"Swoosh!"
"Ding!"
In the training ground of the Uchiha clan in Konoha, two figures crossed paths at lightning speed. As they landed, they simultaneously flung their kunai, which collided with a crisp sound before rebounding towards each other. The figures dashed forward, grabbing the kunai and crossing paths once more.
"Hey! Watch out!"
One of them chuckled softly, his figure fading away. The other, sensing something, swung his kunai behind him.
"Ding!"
Another crisp sound rang out. The vanished figure reappeared, holding a kunai that blocked the opponent's thrust. The sharp kunai was less than twenty centimeters from his body, gleaming coldly.
The two stood still, silently competing in strength.
"You've improved a lot. You can already predict my attack paths," sighed Shisui.
"Hehe, Shisui, your Body Flicker Technique is still so impressive!"
They both withdrew their kunai. Shisui silently observed the young ninja before him, a boy of about twelve or thirteen with black hair and black eyes, and delicate features. Even among the handsome and beautiful Uchiha, he stood out.
This boy was Uchiha Itachi!
Shisui suddenly remembered Itsuki's evaluation: "There are three Uchiha who you wouldn't mistake even if you've never met them. Shisui for his nose, Itachi for his tear troughs, and the one who can scare children with his gaze..."
"Cough, cough!"
Shisui cleared his throat. How could he think that way? It was rude. Had he been influenced too? Get serious!
But that strange, inexplicable sense of recognition was undeniable.
Shisui felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.
"Shisui, what are you thinking about?" Itachi asked curiously, "Something happy?"
Shisui: "…Are you sure?"
Happy? Not likely! Just thinking about Itsuki made his scalp tingle and his body shudder. Linking him to Itachi's father wasn't pleasant either. Happy? It was more like a nightmare.
"Huh?"
"Forget it!" Shisui sighed, "I was just thinking about Itsuki."
"Itsuki?" Itachi's eyes lit up, "So, did you persuade him to join us?"
Uchiha Itsuki, a rising star in the Uchiha clan. Itachi had heard his father, the clan head, say that Itsuki was a natural ninja with unparalleled talent who would undoubtedly become a pillar of the Uchiha clan. Such high praise was rare and neither Itachi nor Shisui had received it, despite being highly talented and early awakeners of the three-tomoe Sharingan. Shisui was even renowned throughout the ninja world.
However, within the Uchiha clan, Itsuki was rated higher than Shisui. He was a prodigy who had awakened the three-tomoe Sharingan at just over ten years old. To Itachi, anyone deemed a pillar of the Uchiha clan must also be a pillar of the village with some guidance. Itsuki's usual demeanor and status gave him confidence in this belief.
Shisui sighed again, "I'm about to go see him. Not long ago, I invited him to join us, and he said he'd consider it."
"It should be fine!" Itachi smiled, "Itsuki is a kind person with great talent and has even been taken as a disciple by the Three Sannin. It's incredible! Being a disciple of those three is unique in Konoha. The Sannin are also the Hokage's disciples, so Itsuki must understand and join us!"
Itachi's words were full of admiration and envy. If he could become a disciple of the Sannin, it would surely bring the village and the clan closer and earn the villagers' acceptance of the Uchiha.
Shisui was stunned. Being a disciple of the Three Sannin was indeed unique, but kind? Itachi, are you serious? You must be joking, right?!
At this moment, Shisui didn't know how to react. "I'll try my best to persuade him!"
There was a moment of silence. Shisui felt disheartened, and even his hair drooped. Itachi sensed something was off, especially Shisui's exaggerated expression. Was Itsuki a demon king?
"Itachi!" Shisui suddenly said, "What kind of person is Itsuki in your eyes?"
"Itsuki?" Itachi thought for a moment, then shook his head, "I can't see through Itsuki. His ocular power is so profound that I always feel weak and small in front of him. It feels similar to the Hokage, as if he were a towering tree."
"But!"
Itachi continued, "Itsuki often opposes 'those people' in the clan and has fought them several times. I think he is an inheritor of the Will of Fire, naturally on our side, and our ally."
Those people were, of course, the radicals within the Uchiha, the hawks. Shisui understood but was still taken aback. How could it be? The latter part of Itachi's words was left unaddressed, but the first part raised significant concerns.
Itachi was now a Jonin of the Uchiha with three-tomoe Sharingan, stronger than ordinary Jonin of Konoha, comparable to Shisui. How could he feel weak and small in front of Itsuki?
Shisui suddenly considered a possibility, and his expression grew more serious. The biggest difference between them could only be...
Shisui instinctively covered his eyes. The windmill-shaped pattern in his eyes flashed briefly like four-bladed shuriken.
Mangekyou!
If Itsuki also had the Mangekyou, the situation would be much more complicated. Only those who possessed the Mangekyou understood its terrifying power and unique abilities. For instance, Shisui's Kotoamatsukami, capable of directly hitting the soul, was formidable.
Shisui's breathing quickened. "Itachi, I need to see Itsuki immediately."
"Shisui..."
Itachi was taken aback. Shisui decisively revealed his Mangekyou, as Itachi already knew about it. He said softly, "From what you just said, I suspect Itsuki also has the Mangekyou."
Itachi's expression changed, and he said seriously, "That makes sense. That feeling is similar to when you show your Mangekyou, except Itsuki's is more aggressive."
"I need to go now!" Shisui used the Body Flicker Technique and hurried away.
A trace of worry crossed Itachi's brow. Mangekyou! If Itsuki also had the Mangekyou, it would be best to win him over. But if he refused, what would they do? As Itachi said, he couldn't see through Itsuki or predict his choices.
...
"Tra-la-la-la-la, I'm a little expert at selling newspapers..."
At Itsuki's home in the Uchiha clan area, cheerful singing constantly rang out, accompanied by the sound of clattering. It sounded like a battle!
If anyone asked, Itsuki would seriously tell them it was rock music—sacred, majestic, and soul-stirring!
The surrounding neighbors either kept their doors tightly shut or looked at Itsuki's house with helpless expressions. Itsuki and Shisui were the grandsons of Uchiha Kagami. Despite Kagami's non-contentious nature, their house was in the core area of the Uchiha, surrounded by Uchiha Jonin or high-ranking members. However, they had no choice but to endure Itsuki's noisy attacks.
Oppose? Protest? Hehe! Want to know what kind of tormenting little demon Itsuki is? Just look at the ANBU. The famous ANBU almost collapsed because of him. Now, whenever Danzo mentioned Itsuki, his first reaction was to eat him alive. Several times, they almost had a full-blown confrontation.
Amid this noise, Shisui returned.
(End of this chapter)