"Talking"

'Thinking'

It has since been three weeks after Team 7 had passed their test, doing simple D-ranked missions ever since. While they progressed as shinobi, disliking but still doing the more laid-back missions, Ishiro had been cycling between all genin teams available. This week was unique, as he was going to be assigned to an already-existing team, instead of a newly-formed one. Ishiro arrived at the training ground, meeting up with the team, who all had also just arrived. Within his sight, he noticed a boy his age with a bowl-cut, wearing a full-body green jumpsuit, with strange leg-warmers on his legs. To his right, a brown-haired girl with buns on her head, wearing blue qipao-styled clothing. Finally, their sensei looked exactly like the first boy, except wearing a jonin flak-jacket.

"Ishiro Uchiha?" The tall man asked.

"Yup. I trust you're Might Gai?" Ishiro asked.

"Yes. You can meet my students. C'mon guys, introduce yourselves." Gai instructed.

The boy with a bowl-cut walked up first. "YOSH! My name is Rock Lee! I can't use Ninjutsu or Genjutsu, but I want to prove that with only using Taijutsu, I can still become a splendid Shinobi! I hope we can get along!"

"Huh, nice to meet you too," Ishiro replied. 'Well, that's a first.'

"Ugh, please ignore his behavior. My name is Tenten." The girl stated, outstretching a hand which Ishiro shook.

"Well, it's been nice to meet both of you... But what about your friend behind that tree?" Ishiro asked, sure enough, a third young shinobi jumped down from the tree. Ishiro took a good look at him, taking note of his long brown hair and pale white eyes. 'Wait, is he a Hyuga?'

"You." The boy pointed. "How did you find me?"

"I'm a sensor. My name is Ishiro, what's yours?" Ishiro asked.

"Why should I tell you? Destiny has willed that a prodigy like me will rise above all others, while weaklings like you will never be worth as much as the dirt you are stepping on." The boy mocked, before walking back into the vegetation.

"Well, I'm sorry, he's always high and mighty. His name is Neji Hyuga." Tenten stated. "He never trains with us."

'This is going to be an interesting week.' Ishiro thought to himself, before leaving to get lunch.

-Ramen Bar-

"Great job team, you guys set the newest record for catching a stray cat, forty seconds, not bad." Kakashi congratulated.

"Thanks, Kakashi-sensei. Not to brag, but I did most of the work." Menma boasted.

'I think that was quite obvious.' Dhuveena, Akane, and Kakashi thought to themselves, noticing the scratches on Menma's face.

"Yo," Ishiro stated, suddenly appearing in a vortex of leaves.

"Hey. It's Ishiro. How's the new team going?" Menma asked.

"Well... How do I describe this... There's a kid overly obsessed with training, a girl who seems to like weaponry, and a Hyuga who acts as if he has a massive stick up his ass." Ishiro explained. "Also their sensei looked exactly like the first kid.

"Wait, is the Hyuga's name Neji?" Dhuveena asked.

"Uh-huh," Ishiro replied.

"Oh god, you have to deal with my arrogant cousin," Dhuveena stated. "You know, I used to look up to him. I still look up to his skills and abilities, but not to his attitude."

"By the way, what happened to Menma?" Ishiro asked.

"Simple. We were ambushed by enemy shinobi, and I defeated all of them." Menma lied.

"Nah, you were scratched by a cat." Akane corrected.

-The Next Day-

"So, taijutsu only right?" Ishiro asked, slipping into a stance. 'This was a terrible idea.'

"YOSH! Very youthful of you! Yes! We shall battle with Taijutsu alone!" Lee replied, getting into a stance of his own.

Lee rushed forward, front flipping towards Ishiro before outstretching his right leg to deliver an ax kick, which Ishiro narrowly dodged, causing a massive crater on the ground. Ishiro jumped back, before rushing forwards, throwing a jab which Lee blocked with ease. Before he could pull back, however, Lee caught him by his wrist, before flipping him over and kicking him into the air.

'Well, this is interesting.' Ishiro thought to himself, as he began his descent.

