CHAPTER 28

In the dim underground complex beneath Konoha, gray-black pipes twisted densely along the corners like the tentacles of some slumbering beast.

"Danzo-sama!" A tall man in a black cloak, wearing a teal crow-shaped mask, knelt on one knee.

Danzo stepped from the shadows, the dim light catching the scar across his chin, making it appear like a grotesque, gaping maw.

"You're here, Crow Ghost," Danzo said.

"Yes, Danzo-sama. I've tested Uchiha Fenghuo," reported the Root operative, Yagui.

Danzo narrowed his one visible eye. "Result?"

"I cast a genjutsu on him. He detected it quickly and attempted to disrupt his chakra flow to break free. His perception is sharp. But in terms of power—" Yagui shook his head slightly. "He is still far behind Uchiha Shisui."

Danzo gave a faint smile, the scar on his chin twisting. "Of course he is. Shisui is a rare genius... the 'Shunshin no Shisui' of the Uchiha. Keep close surveillance on him. As for Fenghuo, ignore him for now."

"Understood, Danzo-sama." Yagui raised his head. Three tomoe rotated slowly in his blood-red Sharingan, ominous and filled with silent threat.

Danzo's gaze lingered on them for a beat longer than necessary—his greed surfacing briefly before retreating into darkness.

At dawn the next morning, Fenghuo was already up. He made breakfast and lunch, left a note for Obito, and dashed out to the training grove.

Ever since arriving in this world, Fenghuo's physical stamina had been oddly superior—after a full night's sleep, he would recover completely, no matter the training load. It was like his body had been born for taijutsu.

As for the mysterious attack last night—he wasn't sure who was behind it, but since they hadn't acted openly, he decided not to stir the waters either. Silence, for now, was his best shield.

"I need to get stronger—fast."

By the time he reached the grove, Might Dai and Kai were already waiting.

"You're late, Fenghuo!" roared Dai. "Youth waits for no one! Warm up with twenty laps—add twenty thousand skips if you slack!"

"…Haaah," Fenghuo sighed, resigned to fate, and started running.

"Kai! Don't stand there daydreaming—keep up!" Dai barked at his son.

"Yes, Father!" Kai's thick eyebrows furrowed with fiery determination. He stared at Fenghuo's back with the intensity of a raging bonfire.

Yesterday's training had left a mark—Kai now viewed Fenghuo as his second eternal rival, just below Kakashi.

"Fenghuo, I will surpass you! And then... Kakashi! Just wait!"

Fueled by youthful zeal, Kai shouted, "YAAA!!" and surged forward, overtaking Fenghuo in a blur.

"…Seriously?" Fenghuo twitched. This kid's a freak.

He could sense it—Kai had just broken through a limit. His stamina had spiked unnaturally.

'As expected of the future Blue Beast of Konoha.'

Fenghuo, six years old and full of secondhand embarrassment, imitated Kai's "YAAA YAAA YAAA!!"—but no breakthrough followed. Only awkward silence.

After their laps, Dai had them skip rope, squat, and do push-ups. By the time the morning sun peeked over the horizon, both boys were drenched in sweat and barely conscious.

"Yosh! That's enough for this morning! Off to school!" Dai declared proudly.

Fenghuo gasped for air. "Uncle Dai, can you teach me the Shadow Clone Technique?"

"Nani? The Kage Bunshin no Jutsu?" Dai blinked. "How do you even know about that?"

Fenghuo explained, "I heard from clan members it's a convenient way to train—making physical copies of yourself."

The Shadow Clone Technique, developed by the Second Hokage Senju Tobirama, creates a tangible clone that shares the user's chakra. Unlike the standard Clone Technique, it can fight and use jutsu independently. When destroyed, it returns its experiences to the original.

Its advanced version—the Multiple Shadow Clone Technique—was famously used by Naruto Uzumaki and is considered a forbidden jutsu, stored in the Scroll of Seals.

Dai frowned. "Fenghuo, that jutsu is mainly for reconnaissance… Why would you want to learn it?"

Fenghuo replied honestly, "So I can have my clone go to the Academy while the real me trains with you."

Though often underestimated, Dai wasn't dumb. He realized the potential: if clones could return training experience to the original, then it could revolutionize training itself.

"You're a genius!" Dai cried, patting Fenghuo's shoulder so hard he nearly dislocated it. "No one's thought of using it that way—amazing!"

Fenghuo winced. "Thanks… I think."

Dai suddenly looked sheepish. "But, uh… I don't actually know the jutsu."

Right. As a taijutsu specialist, Dai had never learned it.

"But don't worry!" Dai declared. "I'll get it for you, somehow!"

Kai, eyes gleaming with envy, said, "Father, I want to learn it too!"

Dai turned serious. "Kai… how's your Three Basic Jutsu?"

Kai looked down in shame.

"The Shadow Clone Technique requires solid chakra control and ninjutsu skill… Kai, you…" Dai's voice cracked. He couldn't finish.

But Kai looked up, tears glimmering in his eyes. "It's okay, Father! Even if I can't do ninjutsu, with hard work and passion, I can still surpass geniuses like Fenghuo and Kakashi!"

Behind him, the sea crashed. His gleaming smile radiated like the morning sun, blinding even titanium-alloy dogs.

Dai burst into tears. "Kai, my son! That's the spirit of eternal youth!"

They hugged, weeping together. Muscles flexed. Emotions exploded.

Fenghuo stood awkwardly to the side.

"…Are their tear ducts broken?"