UCHIHA: THE ATTACK ON KONOHA

After dinner, the three instructors—Uchiha Ze, Uchiha Sa, and Uchiha Mei—subjected the three students to genjutsu training. Each of them fell under an illusion tailored to their own fears and weaknesses, forcing them to experience the full effect of being trapped in an illusion. Then, Uchiha Ze cast a powerful group genjutsu, similar to the Demonic Illusion: Tree Binding Death, pushing them to their limits. The intense mental strain left them exhausted, marking the end of a grueling day of training.

The next morning, Uchiha Sa resumed training. The curriculum mirrored the previous day's, but with a focus on conserving chakra while maintaining the efficiency of their Shadow Clone Jutsu. Thanks to the previous day's rigorous practice, their chakra control improved, making today's ninjutsu lessons much more effective. The instructor was pleased, and the students, eager to improve, trained with renewed enthusiasm.

After lunch, it was time for kenjutsu practice. They first reinforced their fundamental sword strikes, footwork, and grip strength before leaving their clones behind to continue. Meanwhile, their real bodies followed Uchiha Ze into the forest to practice trap-setting and deception techniques, essential skills for the Uchiha's covert operations.

"Listen carefully," Uchiha Ze instructed, his voice firm. "This is your last week under my direct guidance. After that, I won't have much free time to teach you. Write everything down. I'll correct you when I can, but you must push each other to improve. Spar, experiment, and refine your techniques."

He continued, demonstrating the principles of Uchiha-style kenjutsu, including movements such as the Moonlight Blade (Jian Yueyan) and Flash Strike (Flash Cut), designed for lethal precision when combined with the Body Flicker Technique.

"The wrist must be both strong and fluid," he explained, slicing through the air with his blade. "Raw power alone won't suffice. You need explosive force—controlled bursts of speed and shaking motion to sustain consecutive strikes. Your body, from waist to legs, must move in unison. Coordination is everything. Without it, you'll be as helpless as a leaf in the wind, lacking the grounded stability to strike with power and precision."

They spent hours refining their swordplay, learning to synchronize their footwork, hand movements, and attacks into a seamless flow.

As the sun set, Uchiha Ze led them through the dense forest, pointing out hidden tripwires and false paths. "These traps are not just about deception," he said. "A well-placed trap can manipulate an enemy's movement, driving them into a dead zone." He demonstrated a trigger-based explosive tag concealed under a thin layer of dirt. "From tomorrow onward, two of you will set traps while the third attempts to dismantle them. And at night, we resume genjutsu practice. If you progress well enough, I might teach you a group illusion technique—a secret Uchiha method."

Days passed in a blur, and after a week of relentless training, their progress was evident. They had mastered three new earth-release jutsu—Earth Style: Yellow Spring Marsh and Earth Style: Rock Pillar Prison—and had refined their coordination in Fire Release–Wind Release Combination Jutsu, making their Blazing Whirlwind attack even more devastating. Their teamwork had improved, and they could now combine their fire and wind techniques seamlessly to unleash large-scale, high-temperature assaults.

In kenjutsu, they had reached a level where they could execute short combinations with their preferred styles. Though still rough, their techniques showed promise. Among them, Uchiha Retsu excelled in trap-setting, demonstrating a keen strategic mind. However, when it came to genjutsu, he struggled—either failing to break free from illusions or casting ones too weak to deceive. In contrast, Uchiha Yang had a natural talent for illusions, and Uchiha Yan was skilled at detecting and dismantling them.

At the end of the training cycle, the three bowed deeply before their instructors, expressing gratitude for their guidance. The Uchiha masters accepted their gesture with quiet approval, offering a few last words of wisdom before vanishing in a flicker of movement.

With their training complete, the students packed their belongings and began the journey home. Though exhausted, they were filled with a renewed sense of purpose, silently vowing to prove their worth the next time they stood before their teachers.

---

Back home, the warm aroma of home-cooked food filled the air. Uchiha Yang's mother lovingly piled his plate with his favorite dishes. "Eat more," she said. "You've lost weight."

As Yang eagerly dug in, his father—a seasoned shinobi—reached for a bite, only to have his chopsticks slapped away by his wife's swift hand. He sighed, resigned to his fate.

"Mom, your cooking is the best! One day, I'll marry someone just like you," Yang grinned.

His mother laughed, casting a pointed look at her husband. "Unlike some people, who never appreciate my cooking."

The father quickly backpedaled, his expression pleading. "That's not true! Your cooking is the highlight of my life. I'll eat it in this life and the next!" He reached for her hand, trying to smooth things over.

Yang, unable to endure any more of their affectionate banter, quickly excused himself. "I'm going to train! Next time I see my teacher, I want to shock him with my progress."

Watching his son leave, his father sighed. "He's matured a lot. But why did you agree to let him go through such intense training? He's still young."

His mother's expression turned serious as she cleared the dishes. "The last incident was a wake-up call. I'd rather see him exhausted and half-starved after training than lying injured—or worse. Strength isn't enough. He needs influence, allies. Without them, he won't survive in this world."

Her husband frowned. "The village is safe."

She scoffed. "Safe? Tell that to the Senju Clan." With that, she turned and walked away, leaving him deep in thought.

---

A year passed. During this time, Uchiha Nobunaga had given their team no missions, instead letting them focus on training. Occasionally, the masters observed their progress, ensuring they didn't develop bad habits.

One morning, the three met at their usual training ground, sparring in kenjutsu and testing new battle strategies.

Suddenly, a familiar voice rang out. "Good progress, my students."

They turned to see Uchiha Mei, their long-absent teacher.

"It's been a year since our squad took a mission," Mei continued. "It's time to put your skills to the test." She tossed eight scrolls onto the ground. "Five are bandit elimination missions. Three are infiltration assignments—destroying enemy spy outposts."

Excitement flickered in their eyes as they read the mission details.

"I'll be accompanying you," Mei added, "but don't expect me to step in. Every mission you complete, I'll critique your performance. Now, squad four, move out. Meet me at the village gates in thirty minutes."

With that, she disappeared in a blur of motion.

The three exchanged determined glances before rushing to prepare. Unlike their first mission, where they had charged forward recklessly, this time, they moved with purpose, ready to face whatever awaited them beyond the village walls.