It wasn't that they couldn't find anyone to ask; it was that the thought had never even occurred to them.
On top of that, most of the clan's strong fighters were either at war or recuperating, so rookies who had only just entered the life of a ninja rarely had the chance to ask them questions.
At that thought, the three of them stared at the expressionless Kosuke in astonishment.
They had not thought much of it before, but after Kosuke pointed it out and they considered it carefully, they really did seem like penned-up pigs—unbelievably stupid.
"You didn't think of it because the clan's strong fighters were all preparing for war or fighting in it, so you never had the chance to ask?"
Izuna nodded vigorously.
Exactly. When would we have had the chance to seek guidance from strong fighters...
Kosuke sensed Izuna's self-consolation and inwardly mocked him.
Had the Uchiha grown their eyes on top of their heads while developing?
There were plenty of people in the clan who had been wounded and withdrawn from the war. Why did they only know how to train by themselves?
How was that any different from feeling their way across a river by touching stones?
All he could say was that they had matured far too well!
Worthy of being the Dance King of the Ninja World's Eternal Mangekyo Petri Dish!!
"Kid, what kind of look is that?"
Noticing something off about Kosuke's gaze, Madara asked suspiciously.
"Haha, Madara, you saw wrong. Come on, let's continue."
"Ahem. Earlier, we talked about asking the clan's strong fighters about cultivating Mental Energy, but for some reason, none of you went looking for the retired experts in the clan to seek their advice? Even if you had no time, why didn't my mother ever see you asking them? Especially you, Sis!"
Kosuke's question left the three of them speechless. Mina's fair little face, in particular, instantly flushed crimson.
Kosuke's voice kept echoing through their minds, and shame and regret immediately filled their faces.
Seeing that, Kosuke continued without pause. "Even if, even if, even if you simply didn't think of it at the time, surely you would have thought of reading, studying, or focused mental training, right?"
"As for mental stimulation, forget it. I'm afraid one poke would leave you crippled."
Reading, studying, focused mental training?
"Mm-hmm. It's similar to the meditation your older brother mentioned earlier. Same effect, different method."
"But older brother has trained every day for the past two years. Why is he still like this?"
To Kosuke's ears, Izuna's retort sounded like the endless chatter of an idiot, and it stirred up a wave of irritation inside him.
He then turned his gaze to Madara, wanting to see how he would answer.
As for his own older sister, he had better not expect anything from her...
When he once again noticed Kosuke's gaze, Madara felt incomparably frustrated. And what was that supposed to mean, Izuna saying he trained every day and was still like this?
That was physical training!
Physical training!
And why was he being questioned again?
Was it just because he had stepped on their courtyard wall?!!
Just then, as thoughts tangled in Madara's mind, a flash of inspiration struck him. He suddenly raised his head and met Kosuke's gaze.
"Uh... maybe it's because I've spent the past two years training taijutsu and forgot to cultivate Mental Energy?"
"Hyouka! That's right. I guessed as much from the Body Technique: Body Flicker you used earlier." Kosuke turned his gaze toward Izuna. "Your older brother simply hasn't cultivated Mental Energy. Once he makes up for that weakness, what do you think...?"
"Hyouka? Little Kosuke, what kind of fruit is that?"
Hearing his older sister Mina's question, Kosuke continued speaking without missing a beat.
Meanwhile, after hearing Mina's question, Izuna silently committed it to memory. "Hyouka?"
As for Kosuke's question, he had not heard a word of it. All he could see was the fruit Mina cared about.
"Based on my personal guess, reading and studying require you to read profound, difficult books. That way, your brain will be forced into intense activity, thereby triggering an increase in Mental Energy."
Kosuke swallowed and continued, "As for focused mental training, that means Chakra control exercises, such as tree climbing and water walking. Those can also effectively train and increase Mental Energy."
"This satisfies the question you first raised—how to quickly increase the amount of Chakra."
"However, as I said before, you are still young and your bodies are in a developmental stage. I suggest that you train moderately every day. As for the proper limit... forgive me, I haven't even reached the age to refine Chakra yet, so I can't give you an exact amount. Figure it out for yourselves."
