Uchiha Kagami walked straight toward Kakashi. From the wide sleeve of his dark blue robe, he produced a exquisitely crafted wakizashi, which he then held in his hand.
Kakashi's pupils narrowed slightly.
Although the wakizashi was only about sixty or seventy centimeters long, it was not something a child could simply hide inside a sleeve.
That… was a ninja tool summoning technique.
With a father like Sakumo Hatake, Kakashi knew far more than the average student, which was precisely why he felt there was no need to waste time at the Ninja Academy.
A faint smile curved across Uchiha Kagami's lips as he said, "Uchiha Obito has brought shame to our clan. As an Uchiha, he has become the worst of the worst."
"This was a gift from the Elders of Uchiha," Kagami continued. "They asked me to defeat you and reclaim the number one position that rightfully belongs to the Uchiha." He lifted the weapon slightly. 'The White Snow Scabbard' a truly beautiful wakizashi.
As one of the oldest ninja clan in the shinobi world, the finest treasures of the Uchiha clan had largely been taken away by Madara Uchiha. Yet even the collection that remained was still unmatched by any other ordinary clan.
This blade was a one of the Kusanagi Sword, forged from chakra conducting metal. If Orochimaru could gather so many Kusanagi blades, how could the Uchiha clan renowned for their mastery of swordsmanship not possess at least one?
Uchiha Kagami had absorbed and digested a vast amount of Sukuna's spiritual energy, revealing an extraordinary talent for swordsmanship. That talent led the clan elders to regard him as the next Uchiha Izuna.
They could hardly even imagine a someone become monster like Madara Uchiha; only those who had truly lived through that era could understand… Hashirama Senju and Madara Uchiha stood far beyond the reach of ordinary ninja.
As Uchiha Kagami stepped forward little by little, Kakashi removed the tanto from his back. From the way Kagami held his blade and the aura he emitted even before the wakizashi was drawn Kakashi could almost sense the sharpness of it.
Kakashi did not step back from the confrontation; that alone showed he was willing to accept the challenge.
The sensei quickly stepped between the two of them and said with a bitter smile, "You may spar, but you are not allowed to use ninja tools! And… kagumi, don't take out something that dangerous!!"
The teacher, an experienced Chunin, had just noticed the explosive tag Uchiha Kagami was holding in his other hand.
"Why do you even have an explosive tag?!" Said the sensei
"Wasn't it allowed?" Kagami replied calmly. "I was planning to use the wakizashi to distract him and then tag him with it. That would definitely be much easier to defeat him."
Uchiha Kagami had no choice but to put the explosive tag away and unsummon the wakizashi back.
Only then did Kakashi fully realize what had just happened. When he noticed the explosive tag, a cold sweat ran down his forehead. 'This guy… is he crazy…?'
Uchiha Kagami assumed a fighting stance and gestured for Kakashi to make his move. Kakashi frowned slightly and replied indifferently, "You're the challenger."
The Uchiha who stared at kakashi seemed to recall something, and a faint smile appeared on his face. "Just a reminder" Kagami said, "the last person who said something like that was split in two."
"Confrontation Seal! Confrontation Seal!" the teacher shouted, trying to make his presence known. Uchiha Kagami immediately complied with the suggestion. He raised two fingers and gestured toward Kakashi.
How arrogant…
Kakashi raised the Seal of Confrontation as well.
Before the teacher even had time to say "Begin," the next moment...
A cloud of dust burst into the air as the two small figures collided. Kakashi shot forward, throwing a fast, straight punch directly toward Uchiha Kagami's chest. Kagami dodged the strike by shifting to the side. In the same motion, he swiftly grabbed Kakashi's wrist with his right hand, using his momentum to pivot, attempting to throw Kakashi aside.
But Kakashi was clearly not someone to be underestimated. He stomped his left foot firmly into the ground to steady himself, then drove his right elbow toward Uchiha Kagami's abdomen.
Kagami had no choice but to release his grip and leap back several steps to evade the strike.
