THE UCHIHA ASCENSION

Uchiha Kiyo's mastery of the Body Flicker Technique has improved significantly, though he still cannot use it for long-distance replacements. However, for medium- and short-range teleportation, he can execute it with precision.

In times of danger, he may not always be able to counter-kill his enemies, but ensuring his own survival is not an issue.

In the original timeline, early Obito wasn't particularly strong—he could barely hold his own against a Jōnin. It was his Mangekyō Sharingan and Kamui that allowed him to fight at a Kage-level. Kiyo's technique isn't as broken as Kamui, but that isn't his goal. His priority is staying alive.

That much, he can manage.

With his recent progress in Body Flicker, Kiyo has started rethinking his approach to combat. Previously, he fought cautiously, always wary of his lack of power. His battle strategy was dictated by necessity and survival, not personal preference. Now, however, his mobility and replacement technique give him the security to try something new.

From a character standpoint, Kiyo isn't too concerned. To others, it will simply look like he's gradually overcoming his psychological barriers. His comrades will think of it as personal growth, while outsiders—especially the Third Hokage—might assume it's the result of the Sharingan's influence. What was once a reserved Uchiha now appears to be turning into an aggressive fighter.

The truth, of course, is far more calculated.

Even before unlocking the Sharingan, Kiyo had begun testing an offensive combat style. He experimented with different attack patterns, aiming to rely more on speed and raw power.

This mission was the first time he put that style into full effect, using his Taijutsu-focused approach to overwhelm the enemy. His opponent had no prior knowledge of his close-combat capabilities, so catching them off guard was relatively easy. However, now that he's made a name for himself, future encounters won't be so simple.

"Yu no Kuni will update their intelligence on me after this. They won't be fooled by the same tactics twice."

Kiyo knew that relying on a single battle style was dangerous. He would need multiple combat strategies to remain unpredictable.

Before refining his fighting style further, though, he needed to gather more data on his abilities after awakening the Sharingan.

The Uchiha clan was naturally talented. Their chakra reserves were nearly double that of the average shinobi, and after unlocking the Sharingan, those reserves grew even faster. In their ranks, anyone who awakened the Sharingan had a strong chance of reaching at least Chūnin or Elite Chūnin. This was the source of the Uchiha's pride.

Three days had passed since Kiyo awakened his one-tomoe Sharingan.

During his fight with the Amegakure shinobi, he had already analyzed his limits. However, even in the past few days, his physical condition had improved further. At this rate, his body would continue strengthening for at least another week.

After a long meal at a barbecue restaurant, Kiyo returned home and immediately began chakra refinement and self-cultivation training.

To his surprise, he felt a noticeable difference in how his body responded.

"The self-cultivation technique also enhances my natural growth rate…"

His strength was increasing more efficiently than expected.

That night, after two hours of meditative training, Kiyo went to sleep. Despite the superhuman abilities of ninja, mental and physical fatigue still applied. Unlike the immortal cultivators of fantasy tales, shinobi needed rest to recover.

The Next Morning

After his morning routine, Kiyo found himself staring at his reflection in the mirror.

His crimson Sharingan gleamed back at him.

"Hmm… a single tomoe is still a little… unbalanced," he muttered to himself. "Two tomoe would at least be symmetrical."

But it was just a passing thought. Deep down, Kiyo wasn't in a rush to evolve his Sharingan. Unlocking a second tomoe would bring power, but it would also place mental strain on him.

For now, a one-tomoe Sharingan was the perfect balance—it gave him enhanced perception and a physical boost without affecting his clarity of thought.

Kiyo could feel the pull of the Sharingan's evolutionary urge—a constant, almost seductive desire to push it further. A voice in his mind urged him to seek battle, to experience more emotional extremes, to awaken greater power.

But that was not an option.

Perhaps his strong will gave him better control over his Sharingan, or perhaps it was because his exposure to negative emotions wasn't overwhelming. Either way, he could easily resist the call of power.

Instead of rushing his Sharingan's development, Kiyo decided to master its current state completely before taking the next step.

"Since I have the Sharingan now, it's time to focus on Genjutsu training."

Genjutsu had always been an area of interest, but without the Sharingan, he lacked the ability to utilize it effectively. Now, he had the perfect tool to explore it.

His first stop? The Uchiha reference library.

If he was lucky, he'd find books on basic Genjutsu principles—maybe even a few complete techniques.

At the Uchiha Reference Library

As Kiyo entered, he was immediately noticed.

"Well, if it isn't Kiyo! Haven't seen you around here in a while."

The voice belonged to Elder Uchiha Xiong, one of the veteran caretakers of the library.

"Elder Xiong," Kiyo greeted with a respectful nod. "I unlocked my Sharingan during my last mission, so I came to check if there are any books on Genjutsu fundamentals. If there are specific techniques, that'd be even better. Also, I'd like to look into any notes on using the Sharingan."

The elder raised an eyebrow.

"You've awakened your Sharingan?"

Kiyo nodded.

Elder Xiong studied him carefully, then gave a small smile. "I see. It was only a matter of time for you."

There was a moment of hesitation before the elder spoke again.

"…Did anything happen during the awakening?"

Kiyo immediately understood what he meant. The Sharingan typically manifested after an intense emotional event—grief, rage, trauma. The elder was likely wondering if Kiyo had lost someone important.

Kiyo gave a reassuring smile. "Nothing major."

Elder Xiong studied him again, then nodded.

"Good," he said, visibly relieved. "Let me see it."

Without hesitation, Kiyo activated his one-tomoe Sharingan.

The elder's eyes gleamed with understanding.

"As I thought. A single tomoe."

For most Uchiha, the intensity of their emotional awakening determined how many tomoe they unlocked at first. Some opened with two, while others, like Kiyo, started with one. However, starting at one wasn't a disadvantage—it just meant the process would be more stable.

"Well done," Elder Xiong finally said. "Now, take this token. It'll grant you access to the second floor."

Kiyo blinked in surprise.

"The second floor?"

"Go up the stairs, turn right, and head to the last room," the elder instructed. "You'll find exactly what you're looking for."

Excitement surged through Kiyo as he accepted the token.

"Thank you, Elder!"

"Don't mention it," Elder Xiong said with a smile. "Every Uchiha who awakens the Sharingan is an asset to the clan. The least we can do is help you reach your full potential."

With that, Kiyo made his way upstairs, eager to unlock the secrets of the Sharingan and Genjutsu.

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