New Senjutsu

In the empty Reception Hall, only Fugaku Uchiha remained. The meeting had gone exceptionally well, even better than Fugaku had imagined.

The Second Elder and the Third Elder wisely refrained from raising excessive objections, and their proposal received the support of all the elders.

This is truly all thanks to Taiichi; indeed, strength is the best passport in the Ninja World.

The Ninja Academy will be recruiting again soon. This time, all eligible children in the clan will be sent to the Ninja Academy to study, and no more children will be left to be trained separately in the clan. This is also a goodwill signal to the village.

Just as Fugaku was deep in thought, a figure rushed past the doorway.

Fugaku recognized him at a glance—it was his eldest son, Uchiha Itachi.

"Itachi, why are you so clumsy? Have you forgotten all the rules I taught you?"

Fugaku's reprimand immediately calmed Itachi, who was still immersed in excitement, causing him to stop abruptly in his tracks.

Itachi turned around and looked at his father sitting in the Reception Hall. He had been so happy that he hadn't even noticed that there was someone in the Reception Hall.

That's really... unacceptable.

Seeing that his son had regained his composure, Fugaku picked up his teacup, took a small sip, and then calmly asked, "Speak, what is it that you're in such a hurry?"

"Father, I have finally completed the practice task assigned by the teacher. I would like to ask the teacher for advice on the next steps in my studies."

Itachi's little face lit up with excitement again; clearly, even his father's authority couldn't suppress his emotions.

"Oh!" Fugaku nodded in realization, but then he realized what Itachi was talking about.

He quickly put down his teacup and asked solemnly, "Is it that—cultivation of Senjutsu?"

"Yes, Father." Itachi smiled and nodded happily.

"Haha, good, good, truly worthy of being my son, so talented in this area." Old Fugaku was overjoyed, and if it weren't for maintaining his fatherly dignity, he would have burst into laughter long ago.

"Alright, you should go find your teacher now. He should be happy about your progress too."

"Then I'll be going now, Father."

After saying that, Itachi took two steps back, turned around and slowly walked away. Once he was out of his father's sight, he immediately sped up and rushed to Taiichi.

"Heh, this kid—" Fugaku chuckled, knowing that Itachi's subtle movements could not escape his notice.

However— Senjutsu Mode, that's a power even Orochimaru hasn't mastered. Indeed, having Itachi become Taiichi's apprentice was the best decision he ever made.

Taiichi.

When Itachi arrived happily, he found that Jiangtai and Yami were also there.

In a flash, he realized that they, like him, had also achieved the ability to perceive Natural Energy at any time today.

Sure enough, when the two saw Itachi, without Itachi even having to ask, Jiangtai couldn't resist and stepped forward, hugging Itachi's neck and telling him everything.

"Itachi, I knew you'd come today. The three of us finished the teacher's assignment on the same day again."

Itachi looked helpless as he was being hugged, feeling the strength on his neck. Anyone who didn't know better would think that Jiangtai had a grudge against him.

Yami noticed Itachi's discomfort and slapped Jiangtai on the head, scolding him without any politeness, "You idiot, how many times have I told you, can't you control your strength?"

"Ah~ Ah~ I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, I got so excited I forgot."

Jiangtai awkwardly scratched the back of his head. It's no wonder he felt this way; ever since he could sense Natural Energy, his strength had been steadily increasing.

This matter also caught Taiichi's attention. After a thorough examination, all he could say was that Jiangtai had a special constitution. After he was able to sense Natural Energy, the Natural Energy was also actively permeating his body, resulting in Jiangtai's physical condition becoming stronger and stronger.

"It's nothing." Itachi cracked his neck and stretched his muscles. This kind of discomfort after a sudden increase in power was common for the Uchiha. He glanced around. "Hasn't Master arrived yet?"

"What, it's only been a short time since we last met, and you already miss me this much?"

Taiichi's voice came from afar, and the three little ones turned their heads in surprise, only to see Taiichi's figure emerge from the corridor.

Yami was the most excited. She ran over as fast as she could, shouting the good news, "Teacher, we succeeded! We can now feel the Natural Energy at any time!"

"Oh!" Taiichi smiled. "Is it the latest milky-white Natural Energy?"

Taiichi pressed further, explaining that since his breakthrough in Advanced Meditation and the discovery of deeper secrets of Natural Energy, he had used the newly discovered milky-white Natural Energy as a foundation to renew the energy seeds within the three individuals.

As expected, with their foundation and the guidance of the Taiichi energy seed, the three quickly sensed this purer Natural Energy.

"Of course! Teacher, please teach us the next step quickly, I can't wait!"

Jiangtai took a few steps to Taiichi, stuck out her buttocks, pushed past Yami, and grabbed Taiichi's hand and started shaking it.

