Feng Zheng had been striving to create a complex Vacuum Core.
He quickly enveloped a Chakra membrane within another vacuum layer, but splitting it into six parts remained challenging.
He spent the next three hours attempting it, but without success.
Hiruzen watched Feng Zheng, thinking to himself.
"I originally didn't want to teach this Ninjutsu to Feng Zheng. After all, even the ordinary Vacuum Core is very destructive. Danzo and I both took several months to fully master this Ninjutsu. However, he learned the basic Wind Vacuum Technique in less than a day. I'm very curious to see how quickly he can fully master this Ninjutsu."
At 10 o'clock, an Anbu appeared behind Hiruzen, which broke Feng Zheng's concentration. He noticed the Anbu.
The Anbu greeted Hiruzen.
"Hokage-sama."
He handed him a lunch box. Feng Zheng, who had just eaten a few ration bars, found this amusing.
After Hiruzen accepted the lunch box and thanked him, the Anbu left.
Hiruzen looked at Feng Zheng and said.
"Feng Zheng, come eat with me."
As refusing would seem impolite, Feng Zheng joined him.
Hiruzen opened the lunch box, which contained several sandwiches.
Feng Zheng sat down and picked one up. While eating, he softly said.
"I didn't expect the Anbu to be responsible for these kinds of things."
Hiruzen chuckled and replied.
"He is my personal guard. They will do anything I ask them to."
Feng Zheng nodded, thinking.
"Hmm, except for paperwork."
Seeing that Feng Zheng had no intention of speaking first, Hiruzen asked.
"Feng Zheng, what do you usually do?"
Feng Zheng took a bite of his sandwich and said.
"Hokage-sama, it's basically training, eating, and sleeping. Before the Chunin Exams, Renjiro-sensei would train me all day long."
Hiruzen knew this. He laughed.
"You don't have to keep calling me Hokage-sama. You can call me Grandpa."
Feng Zheng felt a little worried.
"Is this old fox up to something?"
He put on an enthusiastic expression and said.
"Okay, Grandpa!"
Hiruzen laughed when he heard this.
Since there wasn't much to talk about with Feng Zheng, Hiruzen began to tell him old stories from his own experiences.
Feng Zheng listened carefully. After all, Hiruzen's record as a Ninja was truly impressive! Few could claim to be stronger than him.
As for his experiences, it would be difficult to find someone in the Ninja World with more extensive experience than him. Perhaps only Ōnoki would dare to claim such rich experience.
After breakfast, Feng Zheng tried again, but still without success.
They took a break for lunch around 1 PM and then trained until 4 PM.
The next few days passed similarly. Feng Zheng continuously refined his Vacuum Core, but it still hadn't reached a satisfactory level. Hiruzen continued to monitor him, offering advice and tips.
During breakfast and lunch, Feng Zheng proactively asked for more such stories. In particular, he asked many questions about Hashirama and Tobirama.
After Hiruzen finished telling their stories, Feng Zheng then inquired about the Second Kazekage, the Third Raikage, Hatake Sakumo, and the Sannin.
He initially started asking about them in a way that showed his admiration for past Hokage.
But as Hiruzen told more, the conversation shifted to their skills. How they created these Ninjutsu and abilities. How Hiruzen or others fought against these skills.
Of course, Hiruzen also noticed the change in conversation. But he didn't mind.
After all, if he told these stories to other children, those children would get bored and fall asleep.
It was rare to find someone who was a good listener, asked many questions, and was genuinely interested in these topics.
Once, Feng Zheng asked Hiruzen.
"Grandpa, how do you counter the Sharingan in battle? Is avoiding eye contact the only way?"
Hiruzen asked.
"Don't you have a Sharingan user among your teammates?"
Feng Zheng nodded and said.
"Yes. But every time I fight her, I keep my distance and use clones to fight her. Unlike close combat with Hodaka, I prefer to have my clones face Mieko."
Hiruzen nodded. He had witnessed their battles firsthand. He said.
"The advantage of the Sharingan is that they cast Genjutsu very quickly. However, even if it's fast, it still takes a split second for them to cast Genjutsu."
"While not looking into their eyes or fighting with clones are effective methods, these methods are quite limiting. A better approach is to sense when they use Sharingan Genjutsu. Before they cast it, disrupt your own Chakra so you won't be placed under the Genjutsu."
Feng Zheng frowned and asked.
"But how can one sense it so quickly?"
Hiruzen replied.
"You can concentrate Chakra in your eyes, which enhances your vision and allows you to see Chakra. And since you are a Sensor Ninja, you should be able to see Chakra. This is what Sakai Yumi did during the Chunin Exams."
Feng Zheng exclaimed.
"Uh, I didn't realize that was possible."
Hiruzen replied.
"Yes. But it's not easy. Before they cast Genjutsu, you first need to know how their Chakra changes. And you need to be quick enough to realize it and disrupt your own Chakra. However, even this isn't foolproof. Some members of the Uchiha Clan can cast very powerful Genjutsu, and even if you detect and disrupt your own Chakra, you might still be trapped in the Genjutsu."
Feng Zheng frowned upon hearing this. He wondered.
"Is he talking about the Mangekyo Sharingan, or can even a regular Sharingan cast such powerful Genjutsu?"
Hiruzen noticed Feng Zheng's frown and said.
"But don't worry, after all, the Uchiha Clan is also part of Konoha."
There was a hint of helplessness and sadness in Hiruzen's tone. The relationship between Konoha and the Uchiha was deteriorating daily!
Feng Zheng didn't notice this. He sighed inwardly.
"Yes, I certainly hope so. But even without a coup, the strongest Uchiha Clan has already become an enemy of Konoha. No, they are fighting against the entire Ninja World!"
Hodaka and Mieko also continued their training. Hodaka was the first to learn his skill. It took him three days to master it.
However, his Vacuum Palm was still very weak. Hiruzen offered him insights on how to improve its power, and their training concluded.
Mieko learned her Ninjutsu on the fifth day. Hiruzen spent a few more days helping her improve her mastery of this Ninjutsu.
He gave her a lot of good advice and correct guidance. After all, Hiruzen also hoped that this gesture could improve his relationship with the Uchiha Clan.
The Uchiha Clan was indeed grateful that the Hokage had taught his original Ninjutsu to Mieko. Unfortunately, the Village turned a deaf ear to their demands, and their resentment did not diminish.
Later, Hiruzen would try to lift the surveillance on the Uchiha Clan and move them back to their original territory.
Unfortunately, his plan was opposed by Danzo and the two Elders. The Fourth Hokage's life being taken by the Nine-Tailed controlled by the Sharingan was a huge blow to the Village.
Minato Namikaze was gone, and if something similar happened again, other Villages might invade Konoha! The Elders would not take that risk.
So, the fate of the Uchiha Clan would not change!