"You're very strong," Kakashi concluded after the brief exchange. "You're not inferior to me."
Uchiha Kagami swung a palm strike toward Kakashi's face and laughed lightly. "You're not bad yourself."
Their movements were as fast as sound. Punches and kicks came from every direction as their stances shifted constantly. Each collision produced a sharp sound a dull thud echoed with every impact, and the tension in the air grew heavier.
"Amazing!"
"Kakashi is incredible! That new student is incredible too!"
"They're so fast! So Kakashi usually hasn't been taking things seriously!" said The Uchiha looser.
"This is youth!!!" Some weird kid with green clothes said.
"Is this… really the level of students?" Even their teacher, a Chunin, was stunned by the strength displayed by the two children. Kakashi's strength was well known. But that Uchiha boy was not at a disadvantage at all. And judging by their expressions… Uchiha Kagami seemed far more relaxed.
***
In the Hokage's office.
When he had no urgent matters to attend to, Hiruzen Sarutobi enjoyed using his crystal ball to observe the Ninja Academy and keep track of the young talents growing there.
Watching the two children locked in a fierce battle, he felt that Konoha's future was bright and full of promise. Being a ninja was a high-risk profession, so competition like this was perfectly natural. Bonds were forged through such rivalry, becoming branches that connected the leaves of the same tree. Perhaps the relationship between the Uchiha clan and the village would begin to change with the presence of these children.
Filled with hope for a brighter future, the Third Hokage did not reprimand Danzo for entering without knocking.
After watching silently for a while, Danzo finally spoke in a low voice. "This Uchiha child have a good talent."
"Yes," Hiruzen Sarutobi replied with a soft chuckle as he took a drag from his pipe. "Kakashi's talent is already extremely high, but I didn't expect this child to be just as strong."
Since Minato Namikaze had already begun to display his extraordinary talent, the term the prodigy was no longer casually used to describe the younger generation. After all, even Kakashi still fell far short compared to Minato.
"Hiruzen, this boy is a typical Uchiha," Danzo continued. "I've already investigated him. He's close to the radical faction within the Uchiha clan."
The relaxed expression on Hiruzen Sarutobi's face slowly faded as his brows gradually furrowed. "…If he studies at the academy for a few years, he will come to understand the importance of their fellow villagers."
"Don't you understand?" Danzo Shimura said in a heavy voice. "The more talented an Uchiha is, the harder they are to control."
"Let me train him in secret," Danzo continued. "Only my methods can turn him into someone truly useful for the village."
Without hesitation, Hiruzen Sarutobi shook his head. "Nope. I will not allow the village's children to join Root, if I can help it." More importantly… they could not afford to worsen the conflict with the Uchiha clan at this moment.
From within the shadows, Danzo's single visible eye gleamed with a threatening light. "Have you forgotten the instructions of the Second Hokage?" he said coldly. "The Uchiha clan is fundamentally evil. Your fantasy of reconciliation is impossible!"
"Danzo, I am the Hokage." Hiruzen Sarutobi narrowed his eyes slightly as smoke drifted in front of him.
"Hiruzen… you will regret this!" With the door slamming shut, the conversation ended on a bitter note.
***
Snake – Goat – Monkey – Boar – Horse – Tiger.
After the clash, Uchiha Kagami quickly formed a series of hand seals, startling the teacher, who immediately shouted, "All students scatter!!!"
Kakashi's pupils shrank sharply, and his hands moved as fast as lightning.
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique!"
"Earth Release: Earth-Style Wall!"
The Great Fireball Technique, a signature ninjutsu passed down through generations of the Uchiha clan, was widely known throughout the ninja world. Almost every ninja member of the Uchiha clan learned the Great Fireball Technique as their first ninjutsu.
After hearing from Obito that Uchiha Kagami could use Fire Release, Kakashi assumed that he knew the Great Fireball Technique. Because of that, he had already prepared a countermeasure the moment Kagami began forming hand seals.
