Where the Leaves Dance, Fire is Born Anew

The afterglow of the setting sun dyed the streets of Konoha a warm orange-red as the four members of Team Seven walked back toward the village.

The atmosphere was completely different from when they had set out.

Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki walked half a step behind Uchiha Ryūha, their footsteps cautious and tentative.

Their gazes darted toward Uchiha Ryūha's back every now and then, only to quickly look away.

Matsumoto Ryūichi walked slightly ahead and to the side of Uchiha Ryūha, his posture unconsciously lowered.

His spine was no longer held as straight as before; instead, he leaned slightly forward, as if he were leading the way, or perhaps... accompanying him.

"Lord Ryūha," Matsumoto Ryūichi finally couldn't help but speak again, his voice filled with irrepressible excitement and curiosity.

To the learned, one is a teacher; having finally witnessed a seal-less ninjutsu, he no longer cared about his pride.

Among the nobles, Matsumoto Ryūichi had risen to the rank of Jōnin as a commoner precisely by seizing every opportunity to ask questions.

"What you said earlier... about using the 'Eye of the Heart' to complete the shape and nature transformation of chakra within the body, skipping the hand seals. Is that truly possible?"

He asked very cautiously, even using the honorific "Lord."

Uchiha Ryūha adjusted his glasses, his gaze calm as he looked at the streets where lights were gradually flickering on.

"Theoretically, yes," he said in a detached tone. "The essence of hand seals is to guide and stabilize the flow and transformation of chakra through specific combinations of hand gestures. My Kekkei Genkai can 'dominate the five senses,' which naturally includes the 'perception' and 'reshaping' of my own chakra flow."

He paused, as if organizing his thoughts into simpler terms:

"Simply put, ordinary ninjas need to rely on hand seals as a 'mold' to shape chakra into the desired form and nature. I, however, can use my mental energy to directly 'imagine' that 'mold' and complete the shaping within my body. The hand seals are skipped, but the consumption of mental energy is much greater, and the requirements for control precision are much higher."

This explanation was the "reasonable" version Uchiha Ryūha had arrived at after careful consideration.

It explained the possibility of seal-less techniques while emphasizing the two key points: "Kekkei Genkai" and "mental energy."

He attributed all anomalies to the unknown Kekkei Genkai, the "Eye of the Heart."

As for the truth? Let them guess for themselves.

Sure enough, after hearing this, Matsumoto Ryūichi's eyes erupted with an astonishing light.

"Directly 'imagining' the model of chakra transformation... using mental energy to replace the guidance of hand seals..." he muttered to himself, his voice trembling. "To what level of thorough understanding of chakra nature and shape transformation does this require?"

He recalled his own experience learning the Fire Style: Great Fireball.

It had taken him three full months just to perform the twelve hand seals fluently and naturally.

It took another half a year before he could stably control the compression and explosion of chakra in his throat to release a qualified Great Fireball.

And Uchiha Ryūha?

No hand seals required.

No fixed chakra flow path required.

He used his mental energy to complete the extreme compression and shape molding of fire-attribute chakra directly within his body.

And then... instantly released the "Red Fire Cannon," a technique with power far exceeding the Great Fireball.

What kind of talent was this?

No, this had already transcended the category of talent.

This was a monster.

An existence that subverted the common sense of ninjas.

"No wonder... no wonder you were able to create such a technique yourself..." Matsumoto Ryūichi's voice carried awe. "To be able to compress fire-attribute chakra to that degree, with a temperature high enough to instantly vaporize a human body... this requires an ultimate understanding of the nature transformation of 'fire'."

He suddenly remembered the characteristics of the Uchiha clan.

The Uchiha were already famous throughout the ninja world for their Fire Style.

From the legendary Asura of the ninja world—Uchiha Madara.

To the current Uchiha Fugaku, the Uchiha's Great Fireball had always been a nightmare on the battlefield.

And Uchiha Ryūha... as a member of the Uchiha, possessing such earth-shattering talent in Fire Style seemed... logical?

