Early the next morning, Uchiha Haruki showed up at the training grounds, carrying his gear. His two teammates, Uchiha En and Uchiha Retsu, arrived not long after, and the three of them started chatting about what was to come.
Uchiha En boasted that he had packed a whole bunch of spices in his bag and promised to show off his cooking skills during the training. Meanwhile, Uchiha Retsu was plotting to set up a few traps in the training area to give the new instructors a good scare.
Of course, Haruki and En immediately shut that idea down. "Are you trying to get us all killed, you idiot?!" they scolded.
After a while, Uchiha Mei arrived with two other Uchiha in full Jonin uniforms. The three quickly gathered around. Mei introduced them, "These two are experts from our clan—Uchiha Ze and Uchiha Sa. The three of us will be running a one-week, closed training session for you."
The three rookies bowed deeply. "We look forward to your guidance!"
Uchiha Ze waved his hand. "Alright, alright. We're all family here, no need to be so stiff. Your teacher has already filled us in on your abilities. I'll be in charge of teaching you how to use genjutsu, how to break genjutsu, how to combine genjutsu, and how to set up chained traps. How much you learn is up to you."
Uchiha Sa spoke up next. "All three of you have Fire and Earth Release. I specialize in Fire, Wind, and Earth Release, as well as combination jutsu between them. I'm also pretty good with chakra nature transformations. The other stuff? Don't worry about it—you wouldn't be able to learn it right now anyway."
Uchiha Mei chuckled. "My training is simpler: Uchiha Swordsmanship. When you learn it, you can activate your Sharingan. It'll be much easier for you compared to others who haven't awakened their eyes. But swordsmanship takes a long time to master, so for this week, we'll just focus on the basics."
He glanced over at the light breeze blowing around Haruki, nodding with satisfaction.
"Alright then, let's get started. Sa, they're all yours. Ze and I are heading into the woods to prepare some... 'presents' for our little students. After all, there are some things you can only understand through experience," Mei said with a mischievous grin. He and Uchiha Ze disappeared into the forest, leaving the three of them sweating nervously.
Even so, Uchiha Sa was still around, so they didn't dare show any fear.
"First things first," Uchiha Sa said, "show me all the Fire, Wind, and Earth Release techniques you know. Don't hold back; I want to see everything you've got."
"Fire Release: Great Fireball Jutsu!""Fire Release: Phoenix Flower Jutsu!""Fire Release: Phoenix Fire Crimson Claw!"
One by one, the three of them demonstrated all the techniques they had learned.
Uchiha Sa watched with a smile. "Not bad. Your squad has solid offensive power, but you're lacking in control-type jutsu. Your defenses are pretty basic, and you don't have any real burst movement or breakthrough techniques. So before I teach you anything new, I'm going to show you something you'll definitely use: Shadow Clone Jutsu."
With a quick seal, poof! Two shadow clones of Sa appeared right beside him. "Heh, one-on-one lessons start now," one of the clones grinned.
Meanwhile, in the woods, Uchiha Ze was setting things up while talking to Uchiha Mei. "Honestly, Mei, your genjutsu and trap skills aren't much worse than mine. You've called me out here several times now. Why don't you stop beating around the bush and tell me what you really want me to teach them?"
Uchiha Mei smiled, lowering his head slightly. "You're overthinking it, Senior. You've always supported the younger generation of our clan. If those three get your personal guidance, they'll definitely reach new heights."
"Hah! So that's it, huh? You're just after my connections? You know, I've personally taught three or four dozen Uchiha over the years. All those ties, those bonds… You really are a smart guy, aren't you?
And I suppose this 'further development' you're talking about isn't just about their skills, but also influence. You really have your eyes on that kid, don't you? Uchiha Haruki," Uchiha Ze said, his gaze sharp.
Mei didn't flinch. "Yes. Haruki's talent is the greatest I've seen in my life. He's sharp, independent, and truly cares about our clan. I have this feeling—this instinct—that he'll be the one to lead us out of this mess."
Mei paused for a moment before continuing. "The Police Force recently formed a fourth division. I'm the captain, but I've only got one squad, which is just those three. I already spoke with the Clan Leader. Next year, Haruki will be promoted to a squad leader, overseeing three squads. Senior Ze, I was wondering if you had any recommendations. After all, even within the clan, people are closer with some than with others."
