Naruto: Under the Banner of the Clans

Searching for any trace of blood or other visible problems, Akeno felt his instincts telling him to flee.

"Damn, what's the problem?!"

The six children had their eyes closed, deeply concentrated on their breathing.

Kaede was the first to sense something different, and her expression changed from doubt to panic. "Up there!"

The roof of the room shattered into a thousand pieces, the debris being sucked into the storm forming in the sky.

Akeno, standing beside them, saw lightning appear in the storm and understood what was happening, even though it seemed far-fetched.

The world had sensed that these children did not belong to this universe. Thus, to obtain the powers of Qi and follow the path of evolution in this universe, they would have to prove themselves worthy and pass the tribulation.

"Whatever you do, don't move and keep following the methods in the manuals!" Akeno shouted urgently. "Each of you will be struck by lightning; this is a tribulation! Resist with everything you have, but don't stop the lightning from hitting the others!"

Taking a safe distance, Akeno watched the clouds grow darker and darker. For his safety and that of the others, he could not help them overcome this lightning.

Otherwise, the lightning would become much stronger and lead to his death and that of the others.

Each tribulation had to be overcome by the one who was undergoing it.

Akeno hadn't considered this possibility at first since the first tribulation that cultivators usually faced was during the transition to the seventh level, the Harmony of Qi and Body, with six bolts of lightning for each level of cultivation the cultivator had reached.

Each bolt was meant to challenge the foundations of each level.

Now, facing this tribulation in the sky that was just waiting to fall, Akeno didn't know what to expect.

It was unprecedented.

Watching the sky, the young ninjas concentrated on the Qi and monitored the lightning carefully.

After a few minutes, the first bolt of lightning descended towards them with a thunderous noise. It was Kaede who was struck first.

Hitting her at a speed beyond her ability to react, Kaede felt her body contract painfully, every fiber of her being burning under the intensity of the lightning.

Her sealed chakra within her body swirled wildly.

Kaede bit her lips, refusing to scream, focusing her mind on the manual and the techniques she had learned. Slowly, she felt her body stabilize, absorbing and integrating the energy of the lightning.

The first bolt had passed. Kaede, panting, opened her eyes, her gaze burning with determination.

"Kaede!" Renji shouted, seeing his comrade trembling but holding on.

Before he could say anything else, the second bolt struck, this time hitting Maiko.

Maiko, more fragile than the others, fell to her knees under the impact. Her body was shaken by the pain, but she clung firmly to her will to survive.

With denser and more resilient bones than the others, her body resisted a little better than Kaede's, though it did not lessen the pain.

Izaya, Renji, Fubuki, and Chikara watched, struggling against their own fear, while continuing to follow the methods in the manuals.

Each bolt struck the young ninjas one by one, each enduring and resisting the electrifying energy in their own way.

Izaya, with his Byakugans activated, could see the Qi energy now visible within their bodies.

Renji, though suffering, felt a new strength forming within him, his sense of Qi strengthening.

Fubuki, always stoic, seemed to almost relish the challenge, his desire to become stronger transforming into an indomitable will.

Chikara, despite the pain, could feel a slight tingling in his eyes.

Standing before them, Akeno, watching his young companions endure this tribulation, felt a deep admiration and hope growing within him. They were changing, becoming something new, something more powerful.

Their bodies were beginning to adapt to the Qi.

After the six bolts of lightning, the threatening clouds in the sky gradually began to disappear, allowing the sun's rays to break through the darkness and flood the now roofless room.

Approaching the young ninjas lying on the ground, Akeno hurried to check their condition.

Using his Qi, he detected faint sources of Qi within their bodies, with a few meridians opened.

Joy on his face, Akeno couldn't help but exclaim, "You did it! You've officially entered the first level, the Awakening of the Meridians!"

...

In the courtyard of the branch, everyone was looking in the direction where the lightning had struck.

In total silence, Fang Qin took the lead and ordered the others not to follow him, venturing through the corridors to reach the room where the lightning had struck.

