"Don't be nervous. I just came to say hello and get to know each other a bit better."
Seeing Fugaku Uchiha's tense expression, Satori Hyūga chuckled lightly.
If he kept provoking Fugaku through Mikoto, the Uchiha might end up activating his Three-Tomoe Sharingan in anger.
The thought barely surfaced when Satori gave Fugaku a strange look, an evil idea forming in his mind—what if he flirted with Fugaku's fiancée right in front of him, whispering sweet words to Mikoto? That might push Fugaku over the edge and unlock the Mangekyo.
Fugaku seemed to sense Satori's sinister intentions and glared at him resentfully.
"We're not close. Stay away from me in the future."
Then, remembering how he'd helped Satori steal secret techniques from other clans, he quickly added, "I'm heading to the battlefield in a few days anyway. Don't bother looking for me after that."
He said this to sever all ties with Satori completely.
From his limited interactions with Satori, Fugaku had come to see him as someone who would do whatever it takes to get what he wants.
If he had threatened him before into stealing the Akimichi Clan's family techniques…
Who knows what other clan secrets he'd ask for next?
"So soon to the battlefield already? The Uchiha really are a warrior clan," Satori praised.
Only a few years after the end of the Second Great Shinobi War, and Fugaku was already rushing off again for battle training. Truly, a clan obsessed with strength.
Fugaku glanced at Satori with a snort and said, "When I return from the battlefield, my power will have skyrocketed. I hope by then you'll still have the tricks needed to beat me."
Clearly, he still held onto bitter feelings about being defeated by Satori. It was something he would never forget.
Satori smiled slightly and replied, "Then I'll be waiting for your return. We can have another showdown then."
The Uchiha's Sharingan and their combative nature might be powerful, but Satori wasn't inferior either.
Right now, he was gradually discovering his own path.
As long as he continued progressing steadily, growing stronger was only a matter of time.
Watching Fugaku shopping in the store, Satori suddenly remembered something else.
He himself was about to take the ninja academy graduation exam—meaning it wouldn't be long before they assign a mentor.
But he guessed his instructor would still be Orochimaru.
Continuing down the street for a bit longer, Satori skillfully slipped into the ramen shop through its half-closed curtain.
Today there weren't many customers inside. Teuchi put down his work and hurried over to greet Satori.
"Brother Satori, you're here!"
Satori grinned and nodded, pulled out a stool and sat down.
"Teuchi, how did the instant noodles turn out? Have you made any progress on the recipe I gave you last time?"
"I was just about to tell you! Following your recipe, we produced the first batch of instant noodles, but ran into some issues. Because they were handmade, the noodle lengths varied, and they broke easily." Teuchi explained.
"Also, making them using the ramen method caused them to absorb excess oil, which made production costs too high. We've already spent all the funds you gave us."
"I'm wondering if there's a way to improve it—perhaps by using different materials. That could lower the production costs."
After listening carefully to Teuchi's words, Satori Hyūga approved another sum of money and handed it over, encouraging him:
"Go all out—I believe in you."
"If you succeed in developing real instant noodles, you'll be hailed as the future father of instant noodles."
"Just wait until these instant noodles hit the market—people overseas will soon recognize the name Teuchi."
Hearing that, Teuchi immediately felt a surge of motivation.
This was his dream.
After settling things with Teuchi, Satori returned to the laboratory, took out newly extracted Chakra Supplements, and resumed training.
That was simply how plain and unpretentious his life was.
The Chakra Supplements allowed him to synthesize chakra without refining cellular energy inside his body, making cultivation possible.
Once he consumed the supplement, Satori began converting and processing chakra.
His body was like a ravenous, insatiable beast, continuously accumulating chakra without any loss.
This was the path he had decided to walk into the future.
The poor resort to mutations, while the rich rely on science.
Using his own research achievements, he constantly strengthened his muscles and pursued the path of Taijutsu.
Drinking Chakra Supplements, practicing the Feeding-Back Jutsu, and tempering his physique.
Once nourished and overflowing with excess energy, he would open the Eight Gates for consumption and adaptation.
Through this cycle, his physical form grew increasingly perfected—like steel forged a thousand times.
The thick chakra, nurtured through the Feeding-Back Jutsu, existed within his cells in a special way.
If examined under instruments, one could see his cells were three to four times as active as those of an average person.
After reaching a certain level of training, he found that even without the Nine-Binding Seal protecting his body, activating the first three Gates of the Eight Gates caused no damage whatsoever.
Activating the first three Gates now felt as effortless as drinking water or eating a meal—completely harmless.
In other words, his physical strength was gradually adapting to the Eight Gates.
Given time, even without relying on sealing techniques for protection, activating the Eight Gates would still allow him to function normally afterward.
Of course, the energy provided by his body also needed to keep up with the Eight Gates' immense consumption.
Still, this was already astonishing.
Precisely for this reason, Satori grew even more certain that the path he had chosen was the right one.
Days passed quickly, and the Ninja Academy graduation exam arrived.
Passing this test meant becoming an official Genin of Konoha.
To Satori Hyūga, however, this was nothing more than child's play.
Truthfully speaking, attending the Ninja Academy held little significance for him.
With adult-level wisdom and thinking, he was already fully capable of independent study.
"Satori Hyūga, hurry up and walk faster!"
"Minato, you too—today's our exam day," Kushina stood ahead with her hands on her hips, urging them along.
"If we pass this exam, we'll officially become respected Genin."
Satori gave her a dismissive glance but kept walking at his usual relaxed pace.
"Kushina, with our strength, passing this exam should be a piece of cake. Don't get so excited, okay?"
He kept one thought to himself—being the Nine-Tails' Jinchuriki, whether she could pass the exam was still uncertain.
As Konoha's living weapon, neither the Third Hokage nor Danzō would allow Kushina to leave the village unchecked.
Stopping her from passing the exam? That'd be effortless.
But Kushina, being reckless by nature, hadn't even considered that possibility.
The three arrived at the examination site and found a long line already formed outside an office. By the entrance, people kept stepping out one by one—some beaming with joy, waving their forehead protectors in the air.
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