Chapter 42: Speculation

The next morning, beside the southern bank of the Naga River outside Leaf Village, there was a cliff.

On the cliff face, a protrusion jutted out more than ten meters above the ground. An oak as thick as a person's waist stood straight, like a spike jutting from the cliff, pointing straight at the heavens.

The wind on the cliff was very strong; even the oak, known for its hardness, swayed occasionally with the gusts of morning wind.

Near the top of the oak, where it was level with the horizon, a boy sat on the tip of the oak. His figure swayed with the oak's movement in the air, like a leaf detached from a branch, dancing in the wind, as if about to merge with heaven and earth.

【Indeed, it's not that simple!】

He stood up from the stone slab beneath him; despite such a large movement, he did not lose his balance, standing firmly on the slab. Occasionally, a small bird foraging in the morning would land on him to rest for a moment, completely unafraid of him as a dangerous beast.

He flicked his finger lightly, startling the bird on his shoulder away. He leapt forward, jumping over where he sat cross-legged, a distance of five or six meters from the cliff. He let the stone slab beneath him lose balance and plummet to the base of the cliff, shattering to pieces.

【Without the toad oil of Wonderful Tree Mountain and the special environment, trying to achieve Sage Mode is truly extremely difficult!】

He let out a sigh, and Dong Shilang couldn't help but think helplessly.

As time passed, his meditation practice site shifted to this cliff beside the Naga River. After great effort, he erected an oak nearly twenty meters tall on a protruding rock twenty meters below the cliff face, aligning it with the cliff and pointing straight to the sky.

【Should I try to obtain the spirit scrolls of Wonderful Tree Mountain, Dragon Earth Cave, or Wet Bone Forest?】

【Never mind; although relations between the village and the clan have improved these past two years, he is ultimately an Uchiha, while those three ninja are disciples of the Hokage!】

After nearly four years of seated meditation, his results were impressive. His chakra control ability grew rapidly, he awakened perceptual ability, and his mental energy became ever more full and abundant.

Since he began training a month ago, small birds would occasionally land on him to rest. This is the achievement of seated meditation, proof that he has reached the threshold for practicing Sage Mode.

However! The most crucial step—sensing natural energy—remained out of reach. Without the toad oil of Wonderful Tree Mountain as a medium, and without that environment brimming with natural energy,

In the end, he failed to succeed in sensing natural energy!

【I recall that in the original story there is a Spirit Island, where the beasts are enormously huge. The natural energy on the island is abundant; I don't know if it would help me sense natural energy?】

In the original story, this island is called the 'Forgotten Island'. The spirit beasts on the island are enormously huge. As the war grew fiercer, in order to obtain great power, they also sought stronger spirit beasts. Researchers, through improvement, innovation, and creation, produced the strongest spirit beast named 'Ultimate'.

But things went against expectations; the spirit beast 'Ultimate' finally went berserk, devouring all the researchers, including a Uzumaki descendant named Uzumaki Hinoka. In the end, relying on Naruto's protagonist halo and the chakra left by Uzumaki Hinoka, they dragged it into magma and sealed and killed it.

During this period, whenever Dong Shilang had free time he would read a few volumes of 'Anecdotes and Strange Tales', and also, while passing the time, he would occasionally look for clues about the Spirit Island.

He believed in a principle: wherever one goes, one leaves traces.

On islands with many huge spirit beasts, even if the discovering forces strive to keep secrets, some clues will inevitably leak out unintentionally.

Moreover, during the practice of Sage Technique, how to expel the out-of-control Sage Technique chakra from the body! Should he try to find the inherited Flame Fan?

In his hypothesis, the Flame Fan passed down through the Uchiha clan was made from the branches of the Divine Tree. And the Divine Tree possesses the ability to absorb natural energy; using it to expel the out-of-control Sage Technique chakra is certainly possible.

If his hypothesis proves true, the ancestors of the Uchiha clan really are just guarding a treasure without knowing how to use it.

【If that's the case, then I need to plan carefully. I can only wait until the Third War, when Yeyuan Lin dies, then follow behind the emerging Obito to sneak into Madara's base……】

【Such a plan is also very risky! If the timing is off even slightly, and Madara hasn't completely lain flat, then wouldn't he have to go up and face Madara head-on? This is damn difficult! All I can do is try to pull out his oxygen tube!】

【Damn it! The ninja world is really tough to get by in; even wanting to lie flat is impossible! I'm really having a hard time……】

After muttering complaints, not knowing which corner of the transmigration god, the pleased Dong Shilang hummed a little tune and slowly disappeared from this scenic spot rarely visited by people.

"Dong Shilang, wait a moment; come to my house for dinner tonight! Mika-sis is preparing to show off her skills and treat us to a feast!"

Just after entering the garrison, he stepped over the red torii gate. A cheerful voice then sounded before Dong Shilang.

Hearing the voice, he looked up; under the morning sun, a figure walked slowly toward the Uchiha.

"Mahiro big bro. Are you going on duty at the guard corps? Why don't I see Mika-sis going out with you?"

The person was Uchiha Mahiro, an ordinary member of the Leaf Village Guard Corps. His features inherited the Uchiha clan's perennial handsomeness. Tall and slender, with black hair and black eyes, he gave off a feeling of sunshine and amiability.

Unfortunately, he hadn't awakened the Sharingan; his strength was merely that of an average Chunin. Aside from his inherited Fire Release ninjutsu being passable, the rest was unremarkable. However, his personality was quite nice; getting along with him gave a sense of just-right comfort.

Although he felt somewhat unworthy of Mika-sis.

However, after a few interactions with him, Dong Shilang also accepted this 'young uncle-in-law'. Getting along well is more important; the difference in strength has little effect on marriage, after all, to each their own.

"Ah! The research lab newly purchased a batch of research equipment that needs reinstalling, so Mika-sis gets two days off!"

Under the strong request of Uchiha Mika, Dong Shilang only called Uchiha Mahiro 'big bro'. Fortunately, this big bro is also a war orphan, with few direct senior relatives in the family, and he doesn't much care about the form of address.

As for Dong Shilang's other 'uncle'.

He rarely appears in his life.

This 'uncle' and 'aunt' are simply a match made in heaven, sticking together all day without getting tired of it. Even after the worldly-wise Dong Shilang interacted with them a few times, he would exclaim that he couldn't stand it, better not to mention it!