Talent

Once everyone had departed, only Madara and the three-year-old Qile remained on the desolate grounds. Madara moved slowly, then sat cross-legged, positioning himself so he could look the child directly in the eye.

"Little one, listen closely to what I am about to say and prepare yourself mentally. Starting tomorrow, your name will spread throughout Konoha. However, as for the words you spoke earlier, I suspect they will only circulate among the so-called higher-ups." Madara frowned slightly, his tone tinged with helplessness.

Hearing this, Qile's heart gave a violent jolt.

It was precisely because Qile believed they were in the early stages of Konoha's founding, and that Madara still held sway within the Uchiha, that he had concluded it would be impossible for that white-haired man to plant spies or incite defectors within the clan.

Based on that reasoning, he had summoned the courage to stand up and deliver that impassioned speech.

Yet, had Qile foreseen that his words would reach the ears of that white-haired man, he would undoubtedly have chosen to play the coward without hesitation, refusing to stand out, let alone speak up so bravely.

That man's temperament was likely no more merciful than the Asura of the ninja world standing right before him, Uchiha Madara!

Perhaps he might be a tiny bit more merciful, but certainly not by much.

If he deemed your existence a problem, he would surely take your life, especially since you bear the name Uchiha...

Right... Izuna...

Moreover, what was most headache-inducing and frustrating was that the white-haired man's intellect was beyond imagination!

Not only was he adept at developing all sorts of ninjutsu, but he was also a master of schemes and conspiracies!

"Ah, didn't you just tell them not to spread these things? Why must I prepare myself now?" Qile asked, full of confusion and bewilderment. He racked his brains, but he simply could not fathom the reason.

"Heh!" Madara sneered, a look of mockery crossing his face. "Fleeting peace is like an illusory dream, causing too many to lose themselves in it, blinding eyes that should have been clear and bright."

"The words you spoke might resonate with a small group, but the vast majority, after a moment of excitement, will continue as they always have, doing exactly what they were doing before."

"In just two years, the Uchiha clan has become unrecognizable; the internal situation is so complex that even I, as clan head, struggle to see through it." Having said this, Madara let out a deep sigh, the sound heavy with exhaustion and helplessness.

Just then, Qile, who had been about to press further, noticed Madara slowly rising from the ground.

"Enough, come with me. There are still things I must confirm." Before the words had even faded, Madara ignored Qile, turned on his heel, and began walking forward with a steady, unhurried pace.

Since Madara was not moving particularly fast, Qile had no trouble keeping close behind him.

Before long, guided by the moonlight, the two of them arrived at the edge of a shimmering lake and came to a halt.

At this point, Madara finally broke the silence: "Qile, tell me, what do you think is the most important thing for becoming a powerhouse?"

Upon hearing this, the word "effort" almost slipped from Qile's lips. However, just as it was about to slide past his teeth, he felt as if an invisible force held him back, forcing him to swallow the word.

"Talent..." Qile lowered his head slightly, whispering the word so softly that only he could hear it.

For a ninja, talent was undoubtedly the most important thing. Perhaps through unremitting effort, one could land a kick that stunned the crowd and shone with brilliance.

But could such an achievement be reached through effort alone?

The answer was certainly no.

That brilliant kick likely did not come solely from day after day of grueling training; it required innate talent as its foundation.

"Correct. For a ninja, it ultimately comes down to talent. All we do is dig deep to unearth and unleash the potential hidden within ourselves." Standing to the side, Madara bowed his head slightly, his gaze falling once more upon Qile as he spoke slowly.

He paused for a moment, as if considering how best to phrase what followed: "Your dream is incredibly grand, and to truly realize it, you must have the support of formidable strength. So... have you begun to refine chakra yet?"

Hearing this, Qile was startled for a moment, then nodded. "...Yes."

According to the memories of the original body, he had indeed already refined chakra.

Having received a definitive answer, Madara said no more. His hands moved in a rapid, fluid sequence of hand seals.

At the same time, he clearly recited the name of each seal: "Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger."

His speed was not fast, and Qile could see them with ease. The moment the Tiger seal was completed, Madara took a sharp breath and exhaled.

"Fire Style: Fireball Jutsu!"

In that instant, Madara's black hair, which cascaded down to his waist like a waterfall, was whipped up by a powerful gust of wind, dancing wildly in the air.

Then, a sight that defied belief occurred—a massive fireball was unleashed from Madara's mouth above the lake!

The raging flames turned the entire surface of the lake a deep red, and as the heat rolled toward them, the surrounding air seemed to ignite and warp.

Qile, who had been standing beside Madara and witnessing the entire process at close range, felt the scorching heat of the giant fireball firsthand.

He had expected to be thrilled by witnessing such a shocking scene, but the reality was the exact opposite; at this moment, his heart was filled with nothing but deep trepidation...

After all, seeing a fireball on a screen compared to experiencing it in person was like the difference between heaven and earth!

On the other side, Madara, having finished the demonstration, turned slowly and focused his gaze back on Qile. The implication could not have been clearer.

"Cough, cough... well... Lord Clan Head... is there any possibility that I simply don't have Fire Style chakra? Besides, I'm still so young; shouldn't we wait until I'm a bit older to try this?" Qile asked, testing the waters cautiously.

However, the only response was a flash of red light in Madara's eyes...

"Haha~ actually, I'm quite curious to see just how strong my own talent is, too." Qile gave a dry laugh, trying to ease the tension.

He then began to mimic the hand seals Madara had just performed, his fingers moving with agility, albeit slowly.

Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger.

As he performed the seals, he could clearly feel something flowing within his body. The moment he completed the final seal, he took a sharp breath, closed his eyes, and exhaled with all his might...