[Entry: Muscle Memory (White)]
[Requirement Met: Repeatedly perform a complex training until it becomes a subconscious habit.]
[Progress: (Completed)]
[Effect: After performing a large number of repetitive movements, your muscles have gradually adapted. These movements can now be executed reflexively, without conscious thought.
Your muscle memory is 10% more effective than the average person.
Currently, incorrect muscle memory cannot be overwritten.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded.]
Keiji felt the chakra in his body slowly draining as he climbed three more steps upward, reaching the tree canopy.
The forest was lush and vibrant, birds chirping endlessly in the background.
"So as long as I repeat a complex training process, any process really... And I guess my innate talent isn't that bad after all."
Keiji mused inwardly.
The Uchiha clan produced elite shinobi by the dozen, and he carried that same bloodline. There was no reason for his aptitude to be inferior.
This tree was much shorter than the ones Team 7 used for chakra climbing training. It didn't take much effort to reach the top.
"Keiji, have you done this kind of training before in the Land of Lightning?"
Rin Nohara asked, lips parting gently.
"No, I haven't."
Keiji climbed down from the treetop and exhaled lightly.
After all, he possessed the soul of an adult — far more focused than a child like Obito.
But that also meant greater chakra expenditure.
His muscles ached all over from the exertion.
[You have unlocked the entry: Tree Climber (White)]
[Entry: Tree Climber (White)]
[Requirement Met: Use your feet to walk up a tree trunk and reach the top.]
[Progress: (Completed)]
[Effect: On certain terrains, your chakra control becomes more refined. Chakra consumption while walking on trees is reduced by 10%.]
[Note: Can be further upgraded.]
Keiji blinked in surprise.
"I didn't expect something like this to also count as a completed entry."
His understanding of the Entry System deepened.
Previously, entries like "Muscle Memory," "Reading Absorption," and "Basic Memory" were all triggered internally, without connection to the outside world.
"If I graduate early, or rank first in the class… would those also meet certain conditions or lead to upgrades?"
Keiji speculated silently.
But right now, his identity was far too conspicuous. Even if he could do such things, Keiji wouldn't draw attention to himself unnecessarily.
He needed to build enough strength first—only then could he reveal more of his talent and seek tangible benefits.
"No way! You're definitely hiding something!"
Obito glared at him, completely unwilling to believe that Keiji was naturally gifted.
Otherwise, wouldn't that make Obito permanently stuck at the bottom of the class?
"Believe it or not, that's up to you, Obito."
Keiji responded flatly.
The young Obito might appear warm-hearted and kind, but deep down, he was the kind who would lose himself entirely for love.
He was the type who'd go to extreme lengths to achieve his goals.
Rin's death was the turning point that pushed Obito to want to change the world. That was when he resolved to plunge everything into the Infinite Tsukuyomi — a permanent illusion that he believed to be a better reality.
And for that cause, he was willing to kill even the child of his former sensei and his wife.
The night Naruto was born, it was Obito's doing that left him an orphan.
Yet Minato and Kushina had always treated Obito with kindness.
Knowing what kind of person Obito truly was, Keiji had no intention of trying to win his favor.
"Enough, Obito."
Rin could sense the hostility in Obito's tone. Remembering Keiji's background, she couldn't say much and could only step in to ease the tension.
"It's getting late. We should head back."
"Alright. See you tomorrow, Rin-san."
Keiji responded politely, then turned and walked toward the forest exit.
Rin watched his departing figure and muttered to herself:
"He's nothing like the crude rumors from the Land of Lightning…"
She was forming a favorable impression of Keiji.
He wasn't like Obito—loud and impulsive—nor like Kakashi, cold and sarcastic.
"Hey, hey, Rin… don't you feel like that guy's chakra is kind of… sinister?"
"Chakra doesn't define a person entirely."
…
On the way home, Keiji observed the bustling crowd on the streets.
The Land of Fire had an excellent natural environment, and Konohagakure lay right in its heart. Aside from the treacherous outer mountain paths, the region's climate was incredibly pleasant.
Living here felt far more comfortable than life in the Land of Lightning.
But that comfort could easily corrode a shinobi's heart.
Keiji shook his head and looked away.
The Third Great Ninja War was only a few years away—a looming mountain pressing on his chest.
Once he became a ninja, he would inevitably be dragged into battle.
To improve his chances of surviving, he had to build enough strength while he still had time.
Smack.
Suddenly, someone bumped into him.
"Sorry!"
The passerby hurried away without looking back.
"No problem."
Keiji continued walking as if nothing had happened.
But his hand tightened around the foreign object now hidden in his sleeve, and he quickened his pace.
This was the second time.
A spy from the Hidden Cloud!
In the ninja world, intelligence was everything. All the major villages engaged in constant infiltration efforts against one another.
Spies were discovered, removed, and replaced in an endless cycle of espionage and counter-espionage.
…
At the Naka Shrine
Fugaku rubbed his brow as the other clan members filed out, leaving only Mikoto behind.
"The Root Division has already sent people. If there's nothing wrong with Keiji, I'll need you to keep a closer eye on him."
Fugaku turned his gaze to Mikoto.
She had a gentle, traditional beauty — the epitome of a yamato nadeshiko. Yet, paired with her green flak jacket, she radiated calm strength.
"I understand, Fugaku."
Mikoto nodded, catching the hidden meaning in his words.
If Keiji turned out to be a spy, his fate would be sealed.
But if not, the clan needed to strengthen his sense of belonging.
A child raised outside would always carry traces of the world beyond.
He needed to form bonds with the Uchiha.
…
Back at home, Keiji didn't examine the object in his hand immediately. Instead, he slipped it into the pouch on the left side of his trousers.
Keeping a calm demeanor, he resumed reading the textbooks he had brought back from the academy.
The entries for "Reading Absorption" and "Basic Memory" were both nearing completion.
Before long, the soreness in his muscles began to fade.
"The talent of the Yagetsu Clan…"
Keiji understood now.
The Uchiha were already known for their abundant chakra reserves, and when combined with the physical prowess inherited from the Yagetsu Clan, his recovery was astonishingly fast.
In the Land of Lightning, towering mountains pierced the clouds and mists shrouded the land.
According to the records in the Book of Informations, that land was originally the domain of the Yagetsu Clan.