First Stage of Training

Kiba Inuzuka was filled with anticipation for the "Essence of the Sixth Sense" Ye Fan had mentioned. He could hardly wait to begin learning it.

"Brother Ye Fan, teach me already!" Kiba Inuzuka looked utterly impatient, already fantasizing about it in his mind.

"So, you're mentally prepared?" Ye Fan's lips curved into a smile. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Only by arousing Kiba Inuzuka's interest could the training ahead proceed smoothly.

Kiba Inuzuka nodded. "Brother Ye Fan, let's start now. My body has recovered. There's absolutely no problem."

Because of the anticipation in his heart, Kiba Inuzuka felt the chakra within him surging. It had been a long time since he had felt this excited. Especially when he thought of mastering an ability no weaker than a "Bloodline Limit," he had the urge to laugh.

"Since you're mentally prepared, then fine, we'll begin now." Ye Fan narrowed his eyes slightly, paused, then added, "We'll start with the first stage of training."

"What kind of training is it?"

"No need to get so worked up. It's not as complicated as you imagine." Ye Fan chuckled softly. "Wait here a moment. I'll go get a prop."

Kiba Inuzuka watched Ye Fan enter the kitchen, then began wondering what kind of prop it would be.

He did not have to wait long. Ye Fan emerged carrying a red bucket filled with water.

Kiba Inuzuka immediately went over. As he took the bucket from Ye Fan's hand, he asked, "Brother Ye Fan, where's the prop you mentioned?"

"Isn't it in your hands right now?" Ye Fan smiled.

"Just a bucket?" Kiba Inuzuka's eyes widened. This was clearly beyond his expectations.

"What else did you think it would be?"

"I thought it would be some new invention..." Kiba Inuzuka laughed awkwardly, then asked, "Brother Ye Fan, where should I put this bucket?"

"Over there is fine." Ye Fan pointed at the wooden table.

Once the bucket was set down, Ye Fan stopped beating around the bush and said directly, "Kiba, your first training exercise is to 'hold your breath for twenty minutes.'"

Huh?

Kiba Inuzuka stared wide-eyed, unable to understand.

Ye Fan explained, "Don't underestimate this simple exercise. If you can't accomplish this, the training afterward can't proceed."

Kiba Inuzuka still did not understand, but he chose to trust Ye Fan. Rather than ask so many questions, he might as well try it himself.

He submerged his face in the water and began his first attempt at holding his breath. Before ten minutes had passed, he could no longer endure it. Puffing out his cheeks, he abruptly lifted his head.

"How was that, Brother Ye Fan? Did I hold my breath for twenty minutes?" Kiba Inuzuka asked between huge gulps of air.

"You're still far from it!"

Kiba Inuzuka adjusted himself and tried again, but the result was the same. He even held his breath for less time than before.

Again!

Kiba Inuzuka did not give up. He kept trying again and again, failing again and again.

"Kiba, stop. With the way you're trying now, it won't help no matter how many times you do it." Ye Fan stopped Kiba Inuzuka, who still wanted to continue.

Kiba Inuzuka turned to look at Ye Fan. Water droplets trickled down his cheeks, making the red markings on his face appear even more vivid.

"Use the flow of chakra to activate the pores all over your body to breathe, then bring the needed oxygen into your lungs. If you can do that, forget twenty minutes—even maintaining that state for an entire day would be no problem." Ye Fan explained the technique.

Kiba Inuzuka looked utterly bewildered. What Ye Fan had said was far too profound for him at his current level.

Ye Fan sighed helplessly and shifted his gaze to the little Ninja Hound, Dark Shadow. "Dark Shadow, give him a demonstration."

Woof woof!

Dark Shadow was more than willing to give such a demonstration. Wagging its little tail, it trotted over to the bucket.

Standing on the small wooden stool used as a step, Dark Shadow lowered its little head into the water.

Kiba Inuzuka watched silently while counting the time in his head. Five minutes passed, then ten, then twenty, then thirty... Dark Shadow still had not lifted its head. If not for the occasional wag of its little tail, Kiba Inuzuka would have wondered whether Dark Shadow had drowned.

This... How was this possible?

Kiba Inuzuka's face was full of disbelief. Because he had tried it himself, he knew just how difficult it was to hold one's breath for so long. This was no longer merely a matter of lung capacity.

"Alright, Dark Shadow, that's enough!"

At Ye Fan's call, Dark Shadow finally lifted its head out of the water and barked twice at Kiba Inuzuka. It seemed to be saying: What an easy thing!

"Kiba, now you'll have to train on your own. If possible, it would be best to have Akamaru train with you too."

Ye Fan had no intention of accompanying Kiba Inuzuka through his training all the time. Though he looked idle every day, he was actually quite busy. Besides, he had already given his guidance. What came next depended on Kiba Inuzuka's ability to comprehend it.

"Kiba, practice slowly. Technique isn't something you can master through effort alone. Often, you need to think more. Blindly forcing your way through won't work. Once you can last twenty minutes, you can begin the next exercise."

Night fell.

Hana Inuzuka, who had worked all day, returned from outside.

The moment she entered the living room, she saw an unbelievable sight.

"Kiba, what are you doing?"

Hana Inuzuka looked in surprise at Kiba Inuzuka, who had his head plunged into the bucket.

Beside Kiba Inuzuka, Akamaru had also plunged his head into a washbasin, splashing water all around the table.

Glub glub!

The sound of bubbling water was Hana Inuzuka's answer.

Just as Hana Inuzuka was about to step forward to see what was going on, Ye Fan's voice came from the inner room. "Hua, you're back!"

When she saw Ye Fan emerge from the room, Hana Inuzuka immediately asked, "What is Kiba doing?"

"Practicing holding his breath. It's a kind of training." Ye Fan did not intend to explain in detail.

Hana Inuzuka was relieved and reminded them, "Remember to clean up!"

The night grew deeper.

By the time, it was already past midnight.

Hana Inuzuka pushed open her door, walked into the courtyard, and looked up at the stars in the sky, her face filled with worry.

Many days had already passed, yet there was still no news of Aoi Inuzuka. The unease in her heart had only grown stronger and stronger.

What also worried Hana Inuzuka was Aoi Inuzuka's Ninja Hound, Laiyun.

Although Laiyun's life was no longer in danger, its injuries had not improved much. The biggest reason was still that Aoi Inuzuka's whereabouts remained unknown.

"Hua, are you going out this late?"

Just as Hana Inuzuka became lost in thought, Ye Fan's voice unexpectedly came from the roof behind her.

"Ye Fan, what are you doing on the roof so late at night?"

"I couldn't sleep, so I'm enjoying the view." Ye Fan answered with a smile.

Naturally, that was not the truth. He had actually heard Hana Inuzuka moving about and had just finished training.

Hana Inuzuka was about to say something when an urgent, anxious voice came from outside the courtyard:

"Captain Hua, this is bad! Laiyun has gone missing!"