Training on the Right Track

After clearing things up with Might Guy, Qingfeng would be training independently most of the time in the days ahead.

He was an Uchiha. His taijutsu was progressing rapidly, but he could not neglect his ninjutsu training either.

Although Might Guy had tried his hardest to persuade Qingfeng to focus on taijutsu with him, Qingfeng still refused.

The Eight Inner Gates Formation had a clear limit, while the upper limit of ninjutsu was higher than that of taijutsu. The choice was obvious.

At the usual spot, in the Uchiha Clan Forest.

Qingfeng once again attempted the chakra-control training of "Tree Walking."

After several days of taijutsu training, Qingfeng no longer fell to the ground when coming down from rooftops. Like Itachi, he could now leap onto a roof in just two bounds.

The results were unexpectedly good. Qingfeng climbed the tree smoothly without the slightest wobble. He could even stand upside down on a branch, his feet firmly anchored to it without any problem.

As for Water Walking, he had to give that a try next.

There really was a small lake in the middle of this forest. Uchiha Qingfeng began traveling by spinning and leaping through the trees. It was indeed fast, though it consumed quite a bit of chakra.

When he reached the lakeside, he startled several birds into flight.

With a nervous heart, he placed one foot onto the water. The moment his second foot came down, he could no longer support himself, and both legs sank into the lake.

Was more chakra needed because it was water?

He carefully controlled his chakra and slowly increased it. His body gradually rose until he was standing completely on the water's surface.

That's all there is to it!

Walking on water for the first time felt quite good. His pace grew faster and faster until he was running across the lake.

With this kind of chakra control, as long as one aspect was perfected, the others only needed a brief try and a little more practice before they could be fully mastered.

I hope this one won't disappoint me.

Ox—Dog—Dragon—Rat—Dog—Boar—Snake—Tiger

Shadow Clone Jutsu!

An identical Uchiha Qingfeng appeared! This was not some low-level illusory Clone Jutsu, but a Shadow Clone with a physical body.

With a Shadow Clone, he would have much more free time in the future. Letting a Shadow Clone train for him was simply perfect.

Hand Seal speed was Uchiha Qingfeng's weak point, but he had never had time to train it properly. Now that he had a Shadow Clone, Shadow Clone No. 1 could practice Hand Seals until its speed matched the speed at which he called them out.

Having to shout them aloud was embarrassing enough. If he stammered while shouting them, he would make a fool of himself throughout the Ninja World.

Shadow Clone No. 1 practiced its Hand Seals nearby, while Qingfeng's original body followed the instructions on the scroll and pressed one hand to the ground.

The chakra in his body spread outward from him like a spiderweb.

Within a radius of more than ten meters, the insects hunting through the grass and the birds preening their feathers in the trees all entered Qingfeng's senses.

Although the range was not large at first, it was far clearer than what his eyes could see.

Of course, the Byakugan was an exception. Being able to observe everything within several kilometers in all directions without blind spots was indeed far more powerful than this Sensory Technique.

A Crow suddenly appeared within Qingfeng's senses. It was perched in the canopy, staring at Qingfeng. More importantly, he could sense the faint fluctuations of chakra inside its body.

It was definitely not wild!

The Uchiha's spiritual power was already greater than that of ordinary people. He had awakened the Three Tomoe directly before, and now there was Qingfeng as well. With the power of the two combined, he feared no one except the Nara Clan and certain Uchiha who had awakened the Mangekyo Sharingan.

It was just a Crow. He would activate the Three-Tomoe Sharingan and control it first.

Qingfeng felt his ocular power enter the Crow's mind, only to be bounced out by an even greater force.

So it has an owner?

The Crow above did not fly away. Its eyes merely changed into the shape of a Mangekyo Sharingan.

A Mangekyo shaped like a Four-Pronged Shuriken... Had Shisui awakened his Mangekyo already?

By the timeline, it was indeed around now. But it seemed his Crow had been watching Qingfeng?

Uchiha were easy to identify among themselves. The Sharingan could be activated and deactivated freely, so it was undoubtedly an Uchiha clansman. If the Sharingan could not be closed, then the eyes must have been stolen. That would make them an enemy of the Uchiha, the kind who would fight to the death.

Both sides had exposed their natural Sharingan, so there was no need for fellow clansmen to continue testing each other.

Shisui, wearing a Headband and carrying a Short Sword on his back, appeared in Qingfeng's line of sight.

In the time it took to blink, Shisui, who had just been in his sight, was standing before Qingfeng.

Is this the Body Flicker Technique? So strong. I couldn't see his movement at all. It feels similar to Instant Slash—both suddenly vanish and instantly appear.

Instant Slash needed a target, but Shisui's Body Flicker Technique could take him anywhere nearby.

He absolutely had to learn this kind of ninjutsu, which was perfect for showing off and could also save his life if he could not win.

Of course, it would be even better if he could learn the Flying Thunder God Technique. He had to try if he ever got the chance.

"You're Uchiha Qingfeng, right? I'm Shisui Uchiha. Itachi told me that you had already awakened the Three-Tomoe Sharingan. Now that I've seen it myself, you truly are a genius."

Qingfeng deeply sympathized with Shisui's fate. If possible, he would definitely save him. But Shisui's indecisive personality had to change, or he would be nothing more than a tool, just like Itachi.

"If I had a choice, I would rather never awaken the Sharingan."

Shisui fell silent. Eyes gained in exchange for family and friends were truly not worth it. From this, it seemed the Uchiha's title as the cursed clan was well deserved.

Power gained through hatred was indeed ominous.

"What you said about the clan and the village—Itachi's explanation was rather vague. Could you tell me again?"

So it really is about the Uchiha and Konoha? The Senju had withdrawn from prominence, leaving the Uchiha as the only dominant clan. They also did not know how to keep a low profile, so conflict was bound to erupt sooner or later. That was why the Second Hokage had guarded against the Uchiha from the very beginning.

He had to correct the balance Shisui had always sought. It was simply impossible to achieve. Had Shisui not later been discarded like a used tool?

Every peaceful coexistence came with bloodshed and sacrifice. What they needed to do was find the best solution, not maneuver between the sides. The longer it dragged on, the greater the harm and the more blood would be spilled.

"The village belongs to everyone. It does not belong to one person or one clan. A village where people love peace and live together—that is the meaning of Konoha's existence."

"If anyone wants to stir up conflict and fight for power and profit, we should not merely advise them. We should wipe out every last one of those who want to destroy this hard-won peace."

Qingfeng's meaning was simple: whoever caused trouble would be dealt with, no matter who they were or what clan they belonged to.

Shisui did not entirely agree with Qingfeng. "Is there no peaceful solution?"

Qingfeng sneered. "Desire is bottomless. Once the thirst for power has been awakened, and voices of opposition rise up, it is already impossible to resolve things through peaceful means. Only death can bring it to an end."

Uchiha Qingfeng was trying to warn Shisui. No one even knew who among the Uchiha Clan wanted to stage a coup and seize power.

Unless absolutely necessary, Qingfeng would not personally take action in such matters.

The Nine-Tails' Rampage had not happened yet. The Uchiha merely showed early signs of dissatisfaction that the Fourth Hokage was not an Uchiha clansman. In other words, Fugaku could still suppress the radicals within the clan.