"No, in a fight. You'd be dead already."
Shikai decided to change tactics. He rushed forward, feigning a frontal assault. At the last moment, he bent down, shifting his weight onto his legs, and executed a swift sweep kick.
Shikaku, anticipating the attack, jumped slightly backward, barely avoiding the strike. In an almost acrobatic move, he landed softly and instantly counterattacked with a circular kick. Shikai, though exhausted, managed to raise his arms to block.
*Crack*
Shikai clenched his teeth, feeling his muscles tear and his bones crack.
But Shikaku didn't waste any time and charged again, combining feints and attacks at full speed. He delivered a quick elbow strike followed by a knee strike, then spun around to deliver a heel strike.
"That's enough! Uncle," Shikai cried out.
"Didn't you want to train?" A wide smile spread across his face as he grabbed Shikai's wrist with precision and, in a fluid motion, used Shikai's momentum to throw him to the ground.
*Kuh*
"Down again," Shikaku said, standing up with an amused look.
Despite his repeated failures, Shikai got up, breathing heavily, but his eyes were filled with determination.
"You have good endurance; I'll give you that," Shikaku said, grimacing slightly.
They then moved on to shuriken throwing. Shikaku demonstrated the correct posture first, then threw several shurikens that hit their target directly.
"Your turn."
After several attempts, Shikai began to show marked improvement, hitting the center of the target multiple times.
To end the day, they returned to the terrace for a game of shogi. This time, Shikaku was fully focused, his expression serious.
"Don't think I'll let you win again."
"Don't think you can win," Shikai replied with a confident smile.
The game stretched on for an hour, with both players calculating each move precisely.
"Not bad, kid," Shikaku admitted, observing Shikai's elaborate strategies.
Eventually, Shikaku won the game by a narrow margin, but he was visibly impressed.
At the end of the day,
Shikai, exhausted but satisfied with his progress, took a hot bath before collapsing onto his bed.
Meanwhile, on the roof of his mansion, Shikaku lay with his hands behind his head, gazing at the sparkling stars in the distance.
"Maybe you'll be able to master the two forbidden techniques of the clan. But I should first ask for permission from the patriarch," he murmured to himself.
***
Shikai woke up as usual, training with Shikaku as if he had no tomorrow. The training was increasingly focused on the basic ninjutsu of a ninja, and he also discovered that he had an affinity for the water release and lightning release jutsu. Then, at 4 p.m., as expected, he went to the meeting place.
When he arrived, the two Uchiha were already there, as still as statues. Itachi, ever calm, examined his surroundings with his piercing gaze. Shisui, on the other hand, seemed more relaxed, a warm smile on his lips.
"You're on time, Shikai," Shisui said with a light tone.
Shikai rolled his eyes. "Shisui Uchiha, you're starting to make a name for yourself in the village. So, now that you've graduated from the academy, what are your plans?" he asked, gauging if Shisui had the same mindset as in the manga.
"Hmm, I'm not sure yet. Last month, the Sandaime asked me the same question," he replied, deep in thought.
Itachi, his arms crossed, interjected in a neutral tone. "I thought you wanted to fight. If you came here to talk, go back home. Otherwise, get ready."
A tense silence fell. Shikai placed a hand on his kunai, a smirk on his lips. "Alright, Itachi. Show me what the son of Fugaku Uchiha has got."
Shikai threw a kunai with deadly precision, aiming straight for Itachi's head. The latter, without even moving his feet, slightly inclined his head to dodge, the kunai passing a few centimeters from his face.
"So predictable," Itachi commented coldly.
Shikai instantly retaliated with a salvo of shuriken, making them ricochet off branches to create unexpected angles. Itachi dodged them all with disconcerting elegance, using a minimum of movement.
"Then one of the shuriken transformed into Shikai, delivering a circular kick, which Itachi immediately blocked by grabbing his ankle and attempting to throw him to the ground. Anticipating this,
*Substitution Technique*
A clone of Shikai took his place and pivoted in mid-air to deliver an elbow strike towards Itachi's face, but the prodigy dodged with a backward step.
"Not bad," Shisui admitted, as Itachi's Sharingan with one tomoe activated abruptly.
Shikai took a step back, exhaling heavily. "Oh, you're already bringing out the big guns?"
Itachi didn't respond, quickly forming hand seals.
*Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique.*
A massive fireball erupted from his lips, illuminating the clearing in an orange glow.
Shikai dove to the side, rolling to avoid the flames. He threw a kunai attached to a string, trying to trap Itachi in an ambush by diverting his attention.
Itachi, however, anticipated the maneuver. He pulled on the string with a sharp movement, forcing Shikai to get closer, then struck him in the chest with a precise palm strike.
Shikai collapsed to the ground, panting.
"I lost."
Shikai could have continued fighting Itachi, especially since his eyes were tiring him out, and he had monstrous endurance. But he would always maintain a slightly inferior level.
After observing the fight with an amused smile, Shisui stepped forward. "My turn, but don't worry, I'll be gentle."
Shikai stood up painfully, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "If you think your smile softens me, think again."
Shisui burst out laughing. "I like your style. Go on, show me what else you've got."
Shikai didn't have time to react. Shisui disappeared in a flash, reappearing behind him with a kunai. Shikai felt the cold metal against his throat before he even understood what had happened.
'After all, the nickname of Shisui, the Mirage, was not usurped, just like this old man with one foot in the grave, nicknamed the God of Shinobi by some.'
Shikai threw himself to the ground to avoid a strike, quickly getting back up.