A satisfied smile flashed across Taiichi's lips, but he immediately straightened his face, pulled his hand away from Jiangtai's grasp, and flicked it on the forehead.

"What are you swaying about? Do you think you're a child? Stand up straight and do it all for me to check."

"Ouch, ouch!" Jiangtai clutched her head, backing away as she complained, "If you're going to do an examination, why did you hit my head?"

As he spoke, he made no move, but from Taiichi's perspective, the Natural Energy around Jiangtai began to flow abnormally.

This can also be described as an observer effect: ordinary people cannot perceive Natural Energy, and Natural Energy does not react to ordinary people, just like it does to all things in the world.

However, once people observe Natural Energy, even if you don't actively interfere with it, it will be unconsciously disturbed by you and exhibit abnormal flow.

Taiichi's smile didn't disappear. He turned to look at Yami and Itachi and noticed that the Natural Energy around them was also disturbed.

Now, we can finally confirm the results of their cultivation.

"Very good. The fact that you completed the sensory training in such a short time shows you've put in a lot of effort. However—"

Taiichi looked at the three of them, his voice growing softer, "You all sensed Chakra almost simultaneously, and now you've completed your sensory training at roughly the same time. What's going on here—"

As Taiichi spoke, he fell into his own thoughts: Could it be that training with multiple people has a synergistic effect?

"Teacher!" Jiangtai didn't care about anything else. Seeing that Taiichi had already started to daydream, he immediately grinned slyly and shouted.

Taiichi's hazy eyes instantly locked onto Jiangtai, and the oppressive feeling generated by his alertness made the little brat Jiangtai stiffen up as if he had a stress reaction.

Sure enough, what a brat! If you don't discipline him for three days, he'll be climbing on the roof and tearing off the tiles. He even dares to interrupt the teacher's thinking; he's simply lawless!

An Adamantine Sealing Chains shot up from behind Taiichi and, with a twist in mid-air, wrapped around Jiangtai.

Before Jiangtai could even react, he was tightly bound and lifted into the air by the Adamantine Sealing Chains.

Only then did Jiangtai recover from his momentary daze, and immediately began to flail his arms and squeak wildly in the air.

"Teacher, I know I was wrong, please put me down."

The Adamantine Sealing Chains is no ordinary chain; it's Sealing Chains that can imprison Chakra. Once a ninja's Chakra is sealed, the resulting feeling of powerlessness and tingling is unbearable.

Taiichi ignored Jiangtai's struggles and twisted the chain again to gag him, silencing the noise.

"Alright, ignore him. Now that you've completed your sensory training, let's move on to the next step."

Itachi and Yami, who had originally wanted to plead for Jiangtai, immediately shut their mouths, straightened their expressions, and stared at Taiichi, afraid of missing a Taiichi word he said.

As for Jiangtai, who is still in the air, let him suffer there a little longer. After all, wrongdoing should be punished.

When Jiangtai saw that Taiichi had started lecturing like this, he immediately became anxious. He struggled to break free but could not, so he immediately gave up. His limbs went limp and he was supported only by the Adamantine Sealing Chains. He swayed in mid-air and listened to the lecture.

Seeing Taiichi appropriately relaxed the sealing effect of the Adamantine Sealing Chains so that Jiangtai would not be so uncomfortable and could listen to the lecture in peace.

In the end, she's all bark and no bite.

As the sun sets, the shadows of one adult and three children in the courtyard grow longer and longer.

"----Therefore, this method of absorbing and combining Natural Energy with Chakra, although it is slower to cultivate, can guarantee that there will be no phenomenon of Natural Energy erosion. It can be considered a safe cultivation method that I have summarized."

Yami and Itachi stared intently with their bright, watery eyes, listening to Taiichi's teachings without blinking. In the air, Jiangtai's limbs were also limp, only his ears were perked up to listen to the lesson.

"Alright." Taiichi waved his hand, Adamantine Sealing Chains lowered Jiangtai down, then shrank back behind him and dissipated into specks of golden light.

Taiichi glared fiercely at Taiichi, making Jiangtai beg for mercy repeatedly before finally letting it go.

He glanced at the sky and continued, "You can practice here for the rest of the time. I'll be watching you. Remember, when absorbing Natural Energy, be slow and steady. Otherwise, although you won't be corrupted, you'll still suffer a lot."

Yes. *3

As the sun set, the three little ones sat cross-legged in the courtyard, attempting for the first time to absorb Natural Energy on their own.

At first, all three were very cautious, taking it one step at a time and trying their best to control their absorption rate.

When Natural Energy enters the body for the first time, it combines with one's own Chakra for the first time.

As the first Senjutsu Chakra was born, that powerful force unconsciously lingered in the hearts of the three.

And so, things spiraled out of control.

This combination seemed to have a powerful attraction; the Natural Energy, as if it had gained its own consciousness, began to actively drill into the bodies of the three.

