Chapter 22: The Top Student and the Struggling Student ()
The worst thing was when someone explained something to you and you wouldn't listen, you listened but didn't change, you tried but got it wrong, and even after getting it wrong, you still didn't change.
Uchiha Shin watched Madara, Izuna, and Hana listening attentively, their faces serious and eager to learn. He nodded to himself, then continued...
"Madara explained what chakra is and how to refine it."
"Now I'll explain why the amount of chakra a ninja can store varies so much."
"If you compare a ninja's body to a teapot, then the spiritual energy a ninja gains through training is the water inside it."
"So, the better a ninja's physical condition, the bigger the teapot. The more water it can hold, the higher its capacity."
"Of course, whether it's due to their innate constitution or later training, the better a ninja's physical condition, the more chakra their body can hold."
"The spiritual energy a ninja gains through training is the water inside the teapot."
"To sum it up, the larger the teapot and the more water it holds, the more tea it can pour."
"Put simply, the more chakra your body can store and refine, the better."
At this point, Uchiha Shin stopped and looked down at Madara, then asked...
"Madara, have you ever paid close attention to the ninjas in the clan? The ones who are weak at Taijutsu and in poor physical condition—don't they generally have less chakra stored?"
Hearing Uchiha Shin's explanation, Madara looked thoughtful as he recalled what he knew.
That was true. As far as he could remember, the clan members who were weak at Taijutsu and in poor physical condition generally had less chakra stored.
Madara's eyes lit up. "Big brother, you mean...?"
"Exactly. Even if those clan members who are weak at Taijutsu and in poor physical condition have strong spiritual energy, their physical condition limits their development."
"It's like how a teapot's capacity is limited by its size. Even if you have a whole bucket of water, the teapot is still only so big, so it can only pour so much tea."
Uchiha Shin explained with a smile.
"Big brother, do you mean that if I want to increase the amount of chakra my body can store, the first step should be physical training?"
A feverish glint flashed in Madara's eyes. He asked impatiently.
It was said that among any three people walking together, one was bound to be able to teach you something. You should learn from those who were good and correct what was wrong in yourself.
That had been a principle of learning since ancient times. No matter how the world or the times changed, it remained an eternal truth.
Madara had never encountered the things Uchiha Shin was talking about. When Uchiha Tajima had taught him to refine chakra, he hadn't explained them in detail, either.
So Madara had always been confused, not understanding why he was doing any of it. He had simply followed the instructions and practiced.
As for the reasons behind it, or why it had to be done that way, Uchiha Tajima had never explained any of that.
As for Uchiha Shin, he had once stood on the shoulders of giants, so naturally he knew more than Uchiha Tajima.
After all, whether it was science or the practice of ninjutsu, the principles behind them all followed the same fundamental rules.
Once you had studied the principles and understood the underlying logic, it was like mathematics...
As long as you had mastered the fundamentals, formulas, and logic, even the most difficult problems still fell within those rules. Solving them, then, wasn't all that hard.
As Uchiha Shin explained, Madara's eyes grew brighter and brighter, as if a door to a whole new world had opened before him.
"Of course, different ninjas have different natural talents."
"But no matter what, if you want to become a top ninja who can stand tall in the Ninja World, physical training is a step you can't avoid."
"Besides, the human body is an incredibly sophisticated instrument. It has a powerful ability to heal itself."
"So, as long as you keep breaking through your body's limits, your strength will keep improving."
"So remember: as long as training doesn't kill you, keep at it. Don't underestimate your body's limits or potential!"
Uchiha Shin chatted animatedly with Madara, Izuna, and Hana, holding nothing back as he explained everything he thought about a ninja's training.
"Let me ask you three something. Madara, Izuna, Hana—can all of you refine chakra now?"
Uchiha Shin's gaze swept across Madara, Izuna, and Hana.
They all nodded quietly, and Uchiha Shin began to think.
He wasn't surprised that Izuna, who was only three, could already refine chakra.
After all, this was the Warring States Period. Outside the Uchiha Clan's territory, the world was full of fighting.
Who knew if people were beating each other's brains out?
So, when it came to refining chakra, the earlier a ninja could do it, the earlier they could get started, and the better their chances of overtaking others.
"What about tree climbing? Have any of you mastered it yet?"
Uchiha Shin turned to Madara, Izuna, and Hana and asked again.
Madara and Izuna shook their heads. Only Hana nodded.
Seeing their different reactions, Uchiha Shin sighed inwardly.
Well, Madara was four and Izuna was three. Being able to refine chakra at all was already impressive. Was he expecting too much of them?
As for Hana, she had passed the clan's trial and become a qualified Genin. Tree climbing shouldn't be difficult for her.
"Then, Hana, tell us the principles and tricks for climbing trees!"
Uchiha Shin smiled at Uchiha Hana and called on her to answer.
"The principle and trick for climbing trees is probably to focus chakra in your feet, then walk up the tree like you would on the ground, without falling off?"
"Hehe."
Uchiha Hana scratched her head carelessly and smiled sheepishly. Then, from memory, she gave a rough explanation of what she had learned about tree climbing in the clan's short training course.
Watching Uchiha Hana grin foolishly as she gave a vague explanation, Uchiha Shin understood. She was probably the struggling-student type.
"Anything to add?"
Uchiha Shin asked again.
"I don't think so. I vaguely remember it being something like that."
Hearing Uchiha Hana say this, Madara and Izuna looked at her with a hint of disdain.
Their expressions seemed to say, How did this girl even pass the clan's trial and earn the title of Genin? Was she really a ninja of the Uchiha Clan?
"Ah, well then. Madara and Izuna can't climb trees yet, but since you can, give us a demonstration. I'll take a look."
Seeing the disdain in Madara and Izuna's eyes, Uchiha Shin felt a little embarrassed. No matter what, Hana was the first person to follow him.
Why did Hana seem so slow and not very bright? Had he been too hasty when he took her on as a follower?
Uchiha Shin began to doubt himself.
"Climb the tree right now? No problem..."
"Haha..."
Uchiha Hana laughed and gave Uchiha Shin a thumbs-up.
Then, brimming with confidence, she walked toward the target tree they used for climbing practice.
"Here I go..."
"Haha."
Amid Uchiha Hana's laughter, she sprang forward and went straight up the trunk, her feet thumping against it as she walked.
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