Fugaku: Ao, I'll teach you the Great Fireball Technique

"The original really knows how to enjoy himself." The Shadow Clone walked to the riverbank, bent down, and cupped a handful of clear water to splash on his face. Water droplets slid down his chin, refracting fragmented light under the sun.

He straightened up and shook the water from his hands, the smile at the corners of his mouth growing more pronounced, his eyes filled with mockery.

Although this Shadow Clone enjoyed gossiping about the original behind his back, he hadn't forgotten his mission.

The Otsutsuki Bloodline possessed immense potential; traversing the cosmos with their physical bodies and crossing through time were simple feats for them.

Yet, his own development of the Otsutsuki Bloodline was still far too lacking.

Setting aside time travel or cosmic traversal, he should at least be able to manifest a Bloodline Net to be worthy of the name.

However, he didn't know much about this aspect, and could only rely on some speculations from his past life and the Otsutsuki Bloodline's affinity for and control over chakra.

As everyone knew, the nature transformations of chakra were divided into seven types: Fire, Wind, Lightning, Earth, Water, Yang, and Yin.

When two chakra nature transformations fused, a new ninjutsu was created, known as a "Kekkei Genkai."

For example: Wind + Water = Ice, Earth + Water = Wood; the new attribute resulting from the fusion of two identical attributes wasn't necessarily the same.

And the fusion of three chakra nature transformations to create a new ninjutsu was called a "Kekkei Tota."

Currently, in the Naruto world, Uchiha Ao only knew of one Kekkei Tota: Dust Release.

Dust Release was developed by the Second Tsuchikage, fusing Wind, Fire, and Earth chakra attributes.

Its effect was also very simple and brutal.

It could directly disintegrate an opponent into an atomic state.

In his view, unless he became a Six Paths sage or was in a Reanimation state, he shouldn't even think about taking that head-on.

The Bloodline Net, which stood above both of these, was fused from all seven nature transformations: Fire, Wind, Earth, Water, Lightning, Yin, and Yang.

For him at the moment, although he possessed the Otsutsuki Bloodline, it wasn't enough to support his development of a Bloodline Net.

The Shadow Clone rubbed his chin.

Fire was the attribute he was most familiar with, and the one he remembered most clearly that could fuse with Fire to create a new nature transformation was the Lava Release of the Four-Tails Jinchuriki, Roshi.

Lava Release was formed by combining Fire and Earth nature transformations.

"Earth attribute, huh." The Shadow Clone tried to slowly blend Fire and Earth chakra in his palm.

The scorching flames licked at the soil, but only succeeded in baking the mud until it cracked; the two forces repelled each other the moment they touched, turning into wisps of blue smoke that dissipated into the air.

"Not working?" Although the first attempt failed, it was within his expectations.

If it were that easy to succeed on the first try, Kekkei Genkai and Kekkei Tota would be as common as dirt.

Just then, footsteps came from behind him.

The Shadow Clone looked over instinctively.

The newcomer wore the iconic black high-collared robe of the Uchiha clan, with the scarlet clan crest embroidered on the hem.

The man stood with his arms crossed, looking at him with a gaze of slight appreciation.

"What is your name?" Uchiha Fugaku asked.

The Shadow Clone had actually sensed a powerful chakra fluctuation in the vicinity for a while.

However, this place wasn't a private area, and many clansmen liked to come nearby, so he hadn't paid it much mind.

"Uchiha Ao." The Shadow Clone stood straight, the scent of scorched earth still lingering on his fingertips. He met Fugaku's sharp gaze, a smile tugging at his lips. "I didn't expect to run into the Clan Head here."

"Nothing to do, just taking a walk." Uchiha Fugaku was actually out to clear his head because the internal conflicts within the clan had become increasingly acute, and the suspicion from the Konoha higher-ups combined with the dissatisfaction of his clansmen left him struggling to breathe.

His gaze swept over the scorch marks remaining on the Shadow Clone's palm. "Are you training?"

Seeing a five or six-year-old child training so diligently as he passed by, Uchiha Fugaku couldn't help but think of what his eldest son, Itachi, was like when he was young.

The same stubborn eyes, the same focused expression; it was just that the child before him clearly lacked guidance, as the scorch marks on his palms were still oozing blood.

As the head of the Uchiha clan, he felt it was necessary to step in and guide such an ambitious clansman.

"Yes, training." The Shadow Clone didn't refute him; after all, developing a Kekkei Genkai was a form of training, wasn't it?

Uchiha Fugaku nodded upon hearing the Shadow Clone's reply.

The fact that there were still young people in the clan willing to settle down and delve into ninjutsu gave him a rare sense of comfort amidst the dual pressures of internal clan strife and Konoha's suspicion.

"I see multiple burns on your palms; they must be from practicing Fire Release, right?" Uchiha Fugaku said confidently.

"Uh... yes, Clan Head." The Shadow Clone didn't want to directly clarify that he was actually developing a Kekkei Genkai, so he took the easy way out and followed Fugaku's lead.

"Ao," Uchiha Fugaku called his name, his tone serious. "A tall building rises from the ground; your understanding of Fire Release is still too shallow. Today, I will teach you the most basic, yet most core, Fire Release technique of the Uchiha clan: the Great Fireball Technique."

As he spoke, Fugaku stepped back a few paces and formed hand seals. "Watch closely: Boar-Horse-Tiger. This is the most basic sequence of seals."

As the final seal was completed, Fugaku took a deep breath, his chest swelling high. The next moment, a massive fireball erupted from his mouth.

The moment the fireball swept across the surface of the river, the water instantly boiled, evaporating at a speed visible to the naked eye and turning into a sky full of white mist.

Uchiha Fugaku first looked at the results of his work with satisfaction, then turned to look at Uchiha Ao, who was standing still, seemingly stunned by the power of the technique.

"How was that?"

But the Shadow Clone, standing there in a daze, wasn't frightened by the power at all.

Instead, he only felt somewhat speechless.

As a clan head, are you really this idle?

And what exactly are you so proud of?

Fugaku, do you believe that if I were to pull out my Great Fireball Technique, it would be bigger than yours?

The Shadow Clone's mouth twitched, and while he grumbled inwardly, he still had to maintain a respectful facade: "The Clan Head's strength is naturally formidable."

Fugaku nodded slightly, maintaining a profound and mysterious expression on the surface, while internally he was already thrilled to bits.

Hahaha, did you see that, you bunch of clan elders? Even a child acknowledges me.

You old fogies, always saying I act too conservatively and that I have no way of managing the clan—now do you see how impressive this Clan Head is?

If everyone in the clan were like Ao, why would I ever worry about the Uchiha Clan not flourishing?

Although the Shadow Clone didn't possess mind-reading abilities, from the way Fugaku's mouth twitched from time to time and the corners of his eyes lifted slightly, he could guess that the Clan Head was likely fantasizing about some self-gratifying drama.

He suppressed his urge to laugh and said respectfully: "Clan Head, I have already learned the Great Fireball Technique. I wonder if you could teach me something else?"

Since Fugaku enjoyed teaching, he wouldn't stand on ceremony.

He would learn as much as the man could offer.

This was the confidence that came with having Sister Izumi and Shisui as his safety net!