Uchiha Ze burst out laughing. "Well, I do know quite a few people. If you want loyalty and stability, then I'd recommend people I've personally trained. Brotherhood and bonds don't lie. Why don't we set up a meeting? They'll get familiar with each other. After all, they'll be working together. Might as well get close now."
After that, the two of them resumed setting up traps in the forest, grinning as they worked.
When Mei and Ze returned from the woods, the training field had been split into three distinct sections. In each area, there was an Uchiha Sa, thanks to his Shadow Clones, along with the three young Uchiha.
In the first area, Uchiha Sa was teaching them Earth Release: Swamp of the Underworld. This technique liquefies the ground beneath the enemy's feet, creating a massive swamp that can trap them until they're completely submerged. It was a perfect control-type jutsu. When combined with traps, Fire Release, or Wind Release, it could cause serious damage. This jutsu was mainly used for support.
Uchiha Sa went into great detail, covering everything from hand seals and chakra control to the perfect timing to use it. He even shared his own combat experiences, which the students eagerly listened to.
In the second area, Sa began teaching the combination of Fire Release and Wind Release, focusing on their synergy and how to maximize their impact. He paired off the students: Sa with Uchiha Retsu, and Uchiha Haruki with Uchiha En. They practiced calling out the jutsu names, working on timing, positioning, and sealing without using chakra—at least for now. It was purely to get the coordination down, saving their chakra reserves.
In the third area, Uchiha Sa lectured on Chakra Nature Transformation. All three took out notebooks and diligently wrote down Sa's experiences and the common mistakes people make when developing new jutsu. He shared some tips, battle tricks, and theoretical knowledge. Time was limited, so Sa focused on laying out the principles clearly. If time allowed, he'd guide them personally; if not, they could study their notes later.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, it was already noon. After lunch, Uchiha Sa found himself a cozy spot in the training field and started drinking sake. Uchiha Mei told the three to make a Shadow Clone each and to follow him and Uchiha Ze into the woods.
Mei turned to them, activating his Sharingan. "We're starting with basic swordsmanship training. Activate your Sharingan; it'll help you memorize the forms faster. Swordsmanship is about fluidity—not rigidity. If you only memorize the motions without understanding, you become a 'slave to the blade.' I want you to learn the forms, not just copy them.
The basics are simple—striking, slashing, sweeping, thrusting... but true mastery comes from instinct, not just repetition. Today, you'll learn how to hold the blade and perform the basic stances. Let's begin."
He demonstrated each form with smooth, precise movements. The three watched with their Sharingan, trying to mimic his movements, though somewhat stiffly. Off to the side, Uchiha Sa couldn't help but chuckle at their awkwardness.
Uchiha Ze led the three of them to the edge of the forest, pulling out half of a mask and pointing towards the dense woods. "Three hundred meters in, the other half of this mask is hidden. Find it, and you get to learn a genjutsu today."
The three of them stared at the forest. It didn't look inviting at all. In fact, it seemed like the deeper you looked, the darker it got. Moments ago, birds were chirping, but now it was silent as a graveyard.
Uchiha Retsu took the lead, moving cautiously forward. Uchiha Haruki followed right behind him, with Uchiha En bringing up the rear. All three stayed sharp, their eyes scanning the surroundings and watching their steps.
Not long after they entered—
"Boom!""Swish! Swish!""Get down!""Jump!""Move left!"
Explosions, whistling projectiles, and shouting filled the forest. Sounds of traps springing to life echoed continuously, one after the other.
Outside the woods, the three instructors were laughing mischievously. Even the Shadow Clones standing outside gulped nervously.
"Alright, that's probably enough. Go drag them out," Uchiha Ze chuckled, waving to Uchiha Sa.
Uchiha Ze and Uchiha Sa strode into the forest and soon came back out, each carrying two people like sacks of potatoes. The three rookies were covered in dirt, their clothes were torn up, and they looked like they'd been through a meat grinder. Uchiha Sa carried Uchiha Retsu, whose face was swollen up like a balloon.
"Dispel your Shadow Clones, take a break, and get ready. After dinner, training continues," Uchiha Mei said sternly, barely holding back a laugh.
The moment the Shadow Clones dispelled, the fatigue from all their experiences slammed into their real bodies. The trio collapsed on the ground and instantly fell asleep, too tired to even move.
While they slept, Uchiha Mei turned to Uchiha Ze and bowed respectfully. "Senior Ze, I hope I can trouble you with their genjutsu training tonight."
Uchiha Ze waved his hand casually. "If I'm going to teach, I'll teach seriously. You don't need to worry about that."