Matsumoto Ryūichi began to frantically fill in the blanks.

Yes, that must be it.

Uchiha Ryūha was born with unparalleled affinity and control over fire-attribute chakra.

His "Eye of the Heart" Kekkei Genkai had further granted him terrifying mental energy and perceptual precision.

The combination of the two allowed him to achieve what ordinary ninjas wouldn't even dare to imagine—abandoning hand seals and directly completing the ultimate transformation of chakra within his body.

This was why he could unleash that high-powered, seal-less Red Fire Cannon.

Everything stemmed from his terrifying spiritual energy and his ultimate control over chakra.

The more Matsumoto Ryūichi thought about it, the more reasonable it seemed, and the more... terrified he became.

Such a genius, and he had actually thought about "polishing" him?

He had made him carry cages, catch cats, and write self-criticisms?

It was simply ridiculous!

Ridiculous to the point of being chilling!

If Uchiha Ryūha had felt dissatisfied at the time, or if he had harbored malice toward him...

Matsumoto Ryūichi shuddered, not daring to think any further.

He stopped in his tracks, turned around, and bowed deeply to Uchiha Ryūha.

"Lord Uchiha Ryūha, please forgive my previous ignorance and offense." His voice was incredibly solemn.

"It was I who failed to recognize a mountain, using the standards of an ordinary person to measure a genius like you. From now on, Team Seven will revolve around you. Any mission, any training, will prioritize your wishes."

Uchiha Ryūha would likely be his superior in the future; building a good relationship now was definitely the right move.

Seeing this, Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki hurriedly stopped as well.

Following Matsumoto Ryūichi's lead, they bowed ninety degrees to Uchiha Ryūha.

"Thank you, Lord Uchiha Ryūha!" Haruno Kazuya's voice trembled. "If it weren't for you, I would have died under the blade of that rogue ninja."

"Me too!" Fujiwara Itsuki's face flushed red. "And I shouldn't have gossiped about you behind your back... please forgive me!"

Uchiha Ryūha looked at the three people bowing deeply before him and remained silent for a moment.

Then, he sighed softly.

"Teacher, Kazuya, Itsuki, there is no need for this." He helped Matsumoto Ryūichi up, his tone gentle.

"I am still Uchiha Ryūha of Team Seven, your student and teammate. I have never taken those previous matters to heart."

He looked at Haruno Kazuya and Fujiwara Itsuki and smiled slightly:

"We are all comrades. Just as the Hokage says, where the leaves of Konoha dance, fire shall burn. Isn't that right?"

These words were sincere and humble, and paired with his delicate and gentle face, they made one feel as if they were bathed in a spring breeze.

But the awe in Matsumoto Ryūichi's heart only deepened.

Unmoved by favor or humiliation, humble and polite, with unfathomable strength... how could such a temperament belong to a ten-year-old boy?

This was clearly a... monster wearing the skin of a boy.

No, a genius.

He was an Uchiha, the future pillar of Konoha!

A surge of passion instantly welled up in Matsumoto Ryūichi's heart.

To be the instructor of such a genius, even if only in name, was the greatest honor of his ninja career!

"Lord Uchiha Ryūha is right!" He straightened his back, his eyes burning with fervor. "But your talent must never be buried! D-rank missions, finding cats and catching dogs, are simply a waste of your time! I will report today's situation to the Hokage immediately upon our return and apply for higher-level missions for you! With your strength, you should at least start with C-rank, no, B-rank missions!"

He became more excited as he spoke: "And training resources! I will apply for special allowances and high-level ninjutsu scrolls from the village in my capacity as your instructor. A genius like you must receive the best cultivation!"

Uchiha Ryūha looked at Matsumoto Ryūichi, who seemed ready to tear his own heart out, and was rendered speechless.

The power of overthinking was truly terrifying.

He had merely thrown out a reasonable explanation, and the other party had filled in all the logic himself, even beginning to plan his future.

However, this was fine.

It saved him a lot of trouble.