The raging fireball burst straight through the earthen wall. Kakashi's response had been precise but unfortunately, he had underestimated the power of Uchiha Kagami's ninjutsu.
The Chunin instructor sensed that something was wrong and tried to shunsin to save Kakashi.
Before the flames could reach him, Kakashi's body burst into a puff of smoke, leaving behind only a withered piece of wood. Uchiha Kagami turned around, bent low, and immediately exchanged blows with Kakashi, who had emerged from a hole in the ground.
The fierce close-quarters battle resumed once again.
"So… this is what a real ninja fight looks like…" Obito muttered from the corner of the room, pushed aside, his eyes filled with disbelief.
There was also a trace of bitterness in his heart.
The Uchiha clan placed great importance on combat ability, and he often heard members of his clan praising themselves while standing in front of mirrors. But whenever their eyes turned toward him.
Rin Nohara offered comfort at just the right moment. She gently patted Obito on the shoulder and said with a warm smile, "Obito is amazing too. I believe you'll become a great ninja someday!"
The sadness that had just appeared in Obito's heart instantly vanished beneath the girl's smile. In that sense, Madara Uchiha's judgment of people had been quite accurate. As long as Rin Nohara remained alive, Obito would never be able to awaken the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Perhaps Obito should even thank Madara for his 'help'.
"Earth Style: Mud Wave Jutsu!"
Among his peers, Kakashi's chakra reserves were already considered quite high. This was a low level Earth Release technique. The ground trembled as like waves, disrupting Uchiha Kagami's movements.
"Kakashi, you are the strongest among those under ten years old who have fought me." Uchiha Kagami leapt lightly between the surging waves of earth, a faint smile lingering on his face the entire time. "But I'm already bored with games like this."
The moment he finished speaking, a crimson light flared within Kakashi's eyes. A terrifying Blood Sea Demon God suddenly burst into his mind, instantly freezing both his body and his thoughts.
Sharingan Genjutsu 'With Sukuna spritual energy'.
The two tomoe Sharingan appeared in Uchiha Kagami's eyes as he stepped toward Kakashi, one step at a time. He summon of his wakizashi again.
The teacher placed a hand on Kagami shoulder, his voice trembling slightly. "That's enough… You win, Kagami." Looking his eyes, he caught sight of the fading crimson in Uchiha Kagami's eyes and swallowed with difficulty. He had indeed heard rumors of a genius in the Uchiha clan who already awakened the Sharingan at the age of five…
But did awakening the Sharingan also mean already possessing two tomoe? Perhaps because his eyes had awakened so early. They had already evolved into two tomoe at the age of five… In any case, it was already frightening enough.
Watching Uchiha Kagami fight so fiercely against Kakashi, many of them had begun to consider the possibility that Kagami might actually win, but…
None of them could understand how Uchiha Kagami had managed to do it.
Only when Uchiha Kagami glanced toward the crowd did the deep crimson in his eyes catch their attention. Even a child could recognize what it was. One of the Three Great Dōjutsu, the most powerful manifestation of the Uchiha clan…
The Sharingan.
Uchiha Kagami was quite pleased by the awe shown by these unruly children. That's right. The Uchiha clan had no need for bonds of any kind. All they needed was… look up at him.
Even without the Sharingan, Kagami was confident that he could defeat Kakashi. So why bother hiding it? The crimson color in his eyes gradually faded as Uchiha Kagami spoke calmly, "My name is Uchiha Kagami. I hate challenges beyond my ability, I hate being disturbed while eating, and I hate Uchiha Obito. That's all."
Uchiha Obito: "…"
***
Meanwhile, the concentration of smoke in the Hokage's office had already exceeded the legal limit.
Hiruzen Sarutobi frowned as he watched the scene inside the crystal ball. 'This child… needs proper guidance'. He called for his secretary and asked in a heavy voice, "Jiraiya has been teaching Minato quite a lot lately, hasn't he?"
"Yes, Hokage-sama. They are currently training in the Forest of Death."
