"Don't be nervous; sit down."
Uchiha Setsuna said calmly, then took a shuriken from the ninja pouch on his waist and threw it to Uchiha Ci.
Uchiha Ci caught it and examined it but found nothing special.
If anything, the elder's shuriken was probably high-end, of superior quality, and more durable than the kunai he used for blocking.
"Great Elder, what is this for?" Uchiha Ci was a little confused.
"Who did you learn your shurikenjutsu from?" Uchiha Setsuna asked, half-closing his eyes.
Uchiha Ci was immediately shocked. Just now, he had only briefly exchanged blows with Seiichiro and hadn't even used the Wire Shuriken Technique. Yet, Uchiha Setsuna had instantly noticed something unusual about his shuriken technique.
However, Uchiha Ci didn't know how to answer this question.
After all, this skill was extracted from Uchiha Setsuna himself. He couldn't say something like 'I've long admired you and had a sudden enlightenment after watching you throw shuriken for a 'year'—that would be utter nonsense.
Within the clan, even top-tier figures like Uchiha Shisui couldn't master it, let alone such a high-level shuriken-throwing technique.
After hesitating for a long time, Uchiha Ci could only answer honestly:
"Great Elder, I am just a Genin. Apart from the training courses for ninjas within the clan, I have no other way to learn ninjutsu. I can only practice this kind of thing that doesn't cost money."
"Oh?" A glint suddenly flashed under Uchiha Setsuna's half-closed eyelids.
So, this kid was a hidden genius?
No wonder that proud boy Shisui had taken a liking to him.
"Is that so?" Uchiha Setsuna thought for a moment, nodded, and took out another shuriken from his ninja pouch.
Then, he held the shuriken in one hand and formed the Ram seal with the other.
A magical scene appeared.
The shuriken in the Great Elder's hand was actually wrapped in a ball of fire, slowly floating in the air and spinning rapidly.
"Phoenix Sage Fire and Phoenix Flower Claw Red share the same origin; there is no change in the hand seals."
"The technique is also very simple. Like this, wrap the tool with chakra, then form the Ram seal to alter the chakra's nature, and throw it."
The Great Elder said calmly.
Uchiha Ci was stunned upon hearing this, and his expression became strange.
Great Elder, are you giving him pointers?
Phoenix Sage Fire: Flower Claw Red is an advanced form of the Phoenix Sage Fire technique, a B-rank ninjutsu. The difference from the Phoenix Sage Fire bullet is that it wraps the rotating shuriken.
While increasing sharpness, the wind generated by the shuriken's rotation also enhances the power of the Fire Release.
"Come on, try it yourself." Uchiha Setsuna withdrew his chakra and ordered calmly.
He didn't catch it with his hand, simply letting the hot shuriken fall to the ground.
Uchiha Ci watched with wide eyes, feeling slightly disappointed.
He thought the Great Elder would show off some ruthless iron-hand technique.
From this perspective, even a master of Uchiha Setsuna's level was still mortal.
Uchiha Ci had no choice but to obey the order. With a serious expression, he placed the shuriken in front of him and formed the Ram seal with both hands.
He used the transformed chakra to grab the shuriken.
The shuriken on the ground was slightly covered in flames. After twitching twice, it fell to the ground with a clatter and refused to move.
Uchiha Ci wore an embarrassed expression.
Uchiha Setsuna, watching from the side, narrowed his eyes slightly, nodded calmly, and then said:
"That's it. This is the simple form change of Fire Release. Remember this."
"You can extend it to various applications of Fire Release, such as—"
The Great Elder threw out another shuriken, embedding it in a tree trunk not far away.
The difference was,
This time the shuriken was tied with a wire.
Then, the Great Elder seemingly casually formed four hand seals with one hand—Uchiha Ci immediately recognized them as the seals for Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique.
Ram → Boar → Horse → Tiger!
A line of fire immediately climbed along the wire.
"This is the Dragon Fire Technique. Use this technique to practice. Once you've mastered it, move on to Phoenix Flower Claw Red. When you've practiced to this level, come find me again."
Uchiha Setsuna ordered in a calm tone, then threw out another shuriken tied with steel wire.