Ishiro landed on his feet, before slipping into a different stance. Lee jumped up into the air again, attempting to land an ax kick a second time. This time, however, Lee would switch to a side-kick the moment Ishiro dodged, kicking him into the air. Lee jumped up to follow Ishiro, tying him up in bandages which were tied around his arms, before spinning the bound Ishiro headfirst into the ground. Unfortunately for Lee, Ishiro substituted himself with a rock, ultimately being able to evade the massive blow.

"I think we can call this match." Gai declared as he walked over.

"Of everything, I never expected to see the Front Lotus," Ishiro admitted. "But wasn't this technique supposed to be used with one to five of the Hidden Gates?"

"It was. But Gai-sensei told me that I should only use it in desperate situations or when I'm protecting something important to me." Lee replied.

Suddenly, Neji emerged from the bush, pointing at Ishiro. "You, Uchiha, fight me."

"Why?" Ishiro asked.

"I, a Hyuga elite, has to put you in your place!" Neji declared.

"Well, go to your side then," Ishiro stated, as he made a two-fingered seal.

Ishiro closed his eyes, before opening them to reveal a pair of blazing red eyes with three black commas in each pupil, as Neji activated his Byakugan, making veins appear around his white eyes.

"The Sharingan... This is nostalgic..." Gai thought to himself, remembering his many battles with Kakashi.

Neji rushed forward, attempting to deliver a palm strike at Ishiro, which the latter dodged easily, before catching his wrist. Neji forced Ishiro to release his grip, before jumping back. Suddenly, Ishiro front flipped forward and landed an ax kick on Neji's head.

"Gai-sensei... Is that?" Tenten asked.

"Yup. One of the few abilities of the Sharingan, the Eye of Insight, letting the user copy almost any jutsu or technique they see." Gai explained. "Ishiro has copied Lee's technique. He might even know the Front Lotus."

"How? How did you do that? How did you see my attack coming?" Neji asked.

"Seems like you need to do some reading," Ishiro replied.

Ishiro sped through his hand seals. "Katon: Gokakyu no Jutsu(Fire Style: Great Fireball Technique)!" Ishiro expelled a large fireball towards Neji, who smirked and outstretched his arms before spinning rapidly. "Kaiten(Revolving Heaven)!" Neji dispersed the flames in the closest vicinity to him by rotating at high speeds.

'I curse the misfortune of those who do not possess the power of the Byakugan,' Neji thought to himself arrogantly.

As Neji was deep in his thoughts, Ishiro appeared behind him. "Peekaboo."

As Neji turned around, he was met with a massive uppercut from Ishiro. Knocking him down and making him cough up blood.

"I think we can call that match too," Gai stated. "Well down Ishiro."

"How? How can a worthless failure like you, with your failed destiny possibly beat me?" Neji asked.

"First, if I had followed what my destiny dictated, I would've been dead seven years ago," Ishiro stated. "Secondly, get off that high horse of yours, not everyone has time to listen to your boasting, accept that in this world, there will always be someone stronger than you." Ishiro turned his head, noticing Kakashi appear in a whirlwind of leaves. "One-second Kakashi-sensei."

"How did you know I was here for you?" Kakashi asked.

"Aren't you supposed to be with Team 7? I assume you were here to ask for my help with something." Ishiro assumed.

"You're right. The Hokage wants to see you." Kakashi replied.

"Alright. I'll go with you immediately. Also, Neji, your cousin thinks somewhat highly of you. Think about that." Ishiro finished, before leaving with Kakashi, leaving Neji deep in thought.

"Why does the Hokage want to see me?" Ishiro asked.

"Well, let's just say it's a surprise. I gotta run now, my team is waiting for me." Kakashi stated, disappearing in a whirlwind of leaves.

-Later in the day-

Ishiro stood before the Hokage. "Hokage-sama, you wanted to see me?"

"Yes, Ishiro. Well, Team 7 is going on their first C-ranked mission." Hiruzen replied. "However, I fear that this so-called "C-rank mission" might turn out to not be such a mission. I need you to follow their trail and assist if they need your help."

"I understand, Hokage-sama. I will go immediately." Ishiro stated, leaving the room.

"He's headstrong... Just like his father." Hiruzen said to himself, before getting back to his paperwork.