NOVEL NEXT Chapter 131: Rapid Progress in Training
"From here on, start your training. I saw your battle with those members of the Hagoromo clan before. Your reaction speed and use of ninjutsu were very good, even your tactical thinking is top-notch. But your taijutsu is far too weak.
If, in yesterday's battle, you hadn't been injured by their shuriken and kunai, there would have been no blood scent for them to track, and your landing spot wouldn't have been discovered, which led to the crisis that followed."
"The Uchiha clan is naturally strong in ninjutsu, with the Sharingan as our gift. As for taijutsu, while there may be methods passed down within the clan, they've never been taken seriously. From now on, you'll need to train in it properly."
"This is another type of taijutsu. Try it."
Kaede handed a scroll containing the method to Madara.
This style fused the Uchiha's unique taijutsu with the Eight Gates technique. Its power couldn't reach the level of the Death Gate, but it also wouldn't consume the user's life force.
Aside from Kaguya Ōtsutsuki's Eighty Gods Vacuum Attack, it was the strongest taijutsu Kaede knew.
Of course, compared to the Death Gate, it was still inferior, but for someone who would die upon opening it, this technique's value was far greater.
"Yes!"
Madara took the scroll, and when he read its contents, he immediately understood its worth. He looked deeply at Kaede, then began practicing under his guidance.
Of course, besides taijutsu, Kaede also made sure Madara trained in Fire Style techniques and the use of ninja tools.
How to form hand seals faster, how to mobilize chakra in the quickest way—these things were trivial for Kaede, but priceless for Madara.
After all, Hashirama Senju had not yet become the ninjutsu-creating madman he would be in the future. Many improvements to jutsu had yet to appear.
Kaede's knowledge and instruction undoubtedly saved Madara countless detours.
Half a month passed in this way.
During this time, Madara continued to learn new skills and put them to use on the battlefield, saving many clan members. Some who would have died before now survived thanks to his newly acquired abilities.
At the Nanga River.
One day, Madara was training while Kaede leaned lazily against a tree, chewing a grass stem, eyes closed in rest.
Over the month, Madara had repeatedly challenged Kaede's shadow clone, but each time, he was defeated with ease.
This time was no exception.
Boom!
Madara was once again thrown to the ground by the clone.
"This time you lasted ten seconds longer than before," Kaede remarked with a rare smile.
"Sensei, you're really too strong. Even your clone feels far stronger than anyone else. I can't imagine when I'll ever be able to beat it."
Madara stood up, covered in dirt, but there was no discouragement in his eyes.
He could clearly feel that in just this month, he had become far stronger than before—strong enough to crush the version of himself from a month ago with one hand.
"This clone has about one-tenth of my strength. To defeat it, you'll need at least four or five years of growth."
Kaede's tone was casual, but it made Madara's face tighten.
Four or five years… that was a long time.
Still, with a sigh, he resumed training. Over and over, he charged at the clone, only to be defeated again and again.
Kaede repeated the process without impatience, but all the while, he was also sensing the surroundings.
He had come here tracking his own lingering aura. If Isshiki Ōtsutsuki descended, he would ultimately appear in this area.
But it seemed Isshiki's power was nearly depleted. Otherwise, he wouldn't have kept Kaede waiting an entire month without showing himself.
Come on, little mouse—show yourself.
Otherwise, this will get boring. In a game of cat and mouse, if the gap in strength becomes too great, the cat will simply kill the mouse.
…
That night.
When Madara and Kaede returned to the clan's settlement, they found it full of wounded.
This was the first time Kaede had seen the Uchiha suffer such widespread losses since arriving here, and it stirred a rare spark of anger within him.
"What happened?"
"Kaede-sama, you're back. Recently, thanks to the ninjutsu you taught us, the Uchiha have been dominating on the battlefield. Many nobles have started giving us important escort and combat commissions.
But this time, while escorting a daimyo to another country, we were ambushed. Even though our people fought desperately, the enemy was well-prepared. They outnumbered us three to one. We had to split our forces to both protect the daimyo and retreat, which led to these heavy injuries."
Tajima's teeth ground together as he delivered the report.
"Oh?"
Kaede's eyes narrowed, a rare flicker of emotion breaking his usual calm, though it vanished almost instantly.
"Do we know which clans were involved?"
"Yes—the Sarutobi, the Nara, and the Hagoromo."
Before Tajima could reply, Izuna spoke up. He had been part of the escort mission.
After all, to grow stronger, he had to gain battlefield experience. Since he was not Kaede's disciple, he had to rely on his own path.
Izuna himself was badly injured, but fortunately still alive.
"Izuna…"
When Madara saw the state of his younger brother, his Sharingan instantly morphed into two tomoe, startling those around them.
(End of Chapter)
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