Malphegor
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HSU: Ch. 126
🕑 Added 2025-01-08 21:01:16 +0000 UTCWhen Haku was finally sent home, he walked to the doorway and saw Hikari waiting for him at the entrance.
Seeing his sister, he cheered and ran toward her.
He had made good use of the resting technique Masashi had taught him, and now he had enough energy to run.
Hikari quickly bent down to catch Haku, whose steps were still a little unsteady.
He dove into her embrace, shaking his head and acting spoiled, feeling very proud of his performance today. His head bobbed as he moved, and Hikari's ample figure swayed in response, causing Masashi to momentarily consider the effects of gravity on physical objects.
He couldn't help it—he had always been fascinated by science. In his original world, he was a devoted fan of programs like Quarks.
However, in the world of Naruto, chakra had been added to the mix, leaving the science here somewhere between actual science and pseudoscience. It felt a little off.
So he had to turn to fields like human biomechanics, which he was more familiar with, to rekindle his old interests.
"Masashi," Hikari said softly, stroking Haku's head. "Dinner is ready. Would you like to eat now or take a bath first?"
Her sense of indebtedness grew heavier.
From Haku's accounts, Hikari could tell that Masashi was treating him like a disciple. Every detail he shared showed the careful attention his teacher paid to his development.
Moreover, Haku truly had the potential to become a ninja, which meant the Yuki clan was not extinct after all.
With the White Ghost as his mentor, as long as Haku avoided making grave mistakes or the Uchiha clan didn't experience some disaster, the Yuki clan could be reborn in Konoha as a ninja clan.
Hikari thought long and hard, concluding that there was only one way she could repay such kindness.
She couldn't offer business expertise, could she? That would be absurd. Even in the Land of Water, she knew the kind of reputation the White Ghost held among merchants in the Land of Fire.
To contribute to the Uchiha clan's enterprises, she would have to start as an apprentice.
"Let's eat now," Masashi said, glancing at Haku. "Eating at this time is just right."
The other three children in his care had top-tier ninja families backing them, so he didn't need to supervise them as closely.
But for Haku, he needed to keep an eye on things until the boy learned proper routines on his own.
"Alright," Hikari said, immediately understanding that Masashi's "lesson" wasn't over yet. She had begun to recognize the subtle shifts in his teaching methods.
The three of them entered the house.
Haku obediently tried to help in the kitchen, but Masashi stopped him.
"Sit down and continue," he said.
Training someone was a skillful task.
Positive training pushed the body to adapt to molding more chakra, enhancing physical capabilities without causing damage.
Negative training, on the other hand, depleted the body's potential, leading to irreversible damage and a vicious cycle.
During the Warring States Period, ninjas had no choice but to subject their bodies to extreme stress.
The consequences varied depending on the degree and method of stress. Each pushed their limits, often breaking them permanently.
Even Hashirama was not exempt from this.
His self-healing jutsu, praised by Madara, came at the cost of his lifespan, trading it for powerful regenerative abilities.
He did die a natural death, but not of old age—his body never even showed signs of aging before his death.
If even the God of Shinobi was not immune, it showed the toll on other ninjas.
If not for the peaceful era he lived in, Masashi wouldn't have achieved his current strength.
Having accepted four students, he hoped they could follow a path of steady growth in their ninja careers.
He also planned to secure this peace for them as soon as possible.
From the Third Great Ninja War to the present, he was already tired of constant fighting.
Activating his Sharingan, Masashi sat across from Haku, observing the changes in his body.
The remaining chakra in the boy's body was decomposing, converting back into physical energy.
Molding and building chakra, as well as learning how to accelerate its recovery into physical energy, were the key lessons for today.
Chakra, though an energy form, couldn't be effectively quantified due to the complexities of ninja battles. Therefore, ensuring physical stamina and mastering rapid chakra molding and recovery were paramount.
On that foundation, one could raise physical limits and maintain high efficiency in chakra molding and recovery. The body would adapt, and grow stronger.
That was how tailed-beast levels of chakra were achieved.
Once at that level, with proper control, one could essentially have "unlimited" chakra in regular battles.
Finally, the last remnants of chakra in Haku's body were fully decomposed, leaving him visibly more energetic than before.
