New Mission
He was indeed a very charming person—not just because of his good looks. If that were the case, Tsunade wouldn't have fallen in love with him, nor would she still mourn him years after his death.
Kato Dan, in the few glimpses shown in the original manga, truly embodied the traits of a gentle, kind-hearted, and principled man. He exuded calmness and optimism, and he respected tradition and detail.
This is evident from the fact that he was the only jōnin in Konoha who supported Tsunade's proposal to assign a medical-nin to every squad. Admittedly, Ming Jing felt that his motives might have included a desire to impress Tsunade.
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Three days after the Ironstone Town mission...
Morning sunlight bathed the world in warmth, stirring it awake from slumber.
The last mission had been a routine C-rank task. After splitting the payment with his team, Uchiha Ming Jing received just over 10,000 ryō. For a genin, that was standard.
Still, combined with extra bonuses from past missions, he'd accumulated over 250,000 ryō—enough to finally invest in more advanced training tools and resources.
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Uchiha Clan Grounds – Private Training Field
"Uchiha Style: Snapfire Flame Sword!"
"Uchiha Style: Moon Blossom Slash!"
"Uchiha Style: Sword Jump Flame!"
In the heart of the training field, Uchiha Ming Jing, clad in short sleeves, wielded a wakizashi with practiced precision. Each strike flowed into the next, combining chakra and swordsmanship in a seamless rhythm.
By late morning, the sun climbed high. Sweat drenched Ming Jing's clothes, and he paused, panting.
"The Moon Blossom Slash is harder than I thought," he muttered. "According to Grandpa Yu, I need to fuse Fire Release with Wind Release to execute it properly. What I just did barely scratches the surface. Unless I master Swift Wind Blade Technique, I won't be able to truly integrate Wind chakra into my strikes."
He sat beneath a tree, applying a salve to soothe the overworked muscles in his arms. His tone was calm, but thoughtful.
Uchiha-style kenjutsu had evolved over generations. Though rooted in Fire Release, it had grown into a diverse system, thanks to ancient clan members who infused it with various elemental techniques.
The Moon Blossom Slash exemplified this: a sweeping, high-level technique using both Fire and Wind chakra to generate a devastating wave of fiery wind. However, it required mastery of both elements and exceptional sword control.
Ming Jing wasn't there yet—but he was getting closer.
His Wind Release was still developing, and his sword skills, while refined, hadn't reached the level needed for elemental fusion. Add to that the limits of his still-maturing body, and it was understandable why he couldn't yet wield the move to its full potential.
Still, he was proud of his progress.
Privately, the three members of Kato Dan's squad had sparred on several occasions. Ming Jing had won more bouts than he'd lost, suggesting a slight edge over his peers.
But it wasn't like his teammates were weak. Inuzuka Rui and Aburame Nami were considered elite genin—both had strong bloodline techniques and were likely candidates for future jōnin.
Part of Ming Jing's strength lay in the Sharingan, which gave him an advantage in battle. But his talent and relentless training also played major roles. He had been among the top students at the Academy and was once seen as a potential valedictorian.
While he didn't match prodigies like Uchiha Itachi or Hatake Kakashi—who graduated as chūnin at six and became jōnin by twelve—Ming Jing was certainly a genius by conventional standards.
Perhaps the unique merging of two souls during his transmigration had enhanced his mental faculties. His memory was near-photographic, and with the Sharingan, he could retain even more detailed information. His comprehension had grown sharper too—ninjutsu and genjutsu came easier to him now.
Even Uchiha Yu had been surprised when Ming Jing successfully demonstrated two genjutsu techniques just a day after learning them.
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After training, he returned home, washed up with cold water, changed into mission-ready attire, and strapped his wakizashi to his back. With his ninja pouch secured, he headed for the Hokage Building.
Kato Dan had told them they'd be receiving another mission. Though the last operation in Ironstone Town was successful, it hadn't met the evaluation standards he'd hoped for. This new mission was meant to provide further experience.
"Ming Jing, over here!"
Inuzuka Rui waved from the corner, calling out.
Ming Jing walked over to his team.
"Where's Sensei?" he asked.
"Right here."
Kato Dan's voice rang out behind them, calm and cheerful.
"This mission builds on your last one. You'll be seeing more blood."
He pulled a scroll from his ninja pouch.
"It's been confirmed that Tobita Yuichi, the noble from Ironstone Town, has been illegally smuggling iron ore to enemy nations over the past year. The Sunagakure attack four months ago? Likely a cover-up. With the chaos of a Sand invasion, Tobita could explain the missing ore as collateral damage."
Kato Dan handed the scroll to Ming Jing.
"The Daimyō of the Land of Fire and the village council have jointly decided: Tobita Yuichi is to be captured alive."
Kato's tone turned serious.
"After the bandit ambush by Okamoto Ichirō's group, Tobita grew suspicious. He's since hired a large number of samurai to guard him. They're not bandits—they're trained. Expect a fight."
Unbeknownst to his students, Kato had conducted his own intelligence work during their last mission. Now, the full picture was coming together.