“Oh?”
Uncle Tie Mu’s eyes were filled with genuine astonishment as he looked up and down at the two boys before him, unable to help but exclaim in admiration.
“To think you both possess the extremely rare three-element Chakra talent… You two are truly born Ninja geniuses!”
He had truly opened his eyes today; to refine Chakra for one day and start with an affinity for three elements—such talent was rare to find even among the entire younger generation of Konoha.
Uncle Tie Mu’s smile grew even wider, his tone light and full of expectation: “Alright! I’ve noted your capabilities! Remember to come to my house tonight; I’ve specially prepared gifts to congratulate you on successfully taking the first step on the path of the Ninja and successfully refining Chakra!”
“Alright, continue your training in peace. I’ll be heading back now.”
As soon as he finished speaking, a faint “swish” sound was heard.
Uncle Tie Mu’s figure suddenly blurred, and using his skilled Body Flicker Technique, he instantly vanished from the forest clearing, leaving behind only a gentle breeze to prove he had just been there.
The forest returned to silence, with only the rustling of leaves in the wind remaining.
Minato turned his head to look at Chiba beside him, his clear eyes filled with a touch of confusion and gravity, as he softly asked, “Chiba, what do you think?”
In the past, all he had seen and heard was the peace and stability of Konoha, and his heart was filled with a pure longing for the path of the Ninja.
But the warnings from Elder Makuma and Uncle Tie Mu today made him truly touch the dark undercurrents beneath Konoha’s shiny exterior for the first time.
This hidden scheming and wariness made the simple-hearted Minato feel exceptionally uncomfortable.
“What else is there to think?”
Chiba shrugged slightly, his expression calm and indifferent, completely devoid of the restlessness and anxiety of a youth, as he said in a steady tone, “We are ultimately too weak right now; our cultivation, strength, and foundation are all lacking. Thinking more or worrying more has no meaning.”
“For us, the only primary task right now is to become stronger at all costs. Other disputes and schemes can be temporarily put aside.”
“Of course, just remember today’s advice. In the future, act with low-key caution, restrain your sharpness, and don’t easily reveal your talent.”
After speaking, Chiba said no more.
He looked toward the towering ancient tree not far away and said in a deep voice, “Alright, don’t think too much. Let’s start training.”
As he finished speaking, he walked straight to the base of the large tree, preparing to start the most basic Chakra control training.
“Yeah! You’re right!”
Minato snapped out of his thoughts, hurriedly suppressed the chaotic feelings in his heart, and followed quickly.
He stood quietly to the side, his gaze fixed tightly on Chiba, filled with curiosity.
He saw Chiba concentrate and calm his breath, quietly mobilizing the newly born Chakra within his body, evenly gathering it at the soles of his feet, and then slowly lifting his foot to step toward the tree trunk.
“Crack!”
As the first step landed, the Chakra output from his sole was a bit too strong, and the hard bark was instantly cracked and peeled away.
Chiba’s expression did not change.
He instantly sensed the deviation in his Chakra output, immediately adjusted the force under his feet, precisely reduced the Chakra supply, and steadily took the second step.
Under Minato’s astonished gaze, Chiba stepped upward steadily, step by step.
At first, there was a slight wobble and instability, but after only three or four steps, his footing became completely steady.
The tree climbing, which was originally the most difficult to control, became exceptionally easy under his feet, like walking on flat ground.
In just a few breaths of time, Chiba had climbed all the way up, steadily reaching the top of the ten-meter-tall tree.
Standing at the top of the tree, the breeze blew freely, rustling his hair and clothes.
Chiba spread his arms, gazing at the surrounding layered mountains and the distant Konoha Village.
A faint smile curled at the corners of his mouth as he muttered softly, “Oh… the scenery from up here is quite nice.”
“Chiba! How did you do that? Teach me quickly!”
Minato’s eager and envious shout came from below the tree.
“Alright!”
Chiba looked down and replied, then his Chakra moved slightly under his feet.
His figure leaped lightly, and he rushed down the tree trunk quickly.
In an instant, he landed steadily back on the ground, his movements smooth and clean, without any hesitation.
He turned to look at the curious Minato and patiently explained, “This is the most basic Chakra control training for a Ninja—Tree Walking. The core is to precisely control the output of Chakra, firmly adhere it to the soles of your feet, and use the adhesive force of the Chakra to stick to the tree trunk and counteract gravity.”
Chiba was clear and logical, explaining the techniques for exerting force, the key points of Chakra fine-tuning, and the details prone to errors in thorough detail.
After finishing, he added, “Once you can reach the top perfectly and remain as steady as walking on flat ground the whole way, it means you have mastered basic Chakra control. Then we can proceed to advanced training, trying Water Surface Walking, relying on precise Chakra output to stand and walk steadily on the water surface.”
“Oh?”
Minato’s eyes lit up as he listened, his face full of surprise, and he couldn’t help but exclaim, “There’s actually such a training method? Chiba, why do I feel like you’ve suddenly become so powerful? You know so much!”
After a moment of thought, he immediately drew inferences, asking with a determined look in his eyes, “So, these Chakra control trainings are all for polishing the foundation, mastering one’s own Chakra, and paving the way for learning Ninjutsu and performing techniques in the future, right?”
“That’s right.”
Chiba smiled and nodded, praising him, “You are very smart and quick to grasp things. Chakra control is the foundation of all Ninjutsu. The more solid the foundation, the more you will achieve twice the result with half the effort when learning various types of Ninjutsu and advancing your training later on, making it incredibly easy.”
“Alright, I’ve told you everything I need to teach. You practice Tree Walking well first, and I’ll go practice Water Surface Walking. I’ll be waiting to see you catch up to my progress!”
Chiba chuckled and turned to walk toward the clear, murmuring stream nearby.
Minato looked up and saw Chiba lift his foot lightly and step steadily onto the water surface.
For the first two or three steps, he was slightly unfamiliar, and occasionally half his foot would sink into the water, kicking up small splashes.
But after only three or four steps, Chiba had completely mastered the secret of exerting force and maintaining Chakra balance on the water surface.
He walked on the blue waves, his posture steady and light, already as if walking on flat ground.
Before long, an even more jaw-dropping scene appeared for Minato—Chiba was even able to run steadily and jump lightly on the water surface.
Even the continuous movements of flipping in the air and landing steadily were done with extreme smoothness and stability.
The water ripples beneath his feet swayed slightly, yet he never sank even a fraction.
Minato on the bank was completely stunned, his heart filled with shock.
This speed of progress was simply ridiculously fast!
Witnessing Chiba’s overwhelming talent and growth speed with his own eyes, a strong sense of urgency immediately rose in Minato’s heart.
Not daring to slack off even a bit, he immediately turned his head and focused on his Tree Walking training.
“Crack!”
“Splash!!!”
The path of a beginner is never easy.
At first, Minato made mistake after mistake; either his Chakra output was too strong, crushing the bark, or his control was insufficient, causing him to slide off the trunk and fall.
But his talent was exceptionally outstanding, and his character was resilient and steady.
In just seven or eight attempts, he quickly grasped the core techniques of Chakra fine-tuning, and his progress climbed rapidly.