"OK!"
A ninja's missions are all kinds of strange, and the situations they face are also varied. Therefore, there are many things to learn, not just simply increasing combat power.
Geography, reconnaissance, anti-reconnaissance, traps, psychology...
Even if one is not proficient, one must have some involvement.
Otherwise, there will often be situations where one has a body full of martial prowess but nowhere to use it, not only leading to mission failure but also making it more likely to be killed by an enemy weaker than oneself.
Because a ninja's battle is never simply a competition of combat power.
Of course, if you have overwhelming strength, you can naturally ignore these.
But even Uchiha Madara, in a situation where his final strength was comparable to the Sage of Six Paths, was schemed against by Black Zetsu.
Therefore, Jokichi never delusionally thought of crushing his way through relying on unparalleled combat power.
"Mhm!" Itachi nodded, "Is there anything else? If not, I am leaving."
"Are you not going to consume the Sage Crystal here?" Jokichi asked.
Itachi smiled and did not answer.
It was just that his face cracked from the middle and continuously spread outward, just like broken glass.
"Crack... bang!"
The world shattered.
Jokichi looked at the tightly closed door, then glanced at the scroll at his feet thoughtfully.
"Tsukuyomi..."
Pulling a person into a genjutsu space constructed by the mind, no matter how much time passes inside, only an instant passes outside.
Using this jutsu to discuss some secrets will absolutely not be discovered by outsiders.
However... when was it used?
Jokichi thought back carefully. The images from Itachi's appearance to his disappearance continuously flipped over, finally freezing on the image of Itachi opening his Mangekyo and gently glancing at him.
"That guy... completely predicted my thoughts." Jokichi clenched his fists tightly.
Jokichi knew everything about Itachi, so he knew he had a favor to ask and would absolutely not attack him.
And Itachi saw precisely this point, using a blind spot in his thinking to inadvertently pull Jokichi into the Tsukuyomi space.
Although he indeed did not harm him, if the subsequent development of the situation exceeded expectations, Uchiha Itachi would not mind conveniently getting rid of him.
If they fought, even if Jokichi also possessed the Mangekyo, he would suffer a huge loss under the condition of losing the initiative.
At this time, Jokichi profoundly realized his own shortcomings.
Even with the chakra enhancement of the Ring of Kurama making his speed and power comparable to a Jonin, having the Mangekyo could make up for the lack of neural reflexes.
But his combat experience, combat awareness, and crisis awareness were all too poor.
A ninja's battle has never been a simple competition of combat power.
"The road ahead is still very long!" Letting out a long sigh, Jokichi picked up the scroll at his feet and opened it.
It was left by Uchiha Itachi. The content inside was some training advice for him.
It was roughly telling him to choose one thing for his daily training and not be greedy by conducting two simultaneously.
Even though his training volume in half a day was comparable to an ordinary person's volume for one or even two days.
But conducting two different trainings every day would make a person distracted, resulting in half the result with twice the effort.
Moreover, his current physical fitness had almost reached the limit for this age group. Continuing physical training would not only be difficult to make progress, but it would also easily enlarge his muscles, leading to bodily stiffness.
Itachi's exact words: If you do not plan to specialize in Taijutsu in the future, physical training should stop in moderation, and you should master more ninja knowledge and skills.
It is recommended that you concentrate on practicing ninja tool mastery, practicing various ninja tools until practice makes perfect before conducting targeted learning based on your own needs.
"Since that is the case, then let's start practicing shuriken and swordsmanship first!"
Jokichi deeply agreed with Itachi's advice.
During the exercise in this period, the training volume increased by the day, but the improvement in his constitution became smaller and smaller, almost reaching an imperceptible point.
Even without Itachi's advice, he was prepared to first practice various ninja tools to the point of proficient mastery before doing anything else.
Closing the scroll, Jokichi stood up and went to the wall, taking down the katana from the sword stand, and then started practicing swinging it slash by slash.
A ninja's swordsmanship does not have that many complicated and profound moves, only the most basic postures for gripping and drawing the sword.
A ninja needs to be proficient in the basics of kendo, and then summarize experience and skills in the process of fighting with enemies to carry out the most unpretentious killing.
Therefore, basic skills are the most important.
"1, 2, 1, 2..." Jokichi shouted slogans while practicing swinging the sword, his sweat gradually wetting his clothes.
...
On the other side.
After Uchiha Itachi left Jokichi's residence, he found a hidden forest to put away his cloak and mask, then returned to the bustling streets and walked towards the Uchiha compound.
On the way, he was thinking. How to use Kotoamatsukami to perfectly resolve the conflict between the clan and the village.
When Shisui entrusted his Mangekyo to him and told him about the visual jutsu Kotoamatsukami, Itachi had thought more than once about using Kotoamatsukami to resolve this dispute.
It was just that due to only having one eye, it could only be cast on a single target, so he had never thought of a feasible plan.
But now, this crystal could grant him Shisui's Mangekyo.
When Jokichi told him this news, he immediately thought of a corresponding plan.
But it was only a rough plan, and some detailed aspects still needed to be slowly perfected.
"Brother, you are back!" A crisp voice woke Itachi up.
He stopped his footsteps, looked up, and saw his younger brother, wearing a black collared long-sleeved shirt and black shorts, possessing delicate facial features and black hair and black eyes, joyfully throwing himself over.
It turned out that, without realizing it, he had already returned to the Uchiha compound.
Seeing Sasuke, the space between Itachi's brows smoothed out. He subconsciously reached out to catch Sasuke and said dotingly, "The weather is so cold, why are you wearing so little?"
"I have been training all along, so I am not cold at all." Sasuke clenched his fists and looked at Itachi with a look of expectation. "Brother, guide my training, I will definitely become a ninja as strong as you!"
Itachi smiled gently, reached out and rubbed his head, saying, "Brother still has things to do. I will accompany you in training after I finish being busy!"
"No good, you said the same thing last time." Sasuke glared at Itachi angrily, his little face puffed up.
Looking at his cute younger brother, Itachi really did not know how to refuse.
However, he thought of the conflict between the clan and the village, thought of Shisui's death, and thought of the Sage Crystal Jokichi gave him.
His doting gaze suddenly became firm.
"Sorry, Sasuke, next time." He reached out and lightly flicked Sasuke's forehead.
Sasuke let out an ouch in pain, covered his forehead, and looked at his brother aggrievedly with eyes tearing up from the pain.
That warm and kind smile instantly melted his heart.
"Mhm!" Sasuke nodded and obediently jumped down from Itachi's arms. "Then I am going to train first, I will definitely not disgrace the Uchiha name."
After saying that, he turned and ran towards the training ground in the backyard.
Looking at his younger brother's carefree back, Uchiha Itachi's smile gradually froze, and his released hands clenched tightly.
"I must absolutely protect everything."