After some time.
Hatake Harukaze sat on the ground, panting heavily, bead-sized drops of sweat continuously falling from his face.
Both shocked and impressed, he said, "Uchiha, you're really strong. I can't estimate your strength at all."
"You must have hidden your strength during your match with Uehara Isami last time."
Hatake Harukaze believed that he was no weaker than Uehara Isami. Yet, when Uchiha Yuan had sparred with Uehara Isami last time, he had only seemed a little stronger than him.
But after personally fighting Uchiha Yuan, Hatake Harukaze truly understood just how powerful he was. It had completely exceeded his imagination.
An immense sense of powerlessness lingered in his heart. He felt as though he had just been striking a hill.
Even with all his strength, he had been unable to move Uchiha Yuan in the slightest. Every attack had been like a stone sinking into the sea, unable to stir even a ripple.
Hatake Harukaze looked puzzled and asked, "Uchiha, why aren't you hiding your strength this time? Aren't you worried I'll expose you?"
Uchiha Yuan smiled faintly and looked at Hatake Harukaze. "Then will you keep it a secret for me?"
Hatake Harukaze froze. After several minutes of silence, he said with utmost seriousness, "Although I don't understand why you hide your strength, since you trust me enough to show me your true strength.
"How could I betray that trust? Don't worry, I'll keep it secret."
At that, the smile on Uchiha Yuan's face bloomed. "You can call me by my name from now on, Harukaze."
Hatake Harukaze paused, then smiled as well. "Hello, Yuan."
The two smiled at each other. Then Hatake Harukaze asked, "Yuan, what do you think of my Taijutsu?"
Uchiha Yuan answered bluntly, "Weak. Far too weak."
"Your foundation is unstable, your strength is lacking, and your moves are chaotic and unsystematic. Like that straight punch you threw earlier..."
After hearing Uchiha Yuan's critique, Hatake Harukaze said somewhat incredulously, "Am I really that weak?"
Uchiha Yuan glanced at him sidelong. "You're weak in my eyes, but in other people's eyes, your Taijutsu might be pretty good.
"Perhaps you think those problems don't matter, and that Chakra enhancement can solve all of them."
Hatake Harukaze said nothing, but his expression clearly said, Isn't that so?
"Chakra can indeed enhance our physical strength and reaction speed. But you should also understand that the power produced by the same Chakra enhancement on an iron rod and a wooden stick is not the same."
Hearing this, Hatake Harukaze fell silent for a while before saying, "Yuan, I understand what you mean."
"I'll have to rely on your guidance for my training from now on."
Uchiha Yuan assumed a horse stance and said, "Copy this posture, then breathe according to the method I teach you. Remember, no matter how uncomfortable your breathing feels, you must hold on."
"This is called standing meditation. Combined with a special breathing method, it can help circulate your blood and vital energy while also strengthening your body's stability."
"When your blood and vital energy are strong, your body will be stronger, and you'll be able to refine more Chakra."
After hearing Uchiha Yuan's words, Hatake Harukaze began trying the standing meditation after his initial curiosity. His breathing gradually became slow and deep, taking on a special rhythm.
Uchiha Yuan stood to the side, occasionally pointing out when his breathing rhythm was wrong or when his posture swayed and became improper.
A short while later, Hatake Harukaze's face had turned red, his body trembling faintly as drops of sweat fell from his face.
"That's enough training for today. I didn't expect you to last nineteen minutes on your first attempt at standing meditation. That's a very good performance."
Hearing Uchiha Yuan's words, Hatake Harukaze quickly relaxed his posture. He first let out a long breath, then began gasping heavily.
His entire body was drenched in sweat, heat steaming off him. He had never imagined that simply standing still could be so exhausting.
"Yuan, is it really okay for you to teach me such an incredible training method?"
Although his body was utterly exhausted, Hatake Harukaze's instincts told him that the standing meditation just now had benefited his body.
Uchiha Yuan said, "You don't need to worry about that. But don't spread it around casually either."
Hatake Harukaze hurriedly said, "Don't worry, I won't pass it on."
Uchiha Yuan continued, "The two of us are merely classmates exchanging knowledge and improving together. I know the Hatake Clan's Taijutsu is very strong.
"Especially Hatake Blade Technique. The clan greatly admires White Fang's Blade Technique. He earned his formidable reputation through slaughter in the Ninja World."
"Yuan, you seem different from everyone else in the village."
Seeing the expression on Uchiha Yuan's face, Hatake Harukaze suddenly spoke.
Uchiha Yuan asked in confusion, "How am I different?"
"When people in Konoha mention the Konoha White Fang, their faces are full of disgust and insults. But not you. Your expression tells me that you seem to respect him greatly."
After saying that, Hatake Harukaze looked at Uchiha Yuan with both nervousness and anticipation.
Uchiha Yuan nodded, his expression solemn and serious. "Yes, I respect White Fang. In my eyes, he is unquestionably a hero."
Hatake Harukaze froze. Although he had been looking forward to Uchiha Yuan's answer, he was still stunned by such a direct and earnest response.
"But everyone in the village says White Fang was the shame of ninjas and a sinner of the village. Why do you... respect him?"
Uchiha Yuan sneered coldly. "The village's opinion is the village's opinion. Why should I follow it?"
"Without investigation, there is no right to speak. In my view, there are too many fools in the village. They only follow the crowd and have no thoughts of their own."
"Harukaze, as a member of the Hatake Clan, do you know White Fang's deeds?"
Hatake Harukaze shook his head, indicating that he did not.
Uchiha Yuan sighed. "I don't know much either. I only know that White Fang successfully completed many S-rank missions.
"During the Second Shinobi World War, it was said that White Fang slew Sunagakure's senior command on the front lines in one stroke, forcing Sunagakure to surrender.
"Even the Kage of the major ninja villages had to take White Fang seriously and could not afford to relax before him.
"The name of Konoha's Sannin shook the Ninja World, yet White Fang's name stood far above that of the Konoha Sannin in the Ninja World."
The Konoha Sannin had been the village's heavily promoted star figures in recent years, and they were now admired by all ninjas.
Hatake Harukaze could not help muttering, "So Uncle had such a great reputation in the Ninja World."
Uchiha Yuan raised an eyebrow in surprise. "White Fang is your uncle?"
Hatake Harukaze nodded, his voice low. "Yes. My father is my uncle's younger brother. He is a Special Jonin, but he was seriously injured during a mission several years ago and has been crippled ever since."
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