The days slipped by, marked by steady progress and growing confidence within Mali's hidden circle. The basement, once a place of quiet meditation, now buzzed with energy as Mali's disciples practiced blending chakra and Qi, testing the limits of their bodies and spirits. Raigen watched with pride as the orphans, once overlooked, now moved with a new sense of purpose.
Mali's doctrine spread among his group: chakra refined the body, Qi awakened the soul. They sparred with blindfolds, sensing intent and movement through the flow of Qi. Their reflexes sharpened. Small feats—dodging a thrown kunai without sight, feeling the presence of another in the dark—became routine.
But with every breakthrough, Mali's mind grew more restless. He remembered the shinobi world above, where power was measured in jutsu and bloodlines. He wondered: could Qi enhance the Uchiha's famed Sharingan? Could it heal wounds faster, or even open new paths of power?
One evening, as the group finished their training, Raigen approached Mali. "Word is spreading, even if quietly. Some elders have noticed the change in the orphans. There is curiosity, but also suspicion."
Mali nodded, thoughtful. "We must remain cautious. Our path is not yet understood—and the world fears what it cannot explain."
Outside the basement, the Uchiha clan faced growing tension with Konoha's leadership. Whispers of distrust circulated, and the clan's isolation deepened. Yet, in the shadows, Mali's group grew stronger, quietly preparing for the day when their new strength might be tested.
With the foundation of Qi and chakra laid, Mali's curiosity turned outward—to the world of jutsu, science, and physical mastery. He began by seeking out every technique and training method he could find within the Uchiha archives and the stories passed down by elders.
Using chakra induction paper, Mali tested his elemental affinity. As expected, Fire was dominant, but he meticulously checked for secondary natures, aware that true mastery required versatility.
Inspired by tales of the Fourth Hokage, Mali replicated Minato's spiral balloon exercise. He spent hours focusing his chakra, rotating it within water balloons, striving to understand the principles behind the Rasengan and to refine his own chakra control.
Not content with only spiritual progress, Mali incorporated weight training and rigorous taijutsu drills. His body grew stronger, complementing his internal cultivation.
Mali's vision extended beyond tradition. He asked his grandfather, Raigen, to gather news of scientists, inventors, and researchers in the wider world—hoping to blend shinobi arts with scientific gravity machine if it could be made.