After thinking for a moment, Hiruzen carefully considered the matter and decided not to act hastily. It would be better to let the child remain at the Ninja Academy. Perhaps interacting with his classmates might slowly change his personality.
And if all other methods failed… then that small ray of sunshine could be allowed to shine upon this Uchiha boy.
Within Minato, Hiruzen Sarutobi saw a light capable of bringing people together... a light that shone even brighter than his talent for ninjutsu.
If it weren't for his behavior on the training field, Uchiha Kagami would actually appear far more well mannered than Obito.
***
Kagami had long since mastered the techniques taught at the Ninja Academy. Walking on water and climbing trees were trivial; he had nearly completed the chakra transformation training included in his clan's curriculum.
The limit of chakra transformation was the Rasengan, and Kagami wondered whether Minato Namikaze had already created it. This was also the problem he was currently trying to solve. He possessed a complete sequence of steps to create it.
If the Uchiha clan managed to create the Rasengan before Minato Namikaze did, then they would become the true creators of the technique.
Of course, all of this depended on the assumption that Uchiha Kagami would be the first to successfully develop the Rasengan.
Kagami sat quietly, his consciousness already sinking into his mental space. Before the enormous gate within that space, Kagami sat down and began his training.
The Rasengan had three stages: rotation, power, and maintenance.
At the moment, Uchiha Kagami was stuck at the third stage. The Rasengan was like a small storm gathered in the palm of one's hand, the hardest part was maintaining that state.
"Kid… what happened outside… and what's going on with your eyes…?"
The Sharingan genjutsu infused with Sukuna's power was an experiment conducted by Uchiha Kagami. The results were quite good. If the sensei had not intervened. Kakashi might have remained standing there until the next morning.
Because of this, Sukuna was also able to understand part of the situation outside.
Chakra was a perfect fusion of spiritual energy and physical energy, while cursed energy originated from negative emotions and was merely a form of spiritual energy.
From Sukuna's perspective, almost every kids in the outside world have enough possessed cursed energy to become sorcerer.
He could even sense several powerful cursed techniques uses not far from him, cursed techniques that were no weaker than those cast by grade 1 sorcerers.
The density of such strong individuals was extremely abnormal… Most importantly, this was the first time he had directly felt the gaze of Uchiha Kagami's eyes.
Although he believed that, in his current state, he could not possibly be harmed in any way…
If one were to use an analogy, he himself was like a wild bull, while the Sharingan represented a lion no, perhaps a dragon egg would be a more fitting metaphor.
He had a strong premonition that once those eyes hatched from their shell, they may match his strength.
Kagami glanced at him and said indifferently, "That's why I find it so annoying. Other people might start with some kind of cheat program, or they have a system that gives them missions. But all I got was something ordinary like you."
"Kid! What are you saying?!"
"The world here is far more dangerous than you imagine. There are countless beings capable of killing you. Get rid of that unnecessary arrogance. If you obediently follow my orders, you might even have the chance to appear as my summoned creature one day."
Sukuna roughly understood what a summoned creature meant, and with a terrifying voice he said "Before I reached the peak of the world, I never cared about wagging my tail and begging. Compared to me, you're the reckless brat who doesn't understand the limits of your own power. With strength that small, you dare to order me."
Uchiha Kagami smiled faintly as the cloud of chakra in his palm began to show signs of stabilizing. His crimson eyes met the gaze of the murderous king of cursed lurking within the darkness. "I am fully aware of how insignificant I am. But does that mean I should shrink back? Even knowing it's impossible, I'm still doing it Sukuna, you've lost the most important instinct of being human. You're nothing more than a stronger beast. Therefore… you can only become my mount. A beast for me to ride."
"Brat, you're nothing more than an ordinary human who used this unknown cage to bind me. Stop speaking such grandiose words."
Uchiha Kagami leaned closer to the seal, a faint smile resting on his lips. "Sukuna, one day… I will break this seal. And when that day comes, I'll bind you with a rope."
***
After his astonishing performance on the first day, very few people dared to approach Uchiha Kagami in the days that followed.
