Targeted Special Training

Early the next morning, Uchiha Yo arrived at the training ground with his luggage on his back. His two companions showed up right after him, and the three chatted animatedly about the road ahead. Uchiha En even said he had brought plenty of seasonings in his luggage and would definitely show off his skills this time. Uchiha Retsu wanted to set a few traps around the training ground and give the new instructor a nasty surprise. Uchiha Yo and Uchiha En stopped that suicidal idea at once. Wasn't that just asking to die faster?

Before long, Uchiha Ming arrived with two clansmen dressed in jonin uniforms. The three quickly gathered around them. Uchiha Ming introduced them, "These two are experts of our clan, Uchiha Zepha and Uchiha Saka. The three of us will be giving you a week of closed training." The three companions respectfully bowed deeply. "Please guide us."

Uchiha Zepha spoke first. "All right, we're family, so don't be so formal. Your teacher has already told us about your situation. I'll be responsible for teaching you how to cast genjutsu, dispel genjutsu, combine genjutsu, and set up chained traps. How much you learn will depend on yourselves."

Uchiha Saka also spoke up. "All three of you possess Fire Release and Earth Release. I specialize in Fire Release, Wind Release, Earth Release, and combination ninjutsu involving them. I'm also skilled in chakra nature transformation. You don't need to learn anything else this time. Even if you did, you wouldn't be able to master it."

A smile curled at Uchiha Ming's lips. "What I practice is relatively simple: Uchiha-style Swordsmanship. You can activate your Sharingan while learning it, so it will be easier for you than for clansmen who haven't awakened their eyes. Since this requires long-term training, we'll only cover the basics this time." He then glanced at the Clear Wind on Uchiha Yo's body and nodded in satisfaction.

"Then let's begin. Saka, I'll leave them to you. Brother Zepha and I will head into the woods to prepare some gifts for the children. After all, some things are best experienced firsthand." With a chuckle, he headed into the forest with Uchiha Zepha. The three companions sensed the thick malice in their teacher's words and immediately broke out in cold sweat, but with Senior Uchiha Saka present, they could not show too much.

"First, show me the Fire Release, Wind Release, and Earth Release techniques you know. Let me see what level you're at. Don't hold back. Come at me with everything you've got," Uchiha Saka told the three, clearly intending to gauge their foundations before deciding how to teach them.

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!" "Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire Technique!" "Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Claw Red!" ... The three demonstrated everything they had learned. After watching, Saka smiled. "Your squad has decent offensive power, but you lack control-type ninjutsu. Your defensive techniques are also rather limited, and you have no charging techniques. Before teaching you ninjutsu suited to your respective attributes, I'll first teach you something you'll need in the future: the Shadow Clone Technique." With a poof, he created two Shadow Clones. "Heh, one-on-one instruction begins now," one of the Shadow Clones said.

Uchiha Ming and Uchiha Zepha entered the small forest. As he set things up, Uchiha Zepha said to Uchiha Ming, "Honestly, Ming, your genjutsu and trap-setting skills aren't much weaker than mine, are they? You've asked me to come several times now. Can't you be sincere for once? What exactly do you want me to teach?" Uchiha Ming lowered his head and smiled with pursed lips. "Senior, you worry too much. You have always done much to support the younger generation of the clan. With your personal guidance, the three of them will certainly improve further." "Heh, so you're after my connections. There must be thirty or forty Uchiha I've personally taught. The bonds between fellow disciples are lasting. You, as their teacher, are truly thoughtful. And by 'improve further,' you mean not just their abilities, but their influence as well, right? You think highly of that little fellow, Uchiha Yo?" Uchiha Zepha fixed his gaze on Uchiha Ming.

"Yes. Yo's talent is unlike anything I have seen in my life. I think he has ideas of his own, and he loves the clan deeply enough. I always have a feeling that he will be the one to lead the clan out of its predicament! The Guard Force has newly established a Fourth Battalion. Though I am the battalion commander, I only have one squad under me—the three of them. I have spoken with the clan head. Next year, Yo will be promoted to squadron commander and oversee three squads. I wonder whether Senior Zepha has any suitable candidates to recommend. Even among clansmen, there are those closer and more distant." Uchiha Ming smiled at Uchiha Zepha. Uchiha Zepha laughed heartily. "If nothing else, I do have quite a few people. As for closeness, the bond between fellow disciples is naturally steadier and more intimate. Have them meet someday. After all, fellow disciples should look out for one another, and they'll be working together in the future. They should get acquainted." With that, the two resumed setting traps and mechanisms.