"Well done," Masashi said. "Among the four of you, you lasted the longest. That's a strength you should maintain."
"It's because I'm older than the others," Haku replied modestly, ducking his head slightly.
He truly believed this. Among the four students, he was the oldest, and it mattered to him. Every advantage seemed important when starting so late.
Even though Masashi had praised him multiple times in front of everyone today, Haku wasn't the least bit conceited.
"Three years old and five years old—there's no real difference," Masashi said with a shake of his head. "You haven't gained any advantage. I'm telling you this not to make you arrogant, but so you can figure out the path that suits you best."
In the original timeline, the boy followed the assassin route, trained in Zabuza's fighting style. However, Haku didn't have a ninja sword, and the Demon's methods were based on his impression of the Yuki clan.
From today's training, Masashi felt Haku had more potential.
The boy was versatile, and his talent wasn't inferior to that of Naruto or Sasuke, though his aptitude in taijutsu wasn't as high as theirs. In other areas, however, he excelled.
For example, he had the fastest chakra molding speed and could build it for the longest time, but his chakra-to-physical-energy recovery rate and his body's natural recovery rate lagged behind the others.
Masashi suspected that the fighting style of the White Fang might suit the boy best, but he needed more observation to be certain.
"Alright, Haku, get ready for dinner," he said, satisfied with the day's progress.
As soon as he spoke, Hikari, who had been keeping an ear on their conversation from the kitchen, promptly brought out the dishes she had prepared.
In no time, the table was filled with food.
The dishes were typical of the Land of Water's cuisine.
Haku quickly got up, served a bowl of rice, and respectfully presented it to Masashi.
"Teacher, your rice." Am I doing this right. The others mentioned proper etiquette matters in Konoha.
"Good," Masashi said with a smile, taking the bowl. "Sit down and eat. Just eat as you normally would."
"Yes," Haku replied, beaming at the praise.
He then served a bowl for Hikari and finally a large bowl for himself—he couldn't help it, he was starving. The day's training had depleted his reserves completely.
At first, he tried to eat in moderation, but within a few bites, he completely let loose. His chopsticks moved with increasing speed.
Having a big appetite was also a basic ninja trait.
Hikari ate delicately, pleased that Haku's performance satisfied Masashi. Her heart raced as she kept sneaking glances at him.
Should she act on her feelings? Would it seem too forward and make him think she was an improper woman?
Men in the Land of Fire seemed to value this sort of thing. Their traditions around courtship were more formal than in the Land of Water.
Several times, she gathered her courage to speak, but after glancing at Haku, she held back.
---
After finishing dinner, Hikari started tidying up the dishes, while Haku obediently went to bathe and sleep under the "pressure" of his devil-like teacher.
Structure is what separates a genius from a prodigy, Masashi thought as he laid out the schedule. "Wake up at 5 a.m., go for a run, and no using chakra."
He would come to pick him up at 8 a.m.
Coming out of Haku's room, he couldn't help but stretch his arms. Playing the role of teacher for a day was no easy task.
The main issue was that Haku's guardians were unreliable, leaving him to oversee everything personally.
"Masashi," Hikari approached and softly said, "Let me give you a massage."
"No need." Masashi waved his hand, signaling her to follow him. "Let your brother rest properly. We'll talk in the living room."
---
In the living room, he sat down on the sofa and asked Hikari for some paper and a pen. Placing the paper on the coffee table, he began writing.
Hikari didn't dare disturb him, even trying to keep her breathing as quiet as possible.
What Masashi wrote were notes on things to pay attention to during training.
"That's about it for now," he said, putting down the pen and handing the nearly full sheet of paper to her. "In the future, when Haku is at home, try to arrange his rest and training according to this. As for meals, follow the dietary suggestions written here."
Seeing how carefully Hikari treated the paper, as if it were a treasure, Masashi couldn't help but say, "There's no need to be so cautious. It's just a diet plan, nothing more than something that's good for the body."
"I understand." Hikari looked at him with deep gratitude in her eyes. "The Yuki clan has similar diet plans that are considered top secret."