He spent his afternoons napping while training the Rasengan within his mind. At night, he practiced ninjutsu at home and studied theoretical knowledge before getting a full seven hours of sleep.
Uchiha Kagami's life was quite fulfilling.
***
Kakashi, who had originally planned to graduate early, temporarily set aside that idea after his crushing defeat.
Instead, he doubled an already intense training regimen, waiting for the day his strength would grow enough to avenge that loss. Taking advantage of a rare moment when Hatake Sakumo was home, Kakashi finally asked the question that had been lingering in his mind.
"Father… Uchiha Kagami's Sharingan is very different. I've seen Uchiha ninja use the Sharingan before… but…" Kakashi found it difficult to clearly express the strange feeling he had sensed.
After hearing the situation, Hatake Sakumo smiled and gently patted his head. "He seems more ferocious, doesn't he?"
Kakashi felt that something about that description was slightly off, yet he couldn't think of a better word.
"I also have friends from the Uchiha clan," Sakumo continued. "Their eyes don't awaken as easily as those of the Hyuga clan. It seems they must experience a special event or a strong emotional stimulus in order to awaken them. That boy named Kagami awakened his Sharingan at such a young age. He must have gone through something painful. Kakashi… you should help your friend and guide him out of that hardship."
A hint of confusion appeared in Kakashi's small, expressionless eyes. That boy… didn't seem like the type who carried deep bitterness or hatred.
Although Uchiha Kagami never caused trouble at school, one of his favorite pastimes was bullying Uchiha Obito. As a result, Obito had recently stopped provoking him. Instead, he spent his days with Asuma and the others, discussing ways to take revenge on Uchiha Kagami.
With one less person constantly bothering him, Kakashi felt somewhat more relaxed.
Setting those thoughts aside, Kakashi finally spoke about the real reason he had come to talk with his father. "Father, I want to learn your swordsmanship!"
Hatake Sakumo ruffled Kakashi's hair, clearly pleased.
In truth, he wasn't very happy about Kakashi graduating early. However, the Ninja Academy simply had nothing left to teach him, which was why Sakumo had agreed to submit the application for early graduation. But Kakashi didn't seem interested in discussing that now. First, he wanted to defeat that boy.
His thinking was similar to that of the Third Hokage, both believed that the two children might build a bond through rivalry. "Alright. Since you've already had a solid foundation, I'll officially teach you the secret taijutsu passed down through generations of the Hatake family... One Thousand Years of Death!"
He paused, then laughed. "Haha, just kidding. I'll teach you swordsmanship."
***
As night fell, Uchiha Kagami had just stepped out of the training ground after finishing his taijutsu practice when a member of the Uchiha clan suddenly appeared.
"Kagami, the elder wishes to see you."
Normally, the Uchiha clan leader possessed the highest authority. However, Fugaku had only recently become the clan head and was still quite young. Because of this, many matters within the clan were still decided by an elders from the previous generation.
It was somewhat similar to the relationship in future between Hokage Minato Namikaze and Sarutobi Hiruzen the third.
This elder of the Uchiha clan was a radical figure within the clan, someone who advocated using force to reclaim the position that rightfully belonged to the Uchiha. This was not Uchiha Kagami's first visit to the elder's residence. He waited quietly in the reception room.
A moment later, a thin man in his forties or fifties walked out. A horrifying scar stretched across his face.
Uchiha Bokuto
The Uchiha clan did not listen to the weak. If Fugaku had not awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan, Bokuto would likely have been the strongest member of the clan at present.
"Elder Bokuto," Uchiha Kagami greeted briefly before sitting cross legged with calm indifference.
Bokuto nodded to himself. He was very satisfied with this junior of the Uchiha clan. Cold blooded, decisive, and arrogant exactly the kind of Uchiha child he admired. In many ways, the boy reminded him of the legendary Uchiha Izuna, whom he deeply respected. "I've heard about what happened at the Ninja Academy. You did very well, Kagami. You've already met the Third Hokage. What do you think of him?"
