Chapter 24: QI CHAKRA BREAKTHROUGH
The sun rose over Turtle Island, casting gold across the waves. Uchiha Mali, just six and a half, finished his morning meditation on the shore. He felt the Qi and chakra swirl inside him, stronger and steadier than ever. Six months had passed since the Nine-Tails attack—six months since the clan's exile, and six months of relentless training, change, and survival.
He stood, brushing sand from his knees, and looked back at the village. The Uchiha compound was alive: elders stretching in the morning light, children racing between tents, and Mali's ten personal servants leading groups through Qi breathing drills. The air was filled with laughter, focus, and the low hum of chakra—a new energy, born from Mali's teachings.
Suddenly, a commotion broke out near the main square. Mali saw his grandfather, Raigen, surrounded by a crowd. Raigen looked nothing like the frail elder from Konoha. His hair was black with only a streak of silver, his back straight, his skin almost glowing. Even from a distance, Mali could see the change in his eyes: the legendary Sharingan, swirling with a pattern that no one else in the clan possessed.
Mali dashed over, heart pounding. The crowd parted for him, whispers trailing in his wake. Is that really Raigen? How did he get so young? What's with his eyes?
Raigen smiled at Mali, then at the gathered clan. You all want to know what happened? It's simple. This boy's crazy training works. He clapped Mali on the shoulder, pride in his voice. Qi breathing, chakra mixing, meditation—six months, and I feel like I'm twenty again.
Daisuke, Raigen's oldest friend, elbowed him. That's not all, old man. Show them.
Raigen nodded, his face turning serious. Watch this. He raised his hand to the sky. The air thickened, clouds swirling as if pulled by invisible strings. High above, a faint glow appeared—a meteorite, massive, drifting closer. The clan gasped, some stepping back in awe and fear.
Mali felt his heart leap. That's almost like Madara's power, but real. He watched his grandfather's face, saw the strain in his eyes.
Raigen let the glow fade, lowering his hand. I call it Ame no Shōmetsu—Rain of Erasure. I can pull a piece of the heavens down, but only once a day. Afterward, I lose my sight for a while. Don't worry, I'm not planning to use it unless we're truly threatened.
The crowd buzzed with excitement and questions. Daisuke grinned, slapping Raigen on the back. That's the strongest jutsu I've ever seen, and I've lived through two wars.
Raigen waved for silence. But this isn't just about me. Mali's techniques—Qi breathing, chakra mixing, even the stuff he calls 'hardening' and 'focus'—anyone can learn them. It takes about six months to really sense Qi, maybe two to start mixing it with chakra. I'm proof it works.
Mali's servants stepped forward, flexing their arms and showing off. Yuto, the youngest, laughed. I feel like I could wrestle a sea king now!
The clan's mood shifted from awe to hope. For the first time since exile, they felt strong—maybe even invincible.
Later, Mali slipped away to the sea. He strapped stones to his waist and dove deep, hunting exotic fish and sea beasts. The pressure squeezed his lungs, but he focused on his Qi, letting it flow through every muscle. He thought, This is the best training. Down here, gravity makes everything harder. When I come up, fighting on land feels easy.
He surfaced with a giant eel, dragging it to shore for the evening feast. The clan cheered, and Mali grinned, feeling the pride in their eyes.
That night, as stars blinked above Turtle Island, Mali sat beside Raigen, both quiet, listening to the waves.