Shisui's Warning

Shisui raised a hand to stop Lin Feng.

"I watched that fight just now."

He smiled, his tone gentle. "You used the Sharingan well, but... the emotional fluctuations in your eyes were obvious."

Lin Feng halted.

Shisui stepped closer, his gaze calm. "That makes it easy for your opponent to see through you, and easy for you to lose control."

"Thank you for the guidance, senior." Lin Feng immediately said, "I've always felt that my control over my ocular power isn't precise enough. Does senior have any methods?"

Shisui glanced around.

A few members of the Lineage were still cleaning up ninja tools on the training grounds. Some rested beneath the shade of trees, while others spoke quietly.

He tilted his head slightly. "Come with me. There's something I want to talk to you about alone."

Lin Feng nodded.

The two left the center of the training grounds one after the other and headed toward the old trees at the edge.

The canopy was dense, with mottled light and shadows beneath it.

Once they stopped, Shisui turned around, his expression relaxing somewhat.

"The key to controlling the Sharingan isn't forcibly suppressing your emotions."

He spoke slowly.

"It's stabilizing your breathing and chakra flow first. Before activating your eyes, try to make your heart completely calm. Imagine a lake."

Shisui paused, and his gaze sharpened slightly.

His eyes instantly shifted into the Sharingan—three tomoe spun within them, yet there was not a trace of killing intent. They were as tranquil as deep water.

Three seconds later, he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, they had returned to normal.

"Did you see the difference?"

Lin Feng nodded earnestly. "I did. Your chakra didn't fluctuate."

"Right." Shisui said, "The Sharingan isn't a weapon. It's part of your body. Only when it becomes as natural as breathing will it stop being led around by your emotions."

He patted Lin Feng on the shoulder. "I'll go back and give it a try."

Lin Feng listened intently and nodded. "I'll practice seriously."

Shisui looked into Lin Feng's eyes. After a brief pause, the smile suddenly faded from his face.

"The atmosphere within the Lineage hasn't been right lately. There are some things... you'd better not get involved in."

Lin Feng's eyes flickered. "Senior means... the activities of those radicals in the Lineage?"

Shisui did not answer immediately.

He turned his head and looked toward the wall at the edge of the distant training grounds, his gaze unfocused.

"Once some paths are taken, there's no turning back."

His voice sank.

"The village and the Lineage... I don't want to see anyone get hurt."

Lin Feng stared at his profile, his thoughts racing.

He was avoiding the question.

But avoiding it was an answer in itself.

Lin Feng decided to press a little further.

"Senior, do you think a coup is necessary?"

The air fell abruptly silent.

The wind swept through the canopy, rustling the leaves for a long while.

Shisui turned around and looked deeply at Lin Feng.

There was scrutiny in that gaze, wariness, and a trace of indescribable exhaustion.

"This isn't something you should be thinking about."

His tone was no longer gentle, but there was no reproach in it either.

"Focus on your training. At the Lineage meeting in a few days... something may happen. Pay closer attention to the people around you."

Lin Feng's heart tightened.

The Lineage meeting.

He could feel the weight behind Shisui's words—a vague warning carrying unmistakable concern.

He did not press further.

"I understand. Thank you, senior."

The two remained silent for several seconds.

Shisui patted his shoulder, turned around, and walked away with light steps, soon disappearing into the shadows of the trees.

Lin Feng remained where he was.

He watched that figure recede, Shisui's words about the Lineage meeting in a few days replaying over and over in his mind.

Shisui knew something.

But he did not want to say it.

Or rather—he could not say it.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, then turned and left the training grounds along the path they had taken there.

By the time he returned to the Lineage grounds, it was already evening.

Members of the Lineage spoke quietly in the streets. Some carried supplies, while others stood beneath the eaves, their gazes carrying scrutiny as they swept over him.

Lin Feng kept his eyes forward and walked straight into his Household.

After he closed the door, the world became quiet.

He stood by the window, watching the sky in the distance gradually darken, his heart churning with everything he had learned today.

Shisui was willing to teach him cultivation methods.

Shisui was pessimistic about the coup.

Shisui knew something might happen at the Lineage meeting.

Shisui—was someone he could win over.

Lin Feng closed his eyes and recalled Shisui's calm three-tomoe Sharingan during the demonstration.

"Steady chakra, calm the heart..."

He repeated the words softly, standing by the window as he slowly adjusted his breathing.

Night fell completely.

Lights came on in the distance, and voices drifted down the street, gradually fading away.

Lin Feng opened his eyes, his gaze steady.

He already had a direction.

Improve his control over the Sharingan.

Keep watch over developments at the Lineage meeting.

Find another chance to approach Shisui.

This night was long and quiet.