For the next two days, Naruto diligently practiced the leaf balancing technique while Tsuki and Sasuke received training in more advanced techniques. Tsuki's mastery of the Multi-Shadow Clone Jutsu, combined with the insight granted by his Rinnegan, allowed him to progress faster than Sasuke. Naruto, with Tsuki's occasional guidance, was also making significant strides in his chakra control.
"Tsuki! Wake up! I did it! I did it!"
Tsuki blinked awake, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. "Naruto, why are you waking me up this early?"
Naruto excitedly pulled a leaf from his pocket. "Look at this." He closed his eyes and placed the leaf on his forehead.
Tsuki's eyes widened in surprise. Not only was the leaf perfectly still, but Naruto was also using significantly less chakra than before. Naruto maintained the balance for the next two hours.
"I can't do it for more than that yet," Naruto said, a hint of pride in his voice, "but I can even use multiple leaves now, you know."
"That's alright," Tsuki encouraged him. "You're doing great. You just need a little more time, that's all."
Naruto nodded, his grin widening.
"Great work." Tsuki gave him a thumbs-up and settled back onto his pillow. "Switch off the light now, I'm going back to sleep."
"The light? But it's morning," Naruto said, scratching his head in confusion. He glanced outside, then back at Tsuki, who had already drifted back to sleep.
Two weeks later, Tsuki was practicing hand seals and ninjutsu with his shadow clones when Naruto burst into the room.
"Shikamaru and I are going to get Choji and then play outside," Naruto announced. "Do you want to come?"
Tsuki paused, considering the offer. "Well, I could use a break from this," he said, "but what about Sasuke?"
"Sasuke? He never wants to play with us, so why bother?"
"I'll convince him," Tsuki said with a determined nod. "He has nothing better to do."
Poof!, his shadow clones vanished as he stood up.
The Uchiha compound, nestled just outside Konoha, was a tranquil haven. Its quiet streets and serene lake offered a stark contrast to the bustling energy of the village.
'I've never been to Sasuke's house. I don't even know where he lives at all. All I know is that his father is the clan head, and that means it should be the biggest one... I think…'
With that logic in mind, Tsuki ran towards the largest house he could see. Hmm? 'What's he doing here?'
A familiar blur suddenly appeared in front of him.
"Tsuki, are you lost or something?"
"Shisui!" Tsuki exclaimed, rushing towards the older Uchiha and embracing him in a hug.
Shisui's eyes widened in surprise, but a warm smile spread across his face as he returned the hug. "Were you on a mission, Shisui?" Tsuki asked, his eyes sparkling with admiration.
"Yeah, I just got back today," Shisui replied. "I was hunting some rogue ninja."
Tsuki's eyes widened even further, imagining the thrilling adventure. "Really? Was he hard to catch?"
"Is that a serious question?" Shisui chuckled. "They don't call me 'Shisui of the Body Flicker' for nothing."
Tsuki beamed. "That sounds awesome, Shisui! Hey, I was wondering where Sasuke's house is. Naruto and I want to play with him."
"I see..." Shisui's smile softened. "Well, you won't find him here."
Tsuki tilted his head in confusion. "Where else would he be?"
"It's time for Itachi's shurikenjutsu training, so I'd say he's with Itachi on the Uchiha training grounds."
Tsuki nodded eagerly. "Can you take me there?"
"Follow me," Shisui said, taking Tsuki's hand as they walked past the villagers. Even Shisui seemed to notice the curious and sometimes wary glances directed at Tsuki.
"While we're on our way there, can we get some dango?" Tsuki asked, his stomach rumbling.
"We should get some for Itachi too," Shisui suggested. "He loves dango."
Tsuki's eyes widened in surprise. "No way, Itachi likes dango. He's got a sweet tooth?"
Shisui nodded.
"He doesn't look like someone who'd have any sweet tooth, does he?" Shisui mused.
"No way," Tsuki agreed, shaking his head. "Itachi looks way too serious for that."
"You aren't the only one to assume that," Shisui chuckled, a knowing glint in his eye. "But I promise you it's true. Just watch what happens." He handed Tsuki a small bag filled with dango. "Take six of them."
With their sweet treats in tow, they made their way to the Uchiha training grounds. There, they found Itachi diligently instructing Sasuke in the art of shurikenjutsu.
"Shisui," Tsuki whispered, observing the scene, "they're training without us. Is this a competition?"
"It looks like it," Shisui replied with a playful grin.
Itachi, noticing their arrival, paused his instruction. His eyes lit up at the sight of the dango. "Looks like training is over for now, Sasuke," he announced with a smile. "Tsuki and Shisui brought us a treat."
"Sasuke, Naruto, and I are going to play," Tsuki declared, his energy bubbling over. "We're supposed to meet with Shikamaru and Choji later. You wanna come?"
