Chapter 15

Unfortunately, none of this had anything to do with Mingye. As a blind man who could not even convert chakra into Five Elements Ninjutsu for combat, he was no longer someone who could step onto the battlefield. Just then, Lianhuo pushed open the door to the medicine room and walked up to Mingye. He took out a scroll and said, "The contents of this scroll are what you wanted, but Yin Release is not easy to master. Are you sure you want to walk this path?"

"I know what you are going to say, but should I just give up on myself simply because my eyes are blind?" Mingye raised an eyebrow, clearly dissatisfied with the other's words, and retorted.

"Young Master Mingye, you should know that your talent in medicine is far greater than in ninjutsu!" Lianhuo hurriedly explained, fearing that Mingye might think he was being insulting.

"Enough! Stop with the nonsense. I have already decided. Just tell me the cultivation methods written here!" Joseph knew the other man only meant to comfort him and had no ill intentions, but he still felt unsettled and urged him impatiently to explain the contents of the scroll.

As Lianhuo explained, Joseph gained a deeper understanding of the cultivation method for Yin Release chakra. Yin-Yang Release was the sixth major category of ninjutsu, standing above the Five Elements Ninjutsu. In a sense, its cultivation was even more advanced than the Five Elements; if Yin-Yang chakra were cultivated to the extreme, it could rival a Kekkei Genkai. Indeed, some clans had done exactly that, labeling it a secret technique not to be passed on to outsiders.

Yin Release could materialize illusions, while Yang Release integrated healing, recovery, and the bestowal of vitality. Yin Release was adept at offense, and Yang Release was adept at defense. However, these two types of chakra, when isolated, lacked substantial ninjutsu forms. Yin Release, when combined with Five Elements chakra, could create various attack forms required by a ninja, whereas Yang Release could be extracted independently; when combined with taijutsu, it could strengthen one's physique, allow for growth or shrinkage, and even extend one's lifespan.

After Lianhuo finished his explanation and took his leave, a mass of chakra gradually condensed in Mingye's palm. The pure black chakra emitted a faint glow. The chakra, spinning like a Rasengan, gradually floated up and hovered in front of Mingye. Although Mingye could not see the movement of the chakra sphere, he could sense its presence right before him.

Reflecting on his sudden outburst back then, he realized it was because he was not a natural Three Tomoe user. Although the negative emotions in his heart were sufficient to evolve his tomoe into a Mangekyo Sharingan, there were two fatal flaws that could not be overcome. First, his own cultivation had not reached the level required to awaken the Mangekyo Sharingan. Second, and most importantly, his body could not withstand such immense power. That was why, after awakening the Mangekyo Sharingan, he had fallen into darkness in less than a minute. The despair from his past life's memories, combined with the sight of his younger brother dying in his arms in this life—a force equivalent to an adult's psyche—had all been released within his soul. However, Mingye lacked the physical foundation to bear that power, so blindness was an inevitable result. He just hadn't expected his ocular power to reach its limit in a mere minute.

Tapping his way with a blind cane, he stumbled to the training ground. Sitting cross-legged under the moonlight, Mingye once again felt lost regarding his future. Without any ideas or sense of purpose, a blind man in the Warring States period was merely waste meant to be discarded. In such a world, blindness meant death, especially in a powerful clan like the Uchiha. Of course, it was precisely because Mingye lived in such a prominent clan that he was still able to survive unscathed and have three meals a day.

"Can't sleep again?"

Tajima's voice appeared behind Mingye. Mingye quickly stood up, turned toward the direction he perceived Tajima to be, and bowed. Tajima looked at his highly talented son with a sigh and shook his head. "Still practicing chakra?"

"I do not wish to live a life of mediocrity!"

Hearing Tajima's question, Mingye replied calmly. Tajima was deeply moved by Mingye's indifferent mindset, yet he sternly rebuked him.

"Where were you before? You finally realize that the urge to slack off was a mistake, don't you?"

"This child is incompetent!"

Mingye bowed again to apologize to Tajima. Not wanting to continue discouraging him, Tajima picked out some of the excellent things Mingye had done recently and praised him.

"Never mind, the past is in the past. I heard your medical skills are quite good—you even had Lianhuo stitch up wounds with needle and thread! And you sprinkled alcohol on the wounds, saying it could eliminate viruses."

"That allows people to recover faster! High-concentration alcohol has disinfecting properties. Often, the injuries of the ninjas in the clan worsen because they are not clean, and alcohol can barely solve that. Sprinkling a little lime in the corners of the rooms can also have a similar effect!"

The common sense of his past life did not have a unified system in this world. People here did not simply ignore the sick; rather, once someone fell ill, it meant their life was on a countdown. The lack of healers and the misunderstanding of disease often meant that even a common cold could take a person's life. Although Mingye's ability to practice ninjutsu was ruined, his newfound steadiness made Tajima feel quite gratified. He then spoke to him again.

"You haven't been idle. You've certainly made Lianhuo suffer lately! Keep honing your medical skills and have Lianhuo assist you in performing procedures; that way, you can be of help to the clan!"

"Making whatever contribution I can to the clan is my main goal now! The Uchiha clan does not raise the useless."

"It is good that you know. Seeing as you are working so hard, is there anything you want to ask of me?"

Mingye nodded to show he understood. Tajima, feeling gratified, wanted to reward Mingye, only to realize he had nothing to give him. He decided not to dwell on the dilemma and signaled for Mingye to speak his mind. Mingye was stunned by the question. As a blind man, what could he possibly need? Nothing came to mind, but then, a thought suddenly struck him. In the manga, it seemed that Kabuto once had a peak duel with Uchiha Itachi. Kabuto had fought Itachi in a limestone cave with his eyes closed, in total darkness.

"Ryuchi Cave."

"What did you say!?"

"Father, I accidentally heard about summoning beasts in a book. The three greatest holy lands for summoning beasts are Mount Myoboku, Shikkotsu Forest, and Ryuchi Cave. I want to obtain the inheritance of Ryuchi Cave. Snakes are creatures that do not need eyes to walk through the world. I thought that if I could obtain the snake's inheritance, perhaps I could help the clan even more!"

"Ryuchi Cave, it seems you still haven't given up."

"Even if there is only a sliver of a chance, I want to try!"

"I will keep this in mind. I may not be in the clan for the next few months. Do not run around with Madara; that brat took you out for an entire day last time. If something were to happen, could he even protect you? You are just following him in his mischief!"

"This child knows his mistake!"

"That is all. If I find news of Ryuchi Cave, I will bring it back for you!"

In the center of a nameless lake outside the Uchiha clan grounds, Mingye sat motionless. A breeze blew, and the ripples in the water stopped abruptly five meters around him. Madara jumped out of the forest, performed hand seals, and spat a fireball from his mouth. Mingye seemed to sense it; he pressed one hand against the lake water, and a pillar of water surged from the surface, colliding perfectly with the fireball.

Madara looked at Mingye's movements and smiled slightly. He did not continue the attack but sat down on the surface of the lake as well.

"I never imagined chakra could be used like this!"

"I cannot control chakra to release Five Elements Ninjutsu, after all. This way of controlling chakra is a method I thought of after a long time!"

Mingye also smiled helplessly, carrying a hint of pride. After three long months, he had finally managed to find a way to control chakra, but this method could only be used in water. As for fire, lightning, earth, or wind, Mingye could not integrate his chakra into them at all.