The three of them were already warming up when Uchiha Ankoku walked into the training field.
He stood there for a moment, watching their movements with a faint smile.
"Not bad," he said, arms crossed. "Looks like that last mission toughened you up. Stop for a second—let's run a little test."
He pulled three thin slips of paper from his vest.
"These are chakra test papers. Pour your chakra into them and see what happens."
The boys each took one and began channeling chakra. The results appeared almost instantly.
"Fire: the paper burns.
Wind: it splits down the middle.
Lightning: it wrinkles up.
Water: it gets damp.
Earth: it crumbles to dust."
Ankoku explained patiently as they watched their results. "If someone's compatible with all five chakra natures, the paper will—"
He stopped mid-sentence. His eyes had locked onto Kairen's.
The paper in Uchiha Kairen's hand had reacted in every possible way — part of it burned, another tore in two, one corner wrinkled, one turned soggy, and the last section crumbled apart.
For a moment, Ankoku just stared, stunned silent.
Kairen, however, didn't even flinch. He had seen this before. Ever since he'd awoken in this world, he'd known his chakra nature wasn't normal. His mind was sharper than most, his memory nearly photographic, and his chakra control almost effortless. Climbing trees and walking on water had come naturally — as if his body remembered how before he ever learned it.
While the others gawked, he calmly glanced at their results.
Retsu had Fire, Earth, and Lightning.
Honō had Fire, Wind, and Earth.
Kairen couldn't help but raise an eyebrow. "Wait, Retsu, you don't even have Water nature, yet you use Water Prison? And you're good with Lightning chakra but never actually use it in combat. What kind of logic is that?"
Ankoku finally exhaled, regaining his composure, and looked over their papers again.
"All right," he said. "Now that you've seen your results, what are your thoughts? You'll need to decide your training focus from here on."
Honō spoke first.
"I'll go. I want to focus more on defense and control. I'm better at support and coordination anyway. I've already learned Earth Wall, Great Fireball, and Gale Burst. I also know Uchiha Shuriken Jutsu — that's about it."
Kairen followed.
"I prefer close-range combat and chaining different jutsu together. My combinations aren't perfect yet — it's just using multiple natures in sequence, not true fusion.
Right now, I've got Fireball, Phoenix Sage Fire, Phoenix Sage Flower Nail Crimson, Dragon Flame, Earth Flow Wall, Headhunter Jutsu, and Wind Release: Whirlwind.
As for weapons — I'm training in shuriken jutsu and swordsmanship under my father."
Finally, everyone's eyes landed on Retsu.
He scratched his head awkwardly. "Uh, I'm more of a trap guy. I like messing with enemies. I dabble in all five elements — kind of. Water Prison only works near water, Wind Burst is still in progress, Lightning Current I barely use, but I'm solid with Earth Flow Wall and Headhunter.
Mostly I stick with Fire techniques — Fireball, Phoenix Sage Fire. I'm also working on Shuriken Shadow Clone right now."
Honō clapped his shoulder. "Man, your grandpa spoils you rotten. You just pick whatever looks fun, huh?"
Kairen smirked. "Honestly, I think you're the real all-rounder here. You've got every nature in your toolkit — more than me."
Ankoku chuckled under his breath and nodded. "All right, that's enough. Keep training as usual today, except you, Retsu — drop Gale Burst for now and focus on mastering Shuriken Shadow Clone.
Go home and pack. I've arranged a week-long closed training session — intensive, off-site. Be here at sunrise tomorrow."
He gave them one last look and disappeared in a blur of motion.
---
Uchiha Ankoku reappeared moments later at the Police Force headquarters. Leaning against the gate was none other than the charming "Uncle" everyone in the clan knew — Uchiha Yasuyuki, Kairen's father.
Ankoku didn't waste time. "Come with me. We need to speak with the clan head. It's about your son."
Yasuyuki frowned. "What did he do this time? Don't tell me he picked another fight. No… he wouldn't have left the village again, right?"
Muttering all the way, he followed Ankoku to Uchiha Nobunaga's office.
At the door, the secretary looked up and smiled. "Oh, it's you two. Go on in, Nobunaga-sama just made tea."
Yasuyuki grinned. "Thanks, Aster."
"Don't mention it. When you leave later, take that mochi box on the desk to Ran-hime for me."
Inside, the three men sat together in silence, sipping tea. Half an hour passed before Yasuyuki finally broke it.
"All right," he sighed. "What did my kid do now?"
Ankoku shook his head. "Nothing bad. But… this morning, I tested their chakra affinities. Kairen's a five-nature type. Full elemental compatibility. I thought you two should know."
Nobunaga froze. "Wait—full affinity? That's impossible. When I tested him years ago, he only had Fire, Earth, and Water. Fugaku was Fire and Lightning — he even cried about being 'weaker' for having fewer."
Both men turned toward Yasuyuki, who let out a long breath.
"There's something Ran and I never told anyone… even Kairen doesn't remember."
He set his cup down and began quietly:
"It was his fifth birthday. We went out for a picnic to celebrate him starting at the Academy. The women took the kids to pick fruit. Everything was fine — until Kairen climbed a tree and found a strange golden fruit covered in markings.
He showed it to Ran. She told him not to eat it — could be poisonous. But when the other kids tried to grab it, he panicked… and swallowed it whole.
He got sick right away. Said it tasted like dirt and ashes. We rushed him home, took him to the hospital, and thought he was fine — until the next morning, when he wouldn't wake up. Fever spiked for days. He muttered strange things in his sleep, words none of us understood.
By the seventh day, we thought we'd lost him. Ran stayed by his side the whole time, blaming herself. Then, out of nowhere, the fever broke. He woke up, completely fine — except he didn't remember anything from the picnic until that moment.
We brought in Tsunade to check him. She said it was selective amnesia, caused by trauma. But physically… his chakra and mind were extraordinary.
When I tested him again, he had full chakra affinity and memory retention beyond belief. His control was uncanny — walking on trees and water at five years old."
Yasuyuki paused, smiling faintly. "We figured maybe that fruit or the illness unlocked something in him. Whatever it was, it changed him."
Nobunaga leaned back, exhaling slowly. "I remember that day. We all thought he wouldn't make it. But it seems he came out of it stronger. Best we keep this between us — no need to draw attention."
Ankoku nodded. "Understood. I'll handle his training accordingly. I've already arranged for Uchiha Ze and Uchiha Sa to assist with a week of special training."
He gave a small bow, exchanged a knowing glance with Yasuyuki, and left the room with a faint smile.