others hid behind façades.
"The Seal of Opposition."
Facing each other, both boys formed the seal with deliberate seriousness.
"Begin!" Nishio shouted.
At once, Neji activated his clan's kekkei genkai—the Byakugan. The veins around his temples bulged, and his pale eyes turned sharp, revealing the chakra network of his opponent.
So this was the famed Byakugan? Truly formidable. Makoto thought, both wary and eager.
"Hyūga Neji. Please, show me your strength," Neji said coolly, sliding into the Gentle Fist stance.
Then I'll attack directly. Let's see what the Byakugan can really do. Makoto gathered himself, then launched forward with explosive speed.
Fast! Neji was briefly surprised, though the flow of chakra in Makoto's body was clearly visible to his eyes.
When their fists and palms clashed, Neji felt the force of Makoto's strike reverberate. But he smirked inwardly. I still win. The Uchiha clan isn't invincible!
"Gentle Fist!" Neji's palm lashed out, his chakra aimed at Makoto's tenketsu.
Makoto recoiled his hand in a flash, yet a sharp, needle-like pain tingled across his palm.
"Soft Fist is a taijutsu style used together with the Byakugan. It releases chakra directly into the opponent's tenketsu, striking their chakra pathway system to block or disrupt the flow."
"In other words, I've already sealed your chakra points. You won't be able to defeat me in close combat!"
Looking at Uchiha Makoto retreating two steps, Hyūga Neji explained confidently, convinced of his certain victory.
"What? Then Makoto-kun is finished… what should I do?"
"See? I knew Neji-kun would win."
The students whispered among themselves, their eyes glued to the match unfolding on the training field.
"Really? I've heard the Byakugan can track the flow of an opponent's chakra. Then tell me, Neji—what do you see in my chakra system right now?"
"I actually want to know just how powerful the Byakugan is."
Before Neji could respond, Makoto suddenly closed the distance and pressed the fight again.
Neji's eyes widened. The chakra points he had struck earlier on Makoto's hand were flowing normally, without the slightest stagnation.
"What…?"
The next instant, a whirling shuriken cut through the air, and Makoto's eyes gleamed crimson. A pair of bright, freshly awakened Sharingan tomoe stared back at Neji. He managed to deflect the incoming shuriken, but shock rippled through him.
Why? I was certain I sealed his chakra just now…
No matter, I'll strike again!
Neji drove his Gentle Fist forward, releasing needle-like streams of chakra into Makoto's tenketsu. But to his astonishment, each time he struck, Makoto's chakra flow instantly returned to normal, as though untouched.
"Admit defeat! If you take this next strike, I'll pour all my chakra into it—you won't walk away unharmed!" Neji declared coldly, gathering power in his palm.
But Makoto didn't answer. Instead, he smiled, retreated lightly on his toes, and flicked another shuriken.
A mere shadow clone!
Through the Byakugan, Neji realized with a jolt that the Makoto standing before him was nothing but a substitution.
Then where's the real one—? His thoughts snapped back to the shuriken from earlier.
In that instant, cold steel pressed against Neji's waist. A kunai blade glinted, and at the same moment, Nishio Yutaro's voice rang across the field.
"Uchiha Makoto wins! Now, form the Seal of Reconciliation."
The crowd erupted.
"Amazing! He's on a completely different level than us!"
"Neji's so cool… but Makoto's so cool too! Which one do I even pick?!"
"Snap out of it! Makoto-kun is mine!"
Makoto, now closing his Sharingan, clasped his four fingers into the reconciliation seal. Across from him, Neji, frowning slightly, asked in a low voice:
"How did you overcome my Gentle Fist? Will you tell me?"
Makoto only gave a bright smile.
"Of course. Neji—meet me after class."