Seeing the three of them fall into thought, Kosuke smacked his lips, stood up, and returned to the living room by himself. He brought out two cups of water and set them before himself and his older sister.
"Then once I cultivate Mental Energy, can I increase the amount of Chakra stored in my body?"
At that moment, Madara's eyes seemed to reflect the sunset at the horizon. A faint red light clung to them, lending him an anxious air in the silent courtyard.
"How about I stab you a few times?"
"Kosuke, why would you stab my older brother with a knife?"
Hearing that, Izuna emerged from his thoughts and looked at Kosuke in confusion.
"So you ignored everything we were discussing just now? Of course it's to help your older brother grow strong sooner, become immortal, and ascend to the pinnacle."
"Ow, that hurt!" Kosuke suddenly raised a hand to cover the back of his head, looking plaintively at his older sister Mina. "Sis, why did you hit me?"
"I'll help Big Brother Madara become immortal sooner and ascend to the pinnacle!"
As she spoke, Mina raised her hand again.
Seeing that, Kosuke hurriedly protested, "Madara was the one who asked so urgently. It has nothing to do with me. Look at his expression yourself."
"Older brother?"
Hearing Izuna's voice, Madara could not help but sigh.
Had his adorable little brother really gone forever?
"Ahem, that's not what I meant. I meant, what books do we need to read? What kind can effectively increase Mental Energy?"
"Alright, Sis, put your hand down. Drink your water and listen quietly."
"Back to the point. I won't talk about focused training. As for books, I do know of one kind. It can develop your thinking and bring you into a state where the Dao follows nature. Of course, the key is to understand it. Perhaps you might even comprehend a path of your own from it."
"Oh, right, Madara. Does your Chakra circulate along a fixed Meridian route?"
Kosuke suddenly changed the subject and questioned Madara again.
"..."
That little brat really held a grudge. Next time he came to his house, he should use the front door.
"The route..."
"Forget it. Looking at you, you don't know either."
Madara had just been about to voice his thoughts when Kosuke suddenly cut him off, leaving him with an indescribable sense of indignation.
Suddenly, records from traditional Chinese medicine concerning the 361 Acupuncture Points surfaced in Kosuke's mind, along with two circulation routes.
Lesser Heavenly Circulation: the core circulation of Taoist internal alchemy, centered around key Acupoints such as the Ren Meridian and Du Meridian.
Dantian—Du Meridian (Weilü Point—Mingmen Point—Dazhui Point—Baihui Point)—Ren Meridian (Queqiao Point—Danzhong Point)—Dantian.
Greater Heavenly Circulation: all the body's Meridians connected.
Dantian—Twelve Main Meridians—Eight Extraordinary Meridians—Dantian.
"What would happen if Chakra ran along these two routes? And the Tao Te Ching!"
Thinking of the Spiritual Power circulation routes used in cultivation, Kosuke became increasingly convinced that it would work. He simply stood up again, returned to his room, took out paper and a brush, and began writing furiously.
They were both forms of energy. Chakra would definitely work. Even if it didn't, wasn't there still Sage Chakra?
And there was Natural Energy, too.
He suddenly snapped his head up, looked at his older sister sipping water in small mouthfuls, and urgently asked, "Sis, do you have the Chakra Refinement Scroll Mom taught you from this morning?"
"The Chakra Refinement Scroll? Little Kosuke, you're only three years old. You can't refine Chakra yet, so no! Mom put it away after she finished teaching."
Watching his older sister suddenly put on the air of a little adult, three black lines instantly appeared across Kosuke's forehead.
I don't want to die and go back yet. Isn't this place nice?
Love at twelve or thirteen... wasn't that nice?
"It's not for cultivation. I want to look at the method of Chakra refinement and verify a guess I have."
Thud. A heavy object was tossed onto the table, making a soft sound.
A guess??
Hearing Kosuke's words, Uchiha Madara immediately looked doubtful, a trace of curiosity rising in his heart.
Before you continue