"I just slapped my classmate. He was the one who provoked me first..."
"Just one slap? Didn't Oda know he was asking for it? And he made you clean the classroom?" Asuka's cheeks were puffed out, though Liuyun wasn't sure if it was from anger or just because she had stuffed too much food into her mouth.
"But you've become more courageous, which makes your mother see you in a new light!" Asuka was actually feeling a bit proud at that moment.
Liuyun fell silent. He couldn't understand why his original self had always been so submissive, especially with a mother like this. Thinking deeper, it probably had to do with his father, Uchiha Mamoru. In his memories, his father had been kind, peaceful, and avoided unnecessary conflict.
After dinner, Liuyun went to the courtyard to train. Push-ups, sit-ups, striking wooden posts—he trained hard, sweat dripping from his face. Asuka watched in surprise.
"Son, why have you suddenly become so diligent?" she asked. Her son rarely exercised on his own, let alone at night.
Liuyun had always spent his nights reading comics and lazing around. Why was he acting like a completely different person now?
Liuyun paused for a moment. He didn't want to push himself this hard, but he had to... This was the ninja world, and the Second Great Ninja War hadn't even truly begun yet. The Third and Fourth Ninja Wars would follow.
A weak ninja wouldn't survive. He was neither the protagonist nor an important supporting character. The Nine-Tails attack, Uchiha Itachi's clan massacre, Pain's invasion—so many disasters awaited. Without strength, any one of them could kill him.
He didn't want to die young, just a few years after being reincarnated. And he definitely didn't want to follow in his father's footsteps—dying in battle and leaving his mother alone, drowning in sorrow.
"I'll become a ninja in a year. I need to start preparing now," Liuyun said vaguely.
"But isn't it too early..." Asuka hesitated.
Liuyun shook his head. If anything, he felt time was too tight.
During the Third Ninja War, even freshly graduated children were sent to the battlefield. While there was no record of that happening in the Second War, he wasn't about to take any chances.
If this war turned out the same way, he was in grave danger—especially as an unremarkable side character in the grand scheme of things.
"The stronger I am, the safer I'll be. Strength is everything in this world," he said.
"Well said! Mom supports you!" Asuka clapped and laughed.
She was happy to see her son so motivated. Knowing how to train properly was a great thing. As a mother, she had to support him—she just hoped he wouldn't give up halfway through.
"Tomorrow, I'll give you some money to buy fitness equipment. You better train properly and not slack off!" Asuka said, clenching her fist in encouragement.
"Uh..." Liuyun chuckled at her enthusiasm.
After doing 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 punches, and 100 kicks, he was exhausted, panting for breath. Compared to his peers, his stamina was still poor.
Without activating his Sharingan, he might not even be able to beat Kushina in a fistfight, let alone prodigies like Minato Namikaze.
His body was tired, but mentally, he felt surprisingly refreshed—likely because of the mental power boost he had received after his soul merged with this body.
Sitting on the ground to rest for a while, he noticed his ever-caring mother had prepared drinks and ice water for him. After regaining some energy, he started practicing his chakra control.
He began attempting "tree-climbing" and "water-walking"—the foundational training for chakra control.
"Son, what are you doing?" Asuka asked as she watched him repeatedly step onto the wall, only to fall back down.
She wasn't a ninja, so she had no idea what he was trying to do.
"I'm practicing my chakra control," Liuyun replied simply, not expecting her to fully understand.
"Then let me get you a mat! You'll hurt yourself at this rate!" Asuka said, turning to head inside.
But before she could take a step, Liuyun stopped her.
"No need, Mom. Even if I fall, my chakra will protect me. I won't get hurt," he reassured her.
He was telling the truth. Taking a few tumbles would only help him train his body. It was better than being unable to withstand a few punches in a real battle.
"Alright! Just don't stay up too late, okay?" she said before heading back inside.
"Mm!"
Late at Night — Senju Clan Compound
In a pink bedroom, the lights were still on. A girl sat cross-legged on the floor, her focus entirely on the sealing scroll in her hands.
These scrolls contained the secret techniques of the Uzumaki Clan.
A soft knock came from the door, and an elderly woman slowly pushed it open.
"Kushina, why are you still awake?"
Hearing the voice, Kushina immediately stood up.
"Grandma Mito... what brings you here?" she asked.
"It's very late. You should be in bed," Uzumaki Mito said as her gaze fell on the scattered sealing scrolls across the floor. She was momentarily stunned before her expression softened into relief.
These scrolls were the most precious legacies of the Uzumaki Clan. Their homeland, Uzushiogakure, had been destroyed, and most of their people slaughtered. Seeing that one of the few remaining clan members was willing to inherit their legacy brought her great comfort.
In the past, Kushina had always been playful and had little patience for learning sealing techniques. What had changed?
"I just... couldn't sleep. I wanted to learn more about sealing techniques," Kushina mumbled, lowering her head.
In truth, a certain boy and a promise filled her thoughts. She wanted to master sealing techniques so she wouldn't have nothing to teach in the future...
"Good, good. It's rare that you're so eager to learn. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask me!" Mito said with a relieved smile.
She didn't know what had sparked this change in Kushina, but she was happy nonetheless.
"But it's really late. You should get some rest now," Mito added.
Kushina glanced at the clock, realizing she had been so engrossed in her studies that she hadn't noticed how late it was.
"Alright, I'll go to bed now. You should rest too, Grandma Mito," she said sweetly.
"Good girl..." Mito praised her before gently closing the door.
Lying in bed, Kushina tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Every time she closed her eyes, she thought of a certain boy and his breathtaking three-tomoe Sharingan.
She remembered how he had touched her face—and how she had touched his in return.
A smile crept onto her face.
"Why didn't I notice how handsome he was before?" she whispered to herself, feeling as though her heart had turned to honey.
"He's probably the strongest in our class, isn't he? Since he's been hiding his true strength while still getting top grades..."
"What a low-key guy..."
Kushina hugged her pillow, rolling around and giggling to herself.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the village, Liuyun sneezed several times in his sleep.
"Did I catch a cold...?" he muttered groggily before dozing off again.