Chapter 11: Uchiha Yugu

"Can you teach me how to pet a cat?"

"Eh? Eh?!" Uchiha Ling was so shocked that he almost dropped his blind stick. "W-Why are you asking this all of a sudden?"

Now that he had spoken out, Uchiha Hiro decided to just press on. His voice returned to normal. "Yukimaru said your technique is great, so I wanted to come and ask. If you're not willing, just forget I said anything."

"To pet a cat, you just need to pay attention to the pressure and direction, right?" Uchiha Ling didn't know how to answer for a moment. "But I usually curl my fingers and use my knuckles to smooth the fur of small animals... Maybe a little cat like Yukimaru prefers this gentle kind of stroking?"

Uchiha Hiro's voice dropped again. "Then what about more specific details?"

"More specific... How about you turn into a cat and let me try?" Uchiha Ling let out a chuckle. "I really don't know how to teach this."

Actually, Uchiha Hiro also thought he was asking a very stupid Mondai. He gave a dry cough and changed the topic. "I'll take you to Yugu first. I'll go ask Yukimaru later... If asking Yukimaru still doesn't work, I'll turn into a cat and come to you again."

"No... I was just joking. With my perception ability, I really couldn't do it in that situation." Ling couldn't help but take a step back. "How about you bring Yukimaru next time and learn in person?"

"...Let's go. I'll take you to Yugu."

Ling finally breathed a sigh of relief and followed behind Uchiha Hiro, tapping his blind stick. "Actually, it's quite normal for people to be behind others in some aspects. You don't have to compare yourself with others in everything, Hiro."

"Look, your illusions are way stronger than mine. People ought to focus more on their own strengths."

"Tsk! The so - called 'Number One of the Generation' sure talks like it's easy."

Ling looked even more helpless. "Wasn't that spread by you guys? In terms of illusions, you guys are all stronger than me. What kind of number one am I?"

"You're as annoying as that bastard Yakuki... No, you're even more of a pain in the ass than that guy." Uchiha Hiro curled his lips. "That guy at least admits his talent. You're just into 'involution'. Every time we meet, you can't stop talking about cultivation. Aren't you tired?"

"After all, you guys are chasing so closely. I have to work hard." Ling smiled. "But I shouldn't be so busy in the future...

But Hiro, as I said, you should focus more on your own advantages.

You have great talent and almost no weak points. But people have limited energy. It's impossible to make everything perfect."

Uchiha Hiro looked back at Ling and gave a soft snort. His tone softened. "Do I need you to teach me what to do?"

"Huh? Didn't you come to ask me Mondai in private more than once?" Ling tilted his head in confusion. "I remember I invited you to practice on the back mountain with me. You refused at first and then came to spy on me. Later, when I caught you, you..."

"...That's enough. Shut up."

"I'm just giving you advice. Whether you do it or not depends on your own will, Hiro." Ling couldn't help but smile faintly at Uchiha Hiro's depressed voice. "After all, in my opinion, Hiro, who can keep up with others in every aspect, should be the Number One of the Generation."

Uchiha Hiro scratched the back of his head awkwardly and didn't answer directly. "We're at Yugu's place. Do you need me to wait for you?"

"No, thanks. I've already talked to Madara yesterday. He'll come to me after his training at the clan school. Thanks for your trouble today."

"It's just showing the way..." Uchiha Hiro knocked on the door for Ling. "Let's have another match when you can get back on the battlefield."

"You guys have more confidence in me than I do..." Ling shook his head slightly but couldn't help but laugh softly. "I'll do it as soon as possible."

"Humph... A guy who is overly modest."

Uchiha Hiro also flashed a smile. Then he looked at the open door, yawned, and said, "Well, I'll head back first. Yugu, I'm leaving Ling in your care."

Uchiha Yugu, who had been named by Uchiha Hiro, simply nodded. Then he stepped aside and said, "Come in. What brings you here?"

Ling waved in Uchiha Hiro's direction and stepped forward to follow Uchiha Yugu. "I heard from Akihiko that you're raising ninja crows. So I came to ask if I could sign a summoning contract with one of them."

Uchiha Yugu turned his head to look at Ling and was silent for a moment. "The current ones won't do. There aren't any ninja crows that can follow you all day. You have to raise one on your own. I can give you a ninja crow egg and teach you how to nurture it."

"What about the time?"

Uchiha Yugu pondered for a bit. "A year should be enough."

"Um... A year?"

"Yeah. The current ninja crows are all ordinary crows I found a few years ago. They haven't stably inherited chakra yet. If you want them to be able to use chakra, you have to gently guide the chakra when they're still in the egg. It's quite troublesome."

Uchiha Yugu then led Ling into the house. "Moreover, your situation is quite complicated. What you need is a ninja beast that can stay by your side all day to help you see. But all these ninja crows have been nurtured by me. It'd be okay if they were just passing on messages for you. But I'm sure they wouldn't be willing to stay with you all day long."

"Well, Yugu is right," Ling sighed softly. "I was being a bit impatient."

"You've been very calm. Don't be too hard on yourself." Uchiha Yugu stopped walking. His expression remained cold and solemn. "I've got the whole picture from Akihiko. I'm not good at fighting, and I don't have as many plans as you guys. But if this happened to me, I'd definitely have given up on myself and wasted the rest of my life.

Ling, I heard from my Father that the current clan leader was even more talented than the former clan leader's son back then. But even though he finally became the clan leader, he still couldn't convince all his peers. But you did it. Akihiko, Yakuki, Hiro... They all have outstanding talents, yet they're willing to be under you. Do you know what that means?"

"Haha... It's kind of embarrassing for you to bring this up all of a sudden, Yugu." Ling reached up and scratched the back of his neck awkwardly. "But I appreciate your kind words. Thanks."

"Yeah, and you should change that blind stick. You should continue to specialize in Gitai in the future. You can't do without a handy weapon. Your merits should be enough to apply for chakra steel, right? You can apply for it. Coincidentally, I'm going to the Iron Country later to assist in purchasing supplies. I can help you find a reliable blacksmith then..."

Watching Uchiha Yugu start to go off on a tangent, rambling on about all sorts of big and small things in the clan, Ling didn't interrupt. He just chimed in occasionally to show that he was listening, and the smile on his lips never faded.

[It seems I have to put in even more effort.]

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