This time, he simply formed the Ram seal.
Then, the dragon fire rose.
He had actually simplified the sealing process directly into a single seal.
Uchiha Ci was stunned. So there were people in the Uchiha clan who could do such things.
Using a single seal to release Fire Release might be inferior to Senju Hashirama's clapping-hands-whatever-you-want style, but it was still impressive.
"After you practice well and master the nature transformation of Fire Release, then from there—"
Uchiha Setsuna frowned for a moment, raised his head slightly, looked into Uchiha Ci's eyes, shook his head, and said coldly:
"Forget it. Let's focus on surviving first before talking about other things."
In just two minutes,
Uchiha Setsuna, an old Warring States Period veteran, had taught Uchiha Ci about the form and nature transformation of Fire Release.
He really dared to teach.
If he were an ordinary ninja, they definitely wouldn't be able to understand Uchiha Setsuna's teaching method.
However, Uchiha Ci had mastered Uchiha Setsuna's superb-level Uchiha-style Shurikenjutsu and Uchiha Seiichiro's proficient-level Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Fire.
With the knowledge in his mind confirmed and looking at it from a high-level perspective—
The so-called Phoenix Sage Fire, Flower Claw Red, and even techniques like the Dragon Fire Technique were nothing more than special applications. With his superb physical mastery, Uchiha Ci tried to recreate it in his mind.
Then, Uchiha Ci discovered, to his dismay,
that he actually understood it.
[You have mastered Fire Release: Dragon Fire Technique (Beginner, C-rank).]
[You have mastered Fire Release: Phoenix Sage Flower Claw Red (Beginner, B-rank).]
Two notifications refreshed before his eyes in time, and Uchiha Ci was stunned.
He immediately looked at Great Elder Uchiha Setsuna with a resentful expression.
Stop teaching! Stop teaching!
My brain feels so itchy; it feels like it's growing!
If this continues, we won't have even reached the battlefield yet, and I'll have finished leveling up my skills.
Is this for real?!
At this moment, Uchiha Seiichiro, who had gone out to set up warning traps, returned with a solemn expression.
"Great Elder, there is a team of Yu ninjas nearby searching the area. I think we should retreat for now."
However,
When Seiichiro saw Uchiha Setsuna teaching Uchiha Ci ninjutsu, he couldn't help but freeze, and his eyes immediately turned red.
He knew it!
No wonder Uchiha Setsuna would choose Uchiha Ci for the mission.
It turned out this slick-faced kid was a fledgling of the hawk faction!
Moreover, this kid had also deceived Lord Shisui, making him think he was a Dove faction supporter!
This was simply outrageous!
"What did you say?" Uchiha Setsuna frowned slightly and asked again.
Uchiha Seiichiro had no choice but to suppress the dissatisfaction on his face and reported:
"There is a team of Yu ninjas ahead, seemingly patrolling the area with a purpose."
Then, he suggested aloud:
"The Ninja Code states that it's best not to create complications outside of missions."
"Furthermore, Great Elder, given the current chaotic situation in the Land of Yu, it's best for us to avoid direct contact."
Uchiha Setsuna frowned slightly. He had heard Obito talk about this last night.
It was the experience Namikaze Minato imparted to his disciples. Simply put, the Land of Yu was chaotic now, and one must be wary of certain types of people on the road.
Try to have as little contact as possible with ninjas outside mission parameters.
One type was the ninjas from their own country in the chaotic zone.
Because the Yu ninjas of this period might no longer be serving Yugakure.
Of course, Uchiha Ci wasn't afraid at all.
He was eager to encounter these strange ninjas.
However, unlike his previous proposal to cross the border at night, he now had no suitable excuse to persuade the team to take the risk.
However,
After hearing the news, Uchiha Setsuna's half-closed eyes suddenly snapped open, and a pair of three-tomoe Sharingan slowly began to rotate.
He kicked the bonfire apart, drew a long sword from his back, and ordered in a cold voice,
"Prepare for battle."
"Seiichiro, you lead the way. We'll deal with that team of Yu ninjas you found first."
"Then, we march quickly and cross the border into the Land of Yu tonight!"