Finally arriving at the door of the room, he entered without knocking.

Before his eyes, Akeno was smiling, congratulating the others on their success, while the young children were slumped on the ground, their bodies still smoking.

With a single glance, he understood that it was these young people who had undergone the tribulation. But why?

No tribulation appears during the entire first stage of cultivation.

Who were these kids?

Approaching the group, Fang Qin spoke, finally making his presence known. "Congratulations on this success."

"Branch Master!" Akeno exclaimed in surprise. "Sorry, I didn't see you arrive."

Looking deeply at Akeno, Fang Qin spoke in a very serious tone. "I'm afraid the time for celebrations is not now, we need to hurry. Follow me!"

Turning without looking back, Fang Qin left in a hurry.

Akeno and the others took a few seconds before hurrying to catch up with the branch master.

Even though Fang Qin seemed to walk at a calm and leisurely pace, Akeno and the others had to run to keep up.

Through the building's corridors, passing countless doors, Fang Qin finally stopped in front of a door that seemed no different from the others. "These are my quarters, leave the children inside and then come with me. They will be protected and safe in there."

"You have quarters now? I thought the entrance hall was your quarters," Akeno said humorously, without disobeying Fang Qin's orders.

"No time for your humor, we must hurry. He's coming!" he replied.

Rushing with Fang Qin to the branch's exit, Akeno felt the tension in his voice. "Who's coming?"

"The mayor..."

Arriving in the courtyard, Fang Qin stopped and resumed his usual calm demeanor. Without changing his usual expression, he looked up at the sky, where a man was calmly flying above the branch.

Dressed in what could be described as noble and splendid attire, with a perfectly trimmed beard, black hair blowing in the wind, piercing black eyes, and a sword at his waist. The mayor stood there, above everyone.

"I could see the tribulation from afar, I believe congratulations are in order," he said as he descended towards the courtyard.

The branch disciples, whether children, disciples, or instructors, made way for the mayor.

No one spoke, looking either at the branch master or the mayor.

It can be said that only those in the branch were able to see that it was not the master who had passed the tribulation.

"And on top of that, you don't look very injured," the mayor said, approaching Fang Qin more and more.

Facing him, Fang Qin showed no discomfort, no fear. He could feel the mayor using his spiritual sense to scan and discover his cultivation, which was doomed to fail.

Without verifying his cultivation level, the mayor remained stoic, showing no irritation at his failure.

With hands joined, Fang Qin showed a minimum of respect to the mayor. "Many thanks for the congratulations, I must thank the mayor for coming here to deliver them."

"With this advancement, you will surely be able to return to the main sect and leave the branch. It seems you have not finished your journey on the path of cultivation," the mayor said with a broad smile.

"Ho ho ho, I don't think I yet have a place on the lands of the main sect. I prefer to stay here and continue to age peacefully, far from the continuous disputes of the high ranks of the sect or the government," Fang Qin said, showing the same smile as the mayor. "Besides, I don't think it would be good to return to Glory City for my old bones."

"Come on, you're still in great shape, and the big cities would offer you greater resources and opportunities."

"That is not certain, I'm afraid," Fang Qin replied. "But I talk so much that I forget my manners, maybe you would like to accompany this old man for tea?"

Bowing respectfully, the mayor declined with a false smile. "I'm afraid I must refuse, my duties call me, the direction of the city cannot wait for my presence, maybe another time." His gestures and smile were graceful, presenting no error, but Fang Qin could sense how malicious his spirit was, not meaning a word he said.

After the mayor left as quickly as he had arrived, Fang Qin turned his attention to all the members of the branch present. "No one speaks of what happened today; you must think it was me who underwent the tribulations. Am I clear?"

"Yes, branch master!" all the members shouted, hands cupped.

Seeing the seriousness in their eyes, Fang Qin knew he could trust them. Turning to Akeno, who had watched everything from the side, he began walking in the direction of his quarters.

"Follow me, I fear we have much to discuss."