Chapter 4: Genius Character and Drama-Savvy Mother
"Pfft—!"
Uchiha Xinmei burst out laughing. She couldn't help herself.
Watching her son's serious little expression and chubby cheeks, she reached out with a smile and gave them a playful pinch.
"You've changed so much in just an hour—it's hard to believe."
"Not just mentally, but physically too. Your vitality's gone through the roof."
Then she leaned in, studying his eyes carefully.
"Wait… could it be? Did you awaken your Sharingan?"
She hadn't sensed any pupil power from him—but with the Uchiha, one could never be sure. After all, the awakening of the Sharingan often triggered profound mental changes—and sometimes, physical ones as well.
But Tianyi calmly shook his head.
"Nope. No Sharingan. Not yet, anyway."
Xinmei frowned in thought.
"Hmm… if it's not the Sharingan, then maybe… a bloodline mutation? A hidden physical-type limit? Do you feel anything special?"
Tianyi tilted his head, playing up a bit of innocent confusion.
"Well… my brain feels really smart now. Like, I can understand anything I study. Does that count?"
Xinmei blinked.
"…Maybe?"
Then she sighed and smiled, ruffling his hair.
"Forget it. You don't need to explain it. Just remember—don't talk about this with anyone else. Not even your cousins."
"Only your father and I need to know. Got it?"
"Yes, Mom."
She straightened up, her expression shifting to something more calculating.
"From today on, we'll slowly start building up your reputation as a genius. That'll draw enough attention without raising any real suspicion."
"Being called a genius is a lot safer than claiming you awakened some mysterious power."
Tianyi felt a warmth in his chest. This was the first time in either life he'd experienced such natural, protective love.
This mother… she's sharp. I really got lucky this time.
"Alright, come with me. Let's head to the family library."
Uchiha Xinmei guided him to a sealed room near the back of the estate. Inside, several rows of shelves were packed with scrolls and books.
She pointed to the shelves closest to the entrance.
"Start here. These are general texts—history of the ninja world, Konoha, and our clan."
"They won't improve your strength directly, but they're essential if you want to understand how this world works."
Then, without waiting, she walked deeper into the library. At a small vault door, she pressed her palm against a seal matrix and unlocked it, then inserted a key and disappeared inside.
Tianyi stayed behind, calm and respectful. He moved to a shelf, pulled down a history book, and began flipping through it.
His fingers blurred.
By the time Xinmei returned, her arms full of scrolls, he was already closing the book and placing it back.
"Tianyi," she said, brow raised, "are you actually reading that?"
"Of course," he replied, turning to her with a smile. "Didn't I tell you? My mental strength and comprehension have exploded. I can memorize and understand most things with a single glance now."
He looked at the scrolls in her arms, eyes brightening.
"Are those all related to Chakra?"
"Uh… yes," she replied, slightly stunned by his confident tone. She laid them on the large reading desk.
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before she sighed, part awe, part disbelief.
"Photographic memory… lightning-fast learning… You're really not the same boy from this morning."
She gave him a long, thoughtful look.
"You might actually surpass Fugaku someday. Maybe even… Uchiha Madara."
Tianyi chuckled and shook his head.
"Who can say? For now, I just want to focus on improving steadily. I'm not chasing legends—I'm building a foundation."
"Good answer. Very mature," she said softly. "Alright, I'll leave you to your studies. You know where everything is now."
She turned to go, then paused, her hand half-raised to wave.
"Don't forget your poor mother once you become a famous genius."
Tianyi gave her a flat look.
"Mom… please don't start acting again."
She let out a dramatic sigh and half-covered her face.
"Oh no! My precious baby no longer needs me! Betrayed in my own home—how cruel!"
"Your acting's awful," Tianyi deadpanned. "If I really didn't care, would I remind you to go finish your chores so I can focus?"
She burst into laughter, reached out and pinched his cheek again.
"Alright, alright. I'll leave you be. Work hard, my little genius!"
With a wink and a skip in her step, Uchiha Xinmei left the room.
Tianyi let out a quiet breath.
Finally.
He sat at the desk, unrolled the first scroll, and began reading in earnest.
Three hours passed.
By the time the sun began to set, he had finished every scroll related to Chakra refining—over a hundred of them. Not just Uchiha techniques, but those from allied clans, historical texts, and even forbidden theories.
Mental framework established. Techniques compared. Flow channels identified. Chakra control models refined.
He stood and stretched, satisfied.
But instead of going to ask for access to the clan archives, he returned to his room and sat down to apply what he had learned.
He began circulating his chakra once more—this time with precision.
Using a method he'd designed by combining dozens of techniques, he constructed a dense web of cellular energy channels across his body.
One by one, he opened them.
The volume of his chakra surged.
His cellular channels responded perfectly to the advanced refinements, and the chakra yield began multiplying.
By the time night fell, Uchiha Tianyi had opened up 1% of his body's cellular energy channels. His chakra pool had expanded more than tenfold.
And this… was just the beginning.