The Third Hokage's Lessons

"Your Lightning Release probably drains your stamina, not your chakra, right?" the Third Hokage asked.

"Yes, Sensei." Qingyun nodded.

"In that case, I know exactly how to train you. First, recover your health. Then we'll work on your stamina. Once it improves, there'll be very few people in the Shinobi World who can defeat you."

"Building your stamina will also increase your chakra. Then whether you use ninjutsu or that special Lightning Release of yours, you'll be able to defeat your opponent before they can act—or wear down someone stronger than you."

"You need to remember your strengths and consider your weaknesses. Make up for what you lack, and you'll always be able to defeat your opponents."

"Get some good rest. Once you're feeling better, come straight to me." The Third Hokage patted Qingyun on the head, then left with a kindly smile.

The Third Hokage had the Anbu secretly protect Qingyun, who happily recovered in the hospital.

Once he was well again, Qingyun immediately went to see the Third Hokage. After the Third Hokage carefully analyzed every part of that day's battle, Qingyun recognized his shortcomings and learned a great deal.

Only then did Qingyun understand what made the Third Hokage so great.

The Third Hokage wasn't some brute who ran around jabbing people with a stick. He was someone who enjoyed studying ninjutsu and analyzing others' battles as a pleasant pastime.

That showed how many of the Third Hokage's techniques had come from years of accumulated study. In his younger days, he'd favored fighting with ninjutsu and Taijutsu, and he'd taken a hard-line stance toward the other ninja villages.

But now the Third Hokage was middle-aged, and he seemed to have come to understand that force alone wasn't enough. His policies had grown much more moderate.

That was also one of the reasons Danzo was dissatisfied with him.

"Qingyun, relations between villages are much like relations between people. If they're harmonious, everyone can develop together more effectively. There's no need for military conflict."

The Third Hokage didn't just teach Qingyun how to fight; he often shared his ideas about governing the village, too. Qingyun was deeply moved, and came to know the real Third Hokage.

The Third Hokage was a tough man with a tender heart. His policies had once been quite hard-line, but later he had balanced firmness with gentleness. In his old age, he'd rather avoid trouble than stir it up. It was all for Konoha's stability and peace.

The Third Hokage was also a sentimental man. The fact that he'd spared Orochimaru made it clear how much he valued the exceptionally talented.

Qingyun didn't disappoint him, either. He answered the Third Hokage's questions with remarkable finesse and quickly earned his favor.

Once they'd finished talking, the Third Hokage officially began Qingyun's stamina training.

The Third Hokage's stamina training was actually very simple: running.

At first, Qingyun was puzzled. Running could build stamina, but the improvement wouldn't be all that noticeable.

But when he learned he'd be running with a heavy load, he understood the Third Hokage's intentions.

"Summoning Technique!" The Third Hokage summoned Enma, whose body was indestructible. Though incredibly agile, Enma was unimaginably heavy.

Imagine a four-year-old boy carrying Enma while running laps around a track. It was a task no ordinary person could accomplish.

Qingyun had Tsunade's Chakra Enhanced Strength, but that power usually burst forth in an instant when he attacked. It wasn't something he could use in everyday life.

Now, though, he had no choice but to use it for his stamina training.

Carrying Enma with the aid of his strength was easy at first. But by the second lap, Qingyun realized he'd nearly run out of stamina, and he slowed from a run to a walk.

Even so, Qingyun gritted his teeth and kept going. Since stamina was his weakness, he had to make up for it.

Whenever Qingyun felt like giving up, he thought of his goal.

He was going to become Hokage and change the entire Shinobi World!

No matter how difficult it got, he kept going.

Every time the Third Hokage saw Qingyun working so hard, he couldn't help but feel moved.

Such a gifted child, yet he's working so hard to improve himself. I doubt there's anyone in the entire Shinobi World who works harder than he does. The Third Hokage's affection for Qingyun grew with each passing day.

Of course, if Qingyun only had stamina training to do each day, he'd have plenty of free time. But in reality, he still had missions to carry out.

For a ninja, missions were part of the job. Qingyun still had to keep completing C-rank and D-rank missions.

Qingyun trained like this for half a year. Then one day, Hiruzen Sarutobi told him, "You've completed plenty of C-rank and D-rank missions. From now on, set aside two hours each day to fight me!"

As an absolute Kage Level fighter, Hiruzen Sarutobi had extremely rich combat experience. His mastery of ninjutsu and Taijutsu was unmatched. He was willing to be Qingyun's whetstone, and Qingyun couldn't have been happier.

Each time Qingyun fought the Third Hokage, his combat experience grew. After every defeat, he reflected on what had caused it.

Of course, Qingyun wasn't incapable of defeating the Third Hokage. He was simply holding back from using that Fruit ability for the sake of growing stronger in the future.

Some time passed. One day, Hiruzen Sarutobi looked at Qingyun and said, "You've been fighting me for a while now, and your progress has become more and more obvious. Next, I'm going to teach you ninjutsu."

Qingyun had been waiting eagerly for the Third Hokage to say those words.

As the Professor of Shinobi, the Third Hokage was best known for his ninjutsu.

And the fact that he'd decided to teach Qingyun ninjutsu meant he had finally accepted him as an important personal disciple.

Their earlier battles had helped Qingyun shore up his weaknesses. Now it was time for him to learn a new technique.

"The Sarutobi Clan's secret technique, the Great Flame Technique. Do exactly as I do." Hiruzen Sarutobi spoke with complete seriousness.

Hiruzen Sarutobi formed the Hand Seals once, and Qingyun committed them to memory. After all, Qingyun had an extraordinarily keen ability to sense and see through other people's chakra, as well as the Single Tomoe Sharingan.

In an instant, Qingyun grasped the key to the Great Flame Technique.

The first time he tried using it, he spewed forth intensely hot flames. They were powerful enough to burn an opponent to ash.

"The Sarutobi Clan's Fire Release doesn't seem any weaker than the Uchiha Clan's," Qingyun remarked in surprise.

But Hiruzen Sarutobi was even more astonished. He hadn't expected Qingyun to master the Sarutobi Clan's refined Fire Release so quickly.

"Qingyun, I used to say you had astonishing talent, but it seems I still underestimated you."