A Year of Grueling Training

"Eat slowly. Have some more of this—Mom made it especially for you. And this is your favorite too. Look at how much you've suffered; you're so thin you barely look like yourself..." The gentle mother kept piling food into her son's bowl, repeatedly telling him to slow down. The handsome uncle held his bowl in his left hand and had just raised his chopsticks with his right when his wife smacked them aside with her own, then shot him a vicious glare. Holding his bowl and staring at the dishes, it seemed he would not be eating much today...

"Ahh, I'm full. Mom's cooking is still the best. When I grow up, I have to find a wife as virtuous as you. Whoever marries her will be blessed!" Uchiha Yo ate with tremendous enthusiasm, lavishing praise on his mother's cooking. "Hahaha, my son really is the sweetest. You're the only one who thinks that way. Some people don't like it at all—they haven't even taken a bite, saying my cooking is bad." As she spoke, she shot the handsome uncle another fierce glare. The uncle wore a fawning expression. "How could that be? I just wanted Yo to eat more. Eating your cooking is a pleasure. I could never get enough of it in this life, and I'd have to keep eating it in the next one too. Hehehe." With that, he tugged at his wife's hand. Uchiha Yo had eaten his fill and really could not stomach any more of their lovey-dovey display. "I'm going to train! The next time I see Teacher, I'll definitely give him a huge surprise!"

The handsome uncle watched his son's retreating figure. "The child has grown up quite a bit. Sometimes, having such a sensible son makes me feel like I'm missing out on the experience of teaching him. But why were you willing to let him undergo special training this time? You even actively used your group of sisters to bring in Saka." As the gentle mother cleared the table, she replied, "What happened last time sounded an alarm for me. I'd rather have him come back from every special training session thin beyond recognition, like a starving ghost reincarnated, than see him get hurt again. As for Saka, he's merely the icing on the cake. Zephyr, whom Ming found, is the key to this training. If my son wants to stay safe here, strength alone isn't enough—he needs influence too. No one can go far without support." "Yo is very safe in the village." The handsome uncle felt that his wife was worrying too much. "Safe? Heh. The Senju clan was much safer than the Uchiha clan, in my opinion. And now?" Seemingly unwilling to discuss it further, she picked up the plates and returned to the kitchen. The handsome uncle felt that his wife was always excessively nervous about the village, but he had grown used to it. Rising to his feet, he decided not to dwell on it and went to guide his son's training.

In the blink of an eye, a year passed. Uchiha Nobunaga had not assigned this squad a single mission all year, only occasionally having several experts offer guidance from the sidelines to make sure the children did not train themselves astray. On this day, as usual, the three of them met at the training ground for a sparring match and swordsmanship practice.

"Not bad progress, my disciples!" The newcomer was Uchiha Ming. Everyone was delighted to see their teacher, since they had not seen him in a year. "Since you're all here, I've just accepted a few missions. Our Fourth Squad hasn't gone on a mission in a year; it's time to get out there. After all, actual combat is the best way to test your training." With that, he tossed over eight mission scrolls. Upon opening them, they found that five were for exterminating bandits, while three were for rooting out spy bases. "I'll follow behind you. Don't expect me to step in. After each mission, I'll give you my advice. Now then, Fourth Squad, move out! Gather at the village entrance in thirty minutes." With that, he vanished in a Body Flicker.

Thirty minutes later, the four of them were fully equipped and ready to depart. This was their second time leaving the village on a mission. Unlike the first time, when they had raced along at full speed, this time they could at least take in some of the scenery along the way.