Shikai dove to the ground to dodge a blow, quickly getting back up.
"Your reaction time is pretty good," Shisui said with a smile.
"Is that so? Huh?" Shikai replied, sighing. He was far, very far from the level he needed to reach, but he knew that by the time the Kyubi attack came, he would have made significant progress.
Shisui countered by creating three clones, which immediately surrounded Shikai. The young Nara-Senju tried to throw a series of shuriken to buy time, but the clones deflected them with disconcerting ease.
Before Shikai could reposition himself, Shisui formed hand seals.
*Katon: Hosenka no Jutsu*
A series of small fireballs shot towards Shikai, each aiming at a different angle.
Shikai dodged the first volley by leaping backward, but the flames began to ricochet off the trees, forcing him to move constantly.
Shisui suddenly appeared to his right, striking with a swift kick that Shikai barely managed to block. The impact's shock made him stagger.
Exhausted but refusing to give up, Shikai threw a last kunai at Shisui. The latter caught it effortlessly, a amused smile on his lips.
"You're a bit too equipped with ninja tools for this fight, aren't you?"
Itachi, who had been observing in silence, approached. "He's stronger than the last time we met."
Shisui nodded. "Yes, and he learns quickly. It's impressive."
Shikai, on his knees, looked up at them, a tired but satisfied smile on his face. "So... who's ready for a second round?"
Shisui burst out laughing. "You're incredible. You have good endurance, and I could see that you were holding back. But I think we've played enough for today."
Itachi turned away, his arms crossed. "Then, I consider our match a draw."
As the two Uchiha walked away, Shikai remained seated in the center of the clearing, slowly catching his breath.
'At this age, you can already see their future power. Unlike that fraud Kakashi.'
'In the future, he bowed three times before Itachi to ask for mercy when he unleashed his genjutsu, and you want me to believe he's on the same level as Obito with a MS and a rinnegan. Nonsense!'
Itachi, throwing a last glance over his shoulder, almost whispered to himself. "Maybe he'll become a threat. Or an indispensable ally."
Shisui smiled. "I prefer the second option."
...
Under the foliage of the peaceful woods, not far from the sparkling stream, Shisui and Shikai had settled on a rock. A few meters away, Itachi Uchiha was practicing, throwing shurikens at a series of targets with precision. The metallic noises of the weapons penetrating the wood were rhythmic, almost soothing.
Shisui, seated with a calm smile, watched the water flowing gently in front of them. Shikai, on the other hand, was absentmindedly throwing pebbles into the stream.
"So, Shikai," Shisui began in a light tone, "what did you think of our fight this morning?"
Shikai, still sarcastic, replied with a smirk: "Oh, nothing extraordinary. I just discovered that the Uchiha are overtrained tyrants."
Shisui burst out laughing. "Tyrants? You're exaggerating. But it's true that we don't take things lightly when it comes to protecting what matters."
Shikai raised an eyebrow, wondering if Shisui secretly loved someone who had never appeared in the original work.
"What matters?"
Shisui nodded, gazing at the current. "Yes, the village. Everything we do, everything we learn, is for the protection of Konoha. That's what the 'will of fire' is about."
Shikai's face fell.
"Just as I expected."
Shisui continued, his tone becoming more serious. "The will of fire is believing that each generation must protect the next. That our sacrifices today will guarantee a safe future for the village's children."
Shikai slightly frowned, his skeptical mind at work. "So, you mean we have to be ready to die for people we don't even know?"
'He's completely nuts. It's just a selfish ideal used to control types like Itachi. But despite being prodigies, they're victims of the system.'
Shisui slowly nodded. "Exactly. It's not a matter of knowing or not knowing the people. It's a matter of belief. Believing that the community comes before the individual."
Shikai remained silent, his arms crossed. 'This guy is trying to indoctrinate me into a cult, or what?' he thought. But aloud, he cautiously replied: "Interesting... I suppose it makes sense."
From Shikai's perspective, his conversation with Shisui was more like an interrogation than anything else. One wrong answer, and he would be the first person to sacrifice himself for the village with his Kotoamatsumaki up his ass.
Shisui gave him a piercing but still benevolent look. "You, for example, Shikai. You have potential. Potential that you could put at the service of the village. I'm not asking you to think about it now. But one day, you might understand why so many people give everything for Konoha."
Thinking about the danger of genjutsu, Shikai vigorously nodded. "No need to wait for another day, I already understand." He said with a slightly nervous smile.
"Ah ah, very good." Shisui patted his shoulder, feeling like a spiritual mentor, guiding the younger generation onto the right path.
'But why do I feel like he's nervous? I must be imagining things.' he thought.
To change the mood, Shisui sprang to his feet. "Come on, enough talking about serious subjects. I'm starting to get hungry. Let's catch something to eat?"
Shikai raised an eyebrow. "You mean that a prodigy Uchiha like you can't just create food with a jutsu?"
Shisui burst out laughing. "And what jutsu is that: Tabemono no jutsu?"
The two headed into the forest for a small hunt, using their senses and skills to catch some game.
Back near the stream, a fire was quickly lit. Pieces of fresh meat sizzled over the flames, filling the air with an appetizing smell. Shikai, seated near the fire, monitored the cooking, while Shisui whistled a light melody as he cleaned some improvised utensils.
That's when a soft voice rose behind them.
"Itachi?"
Shikai raised his eyes, already a sigh on his lips.
'She doesn't have any other words in her vocabulary. I take back what I said, she's as annoying as Sakura. Leave us alone, damn it!'