First Training

The clearing at the center of the Forest of Death.

Moonlight filtered through the sparse canopy, casting mottled shadows.

When Lin Feng entered the clearing, Shisui was already leaning against the trunk of a massive tree, arms crossed, eyes closed as if taking a nap.

"No one followed me."

Lin Feng spoke softly.

Shisui opened his eyes, swept his gaze over the surrounding shadows, and nodded.

"Safe."

He straightened up and rolled his shoulders.

"Let's begin."

Lin Feng activated his Sharingan.

Three tomoe slowly revolved in his pupils.

"Show me the Body Flicker Technique first today. I'll analyze your movements."

The corner of Shisui's mouth lifted.

"The Sharingan excels at perception, but Body Flicker relies on instantaneous chakra bursts and spatial awareness. Watch closely. I'll only do it three times."

"Three times is enough."

Lin Feng said.

"I'll use the Sharingan to memorize every trajectory. But don't hold back. I need to see your top speed."

Shisui chuckled and vanished in a flash.

An afterimage remained where he had stood, while his real body had already appeared five meters behind Lin Feng.

Fast.

Lin Feng's pupils narrowed slightly.

The trajectory appeared clearly in his Sharingan—before Shisui moved, his right shoulder dipped slightly, chakra gathered in his lower body in an instant, then erupted.

The second Body Flicker.

To the front left.

The third Body Flicker.

An attack from directly above.

Lin Feng twisted aside to evade, analyzing every detail he saw.

After four exchanges, he called for Shisui to stop.

"Your landing points aren't random. There's a pattern—before every move, your right shoulder dips slightly, then chakra gathers at your feet before bursting out. If I predict your next landing point and throw a kunai there, how would you dodge?"

A flicker of surprise crossed Shisui's eyes.

"Interesting... You actually saw the pattern in that 0.3-second gap. Then let's give it a try."

The sparring began.

Shisui used Body Flicker again.

Lin Feng predicted the landing point—behind and to the right.

The kunai flew.

Shisui forcibly changed direction midair. He looked slightly disheveled when he landed, but a smile curled his lips.

"Your prediction was accurate."

"Keep going."

Lin Feng threw another kunai while pressing forward to block off another escape route.

Shisui was forced to deflect the kunai head-on, and the clash of metal echoed through the forest.

The two fought faster and faster.

Under Lin Feng's Sharingan, Shisui's Body Flicker gradually became predictable. Lin Feng still could not keep up, but he could already react in advance.

"Stop."

Lin Feng suddenly said in a low voice.

Shisui immediately withdrew his momentum.

The two stood back-to-back, pretending to rest.

"In the canopy of that massive tree to the west."

Lin Feng lowered his voice.

"The chakra is faint, but familiar—it belongs to Root."

Shisui's gaze darkened.

"About thirty meters away. The chakra is extremely faint—it's Root."

"I'll circle around to his flank. Pretend to keep training. When I signal you, halt abruptly from the front and use kunai to seal off his possible escape routes."

Lin Feng said.

Shisui nodded.

"Start in three seconds."

The two resumed their sparring.

A Shadow Clone split off from beside Shisui and rushed westward.

The next second, Shisui's real body appeared behind the canopy.

At the same time, Lin Feng rushed toward the canopy and used three kunai to seal every route of escape.

The canopy exploded.

A Root sentry wearing an animal mask was forced to reveal himself.

He immediately reached for the signal flare at his waist.

Shisui flashed close and kicked the flare away.

Lin Feng closed in at the same time and locked his throat with taijutsu.

Two seconds.

The sentry was subdued and pinned to the ground.

Lin Feng tied him up with a rope he had prepared.

Shisui crouched down, activated his Sharingan, and directly cast a genjutsu.

The sentry's struggling gaze became vacant.

"Tell us about Root's recent drug experiment. What is the target?"

Lin Feng asked coldly.

"You can choose to die, but we'll have the Sharingan search through your memories again and again."

The sentry's lips trembled.

"I'll talk... It's the Awakening Project. Lord Danzo wants to use a drug to forcibly activate the Sharingan genes. The target is... the eyes of Uchiha Clan members."

Lin Feng and Shisui exchanged a look.

"Where is the experimental base?"

"Northeast of the Forest of Death, beneath an abandoned shrine."

The sentry answered mechanically.

"Our personnel... are all there."

Lin Feng continued pressing him.

"What are the drug's ingredients? Who supplied it?"

"I don't know... Only Lord Danzo knows the source. We only handle the capture missions..."

Shisui intensified the genjutsu.

"Who is on your capture list?"

The sentry's eyes struggled for a moment.

"The primary targets are... awakened members of the Uchiha Clan, especially those who have awakened the Mangekyo... The Awakening Project is meant to mass-produce Sharingan..."

Lin Feng asked gravely.

"When does the plan begin?"

"Three days from now... The first group of targets will be taken to the shrine..."

The two exchanged another look.

Time was running out.

After Lin Feng had finished asking every question, Shisui erased the sentry's memories, knocked him unconscious, and dragged him beneath the tree roots to hide him.

"Late at night, three days from now, we'll meet outside the shrine."

Shisui said.

"We'll infiltrate it, investigate, and confirm where the drugs are stored and the condition of the test subjects."

Lin Feng nodded.

"I'll prepare a route map beforehand."

Shisui looked into Lin Feng's eyes.

"If this operation succeeds, we can stop Danzo's scheme. If it fails..."

"It won't fail."

Lin Feng cut him off.

"The Uchiha Clan will not perish like this."

Shisui fell silent for a moment.

"You're right."

He turned to leave, but stopped again.

"Lin Feng... This battle isn't for the clan. It's for everyone who doesn't want to be harmed by the Sharingan."

Lin Feng watched his retreating back without answering.

He knew Shisui was right.

The moon rose high into the sky.

The Forest of Death fell quiet once more.

Lin Feng leaned against a tree, sorting through the intelligence he had just obtained.

The Awakening Project.

The experimental base was beneath the abandoned shrine.

The capture operation would begin in three days.

Was Danzo really acting alone?

Who were the people supplying the drugs?

Lin Feng closed his eyes and forced himself to rest first.

In three days, everything would be revealed.

And he was already prepared.