Chapter 4 - 6
Sōsuke awoke to the sight of a katana beside him.
After pondering for a long time, he couldn't figure anything out.
He could only conclude that its appearance must be related to the Hōgyoku or Kyōka Suigetsu.
Since he couldn't figure it out, he decided to leave it for now. He resolved to ask Kyōka Suigetsu about it if he saw her again.
After a quick wash and breakfast, Sōsuke left for the Ninja Academy.
On the way, he ran into Tsunade. Her brown eyes lit up with surprise, and she cheerfully called out, "Good morning, Sōsuke!"
"Good morning, Tsunade," Sōsuke replied with a smile.
They walked together, and Tsunade curiously looked at the katana tucked into Sōsuke's waist, asking, "Sōsuke, when did you start to practice kenjutsu?"
Sōsuke made up an excuse to cover his tracks.
Tsunade seemed satisfied with his explanation and excitedly said, "Today is the Taijutsu test, Sōsuke. Are you bringing the sword for the exam? You have to show me your skills!"
Sōsuke suddenly remembered that today was the Ninja Academy's Taijutsu test. He must have been too preoccupied with the Hōgyoku and Kyōka Suigetsu to remember such an important event.
The two of them arrived at the Ninja Academy, where a group of young shinobi-in-training was already gathered in the courtyard.
Seeing Sōsuke and Tsunade, Jiraiya and Orochimaru approached them.
Jiraiya, always energetic, noticed the katana at Sōsuke's waist and exclaimed, "Sōsuke! When did you get such a cool sword? Can I try it?"
Sōsuke replied with a smile, "Of course... not."
Jiraiya's enthusiasm faltered at Sōsuke's response. "Sōsuke, you're such a tease. Fine, ninja swords aren't really my thing. I'll develop my own unique ninjutsu. Just you wait! Hahaha!"
Orochimaru interjected with a dry comment, "Idiot."
Jiraiya snapped back, "Orochimaru! Let's duel! Come on! Let's settle this!"
Tsunade held Jiraiya back as he yelled at Orochimaru, who calmly ignored him and simply told Sōsuke and Tsunade, "Let's go. Sensei said to gather at the training ground for the Taijutsu test."
With that, Orochimaru walked toward the training ground, with Sōsuke and Tsunade following. Jiraiya was left behind, fuming, shouting that he would show Orochimaru who was boss.
At the training ground, the Taijutsu instructor, Suzuki, had been waiting for some time. Once everyone had gathered, he announced that the Taijutsu test would officially begin.
After a series of drawings, Sōsuke discovered that his opponent was Uchiha Tokino.
'The Uchiha clan?' Sōsuke thought to himself. 'The clan with the feared eye techniques? According to rumors, they're as ancient as the Senju clan, to which Tsunade belongs.'
He couldn't help but chuckle bitterly. Was it his luck or misfortune to face such a strong opponent?
As Sōsuke stood on the field, he suddenly felt someone watching him. He turned to see a tall young man with long black hair, his eyes filled with hostility.
Sōsuke lightly touched his glasses and revealed a hint of coldness in his gaze.
'Want to fight? I'll give you a good one, even if you're from the Uchiha clan,' he thought.
Tsunade approached Sōsuke, asking, "Who are you fighting?"
Sōsuke pointed to Uchiha Tokino and said, "That guy, Uchiha Tokino. He seems to have some hostility toward me."
Tsunade was surprised and then exclaimed indignantly, "Uchiha? Why would sensei pair you with him? I've heard of Tokino. Even among the Uchiha, he's considered strong. Let's tell sensei that this isn't fair!"
Sōsuke stopped her, holding her hand, and said, "Don't you trust me, Tsunade?"
"I know you're strong, Sōsuke, but the Uchiha are terrifying. They might not hold back, and no one can blame them if someone gets hurt. I'm worried about you," she said anxiously.
Sōsuke smiled and replied, "So you don't trust me? Don't worry, I won't lose, no matter what."
The Taijutsu battles began, with the young shinobis-in-training fighting to prove themselves. Only those who won would graduate.
As Sōsuke stood on the field, facing Uchiha Tokino, his smile remained fixed on his lips. His thick glasses acted like a shield, hiding his true thoughts.
Uchiha Tokino, arms crossed, looked at Sōsuke with a contemptuous grin. "You're Sōsuke, right? A fool who doesn't know his place. How dare you stand beside the Senju princess? You're nothing but a lowly peasant, no, not even that. You're just a lucky orphan saved by Konoha."
Uchiha Tokino continued, "Someone like you will never understand how insignificant you are to us. I'll show you how pathetic your strength is against my eyes! I'll prove that Tsunade is out of your league."
With that, Tokino charged at Sōsuke.
Sōsuke's smile disappeared, and beneath his glasses, his eyes flashed with coldness.
'So, this is the arrogance of a renowned clan? I'll shatter it for you today,' he thought.
