Tree-Climbing Technique

Keigo Uchiha watched Kamimura Yanoi on the platform, his expression serious.

The rookies also realized how important this lesson was. They had heard about tree climbing at home, too—it was a required skill for every ninja!

"Attach chakra to the soles of your feet, and use it to control your balance. That's the technique for climbing trees!"

As he spoke,

with the rookies watching, Kamimura Yanoi placed his right foot against the trunk. A moment later, his body was at a right angle as he walked up the tree!

Everyone's faces lit up with excitement and envy.

"So this is tree climbing? I thought it meant climbing trees with your hands!"

Akimichi Lie exclaimed in amazement.

Nara Kano helplessly rubbed his temples. "You really weren't paying attention, were you? Your father must have taught you this stuff. You didn't remember a single thing!"

"You should at least listen to some of it."

Yamanaka Asagao's pretty face was full of anger. "I'm going to make sure you learn how to climb trees!"

Senju Nawaki clenched his fists and looked at Keigo Uchiha. "Keigo Uchiha, I'll beat you and become the top student! One day, you'll lose to me!"

As he spoke,

he confidently placed his foot against the tree. The next moment, as he lifted his other foot, he lost his balance and fell to the ground with a thud!

He looked utterly pathetic!

"Heh."

Hyuga Ruri gave a disdainful huff. "Keigo Uchiha is a man only I can defeat. As the dead last, you should focus on improving your rank first!"

She took a deep breath, then shot Keigo Uchiha a challenging look. Without hesitation, she placed one foot against the trunk, then the other!

She stood firmly on the tree and walked upward, step by step!

All the way to the crown!

"Did you see that, Keigo Uchiha?"

She gave a haughty huff, her pretty face brimming with pride.

Keigo Uchiha chuckled. "If Hyuga Tenjin's granddaughter couldn't even do something like this, that would be a real headache."

He'd learned to climb trees a long time ago. It posed no challenge to him.

Without hesitation, he started climbing, walking steadily all the way to the crown!

He was even faster than Hyuga Ruri, and didn't wobble from side to side at all!

"Keigo-kun is amazing! As expected of a... genius..."

Inuzuka Mi's face flushed. She was even happier for him than she would have been for herself.

"Mi-chan, you have that kind of talent, too. You haven't contracted a Ninja Dog, but your chakra control is the best in the class. Climbing a tree won't be difficult for you."

Keigo Uchiha smiled as he spoke.

He was encouraging Inuzuka Mi.

Inuzuka Mi had shown her talent clearly during her first fight with Kurama Shimotsuki. No matter how Kurama Shimotsuki used genjutsu, she couldn't put Mi to sleep!

Others didn't know this, but Keigo did: that was a rare talent!

Her chakra was clean and pure, which meant her soul and will were also pure. That made controlling chakra feel exceptionally smooth and natural for her.

"I... I'll try!"

Inuzuka Mi's face turned scarlet, her fine eyelashes trembling. Her fair face was as red as an apple.

Her delicate hands trembled slightly.

She was a little afraid.

But when she saw Keigo Uchiha's encouraging gaze, she stepped onto the tree without hesitation. To her surprise, she managed to stand on it with ease!

Her body was incredibly steady, too.

She didn't wobble at all!

"So... this is the talent I have?"

Surprise filled her beautiful eyes.

If it weren't for Keigo-kun, she wouldn't have known... that she was this talented!

"That's amazing. Inuzuka Mi can do it, too!"

Gekko Yabu exclaimed.

It wasn't that they meant to put Inuzuka Mi down. She usually kept a low profile, rarely spoke, and was very shy, so everyone was surprised.

Everyone tried it one after another.

But in the end, only Keigo Uchiha, Hyuga Ruri, and Inuzuka Mi managed to climb the tree!

Even Sarutobi Shinnosuke, along with the genjutsu specialists Yuhi Kurenai and Kurama Shimotsuki, failed. The rookies' faces fell.

"How are you even supposed to do this? It's so hard! Keigo, teach me!"

Gekko Yabu jogged over to Keigo, looking frustrated.

Then he grinned slyly.

"Hehe, good thing you're here, Keigo. With you around, I'm sure I'll learn to climb trees in no time!"

Gekko Yabu looked full of confidence.

When Keigo Uchiha had taught him swordsmanship before, he'd noticed something: Keigo could always explain the key points in the simplest words and clearest way!

He would point out what Gekko was doing wrong and tell him how to improve.

It was incredible!

"You're getting lazier by the day."

Keigo Uchiha shook his head. He thought for a moment, and Gekko Yabu's words drew everyone over.

"Keigo, if you know a quick way to teach us how to climb trees, just tell us. My butt hurts from practicing, and I've already fallen twice!"

"Yeah, why is this happening? I specialize in genjutsu, so my chakra control should be good enough."

The rookies looked helpless.

With tree climbing, either you could do it or you couldn't.

If you pushed yourself too hard, you'd just end up with a sore butt!

Keigo Uchiha considered it. After a while, his eyes lit up, and he said, "All right, I'll teach you a method. Give it another try. The problem is that your chakra control isn't precise enough."

"You can't regulate the output precisely."

He smiled. "Try to shape your chakra into a thread. Make as many as you can!"

Chakra Threads.

It was a highly precise technique, usually needed only by medical ninja or puppeteers.

Ordinary ninja could do it, too, but it would take more time. And it was delicate work that was difficult to learn!

But Keigo Uchiha's goal wasn't to teach them the technique. He wanted them to learn precise chakra control!

"Chakra Threads?"

The others didn't understand, but they began trying anyway.

Half an hour later.

Yamanaka Asagao's pretty face was full of delight!

"I did it!"

Her long blond hair was a tangled mess from all the practice, but nothing could hide the joy on her face.

"So it's not enough to control the chakra precisely. You also have to keep releasing it continuously. You need both!"

"I get it now. Keigo's telling us to shape our chakra into threads so we can practice releasing it continuously and steadily!"

After Yamanaka Asagao succeeded,

the rest of the rookies followed, one after another.

"I did it, too!"

Nara Kano stepped onto the tree. He wobbled, but didn't fall!

"Hmph, what's so hard about this?"

Kurama Shimotsuki chuckled, a hint of pride in her gentle expression.

"Ha ha ha! You weren't saying that a moment ago!"

Sarutobi Shinnosuke laughed heartily. "We have Keigo to thank for coming up with this method and helping us learn to climb trees. He's a true genius!"

For a moment,

everyone exchanged glances, smiles on their faces.

Everyone's attention was fixed on Keigo Uchiha.

Brilliant, dazzling!