Taijutsu Sparring (Please Bookmark)

After extracting Chakra, Uchiha Kiyoshi calmed himself down before continuing to refine Chakra.

For his first Chakra extraction, Uchiha Kiyoshi needed to know roughly where his limit lay so he could control it better in the future.

Chakra was formed by fusing Physical Energy and Spiritual Energy. It only strengthened the body and offered no feedback or replenishment whatsoever.

In other words, the body's cells had to work without getting paid!

How terrifying!

Compared to other cultivation systems, the path of Chakra did not extend one's lifespan. On the contrary, it depleted it.

Ninjas who did not die in battle might seem to have lifespans similar to ordinary people, but there was actually a difference.

Although ninjas suffered lifespan loss, their constant training kept them from being troubled by illness. Ordinary people were different. Their bodies were frail, and coupled with sickness and pain, they might die before reaching their natural lifespan.

Overall, Chakra could bring tremendous power, but it also damaged the body. It was a double-edged sword.

Although surviving was the most important thing in a world like this.

Uchiha Kiyoshi had come to a world where cultivation was possible, so naturally, he also hoped to live forever. Therefore, he would refine as little Chakra as possible and definitely could not push himself to the limit every time.

Over the previous four years, it was not as though he had never considered solutions. However, having only just refined Chakra, Uchiha Kiyoshi had no time to put his ideas into practice.

Uchiha Kiyoshi refined Chakra with all his strength. Only when his body sent him a vague warning did he realize that he had reached his limit.

The Chakra in his lower abdomen, clearly thicker than a strand of hair, was twice the clan's average amount that Uchiha Ryu had mentioned! It also made Uchiha Kiyoshi realize that he had considerable talent in Chakra.

Feeling the emptiness in his body, Uchiha Kiyoshi sighed inwardly. What a pity. He could not refine Chakra to his limit in the future.

"Still, that's fine. I can refine half that amount each time in the future and hide my talent while I'm at it."

Uchiha Kiyoshi could only comfort himself like this in his heart.

Before Uchiha Kiyoshi could think any further, Uchiha Shin woke everyone up.

"Alright, another five of you successfully fused Chakra today. Not bad. But three hours have already passed, so it's time for Kunai throwing practice. Those who have not yet refined Chakra should work harder tomorrow."

Hearing Uchiha Shin say that five more people had successfully refined Chakra, several children visibly revealed envious looks. They were the few who had not yet successfully fused Chakra, though they were close as well. They were all stuck at the stage of finding the right ratio.

However, if they knew that Uchiha Kiyoshi had found the correct fusion ratio in only two hours, they would probably be enraged to death.

The day's training quickly came to an end. Uchiha Kiyoshi returned home as usual, soaked in a Medicinal Bath, and considered his future plans.

"Konoha can be said to be in an exceptionally peaceful period right now. Although the Third Hokage has been in office for a long time, he has only recently secured the power in his hands. Danzo is also busy consolidating his own authority and has no mind to suppress the Uchiha Clan for the time being.

Moreover, all the signs show that although Danzo strictly inherited the Second Hokage's ideas, the Second Hokage, Senju Tobirama, never actually insisted on suppressing the Uchiha Clan. He merely wanted to restrain them.

The reason Danzo was so proactive was, on the one hand, because he coveted the First Hokage Senju Hashirama's power. He discovered that only the Uchiha Clan's Sharingan could suppress Hashirama Cells, which was why he frantically collected Sharingan. Secondly, Danzo somehow learned of the Ninjutsu Izanagi. Driven by greed, he intensified his suppression of the Uchiha Clan and secretly assassinated elite Uchiha Clan members who had awakened the Three Tomoe.

However, Danzo probably has not begun researching Hashirama Cells yet, and he does not know about Izanagi either.

Right now, the relationship between the village and the Uchiha Clan is not so openly hostile. It is more like a difference in positions.

Even so, the tallest tree in the forest catches the wind first. That saying still makes sense. If my talent is too outstanding, neither the Third Hokage nor Danzo will allow their positions to be threatened, especially by someone from the Uchiha Clan.

Danzo's Root is short on people. If they set their sights on me and spend a great deal to force me into it, wouldn't that be disastrous?

Hiding my talent is necessary. Only then can I grow up smoothly."

Uchiha Kiyoshi kept turning over possibilities in his mind and ultimately decided to hide himself.

Uchiha Kiyoshi could still sense his own talent. His Chakra quantity was only one aspect. Perhaps because he had received rigorous, formal higher scientific education in his previous life, he could quickly understand all kinds of books he had read before.

What did that mean? It meant that Uchiha Kiyoshi's ability to learn Ninjutsu was definitely not poor, at least when it came to Medical Ninjutsu and Sealing Jutsu. But weren't those already the two most difficult systems to cultivate?

That was why Uchiha Kiyoshi had to hide his talent, or at least reduce the chances of drawing attention.

"Taijutsu is not highly valued right now, so I can reveal some talent in it. Uh... although I'm not especially outstanding in that regard either...

But I'm a mature person. I know what I want, and I won't slack off in training. Compared to those noisy little kids who love playing around, I'll naturally pull ahead in training time. Pretending to be a Taijutsu genius won't be difficult.

Then I can add Medical Ninjutsu? The Ninjutsu I reveal should also be defensive whenever possible. Wouldn't that firmly establish me as someone who's 'afraid of death'? And now that I think about it, that actually sounds pretty good!

Ahem... it's not that I'm afraid of death. It's for the persona, yes, for the persona..."

Uchiha Kiyoshi firmly refused to admit that he was "afraid of death."

After thinking it over, he settled on his direction of development.

"Medical Ninjutsu and defensive Ninjutsu are not urgent for now. I should focus on Taijutsu first.

