Returning home in the evening, Uchiha Kiyo headed straight to his study after dinner. The day's training had been intense, but he wasn't done yet. He pulled out his notes, flipping through the pages filled with detailed calculations, theories, and observations.
Sitting down, he carefully examined his research on the water vapor propulsion technique. He needed to refine the method—particularly its movement efficiency in midair.
The primary issue wasn't propulsion itself; that part had already been optimized. The real challenge lay in controlling movement while airborne. The additional thrusters he had placed on different parts of his body weren't as effective as he had hoped. Instead of providing meaningful control, they mostly served as minor stabilizers.
To move more effectively in the air, it was best to mimic movement on the ground.
This realization came from his own instincts. When he first stabilized his body in midair, his natural reaction had been to move as if he were still standing on solid ground. His subconscious had already made the connection—by increasing the thrust from the soles of his feet and directing that force forward, wasn't that the same as pushing off the ground when running?
The more force he generated, the faster he moved.
"This… this could work," he muttered to himself, eyes gleaming with excitement.
It followed the same principle as sprinting. The key was to control when to apply force. If he could deactivate the thrust from his feet mid-motion, just like lifting a foot during a sprint, then reactivate it only when necessary, he could conserve chakra while maintaining high-speed maneuverability.
With this idea in mind, Uchiha Kiyo spent the next thirty minutes calculating the precise chakra output needed for different levels of movement. He experimented with assigning numerical values to the force produced by the jets, creating a standardized measurement system for thrust levels.
By the time he finished, the theoretical framework for improving the technique was complete. Tomorrow's training would determine if it worked in practice.
Feeling satisfied, Kiyo leaned back in his chair. He had some extra time before bed, so he decided to conduct a broader assessment of his abilities.
Ninja combat power was generally measured across three main disciplines—Ninjutsu, Taijutsu, and Genjutsu.
In terms of Ninjutsu, Uchiha Kiyo had reached a well-rounded level. His offensive capabilities were solid, with a variety of Fire Release jutsu at his disposal. His defensive arsenal was equally strong, featuring Earth and Water-based techniques like Earth Walls, Water Walls, and reinforced defensive jutsu. He even had several support techniques, including subterranean movement and ninja tool creation methods.
Moreover, he had developed his natural chakra affinities—Fire, Earth, and Water—to a respectable degree. This had significantly enhanced the power of his jutsu.
If there was one area lacking, it was his proficiency in Wind and Lightning Release. He had only dabbled in them, and their further development wasn't a priority yet. Still, he made a mental note to revisit them in the future.
In terms of Taijutsu, Kiyo had put in consistent effort. His physical conditioning routine had yielded steady improvements, even though his growth had slowed over time.
More importantly, he had developed exceptional combat experience in close-quarters battles. His pure Taijutsu skills were already on par with a weaker Jonin, and when combined with his Sharingan's predictive abilities, he could outmatch many opponents in hand-to-hand combat.
Beyond that, his shurikenjutsu had reached an elite level.
The Uchiha Clan was famous for its mastery of throwing weapons, and their precision wasn't solely due to the Sharingan. Even without the visual advantage, their throwing techniques surpassed most others in the ninja world. Since childhood, Kiyo had devoted himself to perfecting this art.
Even after awakening the Three-Tomoe Sharingan more than a year ago, he hadn't neglected this training. His control over the Sharingan had only made his shurikenjutsu more refined.
In Genjutsu, however, he was clearly lacking.
Over a year ago, he had obtained a practice manual on Genjutsu from the Uchiha archives, but he hadn't invested much time in it. As a result, his skill level in illusionary techniques was still rudimentary.
That wasn't to say he was completely helpless. His understanding of Genjutsu fundamentals was solid enough that he had developed a technique to subtly alter an opponent's perception. Still, his offensive Genjutsu capabilities were weak.
Recently, he had acquired several advanced Genjutsu techniques from the clan's records, but he had been too occupied with other priorities to practice them. That would change.
"Before I return to the front lines, I'll dedicate at least one hour each day to Genjutsu training," Kiyo decided. "I need to master at least a few high-level illusion techniques."
Since he was adding Genjutsu to his regimen, he figured he might as well refine the other new Ninjutsu he had acquired.
Going forward, he would set aside three hours each day for Ninjutsu training—one hour dedicated to Genjutsu and the rest split among other techniques.
Beyond standard Ninjutsu, there were also secret techniques to consider.
In this aspect, Kiyo had one of the most well-rounded arsenals.
His Yang Energy Cultivation Technique was an invaluable asset. Not only did it refine and strengthen his body, but it also nurtured his chakra reserves. Thanks to years of practice, he had never once suffered from overexertion, and his chakra pool had expanded significantly. Without this technique, his current chakra reserves might have been less than half of what they were now.
Then, there was Shunshin no Jutsu, the Body Flicker Technique.
As long as there were no space-time disruptions, this technique allowed him to move at extreme speeds instantly. Combined with his tactical versatility, it often allowed him to end fights before they even began.
To further complement the Body Flicker, Kiyo had developed a sensory technique that functioned like a short-range Byakugan. While it lacked long-distance precision, it allowed him to detect and react to his surroundings with incredible accuracy.
Then, there was his newly developed water vapor propulsion technique. While it involved the Water element, it wasn't technically a Water Release jutsu—it was a secret movement technique designed to enhance speed and even enable controlled flight.
Lastly, he had a clone-based secret technique.
Unlike conventional Shadow Clones, this technique allowed his clones to exist over long distances without dispersing. However, it still lacked a distinct advantage, aside from setting up ambushes and deception tactics. He would need to refine it further to make it truly useful.
When it came to Kekkei Genkai, his Sharingan was his strongest asset.
He had fully matured his Three-Tomoe Sharingan and had achieved a deep level of control over it. Its enhanced perception was a crucial factor in his combat effectiveness and played a central role in many of his tactics.
However, he wasn't obsessed with pushing his Sharingan further. He knew that the Three-Tomoe form still had room for growth, and he was in no rush to awaken the Mangekyō. That level of power came at a cost, and he wasn't ready to gamble with his vision or his sanity.
After thoroughly analyzing his abilities, Kiyo felt a deeper understanding of himself. More importantly, he began formulating new tactical combinations to maximize his strengths in battle.
The next few days followed a strict schedule. In addition to refining the Shunshin and water vapor propulsion techniques, he devoted three hours daily to Ninjutsu practice, ensuring steady progress in his new techniques.
His path was clear. He would continue refining his skills until he reached a level where no opponent could stand in his way.
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