At this moment, Uchiha Madara tapped the tabletop.

  "The source of power for taijutsu is physical energy, while the source of power fenjutsu is mental energy. However, whether it's taijutsu enjutsu, both rely on chakra. You should be deeply aware of this by nht?"

  Kamihane uood clearly. Ninjutsu, taijutsu, asu are fually different systems of power and ot be fted. In the inal timelihe reason why Kisame's Great Shark Bullet Teique, which specializes in abs chakra, lost to Might Guy's Seventh Gate's "Daytime Tiger" lies precisely in this.

  Madara took a sip of tea and said, "As for that Eight Inner Gates teique, it is aremely powerful taijutsu secret. The stronger one's physical stitution, the greater its power. However, it requires years and years orous training."

  Kamihane his was somethiurally uood. The prerequisite for mastering the Eight Inner Gates is to build up one's stamina, temper the muscles and bones, and undergo unventional, strenuous, areme loraining. Only in this way every part of the body be honed, allowing the muscles, bones, flesh, and ans to adapt to the immense burden imposed by opening the gates, thereby minimizing the damage caused by the overwhelming energy unleashed.

  As the food was served, the two began their meal. It wasn't until the tea cooled that a staggering figure finally appeared at the edge of their vision. Uchiha Hikaru had actually followed them all this way. Her breathing was slightly bored, her pale face flushed with an unnatural redness, and she looked like someone who had just recovered from a serious illness, clearly nearing her limit. Leaning against the doorframe, she walked into the shop with feeble steps.

  "Where did this beggar e from?"

  Upon seeihe shop attendant immediately showed a look of impatience. Her tattered clothes, disheveled long hair, and especially her bare feet made it easy for ao associate her with the word "beggar."

  "Get out of here! There's no food for you. What bad luck! If the boss sees this, he'll deduct my pay again!" the attendant scolded without hesitation.

  Madara raised his eyes and was about to stand up, but Kamihane, who had been the situation for a while, stepped forward first.

  "She's with us," Kamihane said, pg his hand oendant's shoulder with a seemingly harmless smile.

  And so, Uchiha Hikaru also took a seat at the table, staring straight at Madara with eager almond-shaped eyes, occasionally gng at the food oable.

  "Gurgle…" Her stomach protested.

  "Eat," Madara said indifferently.

  She immediately began dev the food, grabbing sushi with her left hand and a chi leg with her right, stuffing them into her mouth like a whirlwind. The king of bowls and chopsticks echoed around her.

  Her eating manners made the other diners frown slightly, and they moved their chairs farther away.

  "How long has this poor child been starving?" Kamihane sighed and pushed the tea towards her. Uchiha Hikaru didn't hesitate, picked up the teapot, and gulped it down.

  "Gulp, gulp…"

  "Have you decided to join us on our journey?" Madara asked softly, lifting his teacup.

  Uchiha Hikaru paused, her mouth stuffed full, and nodded vigorously before tinuing to wolf down the food.

  "Just like that, she's won over!?!"

  Kamihane looked at her with admiration, his mind drifting to whimsical thoughts. "Indeed, a cool and aloof older man is always the ultimate on for winning over young girls…"

  After the meal and tea, Uchiha Madara stood up, his gaze fixed directly on Kamihane.

  Kamiha a chill under his stare.

  "Do you have any money?" Madara's deep voice came through.

  Kamihahroat tightened as he suddenly realized something. "Uh, Lord Madara, don't you have any money?"

  "It was you who pulled me in here. I never inteo e here to eat."

  The eyes of the surrounding diurowards them. Feeling embarrassed, Kamihane lowered his head and whispered, "Um, do we… actually have to pay for the meal?"

  "Do I look like a street thug to you?" Madara tilted his head slightly, giving him a strange look.

  Uchiha Hikaru wiped her mouth and gnced over curiously, her bright eyes blinking as she also tilted her head.

  "This…" Kamihane looked at the two individuals, whose appearances and hairstyles were strikingly simir, a a few bck lines f on his forehead.

  "Lord Madara, there's something I'd like to ask, if I may."

  "Go ahead."

  "Are you two perhaps reted by blood?"

  "Of course not, why do you ask?" Madara frowned slightly.

  "It's just that you two are so alike!" Kamihaured with his hands in the air, "The hairstyle, the demeanor, and even... the clothing style, they are almost identical!"

  "Are they?" At this question, both the big and the small oared at him with a mix of curiosity.

  "Absolutely!" Kamihane nodded vigorously.

  "It's just a ce," Madara said nontly. "Oh, by the way, find some time to get her a new outfit. What she's wearing now is too spicuous."

  "And one more thing, remember to settle the bill."

  ...

  "From today onwards, the three of us will be the new Uchiha ," Madara announced, looking at the two children before him.

  "Where are we goi?" Uchiha Hikaru asked softly.

  Madara gazed up at the vast sky, his expression inscrutable, "To the ends of the earth, to the boundless world."

  Kamihane clutched his empty wallet, looking up at the sky with a face full of mencholy.

  Two days ter, within the borders of the Land of Waterfalls.

  "Boom!"

  Two massive arms collided fiercely, stirring up gusts of wind.

  One arm was deep blue like the o, the other pitch bck like ink, both unleashing raw and violent power without restraint, as if ready to destroy everything.

  Madara and Kamihaood fag each other from a distaheir colossal Susanoo forms locked in a standoff, both haviered the first stage. The surrounding area was littered with broken wood, the ground scarred with trenches, a plete mess.

  "Not bad, your speed is indeed impressive," Madara remarked, crossing his arms as he trolled his Susanoo to throunch. "When I was ye, I couldn't do this."

  "Bang!"

  The bck Susanoo raised its arm, blog the heavy punch. The wind howled, and bergy spread rapidly, f a sed pair of arms that ed around Madara's Susanoo, log it in pce.

  Despite the praise, Kamihane's expression remained grave. The iy of the frontation with Madara left him no room for distra, beads of cold sweat f on his forehead.

  "You ftter me, Madara-sama. I still have much to learn."

  Deep within the lush forest, a giant waterfall hung suspehe torrential river cascaded down the cliff into the downstream riverbed, the water curtain spreading out and stirring up tless droplets.

  Beh the waterfall, a small figure was soaking naked in the pool.

  A set of brand-new clothes was ly stacked on the shore.

  The cool river water flowed inch by inch over her snow-white body. Uhe dappled tree shadows, her skin was smooth and delicate, glowing with the warmth of jade.

  Uchiha Hikaru raised her fair wrist, scooping up a handful of water and p it over her head. She felt the refreshing ess seep into her scalp a out a satisfied sigh.

  After being sealed for so many years, the thick, earthy smell had bee unbearable even to her. Today, she finally washed it all away.

  "Boom, boom, boom..."

  Outside the pool, dull thuds echoed from time to time, making Hikaru feel as if her heart was trembling along with them.

  She didn't pay much attention. In the past two days, she had grown aced to the rhythm of life with her new panions.

  The two of them seemed to be fighting every day, though it felt more like a form of sparring. The man trolled the iy of his attacks, training the young boy to stantly improve.

  "That teique is called... Susanoo?"

  She tilted her head slightly, her bright eyes flickering with curiosity and a faint eagero try.

  "Whoosh—"

  She scooped up a handful of clear pool water, watg it trickle through the gaps between her fingers. The cool sensation crawled over her skin inch by inch. Uhe mottled sunlight, her slender arms looked as delicate and translut as jade.

  "New life... has begun."