Awakening Of Uchiha [Naruto/One Piece]

Chapter 40: Mastering The Skill Of Seal Binding

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"Katsumi, it's late! Rest first! You can practice again tomorrow!"

"You can't overwork yourself just because you're feeling better!"

At this moment, Kaori had appeared under the tree without anyone noticing. She looked up at Katsumi, who was standing at the top of the tree, and reminded him sternly.

She was very pleased that her child was willing to work hard, but she couldn't ignore the importance of taking care of his body.

Throughout the entire process of Katsumi's chakra extraction, she had kept him under her perception and attention.

If she hadn't observed that Katsumi's extraction process was progressing smoothly, with his proficiency in chakra refining soaring without harming his body or overexerting himself, she would have stopped him immediately.

"Eh? Okay, Mom! I'll come down right away!"

Katsumi looked down in surprise, noticing his mother standing with her hands on her hips. He stuck out his tongue playfully before quickly descending from the tree.

When he was about a meter from the ground, he jumped and landed steadily in front of her. Scratching the back of his head in slight embarrassment, he grinned and said, "Hehe! I forgot the time! It's just that the chakra extraction was going so smoothly—it's much simpler than I thought!"

"Is that so?"

Kaori nodded noncommittally, reaching out to pat his head gently. "Alright, go and rest now!"

"Yes, Mom!"

Katsumi obediently went to rest.

---

The next morning...

After having breakfast made of Sea King meat with his mother and Mikoto, Katsumi joined them in practicing health-preserving exercises in the small training ground in the backyard.

[You consumed Sea King meat to assist in practicing health-preserving exercises. Proficiency +10, lifespan +9, life essence +0.03.]

...

"It'll still take a little time for the health-preserving exercises to reach perfection," Katsumi thought. "But once I break through, I think the effects on extending lifespan will improve significantly. I'm really looking forward to seeing what happens after surpassing the limit!"

After practicing the health-preserving exercises five times in the morning and digesting most of the food in his stomach, Katsumi stopped to rest.

He took a shower and returned to the backyard. While occasionally guiding his mother and Mikoto on the key points of the health-preserving exercises, he practiced his hand seals.

He wasn't in a hurry to practice ninjutsu yet. Improving his chakra control and increasing his seal proficiency and speed were his priorities.

"Sharpening the knife doesn't delay the chopping of wood," Katsumi thought. "Taking time now will save more time in the long run."

[You practiced seals and successfully entered the skill of seal. Seal proficiency +1.]

[You practiced seals. Seal proficiency +2.]

[You practiced seals. Seal proficiency +3.]

...

Perhaps it was due to Katsumi's improved physical talent after his recovery or the benefits of the health-preserving exercises enhancing his coordination. With his strong physique and sharp comprehension, his seal proficiency improved at a visible rate.

After half an hour, as Kaori and Mikoto finished their morning exercises, Katsumi broke through the entry stage of seal proficiency and reached the proficient stage.

At this level, his seals became more precise, and his speed increased to two seals per second—a significant improvement.

"Knock, knock, knock!"

Suddenly, the sound of knocking came from the front yard, followed by a familiar voice.

"Lady Kaori, little Katsumi, are you home?"

"Huh?"

Katsumi and the others exchanged surprised glances. "Tsunade?"

"Let's go! Let's see what she wants!" Katsumi said, his curiosity piqued.

Immediately, Kaori called Katsumi and Mikoto to the front yard, opened the door, and welcomed Tsunade in.

"Come in and sit down!"

"No, thank you, Lady Kaori," Tsunade waved her hand and replied, "I have other things to do with Katsumi today, so I won't come in and sit."

"Oh? What's the matter?" Kaori and Katsumi asked curiously.

"That…" Tsunade looked a little embarrassed. "Yesterday, my teacher, the Third Hokage, summoned me to his office. He already knows that I've taken Katsumi as my apprentice."

"So, he wants me to take Katsumi to meet his master. In addition, he probably hopes that Katsumi can enroll in the Ninja Academy."

"Although, honestly, I think sending Katsumi there is a complete waste of time!"

From the medical skills they exchanged yesterday, it was clear to Tsunade that Katsumi's understanding and skill in medical ninjutsu were already superior to hers.

What could the Ninja Academy possibly teach someone of his caliber? At most, he'd be able to fully master their curriculum in a matter of days.

However, there wasn't much Tsunade could do about her teacher's request. After all, he was the Hokage.

At the same time, Tsunade understood her teacher's true intentions. He likely wanted Katsumi to attend the academy as a way to indoctrinate him into the "Will of Fire."

"Unfortunately, Teacher, you've got the wrong idea here. With Katsumi's intelligence, there's no way you'll brainwash him."

Tsunade thought this with a hint of glee. She had no intention of revealing this to the Third Hokage.

Her opinion of him had soured significantly, and if the time were ripe, she wouldn't hesitate to stand against him.

"That old man is always scheming, fooling me and trying to brainwash me. Why doesn't he just drop dead already?"

"Huh?"

Hearing all this, Katsumi was speechless. "The Ninja Academy?" he said. "That kind of playhouse school is pointless! It's not even as good as our reformed clan school."

"Besides, my schedule is already packed. There are too many things I need to learn and practice. I simply don't have the time."

While Katsumi was slightly curious about attending the academy to meet a few potential talents and gain favorability for future contracts, he couldn't justify wasting too much of his time there.

"Uh… then don't go?" Tsunade said, feeling stunned. After all, Katsumi's argument made sense.

Especially now, as she sensed the chakra within his body. Its volume was no less than that of an ordinary Jōnin.

She vividly remembered that yesterday, Katsumi had only a faint trace of chakra, clearly just beginning to practice. Yet, in a single day, his progress was astounding.

He was clearly a prodigy when it came to chakra!

The Ninja Academy really couldn't teach him anything worthwhile.

Instead, it would be far more productive for Tsunade to teach him directly. She could pass on her own techniques, including her super strength and medical ninjutsu, while also exchanging medical knowledge with him.

It would be a win-win situation.

"No! You still have to go!"

Before Katsumi could respond, Kaori stretched out her hand, pressing his head down. "Katsumi, you should meet the Third Hokage first, enroll formally, and take the opportunity to get to know your classmates."

"When you feel like the academy has nothing left to teach you, you can always use Shadow Clones to attend classes in your place."

"Or, Tsunade can have a word with the academy and the Third Hokage on your behalf so that you can continue learning medical ninjutsu with her."

Kaori hadn't considered early graduation just yet.

In her opinion, Katsumi's current strength was still far from sufficient.

She would never allow him to graduate early and become a full-fledged ninja.

If that happened, Sarutobi Hiruzen might send Katsumi out of the village to perform dangerous missions.

And with that old fox Danzo secretly eyeing him as well, it was far too early for Katsumi to be exposed to such risks.

It was simply too dangerous right now.

They would revisit this matter only when Katsumi had absolute self-protection abilities!

"Tsunade, what do you think?" Kaori asked, looking up at Tsunade.

"Of course, there's no problem here! I'm looking forward to it! Then it's settled! Hehehe!"

Tsunade quickly agreed, her tone brimming with excitement.

Wasn't this exactly what she wanted? Lady Kaori was truly considerate.

Then, both women turned their gazes to Katsumi, their expressions leaving no room for argument.

"Katsumi, what do you think?" they asked in unison.

Katsumi: "..."

With the way they were looking at him, did he really have a choice?

…