Uchiha Fire Style Could Be Learned Too?

Uchiha Toru's expression shifted slightly. He immediately straightened up and bowed deeply. "Great Elder."

Shin-chan tilted his head, looking at the old man.

Great Elder?

What an old grandpa.

The Elder slowly walked over, his gaze settling on Shin-chan.

"And who is this?"

"He... he's my classmate," Uchiha Toru said nervously. "Shin Nohara."

The Great Elder said nothing, simply watching Shin-chan.

Shin-chan looked back at him.

They stared at each other for two seconds.

Then Shin-chan raised a hand and waved. "Hello, Grandpa."

Uchiha Toru stiffened.

The Great Elder paused too. Looking at the red-clad child waving at him, he wore a faintly bemused expression.

"What did you call me?"

"Grandpa." Shin-chan blinked. "Aren't you Xiao Che's grandpa?"

The Great Elder fell silent for two seconds, then the corners of his mouth twitched, as if he couldn't decide whether to smile.

"Come here."

Shin-chan walked over and looked up at him.

The Great Elder gazed into his clear eyes and asked, "You want to learn Fire Style?"

"Yeah!"

"Why?"

"Because it's cool."

Shin-chan answered as if it were obvious.

The Great Elder chuckled, perhaps amused. "Well, that works out. I'll teach you both."

Uchiha Toru was completely stunned.

The Great Elder hadn't personally taught the clan's children in years.

"What are you standing there for?" The Great Elder glanced at him. "Come over."

Uchiha Toru hurried over and bowed respectfully.

"Thank you, Great Elder."

"All right." The Great Elder waved a hand, then looked at Shin-chan. "You too. Come over and stand properly."

Shin-chan obediently stood in front of him.

The Great Elder raised a hand and formed the "Snake" seal.

"There are many basic Hand Seals for Fire Style, but the Great Fireball Technique uses Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, and Tiger."

He slowed down and demonstrated each one. "Did you get a good look?"

Uchiha Toru nodded. He had learned this Ninjutsu long ago, and the Hand Seals were second nature to him.

Shin-chan tilted his head and tried to copy the movements.

"Like this?"

The Great Elder's eyes widened slightly.

Had the boy really memorized it after seeing it once?

"Next is controlling your Chakra," the Great Elder continued. "Concentrate it in your throat. Don't hold it in—make sure it keeps flowing."

Shin-chan closed his eyes, muttering to himself. "Concentrate it in my throat... Let it flow..."

A few seconds later, Shin-chan suddenly opened his eyes.

"Is it like when you need to fart but hold it in?"

The Great Elder froze.

Uchiha Toru stared at him in shock. "Shin-chan, what are you talking about?"

"Isn't it?" Shin-chan tilted his head. "It feels pretty similar to me."

The Great Elder looked at him and couldn't help chuckling. "You've certainly got a unique way of understanding things. But Chakra does flow a little like that... well... like holding it in."

Uchiha Toru didn't know what to say.

"All right, you two try it together." The Great Elder stepped back.

Uchiha Toru nodded, walked to the middle of the training ground, took a deep breath, and formed the Hand Seals.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Flames burst from his mouth and formed a complete fireball in the air before slowly dissipating.

Uchiha Toru panted, then turned to look at Shin-chan.

Shin-chan stood there, awkwardly forming the Hand Seals.

Snake, Ram, Monkey, Boar, Horse, Tiger.

Then he took a deep breath and puffed out his cheeks.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

Pfft.

A puff of flame emerged from his mouth, like a tiny candle flame. It wavered, then went out.

Shin-chan watched the flame disappear, looking disappointed. "That's not like Xiao Che's Fire Style. Why is mine so small?"

The Great Elder was taken aback, then smiled. "Being able to breathe out fire on your first try is already very impressive."

"But it's so small..."

"Who can breathe out a huge fireball on their first try?" The Great Elder glanced at him. "What, do you think you're a genius?"

Shin-chan tilted his head and thought about it. "Aren't I?"

The Great Elder was at a loss for words.

Uchiha Toru said softly from the side, "Shin-chan, succeeding on your first try is already amazing. It took me ages just to breathe out a puff of smoke."

Shin-chan blinked and looked at Uchiha Toru.

"Really?"

"Really."

Shin-chan looked at the Great Elder too.

The Great Elder nodded. "He's telling the truth."

Shin-chan thought for a moment, then suddenly smiled.

"Then I guess I am pretty amazing."

"Don't get carried away," the Great Elder said. "Try again. Concentrate your Chakra a little more."

Shin-chan nodded and tried again.

This time, the flame grew a little, about the size of a fist.

On his third try, it grew even bigger.

On his fourth, he could breathe out a stream of fire half a meter long.

Uchiha Toru watched, dumbfounded.

He'd practiced for so long and could only breathe out a complete fireball. And Shin-chan had only been at it for...

"Try one more time." The Great Elder remained remarkably calm.

Shin-chan took a deep breath and deftly began forming the Hand Seals.

Then a burst of flame shot from his mouth, stretching more than a meter before exploding in the air.

Uchiha Toru's mouth fell open.

The Great Elder raised an eyebrow.

Shin-chan stared at the flames, stunned too. He turned to the Great Elder, his eyes shining.

"Grandpa, have I learned it already?"

The Great Elder was silent for two seconds, then smiled. "You've got a real talent, kid."

Shin-chan proudly bobbed his head.

"But," the Great Elder added, "talent isn't everything. You still have to practice—over and over."

Shin-chan's expression fell a little.

"I still have to practice..."

"Of course." The Great Elder stood up. "But that's enough for today. If you keep going, your throat will start to hurt."

Shin-chan touched his throat.

It did feel a little dry.

The Great Elder looked at Uchiha Toru.

"Xiao Che, you overthink things. You might do better if you relax a little. Don't keep focusing on having to succeed."

Uchiha Toru paused, then bowed deeply. "Thank you for your guidance, Great Elder."

The Great Elder waved a hand and turned to leave. After taking a couple of steps, he stopped and looked back at Shin-chan.

"Your name is Shin-chan?"

"Yeah."

"Come visit whenever you have time."

Shin-chan blinked. "I can?"

"Of course." The Great Elder nodded. "The Uchiha Clan's doors aren't always closed."

With that, he slowly walked away.

Shin-chan watched him go, tilting his head. "Xiao Che."

"Yeah?"

"That Grandpa seems like a pretty nice guy."

Uchiha Toru fell silent for two seconds, then said softly, "Yeah. Maybe he is."

The sun slowly sank toward the horizon.

Deep in the Uchiha Clan Compound, inside a house, the Great Elder sat on the veranda, gazing at a spot in the courtyard.

"Come out."

A figure slowly emerged from the shadows.

Young and stern, he wore the Uchiha Clan Uniform.