~~~POV: Fuyuki Uchiha~~~

  With the passage of my sixth birthday a few days ago, all I can do for now is wait until academy classes start. What I didn’t realize in the moment of being grounded is just how boring this would be. Not to mention how irritating it’d be to see my level sit at 49. I can’t improve my skills or stats aside from chakra. That’s something I can train without moving my body.

  I’m two points away in my Chakra Stat from 100. My Enhanced Chakra skill will upgrade after I reach 100 points with it. To say I’m curious about the change it’ll have is an understatement. With all the boosts to the growth rate of my Chakra Stat, it shouldn’t take longer than a few minutes to get those last two points.

  My situation currently prevents me from doing so. One I’d been avoiding with my training. I watch a few kids rush past my bed and shake it as one of them clips it. A small groan creeps up from my stomach. Some of the kids are downstairs, and others are up here playing.

  ‘While practicing my chakra control in this environment doesn’t cause any technical issues, it’s frustrating listening to little boys and girls shout and squeal as they play games. I don’t fit in here, and the headache I’m getting tells me I need to find a way out of here.’

  The problem with leaving is that I can’t. Aiko has been watching me like a hawk. Checking in on me every hour or every two hours. She was serious when she grounded me, but I didn’t think she’d go to this extent.

  Luckily, I’ve been able to exercise when no one is looking. Around thirty minutes is all I need to complete 100 push-ups, squats, and sit-ups. The quest Path to the Peak forces me to risk more punishment by requiring me to exercise.

  The failure conditions of the quest are also another motivation. I won’t let my punishment of being grounded be why I fail this important quest.

  ‘Then there’s the one who ratted me out to Aiko. It wasn’t a surprise to me that Yuuto wrote the letter. His animosity has only grown toward me. I don’t know what I’m supposed to do with him. Getting angry and hurting him isn’t how I want to handle this.’

  Before, I was Hyperbolic about what I’d do to the one that ratted me out. In the end, everyone here, aside from Aiko, is a little kid. Even though I’m an adult in a child's body, I shouldn’t act like a child in response to when another child does something a kid would do. Like, tell on me for extra attention or because of jealousy.

  What kind of adult would I be if I did that? Yuuto is no threat to me. I highly doubt he ever will be. Retaliation isn’t much of a controlled response, no matter how I think about doing it.

  All I’ve been able to come up with is letting it go. Besides, it’s not like I have evidence that Yuuto did it other than using Observe on him, which I don’t want revealed. I’d look just as bad as he does in my mind. I guess it’s ‘karma’ for everything I’ve gotten away with.

  Hiding my Sharingan. My improvements in the Shinobi Arts. The special treatment. The lenience from Aiko. Something was bound to come along and break the streak of everything going how I wanted it to. In fact, I got away with a lot more than I should’ve.

  ‘It’s funny in a lot of ways. Almost wants to make me laugh a little bit.’

  I lean back in my bed and take a deep breath. By now, all the kids have gone downstairs, leaving me with some relative peace and quiet. I’ll be taking a nap today, but only after I get those last two points needed to reach 100 chakra in my Chakra Stat.

  The next few minutes are spent working on my chakra control and circulating it through my body with perfect precision. Not a single drop of chakra is wasted in my training. From someone looking outside, in. They’d see I have 100% control over my own chakra.

  The description from the Chakra Control Genius title says that it’s an impossibility. I didn’t know that about chakra in the world of Naruto. But I’m doing something that’s supposed to be impossible.

  Due to continued chakra training, you have obtained +3 CHK.

  Enhanced Chakra has upgraded to Potent Chakra.

  I take a second to open the skill. Now that I’m over 100 points in my Chakra Stat, I'm checking out the new changes.

  Potent Chakra - Passive (Upgradable at 200 Chakra): A skill obtained by training and growing your chakra at a continuous and commensurate rate. Helps user control their chakra. All chakra-infused jutsu’s are stronger.

  Effects: +200% to chakra control.

  +200% increase in Growth Rate of Chakra Stat.

  +200% damage increase with jutsu involving chakra.

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  -100% cost to all jutsu chakra requirements.

  ‘The effects have doubled from what they were before. However, the next upgrade goal is 200 chakra. All these stacking effects are adding up. Seeing the power with my eyes makes this so much more fun and easier to do.’

  If only people back on earth could see their progress on a game-like screen in front of them, everyone would be so much more efficient and obsessed with their time. Imagine being able to see your body fat go down as your muscle mass goes up—right on the spot at that second, completely accurate.

  That’s what it feels like to have a gamer system like this in Naruto. It’s why I feel so screwed by being grounded.

  ‘Speaking of progress, this grounding I’ve been given halts it with Sharingan. I’ve made good progress since I unlocked the second tomoe, but I still have a lot more to do. It itches my brain to no end, but Aiko will skin me alive if I do anything out of line per the rules she’s laid down for my grounding.’

  The next thing I pull up is my progress with Sharingan. It hasn’t gone up a whole lot, but progress is progress, and seeing it only wants me to get out of here and keep training. But I value my skin a lot, too.

  Sharingan (2nd Tomoe) - Active (Lvl. 25 (31%) Auto-upgrades to 3rd Tomoe at Lvl. Max): One of the two legendary Dojutsu of Konoha. The Sharingan is a Kekkei Genkai of the Uchiha clan. Astronomically enhances reaction time, reflexes, and perception and provides photographic memory. Allows you to copy Taijutsu moves. Allows you to copy hand seals for Ninjutsu. Allows you to see the Chakra and Chakra flow of others.

  Effects: +625% increase in reaction time when Sharingan is Active. (It may look like time is slowing down.)

  +625% increase to your reflex speed when Sharingan is Active. (It may look like you’re moving way faster than others.)

  +625% increase in perception of everything within the Sharingan's field of view when Active. (Everything will appear clearer and sharper. Able to see far more detail.)

  +625% to damage with Genjutsu used with Sharingan.

  -325% to damage received by Genjutsu.

  -325% likelihood of ordinary Genjutsu working against you.

  CP Cost: 7/sec

  I’ve been able to raise it another five levels using it in conjunction with my attempts at creating a jutsu. Going to zero chakra with everything activated and then regenerating back to full with Meditate has been the most effective method of upgrading my Sharingan.

  It helps that I’ve pushed myself way beyond what I normally do. Since unlocking Chakra Control Genius and getting Potent Chakra, the cost of using my Sharingan has lowered from 11 CP/s to 7 CP/s.

  It’s gonna make training it a lot easier, but once again, here I am. Not able to do so. But it’s time that I had that nap. No better way to pass the time than sleeping. An afternoon nap is a good way to ruin a sleep schedule, but it’s a rare moment of peace up here.