"Then they must be out of their minds." Masashi found it baffling. "Are they taking secret medicines every day? Don't stress about it too much. Just use something similar, if you can't find the exact ingredients. As long as the structure is similar, it's fine. If eating could make you stronger, what's the point of training?"
Suddenly, he realized that his words weren't entirely accurate.
There were indeed ways to get stronger just by eating—but that had nothing to do with food itself.
"Isn't it a very precious diet plan?" Hikari asked, puzzled by Masashi's casual attitude.
"There's no such thing as a precious diet plan," he said. "Even ordinary ninja families know this stuff. The reason you don't see it often is because only ninjas care about it. It's no different from you women eating diet meals."
Seeing her still confused, he explained further: "Some ingredients help enhance bodily functions, and a healthier body can produce chakra more efficiently. So, kids can benefit from eating this kind of food while growing up, but the real progress comes from training. This is just supplementary. Haku hasn't had proper training before, so this is just to help him catch up."
Hikari finally understood—it was her own overthinking. She blushed deeply with embarrassment.
Masashi decided to have a proper talk with her. He didn't like seeing Hikari always acting as though she owed him something—it wasn't healthy.
Gratitude should be appropriate; too much could turn into resentment.
What he wanted were partners, not servants.
"We didn't have much time yesterday, but now that I'm here..." he said, patting the sofa beside him.
Hikari obediently sat down, maintaining a respectful distance.
"You're from a ninja clan, so I'll be straightforward. I hope you can see your own identity clearly. First, this is Uchiha territory. Here, the clan head and elders are mostly symbols of prestige, so you don't have to act overly cautious around everyone. Hold on, let me finish..."
Stopping her from speaking, Masashi continued, "In Konoha, camaraderie is important. I hope you and Haku can become part of the Uchiha. This isn't some peaceful sanctuary. By bringing you to Konoha, you're now tied to the Uchiha. Taking care of you is simply my duty."
"I understand," Hikari said earnestly. "I've already prepared myself for this and am grateful for the opportunity."
"Then we're on the same page." Masashi smiled. "I'm not exactly a saint, but I'm dependable when it comes to my comrades. Don't dwell on the past—everyone has their low points. Once it's over, there's no need to look back."
After a moment's thought, he added, "Before you two, there was another girl who was also betrayed by her village. I like making friends, so she joined the Uchiha too. She doesn't live far from here; I'll take you to visit her someday."
Hikari's ears perked up immediately. Another girl? And she lives nearby?
"Masashi."
"Yes?"
"Perhaps... you should take a bath as well. I've already heated the water earlier."
Her suggestion made Masashi actually consider it—he had worked up a sweat.
"Alright, thanks," he said, standing up. "I'll grab some clothes."
"Ah, there's no need for that. Your clansmen delivered many clothes yesterday, including men's clothing. The sizes are just right..."
"Why is logistics so careless..." Masashi muttered, slightly annoyed. Haku was clearly just a kid, yet they didn't even check the sizes when fetching clothes.
To be fair, Uchiha's warehouse clothes had very standardized designs, making it easy to grab the wrong size if you weren't paying attention.
"Fine, I'll use them for now. Have them send a few sets that actually fit Haku later."
"Understood..." Hikari lowered her head, hiding the strange expression on her face.
The clothes had actually been picked up earlier that day.
When she went to get them, she hadn't thought much of it—she simply wanted to make things easier for Masashi. But the clan member who gave her the clothes had sighed and commented, "One storm passes, another one brews."
It wasn't until later, on her way home, that she understood the meaning behind those words, and her face turned beet red.
Still, after Masashi's long talk, she understood his intentions. She was also curious about the "girl" he had mentioned.
And regarding his statement about "becoming part of the Uchiha clan," she had her own interpretation.
Many in Kiri knew that she was a very stubborn woman once she set her mind to something.
The sound of running water soon came from the bathroom.
Hikari sat back down on the sofa, carefully reading the notes Masashi had written, committing them to memory.
She would do her utmost to help Haku become an outstanding ninja.
Perhaps, one day, the Yuki clan could reemerge as a vassal of the Uchiha clan.
Being a vassal of a powerful clan wasn't shameful.
As for herself, she hoped her children could bear the name Uchiha.