…
"Since the beginning, no one has ever stood in the heavens. Neither you, nor me, not even God himself. But that unbearable vacancy in the throne of Heaven shall be filled. From this day forth, I will stand in heaven."
—Sōsuke Aizen.
…
At the Konoha training grounds, Uchiha Tokino was sprinting at top speed, flinging several kunai toward Sōsuke. His figure followed closely behind the projectiles.
Sōsuke's eyes remained calm and collected as he effortlessly dodged the incoming kunai.
Suddenly, from his peripheral vision, he saw Uchiha Tokino appear, launching a powerful kick. Despite blocking with both arms, Sōsuke was knocked back, raising a cloud of dust on impact.
"That really hurts," Sōsuke murmured, feeling the numbness in his right arm.
Uchiha Tokino's voice rang out again. "A commoner like you, did you think a few years of training would bring you on par with us? People like you will always be chasing from behind. The gap will show you just how much we're ahead!"
No sooner had he finished speaking that Uchiha Tokino accelerated and appeared right in front of Sōsuke, launching a flurry of punches. Sōsuke could barely defend against the onslaught, his defenses weakening under the barrage of strikes.
'Is there really such a gap?' Sōsuke thought. 'No matter how hard I try, is the innate disadvantage impossible to overcome? My right arm feels like it might give out!'
BANG!
Uchiha Tokino delivered a forceful kick that sent Aizen flying.
The other students in the area had already finished their battles, and Tsunade and others came to watch.
"Sōsuke!" Tsuande exclaimed as he fell to the ground. She seemed ready to intervene, but Jiraiya and Orochimaru stopped her.
"This is Sōsuke's fight, Tsunade," Orochimaru said heavily.
Uchiha Tokino, noticing Tsunade's concern for Sōsuke, grew even more furious. He glared at him with a cold smile. "I don't know why someone like you would get Tsunade's favor, but I'll give you an unforgettable lesson. Maybe I should make sure you can't become a ninja."
With that, he charged at Sōsuke again.
As he leaped down with a powerful kick aimed at Sōsuke, the latter suddenly got up from the ground, his eyes still calm beneath his glasses.
His katana flashed.
But the strike hit a wooden log instead.
Body Substitution Technique!
Sōsuke looked at the shattered log with a serious expression. From behind him, Uchiha Tokino's spinning kick came at him. "So you've finally drawn your sword? Kid, do you really think your amateurish moves can defeat me?"
Sōsuke blocked the attack with his sword, but the force sent him flying again.
Blood trickled from Sōsuke's mouth as the fierce clash caused internal injuries. The gap in strength, reaction time, and physical abilities seemed insurmountable. 'No way!' he thought. 'All my hard work—does it really mean nothing against these geniuses?'
As he wiped the blood from his mouth, he noticed Uchiha Tokino's eyes had turned blood-red, with a single tomoe spinning slowly within them. 'That's the Uchiha's Sharingan? What kind of abilities does it have?' Sōsuke wondered.
The other students watching were astonished.
"Tokino has awakened the Sharingan!"
"That's the legendary Sharingan of the Uchiha clan? This is my first time seeing a Kekkei Genkai."
Even Suzuki-sensei, the instructor, was shocked. "An Uchiha prodigy... This clan is truly... remarkable."
"I've heard that even Kagami-sama has awakened such eyes."
Tsunade looked on anxiously, and Orochimaru's snake-like pupils contracted as he gazed at Tokino's red eyes. "Now what will you do, Sōsuke?" he muttered.
In the arena, Uchiha Tokino coldly said, "In front of these eyes, even geniuses bow down. You commoners live in a different world from us. I'll show you the consequences of daring to approach Tsunade."
He suddenly lunged forward, and Sōsuke's pupils shrank as Tokino appeared right in front of him. "He's so fast!"
Tokino's punch landed, and Sōsuke's counterattack with his katana missed entirely.
A whisper came from behind him. "With these eyes, your slow movements can't even touch me."
Leaf Whirlwind.
BANG!
A powerful kick struck Sōsuke's back, sending him flying forward. His heavy glasses slipped off his face from the impact. The intense pain coursed through his body, and he felt his muscles tearing. "Is this where I fall? Sorry, Tsunade, I couldn't keep up with you..."
A voice suddenly broke through the haze. "What's with this mess, Aizen? When did you start swinging your sword so carelessly?"
Sōsuke, lying on the ground, struggled to open his eyes. Despite losing his glasses, his vision became crystal clear. A beautiful girl in a floral kimono squatted beside him, smiling mischievously.
"Kyōka Suigetsu," Sōsuke said weakly. "I'm sorry you had to see me like this."
The girl's expression softened as she leaned down, ignoring the dirt on her kimono, and rested lightly on Sōsuke's chest. She took in his scent, and her soft whisper reached his ears. "You should remember, Aizen. My release phrase. It's the power between us. Hold onto me. Feel my presence. Only I will always be with you."
