Chapter 77: Dawn

The next morning.

Inside the Uchiha training ground, a fresh morning breeze blew gently, and on the verdant leaves a crystal-clear dewdrop slowly dripped down.

The rising morning sun sent its first ray of light through the dense tree shade, shining on that slowly falling droplet and giving it a layer of iridescent glow.

And atop that big tree, a youth sat cross‑legged, his expression neither sad nor happy, his silhouette swaying slightly with the breeze; from time to time a small bird would fly past him without the slightest panic.

The youth was none other than Uchiha Dongshilang; he was then doing his daily seated meditation. Unable to defy Teacher Chongzheng's request that today's special training start at six a. m., he had to change his meditation spot to here.

Even before dawn he had already come to the training grounds to start his seated meditation early. Fortunately, after years of sitting practice, once he had left that special method behind, entering that state of 'stillness' caused him no trouble.

The so‑called 'stillness' is an adjective he invented himself, describing the ability to enter absolute stillness while seated. By merging with nature, the birds and beasts around him sense no threat from him.

As time passed, the sun rose slowly, and the training grounds welcomed new visitors.

"Idiot Zhe, why are you the only one here? Has Dongshilang not arrived yet?" a clear girl's voice rang out, her tone sounding like a spoiled whine.

"Doesn't that guy always show up early for assemblies? He's such a nuisance!"

Seeing that the 'light‑bulb' wasn't there, so no one would disturb her and the boy's privacy, the girl beamed, even showing two little dimples on her cheeks.

【Whenever I'm with that idiot, Dongshilang and Teacher Chongzheng are always hanging around, really getting in the way!】

【Now it's great—just the two of us here, I'm so happy! If only there weren't today's special training…】

Although she was only eight, the girl named Uchiha Yan was remarkably precocious, already feeling that her teammates and teacher were superfluous.

As for shyness, it simply didn't exist; Uchiha Yan couldn't be bothered to worry about what others thought.

Why not use that free time to tease that idiot a little?

"Dongshilang and the teacher still aren't here—hey, Yan, have you had breakfast? Kasan's stuffed pancakes are top‑notch; want to try one?"

Although he didn't really get why Dongshilang was called a 'hindrance', it didn't stop him from pulling out the breakfast his mother had specially prepared that morning and sharing it.

Seeing his open, cheerful smile, the girl's mood brightened. She even tossed aside the impending special training, grinning as she took the stuffed pancake Yuzhibo Zhe handed her and began to eat.

"How amazing! Auntie's stuffed pancakes are truly delicious—I wish I could have them every day!" She laughed while eating the pancake, and at the same time wildly cheered for her future 'mom'.

Uchiha Zhe, hearing her praise, also burst out laughing. He scratched the back of his head with his free right hand, his goofy grin spreading a touch of innocent silliness.

Hearing the conversation below, the meditating Dongshilang involuntarily slipped out of his 'stillness' state and retorted aloud:

"Sorry for interrupting your fun, Miss Yan!"

"I really can't stand it—we're not even a family yet, and besides, nobody's even here; do you have to be so over the top? I can't even hear you!"

While saying that, he leapt down from the treetop and stood before the two of them.

"Ah! Dongshilang, you're here—did you arrive early and just stay hidden? Why didn't you come out?" Seeing Dongshilang suddenly appear, Uchiha Zhe asked with a puzzled face.

At the same time he didn't forget to reach into his backpack behind him, pull out another stuffed pancake, and hand it to him.

"You just said 'family' and 'no one here'—who did you mean? Are you talking about Teacher Chongzheng? Did you also prepare an extra pancake for him?"

Without explaining to the boy who he meant, he ignored the girl's murderous glare, snatched the pancake, and took a big bite.

"I actually got here a while ago—I'd been sitting in meditation for over an hour! I only came down to say hello after seeing you two chatting away."

"Mm! Auntie's skill is really not bad. Yan, you're in for a treat!" He tasted the pancake in his hand—it was indeed good—and didn't forget to tease the little girl.

These pancakes must have been prepared specially by Zhe's mom for them. Worried that her son's impulsive nature might cause unpleasantness with his teammates or teacher, she could only support him silently in this way.

She hoped her son could get along well with his comrades and harmonize with his teacher.

Meanwhile, Dongshilang teased her from the side, but Uchiha Yan showed no shyness at all; instead she glared at him fiercely, resenting him for ruining her private time with 'Idiot Zhe'.

"Are you really practicing that seated meditation? Does that weird cultivation method actually work?" The boy's focus was clearly different from the girl's; hearing that Dongshilang had sat in the tree for over an hour, he asked in surprise.

At the last gathering, Dongshilang told him that the single‑hand seal seated meditation method was quite effective. To him it seemed more like an excuse the other was making, never expecting Dongshilang himself to be cultivating.

He gave him a sideways glance and, not without resentment, said: "Of course it's true! Just look at your face—you know you don't believe me, kid!"

"Whether it works or not, just try it yourself when you go back—we're in the same squad, after all; could I possibly be wasting your time?"

He too was quite annoyed, having told the other about top‑tier immortal arts, only to see the other still wearing a disbelieving expression, as if he were being fooled—did he really have that much free time?

And Teacher Chongzheng is the same—those two brats are excusable, being young and inexperienced, but he's supposed to be an elite jonin; not even having this bit of insight is a disgrace!

He didn't realize that for centuries ninjas have trained by refining chakra, vitalizing their bodies, or cultivating mental energy.

What he calls seated meditation is normally practiced by monks and Buddhist priests, who are nothing but relics of a bygone age discarded by the times.

And we ninjas, standing at the very peak of this era, how could we turn back to learn from those monks?