Great Teacher of the Ninja World

The training site was ultimately chosen in a dense forest three kilometers outside the Leaf Camp.

Going too far wouldn't do either—if something unexpected happened or an emergency assembly was needed, it would be a hassle.

Even so, it wasn't easy for Shota and Ooki when they applied to Danzo, given the wartime state.

And this went against the interests of Danzo and Hiruzen Sarutobi—their goal was to weaken the ninja clans, and the Hyuga were one of the largest. Danzo initially refused on the grounds of wartime conditions.

Then Hyuga Shin had Shota pass along a message, and Danzo had no choice but to reluctantly agree.

The exact words were: "Don't think you're the only smart ones here."

The next morning, Shota Hyuga led over a dozen Hyuga clan members on rotation rest to the dense forest for training. Hyuga Shin was already waiting there.

"Lord Shin, all the clan members on rotation rest have been brought here." Shota stepped forward.

"Shota, don't keep calling me 'lord.' Switch to 'elder.' I'm not from the Main Family, so I'm not that lofty." Hyuga Shin's gentle words were like a spring breeze.

"You young lads too."

Hyuga Shin was starting to build his persona.

"Yes, Elder Shin!" A smile broke out on Shota's face.

"You lot are in luck. Elder Shin is a surviving powerhouse from the Warring States Period! He's come specially to train you. I hope you'll take it seriously—if you grasp even a fraction of his skill, it'll be enough to keep you alive on the perilous battlefield. Now, greet Elder Shin!" Shota introduced him to the clan members behind.

"Greetings, Elder Shin!" The young Hyuga clan members chorused neatly.

"Good! Good!" Hyuga Shin replied with a smile, his voice aged.

"Elder Shin, I'll leave these clan members in your care for teaching. I'll head back now." Shota, as the squad leader, had many responsibilities and couldn't stay by his side the whole time.

"Don't worry, I'll teach them well. Go on about your business!" Hyuga Shin said with a serious expression.

Then Shota left using the Body Flicker Technique.

Hyuga Shin looked at the dozen or so young Hyuga clan members and began his performance.

Next came the training.

Hyuga Shin first had them state their names to close the distance.

Then he started his training path.

First, he had them explain what they were good at, then taught each clan member based on their strengths.

Basically, all the clan members attending this training only knew Hyuga clan techniques, with no other areas of expertise.

Some were skilled in Gentle Fist, some in Empty Palm, some in Eight Trigrams Palms, some in tracking, and so on.

Hyuga Shin then systematically taught them based on their strengths—after all, as the former strongest of the Hyuga, no one understood the clan's inherited techniques better than him.

Like a wise man, he unreservedly passed on his cultivation experience to the clan members.

He also arranged for them to spar on the spot, pointed out their shortcomings, and then taught them further.

His teaching style, explaining the profound in simple terms, gave every Hyuga clan member in the training huge gains.

He also shared various combat experiences from the Warring States Period, especially focusing on traps, stealth, and concealment techniques.

Of course, mastering these three life-saving methods deeply required a long time.

But since it was wartime and time was limited, Hyuga Shin taught the easiest things to learn—how much they grasped was up to them.

After a morning of teaching, all the training clan members had made great progress, because Hyuga Shin's lessons were all substance, with no filler.

The eyes of the assembled clan members were filled with gratitude and admiration for Hyuga Shin.

"That's enough for today. Go back and sort out what you've learned, and turn it into your own strength as soon as possible. Next time, I'll test you on this training. I hope you take it seriously, and I hope you're all here every time." Hyuga Shin's expression was earnest and stern.

"Elder Shin, I'll definitely work hard. Thank you for your teaching—it's made me clearly see my own shortcomings." A young Chunin named Makoto Hyuga bowed sincerely in thanks.

"Makoto, work hard. The future is yours! I believe you'll become a pillar of the Hyuga!" Hyuga Shin wore an expression of firm belief.

"Thank you for your selfless dedication, Elder Shin!"

"Akira, you're excellent. Believe in yourself! Don't be bound by chains! Your life is brilliant!"

"Thank you, Elder Shin!"

"Yuiwa, your foundation in tracking is solid. Keep it up—I believe you'll become an excellent reconnaissance ninja."

"Thank you, Elder Shin, for teaching me the Gentle Fist."

"Chiba, you're thoughtful. I believe you'll soon grasp the essence of the Gentle Fist. I hope you'll pass on that trait in the future."

"Thank you, Elder Shin, for guiding me in the Eight Trigrams Palms."

"Kosuke, you're a hard worker. Believe that effort never betrays those who give it! Keep at it, and you'll surely reap rewards!"

"Elder Shin..."

Every Hyuga clan member came forward from the heart to bow and thank him, and Hyuga Shin called each by name, offering encouragement and blessings.

Though his figure was stooped and aged, it grew towering in the hearts of the Branch Family members.

Finally, Hyuga Shin served them another bowl of poisonous chicken soup.

"You are all the future of the Hyuga Clan, delicate flowers that need careful nurturing. Unfortunately, this old man is already withered and decayed. I hope to use my limited life to light the path ahead for you!"

"My friends, on this journey forward, this old man may take his leave first, but with your existence, the Hyuga Clan will become all the more brilliant!" Hyuga Shin's face was full of sincerity as he brainwashed the crowd.

Looking at the impassioned Hyuga clansmen before him, their eyes brimmed with boundless hope!

"Go on back now. Come again for the next rotation. This old man hopes every single one of you returns for more training!" Hyuga Shin's aged words were stern yet steeped in sincerity.

The crowd acknowledged, then one by one they leaped away, heading for the Leaf Camp.

Hyuga Shin watched his departing clansmen and couldn't help but sigh: "My integrity is scattered all over the ground."

Even he found his own words nauseating. How did Hiruzen Sarutobi make that kind of talk his catchphrase?

The field had been plowed; after fertilizing, it would be time to sow.

In this foolish and twisted ninja world, what kind of trees would grow?

"Those who toy with fate will eventually be toyed with by fate!"

"Sage of Six Paths! Let's start with you!"

Let the world know the truth!

"The azure sky is dead; the yellow heaven shall rise." Pfft! Wrong channel.

"I! The Great Teacher of the Ninja World, shall begin my preaching!"

"At first, I fought for survival; then I fought for my clan; now I fight for the village; and in the end, I will fight for the peace of all beings in the ninja world!"

"We are born free—who dares to stand above us?"

"I see all beings as mayflies, but I see you alone as a green mountain."

"There is no fated ending—only a self that is not strong enough!"

"Protect your ideals well. In this twisted ninja world, we need firm faith even more!"

These lines were good—write them down. They'd come in handy when sowing below.

Hyuga Shin, pulling paper and pen from who knows where, quickly jotted down his thoughts, afraid he might forget.

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