  ~~~POV: Aiko Hikara~~~

  My eyes turn to the empty chair at the dining table. It’s a little past lunchtime, and the kids are just starting to finish up their afternoon meals. Fuyuki is supposed to be down here. A part of me wants to be upset. Even now that he’s always here, he’s still missing meals with all of us.

  A small sigh leaves my lips as I stand up and make my way to the stairs. Slowly ascending as the kids downstairs laugh and continue eating. I walk down the hallway to the bunk room where everyone sleeps. Walking through the door, I instantly see an anomaly in the uniform structure of the made and clean beds.

  Around the middle of the room, a single bed holds a sleeping Fuyu. A smile crosses my features as I make my way to him. Once there, I take a seat on the bed. Looking at him. He’s sweating a bit. Stressed and scared looks cross his young and innocent face.

  I get worried as I watch him start to move his body and thrash a bit.

  “Fuyuki.”

  I gently grab him by the shoulders, trying to wake him up. But it just makes him fight harder. The look on his face is like he’s in a deep and great struggle. Lately, the kids have been having nightmares about the Kyuubi attack. Memories resurfacing. It’s like it’s spreading through the kids.

  He’s really starting to fight now, and now is when I get to experience how much stronger he’s gotten. He’s able to break free from my hands.

  “Fuyuki!!”

  As I shout his name, his eyes immediately open, and he slams against the wall behind him. My eyes look into his. But what greets me isn’t the traditional black eyes of the Uchiha, but two eyes that are crimson red and bearing two tomoe in each eye.

  There is fight in his eyes. Like he’s ready to defend his life, and the state he’s in doesn’t go away as I reach out my hands and hold his arms at his side. He takes deep breaths as he fights more.

  I bring him into my arms and hold him. He struggles for a few more seconds, but his breathing eventually evens out. Sinking into my form and relaxing, I gently pull us apart and grab the bottom of his chin, slowly moving his head up. His eyes look into mine, and I watch as the Sharingan fades away.

  His black eyes return, and a deep concern and worry is seeded in me. I don’t know what to do now. It’s too soon for Fuyuki to know the truth or have the Sharingan.

  ‘What do I do, Asuna…’

  My attention is completely on him. I watch as disappointment and fear sprout on his features. I don’t know why he’d look like that, but it’s overtaken with silent sorrow. Instead of saying anything, I just bring him back in my arms and hold him.

  ~~~POV: Fuyuki Uchiha~~~

  ‘Damn it, damn it, damn it!!! I’ve not had a nightmare since I’ve come to this new world, and now I have one from my life on Earth!? What kind of crap is that!? It just blew the truth to Aiko!!!’

  I don’t remember the nightmare… It’s a fog now… What I do see is Aiko looking me in the eyes as she gently strokes my cheek with her thumb. Searching my eyes for the Sharingan that I didn’t mean to have on.

  Whatever happens after this, there is a good chance it’ll make my life more difficult than I want it to be. She brings me into another hug, and she takes a small breath.

  “Fuyuki, there are things we need to talk about… When the kids are asleep tonight, come downstairs. I can’t hide the truth from you anymore now that this has happened…”

  The truth? She’s probably going to tell me I’m a part of the Uchiha clan, but the tone in her voice is heavier and full of sadness… Something else is coming up, too. I just know it.