Naruto: Under the Banner of the Clans

After two days of getting used to the chakra inside his body, Akeno felt delighted to see his chakra system perfectly integrated without any issues.

He didn't have instruments to measure his chakra quantity but could feel it was already impressive.

Kaede, with her keen chakra perception due to her Uzumaki heritage, had noticed the extent of Akeno's reserves. According to her, Akeno had reserves equivalent to the weakest elites of her clan. Given their reputation for being among the most enduring and powerful in chakra, this spoke volumes about Akeno's chakra quantity. Moreover, it had only been two days; with continued use and training, his maximum reserve should increase rapidly.

Under the guidance of the others, Akeno wanted to learn all possible jutsus.

He couldn't test his chakra to determine its elemental nature, but he could learn and attempt to master as many jutsus as possible.

Unlike Orochimaru, who had to find a way to live eternally to learn everything, Akeno had the opportunity to extend his longevity through Qi.

In Hope City, where nothing happened and no clans or nobles lived, he could train in peace without being disturbed or spied upon.

It was perfect.

Returning to the city, Akeno was followed by Xu Jié and the two brothers Yang Jun and Yang Chengwu carrying a few wild boars they had just hunted.

As usual, Yang Jun had a big smile on his face and was talking loudly. "Awesome! This is clearly our record for boars in one hunt! You're going to have to teach us your techniques, Akeno."

Xu Jié agreed with Yang Jun. Practicing the art of the sword, he wanted to learn a lot from Akeno because, to him, Akeno was much stronger than the instructors at the branch.

Entering the city under the impressed eyes of the guards, the small group passed through the stalls and distributed the boars to those of the branch to sell or distribute food to the orphans.

"By the way, Akeno, where did you find the children you brought to the branch? Everyone is asking this question, and given the talent and characteristics of these kids, it's impossible they come from the streets around here," Yang Jun said curiously.

That was the question worth its weight in gold at the branch right now.

Everyone had seen these young children training and fighting in the training courtyard. Their prowess was astounding, and their fighting styles impressive.

One had white eyes, another had red hair, and another had red dots on his forehead that hinted at a noble characteristic.

None of these children seemed normal.

In just two days, the group of six had become the center of attention for the entire branch. All the other children saw them as geniuses.

Even the best among them couldn't compete with them, even though they hadn't begun the path of cultivation.

Without a shred of Qi, they could defeat anyone below the third level, Qi Refinement. It was unheard of.

At the first level, Meridian Awakening, the cultivator only opened the meridians in his body, releasing barriers within his body, without really storing Qi.

At the second level, Qi Condensation, the cultivator condensed Qi inside him to complete his Qi network.

Finally, at the third level, Qi Refinement, the cultivator refined his Qi to use it throughout his body, significantly increasing his physical and spiritual abilities.

The difference between Qi Condensation and Qi Refinement was much more impressive than between Meridian Awakening and Qi Condensation, and for the young ninjas, without using chakra, it was still too difficult to defeat a cultivator of the third level. But they could still fight him within certain limits.

Looking at Yang Jun with a slight smile, Akeno shook his head. "Who knows? Anyway, I have the feeling no one believes me."

"On the fact that they come from here? I admit I find it hard to believe," Xu Jié retorted.

Walking faster, Akeno sighed with annoyance. "Then just tell yourself they come from another world, so you'll stop asking questions!"

"Oh, stop getting worked up; we just want to know," Yang Jun laughed, putting his arm around Akeno. "How about this: an arm-wrestling match? If I win, you tell us the truth; if you win, I'll buy you a boar skewer!"

"A skewer of the boar WE just hunted?" Akeno asked skeptically, looking at Yang Jun with a hint of irony.

"Now that we've given them to the stalls, they're not ours anymore; we have to pay for them now," Yang Jun defended himself with a smile on his lips.

Leaving two minutes later with a skewer in hand, Akeno bit into it with pleasure, savoring the rich, smoky taste.

Yang Jun, with a sore arm, shed a few imaginary tears behind him. "Why do you have such great strength?" he murmured.

"Because he's at the Organ Fortification stage while you're still at the stupid Qi Refinement," Yang Chengwu said to his brother.

"But you're also at Qi Refinement, I remind you!"

"But I didn't challenge Akeno to a stupid strength duel!"

In this joyful atmosphere, they arrived at the branch and parted ways.

Izaya, who was eagerly awaiting Akeno, stopped his training as soon as he saw Akeno.

Approaching him, he handed him the manuals Akeno had given him two days earlier. "It's done; we've all memorized the Qi breathing manual from the sect. As well as the sect's lotus cultivation method."

These manuals were normally given directly to those who joined the sect, but Akeno had waited a few more days to recruit his entire team and to see if it was first possible to coexist with Qi and chakra.

Now that it was done, Akeno had given them his manuals to move on to the next step.

Like him, they should be able to have both energy systems in their bodies.

"Perfect, and has Kaede finished the seal?" Akeno asked.

"Yes, everything is ready," Izaya replied.

"Perfect."

Akeno had asked Kaede to make a seal to seal the chakra and make it completely invisible to others. As an Uzumaki, and with the heritage of her clan that she had to learn, she had made the seal in just two days.

With that, they could keep their secrets for an additional time.

Gathering in their room, Kaede applied the seal to each of them, forming a black spherical pattern on their bellies. The seal could be removed by a simple mental command and was invisible when closed.

With this seal, as long as they did not remove it themselves, their chakras were totally unusable and somewhat hidden from prying cultivators.

"Excellent work, Kaede. Now, it's up to you to master Qi," complimented Akeno.

In the room, Chikara, Izaya, Kaede, Maiko, Renji, and Fubuki sat in a circle, immersing their minds in the technique of breathing and cultivation.

Through breathing, they had to draw Qi from the world into their bodies and expel the troubled Qi, and through cultivation technique, they had to control Qi to follow a precise path and become cultivators.

Kaede, who began to breathe according to the manual method, finally felt she could control this mysterious energy in the air.

After memorizing the manuals, it wasn't difficult for them to master the techniques written in them on the first try.

Each of them marveled at feeling Qi at their fingertips.

Determination and joy filled their minds.

Akeno, who observed everything, felt the ambient Qi being drawn towards the six and hoped everything would go well.

...

In the main hall of the branch, Fang Qin, who was deeply asleep, suddenly woke up, his gaze searching for any problem in the surroundings.

"Hmm... Who could that be?"

...

In the city tower, the mayor, who was meditating calmly, jumped up with his gaze turning towards the Thousand Lotus sect branch.

"It can't be! Could it be Fang Qin!? But how is that possible!?"

...

In the sky of Hope City, numerous clouds appeared in the previously clear sky.

The sound of thunder could be heard throughout the city.

The disciples of the branch looked up at the sky in panic, some with joy on their faces, others with fear.

"Is the branch master trying to reach the seventh level, Harmony of Qi and Body?" asked one of the instructors, recognizing the significance of these clouds.

"No, it's not me," said Fang Qin, appearing in the courtyard, looking towards the sky.

"Branch master!? If it's not you, then who?"

"I don't know... I don't know..."

...

In the room, Akeno felt a chill run through him; something was about to happen, but he didn't know what. "What is it now..."