Clan Meeting

He seemed to be a gifted junior, and Fugaku had recommended him. He was worth cultivating.

Uchiha Yu slowly came to this conclusion.

"If I'm not mistaken, Senji and Rinna should have left you quite a few low-level Ninjutsu."

Uchiha Meikyō nodded, indicating that was indeed the case, then added, "Elder Hane, I've already taught myself the Great Fireball Style."

He was doing his best to demonstrate his value in hopes of obtaining better resources for training.

Uchiha Yu stroked his beard, glanced at Uchiha Meikyō, and said:

"Very good. The Great Fireball Style, Phoenix Sage Fire Style, and Dragon Fire Style are three C-rank Ninjutsu. They are the most fundamental and important techniques in the Uchiha Fire Style system. Only after mastering these three techniques are you qualified to continue studying the clan's higher-level Ninjutsu."

"For example, if you add Fire Style shape transformation to the Great Fireball, it can develop into the Great Fire Annihilation. If you add Fire Style Nature Transformation to the Dragon Fire Style, that forms the basis for the Great Dragon Fire. Besides that, Phoenix Flower Crimson Claw is also inseparably related to the Phoenix Sage Fire Style."

"You are not yet qualified to learn higher-level Ninjutsu, while you do not lack the lower-level ones. So listen carefully with your ears and watch carefully with your Sharingan. Watch every detail, because this old man will teach you two more fundamental Fire Style Ninjutsu, as well as how to further improve your Fire Style mastery based on these three techniques."

After speaking, Uchiha Yu rose from his recliner in one swift motion and led Meikyō outside.

Meikyō's eyes lit up, and he eagerly hurried after him.

Having the clan head as a backer really was great. He had only just latched on, and already a Jonin of Uchiha Yu's caliber was personally guiding him—and teaching him more than just the single Ninjutsu required by convention.

In truth, Uchiha Yu had not decided to teach Meikyō these things solely because of Uchiha Fugaku.

As an old man over seventy, his strength had long since faded from its former glory. It had declined severely, leaving him able to do little more than light work such as guarding the Clan Vault. Yet his more than sixty years as a ninja had granted him a different kind of perspective.

From Uchiha Fugaku, to the previous clan head, to the Uchiha Madara before him, and even Madara's father, Uchiha Tajima, Uchiha Yu had lived through four Uchiha clan heads. He could be called a true veteran of four generations. His seniority was immense, and he wielded considerable influence within the clan. Even Uchiha Fugaku had to obediently bow and address him as Clan Uncle upon seeing him.

He knew just how powerful the Uchiha had been at their peak. Seeing how much weaker they had become compared to the beginning of the village's founding, he naturally felt some concern.

Uchiha Meikyō had awakened the Sharingan at the age of ten. His talent with the Sharingan was certainly not poor, and he also possessed such powerful Mental Energy. His future was immensely promising.

In Uchiha Yu's eyes, Meikyō had a strong chance of growing into a pillar capable of supporting the Uchiha Clan. Naturally, he would put more effort into nurturing this junior of the clan.

Following Uchiha Yu's footsteps, Meikyō arrived at the mouth where the lower reaches of the Naka River emptied into the lake.

The Naka Shrine, where the Uchiha Clan held its clan meetings, was located somewhere along the lower reaches of the Naka River. Madara and Hashirama had first met by the river as well. Perhaps the two had even competed here to see who could piss farther.

The small artificial lake at Uchiha Fugaku's home was also fed by water diverted from the Naka River.

Like many rivers, the Naka River was narrow and swift upstream, broad and steady downstream, before finally flowing into a great lake.

This was a good place to practice Fire Style. As long as they released Fire Style techniques toward the lake from a distance, it would not easily start a fire.

"Let's start with the Dragon Fire Style. It has fewer hand seals, and it can be performed with ninja tools, so it's somewhat easier."

As he spoke, Uchiha Yu took out a kunai with steel wire tied around its end and handed it to Uchiha Meikyō.

"The Dragon Fire Style has only four seals: Snake—Dragon—Rabbit—Tiger." Uchiha Yu slowly formed the four hand seals, displaying them more clearly for Meikyō.

Meikyō had already activated his Sharingan, carefully observing Uchiha Yu's every movement and the flow of Chakra within his body.

"After extracting Chakra through the hand seals, do not force it straight out as you would with the Great Fireball. Instead, try to condense the flames into a straight line, further concentrating its power at a single point. Then do this."

After saying that, Uchiha Yu directly exhaled a slender, elongated stream of flame toward the lake. It shot forth like a fire dragon.

"How was that?"

Uchiha Yu turned to Meikyō and asked gently.

"I've remembered it with my eyes."

Meikyō now understood what he needed to say to make these Uchiha happy.

He only needed to bring up their noble and powerful bloodline limit, the Sharingan.

Hearing Meikyō's answer, Uchiha Yu nodded in satisfaction and said:

"For Genin like you who have only just begun learning the Dragon Fire Style, it is best to use kunai and steel wire in conjunction with this technique. The steel wire can also help you gather the flames into a straight line. This kind of training will be very helpful for your future mastery of Fire Style shape transformation. You can even coat the wires with fire oil to increase the speed at which the flames spread."

Uchiha Yu offered the guidance casually.

For ninjas not born into Ninja Clans, obtaining the experience of these old veteran Jonin was exceedingly difficult without a Jonin Instructor to guide them.

"Try using the kunai and steel wire first. After that, you'll have to rely on your own gradual practice to improve."

Hearing Uchiha Yu's words, Meikyō forcefully hurled the kunai with steel wire tied to its end.

With the Sharingan's powerful vision and his excellent skill at throwing ninja tools, the kunai firmly embedded itself in a rock protruding from the lake's surface.

"Snake—Dragon—Rabbit—Tiger!"

"Fire Style: Dragon Fire Style!"

Blazing flames swiftly burned along the steel wire, spreading onto the rock. The scorching heat turned both the wire and the rock red-hot.

"Mm."

Uchiha Yu nodded again with an approving expression, then proceeded to teach the Phoenix Sage Fire Style.

Over the course of a single day, Meikyō had taken the graduation examination in the morning, received his ninja forehead protector from Kuroda Ofune at noon, visited Uchiha Fugaku's residence in the afternoon, and spent the final two-odd hours learning Fire Style Ninjutsu from Uchiha Yu.

The old man had taught him far more than merely two Ninjutsu. Otherwise, he would only have needed to perform the two techniques once in front of Uchiha Meikyō and let him copy them with his Sharingan.