Chapter 45: Settling In With the Fūma
For the next several days, Uchiha Raizen focused on his training at home. He also made daily visits to Uchiha Tajima to collect his reward, picking up the S-Rank ninjutsu the patriarch demonstrated. Since Uchiha Tajima used his Sharingan to perform the techniques, Uchiha Raizen also gained three additional points of Sharingan proficiency. His awakening progress was now 6/10. He was getting closer.
He tried to get more proficiency from Uchiha Ryoken and Uchiha Natsume, as they had dropped points during the battle with the Yuki clan, but it didn't work. It seemed the drop conditions were more complex. Frustrated, he turned to his teacher, Uchiha Oki, and managed to acquire two more Primary Sharingan Fragments. However, Uchiha Oki stopped dropping them after that. It appeared the drops were tied to the opponent's strength and perhaps a hidden cooldown.
No matter, he thought. I have other priorities.
His main goal was the Sage chakra he had sensed at the Fūma clan's original location. That energy offered massive boosts to chakra and physique. If he could harness it, his reserves could become monstrous.
After informing Uchiha Tajima of his plans, he set out for the Fūma clan's new settlement, located in the mountains east of the Uchiha compound. The journey took him a day.
"Elder Raizen! You've finally come!" Fūma Rivei greeted him, a note of anxiety in his voice. "We had begun to worry..."
"My apologies," Uchiha Raizen replied smoothly. "Matters within the clan required my attention. An elder's duties are numerous. But I am here now, and I intend to stay until I find a solution for your condition." It was a necessary reassurance. The Fūma had been waiting for months without word.
Hearing his commitment, the tension in Fūma Rivei's shoulders eased slightly. They were on Uchiha land now; if Uchiha Raizen had intended to betray them, he wouldn't have come personally.
"Excellent. I will need a place to stay, as I may be here for some time," Uchiha Raizen said.
"We have already prepared a residence for you, Elder. Right this way."
And so, Uchiha Raizen settled in. His days were spent in training and searching for the source of the potent Sage chakra. He noticed that since his arrival, the density of the Sage energy had been increasing. The Fūma clan's unique physiology allowed them to passively absorb this energy, which fueled their powerful transformations but also accelerated their physical decay.
Strangely, the energy seemed to have no effect on him. It appeared to be specifically attuned to the Fūma bloodline.
After half a month of intense cultivation amidst the rich energy, Uchiha Raizen's chakra reserves solidified at the level of an Elite Jonin. He had hit a temporary ceiling; he could grow no further through absorption alone.
It was then that he remembered the gift package he had received upon reaching Level 3.
"System," he commanded, "open the Level Up Gift Pack."
[Congratulations, Host. You have acquired the Eight Inner Gates Formation.]
A wave of pure ecstasy washed over him. The Eight Gates! The very technique used by Might Guy! He remembered Madara's comment during the Fourth War, acknowledging he had seen the technique before. He had assumed it was a secret of the Might clan, but a search of the current clan registries showed no such name. Perhaps the "thick-browed" trademark was just a characteristic of Guy's specific lineage.
But now, the ultimate taijutsu trump card was his. It was a perfect, devastating complement to his stockpiled ninjutsu. He now possessed a true ace in the hole.