THE UCHIHA ASCENSION

After studying chakra for some time, Uchiha Kiyo found himself frustrated. The more he explored, the more he realized how complicated things truly were. He had initially thought he could figure out hidden techniques through simple analysis, but the reality of the shinobi world wasn't so accommodating.

Since this was a real world, there had to be countless ninja who had already explored similar theories. If it were that easy, someone would have uncovered these secrets long ago. He couldn't just assume he was the first to think of such things.

Adjusting his mindset, Kiyo took a step back to reflect.

"I've been too naive," he admitted to himself. "This isn't a game. This world doesn't revolve around me. If I want results, I have to take things step by step."

His plan needed adjustments. Accidents and unpredictability were part of the shinobi life. He couldn't expect everything to go according to plan, but he could maintain his overall direction while adapting to the details along the way.

For now, his immediate goal was clear—he needed to gain enough strength to reach the level of a Chūnin before graduating from the academy. That was the only way he could guarantee his survival.

"Kakashi became a Chūnin at six. I'm already ten—I should at least be able to reach that level before I graduate."

With a new goal set, Uchiha Kiyo was determined not to waste any more time.

---

In the shinobi world, power depended on the mastery of ninjutsu. Without the ability to effectively use techniques, even a large chakra reserve would be useless—just like Naruto in his early days, full of energy but unable to channel it into proper jutsu.

There were two key components to casting ninjutsu: sufficient chakra and the correct hand seals. While some high-level techniques could be performed without seals, most required precise movements to properly mold and direct chakra.

Uchiha Kiyo had come to understand that seals weren't just unnecessary gestures for advanced shinobi—they were shortcuts, methods of guiding chakra efficiently. Highly skilled individuals simply developed enough mastery over their chakra to bypass some of these steps.

These were conclusions he had drawn after spending hours studying texts in the clan's reference library. But reading theory and applying it were two different things. If he wanted to progress, he needed to practice.

Hand seals were fundamental to ninjutsu, and without mastering them, he wouldn't be able to execute a single technique.

Thus, he began his first real training—mastering the twelve basic hand seals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Ram, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Boar.

At first, his fingers felt stiff and uncoordinated, struggling to replicate the movements he had seen in books and demonstrations. By the end of the first day, he had barely managed a speed of one seal every two seconds—a painfully slow pace.

"It's harder than it looks," he muttered to himself.

Rather than focusing on speed, he shifted his approach to ensure accuracy first. He drilled each seal repeatedly, training his fingers to instinctively form the shapes. If he rushed, he'd only develop bad habits that would slow him down later.

Over the next few days, he devoted himself to randomizing seal sequences, ensuring his fingers could transition smoothly between them. Although he didn't prioritize speed, he maintained a steady pace of one seal every two seconds, allowing his hands to grow accustomed to the movements.

With consistent practice, he found his fingers becoming more flexible and precise. His speed gradually improved. By the fifth day, he had halved his seal time—one per second. It was a promising start.

To aid his training, he relied on specialized medicine provided by the Uchiha clan. The repeated hand movements left his fingers sore and swollen, but the ointment helped relieve fatigue. Fortunately, it was affordable for clan members, and he could purchase it at a discount.

After a few more days of dedicated practice, Uchiha Kiyo had passed the beginner stage. He could now form seals instinctively without having to pause and think.

His progress motivated him. It was time to push his understanding further.

---

Beyond just performing seals, Kiyo wanted to grasp the true mechanics behind them. What exactly happened when a seal was formed?

He had read that chakra was a fusion of physical and spiritual energy. While a shinobi could manually guide their chakra, their body's movements also played a role in influencing its flow. This was why hand seals worked—they acted as triggers, guiding chakra into specific pathways.

But he wanted to feel this for himself.

Focusing inward, he formed a seal and observed the chakra within his body. As he moved his fingers, he felt an automatic shift in his chakra's flow. However, because he was actively monitoring it, the energy remained under his control rather than moving on its own.

Releasing his control, he allowed the chakra to follow its natural course. Sure enough, the energy automatically shifted in response to the seal.

"So that's how it works," he murmured. "Each seal creates a specific chakra movement within the body. That's why different jutsu require different combinations of seals."

Some seals directed chakra to specific limbs, while others triggered elemental transformations. The order of seals mattered—combining them in the correct sequence ensured a smooth transition between chakra movements. If one tried to skip a step before the chakra had fully shifted, the technique would fail.

Excited by this discovery, Uchiha Kiyo dove deeper into his research.

But after several hours of nonstop practice, his fingers throbbed with pain, forcing him to pause.

"Damn… I got too caught up," he muttered, stretching his hands. "I need to be more careful about pacing myself."

Even so, he had already made significant progress. He had identified over twenty different chakra movements triggered by a single seal. It was overwhelming to think about how many combinations existed, but he wasn't deterred.

After all, if he could map out these movements, he might be able to refine or even create his own techniques in the future.

For now, though, he had to recover. Applying ointment to his hands, he wrapped them carefully and left his training room, heading toward the Uchiha reference library.

Over the past few days, in addition to practicing seals, he had been researching another topic that intrigued him—why chakra didn't naturally enhance the body's longevity.

In other worlds, martial arts techniques allowed practitioners to live longer, strengthening their bodies over time. Yet in the shinobi world, the opposite seemed to be true. Prolonged use of chakra actually reduced lifespan.

"How does that make sense?" he wondered.

It wasn't just a curiosity—it was a concern. If chakra was truly the core of a shinobi's power, why did it have such a drawback?

He wasn't expecting to find all the answers immediately, but he refused to accept things at face value. If there was a way to counteract this problem, he would find it.

With renewed determination, Uchiha Kiyo turned his attention back to his studies. His journey had only just begun.