Sasuke glanced at Itachi, who nodded in approval. "It's alright," Itachi said. "Now that Shisui is back, we can all train later."
"Let's go after having some dango," Sasuke agreed, his curiosity piqued by the mention of the sweet treat.
Tsuki watched Itachi savor the dango, his usually stoic face softened by a surprisingly innocent smile. 'So it's true!' he thought, a sense of wonder filling him.
He quickly finished his own dango and stood up, eager to continue their adventure. "Big brother," Sasuke said, turning to Itachi, "show him the shuriken jutsu you were teaching me last time."
"I also want to see this shuriken jutsu," Shisui added, his interest piqued.
Tsuki watched Itachi intently, hoping to glean some insights from the skilled Uchiha.
Itachi took four kunai, placing one between each of his fingers. He closed his eyes, then leaped high into the air, spinning gracefully as he released each kunai in a different direction. The final two kunai flew towards each other, their paths intersecting.
Cling!
The kunai deflected off each other, their trajectories altered. Itachi threw the last one with pinpoint accuracy.
Thud!
He landed softly, his eyes still closed. All four kunai were embedded in the targets.
As Itachi opened his eyes, Tsuki's breath hitched. The once familiar black orbs were now ablaze with a mesmerizing pattern—a red background with three tomoe swirling around a central pupil.
"That's the Sharingan..." Tsuki breathed, his voice filled with awe.
Shisui observed Tsuki's reaction, a knowing smile playing on his lips. "Not bad, Itachi," he remarked, his tone light but approving. "You've been training."
Shisui's gaze shifted to Tsuki, who was playfully spinning a kunai between his fingers. "Do you think you could do that too?" he asked, a mischievous glint in his eye.
Tsuki paused, his focus momentarily broken. "Well..." he hesitated, then admitted, "I'm not sure I could do it like Itachi did, with his eyes closed and all. In fact, I'm not even sure I could do it with my eyes open."
Shisui tossed a kunai to Tsuki, a challenge in his eyes. "I think you could," he said. "It might be a bit dangerous, but are you up for the challenge?"
Tsuki looked at the kunai, then back at Shisui. A determined nod was his answer.
"Shisui, isn't this dangerous?" Itachi interjected, concern etched on his face. "He could hurt himself. We still don't fully understand his abilities, and he's just a kid. I couldn't even do that at his age."
"It's alright, Itachi," Shisui reassured him. "We won't find out his limits by doing nothing. Besides," he added with a wink towards Tsuki, "I'm sure he can handle it."
Tsuki beamed, giving Shisui a confident thumbs-up.
"Tsuki, are you sure you can do this?" Sasuke asked, his voice laced with a hint of worry.
"Of course I can," Tsuki declared, his youthful bravado shining through. "Just watch!"
He pulled his hair back, securing it in a ponytail for better visibility. Then, he took four kunai in each hand, channeled chakra into his feet, and leaped into the air, spinning rapidly.
Mid-air, a strange sensation washed over him. 'I-I can see them?' he thought, his eyes wide with surprise. 'The way they're moving, where they're going... I see them all.'
With newfound clarity, he threw each kunai, his eyes guiding his hands with uncanny precision. He had two kunai left, and he hurled them with a final flourish.
Cling!
The kunai collided, sparks flying as they deflected off each other.
'I did it!' Tsuki exulted. 'But how am I supposed to land?'
His descent quickened, the ground rushing up to meet him.
"Shisui! Help!"
Shisui, seeing Tsuki's predicament, sprang into action. But before he could reach the falling boy, Tsuki's eyes glowed with an intense, otherworldly light. He focused his gaze on a rock nestled within a distant bush.
"Woah!" Tsuki's cry was cut short as his body vanished in a blinding flash.
Fwoosh!
In the blink of an eye, he reappeared within the bush, the rock tumbling out where he had once stood.
"Where'd he go?" Sasuke's voice echoed through the training grounds.
A muffled groan answered him. "Ugh."
Shisui, his senses honed, immediately located the source of the sound. "In there!" He rushed towards the bush, concern etched on his face.
He found Tsuki curled up, his hand bruised and his leg cradled protectively.
"Tsuki!" Shisui knelt beside him, worry evident in his voice. "Are you alright?"
"Big brother, what just happened?" Sasuke asked, his voice laced with a mixture of awe and fear.
Itachi's gaze remained fixed on Tsuki, his Sharingan analyzing the scene. "Tsuki just... teleported," he said, his voice hushed.
The implications of what they had just witnessed hung heavy in the air. Tsuki, the young boy with the Rinnegan, had just displayed a power far beyond their expectations.
(Edited on: 14/9/24)