One Week Later

A week later.

Still in the mountains behind Konoha.

"Snake-Ram-Monkey-Boar-Horse-Tiger!"

"Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!"

A boy's voice suddenly rang out from within the dense forest.

In an instant.

The silence of the woods was shattered...

A moment later.

A towering inferno surged toward the sky, incinerating all the lush trees in the surrounding area!

"Clatter."

As Yun Xi leaped down from mid-air, the branches scorched by the Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique he had just unleashed snapped off...

They fell to the ground.

Making a sharp sound...

It seems I have fully mastered the method for using the Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique...

Looking at the scene before him, a smile spread across Yun Xi's face.

One week ago.

At Yun Xi's request, Uchiha Itachi had finally agreed to help him.

He hadn't just taught Yun Xi the majority of his Fire Style ninjutsu.

He had also instructed him in practical taijutsu techniques and the proper way to throw shuriken!

Furthermore, throughout this past week, he had frequently brought Uchiha Sasuke along to help train Yun Xi!

The talent Yun Xi displayed had completely won Uchiha Itachi over!

In this short week.

Relying on the buff that granted him ten times the normal chakra cultivation speed, Yun Xi had pushed his internal chakra levels to that of an average Chunin.

Coupled with the unique affinity for fire-based ninjutsu he gained after consuming the Flame-Flame Fruit.

He was not only able to master various Fire Style techniques rapidly.

He could also significantly amplify the power of any Fire Style ninjutsu he unleashed!

Take the Fire Style: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique he had just performed, for example.

Although it was only a C-rank Fire Style technique.

Both its power and its range of attack.

Could rival some B-rank Fire Style techniques!

"Yun Xi, are you here early today?"

Just as Yun Xi intended to continue his training, Uchiha Itachi suddenly appeared behind him.

Only, unlike previous days.

Today, Uchiha Itachi had not brought Sasuke along.

"Where is Sasuke?"

After gathering the shuriken he had previously tossed onto the ground, Yun Xi's face flashed with surprise when he saw that Sasuke was not following behind Uchiha Itachi.

"I didn't bring Sasuke today."

Answering casually, Uchiha Itachi walked directly to the spot where Yun Xi had just unleashed his ninjutsu.

Looking at the scorched earth before him, Uchiha Itachi felt a touch of surprise.

To be precise.

The Yun Xi standing before him was capable of bringing him a different surprise every single day...

When he had first agreed to teach Yun Xi, Uchiha Itachi hadn't actually held high expectations for him.

After all, talent was just talent.

But converting potential into genuine strength required more than just aptitude.

It required, above all else, time and personal effort...

Uchiha Itachi had originally assumed that even if Yun Xi were gifted, it would be fundamentally impossible for him to master the Fire Style techniques he had taught him in a mere week.

Let alone develop any basic combat effectiveness.

But Yun Xi's subsequent performance...

Had completely slapped Uchiha Itachi in the face.

On the first day of their special training.

Although Yun Xi did not seem much different from before, still in the phase of familiarizing himself with ninjutsu.

Uchiha Itachi could sense an inexplicable energy within Yun Xi that he could not comprehend.

Furthermore...

This power was so immense that it even made Uchiha Itachi feel a sense of dread!

What shocked Uchiha Itachi even more was Yun Xi's subsequent performance!

After the first day of training concluded.

Yun Xi's performance had only left Uchiha Itachi feeling somewhat surprised.

After all, everyone in this ninja world had their own secrets.

It was not unusual for someone to have some strange quirks...

But...

On the second day, Yun Xi made Uchiha Itachi begin to doubt his own perception of reality!

Uchiha Itachi clearly remembered that when he first met Yun Xi, the amount of chakra within him was only at the level of a genin.

And compared to other genin, he was of the most mediocre sort.

Yet, when they met again the next day.

Uchiha Itachi discovered that the chakra within Yun Xi had undergone a massive transformation.

It was not just a significant increase in the volume of his chakra.

His physical constitution had also undergone a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering change compared to the Yun Xi from before!

After that, Yun Xi's progress every day was like flying...

Until today...

Although Yun Xi's overall combat strength was not yet on par with an average Hidden Leaf Village jonin.

Uchiha Itachi discovered that Yun Xi actually possessed the chakra reserves of a typical jonin!

In the span of a single week.

Yun Xi had actually jumped from the strength of a genin directly to that of an elite chunin!

"Hahaha, I didn't let you down, did I?"

As far as Yun Xi was concerned, he had already grown accustomed to the expression currently on Uchiha Itachi's face.

After a bit of teasing, a serious look gradually appeared on Yun Xi's face, and he spoke to Uchiha Itachi: "I have the ability to protect myself now. If there is anything you need help with, just say the word."

"No, there is nothing. I only hope that you will help Uchiha Sasuke if he ever encounters any difficulties in the future..."

Clearly, Uchiha Itachi had not expected Yun Xi to say such things.

After a moment of hesitation, Uchiha Itachi still proactively declined Yun Xi's offer...

"We can consider ourselves friends, right?"

If it were anyone else, they would surely nod and agree upon hearing Uchiha Itachi say this.

But Yun Xi was different!

He was a transmigrator.

And Yun Xi knew clearly that in the coming week, the plan for the Uchiha Clan Downfall was set to begin implementation...

And Uchiha Itachi was about to make the most important decision of his life!

At a time like this, Yun Xi was still determined to help him!

It could be said that in the incident of the Uchiha Clan Downfall, the most miserable person was not Uchiha Sasuke.

It was the person involved, Uchiha Itachi...

Uchiha Itachi had actually been tasked by Danzo to wipe out the Uchiha clan as the price for securing peace and stability for the Hidden Leaf Village.

To be precise, Uchiha Itachi had taken action on his own initiative for the sake of the Hidden Leaf's stability.

He had single-handedly slaughtered the entire Uchiha clan.

And although the Third Hokage, Sarutobi Hiruzen, had consistently insisted on using negotiations to resolve the conflict between the Uchiha clan and the Hidden Leaf.

Because the events unfolded so suddenly, by the time the Third Hokage learned of the matter, the entire Uchiha clan had already been killed by Uchiha Itachi...

Furthermore, by the time the Third Hokage reacted, Uchiha Itachi had already left the Hidden Leaf Village.

Subsequently, in order to monitor the Akatsuki, that mysterious organization of rogue ninjas, Uchiha Itachi chose to betray the Hidden Leaf and join the Akatsuki...

Although the character of Uchiha Itachi was established very successfully in the original Hokage series.

But through their interactions over this past week...

A pure friendship had already blossomed between Yun Xi and Uchiha Itachi!

Yun Xi did not want Uchiha Itachi to join the Akatsuki!

He did not want Uchiha Itachi to meet the bleak end depicted in the original story!

And he did not want his only friend in this world to head toward tragedy!