A Tree of Pear Blossoms Blooms

The river passes cold and desolate, the setting sun lingers upon the tower.

The four of them strolled leisurely through the streets of Konoha, savoring the calm before the storm.

Asuma and Kurenai Yuhi lingered behind, occasionally pausing at stalls and shopfronts, while Uchiha Jiang Feng walked ahead with Captain Kurenai Yuhi, exchanging insights on Illusion Technique training and practical experience.

No one in Konoha would mistake Jiang Feng for an ordinary Chunin—the Ninja World had yet to see a Three-Tomoe Uchiha who was merely at Chunin level.

"Everyone says the Uchiha rely solely on the Sharingan to boast Illusion Technique prowess that looks down on the Ninja World. Without the Sharingan, an Uchiha might not be much stronger than an ordinary Illusion Technique ninja.

I used to believe that myself, and now I feel a bit ashamed. Jiang Feng, your understanding of Illusion Technique is no less than mine."

Kurenai Yuhi sighed with emotion.

He was a renowned Illusion Technique master in Konoha, famous for his skill, while Jiang Feng was an Uchiha not known for Sharingan-based Illusion Technique.

Even so, for Jiang Feng to match him in pure Illusion Technique understanding without relying on the Sharingan meant that Jiang Feng's strength likely surpassed his own as a Jonin squad leader.

"Captain, there's no need to sell yourself short. I do have some unique insights into Illusion Technique, but most Uchiha..."

Hmm?

Mid-sentence, Uchiha Jiang Feng suddenly turned, raising a slender, jade-like finger to point—Twenty-Four Solar Terms Shocking Spirit Finger: Beginning of Spring.

The cycle of reincarnation begins, all things renew. The finger force, merging Internal Energy and Chakra, was both resilient and brimming with vitality. This Finger Technique, blending martial arts, Nintaijutsu, and Illusion Technique, conjured an illusionary yet real spring scene of revival.

The specially shaped Flying Thunder God Kunai, before it could close within a meter of Jiang Feng, was repelled by the resilient, life-filled finger force.

"Minato, I told you long ago—Jiang Feng would definitely see through your sneak attack."

Kushina led Kakashi and the other two, mercilessly teasing her boyfriend.

Kakashi crossed his arms, a glimmer of interest flickering in his dead-fish eyes. The finger technique Jiang Feng used to repel Minato-sensei's attack was something he'd never seen before... meaning his strength had improved again.

"What kind of move is that?" Minato Namikaze put away his Flying Thunder God Kunai, scratching his head curiously.

"A finger technique developed from the Twenty-Four Solar Terms."

Japan has the Twenty-Four Solar Terms, Japan does, so the Ninja World would too.

"Cool."

Minato Namikaze gave a thumbs-up. Kakashi cared about strength, but Minato cared more about style.

"It is indeed cool." Jiang Feng showed no modesty.

He had mastered at least several hundred martial arts techniques. If the Shocking Spirit Finger weren't cool enough, why would he bother training it?

"Can I learn this!?" Minato Namikaze eagerly asked another key question.

Such a Finger Technique could serve as a secret heirloom to sustain a small clan's survival. No one would casually teach such a good thing to others.

But Minato Namikaze knew he wasn't "others," and Jiang Feng wasn't "anyone." They were friends—close friends.

Jiang Feng casually tossed a scroll to Minato Namikaze. Last night, he had recorded the training method for the Shocking Spirit Finger, now developed to version 2.0.

"Why is it always something that needs Internal Energy and Illusion Technique to train?"

Minato Namikaze eagerly opened the scroll, skimmed the general outline, and immediately slumped his face, the light fading from his eyes as if he'd lost all his dreams.

Some friends close to Jiang Feng knew he had developed an energy system called Internal Energy and True Qi. Uchiha Jiang Feng had taught different cultivation methods to some friends, Minato Namikaze among them.

But everyone's results with Internal Energy training were less than ideal—only natural. Even the ultimate techniques of a Low Martial World, trained for decades, might not beat a Konoha Genin. Jiang Feng relied purely on the template rewarded by the system to rapidly stack over a thousand years of deep Internal Energy, brute-forcing power.

To push the version 2.0 Shocking Spirit Finger to its peak, he would inevitably need the composite energy of Internal Energy and Chakra.

Beyond that, there was one most critical step...

"You don't understand Illusion Technique. If your Illusion Technique skill isn't high enough, it's hard to create that illusionary yet real artistic conception. Without that conception, this finger technique isn't cool enough."

If it's not cool, why train it!?

Minato Namikaze nodded deeply in agreement. Why did he have no talent for Illusion Technique? He couldn't train Heavenly Flying Immortal, and he couldn't train this finger technique either.

But thinking that Jiang Feng had no Space-Time Talent, failed to master the Flying Thunder God scroll he'd received, and could only train the ordinary Body Flicker Technique, Minato Namikaze felt a bit more balanced.

"I'll try my best to see if I can modify this finger technique based on my own conditions."

Minato Namikaze stuffed the scroll into his pocket. This finger technique was too stunning—its pull on Minato was like the pull of IPX-811 on an old pervert.

What if I can actually get some results out of it?

The two squads merged. Kushina led the five brats, while the three men walked at the front.

Minato Namikaze said he'd recently perfected the training method for the Rasengan and would teach it to Jiang Feng later.

Jiang Feng nodded and said okay, but actually didn't plan to train it—because it wasn't cool enough.

Minato Namikaze added that this set of finger techniques did have some real depth, and his naming skills were impressive, but he had a better idea. For example, the move "Awakening of Insects"—what did Jiang Feng think of changing it to "Heavenly Thunder Roaring Shocking Heart Stirring Soul Wind Flower Snow Moon Hibernation"?

Jiang Feng immediately turned and ducked into the barbecue restaurant next door.

"I think the name I came up with is great. You have no taste." Minato Namikaze grumbled, following him inside.

This celebration feast wasn't perfect.

The turbulent, shifting undercurrents of the Ninja World had also affected the barbecue restaurant. The meat wasn't the freshest—most of Konoha's transport capacity was allocated to wartime supplies, and the best fresh meat was used to make Ration Pills.

Even though this barbecue restaurant had some connection to the Akimichi Clan, they still couldn't get the best cuts of meat.

On top of that, the seasonings were last year's leftovers. Even though this year's new spices had already hit the market, the current turmoil in the Ninja World had made the circulation of goods between regions far less frequent than in years past.

Yet everyone was still having a wonderful time.

"Friends" were probably one of the best seasonings in the world, and friends' stories made the finest accompaniment to drinks. At a banquet with friends, no matter what you ate, it would be joyful.

"Sigh."

Minato Namikaze, who had just returned from a mission on the front lines, set down his drink cup. "I wonder when this war will break out."

Jiang Feng also set down his drink cup. "Flowers bloom in their season. No one knows when they'll make their move."

Konoha occupied the best territory in the Ninja World, which already invited envy. If they took the initiative to expand, they would surely be attacked from all sides.

Add to that the Third Generation Hokage's conservative and steady personality, so Konoha's wars always began with a large-scale invasion from other ninja villages.

Minato Namikaze said, "I've already seen a tree of pear blossoms bloom."

"How so?" Jiang Feng looked over.

Pear blossoms, as it happened, were a type of flower with a fixed blooming season.

Minato Namikaze gave a mysterious smile. "You'll find out tomorrow when you see the Hokage. He has a mission to entrust to you."