Cultivation

At this moment, Li Yi continued to execute his Dance of the Crescent Moon in mid-air. Though it seemed to take a long time, it had actually only lasted a fleeting instant; after all, Li Yi had caught sight of Uchiha Kagami's Sharingan and been pulled into a brief genjutsu world.

But it was only for that split second. As Li Yi's figure split into three, each wielding a blade and slashing at Uchiha Kagami from different angles, Uchiha Kagami finally moved. He simply drew a kunai from his ninja tool pouch and parried Ryujin Jakka, shattering Li Yi's Dance of the Crescent Moon.

"That will do!" Uchiha Kagami retracted his kunai, and Li Yi sheathed his Ryujin Jakka.

Looking at Li Yi's Ryujin Jakka, Uchiha Kagami praised, "A fine blade!"

Li Yi scratched his head and said, "It's a family heirloom; it's the only thing I have left."

Uchiha Kagami nodded and said, "For three months of progress, you have performed very well. Furthermore, I've discovered that your resistance to genjutsu is quite strong, which indicates that your spiritual energy is potent—that is a good thing. From now on, in addition to teaching you Fire Style, I will also instruct you in some genjutsu. Tomorrow, at eight in the morning, meet here!"

After Uchiha Kagami finished speaking, he vanished using the Body Flicker Technique. Li Yi took note of the location and then departed as well.

Once Li Yi returned to Kosuke's home, he mentioned that he had become Uchiha Kagami's apprentice. Kosuke merely nodded without saying anything.

Li Yi began to prepare a meal. Over these past few days, he and Kosuke had taken turns cooking. Kosuke showed no intention of driving him away, so Li Yi shamelessly continued to stay there.

In any case, he didn't have much money or a place to live, so he would have to wait until he had mastered his skills and could earn money through missions before considering moving out.

After they finished eating, Kosuke returned to his room, quickly retrieved a scroll, and tossed it to Li Yi. "This is the Konoha Style swordsmanship I know. I hope it will be of help to you in the future."

Li Yi opened it to take a look; it was the Konoha Style: Willow that Kosuke practiced, a form of ninjutsu-taijutsu that combined swordsmanship with genjutsu. Li Yi did not decline, accepted the scroll, and smiled at Kosuke.

Kosuke said nothing more. And so, in a silence shared between them, the next morning arrived.

Li Yi rose early, prepared breakfast, took his portion, and left the rest for Kosuke. Then, Li Yi ate as he ran toward the training ground.

By the time Li Yi arrived, the time was just right. Uchiha Kagami appeared right on cue. The moment they met, Uchiha Kagami tossed a scroll to Li Yi and said, "This contains the Fire Style and some genjutsu that I know. I will demonstrate the Fire Style for you first; follow along and learn!"

Li Yi didn't open the scroll but tucked it into his clothes. He could read it later, but now was Uchiha Kagami's teaching time, and he couldn't afford to be distracted.

Sure enough, he watched as Uchiha Kagami began to form hand seals slowly, then took a deep breath and said, "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

Well, the Uchiha's signature ninjutsu, Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique—famously known as the Fire Style that never actually hits anyone.

After Li Yi memorized Uchiha Kagami's hand seals, Uchiha Kagami began to explain the technique. Li Yi listened intently, then began to form the seals, channeling the chakra within his body, and took a deep breath. "Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique."

Unfortunately, his chakra control was too poor; Li Yi only managed to spit out a small fireball the size of a human head, and he even burned his own mouth in the process.

Uchiha Kagami didn't mock Li Yi, but instead said, "Most people are like this the first time they perform this ninjutsu. Just practice more. It's just that your current chakra control is too poor and needs training. Follow me."

Uchiha Kagami then began to climb a tree, explaining the technique to Li Yi: how to adhere chakra to the soles of his feet so that he could walk on the tree as if it were flat ground.

Li Yi tried a few times and fell down, but he adjusted quickly and was soon able to reach the top of the tree.

Uchiha Kagami nodded, quite satisfied with Li Yi's progress. He then led Li Yi to a small stream and began to explain how to walk on water.

This time, it was clearly much harder, as the water was flowing. After a morning of practice, Li Yi finally learned how to walk on the water's surface. At this speed, he could already be considered a genius.

At the very least, Uchiha Kagami felt satisfied. One had to remember that Uchiha Kagami was from the Uchiha clan, a group that produced geniuses as a matter of course; earning his praise was enough to prove Li Yi's talent.

After finishing the bento Uchiha Kagami had brought, Uchiha Kagami said, "Try the Great Fireball Technique again."

Li Yi nodded and began to form the hand seals. This time, channeling his chakra was much easier, and a massive fireball erupted from Li Yi's mouth before dissipating.

Uchiha Kagami nodded in satisfaction. Although the speed of the hand seals was a bit slow, that was something that required long-term practice. For Li Yi to be able to perform such a Fire Style with his level of chakra was already quite impressive.

Afterward, Uchiha Kagami had Li Yi take out the scroll, and he began to explain the Fire Style techniques written on it. It had to be said that Uchiha Kagami was a good teacher; he held no prejudice against those outside the Uchiha clan. Once he had accepted Li Yi as his disciple, he taught him wholeheartedly.

For the next period of time, Li Yi trained under Uchiha Kagami. Under the careful guidance of an elite jonin, Li Yi's ninjutsu practice progressed rapidly. He could even perform some genjutsu, though he was currently limited by his chakra reserves. Still, Uchiha Kagami found it incredible that he could learn the ninjutsu on the scrolls so quickly.

Although these were only common genjutsu and Fire Style techniques of the Uchiha clan, Li Yi had mastered them all. What remained was to achieve proficiency and learn how to combine the techniques.

These were things Li Yi would have to explore on his own over time.

One day, Li Yi arrived at the training ground as usual, and Uchiha Kagami was already waiting for him. Once Li Yi arrived, he said, "Li Yi, I am leaving the village to execute a mission, and it may take a few months. From now on, you will have to practice on your own. These are a few Fire Style techniques I've recopied for you; wait until your chakra reserves have increased before you attempt to practice them."

Li Yi accepted the scroll and thanked him, and Uchiha Kagami vanished from the training ground.

Li Yi felt helpless; it seemed he would have to practice slowly on his own for a while.

He opened the ninjutsu scroll and saw two B-rank Fire Style techniques: Fire Style: Great Fire Annihilation and Fire Style: Great Fire Destruction. Indeed, these were the Fire Style ninjutsu that Uchiha Madara had used against the Allied Shinobi Forces, and they were also signature Fire Style techniques of the Uchiha clan.