At first, the three of them could barely control it, but as the amount of Senjutsu Chakra in their bodies increased, their control became weaker and weaker.

What followed was complete loss of control.

The surging Natural Energy rushed wildly into the three people's bodies, as if it wanted to burst them apart.

The three children gradually showed signs of pain, but they were still trying their best to control themselves.

Finally, the first sign of loss of control occurred. Yami's spirit could no longer suppress the surging Natural Energy, which "burst" Yami's body in just a few seconds.

"Pfft--"

Almost all of Yami's Chakra was enveloped by Natural Energy, gushing out like a deflated balloon, and Yami's body went limp and she collapsed to the ground.

This is the inevitable result of excessive Chakra depletion and physical weakness.

Following Yami's example, Itachi quickly followed in Yami footsteps, collapsing limply to the ground with a clear "plop".

Jiangtai, perhaps due to his special constitution, lasted the longest, a full five minutes before finally losing control of his Natural Energy and collapsing to the ground.

"Haha, how was it? How did it feel?"

Taiichi looked at the three little ones on the ground, who could barely move a finger, and unusually, he showed a gloating expression.

It wasn't that Taiichi was intentionally trying to make a fool of them; it's just that if they weren't allowed to experience certain dangers firsthand, they wouldn't take them seriously.

Besides, this is just exhaustion, not turning into stone or a puddle of water, and he himself is there to look after her, so her safety is guaranteed.

After waiting for about half an hour, Jiangtai, who was the last one to collapse, was the first to get up.

Taiichi watched in amazement, secretly thinking that this guy might be the one who mastered the Sage Mode the best in the future.

Ten more minutes passed before Itachi and Yami finally got up.

The three sat on the ground, panting heavily, their faces pale, looking as if they were recovering from a serious illness.

Taiichi nodded secretly upon seeing this before issuing his warning.

"You've all felt it too; this is the danger of uncontrolled Natural Energy. And this is after my improvements. If you were cultivating the Senjutsu of the Three Great Sage Regions, it wouldn't be as simple as just being exhausted."

At this moment, the three of them truly understood the dangers of cultivating Senjutsu. They had only heard about it before, and since their previous cultivation had been smooth sailing, they gradually became arrogant.

But now that they've officially started, reality has given them each a resounding slap in the face, a slap so loud it will stay with them for a lifetime.

Taiichi was prepared, and at this moment he took out three Special Military Ration Pills from his pocket and handed them over.

"Here you go, one for each of you. Special Military Ration Pill by the teacher; you can't buy it outside, and others would beg for one if they could."

The three of them each took one, and the weakened group didn't notice the fleeting smile on Taiichi's lips.

"Just a reminder, it's best to swallow this medicine whole; never chew it."

Itachi took the Military Ration Pill, held it to his nose and sniffed it. A fresh, herbal scent wafted into his nostrils; it had Yakumi, but it wasn't unpleasant.

Hearing the teacher's reminder, he looked at the Military Ration Pill in his hand with a puzzled expression. Although it was not big, swallowing it in one gulp seemed quite difficult.

At this moment, Jiangtai and Yami were already preparing to eat. The weasel stopped examining the food and simply tossed the Military Ration Pill into its mouth. If it was difficult to swallow, it could just chew it up; it shouldn't be a problem.

A bitter taste shot from my mouth straight to the top of my head, then back down from the top of my head, gushing out from my nasal cavity.

This taste—it was truly—the most bitter thing he had ever eaten in his life.

My body involuntarily reacted by vomiting, trying to expel the bitter taste from my mouth.

"Clap, clap, clap."

Three crisp slaps rang out. Before anyone knew it, Taiichi had appeared behind the three little ones, slapping each of them on the back and forcing the Military Ration Pill they were about to spit out back in.

The three of them looked like unlucky guys who were about to choke to death, struggling to swallow the bitterness in their mouths. Jiangtai kept spitting out the bitterness as if he wanted to spit it out.

"Teacher, what is this? I've never eaten anything so awful!" Yami couldn't help but complain, sticking out her tongue as she spoke. The bitterness made her feel like her tongue wasn't even her own.

"You three ignorant fools! My Special Military Ration Pill are incredibly precious. Don't you feel any strength now?"

Taiichi spoke with righteous indignation and without blushing.

His Special Military Ration Pill were indeed effective, but why didn't they become standard supplies for Konoha Ninja? It wasn't that he didn't share the formula; it was simply that the pills were really hard to eat. The ninjas would rather eat a few more Military Ration Pill than eat Taiichi's special product.

However, Taiichi's special Military Ration Pill were indeed very effective; the three who were just limp a moment ago were already able to talk back in just one minute.

"Teacher, your Military Ration Pill are really—" Itachi tried to organize his thoughts, but couldn't think of a word, so he could only give a thumbs up to express his admiration.