Uchiha Kagami fell silent for a moment before answering calmly, "He is an outstanding ninja with excellent leadership ability. He is kind and generous, and he also possesses great strength."
"Very objective analysis." Uchiha Bokuto nodded. "Excellent. You were not influenced by those foolish clan members who think the Third Hokage is nothing more than an incompetent old man."
Bokuto continued solemnly, "I have many grievances against Hiruzen Sarutobi, but I must admit that among our generation, he is the only one truly worthy of holding the position of Third Hokage. Your grandfather also had a chance… unfortunately…"
Uchiha Kagami shook his head, offering his own judgment about the ancestor who shared his name. "Even if Ancestor Kagami had not died, he would not have competed with the Third Hokage for that position."
"…Indeed. Kagami, you have already developed the mindset of a clan leader. Hiruzen Sarutobi is already planning to step down. The Fourth Hokage will likely be one of the Legendary Sannin. Considering your age… we should be able to compete for the position of Fifth Hokage."
Just as Bokuto was about to begin a long speech, Uchiha Kagami stood up, resting his hands lightly on his knees. "Elder, did you summon me here only to discuss the contents of the clan meeting?"
"When you were the first generation, you thought about becoming the second; when you became the third, you began thinking about becoming the fifth. You always place your hopes on the next generation. In my opinion…"
Uchiha Kagami looked directly into Bokuto's eyes without the slightest fear. "You're no different from Clan Head Fugaku. I'm leaving now. You can vent your frustrations at the clan meeting."
"Wait a moment." Uchiha Bokuto remained expressionless as he spoke in a heavy voice. "From what you've said… are you still planning to compete for the title of Fourth Hokage?"
"No. I'm not interested in the Hokage position." Uchiha Kagami turned his head slightly and replied calmly, "Since when has the Uchiha clan needed the title of Hokage to prove our worth? Elder Bokuto, I despise the cowardly mentality of our people. Even you are no exception."
"I appreciate the gifts you've given me, but don't expect me to follow your orders. And you don't need to lecture me." After saying that, Uchiha Kagami turned around and walked toward the entrance hall.
Just as he was about to leave, Uchiha Bokuto's voice came from behind him. "I'll be waiting for you at the training ground tomorrow. I will teach you all of my ninjutsu. An old man like me has no right to tell you what to do… but at least allow me to do something useful. For the future of the Uchiha."
Uchiha Kagami paused mid-step. "I see."
***
Under the moonlight, Uchiha Kagami walked through the clan district as several shops were preparing to close for the night.
"Kagami! Are you enjoying school?"
"I heard you defeated the Hatake family's genius! Haha, just as expected of Kagami!"
"Remember to stop by my house tomorrow morning! I've already prepared red bean soup for you!"
Along the way, the clan's residents greeted him warmly.
Uchiha Kagami responded to each of them with a smile, a stark contrast to the cold attitude he had shown toward Uchiha Bokuto.
Because of the influence of their ocular power, the stronger a member of the Uchiha clan became, the colder and more indifferent they tended to be. But ordinary members of the Uchiha clan were no different from normal people. Including those who had yet to awaken their true nature, there were more than two thousand of them…
Obito… Itachi…
Even someone as terrible as him could hardly imagine it.
How could anyone harm these neighbors, these elderly people, women, and children who shared the same bloodline?
When he arrived home, his grandmother was still comforting little Shisui. Shisui's parents had died shortly after his birth, leaving only the three of them in the household.
Compared to the orphans of ordinary ninja, orphans of the Uchiha clan generally lived much better lives. Some without families, such as the like Kagami could be adopted, while those still have families were usually cared for by relatives within the clan.
After all, even the Second Hokage had once acknowledged that the Uchiha clan was more affectionate than the Senju clan.
Love that was lost could easily turn into hatred…
But if the Uchiha clan never disappeared in the first place, wouldn't that solve the problem? I will protect the fate of this clan. "Grandma, I'm back."
