Six months into their training, Ashura watched his four special students with carefully concealed concern. Each showed remarkable progress, but also unique challenges that needed addressing.
In the primary training chamber, formation arrays hummed softly as his students practiced what he called "Advanced Energy Refinement"—in truth, basic Qi Refinement exercises disguised as medical techniques.
"Again," he instructed, observing their spiritual cores. "Feel how the energy flows differently through each meridian—what you might mistake for chakra pathways."
Tsunade's spiritual energy blazed like a small sun, her natural talent for healing amplifying her cultivation potential. Already, she was unconsciously incorporating spiritual energy into her chakra control, creating effects that baffled other medical practitioners.
"Elder," she called out, frustrated. "The energy keeps... expanding. I can't contain it like Dan does."
"Because you're trying to force a river into a cup," Ashura explained. "Watch."
He demonstrated a "chakra control exercise" that was actually the Nine Yin Manual's River Dancing Palm technique. "Let it flow naturally. Guide, don't constrain."
Dan, working nearby, showed the opposite issue. His precise control meant slower but more stable progress. His spiritual energy moved like gentle streams rather than Tsunade's torrential force.
"Balance," Ashura reminded him. "Too much control limits growth. Too little wastes potential."
On the chamber's other side, Jiraiya struggled with a different challenge. His powerful yang spiritual root made energy control like trying to tame a wild horse. "Elder! It's doing it again!"
The water in his practice bowl had started boiling—pure yang energy manifesting unconsciously. Other students would see impressive chakra control. Ashura saw a cultivation prodigy wrestling with power beyond his understanding.
"Channel it through the formation array," he instructed, activating a hidden stabilizing formation. "Feel how the patterns guide the flow."
But it was Orochimaru who truly concerned him. The boy sat perfectly still, his spiritual energy moving with unnatural precision. His bowl's water formed complex patterns that mimicked the hidden formation arrays exactly.
"Fascinating structure," Orochimaru murmured, eyes tracking energy paths only cultivators should perceive. "These patterns... they're not just for training, are they, Elder?"
Ashura moved to his side. "What do you see, Orochimaru?"
"Energy... older than chakra. Flowing through fixed patterns, but adaptable. Like a language written in force itself." His eyes gleamed. "Could one theoretically alter these patterns? Create new forms of—"
"One could," Ashura interrupted softly. "But wisdom lies in understanding why certain patterns exist before attempting to change them."
He drew a new formation in the air—visible as a simple medical diagram to others, but Orochimaru's eyes widened at its true complexity.
"Copy this exactly," Ashura instructed. "Any deviation will disrupt the flow. Consider it an exercise in patience and precision."
As Orochimaru focused on the task, Ashura subtly activated a minor formation array that would help calm the boy's more dangerous curiosities. Not suppressing them—that would only drive them deeper—but gently redirecting them toward safer paths.
"Elder," Tsunade called out again. "I think... I can see something beneath the water's surface. Like threads of light?"
"Good." Ashura nodded. "Dan, assist her. Your stability will help her perception develop properly."
As the two worked together, their spiritual energies harmonized naturally. Another piece of Ashura's long-term plan falling into place.
"Jiraiya, channel your energy like this." He demonstrated another "medical technique" that was actually the Nine Yang Manual's Tiger Taming Palm. "Power means nothing without direction."
The white-haired boy's frustrated expression showed understanding. His next attempt still boiled the water, but with noticeably more control.
Throughout the lesson, Ashura carefully maintained the illusion of standard medical training. Each "chakra exercise" built their cultivation foundations. Every "healing technique" strengthened their spiritual cores. The formation arrays that seemed decorative or medical in purpose slowly attuned them to higher energies.
Later that evening, after the others left, Orochimaru lingered.
"Elder... these energies we're learning to use. They could revolutionize everything we know about—"
"They could," Ashura agreed. "Or they could destroy the one who rushes to power without understanding its price." He drew another formation, this one showing the dangers of misaligned spiritual energy. "What do you see here?"
Orochimaru studied it intently. "Degradation. The energy patterns collapse if forced beyond natural progression."
"Precisely. Power isn't merely about acquisition, Orochimaru. It's about harmony with natural laws." Ashura placed a hand on the boy's shoulder, subtly checking his spiritual core's stability. "Your talent is remarkable. But talent without patience becomes tragedy."
The boy nodded slowly, though Ashura noted the calculating look hadn't completely left his eyes.
Through his Divine Sense, he connected with Izuna. "Your successor shows similar tendencies to your younger self."
"That's concerning," Izuna replied. "My obsession with power nearly—"
"Led you to a different path," Ashura completed. "Which is why we'll guide him more carefully."
That night, Ashura modified his teaching formations again. Tsunade would need stronger stabilization arrays as her power grew. Dan's formations required flexibility enhancement. Jiraiya's yang energy needed more sophisticated containment.
And for Orochimaru... subtle arrays that would make the path to power through patience more appealing than dangerous shortcuts. The boy's brilliant mind needed proper direction, not restriction.
*Guide, don't force*, he reminded himself, watching the spirit veins pulse through his academy. *Just as with cultivation itself.*
Above, Izuna continued his breakthrough preparations. Below, four young stars began to shine with power beyond normal chakra.
The next generation of legends was forming, one careful lesson at a time.