The next morning, Kogaku brought him into his private study, unlocking a hidden door that opened to a small, secret chamber filled with scrolls. Many displayed the Uchiha clan symbol, each containing techniques exclusive to their family.

“This is our family’s hidden archive,” Kogaku explained. “Some of our most guarded techniques are stored here. Only those who prove themselves are allowed access to these secrets.” He handed Fugaku a scroll. “This covers the basics of sealing techniques. Sealing is easy to learn but hard to master. Only a few ninjas truly excel at it, as it takes years of dedicated practice.”

Fugaku accepted the scroll and a unique pentagonal key his father gave him. “This is the key to the chamber,” Kogaku said. “You’ll be allowed access to more scrolls over time, but remember not to let these secrets consume you. Many have fallen into that trap, chasing techniques at the expense of true power. Knowledge alone isn’t enough; without strength, it’s meaningless.”

“I understand, Father,” Fugaku replied. “I’ll focus on building my strength above all else.”

Leaving the hidden chamber, Fugaku unrolled the scroll and began studying it. Sealing techniques required careful, methodical practice. At their core, they worked by trapping or containing objects within a defined space—whether they were living or non-living, visible or invisible. The Uchiha were known for their combat skill more than their sealing, but over time, they had collected sealing techniques from battles, raids, and captured scrolls.

Fugaku studied each symbol and technique in the scroll. Sealing relied on combining specific symbols to form a complete seal, each character representing an aspect of the technique. Advanced sealing required direct chakra control to create the symbols in the air or even on living bodies.

The first step in mastering sealing was learning to draw the symbols accurately. Fugaku spent two weeks practicing the basics. Every morning, he’d train his body as usual, and in the afternoon, he’d immerse himself in sealing exercises, gradually memorizing each symbol.

Finally, it was time for a test. Fugaku decided to try in the forest near the Uchiha compound, where he found an anthill with busy ants swarming in and out. Kneeling down, he carefully drew the symbols in a circle around the anthill. With a final seal, he pressed his hand to the earth, activating the barrier.

Lines of symbols glowed faintly, joining above the anthill. The ants stopped in their tracks, unable to cross the barrier. “It worked,” he thought, but soon noticed some ants began biting through the lines, breaking the seal within a minute. “A simple seal without a physical barrier won’t last long,” he realized.

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Back in his studies, Fugaku practiced variations of the sealing technique until he felt ready to try it on a larger target. In the forest, he spotted a rabbit darting into a hole and a mouse scurrying out from under a log. He caught the mouse and brought it home for his next experiment.

Once back, he prepared a glass container, carefully inscribing symbols on its surface. After placing the mouse inside, he pressed his hands on the container, focusing his chakra into the seal. Symbols glowed around the glass, forming a visible barrier. The mouse tested the walls, pawing at the symbols but unable to escape.

Over the next week, Fugaku tested the sealing techniques on small animals, refining his control and learning the limitations of each seal. Some seals held longer than others, and certain symbol combinations created sturdier barriers.

It was tiring, but as he practiced, Fugaku felt his skill in sealing techniques slowly improve.

A month after returning from the Land of Rain, he could confidently perform basic sealing techniques with a simple formation. Ready to challenge himself further, Fugaku decided to test his skills on a larger animal.

As he walked toward the back mountain, a voice called out behind him, “Fugaku! I hear you’ve been diving into sealing techniques lately.”

Turning, Fugaku saw Jin. He approached with a friendly smile, though Fugaku sensed a hint of concern. “Sealing has its merits, sure, but focusing on it at your age seems like a waste. Wouldn’t it be better to train in ninjutsu and build your strength?”

Fugaku greeted him with a respectful nod. “Don’t worry, Jin. My strength hasn’t slipped. I’ve been training hard, and I can feel my skills growing.”

Jin’s eyes brightened. “In that case, why don’t we spar? It’s been a while, and I’m curious to see how much you’ve improved.”

Fugaku accepted the challenge eagerly. A sparring match was the perfect way to test his progress since the Land of Rain.

They soon found a clearing in the back mountain, facing each other with serious expressions. Jin eyed him cautiously. Fugaku could tell Jin wasn’t going to hold back—he didn’t want to be beaten by someone younger and once weaker than him.

Both activated their Sharingan, the three-tomoe spinning as they watched each other closely. Fugaku felt confident; though they both had the three-tomoe Sharingan, he had gained a lot of power, giving him an edge.

A silent breeze swept through the forest, rustling the leaves, as the two Uchiha stood still, locked in an invisible battle of wills. Fugaku channeled his Sharingan power into his gaze, weaving subtle illusions, but Jin countered effortlessly. Their Sharingan were trained to catch even the slightest shifts, and both were skilled enough to cancel each other’s illusions.

Realizing illusions wouldn’t work, they moved at once, throwing kunai and shuriken in a rapid exchange. The metal weapons clashed midair, deflecting off each other and sparking as they scattered into the trees or the forest floor. For average ninjas, this would be dangerous, but for two Uchiha with Sharingan, it was more of a warm-up.

Their Sharingan tracked every move, every deflection, turning the flurry of projectiles into an intricate dance rather than a deadly fight. Soon, they closed in, kunai in hand, each searching for an opening. Their blades clashed, sending sparks flying, but Jin had the upper hand in strength.