Uchiha Ryujin.
To Hiruzen Sarutobi, this name—
Was not unfamiliar.
In fact—
It had been etched into his memory long ago.
Back when Ryujin was nothing more than a child.
A prodigy of the Uchiha Clan.
A child who awakened the Sharingan at the age of three.
An unheard-of miracle.
That single event had nearly caused the entire Uchiha clan to celebrate as one.
Because for the Uchiha—
Strength was secondary.
What truly mattered—
Was the Sharingan.
It was their pride.
Their identity.
Even a powerful Uchiha—
If they never awakened their eyes—
Would be looked down upon.
Whispers would spread.
Doubts would arise.
Even their bloodline—
Would be questioned.
But Ryujin—
Shattered all limits.
Three years old—
Sharingan awakened.
Six years old—
Three tomoe.
And by nine—
After losing his parents—
He awakened the Mangekyō Sharingan.
From that moment—
His future was decided.
He would be the next clan leader.
And when the previous head stepped down—
Ryujin ascended without opposition.
Even before becoming Hokage—
Hiruzen had already heard his teacher speak of this name countless times.
Tobirama Senju.
A man who rarely praised anyone—
Yet never hesitated when it came to Ryujin.
There was one sentence—
That Hiruzen would never forget.
"If Uchiha Ryujin were the same age as you…"
"…then the position of Hokage—"
"…might have no choice but to be his."
Even Tobirama—
Who feared the Uchiha—
Had said that.
And yet—
He still praised Ryujin.
That contradiction—
Spoke volumes.
Before his death—
Tobirama had given Hiruzen one final teaching:
Maintain balance.
Never allow one force—
To dominate Konoha.
And so—
Hiruzen followed that path.
But lacking better methods—
He chose suppression.
Weakening both the Senju Clan and the Uchiha.
Slowly.
Quietly.
The Senju had already declined.
Another decade—
And their bloodline might have faded into the masses.
The Uchiha—
Were meant to follow the same path.
But everything changed—
Because of one person.
Uchiha Ryujin.
No—
Calling him a genius was no longer enough.
He was something else entirely.
A being that history itself had never seen.
A monster.
And now—
Hiruzen was experiencing it firsthand.
He had already unleashed power close to his peak—
Yet not a single attack had truly reached Ryujin.
It was like striking air.
Like hitting nothing at all.
Worse—
Ryujin was distracted.
Yes—
Distracted.
Hiruzen had noticed it multiple times.
During close combat—
Ryujin would glance elsewhere.
Even—
Zone out.
Meanwhile—
Hiruzen himself was already disheveled.
His robes torn.
His breathing uneven.
But Ryujin—
Still stood there—
In his pristine red wedding robe.
Untouched.
Unstained.
As if he had never even entered battle.
Elegant.
Composed.
Untouchable.
Hiruzen exhaled deeply.
He pulled back the Adamantine Staff—
Holding it firmly once more.
The vortex technique had failed.
There was no point using it again.
Across from him—
Ryujin watched calmly.
He didn't even try to stop him.
Because for Ryujin—
This battle—
Was valuable.
A rare opportunity.
To fight a Kage.
To refine himself.
Because during this fight—
He had realized something.
His close combat—
Was overwhelming.
His body—
Was monstrous.
But—
His ninjutsu—
Was lacking.
Especially large-scale techniques.
He had power—
But not variety.
Meanwhile—
Hiruzen was the opposite.
A master of all five elements.
A man once called—
"The Professor."
If not for Ryujin—
Hiruzen himself would be considered a once-in-a-generation genius.
At thirty—
He had already reached his peak.
And his mastery of ninjutsu—
Was terrifying.
"Earth Style—Earth Dragon Bullet!"
Hiruzen slammed his palm onto the ground.
Chakra surged.
The earth trembled.
And then—
A massive dragon erupted from the ground.
It roared—
Its body massive, lifelike—
Almost like a summoned beast.
Its jaws opened wide—
Rushing toward Ryujin as if to devour him whole.
Even Ryujin—
Was slightly impressed.
…Not bad.
This wasn't an ordinary Earth Dragon Bullet.
Most ninjas could only summon a crude construct—
Firing simple projectiles.
But this—
This was different.
This was—
Mastery.
No wonder Hiruzen could extinguish combined fire techniques with a single Water Dragon.
His understanding—
Was on another level.
Ryujin's eyes gleamed slightly.
…I'm a little jealous.
Because this—
Was exactly what he lacked.
But then—
A thought surfaced.
…If he can do it—
Why can't I?
His left eye—
Began to rotate.
The Mangekyō pattern shifted—
Slowly.
If his right eye—
Was absolute death—
Then his left eye—
Was something else entirely.
Something far more—
Humiliating.
Because it didn't just kill—
It surpassed.
It crushed.
It copied—
And perfected.
Ryujin raised his hand slightly.
A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"Then…"
"…let me try as well."
He stepped forward—
Facing the incoming dragon—
And calmly spoke.
"Earth Style—"
"Earth Dragon Bullet."
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