The Panda Sage looked at him with a pleased expression, nodding as if to say, "This child is truly teachable."
Some time passed, and seeing that Yuki Seisui still maintained his meditative state, the Panda Sage was even more satisfied.
"Seisui really has a gift," it praised.
"Boss, I think he fell asleep," Panda Ming said as he walked over, holding Kuma in his arms. He glanced at Yuki Seisui.
"Hmm?" The Panda Sage blinked in surprise and leaned in — sure enough, it heard soft snoring coming from Yuki Seisui.
"This kid…"
By the time Yuki Seisui woke up, the sun was already dipping below the horizon.
"Ugh…" He stood up awkwardly from the ground, clearly a little embarrassed.
"You're awake?" Panda Ming was sitting nearby, surrounded by a pile of bamboo, while Kuma was playing atop it.
"Where's the Panda Sage?"
"Boss went fishing," Panda Ming replied calmly as he gnawed on a stalk of bamboo. "Before he left, he asked me to teach you Sage Arts."
"Why didn't you wake me up?" Yuki Seisui scratched his head, still groggy.
"No big deal. There wasn't anything else going on anyway," Panda Ming said nonchalantly. "Besides, after a good nap, your mind is more peaceful."
Yuki Seisui focused inward for a moment. Indeed, this was the calmest and most focused he had felt in a while.
"Let's start now," Panda Ming said as he tossed over a peeled bamboo shoot. "Eat this, and you'll be able to sense the natural energy around you."
"Then balance it with your chakra using this ratio…"
Under the golden glow of sunset, a boy and a panda, one teaching, one listening, created a picture of unlikely harmony.
==========
Meanwhile, back in the Uchiha compound, Uchiha Setsuna looked at his beloved granddaughter, who sat at the table listless and distracted.
"What's wrong? Don't like the food?" he asked, glancing at the beautifully prepared dishes on the table with some confusion.
"Grandpa… can the Ninja Cat Clan learn Sage Arts?" Uchiha Haru asked suddenly.
"Hmm?" Uchiha Setsuna paused, caught off guard by the question. The mention of Sage Arts brought back memories of that man.
He recalled a time when Hashirama Senju, the First Hokage, had summoned a towering wooden golem with a clap of his hands. The power of his Sage Techniques was nothing short of terrifying… though sadly, he died too young.
As far as Setsuna knew, the only known Sage in the present day was Jiraiya — the white-haired fool.
"Sage Arts are unique abilities from the Three Great Sacred Lands," he explained. "The Ninja Cat Clan doesn't have access to them."
Still, seeing his granddaughter looking so dejected, Setsuna tried to lift her spirits.
"But our Uchiha Sharingan is just as powerful!"
"Not really… even the Three-Tomoe Sharingan isn't all that strong," Haru said matter-of-factly. She had already awakened her Two-Tomoe Sharingan and had seen plenty of Three-Tomoe users.
Because she already possessed it, or maybe just got used to it, she no longer saw the Three-Tomoe as anything special.
Setsuna twitched slightly at her words.
You think it's weak only because you've never seen the Mangekyo Sharingan.
"The Sharingan is very powerful," he insisted. "Above the Three-Tomoe is something called the Mangekyo Sharingan."
"When you awaken it, it grants you two unique jutsu, ones born from your deepest desires."
"Compared to Sage Arts, the Mangekyo is even stronger!"
"Really?" Haru's eyes sparkled with anticipation.
"Of course," Setsuna smiled as he gently patted her head. "Grandpa has never lied to you, right? But listen, don't tell anyone about the Mangekyo. Only elders and clan leaders know of its existence."
"Mm-hmm! I won't say a word!" Haru nodded earnestly.
As he affectionately stroked her head, Setsuna thought to himself:
So… he's begun Sage training, has he? That Jiraiya brat really does treat those two students of his well.
He didn't dwell on why Haru hadn't been taught Sage Arts — it was simple. Jiraiya had already taken Yuki Seisui and Minato as formal students. Haru was merely a student. That difference, Setsuna understood well.
Meanwhile, Haru's heart burned with determination as she imagined the Mangekyo.
I will follow in your footsteps, no matter what, no matter how far!
==========
Two days later.
Yuki Seisui dragged himself in front of the group, visibly exhausted.
"Did you stay up late again?" Minato asked.
"Yeah." Seisui nodded. "I spent the whole night training. I'm a bit worn out."
Uchiha Haru, who had been quietly watching him, suddenly pulled out a pink lunchbox from her bag.
"I made breakfast for you," she said with a smile. "See if you like it."
Ever since learning about the Mangekyo, her drive to catch up had reignited. She believed in herself — she knew she had the potential to awaken it.
Minato looked down at the three-color dango he had bought for himself. In that moment, it felt like he had swallowed a fly.
In every trio of friends… one is destined to be the odd one out.
As Yuki Seisui munched on the lunch Haru made, he noticed Minato sulking.
"What's up with you?" he asked, confused.
"Nothing," Minato forced a smile, one that looked worse than crying.
Yuki Seisui quickly finished his meal and gave Haru a big thumbs up.
"Haru, this is amazing! I wish I could eat your cooking every day!"
Over the past two days, he'd lived like a panda.
Morning: mountain spring water and bamboo shoots.
Afternoon: same.
Evening: more spring water, and roasted bamboo shoots.
Panda Ming had offered to change things up, but the moment Seisui saw him hugging a bundle of bamboo, he refused on the spot. Bamboo shoots were at least edible — regular bamboo was basically wood.
Haru's cheeks flushed red at Seisui's praise. The idea of him wanting to eat her cooking every day made her heart flutter.
"If it's for Seisui… then I wouldn't mind at all…"
Her voice was so soft that neither Seisui nor Minato heard it.
"Alright, let's head to the Hokage's office."
Seisui genuinely wanted to complain about this, the highest authority in the village, and yet the Hokage still personally assigned D-rank missions? It felt like using a scalpel to chop wood.
==========
At the Hokage's office, Sarutobi Hiruzen looked at the three of them with a kind smile.
"So, ready for a C-rank mission this time?" he asked. "I happen to have a pretty good one."
Seisui hesitated, then shook his head.
"Grandpa Third, I'm currently in Sage training. I might not be able to take missions outside the village for a while."
Hiruzen's smile remained warm. He had already heard from Jiraiya that Seisui's summoned creature likely had Sage capabilities, and now that it was confirmed, he was even more pleased.
"This mission doesn't leave the village," he explained. "With the war temporarily over, the Five Great Shinobi Nations are planning to hold a joint Chunin exam."
"And it'll be hosted right here in Konoha."
"I want you three to participate, and bring home an unprecedented victory for our village!"
The three looked at each other in surprise. This wasn't a mission they could refuse.
"If we don't need to leave the village… then we accept!"
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