***
"Your chakra nature is Fire, Lightning, and Earth. Including the Yin Release from the Sharingan, you were born with four chakra natures."
Bokuto held the chakra test paper in his hand as he spoke. "Not bad. These attributes are very suitable for developing our clan's techniques."
"He might be comparable to a special grade sorcerer," Sukuna's voice echoed loudly. Inside his mental space, Sukuna had finally managed to obtain two hours of external perception each day.
"Just like you."
"Kid… the reason I'm ranked as Special Grade is because that's the highest level possible!"
"I know," Uchiha Kagami replied calmly. "So how many fingers do you think he's worth?" The reason Kagami allowed Sukuna to vent his frustrations was simply because he used him as a convenient unit of measurement.
Sukuna felt that the boy's way of speaking was somewhat disrespectful… But after several years, he had already grown used to it. "Three fingers, I suppose. But kid, my current strength has long surpassed what twenty fingers could represent. I've already—"
Ignoring the rest of Sukuna's rambling, Uchiha Kagami focused his attention on Bokuto.
Bokuto's sharingan was no ordinary three tomoe; its power should rank among the strongest beneath the Mangekyō Sharingan.
Originally, Uchiha Kagami hated comparing combat power between different worlds the most. But now that he was deeply involved in this world, it was something he had to consider.
Sukuna was currently at the peak of his power, having mastered The 'World Cutting Slash'. So when compared to the Nine Tails, which had already achieved perfect balance between Yin and Yang…
Expecting something like that now was unrealistic. Konoha would never allow Kurama, the Nine Tails, to come into contact with the Uchiha clan especially after the painful lessons of the past.
"Fire Release and the Sharingan are the foundations upon which the Uchiha clan stood during the Warring States Period," Bokuto explained. "I don't know Lightning Release ninjutsu, but later I'll teach you some basic Earth Release."
"Since you already know the Great Fireball Technique, I'll teach you… The Great Dragon Fire Technique! The main purpose of the Great Fireball is to obscure the enemy's vision and block their position. The Dragon Fire Technique is a high-speed fire attack capable of defeating an enemy in a single strike. Watch carefully."
Bokuto deliberately slowed his movements. When he glanced over and saw that Uchiha Kagami had already activated his Sharingan, he nodded to himself in approval.
Without being reminded, the boy already knew to activate the Sharingan to observe the flow of chakra. That was good.
Snake – Dragon – Rabbit – Tiger.
After completing the sequence of hand seals, flames burst forth like the breath of a fire dragon, shooting forward at tremendous speed before exploding into a massive fireball in the middle of the lake.
"This technique is most effective when used together with the Sharingan, which greatly increases the chance of hitting the enemy."
After watching several times, Uchiha Kagami formed the hand seals and mobilized his chakra.
A blazing stream of fire shot forward at incredible speed. The dragon shaped flames slightly smaller than the previous fireball erupted in a fiery explosion.
"Excellent! Just as expected!" Even Uchiha Bokuto, who was usually stern, couldn't suppress the smile on his face. "In that case, I'll teach you the next technique how to..."
"Not yet." Uchiha Kagami shook his head calmly. "I still need to practice this technique. Rushing will only lead to mistakes. I'll learn the next technique after I've fully mastered this one."
Bokuto thought for a moment before letting out a laugh. "Haste only brings...trouble. That's not the kind of understanding a child your age should normally have. Still, it's true that building a solid foundation is important. Practice on your own, and ask me if there's anything you don't understand."
"It's only a practice. I can train that during the day." With that, Uchiha Kagami drew the small katana (wakizashi) that Bokuto had given him. "Elder Bokuto, could you teach me swordsmanship?"
In the ninja world, there was no strict distinction between swords and blades; even those who used swords were generally referred to as swordsmen.
"Ah, I nearly forgot. Your talent in swordsmanship is even greater than your talent in Fire Release." Bokuto drew the long sword he always carried and nodded. "Come. You may attack at any time."
