As far as the scenery was concerned, it only managed to excite them on the first day. By the second, the novelty had faded, leaving behind a sense of quiet monotony.
The three inside the carriage were all recovering from injuries, and for them, this was a rare experience. After all, most shinobi preferred to rely on their own legs rather than travel by cart.
Unlike Nawaki, who remained full of restless energy, Mikoto grew drowsy soon after getting in. Her head bobbed a few times before she succumbed to sleep, her small form leaning gently against Hayashi's shoulder.
The steady rhythm of the carriage wheels and the soft creak of the wooden frame made it impossible not to feel sleepy.
By age, Mikoto was still just a child — barely nine. Even in a world where shinobi matured early, she was undeniably young. Watching her sleep, Hayashi couldn't help but feel a quiet sense of protectiveness.
He adjusted the blanket around her shoulders and brushed a few strands of hair away from her face before turning his gaze outside. The carriage moved at a steady pace along a narrow forest path.
The Land of Fire was lush and full of life; the recent rain had left the air cool and fragrant. Outside the window, the forest stretched endlessly, leaves whispering in the wind.
According to the map, they wouldn't reach the nearest town for supplies and rest for another three days. Hayashi sighed and leaned back, letting his thoughts drift.
That was when he remembered — the system had given him a notification after his last mission, the one where he had defeated that Jōnin.
He hadn't checked it since then.
It wasn't that he had forgotten, but earning points had become painfully slow. The higher his strength, the more points were required for even a single upgrade. At this point, his progress was nearly at a standstill.
He decided to open the holographic system interface.
---
[System Interface Loading...]
Host: Uchiha Hayashi
Affiliation: Land of Fire
Age: 9 years
Overall Strength Index: Invincible among Chunin
Chakra: Level 9 (3400 / 20000)
Taijutsu: Level 10 (500 / 30000)
Shurikenjutsu: Level 7 (600 / 12000)
Hand Seals: Level 7 (134 / 12000)
Ninjutsu: Level 9 (500 / 20000)
Genjutsu: Level 10 (611 / 30000)
Wind Release: Level 6 (600 / 4000)
Fire Release: Level 8 (780 / 16000)
Lightning Release: Level 8 (580 / 16000)
Water Release: Level 3 (0 / 2000)
Earth Release: Level 3 (0 / 2000)
Fūinjutsu: Level 3 (0 / 2000)
Yang Attribute: Level 3 (0 / 2000)
Yin Attribute: Level 3 (0 / 2000)
Sharingan: Not yet awakened
Remaining Points: 26,000
---
As expected, his total points had increased significantly since his last mission.
By Chunin standards, levels eight to ten were considered advanced. For someone only nine years old to possess six attributes at that level — two even maxed out — was unbelievable.
Still, Hayashi knew his progress came with effort. He had spent years focusing his points on chakra capacity, taijutsu, and ninjutsu — the foundation of every shinobi.
The Uchiha clan's natural talent gave him an advantage, but his chakra reserves far exceeded what a child of his age should possess. His taijutsu, too, had been reinforced through relentless training and precise allocation of points.
He had learned from his mistakes. In the beginning, he'd tried to balance everything, adding points to every skill equally. It hadn't taken long for him to realize that was the path of a fool.
Now, he focused on efficiency. Chakra. Taijutsu. Ninjutsu.
Those were his pillars.
The other areas — shurikenjutsu and hand seals — he trained manually. They no longer needed point investment.
The wind, fire, and lightning releases were progressing naturally. With his advanced understanding of ninjutsu, he had already completed his elemental transformations for fire and lightning. Wind would be next.
To continue growing stronger, he needed patience. His body was still developing; pushing too hard could do more harm than good. He would save his points and invest them wisely.
Still, there was one area he hadn't explored deeply — Yin and Yang attributes.
He hadn't invested much in them before. Their benefits weren't immediately obvious, and early on, they didn't help him in combat. But now that other attributes demanded enormous amounts of points, he understood their hidden importance.
Yin and Yang affected every aspect of his power. The stronger they became, the more efficient his chakra control, the sharper his mind, and the faster his recovery.
Without hesitation, Hayashi poured his points into both attributes.
---
[Congratulations! The host's Yang Attribute has increased to Level 5.]
[Congratulations! The host's Yang Attribute has increased to Level 6.]
[A Level 6 Yang Attribute enhances vitality, chakra regeneration, and recovery rate.]
[Congratulations! The host's Yin Attribute has increased to Level 5.]
[Congratulations! The host's Yin Attribute has increased to Level 6.]
[A Level 6 Yin Attribute enhances genjutsu potency and mental resilience.]
[Remaining Points: 2,000]
---
Although there were no visible changes, Hayashi could feel it — a subtle pulse beneath his skin, the chakra flowing smoother through his network. His senses sharpened, his mind felt clearer.
He smiled faintly. Strength wasn't always about what others could see.
As for genjutsu, he had long realized he didn't need to spend points there. His natural affinity was already beyond his peers. With only a bit of practice, his illusion techniques grew exponentially stronger.
Of course, he would never admit it was talent. He'd rather say it was hard work.
Just like Kushina would never admit she had enormous chakra reserves, and Nawaki would insist his family name had nothing to do with his opportunities.
He thought about his friends — Minato's calm precision, Mikoto's quiet diligence, Kushina's boundless energy. Despite their quirks, they each had something special.
Maybe that was what made their generation different.
As the carriage rolled on through the forest, Hayashi leaned back and closed his eyes. The wind outside was cool and clean, the world peaceful for once.
It was a brief calm — the kind every shinobi learned to cherish.
---