he trees trembled slightly, and leaves drifted gently to the ground.
"Whew—" Uchiha Hui exhaled deeply. This was his first time performing the Great Fireball Technique, and other than the strange sensation of exhaling fire, everything went smoothly. It confirmed what he had suspected: his single-tomoe Sharingan could indeed copy ninjutsu. Apart from testing genjutsu, Hui was now certain that his Sharingan could replicate most techniques with the same effectiveness as more advanced forms.
"Shh—shh—"
The sound of movement came from the branches where the fireball had landed.
Hui raised an eyebrow and activated his Sharingan. "Things are moving fast today," he muttered, noticing something in the treetops.
A massive, brightly colored serpent was emerging...
"Great Fireball Technique!"
Hui didn't wait. He swiftly formed the seals, aiming to strike the serpent before it fully revealed itself.
His Sharingan's ability to mirror techniques allowed him to cast them efficiently, even under pressure. His father had deliberately slowed the process when teaching him, but Hui's chakra control had not dulled. It took just under two seconds for him to complete the hand signs for the Great Fireball.
The fireball shot forward like a blazing projectile, slamming into the giant serpent and detonating with a powerful blast.
"Boom!"
The nine-meter-long snake was struck down before it could fully emerge. Its vibrant scales were blown apart, revealing the pale flesh underneath. The flames had seared the wound shut, leaving no blood to spill.
Despite the victory, Hui felt uneasy. The forest seemed odd. Two enormous serpents in one place? These creatures would require a massive amount of food, yet this forest appeared too sparse to sustain them. One serpent could be an anomaly, but two? Something wasn't right here.
Not wanting to linger in this strange environment, Hui quickly made his way out of the forest.
But fate doesn't bend to the will of men. What is destined to happen will come, whether we want it or not.
When Hui returned home, he found his father, Uchiha Hikaru, waiting for him. It had been two months since they last met. Though Hikaru was still under thirty, strands of grey hair were already visible, making him look older than his years.
Hikaru gestured toward a chair. "Sit."
The tension in the air was palpable. Normally, after such a long absence, Hikaru would greet his son with a rare smile, but today his face was stern.
He clasped his hands in front of his face, his voice flat and emotionless. "What are your thoughts on going to war?"
Hui noticed his father wasn't looking directly at him, which made the atmosphere even more unsettling. Nonetheless, he responded calmly, "As a shinobi, it's unavoidable. Though I'm not yet officially one, I will be soon. Fighting is part of that path."
Without facing the battlefield, how could he grow strong enough to change the fate of their clan?
Hikaru's gaze sharpened with Hui's response. He stared at his son, a flicker of sadness in his eyes before it quickly disappeared. His voice took on a commanding tone. "I see. Prepare yourself. You'll be starting at the academy in a few days."
Hui was taken aback but quickly bowed his head. "Yes, Father."
It wasn't unusual for children as young as five to enter the academy during these times of conflict.
In past wars, young shinobi had gone to battle after only a year of training. If not for Hikaru's careful intervention, Hui would already have been enrolled, with plans to graduate early.
Although the academy year had begun, wartime made for an unusual school environment. Students could transfer in or advance quickly based on ability. Special exceptions were made for those who didn't meet the initial entry requirements, something unheard of in times of peace.
Hikaru gave a slight nod and rose from his chair, turning away from Hui. "You may go."
As Hui headed for the door, he could sense his father's thoughts were elsewhere. Hikaru would undoubtedly need to report the strange encounter with the serpent and the odd behaviour of the academy's instructor. Despite already having a student, the instructor's particular interest in Hui felt like more than casual curiosity.