chapter-3 SURVIVAL TRAINING

"Why do we have to eat and live together just for training? I only come home once a week, and I want to spend time with my brother. That teacher Ming isn't reliable at all. He's been obsessed with his sword since he was a kid, and he even hugs it when he sleeps! I heard from Sister Qingzi that he held a sword on his wedding night. Is that something a normal person would do?

He's definitely not right in the head. Why don't you ask for a different teacher? His uncle seems like a good choice. Don't worry, my brother-in-law would never let the children suffer. Xiaoyang, let's not go tomorrow. I'll talk to your uncle later."

Uchiha Yang's mother lovingly patted his head, glaring at the talkative, handsome uncle.

"Don't be ridiculous," the uncle said with a sigh. "The whole clan knows about this team. How come you don't? Ming is one of the best trainers we have. Even the families of the First and Third Elders didn't object. If it's really a problem, I'll use my connections to give him another day off."

The uncle looked helpless, but Yang's mother wasn't convinced.

"Best trainer, my foot! He's been bossed around by his wife since childhood. Sister Qingzi has been taking care of him and their kids for years, and now he's suddenly competent? No way, I'm going to file a complaint!" She stood up, ready to leave.

"Mother, please don't," Yang intervened. "Teacher Ming said we'll be back to normal training in just two weeks. Plus, his methods have been very effective. Don't worry, as soon as we're done, I'll come home and spend time with you."

With Uchiha Yang and the uncle's persuasion, his mother calmed down, and the family enjoyed dinner together.

---

"Alright, you're all here. Let's get started!" Uchiha Ming announced. "Your next training will be surviving in the forest behind you for half a month. You're each allowed to take only three shurikens, two military ration pills, and one explosive tag. After this, we'll return to regular training, and I'll assign special drills based on your results. Now go, boys!"

With a deceptively kind smile, Ming delivered the news, which felt more like a death sentence. The three Genin exchanged glances, discussed their plan, and entered the forest.

They soon found a cave near a stream and killed the bear living inside it. Yan began cooking, Lie set up traps around their camp, and Yang fetched water from the stream. It felt almost like a peaceful summer camp.

Little did they know, Ming was watching them with a dangerous grin. "They're having fun now, but they won't be smiling for long."

Nightfall came, and after extinguishing the fire, the three boys took turns keeping watch. Suddenly, in the dead of night, one of Lie's traps was triggered. Yang quickly woke his teammates, and they hid with their backs to the cave wall, carefully watching their surroundings.

A howl echoed through the forest. Wolves.

The boys readied themselves as the wolves crept closer.

"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"

"Earth Style: Earth Flowing Wall!"

"Fire Style: Phoenix Fire Technique!"

They unleashed their ninjutsu in unison—Rei's Great Fireball igniting the trap behind them, Yan raising an earth wall on the left side of the cave, and Yang sending Phoenix Fire to the right and forward.

The fight that followed was brutal, and it continued until dawn. By the end, all three boys were covered in scratches and bruises.

"I didn't expect the first night to be this rough," Yan panted.

"Yeah, and this is just the beginning..." Yang muttered weakly.

---

On the first day, they encountered wolves. On the second, they had to fend off a