Chapter 123: The Method of Training

Though he had done nothing at all, Itachi Uchiha could sense the intense dislike Obito Uchiha harbored for him.

This feeling left Itachi utterly helpless, for he had no idea how to respond.

He had hoped that with the passage of time, such hostility might fade.

Yet, it seemed otherwise; time did nothing to alter Obito’s perception of him.

“Teacher, it seems you don’t like me. Why is that?” Itachi finally broke his silence and asked outright.

He would be spending a long time under Obito’s tutelage and beside him, so he needed to understand the reason.

Obito looked at Itachi’s face, filled with quiet grievance, paused for a moment, then shook his head.

“What if I told you that some things simply have no reason? I just don’t like you on a purely instinctual level.”

Faced with Itachi’s question, this was the only answer Obito could offer.

He couldn’t possibly tell Itachi that his revulsion stemmed from the version of Itachi in the original story—the one who slaughtered his own clan and kin.

Such accusations would be an unfounded crime in the eyes of the current Itachi, and Obito couldn’t bring himself to voice it.

“An aversion without any reason at all?” Itachi lowered his head, feeling somewhat lost.

This explanation was hard for him to accept; he might have preferred a fabricated excuse.

Seeing Itachi’s expression, Obito hesitated, wondering if he should comfort him.

His dislike was indeed harsh on such a young Itachi, and he was fully aware of that.

Had he been in Itachi’s place, he might have felt even more pain.

Suddenly, Itachi lifted his head, determination hardening his features.

“Teacher, I don’t understand why any of this is happening, but I believe things can change.”

“I will strive to fulfill my duties as a student, at least enough to improve how you perceive me.”

Though Obito didn’t like him, Itachi was not willing to switch teachers.

When he saw Obito’s Mangekyō Sharingan, Itachi knew there was no better choice for a mentor.

So he was ready to work hard to change Obito’s opinion.

He refused to believe that there was such a thing as baseless hatred.

If he performed well enough, Obito’s impression of him would surely shift.

“Is that so? It looks like you’re ready,” Obito said, stroking his chin thoughtfully.

“If you have that resolve, then perhaps I can offer you a chance.”

He paused briefly before continuing in a low voice, “A chance to become stronger, even one that allows your Sharingan to evolve without you truly experiencing pain.”

When he spoke those words, Obito emphasized “truly” with a slight weight.

Because the Sharingan’s evolution required emotional trauma—this was both its nature and its flaw.

Only by possessing Terra could one bypass this step, something Itachi Uchiha did not have.

Even if Itachi were to join Terra eventually, he would only gain apostolic powers to supplement his strength in other ways.

At this stage, Terra could only aid him in this regard.

Thus, Obito would have to resort to another method.

Before employing it, he had to ensure Itachi’s trust.

“Evolution of the eye without pain?” Itachi’s eyes suddenly lit up at Obito’s words.

Though not a promise, it was enough to stir his heart.

“Don’t get ahead of yourself; I don’t approve of you yet,” Obito said slowly.

“I will only help you when I deem you worthy.”

“Until then, I will assist you only with the basics—ninjutsu and taijutsu training—fulfilling my duty as your teacher, nothing more.”

Itachi was not disappointed by this and replied earnestly, “That is enough.”

Obito smiled faintly. “Good. Then let us begin your first training session.”

“Understood!” Itachi responded with unwavering seriousness.

“I’m ready for whatever you require, no matter how strict.”

Because of the promise—no, the possibility—of evolving his Sharingan without suffering, no Uchiha could refuse.

Watching the determined Itachi, Obito’s lips curled slightly as he gestured toward the street outside.

Itachi felt puzzled, but Obito’s next words caught him off guard.

“A strong body is the foundation of strength. We will start with basic physical training.”

“From today onward, you will walk five hundred laps along the village streets—on your hands.”

The moment Obito finished speaking, Itachi nearly leapt with excitement.

Yet Obito had already stepped outside, giving him no chance to object.

At that moment, Itachi felt his life was shrouded in darkness.

***

Konoha’s main street.

The sweltering heat had thinned the crowds.

Still, as Itachi began to walk inverted around the streets, he attracted a large audience.

Almost everyone pointed and whispered, their expressions indescribable.

The murmurs were nearly unanimous—wondering if the son of the Uchiha clan head had lost his mind.

Some Uchiha, passing by during a guard patrol, also witnessed Itachi’s strange behavior.

They could not comprehend why the clan head’s son would act so.

“Damn it! Cursed Obito Uchiha!” Itachi cursed under his breath as he balanced on his hands, slowly circling the street.

The heat made his whole body feel aflame—not just from the weather but from a deep, burning shame.

The stares and whispers made it almost unbearable.

What was worse, while he was enduring this torture and public spectacle, Obito was comfortably seated at a nearby iced drink shop, sipping his beverage and watching with keen amusement!

“No. For the sake of my eyes, I will not give up!” Itachi shot a glare with the corner of his eye at Obito in the shop, gritted his teeth, and resumed his handstand march around the village.

Minutes ticked by, the sun slowly setting.

The crowd’s initial curiosity faded into indifference.

Yet news of Itachi’s handstand rounds swept through the entire village like a tide.

Especially given his identity, the gossip spread even faster.

Meanwhile, the instigator, Obito, continued to rigorously supervise Itachi.

Whenever Itachi showed signs of slackening, Obito would stand silently, watching.

Itachi would return his gaze full of anger and obediently press on with the training.

Seeing this, Obito felt an inexplicable joy.

What Obito didn’t realize was that while he was pushing Itachi so hard, he had already attracted unwanted attention.

Within the Land of Fire, two figures were making their way swiftly toward Konoha...