The afternoon rewards were somewhat less meaningful compared to the morning, just a Water Release and Earth Release with ordinary power.
However, as a reward for four hours of class, Mutsuki felt it was quite good.
In the evening, Mutsuki continued practicing breathing techniques with Shisui, Obito and Guy.
None of the three had yet found the sensation of breathing techniques, remaining at the initial stage of breath training.
"Remember, breathing has its techniques; it's not just about taking in a big breath." Mutsuki emphasized repeatedly.
"Technique, technique, technique..." Obito kept muttering this word in his mouth, attempting to hypnotize himself into breathing with skill.
"If you want to suggest something, just silently think it in your mind, don't say it out loud," Mutsuki said, poking Obito's abdomen with a finger.
Obito, in pain, gasped and drew in a breath sharply.
He had never imagined that something as fundamental as breathing would have techniques and be so difficult to learn.
It was much harder than things like the Great Dragon Fire and Chakra Nature Transformation.
Practicing the Great Dragon Fire may not have been successful at first, but at least he could produce some sparks. Practicing Nature Transformation was slow progress, but relying on the warmth of his hands could melt the Ice Block a bit.
Yet, in practicing breathing techniques, Obito felt like he could breath all the air in the forrest and still not make any progress.
Obito felt that at this rate, even if he improved his Great Fireball through inhaling and exhaling, he might not necessarily learn the breathing techniques.
However, seeing that even Shisui had no clue, Obito felt relieved. If Shisui, who was usually skilled, was struggling, then it was genuinely difficult.
Both Obito and Shisui, practicing Flame Breathing, were in the same situation. Not to mention Guy, who faced the even more challenging Stone Breathing, had made no progress either.
However, Mutsuki was not too worried about Guy's situation. The resolute and unyielding will required for Stone Breathing suited Guy well. As long as Guy continued his usual diligent training, Mutsuki believed he would be fine.
On the second day of practicing breathing, the three disciples still had a Proficiently level of zero.
On the third evening, finally, one disciple achieved a breakthrough, reaching a bit of Proficiently. It was Obito, who was practicing Flame Breathing.
"Yumi-sensei, I feel like I've sensed something different while practicing the breathing technique. Could it be that I've grasped it?" Obito suddenly exclaimed.
"It's not considered grased, but you've officially initiated the practice of the breathing technique." Mutsuki, who had been observing from the side, replied. He assessed Obito's Proficiency level and confirmed that it was no longer zero.
He had thought Shisui would be the first to break through zero, but unexpectedly, it was Obito.
Mutsuki considered that Obito's personality might be more suitable for Flame Breathing, hence the quicker progress.
Flame Breathing is suitable for individuals with a passionate and cheerful nature, whose inner selves are as intense as flames. Although Shisui is not introverted, he seemed a bit distant from the fiery enthusiasm required.
"Well, seize this feeling and continue to delve deeper. Once you become familiar, you can move on to the next training," Mutsuki nodded and said.
This inhalation and exhalation breath practice is only for the Beginner of Beginners, and there are many training stages to follow.
The next training stage involves guiding the breath by adjusting body posture to achieve different strengthening effects.
In the original breathing technique, this stage trains different breath-style techniques. After modification, there's no longer a need to wield a sword, so it has transformed into various strengthening effects.
Because beginners are just starting to learn, specific postures are needed to guide the breath. Once mastered, one can freely control it within the body.
"Finally, the formal training begins." Obito couldn't help but celebrate with a punch in the air, relieved that there was finally some feedback after three days training.
Bang!
Mutsuki tapped Obito's head with two fingers and pointed to Shisui, who was still training, saying, "Don't disturb others' training. Focus on getting familiar with this feeling."
Obito closed his mouth, nodded, and with a satisfied smile, resumed his training.
Shisui's talent was comparable to Kakashi's, and he learned it before Shisui did, rounding it off as a win against Kakashi this time.
At the end of the third day of training, Shisui and Might Guy made no progress, while Obito grasped a bit of the sensation.
During Wednesday's practice, Shisui kept performing various movements while pondering about the breathing technique.
It was the first time he felt so helpless in approaching something.
During the break, Shisui saw Obito boasting about their Fire Release techniques with Asuma. After some thought, he walked over to Obito and asked,
"Obito, can you describe in detail the feeling of that breathing technique?"
Obito recalled for a moment and then began to describe, "It's like having a bowl of steaming hot ramen, a warm flow of air rushing through the whole body..."
Obito made an effort to depict his sensations, accompanied by explanatory gestures.
"Feeling a warm flow..." Shisui wore a contemplative expression.
Asuma on the side was a bit confused, feeling that the conversation between the two didn't quite match, especially Obito, who seemed to be talking about something incomprehensible.
Asuma didn't pay much attention to this little episode and, seeing Kurenai starting to train again, he joined her for practice.
Continuing on, Shisui kept thinking about Obito's answer, attempting to gain some inspiration. During the break, when going home for dinner, Shisui was contemplating whether to have ramen today.
"Shisui, what's the deal with the occasional foot pain when using the Body Flicker Jutsu?" Uchiha Tekka asked when he saw Shisui.
"I didn't feel a warm flow." Shisui replied with a somewhat absent-minded look on his face.
Just as Uchiha Tekka was puzzled, Shisui corrected himself, saying, "It should be that the Chakra in your feet wasn't controlled properly, causing the injury to your feet."
"Oh, I see. Shisui, what were you thinking just now? I called you twice before you responded," Uchiha Tekka curiously asked.
"I was thinking about training," Uchiha Shisui replied.
"No wonder those Genin who have already graduated are not your match. You're already so strong, yet you're constantly thinking about training." Uchiha Tekka exclaimed.
He felt a bit ashamed; this time, he ended up being the tail of the Uchiha clan. In Group A, there were three Uchiha members. During the strength test, Shisui and Obito took the top two positions, and in the third round, he was eliminated.
Shisui remained silent; he felt that Uchiha Tekka might have misunderstood him. Even someone like Guy wasn't constantly thinking about training. It was just because Flame Breathing had not been progressing that Shisui found himself in this state.
Let the misunderstanding be. Shisui chose not to explain. After going home and finishing dinner, he went to Mutsuki's place to continue practicing the breathing technique under Mutsuki's guidance.
The fourth day of practicing the breathing technique quickly came to an end, with a situation similar to the third day. Only Obito had a slight sensation.
It wasn't until the fifth day that a new change occurred. Shisui's Flame Breathing also showed a bit of Proficientcy level.
"Like the airflow of eating hot ramen..." Shisui felt Obito's description unexpectedly fitting. He could sense a flow of air being drawn in through his mouth, continuously circulating along hisvChakra meridians.
At the end of the fifth day of breathing technique training, only Guy had yet to achieve any proficientcy in the breathing technique, still diligently searching for the sensation.
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