First Stage of Training

Kiba Inuzuka was incredibly eager about the "Essence of the Sixth Sense" Ye Fan had mentioned. He could hardly wait to begin learning it.

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

"So, you've already prepared yourself mentally?" A faint curve formed at the corner of Ye Fan's mouth. This was exactly the effect he wanted. Only by piquing Kiba Inuzuka's interest could the training ahead proceed smoothly.

Kiba Inuzuka nodded. "Brother Ye Fan, let's begin now. My body has recovered, so 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 felt an 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 excited. It's not as complicated as you imagine." Ye Fan smiled lightly. "Wait here for a moment. I'll go get a prop."

Kiba Inuzuka watched Ye Fan walk into the kitchen, then began guessing what sort of prop it would be.

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

Kiba Inuzuka immediately went over to him. 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 what he had expected.

"What else did you think it would be?"

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

"Over there will do." Ye Fan pointed at the wooden table.

Once the bucket had been placed down, Ye Fan stopped keeping him in suspense and said directly, "Kiba, the first training you need to do is 'hold your breath for twenty minutes.'"

Huh?

Kiba Inuzuka stared wide-eyed, utterly unable to understand.

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

Kiba Inuzuka still did not understand, but he chose to trust Ye Fan. Rather than asking 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. Yet before even ten minutes had passed, he could no longer endure it. With puffed cheeks, he lifted his head straight up.

"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 continued trying again and again, failing again and again.

"Kiba, stop. If you keep trying the way you are now, no number of attempts will help." Ye Fan stopped Kiba Inuzuka, who still wanted to continue.

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

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

Kiba Inuzuka looked completely lost. What Ye Fan had described was far too profound for him at his current level.

Ye Fan sighed helplessly and shifted his gaze to the little ninja dog, Shadow, nearby. "Shadow, give him a demonstration."

Woof, woof!

Shadow was more than happy to provide this sort of demonstration. Wagging his little tail, he came to the bucket.

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

Kiba Inuzuka watched silently while counting the time in his head. Five minutes passed. Ten minutes passed. Twenty minutes passed. Thirty minutes passed... Shadow still had not lifted his head. If not for the occasional wag of his little tail, Kiba Inuzuka would have wondered whether Shadow had drowned.

This... how was this possible?

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

"Alright, Shadow, that's enough!"

Only after Ye Fan called out did Shadow lift his head from the water. He even barked twice at Kiba Inuzuka beside him, looking as though he were saying: What an easy thing!

"Kiba, now you'll need to train on your own. If possible, bring Akamaru along too."

Ye Fan did not plan to accompany Kiba Inuzuka through the training all the time. Though he looked like he had nothing to do all day, he was actually quite busy. Besides, he had already provided guidance. What came next depended on Kiba Inuzuka's aptitude.

"Kiba, practice slowly. Techniques aren't something you can master through effort alone. A lot of the time, you need to think more. Blindly forcing your way through won't work. Once you can persist for twenty minutes, you can begin the next training."

Night fell.

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

The moment she entered the living room, she saw an incredible 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 also had his head plunged into a washbasin, splashing water all around the table.

Glub glub glub!

The sound of bubbles was Akamaru's answer to Hana Inuzuka.

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

When she saw Ye Fan come out of the room, Hana Inuzuka immediately asked, "What is Kiba doing?"

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

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

The night grew deeper and deeper.

Judging by the time, it was already past midnight.

Hana Inuzuka pushed open her door and walked into the courtyard. Looking up at the stars in the sky, worry appeared on her face.

Many days had already passed without any news of Aoi Inuzuka. The unease in her heart was growing stronger and stronger.

Aoi Inuzuka's ninja dog, Laiyun, also worried Hana Inuzuka.

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

"Sister Hana, are you still going out this late?"

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

"Ye Fan, what are you doing on the roof this late?"

"Can't sleep. Just looking at the scenery," Ye Fan replied with a smile.

That was naturally not the truth. He had actually heard Hana Inuzuka moving about and had just finished his training.

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

"Captain Hana, this is bad! Laiyun is missing!"