The moment he finished speaking, Uchiha Kagami's small figure leapt forward. His sleeve fluttered as White Snow flashed from its sheath, the blade gleaming with a clear, cold light.
After deflecting Kagami's strike, Bokuto commented calmly, "Your speed and timing are good, and your strength is already close to that of a Chunin within the clan."
"Kagami, you truly are a genius worthy of standing alongside our ancestors!"
Uchiha Kagami knew exactly who Bokuto was comparing him to Uchiha Izuna.
Unfortunately, even for Uchiha Izuna, the identity most remembered by the world was simply that of Madara's younger brother.
A crimson light flickered within Kagami's eyes… He did not want to merely stand equal to his ancestors, he wanted to surpass them.
The wakizashi flashed forward, the blade thrusting straight toward Uchiha Bokuto's throat.
At his current level, Uchiha Kagami was no match for Bokuto. Naturally, he fought with everything he had, unleashing a relentless series of lethal attacks.
Uchiha Bokuto remained calm. With a slight sidestep, he evaded the fierce strike while simultaneously swinging his long sword toward Kagami's arm.
Kagami twisted his body to parry. With a sharp clang, the two blades collided violently, sending sparks scattering through the air.
On the training ground beside the lake, flashes of steel and the clash of blades rang out without pause.
Uchiha Kagami's attacks grew faster and faster, yet Bokuto's defense remained impenetrable. From time to time, he even seized the opportunity to launch a counterattack.
At the moment when Bokuto relaxed ever so slightly, Kagami who had been gripping his sword with both hands suddenly released one hand. Raising his left hand toward Bokuto, he spread four fingers wide.
Years of battlefield experience allowed Bokuto to sense the danger instantly. The three tomoe Sharingan abruptly appeared within his pupils.
An invisible slash cut through the air.
At the very last moment, Bokuto barely avoided the terrifying slash that almost split half his face open. Even so, a clear line of blood appeared across his cheek, and crimson droplets slowly flowed downward.
"What… was that?"
It was an invisible blade, sharp like the edge of a razor somewhat similar to the wind blades he had encountered before. But those were A rank Wind Release ninjutsu. Where would Kagami have learned such a technique?
Moreover, there had been no sound of wind at all. If it had been a wind blade, his three tomoe Sharingan should have easily tracked and avoided it.
After unleashing that strike, Uchiha Kagami collapsed onto the ground, completely exhausted.
This body is still too weak…
He estimated that without considering the chakra consumption of ninjutsu, he could only unleash three or four full-power Dismantle slashes at most.
The fundamental ability of Ryōmen Sukuna is slashes and when pushed to its extreme was the power to cut and sever space itself.
"This is a secret slashing technique I developed myself," Kagami said calmly.
"Heh, you're just stealing my power!" Sukuna sneered with contempt inside his mind. 'What a joke'.
'No matter where it came from, the only question that mattered was whether he could use it'.
After thinking for a moment, Bokuto forced a bitter smile. "Kagami… you used such a dangerous technique on me without warning?"
Uchiha Kagami scratched his head and laughed awkwardly. "Ha… I was confident that Elder Bokuto would be able to dodge it."
"…could definitely handle it!" Bokuto exhaled slowly, the lingering shock still visible in his eyes. "To be honest, if I didn't have the Sharingan, it would have been extremely difficult to block that invisible slash."
He paused for a moment before continuing. "I won't ask how you learned such an ability. But I suggest you treat it as a hidden trump card and avoid using it carelessly. If someone isn't prepared for that technique, it could instantly kill a even Special Jonin."
Ninja were famous for their high offensive power but relatively low defenses. There was even a saying in the ninja world that even someone as powerful as Hashirama Senju could be killed by a kunai if caught 'off guard'.
Bokuto looked at Kagami with a complicated expression. "That kind of attack… is extremely dangerous."
Uchiha Kagami slowly stood up from the ground, still slightly out of breath. Despite his exhaustion, a faint smile appeared on his face.
After all, a technique capable of killing someone above his level was exactly the kind of power he needed.
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