Uchiha Clan Territory!
The Inner Lake!
Just as Shisui regained his balance on the water, a massive Great Fireball Jutsu flew straight toward him.
"Itsuki!!!"
Shisui was both shocked and furious, forced to make a decision that went against his ancestors.
He dove headfirst into the lake, becoming an excellent diver.
As an Uchiha, he merged seamlessly with the water.
There was no other choice!
Itsuki's Great Fireball Jutsu had a diameter of over a hundred meters. Dodging it wasn't easy.
What kind of ninja, unprepared, can avoid such a huge fireball?
Other than the Fourth Hokage's Flying Thunder God technique, even Shisui's Body Flicker Technique couldn't do it.
Shisui had barely regained his footing, so what could he do?
He had no choice but to dive into the water.
Avoiding the fireball by diving into the water? That's not something to be proud of.
In battles among Uchiha, aside from Itsuki, very few people enter the water.
After all…
Fighting on the Inner Lake for the Uchiha is mostly for training.
When Itsuki enters the water, it's to unleash even stronger Water Style jutsu.
He once declared that he was the strongest Uchiha Water Style user.
No one could argue with that.
Still, many people were puzzled.
As an Uchiha, is being the strongest Water Style user really something to be proud of?
What? Do you want to become the Mizukage or something?
Are you aiming for the stars?
Did you forget what your clan's crest looks like?
*Splash!*
When the flames finally faded, Shisui climbed out of the water, gritting his teeth and glaring at Itsuki. "Damn it, are you trying to kill me?"
If he hadn't reacted quickly, he might have been toast by now.
"It's your own fault for underestimating me."
Itsuki smirked. "In Uchiha duels, it's normal to prepare an ambush at the Inner Lake. You were strutting around like you were better than everyone else!"
"How could I, with my short temper, tolerate that?"
*Swoosh!*
Shisui's form vanished, and when he reappeared, he was right behind Itsuki.
"You're right. So, as Shisui of the Body Flicker, attacking you with the Body Flicker technique should be totally normal too, right?"
*Thump!*
A fist landed on Itsuki's head.
Itsuki clutched his head and crouched down.
Tears welled up uncontrollably in his eyes.
It wasn't that he lacked composure—it just *really* hurt!
Moreover…
That attack was incredibly fast.
He didn't even sense it coming.
"That hurt, didn't it?"
Itsuki grinned. "Don't forget, I'm Tsunade's disciple."
"My teacher once told me, to be a competent medical ninja, you not only have to know how to heal people, but also how to kill them. I believe a good medical ninja should also know how to give a painless death and make people feel unbearable pain."
"I just struck one of your 'pain points.' Look, aren't you crying now?"
"Feels sharp, doesn't it?"
"Aren't I awesome?"
"Am I not amazing?"
Itsuki cheerfully pulled out a camera. "Come on, Shisui, look this way. Smile!"
"Tch, that's even worse than crying."
*Clap!*
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
Shisui clasped his hands together and formed the seal!
The Great Fireball he unleashed, though not as exaggerated as Itsuki's, still reached over ten meters wide.
*Swoosh!*
Itsuki's figure disappeared from the lake's surface.
*Thump!*
Another fist struck down.
Shisui clutched his head again and squatted on the ground.
"Did you ignore what I just said?"
Itsuki frowned at Shisui.
"You really don't learn, do you, my dear brother?"
Shisui, teary-eyed, stared at Itsuki.
…Besides talking about those 'pain points,' did you say anything else?
You didn't say a thing—so what should I have remembered?
*Sigh.*
---
A tree looked at Shisui and smiled.
"Judging by your expression, you're not happy, are you?"
"In that case…"
*Bang!*
"Ugh!"
Another thump landed on Shisui's head.
His Sharingan, now swirling with three tomoe, was filled with bloodshot veins.
It almost looked like a different type of Mangekyō Sharingan.
Pain!
It hurt so much.
Every strike felt like it hit his soul.
The pain was so intense that his entire body convulsed.
Tears flowed uncontrollably from his eyes.
Was this a battle?
No!
This was pure torture.
Under the overwhelming pain, Shisui's attacks seemed to become stronger.
He unleashed various fire-style ninjutsu, clearly more powerful than usual.
At the same time, he kept using his Body Flicker Technique to move.
But no matter how fast he was, Itsuki was faster.
Itsuki's eyes seemed to predict his every move.
He effortlessly appeared beside Shisui, or in front, or behind him.
With ease and grace, he dodged Shisui's attacks.
Then, another thump on Shisui's head.
Thus, a strange scene unfolded.
The two brothers fought.
One wore a bizarre smile, constantly attacking.
The other, with a stubborn expression and tears in his eyes, fought back fiercely.
Even though it wasn't doing him any good.
But Shisui's attitude was clear:
He was silently screaming, "I refuse to give in! If you're tough, kill me!"
In the shadows, a group of people watched in silence.
"I gotta say..." one voice hesitated, "Is this a fight? It seems pretty one-sided."
"Which eye are you using to see this as only 'a little' one-sided?"
A sarcastic voice retorted.
The group looked at the two brothers fighting, their eyelids twitching.
Itsuki vs. Shisui.
Was the gap between them really this wide?
They had expected a fierce clash, but who would've thought it'd turn into one-sided play?
"Wait!"
A voice suddenly shouted, "Something's not right here."
"Itsuki is strong, no doubt, and Shisui isn't weak either. The gap between them shouldn't be this big."
The others stayed silent, listening carefully.
"Maybe…"
"Perhaps Itsuki Uchiha has gotten even stronger."
A cold voice spoke up, "He's only been gone a few days, not years. Even if he improved, how much stronger could he have gotten?"
The earlier speaker argued back, "Then how do you explain what we're seeing right now?"
"Just because you can't explain it doesn't mean you should make things up."
The second voice was cold, "I'm more inclined to believe Itsuki had been hiding his true strength all along."
"Oh, hiding his strength, huh?"
The first speaker mocked, "And then he just reveals such a crucial secret in a sparring match with Shisui? Wow, that's genius!"
The second voice went quiet, unable to refute.
Revealing such an important secret in a mere spar?
Only an idiot would do that.
"Well..."
Another voice chimed in, "Am I the only one thinking this? It feels like Itsuki isn't using the Body Flicker Technique…"
"Impossible!"
"Absolutely impossible!"
As soon as the words were spoken, someone immediately protested.
"That technique was developed by the Second Hokage, and only the Fourth Hokage ever mastered it. There's no way Itsuki Uchiha could've learned it."
"Besides, he doesn't even have access to it."
The protester's words were firm, almost hysterical.
He didn't even want to consider the possibility.
Itsuki Uchiha was already incredibly strong.
If he also mastered *that* technique...
No one else would stand a chance.
Might as well find a nice spot, dig a hole, and bury themselves.
Or, they could give Itsuki some business by visiting his cremation shop and having themselves burned.
Then, with a final shout:
"Next time, don't let me run into you in the afterlife!"
So yeah, there was no way it was *that* technique.
Absolutely not.
(End of Chapter)