The secret chamber beneath the Uchiha estate was no longer just a place of meditation—it had become a crucible for transformation. Mali's group, once uncertain, now radiated quiet confidence. The four who had sensed Qi were making steady progress, and even those who hadn't yet succeeded watched with growing anticipation.
But Mali's ambitions reached further. He remembered tales of warriors who could dodge attacks with ease, sensing danger before it arrived. Drawing inspiration from the Haki of distant worlds, he devised new drills: sparring blindfolded, moving by instinct, and focusing on the intent behind every motion.
"Don't just see with your eyes," Mali instructed, his young voice steady. "Feel the flow of energy around you. Trust your senses—trust the Qi."
The results were subtle at first. A hand moved a fraction faster, a foot shifted just in time. But as weeks passed, the group's reflexes sharpened. Mali himself found he could anticipate movements in sparring, dodging with a grace that surprised even Raigen.
Yet Mali's curiosity was insatiable. He remembered the legends of Goku and the iconic Kamehameha—energy projected outward, a force that could shape the world. Alone in the basement, he experimented, gathering Qi in his dantian and trying to push it outward through his palms. At first, there was nothing but a faint warmth. But after five months of focused effort, he finally felt it: a gentle surge, a ripple of Qi flowing from his hands into the air. It was no beam, but the sensation was undeniable—a small, invisible wave that made the lanterns flicker.
Mali's heart soared. He called Raigen and the others, demonstrating his progress. "It's not much yet," he admitted, "but Qi can be projected. We're only at the beginning."
Raigen's pride was immeasurable. "You've shown us a new path, Mali. The Uchiha have always been strong, but this… this is something different."
The group redoubled their training, eager to master this new art. In the quiet hours of the night, Mali wrote in his journal:
*"Qi is not just for the body. It can move, shape, and sense the world. If we persist, who knows what we might achieve?"*
Above them, the Uchiha clan and the village remained unaware of the revolution brewing below. But in the darkness, Mali and his disciples took their first steps toward a power that could change everything.