Cultivating

"Not high enough, keep going! Keep going!"

In the afternoon, Konoha was at its most leisurely. Those who had classes were all dismissed, and the weather was slowly turning drowsy.

The soft breeze and sunlight were enough to make anyone sleepy; at this hour, most people were likely taking their afternoon naps.

However, in the small woods on the outskirts of Konoha, the sound that drifted through was not the soft snoring of a nap, but the whistling of kunai slicing through the air, followed by the sound of ragged, exhausted breathing.

Of course, the loudest sound of all was Yueshu's shouting.

Ever since Yueshu, Kushina, and Mikoto decided to train together to graduate early, the three of them had found a perfect spot for their practice.

In this small forest, there happened to be a clearing surrounded by a small lake. It was truly a picturesque place, and even the air felt incredibly fresh.

At this moment, Yueshu stood there, facing the two girls who were the same age as him.

The two girls were wearing training gear, not the pretty dresses other girls might wear, but their appearance was still refreshing to the eyes.

"You're still only halfway to the target. Don't overthink it; just walk up as if you're walking on flat ground. As for the chakra, treat it like drinking water—gently draw it up."

Yueshu was teaching them bit by bit, his gaze fixed on the sweat-drenched Kushina and Mikoto.

The two girls were wearing their training outfits, their beautiful little faces covered in sweat, their breathing rapid and shallow. They looked like ordinary people who had just run for several kilometers.

There were many trees around, and the one in front of the girls was already covered in blade marks, line after line, extending slowly from the bottom all the way to the top.

That's right, what Yueshu was teaching was the tree-climbing exercise from the original story.

It wasn't literal tree climbing, but rather using the chakra within one's body to adhere to the tree, allowing one to walk up it as if it were flat ground.

Of course, this wasn't easy to practice; controlling chakra was not that simple.

Chakra wasn't like a hand or a foot; it wasn't connected by nerves, but was a form of energy.

Naturally, such energy could not be manipulated with such flexibility in one's hands.

Moreover, Kushina and Mikoto were still just children. In the original story, Naruto and Sasuke didn't start practicing this until they were twelve.

"Let's take a break."

Yueshu spoke up. He hadn't expected Kushina and Mikoto to train with such intensity.

No matter what, they are still girls, Yueshu thought to himself. But it was fine; as long as they could graduate early, it would be enough. The early graduation exam at the Ninja Academy was naturally harder than the normal one, but it wouldn't be impossible. Especially now, in a time of peace, the chances of graduating early were quite high.

Originally, Yueshu had only intended to spend a little more time on it, but seeing the dedication of Kushina and Mikoto, he couldn't help but get caught up in the rhythm and increased the training load.

Kushina and Mikoto didn't complain. Should he say it was the nature of the ninja world? Or that they were children from prominent clans? To have such drive at only eight years old, especially as girls, was something very rare back on Earth.

"Phew."

Hearing Yueshu say they could rest, the bodies of Kushina and Mikoto finally relaxed.

Both of them plopped down onto the ground, looking truly exhausted.

"How is it?"

Yueshu walked over and sat down next to them.

"It's okay, quite tiring. This method is really good; it exercises both the body and chakra control."

Now that they were training partners, Mikoto could speak to Yueshu naturally, without needing Kushina as a bridge like before.

"Is this what you usually practice, you guy?"

Kushina looked at Yueshu and asked.

"I wouldn't exactly call it that."

Yueshu recalled his own training.

He was a lazy person by nature and didn't have much desire to train, though he would occasionally go to Sakumo Hatake to practice sword techniques and exchange combat experience.

Other than that, Yueshu didn't actively train.

But that didn't mean Yueshu couldn't do it or was bad at it.

When Yueshu first tried this exercise, he had tested it himself, and for some reason, even though he had never trained in this area, he was able to do it perfectly on the first try.

It wasn't just tree climbing; even the advanced water-walking technique was something Yueshu could master perfectly.

Yueshu didn't think he was some kind of genius, but he felt a strange sense of familiarity in his body. Whether it was climbing trees or walking on water, the moment he touched them, he felt as if he had done them countless times before.

It had been the same when he first transmigrated here. Yueshu was just a shut-in, and even if he had been disciplined about exercising or had played many sports, he shouldn't have had that kind of combat experience.

Yet, Yueshu had pulled it off. And it wasn't just that time; it was the same during the mission to rescue Kushina.

That feeling had appeared every time.

Yueshu didn't understand what it was; he could only assume it was a "cheat" that came with his transmigration. Perhaps he really was some kind of genius after all.

"What is it?"

Kushina looked at Yueshu with curiosity.

Yueshu didn't know what to say; he was truly just lazy.

He scratched his hair and sighed.

"It's nothing. Let's just say I'm a lazybones. You two should focus on the task at hand for now."

"Tch."

Kushina grumbled unhappily; she had just watched Yueshu climb trees and tread water with such ease, looking incredibly practiced.

A gentle breeze blew past, brushing against the faces of the three and drying the sweat on their skin. Mikoto chuckled softly to the side while Kushina and Yueshu chatted idly.

Mikoto truly could not believe that she would ever have moments like this.

As a member of the Uchiha clan, Mikoto had been different from most people since birth, yet she could never bring herself to possess the strange sense of superiority that her kin held.

It was true that the Uchiha clan possessed an innate bloodline limit, but Mikoto felt that one shouldn't be so proud—even arrogant—because of it.

Her parents were gentle people, not acting like members of the high-and-mighty Uchiha clan, but rather like an ordinary family in Konoha Village.

This resulted in Mikoto's personality being different from the rest of the Uchiha; she was calm and somewhat introverted. Because of her status, she couldn't make friends with commoners, and because of her personality, her own clansmen didn't particularly like spending time with her.

Perhaps that was why Mikoto's eyes often shimmered with loneliness, which was likely why Kushina, who found herself in a similar situation, resonated with her; it was no wonder the two had become best friends.

"What are you smiling about, Mikoto?"

Kushina's voice rang in her ears, and Mikoto snapped out of her daze.

Before her eyes were a boy and a girl looking at her, their gazes clear and bright.

Mikoto's smile grew even more radiant.

"It's nothing."

"It's just—"

"I'm just a little happy."

Mikoto's words seemed to carry a smile, and she continued to beam as they left her lips.

The surroundings were quiet, and a unique aura emanated from Mikoto.

Unlike the gentle, sun-like warmth of Minato Namikaze, Mikoto's presence was more like water—all-encompassing and inclusive.

"Yeah."

Kushina was infected by the mood, and she couldn't help but smile as well.

"I'm a little happy, too."

Kushina looked up at the sky; she was growing to love being together like this more and more.

It wasn't like when she had first arrived in Konoha, all alone and solitary, like a streetlamp at night, forever shining by itself in the darkness.

Thinking this, Kushina looked at Yueshu, who had also been caught up in the mood. Seeing him looking a bit foolish, her smile grew even sweeter.

Time is ruthless and never cares for anything; it simply marches on. But people have feelings, and that is why, within the heartless passage of time, there exist so many memories that, while plain and simple, are warm enough to sustain us.

"Hey, do you think we can graduate early?"

"Of course we can."

"That would be wonderful if it's true."