Konoha: This Uchiha is extremely sneaky

Chapter 77 Dawn

The next morning.

Inside the Uchiha clan's training grounds, a refreshing morning breeze blew gently, and a crystal-clear dewdrop slowly dripped from a verdant leaf.

The rising sun cast its first rays through the dense shadows of the trees, illuminating the slowly falling water droplet and giving it a rainbow of colors.

At the top of this big tree, a boy sat cross-legged, his expression neither sad nor happy. His figure swayed gently in the breeze, and birds occasionally passed by without showing any panic.

The boy was none other than Uchiha Toshiro, who was currently undergoing his daily Zen meditation practice. Unfortunately, his teacher, Shigemasa, required special training at six o'clock this morning, forcing him to change his training location to this spot.

Meanwhile, before dawn, he arrived at the training ground early to begin his meditation practice. Fortunately, after so many years of meditation practice, he was able to enter a state of 'stillness' without much difficulty after abandoning that special method of practice.

The so-called "stillness" is an adjective he invented himself, describing the ability to enter a state of absolute stillness during meditation. He merges with nature, so that the birds or animals around him do not sense his harm.

As time passed and the sun slowly rose, the training ground welcomed new guests.

"You idiot Tetsuya, why are you all alone? Hasn't Toshiro arrived yet?" A clear, girlish voice rang out, sounding almost like a spoiled child.

"That guy always arrives early for meetings, doesn't he? He's always getting in the way!"

Seeing that the "third wheel" was gone and no one was disturbing her and the boy's time alone, the girl smiled broadly, revealing two small dimples on her cheeks.

[Every time I'm with this idiot, Toshiro and Shigemasa-sensei are always around, it's such an eyesore!]

[Now it's just the two of them, I'm so happy! I wish there hadn't been today's special training!]

Although she was only eight years old, the girl named Uchiha Homura was very precocious and already felt that her teammates and teachers were superfluous.

As for being shy or anything like that, that's completely nonexistent. Uchiha Homura couldn't care less about what others thought.

Why not use that free time to tease this idiot?

"Toshiro and the teacher haven't arrived yet. By the way, has Homura had breakfast? Kassan's pies are amazing, would you like to try some?"

He didn't quite understand why Toshiro was "in the way," but that didn't stop him from taking out the breakfast his mother had specially prepared for him when he left home that morning to share.

Seeing the other person's generous and cheerful smile, the girl was in a great mood. She even forgot about the special training that was about to begin, and happily accepted the pie that Uchiha Tetsuya offered her and started eating it.

"Wow! Auntie's pies are so delicious! I wish I could taste this every day!" She exclaimed with a big smile as she savored the pies, enthusiastically praising her future "mom."

Upon hearing the praise, Uchiha Tetsuya burst into laughter. He then scratched the back of his head with his free right hand, and with that grin, a goofy, endearing air about him emanated from him.

Hearing the conversation below, Toshiro, who was meditating, couldn't help but break out of his 'still' state and complained.

"I'm sorry to interrupt your happy time, Miss Flame!"

"I really can't stand it anymore. We're not even family yet, and besides, the person isn't even here. Do you have to make such a fuss? Can't you hear me?!"

As he spoke, he jumped down from the top of the tree and stood in front of the two of them.

"Ah! Toshiro, you're here. Did you arrive a long time ago? Why didn't you come out earlier?" Uchiha Tetsuya asked with a puzzled look as he looked at the suddenly appearing Toshiro.

At the same time, he reached into his backpack and took out another pie, handing it to him.

"Who is the family and people you mentioned who aren't here? Are you talking about Professor Shigemasa? We've prepared another treat for him too!"

Without explaining to the boy who the person he had just mentioned was, he ignored the girl's murderous glare, snatched the pie, and took a big bite.

"I arrived quite a while ago and meditated here for over an hour! I only came down to say hello because I saw you two chatting so happily."

"Hmm! Auntie's cooking is really good. 'Flame' is in for a treat!" After tasting the pie in her hand, she found it quite delicious and couldn't help but tease the little girl.

These pies were probably prepared by Zhe's mother as a special breakfast for them. Worried that her son's impulsive nature might lead to unpleasant interactions with teammates or teachers, she could only offer her silent support in this way.

I hope my son can get along well with his classmates and get along harmoniously with his teachers.

Meanwhile, Homura Uchiha, who was being teased by Toshiro, showed no embarrassment whatsoever. Instead, she glared at him fiercely, annoyed that he had disrupted her time alone with "idiot Tetsuya."

"Are you really practicing that meditation? Does that strange method of cultivation really work?" The boy's focus was clearly different from the girl's. Hearing that Toshiro had been meditating in the tree for more than an hour, he asked with some surprise.

During their last get-together, Toshiro told him that practicing the one-handed hand seal method of "meditation" was very effective. To him, this was probably just an excuse from Toshiro to brush him off, not realizing that Toshiro himself was also practicing meditation.

Glancing at him sideways, Toshiro said with a hint of annoyance, "Of course it's true! I can tell from your expression that you don't believe me!"

"Whether it works or not, you'll know once you go back and try it yourself! We're all in the same team, do you think I'd make fun of you?"

He was quite frustrated. He had told the other person about such a top-tier method as cultivating immortal techniques, yet the other person still looked unconvinced. Did he think he was fooling him? Did he have that much free time?

And then there's Teacher Shigemasa. Those two kids are understandable, given their youth and limited knowledge. But he's an elite Jonin, and he doesn't even have this much insight? Thumbs down!

He was unaware that for thousands of years, ninjas had been training by refining chakra, activating their physical bodies, or cultivating spiritual energy.

What he calls meditation is usually practiced by monks and nuns. These monks and nuns are relics of the old era, abandoned by the times.

Why would these ninjas, standing at the pinnacle of this era, turn back to learn from those monks?

(End of this chapter)