The beautiful girl slowly vanished into Sōsuke's body, and he felt as if he were in a dream, where he could shatter the world with a single stroke. He reached out and gripped his katana, as if holding the girl's hand.
It was just as he dreamed.
"Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu!"
…
At the training grounds, Uchiha Tokino's Sharingan glowed blood-red as he sneered at Sōsuke, who was shakily getting to his feet. "With these eyes, your movements are like a turtle's pace. Even if you pick up that sword, what can you do? Today, I'll show you the gap between commoners and people like me!"
Sōsuke stood up, his hair disheveled and his body covered in dust, but a smile curled at the corner of his lips. 'So this is the true use of the sword... Thank you, Kyōka Suigetsu.'
He raised the blade in front of him, whispering softly, "Shatter, Kyōka Suigetsu."
Suddenly, the green-handled katana shattered into pieces like a broken mirror, sending ripples of energy like a gentle breeze to everyone who saw it.
The spectators were astonished, and a flurry of chatter ensued.
"What is he doing? Is he breaking his sword? Does that mean he's giving up?"
"Sōsuke's not the type to surrender. He must have a plan."
"I hope he beats that arrogant Uchiha! How dare he call Sōsuke a commoner!"
Tsunade and others were perplexed by Sōsuke's actions, while Orochimaru's snake-like eyes narrowed in thought. Why would the sword shatter?
'You're getting more and more interesting, Sōsuke.'
Suzuki-sensei, the Taijutsu instructor, was also astonished. The kid's aura... it had completely changed. He was matching Uchiha's talent. What a frightening gift.
In the arena, Uchiha Tokino's Sharingan widened as he laughed, holding his stomach and pointing at Sōsuke. "Is breaking your sword your way of surrendering? Do you think this will defeat me?!" His face turned angry as he leaped forward. "I'll end you quickly! I'll show Tsunade what happens to commoners who dare approach us!"
As Tokino sped toward him, Sōsuke stood still, holding the broken green hilt. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, but under his disheveled hair, his eyes were filled with joy.
So this is it—total hypnosis...
As long as someone has seen Kyōka Suigetsu's release once, they will be under complete hypnosis. What a terrifying power.
Sōsuke slowly lifted his head, looking through his bangs at the charging Tokino. He took a single step to the side, just one step away from his original position. There he stood, smiling, as if watching a play unfold.
Uchiha Tokino seemed not to see him, leaping into the air, preparing to strike where Aizen once stood. "Leaf Whirlwind!" He came down with a heavy kick, smashing into the ground, creating a shallow crater.
However, Tokino was shocked—he missed! How could that be? That guy's speed? How could someone like him evade the Sharingan? Did he use the Body Flicker Technique? But Tokino had no time to think as Sōsuke, standing a mere step away, smiled with a touch of contempt before delivering a punch to Tokino's face.
The impact was resounding. Tokino flew across the arena like he'd been hit by a truck, his face contorted, and a tooth flew out. Blood sprayed from his mouth as he tumbled across the ground, eventually falling unconscious.
Suzuki-sensei quickly checked on Tokino to ensure he was only knocked out. He looked at Sōsuke, who stood straight in the middle of the field, a complex expression on his face. How could someone so young defeat a Uchiha prodigy? What happened at the crucial moment to let Sōsuke dodge Tokino's attack?
The students in the audience cheered for Sōsuke's victory.
"I told you Sōsuke could win! That arrogant Uchiha got what he deserved!"
"Sōsuke is amazing! I wish I could be like him."
"Yeah, but Sōsuke trains in the Konoha Forest until his hands are bleeding, while you sleep at home!"
Tsunade and the others joined Sōsuke.
She congratulated him, saying, "Congratulations, Sōsuke."
Jiraiya clutched his head and complained, "It's a shame you stole my thunder, but wow, Sōsuke, you really are strong! You beat an Uchiha with a Sharingan. I guess you'll be worthy enough to be part of my legendary 500-slashed list!"
Tsunade punched Jiraiya, her face darkening. "Jiraiya always says strange things, Sōsuke. Don't mind him," she said, embarrassed.
Sōsuke smiled, responding, "Sorry to worry you. But now I think I can finally fight alongside you. Let's go! Today, I'm buying ramen at Ichiraku. Eat as much as you like!"
Jiraiya immediately cheered, "Count me in! Rare to get a free meal from you! I'm going all out!"
"Jiraiya, can you be any more embarrassing?" Tsunade snapped.
As the group walked down the streets of Konoha, Sōsuke noticed Orochimaru's gaze and turned with a questioning look. "What's up, Orochimaru?"
Orochimaru, with his snake-like eyes filled with curiosity, replied, "Nothing, just finding you interesting."
With that, Orochimaru continued walking. Without his glasses, Sōsuke's shaggy hair partly covered his eyes, revealing a handsome and clean-cut face with a unique charm. Tsunade glanced at him now and then, her heart racing a bit.
As they strolled through Konoha, Sōsuke wondered what the future held.