Every morning, Kairen's grandfather would have his father oversee his training. The old man never hesitated to throw sharp words at his son-in-law from the sidelines. Though his tone was harsh, everyone knew it came from a place of guidance — the gruff way an old shinobi teaches a younger one.
By afternoon, the lessons shifted to samurai-style kenjutsu, and at night, Kairen practiced blindfolded drills with wooden swords. Day after day, their training regained a steady rhythm. Occasionally, Grandfather would send Haruki to recruit wandering swordsmen to spar with Kairen. Before long, the name "Little Blade of the Valley" began to circulate through the nearby villages.
Kairen's growth was astonishing — his taijutsu and swordsmanship improved by leaps and bounds. Only his ninjutsu and genjutsu had stalled. Though he said nothing, anxiety gnawed at him. A shinobi's progress never stood still; without improvement, regression would soon follow. One evening, he decided to talk to the only person who always understood him — his mother.
He found her in the kitchen preparing dinner. "Mom, let me help. You've been working too hard; you look thinner these days."
Uchiha Ran smiled knowingly. "You feel dissatisfied with Grandfather's training, don't you? You think you're becoming more of a samurai than a shinobi — that you should be learning ninjutsu and genjutsu instead?"
Kairen froze — his mother could see through him as easily as light through water. He nodded quickly.
She laughed softly. "Do you really think the foundation of a shinobi lies in ninjutsu? Using chakra too early and too often only harms the body. Chakra isn't magic — it's refined from our life force. The damage must be healed through discipline, rest, and nourishment. Your grandfather's been tempering your body, mending the hidden injuries you've carried."
She turned back to the simmering pot. "And who said you haven't been training in ninjutsu or genjutsu? Haven't you noticed how your chakra control has become far sharper? You used to need the amount for four jutsu — now you can perform six with the same energy. That precision will one day matter more than flashy techniques."
Ran's tone grew gentler. "You could study medical ninjutsu next. It'll refine your chakra control further and shorten your training time for elemental manipulation. Your perception is already keen — that sensitivity will help you master both shape and nature transformation faster than most.
"With your current awareness, it's already difficult for anyone to trap you in a genjutsu. And remember — we Uchiha are born with an affinity that resists illusions. When you cast one, it'll feel more vivid and real to your target — harder to break free from."
She smiled again. "Ninjutsu training is actually the easiest part; it just follows a formula. What your grandfather teaches you isn't written on any scroll — it's a deeper understanding of your own body, of your strength and limits. Before mastering jutsu, you must master yourself.
"Whether you're a samurai or a shinobi, the body is the root. Swordsmanship or ninjutsu — they're just different languages of the same truth: technique serves strength. First you temper the vessel, then you forge the art."
Her eyes dimmed slightly. "That's your grandfather's family creed. Your uncle trained this way too… though he was nothing like you. You listen. He didn't. When he didn't understand, you'd ask. He never did. I didn't either, not at first. But I learned — and that's why I'm still alive. His stubbornness got him killed."
"Mom," Kairen asked quietly, "how did Uncle die? I didn't even know I had one."
Ran paused, the knife in her hand hovering above the board. "He was a good man. Too good. Always arguing with your grandfather, always chasing peace between the clan and the village. He blinded himself with his ideals — and it cost him his life."
She exhaled, her voice lower now. "His name was Uchiha Kagami. To the clan, he's a traitor — a name no one dares to speak."
Kairen's eyes widened. Ran smiled bitterly. "I'm not your grandfather's real daughter. I was adopted — the orphaned child of your grandmother's younger brother. They treated me like their own.
"Now you see why your grandfather refuses to return to Konoha — or why he always found excuses to leave. Kagami's betrayal forced him to step down as elder, and when the village turned its back on him, he exiled himself. He's carried that shame ever since."
She brushed Kairen's hair aside with a faint smile. "So train hard. Don't turn out like your uncle — or your father. Those two… both brilliant fools. They'd get sold out and still thank the buyer."
She waved him off. "Go on, back to training. You're more help to me when you're out of the kitchen."
———
A handsome boy moved through a bamboo grove, his sword flashing in rhythmic arcs. Nearby, the old man rocked lazily in his chair. "That'll do," he said. "From now on, practice swordsmanship four hours a day. Spend the rest of your time how you see fit. Choose your own path." He rose slowly to his feet.
Kairen hurried over, taking his grandfather's arm. "Grandpa, are you going fishing again today?"
The old man chuckled. "Of course. What else is there left for me? A dying man's got to have some peace. Fishing… keeps the heart still."
His health had been fading for two years now. His world had shrunk to two things — guiding his grandson and waiting for the fish to bite.
Sometimes, Kairen caught his mother quietly weeping at night. The old man's time was nearly up — and Kairen swore he'd give him a surprise before the end.
Two years passed in a blink. Kairen turned twelve. His kenjutsu had advanced so far that he could spar evenly with his father — even when his father tried to go easy on him. Lately, his father had been deliberately making mistakes, as if just to give the old man an excuse to scold him.
Every day, his mother prepared rich meals — all her father's favorites. He would praise her cooking, saying it reminded him of her mother, then turn around and insult her husband again. "You lucky fool," he'd say, "you don't deserve her."
But his appetite was fading. He ate less and less. Ran would sit staring at his half-empty bowl long after he'd left.
Feeling the urgency of time, Kairen decided to master the Rasengan — a jutsu that required no hand signs, pure control alone. He traded water balloons and rubber balls from local villagers, practicing day and night. Within three days, he reached the final stage.
When he finally succeeded, he was overjoyed. Racing down the mountain, he burst into the courtyard, dragging his grandfather's chair outside. "Grandpa! Mom! Dad! Watch this!"
He extended his hand. Chakra swirled into a dense, spinning sphere — Rasengan! With a sharp crack, he slammed it into the ground, leaving a crater in the dirt.
The old man's half-closed eyes gleamed with pride. A faint smile tugged at his lips as if to say, See? This is what my teaching produced — better than that fool you married.
Ran's eyes shimmered with tears — pride and sorrow mixing together. The old man couldn't even stand anymore, couldn't speak clearly, but he was smiling.
And then it became clear. All his talk about "escaping politics" and "avoiding schemers" — it wasn't just for training. He'd wanted to spend his last days simply… with family.
The day finally came. The old man called them all to his room. With trembling hands, he touched Kairen's face, then nodded with satisfaction. Calling Ran closer, he whispered, barely audible:
"Don't hate the clan… or me. Sitting in that seat means thinking for all, not yourself. Live well. Your son's a fine one — find him a good girl someday. Your husband's useless, but kind. With him, you'll be safe. Burn me, and take my ashes home. I miss your mother. I want to see her again… to rest beside her."
The funeral was simple. A few samurai and villagers from the small settlement attended. At the elder's request, Ran herself lit the torch, yet she couldn't bring herself to ignite the pyre. Yasuyuki stepped forward, holding his wife, took the torch from her, and cast it onto the stacked wood. Ran wept bitterly as he comforted her, both gazing into the fiercely blazing flames.
Uchiha Kairen watched the fire, his heart filled with memories of his grandfather. It's time to go home. I wonder how Konoha is faring...