Before long, we should begin training combat skills. Since I've decided on my direction, I should lean toward defense in every aspect..."

Having figured out his short-term goal, Uchiha Kiyoshi fell into a deep sleep.

Over the following week, the remaining few children gradually succeeded in refining Chakra as well.

Uchiha Kiyoshi also successfully "disguised" his Chakra talent.

After practicing for a full month, Kunai throwing no longer left his hands aching every time.

Uchiha Shin seemed to have calculated everything perfectly. The morning training did not interfere with afternoon sparring, and once everyone had successfully refined Chakra, he began combat training at this time.

"Starting today, we'll add some Taijutsu sparring to every day. Over the past month, I've gradually taught you some combat techniques and precautions for Taijutsu battles. Today, we'll see what you've learned."

Although Uchiha Shin said that, he did not have much expectation in his heart. During the previous month, he had pushed this group of brats to their limits every day. They probably had no mind left to listen to the techniques he taught.

Sure enough, after three sparring matches, the sight was simply unbearable.

They were not rolling around in a pathetic brawl, but it could hardly be called sparring either.

Uchiha Shin called up the next pair.

"Uchiha Kiyoshi versus Uchiha Tao."

When Uchiha Kiyoshi heard his opponent's name, he failed to react for a moment. Uchiha Tao? Was he perhaps Uchiha Ryu's brother?

Uchiha Kiyoshi had guessed correctly. Uchiha Tao was indeed Uchiha Ryu's younger brother. However, compared to his Jonin brother, Uchiha Tao was far more ordinary.

Of course, none of that had anything to do with Uchiha Kiyoshi.

After Uchiha Shin called their names, Uchiha Kiyoshi and another skinny child stepped forward together.

Uchiha Tao did resemble Uchiha Ryu somewhat. Even his height was like his older brother's, taller than children his age. At least among the children present, no one was taller than Uchiha Tao.

As Uchiha Shin gave the command, Uchiha Kiyoshi and Uchiha Tao formed the Seal of Confrontation.

Then both of them leaped backward in opposite directions, first widening the distance between them.

As Uchiha Ryu's younger brother, Uchiha Tao had not received any special treatment during the intensive training. However, he did have a Jonin brother, and Uchiha Ryu had taught him many combat techniques since he was young.

Right after pulling away, Uchiha Tao took out a Kunai. The reason it was called a Kunai was that the weapon he took out differed from the standard-issue training Kunai. It had been custom-made for its user, and with it in hand, Uchiha Tao could use it entirely as a short blade.

Holding the Kunai, Uchiha Tao rapidly closed in on Uchiha Kiyoshi.

Uchiha Kiyoshi was somewhat surprised. He had not expected weapons to be allowed in sparring, but seeing that Uchiha Shin did not stop them, he assumed it was permitted.

After dodging the other boy's strike, Uchiha Kiyoshi quickly took out a standard-issue Kunai before his opponent could recover.

Although a standard-issue Kunai was not as convenient for close combat as the other boy's weapon, Uchiha Kiyoshi could not exactly catch a Kunai barehanded, could he? He was not Nezha, guaranteed to catch blades with his bare hands.

Uchiha Tao recovered and stabbed at Uchiha Kiyoshi again.

By then, Uchiha Kiyoshi already had his Kunai ready. He turned sideways and raised it before him, blocking the horizontal slash.

Uchiha Kiyoshi retreated the instant their weapons touched. Seeing that he could not easily take down his opponent, Uchiha Tao continued attacking, chopping, slashing, and stabbing. There was not much sophistication to his moves, but they were still orderly enough.

At least in Uchiha Shin's eyes, it was far better than the performances in the previous few matches.

But... Uchiha Shin frowned as he watched Uchiha Kiyoshi continuously block with his Kunai. He was quite satisfied with his blocking technique, but... couldn't he at least counterattack?

It did not look like he was panicking too much to retaliate, so why was he just passively defending the whole time?

Uchiha Kiyoshi did not know what Uchiha Shin was thinking beside the field. As he continued blocking Uchiha Tao's attacks, what had initially been difficult gradually became effortless.

Even Uchiha Shin was astonished by that improvement.

"I didn't expect this kid Kiyoshi to be quite talented in Taijutsu. His improvement is so obvious.

But attack already. What the hell is this, blocking without attacking?"

Uchiha Shin inwardly praised Uchiha Kiyoshi first, but then felt frustrated by his insistence on merely blocking.

Uchiha Shin could not help thinking, I finally found someone talented in Taijutsu. Don't tell me he'll end up knowing only defense?

Shaking his head, Uchiha Shin continued watching the two sides battle in the field.

By then, Uchiha Tao and Uchiha Kiyoshi had been fighting for ten minutes.

Unable to defeat Uchiha Kiyoshi all this time, Uchiha Tao was becoming anxious.

Because he had remained on the offensive, Uchiha Tao's stamina was gradually giving out.

In contrast, Uchiha Kiyoshi, who only needed to defend, still had plenty of stamina. At least, he could probably keep fighting for another five or six minutes.

A minute later, Uchiha Tao finally surrendered from exhaustion.

Uchiha Kiyoshi had won his first match. Of course, if that could even be considered a victory.

After forming the Seal of Reconciliation, Uchiha Kiyoshi returned to his place beneath Uchiha Shin's strange gaze and watched the other groups spar.

The first sparring session ended just like that. Uchiha Shin commented on everyone's performance. Perhaps he felt that Uchiha Kiyoshi's situation today was merely an accident, so he did not specifically correct him.

Then came another round of intense physical training.

And just like that, the intensive training truly got on track.

With Uchiha Shin's guidance, Uchiha Kiyoshi's Taijutsu improved by leaps and bounds, though his style might have been somewhat off...

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