Over the years, Uchiha Aozora had conducted extensive research on the Heavenly Book.
He discovered that whenever he learned a new skill, the book would refine and perfect it before bestowing the knowledge through a sudden revelation.
For example, after learning the Chakra Refinement Technique, light golden ancient characters appeared in the book, granting him "Dao Yin Lian Qi." Another time, after mastering the Transformation Jutsu, grayish ancient characters emerged, giving him the new ability "Jia Xing."
Initially, he believed this was all the Heavenly Book could do—different colors likely represented different categories or ranks of techniques.
His assumption changed when he learned the Substitution Jutsu.
After acquiring it, instead of generating new characters, the previously grayish "Jia Xing" began to transform, gradually deepening from gray into light golden hues.
When he visualized "Jia Xing" again, he realized its function had expanded beyond shape transformation—it could now substitute other objects to take his place.
He then understood that each ancient character in the Heavenly Book symbolized a complete cultivation method or supernatural ability. The deeper the color and the richer the golden luster, the more perfected the technique was.
Thus, the newly emerged [Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work] inscribed in the Heavenly Book must have been relatively refined.
Uchiha Aozora focused immediately.
Characters appeared in his mind, forming paragraphs.
Scenes unfolded one after another in his head like a film playing back.
He lost track of time until finally, Uchiha Aozora opened his eyes, looking somewhat tired.
Stepping outside, he saw the sun nearly overhead.
"No wonder this meditation took three or four hours."
Though it had consumed so much time, he felt every second was worth it, wearing a big smile.
The [Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work] recorded in the Heavenly Book wasn't some overwhelming flame capable of sending great sages running—it was true fire born from the refinement of primordial spirit, vital energy, and essence.
Almost every accomplished Daoist cultivator would know this basic spell.
Though [Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work] might be practically street-level common among Daoists, to Aozora, it still held great value.
This fire could exterminate external spirits by burning everything in the world, including ghosts and deities (ethereal beings), while internally refining the cultivated body by incinerating impurities within.
Of course, that was the full version—what he had now mastered was just the "Breath Fire" portion, only one-third of the complete ability. Although partial, this "Breath Fire" maintained both internal and external applications, capable of purifying the body and refining inner energy.
Because his cultivation foundation was already established and no further advancement methods remained, whether cultivating energy or forging his body, Uchiha Aozora had always felt stuck at the same level.
Now with "Breath Fire," although it wouldn't solve his fundamental issues, it temporarily offered an alternative path.
After quickly dealing with lunch, Uchiha Aozora spent the entire afternoon at home researching [Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work] and incidentally learned [Hokuto Fire Technique].
Unfortunately, the [Hokuto Fire Technique] had almost no effect in improving [Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work].
To learn the complete Fire Release: Intelligent Hard Work, Uchiha Aozora speculated that he would also need the Shenhuo and Jinghuo.
As for the Shenhuo, he had his suspicions—Amaterasu was likely the spiritual flame.
But regarding the Jinghuo, Uchiha Aozora was completely clueless.
Aozora lost track of time while training. Before he knew it, night had fallen.
If Konoha followed its usual routine, their instructor might give them a test tomorrow. Wanting to perform well, Aozora decided not to stay up practicing all night.
Konoha was short on ninjas and wouldn't let graduates come back anyway, but he figured better safe than sorry.
The next day was bright and clear.
Uchiha woke early, finished washing up, changed into neat training clothes, put on his forehead protector, and headed toward the Ninja Academy.
Today was team assignment day—he definitely couldn't afford to be late.
When Aozora arrived at the large classroom of the academy, twenty minutes were still left before the scheduled time. However, he noticed most of the graduates had already shown up.
After scanning the room, Aozora casually picked a seat in the corner and laid his head on the desk, ready for a nap. Yesterday's intense practice had left him somewhat drained; he needed some rest immediately.
Unfortunately, fate seemed unwilling to grant him this small wish. As soon as he closed his eyes, an annoying girl entered the classroom.
Without going anywhere else, she directly ran over to where Aozora sat and began chattering right beside his ear, "Dead last from the Uchiha clan! Why did you run off the day before yesterday? Are you scared of me, your big sister Aya?"
Inuzuka Aya's voice itself wasn't unpleasant, but her words came rapidly and nonstop—like the barking of her pet dog. Together, human and canine created a noise level rivaling that of meddling aunties. No way he could rest through all that noise.
Aozora regretted provoking Inuzuka Aya just a bit—this woman simply had too much energy.
Wishing for peace and a nap, he quickly clasped his hands together and pleaded, "Alright, alright, you win! Go bother someone else and let me catch a few Zs!"
"Alright then, I accept your apology."
Aozora was just about to breathe a sigh of relief when he realized she had no intention of leaving.
Although Aya had truly forgiven Aozora for past issues after his apology, she disapproved of his napping behavior inside the classroom. So she lectured him solemnly, "Mr. Aozora, regardless of how you managed to graduate, now that you've graduated, live up to the forehead protector on your head. Don't sleep here in class again."
Aozora glanced at Aya's endless scolding and, too tired to argue, just nodded.
Only then did Aya seem satisfied. She sat down beside him, constantly casting glances his way—as if saying, "I'm watching you; don't even think about sleeping."
Aozora's expression darkened as he finally gave up hope of resting, full of lamentation.
"What did I do to deserve this walking disaster?"
Before Aozora could dwell on his misery for long, the moment for team assignments arrived.
First came a striking middle-aged female kunoichi.
"Rong Hyuga, Willow Seiichiro, and Kurama Saaya, come with me!"
Her voice was crisp and clear. As soon as the three called out names stood up, she turned and strode directly out of the classroom.
Rong Hyuga and the others hurriedly followed behind.
"That's Kona Aizawa, the Jonin!"
"I heard her Taijutsu is exceptional, and her [Water Release] techniques are top-notch!"
"Yeah, they say she's seen her fair share of battles. She even worked as a private tutor before. Both her combat experience and teaching experience are outstanding. How enviable!"
"My jealousy is making me look hideous!"
You could easily tell from the whispers in the classroom — Kona Aizawa was a seriously powerful Jonin!
That made sense. Rong Hyuga, Kurama Saaya, and Willow Seiichiro all had tremendous potential. Naturally, they needed an excellent Jonin mentor.
After all, Rong Hyuga was a genius from the Hyuga clan. If not for being injured before the graduation exam last year, he would have already graduated.
As for Kurama Saaya, although she hadn't awakened her clan's kekkei genkai, her talent in Genjutsu was the strongest among their class.
Willow Seiichiro might seem ordinary, but that was only because he was a commoner ninja without any family techniques to inherit. With proper training, his performance wouldn't necessarily be weaker than others', despite lacking any family techniques.
While Uchiha Aozora was mulling it over, another ninja entered the room and led away a group of students.
The three students leaving were also elites from this graduating class, and their supervising ninja didn't seem weak either.
Thinking about this, Uchiha Aozora couldn't help feeling somewhat anxious about himself.
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